#and people end up actually preferring the demos

[holyschnitzel]

Hi holyschnitzel!

A friend showed me the game's demo and I absolutely loved it, I got really obsessed with the character Damon. The game's background is really interesting, so I started following you to keep up with the lore and updates.

However, when I started looking into things, I was surprised that MC basically end up in a three-way relationship with DG and Damon, which isn't apparent in the game.

I don't really like this idea and wanted to ask if this will stay this way or if there will be individual routes where they haven't slept together before (like I see in posts about him taking her virginity) and have just been friends… I saw them as a family and it feels like incest.

I've found out that quite a lot of people think the same.

Thanks a lot for your time

Blastic is having trouble explaining this properly, so I'll take over :)

First of all, thank you for your interest in Broken Colors and for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your enthusiasm for the game and especially for Damon's character <3 You seem to have some misunderstandings about the relationships in the game, so I'd like to clear that up for you!

Let me clarify that DG and Damon are absolutely not family or related in any way. They are explicitly established as friends (with benefits) who met as adults. There is no familial connection whatsoever between them, so your concern about "incest" doesn't apply to them. Just because you consider them family doesn't make it incestuous, this is not how it works, you naughty little thing you! ;P

Next, regarding Damon's personality and behavior: While Damon does have attachment issues and can be intensely possessive, his relationship with DG is unique and established before the events of the game. Their dynamic is special precisely because DG is the only person Damon trusts enough to consider sharing someone with. This is actually consistent with his character - he's not casually sleeping with multiple people; he has one deeply trusted connection (DG) that allows for this specific arrangement aka poly-relationship.

About the possible routes in the game:

There will be a route where MC ends up with DG.

A route where MC ends up with Damon.

And a poly-route option with both of them.

You're free to choose whichever route appeals to you most. If you prefer a one-on-one relationship with Damon, that route will be available to you. The poly route is simply an additional option for players who might be interested in that dynamic :)

Of course, we understand some players may have different preferences or interpretations, but Blastic wants to stay true to her characters and world she has created. Everything you have read are intentional aspects of the narrative and character development!

Well! I hope this clarifies things. Thanks again for your support and for engaging with the game so thoughtfully, eleipsis! ^o^

[queerfables]

The real Oasis iceberg is Lock All The Doors lore because yeah yeah, star shaped tambourine, and yeah the '92 version of the song evolved into My Sister Lover, but THEN you learn Noel has also said an entirely different song evolved out of that early first draft.

When I did the Chemical Brothers track, Setting Sun - "You're the devil in me" was the verse of this tune called Lock All The Doors, right? And for some reason, I'd had that song in the early, early days of Oasis. And the verse fit, and I thought, "It's alright, because I'll keep the chorus and I'll just write another verse. Anyway, it took me the best part of twenty years to write another verse. (Back The Way We Came - Track by Track)

And:

Noel Gallagher first began working on a song in the early 1990s. It appears on many lists in his notebooks from that period, which were auctioned at Christie's in 1998. "Half of it was used for the Chemical Brothers track," he recalled to Mojo magazine." I had that song knocking around from before we got signed. I thought I'll use that verse because it fits and I'll write another one. It took nearly 20 years." (Quoted on Songfacts)

Looking at early demos, though, Noel appears to be talking about two separate songs.

Lock All The Doors (with lyrics that match both My Sister Lover and NGHFB's Lock All The Doors)

Coming On Strong (with lyrics that match Setting Sun)

They're both from that early, pre-record deal period when Oasis was working with the Real People so at first I thought maybe Noel had "mixed them up" (ie, lied to avoid saying the words "My Sister Lover" in relation to a yearning heartbreak anthem which all but namechecks Liam in the first line). But! Then I listened to them back to back and, wow, even by Oasis's standards... that's the same song. My ear for music is not what it once was but it's hard NOT to hear it. It's particularly noticeable when you realise Coming On Strong barely has a chorus, but the gap between verse one and verse two fits Lock All The Doors' exactly.

It seems, then, Lock All The Doors has gone through not two but three sets of lyrics. And especially in conjunction with the other two versions, the original Coming On Strong lyrics are delightfully damning. The full set can be found on Genius lyrics, but my favourites are the opening lines:

You're the devil in me that I brought in from the cold Your body's still young and your mind is very old

There's a real undercurrent of illicit temptation here, and I love that second line, which also ends up in Half The World Away, taking on far more philosophical implications in that context. Actually, though, I prefer the version of the line that Noel gave to the Chemical Brothers in Setting Sun. "You said your body was young but your mind was very old". Because, well. It does sound like something Liam would say.

Like maybe in a brazen song full of darkly erotic overtures?

Take me when I'm young and true Was it me or was it you?

(...)

Take me 'cause I'm feeling old All my life I've been so cold Take me when I start to cry Take me, take me don't ask why

Noel and Liam's songs always feel like they're in conversation with each other, and it could be that goes all the way back to the beginning. Because if Liam's first hit was built around this theme, "Take me, take me, don't ask why," and the earliest version of Lock All The Doors echoes the refrain of, "You're coming on strong, you're coming on strong," then... yeah. It's easy to imagine one as a response to the other.

That's my take, at least. But even if you don't want to speculate about exactly what the Coming On Strong lyrics mean, the fact that Noel wrote at least three versions of this song suggests that it was important to him. He was trying to get it right. Perhaps, too, he was trying to walk back lyrics that felt too revealing; he's known to do that, as well. And on the other hand, since Setting Sun and the Coming On Strong demo started their life as part of Lock All The Doors... it's not so far-fetched to think they might be about Liam.

[tales-of-wocdes]

Community announcement

Hello all!

This is a new type of post! No need to worry, it is nothing bad. I simply realized something... There is a lot of people here, and that offers up something that was not possible before! Since, I am fairly certain that the community contains people with talents that I do not posses :D

Namely, I am asking for help with something I have been playing around with! Or perhaps it is a community contest? I fear I am not offering any real reward for this at the moment, aside from promising to credit the person in whatever manner they wish in the demo and here on the blog. So perhaps it is me asking for help. Assuming there is any interest in this :D It's not that serious.

This is still far away, and will likely be related to C4, but I thought I should ask early enough. Still, I will put details below the line to avoid spoilers for those who are not curious what this is about.

--------------------

Ok, I have an idea for a lullaby, likely the first lullaby MC ever remembers hearing. This is likely for C4, so it will be a long while.

I have an idea for it, and an inspiration.

Idea: The lullaby is a legend about the so called Eternal Wanderer, basically the Wocdes version of the Sandman. Expect he does not throw sand. Instead he walks the earth, pulling his flying ship, made of magic and dreams, after him at nighttime. The ship travels through the skies after him, bringing the children good dreams wherever he goes.

The inspiration: The idea of the wanderer pulling a flying ship is directly from this music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--tFFz44zvc

Honestly, I prefer the live version for the music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciLVx51IZjM

But that one does not have the old man pulling the boat. The rest of the idea is as described above and has nothing to do with the song :D

The problem: I can barely write normal text on my good days :D How am I supposed to write a song? Therefore I thought to ask for help!

You can get an idea from below from the few provided lines for what I am trying to go for.

What I have so far: I will put here a few lines I actually like from what I have so far.

I rather like this one bit:

He remembers a time from ages untold, when the stars were young and life did unfold.

Then towards the end of the song something like this:

Yet the wanderer himself, as ever remains, but a ghost in the fog, forever the same.

So I am aiming for some level of rhyming, but I want it to also make some sense, so one can be sacrificed for the other.

RULES/REQUESTS:

The premise is a lullaby and one meant to put children to sleep in a non-creepy manner! And the basic idea is as described above.

You are however free to play around with the idea of the "Eternal Wanderer" as the one who brings children dreams.

In my mind, it is currently a man, but if something else works better, I am not opposed. Or any other changes, but it should be a lullaby :D

Since someone will surely ask: I would say, max 400 (ish) words at most, including any repetition like chorus. Can be considerably shorter.

Please if you are interested, do not copy the song from anywhere, and do not get me into trouble.

If interested, please use the email for ideas/submissions: talesofwocdes@gmail.com

Questions can be asked in the tumblr asks so that everyone can see them :D

Schedule: Not set in stone, let's say I will start looking into this towards the end of May!

Let me know if people are interested in this sort of stuff :D

[sirfrogsworth]

Froggie's Guide to Budget Headphones

@nimrella I am more well versed in traditional audio and home theater with big honking speakers, so I don't have much personal experience with headphones and headphone accessories. But I can tell you what I've learned from other people who are in the headphone world. And since you are starting more within the "budget" range I think I am somewhat qualified to guide you at this level.

You have three paths to choose from...

Wireless, low impedance wired (no amplification required), and high impedance wired (amplification required).

Basically... easy, medium, and hard.

But also... good, better, best.

Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones have come a long way. Audiophiles used to scoff at them but now there are options that really do sound fantastic and the Bluetooth data rates are good enough to deliver high resolution audio. They also have noise cancellation options which may be desirable. If you do not have a quiet, dedicated space for listening to music you might find high end noise cancellation a godsend. People love them especially for planes, trains, and automobiles.

I don't know if everyone knows how noise cancellation works or not, but basically the headphones have microphones that listen to the world around you. They measure the incoming sound and then generate an opposite sound that just about kills ambient noise. If you play the same sound 180 degrees out of phase it basically nullifies those sound waves. The tech works best between 50 Hz and 1000 Hz. For reference we hear between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (lower if you are old). So anything super high or super low pitched can still get through.

In any case, if that sounds appealing, wireless headphones should be a consideration.

The other advantage of wireless headphones would be the ease of use. They pair to your phone, your laptop, your TV. They have controls to help you pause and skip songs and change volume. Some allow you to take phone calls.

But the big downside is the sound quality takes a bit of a hit. As I said, the bluetooth standards have actually gotten very very good. (Though there are audiophiles who will swear it still sounds like a 1990s MP3.) So streaming the actual media files are not really an issue. But trying to cram all of that tech into lightweight headphones you can wear around town all day requires compromises and added expense. Not to mention the battery has a limited lifespan. You may have more limited or inconsistent frequency response, poor dynamic range, distortion problems, weak output, and a high noise floor. Wireless options still can't match wired headphone systems in the same price range. And the wireless options that come close are quite spendy.

Wireless Headphones Suggestions

In your price range the two wireless options that I hear mentioned over and over again are the Sony WH-1000 series and the Bose QuietComfort. They are both well regarded for having a good mix of sound quality and noise cancellation while also being a decent value. You might be able to visit a Best Buy and demo them to see if you prefer the sound and comfort of one over the other.

The Apple AirPods Max are said to work really well within the Apple ecosystem. They have some interesting spatial sound modes and very good audio quality. I've heard the noise cancellation is some of the best currently available. But they seem too expensive and a lot of people feel they are too heavy. I also suspect they are due for an update. That said, if you wait for the new ones to come out and buy used, they could come into your price range. I'd really only suggest these if you have multiple Apple products that you will be streaming sound from.

Before we move into wired headphones, let's go over some terms that you might see pop up when doing research and reading reviews.

Froggie's Glossary of Audiophile Terminology

Driver A speaker is made up of drivers. Some speakers have a woofer, a midrange, and a tweeter. Each individual thing is a driver. And with headphones you will often hear "headphone driver" instead of speaker because it is more specific. Headphones typically have an all-in-one driver that does all frequencies. A woofymidteet.

That's not a thing.

I made that up.

Frequency Response This is the range of frequencies produced by the drivers from low to high. You want to make sure your headphones have good, deep bass. That will make more of a difference than anything else. It's the foundation of all sound and what is sorely lacking in devices with small/cheap speakers.

Music typically doesn't go much below 40 Hz in the bass range. So if you are only interested in music listening, that is plenty deep. Movies can go down to 20 Hz, but this isn't necessary for a good immersive experience unless you have giant subwoofers. So if you find something that can play ~40 Hz with decent output, you should be all good. Every speaker has a frequency response curve. It looks something like this.

The X-axis represents the frequency and the Y-axis represents the volume in decibels. We are most concerned with the 40 to 10K Hz section, as most sound happens there.

I'm not going to go super in-depth and overwhelm everyone, but typically you want this graph to look fairly flat in that range. A flat-ish line will give you a "neutral" response.

The above graph gets a little bumpy in the high frequencies. That means those frequencies will have a higher volume than the lower frequencies. If a higher frequency has a big peak, that could make your sound seem too bright or tinny.

Or you could have the opposite problem. You could have a null in the bass where the output dips below everything else. This can make your sound a bit anemic and lacking punch.

Whereas a more flat speaker will output all frequencies at about the same volume and sound much more balanced and smooth.

Equalization or EQ A flat response is good because it will accept EQ well. Equalization is where you add peaks and dips in volume deliberately to taste.

This can be as simple as 3 knobs.

Or it can be a more complicated parametric EQ.

A lot of digital EQ methods have presets to help get you started. I promise it isn't as intimidating as it looks.

Some people like to buy speakers/headphones that are EQ'd how they prefer out of the box. (Or if you get Beats by Dre they just turn the bass all the way up and say "Fuck them other frequencies!") But this is often a bit of a crapshoot because it is hard to EQ a speaker that sounds good in every room or every environment or just to varying individual preferences.

By making the speaker more neutral, it can be much easier to equalize specifically to your needs and enjoyment.

So if you like the bass a little bassier and the mids a little quieter, you have the power to dial that in with great specificity on a neutral speaker. You can apply any EQ you wish and you won't be fighting the speaker's predetermined response.

Basically if you are reading reviews and the headphones are described as "flat" or "neutral" that's a good thing (in my opinion). Just remember nothing is going to be perfectly flat. We're shooting for flat-ish.

If you do decide to get a neutral sounding pair of headphones you may find them a little bland out of the box. Do not panic. You just need to learn a bit about how to apply EQ, but thankfully YouTube is plentiful with tutorials.

The Harman Curve was researched to be most liked by the most people, so you might start there. (Also, SoundSource is a very popular EQ app for Mac.)

Dynamic Range This is the spectrum of how quiet to loud something can get. If you have speakers that can render both a pin drop and a big explosion with great fidelity and proper intensity, you will be in audio heaven. There is so much emotion and drama that can be expressed by expansive dynamic range and most cheap speakers compress it to an inch of its life. When the soft and the loud sounds are the same you miss out on so much audio information intended by the composer.

Distortion This is just how loud a speaker can go without breaking up. Low distortion is good. While every driver distorts at some point, usually that is at a much higher volume than you will use. This typically only plagues cheap, tiny drivers.

Sound Pressure Level (SPL) This is a measurement of how loud a speaker can get. While you don't want to listen to anything louder than a sustained average decibel level of 80 to 85, you do want peaks over 100, especially in the bass. Bass is less damaging to ears and hearing damage is all about sustained volume rather than quick peaks here and there. Most headphones can comfortably do an SPL between 90 and 110 dB. The ability to go louder is good, but only because that expands headroom, not because you should actually listen to them that loud. So if the headphones can get super loud, that means they will have a much easier time delivering normal levels.

Noise Floor Every sound system has background noise. You know that static you hear when you turn a radio up really loud when there is no sound playing? That is your noise floor. You want that to be as quiet as possible because if you turn up the volume, you don't just turn up the volume of the sounds you want to hear, you also turn up the volume of that background noise.

If you can find a headphone system with a decent low noise floor and you can also find a very quiet space to listen in, you could have a religious experience. I don't think people realize how much the room you are in matters, even when listening to headphones. When you are in a quiet room, you can play at lower volumes. And that can mitigate a lot of the problems associated with cranking the volume. You won't damage your ears for one thing. But the speakers won't have to work as hard so you'll have less distortion and better clarity.

Noise mostly comes from the amplifier, which I will talk about later on.

Froggie Pro Tip: If you want cheap speakers to perform better, go to a quiet room and move them as close as possible. This allows you to play them at a lower output while maintaining your desired perceived volume.

Okay, now we can finally talk about...

Wired Headphones

You have open back and closed back styles.

Open back tends to have a more natural sound and feels more comfortable. Like listening to regular speakers. People generally feel they are able to listen to them longer because they don't create a seal and cause pressure on your ear drum. However, if sound can get out, it can also get in. So with open back headphones people nearby will be able to hear what you are listening to. And if you are not in a quiet room, all of that sound will leak in. Meaning you have to increase the volume and the noise floor and the distortion.

Closed back seals off your ears and gives you a quiet and immersive experience. You can be in a noisier room without having to crank the volume as much. Some prefer this style just because it helps them feel like they are going into their own personal dimension of sound. These are great for ASMR too. But ear fatigue can become an issue and you may need to take little breaks to let your ears breathe and your ear drums rest.

And the last thing we need to discuss is impedance.

The impedance of headphones mostly determines how hard they are to amplify. Impedance is measured in ohms which is this little horseshoe symbol... Ω.

Lower ohms means less electrical resistance and easier to amplify.

Higher ohms means more electrical resistance and difficult to amplify.

If you get headphones rated below 100 ohms, they can typically be driven by smartphones and laptops just by plugging into a standard headphone jack. Though depending on the device, 100 may sound a little quiet so you may want to go lower. 30 ohms is fairly typical if you plan to drive your headphones with everyday electronics.

Above 100 ohms you are going to need some sort of amplification—usually a DAC with a headphone amplifier. (There are DACs without amplification so be sure to check that.)

A DAC, or digital-to-analog converter, is already built into your phone and laptop. But those are very small, don't have a lot of power, and might have a higher noise floor due to interference from other components and heat and just a lot of electrical signals nearby.

By getting an external DAC w/amplifier you separate out the components, make them larger and more powerful, and typically improve the sound quality. Because it is more isolated, the amplification can be much quieter despite being more powerful.

If you plan to stay in a static location and you have high impedance headphones, you can get a little box DAC that sits on your desk. It works like an external sound card for your computer. If you record music or stream, a digital audio interface works great as well (remember to check the Ω).

But if you need to be more mobile with your headphones you can get a little USB dongle DAC, though you will probably not get the same sound quality and power.

Both will be superior to the internal DAC built into your computing devices.

So, low impedance headphones are easier if you need to move around.

High impedance headphones are better for staying put in a single location unless you get a dongle DAC.

Just remember, high and low impedance doesn't necessarily indicate quality. It's just that in order to drive high impedance headphones you need the larger amplifier with the nicer components and, by necessity, you automatically get that quality bump.

You can get very good low impedance headphones. However, if you power them *only* with a smartphone, you may not use them to their full potential. Which is why getting an external DAC is a good idea regardless.

But the nice thing about low impedance is you can get the headphones and still use them until you save up for the DAC. Or you can use them as normal while out and about and have a special listening spot at home with the DAC.

To review...

Low impedance and high impedance can both be high quality.

Low impedance (less than 100 ohms) works with anything.

High impedance (more than 100 ohms) requires amplification.

Both will be used to their full potential with a DAC/headphone amplifier of some kind.

Wired Headphones Suggestions

Again, I have not personally listened to any of these. I am just relaying what experts I trust have mentioned as being nice quality in your price range.

The beyerdynamic DT 770 headphones are some of the most well-regarded budget headphones I've heard of. They come in low and high impedance versions.

The Sennheiser HD 560 high impedance headphones are also praised for their value and performance.

If you can go a little pricier...

The HIFIMAN Sundara headphones have low impedance and can be driven easily by all your devices.

And the HIFIMAN Edition XS are even lower impedance and about the same price.

And if you want to try a DAC, I've heard good things about both Fosi and Schiit (yes, like the poopies), though there are many different brands. Just make sure the DAC has a headphone amplifier rated for the ohms you need.

The FOSI K5 Pro is a cheap "beginner" DAC that will power anything up to 300 ohms. This is the kind that sits on your desk.

And if you want a more portable dongle DAC, you can get something like the iFi Go Link.

I've also heard good things about the AudioQuest Dragonfly, though I hate recommending AudioQuest products due to them claiming they can do magical things. They use scientific gobbledygook to scam customers most of the time. That said, the DragonFly might be their only valid product.

Note from Future Froggie: AudioQuest just can't help themselves. While the Dragonfly itself is a good product and not a scam, they developed the "DragonTail", which is a scam.

It's just a USB A to C Adapter for the Dragonfly. But they have to find a way to justify 30 fucking dollars so they came up with this bullshit.

Definitely need to stabilize my geometry. If I have unstable geometry that could lead to quixotic trigonometry. And we all know that could introduce vertices into dodecahedrons. Which leads straight to accelerated cosmotic entropy catalyzing the heat death of the universe.

Fucking AudioQuest.

ANYWAY...

An inexpensive DAC may be all you ever need but DACs can get crazy expensive��just like headphones. And if you are really fancy you can get a DAC and a headphone amplifier as separate items. Audiophiles claim when you simplify components to a singular function you increase quality. While I think there is some small truth to that, I suspect they just think the tubes look neat.

Froggie's Disclaimer: I am not telling you to get these specific things, but I do think you'll probably be happy with anything I've suggested. But sound is a subjective experience and it is always best to test things out before you buy them, if possible. Or make sure there is a return policy. You might see if there is a brick-and-mortar store nearby that allows you to demo headphones. Remember that comfort can be just as crucial as sound quality for long listening sessions.

Final Thoughts

Good sound has been life changing for me. And I am excited when anyone goes down this journey. While the stuff mentioned is considered "budget" by audiophiles, this can give you a good starting point if you want to upgrade down the road. You'll get to know your preferences and get a better understanding of how this all works and choose your own adventure from there.

Though it is very possible you'll be quite content with "budget" and the sound quality is more than enough.

Personally, while I am very happy with my current home theater setup, I am hopeful one day I can upgrade one budget tier above where I currently am and that will be my endgame. I've heard $10,000 speakers and it is mostly a land of diminishing returns once you reach that level.

I'm fine in "budget" land.

Further Research

I didn't mention the different types of headphone drivers because I didn't want to put too much data in everyone's head. But if you want to do additional research you can learn about the 4 main types... dynamic, planar magnetic, electrostatic, and balanced armature.

[allswellinthiswell]

TOUCHSTARVED Updated Demo Shtuff

[SPOILERS] Anyone feeling a bit unsure about some of the changes to the demo?

Tag I'm using for this topic: #touchstarved updated demo spoilers

Honestly, idk how to feel about the changes to Leander's dialogue and personality... but I want to play the whole thing a few times before really formulating an opinion. We're naturally going to be somewhat resistant to change when it comes to things that work, and I don't want to be too biased.

For now, I guess I'll say that I really liked the new area that the main character gets to explore with Kuras... ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡) ... That was a nice change of scenery, for sure. Very beautiful drawing.

Also, the Hound backstory is gone! That's so incredibly sad! I've been designing an MC and that backstory was the best for them :(( I'm probably going to use it anyway, tbh... There was so much potential to it...

Current minor gripes:

The game continues to imply that the MC is shorter than the cast sometimes, which can be a bit eh...

I think the editor may have forgotten that the MC sleeps the entire day away after meeting Leander. There's some points where the game acts as though everything is still happening on the same day. That is, unless I'm actually blind.

If Mhin is from somewhere else, as Kuras implies in his route, but Mhin outright states that they grew up in Eridia when you first meet them in the new version, why doesn't the MC notice that when talking to Kuras? Either Mhin is lying about their origins to both the MC and Kuras, or they've told Kuras one thing and the MC another, or it's an error. Anyone else notice this?

The NECK description for that lowlife guy, man. It wasn't great before (my thighs are massive lmaooo - dude would be built like a one piece character), but I don't think it's great now, either. I honestly think they should just show that the guy is an imposing figure through other means. They continue to imply that Ais is taller, but this guy can't be?

Mhin deserved more :( I liked their intro, but... idk... I would have liked more? (Ｔ▽Ｔ)

Nvm I decided to add most of what I feel here:

I guess there is one thing I find odd about the characterization of Leander, and it's all the little moments that we've lost. Like the moment where the Bloodhounds (now Adderstones (?)) get angry at the MC for bringing up the Senobium. Leander didn't act until they looked to him for help, but in this one, he simply gets up and takes the MC outside. Hrm...

Overall, they seem to have made him more earnest and a bit more straightforward, likely to lull the player and the MC into thinking he's harmless, but after all the advertising... all that marketing basically confirming that he's a real piece of work... I dunno. I think it could've been more subtle?? Like in the previous demo?? His cheerful and flirty attitude, which is muted in the updated demo until later, is what almost got me in the previous version of the game. I wasn't completely suspicious. It kept me guessing.

Now, I just see through every gesture. That scene we get with him at the end of his route thus, and please forgive my language, freaked me the absolute fuck out. Had the game not shoved it in your face that he's a Bad Guy so much, I feel as though I wouldn't have immediately panicked when he locked the door. I'm likely to get a bad end with him because I'm so cautious now, tbh. Whoops lmao. Like, okay, anyone can get away with a few comments (the leash one was wild), and MC does question him a bit after all that manipulation, but surely a situation like THAT is bound to be more alarming to a person? Especially after so many near death experiences and meeting so many shady people? Is my preference for a slower pace, like in the other routes, making me a bit of a dingus?

There's a real good moment, though, and it's after the MC shows Leander their curse. He asks their name. Suddenly, after revealing what could be a weapon against the Senobium, you become a person of interest to him. Although, person might be a stretch. As such, I kind of understand these changes. He's the reassuring, trustworthy guy in a sea of assholes. Guy wants to isolate you as soon as possible so that you'll become reliant on him and only him, and what better way to do that than giving the MC what they so desperately crave while they incur debt after debt? I just... I wish they hadn't jumped the gun so fast?

Anyway, these are all my thoughts. Leander's route was still enjoyable for the most part haha. It really shows the kind of person he is. I haven't felt that unnerved by a character in a while!

I dunno! It's my first playthrough, so my opinion is liable to change. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts, too.

[girlfromthecrypt]

Note: This is merely a pitch introduction post. Work on this IF will only properly start once Such Happy Campers is complete. A demo is not imminent. The working title is Reggie on the Run, but will most likely be changed.*

Story: You, an individual only known as Reggie Reese, are a criminal in the late 1800s. You find yourself stuck in a jail in Yellowhill, Letitia, where you are to be tried for your transgressions. Fortunately for you, a member of a prolific and feared local gang is brought in the same day. When the outlaw’s associates swoop in to rescue them, you too are given another chance at freedom. Before you know it, you are inducted into the strange and unusual band, most of whom appear to possess supernatural abilities.

Only, you were never exactly normal either…

Play as Reggie Reese (based on your choice of gender, this can either be “Regina”, “Reginald”, or simply “Reggie”, if you’re not one for the binaries)

Choose from four possible backgrounds that also determine the cause for your arrest! Play as a violent drunk, a highwayman or thief. More backgrounds may be added later

You have telepathic powers! Yay! Now, how to use that to get money…

Pick and name a horse from a selection of various breeds and personalities, bond with and care for it!

Face horrors beyond comprehension, and possibly end up saving the world

redeem yourself or become worse

Inspirations: Blood Meridian, Butcher’s Crossing, Red Dead Redemption 2, Lonesome Dove, and of course the actual Old West.

The Cast:

“Doc” — The Leader: You don’t know his real name. You don’t know where he came from. There are whispers about him having escaped from an exploitative freak show, though he’s certainly not forthcoming with any information. The one thing you do know is that he saved your life.

Age: 42

Power: Healing

Personality: Polite and kind (at least at first glance). Well-read and highly intelligent, idealistic.

Romanceable: Yes, for MCs of all genders.

Horse: Silksong, a palomino Mustang.

Isaiah Wilder — The Berserker: A behemoth of a man who’s draw is as quick and deadly as his fists. You have never encountered anyone as bloodthirsty or as dogged as him. He ensures people fear the gang, and should intimidation prove insufficient, he’ll delight in mending that. 

Age: 37

Power: Superhuman strength and zombie-like constitution

Personality: Caring to the gang, absolutely heartless to everyone else. Brutal, cunning.

Romanceable: Yes, for female MCs (why you’d want to romance a literal monster is your deal)

Horse: Black Phillip, a black Missouri Foxtrotter.

Margaret Malloy — The Black Widow: Thrice married, thrice widowed. Her husbands have a tendency to throw themselves off of cliffs, it seems. What exactly she’s hiding behind her ready smile is for her to know and you to find out�� at your own peril, that is. She often acts as a decoy for the gang.

Age: 33

Power: Persuasion

Personality: Harmoniously cheerful and sweet, with a love for all things shiny. 

Romanceable: Yes, for male and male-presenting MCs (you’ve been warned)

Horse: Freckle, a Leopard Appaloosa.

Hilda Heinrichs — The One Who Dances in the Creek: She’s a strange, strange woman. Perhaps the strangest you’ve ever met. A former prostitute, she fell in with Doc after he treated a gunshot wound she sustained after attempting to steal from a suitor. Oftentimes, she’s off in another world— literally.

Age: 30

Power: Spectral awareness

Personality: Hard to grasp. Her temper changes at the drop of a hat, like she’s a force of nature. But she’ll happily entertain the others by playing her banjo.

Romanceable: Yes, for MCs of all genders

Horse: Virginia, a white Shire.

Francisco “Fran” Perez — The Gambler: He doesn’t talk much, barely at all, really. Maybe he doesn’t like you… or maybe he simply prefers the quiet. He’s eerily good at gambling, and even better at cheating people out of their money. His abilities are invaluable to the gang; he sniffs out most of their jobs for them.

Age: 26, the youngest of the gang

Power: Precognition

Personality: Calm, quiet, wary of strangers. Funny guy, once you get to know him.

Romanceable: Yes, for MCs of all genders

Horse: Cielo, a brown and white Pinto with striking blue eyes.

The Strange Lady— ??: She hangs around a lot. You don’t know what to make of her.

Age: ??

Power: ??

Personality: Confusing.

Romanceable: No

*MC is gender-selectable, but has a locked-in name. The canon reason for this is that MC’s name, Reggie Reese, is an alias, and that MC keeps their true name a secret (at least from the public). The game is set in a largely fictionalized version of the Wild West. There are a great many parallels to actual historical events, but to avoid writing about still-existent locations and organizations (among other things), I have taken some liberties with worldbuilding. Also, it’s fun to pick fictional town and state names, for example Letitia and Yellowhill. 

TW: gore, discussions of trauma, ptsd, c-ptsd, mentions of SA and related trauma, mentions of period-typical prejudice and sexism, morally gray characters depending on how you play, downright homicidal characters, sex work. 

Dividers by @plum98

So. What y'all think?

[earthdance]

method acting - fox mulder

mulder is back after you've come to terms with his death.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

note: i'm not new to fanfic but i am new to x-files fanfic! i hope this isn't too terrible! this is inspired by the first two episodes of s3 because how could scully just accept that he was back that quickly. like he just showed up and she was like "ok" like WHAAAAT. anyways i just kind of reimagined that plotline because it seemed so insane to me.

content tags: SPOILERS for epsisodes 3x1 "the blessing way" and 3x2 "paperclip" , canon compliant but also canon divergent, reader insert, use of y/n and y/l/n (i think it's only y/l/n actually), angst, fluff, mentions of death and mourning, reader and mulder have shared dreams, reader is sad, mulder is sad, everyone is sad but it's okay cause there's a happy ending, this wasn't proofread.

word count: 1,394

cross-posted on ao3 if you prefer to read there!

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

i put the knife in slowly

through the ribcage to your heart

i don't know how we got here

but it's tearing me apart

you don't seem too surprised

i guess that it's become a chore

every tuesday on the hour

you don't feel it anymore

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

you couldn’t handle it. so much was going on and you couldn’t handle any of it. 

you try desperately to recall your lessons at the academy, about compartmentalizing and shoving unwanted thoughts or feelings into the darkest filing cabinets of your mind. 

but right now, all of those neatly closed and sealed drawers were flying open at breakneck speed, undoing years of hard work and meditation to keep yourself stable and able to do your job. 

he was here, in front of you. looking at you with his leafy green eyes with a crazed look as if he had just come back from mars. standing in the archway where the threshold meets the living room of his apartment, soft lamp light beaming off of his face. you’re in your pajamas, work clothes strewn over his floor, throw blanket and a pillow from his bed crumpled on the couch.. you had come here to sleep, as you’ve been doing since he’d been gone. 

it had been 2 months. you had weeped, screamed, sat in sad silence, broken things around your apartment, all to try to close the gaping wound his absence had torn in you. 

it had gotten somewhat easier. you were just on the precipice of acceptance. just on the precipice of finding some sort of strange peace in the storm that you were caught in. your body was tired, and it was begging you to let go of the pain. and you were about to.

but he was here.

“mulder?”

your voice was hollow like a bone. at this quiet utterance at his name, he steps forward, as if approaching a frail deer on the side of the road. prepared for it to dart at any second. he reaches a hand out, too fast.

you flinch hard. he jerks his hand back to his side.

“wh-” you start, willing yourself to make sense of the apparition in front of you.

you were hallucinating. you had to be. fox mulder was dead. you saw the smoke. the remnants. you saw evidence. 

“who are you? what kind of sick joke is this?” you ask, gasping for breath. 

“y/l/n…” he says. sad, regretful.

at his voice, something inside you crumbles, and you crash.

“don’t! what the hell is going on? what is this? why- why is this happening? why now?”

“ i couldn’t risk contacting you. not until they were sure i was dead. not until they had absolutely no doubts.”

“i- i don’t-”

“i want so badly to explain it all to you. what happened to me. but i want to give you time to process-.”

“process!?” you shriek, “i’ve already processed! i processed for 2 months! and now you want me to process more? to believe you’re alive? how do i even know it’s you, mulder? we’ve encountered people that can change shape, that mimic. they’ve fooled me before, i won’t let it happen again-” you’re hand twitches subtly toward your gun, lying on the coffee table. 

he straightens at this. “y/l/n! y/l/n…”

you freeze, ready to grab the pistol if he makes any sudden movements.

“just.. just listen. ask me something, i’ll prove that it’s me. ask me something only i would know.”

your eyes narrow at him. trying to search for any sign that he’s going to switch up on you. 

you try to calm your mind, to think of a sacred situation that you and mulder shared. something embedded deep in you. that you never told anyone about. 

“i- um…” you run a hand over your face, still breathing shakily. 

“what did i confess to you at the hotel in montana?”

his eyes glaze over in sadness. prepared to recite the story you told him. 

“you joined me on the x-files because when you were 13, you saw an apparition of your grandfather three days after he died. he told you someone was waiting for you. and you told me even though you thought it was just a dream, you’re still searching. searching for whoever’s waiting for you. wherever they are.”

you exhale for the first time in what feels like hours. tears prick at your waterline as you struggle to breathe. 

he’s there, then. arms encircling you, hand on the back of your head to pull you into his chest. and you wonder, how you ever could’ve doubted that it was him. he has never been more him than in this moment. his smell, his touch, his voice as he whispers in your hair. 

it’s okay, i’m here now. i’m not leaving again.

still embraced, he leads you to his couch. sits down gently so you can lean into him more. 

he rubs your back, sweeping those beautiful hands up and down your spine. in spite of yourself, you shudder at the feeling. 

“mulder i don’t-”

“i know-”

“no, you don’t.” 

he lifts your head from his chest and holds your face in his hands, wiping free falling tears away.

“you really don’t know.”

he bites his lip, searching for something to say, but you don’t want to hear anything from him right now. you need him to know. to understand. 

“fox,” 

he sucks in a breath at the use of his name.

“i have gone through countless deaths in my life. friends, family, pets. death follows me everywhere i go. i know the routine. i know how to grieve and come out the other side. i know how to be unfazed by it.”

you stop, to make sure he’s still following. he nods. strokes your hair.

“i-” you stop again, to try and gather yourself the best you can with his thumbs on your cheeks.

you look in his eyes now. you need him to know

“i’ve never felt so much pain. your absence… it was- it was so suffocating. so dark. no one could tell me anything. i didn’t have any closure. it was like i was walking in a tunnel, and i kept expecting to see the light. the end of it. but it never came. until last week. i was- i was getting better, mulder. i was starting to feel okay. i was starting to accept, however painful it still was. i- and then you're here?  you're just here all of a sudden? and now you being here, is almost even more painful then before because it doesn’t feel real. my brain can’t make sense of it. deep down i know it’s you. but it still feels fake. i’ve spent two months coming to terms with your death. it’s like a dream.”

you drop your head into his chest once more. he drags a shaking hand down to your arm and pinches you softly for good measure. a very mulder thing to do. 

you breathe a laugh out of your nose.

“see? not a dream” he says gently, lifting your face back up to meet his eyes once more. 

you give him a sad smile to show him you’re trying to be present with him. 

his fingers tuck your hair behind your ears. he takes a deep breath.

“i’m not going to try and pretend that i know what you went through. thank you for telling me.”

he bites his lip and contemplates his next sentence.

“i went somewhere. i didn’t necessarily die but i was close”

his hand holds your wrist, soothes your pulse.

“in the place i went, i saw people. people i knew that had died. but the last person… the last person was you. i wasn’t worried because i could tell you weren’t like the others. you weren't planted in this afterlife, you weren’t dead. you were just there to tell me something.”

you breathe shallowly.

“what did i tell you?”

“that you were waiting for me.”

you purse your lips and close your eyes, overwhelmed. 

“i know”

mulder looks at you, puzzled.

“you know?”

you nod, and open your eyes.

“i had a dream. my grandpa was there. he told me that i had already found the person that was waiting for me. and then i saw you. and i told you what you just said. i didn’t think it was real. i thought it was just another dream. i- i didn’t know it was your dream too.”

he smiles and presses his forehead to yours.

“were we both waiting on each other?”

a kiss is your answer.

[ushkoo]

The mercs skiiing/ snowboarding!

Ooo ok!! I’ve actually never been skiing or snowboarding but I’ll try my best based on my limited knowledge! (/u v u)/

I’m also choosing to say that they have no prior experience in skiing or snowboarding.

TF2 MERCS SKIING / SNOWBOARDING 🌨️

Scout:

Has he ever been skiing before? No. Will he insist that it’s easy and that he can do it? Naturally. He skips any training or easier trails and goes straight for the hardest one possible. He needs to impress everyone and show off how naturally talented he is! Of course, it goes horribly and he ends up as a pile of fractured limbs at the bottom of the trail. He’ll still blame the skis rather than his lack of experience.

Soldier:

I think that Soldier would look very intense whilst skiing as slowly as possible. Much like Scout, he skipped any kind of training, real men don’t need to take baby steps. He’s focusing to make sure nobody’s going to try and sabotage him!! He would likely get knocked over by some kids (Scout) speeding by, declare it as an enemy attack and ski after them at full speed whilst yelling various insults.

Pyro:

Pyro would probably prefer snowboarding over skiing! And I think they’d be surprisingly decent too! Unlike a lot of the other mercs, they’re actually taking their time to go through the basic training before tackling anything harder. It wouldn’t take long for them to get the hang of it either! Once they knew what they were doing, they’d be having the time of their life! Pyro would enjoy speeding around other people, they would definitely be making fun of Soldier on their way by too. It would be hard to break the news when it was time to go home.

Demo:

Demo would (much like the others) skip any kind of training. He’s going down the highest slopes with whiskey and a dream. It wouldn’t take long for him to regret his choice and totally lose control of the skis. He’d shoot down the slope at full speed, crash, insist that he’s fine then try again. If he happened to be sober, though, he might do a LITTLE training. He would just learn the very basics and see what happens.

Heavy:

I’m choosing to say Heavy is skiing because I think it’s funny. Unlike most of the others, he’d actually do the entire training course before tackling anything harder! He knows he’s a big guy, he doesn’t want to fall on a bystander. Once he finished the training, he would actually be rather elegant. He’s no professional, but he knows what he’s doing! When Demo’s crashing down the slope, he’s the one shooting after him to try and recuse him.

Engineer:

Engie is definitely a snowboarder! He’d take the training course first but would be a little shit about it. He would roll his eyes half the time and be impatient about it if anyone was taking too long and holding everyone else up. Once he’s ready, he’ll go down the slopes at his own pace. Of course, until Pyro speeds by him, then it’s a competition. Pyro might see it as a fun little game but Engie sees it as a blood sport.

Medic:

Medic would be pretty good at skiing! He’d do the training, get excited about getting a lil certificate to say he can do basic skiing stuff then go and start skiing for real! He’d happily ski next to Heavy, chat to him about whatever he’s working on and get all pissy when Heavy speeds off to save Demo. He’d also be pretty elegant, it’s shocking that this is his first time skiing as he looks rather professional.

Sniper:

Snipers definitely a snowboarder! He does as little training as he needs to then goes out to test his limited skills. He wouldn’t be perfect, he’d probably even get grumpy after a while, but he’d do his best! He would eventually get the hang of it and somewhat enjoy going down slopes at a safe, moderated pace.

Spy:

Spy would be pissy about even having to do this in the first place, but he would eventually settle to try skiing. Shockingly, he would do the training and not be too grumpy about it. He understands that he isn’t a professional skier and that everyone starts somewhere. When he’s ready, he’ll go out to the slopes and ski at a slow and sensible pace. He would also take a lot of joy in watching Scout tumbling by.

❄️————————————————————❄️

Aaaa hope this was okay! Like I said, I don’t know much about skiing or snowboarding except the very basic stuff (*´∀`*)

[tf2-headcanons-anonymous]

WOAH THIS IS COOL!!!! HI!!!

How about just some head canons of the mercs at the pool?? Anything you come up with!!!

Pool day

What the mercs would be like at the pool

Slight swear warning(?)

Scout

Splashing everyone constantly

Brings a ton of water guns and forces everyone to participate in a water gun fight. He has the fancy expensive water guns too.

Absolutely will compete with anyone to see who can make the biggest splash.

Took him forever to actually learn how to swim.

Yells "CANONBALL!!!" as loud as he can before jumping in the pool.

Forgets to put on sunscreen and gets super sunburnt. Complains to Medic after.

Pushes people into the pool.

Soldier

This man does not know how to swim.

He stays in the shallow end, probably doing some kind of Marine type training.

Takes Scout's water gun fight way too seriously.

If he is pushed into the deep end he just sits still and sinks to the bottom, someone else has to save him

Is a huge enforcer of the pool "rules". No running, no pushing, you have to wait 20 mins after you eat, etc. He does have a whistle with him and will use it.

Pyro

They can swim, they just choose to stay in the shallow end.

They like playing with those toy boats that can actually move in the water when you wind them up.

Buys candy or ice cream from the pool concession stand (We have these where I live idk about other places)

They generally have a lot of fun just sitting by themself in the shallow end playing with random pool toys.

Keeps their mask on unless they choose to actually swim around a bit.

Demoman

Does bring alcohol to the pool, he has to.

Sword fighting with pool noodles, that's all I have to say

Can swim and has a fun time doing it, but everyone is a little nervous with him being drunk in the pool.

Actual cannonball man

Will gladly play that game where someone climbs on his shoulders, and you fight against two other people.

He loves pool games, and he wins most of them.

Made a water balloon canon

Heavy

Is the man cooking a barbeque for everyone.

His food is amazing, and he makes sure the group has a full lunch to keep their energy up.

He'll some hang out in the pool but chooses not to swim all that much.

Brought the cooler full of water bottles, Demo put some of his drinks in there though.

Goes in the deep end once just to save soldier from the bottom.

Engineer

Mostly relaxes in the shallow end as well but goes int the deep end a few times.

Makes sure everyone is drinking enough water.

Brought a pump to blow up the pool floaties with because he doesn't want to do it manually ever again.

His robot hand can hold up in water, but he still keeps it out of the water most of the time just in case.

Hangs out with Pyro for a bit when he realizes they're alone (Sorry i headcanon him as a father figure for Pyro)

Offers to help out with the barbeque

Medic

Somehow the most graceful swimmer in the world.

Is the only one that actually knows proper CPR but prefers to let them die and respawn to "learn their lesson"

Brings some pool floaties for everyone

Also makes sure everyone is drinking water; he's not saving anyone if they pass out.

Tires to get everyone to wear sunscreen because he doesn't want to deal with the complaints of sunburn.

Doesn't help Scout with his sunburn, just says "I told you zis would happen" and gives him some aloe.

Sniper

Doesn't actually go in the pool that much, just sits on the side reading a book or something.

It he does go in the pool he just sits on the edge and puts his legs in the water

Refuses to participate in anything that could get him splashed.

If anyone splashes him, he gets pissed and gets out of the pool again.

Scout shot him with a water gun once, he never did it again.

Uses the water gun fight as an excuse to practice aim but says no one can shoot at him.

Spy

Stays on a floatie the entire time.

Like Sniper in the way that he will get pissed if he's splashed.

Keeps his mask on and puts sunglasses on over it somehow.

Constantly reapplying sunscreen, this man will not get burnet today.

Ends up falling asleep on the floatie and gets woken up by Scout jumping into the pool right beside him, causing him to fall over.

He sits on side with a towel and does not go back in the pool after that. He looks like a pathetic wet cat but still refuses to take his mask off.

Thats it, I hope you like them!

In all honesty, I have based some of this off how people in my family act at the pool.

Sorry if some of my grammar isn't the best

[novastarlyght]

Honestly even if the video isn’t the pilot and just a hoax, how was it anyways since it’s the closest to ever getting any new material from the series?

I’m convinced it’s real now. Edward’s explanation makes me think that someone he knows or works with was actually the one in possession of the pilot/demo, and whoever that is only recently found out it was something highly sought after on the internet. As for why it’s directly called a pilot when the creators previously said it wasn’t… I’m gonna assume the label of “pilot” was put there by the investors/whoever was given copies, even if that’s not actually what the crew making it considered it to be. Like it’s technically not or wasn’t supposed to be one, but they still said “Eh, might as well call this a pilot.”

But yeah, aside from the differences in visual style like the character designs, it’s almost exactly like an episode of the televised iteration. Like I was surprised how little it actually differed from the show we ended up getting. There’s no extreme violence or anything, it’s all the same silly cartoon violence the final version of the show has.

I guess it is technically more explicit about the fact it takes place in Hell, but it’s only pointed out (and not even super directly) in one single joke. Aside from that the setting feels pretty much exactly the same as the “Miseryville” we ultimately got.

Honestly I feel like everyone who was expecting this to be a much darker version of the show is going to be disappointed. It’s almost no different from the final version at all. Personally I’m happy about that because I’ve always preferred what JTS actually ended up being as opposed to the version of it a lot of people probably made up in their head, but I know everybody else definitely doesn’t feel the same way LOL

[wisteriaiswriting]

Chill and Laid Back, Hippie S/O

Words: 503

Request: Can I suggest Soldier and Spy with a chill and laidback hippie s/o or crush? I think this person will be very different from their usual type and that they both might be a bit confused by this :)

Used crush for Soldier and S/O for Spy.

Anon, you are so right, a chill, laidback hippie isn’t someone he would’ve ever liked as a ‘TRUE BLOODED AMERICAN!’ In his words.

At first it’s very highly likely that he hates your guts, claiming that ‘You aren’t American enough’ especially compared to him.

But all he needs is to spend some more time with you, which has him get used to you.

As long as you still fight in all of the battles he’ll be fine, moving you out of, what he thinks is the ‘classic hippie’ stereotype. (And that is a huge step with him.)

For the longest time this man will be fighting in an internal battle with his feelings, and was losing from that start. Absolutely cannot fathom why he feels like this, and for you??

In the end, he was convinced by Demo to confess, and he is surprisingly straight forward about his feelings.

If you have plants, don't let this man care for them in the slightest. They will die in the first few days, or even hours somehow, but he’ll make up for it by buying (stealing) more for you

Cannot understand any of your lingo, so you’ll have to teach him. But most of it goes in one ear and right out of the other, there might be a lucky few that stay in his brain though.

He kinda likes the fashion sense. (On you, you're very special to him.)

If he’s being honest here, people like you (Hippies) were never his first choice for a partner, but you were too good looking to pass up.

Give him some time to get used to how you do things, it won't take him long but give him that time.

Do you smoke? You do? Great, the two of you can spend some time together in his smoking room. And depending on what you smoke he might be willing to share with you.

If not? That's perfectly fine, there's more things you two can do. Just hopefully you can deal with the smell of smoke, and just smoke in general as he won’t stop his own.

Will pay for most if not all of your clothing, at your request, he’ll find some more ‘sustainable’ brands. (Which isn’t alot in the 1960s but he makes it work.)

One of the better plant dads, just doesnt have many of his own so you can never see his full potential. But when you come back every single one is flourishing.

Doesnt really understand your lingo but is more willing to learn even if it’s highly likely he won’t use any of them.

Actually doesnt hate your music, (Whether you make some or just listen) he just won't go out of his way to listen to it as he prefers his own type. But if you’re listening to it he won't change it and will listn with you.

Is really glad that you’re laid back and chill, opposed to his current teammates. So you’re a very welcome change in his life.

[study-diaries]

How to do group projects? (If you're selected as the leader of the group)

I hate group projects, it's not necessarily the project rather, the people are not cooperative enough so here's some tips I use when I was chosen to do a PPT and a damn play with 13 members.

(Pictures aren't mine!)

Take phone numbers

Even though my teacher discouraged the idea of it, I still took the numbers of all the members and saved it on the same day the project was given even though the deadline was a month later. You should make sure that you have the necessary means of communication to every member.

Plan and outline within 3 days!

Make an outline of what needs to be done, plan out who's going to do what, how they'll do it, when will they complete it etc etc. The reason i do it within 3 days is because you'll get the base of how you'll do it because generally in group projects, by the time everyone completes the work and gives it to you, it would take atleast a week or two, if you start early, you'll complete earlier than everyone else

No group chats!

I personally don't prefer this because one i realised everyone just didn't reply expecting others to reply, especially when your group is big! So... Dms!! Just send the instructions personally, yes, it takes alot of time but it makes up for the energy wasted in group chats that involve unnecessary talks and questions.

Both face to face and text reminders!

When you've assigned work to every member, make sure they actually do it because you'll be the one responsible. Not gonna lie but reminders help especially when the deadlines are closer. Just a message like "Hey, friendly reminder about the XYZ project."

Save your own name!

This is something I'm really careful about. The accusation that you're being biased and assigning easier work to friends and people I'm close with. So, i figured that the best way to avoid it is to write all the work and the names of members in alphabetical order and assign accordingly. If the member can't do it, then I'll discuss and swap. It saves a hell lot of drama and actually results to better outcomes.

Back up

Make sure that there's always a second in command. This was a mistake I did, on the day of the 2nd project (the play), I was in one of the competitions and our teacher had started with our group first... I didn't exactly tell anyone that everything about the characters assigned to members and the narrations were in my bag so they had to scramble alittle but in the end, our group did the best play despite the situation so that's what you're aiming at. Your group needs to manage without you.

Flexibility

Do not, under any circumstances, expect everything to go well! You need to expect hindrances, like gurl, come on. A mistake I made in the PPT project, i made the PPT and told 4-5 people to explain it because that's how it was supposed to be done but in the end, ALL THE 4-5 PEOPLE HAD TO BE IN SPORTS PRACTICE so we ended up changing plans last minute. But nevertheless, we got an A-. Tell everyone to prepare accordingly.

Be a little lenient

Personally, when the teacher asked me to give the list of work everyone had done, i did'nt just write nothing for the members who didn't, i have even the smallest contribution because in the end, even one person's scores matters. It affects the whole damn group so be careful when you take out anger and frustration on the members when giving the list of contributions or even while doing the project. The last thing you need is drama.

Contact!

Make sure your members are comfortable enough to clear any questions or misunderstandings with you. If you don't know what's going in the group, you can't maintain the group. Be very clear that they can reach you any time.

Demo!!!

This is really important! Decide on a day and keep a demonstration of how your project is going to be presented. Do exactly as how you're going to do it infront of the teacher. Exchange some points on how to do better during the demo and discuss! It helps you to correct your mistakes.

Hope this helps! :)

[sabrinahawthorne]

Play Diary, March 20, 2025

Every other week for the duration of 2025, I'm going to a local art space with a game, pre-fab character sheets, and a one-shot adventure, if the game calls for it. Then, I'll play with any group of 3-5 that wants to. My goal is to give people an entrance into tabletop games that isn't D&D, and to introduce gamers of all levels of experience to games they might not have heard of.

This week, I played Coolway Ink's Forgotten Ballad - here's how it went.

Firstly, a confession: I had never drawn, notated, or crawled a dungeon before this game. I got my start in RPGs via the 2010's narrative & storytelling game boom, and that's still firmly where my tastes lie.

That said, this was a blast! It was a small group this week; just myself and two of my partners. One of my regulars was out-of-state, and nobody else decided they wanted to play this week. That's alright, though - I never mind more intimate & tight-knit table spaces.

Forgotten Ballad aims to recreate the aesthetic & game-feel of the Legend of Zelda (a goal which we share), and to that end I think it succeeds shockingly well. The standards the game provides regarding structure & dungeon completion lent my final prep the sensation of not just an old-school 2D Zelda temple, but the more interconnected, puzzle-box-like design characteristic of the later 3D titles. And it did so without, in my extremely limited experience, detracting from the distinctly old-school sensation of players solving problems naturalistically using the logic of the fiction first and referring to their character sheets second.

We found that in the limited-time setting of this fortnightly game, neither player present felt much of a desire to develop their character's appearance or personality. Within our constraints, they served more as vessels for exploring the environment and solving the presented challenges. This, I think, gave me a bit of insight into the appeal of older-school styles of play, and while I still think I prefer a post-Baker school of design & play, I also think I'll be giving more time & attention to dungeons, puzzles, and loot tables as a part of this project.

Surprisingly, the standout feature of Forgotten Ballad is its speed! While actually preparing the temple took me the better part of 4 hours over the course of two nights, all that work paid off in a scenario that was quick to set up once we got to the table, and which provided ready answers to any questions the players threw my way, requiring almost no improvisation on my part to present a cohesive and consistent fiction.

You can buy Forgotten Ballad here, or take a look at its free demo here. Next time, we're breaking the laws of physics with Bruno Prosaiko's Fluid Realities.

[d33pwithinmys0ul]

AOT toy store headcanons

SORRY THIS TOOK SO LOMG but we’re fitting almost three years of memories into this post

i'm obsessed that some of you have brewed up fire hcs after my post asking if ya'll wanted this! i love that u love this!! i worked at that toy store job for so long and lost a lot of the whimsy towards the end, but this post was pretty fun to write, so i hope my experiences make this fun for u too

🛍️🧸

-obviously, Connie's a fucking natural, he thrives in a company tee and cargo shorts, ready to make someone's day

-Connie loves to demo toys--RC cars, drones, RC snakes/lizards bc he's a menace, will absolutely pick an adult with children to terrorize with whatever device he’s allowed to play with that shift and stick with them until they’re annoyed (will employ the other staff for “RC fights” but that’s when you know it’s slow as hell)

-Connie also loves riding a big wheel around the store, obviously it's too small for him (he's only allowed to when it's basically empty because nobody trusts him to not mow over a kid in that thing)

-Sasha likes to make displays, specifically for books and plushies! Will usually have Mikasa help her with heavier items or when building something taller, because no way in hell she's having Connie or Jean hold a ladder after she nearly fell once, trying to haul giant teddy bears with those two at the base

-Sasha is not allowed to organize or “dust” the candy bins anymore.. she is the reason why there’s a limit on free staff candy and discounted bulk bags of jelly beans

-guys you have no idea how anal assistant manager Levi is about dusting, LOOK, it's a huge deal in a toy store because you don't want any inventory to get old and gross and there's soooo many boxes everywhere---toy boxes matter, they have to stay clean, they display something that'll light up a child's day!

-Levi has a schedule for each section to be cleaned and trains everyone to dust and clean properly (start at the top of the shelf/tower display and go down since the excess dust falls, always use a microfiber cloth)

-slow shifts means playing a board game together for team building and yes Mikasa is competitive, yes Eren is a sore loser, yes Armin usually wins

-Armin is actually a sore winner because he will explain his strategy and why he prefers games of skill over chance, “unintentionally” rubbing it in

-Eren is a bit quiet on the floor and just prefers handling pallets and stocking, swears he isn’t good with kids and is kind of awkward but is better than he gives himself credit for.

-Mikasa is low key a doll expert. great at helping find proportions for furniture and clothing and knows more obscure lines

-the staff all take turns doing the free reading circle every weekend, Jean is usually the most popular because he likes to do all the voices and he’s fine as fuck, single parents flock to him bc he’s a natural with kids sorry im picturing him in a tight tee and cargo shorts rn goddamn

-Jean will do sidewalk chalk art to promote side walk sales or do window murals for the seasons or holidays <3

-Historia does a lot of the calligraphy for signage throughout the store and she and Hitch are a fire social media team- they somehow convinced the owner (Erwin, doesn’t work the floor unless it’s busy as hell, just buys stock and handles the financials) to get into blind boxes to keep up with the times

-before Hange quit their part time shifts to return to working as a professor, they would demo the children’s science kits, their fave is the fossil digging chests

-Levi despises the geode bins in the science section and didn’t restock after they all sold out. soooo much excess dust

-Bertholdt and Eren are the best to ask about fidget toys and how each appeals to certain people, and they both adore the early open low stimulation hours offered occasionally

-there’s also LEGO events that involve free exclusive mini sets to pick up and build, RBA usually handles those because they and Levi will go out to the community and donate excess blocks after🙂‍↕️

-Annie and Armin usually judge LEGO build competitions, they do a lot at home together (though annie doesn’t seem the type she actually loves helping people pick out age and skill appropriate lego gifts)

-Reiner is the toy store santa for the christmas season (broad af.. awooga) there’s a red “mail box” he sits by once a week in December and the staff usually sneak the letters to the parents after

-Mikasa and Levi are closely tied for fastest and most efficient gift wrappers. sometimes it’s fine to take your time with it especially because the kids love to watch, but on busy winter shifts with a stack of gift wrapping forms, those two got it.

-okay, so every christmas there’s a competition for selling a certain number of items $50+, you can earn extra PTO, so everyone goes hard for the holiday season (so friend groups can coordinate vacations together)

-Hitch’s favorite tactic during said season is preying on the piece of shit dads that want to blow hundreds of dollars on christmas eve because they didn’t care enough to get anything sooner. she knows they don’t know a thing about their kid and just asks for gender and age and throws a bike or 18 inch doll their way, will convince them that bigger is better

-Marco is usually the silent killer though, he’s just warm and easy to approach (especially when the team pounces on sales in december, eyes shining like sasha eating meat), somehow he’s the first to max out his earned PTO every year

-most people don’t find out until right before Christmas that there’s a second store location an hour away (surprising usually because in my hc/experience, it’s a small business)

-You guessed it, the Marleyan cast work at a diff toy store and there is a bit of a rivalry, like a $1M difference in sales because of the location..

-Pieck is a puzzle fiend, Porco is a trading card expert

-RBA all switch between both stores and handle deliveries between them (exchanging stock, transfers)

and uh, let’s pretend this is a magical world where everyone got a living wage +compensation for the extra work that they do… (cough cough)

a real good christmas season shift at a toy store might be fanfic worthy tbh i might write some fluff for that this year?? i wanted to post some pics but i don’t wanna dox myself or my old co workers lol. will hunt down something less identifiable

anyways lmk if yall wanna hear my horror stories/hcs inspired by them bc this job was not all sunshine and rainbows lol

[eldritch-spouse]

Valentine's day is just around the corner and I need to know, what would each servants ideal date be?

Lacai enjoys a bit of a nice restaurant. Not for him, for you. He likes something not too snobby but definitely special. He'd love to dress you both up a bit slutty, have that calm dinner, and then the two of you can go to some kind of concert or even just drive somewhere and look at the stars together. But make sure that place is comfortable because he's probably going to fuck you there. Several times.

Rieba is a family kind of gal, she doesn't like to do complicated things and prefers to just exist and be comfortable next to the people she loves. She'd rather ready your home for a romantic dinner (more like buffet), a movie night, lots of cute presents and the like.

Nena is also worried about you having a nice meal, it seems to be something her parents stressed to both concubi when they were young. But then she'd love to take a long walk with you somewhere calm. The succubus wants to end the night truly indulging some of your wildest kinks. And, if you'd let her completely dominate you, she'd be the happiest demoness alive.

Flints honestly wants to play some kind of sport with you. He likes baseball especially, but it could be anything. He'll spend Valentine's Day clinging to you, in spite of his usual touch aversion, his purring and occasional painful squeezing is enough to tell how happy he is and how much he loves you.

Jayde thinks he's got it all figured out, but really he's overthinking everything. From the restaurant you're going to, to the presents and the flowers and that golden bracelet he wants to put on you -Totally not an omen for the future'- He's a cornball loser and you might cringe yourself into an early grave.

Roch can honestly do anything you want. He'll try to stay as awake as possible just so the day is as awesome for you as it gets. He wants to watch movies with you and he's got the cutest fluffiest blankets and pajamas ever to gift you. You need to try them on in front of him okay? Please?

Eleri actually asks you if you've got a theme in mind. Because, if you don't, they have. Whether they're showing up in a dress or a suit, you're set for a themed Valentine's Day every year! Sometimes it's all about roses and wine and jazz, other times it's wildness and raves and punk clothes.

[thislovintime]

Head premiered on November 6, 1968. (Edit featuring the two Tork songs - in the studio and demo versions, respectively - and a line from the movie.)

“What’s happening as time goes on is that the movie [Head] is becoming a chronicle of an age. At the time, it was just a chronicle of the Monkees.” - Peter Tork, The Monkees Tale (1985) Q: “What do you think of the music from the film ‘Head’?” Peter Tork: "Well, since I wrote and produced two of the songs myself, I think it’s fine. I did ‘Can You Dig It?’ And ‘[Long Title:] Do I Have To Do This All Over Again.’” - Goldmine, 1982 “The funny thing is that the lyrics [to ‘Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again?’] came to me right out of the air. I was just playing those chord changes on the guitar, and I opened my mouth and that’s what popped out. The song was weirdly prophetic. I had no idea that was going to be my attitude about anything having to do with music when I wrote that song." - Peter Tork, Listen To The Band liner notes (more about "Long Title..." here) “‘Can You Dig It’ is about the Tao. The hook line I wrote in my dressing room on the set [of the television series in 1967]. The chords for the chorus I’d written in college, and [they] had just stuck with me.” - Peter Tork, Head box set liner notes (more about "Can You Dig It?" here) "I think they're ['Can You Dig It?' and 'Long Title...'] the best songs in the movie [Head]. I love both of them. I thought they were just terrific. He had plugged himself into that whole Stephen Stills connection and was working with those guys. I think they fit the movie better than anything did. When those two songs start up in the movie, it comes alive for me.” - Michael Nesmith, Head box set liner notes “Thorkelson expressed a preference for the Monkees’ ‘Headquarters’ album, because it was the group’s first self-performed album […]. The soundtrack to the [...] movie ‘Head’ also is among Thorkelson’s favorites. ‘It was a little tinny, but back then I guess we were a little tinny,’ he said. ‘That movie will always look good,’ commented Thorkelson.” - The Bowling Green News Revue, May 24, 1979 "'When we made Headquarters, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven,' says Tork. 'My whole goal had been to be a member of a band that worked. The next thing I know we're making a movie and it doesn't have anything to do with the business of being in a band together.' [...] 'There's some weight behind the idea that Bob and Bert wanted to wreck the Monkees, to stop it cold in its tracks,' says Tork. 'I've never known for sure. Bert and Bob might have thought out loud: "Let's kill the Monkees!" Or they may have not thought so out loud but at some unconscious level, they were sick of the Monkees and wanted to do something else.' [...] 'It was a joy seeing a movie being made, but I didn't like working for Bob Rafelson,' Tork says. 'I did what he told me, but I can't say that I ever had any heart connection with him.' His favorite scene, in which he recounts what he has learned from an Indian mystic, was actually directed by Nicholson. [...] Tork has seen Head around 80 times but it took him years to work out why it bothered him so much. In the movie, the Monkees are hoodwinked, bamboozled, chased, assaulted, mocked, trapped in a black box and reduced to dandruff in the hair of actor Victor Mature, before ending up back where they started. In the words of the sardonic Nicholson-penned theme tune, 'So make your choice and we'll rejoice/ In never being free.' 'Most people are dazzled by the psychedelia, and that's fine, but for me finally the point of the movie is the Monkees never get out,' Tork says sadly. 'Which is to say Bob Rafelson's view of life is you never get out of the black box you're in. There's no escape.' So how would a Peter Tork cut of Head end? 'There might have been a scene where we get out,' he says wistfully. 'We jump in the water and get away.'" - The Guardian, April 28, 2011