#WE FINALLY FINISHED THE GAME BTW

[theswedishpajas]

The energy of that one section towards the end or something

[rystiel]

can’t blame in-ho tbh i’d also stare at gi-hun all day

[tinyclowndancer]

pspspsps porretta besties from the dark place who refused to bring this song to its end here's a little something for you. 🎙️

[luck-of-the-drawings]

when i was in highschool one o my biggest coping mechanisms was drawing all the kids i hated getting killed and eaten and killed. and well. time is a slowly ascending spiral. you will find patterns.(i work as a blackjack dealer. gamblers are FASCINATING

[send-me-a-puffalope]

why did my teachers think it was okay to give us like one single weekend to finish all of our midterm projects and study for our tests.

[nejackdaw]

Finished BG3 today! Feel a little bad cause all my allies were waiting like "okay, whenever you call us, we'll be there!" and it's like "yeah! Fuck yeah! We're doing this together!" Except we did not do this together because Lae'zel had the bombs that dropped during the Gortash fight and Shadowheart had a haste scroll. I deleted that entire battlefield with a pissed off hasted Lae'zel and the occasional input from my warlock and a mind flayer.

"It's okay," I figured, "I'll summon them for the second phase. I'll probably need them then!" Well, no, I couldn't summon them, and no, I didn't really need them, either. I told Gale "look, it's the crown, now's our chance!" and he crit for like 100 damage right out the gate. I obliterated both phases of that battle. No allies called. I feel kinda guilty tbh

[stinkrascal]

i literally cannot stop watching hoarders

[demento-mori]

thought a little too hard about isat earlier and i mustve pulled smth in my brain cos now i legit cant form a coherent thought...

[applescabs]

WE'RE FINALLY DONE WITH TACTICAAAA AGHAGHHS

[kaiwry]

Oh God I'm so bored

[theatrevelyan]

Ok, big endgame spoilers for DAV but I need to scream into the void because I don’t think we stopped enough to talk about the fact that Lucanis literally stabbed a God, twice, and even killed her the second time.

He killed her.

Sure, he had help, and someone always dies to give him the shot, but do you understand how fucking big of a deal that is?????

Actions so important and plot relevant as that are usually reserved for the main character/protagonist of a game, especially in an rpg.

And here comes our little assassin, who we recruited to kill gods but who we all know, from a narrative standpoint, has no chance to actually deal the final blow, and he fucking deliveres.

We still get the big boss, sure, but he still got one. He defied narrative preconceptions and finished his contract.

How fucking metal is that?????

And can you imagine, once this is all over, how the other crows must see him? He was already a legend before and now he’s the crow that managed a successful contract on a freaking god.

Can you imagine the awe? The fear? The sheer terror his next target would feel knowing the man who killed a god is after them?

And if Rook is a crow the same goes for them!

The crows are already infamous, could you imagine how their reputation would skyrocket even more knowing that not just one, but possibly two of them managed to kill a god????

One might a fluke, an outlier among them (which Lucanis already is since he’s considered the best they have). But two?! It begins to be a pattern. Sign of skill and competence for the whole guild.

Caterina would love that shit. What better marketing strategy than “if need be, we can kill gods btw” could she get.

And can you imagine if crow Rook and Lucanis are romancing each other??? Who would dare to even think opposing the two assassins that literally killed gods??? Bet the usual crow shenanigans would stay clear of them.

Anyway I’m really normal about Lucanis.

[butchvamp]

i finished Harding's quest... whew... i don't like Harding. or i should say i don't like how nice the game treats her. she gets all of the emotional beats around the lore revelations while the elves are left to go kick rocks.

i pointed this out previously in another post, but the dwarves (and Harding specifically, and thus by extension Andrastians, too) get so much more sympathy from the game than any of the elves. you can clearly see it just in these two screenshots-- compare dialogue choices when comforting Harding after the reveal about the Golden City (and also important to note that the game assumes my elf is Dalish multiple times before this choice, but for some reason i can suddenly make her Andrastian):

versus the first real discussion you get to have with Bellara about the truth of the elven gods:

Bellara implies that everyone is right not to trust the elves, actually, because the elven gods (the same ones that enslaved her people btw) are bad and we should all feel bad about it.

and Davrin is unfortunately distanced from the Dalish, remarking that they're too traditional and stuck in the past (a racist trope that Dragon Age really loves for the elves), and only seems to care about how the elven gods make elves "look bad." we do get to see Davrin reconnect with one of the members of his clan later, which is a sweet moment that shows us a new side of him, but it exists more so to push along the griffon storyline than anything to do with Davrin (a problem i find quite annoying when it comes to Davrin's writing... they care more about Assan and "turlum" than him or his feelings. but that's a different post)

when we finally get to Heart of Stone, Harding has her big, emotional confrontation with a titan, and gets granted the memory of the titan's loss and all of their pain. she says some Choice lines, here.

who is thriving? the elves that were enslaved en masse by the Evanuris? the elves that are still enslaved and live in alienages? that are wholly, systemically oppressed throughout Thedas? then to follow it up with both of these lines, spoken to an elven Rook:

and i understand that this is the titan speaking through Harding, and we can be generous and say that they are addressing the Evanuris, and not elf Rook personally. but. uh. why doesn't my elf get to Say Anything. it's repeatedly insinuated that everything is the elves' fault, that the elves should feel guilty and that they should be held responsible for what happened to the dwarves (and by extension, the blight and everything bad that's ever happened including what's happening right now), and that they deserve to suffer because of what "they" did to the titans.... and there's no option to challenge this line of thinking at all.

and it's really frustrating that none of the elven companions are allowed this kind of emotional catharsis with the Evanuris. up until that one (bad) dialogue with Bellara, all of Bellara's comments/her reactions to the gods are treated as comic relief. none of them get to grieve their gods like Harding is allowed to grieve the titans-- they're not even allowed to be as angry with Solas as Harding is in some scenes. even Andrastians, in that one single dialogue choice, were afforded more sympathy and grief than the elves in this game.

it's a baffling choice, considering the plot, that elves are given so little grace or consideration. and i do think part of it has to do with the way this game has tried to distance itself from previously established lore as well as scrub itself clean of anything morally dubious-- it's all black and white and the game needs someone to blame, so the elves are bad because the Evanuris are bad, nevermind all that other stuff, because see, the elves actually deserved it all along! i don’t even think it’s unreasonable that Harding may have these feelings (even if they’re racist lol) but the fact you just have to accept Blame and the narrative never challenges her or Bellara’s guilt or Davrin’s apathy and instead just agrees with all of them and forces Rook to agree as well is shitty and takes it from “this character feels this way” to “the game is implying that everyone feels this way, and also that they’re right.”

it's really unfortunate because i do think this reveal about the titans and why the dwarves can't dream or use magic is exciting, it could cause some compelling conflict between the companions (but that's not allowed in this game at all unfortunately and you especially Cannot be even slightly rude to Harding, ever). and i do like the idea of her quest and what they're trying to convey here-- confronting this old, repressed trauma, and finding a way to reconcile with it and move forward.... but not at the expense of the elves, who also suffered massively at the hands of the Evanuris (and continue to suffer. right now)

bioware has been criticized repeatedly about their depiction of the Dalish, their indigenous coding, and even the mages, too, and i really do not understand what they were thinking with this, because it's just racist (and exactly what people have repeatedly criticized them for). this is why a lot of "fantasy racism" fails. you can't write a marginalized group as being responsible and deserving of their own oppression, that's not how it works!

[adumbratrapedme]

BABY BUMP | teen pregnancy series

Synopsis. after revealing your pregnancy to your boyfriend a few weeks passed and you finally realize the baby bump is here o.o

characters (all separated): tsukishima, kenma, kageyama wc.x words aprox. | genre. pure fluff !|cw/tags. fluff, teen pregnancy, baby bumps. teen pregnancy series masterlists here!

important ! im sorry y'all, i promise in working on the other guys too, btw you can check out the teen preg. masterlist to get a little spoiler over the next chapters <3

Kenma

It was a quiet afternoon after school. Kenma had just finished a round of gaming in the clubroom, and you were both sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall as you chatted. You had been trying to keep your pregnancy low-key for the past few weeks, but the signs had become undeniable. The nausea had subsided, but a deep sense of exhaustion still lingered, and you found yourself eating more often.

You hadn’t thought much about it until recently—until now.

Kenma was fiddling with his phone, looking over some stats for an upcoming game, when you stood up suddenly. The simple act of standing made you realize something had changed. You placed a hand on your lower abdomen, feeling the slight roundness there.

“Kenma,” you said softly, your voice laced with hesitation.

He looked up from his phone, the usual nonchalance in his eyes, but something in your tone made him pause. “What’s up?”

You shifted uncomfortably on your feet, lifting your hoodie slightly to reveal your growing belly. You hadn’t really noticed the change until today, when the fit of your clothes felt tighter. Your stomach now had a visible curve, small but undeniably there.

Kenma’s gaze immediately shifted to your stomach, his eyes widening slightly as he absorbed what you were showing him. He blinked twice, his mind catching up with the situation.

“I think… it’s growing,” you said quietly, trying to keep your emotions in check. The reality of it was becoming more and more real every day, and now, seeing the bump clearly, it was like a weight settling in your chest.

Kenma didn’t say anything at first, his gaze still fixed on your stomach. He seemed lost in thought, his fingers twitching as if unsure whether to touch or not. You waited in silence, your heart racing.

Finally, he spoke, his voice soft but steady. “Yeah… it is.” He reached out cautiously, his hand hovering near your waist before gently placing it on the curve of your abdomen. The warmth of his hand felt reassuring. “It’s really happening, huh?”

You nodded, swallowing hard. “I… didn’t think it would show so soon.” The reality of being a first-year high school student and carrying a child was overwhelming, and now, your body was unmistakably reminding you of the responsibility ahead.

Kenma’s eyes softened as he looked at you. “It’s okay,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “We’ll figure it out. You’re not alone in this.” His hand rested more comfortably on your stomach, as though offering silent support.

You smiled, trying to steady your breathing. Despite the nerves and uncertainty that loomed over you both, his steady presence always calmed you. Even though this was a huge change for both of you, you felt a sense of calm in knowing that Kenma was there by your side.

“Yeah, we will,” you agreed, your voice growing more confident.

For a moment, there was nothing but the soft sound of your breathing, the quiet stillness of the room, and the warmth of Kenma’s hand. The world outside seemed distant, and for now, it was just the two of you, facing the next steps together.

Tsukishima

It had been a few months since that day. Things weren’t perfect—far from it—but Tsukishima was trying. He showed up to appointments, asked questions about the baby’s development, and even begrudgingly helped pick out a crib.

Today, though, everything felt ordinary. The two of you had agreed to spend the afternoon together, sorting through some of the baby things Yamaguchi had been helping you collect.

You were in the kitchen, struggling to reach something on the top shelf. Tsukishima, standing nearby with his usual unimpressed expression, sighed and walked over.

“Couldn’t you have just asked me?” he muttered, grabbing the item with ease.

“Maybe I like the challenge,” you shot back, though the slight smirk on your lips gave you away.

As you turned to set the item down, the hem of your shirt caught on the edge of the counter, riding up slightly. Tsukishima’s sharp eyes caught the sight instantly.

“Wait.” His voice stopped you in your tracks.

“What?”

He motioned for you to stay still, his expression shifting as he stepped closer. For a moment, he simply stared at you, and you followed his gaze downward. That’s when you noticed it—a subtle curve below your navel that hadn’t been there before.

Your heart skipped a beat.

“Oh…” you whispered, placing a hand over the small bump.

Tsukishima’s hand hesitated, hovering near yours. “Can I…?”

You nodded, and he carefully placed his palm over the swell of your stomach. His hand was warm, and the touch was so gentle it made your chest ache.

“It’s real,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I mean, I knew it was real, but… this…”

You watched his face as he stared at your stomach. The usual sharpness in his features softened, replaced by an emotion you couldn’t quite place.

“It’s weird,” he finally admitted, though his tone lacked its usual bite. “In a good way, I think.”

You laughed softly, resting your hand over his. “Yeah. Weird in a good way.”

For a moment, the two of you stood there in silence, the weight of the moment settling over you.

“Do you think it’ll kick soon?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

“Maybe. It’s still early, though.”

He nodded, his thumb brushing over the fabric of your shirt absentmindedly. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” he admitted. “But I want to be. For you. For… them.”

Your chest tightened at his words. “You’re doing better than you think, Kei.”

He glanced up at you, meeting your eyes. “You think so?”

“I know so.”

His lips quirked into a small smile—a rare, genuine one that made your heart swell.

“Thanks,” he said simply, his gaze flickering back to your stomach. “I guess we’re really doing this, huh?”

“Yeah,” you said, a smile tugging at your lips. “We are.”

Tsukishima leaned down slightly, his hand still resting on your stomach. “Alright, kid,” he said, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it. “Don’t make this too hard on your mom, okay?”

You couldn’t help but laugh, tears pricking at your eyes. In that moment, despite all the challenges ahead, you knew you wouldn’t be facing them alone.

And as Tsukishima stood there, his hand protectively over your growing bump, you knew he was starting to believe it too.

Kageyama

It had been weeks since Kageyama promised to try. He hadn’t been perfect — far from it, actually. There were still moments he’d retreat into himself, overwhelmed by fear of the unknown. But he was showing up, and that mattered more than anything.

One afternoon, the two of you were walking home together after school. It was unusually quiet between you, but not uncomfortably so. The crisp autumn air rustled the leaves, and the faint scent of baked goods from a nearby café filled the air.

Kageyama glanced at you, noting how bundled up you were in your oversized hoodie. “Aren’t you hot?” he asked, gesturing to the layers you had on.

You shook your head, pulling the hoodie tighter around yourself. “No, I’m fine. It’s cozy.”

He frowned slightly. “You’ve been wearing that a lot lately.”

You hesitated, unsure how to explain it. It had been getting harder to hide the small swell of your stomach. You hadn’t mentioned it to him yet, partly because you were still processing it yourself. But his sharp gaze caught your hesitation.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, stopping in his tracks. His tone wasn’t accusatory — just concerned.

“Nothing,” you replied quickly, but your voice betrayed you. You tugged at the hem of your hoodie, avoiding his eyes.

Kageyama stepped in front of you, effectively blocking your path. “Y/N,” he said firmly, his blue eyes narrowing. “Tell me.”

You sighed, realizing there was no escaping this. Slowly, you lifted the hem of your hoodie just enough to reveal the gentle curve of your belly. “It’s… starting to show,” you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Kageyama’s eyes widened as he stared at the small bump. He didn’t say anything at first, and the silence was deafening. His hand twitched at his side, like he wanted to reach out but didn’t know if he should.

“Tobio?” you prompted nervously. “Say something…”

He blinked, finally snapping out of his daze. “That’s… our baby?” His voice was quiet, almost reverent.

“Yeah,” you said, your cheeks heating up. “It’s real now, huh?”

Kageyama hesitated for a moment before lifting a shaky hand toward your stomach. “Can I…?”

You nodded, holding your breath as his hand gently rested on your belly. His touch was hesitant, as if he was afraid he might hurt you or the baby. But then his fingers relaxed, and he let out a quiet breath.

“It’s… warm,” he muttered, his brows furrowed in concentration. He stared at your bump like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. “I didn’t think it would feel… like this.”

You couldn’t help but smile at his awe-struck expression. “It’s not kicking or anything yet. But soon, maybe.”

He nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. You could see the gears turning in his head, the weight of the situation sinking in even deeper. But then he looked up at you, his eyes filled with a quiet determination.

“I’ll do better,” he said firmly. “For both of you.”

You placed your hand over his, resting on your belly. “You’re already doing better, Tobio.”

The two of you stood there for a moment longer, the world around you fading away. For the first time, the future didn’t feel quite as scary.

TAGLIST:

@chilichopsticks @dreadnoughtus101 @starykari @staygoldsquatchling02

[bunabi]

I finished Veilguard btw so here's my long thoughts (be warned I've been writing notes during my entire playthrough so this is very long) for folks who want it:

My favorite parts of DAV:

Best level design in any DA so far. The platforming grew on me, and I think the levels were well-thought out and mostly fun to navigate. Arlathan Forest was exhausting but other areas felt nicely balanced with branching paths, hidden rooms, etc. Exploration in smaller contained maps done right imo.

Mage combat is really satisfying at higher levels. Pure ranged combat is totally impossible unless you have Davrin and Taash popping taunts back to back, but dropping a massive AOE while fighting close-range feels good too.

Being able to auto-equip and compare new gear is great.

Same with the codex entries. Not having to hunt down whatever note I just picked up is a huge improvement.

Upgrading equipment via duplicates incentivized treasure chest hunting, which I would have otherwise skipped lol. It really helped me slow down and take time exploring areas, and I appreciated that.

The final act didn't make the previous 70+ hours feel better, my fault for spoiling most of it for myself, but it was neat. Cool set pieces, cool fights. I was worried Elgar'nan was gonna have the same moveset as the Regrets, but his final battle was great.

Oh, I forgot Felassan! His notes were a tragic delight. Such a good man. Funny too. They didn't need to kill Varric to make Solas less sympathetic...I think Felassan's betrayal(s) serve that purpose well already.

Rook & Their Faction:

Without rehashing what I've said over the past few weeks: this is my least favorite protagonist.

Being a funny and sarcastic and irreverent hero in a DA game is not new. Not having a choice in the matter is. The Inquisitor was pretty fixed in their tone too (cant even choose a personality for them in CC) but even they had better aggressive options available.

Folks say not to judge Rook's depth by a Lord of Fortune playthrough but since factions are asymmetrical on purpose here are my impressions:

The Lords of Fortune didn't contribute to my run in any meaningful way other than getting Emmrich hot which is not unique, as it turns out, to any particular background. In fact, learning Natalene was a galley slave as an aside detracted from my experience. Being a former galley slave, former Circle mage (again: Rivain doesn't have Circles), semi-Dalish city elf with DIY vallaslin is unreal. Especially as characters continuously imply Rook is a young 20-something. The fact this wasn't immediately caught and course-corrected shows -- to me -- how hectic and spread-thin DAV's development really was. :(

Story & Antagonists:

Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain have cackling witch disease. No motivations outside of power. That was a little disappointing. Was also hoping they'd at least comment on Rook/Davrin/Bellara's vallaslin but they're too busy plotting world domination to really notice. Love their designs though. I'd love to hear a deep dive on how they animated Ghil's tentacles.

Veilguard feels like an immediate follow-up to Trespasser, not the ten year timeskip it says it is. I wonder if that's a symptom of adapting the live service story (content that was likely meant to stretch, similar to Anthem and Destiny, over a decade) for single-player.

I miss the politically-motivated meddling. Every villain is allied with the Evanuris. We needed some that aren't. The Right and Left Hand of the Black Divine, corrupt brothers of the Imperial Chantry, the agents of the Archon, a Minrathous street gang, some Rivaini pirates, anything, anyone.

It's crazy how all elven resistance seemed to evaporate with the dissolution of the Dread Wolf Army. As much as I'd hate seeing them duped and betrayed by Solas…I prefer that to just pretending everything's fine now. I could easily see alienage elves and slaves take Cyrian's path, desperate for change no matter the source, especially since oppression is all they've known and there's no end to it in sight. Especially with their gods confirmed as the source of the blight. All downhill from here I fear.

The Butcher. Would. That voice and that frame....it purred I fear. But even he was not immune to cackling witch disease. Wish he stuck around longer for personal reasons. My South is under siege and I aint talking about Ferelden.

Combat:

I found myself switching builds a lot, which was nice and kept things fresh. That being said: DAV needed loadouts for skills and equipment and a menu showing active passive skills + enchantments. A QOL update for this stuff would have been amazing. I want to try an archer run, but I dread (🐺) fussing with skill tree nodes again.

After fighting Mythal (my first full dragon fight) I was disappointed how all dragons share her same attack patterns. They didn't have to reinvent the wheel or anything -- this was the case with dragon battles in DAI and I thought it was fine -- but Mythal of all enemies should have been unique.

High-level demons are limited to Rage and Pride. High-level darkspawn are limited to Ogres. I miss those little scrungly lookin' despair demons and nasty ass hurlock emissaries. After 60 hours I did get a little tired of the same handful of mobs over and over.

Companions & NPCs:

The Veilguardians feel like my kids. Except Emmrich who's absolutely convinced he's in an age-gap relationship with my older lady Rook. It's not that they're uniquely dependent or rudderless, it's that their struggles are solved with nurturing pep talks. Reaffirm their worth, give them a hug, and all that inner turmoil is cancelled. Rich coming from the 'I should have been able to influence my companions more in DAI' girl, but Rook's impact on the Veilguard, the way their doubts vanish completely via some life coaching, feels off.

Speculation: I think the companions were originally planned to be NPCs. Their written banter in some of the notes, their verbal banter throughout the Lighthouse, they feel like they're meant to stay in the hub and act as quest-givers in the live service game. Especially with how Rook is excluded. That's fine btw it just helps explains some things. (Just remembered something else: when you talk to quest NPCs out in the world and the camera focuses in on the conversation, you can't see your companions. They chime in with disembodied voices, always hidden out of frame. That also gives me the feeling they were added later. Not confirmed btw just my hunch!)

Torn about Taash. I love them for breaking the 'agreeable companion' monotony but hate the ~animalistic race~ tropes they were saddled with. I've had issues with Weekes' handling of race and culture in the past. I'm disappointed to see it continue a decade later. I'll leave it there. Sten cannot smell ovulating coochie!

I tried to kill Lucanis during the final assault. Had full faction strength but I didn't complete his personal quest. It didn't work. Sorry Zevran!

Shathann's VA was acting her ass off. Great performance. Absolute bars from Taash's VA during their scenes too.

I dreaded (🐺) opening the Lighthouse map to see who wanted to talk. I usually love chopping it up and getting to know my party; that's my favorite part of any DA game. But so many conversations were just spent restating the obvious (Bellara is worried about The Gods and her brother, Harding is worried about her powers and Solas, Davrin is worried about the griffons and Gloom Howler, you know like in case you forgot). Running person-to-person-to-person and feeling no sense of accomplishment or progress for it seriously drained me.

The Inquisitor… I assumed vowing to stop Solas would block my Lavellan from pining and questioning herself after a decade apart and two very clear rejections. She kept asking whether he could still be reasoned with even in the midst of the final operation. I'm disappointed how little that choice mattered in the end. The second-hand embarrassment was crazyyy.

Romance:

Now this part is a little unique. Sorry for what I'm about to say about Emmrich. If it helps: I found him the most fun of all the companions. He's handsome, thoughtful, and has a fascinating past. But I ended up being dissatisfied by the end, and not just because of being soft-locked into a May-December fling, cringe commentary from Rook, and feeling like I was straight-up harassing Emmrich in early flirting dialogue.

The main issue: I don't care for the Mourn Watch. I like the Mourn Watch characters, but the organization makes me crazy. We hear so little about how they function in the context of an Andrastian nation like Nevarra. Summoning the dead in a world that still believes souls join the Maker's side in the Fade is huge. I wanted to really dig into discussions on the afterlife but in the end I'm supposed to go 'waow cool skeletons' and forget that religion is such an important facet of Thedas. I was so bummed!

I made him a Lich because he didn't seem to care either way. Reuniting him with Manfred is morally good, turning him into an eternal protector of the Necropolis is morally good. Emmrich is happy with whatever, so I gave him whatever, and I said 'whatever' when it was all over. My god is that man cute, but the romance overall just didn't do it for me.

Should've known when I saw his rotunda lol Bioware you sly dogs you got me again!

Personal final thoughts:

Well? I don't think I'm sad anymore, but I am left with complicated feelings. Obviously things are a little different for me being an EA Partner and getting an idea of just how much work has gone into making the game exist period. And I think because I can't blame it all on one person, shit all over it, and move on that these feelings are just kinda churning with nowhere to go.

Things could have been handled better. Didn't like the attempt to hide the world states until launch, or the dismissive comments from writers about it. Didn't like the AMA answers. And this isn't really my business but I'll say it anyway: I feel like the community council was thrown to the wolves, having to base their DA4 impressions around the sliver of content they were allowed to see, and having a much more hands-off role than implied.

I hope DAV is taken as an opportunity to refocus, double-down on what makes Dragon Age so beloved, and lean into those strengths unapologetically. Easier said than done -- as much as I loved Swen's speech about creating games free of marketing expectations and mimicking the latest trends that's often times impossible -- but I want to believe it can be done in this case.

Anyway both Sabine & my antibiotics are complete and I'm overcoming my moodiness and getting back to work on commissions! I've cured the Blight in more ways than one! 😄

[extinctlesspains]

Can i req se-mi fics? One particular one that i've been stuck with is instead of gyeong su, thanos and namgyu already recruited se-mi and min-su and hey need one more player and thats reader? Later on reader will help se-mi live etc etc,, idk if this is possible but if you can make it i'd love it!! Btw i love your sae-byeok fics, they make me twinkle my toes and twirl my hair😍

A/n: lol I'm glad my fics make you do that 😭 I hope you enjoy this one! 😘

𝑊𝑒'𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑇𝑒𝑎𝑚 [𝑆𝑒-𝑀𝑖]

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⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛᴇᴅ: ʏᴇs ᴏʀ ɴᴏ

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: sᴇ-ᴍɪ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: ғʟᴜғғ, ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ.

sᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴏɪɴ sᴇ-ᴍɪ's ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇs, sᴜʀᴠɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ ɢᴀᴍᴇs ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛᴇᴀᴍᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴀɢᴇ. ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ ғɪɢʜᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴠᴇ sᴇ-ᴍɪ ғʀᴏᴍ ɴᴀᴍɢʏᴜ’s ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟ, sᴏʟɪᴅɪғʏɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙᴏɴᴅ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ғɪɢʜᴛ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪᴠᴇs.

ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇs: ᴋɪʟʟɪɴɢ, ɢᴀᴍᴇs.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

Life had hit its lowest point when the card arrived. The ominous pink envelope bearing three shapes promised salvation—or doom. You knew it was a mistake to follow the masked soldiers, but desperation led you to the dormitory filled with hundreds of others in green tracksuits.

Your number was #457, and survival was your only goal.

Among the chaos, Se-mi and her team stood out. The cold, calculating woman approached you with a sharp gaze that seemed to see right through you.

“We need one more,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Beside her, Namgyu smirked, while Thanos and Min-su remained silent but intimidating.

“Why me?” you asked.

“You look like you can handle yourself,” Se-mi replied simply. “And we don’t have time for second-guessing. Are you in or not?”

You nodded, sealing your fate.

The haunting tune of the giant doll's voice echoed in your ears.

"Red light..."

You froze mid-step, every muscle locked in place. A man near you stumbled, his body crumpling to the ground as the sound of a gunshot filled the air.

"Green light..."

You ran in short bursts, your breath coming in gasps. Se-mi moved like a predator, her steps calculated and fluid. Behind her, Namgyu and Thanos stayed close, their expressions hard and determined.

Min-su faltered at one point, but you grabbed his arm, steadying him. “Keep moving,” you hissed.

When the timer hit zero, you collapsed onto the dirt, alive but shaken.

“You did good,” Se-mi said, crouching beside you. Her approval felt like a small victory.

The second game was pure chaos: an obstacle course with mini games designed to test coordination, skill, and endurance. Your team of five was bound together by ropes, forcing you to move as a single unit.

“Focus,” Thanos growled as the first mini game, ddakji, began.

Walking with four other people and playing games, was agonizing, the ropes tugging and pulling at awkward angles. Thanos took the lead, his commands sharp and unyielding.

The flying stone came next, with Min-su playing. The games went on until...The final game, Jegi. Every game was a gamble, the ropes threatening to drag you onto the floor and preventing you from going any further.

Nam-gyu slipped, nearly pulling the team down, but Se-mi's and Thanos' grip was iron-strong as they yanked him back.

When you finally crossed the finish line, exhaustion hit like a wave, but relief quickly followed.

“You’re tougher than you look,” Namgyu said, offering you a rare grin.

The announcement of the third game sent the room into a frenzy. Players were given seconds to form groups into the number that would be announced. Anyone left out would be eliminated. "Three." The voice announced.

“Stay together,” Se-mi ordered.

Splitting up briefly, you found a timid man looking lost amidst the chaos. You brought him back to a room just in time.

The masked soldiers marched in, shooting away the stragglers. Their screams were a grim reminder of what failure meant.

“Well done,” Se-mi said, her rare smile making the moment feel less dire.

After only three games, the main area went to hell.

The dormitory became a battlefield. Makeshift weapons were wielded with brutal efficiency as alliances dissolved and chaos reigned.

Namgyu’s betrayal was sudden but not entirely unexpected. He cornered Se-mi, his eyes dark with desperation.

“You think you can escape this place so easily?” he snarled. He was referring to Se-Mi switching to the X side.

Se-mi fought back fiercely, but Namgyu’s strength overwhelmed her. You saw it happen from across the room and didn’t hesitate. Grabbing a metal rod, you charged at him.

“Get away from her!” you screamed, swinging with all your might.

The impact knocked Namgyu to the ground, dazed but not unconscious. Se-mi staggered to her feet, blood trickling from her temple.

“Thanks,” she muttered, her voice shaky.

“We’re not done yet,” you replied, pulling her up.

Together, you faced the oncoming threats, fighting side by side. Se-mi’s quick thinking and your unrelenting determination made you an unstoppable pair.

When the soldiers finally in, the surviving players collapsed in exhaustion. The room was eerily silent, save for the gasps of those who’d made it through.

Weeks after the games ended, you and Se-mi sat on a quiet beach, the sound of waves crashing against the shore. The prize money had changed everything, but the scars of what you endured lingered.

“Why did you save me?” Se-mi asked, her gaze fixed on the horizon. It was an odd question. The game ended weeks ago, so why was she bringing it up now?

“Because we’re a team,” you replied. “And because I couldn’t let you go.”

Se-mi didn’t respond, but the faint smile on her lips said more than words ever could.

You survived together, and that was enough.

[yanderelionwrites]

Take a Break - Self Aware AU Leona x Reader

Very self indulgent drabble to cope with finals stress 🫠

(Type of self aware au where they can come out of the game btw)

Content Warning: None!

Word Count: 778

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A normal person would probably scream and freak out if a whole person came out of their phone, nevermind it being a character from a mobile game. But you’ve grown used to it by now, so you don’t even bat an eye when an NRC boy comes through to say hi. In fact, you welcome it.

Except for maybe today. You have a bunch of projects and assignments due for finals week and you’ve been working nonstop on them so you can get them done on time. You’re beyond tired and your hands feel like they’re gonna fall off, but at least your assignments don’t look like total shit.

You’re at your desk working, ignoring the strain in your eyes or the stiffness of your shoulders. In fact, you’re so busy, you don’t even notice your phone’s screen lighting up, glowing from across the bedroom where you left it charging. In a flash, a certain lion beastman appears, feet planting themselves on the floor before his eyes scan around the room for you.

After confirming you’re actually present, Leona makes himself comfy on your bed. You hear the creak of the mattress springs, and finally then do you realize you’re not alone. You only stare at him in mild annoyance, though.

“What did I say about napping on my bed? You can’t just use my room as one of your hideouts, you know.”

Leona closes his eyes, leaning back until his head hits the pillow. He hums, murmuring, “You say that, but I don’t see you trying very hard to kick me out.”

“Cuz I’m too busy to fight with you.” You take a minute to stretch your limbs out before going straight back to work. “I thought we agreed that you guys wouldn’t visit during this time so I could focus. Just couldn’t wait to see me, huh?”

A huff of a chuckle came from Leona, saying, “Nah, just wanted a quiet place to nap. It’s those freshmen that won’t stop yappin’ about seeing you.”

“Mmhm,” is all you respond with, and the room soon falls silent again.

Only a few seconds go by and Leona is out like a light. You watch as his chest heaves up and down, looking oh so comfortable on your bed. Oh, what you’d give just to lay down and nap the day away. Better yet, make it the whole week. Geez, when was the last time you got a good night’s sleep?

You swear, once finals are done and over with, you’ll take the time to relax as much as you like. But for now, you need to finish this work.

The idea of taking a nap seems to still be on your mind, however, as you nod off at your desk. Your head nearly hits the wooden surface at one point, and you have to shake yourself awake to get the drowsiness to go away.

A hand clamping down on your shoulder causes you to jump, wide-awake eyes meeting the emerald ones of the man behind you. You didn’t even notice him there until now.

“You look awful,” Leona states matter-of-factly, and you throw a scowl at him before facing back towards your laptop.

“Gee, thanks. That’s exactly what I wanna hear right now.”

“Quit pushin’ yourself and take a break already before you find yourself drooling all over your work.” 

“I’m…” You take a second to yawn. “...not even tired. And I’m almost done, so–”

Leona shuts the lid to your laptop, eliciting a “Hey!” from you, but all protests die in your throat as he pulls you up by the arm. It’s not enough force to hurt, but it gets you to stand up from your chair. He tugs you away from your desk, uttering, “Don’t try to lie to me. Those eyebags are horrendous.” 

He leads you over to your bed and nudges you forward, and you have no choice but to flop down onto the covers with an indignant huff. You cross your arms as Leona crawls in next to you, chuckling at your glower.

“Don’t be like that. It won’t kill ya to rest a little bit.” He props his arm up to support his head as he leans against the pillow, gazing down at you. “Seriously, you gotta learn to take it easy sometimes.”

“Hmm, good thing the expert is here to show me.” You finally crack a smile, cuddling further into the warmth and comfort your bed brings.

You fall asleep shockingly fast; you really were more tired than you thought. The stress of finals still hangs around you, but at least you can find a moment of peace in Leona’s arms.