#been watching playthroughs and getting sad

[si-fii]

Metal Gay Solid or something

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[infizero]

grgrhgahahh i wanna read more pokespe but i cant do it on my phone and im not unpacking my stuff until the morning

[4giorno]

i sweeeeear to god if i see a single clip or image of any new kiss animations astari0n may or may not have received before i make it to act 3 again......... ill turn rabid

[maybeamiles]

Duuuuuude persona 3 made me cry so fuckin hard... got me missing people fr fr.

[the-felttip-files]

Psst! Hey! Hey you!!

Yes, you!

C'mere!!

...

Hi there!!

Chances are, if you scrolled upon this post, that means you probably like puppet-themed projects!!

Welcome Home, My Friendly Neighborhood, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, Threadville... surely you like, or at least know one of them!!

Well, if that's the case, then boy oh boy, I may just have something you might like!!~

May I present, one of my MANY personal projects, The Felttip Files~

Now, dear reader, you might be wondering, "What IS The Felttip Files?"

I am SO glad you asked!!~

The Felttip Files is a fictional universe/worldbuilding project I'm making, mostly taking place within the made-up city of Felttip, Puppetsylvania!

There are a few stories, within this universe [which interconnect nicely~], but that's not ALL this universe has to offer!!

In fact, I'm not even going to get INTO those stories!!

... Yet~

For now, let's simply get into what makes The Felttip Files fun!!~

Alright, just going to start this off by saying - the world within this project, in terms of Geography is pretty much EXACTLY like Earth, with just one small difference...

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is made out of foam, felt, cardboard, or some kind of art supplies. The planet, the plants, the animals, the people-

Speaking of the people - every single one of them.. is a puppet!

Humanoid puppets, monster puppets, animal puppets.. they all look like a character straight out of The Muppets!!

This place is every craft/puppet nerd's DREAM, LET ME TELL YOU-

It's me. I'm the craft/puppet nerd- 🧍‍♂️

However, not everything in Felttip is all sunshine and rainbows - and that's actually the problem!

You see, if there is ONE THING that the residents don't enjoy.. it's sadness.

Being a "Downer" is considered an absolute problem, one that should be fixed IMMEDIATELY!

If you've ever watched a playthrough of, or played the game We Happy Few, it's... a little like that-

It's considered a bit of a disease, among alot of puppets, one that the people "infected" by it often get discriminated against for.

In fact, this may be one of the things the big baddie of the universe is against~

Of course, not everyone hates Downers! In fact, there are quite a few safe havens for them, scattered about the city!

But, of course... these poor fellas can't catch a break.

Afterall.. alot of residents that have been disappearing are Downers!! Buttttttt, that's a story for another day~

Now, onto ANOTHER fun bit!!~

Look at these cute lil characters!!~

These are just a handful of the goobers that reside in this project..~

Of course, these are all simple concepts, but I should have some more art soon!!~

Now, I've definitely yapped for long enough...

If you're interested in this project, PLEASE!! Let me know by liking [and maybe reblogging /nf] this post, aswell as sending in a few asks about it!!!

I'd be more than happy to answer any questions about the world, characters, or stories within~

For now, though, this is where I shall bid you all adieu!

Thanks for reading!!

Buh-bye!!~

[jsmifty]

micheal afton but hes old(er), horrifically alone, and a loser

i hate this but i have to show the world im still alive, rushed this in between exams instead of studying cause ofc i am

mild yap beneath cut

"why older michael?" uh what if i told you my favourite version of michael when hes cold alone and sad, with no family no friends nor bitches, and sleeping in his car and still working at a stupid pizza joint.

"but Jay underscore smifty! thats just normal micheal afton!" shh, i dont care, its better when hes a grumpy old man, because now i can pretend his in security breach, and when i watch playthroughs i can just pretend hes slightly out of frame and it makes it slightly more enjoyable. plus i really like vanessa for some reason and i think theyd get along (hate eachother) and maybe i need some fun and whimsey in my life, imaginary person in my head im responding to.

also middle aged micheal would look.. a hell of a lot more like his dad im just saying im just saying, like look at him the fear he would feel when looking in the mirror is immense, he looks like him so much more when hes older look at him im right, his insane identity crisis would be so fire

uh but yeah sorry for being inactive ive been grinding through two weeks of exams, hopefully ill be free in a day or so

P.S. I swear everything in this design makes sense and will be explained in my beloved fanfiction i have no time to write rn (insert heart broken emoji), including the walking stick, just assume his legs get kinda.. erm, screwed up at some point...

[postcardsfromheapside]

While I don't think the execution is perfect (I still think it's really, really good, I only have quibbles), it's really funny to see people kvetch that no one addresses The Problem of Varric when at several points in the beginning of the game it's very clear that Rook is NOT having the same conversation as the rest of the group, and Harding is having a very hard time but trying to keep herself together, and Neve is doing her Hard Boiled Detective thing.

Grief is private and awkward and when you're supposed to be concentrating on a task at hand that's an actual all-alarms emergency, adults don't tend to stop and have a therapy session with each other, especially if they're not good friends.

Rook and Neve have an establishing conversation from the get-go that what they know about each other is that Varric hired both of them to do their job. This makes them hand-shake colleagues at best at the beginning.

What's thornier is Lace and Rook, who have been traveling together for at least 6 months prior to that. But what you discover as the game goes on is that Lace often refuses to show how she really feels to anyone, in order to make other people feel better. She very quickly hides her own sadness if she feels it might bring other people down. If Rook doesn't seem to want to talk about Varric, she's certainly not going to bring it up.

Veilguard is one of those wonderful works that's better when you play it through, and then play it again, or watch it again on other people's playthroughs. Knowing the "spoilers" doesn't detract from anything: it actually adds texture and context to all the dialogue. There's a richness to be found in multiple viewings, and by taking the game in as a whole, rather than in parts.

[lonely-cowboy]

without you

pairing: connor (rk800) x gn!reader

summary: it's been almost three days since you last saw connor. with the ongoing revolution, you're concerned about his whereabouts. and if you'll ever see him again.

word count: 1.9k

warnings: occasional cursing but that's it

author's note: let me paint a little picture for y'all. it's currently 1am and i'm sitting on the couch in the dark sobbing like a baby bc i just finished my very first playthrough of dbh and didn't even realize i was near the end and i hate that it's over (i'm just gonna play again). anyway! my solution to stop (worsen) my sad lonely thoughts was to write this! yippee! healthy coping!

masterlist ⟡ requests

You were never a fan of staying home all day and lounging around in your pajamas doing absolutely nothing. You felt unproductive, like you were wasting time. And if there was one thing you hated more than anything, it was wasting time.

But– like anything– there were some exceptions. The most common exceptions were the days after an intense investigation, mostly those involving considerable physical exertion (which really just meant any form of running). Those days, your body was so unbelievably sore that it was almost necessary for you to stay in bed and do nothing all day. Besides that, the only other exception was the occasional rainy day. 

And now. Now was an exception too.

It was nearing three days since you had last seen Connor. Usually, that wouldn’t have bothered you. Three days was nothing. It was always possible that the two of you were just far too overwhelmed with work to see each other. But with the rising android revolution that threatened Connor’s life– and that of any android– you immediately assumed the worst.

Huddled on your couch, you stared blankly at the muted television as it flashed between news stations. You weren’t really paying attention anymore, too consumed by thoughts of Connor. You pulled your blanket tighter around your shoulders, eyebrows furrowing with concern.

Truthfully, you hadn’t known Connor that long. Sure, you worked with him frequently to investigate the sudden rise in deviants, but in the grand scheme of things, it felt like you had just met him. Of course, that didn’t stop Connor from burrowing his way into your heart with those soft doe eyes and that gentle, slightly confused smile. You had a soft spot for him now, so it was perfectly reasonable that you couldn’t help but worry for his safety. 

You released a heavy sigh as you turned off the television, trying to shake away any negative thoughts. With narrowed eyes, you glanced at the other end of the couch where Hank had been sitting almost three hours ago. He had been checking in on you frequently the last few days to make sure you were– at the very least– living, though he would never admit it. Whenever he did stop by, it was always because he “forgot his jacket” or “couldn’t watch the Detroit Gears game at home.” Whatever lame excuse he came up with, it was always intended to ensure you were okay. 

Today’s lame excuse was that he ran out of beer and didn’t want to go to the store during such a “crazy fucking time.” That ended with the two of you sitting in silence on your couch, watching the television for any sign that Connor might be okay. In your book, that just meant he wasn’t dead.

But eventually, Hank had been pulled away to the precinct for whatever reason. He promised he’d make it short. He was reluctant to go anyway, so he wouldn’t be gone long. Three hours felt pretty fucking long to you.

You pursed your lips worriedly, forgetting Connor for a moment as your mind was now focused on Hank’s safety. What if he somehow got himself tangled up in this revolution? What if he managed to get caught in some wild crossfire with no means of telling you?

No, that was crazy. You were being irrational. Surely he just decided to brave going to the store to get some more beer once he left the precinct, right? That made so much sense. Obviously, he was outside your apartment building right now struggling to get in because he didn’t have a key and was too preoccupied carrying his mountains of beer. Obviously…

Without thinking, you scurried into your closet and pulled on your warmest clothes. You threw your thickest jacket over your pajamas, not bothering to hide your snowflake pajama pants. You pulled on your shoes and a beanie, ignoring the way it matted your hair. Then, you were out the door and rushing downstairs with the belief that you could miraculously manifest Hank’s presence.

There was no other explanation. You were blessed with some magical powers that you were yet to understand because as you marched into the snow, Hank suddenly appeared. You didn’t stop until you were jabbing a finger into his chest, glaring up at his towering figure.

“What is wrong with you?” you seethed. “You can’t just leave like that!”

Hank sighed with what sounded like irritation, though you knew he could never be irritated with you. He raised his hands in mock surrender as he grumbled, “Sorry, kid, I–”

“Oh, no, no, no! I’m not done!” you growled, choosing to ignore that maybe you were being a little overdramatic. What’s life without a little drama anyway? “You had me fucking worried, Hank! I’m already worried sick about Connor, I don’t have the energy to worry about both of you!”

Hank said your name in an attempt to stop you, but it was no use. Now that you had an outlet to channel your jumble of emotions, you were going to let them all out.

“I mean, you’ve seen me, Hank! I can barely get out of bed because of that goddamn android!” you shouted. “His safety is the only thing on my–”

Hank rolled his eyes as he grumbled something about how he was “tired of this shit” that didn’t involve him. That only seemed to fuel your fire, the crease between your brows deepening with anger and worry. You opened your mouth again to yell at Hank as he stepped aside, but you quickly shut it once you noticed the figure standing bashfully behind him.  

Connor stood a few feet away having clearly been told to stay put once Hank saw your angry self storming out of the apartment building. His hands were clasped neatly behind his back, standing tall against the harsh winter winds. His eyes were already on you, watching you with a warm glint. When you met his gaze, the corners of his lips turned upwards into a small, unsure smile. 

Compared to him, you were sure you looked absolutely stupid. No, no matter what you looked completely stupid. You stared at Connor with absurdly wide eyes, mouth opening and closing like a confused fish. You were so baffled by his appearance that you couldn’t even move, no wonder the poor man was confused. All this while wearing your stupid fucking snowflake pajamas.

Neither of you made any effort to close the uncomfortable distance between the two of you. You were thankful that Hank managed to find his way back into your apartment building because you would be a doubly flustered mess if he saw how awkward the two of you were. At least Connor made some effort to communicate. He raised a hand in an awkward wave, his soft voice barely heard over the din of the wind. 

“Hello.”

Your feet were moving before your brain could catch up. You sprinted towards Connor– though it was more of a fast waddle if anything– and pulled him into a tight hug. A heavy sigh of relief left your lips as you felt his firm body against you, inhaling his scent slowly. He was real.

You squeezed him a little tighter, burying your head into his chest. It was as if you didn’t want to let him go, and truthfully, you didn’t. You couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing him again.

Connor’s arms wrapped lightly around your body. He leaned into your touch, relaxing in your arms with a comforted grin. Until you, he had no idea what it was like to be cared for. Perhaps the greatest gift of consciousness was your affection.

Connor murmured your name in a quiet rasp, his lips moving against your hair. He reared back to catch your eyes, but you refused to let him. You just held him closer and allowed yourself to calm in his presence. When you finally did pull away, you glanced at him with a confusing look of joy, sadness, and anger.

“I didn’t think you were ever coming back,” you mumbled, letting the words spill out. “I was so scared… Connor, I… God, I missed you…”

There was a beat of silence as Connor’s LED spiraled yellow, his head tilted to the slightest degree. It seemed as if he was struggling to find the right words out.

“I…,” Connor started hoarsely. “I think… I missed you too.”

Despite the whirlwind of emotions you felt, you couldn’t help but laugh at Connor’s words. A small smile traced your lips as you studied him with furrowed brows.

“You think?” you repeated with another quiet laugh, your breath pluming in the cold air.

Connor paused again, his LED flashing yellow once more. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it as he considered his words a moment longer. He was looking into the distance, but when he glanced back down to you it was as if all the right words suddenly came to him.

“I don’t know what it feels like to miss someone,” he explained softly. “But I think… I think this is what it would feel like. I felt… I don’t know… there was a tightness inside of me when I thought I would never see you again. Is that what it’s like to miss someone?”

Your grin widened as Connor spoke. A tinge of pink coated your cheeks, and you were sure it wasn’t just from the cold.

“Maybe I’m biased, but yeah, I think so,” you answered sweetly.

“Oh,” Connor muttered as he took a moment to process that information. “Then, yes. It appears I did miss you.”

Your chest felt light from the joy of having Connor back. You were so giddy, in fact, that you didn’t even think before you were leaning forward and pressing a delicate kiss to Connor’s cheek. It was only when you pulled away that you realized what you had done, your face heating with embarrassment.

You glanced at Connor worriedly and noticed the faint blue coloring along his cheeks. It almost made you laugh seeing such a confident android turned into such a poor, flustered mess. Well, you took his silence to mean his was flustered, but his silence lasted so long that you weren’t so sure anymore.

“Connor?” you asked. “You okay?”

“Yes,” Connor replied immediately. “I was searching my database for the best way to greet someone you missed.”

It was your turn to be flustered again, eyes going wide with surprise as you murmured, “Oh. And… what did you find?”

Connor’s gaze finally focused back on you, his expression neutral aside from his fading blush. The corner of his lip quirked up slightly as his eyes searched your face like he was memorizing every little detail.

“I found that the best way to convey you missed someone is by kissing them, as you’ve done to me,” he answered in his typical matter-of-fact tone. “However, whereas you kissed my cheek, I noticed that most people kiss on the lips. I’d like to do the same if that’s alright with you.”

Your stunned silence must’ve been enough of an answer for Connor because he leaned forward with a grin. His warm hands moved to hold your cheeks, fighting off the evening chill. Your hands immediately moved to rest over top his, seeking out his warmth while his soft lips moved against yours. He pulled away far too soon for your liking, but he rested his forehead against yours as he whispered sweet words against your skin. 

“I missed you too.”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

author's note: i hope you enjoyed! this is my very first post ever, so i'm a little nervous! if you have any constructive (and kind) criticism, please lmk! and if you have any requests i'd love to hear those too :)

[deadinsideart]

Put on Jacksepticeyes DBH playthrough and doodled an au (idk if anyone has done this already)

I mean, it's not too far off from canon technology????

We legit got an entire Village full of robots in the first game---

I tried to write a little bit for this but kept confusing myself 😭

Yea, it's an AU I can change things to fit better but the way I was going implied that Android Layton had like been given to 3-4 different people n familes?? Claire for sure, and she causes him to Deviate for the first time and she's so thrilled. Until she dies and Hawks get him, damaged, repaired, and reset (although he can verrrry vaguely recall Claire from what remains of his not fully corrupt memories) He got to keep the hat and all he knows is that it makes him feel sad

And either Schrader is the last one or Clark got him to watch and play with Luke when Brenda got yoinked by Descole and locked in the basement?? And Luke got him to Deviate again????? And convinced him to remove the light to blend in as a human?

[happylittleshrub]

Rambling About Videogame Rocket Part 4

It's been too long since I've posted one of these! I've been busy with life and also distracted by Marvel Rivals oops 😅

So some things I learned about Rocket:

He's been irradiated (according to him it feels tingly)

He can sense vibrations with his whiskers

He spells dead 'D-E-D'

He pronounces advocating as 'adrotating'

He hacks a drone and he gives it a name. Gubbins. Ngl it made me think of the Pokemon Grubbin lol. I headcanon that Rocket names his inventions so I loved how he gave the drone a name here! It's so cute!! He wants it to be the sixth guardian 🥺 But of course since it's something Rocket has an emotional attachment to it dies immediately. Ded.

This exchange:

Gamora: Your drone led us to a dead end!

Rocket: It wasn't a dead end for him!

Gamora: Actually...

Rocket: [small wounded gasp]

Rocket was so upset watching all the brainwashing the cultists were doing, I felt so bad for him, he was really uncomfortable, my poor boy 😢 He says it reminds him how the scientists would tell the experiments they were "the chosen ones" even as they were hurting them and that he and Lylla were the only ones to see through it 😭

One of my favorite scenes is where Rocket's working at a panel and Quill asks how he can help and Rocket makes him go stand in the corner 🤣🤣🤣

Also the panel blows up and then one of Rocket's whiskers is on fire and Groot snuffs it out for him and Rocket gives a muttered little "Thanks, buddy." HE'S SO STINKIN' CUTE!!! He just endears himself to me more and more with each playthrough.

He's hacking another panel when we get attacked by the cultists and he says "You better not let them shoot me in the ass!" Which sent me into a fit of laughter which was not at all conducive to battle. Don't make me laugh in the middle of a fight, Rocket 😂 I still giggle about it now

This line: "Groot can die but I won't let him. I'll replant him a million times if I have too" ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ MY HEART!!! Their friendship is still one of my favorite parts of this game they're just SO precious!! 🥹 Rocket also says that Groot is his family, I can't, they're just the sweetest 😭❤️

Also I'm adding Tella to my hit list next to The High Evolutionary and Rak-Mar. Rocket's story with her was so sad, "She made me feel special [...] Then she left me behind like trash." Like how dare she hurt him! 😭 He said it wasn't long after his laboratory escape either he was vulnerable!! And he thought she liked him and he wanted to impress her and she just used him. So yeah, screw Tella. All my homies hate Tella.

I loved how Rocket talked about technology making sense to him and how he tinkers with things to manage his stress. These little looks into his character and psyche are just the best. Also his bit before the backstory lore where he tricks Quill into thinking the device he picked up is a bomb. Classic Rocket.

Also got some more Rocket techno-babble in these chapters! I love it so much when he techno-babbles. I haven't the slightest idea what he's saying I just love when he says it.

Non-Rocket Notes:

I GOT TO DO A SPACESHIP BATTLE AND IT WAS AWESOME!!!

Gamora's story about the doll she had as a child was heartbreaking 😢 Her voice actress does such a good job conveying the emotion in the scene. Thanos frickin' sucks. I'm glad Drax killed him. Also it seems that Nebula is ded in this story which is a shame because I was curious as to what her character would be like here. Oh well. 😔RIP Nebula say hi to Lylla for me.

And now the Rocket Gallery:

I'm not sure how I got this dramatic shadow but it looks awesome

Rocket working and wearing his goggles 🧡

[corseque]

Hi! I've been following you for ages for your great Solas takes and immaculate taste in sad men. I've been thinking about this because I have a Dragon Age Inquisitor who is an abomination, what do you think Solas would think about abominations/do you recall him ever talking about them? Both Anders/Justice and the more demonic unwilling variety.

Personally I would assume he'd be initially horrified because that might seem like a violation of consent for both parties, but after learning more about them he might grow more curious/respect actual unions a mage might have as an abomination. I am basically just workshopping an OC and hitting a wall and you're the local Solas sage, so... XO

Oh, that's so nice..

Solas is more chill with willing abominations than you might think. And he seems to know all about it already. In Jaws of Hakkon, in the quest called “In Exile” you meet a young mage named Sigrid Gulsdotten who had been willingly possessed by a friendly spirit in order to teach her magic. Which is what the Avvar do culturally to make mages safer.

Sigrid was getting old enough that it was time for her and the spirit to part ways, but she didn’t want to give it up because she didn’t want to lose the spirit as a friend/confidant. Solas has a surprising amount to say in Jaws of Hakkon in general about how the Avvar interact with and relate to spirits, and he talks a lot in this quest too. He is very gentle with her. Let me look up exactly what he says. When you find clues about the mage's failed ritual to part with her spirit, Solas says (a mage in your party always speaks here):

"Residual magic. Someone was casting a spell, and was interrupted. Or stopped."

"If a mage was performing a ritual to part with a spirit, she may have needed to replenish her strength."

Then later, when you talk to her, the conversation goes like this:

Sigrid: "I could not do it! I have no close companions in the hold! No kin! I cannot lose my only friend!"

Inquisitor: "You're friends with this… spirit?"

Sigrid: "It has taught me with patience and kindness since I was a child, frightened of the fire I could suddenly call down."

Solas: "A great comfort. But you are no longer a child."

Sigrid: "Some mages need the help of a god all their lives."

Solas: "Very well. Perhaps, however, ask yourself if it is help you need, or companionship."

Sigrid: "I do not wish to lose the one who loves me."

Here is a playthrough that has this dialogue:

At the end of the quest, if you recruit Sigrid for the Inquisition, Varric, Sera, Vivienne, Iron Bull and Cassandra have strong negative feelings about it, while Cole approves. Solas doesn't seem to approve or disapprove, as far as I can tell. He doesn't say anything, at least. When talking to the Shaman about this Avvar practice, you get this conversation:

Inquisitor: "You let spirits possess your mages on purpose?"

Shaman: "What better teacher than one woven from magic? The spirits in the hold have helped us in this way for hundreds of years. Once a mage masters their powers, their teacher departs, duty ended. Unless the mage is weak."

Inquisitor: "What happens to these "weak" mages?"

Shaman: "Their teachers stay with them and the other gods watch them both, so neither soul turns sick. If one does sicken, or the mage stands in risk of harming the hold… One day, they do not wake in their bed. It is very sad. It is what must be done."

Solas: "It is kinder than what happens in many mage Circles."

So Solas seems to understand the reality that abominations become corrupted more easily, and that it's probably best for abominations to separate willingly.

Solas offers to separate Lucanis and Spite, and says their forceful combination was "a crime against [them] both" so I can only assume that it's the willingness factor that he gets upset by, along with him always being upset at the thought of spirits becoming corrupted.

[snapscube]

Ms. Olivia I’m having so much fun watching your streams of Sonic and The Black Knight I can’t thank you enough.

This has been the most validating playthrough stream I’ve ever been blessed with bar none. I loved this game since I was a kid but watching other streamers has always been kind of lacking, since stuff like the gallery or the fanart clips and even the five-star guide videos often get totally ignored. It’s honestly understandable for people who are here only to play the game, but it made me so excited to see you & Mar encounter all those great bonuses that often don’t get any attention in an average playthrough.

I’m glad you found so much joy in playing this admittedly still-very-janky game. Thank you for sharing the experience with everyone on stream <3

i appreciate this!!! :D i thought all the bonus stuff was super cool im sad to hear not a lot of people take note of it!

[murderinfinity]

Left 4 The Walking Dead

So, cheesy title aside, I'm ashamed to admit it took me ELEVEN YEARS to finish Telltale TWD season 2. You'd think it would be much sooner considering my nearly lifelong L4D2 hyperfixation, but I suppose not.

The whole time watching Jacksepticeye's old playthrough, this drawing just kept coming to mind, and I knew I had to do it. It took me so much longer than I'm used to, and I'm not too sure if it even looks all too good, but I'm proud of it anyway.

I'm genuinely hoping the quality doesn't get absolutely torn apart, but it's my own fault for making such a detailed drawing to begin with lol.

The background gave me a but of struggle because I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do with it, but I'm happy I did it anyway. I would've been too sad leaving it as just a transparent background png ;-;

And I thought I'd include these, too. Nothing remarkable but it's related so why not post it. I've never drawn these characters before and I'm still figuring out how I want to stylize them.

For those of you who like this content, I have a lot of unfinished L4D2 drawings and even more ideas for this crossover. I know I'm a decade late, but hopefully there's still people out there who love L4D2 as much as I do, and are interested in new fan content. I would love to see a resurgence, tbh XD

Also cooking up other fandom content as well, so don't worry, my precious followers, you'll get a variety of content heading your way :P

[rays-of-fire-and-ice]

I have thoughts on Hitsugaya's Secret Story from 'BLEACH: Rebirth of Souls'

So, you may have seen my recent reactions to Hitsugaya Secret Story from BLEACH: Rebirth of Souls. I finally decided to sit down and get my thoughts out about it, because I have some surprisingly strong ones. I'll be going through the cutscenes and giving my thoughts and a few more reactions, and maybe a bit of analysis for what I think it means for both Hitsugaya and Hinamori. Prepare yourself for some fangirling and some overly nerdy rambling.

Before I dive in, two things. First if you don't know what moment I'm talking about, you can look up 'Bleach rebirth of souls toshiro secret story' and should be able to find a playthrough. They're usually about 30 minutes long.

I've only been able to find the English dub versions, but would be very curious to see if there were any translation difference between the two. For instance, in the English version, Hitsugaya says in the beginning 'Long ago, when I was a kid, the only ones that would ever talk to me were Grandma and Mom, who I lived with." Now this wording could be taken a few ways, but I have admit, I took it to mean he lived with Momo, but Kubo recently confirmed in his Klub Outside Q&As that Hitsugaya and Hinamori were neighbours. I'd be curious to see if the Japanese version says the same thing or something different. Anyway, nit-picking aside, I recommend watching a playthrough or, of course, going to play the secret story yourself if you have the game.

And finally, you may be wondering the same thing I did after watching the cutscenes: how canon is this game? Well, it seems Kubo assisted with writing, but I don't have an official source that says this. If anyone does have a source, I would love to see it. If Kubo's truly that involved (and I'd honestly wouldn't be surprised if he was) then I think we can consider most if not all aspects of the story and characters here canon.

Anyway, on to the thoughts, reactions, and a bit of analysis!

The past

Canon-bending info aside, this section had me tearing up. Although it's mostly retreading old ground -- acting more as a clipshow for the chapter about Hitsugaya's past -- we got some interesting tidbits of info.

The ones that stuck out to me were the reveal that Hitsugaya stayed behind with his Granny to protect her. This was implied in the original chapter, with how Granny responded to him saying he was going to enroll in the Shinigami Academy. To have him outright state it, however, brought a tear to my eye. It implies that a part of him always wanted to go off and be where Hinamori was, but he chose to remain with his Granny to keep her safe ;w; All the while, he didn't realise he'd fallen into a tragic irony: because he had no control over his powers, he ended up affecting her health and being a danger to her during his sleep. The only way to protect her was to leave her behind...

Another interesting piece of dialogue is Hitsugaya mentioning this: "She probably knew that was the last time we'd ever meet, but Grandma still gave her blessing when I left." This implies Hitsugaya hasn't seen his Granny since he went to the Academy. We know for a fact, thanks to one of the databooks, that he visits his Granny. However, that's as a Captain. In the game, he seems to be recalling these memories while he's a Third Seat, which implies he hasn't seen his Granny since he left for the Academy, and that's...really sad if that's truly the case. We know he graduated in a year, and then quickly became a seated officer in Tenth Division. It could be that he was kept so busy with his work, or it could be that he was afraid of harming her with his powers. Regardless, it would make sense that later on when he's Captain and has the ability to reign in his powers and can make more time to see her.

Hitsugaya as a Third Seat

Here we get a few moments of Hitsugaya as a Third seat. The first is not long after he was promoted to the rank and battles Hollows in Karakura Town alongside Rangiku and two other Tenth Divison Officers who whisper about him.

So, first up, was I the only who laughed when he called Rangiku 'ma'am'?! I never thought he would ever be so formal with her. I thought right from the get-go these two would have an annoying sibling dynamic going on.

And the officers gossiping about him, I found this fascinating. We've never really gotten a glimpse into how other Shinigami saw him or interacting with him while he was climbing the ranks. I can definitely see some Shinigami brushing him off due to his young age, only to be surprised by his abilities. Still, it's sad to think even after graduating and becoming a seated member,he not only had to continue to prove himself worhy of being there, but also found it difficult to connect with those aroudn him despite having more in common with them than the residents of the Junrinan.

We also see here a glimpse of the message this story is getting at: Hitsugaya needing to trust in others and learn to relax and not be so strung up on becoming stronger. Rangiku, in response to Hitsugaya saying he needs to improve and become stronger in battle, says 'Know what they say about the about the strgonest Soul Reapers dying first?' Hitsugaya understands, but she elaborates anyway, saying that he can try his best, but also needs to learn how to relax. He gives a non-committal answer and goes off into thought, clearly thinking he can't afford to relax for even a second.

Also, yes, I lost it when Rangiku said 'I have your back'. My BROTP name for these two came to life!!

The second moment we get is him training until Rangiku comes along and asks to practice with him. it's implied he trains alone, and might be shy about training with others. The same officers from his mission in Karakura Town witnessed the two sparring, and after it's done, they're amazed by what they saw and ask for Hitsugaya to train them. Hitsugaya goes on to reflect how Rangiku and Isshin helped him fit in with the Tenth Division.

Again, the theme of his story is being emphasized here: Hitsugaya thinks he needs to do things on his own, including becoming stronger. It also shows, however, that even though he was among beings just like him, he felt a sense of isolation even when he became a seated officer. I wonder if perhaps this in part due to his prodical status combined with his age. You have to imagine with someone as skilled and talents as him, it's a different kind of loneliness even among people a lot like you. You can do things other Shinigami are still training to do, and there's no one like you. Aizen, I think, went through a similar struggle, but we saw how that turned out.

Where it differed for Hitsugaya is that his fellows officers began to accept him thanks to Rangiku's efforts to help him socialize and gets other division members to see him in a different light.

And then there's the Isshin part. We get to see the aftermath of Isshin going missing, and we get to see Hitsugaya already acting like the Captain he's going to become -- telling Rangiku to not think about the 'what ifs' like if she had follows Isshin to Karakura Town, for instance -- and the one of my headcanons got confirmed O_O I've always had the headcanon that Hitsugaya and Rangiku will focus on work if it means they want to try to forget about something that's deeply affected them. I'm currently writing of this very thing in my fic An Unwavering Light, and to have Hitsugaya say this in the game just made me:

The Fireworks

We get a reenactment of the Hitsugaya's birthday chapter.

All I have to say here is: Rangiku, you're not saying 'Aren't winter fireworks just so romantic?' to Hitsugaya with Hinamori just standing right there and expecting me to to take no other way!

Okay, I'm sure she meant it in a different sense, but let me dream of wing-woman Rangiku!

And again, Hitsugaya affirms he wants to become stronger for the people most important to him. We've gone from wanting to protect Granny to protecting more people. He's gradually expanding his circle of people important to him, even if he doesn't fully realize it.

After Aizen's Defeat

The way I nearly screamed when he asked Rangiku how Hinamori was doing, then when he punched the wall and yelled Aizen's name in anger and said he wasn't strong enough:

It's far less dramatic than what I wrote in my fic, but I couldn't believe how some elements of what I was writing were there.

Anyway, back to the scene! Here we get a brief interaction with Hitsugaya and Rangiku, who gives an update about Hinamori. After he tells Rangiku to get some rest and she leaves, he reflects on Aizen, causing him to yell and punch a wall. He reaffirms aloud that he needs to train harder to become stronger.

A piece of dialogue from this moment made me do a double take. When Hitsugaya is reflecting on Aizen, he says this: 'We...Momo and I...We didn't realize you were fooling us. We thought we were close...Hmph. What a total joke." Now, who's the 'we' in 'we thought we were close' here? Is he referring to Aizen or Hinamori? if it's Aizen, then that's interesting. In the manga, it's shown Hitsugaya trust Aizen enough to look out for Hinamori, but we've never really seen the two be on super friendly terms. Hitsugaya doesn't seem to respect him the same he does, say, Unohana. I believe he refers to Unohana by her title, but he doesn't do the same for most of the other captains, including Aizen. If he's referring to Hinamori...T_T Given this him at a low point, it would be tragic if he thinks his bond with her wasn't close anymore. I'd be curious to see what you all think.

After this scene, we get more battles, including one where Hitsugaya yells at some Hollows attacking him that he doesn't have the time to be held by them while he's trying to get stronger. Then, when a Menos Grande shows up, he's glad for the challenge, implying he sees his combat with Hollow as a chance for him to gain more strength. Rangiku approaches him after taking it down and notes he was pushing himself beyond his limits. Hitsugaya admits she's right, but also admits that he needs to become stronger. Rangiku tries to get him to take his mind off it by suggesting they go visit Hinamori.

The way he reacted to Rangiku suggested visiting Hinamori...

Oh my God he really wanted to see her! I honestly didn't see that coming. Yes, I thought a part of him would want to desperately see her, but that more than that he'd want to get stronger first before facing her. To think he'd want to see her first, even when he feels he needs to get stronger...

The last moment we get here is with Toshiro and Rangiku on their way to Fourth Division, but they bump into Izuru and Renji. Izuru unintentionally convincing Hitsugaya to not visit Hinamori when he says he needs to smile for her and not show how stricken or tired he is currently. He agrees, and tells them that they need to give their all in any future battles and that he's counting on them. When he and Rangiku are alone, Hitsugaya questions why Rangiku is so chipper, and she says she's proud of the person he's become, having seen him grow in how he connects and opens up with others. Hitsugaya brushes her off, saying he merely did it because he has a rank to uphold, and then, to himself, that this rank means he needs to be strong enough to protect those important to him.

For me this scene came back to instances where Toshiro visited Momo but had nothing to say. We of course have the manga and anime showing him visiting Hinamori while she was unconscious and we see how deeply it affects him. In the Honey Dish Rhapsody, we et a brief moment where Rukia mentioned Hitsugaya always looked grief-stricken when going to visit a still unconscious Hinamori. Similar to the anime version, he chooses to walk away when he can't think of anything to say to Hinamori, and in the case of the game scene, he walks away because he doesn't want her to see him so stricken.

And here again we Hitsugaya opening his circle that little bit more. He probably doesn't consider Renji and Izuru friends, but he cars about them enough to put their minds at ease. He was able to express himself more freely than he previously has, something Rangiku notices and is proud of him for.

THE MOMENT

The moment of all moments. The big one. The scene I always wanted to see. The reconciliation of Hitsugaya and Hinamori. WHERE DO I EVEN START?

I'm doing a more detailed summary because I'll have a lot to say about this section:

Almost a month after Aizen's defeat, Hitsugaya is training and still believes he's no strong enough. He laments about what happened, believing he failed in contributing to the battle and reaffirms his desire to protect the person who matters most to him.

Shinji comes in, having looked for Hitsugaya and Rangiku (who's watching all of this from afar, trying to stay hidden). After a brief comical moment, Hitsugaya and Shinji discuss the Visoreds and Shinji's return to the Soul Society.

Shinji cuts the conversation off though, and as for Hinamori to come out of hiding.

Hitsugaya and Hinaori become speechless when seeing each other.

Annoyed, Shinji prods Hitsugaya (aka, a kick to his shin) to speak up, but the latter is too flustered to come up with anything. Hinamori laughs at Hitsugaya reaction, which breaks the ice and gets Hitsugaya to apologize for letting her get hurt.

Hinamori is quick to forgive him, and goes on to say that she should be apologizing to him as she feels she was holding him back. Hitsugaya dismisses this, saying she has nothing to apologize for.

Hitsugaya ask Rangiku to come out of hiding, and while she and Hinamori chat, Hitsugaya thanks Shinji for giving him to opportunity to make amends with Hinamori. Shinji says it's nothinghe only did it because he was looking out for Fifth Division, but Hitsugaya is thankful he says he'll bring sweets over for them to eat together next time.

Hitsugaya thinks that he nearly forgot he isn't alone anymore, that he's always had friends who are by his side. Smiling, he reflects aloud that being obsessed with acting like a captain keeps him going around in circles. However, Rangiku assures him isn't going around in circles, and Hitsugaya a little moved by this.

He asks Shinji about his captaincy, and Shinji says he's isn't as 'stuffy and serious' and Hitsugaya back then or now. He offers to help Hitsugaya learn how to chill out, teasing that he has no idea how to do that. Hitsugaya says it'd be a big help if he did.

Hitsugaya silently reflects on Aizen's betrayal and letting Hinamori get hurt. He was shaken by both events and feared being betrayed by someone close to him again, causing him to shut his heart off to the world. He thought he could protect everything by himself, but he has come to realize believing in others isn't a weakness and that having them by his side is what will make him grow stronger. He reaffirms aloud he won't lose his way again.

He concludes the scene by quoting what he said about fireworks from his birthday chapter and saying that the bonds one forms never go away, no matter how distant they become or what's happened, they keeping on shining forever.

I'll get my reactions out of the way first:

'It's hard to admit, but I really didn't contribute anything to that battle...'

'I can't even protect the person who matters most to me.'

SHE MATTERS THE MOST!!!

Hitsugaya not remembering Shinji's name had me cackling, laughing way too hard for something so dumb:

Then Hitsugaya and Hinamori seeing each other:

I was like this throughout most of their exchange:

With a few moments of this in-between:

Now on to my thoughts. First I want bring up another bit of canon-bending that came up here, and it's going make me sound way too nerdy: in the game it's been almost a month since Aizen's defeat, but in Death Save the Strawberry, Hinamori was still recovering at this stage. In fact, it took her nearly five months to make a full psychological recovery and leave Fourth Division. We also see a scene from Death Save the Strawberry play out in Shinji's Secret Story, where Hinamori gets a text from Renji saying Rukia has a plan to help restore Ichigo's powers.

This is what makes me question if this game or canon or if the time periods are getting retconned. Personally, Death Save the Strawberry's seems more realistic to me. She's gone through so much in such a short period of time, from having the person she admired most betray her, thinking everyone is moving on without her, and likely thinking she wasn't strong enough to be on the battlefield. Plus, we get the beautiful interaction between her and Shinji, who reaffirms everyone's waiting for her and that he wants to her continue being the lieutenant of Fifth Division. I don't know, I just feel like it would take more than a month before Hitsugaya and Hinamori saw each other again, but again, I'm making a nerdy nit-pick.

Anyway, this scene all but confirms these two were on talking terms before the Thousand Year Blood War arc began. A few fans wondered, based on Hinamori's reaction during chapter 658, if these two were speaking to each other. I mentioned in my analysis post that I thought they had reconciled based on the snippets from the 13 Blades databook. Now though, if this game really is canon, we can confirm they absolutely were!

On to the interaction itself. I have to admit, I was shocked at how short and simple it was. Here I was, with my dramatics thinking they'd go somewhere quiet and have this long, emotional debrief about what happened and Hinamori would forgive Hitsugaya but say there was nothing to forgive, then Hitsugaya would ultimately realize he needs Hinamori in his life far more than he needs to keep her and others who are important to him at a distance.

What I got was basically:

'Hinamori, I'm sorry'.

'It's okay, Shiro-chan, I'm sorry too.'

'You don't need to be sorry'.

It perplexed me at first, and I even felt an odd sense of discouragement for the way I've been writing 'An Unwavering Light', a fanfic all about the reconciliation of Hitsugaya and Hinamori. Here I was thinking it would be this angsty, emotional period in their lives, but it got resolved so quickly and had more direct involvement from Rangiku and Shinji.

But the more I thought on this scene, the more it started to make some sense to me. Of course it can be that simple. It's THEM!

These two have known each other for decades, and it shows that even something as horrific as what they've been through can't tear them apart. They were uncertain when they saw each other, you can see it in the hesitation when neither speaks and they look away from each other. Hinamori even hesitates to make her presence known after Shinji tells her to come out.

Just when you think this is going to devolve into some angst-riddled moment, Shinji brought out a side Hitsugaya that Hinamori as always known -- a flustered side that's been with him since childhood, that she has even teased him about on a few occasions. Seeing him act like that makes her laugh, relaxes her enough that she speaks to him. It showed no matter what, even if she doesn't know where they stand or where to start, she knows him. She knows and accepts and loves him, whether you think that's platonically or romantically.

At hearing her laughter, all Hitsugaya can say is her name, but it's in such a way that made me do the fangirling reaction as per above. There's relief at seeing her being able to laugh, but there's also, I think, a little disbelief. It's like he's seeing her for the first time again. She can still laugh around him, she came with Shinji to see him. She's right there, wanting to see him. He's not even caught up on the fact she's laughing at him, he's just amazed that she's laughing and smiling at him. When was the last time he saw her do either of those things, let along at or with him?

It's this, I think, that gives him the courage to finally apologize. And of course he thinks he's responsible for her getting hurt, but Hinamori knows this isn't really the case. They were both victims of Aizen, tricked into doing things neither of them would otherwise do to each other. I think we as a fandom knew Hinamori would be quick to forgive Hitsugaya and say there was nothing to really forgive.

What I didn't see coming was Hinamori thinking she was holding Hitsugaya back. I would love to know where this thinking came from. Had it been something she'd been contemplating during her recovery? Had Rangiku let something slip during a visit and Hinamori thought on it too much and came to the conclusion that he was going through mental anguish because of her?

And Hitsugaya is quick to dismiss this and say she has nothign to apologise for. Because no, she never has. Hinamori herself has never held him back. Hitsugaya's obession with wanting to be stronger, with feeling he isn't good enough and needs to do things alone is what has held him back. He's still growing, still learning, it's understandable. What Hinamori doesn't realize is she's probably the number one person who is getting him to become stronger. She went to the Academy, and he wanted to go with her. He gained the abilities of Shinigami quicker than most, and he chose t use these abilities to protect her and eventually others he grew close to, as we've seen time and again in other BLEACH media. We even got a freakin' song about it for godsake!

His lack of strength is his own perception, but others like Rangiku can see he isn't weak and has become stronger as the years went on. He wasn't going around in circles, just getting stuck in a mindset that made him think he wasn't good enough when he always was. But he had to work his way through it, and a big part of doing that was finally seeing Hinamori.

It was through the effort of Hinamori, Shinji and Rangiku that he learned to let go of his fear of being close to others and of being betrayed again. It's something I'm 100% certain Hinamori herself went through, but this is Hitsugaya's story and I hope we get to see a secret story for Hinamori too.

My only small gripe about the scene is...I don't know if it'd be in character for Hitsugaya to offer to eat sweets with Shinji the next time they meet. Seems like something he wouldn't do, but maybe he really is just so thankful that this is his way of expressing his gratitude??

Also, Hitsuhina fandom...HOW ARE WE FEELINGS ABOUT WING-MAN SHINJI AND WING-WOMAN RANGIKU GETTING CONFIRMED!!

Maybe I'm being over-dramatic (I totally am), but what else can you call this?! Rangiku brought up the fireworks were romantic and was there for the final scene, and Shinji practically brought the two of them together to talk. He knows what's up, and he's not about to let them lose what they have and what it can potentially become in the future. It's like @alexiethymia said: he's likely learned from his past experiences with Aizen that communication is key, and that despite how long-lived Shinigami are, their bonds and time together are precious. He doesn't want to see his lieutenant lose a friend she's known since childhood. He wants to see her get better, to move forward into the future without doubt or fear about the people she's close to. He's looking out for her, as the proud pseudo father/uncle figure he will become to her!

I think the same can be said for Rangiku, who lost her childhood friend and love and doesn't know why he did the things he did. She doesn't want to see these two go through a similar fate.

All in all, it was a simple and sweet moment for all involved. For me personally, it didn't go down how I thought it would, and it's honestly made me reevaluate how I'm writing 'An Unwavering Light'. I plan keep the drama there, but maybe I can ditch a few of the moments I was planning to lighten the story up. I still like how it happened though, and I was an emotional wreck afterwards, so I think it did it's job XD

TL;DR

The whole story of Hitsugaya's Secret Story is to show the evolution of Hitsugaya's character. He's gone from a child who was emotionally closed off, isolated and ostracized, believing he needed to reliable/become stronger without anyone's help, to a teen who is opening up and becoming more expressive, is seeing the value in relying on others, and realizing he's always had friends by his side who will help him becoming stronger. It's a beautiful thing to see after all these years as a fan, and we've seen evidence of this growth throughout the manga.

For Hitsugaya and Hinamori's bond, it shows they were talking before the Thousand Year Blood War, and that their bond is too strong to be broken by something as big as what happened during the confrontation with Aizen. They went through so much, but ultimately, their reconciliation was simple and sweet, knowing who they each are and knowing they're better off by each others' sides than they are apart.

I'd like to thank @ryusxnka for bringing my attention to this in the first place. I was aware of the Rebirth of Souls game but not that there were secret stories for some of the characters. Here's hoping Hinamori gets one!

And if you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read my crazy ramblings! I would love to read your takes on these scenes too! :D

[science-lings]

Being annoying about each option under the cut

1- Ryunosuke has no other pictures of his bestie's face except for the one of his 'corpse' and that is Fucked Up, which is why I love it. this hc is based on the fact that during my playthrough I looked at the picture so many times bc I missed him immediately. Anyway 1-2 was the worst day of his life and the moment where he was given the photo for the first time really stuck with me.

2- They get to switch off being each other's judicial assistants and they both get to be different flavors of transmasc, I think it would be fun for them. Would they have to attend classes at Yumei to even be considered lawyers? who knows the point is they do it together and are like those cats that bond together and get sad when they get separated.

3- If they are in the same room together that sword is being switched back and forth several times, 'I think it matches your outfit today' or 'I'm on my period I shouldn't be in possession of a deadly weapon' or 'you said in the custody agreement that I get it on weekends' etc etc etc... Though it tends to go with Ryunosuke when they are separated for long periods of time. That sword is symbolic of so much gay shit in these games what's a little more.

4- my guy talks about 'the look' in Ryunosukes eyes so much during the last case, what are you looking into his eyes for? Heterosexual reasons? sure... (also 'fancy meeting you here' that is a pick-up line, you're in a prison, not a bar) Anyway his feelings towards Ryunosuke are complicated and he's so mad that at least one of the feelings in the emotional cocktail is something like attraction)

5- There's that disaster lesbian thing going on but also the situation was pretty stressful but one day she will wake up and it will hit her that her friend was still very interested in her even after she knew it was her in the disguise.

6- Sholmes keeps trying to refer to himself as 'the root of all evil' and how he's 'drawn to the darkness', he's trying so hard to be edgy but he's a six-foot-tall lanky blond man who is dramatic in the silly way and drapes himself over Ryunosuke at every opportunity. Either he's trying to build some kind of reputation or he wants to appeal to the local goth milf populace (Sithe and Tusspells) or even the reaper himself (there's some messy ex energy going on over there...)

7- I need Phoenix to inherit Karuma, he knows a bit about it but he doesn't make a big deal about it. He does have a few prosecutor friends who know the blade and are so annoyed that he's not super proud to own it. Also it's funny to me if the only family that Phoenix knows are a couple of victorian lawyers that haunt him. I think they should watch over him and be a little horrified. Ryunosuke was excited when he was intending to be a performing arts student as a fellow drama kid but it doesn't surprise him that he chose to become a lawyer. It's in his blood.

8- You cannot tell me Ryunosuke didn't want to fling himself off of that boat every night he was stuck in the room he thought Kazuma was killed in. He just didn't want to ruin Susatos trip to England by leaving her alone and he goes into a depression when she leaves for Japan, going so far as to avoid looking at the photo the 221b fam took before she left because it made him sad, which gets put up every time by Sholmes who Gets It. Meaning that he went up to the Naruhodo consulting agency regularly to check up on him. I like to think Sholmes was genuinely worried during the months he spent banned from the courtroom and without his weirdgirl who he bonded with through his best friends 'death'.

9- Wagahai is a good kitty, she can tell who the most depressed person in the building is and follows them around, sometimes Ryunosuke has a nightmare and wakes up with a cat right up by his face.

10- Ryunosuke starts the Naruhodo family tradition of not talking about their personal lives to people they care about and making their own little patchwork family for themselves. Practically all we know about his past is that he's afraid of doctors and studied English from a young age. And then like three months after going to a new country and meeting new people he's just like 'neat this is my family now :)' there is something going on there I swear. I have many conflicting ideas about what it could be specifically though.

[sunshine-and-moonshine]

Cod Men in a Dating Sim

Requested: No

Warnings: Light bit of angst

A/N: Did I watch a bunch of (and by that I mean 3) dating games just so I could get inspiration for this? ……Maybe

Ghost - The Punk/Goth Guy

By far the hardest and most frustrating character to romance, Ghost’s route leaves even the most seasoned completionist in tears. People who attempt to do playthroughs of the game won’t even attempt it, and much of his route is virtually unknown. His trust is hard won and easily lost, even the tiniest of mistakes will affect your whole game with him, to the point that you could very well lose all progress with him at any point. There have been demands and petitions for the devs to change his route, calling him stupidly difficult, not worth the effort it takes. Oh but those select few who get to peek behind the curtain? Those that get to woo him and make him blush, who truly hold his heart? They’re in love, will defend him and his horrible jokes and his sad boi personality until they die.

Soap - The Himbo Jock

Soap, the cheerful and upbeat type. Always doing some sort of high energy sport in his free time, his happiness infecting you everytime you two cross paths, his smile only growing bigger every time you both talk. He always wants to be doing something with you, his arm around your waist, loud and happy and brighter than the sun. Doesn’t matter what type of activity you like doing, he wants to be doing it with you. His route is the easiest to get through and his charm draws in all kinds of people, making him almost unanimously loved through the fandom of the game. To the point that people recommending the game always say that you should start with his route first. He’s kind of the poster boy of the whole game at this point.

König - The Shy Guy

König, the sweet librarian at your local library, always so kind but painfully shy when you try and talk to him. Books almost always clutched to his chest, twiddling his thumbs and ducking his head with a blush rising under his mask if you make even the slightest attempt to get close to him, an absolute mess if you flirt with him. He’s the adorable sweetheart of the game that, even if you don’t want to romance him, is just nice and adorable in general. But when you really get into his route, he is so flirty. Granted it’s only when he thinks you can’t hear (unaware that he has literal subtitles telling you what he says). And he gets so protective, always offering to walk you everywhere and just generally tending to stick around you and show you all sorts of things he enjoys, always eager when you return the favor and show him your own favorite things.

Alejandro - The Flirt

Alejandro likely met you through your mutual friend in the game, Rudy. Coming to visit his old pal and meets you at his home, instantly all over you, suave flirtations leaving his lips every other second as he tries to get you alone every chance he can get, much to Rudy’s annoyance. At first it’s a bit of a game, just another blip in the back of his mind, nothing serious. But as time goes on, it becomes more and more serious, more genuine. His advances start to become a bit softer but now carry real feelings in them. He’s a character that many think is too sleazy at first but come to adore him and his sweet nature as you progress through his route. He’s not as loved of a character as Soap but he is in the top three, tied with Rudy.

Rudy - The Best Friend

Rudy. Sweet adorable lovable Rudy. He is the character who plays the role of the best friend with the long time crush. Very poorly hidden crush by the way. He’s never very bold with his words but his actions communicate his feelings very well. He’s always happy to talk to you, and even listens to you if you’re trying to romance another character and something goes awry. It hurts him but he puts on a good act, even if he distances a bit from you upon learning of your feelings for a different character. His sweet and supportive personality is why he ties with Alejandro in the top three favorites, and many adore him and enjoy repetitively romancing him, never seeming to get bored of finding all his secrets.