#and i explored and it was wild! there's a little section in the village where mushroom ppl live in mushroom houses!

[altfire]

i literally cant help but rp in any game im literally thinking abt the lore of my current. modded minecraft world w my friends. god

[kittnpaw]

꒰☆꒱ agere ds games! /ᐠ 𒒬 ∇ •́ マ

i've seen quitee a few different posts talking abt nice games for regressors but i noticed a lot of them focus on phone games, so i thought i'd to compile a list of my absolute favorite nostalgic ds games bc i (and headmates) like to play those when regressed!!

♡ animal crossing: wild world - if you like playing acnh on switch, consider giving wild world a try! it's a lot more simplistic than new horizons but it's very cozy and the core gameplay is still the same (fishing, catching bugs, talking to villagers, etc.)

☆ nintendogs - who doesn't love nintendogs!! you get to adopt a puppy and take care of them, play with them, enter them in competitions, and so on! being able to pet and brush your doggies with a touchscreen makes it even better.

♡ petz nursery - another pet-themed game, this time you get to take care of a variety of little baby animals! there's lots of little minigames for feeding, cleaning, and playing with them. i find the low-poly newborn puppies and kittens very endearing.

☆ mysims - a very cute little game that has little to do with the main sims games but is fun nonetheless. you play minigames and explore and interact with tourists in a vacation town!

♡ pokemon mystery dungeon: explorers of sky - a spin-off of the mainline pokemon games where you play as a human-turned-pokemon and explore dungeons with a team of other pokemon! it's a little more complex than some of these other games but it has a really good storyline!

☆ cookie shop - a game about running a desert cafe!! you play as a little dog (chocodog) named rose and grow your shop and collect recipes. soso cute

♡ professor layton and the curious village - my headmate would be mad if i didn't include a professor layton game so here's the first one! a silly little game where you investigate a town and solve various puzzles!

☆ the legendary starfy - a game similar to kirby but with underwater sections. it's very cute and i would recommend it if you enjoy platformers or sea-themed things!

interested in playing one of these? even if you don't own a ds/3ds, you can always play these games through an emulator (such as melonDS or delta) ! whether you buy these games or obtain them through other means is none of my business /ᐠ 𒒬 ﻌ < マ

[sapphicgarland]

karkat or Dave playing animal crossing for the first time and getting really into it please!!!!

I interpreted this as davekat as it gave me more room to work with since I could have dialogue. It was a bit hard to expand on the prompt since there's no conflict but I did my best! I hope I made it cute enough to be interesting

“Okay, so how does this thing work?” Karkat asks as if they haven't had a Nintendo Switch for a whole year now.

Dave just shakes his head and gets up from the couch, once again showing him how to set it up. “How are you this bad with electronics?”

“Listen, last time I tried to do something more complicated than open a Google Chrome window I got a computer virus so bad it killed my crab dad. I think I'm allowed to just give up and accept that I shouldn't touch this shit.”

“Maybe you're right,” Dave says with a bit of a smile. “Okay, I got it hooked up. Ready?” He asks as he sits back down on the couch. 

Karkat follows and sits next to him, grabbing his pair of controllers. “Ready!”

“Okay, so, Jade said this isn't immediately two player so I figured we'll take turns setting up our characters and stuff and then play it together?”

Karkat nods in agreement, so Dave starts up his profile first and opens up Animal Crossing for the first time. “This game better be worth the $50 plus tax or I'm making Jade pay us back.”

Karkat laughs a bit and playfully slaps Dave's arm, a gesture that Dave has gotten used to over the years. No more flinching now that he knows it's a safe affection. “Shut up, I'm sure it'll be fine. Besides, it's not like we can't afford it.”

Dave just shrugs and goes quiet as the game continues. He mumbles the dialogue and text aloud so that he's not skipping too fast or too slow for Karkat. Karkat gives a chuckle, which causes Dave to stop and look at him. “what?”

“Oh, I just like the little voices,” he says with another chuckle. Dave cracks a small smile and nods in agreement before continuing. 

“pick your style…oh yes. The two genders; short hair or ponytail,” Dave chuckles.

“Hey they say style!” Karkat chuckles. “which will you choose?”

Dave lingers for a moment before just picking the short hair, non-pony tail one with a shrug and continues on. They debate on which island to pick before finally settling on the one with the River cutting the island straight through into 3 sections, and finally moving on.

“If you could only bring one thing…huh. What do you think, babe?” Dave asks.

Karkat thinks for a moment, “well, presumably there'd be something edible on the island. I'd say a lamp? Though I'd prefer aflashlight.”

“That makes sense but there'd be no electricity. Once the battery dies you're screwed if you can't make a fire.”

“You'd have to make a fire anyway to cook a lot of the food you'd be eating.”

“Ah but if you bring food you can buy yourself time until you can make weapons and figure out what's edible or not.”

“See, this is why I always say a survival guide based on the biome and general geographical location of the island.” *karkat says with a huff,* “why isn't that an option??”

Dave rolls his eyes and picks lamp, a small smile on his face, “because they don't have your brain, I guess.” 

They move on and finally arrive on the island. Their first two villagers are Canberra and Raold. They rush through Tom Nook's dialogue a bit, Dave reading it out loud quickly. They're bored at first, too much exposition for their taste. Though, Karkat isn't complaining, and Dave knows that this is just how games work sometimes. It probably means there's very little non-skippable dialogue for the rest of the game. 

“Finally.” Dave says as they are released into the wild to explore.”okay, we've gotta put up our tent. Where are we putting this bad boy, babe?” 

“Uhhh probably pretty close to the plaza right? I'm sure we'll be doing a lot of walking back and forth.”

“Agreed. I'm sure there's a way to move it in the future.” Dave sets the tent right next to the plaza. They go back and Dave finishes the beginning missions while Karkat watches. Eventually, Karkat's Head is in Dave's lap, just quietly watching as Dave gets their island ready. It takes a bit but eventually Dave stops and looks down,* “Okay, ready to join?”

Karkat nods and sits up. They switch profiles so that Karkat can get his character ready. 

“Okay, so should I just keep going or do we wanna switch back to your profile?” Karkat asks once his character is ready and his tent is placed.

Dave shrugs, “Nah. Go ahead and do some…uh….collecting? I was about to say mining,” he chuckled, “this isn't minecraft. Whatevering. I'll watch you for a while.

Karkat nods and just continues. Eventually Dave's head is on Karkat's lap, watching Karkat play. This continues for a couple of hours actually. Before long, almost everything that can be set up in just a day with no time travel is already set up. They switch profiles so that Dave can finish up some stuff that only he had permission to do (much to Karkat’s snarky disapproval). 

“I'm not sure what else to do for right now." Dave says after about another hour of playing with Karkat's Head in his lap. His hand goes down to pet through Karkat's hair a little. "I feel like we should wait for all this stuff to open up y'know? Like the museum and stuff.”

Karkat nods, “I mean we could grind a bit and get a bunch of…what was it, bells? But I don't want to sell all the resources and find out we actually needed them. Oh, we could bug the villagers, though.

Dave smiles a bit and nods, going to talk to Raold first and then Canberra. They both smile.

“aw the villagers are kind of cute. Okay, okay, I see what Jade meant,” Karkat admits. “I really like this game. It's cozy and really relaxing.”

Dave nods in agreement, “this is fun. We should play tomorrow too.”

[tv-gh0st]

Yiga clan - Run in at Fort Hateno

a new LU story it might become a series if people like it!

Wild loved the chain, and was overjoyed whenever he got to show off his Hyrule(it was to big to get through even a small section any time they were there) but in the name of Hylia could they not just get the message that Bananas meant assassins. Ya see wild new everyone in his Hyrule, and everyone knew him. Everyone also knew that people who didn’t know Wild or  bananas ment really bad news. Everyone exept a certin group of Eight heros.

It was the second time being shifted to Wild Hyrule when it first came up, Wild mentioned it to the others when they actually first met but there were a lot of things happening that day. They were overjoyed to be home and hopefully finally show everyone everything, the first time they were shifted here they had to buy supplies, talk to Flora and Impa, deal with a black blooded monster camp, and a black blooded hinox, with that alone + the travel time there was no actual time to rest and do sightseeing. But this time Flora reported no strange events sence last time and they were currently residing at Hateno. Flora was visiting with Purah along side Time and Twilight , Legand and Wind  went to get more Materials, and sky was just resting, so  it so Wild and Hyrule wanted to explore, to there surprise Warrios went along with them(most likely to make sure there not gonna battle a lynle with a latel, two pot lids, and a mop but that doesn’t need to be said) Wild wanted to show them  fort Hateno they’ve had to walk in that way but there main objective at the time was to get to Hateno village. Wild was hoping  to show the little shack, harvest guardian parts, and fight a normal-blooded monster camp, atlest that was the plan.

 They were currently surrounded by three  yiga, another one teleporting around shooting at them, they should be able to deal with it but Wild was harboring a nasty gash in there arm and Hyrule having two arrows in him. and with the yigas teleporting killing four without getting any mote injuries was a hard task. 

You may be wondering how the fuck this happened, well after the defeat of the calamity  it seemed the yiga just got angrier, they changed there tactic traveling in groups without wilds knowledge, even then they were still always careful at there Hyrule. Bad news though, Wild seemed to neglect telling the chain about the whole "group of banana loving assassins all trying to kill them by dressing up as normal hylians" thing. I mean he didn’t realize any of them especially  not WARRIOR would be that talkative, they also all know that everyone knows Wild and Wild knows everyone, so he assumed people asking where to find him would be a red flag but whatever. So there were three travelers that have never took that rout, Wild wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, that’s until they asked Warrior if they’ve seen Link. Long story short Wild blocked what could have been a fatal hit on Wars, the three turned into yiga, and the fourth appeared. And right now there fucked. 

No one was making a move, not even the archer. Then he heard it, the bows little bring, the arrow cutting through to air, it was going to hit warriors, who knows way hes there target but it seems there out to get him. Very un-gracefully wild pushed warriors out of the way once again then pushed himself into the side of the yiga jabbing into there side aswell as making them the new target for the arrow. It worked. It went straight into there chest as they retreated, right behind him Hyrule and Warriors started the fight with the other two there swords clashing with those sharp sickles, with the two ground soldiers under control wild started running and pulled out his bow, and an electric arrow. It was simple, shoot the electric arrow, then go in get the kill. It worked. 

Its a relief they brought Hyrule because with the adrenaline now gone Wild finally felt there arm. Warriors also had an arrow in him, though it was a shallow wound. It seemed Wild, who in any normal situation would just pat it down until it stopped bleeding and maybe put on something with a longer sleeve was currently being forced to drink a potion and Hyrule was immediately fretting over his arm. "so champ" here it comes. "what in Hylias holy name was that about." 

'its just a- like a little group, they like to take a crack at me every once in a while there really harmless, they just changed it up today a little also they are really not that great even with catching us by surprise for once.' he reverted to sign with bis good arm ofcourse  not feeling like coming up the the words in his throat right now. And yes he knows he was playing it down, a lot, but Wild really didn’t feel like dealing with the whole "trained assassins who worship Gannon trying to kill him relentlessly because he killed Gannon and took down there cult leader" so here they are. 

"this isnt a normal thing is it…" Hyrule seemed hesitant to ask, wild always kept a lot of his adventure close to his chest, he liked to tell stupid stories or talk about some of his adventures just in the actual wild but any specific details are only known by twilight and tike(even they don’t know much) 'eh its every once in a while, were going to be staying at Hateno though and there never in towns, they also don’t attack the same time twice in a row, about after every blood moon.'  Hyrule just nodded, Wild couldn’t tell if he was convinced or not, didn’t really feel like figuring it out either. "well still up to showing us this Fort Hateno" and Wild gladly agreed to Warriors question.

It took about four hours to get there see the sights, fight monsters, do a little snooping in the scientists old cabin, and get back to Hateno. When the three got back the 6 heros were hanging out around Wilds house Flora and Epona aswell. Twilight ofcourse fussed over Wild when seeing his bandaged arm but They were just cryptic about the whole thing, Hyrule and Warriors were no help at all seeming to understand Wilds hesitance to tell Twilight that he often got ambushed by these assassins(ofcourse not knowing all the details) they all knew how Twilight and even Time would go all mother cuukoo on him.(hell it’s a surprise warriors didn’t) 

[tsukuyomii45]

an obirin ask: what are some activities they like to do together? (excluding sex)

-One of their favorite activities together is definitely going to the beach! It's their favorite date spot, where Obito takes them to a lovely secluded cove where they would set up their picnic basket and just swim together. Sometimes they'd have a picnic in a meadow too, if they want a change of scenery.

-Another one is hitting the hot springs! It's something Rin would decide to do for Obito because he's been working so hard, so she decides that she wants them go to a hot spring and book a private section for the two of them where they can sit, relax, and drink sake together.

-Visit tourist attractions in Konoha and the Land of Fire; so they would go around places and districts they have always wanted to see but never been to, and just explore those places and shop around. This would mean that they love traveling together, so they would also visit other civilian villages outside of the Land of Fire and maybe the Shinobi Nations such as Sunagakure.

-Sometimes, when it's a rainy day and they're both stuck at home with nothing to do, Rin and Obito would cook or bake together. xD This is definitely Rin's idea, but she'd drag Obito into it, and the two of them would have fun making a mess in the kitchen. Or sometimes, Rin would want to try new recipes she hasn't tried before, and Obito would be her judge (don't worry, Rin is a good cook so nothing happens to him xD).

-Obito would take Rin to her favorite landmarks - they're always waterscapes, such as rivers, lakes, waterfalls, seas... because those places make Rin so happy. She'd take off her shoes and run by the shores, or even dive for a swim and spend time in the water beneath the sunlight. It's just Rin's personal favorite thing to do and he loves to be a part of making it happen for her.

-Berry-picking or apple picking during spring time is something they both like to do just for fun. They'd be on a break one day, and they'd visit wild fields and just have fun picking berries or apples, then sitting on a tree branch, and eating them. Rin would usually sit on Obito's shoulders as she picks them (much to his delight), and Obito likes to tease her by wiggling her a little, which makes her squeal.

-Stargazing together in a meadow. They usually share their deepest thoughts and tend to cuddle one another when they're in a quiet meadow at night time, just underneath the moon and stars. Sometimes they'd sit on the rooftop of his house and try to make an image out of constellations, and come up with stories together.

-I mentioned before they would usually sit together on the balcony, in which Rin makes fresh green tea and sweet dangos, and they would just sit together in comfortable silence, with Obito's head resting on her lap or on her chest, and she would play with his hair and make him sleep. They'd talk about silly, random things, or even make each other laugh. Sometimes, they'd play with their cat, or Obito would just hold Rin to him between his legs while she rests her chest on his back, and enjoy the sunset quietly.

~~

That's all for now. <3

[melancholy-thots]

Another Text Game??

That's right! I'm back with the other contender for "my favorite game that you can just play for free on the internet." But wait! There's more!

So even right off the bat, this one has more in the gameplay department than the last text game I talked about. We've got a little timer that counts down until we can do our action again. Right now we've only got one, but I promise, it gets way crazier.

We've got a new location, you can see the text log is slowly fading out the old stuff as we do new stuff. That's super nice. And yes. If you're wondering. I am playing these games in real time as I write. I never took screen shots of these games because they're just text. And as y'all may know, I usually take screenshots of visually stunning moments. Sometimes really good writing, but hardly ever just words.

There's also little events that can happen. So far there's such a good spooky vibe going on. Realistically nothing bad has happened. But the page is so blank. There's a dark room. There's a stranger. There's noises in the night. Everything that actually causes me fear in regular everyday life.

We're truly into the idle resource management part of the game now. I'll post a few more pics, but there was a long time where I thought this was it, this was the game. Trust me, it's not. It's just going to take me a while of idling to get to the last part.

(Sidenote: Shit! I didn't get it but an event popped up that was just an ad for another free internet text game. I'm not even mad since clearly I love these, lol)

After getting enough resources to build some more buildings, the Lonely Hut is now a Tiny Village and there's a laundry list of inventory items to keep track of. When I first played, I thought this would be overwhelming, but it really isn't. I think it's because there's so little to do right now, right? Like I've got the same old stuff and two new things I can work towards. Most of these items like charms and teeth don't even factor in yet. And they'll be brought in as relevant slowly but surely in a way that's super easy to manage.

I just found this very funny because it mentions the last part of the game... which I haven't unlocked yet xD Speedrunning the wrong parts. Always my strat.

Stayed up way too long because I forgot buying a compass is how you unlock this. God help me.

Here it is! The last thing I wanted to show you here! It looks unassuming when you first open it up. But you can move that little @ with the arrow keys.... and I died in battle so fast I couldn't show y'all. Please wait while I the embark button is still on cooldown.

Here it is! The combat and exploration section! Wow, this post is already so long, so I'll keep it short. Everything on that little ascii map in the background means something. So A is the village, V is caves. Occasionally you get attacked by things. I won't spoil it because it's wild, but this part does have like a narrative ending that took me so many times of playing this game to get to. But I adore it. I've got it linked below just like the last game. I really think it's worth checking out if any of these things I've shown sound up your alley.

[thedisneychef]

Pop Century – A Pop Culture Blast From The Past!

Welcome to the next stop on the Magical Blogorail. Today we are discussing some of the best Disney resorts around the world. When it comes to picking that perfect resort for your Walt Disney World vacation, it can seem pretty daunting. There are almost 30 on-site hotels to choose from with per night fees of anywhere from $49 to over $2,000, how do you even go about choosing where to stay? Well, when I travel, I know three things: - I want to be on-site so I can enjoy perks like Disney transportation, extra magic hours, dining plans, and airline check-in at my hotel. - I want to be surrounded in Disney magic. - No way on earth can I afford to spend $2,000 a night for my hotel.  I want magic on a budget. Having been lucky enough to stay as resorts as luxurious as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and as economical as Disney’s All-Star Music resort, I’ve gotten a wide sampling of hotel experiences. While I always say I want to try something new, inevitably I always end up back at my resort of choice… Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Yes, the Polynesian is fantastic, an experience like no other. Yes, I’ve slept in faux Pirate ships in the Pirate Suites at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. And yes, I’ve gone uber-budget friendly at the All-Stars. But Pop Century has that something special that makes it my unofficial home resort. Why you may ask? Well: 1.  Price –  You know, rolling out of bed and seeing Cinderella’s Castle across a lake while the sun rises behind it is a marvelous experience, the rooms that allow me to do that just aren’t in my budget for every trip. On the flip side, I subscribe to the philosophy that says “you know, there is such a thing as being too inexpensive…” Pop Century hits that sweet spot, being affordable enough that I can stay there, but not so inexpensive that I’m sacrificing quality, magic, or experience. 2.  Location –  Being only about 10ish minutes from Epcot, 20ish minutes from Magic Kingdom, 5-10 minutes from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and about 15 minutes from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this resort is close enough to all the parks that I don’t feel like I’m on some remote island, away from the action. Even some Deluxe resorts don’t offer that! Like, I love the Polynesian, but it feels so far away from Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. And Animal Kingdom Lodge? It just feels far away from… Everything. Granted, their rooms and amenities are nicer than mine, but I don’t feel like I’m compromising too greatly when I’m so close to everything. Oh, and not sharing buses with other hotels? Win! 3.  That food court –  Can we talk about how much fun the food court is? I remember staying at Caribbean Beach Resort and being surprised at how spoiled I was by Pop Century without even realizing it. The food options there are insane! Everything from regular old pizza to cotton candy lemonade and my favorite, Tie-Dye Cheesecake. You’d never think that Pop Century would be home to some of Disney World’s craziest food options… But if you want a Pop Tart sandwich stuffed with bacon, eggs, and cheese, you can get it there. 4.  The crazy atmosphere –  Call me crazy, but I think the theme there is so much fun. By dividing the hotel out by decades, it not only means that each space is uniquely themed, but it makes exploring lots of fun. I love wandering to the 80’s section and seeing the 50 foot tall Roger Rabbit icon surrounded by little Pac-Men chasing ghosts. The glitter floor in the lobby? Come on, you know that’s awesome. And even if I’m not participating in the movie they’re watching out by the pool or the hula hoop contest in the lobby, walking by families and kids acting all wild and crazy, it just brings a smile to my face. Oh, and one of these days, I’m going to swipe those awesome shadow boxes in the lobby… Those are my childhood on display. 5.  It’s quiet –  I know what you’re thinking… Didn’t I just say that the atmosphere is really crazy?  Well, yes it is… But as you wind your way to the quieter areas of the resort, like the 1990’s, 1980’s, and 1950’s, it’s super quiet and peaceful. Grab a lake view room in the 80’s or 50’s and you’ve got an experience (and a view) that rivals anything at the Polynesian. Sure, you’re not staring at Cinderella’s Castle, but what you do get is everything from colorful sunrises over the water to wildlife. Taking a run around Hourglass Lake (which actually takes you through Disney’s Art of Animation Resort as well) one quiet morning, I had the place entirely to myself, and I saw everything from baby rabbits and ducks to huge cranes and blue herons.  It was a surreal, but gorgeous experience.  Honestly, that’s one of my happy places. There’s really so much more at Disney’s Pop Century Resort that makes it a great place for every traveler, from couples to families, I could go on for another whole post. I’m addicted to the gift shop, I’m in love with all of the nostalgic songs, posters, and toys they have out and about, and I could spend a good 20 minutes talking about the rooms and the cute little touches that we’ve seen or experienced there… But really, there’s only so much I can gush about before I start to really get homesick for Disney. Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail | Special Edition : Best Disney Resorts Around the World Loop: Read the full article

[aguzziadventure]

Day 11: A Bittersweet Farewell to the Alps

Today is my last day in the majestic Alps. Unexpected budget hits and impending poor weather have determined that after today, my journey must gradually start winding back towards home. But I am determined to make it a memorable one.

I start my day in a rustic Swiss wood cabin hotel in the village of Ueberrotten, situated just kilometers away from some of the most iconic Swiss alpine passes. They are the perfect stage for the grand finale of my alpine adventure.

First, I conquer the Furka Pass, a classic route immortalized by a car chase in Goldfinger. At 2429m, it's a testing ride. Thanks to a bit of misdirection and poor planning, I tackle it three times. With each ride, I grow more familiar with its steep switchbacks and slick snow-caked roads.

By the third round, I allow myself to get my head up, and take in in the breathtaking views. Its snow-blanketed peaks and endless hairpins make it a challenging yet rewarding ride that pushes my skills to their limits.

The next pass is the Nufenan Pass, the highest paved pass in Switzerland, nestled between the peaks of Pizzi Galino and Nufenenstock. It presents a stark and isolated landscape that offers an oddly wild riding experience. Afterward, I move on to Oberalp, known for being the source of the River Rhine.

Finally, I arrive at the Grimselpass, a route whose stunning images partially inspired this entire trip. It exceeds all my expectations. Grimsel is the embodiment of a Swiss alpine pass, a microcosm of the country's breathtaking natural scenery, squeezing in snow-capped mountains, tumbling waterfalls, forests blanketing verdant meadows, icy glacier lakes, and remarkable tunnels. Its road, a harmonious balance of relaxed sections and challenging bends, feel like the perfect bow on this segment of the journey.

At the summit, I take a moment to just breathe it all in. Deciding not to photograph anything on this journey, I've opted to imprint every vista into my memory. Staring out over the breathtaking landscape, I realize how much of an impression this part of the trip has left on me. It's a moment of fuzziness, where I’ll be leaving a little bit of myself behind in this landscape. It’s a quiet goodbye to the Alps that will occupy a special place in my heart.

This perfect moment is a stark contrast to my subsequent arrival in Lucerne, a vibrant city teeming with high fashion and travellers thronging towards the lake. Despite its popularity, I’m now sure that cities don’t interest me. I had intended to explore some cities on my return journey, but now, I decide to let them pass.

I find a campsite at the Lido on Lake Lucerne, and as I set up for the night, I can't help but feel a twinge of sadness. Tomorrow, I will be leaving Switzerland and its hefty price tag behind, heading northward on a slightly shortened route home.

It's been an incredible, emotional journey through the Alps, one that I wouldn't trade for anything. Tomorrow brings another day, another ride, but for tonight, I bask in the memories of the majestic Alps.

[ratcandy]

Subcon Forest Analysis

Hi everyone I'm here to spill my aggressive overflowing thoughts on Subcon Forest and what it represents because it's been driving me insane since I finished the Sleepy Subcon time rift. Okay let's go. Obvious spoilers for AHIT ahead so proceed with caution.

This is also very, very long.

Disclaimer/warning: I will be discussing abusive/unhealthy relationships in this analysis. I mean. Vanessa. Come on. Also, there is a section on the nooses, and that delves, of course, into mentions of suicide. It will be sectioned off and easily skipped, but if you'd rather be safe and skip the entire post, that's completely understandable! Please stay safe. <3

Alright. Main point to be had here:

Subcon Forest is a giant extended metaphor for Snatcher's mind and character.

You all get to now listen to me spout nonsense about metaphors and symbolism because I'm a sucker for analysis and I'm given an opportunity to go ham. So perish.

The Ice

Let's start with the most obvious and most glaring thing in Subcon. The ice. It's everywhere. Not just outside Vanessa's manor, either; no, it's throughout the village, too. Shows up in the well and in random locations sprinkled about. When it comes to literal plot, we know that ice is just what lingers after Vanessa's wintery curse on Subcon. But going deeper and analyzing the meaning behind it?

Well, let's look at this from the perspective I've suggested. Subcon Forest being an extended metaphor for Snatcher's mind and character. A symbol for Vanessa then litters his mind, enough where it's certainly noticeable at first but blends in more easily once more of Subcon is unlocked to Hat Kid. This is clearly meant to be his lingering trauma, whether or not he wants to acknowledge it. Which he doesn't, as he never mentions it directly in his forest (that I can recall). Her influence plagues him, as to be expected with the traumatic experiences he went through with her. Breaking the ice is something Hat Kid must do in order to fulfill the wishes of the Fire Spirits (another subject I'll get into shortly), which, if self-indulgently playing with the found family idea, could mean that Hat Kid is helping him heal; if indirectly. Even if fulfilling the Fire Spirits' wish to die is... counterproductive, in that measure, which I'm now getting ahead of myself so hold on a sec!!

Vanessa. Ice. Everywhere. Traces of it all over his forest. That's the effects of an abusive relationship! Especially in a worst-case scenario where... yknow! One party in the relationship dies! So of course ice would be everywhere.

In and of itself, ice is a common symbol in literature and other forms of media. In this case, it's presented as an antagonistic force; emphasis is placed upon freezing and the harm that comes with it. The cold is unwelcoming, threatening, merciless. Snow can act as an insulating force, at least, but ice cannot. It can only make things colder.

A slight stretch: Seeing as this game deals a lot with time shenaniganry, I'm not sure if it'd be too out of left field to connect "freezing" with the theme of time. Yknow. Frozen in time. Both parties here, Snatcher and Vanessa, would be in this frozen state. One largely repressing it and never fully moving on, and the other doomed to her isolation ever since the event in question. They never moved past that moment after the Prince and florist's interaction.

The Fire Spirits (& the Portraits)

I'll put a slight warning here for suicidal ideation, if only because... it's the Fire Spirits we're talking about. It's not as grossly in-detail as the noose discussion will be, though, so make of that what you will.

To me, the Fire Spirits are a very interesting case. After all, they're fire. They're a direct contrast to the ice, thus being the only thing we're shown that could potentially melt it. The Fire Spirits, in my opinion, represent hope or a strength to continue. A strength to move on after troubles of the past.

...And that hope wants to die.

The Fire Spirits wish to burn out, to leave this mortal coil and abandon the forest to the cold. They make no effort to melt the ice, they simply dance, blissfully ignorant towards their surroundings. This being a metaphor for Snatcher's own hope for moving on is made all the more obvious by the fact he wants them gone. The first contract is to kill the Fire Spirits, to kill the hope. Perhaps he believes that sort of thing to be fruitless or naïve, so it only clutters his mind or has him foolishly optimistic at points. So, get rid of it. And the hope is happy to oblige.

(That, or their willingness to leave the forest to its own suffering and not aid in the ice's thaw angers him. Besides the whole "bark bark growl I can't get to parts of my forest because of them!!" which... also could represent a naïve hope clouding his judgement, not allowing him to see a bigger picture. But hope can't all be lost if one wants to move forward...)

A little side-tangent now on the portraits! And it's another slight stretch but the idea is in my head and I can't let it go. Portraits are another common symbol, usually being a physical representation of a memory or idea. For our purposes, let's say they're memories. I know in canon they appear to just hold souls captive or something but for now we're just Ignoring That(tm). The Fire Spirits have to burn the portraits to disappear. See where I'm going with this, maybe?

Instead of handling bad memories (or perhaps memories of the past in general) in any healthy manner, Snatcher chooses to forget/repress them, which just allows his hope to progressively die out.

I'm really hoping this is making sense because it makes a lot of sense to me but I might be insane rn

The Fact that this is a Forest

Forest symbolism breakdown! What's a forest usually mean in literature? "Traditionally, the forest has come to represent being lost, exploration and potential danger as well as mystery and 'other worldliness'." Okay. Yeah. Fair enough. That certainly works with the whole aesthetic we've got going on. Wood usually is life, growth and strength. But the trees of subcon are all dead. So what about that? It stands for death, big whoop, very spooky, we know Snatcher's dead and so are the children, yadda yadda wowie wowie. But. :) The trees in Subcon look a lot like trees that were scorched in a forest fire. Don't believe me?

(You could also argue they're just regular marsh/swamp trees bUT SSHHSUUHSH HANG ON HEAR ME OUT LOOK LOOK,)

What I believe to have happened was a controlled fire to rid the forest of the majority of its ice and snow. Likely done by Snatcher. It leaves behind a very desolate, depressing, barren scene... but. What else do dead/burnt trees symbolize? Rebirth. After all, controlled fires happen to make way for new trees to take the place of old ones. Some trees only drop seeds in fires/hot temperatures, so new ones take root and begin anew. Weird. It's almost like... I dunno. Snatcher was given some sorta second chance, given he's not just a corpse in Vanessa's cellar. So were the subconites. Another life given then by Snatcher. All connected I tell ya!!

Generally, aside from that, forests have many connotations. Mystery, isolation, claustrophobia; a place to dwell on regrets, or the past; to worry over one's future; to seek escape from or escape inside of... hmgmrnmm!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- T / W -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The Nooses

The t/w is given at the top and another cut-off point will follow the bottom of this, for those that would like to skip. This will delve into talk of suicide and abusive tactics used by abusers. Please don't read if it will upset you or make you feel unsafe!!!

Personally, I cannot stand the nooses, but that's just due to my own triggers. Were there a way to hide those from the game or replace the damned talking ones with anything else. I would take it. In a heartbeat. But I can still appreciate the potential analysis to be had with them. So now i'm gonna talk about it despite how uncomfortable it will make me to do so. yEa

So, what about 'em? There are three types of nooses seen in Subcon. At least that I remember but I didn't really go looking for them. Empty ones, ones containing empty subconites, and the talking ones.

Nooses in general obviously can hint towards suicidal thoughts or behaviors of the characters that interact with them. If saying Subcon is Snatcher's mind, it could suggest that he suffered from some sort of suicidal thoughts in life (or currently, if second death is possible... or if he never truly died... or maybe he's trying to figure that out...which has given me... a separate idea...uh oh). But. And hear me out. Different perspective.

A talking noose. I hate them with a fiery passion that is unmatched. But think of the packed symbolism of a noose that talks. And think more about what it says. "I wouldn't mind being strapped around a cute neck like yours." "Be careful now, I don't want to see you meet a miserable end anywhere, but with me." Oddly, a lot of what the noose says seems almost... endearing? One could argue it's a way of luring someone to put it around their necks, which in and of itself is a whole lot to unpack when it comes to suicidal thoughts beckoning one forward; painting itself as something romantic, almost. But. Here's a wild idea, now. What if the nooses, at least the talking ones, are another symbol for Vanessa?

They're tinted blue, after all. While Vanessa's scheme is more red, one could argue two things: One, ice. Blue. Ice. yeah. Or two, the fact that Snatcher's scheme is more purple. Blue and red... make... purple. So, for all we know, Snatcher's current state was a compound effort between suicidal thoughts and Vanessa's treatment of him. Perhaps he even found a way to put himself out of his misery before freezing/starving to death. (I know he has dialogue that argues against that, but... are we certain Snatcher would be the kind to admit suicide over freezing to death?... I don't think so.)

At any rate, a common threat by those in "control" of an abusive relationship is that of killing themselves should the other person not do as they desire. It's a cruel form of emotional manipulation to get their way, worse off if the other party is an empathetic individual. As a person who has been the empathetic individual in relationships like this... I would know. I've been here, unfortunately So, it's not completely out of the question to say Vanessa could've used some tactic like that, even before the whole... cellar ordeal. Did she? I dunno. I'm tossing ideas around. But if she did, the threats of such would sit around in the Prince's mind easily. Even if she has a reputation of not going through with it. It doesn't matter. That shit sticks with you forever, that scare, the potential of it ever being true, is horrifying and it ruins you. I'm projecting, Squirtle.

Still. A noose cannot hang itself. It has to have a victim.

...yea.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- T / W PASSED -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Misc. Ideas

- The spiders: Aside from the usual things spiders can be chalked up to symbolizing - toxicity, alluring danger, just... general pain - I like the potential wordplay that can happen here. Yknow. A black widow. Say the Prince and Vanessa were married when one died. What would that leave Vanessa? A widow. ...She's red and black, too. Yknow. Like a black widow. HA wordplay is fun isn't it?

- Snatcher's tree: Love this place, love sitting in here. But not the point! The inside of Snatcher's tree is such a harsh juxtaposition to the rest of Subcon that it kinda throws ya off guard. After all, the dark, purples and blues then contrasted with the bright warm colors of the inside. Even the music switches over. The thorns outside aren't present indoors. Ohh yeah this is gonna be on the nose as hell but the Tree(tm) is 100% representing Snatcher's appearance/put-on personality vs. his truer nature. Spooky outside with thorns, foreboding, unwelcoming. Then the more comfortable interior. VULnerable. Have I even mentioned that the tree is HOLLOW I mean COME ON. The sturdiness of that tree? Nonexistent. He's not a sturdy guy at all no matter how he fronts

- Intrusions are unwelcome: Snatcher does not like the fact that Hat Kid sticks around in his forest. His personal space. His mind. In fact he tries desperately to get rid of her after their fight, not wanting her presence in his forest at all. He has no problem providing more contracts later on with the Death Wish thing, and he finds great entertainment in messing around with Hat Kid, so it's not just a weird sudden hatred he has for her; it's the fact that. After she's finished being useful, he no longer wants her around, lest she find some things she shouldn't find. Now he's just uncomfortable with her in his personal boundaries. Could just be a denial that she's helped him heal (breaking ice, stealing from Vanessa, being something interesting for his kids to interact with) or just not really wanting a child to get wrapped up in. All that. Most likely the former. Considering the amount of joke-hints he drops regarding his background during his Death Wish dialogue. I see you funny man, making jokes out of your trauma as a coping mechanism. Punts him

Annnd I think that's all I got, for now! I'll make an update post if I get any more sporadic ideas. If you read this whole thing, thank you!! and also!! Wow that was a lot!! Hell world. Please feel free to elaborate on any of my points or debate with me on em!! I'm always open to other ideas, just be aware that if I disagree I am not shy when it comes to debate hehehe, tho I won't be aggressive to any extent I prommy!!

Alrighty. goes to sleep goodnight

[traditional-with-a-twist]

xxxvi. Beauty and Her Beast

@the-pompous-potato ‘you got this’ hahaha yes, please, Obi needs all the encouragement he can get! bring on the cheering section! ‘soft touches’ is such a beautiful way to describe their interactions; that made my heart happy ^_^

@bubblesthemonsterartist you made me laugh my head off; that is so real and so true! “it’s your responsibility at this point” - I love it, absolutely someone needs to point that out to him X’D

@claudeng80 ahhahahaha XD Obi is cringing in the heat of your indignation right now; he thought they were having a great time slogging into the early hours! Hope this chapter answers your wishes :)

<<Previous || first arc || second arc || AO3 || Next>>

All along, Obi had meant to obey Lord Haruka’s instructions.

He wasn’t intending to rebel, search for loopholes, or harbor thoughts of insurrection.

He thought only of conducting Shirayuki safely along the roads in as much comfort as he could provide.

...

Opportunity had presented itself to him unasked.

A hint, a rumor of a property seeking tenants - remote but well-provisioned, a converted hunting lodge deep in the Haruka estates - had tickled his ear in a town square while he bantered at a market stall. 

He had made casual inquiries and found the manager very willing, very eager to accept Lord Haruka’s seal as a guarantor for striking a quick agreement, details to be confirmed -- at least, the man was willing once offered something in the way of collateral.

...

‘Oh,’ Shirayuki had said when he made vague mention of finding a new home for Raj’s generous offering. ‘That’s...well, I’m sure he’ll take good care of it, won’t he?’

Obi had no doubt that the man would find some use for a heap of platinum, pearls, and satin. He did not think it necessary to trouble Shirayuki with further details.

She was preoccupied in any case with exploring their new abode and beginning the long and loving labor of making it into a home.

...

Shirayuki would never have expected it, but her spirits rose to fill the space outside the castle walls.

She had clung to that place for its memories of the life she had cultivated there alongside her friends and for the echoes of hope for a brighter future, but this place awoke a different kind of memory.

It brought back for her a time before, when she knew nothing of princes and castles but only her mountains and the people she served.

...

She had been growing and stretching in a new direction, then repulsed by unseasonal frost and a shock to her very roots, and now suddenly she found herself again in familiar soil.

All her old habits of industry reasserted themselves, as she gladly undertook a task to which she could devote the full measure of her generous spirit and formidable powers.

Besides all the chores of solitary rural living, she began at once to explore their surroundings and scheme for how best to harvest its treasures.

...

The plant life here was both known and unknown to her.

Her work as a royal pharmacist had acquainted her with all the local differences between the ecosystems of Tanbarun and Clarines (as well as many more varieties besides, given the castle’s extended capacity for cultivating and storing foreign species), but here the plants grew wild, untended.

She had all the little eccentricities of this patch of unbounded nature to learn, with nothing of administration or courtly duties to distract her.

...

She did miss the camaraderie of the castle pharmacy, the joy of contributing to something greater than herself.

There were no villagers nearby for her to provide services for, no apothecary with whom she might partner, so Shirayuki had thought of a correspondence service.

She might even provide supplies to the pharmacists in Wistal and so maintain regular contact with them -- but first she had plenty of work to do in mapping and cataloguing her newfound place, taking the first tentative steps towards arranging for long-term storage, and sketching plans for where she might plant a garden in the spring.

...

In a way, Shirayuki was grateful to withdraw, not only from the castle and its ghosts, but from the world in general.

The stillness of the place soothed nerves stretched beyond endurance over the many months since the knights of Clarines had ridden away to war.

From the outside, she looked hard at work -- bustling from dawn to dusk and occupying her hands in the evening hours with whatever was left over from the day, as she and Obi rested together before the fire -- but for an industrious spirit like Shirayuki’s, this activity was the best kind of convalescence.

...

Whenever she was lonely, she had Obi.

...

That first night, she had been too fatigued and heartsick to really comprehend what Obi meant when he welcomed her home.

She half-expected the cottage to be a resting place for travelers, some kind of wayfarers’ lodging, and felt vague surprise when no one met them at the door.

She thought Obi must have carried her inside - she had no memory of crossing the threshold on foot, only sinking into something soft with the varied seams of a quilt stretched over her, and sighing in relief when she found a warm brick tucked into the sheets at her feet.

...

The next thing she knew, she woke in the soft greys of rising dawn -- too early to be properly called morning.

The deep sense of restfulness scattered in a seize of panic.

She was alone.

...

A sigh contradicted her.

Shirayuki registered a steady pattern of inhale and exhale, somewhere in the room. Her eye fell on a lanky figure propped in the corner, its arms folded and head bowed.

He was sleeping on the floor.

...

At her movement, Obi roused. His eye flashed around the room, verifying that all was well, before returning to rest on her face.

‘Morning, missus,’ Obi said, his voice husky.

Shirayuki’s face spoke her entreaty as she looked from him to the bed again.

...

Obi hesitated, then unwound from his seat and approached.

In that moment, Shirayuki recollected the full significance of the act, their new status towards each other. 

Her body tensed reflexively, hands crumpling the quilt.

...

He stopped at once and made as if to withdraw, rocking like a willow tree as he reversed direction.

A sound of protest escaped her.

He froze in place.

...

They stared at each other, both trying to understand what she wanted.

...

‘Missus,’ Obi said at last, his voice gentle as a mother with her kitten, ‘it’s been a long road and you need your rest. Just say the word, and I’ll go--’

‘Don’t go, Obi.’

The words tumbled out. ��Stay here with me. It’s too cold for you outside, and I - I don’t want to be alone.’

She ended on a whisper.

...

Scarcely had she finished before Obi was beside her, startling in scale - something in his height and the breadth of his shoulders had always overwhelmed her on an instinctual level.

Her body wanted to quail before him even though her heart knew him as an ally, a friend, and now--

Shirayuki looked up into his face, finding its familiar lines and trying out a new name for them. Her lips formed the shape of the word: ‘husband.’

...

He answered at once, ‘Missus?’

Shirayuki drew breath, feeling her way inside the new names like an unfamiliar dress that she must not only fit but absorb into her skin.

Something tender, longing, and yet uncertain fluttered in her chest.

She spoke again: ‘Obi.’

...

It took him longer to recognize his cue this time.

He had slid out of the habit of saying her name, tucking it away under layers of laughing formality like a treasure that one keeps hidden, the better to cherish it.

‘Shirayuki,’ he whispered, and her heart broke open as she felt the full force of his yearning for her.

...

In that moment, she would deny him nothing; she was only too glad to give him herself, since that was what he wanted - only she didn’t know how.

Shirayuki dropped her eyes, heat creeping into her cheeks as she tried to think what to do.

Her gaze fell on the quilt: a thin but undeniable barrier between them.

Hands trembling, she swept it back, opening up the space.

Obi’s breathing hitched.

...

He made half a gesture as if to stop her, but Shirayuki dropped the quilt and caught his hands in both of hers.

She clung to him, looked at him appealingly, but for once he didn’t understand.

He only looked back at her with a curiously blank expression. His eyes were flat gold discs like coins, his features still as a carving.

...

She thought of kissing him, but she had never tried it before, and he looked so far away just now.

Her courage failed her.

Instead she bent her head over his hand and brought his open palm to her lips. ‘Obi,’ she whispered against his skin. ‘Obi.’

...

He seemed to understand then.

When she reached for his other hand, he gave it to her willingly and then his lips also.

As the sun rose over the little cottage in the woods, they came together, for the first time, as man and wife.

[kolbisneat]

MONTHLY MEDIA: February 2022

Slowly getting through the winter months and the following movies, tv, games, and books really helped pass the time!

……….FILM……….

Police Story (1985) Jackie Chan is a treasure and this movie is incredible. I never knew where exactly the plot was going, the fight choreography is fantastic, and I was in genuine shock at the end of section set in the village. Really really great.

Stop Making Sense (1984) Gosh Talking Heads are a really great band and what a great concert! Also had no idea Tom Tom Club was an offshoot so that was a fun surprise.

Hot Fuzz (2007) I don’t think there’s an ounce of fat on this script. I really think every single beat becomes a payoff. I also love the idea of this cast getting to do the things they do on set and it makes the whole thing that much more fun. Just a joy. 

The Terminator (1984) First time viewing and it really holds up. Everything in the movie pays off and so many fun surprises. Even the final confrontation surprised me and I already knew how they defeat the Terminator! The slow degradation of the villain, the exposition in the middle of a car chase, it all felt so natural.

……….TELEVISION……….

The Bachelor (Episode 26.04 to 26.07) Okay I was too easy on Clayton. He’s...just so bland. Though I do appreciate that he can barely hide the fact that he likes just one woman (Rachel) and barely connects with any of the others. He’s nothing if not honest. 

Love is Blind (Episode 2.01 to 2.05) I forgot how wild this series is and it really makes me wonder what sorts of personalities are drawn to this type of show. Also I wish we got to spend ANY time with those that didn’t pair up. Show us their conversations, Netflix!

Cuphead (Episode 1.01 to 1.12) Really fun. I was a little nervous that the spirit of the game would get lost in translation but it really came together. Lots of little cameos from the game and the spirit of the whole thing (the episode length, the plots, the stakes) all felt very Looney Tunes. Oh and those 3D backgrounds! Oof just so much to love.

Dorohedoro (Episode 1.05 to 1.13) So great! While the season ends on a different note than expected, I was really happy with the entire journey. These characters and the world are so weird and interesting that it was just fun getting to spend time in this world. I hope a second season gets greenlit and I think I might pick up the manga while I wait.

……….READING……….

The Will to Change by bell hooks (Complete) This is my first book by hooks and I was floored. I can’t effectively communicate how much this book resonated with me and how it’s fundamentally affected my outlook as a feminist. Oof it just...shares so much in under 200 pages. Please read this. It’s for all genders. It’s for parents. It’s for anyone experiencing the human condition.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Volume 10 by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Mateus Santolouco, Dave Wachter, Pablo Tunica, Sophie Campbell, and many more! (Complete) This is the sort of ninja turtles stories I enjoy: dimension-hopping, zany characters and settings, a ghostbusters crossover, all super fun. It’s a nice contrast to the sewers and skyscrapers of New York and I really feel the ninja turtles are at their best when they lean into the bonkers.

……….AUDIO……….

The Renner Files (Podcast) I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a podcast dripping with so much sarcasm so your mileage may vary. It’s a breezy breakdown of the Jeremy Renner app fiasco and I genuinely learned more than I was expecting.

……….GAMING……….

Oz: A Fantasy Role-Playing Setting (Forthcoming, Andrews McMeel Publishing) So two groups adventured in Oz this month! My weekly crew is knee-deep in some gambling trouble (full campaign diary over here) and my bi-weekly group is exploring the seedy neighborhood and all that the area has to offer.

Spelunky (Mossmouth) Really had a lot of fun with this and now better understand the fanbase around this and its sequel. I don’t think I’ll go for all the secret stuff but just playing through for the regular ending was already so satisfying.

And that’s it! As always, let me know if you have any recommendations and see you in March.

[official-weasley]

The Extraordinary Dragon (Part 3/6)

A fluffy story about Charlie training a dragon with a sad and mysterious past.

Warnings: Charlie not obeying any rules! Word Count: 2,778

I couldn’t believe it. I have been gone for 15 minutes and the dragon was nowhere to be found. How does one lose a bloody dragon? How does a thing of the size of a small van disappear?

I looked everywhere in the vicinity of Asterin’s habitat but I couldn’t find her. I know she can’t fly and on foot, she can’t be that fast that she would go to any other dragon enclosure. So where could she be?

I looked at my wristwatch, it was almost 9 o’clock. How am I supposed to find a black dragon in the dark?

I had no choice, however, if my boss finds out that I lost her on the first day of her being here, he is not only going to take this opportunity away from me but I am pretty sure I will get fired. Dragon on a loose is dangerous enough, but with 5 villages around the reserve, it’s even worse.

I checked every place the dragon could be in the 500-meter radius. I was getting desperate and was ready to go wake up Matthew and tell him what happened when I remembered that I haven’t checked the nearby forest.

Since Asterin was found by the MacFusty family inside one and was hurt and scared, it didn’t even come to mind that that is where she could be.

I hurried to the edge of the forest and lit up my wand – it was too dark to see anything without it.

About 5 minutes of me walking, I heard the rustling of leaves. I lowered my wand as I didn’t want to shine the light directly into the dragon’s eyes and took a few cautious steps forward trying to make as little noise as possible.

“Asterin, it’s me, Charlie. Please don’t get startled. I just wanted to bring you some food.” I whispered.

I have never been so afraid of a dragon before. I didn’t know her well enough to predict her next move. I know I should stay calm as she can sense fear but I couldn’t help it. She could just jump at me and eat me alive. Maybe that’s her delicacy – eating people.

“Asterin?” I tried calling her again.

I heard a twig break and pointed my wand in the direction of the sound. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my ribcage when I didn’t see anything but a pair of purple eyes. I took a step backward and lowered my wand.

“Asterin, please, you can’t be in the forest. It’s not safe for you.” I said with a gentle voice. I saw smoke coming out of her nostrils and that doesn’t mean anything good. If she breathes fire in the forest she can endanger the two Hungarian Horntails on the other side of it that just had their eggs hatched two weeks ago.

I knew I had to do something about it and get the dragon out. There was no time for panic or me chickening out.

Chicken! That’s it!

I tried not to show too much excitement not to startle the dragon.

“Asterin, I am just going to get something and I’ll be right back.” I took a few steps backward, looking her directly in the eyes before turning around and returning to the food supply hut.

If she doesn’t want to eat meat – especially the Hebridean Black favorite, deer – then maybe she has to have another preference.

I unlocked the door and went straight to the baby dragon section. Chicken blood and brandy. If she can’t eat solids, then maybe this will do the trick to get her back to her habitat!

“Asterin, I brought you something,” I whispered the second I knew I was getting close to where she was before. I carefully lifted my lit wand to spot her eyes – she didn’t move from where she was before I left.

“I think you’ll love this. It smells delicious!” I tried sounding cheerful and even though my heartbeat has slowed down, I was still a bit nervous.

I placed a huge bucket a few meters away from her and poured the contents of 2 bottles inside. I looked around and picked a large stick from the ground to mix the two and slowly backed away.

“Try it. I made this especially for you.” I grinned at the dragon whose nostrils stopped smoking and was now eyeing the bucket with curiosity.

“I promise it’s good and it will make you big and strong.” I sat down on the ground, patiently waiting for her to move.

Asterin let out a silent growl and took a cautious step toward the bucket. She sniffed the chicken blood and brandy and then locked eyes with me as if she was reading my face.

“It’s okay. It smells good, doesn’t it?” I couldn’t help but giggle. She was adorable even for her size. “Look, it’s safe to eat. I like it too!”

I opened a bottle of brandy and took a few sips. Even though I am not big on alcohol, especially brandy, I acted as if it’s the most delicious thing I have ever drunk.

Asterin was now looking at me with her head tilted to the side and waiting as if she expected me to drop dead on the ground.

“You have a lot of trust issues, don’t you?” I furrowed my brows. I wish I would know what happened to her so that I could plan to approach her in the right way.

After staring at me for 5 minutes, she sniffed the liquid in the bucket again and tasted the liquid with her tongue. I couldn’t believe how fast the bucket was empty. I got her to eat!

I stood up slowly and opened a bottle with chicken blood and the brandy I opened for myself before and started walking out of the forest making a trail of liquids. When I reached the edge of the forest I heard stomps behind me and a smile creased my face as I couldn’t believe my method worked.

Asterin was walking slowly and stopping every few steps to look around her and make sure she is not in danger. It broke my heart seeing her so frightened.

The first day a dragon is transported here, it usually sleeps and the next day starts exploring its habitat. It rarely happens that the dragon doesn’t feel comfortable with the amount of effort we put into the habitats and how strikingly they resemble the wild.

I have witnessed at least a dozen dragons coming here since I started working and I have never seen one so aware of its surroundings and with such a strong will to escape.

From the looks Matthew gave me every day before Asterin came here, I knew that handling this dragon won’t be a piece of cake but I was not prepared for this.

The second he told me that I will be in charge of a Hebridean Black I rushed home and started working on my strategy and read as many articles and facts about the breed. Of course, I knew all of it already but it eased my mind to refresh my memory.

Even though nervous, I was ready to start taming the dragon, to try and befriend her but her running away took me off guard. Asterin proved to me that she is not an ordinary dragon, not an ordinary Hebridean Black and that I will have to come up with a new plan to make her trust me before I visit her for breakfast in the morning.

After what seemed like 2 hours, Asterin finally came to the end of my chicken blood and brandy trail and curved up into a ball. I waited for her to close her eyes and for her breathing to steady so that I knew she was asleep before silently returning home.

It was 3 in the morning when I came back but I had no time to sleep. The first step in my training with Asterin has to be that she is comfortable with her surroundings and knows that she is safe. And I can’t waste any time sleeping when I can work out a plan.

Pacing up and down my kitchen for about an hour, I knew what I had to do. I also knew that my boss was going to kill me for it but there wasn’t another way.

It was clear that Asterin started gulping down the mixture when she saw me drinking the brandy. The gesture let her know that it was safe. So if I want to make her feel safe in her new home, she has to see that I am safe in it too.

It seems that she trusts me on the level to trust my judgment – at least to some degree – and if that is the only way I can make her see that she is okay here and that she has nothing to worry about then I have to be a bit mad and break a few rules.

I slept for one hour before my alarm clock woke me up and I hurried to get some clothes on me, quickly washed my teeth, skipped breakfast, going straight to Asterin.

She was already awake when I arrived with a fresh bucket of chicken blood and brandy. I took the biggest one I could find. It already takes a ridiculous amount of both to feed a baby dragon so I can’t imagine how much she needs so she can properly grow into the size she is supposed to be at her age.

At around one year a dragon should be halfway to its full size not looking like a Muggle minivan.

I placed the bucket a safe distance away from her and backed away to give her space to eat. She needed a moment to start sniffing the air and taking a step toward her breakfast but it was faster than yesterday so I was proud of her.

When she was done, she slammed the bucket into a nearby tree with her paw and sat down on the spot where the bucket was before.

“I’ll have to order more buckets, won’t I?” I chuckled and scratched my ear. “At least you ate. Was it good?” I dared to look her in the eyes and she replied with a huff.

I waited a minute more to see if she was going to move but as she decided to sit still as a statue, her claws deep in the ground again, it was time to test the idea I came up with when I got home last night.

I took a deep breath and hoped that this won’t get me fired. As I already said we only have 3 rules but if we break them, the consequences can be severe. I was aware that I could lose my job for this but if I prove myself right then I know what an approach I have to take.

I sat down on the ground a safe distance away from her and took off my gloves and the fireproof hat first. The dragon laid down with her head held high, waiting for my next move.

I took off all my body protective gear and sat down, wearing nothing but a t-shirt and trousers. I hugged my legs and rested my head on my knees, waiting for her response.

To my surprise, she lowered her head but her claws were still not relaxed, her eyes on me.

“Charles, what in the bloody hell are you doing?”

I wasn’t even surprised to hear Matthew’s angry voice. I knew that me taking off my gear was wrong and I was putting myself in danger.

“Please, Matthew, let me explain,” I said calmly, my eyes on Asterin who was now standing up and looked as if she was ready to run away again.

“Oh, you will explain. Why are you without your gear and why do you look like you only slept for an hour last night?” He looked down at me when he reached me, an angry expression on his face, waiting for my answer.

“Asterin ran into the forest last night and she didn’t want to eat anything, not even chicken blood and brandy until I drank some of the brandy. So I thought that since she is so frightened it might help her to see that if I am not protected and feel safe so can she.” I cleared my throat. “Oh, and I did in fact sleep only for one hour.” I finally took my eyes off the dragon and looked up at my boss.

“Is that why a supply is missing from the food hut and why the gate to the forest is broken?” Matthew looked puzzled. “Yes, I am sorry. I will order more food for baby dragons, on me if needed, I just wanted her to eat something and I will fix the fence right after I am finished here.” I smiled apologetically.

“Why would you feed a 1-year-old dragon blood and brandy anyway?”

“Well, you said that her teeth were damaged and that it might pain her if she chews so I tried the liquid diet,” I explained.

“And did she eat?” Matthew sounding impressed now looking from me to Asterin.

“After I drank some brandy in front of her.”

“Okay, we will order more if she’s willing to eat.” He nodded. “Is that what you gave her for breakfast too?”

“Yes, and she ate it all already.”

“We will need to ask the research team to find out how much of this she should get per day so she can grow.” Matthew sat down next to me, observing her behavior.

“Are her claws always this…”

“Tense?” Matthew nodded as I finished his sentence. “Yes. That’s why I broke the rules and took off my equipment. I am trying to prove to her that it’s safe here.”

“And here I was thinking you have lost your mind.” He let out a silent chuckle.

“Are you going to fire me?” I bowed my head.

“No, Charles. I trust that you know what you are doing. Just please inform me of any kind of recklessness you are going to try with Asterin before I have a heart attack thinking you have a death wish standing in a brown t-shirt in front of a Hebridean Black.” He winked at me.

“I will try. There was no time yesterday.”

“I understand. I will leave you to it then. Hopefully, you can make some progress in the next 14 days. She has to have her health examination with the healers then.”

“I will try my best.” I nodded and bestowed him with a small smile.

Matthew got up and put his hand on my shoulder reassuringly. Before he could walk away or take another glimpse at Asterin, she roared so loudly that it hurt my ears. She got up so abruptly that Matt stumbled backward and fell.

I got up and got closer to her to see if I can do some damage control as it looked as if she was going to scorch Matthew at any moment now.

“Hey, it’s okay. See, I am fine.” I tapped on the shoulder Matt did before. “He didn’t do anything to me. Matthew is okay, we can trust him, right?” I turned to my boss who looked horrified. He nodded, stood up, and dusted his equipment.

“Matt, take off your gear,” I whispered.

“What?”

“Take it off.”

“Are you mental? Why would I do that? She just tried attacking me.” Matthew frowned.

“We have to prove to her that you’re trustworthy.”

Matt sighed but obeyed me anyway. Asterin’s nostrils were blowing out smoke, her eyes on him.

“Here, see I am not here to harm you or Charlie.” He lifted his hands in defense, bowing his head a little.

“I told you he is on our side. You can calm down.” I turned to her, talking with a soothing voice.

Asterin laid back down and huffed the smoke out.

“Well, you’re doing something right that she’s protective of you.” Matthew sighed in relief that Asterin decided to keep him alive.

“I guess. I have to think of a way to approach her and to make her relax.” I pressed my lips together, thinking. “I didn’t think this was going to be so difficult.”

“You can still back out and let someone else try,” Matthew suggested.

“No, I can do it,” I said with determination in my voice. “I enjoy the challenge.” “I know you do, Charles.” Matthew smiled and walked away.

[sokumotanaka]

my thoughts on the new pokemon direct (they might come off as negative i’m sorry)

now please note, as a long time fan of the franchise, i’ve found myself growing disappointed more and more with the games since the release of pokemon sword and shield. Pokemon X and Y fine, Sun and Moon? Awesome. All the games before the jump to 3D? Addicting as hell. But I was hugely disappointed by how empty Sword and Shield in comparison to its predecessors. In other words, I’m kinda looking at this stuff through the opposite of rose-tinted glasses.

I think my biggest issue right now is the recurring theme of gigs each of the new generations has been adding that never make a return in later games. In Gen Six, it was Mega-evolutions. Gen 7? Z-moves. Gen 8? Gigantimaxing. And now Gen 9, it’s crystal pokemon I guess. Brought to you by Swarvoski! 

  I get that Game Freak is coming up with ways to try and change up things on the battlefield and bring old players back, but I’m also kind of wishing they’d keep some of those gigs back in (particularly Z-moves, since it’s way more equal than say mega evolutions that are given to already powerful pokemon and not the ones that actually need it. Dunspacre, kecleon, smeergle, luckitung and girffarig are three pokes that come to mind that could use any sort of buff to be viable ) Gigantimaxing I can do without , but idk, I’m having mixed feelings / thoughts about the Terastal Phenomenon.

I don’t wanna come off as a negative nancy about the new stuff, I just generally try not to keep my hopes up since Game Freak has really been cutting corners and shit in my eyes.

I’m also on the fence about the designs of Miraidon and Koraidon. I’m thinking I might get Violet because I think Miraidon’s design flows a bit better. I love Koraidon’s prehistoric vibe but for some reason I’m bothered by the fact that the wheels on its body don’t move as it runs-- Also I bet ten bucks that Clavell is gonna be the villain. He just looks like the type of guy who is exploiting the school for his own gain and I’m very suspicious about this “Treasure Hunt.”

Things I like though, because there are definitely things.

FUCKING FINALLY MULTIPLAYER .As long as the game is balanced enough that a player can either do singleplayer or multiplayer without much change, I’m kosher with this. I’ve always liked the tropes in the Pokemon anime where trainers travel together and form little posses, and I’m down to do that with some of my own friends online.

Apparently, it’s gonna be fully open world. No linear paths, no broken up map sections, no individual Wild Areas, completely Open World. I’m both excited and nervous, because the graphics look like a huge improvement from SWSH and Legends Arceus, but there’s both so much and so little you could do with Open World. My biggest fear is that it’ll be a largely empty environment, with very little to do besides capture wild pokemon. BoTW pulls off the Open World aesthetic wise, but unlike most people; I kinda feel like BOTW has alot of issues with it's world feeling very empty; and that's the point. You're exploring the world after a massive tragedy that left the world largely ravaged and empty.But even after 100 or 200 years, there's no signs of reclaiming things.

 sometimes you'll see an NPC and talk to them and they could be a normal person or a yiga clan member. But for the most part it's link alone.I also had issues with how weird they treat the world's races capital towns, being as small as villages.  Like Gerudo town feels so small and this is suppose to be their origin point, there's multiple hylian towns but there's not other zora domains, no places built on islands or under water falls or near the ocean? I digress; my point is that BOTW could of worked better to make the world feel alive, even skyrim has several random encounters with NPCS and stuff and yeah they recycle them but seeing my companions run around slaying monsters, or the cannibal club noticing your ring and giving you a wink or seeing other thieves wander around etc made it feel like; you're not the only one out there.

And Game Freak has all the money and power to make something great with an open world setting. The question is, will they? I can’t speak with confidence given their recent entries.  

I also want to say I like that you can do more than just the gym challenge this time around; personally I never got why they think this is brand new? All pokemon games give you minigames and gimmicks each region, and the motto for pokemon used to be “gotta catch them all and battles” so I’ll never get someone popping in a pokemon game going “Yeah but can I not do the gym challenge? You might as well play a different game at that point. That being said I’m also not against it, I just don’t fully understand it.

More regional forms always get a plus from me, I love seeing old pokemon get new spins. Love that Wooper. That’s a good Wooper. I just hope we get more regional forms for pokemon outside gen one and not another fucking charizard form!

Oh and it seems you’ll be building a bond with the legendary mascot of each game since you get to ride that thing everywhere, that’ll be fun.

[sunnidaydreamer]

Playing With Fire

A/N: This is a fic I came up with after playing too much Hyrule Warriors. It is my baby. I have so much of this fic and aus for it swimming about in my head.

CW:OCs(if y’all don’t like that) OC x Canon(eventual, again if y’all don’t like that)

Characters: Volga, Silva(OC), Lizalfos and Dinolfos

Tags: Self-Indulgent, A whole village worships Volga, like a cult, Human Sacrifice, Gifted Bride, I'm bad at pacing, Wrote This For Me, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, fat OC, just to keep that in mind, Friends to Lovers

Summary: Volga is given a sacrificial bride from a nearby village as tribute. Volga wants nothing to do with the situation, but if it will get the villagers to leave him alone, then she can stay. Her name is Silva.

////

Chapter 1

Volga stared at the girl in front of him silently; she had arrived suddenly, dressed in white, eyes to the ground, and had identified herself as Silva. She informed him that she was sent by her village to be his ‘bride’. Long, slightly wavy, brown hair, and blue eyes. Pale skin, rather plump.

Ridiculous!

He had no need, no desire, for a human mate.

“Leave.”

She looked at him then, eyes uncertain. “If I do, they’ll just send another. They will think you were not satisfied with me.”

He frowned. Volga had no desire to interact with humans, in any way, but even less so repeatedly.

If keeping the girl there would make them leave him alone…

“Fine. Just keep out of my way.” He left her there at the entrance, his kin lingering for a moment before scattering.

Month 1(end of January)

Silva explored the caves alone, acknowledging Volga if she saw him, but nothing more. She was polite with his kin, keeping her distance, showing them that she was no threat.

If a little one came up to her, mostly just to investigate, she kept her hands to herself and spoke softly to them.

Silva found a, mostly, abandoned section of the cave to call her own. It was far enough from the tribe that she was no bother, but not enough to be completely isolated.

She slept on the ground, uncomfortable and hard, and only wandered outside of the caves to search for things she could eat and water. There was an abundance of wild berries, spicy peppers, and many apples.

Silva hoped that in time she would be bold enough to ask for a pallet at least, or maybe to go into the village now and then for things.

Surely the villagers would help her, after all, she was their guardians' bride, right?

---

For the next two weeks, Volga only caught glimpses of Silva, sometimes wandering, sometimes trying to interact with his kin, always keeping his distance.

She was mostly chased away, and a few times Volga had to stop her from getting killed for an unknown to her, misstep. She kept to herself, mostly, and he idly noted how her gown, once pristine and flowing, was torn and filthy.

“Why do you not change your dress?” He asked one morning, reluctantly approaching her to satisfy his curiosity.

She looked down at herself, shyly trying to make herself presentable. “Well...you see…”

“Out with it!” He mentally scolded himself for raising his voice. It was unnecessary.

“They were not certain if you would...eat me or not. So they sent me with only this dress. They figured if you accepted me you would provide for me.”

Volga was speechless. Of course, they would think he might eat her.

“...Let me see what I can do.” He headed to his den.

Upon arriving he remembered something: he didn’t have much either. He didn’t need much of anything. He had his armor and under armor, a few tunics, his pike, and there was plenty of prey to hunt outside of the caves. He had his nest and pillows, his light sheets, the softest things he owned…

Come to think of it where was she sleeping?

He dug around a bit, finally discovering an old set of pants, boots, and a loose red tunic. It would be a bit big, but it would do.

Volga tucked the clothes under his arm and left his den to find the girl...Silva. Her name was Silva. If she was going to be staying there then he should at least call her by name.

She was where he left her, still trying to brush the filth off of her dress. She looked up at him, surprise on her face when she spotted the clothes. He stopped an arm's length away, holding out the clothes.

“Here.”

She smiled a little and took them from him. “Thank you, my lord.”

“Don’t call me that.” Volga made a face at the title.

“Then, what should I call you?” She tilted her head to the side.

“Volga.” With that, he left her again.

---

He’d made a mistake in talking to her; now she approached him whenever she spotted him. She’d made the best of the clothes he’d given her, though it was obvious that they were too large for her.

He...tolerated her as best as he could. Better this one human than a whole village bothering him, but still.

She was too peppy at times.

Silva always seemed to be smiling, full of energy. Silva would ask him how he felt that day, wasn’t it lovely outside, was there some kind of magic keeping her from burning around the lava?

He would grunt and ignore her, walking away as fast as he could, but this didn’t seem to deter her.

---

She was slowly gaining the trust of his kin, talking to them, and staying nearby even if nothing was said.

He still didn’t trust her. She was a human, and humans couldn’t be trusted. Ever.

Most often, Silva was found around the younger ones who hadn’t learned to fear humans yet.

“Why fear?” A hatchling asked him one day. “Human nice. Speak soft.”

“Humans lie. They cannot be trusted.” He side-eyed the young Lizalfos as he practiced with his pike. “Don’t let your guard down. Not all humans are so soft.”

Volos silently absorbed this. “Silva soft.”

“Silva is very soft. Not all humans are.”

Wait, what? Why did he say she was soft like he was in the habit of touching her?

“Silva soft! Silva friend!” Volos nodded and hurried off, confident in his decision.

Silva was a friend.

He would see. The first chance she got, the human would betray their trust.

Volga just knew it.

---

Silva slowly started to approach his kin more, offering her help whenever the chance appeared. When they went hunting she offered to cook what was brought back; at first, she was just stared at, until a week later when they brought back a deer and allowed her to cook it.

She stuck a good-sized chunk on a metal spit and positioned it over a fire, slowly roasting it. It took the better part of an hour to cook, and his people were nearly complaining by the time it was finished. On the other hand, it did smell very good.

She cut off a small piece, to make sure it was done; with a soft hum, she nodded to herself and removed the meat from over the fire. She divided it as best as she could among the curious ones, taking a small bit for herself.

Silva sat among them, smiling and laughing as she joined in the conversations.

It felt strange to Volga, to see a human among his kin.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

Some of them declared their new preference for the cooked meat, others decided they preferred it the old way.

Either way, they thanked Silva for her having cooked for them by including her in their conversations and jokes, letting her laugh with them.

She smiled brightly. “If I could get some spices, perhaps you’d like the food even more.”

Volga shook his head and dug into his meal.

Humans.

---

Silva had made some friends among the tribe, her slow efforts to communicate rewarded. It was mostly female members that were more accepting of her, the males seeming to keep Volga’s mindset. Among the friends she’d made were a few warriors, named Tanit, a Dinolfos, and Melusine, a Lizalfos; it was through them that Silva began to get curious about fighting.

“It must have been hard work, training to fight.” Silva sat on the floor, Melusine and Tanit polishing their armor and weapons next to her.

“Hard work, yess, but worthy work.”

“Strong means we can defend home. Fight by Masters side in battle!” Melusine flexed a little, showing off her arm muscles. “We defend Master, we defend caves! No hunter beat us!”

Silva felt a little jealous of their strength; she was strong in some ways, but nothing like they were. She wasn’t muscled, she was fat.

Her face flushed with sudden embarrassment. They were big because they were strong; she was big because she ate too much.

She wanted to be strong too.

---

It was near the end of the month when Volga caught Silva trying to lift his pike.

“What are you doing?!” He snarled and stalked forward, snatching the weapon from her.

“I-I just wanted-” Silva stammered as she stepped back.

“It doesn’t matter what you want! This does not belong to you!” He brandished the weapon, shaking it in her face. He was starting to flame now, the fire building first at his wrists.

Volga growled and turned away, stomping off to the other side of Eldin Caves. He roared and hurled the pike at the wall, leaving a sizable dent.

What right did she think she had?

She could barely even lift the weapon, what did she think she was going to do with it?

How dare she touch his mothers-HIS pike.

“Master?” A Lizalfos approached.

“What?!” Volga jerked around, flames licking at his chest now.

His kin flinched at the loudness of his voice, holding up their claws and backing up a step.

Volga looked away and took a deep breath, extinguishing the flames before they could engulf him and force him to transform. “What?”

“She sorry.”

“What?” Volga stared at his kin.

“She sorry. Want to be strong like Master. Should have asked.” Ryuu stepped closer.

“She wants to be strong? Then let her train! She shouldn’t touch what isn’t hers.” He walked over to his fallen weapon, picking it up and brushing the dirt off of it. Volga turned back to his kin. “Why does she want to be strong?”

“Master is strong. Silva wants to be strong too.”

Volga pondered the meaning behind her sudden desire for strength. Was she planning to betray what little trust in her they had?

“Volga!”

Speaking of.

Silva rushed toward them, panting softly when she came to a stop, hands on her knees, face red. “Volga, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have touched your pike.”

She straightened up, looking at his face. “I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me. I won’t do it again.”

He looked into her eyes, seeing her sincerity, and sighed. “Just keep your hands to yourself from now on.”

She nodded then bowed at the waist. “I will, I promise!”

---

Silva was as good as her word, never touching anything that she had not asked to touch beforehand. Volga picked out a set of daggers for her to wield, telling her to start there if she truly wanted to train.

“Start small, build your strength.”

So she did. With the help of some of the other occupants of the caves, she began training. Volga had to begrudgingly admit, that he admired her determination to learn. From the moment she had arrived she’d been quiet, kept to herself(mostly). Silva had done little when she first arrived. So for her to decide to do something and stick to it was a refreshing change.

He watched her practice her form, still from a distance, and one of the Dinolfos approached one day.

He tapped her shoulder and offered to be her sparring partner, taking position across from her.

At first, they simply circled each other, feinting now and then. Silva moved first, swiping at the Dinolfos’ shoulder. He moved in time and stabbed at her, barely missing her side. Silva spun away, then rushed back towards the Dinolfos and managed to cut his shoulder.

It was the best she did; for the rest of the spar, she didn’t land another hit, the Dinolfos managing to dodge her every swing. Silva got a small cut on her shoulder and cheek but was otherwise uninjured.

She was panting steadily by the end, barely holding onto her daggers. She swallowed heavily and stood straight, nodding at the Dinolfos and thanking him for sparring with her.

Then she did something that surprised him: she held her hand over the wound she’d given the Dinolfos and a soft golden glow was emitted. When she pulled away the wound was gone, not even a scar left.

She had magic.

When his kin left Volga approached Silva.

“You’re getting better. Before you couldn’t even get close.” He watched her soak in the praise, eyes shimmering in the light with joy.

“Thank you! I’ll keep doing my best!” She declared with a huge smile. She went to the corner, where she had arranged a small boulder to act as a table, and grabbed her waterskin. “I was wondering if I might go to the village?”

Volga grew tense at that. “The village? Why?”

What did she require the village for?

“Well, I was hoping to get some bedding, perhaps some spare clothes, from my old home. I’m certain my parents kept my things, they must have!”

It seemed like she was trying to convince herself.

“Fine, but if anyone follows you back-”

“I won’t let them!” She brandished her daggers, making Volga snort.

“Forgive me if I’m not comforted by your ‘skill’.”

Silva frowned at that but knew he was right.

She turned to leave, likely planning to head to the village there and then. “Wait.”

Silva turned back, waterskin halfway to her lips. “Yes?”

“Where did you learn magic?” He stayed where he was, something in him fearful. Magic was not something to be messed with, not to be taken lightly.

“I’ve always had it. My mother helped me practice. All I know how to do is heal though,” She lowered the skin and looked at her hand, suddenly looking pensive.

“I see,”

And that was that.

Silva left to prepare for her trip and Volga went back to his patrols. He wondered what else she might bring back besides her bedding and clothes.

---

When Silva returned the next day she had a black eye and a smaller bruise on her cheek.

Volga found he was not surprised, the road was dangerous after all. But he wondered…

“What happened?” He took hold of her chin, turning her face so that he could see her bruises better.

“It’s nothing!” Her cheer sounded forced. “Mother thought I had stolen some clothing and tried to run away, that’s all. She was very upset with me.”

Volga’s hand dropped. What kind of mother hurt her child? “Unacceptable.”

“What?”

“You will not return to the village alone.” He nodded to himself. She wasn’t kin, but his kin cared for her. So he would protect her.

“There’s no need for that! Mother knows that I will return here now, she won’t lash out again.” She tried to reassure him with a strained smile. “Really, it was my fault! I should have spoken up sooner.”

“You will not go back alone.” He turned and walked away, letting some of his kin help Silva move her things. He didn’t like the way she was making excuses for her mothers' treatment of her.

She moved her belongings to her little section of the caves, making something of a nest out of the blankets and her pillows. It wasn’t much, but it was hers. She put her hands on her hips, nodding to herself, and thanked the ones that helped her.

Two of the young ones took the chance to run past the older ones and bury themselves in her bedding, peeking out with little giggles, making Silva laugh as well. She joined them in her nest, tickling them as the adults wandered off, secure in the knowledge that Silva wouldn’t harm the hatchlings, at least.

On Volga’s end, he paced in his den. The way she talked about her mother's reaction, blaming herself for being beaten; it was unsettling to him. No parent should ever put their hands on their child with ill intent. It was certainly a crime among dragons, was it not considered such by humans?

He wouldn’t be surprised. Humans tended to ignore the problems of others unless they could benefit from them. For them to ignore a child’s suffering, he wouldn’t put it past them.

But why had she left the bruises? If not for those, he never would have known.

He sought her out again, to satisfy his curiosity once more.

Volga found her in her bedding still, the two hatchlings having fallen asleep. Silva was propped up on her elbow, head in her hand, seemingly dozing herself. She snapped out of it once she heard him walking towards her, looking up at him. The bruises were faded but still there.

“Hello, Volga.” She greeted him softly, a little smile on her face.

“I have a question, if I may?” He kept his voice down as well, kneeling next to Silva’s nest.

“Sure.” Silva adjusted a bit, shifting to get more comfortable.

“The bruises on your face, can you not heal them?”

Silva’s small smile dropped, the happy light in her eyes dimming. “I can, but I need to wait for the bruises to form first.”

She put her left hand over her eye, the golden light shining for a moment. When she removed her hand the bruises were gone.

“Why didn’t you heal them sooner?” Volga tilted his head slightly. If she could heal like this, why wait?

“I guess I was just focused on getting my things in order. It slipped my mind. My body heals rather quickly on its own, so they would have been gone soon anyway.” Silva shrugged slightly, as though this was common knowledge.

Volga’s frown deepened. The whole situation made him feel uncomfortable.

She shouldn’t have bruises to heal in the first place. He thought unbidden.

He nodded and walked away, deciding he liked the village even less now.

---

Some of the tribe were more accepting than others, mainly the youngest members. They hadn’t yet seen what humans could do, how cruel they could be. Silva was their first real experience with a Hylian, and she had proven, so far, that she wasn’t a threat.

She just lived there now.

She had started working on her den, moving rocks to certain areas to make space. She’d brought in a chest from the town where she stored books, clothes, and various things. Her nest was still small, only a few pillows and some blankets, but that was alright, the tribe reassured her. She had plenty of time to build it up into a proper nest, it wasn’t as if she was actively courting yet.

She had placed two torches to give the area light as well so that she could she her belongings. There was the light that came from the torches lining the walls, but she needed just a bit more.

Silva had also been trying to integrate herself as best as she could, going about the caves and offering her help wherever she could. She was sometimes driven off, still, but there were areas where she was readily accepted.

Help was always appreciated when it came to hatchlings, but the head of the nursery, Lumi, kept a close eye on Silva. The hatchlings were small and so very fragile, and Lumi was very protective of her charges. Some of them, after all, would go on to be future Chieftains.

But Silva was gentle with them; she let the curious ones come close, let them examine her strange, soft hands. Let them climb her clothes to her shoulders and even her head.

“Silva smell sweet!” A little Dinolfos, son of the Chieftain, named Vritra seemed fascinated by how Silva smelled. Always sniffing and snuffling Silva’s hair, clothes, and hands Vritra appeared to be trying to find where the sweet scent was coming from.

“That’s because of the lotion and shampoo I use. It’s scented with apples.” Silva explained as other hatchlings came over as well, examining her hands.

“Looshan? Shampooo?” Even Lumi was confused, but how could they not be? It wasn’t as if dragonfolk needed either.

“Lotion and shampoo are things humans use to get clean, smell good, and have soft skin.” She brought her braid forward, undoing it and using her fingers to separate the locks. Silva leaned down so the hatchlings could feel. “See how my hair is soft? That’s because it’s clean, and because of the shampoo I use.”

The gathered hatchlings were wide-eyed and oohing as they felt her hair. In the back, Lumi looked as though she were restraining herself from coming to feel as well.

“Lumi, if you want to feel that’s alright with me.” Silva didn’t want anyone curious to feel left out. She sat back up and offered up a thick lock of hair for Lumi to feel, and the Lizalfos took the hair with surprising gentleness. She rubbed it between clawed fingers slowly, a wonderstruck look on her face.

“What is looshan?” One of the Dinolfos hatchlings, named Scylla, asked. She had some of Silva’s hair wrapped around her hand, either already loose or pulled out quickly enough Silva didn’t feel it.

Silva brushed her hair back over her shoulders, making a mental note to inform the little ones not to pull her hair, just in case. She tried to think of how to put into words what lotion was.

“Lotion is a cream that humans rub on their skin, it helps keep skin soft and it usually smells good.”

“Creem?”

“How about I show you? I can go get it and come right back.”

The group, even Lumi, nodded excitedly, making Silva smile. She walked back to her den, panting softly when she got there. She still wasn’t used to the constant long walks she had to do daily to get anywhere.

She opened her wooden chest and pulled out her lotion, taking note of its current fullness; she’d need a refill soon. That was alright, the general store had everything she needed to make it. She held the small jar tightly, not wanting to risk dropping it and having it shatter all over the floor.

Silva went back to the nursery, sitting down again on her boulder and showing the assembled group the jar. They oohed as she unscrewed the silver lid, set it next to her, and scooped up a small amount of cream onto her fingers.

Silva lowered her hand a little and showed them, drawing back when a hatchling went to lick the cream.

“No, little one. We don’t eat the cream, it’s not for eating.” She made sure she sounded informational, not scolding or mean. The little Lizalfos pulled back, tongue still hanging out their mouth, moaning softly in disappointment.

“Nuri, not everything iss food.” Lumi gently reminded the hatchling.

Silva demonstrated how the lotion was used, rubbing it on her arms, and letting the hatchlings smell the jar. Nuri tried to get a lick in again, however, so Lumi picked him up and moved him away with a soft scold.

“Nuri. Not everything iss food.”

---

The days passed slowly, Silva growing closer to the Lizalfos and Dinolfos, slowly and mostly through the hatchlings, but Volga still kept his distance. He didn’t trust her, and she knew he had his reasons, but it still hurt. She’d done her best to integrate herself, and his kin liked her well enough.

Perhaps she had to put more effort in? To show him that she could be trusted? But how to do that?

She pondered this as she readied her bow, a Lizalfos helping her with her posture as she aimed at a buck.

“Steady arms.”

Silva nodded, trying to do so, taking a breath; she drew back the bowstring, aiming for the bucks head.

She loosed the arrow.

With a cry the buck went down, collapsing onto its side.

“I did it!” She crowed triumphantly. Her companion clapped his clawed hands together with a grin.

“Silva learning! Natural!” He praised and walked with her over to her fallen prey.

He picked it up, throwing it over his shoulder, and they walked back to the caves. Silva was beaming with pride as they presented the deer to the others; her first kill as a member of the tribe.

They cheered for her, as they would any other members first kill, and set about dividing it. Some would be cooked, and the rest would join the other kills that the rest of the tribe ate. Most of them still preferred it raw so most of the meat would go to them.

Silva didn’t mind, she didn’t think she could eat a whole deer anyway.

She spotted Volga approaching and went to him with a smile.

“Volga! I did it! I took down a deer!” She laughed softly, still full of adrenaline from her success.

Silva beamed up at him but frowned when Volga made a strange face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Let us eat.” He pushed past her, ignoring her eyes boring into his back as he walked over to the others.

“Did I do something wrong?”

[violent-optimism]

Why Twilight Princess is the Best Zelda Game (To Me!)

Hey ya’ll,

I know I don’t really talk about video games that much. I really should though! Video Games have been a huge part of my life for pretty much as long as I can remember.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a game that means so much to me I can scarcely put it into words. I was 10 years old when this game came out, the perfect age in my opinion. I think if I had been any older or younger it might have slipped past my radar. Despite the game being rated T for Teen, my parents got it for me and my sister anyway which I think is pretty fucking rad.

Not that we really knew what we were in for, of course. I was just a kid. I didn’t read game reviews yet, and I didn’t have any friends who had played this game so I couldn’t ask them about it either. When we first popped that disc in and were brought to the main menu, we had absolutely NO idea just what kind of ride we were in for or how just how much this game would impact us.

Another thing I’d like to mention was how this game was introduced into my life at the perfect time. My sister and I had just moved schools. We were the new kids, and we had a lot of trouble adjusting and fitting in. There was definitely some teasing, maybe even some bullying. I don’t remember much from those days to be honest. But you know what I do remember? Playing Twilight Princess. This game was the perfect distraction from my crappy school life, and in a time where my sister and I barely had any friends, it was so comforting. We’ve always been close, but I think we bonded a lot over this game.

If you’re a gamer, you know this feeling; the feeling when you are currently playing a game that is just so fun, so amazing, so utterly addicting in the best possible way; that when you’re away from it it’s all you can think about. I distinctly remember my Dad installing the new TV which meant no Twilight Princess for a day or so. I was SO impatient and I just couldn’t wait for him to be done so I could continue playing it.

Even though I’ve now played Twilight Princess so many times that I could basically play it with my eyes closed (maybe lol) I still remember experiencing some of the best moments of the game for the very first time; running around Ordon Village, finding Midna, beating the first dungeon, finding out that GANONDORF was in the game! (Remember I had no way of knowing this at the time). Every big moment, every discovery, every heart-wrenching cut scene, it all felt so real and so important at the time. In a lot of ways, it still is.

Okay, so that’s the personal part. A bit long-winded, I know. I just thought it was important to include for this essay. But what is it about Twilight Princess that makes it so special? Why do I love it so much even after 15 years? (God that makes me feel old). This list isn’t really in a particular order but I will definitely be covering a lot of the BIG reasons why I adore this game so much. Oh, and in case you’re a little late to the party, there will be spoilers. Let’s go!

 Darker and More Mature:

There’s something really enticing about being a kid, and witnessing something in a movie, video game, etc. that you know you probably shouldn’t have watched but you did anyway. Not only is Twilight Princess the only Zelda game to date that is Rated T (I’m pretty sure anyway), but it has some seriously dark and disturbing moments throughout the story; including one VERY creepy cut scene about halfway through the game that still haunts me a little to this day. Beyond that, you’ve got painful transformation sequences, characters being stabbed, characters sacrificing themselves, and a scene where I’m pretty sure Ganondorf’s neck just gets fucking broken. I can go on, but the point is this Zelda game does not screw around when it comes to showing intense moments and it’s all the better for it. I never felt the game went too far with it, but let’s say Twilight Princess definitely earned its T rating.

 Wolf Form:

I’m sure people who haven’t even played TP know that this is probably the biggest defining feature. In this game, Link gains the ability to turn into a Wolf! I know some people might consider these parts of the game to be boring and not as fun, but I have always disagreed with that notion. I think it’s a really cool and out of the box way to break the somewhat repetitive gameplay of traditional Zelda games. There’s more of a puzzle-solving element to these Wolf sections, and I for one find it very satisfying to collect the Tears of Light. Turning into your Wolf form becomes essential, especially towards the latter half of the game when you need to complete tasks that you couldn’t normally do as a human. Plus…Wolf Link is pretty darn cute! His design is awesome too.

 MIDNA!!!:

And speaking of Wolf Link, around the same time Link gains this ability he also meets a character who (in my opinion) is THE BEST Zelda sidekick/companion across all the games. She’s not annoying, she’s not boring; Midna is a 3-Dimensional, fully fleshed out character that plays a crucial role in the story. I can’t imagine anyone playing this game and NOT getting attached to Midna. I know I certainly did. In the first half of the game you don’t really know that much about her, but she is certainly helpful gameplay-wise and doesn’t just give you the same useless hint over and over. Plus, the SASS! My God, Midna is so sassy I love her so much. I love how she grows and changes and becomes a better person by the end of the story. Midna really deserves her own game!

 A Beautiful Game:

Now obviously this doesn’t just apply to Twilight Princess. Most Zelda games are very beautiful, especially the more modern ones such as Breath of the Wild. However, there is something about the specific beauty of Twilight Princess that just takes my breath away. The scenery is just gorgeous everywhere you go. Ordon Village is beautiful, Hyrule Field is stunning, Snowpeak is captivating, the Fishing Hole is serene, you get the picture. And to top it all off, Twilight Princess STILL looks beautiful even after all these years. The graphics have aged really well which is certainly no hindrance. As a kid I always wished that some of the locations were real, and honestly, I still kinda do.

 Best version of Ganondorf:

It’s funny; I don’t normally root for villains. I tend to gravitate towards more heroic characters or characters that are more similar to me. Ganondorf is certainly the exception; specifically the Ganondorf that we see in Twilight Princess. I remember being SO EXCITED when he first appeared in a cut scene after Arbiter’s Grounds. I don’t know if it’s the way he was introduced, the raspy laugh, or his character design, but I LOVE Ganondorf in this game. He is just so bad-ass, so cool, my only wish is that we saw a little bit more of him in TP. Regardless, every time he shows up in the game, he is a formidable and dominating screen presence. And I feel no shame whatsoever admitting that 10 year old Sam developed a massive crush on this Ganondorf. Is that weird? I dunno, but either way he is just so cool as well as a fantastic addition to an already perfect game.

The Soundtrack:

Again, it’s not unusual for a Zelda game to have a really fantastic soundtrack. The series has always had amazing music since the very first game. However, the music in Twilight Princess continues to entrance me even to this day. The Main Menu theme? Amazing. Midna’s theme? Amazing. Lake Hylia? Amazing. And don’t even get me started on those beautiful Wolf Songs you sing throughout the game. It’s just a beautiful soundtrack. To say it’s nostalgic for me is a massive understatement.

Dungeon Design:

Unsurprisingly, most Zelda games tend to recycle the same temple themes over and over again. You got your forest temple, your fire temple, water, desert, time, etc. These are definitely present in Twilight Princess, but there’s something about the way they’re designed and the way you move through them that just feels so unique and wonderful. I won’t name them but I’ve played other Zelda games where the dungeons felt like a horrible, tedious chore. With TP, I never felt that was the case. Every Dungeon is packed full of secrets, with plenty of interesting set pieces to explore. Even the water temple (YES, the Water Temple!) is enjoyable to play through. The Dungeons have tons of replay value as well, meaning that you can return later and find special items that you weren’t able to access before.

And just as a fun bonus, here’s my top nine list for the Twilight Princess Dungeon’s:

9) City in the Sky

8) Palace of Twilight

7) Hyrule Castle

6) Temple of Time

5) Lakebed Temple

4) Forest Temple

3) Snowpeak Ruins

2) Goron Mines

1) Arbiter’s Grounds

 And that about wraps it up, folks! Sorry this was such a long essay, I had so much to say. It is, after all, my favourite video game ever. Of course it’s not technically perfect and it definitely has some flaws. But you know what? It’s perfect to me, and I’ll never get sick of it.

Thank you so much for reading! :) Listen to this track of the opening theme and tell me you don’t feel it in your SOUL!!!

[phoenixrisesoncemore]

MDZS/CQL RPG mechanics

I was inspired by this awesome post from @wangxian-patriarch with additions by @moonwaif. Go check it out! And assume all those clever details and mechanics mentioned there.

This would work SO WELL for a late 90s PS1-style RPG, where graphics were improving and storylines/character arcs were becoming crazy complex but it was still kind of the Wild West/anything goes/take all the risks you want. And the best games (IMO) are those that mix genres in an episodic fashion and MDZS/CQL totally fits the bill for that! CQL even does it, itself.

This got so long that I hated to clog up their post with a reblog. Bear with me here. Batshit crazy thoughts coming at a million miles per hour. In addition to all the above wonderful stuff: picture this structured like a 75%/25% split of MDZS/CQL (because I think the interspersed flashbacks work better for a game where you get to see your past choices affect the present in chunks) but with 75% of the character expansions from CQL. AKA, more Shijie, meet WQ and WN in Cloud Recesses, interact with them at the Wen Indoctrination. Your choices determine at what pace the relationship with LWJ proceeds (see below)? The POV is always WWX.

Intro/tutorial: Mo Manor. WWX is your main character, obv. The main present story arc is a mostly linear action/adventure RPG. Mo Manor is your tutorial/training ground where you’re introduced to the main game mechanics, learn a bit about the world via NPC interaction and MXY’s notes, and get handed the first mystery/what appears to be the main game goal: who did MXY want you to get revenge on? Melodies keeps popping into WWX’s head. Begin mini game where you are introduced to the game’s musical mechanics as WWX tries to remember melodies. Most are eerie and harsh, but there is one WWX finds “strangely soothing” even though he can’t remember where it is from. Remember these songs, especially that soothing one, because it’s going to be important soon! Introduction of basic sword-based cultivation battle mechanics via an impromptu party forming with the ducklings against the corpse arm (WWX can join in with talismans or something relatively innocuous for now). Eventually WWX goes secret solo battle using flute-less demonic cultivation battle mechanics. Can you remember how to play some of those tunes to summon fierce corpses? Then LWJ appears and it’s time for you to get the Hell out of Dodge before there are questions about what you just did. Cue short sequence of getting out of Mo Village before you’re caught. Begin Little Apple game mechanics.

Dafan Mountain Quest. First big mission. Gather info and piece together the mystery while avoiding too much attention from the Jiang sect cultivators or Game Over. Solve the mystery and begin the first boss fight alongside the ducklings! But talismans and whistling isn’t cutting it any longer. Flute-based demonic cultivation mechanics activate! Remember those songs WWX has had going through his head. You’re going to need all of them now. Game Over if Jin Ling is killed by the goddess! Also: surprise! the goddess can only be defeated by a finishing move which requires summoning a high level fierce corpse. Which song is it? Succeed and summon Wen Ning, but oh no! he’s in berserk mode. Hmmm, what about that soothing song? Better remember how to play it fast or Wen Ning will kill the other cultivators and Game Over.

FLASHBACK: Cloud Recesses. I need this to somehow incorporate and deconstruct the school dating sim genre. I don’t know how, but I need that. Sharing loquats and Emperor’s Smile and causing trouble will sure make you popular. The rooftop fight seems like a standard fighting setup. Is there a way to mix those two genres? A fighting mini game inside a dating sim? Because there needs to be! Is Biling Lake a mini action-platformer segment? Also agree: Jiang Cheng interaction and combo learning here—sneak out to explore the back hill and learn pair fighting dynamics. Use WWX’s original sword-based cultivation skills. Rabbit-catching mini game. Decide what colors you want to gift to increasingly grumpy Lan Zhan. Get to know Mianmian and she’ll be more active in helping you later. Befriend NHS and change dialog trees with him in present arc.

Present day Cloud Recesses: your home base. Sandbox. Your actions in the flashback effect the present day Cloud Recesses. Did you hide some Emperor’s smile somewhere 16 years ago? Home of rabbit-raising mini game and various troublemaking side quests. You get points for every Lan Clan rule you break (and how deeply you corrupt the ducklings). The challenge is in figuring out how to break them. Break enough rules and gain early access to the library’s restricted section where you can learn all kinds of new unorthodox cultivation techniques. Break all of them and get a super awesome power-up. Up to a certain point you can return here with LWJ on Bichen once he joins your party. Duckling night hunts are initiated here?

Lan WangJi Joins the Party. The main body of the game commences as you begin the quest to solve the Mo Manor mystery and figure out who MXY wanted you to get revenge on. Your choices/skill in the flashbacks as they occur will alter (somewhat) the events of this, the game’s main “spine.” Each town/city encountered on the road trip has its own aesthetic and NPC populace from which you have to collect clues and learn what your next moves should be. Lots of immersive qualities and learning about the current political/social situation. Fierce corpse and ghost fights along the way. Collect (offensively inaccurate) YLLZ and Sunshot memorabilia. Slowly grow your affinity with LWJ in battle and use the skills for pair fighting you learned with Jiang Cheng to build towards those awesome battle-couple combos. LWJ will remain in your party for the rest of the main game (excluding flashbacks) except for short bits like Yi City. You can play WWX’s dizi along the road for practice and to up your skill level. Depending on how often and in what circumstances you play Wangxian and how you interact with LWJ you’ll start to get different (but still evasive) answers if you ask him how he knew it was you. Remember to play Rest so NMJ’s pieces don’t get out of hand.

Because this is long: more below the cut

The Man-eating castle. Logic puzzle dungeon. Try to outclever NHS in dialog trees to get him to spill information.

Chang Manor. Mystery dungeon with final grave robber boss fight. Learn about the story of XXC, SL, and XY as you explore Chang manor, looking for clues as to what happened. Avoid traps set by XY.

Yi City. I mean: THE FOG. It’s Silent Hill. It’s Fatal Frame. It’s a survival horror dungeon. How long and involved should the Empathy section be? How does the gameplay change there?

Explore Jin Lin Tai. Stealth dungeon. Sneak around Jin Lin Tai as first “MXY” and later as Paperman WWX (AH! Sudden scale/mechanics change), gathering clues and looking for NMJ’s head. Empathy cutscenes.

Escape Jin Lin Tai. Action segment/beat em up. A place to really show off those growing battle-couple mechanics with LWJ.

FLASHBACK: Happy Times at Lotus Pier. The closest we’ve been to the light-hearted gameplay of the first Cloud Recesses flashback. WWX. JC, and JYL involved in shenanigans at Lotus Pier. Maybe we even get the Lotus Seed Pod Extra content of stealing lotuses from the old man. Get a chance to use those Jiang Cheng combos you learned in the CR flashback. Last chance to use those sword cultivation techniques. Nostalgia galore.

FLASHBACK (cont): Indoctrination/Xuanwu Cave. WWX/JC party using non-sword techniques. Eventually morphs into a WWX/LWJ party. This would be the first time chronologically that they would have fought together.

FLASHBACK (cont): Lotus Pier Attack and Escape. I totally agree with the above that this will ultimately work out to stealth escort missions as you work to get JC to safety with WN’s help.

FLASHBACK (cont): Thrown into Burial Mounds. This could be super expressionistic. Wandering through Burial Mounds trying to stay alive, but with crazy nightmare-like elements. Think of the way Eternal Darkness messed with player perceptions and even broke the 4th wall when it came to game mechanics. Maybe this even bleeds seamlessly into the supervisory office deaths and Wen Chao’s chase and death.

Return to Cloud Recesses. More areas to explore are unlocked. Dialog trees with LWJ. Feelings.

Journey to Burial Mounds. This is your chance to really grind and refine those battle couple combos. Side-quests? How far has word spread that the YLLZ is back? How will that effect the way you can or can’t interact with NPCs. I also like the idea of interspersing the flashbacks from Sunshot and up through the building of the Burial Mounds settlement in here, so as to have the player get to interact with and design the settlement in the past before the ruins of it are seen in the present.

FLASHBACK: Sunshot. mashup of beat em up/strategy tactics using demonic cultivation with chenqing and the tiger seal to clear a path for the army of cultivators. WWX is a party of one for this.

FLASHBACK (cont): Post Sunshot. More deconstructed social sim mechanics. Use chenqing to help JC bag prey on Phoenix Mountain. Social decision trees at that really uncomfortable conference scene. Qiongqi Path rescue of the Wen Refugees. The LWJ in the rain confrontation either does or does not happen (or happens somewhat differently) depending on how your relationship has progressed thus far in the past.

FLASHBACK (cont): Building Burial Mounds Settlement. Settlement/Survival Sim elements. Choose where and how to build and what to grow. Play with and protect a-Yuan. Work to revive WN. Make demonic cultivation tools. Whatever you make will still exist in future and can be gathered/used for the Second Siege battle. JC duel (ouch, there’s those moves you learned together being used against you). Play around in YiLing with LWJ and a-Yuan. Spend the day as a family. Feelings.

Arrive at Burial Mounds. Explore the ruins of the place you built. Feelings. Gather items. Release the Juniors. Fight with the Cultivators.

FLASHBACK: Death of JZX/Nightless City. Beat em up using Wen Ning at Qiongqi Path. At Nightless City this time you’re solo sending hordes towards the cultivators. Heart breaking solo battle against LWJ, as with JC, he now knows and can anticipate your moves based on your previous flashback interactions. HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AND MASSIVE DEATH.

Second Seige of Burial Mounds. Massive beat em up where you finally get to utilize the full extent of your battle-couple skills along with Wen Ning in a series of brawls to end all brawls, eventually the ducklings join your party for brawl wave 3. You know that really big battle that happens near the turning point of video games that’s inevitably the second or third biggest battle of the game (and sometimes more difficult than the actual final boss battles)? That’s this one.

Return to Lotus Pier. Here’s where you get memories of WWX’s first night at Lotus Pier and YanLi saving him from the tree are interspersed as you explore the heartbreakingly different present day Lotus Pier. As with the other locations that you experience in both past and present, some choices in the past effect the location in the present. FEELINGS.

YunPing City: Final major location. Explore and gather info. Prep for the final battle. Drunk LWJ mini game shenanigans. (Sexy time? I mean, Indigo Prophecy did it...) Stealth your way into Guanyin Temple.

Guanyin Temple Climax: Dialog trees with JGY determine how difficult he is to defeat here in battle. Final boss fight against NMJ’s fierce corpse: poignant party/combo with both JC and LWJ.

Denouement. Maybe the Sizhui revelation happens differently depending on how you interact with him throughout the game. Obv NOT getting the revelation is considered the BAD ending.

Ultimately, how the relationship between WWX and LWJ unfolds in CQL and MDZS is influenced by the plot structure (or at least is better served in each medium by how it makes use of the plot structure). The character of that relashionship journey is so different between the mediums, but each has wonderful aspects. How that plays out here is kind of up in the air without nailing more things down. Is it possible your actions could determine the timing and expression of the ship such that you end up with something more distinctly MDZS or something more distinctly CQL? (And by that I don’t mean one is overtly sexual and one isn’t, but rather whether the revelation of their feelings comes all at once near the end or rather more gradually, shifting in intensity and character as the plot goes along). That would be quite a thing to pull off without breaking the central narrative. I don’t even want to think about how complex that decision tree would be, but it could potentially be kind of amazing!