#YESSS SAME!! i love the power dynamics involved

[greensaplinggrace]

Trope Rating Game Rules: how much do these tropes affect your decision to click on a fic?

-10 -> very dissuaded

0 - don’t care either way

+10 -> very enticed

nope -> if it’s a hard no and you’d never click on a fic with that tag or you even have the tag blocked or you’d insta click out of the fic if it wasn’t tagged.

Bonus points for explaining the rating and whether it’s conditional.

***

Thank you for the tag @infp-obsessing-over-everything!!

Age gap: 8

I usually prefer the tag most when it's referring to a canonical age gap, because when authors make the characters closer in age for contrived reasons I sometimes don't enjoy the fic as much. So it's pretty enticing to see this tag in a lot of fandoms.

Codependency: 10

Sorry fam I love those unhealthy relationship dynamics I love obsession and I love codepency. I unfortunately cannot help this. I hope they die together.

Obsession/Possessiveness, jealousy: 8

I love possessiveness and obsession when it's a part of a power dynamic that is appealing to me, especially when it's a part of a relationship where the other partner likes it or isn't disturbed by it - and especially especially when it's a vital function of their dynamic to begin with. But I actually don't like it when it's just used for random relationship drama. Jealousy can be pretty hit or miss for me when it's actually a constructed scenario where a partner gets jealous and this causes tension between them.

Opposites (grumpy/sunshine etc): -8

I have a hard time with tropes like this where the characters are often ooc to fit into a dynamic that only really appeals to fandom. I don't really like cookie cutter character stuff like this. It's why I'm not too fond of incorrect quotes stuff either.

Enemies to lovers, Enemies with benefits: 10

YESSS!! Forever and always. I adore any relationship with enemies I love it more than anything. Give me that good good tension and angst.

Friends with benefits: 5

This can be a fun one for me, but I generally don't like them unless the characters eventually get together or the dynamic just hits really well and is spectacularly written.

Sex to feelings: 2

Depends on the execution. Like friends with benefits, I'd need it to be really fleshed out and engaging. I don't hate it, but it is kind of a boring dynamic for me.

Fake dating/relationship: 8

Spectacular because of the angst and opportunity for hurt/comfort. Also occasionally shenanigans and hijinks. Not as appealing to me if none of that is involved, however, and the biggest draw for me is whump.

Friends to lovers: 9

I love this one almost as much as I love enemies to lovers. I'm a sucker for a good, solid relationship with a steady dynamic, and I love it when friends to lovers delivers on those really close and comfortable bonds. I'm a sucker for anything that focuses on characters knowing each other at a bone deep level.

Found Family: 6

Found family as a concept is something I really like. Usually when it's tagged in a fic, the fic is written by someone who is obsessed with purity and wholesomeness, though. Which can get a bit uncomfortable. I like hurt/comfort and I like the recovery aspects of these fics a lot, however, so it's a toss-up.

Hurt/Comfort: 10

Utter perfection. Most of the fics I read are whump and hurt/comfort. I will generally avoid any other fics in the fandom until I've devoured every single hurt/comfort fic first. I'm always in the '[character] needs a hug' tag or the 'hurt [character]' tag. I live for it.

Love Triangle: nope

Not unless it turns into polyamory. But then all the stuff that makes love triangles annoying is gone anyways, so it's not remotely the same.

Poly, open relationships: 10

The best aspect of fanfiction aside from hurt/comfort tbh. But I'm really fond of complicated and sprawling and open relationship dynamics. A character accepting their partner needs more is appealing to me.

Mistaken/hidden identity: 8

Generally these serve, because I'm always a sucker for a misunderstanding written well.

Monsterfucking: 10

Yeah I'm a monsterfucker. That is something about me. Although there are fics that even I have to steer clear of.

Pregnancy: -10

The only reason this isn't a nope is because I have read a total of two pregnancy fics where they worked for me, and it was only because the plot was interesting enough and there was potential for hurt/comfort.

Second Chance: -5

It's kind of boring to me. Also I get stressed by betrayal and second chances angst. Which I know seems out of character, but it makes sense in my brain.

Slowburn: 5

Depends on the other parts of the fic. I'm not going to read something just because it's a slowburn, but I don't mind it.

Soulmates: 0

If it's poly it's an 8. If it's not poly it's mneh. I like the unique fics that explore things from an interesting perpsective, but it takes a lot to get me to read a soulmates fic where they're just soulmates.

Tagging: @justawholebunchofcows @thewillowbends @greenglassmountain @jaskierian @glitter50000 @vesperass-anuna @hxntersbxne @finnismyoriginalsin @imruination @mommacomms and anybody else who wants to play!

[boypussydilf]

skuttles up. hi hello saw the homemade ask meme.... can i offer you a ryuji and akira in this trying time, if i may, thought i'd go for something different because i assume you have 9845978375892 akechi asks (<- literally isn't different in any form)

shockingly ive only gotten 1 rhat involved akechi. im simultaneously going YESSS, deLICIOUS, some VARIETY, i can think about someone ELSE for once, and also Wheresakechi…… i wanna see akechi…. ANYWAY, HELL fucking yeah, akira and ryuji, my og p5 faves, my boys, the healing power of best bros, etc etc. putting it under a cut before i even start it bc. yeah

describe their canon relationship/dynamic

BEST BROS. The First Phantom Thieves. the leader and his right hand arm man. an unstoppable power duo who trust each other, want to help each other, want to protect each other, want to lift each other up, want to stay by each other’s sides. by god have you seen them? have you looked at them? They’re incredible. They’re wonderful. their bond is unbreakable forged in the fires of facing danger side by side, of both being unfairly outcast and unable to do anything but roll with it, of being sillygoofy hanging out having fun together. they look out for each other. they take care of each other. They’re Best Friends.

your ideal/headcanon version of it? how does it differ from how it is in canon & why is this your favorite version? any other alternate versions of it you enjoy?

i think the version of them that lives in my brain is basically the same just, tends to veer more clearly Romantic. they are dating <3 but there’s also like. they have the clear potential and power to do a lot of Stupid Shit together, True Meaning Of Boys Will Be Boys kinda stuff, but with the constraints of p5 not letting akira be a character & not including a ton of non-plot-relevant character interactions they don’t get to goof off like i Know they can. if you put them together Sometimes akira will become the voice of reason but sometimes he just goes Wow that stupid thing is a GREAT idea!!! and then they run off skipping and holding hands to do something really really dumb. and have the time of their lives

what do you like about their relationship, why is it interesting or enjoyable to you?

looks at them with my autistic eyes.

I always say “healing power of best bros” when referring 2 them bc i called them that Once and then it stuck in my brain forever but like. Yeah. That’s it. That’s the thing. I love, like. Bromances. They make the best relationship dynamic tbh. Both as a “what if these characters were dating” thing and also just like, the concept, although there’s rarely ever been a “bromance” that was not Just Gay. Its just the sheer joy of, here’s two guys and they do Traditional Guy Stuff together but it also runs very deep and they’re inseparably close and its. God. The power of the typical Male Best Friends dynamic but with the element that they have seen each other’s souls and will support each other unconditionally as people and. and. I thought of another thing for this sentence but I forgot it… im very sleepy…

Basically they have a type of dynamic that appeals to me a lot because it’s very fun and sweet and enjoyable.

what about the individual characters involved? what does this relationship mean to them, what makes it unique among their relationships?

GOD! GOD!!! Far from the first person to talk about this. Only even thought about it because so many other people talked about it. But. Like. They have both gotten unfairly ostracized and don’t really have Anyone, no real friends around them, no one has really Been Truly Nice to either of them in a while. And then they both meet someone who is nice to them and hears what people say about them & doesn’t care both because they’re in similar situations and also because they’d just like each other and be nice to each other anyway regardless!! Akiras first friend in Tokyo, Ryujis first friend in A While……

Ryuji feels like he belongs with Akira. I can never get over the stuff he says in his confidant…… he feels Free around akira…. he feels like they Belong by each other’s sides….. im turnin into a crying cat bro,.. its so sweet…. After everything that’s happened ryuji has found someone who goes out of his way to help him!! Someone who wants to lift him up! Someone who just likes Ryuji!

And akira gets The Social Interaction He Needs… from someone who’s straightforward, doesn’t talk around things and says what he thinks… Ryuji mother hens him and goes out of his way to talk to him and talks about all the things he likes about Akira without hesitating just smiling ans going of course i like you you’re you!

They r looking at each other and going This is the coolest guy ever!! they are verbally making a tier list of big bang burger menu items at full volume in a public place they are trying to lift each other over their heads this got off track. They are both so happy to have this uncomplicated relationship with someone who just wants to cheer them on.

favorite interaction they have in canon

“but there’s nothing to see there” “whaddya mean? you’re there!”

also all the times ryuji gets super pissed about shido on akira’s behalf.

favorite interaction they have in your head/a situation you want to put them in

I just wanna see them be silly and stupid together man. I just wanna see them hang out forever. I wanna look at the bocky comic for 1 million year. I want to see them enacting the Troy & Abed plots of various Community episodes. I like these guys. A lot.

[scottymcgeesterwrites]

Final Fantasy VII Remake Review

Year: 2020

Platform: PS4

I finished this game shortly after posting all my main single-player series Final Fantasy reviews. I was still digesting it and thinking about it to put together my review.

Synopsis:

The Shinra Electric Power Company rules over the city of Midgar, and the eco-terrorists AVALANCHE stop at nothing to try and prevent the life essence of the planet from being used as energy. Barrett, leader of AVALANCHE, hires a mercenary named Cloud Strife for their bombing mission on a Shinra Mako Reactor. Cloud doesn’t care much for the greater cause and only wants his pay. But then, after a mission goes awry, he meets Aerith, a flower girl who is the descendant of the Ancients. He quickly finds himself wrapped up in the greater conflict against Shinra.

Gameplay:

Final Fanatasy VII Remake has one of the best gameplay styles of any Final Fantasy game. It’s that good. It seems like after all these years, this is what Square really wanted to do. Since this was released after Final Fantasy XV, it’s pretty much the successor to its gameplay. While Final Fantasy XV has you more or less spamming the attack button with occasional spell casting and item usage, Final Fantasy VII Remake has you much more involved with the Materia system, abilities, and guarding/evading. One notable example is that Final Fantasy XV always told you when you should guard in order to counter, but Final Fantasy VII Remake has you figure that out on your own.

The abilities are so goddamn flashy and cool during gameplay. Tifa’s moves are quite possibly the most awe-inspiring.

My only complaint is locking onto the enemy during battle. You have to press down on R3 to lock onto an enemy, and I sometimes found that jarring with the camera controls. Sometimes I accidentally disengaged from an enemy and missed an attack. Since your moves are dependent on an Active Time Battle system, you can waste a turn if you get hit while conjuring a spell or taking out an item. That sometimes made me go “REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”. But in the long run, those were very small gripes. The battles are so much fun.

Since the game follows only the Midgar portion of the story, it’s linear. But you reach sections where you are free to roam around and do sidequests before continuing with the main objective. I’m sure the later releases of the remake will feel much less constrained. But this remake does a good job at expanding upon Midgar without feeling too redundant.

Graphics:

Jesus Christ. This game is gorgeous.

Both in-game graphics and pre-rendered cutscenes. The switch between a pre-rendered cutscene and in-game cutscene has become much more seamless than ever before.

If you remember my Final Fantasy XV review, I mentioned how NPCs and other in-game animations seemed stiff and stilted. Final Fantasy VII Remake takes steps to remedy that. Characters have more fluid movements and everyone’s lips move a lot more. However, lip movements can come off as awkward. My friend was watching me play, and during one in-game cutscene they said “Something looks weird with their lips.” At times, lip movements seem too dynamic when the character is standing relatively still, which comes off looking like Mr. Ed the horse trying to talk.

Despite those small awkward things, the rest of the game is extremely polished. Remember how blocky Final Fantasy VII was? We now finally see these characters and the world of Midgar brought to life in beautiful HD graphics.Like holy shit. Everyone looks so beautiful.

Before I played this game, I was a Tifa stan, but now, ho man, they made Aerith so much more appealing.

SO.

MUCH.

MORE.

APPEALING.

And Tifa shines better than ever. I’m very tempted to just gush about her but here is just a couple enticing gifs.

Imagine playing this game and still thinking gamers are oppressed.

Story:

Final Fantasy VII Remake follows from the start of the original game up until the party leaving Midgar. Square plans to release the rest of the remake later.

I have to say, they made the story a lot more engaging than the original. That may seem like blasphemy, but the dialogue and voice acting was just so damn good. Some of my favorite moments included the banter between Aerith and Cloud. Like I said, I wasn’t into Aerith that much until I played the remake. She’s just so damn cute and charming. One of my favorite parts was when she said, “Shit” and almost fell, after mentioning how she didn’t need help climbing a ladder. Her voice is so lovely and amusing to listen to. The growing romance between her and Cloud doesn’t come off as forced or cringey, because we now spend so much time with Aerith.

Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie have much more important roles in the story. This gives us a greater sense of Avalanche as a ragtag group.

Entire chapters focus on them, especially Jessie. I cringed a bit at Jessie to be honest, despite her popularity. She now comes off as a copy of Aerith in the sense that she comes on strong to Cloud. But really strong. Like “I want that D right now” strong. Cloud has officially become your usual anime boy who is good at everything that can make any woman magically fall in love with him. So that whole thing made me roll my eyes.

There are some new characters inserted, such as the SOLDIER Roche. I thought they were going to do more with him but, apparently not. The new characters can be a bit “meh”, such as Chadley. Johnny isn’t a new character but may as well be since his role is so expanded. He was probably the most annoying, constantly calling Cloud “bro”. That gave me some bad flashbacks of Prompto’s modern-speak in Final Fantasy XV.

The remake adds a certain new plot element that you’re not sure at first where it’s going until it’s revealed at the very end. The ending can be a bit out there, as the original storyline is changed significantly. SIGNIFICANTLY I was curious if this game would make sense to first-timers, but, probably not when you reach the end. The ending heavily relies on you knowing the original game.

My only complaint about the story was how they started the motorcycle chase cutscene. That was my favorite cutscene of the original game, with Cloud driving down the stairs and the group getting into the car. I liken it to the barrel scene in the original Hobbit novel. But like the Hobbit movie, they made the motorcycle scene pretty outrageous. Like so over-the-top that my initial reaction was to scoff at it. It also struck me as awkward, because there were many moments when the bad guys could have shot them but just. . .stood there watching Cloud kick their asses.

Some people may be upset by how the remake ended, while others find it cool. I thought it was cool. But at the same time, now I want an official “remastered” Final Fantasy VII too. Just a game strictly like the original but with vastly improved graphics.

Music:

The music was pure eargasm. There were many moments when I fanboyed screaming “THIS IS THE SONG! YESSS!” They remixed the songs so well, from the battle theme to the Shinra theme, and the Wall Market theme. Everything you loved about the original soundtrack but MORE gusto, more pomp and circumstance.

A couple complaints though.

1 – I think the focus on making the music more orchestrated takes away the mood of the original music. I missed some of the synth and electronic from the original game because it related well to the technological city of Midgar. The synth and electronic featured in the original game gave off a brooding, darker mood.

2 – I didn’t like what they did with the Crazy Motorcycle music.

Notable Theme:

It’s difficult to find pieces of the original soundtrack as of today, because Square is taking them down from YouTube. Still, some people have managed to keep up some of the coolest tracks from this game. Unfortunately, the videos have gameplay footage, which could be spoilers, technically.

I’ll just leave it as this:

The Jenova battle theme is a much longer piece in this game, but it pays off at the final quarter of the song.

Trust me.

Verdict:

The remake does the original justice. We waited so long for this game and it delivered, unlike Final Fantasy XV.

I don’t think a first-timer would really appreciate it though as much as a fan of the original game would. Sure, there’s nothing stopping you from just going into it without knowing the original game, but there are things that one wouldn’t understand unless you played the original game. In that sense, the word “remake” is a bit misleading. Maybe they’re “rebooting” the entire Compilation of Final Fantasy VII? It seems like they’re going for what they did with the newer Star Trek movies, if you catch my drift. But I can’t say for sure exactly where they’re going with it until the next game comes out, but it seems that way to me.

[histrionic-dragon]

Leverage: The Girls’ Night Out/Boys’ Night Out Jobs

Random “read more” cut after a few lines because it gets long.

The Girls’ Night Out Job

Aw, I thought they’d bring Peggy along.  --Ah! Maybe she’ll get involved after all.

Sophie’s outfit is great.

Parker is being a good friend, but awkwardly.

Tara and Sophie working together is-- <3 Perfection

Stolen/fake diplomatic ID: “Great for parking tickets.” I’m really enjoying the grifter banter.

She’s climbing the elevator cable in stilettos!?

Parker’s pride is on the line!  (I forget which specific moment inspired this.)

“The Parker?” :D Parker’s famous! Well, of course she would be, among thieves.

The three of them planning and power-walking down this hallway--! Yesss.

Peggy is involved! With a frying pan! Aw yes.

2 minutes. C’mon, ladies of Leverage, save the day!  --Yes! Evacuation!

(Hardison answers Sophie’s call while climbing a fence to get away from dogs) And weren’t they at a bar labeled “Mexican gang headquarters” earlier? ....What did poker night turn into??

Throw it out the window! And drink! I really do like Tara and Sophie’s approach to all this.

“I just play by a different set of rules”  Yay Parker!

“Same is boring” Awwww Parker. :)

Aaaand Tara winds up with the hot thief guy! Nice touch.

The Boys’ Night Out Job

Aha, it’s the same night! So we will find out why they were in a gang HQ and climbing fences and stuff.

“And don’t say Maggie”-- I love this. They’re such a family by now and it’s great.

“Do not let him go off and sulk”--I love how Eliot is Deputy Nate Wrangler when Sophie’s out. Honestly, I love the dynamic between Eliot and Sophie. Sometimes it’s like she’s a much-older sister; sometimes it’s play-flirty (e.g. Rashoman Job flashbacks); sometimes, like this, it’s “you are the eldest child, keep the house from burning down while I’m out.” But it’s not quite any of those things. It’s just fun.

“Terrorism and peanut allergies don’t mix.”  PFFFFT.  Shelly is....intense, but goofy. I can see how he and Eliot are friends.

How’s Harley? (Hurley?) Oh! That guy! Rehab dude! The one who didn’t really understand why what he did was wrong.  And this time he doesn’t even know--!

The argument about whether the church basement counts as holy ground is almost Monty Python-esque.

“This is the guy who helped me get clean and sober, which is kinda weird, since he’s kinda messed up himself”: Or, Nate Experiences the Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known.

Nate is getting hugged way more than he’s OK with.

How did Eliot do that with the umbrella?!

“Sister Lupe!” (heartbroken) “....Sister Lupe.....”

Shelly and Bonnano roughhousing. Good to see everyone’s friends get along.  Also, there is so much orange soda in that fridge, and you can see those words crossing Shelly’s mind.

Everyone is enjoying this, aren’t they? The actors, I mean. Irish mob boss guy seems to like this role.

“That’s your pep talk?” LOL “It’s a little rough.” Heh. And Eliot can’t do much more than that, because then “I’d be thinking about you and Parker, which I never do!”  ...Huh. There’s some extra stress there, not just the exasperation/ anger I’d expect from “Nate’s missing and you’re worrying about relationship stuff!?” It’s more the “I don’t want to talk about this” kind of stress from when he’s talking about Moreau in the park in The Big Bang Job. Not as intense, but similar, that sense of holding something in. Would I notice it if I weren’t primed to look for OT3? Maybe not, but...I’m noticing now, anyway.

“Assertive”--heh. Oh dear . . . Eliot is now like c’mon, man.

Of course Nate would end up pretending to be a priest. In a way, I’m surprised it took this long.

Meanwhile, Eliot beats people up without ruining Hardison’s assertiveness. Eliot is sweet.  (Note: got to go back and see if the bar was full of choked-out guys in the other episode and I just missed it somehow. Like Hardison apparently does.) --So, there’s no way the gang leader was that focused on Mr. Assertive that he missed Eliot taking out everyone else in the room behind him. Eliot’s look at him as they’re leaving is somewhere between “thanks for not saying anything” and “you better not say anything,” and it is great.

Sidenote: I am pretty sure that Hardison actually did not notice, but if he did, I’m pretty sure it’s having the same effect as Parker’s “remember that thing you did with your pretend friends? With the lights and I’m pretty sure there was magic? That was really cool”: It didn’t work, but the fact that Eliot thought it would work, works.

Church escape! How did Nate get to a car that fast?

....It’d be a helluva plot twist if she is a nun.

Eliot’s quest to bolster Hardison’s confidence continues. Assuming Hardison really has a tell, Eliot lost rock-paper-scissors on purpose. And at the line “dogs out back,” he realizes he miscalculated.  --Still, he has to keep up the awkward distraction flirting! Which also isn’t going quite as planned: “ Do you want to touch my gun?” The awkwardness is briefly real (he didn’t expect that, and also Eliot doesn’t like guns).

Bonnano! And Shelly! Who is eating pizza. They clearly gave up on their weird friends ever returning with food lol.

....So wait, what happened to the cancer drugs? It looks like they arranged for the two gangs to be caught with those too, instead of giving them back to Sister Lupe. Hm.

Eliot winds up with “Sister Lupe”--of course. And Peggy ends up with Harley, who has a cat! Cute.