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gabessquishytum · 8 months ago

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Hey, Gabe. I’m so happy you're doing better and taking time for yourself.

I've had this thought percolating in the back of my brain for a little while, for Dream and Hob, and their darling wives, Calliope and Eleanor to have a lovely poly/qpr style thing happening, because, as much as I love all the romantic, sexy, and unhinged shenanigans on here, I would like to see something similar to my own situation floating about.

Dream and Hob have been attached at the hip since childhood, when Hob punched another kid for trying to kick them out of the sand pit. They love each other fiercely and have been through all the ups and downs of adolescence: the conflict of who they were as individuals, the struggle to stay together in a world that told them they were too close, exploring sexual identities, mapping out their dreams of the future, and last, but not least, figuring out how to share with a dating partner.

It's surprisingly difficult to find someone that doesn't assume you're cheating on them with your best friend when you're so close. If they trust sex isn't happening, they tend to get angry about the casual intimacy. Feeling blocked by or jealous of the already established bond.

At one point, Dream and Hob's friends told them they were so close they should try dating each other. So they did. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be. The sex was fun and engaging. They learned a lot about themselves, explored kinks and the kink community. There wasn't another person's feelings they had to navigate, but beyond the lust there was no spark of romance, no passionate love, no mystery. There was comfort, devotion, and the soft, mellow love of their friendship.

They amicably broke up with a new, physical dimension to their friendship that only made dating harder in the end. Still, they persisted.

Eventually, Hob met a wonderful, dark-haired woman named Eleanor. She was fiery and beautiful, willing to barge into Dream and Hob's life and demand they make room for her. She was a raging river, filling in the ravines and creating estuaries where Dream and Hob had long ago learned they didn't meet. She was new life and new paths, and Hob fell hard and fast.

There’s a certain point, early on, in a relationship where you have to explain the complex dynamic between you and your best friend. It's the breaking point for many people. It's hard, to share, to be unintentionally excluded, to learn secrets from a third party, but the people that stand their ground and thrive are breathtaking.

Eleanor, when she is told, demands space. She does research, talks to people in similar situations, takes the time to suss out her own feelings, tries to feel out the edges of compromise and expectation she requires. In the end, she flows back into their lives with a willingness to try and an adventurous gleam in her eye.

She proposes a new dynamic between the three of them. She wishes to pursue a romantic relationship with Hob, but wants to learn how comfortable she can be with Dream in the bedroom.

Hob's quick to assure her that he and Dream don't have physical relations when dating.

Eleanor, brave woman that she is, tries to explain why she thinks that's part of the problem they have with dating. They're so entwined in each other's life that removing them from one area only causes more stress. “You're practically married already,” she snorts. “You just need to find people who can live with that. I’m willing to try. Are you?”

It takes work and patience, respect and communication. They still hurt each other. Life gets in the way. People judge them and cause problems. They make it, in the end, to a place where they are content and no one is left out. Eleanor and Hob are happily married. Dream has a special place in their hearts and marriage bed whenever he needs or wants.

Years pass, Dream has proof now, that he can have romance and his best friend. That he doesn't have to sacrifice a portion of his heart for love. He has taken lovers, tried to bring them into the dance that is his relationship with Hob and Eleanor. Reluctance, timidity, and selfishness ended those relationships. At some point, Dream starts to give up, maybe Eleanor was special, a miracle.

This is, of course, when someone new enters the scene.

Calliope, stunning and witty, drifts on the edge of their existence, darting forward and back to a tune only she can hear. She flirts, flutters, and flees. She's looking for something and she won't be caught until she wishes it.

Dream watches her from the corner of his eye, intrigued and wary. He watches, in the hopes of learning what he can before approaching. He knows what to look for now, those early signs that will tell him if she wouldn't be a good fit. He isn't nearly as subtle as he wishes.

It doesn't take long for to Calliope notice. She glides closer, flitting back when others pursue.

There are clues to be found in who she lets close, and why. The outline of what she wants takes shape as partner after partner fails to meet certain criteria.

They start to circle each other at parties, a corkscrew winding tighter and tighter. He waits with hard learned patience. She slowly grows bolder.

Eleanor and Hob poke gentle fun at him, waiting on the sidelines, wishing him well. No matter how it ends, he'll always have them.

When Dream and Calliope finally crash together it's quiet, a gentle brush of fingers, a soft touch at the hip or arm. There are walks and dinners and music. They go to theaters and museums and libraries. She slots into Dream's life seamlessly, confidently.

There are the typical growing pains of partnerships and cohabitation, discovering how to be part of a couple separate from Hob and Eleanor, and learning where the four of them line-up and interlock.

People outside the relationship try to cause problems at times. They look at Dream and Eleanor or Calliope and Hob and notice how visually similar they are and accusations of cheating fly around. Sometimes someone close-minded will notice their closeness and try to enforce ridiculous religious views. Those that are covetous and jealous try to tear them apart.

They've worked too hard to let such things tear them apart.

Dream looks up one day to realize he’s curled against Hob's chest, in love and happy. Eleanor and Calliope are plotting something a few feet away, smiling. The future is unfolding before him, full of laughter and affection, understanding and belonging. The long journey and heartache was worth it.

—🏵

This is such a delightful and loving depiction of a beautiful poly/qpr relationship! I particularly love the way that Dream and Hob manage to work out their situation in the way you've described. Because not all friendships are meant to develop into romantic relationships, and platonic love certainly isn't worth less than romantic love. I genuinely enjoy the idea of them trying out romantic dating for a week and mutually deciding that it just isn't meant to be! The way they express love (romantically) is so different - Dream is all wild grand gestures and extremes, and Hob just. Isn't about that life. It just isn't going to work, and that's absolutely okay because the sex is still wonderful, and they're still best friends. They still want to grow old together, doing kinky things occasionally. They've both kind of accepted that they're lucky to have each other, and wanting more is probably a bit greedy.

But it's okay to be greedy.

With Eleanor and Calliope, life is never dull. In the large house where the four of them live, there is always music. Always laughter too, unless somebody is upset - then the other three will descend on them, and do everything they can to make it better. There is always a queue for the bathroom (even though they have more than one bathroom, all four of them tend to gravitate together into one space - you'll find Hob trying to shave while Calliope does her makeup and Dream tries to shower and Eleanor sits on the loo singing along to the radio). Somebody is always available for a cuddle (it's usually Dream who wants a cuddle, or some kind of physical touch, and it's great because he never has to worry about being too much. there are three people to take the load). Sex is just... easy. Even if somebody doesn't want to participate, they're always welcome to watch.

Hob loves silly jokes, loves it when Eleanor says "this is my husband Robert, and this is my husband's boyfriend, Dream". But he also secretly loves arguing with people who are rude about their relationship. He loves it even more when he's able to throw a punch. Dream and Eleanor might try to hold him back, but he can always rely on Calliope to join him for a scrap. She's taught him some wonderful Greek insults.

And life is basically very good. Turns out that more partners DOES equal more happiness, as Hob loves to say. Dream will never admit it but Hob is generally absolutely right.

#🏵 anon #the sandman #dreamling #dream x hob x calliope x eleanor #hob x eleanor #dreamuse

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isopod-lesbian · 2 years ago

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In 2015, I played Life is Strange; I was 17 years old, and hadn't quite realized I was a trans woman yet. For me back then, LiS was a fantasy more than anything; not because I wished I had Max's powers, but because I got to play as a young woman falling in love with her best friend. Even before I could articulate why, I felt this deep ache of longing for what could have been. By the end of that year, I had come out to myself and my friends, and I still credit LiS for helping me figure things out that way.

When I first played LiS, I felt like the "Bay" ending was the most appropriate for Max's story. If LiS is a game about growing up, then sacrificing Chloe is a hard but necessary choice to make, and I believed it was the right one. I never questioned the idea that good people will sacrifice their own happiness for the good of society, or for the people they love. So, when I began adulthood, I did so with purpose, but without passion. I did all the things I needed to do to survive and make it out into the world on my own, and I was miserable for most of the time.

When I came back to the LiS fandom in the past couple of years, I got a chance to re-examine my favorite game with a new perspective. I immersed myself in fanfic, I indulged my nostalgia, and I began to reinterpret this work that shaped me years before. I looked at the "Bae" ending especially with fresh eyes; I started seeing it not as a selfish decision, but an unselfish one, a choice made out of love for a girl who was let down by everyone who was supposed to care for her before. How cruel it was to imagine Chloe's story ending with her bleeding out in a bathroom, still thinking that nobody cared for her.

Now, I'm 25. I'm an adult in every sense of the word, and despite everything, it seems like my life is...kind of working out. I'm almost a year into HRT, I have a job that lets me live a reasonably nice life, and I'm planning on moving in with my girlfriend. When I started True Colors, I tried to temper my expectations, and hoped that my nostalgia for the past wouldn't inhibit my enjoyment of a new entry in the series. So, 6 years after the first, I played a Life is Strange game; and, for the second time, it showed me exactly what I needed to see.

If Life is Stange is a game about growing up, True Colors is a game about what happens after. It's a game about starting over, about finding a place to call home and people to call family. Where Max's powers let her find the perfect way to get what she wanted or say the right thing, Alex's powers ask her to understand the people around her. Where LiS holds the threat of the Storm over Max's head, Gabe's death in True Colors is just a tragedy that Alex has to process. LiS' central mystery comes down to an evil man doing evil things; True Colors' is the result of an entrenched capitalist machine that operates not out of malice, but out of sheer self-interest.

When I finished True Colors, I was confronted with a choice that felt like the polar opposite of LiS' ending. After all the excitement and emotion, the question posed to Alex first felt almost incidental. Nobody's life hung in the balance, neither choice carried any real emotional consequences, and there was no way of knowing what the ultimate results might be. But as I considered Gabe's vision for Alex, I was struck by how real it felt. How it felt like the choices I was already making in life, and the choices I know are yet to come in my future. I think 17-year-old me would have jumped at the idea of a life of adventure, traveling the country with the girl I love. But now, I can't help but think of how many chances we really get to find a home. I doubt it's a high number. So I chose to stay. And I can only hope that, whenever I'm given that choice in my life, I am brave enough to take a chance on whatever place I've found for myself.

#Life is Strange #True Colors #Shoutout to The Wrecking Collective #also yes this is my yearly text post #also nobody will be surprised that i romanced steph so i didn't even mention it LOL

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amuseoffyre · 2 years ago

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Good Omens thoughts in summary

On the whole, I’m happy with it. Won’t mind watching it again and again, definitely.

The Good:

Michael and David entirely loving their characters and each other and bringing that to life so wonderfully. The bickering and sniping and affection made me so happy

The entire Job storyline making it clear that God is as arbitrary and as indifferent to humanity and their suffering as Heaven, but Aziraphale still can’t see it because God still talks to Job when She long since stopped talking to the angels

All the tasty juicy parallels running all over the place - the realisation that actually, no Nina isn’t the grumpy signifier for Crowley, she’s the Aziraphale trapped in a toxic and controlling relationship but staying because it’s her partner and she feels she has to? And Maggie being the signifier for Crowley, the one who isn’t afraid of hard work and who will be brave and wait for the one they love?

The entire score - David Arnold is a master with his music and he inflicts musical pain so beautifully.

the sneaky little hints of Crowley’s angelic history

The ending. I know I’m probably in a minority, but I legit love that Aziraphale is still doing what he believes is the right thing to protect the world and Crowley. As Crowley said “whether it’s Hell or Heaven that destroys it, it will still be dead” and Aziraphale standing at that lift and pulling on his game face because he knows The Big One is coming. Crowley knew there would be another apocalypse, he warned him about it at the end of S1. Aziraphale’s been afraid of it for so long because he fears losing Crowley and the world. If Crowley was on the same side as him, he would have some level of protection, but even if Crowley won’t go with him, he will go to the place he fears and dislikes because if he’s not there to try and change things, who will?

the Metatron being a shady shady bitch. After all, he can’t have an angel and a demon who can summon up the power in excess of the Supreme Archangel working together when Heaven has plans in motion.

Aziraphale being a precious wee bean when it comes to looking after Maggie, purely because he likes his records.

A/C and their respective perspectives of what makes things romantic and trying to make Romance Happen. It’s also such a useful little reminder that Free Will is a thing. “we’re not toys for you to play with”.

Jim. I loved seeing how the lads interacted with him, but also how his behaviour changed and developed the more time he spent around them. Not to mention the fact that even with his memory gone, Gabriel instinctively knew Aziraphale was someone who would protect him because Aziraphale is the Guardianist Guardian to ever Guardian.

The Meh:

I am fully indifferent to the Nazi zombies. It felt pointless and was much too much unnecessary gore and time spent on body humour and body horror. Furfur could have done it solo. We could have had more of the magic act. But instead we get excessive time dedicated to lurching zombies who pretty much did bugger all aside from pull faces.

Too many new and random side characters and not enough time for them all. Some parts felt a bit scattered because there were just so many little things happening.

Beez and Gabe felt rushed. I know it was the undercurrent of the whole series, but cramming the big reveal into 5 minutes with barely hints earlier felt a bit much.

Otherwise, I know that much of this was set-up for S3. There is so much significance to the fact that all three of the flashbacks relate to times when people/bodies came back from the grave. I can’t remember Jim’s exact quote, but he cited something that I think is from Revelation about the dead rising and that is entirely fodder for S3.

#good omens S2 #good omens season 2 #good omens spoilers

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immren · 1 year ago

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4 and 10 for ambrose 15 for immren + a and g (about both of them) for yewwww

How easy is it to earn their trust?

not easy at all. he's extremely paranoid, but he's very easy to talk to and work with despite that. like he doesn't Seem that he's always on edge, but he is. even more so after he becomes prince, because he has a different mindset about the camarilla and anarchs compared to the primogen, who REALLY don't like him, but appointed him as prince since he's naive and easy to control. then they send him across the country once he starts rebelling and being difficult.

the only one person he genuinely trusts is iver. that's why he offered the mutual blood bond lol. and then they divorce every other week. sorry this is unrelated . there's lucien also but they grew apart once ambrose became "more important."

What lie do they most frequently remember telling? Does it haunt them?

ambrose lies so much. even when he's telling the truth, he will usually keep the parts of it to himself if it means getting things to work in his favor. that sort of thing, if that makes sense ?

there are lies he's told that DO actually haunt him. idk if you remember, but that comic i drew of him and his brother, gabriel. like ambrose's sire wiped gabe's memory of him. ambrose meets him again years later and catches gabe's attention bc hes just Staring. so he has to act like he doesn't know him. that hurt him a lot. (brief ambrose lore, his parents died before he was turned, and gabe is his only remaining family member. who's basically dead to him now since andrew mindwiped him and forbids ambrose from speaking to him ever again.)

How do they speak? Is what they say usually thought of on the spot, or do they rehearse it in their mind first?

for immren's voice claim, i'm really drawn to jamie bower I think. [Im really sorry for the strangers thing clip, i don't see immren having a british accent 😭] but the way jamie speaks here is really really accurate to how i imagine immren's cadence though. also since his voice also isn't as deep as the voice i used in bg3 (i still love you Voice 3 ).

immren is soft spoken in a normal conversation, almost whispering half the time. every word he says, it's like he says it with purpose. he speaks so eloquently in a way that makes most people Want to listen to him. super easy for him to be manipulative. Looks at his in-game charisma stat.....

also he NEVER uses fillers during his sentences like "um" "uh" "er" etc etc, if that makes sense. though i guess that goes along with "every word he says is said with purpose." lol.. he rarely rehearses because he doesn't need to. he will stay silent if he absolutely needs to think over a response to something. (ex. Gortash asking him to come with him to steal the crown of karsus from mephistopheles, and immren just staring at him for a good twenty seconds before verbally replying.)

he does struggle to speak with emotion, and if he tries, it sounds forced and unnatural. the characters that get to know him on a more personal level can understand his genuine feelings since he's so Direct anyways.

SORRY . I REALLY RAMBLED i hope this makes sense

Why are you excited about this character?

ambrose has a lot of fun connections in his world i love thinking about and would like to eventually draw more interactions of! iver, lucien, his sire, the random human men he won't ghoul but plays with their lives anyways, his former coterie, his new coterie. he's also a fashion model so that gives me an excuse to dress him up like a barbie with fun clothes i find on pinterest. Also vtm in general makes me excited and happy, and not to be biased but i really like my dumbass ventrue lol

immren has a lot of interesting traits to him i like to talk about! not only does he experience the horrors of being a bhaalspawn, he also has that cosmic horror aspect about him too with his eldritch patron. im excited to draw more horror related things with him if im ever feeling brave enough, there are some painting ideas i do have in mind already. there are also things in bg3 i haven't really touched on yet with art so im excited to get around to those too with him

What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

ambrose is really difficult for me to characterize a lot of the time. he's a hypocrite. he's kind. he's twisted. he wants to protect humans yet plays with their lives like they're his toys. he's manipulative. he seeks out the best for his coterie members. im afraid he reads off as inconsistent but maybe that's his charm? 😭

immren is supposed to be a really evil and dark character but sometimes i feel like im woobifying on accident. . does this count . LMFAOO

#ask #oc: ambrose #oc: immren #THANKuu i wrote so many words oops #Guys if theres another spot i forgot to finish a sentence at . . well..

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thefirstcourtesan · 2 years ago

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Misha’s Replay Ratings Pt2

My first post was getting too long to keep editing and I was only on ‘H’, so I realized that I needed to split my post up into multiple parts. Specially since I will eventually have to go back and edit part with some of the books currently updating.

Link to Part One

Immortal Desires

Story: A (I thought the story was pretty solid, a little rushed in places, but I love a good vampire story and I love that this book balanced the supernatural elements and the romance. Plus, since it now won’t be a standalone, that being is intriguing instead of frustrating)

Art: A- (the art in this book is good but there is very little that is super unique, it borrows a lot from Bloodbound)

LIs: A+ (not only are Cas and Gabe amazing, they balance each other so well and the love triangle/rivalry is so well done)

Romance Scenes: A (The romance scenes definitely improved in book two and the love triangle really had added a lot of flavour and depth.)

MC: A+ (I love this MC. She is feisty and brave, but also human. She mouths off to her mom and can’t pick which boy she loves more. She is thrust into a scary world and handles it well, but still feels like a teenager)

Friend Group/Side Characters: B- (the mom is great and I love Seth, but a lot of the other side characters are underdeveloped and the ‘best friend’ is a reused asset we barely interact with).

Villain/Antagonist: A- (overall, the villains in this book!but I feel like we are missing a piece of the puzzle and ai hope book 3 will bring it all together).

Paywall: D (the charm bracelet came into play a lot, which means that the book would be harder without it, and almost all the lore was paywalled. I feel like without diamonds, you would be missing a lot of the emotional depth)

Overall: A (This is such a fantastic book and I can’t believe it took me so long to finish it. I loved the setting, the characters, the romance, all of it.)

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

IL: It Lives in the Woods

Story: B+ (the story isn’t bad, it is a well crafter horror story but I don’t like horror, so I had a hard time getting invested)

Art: A- (the background art and CGs are phenomenally creepy, but this book loses points for having the ugliest MCs ever)

LIs: B- (they are all fine, but underdeveloped and none of the really stands out. This is a group that feels like it was crafted primarily as a friend group and romance is an afterthought)

Romance Scenes: D (they are short and they don’t really have any depth)

MC: A- (honestly, this MC is an extremely traumatised teenager. It’s really hard to judge her, but she is mostly likeable, if underdeveloped)

Friend Group/Side Characters: B- (so the problem with the characters in this book is they are mostly LIs, even if they are written as a friend group, but it means the actual friend group is lacking.)

Villain/Antagonist: A+ (the villain of this book is actually great, it is a solid twist and the minor villainous characters also have their role to play)

Paywall: C+ (everyone can survive without diamonds, but you have to play smart. The lore doesn’t even really add much, even if you do pay for it. You can play this book without diamonds and mostly understand it, it is just harder)

Overall: B- (This book is fine, but it’s not my thing at all, and I wasn’t particularly invested or attached to the story or the characters. I do get why people love it though)

Previous Ranking: 39*/50 (I previously ranked ILITW and ILB together)

New Ranking:

It Lives Beneath

Story: A- (not my personal cup of tea and I felt like it dragged at times, which is crazy since the timeline is about a week, but the story is pretty solid)

Art: A+ (the art in this book is super creepy and detailed)

LIs: B+ (the LIs are decent, none of them are excellent, but they are all solid characters and add something to the story)

Romance Scenes: A (the romance actually does matter here and influences your relationship, including how your LI reacts to your love confession)

MC: A (I mean, this MC is a badass. She climbs out of a watery grave and kicks ass. I don’t love her the way I do some MCs, but she is definitely pretty cool)

Friend Group/Side Characters: B (so this book suffers from the “LIs your only friends” syndrome but it also has the world’s coolest little brother and his boyfriend, so it gets point for that)

Villain/Antagonist: A+ (creepy cult, rich people willing to do anything for power and a pissed off ghost who has every right to be angry. It makes for a pretty awesome combo)

Paywall: D+ (the lore is pretty important to the backstory and character motivations, plus all the collectibles and how it affects character’s nerve and their ability to survive. You can do it without spending, but it is harder and you have to play smarter and you would definitely miss stuff)

Overall: B+ (this is a solid story, even if it is not really my thing)

Previous Ranking: 39*/50 (I previously ranked ILITW and ILB together)

New Ranking:

Kiss of Death

Story: A+ (the start was a little slow, but when it picked up, it really picked up. It is an excellent mix of romance and action and honestly while the ending was predictable, it was set up in a way where I asn’t quite sure until the end.)

Art: B (some cool art mixed with a bunch of re-used assets. This is a book that relied more on story than visuals)

LIs: A (I refuse to go higher than an A for single LI a books, but I did love Vic and I loved the dynamic between Vic and MC. The tension, the longing, the miscommunication… I have a soft spot for the sad and angry lost boy type and male Vic definitely fits that 😂)

Romance Scenes: A+ (OMG. This is where the book shines. The romance scenes are great but the story also builds. One romance scene will be referenced in another. You lean things about the characters, the romance grows. There is tension and teasing and the diamond scene in chapter 18 had me feeling all kinds of things).

MC: A- (I thought she was a tiny bit bratty at times, but she grew on me. I do like the stubborn MCs, and she is definitely that).

Friend Group/Side Characters: A (While there wasn’t really a friend group, there were several strong side characters and Faith is a pretty kick-ass bestie. Plus book made me cry and it was because of my attachment to one character.)

Villain/Antagonist: B+ (As I said, the villain was obvious, but also not because I second guessed myself a lot. The motives were believable, but at the same time, it was kind of handle in a rushed way because the identity of the villain felt like the least important element)

Paywall: C+ (I think this is one of those “diamonds make it easier/better” books and I feel like a lot of key background stuff is locked behind paywall, but the diamond scenes were cheaper than most books and there was a lot of call backs to previous scenes, which I always love)

Overall: A (I really, really loved this book. It isn’t perfect, but it drew me in and I felt invested in the characters and the world and the romance. I was surprised by how much I loved this book)

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

Knock Knock

Story: A+ (This is a short text story but it is a fun little murder mystery and it tells a good little scary story.)

Art: F (obviously this is text based)

LIs: D+ (You get to pick between a male and female friend to romance but there is very little actual interaction).

Romance Scenes: F (there is one diamond scene text with your LI but it fades completely to black and there is zero real interaction)

MC: A- (the MC is pretty good actually, pretty smart and level headed given the situation. A decent final girl.)

Friend Group/Side Characters: C- (We don't really get to bond with them but the best friend is pretty smart and resilient, so that is a plus.

Villain/Antagonist: D- (Uh, we don’t really learn anything about the killer or their motivation, plus I guessed who it was halfway through the book. Could have been done much better).

Paywall: A+ (Honestly, I bought all three diamond scenes and still ended up ahead in diamonds just by playing through.)

Overall: C- (My ranking system isn’t really set up for text based stories but I enjoyed this one more than The Shadow and I thought it was good for what it was.)

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

Laws of Attraction

Story: A+ (The story of these two books is excellent. In both case, the leaf up to the main case is done well. There is good pacing and balance between character development and story development and I was invested in the cases and their outcomes).

Art: B- (A couple CHs, but most of the art in this book is pretty basic. This is not a book that relies on art and it shows).

LIs: A- (I like both Gabe and Aislinn, they are great characters but the romance dynamic felt shaky at times, specially in book 2)

Romance Scenes: A- (This book is weird in that it was trying to balance the relationships with the one night stand mechanic and it affected how the actual romance develops.)

MC: A+ (I love this MC. She is confident, she is capable at her jon, she doesn’t hesitate. She is also definitely a mess on a personal level, but I am ok with that)

Friend Group/Side Characters: A (Book 2 brought this rating down slightly. I loved the side character dynamic in book 1. Beau and Gigi are treasures and the whole group worked so well together in book 1, but book 2 lacked that and I understand the plot reasons, but it still didn’t have the charm of book 1 and recurring members of the law firm barely did anything).

Villain/Antagonist: A (Book 1’s villain was better than book 2’s, but I like that this series balances their villains. There is the corrupt powerful figure (ceo, politician) and then someone in MC’s sphere who is aiding them, giving it a more personal connection)

Paywall: D (This book paywalls a lot. You will lose some cases, you will have to fight harder in the book one rankings and for your firm’s reputations, etc.)

Overall: A (I like this series a lot. It has one of the best actual stories and plot of any Choices series, as well as some truly likeable characters)

Previous Ranking: 8/50

New Ranking:

Love Hacks

Story: B (The plot is pretty thin, but it’s ok, it is supposed to be a slice of life sitcom and for what it is, it works)

Art: B (Nothing ground-breaking, but there are some cool features like the Dopey Cat game and Ben’s art, plus the Burning Sands backgrounds)

LIs: B- (None of the LIs are particularly ground-breaking, they are all decent characters but they don’t really stand out and are not particularly memorable)

Romance Scenes: C+ (The scenes in this book are super short and don’t really add much to the relationships).

MC: B- (This MC is very much a placeholder MC. She could be anyone. She isn’t even the clue of the group like in TF series. there’s nothing bad about her, but nothing interesting either)

Friend Group/Side Characters: A+ (The friend group is the best thing about this book. They are charming, they are zany, and the chemistry and hijinks work).

Villain/Antagonist: C- (While awful bosses and skeezy dude-bro co-workers are the worst, Martin and TJ are mostly just annoying and the conflict never feels high-stakes.)

Paywall: C+ (generally it’s not too bad, a lot of getting side characters together and you still succeed in many ways, but the first book does stuff like making you wear the opposing team’s colours to a baseball game which sucks and the diamond scenes are short and not particularly worth it. You also have pay to keep Leah around in book 1, which really sucks

Overall: B- (This book has its charms, mostly the characters, and it’s not bad, but it is not great either. It is just ok, but good for when you and a lighter read)

Previous Ranking: 24/50

New Ranking:

Most Wanted

Story: A (The story itself is solid, a gritty case with twists and turns and a pair of opposites forced to be partners).

Art: C- (This is really early Choices, so I will give it some slack. The art is jarring, like most early books, but there is nothing stand-out or unique to redeem it).

LIs: F (There aren’t any. There are characters who could be LIs if the writers had chosen, but we never get more than hints, even with Sam and Dave themselves)

Romance Scenes: F (Again, there aren’t any. Dave can kiss Alyssa Griffin, Sam can kiss Ryan Summer but the romances don’t go anyw where. There is no player choice in the final beach scene. The diamond scenes are also super short)

MC: B (Multiple POV books are not my favorite . This time I actually preferred Dave to Sam and if I’d had a choice, I’d have played as him the whole time and I never play as men 😂 but I did not particularly enjoy Sam and I at least liked Dave)

Friend Group/Side Characters: B (We don’t have a ton of interactions with them, but the interactions we have fun and the side characters have distinct personalities)

Villain/Antagonist: A+ (Honestly the villains were well done. The combination of the in-your-face villain of the psychotic serial killer and then the more subtle villain of the bad girl pretending to be something she is not and willing to kill to keep her secret, was actually excellent)

Paywall: A (I have played this book with and without diamonds and honestly, having diamonds just makes it easier. You don’t miss much, detail-wise, and it’s not like there is a ton of character interaction to miss anyway)

Overall: C+ (My ranking system really works against this book because I highly prioritise romance and this book doesn't have any. But it is also super short and boring, even if the story itself is well crafted).

Previous Ranking: 49/50

New Ranking:

Mother of the Year

Story: B- (This book is well written and I think it’s supposed to be heart-warming, but it’s just struggle after struggle and that is not my idea of a good time. It just makes me so anxious and sad).

Art: B (This book is basic, nothing really extraordinary art-wise, but most of the faces are new, so that is something)

LIs: A (The LIs are actually all pretty great. They are distinct characters and they all fit well into the story and have a natural place in MC’s life).

Romance Scenes: A (Again, these are pretty good. The romance develops well and you learn a lot about the LIs in their scenes).

MC: B+ (I struggle a little with this MC, I find parts of her character frustrating but I like what a good mom she is)

Friend Group/Side Characters: A+ (This is the book’s biggest strength. The side characters are excellent, our sweet daughter and Luz, and Alma who is very much in the running to the best bff in the whole app)

Villain/Antagonist: D+ (I am grading the villains in this book harshly because they are so one-dimensional. They are easy to hate, but they are all so over-the-top villainous. I get Guy is supposed to be like that, but Vanessa? She is a badly written villain, with no redeeming qualities and yet we can say we might be friends? Yeah, no.)

Paywall: C (You miss out on the memory wall, the custody suit is harder and the game will play on your heart strings by having you disappoint your sweet daughter).

Overall: B+ (This isn’t a bad book, it has many redeeming qualities, but it is a depressing book and it feels like a lot to get through.)

Previous Ranking: 35/50

New Ranking:

Ms. Match

Story: B (This book is cute, but the premise is pretty thin. I get that they wanted to balance the sex to love with the completion element, but the way they did it was flimsy. Enjoyable, but flimsy)

Art: B- (The art in this book is fine, except the MC hair options. Those are atrocious)

LIs: A- (I like cocky LIs with troubled childhoods, so of course I like Jack. He can be frustrating at times but he also had really good growth)

Romance Scenes: A+ (This book balances hot and funny and emotional all in one. There is a lot of depth in the romance scenes and the relationship builds in a natural way)

MC: B- (This MC bugged me a bit, with her attitude towards the competition and her lack of compassion for Jack. She acknowledges it herself later, so I will give her some credit, but I still found her a little annoying)

Friend Group/Side Characters: A- (This is a pretty good cast. A small cast, but,Maggie is a treasure and I really like both Drew and Veronica)

Villain/Antagonist: C- (This was not a villain, he was both obvious and not present enough and his motivations were shallow)

Paywall: B+ (I don’t think it was that bad. You win the completion regardless, you end up happy. You just don’t make as many matches and the storyline with the bar plus Drew and Veronica goes a little rougher)

Overall: B (This book is cute and it is an enjoyable read. Sometimes that is all you need. It is also a good use of the single Li dynamic) .

Previous Ranking: 13/50

New Ranking:

Murder At Homecoming

Story: A- (This was a pretty solid mystery story with lots of layers. The only real failing was the Perdita story that went nowhere, not even her disappearance since that motivated MC but the stuff with Kyle and Jeremy which was obviously setting the ground for a book 2 that never happened)

Art: A (The murderous April sprite was creepy as Hell and generally this book had nice art and great LI CGs).

LIs: A+ (I liked all three LIs. I felt they balanced each other well and they all had logical reasons for getting involved in investigating the murder and I liked the times the personalities conflicted)

Romance Scenes: A (These were the good, advanced the romance and built the emotional connection)

MC: A (I liked this MC a lot. They did a good job of fleshing out this emotionally scarred teenager who fuels her pain into helping others, trying to solve their problems because she couldn’t save her sister)

Friend Group/Side Characters: B (I adored Johanna Morgan and think she deserves the world, but this book does the “LIs are the fiend group” thing for the most and I get it, you don’t want your mystery crew to be too big. But it does work against the book in this category 😂)

Villain/Antagonist: B (I understood what they were they were going for, but I think they failed a bit with the execution and the villain went to crazed killer just a little too easily)

Paywall: D+ (There was a lot of evidence to pay for and without the evidence and the back stories, mysteries are harder to follow because you are missing information)

Overall: A- (I liked this book a lot more than I expected too. I think they did a good job with the Veronica Mark-style mystery. I especially liked how they never forgot that the characters were all human and that they were grieving and they had emotions get the best of them at times)

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

My Two First Loves

Story: A- (I hate the Principal Jennings storyline, truly hate it, but otherwise I actually like the story in this book. The story of a teenage girl trying to figure out who she is and what she wants and navigating parental pressures, crippling loss, and complicated romantic feelings.)

Art: A- (This book is pretty basic but the boys CGs are well done and there are a few cool art moments)

LIs: A+ (I struggled a little with this because of the poor treatment of Ava, but I do genuinely like Ava and I think for all the poor treatment, she is a good character and Mason and Noah are fantastic and the teen romance drama is perfect).

Romance Scenes: A+ (The romance scenes in this are sweet, they deepen the romance and let you know more about the LIs, but they also do that high school romance well and that tension and hestiancy and pushing boundaries).

MC: A+ (I know this is a controversial opinion, but I love this MC. She is messy and dramatic and self-centred but she feels real. I adore her. She is one of my all-time favorite MCs).

Friend Group/Side Characters: B-. (This book doesn’t really have a group. The only friends are the LIs and even that is late game. But Mackenzie Price is a gem and one of my all time favorite Choices characters.)

Villain/Antagonist: B (This book really has two villains and Lauren is actually an excellent villain, because we all went to school with a girl like Lauren. Principal Jennings on the other hand was a bad, cartoonish villain).

Paywall: A- (There were a couple things that came up later, like Noah’s knife, but for the most part this story kept the diamond scenes to romance and outfits).

Overall: A (I like this book. Is it perfect? Nope. It mistreats the lone female LI and the principal plot is bad, but it is still a fun book with good characters and one that I can personally relate to and it makes me feel nostalgic and happy)

Previous Ranking: 3/50

New Ranking:

The Nanny Affair

Story: C+ (This series is basically a cheap romance novel crossed with a soap opera. At times it is entertaining, it is certainly smutty, but it’s not particularly good and there are times where the plot really drags).

Art: A (The art in this book is actually pretty great, from the smutty cut scenes to the CGs to the sweet pics with the twins).

LIs: D+ (I strongly, strongly dislike Sam Dalton, he grew on me a little in book 3 to the point where I no longer despised him but I do not like him. Not at all).

Romance Scenes: A+ (This book delivers on the smut. This book is super steamy, but there also plenty of heart warming diamond scenes, it is a good mix,p).

MC: B (I like that this MC has a career and ambitions but she also annoyed me at times, overall she is fine. A middle of the road MC).

Friend Group/Side Characters: B+ (The twins are darling. I would do anything for them. We also love Carter, Robin and Sofia. I even like Jenny. The problem is the friend group is weirdly patched together, like when we did become besties with Marisol?!)

Villain/Antagonist: D- (The villains in this series are all right. Sofia, Robin, Addison, they are all justified in being pissed off and are more interesting than Sam and MC but we are supposed to hate the:and there are more options to be awful to them than not.)

Paywall: A- (I was choosy with my diamonds and I don’t think you miss much other than smut and some family moments. There were a few times where diamond scenes gave boosts and made certain things easier, but I don’t think this series really hides much in diamond scenes except smut),

Overall: C+ (Honestly, this book promised smut and some cute kids and it does deliver, but since I hate the LI, the smut didn’t really do much for me and the story is meh at best.)

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

Nightbound

Story: A- (The story had some serious pacing issues, but overall it was a pretty solid plot and good world building)

Art: B (A few creepy monsters but most of the art is pretty basic and nothing really stands out)

LIs: A (I like all the LIs, they are all unique from one another, with varied backgrounds and add to the main story)

Romance Scenes: C (There are a few deep emotional moments but this is the book that is known for the 30 diamond fake our and the diamond scenes also felt short and a little rushed),

MC: A- (This MC is pretty decent. One of the less irritating MC’s although not as memorable as some of the others. But I don’t constantly want to shake her, which is more than I can say for many MCs).

Friend Group/Side Characters: A- (The LIs make up the “main” group, but there are also the Graveyard shift gang, who are all delightful and enhance the story)

Villain/Antagonist: A+ (Thomas is actually a great villain: completely awful and terrifying, but with a backstory that evokes sympathy).

Paywall: D. (Between the 30-diamond fake our, the fate’s tears, locked most of the relevant information about the LIs behind a paywall and then final insult of having to pay to stay with your LI, this book is definitely a “pay-to-play).

Overall: A- (It took a bit to get into and it has serious pacing issues but overall it is enjoyable and there is some really interesting world building and some fantastic characters.’’)

Previous Ranking: 38/50

New Ranking:

Open Heart

Story: A (The series has some rises and falls and there were some decisions by the writing team that I do not agree with and glad they walked back, but over all the story is engaging and it builds well, it feels like a complete trilogy, with each book building on the last).

Art: B+ (This is not a book that people are reading for the art. The art is good but a lot of books have better art, the backgrounds are nice and the characters are attractive, but there is nothing that makes you go ‘wow’)

LIs: A+ (One of the best cast of LIs in the entire series, hands down. They are all distinct individuals with their own personalities and stories. Are there some writing imbalances and poor decisions? Hell yes, but these LIs are all excellent.)

Romance Scenes: A+ (This actually is one of those things that builds as the series went on. The book one romance scenes were good but by book 3, they were excellent and there is a lot of building on previous scenes and choices, the LIs you have romanced start making default romantic overtatures, which I always prefer)

MC: A+ (This is one of my favorite Choices MC’s ever, I love my sweet, emotional girl who has such a big heart and a desire to change the world. There are times where the MC is impulsive and frustrating but overall, I love her story arc.)

Friend Group/Side Characters: A+ (The side characters are one of the things that makes this series so special. Open Heart has a full, well-developed cast of characters and MC gets to spend lots of time with people other than the LIs and gets to build meaningful relationships and connections.)

Villain/Antagonist: A- (Each book has it’s own villains but the over-arcing villain is the medical system and all the red tape and limitations that doctors fact that sometimes prevent them from helping people in need and that makes for a pretty compelling narrative. So do jealous man-baby intents and ego-fed tech billionaires, honestly).

Paywall: B (This is one of those rankings that kept going down with each subsequent book because the first book isn’t really pay-walled in terms of the MC’s career but after MC joins the diagnostic team, things become a lot more locked behind diamond scenes. I do like that this is one of those books that often ties outfits to actually getting a bonus scene and overall it still isn’t as bad as many series are).

Overall: A (Is this series perfect? No and there were some definite poor judgement calls made by the writing team but overall it is really, really good and it has one of the best cast of characters of any choices book ever).

Previous Ranking: 25/50

New Ranking:

Passport to Romance

Story: C+ (I mean the story is exactly what it says it is, a travel blog. It is just not particularly interesting and there are no real twists.)

Art: B+ (This book was mid-Choices and it shows, but it does have a nice Sumire CG and it does a few cool things with the blog art, but nothing out of the extraordinary)

LIs: C+ (The LIs in this book are bland. I guess they are all individual characters? But none of that has that much personality to be honest.)

Romance Scenes: C- (The romance scenes are short, not particularly inspired and they don’t really give you a lot in terms of the relationships or character development).

MC: B+ (Do I particularly like this MC? No. But unlike some, she has a personality and I kind of admire her grifter nature.)

Friend Group/Side Characters: D- (The LIs are the friend group, are the first two chapters with Ahmed’s teammates, we barely interact with another character unless they are an antagonist and this group of LIs is not charismatic enough to do double duty).

Villain/Antagonist: F (The two main “villains”, Yvette and Elliott’s brother, are just two people trying to get people to live up to their responsibilities and vilified for it.)

Paywall: B (I mean there is a lot of blog content that is paywalled but the book does also offer a lot of rewards and bonus scenes for getting followers, so at least there is payoff.)

Overall: C (There is a level of ridiculousness to this book that makes it impossible to take it seriously and that makes it fairly entertaining. This is one of the most unhinged MCs, so it has that going for it, but overall it is not particularly good or memorable.)

Previous Ranking: 45/50

New Ranking:

Perfect Match

Story: A (It starts out slow but it builds up and there are a lot of layers to it. It is not my favourite genre but it is still a very well done story and it keeps you guessing the whole time)

Art: A (The art is really good, especially for the time. The CGs of Hayden and Harley particularly stand out).

LIs: A (This is a solid cast of LIs, the main three and the two they let you semi-romance, plus this book lets you be poly and acknowledges it, which is great. The LIs are all interesting, distinct characters, which is always nice).

Romance Scenes: A- (There is a lot of building off scenes which U like and layered romance reactions, as well as some deep emotional moments with each LI, but the scenes do often feel a little short)

MC: A (I do like this MC a lot, she has a lot of personality and is good at being the leader and I like where there are some default characteristics to work with, in this case, the fact that MC is a terrible cook. I am not as emotionally attached to her as some of my MCs but I do appreciate her)

Friend Group/Side Characters: A (This book has a little bit of the LIs are the main group, but there are enough other characters to balance them out and those characters are all delightful and the group dynamic is fantastic. Plus Dipper is the best girl.)

Villain/Antagonist: A- (Eros makes a good villain and Cecile and Rowan were both appropriately evil, but they lacked the emotional punch of some other villains. It was neat to see how often they managed to be one step ahead.)

Paywall: B (I have played this with and without diamonds. It is still very playable without diamonds, you just miss out on extra scenes and some tasks are harder. You do get a lot of value for diamond scenes as there is a ton of building onto other scenes, but it does that thing I hate where it makes you pay to have characters around, yes, in this case they’ll both join you later but the principle of the issue still applies).

Overall: A (This is probably the series where my opinion changed the most when I sat down and gave it a fair and balanced play through. Is it one of my top 10? No, but overall it is a very good series),

Previous Ranking: 50/50

New Ranking:

The Phantom Agent

Story: B- (The story did pick up at the end and the twist [that wasn’t really a twist] was well done, but the pacing wasn’t great and certain elements were dragged out far longer than they should have been).

Art: A (This book had some beautiful art and the backgrounds were all very nice).

LIs: C- (Single LI books live and die on the LI and this one was not great. There were a couple of good moments, but generally I did not particularly like Callum Gray and I found the dynamic with MC more annoying than anything else)

Romance Scenes: C- (The romance scenes have some heat but not a lot of depth and they don’t really build the relationships or expand Agent Gray’s character)

MC: C- (The only credit I will give this MC is that they are good at their job but since every line of dialogue made me cringe and I found them genuinely unlikeable, the competence doesn’t really affect my general opinion of them)

Friend Group/Side Characters: A (Normally, I take away marks for small casts but that is more when there are multiple LIs and they dominate the friend group. In this case, the main cast was only 3 characters and Vivian was the only one I liked. She was by far the best part of the book)

Villain/Antagonist: A (The Architect was a good villain, he had a solid backstory but had let his pain truly corrupt him, so he was never redeemable. The Contractor was also a great villain, with the twist and the personal connection. You had the villain who felt remorse and the one who didn’t and it was a good combination).

Paywall: B- (So this book did lock a lot of backstory and resolution behind a paywall, but it also had a lot of buildable diamond scenes and for the most part, the diamond scenes just made the tasks easier, which I always appreciate as a player as I hate timed choices. This book is playable without diamonds, it is just harder and you miss some character details).

Overall: C+ (I did not particular enjoy this story, but it did have some good elements and the story itself wasn't bad, just the main characters sucked)

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

Platinum

Story: B+ (There is nothing new or exciting about this plot, this story has been told several times in Choice but this variation is decent and it flows well. I really love the pacing of this story and that each quartet is it’s own arc) Art: A+ (This book has original songs. Tons of them. But it also has some gorgeous art. I love the magazine covers at the end of each chapter). LIs: A+ (I love the LIs in this book. I love that they are each unique individuals with something to offer the story and MC, although Shane was done a disservice in terms of writing and screen time, I still enjoy him as a character. There is something for everyone with the romances in this book). Romance Scenes: A (The scenes in this book are good, if a little short, but they do a good job of progressing the romances and giving the LIs depth). MC: A- (This MC is frustrating at times [*cough* the vinyls] but generally pretty likeable and I actually like that we have an MC who struggles with feelings of self doubt and anxiety and most of the time, I was rooting for her). Friend Group/Side Characters: A+ (This is one of the best casts in all of choices. Fiona, Micah, Sadie and Hank are all treasures.) Villain/Antagonist: C- (At the end of the day, I think the music industry is the real villain, but it is not something that is executed well at all and none of the people who could be a villain are really villainous. I get what the writers were attempting but the execution is a miss.) Paywall: D+ (You miss out on a ton of fans and most of the songs if you don’t pay. This is a book where you have to pay to enjoy it to its fullest.) Overall: A (I love this book. It’s not particularly original but it is fun to play and it has one of the best casts of any book.) Previous Ranking: 9/50 New Ranking:

The Princess Swap

Story: B- (The story is basic but cute. It is a classic story with a new twist and it mostly works, but the ending is rushed and they spend way too much time on the sorority drama).

Art: A (This is a very pretty book and I especially love the transitions between the two sisters)

LIs: B (They are both fine, but neither of them is anything particularly unique or special. Clark just feels like a rework of Blaine from FA while Devin is your toroidal nice guy and doesn't have much individual character development).

Romance Scenes: A- (The romance scenes did a pretty good job building the relationships, especially given that this was a split MC book and things had to be condensed because of it).

MC: A- (This book has two MCs. They are both fine and I like the way they interact with each other. The smart and the spunky sister is a trope for a reason, but it works here and both MCs are likeable and they play well off each other).

Friend Group/Side Characters: A- (The side characters of this book were actually very likeable, especially the sorority sisters, as much as I hated how much the story focused on that plot. The dad was great, if under developed. Overall, I liked the assorted cast of this book.)

Villain/Antagonist: D- (The villains are the worst part of this book. They are infuriating, but not in a good way. They just suck and have no real clear motives, they just suck.)

Paywall: B (I have never played this without diamonds, but I always make the guess based on how much easier the diamond scenes make it and the extra content that you get and this feels like a book where spending money makes the challenges easier and you learn more about the characters, but the general story is the same).

Overall: B (This is a solidly “ok” book. It is cute, the characters are likeable, but it doesn’t have a lot of replay ability and there is nothing really unique about it).

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

The Promise of Forever

Story: A (This books are short but the story is engaging. The arranged marriage angle, the fact that neither of them wants an arranged marriage and yet they fall in love anyway and aren’t sure how to handle it and then the pressure of a big wedding and conflicting personalities.)

Art: A- (This book refuses a lot of assets, but it does it well and the new art is really beautiful. This book has some of the best outfits in all of Choices).

LIs: B (I feel like Rishi had potential but the short nature of these books didn’t do him any favors and all we really saw was his stubborn, arrogant side and just not enough of his better qualities).

Romance Scenes: A+ (The book shines here, the scenes with MC and Rishi are beautiful and they build the connection and the longing and show the spark between them and let us get to know them better).

MC: A (I like this MC. I like that she is torn between tradition and her own desires and that she wants to be a good daughter but also her own person and I like that she is not afraid to speak her mind,)

Friend Group/Side Characters: B+ (Cousin Preeti is awesome and the parents add a lot to the book and highlight the expectations that MC and Rishi feel obligated to meet and the aunts in the second book are exhausting, but again they had flavour)

Villain/Antagonist: F (There is none. Not even an antagonist. Maybe the aunts in the second book, but that isn’t really fair.)

Paywall: B+ (All the outfits are free and there are only a few diamond scenes but those scenes add so much depth to the story and really flesh out the romance, especially in the first book.)

Overall: A- (Overall this is a fun little story and I really enjoyed it. It manages to mix instant love and enemies to lovers in a delightful way.)

Previous Ranking: N/A

New Ranking:

Part Three

#playchoices #misha replays

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random-conspiracy · 5 months ago

Text

I'm livebrogging me watching PERCY JACKSON for your knowledge

Well let's continue.

adkaddsakj Imagine is Chiron was just gaslighting Percy for funsies. "There's no teacher with that name"

The painting, I'm 100% sure it has some mythological background but whatever. A shipwreck or something like that, it works for me. I want to see water motifs bitch

Chiron do something or I'm killing you. AAAAAAH, TREASON!

Ok, call me crazy but I think TELLING HIM THE TRUTH would be easier than all this gaslight hashahshahsa. You're a demigod, monsters are real, you're not going crazy and we're here to help. Easy peazy. BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, WE MUST GASLIGHT GATEKEEP GIRLBOSS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE CAMP BECAUSE "ItS dAnGeRoUs".

y o u r s p e c i a l.

There it goes your young fantasy. Now kill me. hahshasha

GABE!!! MY MAN MY BRO MY DUDE!!! YEARS WITHOUT HEARING YOUR NASTY VOICE!

Ugh!

He looks younger. And less pathetic... ok that is horrible... DID HE JUST PLAYED THE "I CAN ACCEPT PUNCHING A GIRL BUT I DRAW THE LINE AT EXPULSION" CARD???????

Sally your character is already sad, help me here.

I forcen my brother to clap because what else can we do?? The blue candy, ladies and gentlemen!

This works as an allegory for mental illness soooooooo good.

IDK, I liked the movie's Gabe more. This one is awful but the other one was a creep. But TBF it makes more sense for Sally to be with this guy. It was super incomprehensible how she ended with the last scumbag but this one at least reads like "he used to be charming... 10 years ago".

HAHAHAHAHASAHASHAH

THE WAY HE SAYS "I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING IMPORTANT" FEELS LIKE HE'S ABOUT TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND CONFESS HE FEELS SOMETHING FOR GROVER

That gooooooooooooosh he was. Is any one of ye old fandom reading this shit? Percy x Grover has been dead since 9/11.

He's so gay coded ahshashas.

It would be sadder if Sally had an historial of hallucinations.

Seriously Sally? Hhshasasha the good ol' "I never said that" trap? So.... you met Poseidon next to the sceptic tanks? Ya naaaaaaaaaasty. SALLY, SLOW!!!! A BIT AT A TIME!!!! BITCH STOP BEING SCARYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

JHASHASHASHAHAHA PERCY AS THE STRAIGHT-MAN????? HAHHSHAJSHADAHADKJADKJAKJSHSAJASHHAHAHAHSHASHAHHSAHASHASHAJSHAHS

Heeeeeee is already heeeeeeeeere :]

That's racist bro

He's so hurt, Grover. YOU TRIED TO TEACH HIM TO DEAL WITH THIS WITH MYTHOMAGIC??? I respect that. That's actually a good idea. however it brings to mind the horrible world were MagicTheGathering is real.

WHERE IS THE TREE??

I saw the tree.

Sally stop being sad you're making me sad. And Percy... oh boy ahshashasa. No one is explaining a shit to him but ok, gotta keep up.

And here it comes, THE HERO! Brave! Mighty! Clever? Come on boy, steal that horn, daddy needs a new rack.

That shit was crazy. Killed a Minotaur in his first day???

Horse.

#percy jackson

0 notes

audiofictionuk · 6 months ago

Text

New Fiction Podcasts - 4th August 2024

Critter Protectors | Kids Animal Stories, Mr Jim & Mr Luke Audio Drama Immerse your family in the thrilling adventures of the kids podcast, "Critter Protectors," where courageous heroes unite to protect the natural world. In a universe already filled with stinky villains and ninjas, the Critter Protectors face a new formidable adversary: Victor Von Smog. Teaming up with the renowned Mr. Jim and the Spyology Squad, our heroes find themselves in a desperate race against time. Led by Mr. Jim, Mr. Luke, Marcus, Ally, and Gabe join forces to save animals, decode mysterious messages, and uncover crucial clues. Will they be able to save their hometown before it's too late? Tune in to "Critter Protectors," a podcast packed with action, where brave heroes rise against evil forces to protect the innocent and preserve the natural world. Perfect for young listeners, this kids podcast offers a blend of excitement, mystery, and valuable lessons about teamwork and environmental stewardship. Join the Critter Protectors on their epic journey and experience the captivating stories that will keep your kids entertained and inspired. Whether you're searching for engaging stories for your children or an adventurous kids podcast featuring Mr. Jim, "Critter Protectors" is the perfect choice. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240707-02 RSS: https://feeds.transistor.fm/critter-protectors-kids-animal-stories

Midnight Caller Audio Drama "Midnight Caller" is a horror series that features frightening tales of suspense and terror (performed by a full cast) and narrated by the anonymous "Caller" - a creepy storyteller who calls into a help line in the middle of the night. The stories on Midnight Caller are told in multiple episodes (4 per story) that will leave you breathless and begging for more! https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240716-05 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f8dab01c/podcast/rss

The Wretched Audio RPG Condolences dear listener, you are about to enter the realm of The Wretched. Steel yourself for this Cosmic Horror actual play. The dice are sometimes our friends but more often foretell of the horrors that befall our adventurers. Join us as we strive to fend off the terrors our past and the vices constantly threatening to overtake our mortal virtue. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240722-02 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/greensweaterstudios/feed.xml

Error 313 Audio Drama Error 313 is an all new sci fi show following "One" a hard working test subject looking to figure out who she is, what she's doing, and the experiment she's gotten herself involved in. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240713-02 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2369760.rss

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Dungeon Dummies Audio RPG Tales of dungeoning, rivalry, adventure and jokes. Come join us in our adventures and travel the realms. Meet new characters and conquer new challenges. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240721-03 RSS: https://media.rss.com/dungeondummies/feed.xml

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Rise of Drekis Chapter 5: One Empire, Indivisible Audio RPG Rise of Drekis will feature discrete chapters telling the story of what happens after the events of The War for Arcadia. We know Drekis becomes a power house, but that's just the big picture. What is happening on the level of individuals? Is this a great benevolence that spreads? Is it a brutal regime? https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240724-06 RSS: https://media.rss.com/rod-5/feed.xml

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Dicing With Death - Father Prosper Audio RPG This single player campaign tells the tale of Father Prosper, a cleric of Quantarius seeking to bring balance to the world around him. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240724-07 RSS: https://media.rss.com/dwd-prosper/feed.xml

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Dicing With Death - Fenix Audio RPG Fenix, a commoner from Mistrya, survived an attack from Scoria. With the war over he goes on a pilgrimage to go serve the golden dragon Shine. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240725-03 RSS: https://media.rss.com/dwd-fenix/feed.xml

The Wandering Mind Audio Book A double feature. A newly emerged alien queen. A zombie who finds purpose. This episode contains violence and adult language. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240706-02 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f8584c6c/podcast/rss

Rose Colored Daggers Audio RPG Rose Colored Daggers is a DND podcast that is currently running the Curse of Strahd. Our DM Sarah (she/her) leads Rae (she/they), Iestyn (he/they), and Naut (him) through the fog and into Barovia. Let the adventure begin. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240706-03 RSS: https://feeds.zencastr.com/f/iIl8EUj7.rss

Comedy Pilot Presents Audio Drama Showcasing the best sitcom pilots you've never heard of.We're not Hollywood producers and we don't have a £100 million pound budget. (We did, but we spent a lot of that on yachts and houseplants.) We are serious about being funny, though. Comedy Pilot Presents gives you the best in new writing and new actors, which we combine into a delicious funny goo served in a comedy crockpot. Be warned - there are a few naughty words and references to hows-your-father, but on the whole, we're pretty nice and want you to have a laugh.For more information on our podcast and how you can contribute, visit comedypilotpresents.com https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240709-06 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2380638.rss

KNMD - The mysterious detective squad Audio Drama KNMD, dass sind Kathy, Nina, Mona und Dean, vier beste Freunde und Detektive, die gemeinsam Fälle lösen. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240707-03 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f8473120/podcast/rss

Zenith Audio Drama Episodes released weekly on Monday, starting July 8th. Charlotte Fitzgerald is missing. When her brother Dean and his girlfriend Thea set out to find her, they stumble upon the mysterious mountain town of Zenith, California, which is hiding more than a few secrets of its own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240708-02 RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/zenith

Felix: Space Pirate Audio Drama Welcome to the Adventures of Felix: Space Pirate! Join our daring captain on her journeys through a galaxy where secrets and riches go hand in hand. Travel with the crew of the Royal Witch as they encounter friends, foes, and frenemies. Expect the unexpected when a stranger with no past leads them down a dangerous path to unravel their forgotten legacies. Bold choices will be made. Bonds will be formed. But you must tune in for all to be revealed. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240717-04 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f8e68c0c/podcast/rss

Saga Roll Audio RPG Welcome to Saga Roll, your favorite actual play podcast! Join our group of friends as we dive into exciting tabletop RPG adventures. We're currently exploring the world of Modiphius's Fallout, focusing on immersive storytelling. Our journey began with Vampire the Masquerade, and now we're sharing our love for RPGs with you. Follow us, get comfy, grab some snacks, and enjoy our epic gaming sessions. Don't miss out on our thrilling episodes and unforgettable moments! Listen and follow us to never miss an episode! https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240703-04 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f9020928/podcast/rss

Based New World Audio Book Follow Kelly on their adventure to better understand their AI-driven world in this work of fiction written and recorded by Dylan Faullin. All music and sound effects from freesound.org (Creative Commons 0).A printed version of this work is not currently available. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240701-06 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2367934.rss

Aether Stories Audio Book Frances DeLisle is an intrepid explorer and reporter in a world where Queen Victoria reigns supreme and steam technology is the undisputed monarch. These pages contain the short stories and tales she uncovers on her daring adventures. So, embark upon the seas, soar through the skies, and traverse the lands in this steampunk realm where your imagination can whisk you away on a grand flight of fantasy. francesdelisle.substack.com https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240701-07 RSS: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2728307.rss

Trail Blaze Fiction Audio Book Come blaze a trail through stories with me. At the end of each weekly post, you get to vote on where the story goes next. revadamthomas.substack.com https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240705-04 RSS: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2742224.rss

Livet e en Quest Audio RPG En rollspelspodd där komiker med noll koll på rollspelsvärlden kastas in i äventyr av rollspelsentusiasten Anton Bjöörn. My Gudmundsdotter & Erik Broström m.fl. har ofta sällskap av en inbjuden gäst i olika äventyr. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240720-02 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/ef7bf260/podcast/rss

The Seneschal: A Rebel Moon Story Audio Drama Long before the Motherworld battled the rebel army on Veldt, five hundred years before Issa was reborn, Moa and its colonies were ruled over by a mercurial and brutish despot, the mad King Ulmer. Despised by his people but determined to hold onto power at all costs, Ulmer revives the lost Prophecy of Issa as a balm for the masses. And with it, he orders a pair of renowned inventors to construct a warrior knight unlike any before. A tale of creation, ambition, faith and betrayal, this is the story of the first Jimmy, the man who built him, and the woman who gave him life. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240729-01 RSS: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/NETFLIX9685155054

Records of the Realms Audio RPG Embark on adventure through the realms of storytelling! Our actual play podcast features a rotating cast of Record Keepers (Game Masters) and Scriveners (players) exploring a variety of tabletop RPG systems. From fantasy to sci-fi, horror to romance, and more, join us in experiencing captivating tales shaped by a variety of unique voices and perspectives. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240730-01 RSS: https://pinecast.com/feed/records-of-the-realms

The Adventures of Bud & Herb Audio RPG The Adventures of Bud & Herb is a new podcast from The Pocket Dimension. One part immersive audio drama and one part Dungeons & Dragons game where the dice tell the story and anything can happen. Follow along as best friends Bud and Herb hunt a cryptid that terrorizes their sleepy little town of Mystra’s Glen. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240729-02 RSS: https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-adventures-of-bud-and-herb

The Nth Degree Audio Book A storytelling show that’s meant to feel like a cross between an event at a literary bar in New York City and an intimate conversation held in the dim light of a waning summer evening. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240726-02 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/thenthdegree/feed.xml

Roll For Rizz Audio RPG Step into the whimsical world of 'Roll For Rizz,' where a band of heroes, reincarnated into modern-day Japan by Goddess Inc., face an unexpected challenge: adapting to everyday life while thwarting the sinister remnants of their former nemesis. Created by Chester Lidden, this improvised comedy series takes cues from beloved anime like Konosuba, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and The Devil Is a Part-Timer, blending fantastical escapades with slice-of-life humor. Join Caleb Jones, Micah Riley, and the enigmatic Nick (Redacted) as they; navigate rent payments, strengthen bonds, and combat encroaching evil forces from their past world. Produced by Heath Studios, 'Roll For Rizz' promises a delightful blend of heartfelt character journeys and uproarious mishaps, promising viewers an unforgettable journey into a world where magic meets mundane, and adventure meets apartment living. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240729-03 RSS: https://feeds.transistor.fm/roll-for-rizz

Amanda Vint's Podcast Audio Book Here you can listen to me read my romance novels to you for free! New episodes released every Friday. Enjoy! https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240728-01 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2389744.rss

Lights Out Audio Drama Lights Out follows the disappearance of the Starship Athena and what happened onboard. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240213-08 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/ed2b84a8/podcast/rss

An Invisible Sun Audio Book An Invisible Sun is a work of narrated speculative audio fiction written and performed by W. Keith Tims, writer of The Book of Constellations and The Love Talker. Set a hundred years in the future, history professor Christopher Cousins believes he's contracted a mysterious plague which is somehow related to the orbital Gates that allow light-speed travel through the solar system. But the governments and corporations are willing to do everything they must to suppress the existence of it. What's more, those with the plague can hear and see strange things no one else can. As he investigates, he falls in with a group of dissidents (or are they terrorists?) who, like him, want to uncover the truth--which may be the biggest secret humanity has ever kept. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240801-01 RSS: https://feeds.redcircle.com/bd2b862a-0abe-4835-918b-f9b941b1eafd

The Sins of Autumn- Badger Tales Actual Play Audio RPG The Sins of Autumn is a dnd5e podcast set in a completely homebrew world based on Celtic mythology. Follow, Ocras, Ash, Isla, Hastrubal, Gorum and Fitz as they find themselves entangled in a deep and terrible curse that threatens to overwhelm an ancient family. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240730-02 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2390336.rss

Case Study: IREC-A59 Audio Drama 16 USB’s of the first recorded interaction between aliens and humans. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240731-01 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2386590.rss

Crossroads Cantina Audio Drama Step into 'Crossroads Cantina,' where stories spring to life. Merging captivating audio dramas with enchanting short story narrations, each episode is an adventure into imagination. From mystical tales to heart-pounding adventures, our podcast is a haven for listeners seeking stories that resonate deeply. So, pull up a chair, let your imagination soar, and become part of a community where stories aren't just told—they're experienced. Whether you're a longtime listener or a first-time visitor, there's always a seat for you at the Cantina. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240112-03 RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/crossroads-cantina/

Meena Mason’s Podcast Audio Book If you love getting lost in the world of audiobooks, you must listen to Meena Mason’s entertaining stories. Dive into the Western romantic mystery, Because of a Woman, where betrayal, love, and revenge turn lives upside down or embark on the epic fantasy adventure, The Thief’s Tale and unravel Kessa Decora’s mesmerizing past. Intrigue, passion, and adventure await. Give your ears a treat. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240722-03 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/meenamason/feed.xml

Sanctuary Audio Drama Starring Lily Rabe (American Horror Story). A woman wakes up on a future terraformed Mars, only to discover her husband has become the dictator of Mars, and the only way she can secure a free and peaceful future for the planet is to kill him. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240725-04 RSS: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/sanctuary

#audio fiction #fiction podcast

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filmjoyreviews · 1 year ago

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REVIEW: Weak Layers

Katie Burrell co-writes, directs, and stars in Weak Layers--a ski comedy follows three roommates--Cleo (Katie Burrell), Lucy (Jadyn Wong), and Tina (Chelsea Conwright)--after they're evicted and in desperate need of some cash to secure a new home. With the overwhelming stress and cramped living space in Cleo's ex's van, the three women decide to enter a ski movie competition.

Weak Layers tells a classic underdog story exploring the often ignored ski town locals and their beloved community in sharp contrast to the professional skiers and rich vacationers. Living in a place most of the world sees as a vacation destination can be challenging, yet rewarding. Weak Layers works the best when it captures the charm and unique lives of the 'nobodies' who call this ski town their home.

Deciding to make an homage to classic ski comedies focusing on women--and highlighting the sexism found within the world of skiing--is brave. And Katie Burrell does a nice job trying to bring back the genre with a new point-of-view.

As a comedy, Weak Layers falls a bit short. There aren't many laugh-out-loud moments, but the film makes up for it with complex emotional stories. Instead of a rehash of a raucous ski comedy, Weak Layers feels like the ski comedy world told through a 2000s indie dramady lens. And this makes for an engaging experience that focuses in on the complexities of growing up and trying to figure out your shit before it's too late.

The comedy in Weak Layers is at its best when it hinges on the awkward moments and the insecurity of Cleo, Lucy, and Tina. These moments are not often enough for this comedy to completely succeed, but what's there is enjoyable.

Too often the comedy falls more in the camp of "it's funny because characters are partying" rather than funny stuff happening in relation to those actions. But there are a few stand-out scenes that made me wish Weak Layers veered more into these moments of awkward relatable humor.

Weak Layers is especially great when it depicts the local Lake Tahoe community--and the affection everyone involves has for skiing is contagious. Even as someone who doesn't know much about skiing, I was drawn in by how much these characters care about their community, especially during the film's final scenes.

Katie Burrell does a wonderful job capturing the sport she loves so much. The footage of skiers--both those involved in the central competition and those just having fun--looks amazing and really drives home how important skiing is to the characters (and filmmakers).

As I watched Weak Layers, I waited for these moments, especially after we got to know the characters more and wanted to see them in their element, skiing down the slopes.

Katie Burrell, Jadyn Wong, and Chelsea Conwright are engaging as the central trio of roommates--especially in scenes highlighting their differences. Jadyn Wong has a strong comedic timing that works perfectly during Lucy's most awkward moments.

The friendship between Cleo, Lucy, and Tina is the driving force behind Weak Layers, especially when Cleo questions why she has younger roommates--and why she's still living this ski afterparty life.

But when the film decides instead to focus on a budding romance between Cleo and professional skier Gabe (Evan Jonigkeit), it loses momentum.

And too much of the film finds itself in this romcom realm. That isn't inherently a bad thing, but Weak Layers works better as a buddy comedy and this romance plotline takes away from more ground they could have covered following Cleo's challenging dynamic with Lucy and Tina.

***

Weak Layers isn't laugh-out-loud funny, but it has heart and works wonderfully as a love letter to the locals who live in every ski town when the vacationers and professional skiers go back to the city.

#film reviews #weak layers

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mirandamckenni1 · 1 year ago

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youtube

VINTERSEA - Illuminated (Official Music Video) VINTERSEA - Illuminated (Official Music Video). Taken from the album "Illuminated". Facebook: https://ift.tt/WfO4dhs Bandcamp: https://ift.tt/jnKEBiQ Instagram: https://ift.tt/Au1Uf5i Spotify: https://ift.tt/y3uS2EX Video produced, directed, and edited by Karl Whinnery of Hotkarlproductions. https://ift.tt/B9pkquY VINTERSEA proudly endorses Balaguer Guitars. www.balaguerguitars.com https://ift.tt/9fboLKM VINTERSEA proudly endorses Galaxy Audio in-ear monitoring products. https://ift.tt/6KCta72 ---- All music and lyrics by VINTERSEA. VINTERSEA is Avienne, Riley Nix, Jorma Spaziano, Jeremy Spencer, and Karl Whinnery. Engineered and mixed by Gabe Johnston at Falcon Recording Studio. Mastered by Troy Glessner at SPECTRE Mastering. Spoken word used with permission of the Alan Watts Electronic University. ___ LYRICS We seek the song of our salvation As dreams amass in walls we can’t break through Words left unspoken, will we dare to face the Changes Flowing Through our Veins Changes Flowing Through our Veins Feeling in my skin Seeping in my veins Losing all my faith Falling through the reigns Fear awakening Beckoning the brave All is left to change Nothing left to blame Don’t give up You are the reason why We keep the strength of purpose And our promise alive Hear the sound Our first and final cry The whisper of a new existence Breathes divine life Find your world The one you’re looking for Step into shrouded places Hear them whisper and roar Wander the wilderness Let faith change your heart Pursue the truth and you will Step into the new light Find the light Wake me up today I will stand my ground I will break my chains I will break away Softly I will never return Never This is my last gaze What I once know Escaping myself Discover my soul Is this where I wanna be Let me try again Is this where we will be free Don’t give up You are the reason why We keep the strength of purpose And our promise alive Hear the sound Our first and final cry The whisper of a new existence Breathes divine life Find your world The one you’re looking for Step into shrouded places Hear them whisper and roar Wander the wilderness Let faith change your heart Pursue the truth and you will Step into the new light #melodicmetal #blackmetal #progmetal #deathmetal #melodicdeathmetal #vintersea #avienne #postmetal #extrememetal via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzloqSQ6_fg

#IFTTT #YouTube #Youtube

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riordanness · 4 months ago

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THIS. POST. this is so absolutely true.

i have criticisms for rick in this new trilogy, especially in wrath of the triple goddess, but it’s much more for annabeth and the way she acts around percy that i don’t like. this post isn’t about that.

while a lot of the dynamic between percabeth is super different in the new trilogy, it’s mostly the way annabeth perceives and treats percy. percy’s inner monologue and way of thinking about himself hasn’t changed as much as people are saying.

remember, we haven’t had percy’s direct pov for months. so much has happened since we were in his head.

i just know that i know percy jackson better than i’ve ever known a person. and this is still him. slightly different, yes. traumatised and grown up? yes. influenced by walker’s percy? also yes.

i can also guarantee you that neither percy nor annabeth has actually had any real proper therapy or shit after tartarus, so… yeah.

percy has always thought badly of himself. he is his own worst enemy, and that’s always been the case from the very first page of the lightning thief.

“am i a troubled kid? yeah. you could say that.” “bad things happen to me on field trips.”

percy was abused, neglected (by poseidon and gabe), bullied, shipped from school to school, struggled with adhd and dyslexia (which is not easy.), and never had any real friends until grover. we know this.

then, at the age of literally twelve, which is insanely young to me (especially now that i have grown up and am eighteen, twelve is ridiculous), he is shoved into this world of gods and monsters and is forced to go on a quest with his best friend and a girl who quite literally actively dislikes him at first.

yes, in hindsight we all know annabeth had a crush on him since the lightning thief, and percy too (although he wasn’t aware of his own feelings for like. years), but at first, he was keenly aware of her being smarter, stronger, taller, better, and a lot more comfortable in this new world that he was. all while she was kind of bringing him down a lot and making decisions for him (sort of) and all in all not being particularly nice to percy.

by the end of the lightning thief that dynamic has definitely changed, but still. percy’s thoughts about himself don’t. he has always looked down on himself. he’s always just thought that he’s Some Guy. yes, he’s aware he’s saved the world. he doesn’t think of that in some awestruck way. he just knows and thinks about how much it sucked and how many friends he’s lost, etc.

percy has terrible self esteem, and always has. probably always will. and everything that we, as readers, and the other characters, in their own povs, praise and adore him for, he blames himself for.

yes, he saved annabeth in tartarus many times. but he blames himself for getting her in there. yes, he saved olympus. but he blames himself for everyone who lost their lives (michael yew, silena beauregard, ethan nacamura, etc). yes, he’s done all the amazing and wonderful and brave things.

but in his head, he’s just this guy who woke gaia with a nosebleed and then wasn’t needed to help defeat her.

annabeth has always been elevated in percy’s head. he doesn’t personally think he is smart, even when he is genuinely very intelligent, because annabeth is much more book smart than he is, but percy is street smart. people smart. annabeth is not people or street smart, not in the way percy is. he grew up in an abusive household and multiple schools. he knows how to read people, gauge their emotions, and figure out how to get around that.

percy. is. smart. percy. is. also. too. hard. on. himself.

all in all, perseus jackson is the best character ever written, and i hate how rick is changing these characters in this new trilogy. especially percabeth and how annabeth treats percy. but not how percy is.

percy, in his core, is still the percy i’ve always known.

thank you rick riordan i love it when you don't care about your own characters and just go on an incorrect quote generator

#wottg spoilers #pjo #percy jackson #percy jackson and the olympians #wrath of the triple goddess #wottg #pjo wottg #percy is his harshest critic #anytime his pov is shown #it's always filled with how useless he thinks he is

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semimedieval · 1 year ago

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the chuji and obsidian date, part 2: you, uh, you look.... beautiful

Chuji and Obsidian arrive home, completely unshaken by their date's brief foray into Robberie And Crieme, and find themselves accosted by Charlie.

I can forgive Obsidian's *eyes bug out* A DATE? behavior earlier by the fact that, apparently, going on a date in Indikum is roughly equivalent to getting engaged. Or maybe Charlie's just like this. Who's to say.

Chuji and Obsidian got home, only to be attacked by Charlie who shrieked "HAVE YOU SEEN MY SPARK?!" "Ehehehe....no? Couldn't she have, I dunno, gone shopping?" Obsidian asked weakly. Charlie ran around in circles, Chuji frowned "Uh Charlie. Obsidian and I have to get going on our date if you cou-" Charlie's face stared into chujis eyes "WHAAAAAAAAAT?!" Obsidian's eyes went big. He backed away from Charlie. "OH MY GOSH! Where are you doing?! A daaaaaaaaaaaaaate?!" He straightened and did a little soldier pose "Obsidian, you are a brave man.. COME ALONG!" charlie grabbed his hand and tossed him into the bedroom "Ahh! What?" Obsidian panicked. Charlie dove into the wardrobe and tossed out kilts, tees, gloves and jackets "YOU JUST HAAAVE TO WEAR A TIEEEEEE!" "What in the world? NO WAY! Chuji told me a date was just a sit-down meal!" "NO WAY!" Charlie yelled "A date is a step forward! Higher into love!" He twirled around That sounded ominous.

It does not sound that ominous. Once again, Obsidian is taking losses in the Try To Act Like You Like Your Own Girlfriend Challenge. But that said, Charlie is definitely also being a freak here. No winners all around.

"I really don't know about the fancy clothes, though...." He shoved the bundle of clothes at obsidian "Put these on! I'll get Chuji care of!" he dashed and locked the door behind him. he skipped down the hallway giggling "Chuuuuuujiiiiii!"

First off: Augustine writing Charlie makes Jack writing Charlie look realist and understated.

Secondly: I can understand Obsidian's reluctance to wear a tie. I think Gabe and I would have also probably opposed dressing up tie-level formal for our first date, but then that was at Soup and Taco. If you think about it, Colin is our Charlie (facilitates us dressing up and doing a romantic thing we've never done before together, which one of us had staunchly opposed prior to the event. In our case the romantic thing was 'dancing', not 'going on a date', but still. Really makes you think.)

That said, I have to stop applying real-world logic to Chuji and Obsidian's relationship in Adventures of the Extranei: Element Powers RPG. There is simply none to be found.

Then I insert Quartz back into the scene, nonsensically, for the pure purpose of this bit. Which, you know, fair enough.

Quartz had dropped home for a minute because she'd forgotten something. "Obsidian?" she called through the door. "Are you sulking again?" Charlie turned and grabbed quartz hands skipping and swinging her around "CHUJI AND OBSIDIAN ARE GOING ON A DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE!" Miles away, Monoceros thought he heard someone scream the word 'date'. Quartz unlocked the door and came inside to find Obsidian struggling. "Obsidian?" "Oh, hello, Quartz," he said absentmindedly. "Do you by any chance know how to tie a tie?" "Of course not!" Quartz said indignantly. "Go ask Charlie or something." Giving up, Obsidian draped the tie over a chair and went to find Chuji. Quartz went back to Spark and told her about what was going on, giggling the whole way through.

Quartz, later in your life, advanced iterations with you will be hit with the Masc Academia Swag beam as per my personal whims, and then you will know how to tie a tie in adulthood, and probably better than Obsidian. But hey, the good news is that a) Obsidian got what he wanted out of the night and did not, in fact, wear a tie, and b) this scene is cute in 2.0 :)

In the doorway of one of the spare rooms, she paused to watch Obsidian try to find his way into a tailored black jacket with a smile; he and Chuji must have been getting ready for their date. She’d never seen him wear formal garb since Sylva’s funeral, which must have accounted for some of his discomfort. “Hey, don’t feel nervous,” she said cheerfully. “You guys are going to have tons of fun - just relax a little bit.” He looked up and smiled a little bit. “Worry about your own love life, Quartz,” he said firmly. “Unless you have any idea how to tie a tie - then you can probably worry about mine until I’ve got myself together.” “You know you’re fine as you are, right?” “Charlie insisted.” Obsidian frowned. “It’s an expensive place, apparently.” “Well, tell us all about it. Give her a kiss, won’t you?” Spark winked at Obsidian companionably and pulled Quartz down the stairs, leaving him to struggle with the glossy length of red silk

Sometimes I give 2.0 a lot of shit for its characters not behaving like real people, and then I remember the standard of adherence to 1.0 that it sets for itself and suddenly it's a masterclass in characterization.

But meanwhile, Chuji, too, is getting dressed. Concurrently with this sleepover happening, Augustine was sketching the dress and Chuji's entire look. It's maybe buried somewhere in a Scratch project, and maybe isn't. We'll never know and it's not good etiquette to roll up to Kelly and Misha's house and ask.

Augustine and I are doing RP With Ourselves crimes here, but it's okay because we're sitting in the same room and giggling wildly the whole time.

Charlie skipped away with a dress in his arms "LOOK Chuji! ISN'T THIS PRETTY?!" Chuji gawked at Charlie Charlie walked over to Chuji. "here." he said calmly (?!) Chuji stared at the dress. Chuji slipped the dress over her head and fixed it Chuji gawked at the girl in the mirror. She was wearing a knee white strapless dress with ruffels a silk purple sash and on the bottom was a purple pattern. The mirror girl blushed and stared. Charlie popped his head in the girls room "I'll be curling your hair and doing your make up!" Chuji spinned around "Make up?!" "Of course!" he leaped into the room and tossed chuji onto a chair in front of a mirror. He held back his laughter as he put on blush.

Things that it's easy to forget in the dire preteen behavior climate of today: makeup was as foreign to us as 'going on dates' was, and none of us ever wore it until the very end of eighth grade or so. In fact, the SBA handbook had fairly specific and strict guidelines about what kind of makeup you were even allowed to wear. The most notable Makeup Wearer we knew was meredith, whom we hadn't met yet. Our standard for preteen 'makeup wearer' enmity was Redhead Girl's Enthusiastic First Mascara Experience. I don't know if Jack, Augustine, and I would have survived middle school in the tiktok era.

Anyway, Obsidian wonders how Lupus manages to wear stiff button downs every day (you KNOW it's real when you give him your texture sensitivities AGAIN!!!!!), and sits down to wait for Chuji while Charlie completes her 80s movie makeover, which of course is what Adventures of the Extranei really needed. This, of course, mandates Obsidian pulling a "Wow, um. You look... you look beautiful."

The girl that came out of the girls' room wasn't his Chuji. Obsidian stood there, gaping at her. Chuji muttered as Charlie pushed her outside "now repeat after me; grande bay restuant on tenth tail street!" "Hands off now." chuji growled little flames in her hands "Hello," he said, as if he were meeting her for the first time. "I'm Obsidian." Then he realized how silly that sounded and laughed. It was still Chuji, after all. The flames died "Hi obsidian. I'm a girl who has been attacked by Charlie." "Nice to meet you," he laughed, kissing her cheek. Chuji blushed and laughed. "Now then. Charlie made me repeat our restaurants address fifteen times so we are good to go." "That's good," he answered, and they started down the street.

Despite the heinous 90s cliche vibes of this exhange, it has rights for small things, like Chuji being completely fed up with charlie's trope enforcement, the acceptably sweet banter, and Obsidian living up to Boyfriend Bare Minimum standards for once and kissing Chuji's cheek.

I do think - like I've said before - that there is something compelling about the idea that these two people whose default modes of existence are Living Together and Dying For Each Other going on a normal date in a normal town. This is why the robbery is silly - because their night in Siren's Point should feel foreign by way of its peace and normalcy, should tempt them rightfully into thinking, "we are just kids. why can't we have kid problems?"

I thought I'd be able to swing splitting the Chujisidian date into just two parts, but predictably, getting ready is now getting a post of its own and the date itself will be returned to in part three. But first, my new letters of rec project probably bears taking a glance at.

#og rp lb #rereads #iteration 1.0

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