#but i did like 60 damage in one round

[justalittlebluetiefling]

I had a lot of fun playing a rogue again, but being able to divine smite is better. It's the best. Always be a paladin.

[ramp-it-up]

The Gentleman Returns

Pairing: Henry Cavill x Veterinarian!Reader

Summary: Henry comes back. Can he keep his composure around you?

Warnings: 18+ Only, Minors DNI. RPF. S MUT, Explicit description of graphic sex. P orn with just a little bit of plot. Read at your own risk.  Flashbacks, Facetime s ex, long distance romance, Angst, pining, flirting, arguing, reader insecurity, wagering, brat behavior, dirty talk, size kink, or al s ex, raw p in v (wrap before you tap),  b reeding kink, pain kink, m asturbation,o ral sex (f recieving) Not Beta’d. All errors my own.

A/N: This is part two of Doctor and Mr. Cavill. Let me know if you liked it!

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------

“I am in control. I am not a man possessed. I am not an animal.”

Henry repeated it to himself as he prepared for his morning cardio run down, which just happened to be 3.5 miles down Route 60 to your house. He decided that running would serve two purposes: One, to round out his morning exercise, and two, to calm him down. 

It had been a long two weeks away. 

You were constantly on Henry’s mind and it took all of his acting skills to attend to the matters that took him home to Great Britain. But he was finally back in your town, which happened to be the location of his latest film role, and he was focused on letting you know that he didn’t think of you as just a good time in America. 

Henry knew that you thought he just wanted to have his way with you. The truth was that he felt for you deeply, and he didn’t quite know how to tell you. Things had gone much farther and faster than he ever imagined they would.

That’s why Henry was determined to be a gentleman today.

He’d stop by and say hello, collect Kal, ask you out on a date, and leave you intact like the lady you are. And then, maybe later, perhaps…. His heart rate escalated as he decided that he wouldn’t just grab you and take you up to your bed and fuck your brains out. 

No.

Absolutely not. 

Henry shook his head and smiled as he started the 5K run to your house. 

He’d landed the night before, and you both agreed that he needed to rest before he was in charge of Kal again. He slept, and then bounded out at 5 am the next morning to train and also to tame the boner that he’d awakened with for the past fortnight.

Henry’s head was in the clouds and he barely registered any exertion on the road to your place; he just daydreamed about led him to this point.

-------

Two weeks earlier...

Good morning Doctor. How are you?

The text was sent at 7:43 am, as soon as he touched down at JFK. Henry found that he had no qualms about looking desperate for you, because he actually was. 

Henry was surprised when you responded so promptly this early in the morning, but he was pleased.

Good morning Mr. Cavill. I’m a little sore. Fed the animals and am now taking a nice, hot bath.

Henry was concerned as he shouldered his backpack and walked down the jet bridge to the car area for his service. He was stopped for an autograph by someone who recognized him despite his baseball cap and mask, and as such, he didn't have time to really think when he responded.

Oh no! Did you lift too much feed? You really must lift heavy weights properly.

Henry’s brow was furrowed as he thought of you injured. You chuckled at Henry’s cluelessness. 

You’re carrying the weight that did the damage.

It took a second for the lightbulb to go off in Henry’s head, and when it did, he groaned, remembering how tight you’d been around him, but then he frowned again. He dialed you as soon as he was in the SUV with the door closed. 

You stared at your phone, not believing that he was facetiming you. After hesitating for just a moment, you answered.

“Hello?”

Henry peered at you through the screen then smiled, bringing the sun into your world.

“Hullo.”

You smiled back and bit your lip and Henry watched your mouth turn into a little pout. Damn, he was a goner. 

“Are you okay?”

His voice was laced with a sexy tone that sent a tingle down your spine. You could swear that your title had now become a term of endearment instead of a joke. Your head was spinning with desire, need and a little uncertainty. 

“I am perfectly fine.”

You certainly looked fit, Henry thought. And then he spied the bruise on your lip.

“What happened to your mouth?”

Henry looked angry, and your heart beat faster, thinking of how attractive he was when the dark clouds entered his eyes.

“… I split my lip when I… “ 

You looked down, eyelashes fanning your heated cheeks. What came next out of your mouth was a low and husky, but perfectly clear, whisper.

“I split my lip on you.”

Even in the bath, you grew moist at the memory of trying to accommodate Henry’s girth the night before. The slight pain of your bruised lip was forgotten the night before when you’d looked up at him through your lashes. 

Henry’s barely perceptible moan brought you back into the moment and made you rub your thighs together under the water. He took you in, an alluring vision all slippery and wet and beautiful. If he could actually fly like Superman back to your side, he would.

“Dear God. Do you know what you do to me?”

Henry intoned it deeply as he rubbed his jaw and licked his lips. 

“No, I don’t know, Mr. Cavill. Tell me?”

Henry let out a dark chuckle, double checking that the privacy partition was up in the car even though he had his airpods in.

“You’re an enchantress. I cant resist your allure, my dear Doctor, you’re captivating and I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I left.”

He watched you blush and had an idea. 

“I have to get out of this car soon, and I’ll have to make it to my room to take care of this evidence of your affect on me…” 

He panned down to his lap.

“Don’t…please.”

Henry's hand stilled on the ridge of his denimed dick. You’d commanded him with a whisper. He growled your name deep in his throat and you visibly shivered.

“I mean. It’s not for me to decide, but, if you were looking forward to us participating in activities like we did last night again…I’d rather you not…spill anything without me there to collect it. That is, if you could wait that long to cum again. To cum.. inside… me again..”

When you looked up at him again, you saw Henry’s eyes dilate as he bit his lip thinking of your wet heat. His cock jumped as debased images of what he wanted to do to you flooded his brain. He cleared his throat and his eyebrow rose as he bared his teeth in a feral smile to speak to you, his deep bass rumbling through you.

“You want me to save my seed to fill you up with, hmmm?”

You nodded, biting your lip, and your half closed eyes and whimpers only made him harder. He moved his hands to the leather seat of the suv, as he listened to the water moving around you as your free hand floated to your thigh. 

“How about I come back with my balls heavy with cum to pump you full of and let drip out of your pores. Could you handle that?”

You squirmed, your face full of desire. Henry felt like a man starved for your touch although he just left you not 4 hours earlier.

“Mmmmmm... I’d like that. Very, very much.”

Henry watched you throw your head back and licked his lips,trying to find the taste of you from last night.

“D’you need to be fucked again, Doctor?”

He was speaking softly, but resolutely now, his dulcet tones making you feel some kind of way.

“Ohhh, Henry… I’m still a little sore and swollen.”

Henry bit his lip. He didn’t want you to be discomforted, but the idea that he’d ruined you made him mad with need. He was panting as if he’d played a full rugby match and he was ready to burst inside his pants. 

“Are you? I should be there, to kiss that sweet little cunt. Soothe all her sore places with my tongue. D’you need that?” 

Henry stopped himself from calling you Love, but the pet name reverberated in his brain as he watched your beautiful face full of want for him.

“Yes Henry. Oh my goddd!”

You brought your hand up to your neck and Henry wished it was his.

“Lemme see those nipples, play with them for me, yeah?” 

You did as you were told and Henry watched as you filled your hands with yourself. He nearly cried at the sight. He instinctively rubbed his cock again, but he could control himself.

Couldn’t he?

With you he was not so sure, but there was no going back now, he had to see you through to your end.

“Feel that pussy for me, let her know how much I miss her already. Get in there, Love. Let me hear how much she aches for me.”

He’d let it slip. And he didn’t care. You didn't either. He could call you anything he wanted as long as he didn’t stop talking you through this need. 

“Oh… Hen-ry…”

Your mouth opened wider and your head was thrown back as your hands ventured further down your body.

“Are you circling that plucky little bud for me?”

“Y-yessssss.”

The stutter and the look on your face made him even bolder. Henry clenched his jaw and his fists to keep control.

“I’m not far from the hotel. Give me one before I get there. Be a good girl for me…you were so good last night…took my cock so well, although I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“I’m not…hurt so good Henry…”

Henry kept his eyes on you as you licked your lips and keened. You had him sweating 1500 miles away. 

“I wanted to fill you up and watch it drip out of you…”

“F-f-fuck…!” 

You were panting like a wild animal, and Henry swallowed the whine that was lodged in his throat with a growl. 

“Now stuff three of your pretty little fingers in that pretty little plump cunt. Cum for me. Give me something to dream about.”

You heard his fierce whisper and your eyes rolled as you tried to catch your breath. 

“H-h-henryyyy!”

Henry experienced three things: your beautiful face as you screamed with pleasure, his cock raging hard in the confines of his jeans, and his heart beating a mile a minute in his ears. Henry cursed under his breath and reached for the cold bottle of water provided by the car service. He took a swig, then closed it and put it on his forehead. 

Henry tried to collect himself as he listened to your breathing settle and watched you open your eyes slowly and smile shyly at him.

“Such a good girl for me. You alright?”

You hummed. 

“Yes, Mr. Cavill, Sir.”

Henry grinned. Maybe he had tamed the brat a little.

“Now. No more orgasms until I return.”

Henry the Dom was in full force. How was this your life? All you could do was smile at the fortune of having one of the sexiest men in the world lavish this attention on you. You decided to enjoy it while it lasted.

“Right.”

Henry cocked his brow at you. He hoped he looked hard. Because inside….Well, inside, he was all mush for you.

“What was that?”

“I mean, No Sir.”

Henry wanted to say a lot, but he needed to get on with his day; his first interview was in less than two hours.

“We will talk later, Doctor, before I board the redeye for London..”

“Of course, Mr. Cavill. Sir.”

Henry threw you a look as you winked and ended the call. He sighed and stepped out of the car, head full of you as he headed to the penthouse.

You climbed out of the bath and fell back into bed naked, dreaming of Henry in your arms.

—--

Three days later….

The picture you’d sent made Henry wild.  

It was an innocent picture of Kal, his snout resting on your bare thigh. It was exactly where he wanted to be.

“That rake. Trying to steal my girl,” he murmured to himself as he grinned at his phone.

“What’s that Hen?”

Henry looked up at the two men who were smirking at him over their brandies. Henry looked from Corey to Jamie’s face. He hadn’t heard a word they’d said.

“What?”

“You’ve not stared down at your lap and smiled like that since Year 7.” 

Corey knew Henry better than almost anyone.

“Who is it?”

Jamie was curious what had his mate so distracted. Henry’s head was in the clouds in between press for their movie that was being released, he was working out every spare minute, and he wasn’t looking at any of the lovely ladies that threw themselves at him, not even a little. 

Henry’s face lit up.

“I don’t even know where to begin. She’s… she’s amazing…”

Henry commenced to waxing poetic about you. 

When he finally took a breath, Corey asked, “Yeah, yeah.. But how does she look, lad?”

Henry grinned and flipped through the pictures that you’d sent him on request. He found one that was relatively tame, with you sitting ensconced in his sweatshirt and nothing else. All you could see was your freshly washed face, that smile, and those legs.

Corey whistled.

“There’s a looker!” 

He passed the phone to Jamie who looked at you and then up at Henry, who was beaming.

“That’s why you’ve been hitting the gym harder than usual. Working off that tension.”

Henry grinned.

“Yeah, she’s going to get it when I get back.”

Corey was quick to catch him.

“He’s saving himself? Oh shit. This is serious. When’s the wedding?”

Henry blanched.

“What?...No… we only just…”

“Henry. Did you notice the girl with the huge rack who’s walked by our table four times?”

Henry looked around the restaurant.

“Where? No…”

“She’s right there!”

Henry looked in the direction that Corey pointed.

“Her?” Henry laughed. “She’s… passable.”

Corey looked at Jamie and shook his head.

“You’re right, James. He’s gone. Raise a glass.”

Henry shook his head as Corey and James toasted and took a mockingly somber drink, then he clinked his own.

“Here’s to My Dear Doctor.”

“If she can tie you down, then cheers to Dr. Y/N!”

Henry shared a laugh with his friends.

“Now who wants to go on a run in the morning?”

—

Later that night:

Although it was after midnight for Henry, it was only after 7 where you were. But your insecurity permeated your conversation with him that night. You went on about his dating history and he railed against online gossip mongers. Finally, you said what you were really thinking.

“I am so not your type, Henry.”

Henry sighed.

“What are you on about?”

I’m a convenience while you’re in town. And you still think you want me because we’re practically sexting every moment of the day. I bet that if we didn’t talk until you had to come back, you’d forget all about me. You’ll find some beautiful English rose…”

“How much?”

“Hunh?” You were being thrown off of your rant.

“How much do you want to bet?”

“Henry….”

“We’ve got, what, 10 more days? 100 quid.”

You couldn’t believe him.

“You’re trying to make light of this. Don’t worry about it. I’m not upset Henry.”

“So you’re chicken?”

“I am NOT!” You huffed. “What is a ‘quid’? A pound? You’re betting me a hundred pounds?”

“I forgot how poor the dollar is. I’ll take it easy on you. 100 dollars US.”

“You have a deal Mr. Cavill.”

Henry grinned on the other end of the line. Your brat side would work to his advantage this time.

“Deal. No more phone calls. Just two texts a day. Good morning and good night.”

You were quiet a long time. Then you decided, if it was going to end, you should just go ahead and end it.

“Okay. Goodbye Henry.”

“See you soon, Doctor.”

—-----

Ten days after that conversation, you were feeding the sheep when Kal started barking and going crazy at the fence. You approached it and looked down the road to see Henry running toward you at an impressive pace.

Butterflies began to flutter in your belly. The last 10 days had sent you spiraling. Two texts a day were not enough. You missed Henry horribly, and you’d imagined him diddling half of Europe since you practically told him to. Well, you only had yourself to blame. You’d ruined a good thing, even if it were temporary.

You didn’t want to face him, but you had to give him his dog. You didn’t have much time prepare yourself because Henry’s time was good. He ran up and leaned on the fence as he greeted Kal. Then he looked up at you, hypnotizing you with those eyes and that smile of his. 

Damn, you’d missed his face.

Henry was unequivocally a goner. The sight of you made him light headed, the erratic nature of his heart not a good combination with the increase from running.

“Hello, Doctor. How are you?”

Henry smiling at you made you warm. It felt like you’d never been asked that question before and you wanted to tell him your life story, but you just said, “Fine. And you Mr. Cavill?”

Henry grinned at the formalities. You were still his incorrigible brat that he’d left in bed two weeks ago. 

His?

Yes, His, he decided as he watched you unlatch the gate enabling Kal’s attack. He laughed and rolled around in the grass with his pup and you watched fondly. You could get used to these two brutes. You tried to walk around them when Kal went after you too, tripping you up and causing you to fall onto Henry, straddling him as Kal barked excitedly beside you two. 

You looked into Henry’s eyes, feeling him beneath you. It wasn’t sexual, not quite, just familiar. Henry was being calm and his hands just rested on your sides as he grinned up at you. You wanted to hug him. But instead, you made to get up.

“S-sorry.”

“No problem at all, Doctor.”

You cleared your throat and stood up, placing your hands on your hips, grimacing at Henry, who was up now himself. His hair was haloed by the early morning sunlight, and he winked at you as he brushed himself off. Damn him and his perfect features.

“D’you want some water?”

Henry regarded you, solemn and intense, when a drop of sweet traveled from his hairline into his right eye. You felt like you were drooling as you watched his biceps flex as he wiped it away.

“You’ve read my mind.”

The timbre of his voice reminded you of that night on facetime, and your pulse quickened at the thought that you had indeed read his mind. You wanted him, and here he was acting like you were just acquaintances. He really had fooled around in Europe. You could have kicked yourself.

You turned and Henry followed you into your house, taking off his shoes and washing his hands as you did. You watched Henry gulp down the water and you kept your distance. Kal seemed content to give you both your space in the kitchen as he laid in the sunlight from the window in the dining room.

“Doctor, we need to talk.”

Your heart dropped. You knew it.

“There’s nothing to talk about. We talked already. You found someone else. Or had some random hookups. Just as I told you you would.”

Henry’s blood was starting to boil. He took a deep breath, but his voice still came out menacing.

“You are the most maddening woman.You don’t get to tell me what I want, or what I did or what I should do. Like you said, we don’t know each other that well. But I thought that we had an understanding, L/N…”

Now you were angry.

“What understanding? How can we have an understanding if we’ve never really talked. We just fucked. You were horny. I was there. We. Just. Fucked. That’s it. It was good. Now it is over.”

“Oh? It’s over is it? I’ve half a mind to turn you over my knee.”

You chucked your chin up at him like you were daring him.

Henry saw the glint in your eye and he knew what had to happen. Gentlemanly thoughts were out the window. He put the glass down and advanced on you.

You moved back and opened your mouth to reply, but what came out was a squeak. You closed it quickly

“That’s right, listen good, little mouse.”

He moved again and you stayed put.

“Yes. We fucked. We fucked and it was amazing. But we fucked because I’m insanely attracted to you in a myriad ways, not just because I wanted to fuck. You were right. I know how to smash and dash, Doctor, and this is not that.”

Henry paused to look into your eyes, to make sure you understood him. 

“I’m in awe of you. You’re a skilled professional, you’re kind, and gentle, and a nerd who loves to have a good time. You soothe me. You make me think and you make me go mad every time I think about how your body seems made for mine.”

You were inches apart, but he didn’t touch you. 

“I’m entirely and utterly smitten with you. And I’m afraid of the power you have over me Doctor. I’m supposed to behave as a gentleman, but you make it impossible.”

Then, he stepped back leaned up against your counter, running his hand through his curls. It was the counter where you first kissed. You smiled at him.

Henry eyed you warily and crossed his arms, showcasing his muscles and veins. You were dangerous. but he was going to be strong.

“What?”

“You mean that you didn’t get with anyone else when you were away?”

Henry sighed and rolled his eyes.

“No. Didn’t want to.”

He stood up straighter as you advanced on him now.

“This perfect specimen of a body?”

You pointed, just shy of touching him. Henry reached back and grabbed the counter to keep from grabbing you. 

You reached out and trailed your hand down his muscle shirt, stopping shy of the waistband of his shorts.

“And you’re willing to wait even longer?”

Henry cleared his throat.

“Yes.”

Henry’s voice broke and he caught your eye. At that moment, you knew your power.

“It’s just for you, Doctor. When you’re ready.”

You scoffed at him. And leaned up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. 

“But this body is for the world, Mr. Cavill. After all, millions drool over it every day.”

Your lips brushed the shell of his ear, and Henry closed his eyes and suppressed a shiver. He gave in and reached for you, grabbing you and pulling your flush to him. He looked down, eyes sparkling.

“Maybe so, but how we feel pressed together is just between me and you.”

You looked into the softness of his eyes and you could tell he was sincere.

“But how can you know?”

“I just know that I know. I want to protect you, I want to comfort you… I want to...”

“Oh, Henry…”

You threw your arms around him and kissed him. He lay claim to your mouth again and after, he rested his forehead on yours, panting.

“I’m… I want to be a gentleman…Want to take you out. Wine…dine…”

You palmed him over his shorts and watched his eyes dilate.

“What if I take you out?”

Henry watched you lick your palm and reach into his sweats as he forgot to breathe.

“I- I …”   Henry looked down at what you were doing. “Careful…’

You looked up at him, determined now.

“I thought you were going to cum inside me and leak out of my pores.”

“Mmmmmmmmmother of god!” 

Henry clenched his jaw as he growled at you. 

“I do want to fuck you very badly, Doctor. But you deserve… to be treated….”

Henry’s voice faded away as you continued to stroke his rock hard length.

“It’s been 14 days. I deserve to be fucked. Hard. Need you ... please… Sir.”

You took his right hand and put it on your breast. He rolled your nipple through your shirt and then mirrored the gesture with his left. Henry had a brief thought that you were trying top him before his brain short circuited.

Before you knew it, you’d been spun around and your face was on the cool marble of your countertop. Henry pulled your leggings down to your ankles. You pulled one leg out and Henry hoisted it up on the counter. You leaned back and desperately grabbed at his curls.

“Please Henry, Give!”

He leaned over and whispered in your ear as his fingertips spread you wide. 

“Trust me Doctor, you will take. But first…”

Henry sank to his knees and whispered to your cunt.

“Been so long. Need to taste…mmmmmmm.”

You were pulled back onto Henry’s face as he buried his mouth into your wet crevasse. He hummed and smacked as if he were eating the best meal of his life. Henry certainly thought so. He destroyed your soul as he alternated fucking you with his tongue and licking you rudely throughout your entire crease.

After you came on his face, he took off your pants completely, and lifted you easily in his arms, walking a few feet to your couch.

Henry set you down face first before him, leaning down to whisper in your ear.

“You’re a venus, my dear Doctor.”

Henry’s thick fingers moved from your knee digging into the couch cushions up your thigh to the wetness dripping there. Four fingers found your slick and swiped, while his thumb ghosted your puckered hole.

“Mhmmmmm. Henry…”

“So responsive f’me. Want to be everywhere all at once.”

Henry enjoyed the feeling of his cock slipping in your wetness, the way you moved to try and get him inside you. He moaned knowing how much you wanted him too. His hands moved up from your hips to find your nipples under the top you were wearing and your moves became more wanton. Henry became irritated at the confines of your shirt. He reached for the hem.

“Take this off…There we go.”

He pulled you to him, your cool back against his warm torso, and he trailed his hands up and down your body.

“‘ve wanted my hands on you ever since I left…”

“Me too, Mr. Cavill.”

You’d turned your head to whisper, and Henry’s mouth captured yours in a kiss. You wiggled your ass against the pounding organ that was wedged between your cheeks, and he reached down to grab your hip to still you.

“Want my cock?”

You shook your head.

“No. Need it.”

And with that, you bent down again and looked over your shoulder at him, arching your back.

Henry gazed down at your presented ass and turned his head to the side, admiring, as that eyebrow raised and made you that much wetter.

“Yesss…” His blue eyes met yours. “I believe that you do.”

You whimpered and dropped your head, watching from below as Henry grabbed his cock at the base, his fingers splayed out against his big balls as he lined up and breached you with his rude, wide, mushroom tip. 

“Let me…”

The stretch burned deliciously, and both of you grunted as Henry eased into you, his length and girth making you question reality again. 

“…Slide into this warm…”

“Oh, Henry! Feels so-”

He cut you off.

“Shit! Love how you take it.”

“Oh god!”

You were almost sobbing at how good it felt.

“I feel you inside me.”

“D’you feel it getting bigger?”

You could hear the grin in his voice. You nodded and sobbed, the feeling indescribable.

“Stretching you out. So, so good.”

“Uh unhhh uhmmmmm. Missed you Hen...ry!”

“Me, too, Love. Me....too!”

Henry was moaning behind you as he smoothly thrust in and out of you, making it so good that your buried your head into the pillow and drooled into it between your screams of: “Oh my goddd!”

“Mmmm just like that, take it all for me.”

He delivered a sound slap to your behind and you keened.

“Love it when you take it all.”

He smacked you again.

“D’you like my cock?” he demanded.

“Mmmmyeah hmmm, I love itttt!”

Henry moved his hand around to your clit and started manipulating it.Then, he moved your hand to your sensitive nub as you whimpered.

“Now take over for me. Circle that clit. Justttt like that.”

You did as you were told, your legs shaking.

“Ohhh oh my god, Henry!”

“Just like that. Good girl.”

Henry smacked your ass yet again.

“Now keep it up.”

The stimulation was getting to be too much. This man knew how to fuck all of you, not just your body, but your mind.

“Henry…” 

Your plaintive wail was almost too much for Henry. Yet he persisted.

“M’ gonna fuck you….”

Your wetness was making what was now happening sound obscene, and served to get you closer to the orgasm he hadn’t given you permission to have yet.

“Oh god!”

You wanted to pull your hand away, but you obeyed his command.

“There…”

Henry swiveled his hips so that your insides lit up like a christmas tree as he fucked you.

“Please…”

You couldn’t breathe, and you were beginning to feel a certain pressure in your pelvis. You whimpered again as Henry made you feel every nerve ending in your body.

“…Just…. there…”

Henry’s thrusts were controlled and steady, despite feeling your cunt clenching in waves around him as you tried in vain to stave off your end.

“Oh yeah I like that.” 

He’d leaned down, hot breath in your ear.

“Oh I feel it Henry.”

“God yeah. Me too. You like that, Doctor?”

“Oh Godddddd!”

Henry pulled you upright and you struggled to keep circling your clit as your hips sped up of their own volition. You used two hands as Henry squeezed your hips, holding on as you bounced up and down on his dick. His eyes were glued to your bouncing tits. 

“Oh shit! Just there…bounce like that, yeah.” 

Henry’s mouth descended and latched on, sucking your jugular as you fucked yourself on him. His hands kneaded your bouncing breasts. He was in heaven.

“Use me, Baby. Make yourself feel good.”

“You’re so fucking big….”

Henry grinned into your neck.

“Feel it Doctor…” 

Henry was blowing in your ear as he suckled on your lobe now. He bent you back over, placing his hand between your shoulder blades so you would move your hands and deliver the arch. You were relieved yet still desperate. Henry looked down and groaned.

“Look at that cream.”

The timbre of Henry’s voice and the slapping of skin on skin was more than you could bear.

“Henry… Please! Can I cum?”

The slapping intensified as Henry sped up and got sloppy, losing control finally.

“Cum… now Doctor…”

Henry stroked into you fiercely, prolonging your orgasm until your spasming channel forced him out of you.

You both exclaimed in disappointment, and Henry in laughed as he kissed your neck and plunged back inside you, fucking you even harder now.

“Thank you for that. I was about to spill everything inside you and this would be over. Gave me a bit of a breather. Now give me that arch again.”

He bent you over again.

“Just there. Oh yeah… Looka there…that arch…yesss. Love that arch.”

He crossed his arms to hold your hips still so that he could go even harder.

“Am I fucking you properly?”

You were drooling and your eyes were rolling; you barely registered his question. Henry slapped your ass.

“Oh. Yesssss! Fuck yesss. Cock is so hard…so big.”

“Oh, shit…sssssss!”

Henry hissed as he felt his cum crawl up from his balls. 

“I….ugh… Henry!!!... I’m cuming…”

“M…Me toooo!”

—-

You were the little spoon to Henry’s big as he held you on your couch, the plaid throw covering your nakedness. You stroked Henry’s arm as he held you close.

“Did you spend the entire two weeks thinking that up?”

Henry leaned over to look at you, smiled, and kissed your nose. Then he relaxed again.

“That was entirely off the cuff. You’re an inspiration. A muse.”

“A sexual muse, hunh.”

Henry pulled you closer to him. 

“So much more than sexually. You inspire me in so many areas.”

You looked back at him quizzically. He just grinned.

“Come, lets get cleaned up and get dressed. And give me ride over to my place, would you? We have a brunch reservation in… two hours at The Orangery. I’m taking you out on the town.”

“And you can pay, because you owe me a hundred dollars.”

You realized that it was put up or shut up time as Henry grinned at you.

——

If you liked it, reblog and let me know!

[masterqwertster]

A difference between Ashton absorbing the Spark and Fearne absorbing the Spark that I haven't seen discussed is that Fearne had the ability to ripcord out until the end of the 6th round/start of the 7th round while Ashton only had to the end of the 1st round.

Now by "ripcord out," I mean they could have halted the absorption process by either removing the Quintessence Array or potentially pulling the Spark out of the Array's funnel. Essentially, the Spark's crystal vessel had to still exist and be a separate receptacle, much like how the Quintessence Array cannot fully transfer a creature's magical essence without proper absorption time.

For Ashton, the Spark's crystal crumpled to nothing by the end of the first round via CON Saves (Ashton's early rounds were weird in that Matt rolled multiple damages against him instead of just one, especially the second CON Save round). All they had were those initial moments where it didn't seem impossible, didn't seem like anything they couldn't handle, to back out. 36 Damage and unaware they had to go for 9 more rounds where one pulse of Damage could do up to 60 Damage.

Fearne, on the other hand, besides having a much gentler time of it with zero CON Saves and able to use her own magic to help keep herself up from lower Damage rolls, had until the end of the sixth round or the start of the seventh round before the second Spark crystal finished crumpling into nothing. She had time to assess if it would be too much for her to finish, time to say "No, this was a bad idea. I don't want it."

I'm sure part of that difference is Ashton jumped in on a bad idea and was being forced to deal with the Consequences while Fearne's was a much more measured decision and the "safe" route. You know, game mechanics and penalties.

But consider it narratively.

The way I read it, one of two things happened: Ashton's body is so attuned/ready to be a vessel of great powers that it just slorped the Spark right up, no hesitation. Or, Rau'shan was so eager to move in with his old partner, that he jumped right in (and later backed out because it was too crowded to be tenable). And honestly? Both have interesting implications.

If Ashton is just a higher power absorbing machine, that can mean some interesting things for how he ended up with the Shard of Ka'Mort. Like that the Hishari ritual wasn't meant to bestow the Shard to anyone, but through whatever fuck up happened, Ashton chomped it up. Or that it was about bestowing, but Ashton was such a better vessel that it fucked up the ritual. And the Potion of Possibility giving them a half-beacon brain just happened. There's no explanation as to why it didn't just give him a Mote of Possibility to essentially reroll a Death Save into stabilizing himself rather than die, which makes sense with what the Potion does. Instead it made Ashton a permanent well of dunamis. Maybe that happened because Ashton is titan-blooded. Maybe it's because they are uniquely suited to being a vessel of great powers, that they possess a body hungry to hold more power.

On the other hand, if Rau'shan wanted in to reunite with Ka'Mort with all haste, that makes Ashton his first choice of vessel. Then Rau'shan backed out because three's a crowd and a quality vessel does no one any good if it breaks trying to use that power (because Ashton did manage to contain it all). And maybe he goes a little slower when a second vessel attempts to hold his Spark, just to make sure she's not going to blow up on him.

Or even Fearne just doesn't have the same draw for the Spark as Ashton, so it crumbled at the rate the Quintessence Array drained it at instead of being sucked straight through to it's new home.

I'm just saying, it's a very interesting difference that didn't need to exist to show how much easier absorbing the Spark is for not-Ashton.

[utilitycaster]

Level Up Post: Mighty Nein: Echoes of the Solstice: The Speculation Version

DO NOT POST SPOILERS ON THIS IF YOU ARE AT THE LIVE SHOW IN PERSON. YOU WILL BE BLOCKED.

So here's the deal: I don't know what level they'll be (18-20), I am frankly assuming they level up in the first place (but like. why wouldn't they) and I'm going to have to make a bunch of assumptions, but here is a manageable-ish, I hope, summary, to be refined once we know more. Also: I'm assuming we've got Caduceus rather than Kingsley (I DO NOT KNOW THIS FOR SURE DO NOT RELY ON THIS BEING THE TRUTH) but I will make a Kingsley post if that is not the case (short answer - I'd recommend solely leveling up in blood hunter). As always with level-ups: if there is a significant omission or an error, please let me know. If I simply did not choose the same spell or feat you did, feel free to reply with "ooh nice, what about [spell]" but do not send me asks or get weird and sanctimonious about having different thoughts on subjective assessments. Anyway, here's the pre-show version; I'll make a new post Friday if appropriate.

Fjord: Let's get Mr. Complicated Tusktooth Stone Lavorre out of the way. He is currently Warlock 12/Paladin 5. Warlocks get a mystic arcanum at level 13 (7th level spell once per day) as well as another known spell for regular casting, a subclass feature at 14 (Master of Hexes for Fjord, which allows him to move his hexblade's curse from creature to creature if the first dies), and a mystic arcanum (8th level) and another invocation and another spell at 15. Paladins, meanwhile, get Aura of Protection (+CHA mod, so 5, to all saving throws to himself and all allies within 10 feet) at level 6, a subclass feature at 7 (Aura of Liberation - he and allies within 10 feet cannot be grappled or restrained, can use 5 feet of movement to get out of prior restraints [THIS WOULD HELP BEAU IF SHE SHOWS UP CHAINED BTW], and ignore penalties to underwater attacks) as well as another L2 spell slot, and an ASI at 8; his lay on hands pool also scales up by 5 HP per level. My personal feeling is: for the next level, take paladin level 6, which gives him and anyone within the aura +5 to all saves so long as he is not incapacitated; paladin auras are ridiculously good and every day I wish someone would play paladin straight through in CR, for me, much as I adore Fjord and Vax's dips into it. For his 19th level, I'd either take paladin 7 for the aura of liberation, or take warlock 13, which grants the mystic arcanum of which I'd take Etherealness, probably, or possibly Forcecage; the clerics can handle Plane Shift, and Finger of Death seems off-brand. He also gets another regular spell of which there are many; Contact Other Plane might not work under these conditions so I'm leaning towards Dream, which is just a great weird spell few people take, but also he could take a low level spell given he has paladin spell slots. And for 20th, take the one he didn't take for 19, for a final 13 Warlock/7 Paladin split.

Beau: Much more straightforward in comparison...but let's talk about the leveling up process. Level 18 grants Empty Body, in which she can spend 4 ki to be invisible for 1 minute and resistant to all damage other than force damage, or she can spend 8 ki to cast astral projection on herself alone, which is just hilarious and great and I would like to see it. She also increases her speed to 60 feet. Level 19 is an ASI/Feat; her stats are great so I say take Mobile because it's funny to make her normal speed 70 feet/round, or mage slayer for obvious narrative and "Beau, don't you want to pull a Cerrit on Ludinus" reasons. The capstone monk level kind of sucks (4 ki points back if she's tapped when rolling for initiative) but I don't have a good multiclass for her in mind so may as well ride it out. And of course she gets a ki point per level.

Caleb: Perhaps the only person for whom level 18 is actually fun (other than the multiclassed characters), at level 18 he gets to pick a 1st and 2nd level wizard spell in his spell book that he can cast at will. He can exchange these, but it requires 8 hours of study, so probably what he has going in to this show is what he has for the show. 19 is again a Feat/ASI, and honestly a con or dex boost never hurts a wizard. Level 20 gives him two 3rd level spells in his spellbook that he can cast once per rest (long or short) without using a spell slot. Might I suggest counterspell as one of them? And both he and the clerics gain extra high level spell slots at each level (5th, 6th, and 7th at levels 18, 19, and 20 respectively).

Veth: So she is actually trickier than Fjord, as the multiclassed character, in that I'm less sure how to split it out, but we'll go through the options: Level 17 in rogue grants her the ability to temporarily steal spells from another spellcaster who attacks her (Spell Thief) which is GREAT and she should definitely take it. Level 18 is Elusive; as long as she is not incapacitated, attack rolls cannot have advantage on her. And Level 19 is an ASI/Feat and an increase in sneak attack dice and also grants her a fourth level spell slot and new spell to go with it, which must be enchantment or illusion; Greater Invisibility seems like the obvious choice. I'd take the ASI to INT. On the other hand, if she pursues more wizard levels, Level 2 would give her a subclass and its features and another 1st level spell slot (and 2 more spells), Level 3 would give her 2nd level wizard spells and corresponding spell slots (and again, 2 more spells in her spellbook), and Level 4 is an ASI/Feat, a cantrip, and another 2nd level spell slot. I say take L17 in rogue first, then get a wizard subclass (transmutation does seem obvious for a number of reasons though abjuration, illusion, and divination have better L2 features and illusion makes narrative sense - divination would simply be hilarious), then take her final level in rogue for Elusive; but with both Veth and Fjord I think there's an obvious level to take (L17 rogue for Veth, L6 paladin for Fjord) and after that I respect Sam and Travis to pick what feels right.

Jester and Caduceus: At level 18, they can channel divinity 3 times per rest rather than 2. At level 19, they take ASIs, which honestly are up in the air for me - I'm excited to see what they pick, though @captainofthetidesbreath suggested Eldritch Adept for Jester which I would enjoy, and we haven't seen Caduceus's feat from the final episode yet which means I'm not sure about what he might take as a new one, though I'm personally always a fan of Chef. And at L20 divine intervention is guaranteed (though you can only use it once per week)...but to be honest if they are level 20, I am expecting this to be nerfed for solstice reasons because it is kind of game-breaking.

Yasha: So here's the thing. Barbarian 18-19 is kind of eh and 20 is good but not amazing. She could take it; she'd get indomitable might at 18 (treat any strength check as her strength score, 18, if she rolls lower than that), an ASI/Feat at 19, and her strength and con jump up by 4 each (and can exceed 20) - this would put her at 18 CON and 22 STR, assuming she doesn't increase either with the ASI (and to be fair I would take the ASI to strength). This is solid and entirely valid as a choice. HOWEVER, might I suggest the Grog move of taking her final three levels in fighter, which would give her a fighting style and second wind at L1, action surge at L2, and an archetype and its 3rd level features at L3. I like how Battle Master feels for Yasha but really it's that action surge that makes this great; Rune Knight or Champion are also decent options.

[saltygilmores]

Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls, 3x9, A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving, Part IV

I just realized the winter carnival episode is next and tbh I'm pretty stoked about that one.

Ugh, someone left Gilmores on my front porch. Fetch me my broom. Shoo! Shoo! At Thanksgiving number one, we find out Lane is spinning yet another tangled web of lies to ensnare Soggy Rygalski (my new pet name for him, don't ask). Mrs Kim thinks Soggy is actually in a Christian band that Lane discovered through church and not a sinful rock band. Mrs Kim serves Tofurky and I feel as if our little vegetarian diner rat would have enjoyed that.

Welcome back, Soggy.

Dang. When Rory sees how people like her mother and Luke and Mrs Kim treat their employees, it's no wonder she doesn't want to get a job! Bad dum tssssh. Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night.

Why did I remember that scene as being a lot longer than it was? It lasted less than three minutes. Weird!

Onward, from Soggy to Sookie.

"According to the National Fire Protection Association: deep fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths, 60 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage each year. Deep-frying turkeys has become increasingly popular, but the new tradition is a recipe for holiday tragedy."

Men, eh? One minute they're lying about turkey preparation and the next they're lying about having a vasectomy.

Rory looking gravely concerned or lost in thought as usual. Thinking deep thoughts about frying. Asked Sookie not once but twice "What do you use the oil for"?

Granny creakily rising from her lawn chair to join the hordes of Jackson's screaming white trash relatives has to be one of my favorite bits in this episode (maybe the season?) so far.

Gather round, white trash young and old. Your king has arrived.

THE FACES!

This whole scene is top notch. I tip my hat to you, Miss AmyShermanPalladino. After departing the white trash jubilee, it's time to circle back to Lukes. I know small business owners are hard working people who don't always have the luxury of shutting down and taking a break, but do you think he ever closes the diner? For anything? Christmas Day? Yeah, I'm sure ya'll can name a few times on the show where he closes up shop (would actually be interested to hear what they were). It wouldn't matter. He'd try to close on Christmas Day and the Gilmores would show up anyway and demand to be served instead of drinking eggnog in their own home. For Christmas, Lorelai should buy Luke a massage. (A LEGITIMATE MASSAGE. You filthy readers).

Mommy Daddy please stop fighting

*smashes Jess and Rory together like I'm 9 years old forcing two Barbie dolls to make out*

Alarming to see Lorelai treat Jess this nicely because I worry she may be ill. Or possibly delirious from hunger (she didn't eat at Sookie's or Lane's, she threw out Mrs Kim's tofurky and just gawked at Sookie's house). It looks like Luke was nice enough to give Jess the day off, but Walmart (and its Hunger Games-style Black Friday festivities) may still be calling. Is this the first real, hot, home made, lovingly prepared holiday meal anyone had ever served him in his entire life? (I'll give partial credit to The Bracebridge Dinner). No street wieners for Jess Mariano this Thanksgiving! Jess says he's starving, but Luke told him not to eat until the Gilmores arrived first. That's some grade a bullshit.

All he wants this Thanksgiving is for his fellow white people to Check Their Privilege. Good luck with that, Lucas.

Serving lewks. Luke has just served the table four heaping plates of hot food and upon hearing that the Gilmores will be trotting off to the McMansion next, presumably to eat way fancier, he says they can just throw everything the fuck out and drink soda if they want. Kay... Jess: Please, Uncle Lucas, don't take away my hot meal. I'm ever so hungry.

A screen shot of Milo eating makes a great gift or any holiday or special occasion.

How DARE you Lucas. You are not going to make my poor tired boy serve coffee to the Gilmores on Thanksgiving Day! Lorelai's your ball and chain, you do it.

Yeah, what a pity that not everyone can kiss like Dean.

"You and Jess are a couple of chickens pecking each other." Yooo, it's about time you pick a lane, Lorelai. You're confusing the poor girl. The last time an adult got wind that Jess and Rory were about to peck like chickens The Incredible HulkLuke smashed down the door and put those two chickens out to pasture. Rory: Mind your own business. Lorelai:???????? I assure you she does not know the meaning of the phrase. R: I'm not good with public displays. L: You didn't have that problem with Dean Me: Trying fruitlessly to remember any scene where Dean and Rory passionately made out in public or showed any sort of affection with each other anywhere that Lorelai could see it R: I don't know how this first second boyfriend thing is supposed to go. L: Well he's your first second boyfriend so give it time. R: The whole town got used to me with Dean. L: It'll get easier, you'll have hundreds of men. Well maybe not hundreds. A couple. Three more. Dean again, Logan, then Logan again. L:They'll adjust to seeing with you Jess! R: What do I do about Dean? L: Well he'll move on too. All this sensible advice coming from Lorelai? It is truly the Thanksgiving of Miracles.

God bless you, Babette. God bless you.

The next scene, a Friday (Thursday) Night Gilmores Showdown at the McMansion goes on for around 8 minutes which is going to feel like more than an hour in Salty Time. I'm going to wilt.

[pathfinderunlocked]

Healthy Boss Template (CR +3)

Wait, why did a giant health bar just appear in the sky?

Artwork by Jeff_Chee_471 on Reddit.

D&D and Pathfinder have a really unusual idea of what a "boss" is compared to, like, any video game ever made. They often tend to just take an enemy that would be part of a group of normal enemies if you were about six levels higher. When they do something more unique, it still tends to be balanced like that. Tons of offense, not that many hit points, but often extremely hard to hit. Adventure designers often try to make up for this design by making a boss weaker but giving it minions, but that doesn't change the fact that there's really no concept of a creature that's inherently a "boss creature" in this game.

And sometimes that's fine. But sometimes you just want a big chunky fight that's balanced more like how a video game boss is balanced: only a little more damage than other creatures, but way more health, and the ability to recover if you do nasty stuff like stun it. Something that lets the players go all-out using their abilities, and rewards them for doing so, instead of having to spend most of the fight just focusing on not getting attacked, because they know one attack can take them out.

This template isn't a global solution. It'll get old, and if you reuse it too much, players will find strategies that bypass it. That's why I design so many different boss monsters that each work differently. But if you want to convert an existing monster into a boss, this is one way to do so without a lot of effort, and without just giving it the advanced template and several fighter levels to max out its offense.

Some of the options for different abilities are there to deal with different kinds of player strategies, rather than because they're appropriate for different kinds of bosses. If your PCs use vital strike, give it vital negation. If they use combat maneuvers, give it reset stance. If they cast a bunch of spells on the terrain, give it undo. If they rely on hungry pit, give it escape to nowhere. Don't feel bad about using this template specifically to counter them, since the inflated HP and the limited uses of these special abilities mean that the players' strategies will still be useful, they just won't instantly win the fight.

Healthy Boss

Healthy boss is an inherited template that can be applied to any creature.

Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature + 3.

Hit Points: A healthy boss's hit points are three times as high as the base creature's.

Initiative: A healthy boss gains a +10 bonus to its initiative.

Defensive Abilities: A healthy boss can never be surprised, and is not considered flat-footed before it has acted in combat.

Special Abilities: A healthy boss gains 1 of the following special abilities:

Bolstering Cry (Ex) Twice per day as a move action, a healthy boss can grant all allies within 60 ft. a number of temporary hit points equal to its new challenge rating. When it does so, it also suppresses the following conditions on affected allies other than itself for 1 round: blinded, confused, entangled, fatigued, exhausted, nauseated, paralyzed, shaken, sickened, staggered, stunned. The healthy boss does not need line of effect to these allies, but they must be able to either see or hear it. Second Wind (Ex) Five times per day as a free action at the start of its turn, a healthy boss can gain a number of temporary hit points equal to its new challenge rating. These temporary hit points last for 10 minutes. It can only use this ability only once per round. Vital Negation (Ex) Once per round, a healthy boss can halve the damage of a single incoming source of damage. It can choose to use this ability after hearing the amount of damage that it would take. This does not require an action.

Additionally, a healthy boss gains 2 of the following other special abilities:

Aura of Recovery (Su) The healthy boss gains a 40-ft. aura. At the end of each of the healthy boss's turns, one of the healthy boss's allies within this aura (including itself) gains a new saving throw against any one ongoing harmful effect that initially allowed for a saving throw. Escape to Nowhere (Su) Once per day, at the end of an enemy's turn, a healthy boss can escape to the ethereal plane, as if using ethereal jaunt. This does not require an action. It remains in the ethereal plane during its next turn. At the start of its second turn after using this ability, the healthy boss returns to the plane it was on, but is staggered during that turn. Legendary Resistance (Ex) Once per day, when a healthy boss fails a saving throw, or when an enemy succeeds on a check against the healthy boss's spell resistance, the healthy boss can expend its legendary resistance to treat the roll as if the healthy boss had succeeded on the saving throw or the enemy had failed on the check against spell resistance. A healthy boss with a total challenge rating of at least 9 gains a second use of Legendary Resistance per day, and a healthy boss with a total challenge rating of at least 18 gains a third use of legendary resistance per day. This does not require an action. Reset Concentration (Ex) Once per day, when a healthy boss fails a concentration check, it can steel its mind against future distractions, gaining a +10 bonus on concentration checks for the next 10 minutes. This does not require an action. Reset Stance (Ex) Once per day, when a healthy boss starts its turn prone or grappled, at the start of its next turn after being successfully subjected to a combat maneuver other than trip or grapple, it can spend a move action to stand up, free itself from any grapples, pick up a single item within its reach, end the effect of a dirty trick maneuver, and move up to its move speed without provoking attacks of opportunity. Upon using this ability, the healthy boss also gains a +5 bonus to its CMD and a +10 bonus to Acrobatics, Climb, Ride, Swim, and Fly checks for the next 10 minutes. Undo (Su) As a standard action, once every 3 rounds, a healthy boss can revert the effects of any number of ongoing or instantaneous magic spells that are affecting itself, other creatures, or the surrounding environment. Each spell effect it attempts to undo must be within 60 ft. of the healthy boss, and must have been applied during the last 10 minutes. Even instantaneous spells can be reverted with Undo, but damage is not reverted. To attempt to undo a spell, a healthy boss makes a caster level check against a DC of 6 + the effect's caster level, using its hit dice as its caster level. If successful, the ongoing spell ends, or the effects of the instantaneous spell are reverted.

[pokemon-card-of-the-day]

Okay here's round 2 of cards I like, now for more recent sets (yes, to me BW is modern, help I'm old)

Eelektrik was a very useful way to accelerate... But really it's here because they decided to make an evolving Stage 1 good on its own. It's not like this never happens (recently we had Flaaffy and now, to an extent, there's Metang) but Eelektrik being chosen was a cool moment at the time.

The best fluff. At a time where big Legendary Pokemon-EX did most of the work, this thing could actually hold its own. It was also fun because you kept discarding things and ran like 25 Pokemon at a time where 10 or fewer was very normal.

They went with evolution line theme art here. Probably one of the coolest things they've done with card art.

The idea here was of a Stadium that worked differently for each player, and whoever had the card got to pick which side went where. A fun idea for sure, though one they didn't keep for long.

Look at this thing. It has 60 HP and 10 base damage. Oh, right, its damage scaled up quickly... So basically we had a good, competitive deck with a 60 HP attacker that damaged itself on purpose when a lot of other things were over 250. And it worked.

I once took this to a local tournament and had a winning record. I might be biased because Castform but it was fun as hell to play. You got to use whatever Stadium you wanted to mess with the opponent and discard all over the place. Lost to a turn 1 Cramorant there, though.

I like the Supporters that let you choose what to do, and this was cool in the V era as drawing or forcing a V into play. Much less cool now. And yes, it went well in Castform.

Welcome to modern funny gimmick! Pair this with Forretress ex. Blow up a ton, fall way behind. Your second Brambleghast will have 350 HP and a ton of Energy, and you flip your way to a win. Or probably not, but if you're playing this you really don't care much about the result. It's just hilarious. Add Hero's Cape for even funnier results.

I could most likely find more but I think this will do, there's so many interesting cards out there I probably missed.

[tyrranux64]

I Did Nothing Productive All Day...

If I had the money to fund my own fighting game....well, this wouldn't be my first pick but screw it I'm in a funk and I need something to fiddle with. If I were able to do this I'd like it to be a 2D fighter in a similar graphics engine to Dragon Ball FighterZ and Guilty Gear Strive. Technically a four button fighter (Light, Medium, Heavy, Dash) but with a fifth "Contract" button which would.....uhhh.....I dunno do some kind of faustian bargain mechanic attack, like the Infinity Stones from MVCInfinite but with even more broken utility and a health cost to balance it? Or fuck it, just have it be the tag attack button for a 2v2 mode. Dash would be a medium strength lunge attack going up to 10 feet.

Actually y'know what? Easy EX Moves at 6% of your health! Just hitting this button (and a single directional input) gives you easy access to otherwise hard to trigger EX Moves when you need it but at the cost of some health. Thing is that spent health is now treated as Provisional Damage, you'd be able to get it back if you manage to perform that same EX Move (and successfully hit with it) using the intended but difficult Meter Burn button input. Of course if you get hit before you do this you lose that spent health permanently. The "Contract" button would stop working the moment you hit 5% of a given round.

I'd have the combo system be KI 2013 to a T, as such it would have a combo breaker system that's actually worth a damn to the point you wouldn't really need a comeback mechanic, having a damage decay to prevent TOD Combo bullshit. Supers would be real time and implement a meter system like KI, two stocks max, at least one of a character's supers would require both bars. I'd of course have a regular NRS style method to use EX Moves, needing at least 50% of a single bar to use. If a comeback mechanic must be implemented I'd have it be a Fatal Blow that does up to 60% damage in one go but then disables your access to EX Moves, Supers and even the "Contract" button. _______________________________________________________ [LAUNCH ROSTER; At best this would more than likely be an indy project, expectations for a big roster would have to be significantly tempered. At best I could see it launching with a minimum of 8.]

FRISK (Was banished to Hell by cultists, now fights to escape this waking nightmare.) A pretty straight forward stance character, changing up normals by switching between the fast but weak Knife, the medium stat Baseball Bat and the strong but slow Axe. Specials and Supers would be the same across all three stances, even having 3 unique specials that allow for instant switching during combos. Would have an exclusive Spot Dodge like Videl, one that can be EX'ed leading into a counter attack. Finally, a secret 10 second super mode that sees Frisk suddenly gaining powers similar to Sans, replacing the spot dodge with an Ultra Instinct dodge and giving brief access to Ermac style command grabs.

CHARLIE (Seek to claim Frisk's soul in a bid to protect them from the rest of Hell.) We have SF6 Manon at home. A decent array of command grabs that see Charlie forcing the opponent into brief spurts of ballroom dancing or ballot. Would also have some short range fire zoning that go about mid range, more for applying pressure than outright projectile spamming. Would also have a "sticky grenade" mechanic similar to KI 2013 Cinder, costing some meter to plant a will-o-wisp (max of 1) that can be detonated to break through the opponent's block.

PAPYRUS (A defective Revenant that has befriended Frisk, the first real friend that he even had.) A character prone to "falling to pieces" much like Nadia Fortune and MK1 Havik, using detachable limbs as both bludgeoning objects and makeshift boomerang weapons. In addition he'd have access to magic "bone traps" that come off like variations of Terry Bogard's Power Wave and Shang Tsung's Ground Skull. Would even have a "Blue Attack" super that momentarily disables the opponent's ability to jump for at least 8 seconds.

VAGGIE (Charlie's wife, helping the princess in her efforts to save Frisk.) Pretty much a greatest hits compilation of Kitana, Mileena and Jade. To this end I'd have her adopt the use of a three sickle blade throwing glaive as both a melee weapon and boomerang projectile, saving her spear for hard hitting specials and supers.

UNDYNE (Hell Knight servant of Lilith Morningstar sent to acquire Frisk before anyone else.) A small vicious collection of command parries in merfolk form, even having the ability to reflect the opponent's projectiles right back to them. Would have a pretty straight forward spear toss and a few takes on MK1 Shang Tsung's Bed of Spikes. Would have an "Undying" mechanic similar to KI 2013 T.J.Combo's Last Breath.

ANGEL DUST (A porn star that needs that 666 Trillion bounty on Frisk's head for..."freedom"...) Pretty much a hyper sexualized version of VS Series Spiderman but with the added flourish of a pair of Chicago Typewriters. Would have the most easy to spam projectiles but with an ammo count mechanic to keep track off, projectiles fired cannot do chip damage to blocking opponents.

FLOWEY (A mysterious entity who has a vested interest in Frisk and those that pursue them.) Smallest character bar none reaching up to Frisk's leg in height. Would pretty much be Smash Bros Piranha Plant with the added utility of vine whipping attacks and "Friendliness Pellets" that can be guided in diagonal trick shots. Would also have a hidden 10 second "Omega Flowey" super mode that transforms them into a hideous monstrosity fastened to the ceiling.

ALASTOR (Seeking to control Charlie, he too goes after Frisk to use them as deal making leverage.) We have MK1 Quan-Chi at home, also a bit of MKX Shinnok. _______________________________________________________ [ARCADE MODE BOSSES]

ADAM (Seeks to use Frisk's soul to complete the "Seven Hearts Ceremony" which will give him dominion over both Heaven and Hell.) Proverbial Goro of the game. We have SC6 Azwel at home. His ego leaves him prone to taunting the player leaving him open to attack for brief moments. Is able to recover health but this also leaves him open to attack.

ASRIEL THE GOD OF HYPERDEATH (In desperation Adam makes a deal with Flowey, dooming the first man to become the new vessel for the very eldritch deity that those cultists worship. There is no Adam anymore, only Asriel Dreemurr.) Final Boss. Pretty much what would happen if GG Justice, MVC1 Onslaught and MVC3 Dark Phoenix hate fucked in a hateful threeway, producing an extremely hateful baby best described as Borderline SNK Boss Syndrome. Would be an absolute mistake to make them playable. _______________________________________________________ [ADDITIONAL ROSTER; Hopefully I'd be able to give these extra characters as free updates.]

ALPHYS (Quit her job at Vox Industries in protest of him using HER tech to try and kill a child! As such she befriends Frisk.) Pilots a mech that would make Tron Bonne jealous. Said mech having a similar fram to GG Potemkin, boasting a host of built in weapons and tricks similar to MVC1 War Machine and Injustice Lex Luthor.

CHERRI BOMB (Angel Dust's ride or die best friend, helping him to acquire that 666 Trillion Bounty.) Pretty much what would happen if Cyrax's infamous Bomb was hit with gamma radiation and mutated into a whole move set onto itself. Normals involve extensive use of a crowbar.

SUSIE (Yet another in an ever increasing lists of demons pining for that 666 Trillion Bounty.) A towering beast with a battle axe, a few rudimentary magic spells and enough mass to and muscle to turn SF3 Hugo into a chew toy.

HUSK (The Radio Demon's slave sent to hinder Charlie and Vaggie at every turn possible.) Basically what would happen if VS. Series Wolverine suddenly grew wings giving him air combo supremacy. Might have access to a "Booze" mechanic that gives him brief bursts of strength and aggression at the cost of sluggish controls.

BURGERPANTS (A disgruntled fast food employee that sees the 666 Trillion bounty as a retirement fund there for the taking.) Has gone completely postal, using the pump action shotgun he got his hands on as both melee weapon and projectile launching device, even uses it to do blast propelled air dashes and double jumps. Has a whole back pack of other severe abuses of the second amendment.

STOLAS (An old friend of the Morningstar family, was asked to keep tabs on Charlie making sure she doesn't go rogue.) We have Smash Bros Ganondorf at home (albeit significantly faster). Borrows a few tricks from the KI 2013 Hisako playbook. Many of his more devastating moves emulate Dracula from the Castlevania series.

METTATON EX (Seeks the 666 Trillion bounty to revitalize his currently floundering fast food chain.) Jojo Poses, Jojo Poses Everywhere. Majority of normals would have heavy emphasis on kicking much like Eddie Gordo and Han Juri, saving his robotic arms for the Heavy button and certain hook shot specials. Would also get a 10 second "Mettaton NEO" super mode gaining air dashes and more hard hitting projectile spam.

LUCIFER (The King of Hell, forced to step onto the streets upon hearing news that his daughter Charlie is "misbehaving"...) Borderline MVC3 Vergil tempered by joke character quirks, would probably be the first to get banned from tournament play. _______________________________________________________ [POSSIBLE GUEST CHARACTERS; Where the real money is made. Would not be even remotely possible to offer these as free updates. Also I'd just bunch them all into a single slot similar to how the DLC was handled in MK9, requiring you to hit down additional times to cycle through the available characters.]

V1 (Ultrakill) (Frisk activated this "forbidden robot" to escape the V's, not fully knowing just what it was they unleashed....) An absolute monster twisting the very concept of the "shoto fighter" into a display of violence and brutality that would make even Akuma wince. I would also have V1 utilize a nasty command grab or two that drains blood from the opponent to heal itself.

POMNI (Amazing Digital Circus) (A client of the Hazbin Hotel, has become fiercely loyal to Charlie for being given house and home.) If DBF Ginyu was shorter and had crippling anxiety, summoning Ratha, Zooble and Jax for an array of MK1 Kameo style assists. On her own she would have "game glitches" that let her teleport relentlessly.

PEPPINO (Pizza Tower) (Papyrus ordered a pizza for Frisk, now this madman is hellbent on delivering said pizza in 30 minutes or less.) Would be grapple and rushdown god devoid of projectiles and other such extraneous abilities, human combat in its most purest form.

ROXY THE WOLF (FNAF Security Breach) (A pizzaria animatronic that Papyrus reprogrammed to hinder the Radio Demon.) We have GG Ino at home. Would also have a "Damaged State" mechanic gaining new more monstrous specials the more damage she takes during the match.

JUDGEMENT (Helltaker) (One of the feared Furies sent to quell the sudden escalation of chaos.) We have MKX Takeda at home REVENGEANCE!!! Would have masochist abilities to hurt herself gaining drastic boosts in strength and speed for brief moments (losing her ability to do combos for the duration).

SPAWN (Allies himself with Frisk out of pure spite for both the Overlords of Hell and the Morningstar Family.) Look I know the legal hoops and budget draining fees it would take to get this guy but just let me dream dammit! I'd have him be the best that MK11 Spawn had to offer with all the bad fat trimmed out, given a good helping of SF4 Oni to give him an added sense of "last person to fuck with".

[toreii]

✨Book 6 chapters 66-67 tips✨

I keep seeing people worried about this portion of the episode with book 6 coming soon. So, this is how I did it with the bare minimum of effort. Of course, there are better methods out there than my own. But, I went in blindly not knowing what was to come. I realized I had a problem, so what was I to do? Grind. A lot. Every two and a half hours, three rounds of lessons, every day.

Spoilers below the cut!

These are my three teams for chapter 66. I really should have put more thought into the characters I picked. When I realized my mistake, I decided this would be the hill I would die on. Boy, did I suffer. That said, I realized a few things as I was grinding, and then running off to lose against the Titans.

For chapter 66, your cards should at least be around lv 40. As you can see, I didn’t give Azul or Floyd much love, and I definitely ditched Trey after this chapter. But, at the bare minimum, I had my cards in their 30s.

The Titan for tower 3 likes to inflict fire damage to your life during your standbys, so bring someone that can heal. Preferably on all your teams, but definitely on the Riddle/Azul team.

Duo magic✨ Obviously, having SSRs will be a life saver. But, you can also be like me with Leona and use an R card.😂 I tried having at least an SSR that I could duo magic with to deal extra blows.

Max buddy levels. Make sure your buddy levels are as high as they can be. I will say this, Alchemy lessons will be your life if you are unprepared. So, while you grind for those books and notepads, get your buddy levels up.

The most important tip: magic levels need to be at lv5!! Again, you want to deal those extra blows. The sooner, the better.

Groovy all your cards. Even the R cards if you use them. This needs no explanation. You want that extra ATK and HP boost.

Study the phantom titans attack patterns. I eventually caught on as to how each Titan attacked, and it helped tremendously at picking the right attack against them. If you make a mistake, that’s fine. Try to keep it at one. Messing up twice is a bit too much, but still doable. Three, you might want to restart the battle.

I was mostly saying this to amuse myself, but survive. Survive during this chapter, and you will make it through.💖

For chapter 67, I mostly kept the teams the same. As I mentioned before, I dropped Trey and brought Idia on my Azul/Riddle team hoping to make a difference. Ahahaha….no.🥲 The tips for chapter 67 are basically the same. In this round, however, your card levels should at least be between levels 50-55. Preferably in the 60s.

As you can see, I eventually leveled up Silver to 62. I pushed Vil at level 72 at the time because I kind of grew a little desperate.😆 However, Vil only became useful to me when I unlocked his water magic at level 5. This is why I say it’s important that you do this. Aside from these two, you can see who my main twst team is. They were already in their 60s.

I spent a lot of saved resources. Books, notepads, starshards, gems, honeys, waffles, cupcakes, etc. Overall, this took me about two months to beat. It was basically trial and error, but it is doable so long as you put in work. There’s plenty of time before this part of the story comes. So, think about the cards you’d like to use, and work on them.

Remember! You can change your mind about which characters you will use, but if you make any changes in the midst of going through the towers, you will have to start all over again from the beginning. So, pick your characters wisely!!

I hope these tips bring you a little peace of mind. But, you know, twst recently came out with those reset tickets to make things easier. I haven’t used any yet. Maybe because I already beat book 6, so I can’t use them right now. I don’t know if the EN team will implement this feature soon. If they do, you have that option, as well.

Happy reading and good luck!💖

[hananoami]

[04/14] Deepspace Trials Progression

It's been a hella long day so I'll do a quick run through of Sunday's Deepspace Trials progression. All of the directional orbits (Light, Ice, and Fire) were available today. My daily allotted key usages were as follows:

☆ Xavier : 2/3 - Stage 96 + 97 cleared; stuck on stage 98 ☆ Zayne : 3/3 - Stage 98 + 99 + 100 cleared ☆ Rafayel : 2/3 - Stage 96 + 97 + 98 cleared

𝚇𝙰𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚁

For me, stage 96 and stage 97 were easy to clear. There wasn't anything notable from those trials. However, I am currently stuck on stage 98. This one requires 5 Amber memories to match the Protofield Stellactrum, where you must defeat the Frenzy Wanderer. It's the standard 2 rounds of wanderers with frenzied wanderers before the final round with the boss + frenzied wanderer. In order to defeat all the enemies before the time runs out you need to acquire the ATK buff obtained by finishing off the frenzy wanderer before the buff disappears. The recommended memory level for this stage is 80. As of writing this my Amber memories, solar and lunar, are currently level 60. Their protocores range from +9 to +12. The problem that I'm facing is that I cannot defeat the frenzy wanderer in time before the buff disappears. Is this due to lack of damage? Most likely since my memories are severely under-leveled. As mentioned here in an earlier memo I attempted to brute force my way through this stage by opting to use my highest level memories instead of trying to match the Protofield Stellactrum. Even then, I am still struggling to clear. While I can defeat those frenzied wanderers I cannot do it consistently.

Above is the current team set up I am running. Solars are Lv 80/awakened. Lunars are all Lv 60. Their stat attributes are constantly fluctuating because I keep swapping around their protocores to test during my attempt runs, but I'll mention the final load out in another post after I clear the stage. I'll try a few more attempts tonight. Otherwise, I'll give it a go again on Monday when his gate is next available. I might try to invest in and level up [Unique Aftertaste] to Lv 70, as that memory is fully ranked up.

𝚉𝙰𝚈𝙽𝙴

Stage 98 and Stage 99 both required 5 Ruby memories to match the Protofield Stellactrum. However, I completely disregarded that, opting to brute force the trials with my highest leveled memories. Everything was going well until, with me clearing those trials with ease, until I got to Stage 100... Stages that end in x0 are more challenging, often requiring you to have 2 teams with different Protofield Stellactrum. The first team requires 5 Ruby + 1 Pearl. The second team requires 5 Sapphire + 1 Amber. I'll post a more in-depth recap of that fight my clear VOD post (here - link to be added at a later time).

𝚁𝙰𝙵𝙰𝚈𝙴𝙻

Bless Rafayel for not giving me trouble this time. My troublemaker actually did work by clearing Trials 96, 97 and 98 with ease. I used both his Abysswalker and Sea God memories. There wasn't anything notable for those fights. Can't wait to see what stage 99 has in store for us this coming Wednesday.

[01turnkill]

2024 Media Post Time - Master

5. Splatoon 3: Side Order DLC

Side Order! Like everyone else, I'll be comparing this to Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion DLC..

I loved Octo Expansion a lot, I even 100% completed it (every stage with every weapon) and I intend to do that for this DLC too. I've finished it with every palette so far but I haven't maxed all my chips yet.

I'm a big roguelike fan. Love Hades, Spelunky, Binding of Isaac, Darkest Dungeon. They're fun to play and a lot of fun to watch. Before Side Order, I haven't played a proper 3D shooter roguelike before so it was a fun experience. Well... Side Order is a roguelite so a lot of these elements but not completely random, since the levels you play are from a set.

Side Order is a lot of fun for me. It definitely feels closest to Hades of all the roguelikes I mentioned. With the different weapon selection, selecting from 3 upgrades at the end of each level, the same few bosses, Marina's hacking shop is JUST like Nyx's darkness. Some of the upgrades are similar too and the Danger floors are like Chaos' upgrades with a benefit but a sacrifice for a limited amount of time. I played a round of SO with dualies, and damage whenever I dodge rolled and it felt exactly like some of the dash boons in Hades.

This isn't a bad thing and it's still unique being 3D, the different tower and zone modes, limited colour chip palette. Maybe other stuff.

To be honest, Octo Expansion trumps Side Order lorewise.. And gameplay wise too it was more diverse.. though not replayable the same way. I 100 percented it, every level every weapon and it was pretty fun. but I didn't go back. The story is quite simple and not too dark, and for some reason with the trailers I thought the tower would be MASSIVE. Near 60-100 floors, PMD feelings here. Especially since we get told the "danger" levels will be more common if we go a while without playing one.. Maybe true but they're also completely avoidable. I was also really surprised to see that we get Marina with us immediately after the tutorial part of everything and she's just there the whole time like, cool but I thought it would be deeper than that.

The levels definitely get repetitive and I end up mastering them very quickly. My first time on Cruel_Sisyphean_Eight-Shaped.Floor for instance, took me over 12 minutes on a casual run. Now, even without hacks I can do it in a couple minutes (not tryharding). Then theres On-the-Run(Circles)_Eternally-Hunted.Floor. It's a grind but this one I had in the bag easily after probable my second time and those were probably the only levels I had trouble with first time at all. Some levels stayed fresh every time I played them, especially with low hacks, but not those two even though they were challenging and stood out to me at first.

At least the colour chips and palettes can make each run crazy different. My first run with brush was insane, I regained ink fast enough that I never needed to recover in swim form. Just endlessly attacking. I didn't have too much difficulty with any weapon except for the Octoshot of course as it limits the amount of chips and hacks you can have at once... and I'm not sure if it was because of the low hacks but I failed it a TON, especially on the smollusk fight which was annoying. Most of the palettes were a first time win for me and if not it was on my 2nd try and I only added hacks when it came to my last few palettes so I don't know if I was just fumbling or what but I eventually did it with one hack for damage resistance and one for life I think... can't remember. I tried a couple things.

Smollusk is kind of cool once you finish visiting them and I feel like there is more to think about and potential with their circumstances, I'd like to see more. I just crave suffering you know how I am. I'd like to see it more painful and conflicting. There's some reading between the lines to be done also with Acht and the Marina dev logs and the way octolings are as a whole. Might write my thoughts on them later.

[jayt23]

Wake up people, I replayed shadows of Valentia.

Did it on Hard/Classic too, this time, so for once I have the 'hardest difficulty' experience. I was overusing the 'I've been defeated but I can't fall here'(/retreat) mechanic to be honest but if I didn't I wouldn't have been able to do it without casualties soo...

Now, the obligatory character tier list, but only based on gameplay and not on how much I like them (except for the yellow tier ig)

I honestly can't say too much about the characters I barely used. Like, I tried to train the Pegasus sisters but Palla and Catria did not make any impression because their damage output was pretty bad. The rest was just higher level than the rest of my units but still somehow worse so I didn't even bother.

Leon, Valbar and Clive honestly just make me feel bad because I tried to make them work but Leon and Clive kept getting one-rounded without being able to do substantial amoubts of damage and Valbar was not at all doing the tanking he should have done.

I honestly liked to use all the units in the middle tier but if I sent all of them together to defeat an enemy squad half their size they wouldn't be able to defeat them in one turn so it's really just a shame. They're still relatively good units and either deal somewhat high damage or have somewhat high defense. So they're, in one word, passable.

The orange tier consists of units that are really good as long as I don't accidentally trade away the weapon or ring they have. The mages in this tier tend to be too fragile to be in enemy range too often, Faye is too slow to consistently Nosferatu tank despite her high defense and Jesse would not do as much damage if he didn't have his 60%crit Brave sword. I could go on but to put it short, these characters are able to defeat a few enemies on their own when the situation is in their favour.

The babygurls are most accurately characterized by saying that I've put each of them into a group of enemies on their own and they have held their own, thrived even. Claire is a very consistent Mogall killer, with high enough speed to double them. Lukas has not had any encounter with a physical enemy that dealt more than 1 damage exactly to him since act one and, additionally to that, he also has high speed and attack. So really, he's good for any physical confrontation. Tobin, as my favourite character in this game (although my phone just autocorrected his name to Robin) has enjoyed a lot of training as an archer and was so much better than Python on the same level it's not even funny. He's got somewhat high defense and very high skill, reaching respectable crit chances without any support. I honestly know his crit quotes by heart so that's got to tell you how good he is. Silque is a pretty good Nosferatu tank and her invoke soldiers are good mage killers and distractions to boot.

Lastly, Alm and Celica. They got to their max level very fast and when I started using them less, I really felt their absence. They have both accomplished several solos when my other characters were too fragile to fight and are still just as crucial in gameplay even when you ignore their status as the main characters.

[iirvings]

for @zelotae an intermission

The last thing Lloyd remembered was ice cold fire in his veins and the warm grasp of his companion. So, when he awoke to an unfamiliar, sterile environment, you could say he panicked a little. Maybe. At least internally. He shot up.

“Don’t move so fast, you’ll ruin all my hard work,”

He flinched. And then he winced, because he certainly pulled at the stitches in his side. He turned toward the voice, and a woman with ice blue eyes and sage green hair came into view. She was wearing your basic healer’s uniform: a white coat over what he assumed was business casual, at least for Meltokio. She met his gaze head on.

“You were dropped on my boss’ doorstep a few hours ago,” his nameless doctor spoke in clipped sentences, almost harsh and very clearly with a lack of good bedside manner. An apprentice maybe?

“And where, exactly, is that doorstep?”

“Commercial district, close to the Institute.”

“… And you mind telling me what happened?” Man, it was like pulling teeth.

“Puncture wound to the right lumbar region of the abdominopelvic cavity; the Chosen’s quick healing artes managed to reverse the most severe damage and slow the bleeding, but you’ll be stuck in the city while those,” She pointed down toward his waist, “heal properly.”

He understood… none of the first part of that explanation. Clearly, it must have shown on his face too, because she sighed, “You were stabbed in the side; lost a good amount of blood too but between the Chosen’s work and the doctor’s, you should be good to go in a couple days—well, as long as your stitches don’t rip or get infected.”

He looked away, embarrassed at having to be talked to like he was stupid. Except, maybe not understanding in this situation was normal because he was damn near certain the layman wouldn’t know half the words she’d spoken in the last 60 seconds.

In the silence, Lloyd took stock of his body. He was shirtless, though he had a fresh round of dressings covering his stomach. But other than that he seemed fine. There was a sense of fatigue that he didn’t think he could shake though, and by the way his doctor’s apprentice was looking at him, it probably wasn’t a good idea to stand up just yet. He cleared his throat.

“You said I’ve been here for a few hours now—”

“Yes; four hours, 52 minutes, and 35 seconds and counting to be exact,”

“I—I see; where did Zelos go? He’s okay, right?” Okay, maybe he shouldn’t panic just yet. Zelos was safe. He was safe, right? He had to be. There was no reason for him to be hurt as well, Lloyd would have remembered that! He had to be safe. But the edge in his voice was there and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, but she didn’t comment. Silently, he thanked her.

“He was here long enough for you to be cleared for the night, but he fucked off as soon as I finished wrapping you up,” Lady that’s not what he asked dammit.

“But he’s fine? No one came after him too?”

She shrugged, “Not that I saw. Caused a pretty big scene when he brought you in though; threatened to have my boss stripped of her titles and everything if we couldn’t ‘save you,’” she grumbled, gave him the stink eye. He winced.

“Ahhh, I’m so sorry, he’s not normally like that, I swear!”

“Yeah, I know. So color me curious, Irving. Why?”

Lloyd faltered.

“I’m not sure what you’re asking here?”

“Bullshit, what makes you so special? The Chosen kept his cool long enough to leave the public eye and then threatened our livelihoods, only to leave the second he knew you’d live.”

“It’s really none of your business—” he was getting uncomfortable.

“Oh but I think it is; it’s not in the Chosen’s—”

“Would you stop calling him that!”

Silence permeated the little sickroom. Brown eyes burned in fury. His cheeks and forehead felt hot, like someone had set fire underneath his skin. Lloyd didn’t like it.

“He—his name is Zelos Wilder, not Chosen. The Chosen system was abolished when the worlds united, that title doesn’t exist anymore,” He hung his head, bitter, “he deserves more respect than that…”

Miss apprentice stared him down, her own eyes wide at the outburst. Tentatively, she poke once more, “My… apologies, Irving. I spoke carelessly.” Damn right she did. Lloyd glared at his hands. “Though that still doesn’t answer my question. Are the two of you lovers?”

Lloyd froze, choked, and made wild gestures all in the span of three seconds at the accusation. “Wh—no!” he cried, “Of course not! Why would anyone think that!?”

…

“No one actually thinks that, do they?”

…

“Wow, uh, okay,” this was awkward. Now his face burned with other emotions. But miss apprentice was still waiting for an answer, and really why was this any of her business anyway? “No, we’re nothing like that. We’re best friends. Buddies. Nothing more, nothing less,” She looked supremely skeptical, “I’m serious!”

“Forgive me for being presumptuous but the look on his face when he brought you in was not the face of a mere friend,” She leaned back in her seat. It creaked. Lloyd focused on that, on anything else to avoid her gaze.

“Really, it’s not like that, I swear,” His voice sounded weak, and the exhaustion he’d ignored came back with a vengeance, “I mean, I wouldn’t say no to him if he kissed me but that’s one, never going to happen, and two, not something he wants,” even to his own ears he sounded tired.

“It’s really no one’s business what he feels about me. Especially not those who don’t even know him.” Really, that was the fact of the matter. Zelos was stuck with him whether he liked it or not, yeah, but who honestly had the right to dictate what the relationship between the two of them was? Lloyd would remain Zelos’ friend till the end of time if he had anything to say about it. Even if his favorite red head tried to push him away, Lloyd would push right back until they reached equilibrium again.

He loved Zelos, yes, but what did it actually matter what that sort of love was?

It didn’t.

“… The Ch—master Wilder truly means a lot to you.”

“Yes. He does.” And he’d make sure Zelos know that for as long as he would listen.

“But that makes it all the more curious. For all intents and purposes, you’re no one compared to master Wilder. So for a man of his caliber to be out for blood over a your injuries… Who exactly are you, Lloyd Irving?”

Out for blood?

Oh. Oh no.

“Wait, what do you mean out for blood? You didn’t ask where he was going?” Who Lloyd was, was of no consequence.

“He’s not our patient, and I’m not in the business of asking frightening men questions about their particular warpaths.”

Lloyd bit down, pulled at the chapped skin of his lips. Zelos was always telling him he needed lip balm.

“… But he said he’d come back, right? He said he’d come back?” His heart rate skyrocketed. Dizzily, he lied back with a soft thump. Miss apprentice immediately stood. Just as quickly, she grabbed his legs from under the thin bed sheet and positioned them 45 degrees. He felt a little nauseous.

“He didn’t say anything about it, but I wouldn’t worry. He seems the stubborn type when he’s not being obnoxious. I’m going to put your legs down in a second to go get my boss; bend your knees.” Methodically, he followed her orders, though he couldn’t do much else. He closed his eyes in an attempt to get the ceiling to stop bending in weird shapes.

Moments later, an older, much kinder voice spoke out to him.

“Mister Irving, I’m going to need you to drink this for me alright? It’ll help with the dizziness and nausea. Can I raise you up so you can drink without choking?” He nodded, eyes still closed, and felt like a toddler as he was raised up and handed a glass vial with unknown liquid in it. Probably a panacea potion if it was for his head. As soon as he knocked it back though, he had to say that it was definitely not panacea, nor a medicine he’d ever had before. He gagged a little bit. The good doctor chuckled softly as Lloyd was maneuvered back down. His legs were unceremoniously hefted upwards again.

“Lucy! I’ve told you time and time again, once the patient is awake and aware, you have to get their consent to treat them.”

“Sorry, boss lady.” So miss apprentice’s name was Lucy. Finally, a proper name to a faceproper name to a face.

“Honestly, this girl… Mister Irving, my name is Dr. Isabella Scarlet. Now, Lucy told me you woke up a little while ago and that she brought you up to speed on your situation; is that correct?” Once again, he nodded. He noted that his head was feeling better already. “Good. You were lucky that master Wilder had acted so quickly in your emergency care; of course, you were stabbed in a spot that could have been fatal if not for your assailant’s amateur aim—a second round of healing artes closed off any lingering injuries to the organs in the area, and the stitches will come out in a few week should everything heal correctly.

“Though I’m sorry to say that we can’t run anymore artes on you, at least for the night. You know, master Wilder was incredibly worried about you. Threatened my job and everything!” Dr. Isabella laughed, hearty and compassionate. Lloyd could have blushed.

“I’m… so sorry. He’s—”

“Now, now, don’t apologize for him. Don’t we all say and act in ways unbefitting when it comes to the safety of our precious people?” The sight of broken wings and blood flashed behind his eyelids for only a split second. He breathed in.

“… Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

He breathed out.

[beardedmrbean]

Police in San Francisco are investigating a shooting inside a synagogue during which the unidentified suspect may have fired blanks rather than live rounds Wednesday night in what a synagogue official called an attempt to terrorize Jewish people.

The synagogue didn't report the incident until Thursday morning. No injuries or property damage were reported.

Officers responded to a report of threats at the synagogue around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, the San Francisco Police Department said in a statement early Friday.

The person who made the report described an incident around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday in which an unknown man entered the building and "shot several times," police said.

"To me, this feels like an act of terrorism. The point was to terrify the Jewish people here," Alon Chanukov, the synagogue's vice president, told KRON-TV.

KRON reported that the incident Wednesday was captured on video. A man wearing a baseball cap, jacket and sneakers enters a room with more than a dozen people at a table and makes hand gestures before taking out a gun and firing around the room. The man then waves and exits less than a minute after entering the room.

Police did not name the synagogue.

Chanukov said the witnesses didn't call police after the suspect fired the rounds believed to be blanks, but he phoned authorities Thursday morning.

"I don't think people knew what was happening. We are talking about elderly people. The youngest being 60, then 70s and 80s," Chanukov said, adding that there was a fear about retaliation from speaking out.

Police noted there was another report of a person with a gun at a theater on the same block Tuesday night. A man brandished a gun at employees and then fled on foot.

Police said the events appeared to be unrelated to the synagogue incident on Wednesday, but the similar descriptions indicate the man in each report is "possibly the same individual." Investigators were searching for the suspect on Friday.

The latest synagogue incident came as a man suspected of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the front door of a synagogue in northern New Jersey last weekend was arraigned on Thursday and amid evidence of growing antisemitism nationwide.

[crystalelemental]

Unit Viability Speculation - SS N

Social Security Number enters Masters with Black Kyurem.  I expected that to go to Ghetsis, but here we are.

Ice Tech, go figure.  He has a counter-attacking posture move.  Everyone may complain now.  At least a passive gives -2 sync cooldown in compensation.  And his Buddy move requires that posture, but allows him to still use the Noble Roar thing for double drops and all sorts of nice bonus effects.  The interesting thing to me is the attempt to make these moves useful.  The funny thing is it works worse.

Let’s do some math.  A major reason people dislike these two-turn moves is because they do nothing turn 1, so the major damage listed is technically halved to reach typical DPS numbers.  Renegade Cynthia’s a good example of what I mean.  Shadow Ball you can spam every turn, and is 99BP.  Shadow Force is 200BP.  To most, Shadow Force seems far and away the better move, right?  It’s more than double the damage.  But you use Shadow Ball twice in the same time it takes to use Shadow Force once, so DPS comparison is more like 198 to 200.  Okay, so they’re equivalent, what’s the harm?  Well, the fact that spamming each turn means more effective denials in CS that get you bonus turns, or taking out a foe quickly when needed.  Two-turn moves need this kind of fall-back, because on their own, they have a ton of problems.

SS N is no exception.  His move has absurd base power, but this is his only form of offense, and worse, they split it across three turns now.  Setup, Roar, Execute.  At 300BP, this is effectively a 100BP move if the damage were staggered across each turn.  It’s just Shadow Ball, bro.  Yes, the Buddy move can grant Supereffective and Physical Moves Up Next, but they did supereffective with Cynthia and it didn’t make Shadow Force that much more enticing to begin with, and Physical Moves is just a consolation over it being 3-turn.  The damage will be respectable when it hits, but it’s taking an exceptionally long time to hit.  the 30% paralysis rate is also a disaster because all he got at base is Hostile Environment 1, because his off move is Ice Beam, and god help us if he were as reliable a freeze bot as SS Hilbert, who is also a part of this month’s new releases.  So thanks for gimping his paralysis rate for literally no reason, guys.  Oh but don’t worry, Hostile Environment 2 is on grid.  Why didn’t you just give him natural HE2 and call it a day?  Save us all the trouble.

As usual, 3/5 grid is fine.  The only things I really like are the speed boosts for the team per action (which is nice but not necessary) and the reduction of damage taken while in a counter posture (which could legitimately be useful).  But it’s far from necessary given his core function.  Which is damage.  Which, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to impress me.  Like, functionally, this guy’s support isn’t great.  It’s one debuff per round, WAY too slow to matter.  And from what I can find (I am very sleeping and reading raw text), it looks like all he got were two 60% bonuses to sync, which is really sad standing next to Hilbert getting up to +300% at max.

I feel like this one’s not so great maybe.  Ghetsis just got his EX as well, and has consistent DPS with AoE.  Yes it has its flaws, but Ghetsis should be perfectly fine for what he does.  SS N feels like am embellishment, but not a particularly good one.  His three-turn move structure is incredibly rigid, and taking time to use his trainer move at all is throwing off the whole game plan due to mis-timed sync.  His sync as a tech isn’t spectacular, and he’s reliant more on the move damage of a counterattacking move that takes three turns to execute.  He doesn’t even get consistent status application without 3/5.  It’s not bad, per se, but it is sad.

[pathfinderunlocked]

Cindermaw Tiger - CR10 Magical Beast

A magical beast that would probably also make a good Pokémon.

Artwork by Meteorskies on DeviantArt.

You could use this creature by itself as a deadly encounter at level 6 to 8, possibly the pet of an overconfident BBEG who gives the mid-level PCs to his lava tiger as a meal and then walks away.  But since it’s a beast with 2 Int, I figure most people will probably use it as part of a normal encounter in a high level volcano adventure - I tried to give it abilities that worked for both situations, making the fight interesting without being too much to track if you have four of them.

Cindermaw tigers are one of those monsters where my instinct is to explain its existence with a simple “A wizard did it!” and move on.  So that’s what I’m doing.  They can mostly be found volcanic areas and in the Plane of Fire.  They’re not elementals, though, because they’re not naturally occurring on the Plane of Fire.  The Plane of Fire has mad wizards too, and they make crazy magical beasts just like the wizards anywhere else.

Cindermaw Tiger - CR 10

XP 9,600 N Large magical beast (fire) Init +6 Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +8 natural, –1 size) hp 133 (14d10+56) Fort +14, Ref +11, Will +8 Immune fire Weakness vulnerable to cold

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft. Melee 2 claws +20 (2d4+7 plus 1d4 fire plus grab), bite +20 (2d6+7/19–20 plus 1d8 fire plus grab) Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. Special Attacks constrict (1d8 fire), heat, lava waves, pounce, rake (2 claws +20, 2d4+7)

STATISTICS

Str 25, Dex 15, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 10 Base Atk +14; CMB +23 (+27 grapple); CMD 35 (39 vs. trip) Feats Improved Critical (bite), Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Run, Skill Focus (Perception), Skill Focus (Stealth) Skills Climb +13, Acrobatics +6, Perception +13, Stealth +15 (+23 in volcanic areas); Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +4 Stealth (+8 in volcanic areas)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Heat (Ex) The body of a cindermaw tiger generates intense heat, dealing 1d8 points of fire damage with its touch.  Creatures attacking a cindermaw tiger unarmed or with natural weapons take fire damage each time their attacks hit.

Inferno Roar (Su) Once per day as a standard action, a cindermaw tiger can let out a burning roar.  The cindermaw tiger gains 1d8+10 temporary hit points for 4 rounds, and all enemies within 60 feet that can hear the roar must succeed at a DC 21 Will save or be shaken and unable to willingly approach the cindermaw tiger for 4 rounds.  Creatures that are shaken by this ability also catch on fire, taking 1d6 fire damage per round.  A creature that is on fire can use a standard action to extinguish itself as normal, but the fire is also automatically extinguished as soon as the shaken condition ends.  This is a fear effect.  The save DC and duration are Constitution-based.

Lava Waves (Su) Twice per day as a swift action, a cindermaw tiger can conjure four 5 ft. x 5 ft. lava waves on the ground in spaces adjacent to it - these spaces cannot be adjacent to each other, and each lava wave must be pointing a different direction.  Each lava wave stands in place, pointing in a specific direction and ready to crash in that direction until directed to by the cindermaw tiger.  It is possible to move through the lava waves, but while a lava wave is standing in place, any creature that enters a lava wave’s square, starts its turn there, or touches a lava wave takes 4d6+4 fire damage with no save.

As an immediate action at any point during another creature’s movement, or as a swift action on its own turn, the cindermaw tiger can release these lava waves.  Each lava wave crashes forward and deals 4d6+4 fire damage in a 20-ft. line in the direction it is pointing, and then disappears.  Creatures can make a DC 21 Reflex save to halve the damage.  The save DC is Constitution-based.