#for a game so focused on the excitement of space exploration

[sybbi]

Is it just me or did Bethesda forget to make Starfield... fun?

[moonlightwritingf1]

The Ultimate Distraction | LN4

𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 summary ━━━━━━━ Y/N and Lando, a new couple just a month into their relationship, are still exploring the exciting depths of their connection, both emotionally and physically. While visiting Lando’s apartment in Monaco, Y/N finds herself craving his attention late one night as he’s absorbed in a gaming session in the room next to his bedroom. Unable to resist her desire, she decides to surprise him by slipping under his desk.

𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 pairing ━━━━━━━ Lando Norris x she!reader

𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 word count ━━━━━━━ 1.5k

𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 warnings ━━━━━━━ +18, sexual content

The soft glow of Lando’s gaming monitor cast shadows across the room, illuminating his focused expression as his fingers danced over the keyboard. He was in the zone, his racing game demanding every ounce of his attention. The hum of the PC and the occasional click of the mouse were the only sounds breaking the silence of the late Monaco night.

Y/n lay in bed just a room away, staring at the ceiling. He’s been at it for hours, she thought, her pulse quickening with a mix of frustration and desire. She had tried to distract herself, scrolling through her phone, reading a book, even attempting to sleep. But the memory of Lando’s hands on her skin, the way he whispered her name when they were alone together, kept pulling her back.

She shifted in bed, feeling the heat building between her thighs. I want him. The thought was insistent, almost maddening. She glanced at the clock—it was past midnight. And there he was, still glued to his PC, oblivious to the world outside his screen.

Enough waiting.

With a determined breath, Y/n slipped out of bed, her bare feet padding softly across the cool floor. She wore nothing but one of Lando’s oversized t-shirts, the fabric brushing against her thighs as she moved toward his room. Her heart pounded in her chest, not from nervousness, but from anticipation. She knew exactly what she wanted.

Lando didn’t notice her at first, too engrossed in his game. His headset blocked out any sound, his eyes locked on the monitor as he navigated a tricky corner on the virtual track. Y/n paused in the doorway, watching him for a moment. The way his brow furrowed in concentration, the faint scruff on his jaw, the way his lips twitched into a small smirk when he nailed a perfect drift—it all stirred something deep inside her.

He’s so hot when he’s focused like this.

Without a word, she dropped to her knees and crawled under his desk, the space cramped but manageable. Lando’s legs were bracketed by the chair, his jeans-clad thighs inches from her face. She could smell his cologne, subtle but intoxicating, mingling with the faint musk of his body. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the button of his jeans, her breath hitching when she felt the warmth radiating from him.

Lando froze mid-game, his hand hovering over the mouse. “What the—” he started, his voice muffled by the headset. He leaned back slightly, trying to peer under the desk. “Y/n? What are you doing?”

She looked up at him, her eyes glinting with mischief in the dim light. “Shh,” she whispered, pressing a finger to her lips. “Keep playing.”

“Wait, what?” he stammered, his voice higher than usual. But before he could protest further, Y/n undid his jeans and pulled them down just enough to free his hardening length. Her warm breath ghosted over his skin, and Lando’s breath hitched.

“Jesus, Y/n,” he muttered, his grip tightening on the edge of the desk. But instead of stopping her, he found himself unable to move, trapped between shock and arousal.

Y/n didn’t give him time to think. She leaned forward, her lips wrapping around him in one smooth motion. Lando let out a strangled groan, his head falling back against the chair. “Fuck,” he hissed, his hips jerking involuntarily.

But Y/n wasn’t done teasing him. She pulled back slowly, her tongue tracing the sensitive underside of his shaft before taking him into her mouth again, deeper this time. Her hand wrapped around the base, stroking in tandem with her mouth, each movement deliberate and unhurried.

“Y/n, I can’t—” Lando started, his voice strained. He fumbled for the headset, tugging it off and letting it dangle around his neck. “You’re going to make me lose.”

“Then don’t lose,” she murmured, her lips still pressed against him. She gazed up at him through her lashes, her eyes dark with desire. “Keep playing.”

Lando groaned, torn between the game and the woman currently driving him out of his mind. His hand hovered over the keyboard, unsure whether to keep going or surrender completely. But Y/n’s insistence was impossible to ignore. With a shaky breath, he turned his attention back to the screen, his fingers trembling slightly as they resumed their position.

“You’re insane,” he muttered, though there was no real annoyance in his tone. If anything, he sounded wrecked already.

Y/n smirked, her lips curving around him as she picked up the pace. Her tongue swirled around the tip, eliciting another sharp intake of breath from Lando. She could feel him struggling to focus, his movements on the keyboard growing sloppier with each passing second.

“Concentrate,” she teased, her voice low and sultry. “Unless you want to crash.”

Lando gritted his teeth, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the desk. “You’re making this fucking impossible,” he growled, though his resolve was clearly crumbling.

She hummed in response, the vibration sending a thrill through him. Her hand tightened around his shaft, her strokes becoming faster, more insistent. Lando’s breathing grew ragged, his concentration shattered as pleasure overwhelmed him.

“Y/n, I’m serious,” he managed, his voice barely above a whisper. “If you don’t stop—”

She didn’t let him finish. Instead, she took him deeper, her throat relaxing to accommodate him. Lando swore under his breath, his hips bucking instinctively. The controller slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the desk as he reached for her hair, tangling his fingers in the strands.

“Fuck the game,” he muttered, his voice rough with need. But Y/n pulled back, her lips slick and swollen as she looked up at him with a mischievous grin.

“No,” she said firmly. “You’re not quitting. Not yet.”

She leaned forward again, this time flicking her tongue against the sensitive spot just beneath the head, eliciting a shuddering moan from Lando. Her hand moved in sync with her mouth, her strokes deliberate and slow, dragging him closer to the edge without letting him fall.

“Y/n,” he gasped, his free hand clutching at the armrest of his chair. “I can’t—you’re killing me.”

She ignored his plea, her focus entirely on him. Her lips sealed around him once more, her tongue swirling as she took him deeper, pushing herself further than before. Lando’s breath came in short, sharp bursts, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he fought to maintain control.

On the screen, his car veered off the track, spinning out in a cloud of virtual dust. Lando didn’t even notice, too consumed by the sensations coursing through him. His fingers clenched in her hair, gently guiding her movements, urging her to take him even deeper.

“So good,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. “God, you’re so fucking good at this.”

Y/n responded by hollowing her cheeks, the suction intensifying as she increased the pressure. Her hand moved faster, matching the rhythm of her mouth, every stroke bringing him closer to the edge. She could feel him trembling beneath her, his thighs tense, his breath hitching with every pass of her tongue.

“Y/n, I’m close,” he warned, his voice strained. “Too close.”

But instead of pulling back, she doubled down, her mouth working him with relentless precision. Her other hand reached up to fondle him, her fingers grazing over sensitive flesh, pressing against him in just the right way. Lando’s grip on her hair tightened, his body tensing as pleasure coiled tightly in his core.

“Fuck,” he groaned, his hips bucking upward, unable to hold back any longer. “Y/n, I—”

She didn’t let him finish. Her mouth enveloped him completely, swallowing him as he finally gave in to the overwhelming sensation, waves of pleasure crashing over him. His entire body stiffened, his release spilling into her waiting mouth, each pulse accompanied by a choked gasp from his lips.

For a moment, everything was still, the only sound in the room Lando’s ragged breathing as he slumped back in his chair, utterly spent. Y/n pulled back slowly, her lips brushing against him one last time before she settled back on her heels, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

“Told you,” she said softly, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “You didn’t have to stop playing.”

Lando stared at her, his chest still heaving, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. “You’re unbelievable,” he finally managed, his voice hoarse. He reached for her, his hand trembling slightly as he cupped her cheek. “Come here.”

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes locking with his, before crawling out from under the desk and standing up. Lando wasted no time, pulling her into his lap and capturing her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. His hands roamed over her body, eager to return the favor, to show her just how much she affected him.

But Y/n pulled back slightly, breaking the kiss with a soft laugh. “Not yet,” she whispered, her fingers trailing down his chest. “You still haven’t finished your race.”

He groaned, burying his face in the crook of her neck. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he muttered, though there was no real malice in his tone.

She smirked, leaning in to whisper in his ear, “Then consider me your favorite executioner.”

[leeknowlover99]

Hihihii can you do stray kids reaction to reader wearing something very short for the first time can be nsfw 🫦 Thanks

sure! sorry it took so long :(

that was so much fun to write! hope you like it ;)

warnings: fluff, suggestive and explicit content, nicknames, tiny bit of angst, slight mention of insecurities

masterlist

chan

you and chan were going for a fancy date tonight to celebrate your promotion at work. you were meeting in the restaurant so you were getting ready on your own. yesterday you went shopping with your best friend and she persuaded you to buy a short red dress. the type you would never buy on your own. but when she make you try it on you thought it looked good on you. however now you felt a bit unsure, you thought that maybe it was a bit too much. but since you were running out of the time the only thing you could do was leave in that dress. you hoped Chan will like it. when you entered the restaurant he was already there waiting. you saw his gaze slowly slide down your body as you were approaching your table. this already made you blush. maybe it was a good choice after all. Chan stood up to greet you and kissed you, hands resting a bit lower on your waist than usually. “you look gorgeous.” he whispered in your ear before pulling out the chair for you. you noticed that he was a bit distracted through the whole dinner. you only realized why when waiter asked if you wanted a dessert and chan answered “no we’re good thank you”. and after you looked at him confused he whispered “we’ll have dessert at home baby” and winked at you.

minho

minho was sure you wore this skirt for the sole reason of pissing him of. after the argument you had last week you did not speak a word to him. and now you were both at Chan’s party, all evening you didn’t give him one look. but everyone’s eyes, including Minho were on you. tight black skirt hugged your butt perfectly. oh you knew how much Minho loved your ass. you also knew how possessive he was.he watched you have fun and flirt with others all evening but when some dude started to get too touchy with you he finally snapped. “execuse me, we need to talk” he barged into you and grabbed your arm. you did not even manage to react before he dragged you to an empty bathroom and pressed against the door. “what the fuck?” you frowned. “don’t ask stupid questions y/n. i know the game you’re playing” you gulped at intensity of his gaze. “i’m sorry, i really am. and i’m ready to commit. but right now you’re really pissing me off” so many emotions were mixed in his voice. you couldn’t find the right words to respond so instead you laced your arms behind his neck and pulled him for a passionate kiss. his tongue immediately found yours and hands started exploring your body. he quickly focused on your ass, grabbing, squeezing and spanking. “you call this funny piece of poliester a skirt, your ass was begging to be touched all night baby girl.”

changbin

you and Changbin started seeing each other in the winter time when it was absolutely freezing most of the time. it did not give you chance to wear skirts or dresses. but now when spring was around the corner you could finally dress better for your dates. today you were going to watch cherry blossoms, so you opted for a short white tennis skirt and blue sweater. you wanted to take some cute pictures. you saw Changbin eyeing you up when he picked you up but he didn’t say anything. you enjoyed the date and talked non stop. “Binnie look a photo booth! let’s take a pic!” you jumped excited. you couldn’t miss a chance to get some new shots with your handsome boyfriend. he agreed and you entered the small space. the booth was really tiny so you sat on a Changbins lap and started posing. however you noticed Binnie being tense. “hey relax, let’s do a hug” you prompted him and moved more towards him on his lap. “oh” that’s when you realized as you bare thigh rubbed around a very prominent hardness in his pants. “why are you hard?” you laughed. Changbin looked at your lap where your skirt was bunched up around your hips almost exposing your panties, he slowly rubbed circles on your thighs. “i just love your outfit princess, that’s all.”

hyunjin

it was your boyfriends birthday and you decided to surprise him. he loved your body, even when you couldn’t say the same. but with his help you were slowly becoming more comfortable and accepting with yourself. you still were far away from letting him paint or photograph you naked but you decided to take a next step. you’ve never worn anything short around him but now you bought a new mini skirt and wore it to your date. he definitely noticed greeting you his eyes wondered around your hips a little bit longer than usual. “ you look beautiful love” he whispered in your ear now. you came back to his place and you were making out on the couch. your mini skirt now hiked up as you straddled him. his large hands gently massaging your ass. “your body is so sexy, i was so hard when i saw you in that dress.” he hissed and you rocked your hips against his erection. “just like i am now. god what did i do to deserve such a pretty girl like you” he mumbled against your neck, licking and sucking on it. “i’m glad you enjoyed your birthday gift Hyun”.

jisung

you and Jisung had been dating secretly for about six months. since you were both idols you didn’t want any dating scandals and people getting into your business. sometimes you had to interact in music shows or award ceremonies. today was one of this days when both your groups attended same award show. it wasn’t a first time but you were super nervous. stylist decide to give you a sexy outfit today, short black dress hugging your body perfectly. you weren’t used to wearing clothes like that, your group’s concept was more boyish. you’ve never worn sexier clothes with Jisung either, when you were hanging out you usually tried to blend in and cover yourself best in the crowd so no one would recognize you. so now you were nervous for his reaction. you knew that he wore revealing clothes himself on the stage. maybe he won’t even notice you thought. however he definitely noticed. he kept staring at you, eyes wide and dark. he was being so shameless that you started to get worried that someone will notice. you excused yourself to go the bathroom and rest from his burning gaze a bit. as you were reaching for the door you heard his voice calling your name. “Y/N!” you turned around and saw Jisung running towards you. “Ji what are you doing? we’re not supposed to be seen together” you whispered. “i just can’t contain myself, you look so good, i’ve never seen you in a dress like that before” he mumbled pressing you against the door lightly. his eyes shined with both adoration and lust. you blushed. “someone will notice” you tried to protest. “i don’t care” he said and pulled you in for a deep kiss, his hands already playing with the hem of your dress.

felix

you and your boyfriend were invited to his parents house for dinner tonight. they wanted to celebrate their wedding anniversary. you decided to dress a bit more fancy than usual. Felix put on a nice shirt and a tie. you recently found your old black dress. it was short but very elegant so you decided it is still quite appropriate for the occasion. Felix entered your bedroom and started looking around. “are you searching for something?” you asked. “yeah i can’t find my watch.” he said finally looking at you. “oh” he blushed. “what?” you asked checking yourself out in the mirror. you looked fine. your boyfriend approached you slowly eyes gazing at your exposed thighs. “i’ve never seen you wear such a short dress.” “is it too short?” you asked worried now. maybe you should change in something longer. “nah it’s fine. just a little bit distracting” Felix responded hugging you from behind. you chuckled and he leaned down to kiss you. at first his lips were sweet and gentle but after a while he became more desperate. his hands started roaming your body and pressing you against his hard on. “Lixie stop” you said a bit breathless from all the kisses. “we’ll crease our clothes and we need to leave soon” you tried to think rationally despite your boyfriend tempting you. “are you going to leave me like that?” he pouted pointed to his erection. “yes, we’ll have fun when we’ll be back, come on!” you protested.

seungmin

you met Seungmin in the dog shelter this summer, you were both students volunteering. you slowly started to get to know each other working long hours together. attraction was there from the beginning, in shy smiles and long conversations, although both of you were rather timid. after two months Seungmin finally gathered enough courage to ask you out. you agreed with pure joy in your eyes which made him a bit more confident. however you have never imagined that on your first date you’ll end up pressed against the cafes restroom door panties to the side, his bare dick deep inside of you hitting your sweet spot. “fuck Seungmin i’m gonna cum” you moaned clenching around him. “cum pretty, cream my cock” he grunted in between of messy wet kisses. and all of that happened because of that damn dress as he said. he could not resist you. after months of seeing you in dirty sweats and overalls you wore the flimsiest little sundress to your first date. and suddenly he did not have any willpower left, dragging you to the restroom in the middle of the date cause he just needed to have you.

jeongin

“look at that dress, it’s stunning” you boyfriend showed you a short sparkly piece of material. “it’s way to short for me and you know that” you dismissed it immediately. “come on, at least try it on. it will look great on you.” he insisted following you around the store. “fine” you agreed finally taking few other pieces with you to the fitting room as well. Jeongin followed you like an excited kid. it was so cute it made you smile. he patiently waited for you to change and gave his opinions on each piece. you left the dress for the end. surprisingly it actually fit you like a glove. yes it was dangerously short but you definitely liked how it looked on you. you must’ve been staring at yourself for a bit too long because jeongin peeked from behind the door and joined you. “wow y/n” he gasped eyes traveling down your body. “i told you it will look good.” his hands found their way around your waist as he was watching your figure in the mirror. “yeah i actually like it, should i get it?” you asked feeling brave now. “hmm” your boyfriend pretended to think about it while his hands rubbed your hips. “i’m not sure if i’ll be able to control myself if you will wear that in public” he whispered in your ear and nipped at your neck. you arched towards him and replied “is this such a bad thing?” slowly guiding his hand down your body between your legs. “no it’s not” he responded grinning and giving you exactly what you needed.

[neptuneiris]

Behind the Scenes (05/05)

Behind the Success

pairing: actor!aemond × fem!reader

summary: you and Aenar finally meet Aemond's family, closing one chapter of your life and starting a new one with Aemond in it.

word counter: 8.7k

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it's here!🥳

I've finally finished the chapter and I'm so excited for you guys to read this!

and how is it possible that another story is going to end soon? because if you didn't read my previous message, there will be an epilogue, so it's not yet the definitive goodbye for this little family we have created🤭

also before reading I want to thank you for your support and please leave me your opinion, lately the comments have gone down and I wish to read you🙏🏻

oh I also want to make a small clarification before you reed:

in the second chapter it is mentioned how aemond at the end confessed everything to his family in a desperate attempt to find Y/N. but let's forget that hehe🤭 let's pretend that aemond never told them so you can enjoy this chapter and the light drama you are about to read.

now read and enjoy, ily all!

warnings: slight angst, aemond's family melting our hearts when they meet aenar.

Aemond immerses himself in the world of acting with the same fierce dedication with which he confronts his characters on screen. Every move, every word, everything is carefully rehearsed and executed.

Each project is a challenge, an opportunity to explore new roles and demonstrate his versatility as an actor.

The hustle and bustle of the film set fills the air as he immerses himself in his role. The bright lights illuminate his face, conveying the intensity of his character as he delivers his lines with palpable emotion.

But when the bell rings, as well as the director's shout of "cut!" is heard, Aemond is Aemond again.

Behind all those shots, scenes, interviews and awards, no one knows that Aemond is a father, at least no one outside his close circle. He only confided the news to a few close co-workers, some production people and his older sister, Rhaenyra.

He managed to persuade some rumors after some people at first saw him entertaining Aenar in the nursery on the set, because even though there is nothing wrong with it and Aenar is his most precious treasure and a pride of his life, he knows it is better to protect him from the public eye.

And now that Aenar has his own nanny at home, sometimes even then the whispers would start to get too much and he would make sure that some member of the production crew, known for their ability to spread harmless gossip, would plant the idea that it was simply a close family friend of the child they had seen him with.

And in the midst of all his work and everything he has to do, Aemond finds the precious time to be with his son.

Aenar, a whirlwind of laughter and childlike energy, fills every space where the two are together with light. Games, stories and hugs become routine and Aemond cherishes every moment he can spend with him on his days off.

He even reduces his own working hours and focuses entirely on filming his scenes, also attending one or two interviews per month, in order to have more quality time with Aenar, who is more important than having to please the press at every moment.

And as he balances the intensity of the job with his responsibility as a father, Aemond fights for to rebuild the trust you once placed in him.

Every gesture, every conversation, was an effort to demonstrate that he is fully committed to getting things right this time. Every encounter with you, he demonstrates a quiet determination to making amends for past mistakes.

With carefully chosen words and acts of genuine support, he tries to show you that he understands the pain he had caused and is willing to go out of his way to regain your trust.

And you accept this, because you see how he makes an effort to open up more, to share his thoughts, his fears and his hopes. But above all, you see how he is making an effort with Aenar, which is the most important thing.

And you also see how parental responsibility has changed his perspective and maturity. But still, Aemond knows that rebuilding trust takes time and forgiveness is not something that can or should be rushed.

Even if you decide never to forgive him, he's okay with that and is getting the idea from now on that you only allow him to be close to you because of Aenar and only because of Aenar.

So in the meantime, you immerse yourself in your own workday.

The makeup and wardrobe trailer is a world of constant motion and productivity in any given area, though your mind is always on Aenar and also on Aemond.

And even though you both carry separate jobs at the same place during the day, you both manage to create a balance between your jobs and raising Aenar.

Evenings were for you and Aenar if Aemond didn't finish recording at the same time as your shift ends. And almost at dusk is when Aemond comes from work and devotes every minute of his free afternoon to Aenar.

Instead if you both finished your shifts at the same time, you both spent time together with Aenar.

However, the nights brought calm.

Once Aenar fell asleep and before Aemond retired, you and he find your own space to talk, share thoughts, talk about work or more importantly about Aenar. And today just happens to be one of those nights.

You finish cleaning the kitchen, while Aemond is sitting on one of the stools, with a cup of coffee in his hands, looking out the large windows to the back garden, thoughtful.

While he has in front of him the IPad with the image of the camera in Aenar's crib that records him sleeping, attentive and making sure he is well.

"I've been thinking a lot lately," he says, breaking the silence in a soft voice, catching your attention.

You watch him from the sink, setting a clean, dry dish in the drainer, then drying your hands with a clean cloth.

"About what?" you ask him softly, attentively.

And he takes a moment before answering, thinking very carefully about his words and what he means, not wanting you to misunderstand him in any way.

"On Aenar and... us."

He confesses and you lean on the other side of the island that separates you both in front of him, giving him your full attention.

"At first..." he starts to say, slightly flustered, "You didn't want me to hide him from the world and I-I... well, I obviously disagreed with you."

He says and bites the inside of his cheek, lowering his gaze, feeling embarrassed.

"But now... I think it's not fair to him that no one has any idea that I have a son. It's also not fair for anyone to know that you're the mother of my child."

His gaze again meets yours and a sense of understanding envelops both him and you.

"Now things have changed," Aemond continues, his tone laden with sincerity, "And I know that you and I are n-not together but... maybe... I can announce the news, only if you want me to."

Silence fills the kitchen in its entirety for a moment, as Aemond holds his breath at your possible response, honestly feeling terrified to expect a bad reaction from you.

But none of that crosses your mind, on the contrary, you just digest his words. But your silence is what causes a mixture of expectation and anxiety in Aemond, who holds his gaze with yours, nervous.

And finally, with a serene sigh, you go around the island that separates the two of you and approach him, placing one of your hands on his shoulder gently and in an attempt to comfort and reassure him, instantly feeling his whole figure tense, while he watches you with his big healthy wide eye and his prosthetic eye remains the same as always.

"Aemond," you begin to say in a soft voice as he watches you completely attentively, "I always wanted you to recognize Aenar publicly, that was what I wanted most at first. But now...

You pause for a moment, thinking about your meditated words, as you sink for a second into your own thoughts and what you really want to say, as Aemond watches you intently, waiting for you to continue.

"I understand your world more now," you continue, "And, honestly, I can't blame you for not agreeing with me back then, only in this," you make clear, "Recognize him legally would have been the right thing to do and... enough," you say holding back the sadness in your tone of voice.

But Aemond catches that break in your voice, a moment of your vulnerability that makes him feel a sharp, simmering ache in his chest, as if every word you utter drops a weight on his shoulders, with shame again invading him, but this time with a mixture of deep remorse and regret.

A barely audible sigh escapes his lips, lowering his gaze, ashamed, feeling the burden of his past choices and he wonders amidst the brief silence if he will ever be able to fully redeem with himself.

But he doesn't have much time to think about it, as you gently squeeze his shoulder to bring his attention back to you.

"And now I understand that the press and people's opinions can be very dangerous and destructive," you say softly, "And I don't want that for Aenar, at least I don't want to deal with that yet," you confess, "I want him to grow up a little more and we can both enjoy his early years without having to worry about it."

An expression of surprise and also longing crosses Aemond's face, still watching you intently, processing your words.

"Are you sure?"

You place a soft smile on your lips.

"Very," you assure, "I just want him to grow up in a calm and safe place, without falling fame on him nor all this attention being so young," you explain, "I have no problem with it, but also your opinion counts."

"No, I-I... I want the same for him too," he agrees with you, nodding, with all the pressure and anxiety he felt being replaced by a mixture of gratitude and relief.

And you nod back at him, smiling softly in his direction.

"But..." he says with a slight urgency in his gaze and concern in his tone, "I just want you to know that when the time comes, I won't do it for attention or to be relevant."

He says seriously, softly and honestly.

""I'll do it because I know it's something I have to do, for him and for you, as in the beginning maybe it should have been. But for now I just want us to enjoy these moments and, when the time is right, make that decision together."

The room fills with the honesty of his words and you can feel the sincerity in each of them, as a sense of calm envelops you both and you share a soft, complicit smile.

"Sure," you nod to him, feeling a warmth wrap itself all over your chest.

Your gaze moves away from his for a moment, focusing on the iPad screen where Aenar is shown sleeping, while Aemond can't help but focus on the features of your face with an intensity that can't go unnoticed by you.

Deep longing is reflected in his gaze, with a palpable mix of regret and sadness that is projected beyond mere facial expression. And he feel that weight on his body and chest again, a burden he can't help but feel.

His healthy eye glides over your face as if searching for answers in every line of expression and in his gaze, you can perceive the longing to repair the irremediable, the need to know how much he regrets the decisions of the past.

"Y/N-

He starts to want to say, his voice laden with regret, but you turn your gaze to him and stop him.

"Aemond, we have already talked about this."

"But I'm sorry... I really am," he insists, with pain in his gaze, "And I know an apology isn't going to fix it, I know that, neither is anything else but... I am really sorry and you don't know how much I hate myself for everything I put you through."

"No," you shake your head, "There's no need for you to keep apologizing," you tell him softly, "It won't do either of us any good to keep bringing up the mistakes of the past. Nor will it serve you to keep punishing yourself for what has already happened," you say as tactfully as you can.

His expression reflects a mixture of gratitude and frustration with yourself.

"Yes, I know, I understand," he murmurs, lowering his gaze, "It's just... I feel like I have to say it."

"Aemond, what matters now is this, how we move forward from here now that we've both learned and grown. Aenar too," you add, "And that's all that matters."

He nods slowly in your direction, his gaze showing a mixture of appreciation and relief, even with the remorse within him, as you both then sink into a moment of silence, letting the unspoken words echo in the air, but you both know those words, they just don't need to be said.

The relationship dynamic between you and Aemond since then takes a new path, a less tense, more bearable path of total trust. And this is not lost when the two of you are together in Aenar's presence.

Until one day, on your day off precisely, Aemond after work, comes to you telling you some unexpected news.

"I told them."

You turn fully towards him, giving him your full attention, understanding but at the same time not what he really means.

The living room starts to feel tense, while Aenar completely oblivious to it continues to play on the floor with his toys, but you focus on his gaze, where there is a charge of confession in his eye and you notice his whole body in a position of determination but also nervousness.

"Come, sit down," you tell him in a soft voice, pointing to the couch, while at the same time getting up from the floor to take a seat next to him.

And he almost with a defeated expression and posture, does as you say, letting out a sigh.

"What happened?" you ask, watching him intently.

He inhales deeply, looking at Aenar on the floor, who is the only one who can make him feel a little calmer, as well as your presence next to him.

"I told them about everything that happened," he confesses to you, "Our relationship, your pregnancy, my team, the decision I made in the beginning, everything I caused and how much I hurt you," he says as he feels his heart knot, "Everything. Everything that happened from then until now... and Aenar."

His words leave a weight in the air, as you anticipate how bad and difficult that conversation must have gone with his family to see him this way, so serious and tense.

"And how did they react?"

Aemond closes his eye, lowering his gaze, his posture reflecting the emotional baggage he carries with him and how bad it definitely went with it.

"Just as I expected. Obviously they were disappointed in me."

He says without much emotion, but with slight pain in his tone

"My grandfather couldn't believe it and was shouting how come I kept all that from them. Hel was very shocked, Aegon and Daeron too. And mother said a few hurtful things, started crying and telling me how I could keep these things from her," he exhales deeply, "Rhaenyra and Daemon were the ones who helped me calm things down a bit, but still my grandfather and mother were upset with her for knowing and not saying anything."

The tension of what happened feels palpable, as if he is reliving his family's every reaction, with the heaviness of disappointment and pain reflected in his expression, as you beside hom, share the weight of that difficult moment.

You are both silent for a moment, only hearing the sounds of Aenar playing with his toys.

"I'm sorry," you whisper in his direction, placing your hand on top of his, as if trying to somehow ease the pain he feels, "It must have been very difficult for you."

"No, Y/N," he observes you instantly, speaking to you in a soft tone, "You don't have to apologize. I deserved this and I'm not saying it to cause pity or play the victim," he adds with earnest sincerity, "I'm saying it because it's true. This is the least I deserve after everything you had to go through because of me."

You decide not to say anything at this, just offer him your silent support, while he again seems lost in his own thoughts for a few long seconds, where neither of you say anything.

When suddenly, Aenar emits an infectious giggle, instantly attracting both of your attention.

His small hands hold a toy with enthusiasm, his smile and the tenderness he conveys bringing brightness to the living room and the state Aemond is in, who smiles softly at the scene, watching him with complete adoration.

He sighs and rises from the couch, moving towards him, holding him gently, needing the sensation at that moment of holding him in his arms.

Aenar squeals with excitement and joy, placing his small arms on his chest, moving energetically in his arms, smiling big at him with his blue eyes completely filled with a glow.

The scene makes you smile softly, especially when Aemond also takes one of his toys and begins to play with it in his arms as he starts to walk slowly around the living room, talking to it in a honeyed tone and causing Aenar to babble incomprehensible words but full of happiness in his tone.

And when Aenar entertains himself with his father's silver hair, Aemond speaks again, turning to you to observe you.

"Despite everything, they want to meet him," he says, watching Aenar in his arms, "And they also want to meet you, my mother more than anyone else."

And this also completely grabs your attention.

"Really?"

"Hmm," he nods, "But I didn't tell them yes or no," he lets you know, "I wanted to consult it with you first."

"But is this good or not?" you ask, looking to find positivity in the situation, "Or do you think they shouldn't know him yet?"

"Of course they should," he tells you softly, "I owe this to them, also to you. But as I tell you, I didn't know how you would react if I told you they would meet him soon, I wanted to check with you first."

You place a reassuring smile in his direction.

"Aemond, for me it's perfect for Aenar to meet his grandmother, his uncles and aunts. It's a great opportunity and will definitely be good for him," you assure him.

"Yes, it is," he nods, unconsciously beginning to imagine the moment, "They can come or we can go to them, whichever you decide."

"Either way is fine with me," you shrug, "When might that be?"

Aemond thinks for a moment before answering.

"We could arrange it next weekend. Sounds good?"

You nod with a reassuring little smile.

"Sounds good."

The Targaryen—Hightower family decides to come to you.

When Aemond gives you the news, even though at first you were totally fine and had no problem with it, inevitably knowing it instantly makes you nervous.

You've never met his family before, not even when you and Aemond were a couple for obvious reasons. And even though his family isn't involved within the entertainment and film industry, you've still heard enough about them to feel slightly intimidated.

About Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen more than anyone.

The uncertainty of how they will perceive you, especially after disappearing from Aemond's life without warning and also how they will treat you, that's what worries you the most.

But the fact that they will be coming to your house relieves you a little. Fortunately you won't be interacting with them in unfamiliar terrain and you're sure that the presence of Aenar, his toys and Aemond will go a long way to reassuring you.

"Do you need help?"

Aemond appears behind you, while you find yourself cleaning everything you can from your living room and Aenar, as usual, is sitting on the carpet with all his toys around him.

"I'm just cleaning up in here, then I'll go clean the kitchen."

"Don't worry, me and this little handsome will clean the kitchen."

He walks over to Aenar and takes him in his arms, who is already dressed in an outfit too cute for the occasion and smells like baby soap from the previous bath you gave him, ready to meet his family.

Aemond goes with him to the kitchen, sitting him in his perch, keeping an eye on him while at the same time starting to clean up.

You start moving some of Aenar's toys, organizing his play area a bit, to create a more orderly and cozy space in the living. You also mop the floor and arrange cushions.

Aemond washes a few dirty dishes and cleans all the shelves, also mops and spreads your favorite Lavender scent, which besides smelling amazing, calms your nerves.

You also ask him to help you tidy up the dining room while you clean the bathroom, wanting everything to look clean and spotless, while Aemond takes Aenar in his arms again to let him play in his play area and he watches him closely from that new distance.

"Maybe I should have cooked something?"

You walk over to him, slightly concerned.

"What? No," he turns to you, instantly, "Y/N, they're coming to meet Aenar, not to eat."

"I know, but..." you explain, nervously, "I thought maybe it would be a good idea to have something prepared, out of courtesy and.... I don't know. Won't it be rude of me if I don't have anything to offer them?"

"Of course not, you don't have to," he clarifies, more serious but with a soft tone, "If you want to have something prepared, let it be some drinks, nothing more."

Still you watch him hesitantly and worriedly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, very sure," he assures you, "In fact I'll prepare them. You rest and take care of Aenar. I'll finish cleaning up everything else."

"No, I-I-

"Rest," he repeats, interrupting you, placing a hand on your cheek gently, "I know this may be overwhelming, but they will come to meet Aenar and you too. And you don't have to put too much pressure on yourself. Everything will be fine."

Her warmth and understanding manage to comfort you a little, making you stop feeling so tense little by little.

"Now rest, okay?" he says softly to then walk past you and head towards the kitchen, not taking any argument back.

It's clear that he wants to lighten your load and make sure you feel comfortable about all this that's about to happen, with his actions conveying reassurance.

And finally after a while, you are ready and waiting in the living room with Aenar, playing with him, while Aemond is sitting on the single sofa and who a few minutes ago let you know that his family is on their way.

And after a few more long minutes, Aemond now lets you know that his family has already passed through the security gate that leads into the private neighborhood.

Knowing that fills you with nerves again, but Aenar's babbling as he hands you his currently favorite toys distracts you a bit.

"Are you okay?"

Aemond asks you from where he sits, watching you intently and noticing the tension all over your face and body, while you try to look completely calm and relaxed.

"Yeah, yeah, just... a little nervous," you say trying to place a genuine smile on your face as you distract yourself by touching Aenar's toys, "Who exactly is coming? Other than your mother and siblings," you can't help but ask.

"My grandfather."

You watch him expectantly, waiting for him to tell you more, but he doesn't.

"And that's everyone?"

"Well, Rhaenyra said my nephews wanted to come too, my uncle Daemon with his daughters too but I asked them to wait a little longer," he explains to you slightly concerned, "I didn't want you to feel nervous and overwhelmed if my whole family invaded your house. And Aenar sure would have felt scared too."

You bite the inside of your cheek and he rises from the couch to walk over to you, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry, okay? It's going to be fine. They're excited to meet you and Aenar."

You release a long breath through your nose, placing one of your hands on top of his, feeling your shoulders especially start to feel less tense.

"Yes... thank you," you tell him with gratitude in your gaze, appreciating his support.

And then the doorbell rings.

Aemond gives you one last reassuring glance, assuring you that everything will be fine, then turns and heads for the door to greet them, as you rise from the couch and take Aenar in your arms.

The tension in your shoulders gradually dissolves as you hold your baby in your arms, replaced by a sense of calm, as you watch the front door intently and finish mentally preparing yourself.

Aemond opens the door gently with a warm smile on his lips and the first to enter is his mother, Alicent Hightower, in a beautiful, elegant green dress, followed by who you assume is Otto Hightower, his grandfather.

His mother wraps her arms around him and leaves a loving kiss on his cheek which Aemond reciprocates, as he also greets his grandfather, who watches the entire interior of the house with an inspecting gaze.

Behind Otto enters Rhaenyra, who embraces Aemond.

"Thank you for coming," Aemond says to her, leaving a kiss on her cheek.

"Of course," she smiles at him, leaving a soft kiss on his cheek as well before pulling away from him.

"You guys too, thank you," she says to Aegon and the rest of her brothers, "Come on in."

Both brothers, Aegon and Daeron, embrace him, speaking words of assurance, leaving Helaena at last, who throws herself into his arms with obvious emotion, smiling with joy and longing, as Aemond leaves a kiss in her hair.

Then Aemond closes the door and before heading towards you, who are still standing very still near the couch with Aenar in his arms, his whole family finally notices you and especially the child in your arms.

"Thank you for coming, all of you," Aemond repeats as he turns to you, "Let me introduce you to Y/N," he points to you, "She works on the same recording set I am currently working on as well."

You put on the best friendly and kind smile possible, as Aemond takes Aenar in his arms so that you can meet his family. And the first to address you is Alicent, with her stunning elegance and a soft smile on a warm face.

"Nice to finally meet you, my dear. My son has spoken so much about you."

The tension almost completely leaves your body, feeling grateful and relieved by the welcoming tone of her voice, evaporating your fear about how everyone, especially her, would treat you.

"The pleasure is mine. I'm happy you're here."

You reach out your hand to her and, pleased, she takes it. But she takes you by surprise when she pulls you closer to her and wraps you in a gentle embrace, definitely not expecting that.

You freeze for a moment, then, a little hesitantly, return her embrace, grateful for the affectionate welcome. And when you both part, she has a smile that denotes sincerity and cordiality, then points you to Aemond's grandfather behind her.

"This is my father, Otto," Alicent introduces you as he watches you with an appraising expression, "He has also heard much about you and was very pleased to come here."

And though his look is somewhat... intimidating, you don't let that invade your nerves.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hightower," you tell him in a soft, polite voice, extending your hand to shake with his as well.

"The pleasure is mine, Y/N," he replies in a low, polite voice, shaking your hand briefly.

"And this is Rhaenyra," Alicent points you to the woman who is just as refined as she is and shares Aemond's same characteristic of silver hair, as do the rest of his siblings.

She smiles towards you and gracefully approaches, then embraces you in greeting mode, as does Alicent.

"It's nice to finally meet you," she tells you cheerfully, "Aemond told me so much about you and of course your little one," she tells you as she gives Aenar a loving look.

"The pleasure is all mine. Aemond also spoke a lot about you and was very excited to meet you," you tell her, as she holds your hands in a gentle grip.

"Well here we are," she tells you without wiping away her smile, then looks behind her, turning her attention to the rest of Aemond's siblings, "Oh and they are my siblings," she gestures you towards Aegon, Daeron and Helaena, who have friendly glances in your direction.

Aegon steps forward first, extending his hand.

"I am Aegon. I hope you're not feeling overwhelmed with so many silverheads invading your home."

"No, no, not at all," you laugh softly, taking his hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Aegon."

Daeron is next, greeting you with a friendly smile.

"Hello, nice to meet you, Y/N. I'm Daeron. Aemond told us a lot about you and Aenar."

"Pleasure to meet you, Daeron," you say, noting the sincere camaraderie emanating from both brothers.

And finally, Helaena gives a few towards you, with an expression of pure excitement on her face and hugs you effusively.

"At last we meet!" she exclaims happily, "I was so excited to see you."

"Oh," you respond to her hug also a little surprised and with gratitude, "It's nice to meet you. Aemond has also told me a lot about you.".

"Good things, I hope," she says with a smile, pulling away from you.

And gosh, you can just see how much her sisters and brothers resemble Aemond. Their beauties are otherworldly and even Alicent is truly beautiful, as much as Rhaenyra is.

"And this..." begins to announce Aemond with Aenar in his arms and a radiant smile lighting up his face as he approaches the center of the living room, where his entire family watches him intently, "This is our son, Aenar," he says with pride in his voice, finally introducing his son.

Everyone's gaze focuses on the baby in Aemond's arms, who oblivious to the situation, watches them back with his huge bright blue eyes curious and expectant, while you place a small smile, anticipating the magical meeting of your little one with the rest of his family.

Helaena, visibly moved, can't hold back tears and tries to calm herself, with happiness, longing and nostalgia in her eyes. Aegon smiles with pride and Rhaenyra with adoration.

And meanwhile, Daeron, Otto and Alicent barely finish processing the reality of having Aenar in front of them.

Until Alicent steps forward gently, his eyes and gaze shining with curiosity, slight surprise, longing and adoration as he watches the little one, his newly presented grandson.

"Is that my grandson?" she murmurs in disbelief with tears beginning to form in her eyes and a hand on her chest.

Aemond, with a warm smile, nods at the question.

"Yes, Mom," he gently observes her and seeing her condition, looks at her with complete understanding, "Do you want to hold him?" he offers, carefully extending Aenar to her, sharing in the joy of her holding her grandson.

Alicent, tears streaming down her cheeks and visibly moved, nods in a touched nod with her gaze reflecting all her emotions, joy and awe.

She takes another step forward and reaches out her arms, where Aemond carefully places Aenar in her arms, who now watches him adoringly and with a mixture of happiness and emotion reflected in her gaze.

Alicent can't help but let out a couple more tears as Aenar babbles and watches her with great wonder, moving his small hands to her brown hair, starting to play with her curls, making her laugh softly in the midst of her tears and all the emotions she feels.

Aemond watches his mother tenderly as she enjoys her first encounter with her grandson, while you can't help but feel moved as well and wipe away a few tears that have escaped your eyes, watching the moment with emotion and nostalgia.

"My little Aenar," Alicent whispers, tenderly kissing his forehead, cradling him in her arms.

Aemond, still smiling and holding back his tears, diverts his gaze to you and you watch him back, where you both share a small smile and a silent complicity, both feeling the same way and recognizing the happiness this moment has brought to your lives.

And then Helaena approaches together with Daeron towards her mother, to watch Aenar and share the joy of the moment.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" comments Helaena, smiling, as Daeron watches him with a small smile of adoration and strokes his silver hair tenderly.

"Absolutely beautiful," whispers Alicent, her eyes shining with tenderness, not taking her eyes off him for a second.

"He's lovely," Rhaenyra comments with her soft little smile.

And then Alicent lifts his gaze to Aemond.

"And he looks exactly like you, darling," she tells him tenderly, recognizing the familiar features on Aenar's face and creating a moment full of emotion and family connection.

Aemond, touched and grateful, smiles at his mother's words.

"I think he has a little bit of both," Aemond replies, sharing a proud look with you.

Aenar physically by hair and eyes resembles Aemond, but some features of his face he definitely inherited from you and you can't help but smile in his direction.

And then, within the next few minutes, the whole family continues to make affectionate moments with Aenar. Helaena being the most excited is the one who now holds Aenar tenderly in her arms, leaving a couple of loving kisses on her cheek, while Rhaenyra approaches her to observe Aenar with a motherly gaze.

The imposing figure of Otto Hightower stands watching with satisfaction the scene unfolding in front of him, especially as he sees the happiness and excitement of Alicent and his grandchildren.

He doesn't say much, but his presence exudes a sense of quiet approval and though he doesn't show it, he honestly feels proud of Aemond, this reunion of his family and the arrival of a new member to it.

As Aegon approaches towards Aemond with a friendly, warm smile, placing a hand on his shoulder where he shares his gesture of brotherhood and pride.

"Congratulations, brother," he tells him sincerely, "He is beautiful and a mini version of you."

Aemond nods gratefully, the smile on his lips and places one of his hands on top of his.

"Thank you, brother. I appreciate it."

Now it is Daeron who takes Aenar in his arms and carries him to his play area, followed by Helaena, Rhaenyra, Alicent and you.

Helaena also takes a seat on the carpet with Alicent and the three of them start playing with him, who shows his enthusiasm and fills the living room with his giggles, melting the hearts of everyone present.

The atmosphere definitely becomes livelier and warmer, transforming into a special moment for everyone, where both you and Aenar feel completely comfortable and happy.

And as a few long minutes pass, Aemond watches all the interaction, happy and completely pleased, seeing how you converse with Rhaenyra and the rest of his family is totally entertained by Aenar.

Even his mother asks to have her picture taken with him and slowly begins to fill a new photo album of her grandson on her phone reel, completely enchanted with him.

Such a sight and such a moment couldn't make him happier, being a moment he needed so much and couldn't be more proud of. And how could he not?

His watching his son integrate into his family. And you are definitely getting along great with all of them.

Aegon stands by his side, sharing the gesture of complicity as they watch Helaena and Daeron make sounds with Aenar's toys that make him laugh and squeal with happiness.

Absolutely beautiful.

"So..." Aegon begins to say beside him, catching his attention, "You're going to show him to the world?"

He watches him intently, as Aemond holds his gaze for a second to look back at Aenar with an affectionate gaze, smiling softly.

"That's what Y/N would have wanted at first, when she got pregnant," he says softly, remembering those painful moments, "But no, at least not yet," he replies, turning his gaze back to his brother, "We talk and want to give him a normal childhood as much as possible."

Aegon nods with understanding, listening to him with full attention, then lets out a sigh, watching Aenar.

"The world is going to go mad when they find out, little brother," he says with an amused smile.

"I don't care," he says with a shrug, "All I care about is him."

Aegon smiles warmly again, acknowledging Aemond's priority as a father and he couldn't be prouder of him. He may be the older brother but Aemond...he's the one who matured first, always cleaning up his shit and making sure everyone was okay.

And even though when Aemond told them about this, about you and Aenar, it turned out to be a complete disaster, Aegon is glad that right now his family is responding in this way, loving you and Aenar.

"And what happened to Criston?"

He decides to ask you, curious and attentive, as Aemond takes a moment and exhales deeply, he too being a person who brings back horrible memories of the past.

"I fired him," he replies with a disinterested wave of his hand, "And his entire team too," he adds, "That's what I should have done in the beginning with him."

"And he threatened you?"

Aemond lets out an amused smile, remembering those days as well.

"Yes but I hired a lawyer and they made him sign a confidentiality sheet," he explains, "He couldn't do anything against that."

Aegon nods, pleased to hear those words, as you both turn your gaze back to the family, where Aenar's laughter still echoes throughout the living room, Aemond smiling lovingly as he watches his mother assail him with soft kisses.

Your soft laughter catches your attention as well, watching you with almost the same adoration and love as he watches Aenar, watching you converse with Rhaenyra where you both let out soft giggles at whatever it is you are talking about.

And he can't help but watch you extra longingly, wistfully, happily and longingly, loving to see the smile on your lips and the look of joy you have, his perfect and beautiful Y/N.

He honestly doesn't know what would have become of him if he had never seen you again. He'll probably still be sunk in his misery, regretful and trapped. But with each passing day he thanks the Gods for this, again and again, this second chance.

And Aegon doesn't take this unnoticed, the way his brother is looking at you.

"You really fucked things up with her, didn't you?"

His words break the spell he was under and he bites his lips, averting his gaze from you, beginning to feel ashamed and also with that guilt simmering in his chest.

"Yeah," he replies in a low murmur.

"You still love her."

Aegon tells him watching him intently with a complicity and understanding, not asking any questions, as he is making a statement, affirming it.

And Aemond again speaks the truth, neither denying it nor hiding it.

"Never stop doing so."

Aegon lets out a long breath, honestly feeling bad for him, to place his hand on his shoulder again.

"Brother, we all make mistakes," he tells him softly, "People fuck up and fuck up badly. I'm sure you get that from a person like me," he points to himself, still speaking in a serious tone, "And the important thing is to learn from them and move on. And I'm sure she's seen that in you."

"No, Aegon," he says softly, shaking his head, "What happened between us was different and... unforgivable," he says with the slight pain in his tone, "This is all happening only for Aenar and his well-being."

"So you don't plan to do anything about it?"

"I don't know," he says regretfully, letting out a sigh, "Things are complicated. And with everything that happened surely Y/N doesn't feel that way about me anymore. Besides what really matters is Aenar and I want to be a good father to him."

"I understand that, brother. But maybe all is not lost and all you need to do is try," he tells him in an encouraging tone, "Life is unpredictable, you know? And who knows... maybe Y/N still has feelings for you."

Aemond grimaces.

"I don't know, bro. I don't think so."

Aegon decides to say no more, just nods, for after all, he understands the complexity of his situation. And inevitably, though he shouldn't, with the words he has spoken to him, Aemond feels a small glimmer of hope.

Meanwhile the inside of your house continues to fill with laughter and conversation as everyone enjoys family time. And in the middle of it all, Alicent notices you going to the kitchen for a moment, this catching her attention and being the opportunity to talk to you.

So, giving her attention away from her grandson since she arrived, without saying anything to anyone, she discreetly follows you into the kitchen.

As she passes through the frame, she sees you arranging the drinks that Aemond prepared for them on a tray, wanting to offer them. But when Alicent's figure entering the kitchen catches your attention, you immediately turn to her.

"I don't intend to take up too much of your time, my dear," Alicent hastens to speak with a small smile on her lips.

"Oh, yeah, yeah," you nod immediately, "Do you need something?"

"I just want to talk to you," she answers you softly, "And it's nothing bad, I just... want to thank you for welcoming us into your home," she says, showing the sincerity in her look and tone, "I honestly haven't felt this happy in my life in a long time. And meeting Aenar has definitely made me very happy," she pauses a little, "Thank you."

"No, no, you don't have to thank me," you reply, with a soft look, "It's a pleasure to have all of you here. And you have made Aenar very happy too."

"No, I really do thank you," she insists with a soft tone, "Your home is beautiful and definitely an excellent place for Aenar to grow up."

"Oh, thank you," you smile kindly at her, "Actually this house was bought by Aemond. He must have told them or at least you, I suppose."

"Yes, he did," she nods, "He also told us how much you refused at first but I understand you. It must have been a very meaningful but very overwhelming gesture for you."

You nod with understanding, biting your lips.

"Yes," you murmur, "Yes it was. But I only accepted for Aenar," you hasten to clarify, "I didn't do it for my own convenience, whether for money or fame. I accepted for Aenar, so that he could have his father in his life and together give him the best."

"Yes, sweetheart," she advances towards you and takes your hands between her gently, "I know," she assures you, "You don't have to explain anything, everything is more than understandable."

You let out a long breath.

"Thank you," you tell her sincerely.

"It's okay," she smiles softly at you, "And listen, I-I... I really don't want to make you uncomfortable nor do I want to make you feel bad, in fact Aemond asked me not to talk to you about this but..." she looks at you with some tenderness and longing, "I just want to tell you how very brave you are, Y/N."

You shudder at the sweetness of her unexpected words, feeling a warmth run through your chest as a mixture of gratitude and longing flashes across your face, suddenly feeling completely vulnerable.

"I didn't blame you for deciding to run away, no one judges you for it."

She lets you know by telling you in a soft voice and as tactfully as possible.

"As much as I would have loved to have met you sooner, Aemond's decisions were terrible and I can't imagine everything you had to go through on your own," she says with slight shock and sadness, holding your hand tighter, "Your pregnancy, living in a new unfamiliar place and trying to make it on your own."

You bite your lips, feeling a sharp pain in your chest and tears begin to form in your eyes, but you gather your strength and try not to let them fall despite the memories of painful moments.

Her words resonate with genuine understanding and her warm touch brings you a comfort you didn't expect but definitely needed.

"Yes," you whisper, feeling the lump in your throat, "It was very scary and very difficult," you confess, "But Aenar made every sacrifice worth it."

"Of course," she murmurs, with a sympathetic look.

"Oh and... it must have been hard for you too," you say, remembering, "In those days seeing Aemond so sad and desperate must have worried you a lot. It even almost put in danger his career and you had no idea about me and what had happened."

"Yes, that was very scary too," she nods with a sad smile, "We didn't know what had happened, he pushed everyone away, even Helaena and... I couldn't stand to see him like that, but he wouldn't accept our help either," she explains, "But now, just like me, I've never seen Aemond so happy in his life."

Her tone is genuine and you hold her gaze with appreciation and understanding, feeling completely grateful for this pleasant acceptance and welcome by Aemond's family.

And in that moment you can feel, as Alicent does, how your connection grows stronger in your shared understanding of past challenges and new hope.

"You are a strong woman, Y/N. And I also want you to know that regardless of the circumstances between you and Aemond, I want you to know that you are part of our family now and we are here to support you."

You feel a happiness and relief course through your body, grateful for her words and her total understanding, as you nod in her direction.

"Thank you, Alicent."

And Alicent unable to contain herself, wraps you in a hug full of tenderness that you reciprocate, with the atmosphere filling with a sense of mutual acceptance and support.

And from there, the rest of the afternoon is spent sharing laughter and creating special memories.

Aegon plays with Aenar while Daeron and Helaena join in the fun, making your little one laugh with every quip and funny face that Aegon especially makes.

Alicent and Rhaenyra also join in, creating a connection with Aenar and showing him affection, while Aemond and you watch it all sitting together on the couch, each with a smile on your lips.

Until the visit comes to an end and the family says goodbye with expressions of gratitude and affection. Helaena is the one who insists on exchanging numbers to stay in touch, while she along with Alicent and Aegon promise to visit again soon.

It's a bit hard for Alicent to want to let go of Aenar, but eventually she does and then Aemond and you finish picking up and sorting all of Aenar's scattered toys.

Until it's also time for Aemond to leave.

"Thank you for this day. It was amazing and better than I could have hoped for. Even mom loves you more than she ever loved me."

You smile in his direction sincerely, laughing softly.

"It was nothing, Aemond. It was all very nice. Your family was very kind and Aenar had a great time."

"Yes," he murmurs as he watches his little boy adoringly and then turns his gaze back to you, "Still, thank you... for everything."

You see the intent in his gaze, also in his body, the way he fights it, catching your attention and being a bit amused at it, then moving towards him and wrapping your arms around his neck, hugging him.

Surprised and definitely not expecting that, Aemond doesn't take long to reciprocate your embrace, a little hesitantly at first but he does, slipping his arms around your waist and pulling you close against him.

A sigh escapes his lips as he closes his eye, feeling that warmth in his body and that almost happiness at the sensation of having you close again.

He had missed it.

The embrace conveys a mutual support and understanding, also a kind of affection that Aemond can't quite decipher.

But honestly at that moment he doesn't mind and allows himself to enjoy and seize every moment of this feeling, knowing that he may not be able to have you again soon in this way, before you both part and he drives to his apartment.

Regular visits from the Aemond family to your home become a pleasant daily moment. Each encounter brings laughter, love and a sense of family unity.

Aenar, with his contagious laughter, becomes the center of attention, further strengthening family bonds.

The bond between Aenar and his relatives grows stronger over time, so his extended family becomes fully involved in his growth and development. Laughter and play fill the halls of your home, creating precious memories.

Eventually you also meet the rest of Aemond's family as well as Aenar, like Daemon Targaryen, who is definitely a bit more intimidating than Otto Hightower. But once Daemon feels confident, he's the coolest guy.

You also meet Aemond's cousins, the twins Baela and Rhaena, Daemon's daughters, who are extremely kind and sweet to you.

And you also meet Rhaenyra's sons, Jace, Luke and Joffrey, where eventually she also introduces you to her youngest children, Aegon and Viserys.

Your relationship with each member of the Targaryen-Hightower family develop into genuine friendships. Helaena, Rhaenyra and Alicent become confidants and allies to Aenar's shared upbringing.

The complicity between the women in the family is supportive and builds a safe and loving environment for Aenar and the rest of the children.

Until, on occasion, you decide to take Aenar to the majestic Targaryen-Hightower mansion. The incredible residence becomes a second home for him, who explores every corner with curiosity and becomes familiar with the new walls.

Aegon, as the older brother he is, becomes his second protective figure. Together they share adventures through the mansion's extensive gardens and enjoy playing with Legos blocks or his plastic carts.

With Helaena, she connects with Aenar through her charm and utterly beautiful aura, always playing with him, carrying him in her arms and telling him fantasy stories with gestures and figures.

And with Daeron, Aenar loves it when he watches his favorite cartoons with him. Also eventually Aenar becomes his weakness, as he always fills him with more toys and always thinks of him to give him everything that makes him happy, even food.

And when Aenar cries, Daeron is the first of the siblings to come to him, slightly concerned and immediately wanting to make him feel good.

Meanwhile, your relationship with Aemond, while not resuming the romance of the past, transforms into a serene, enjoyable and respectful one. Aenar's upbringing becomes the main point of building his future and lacking nothing.

Although memories of the painful past persist, both have learned to cope and accept it, in order to move forward.

And eventually, in a significant moment and one that lasted hours of conversation between Aemond and you, also one that was an arduous process of documentation and much waiting, a culmination of a stage of your life is realized that further solidifies the unique connection between Aenar, Aemond and you.

A recognition that brings with it a clear message of commitment and love for the future of your family. The significant moment when Aemond asks for your permission to legally recognize his child and you allow him to do so.

It was not something you had to think about too much, as Aemond has shown you so much and the emotion in his eyes through his tears when you said yes, only further confirmed the fact that you were not making a wrong decision.

And everyone in the family celebrates when Aemond's last name is added to your son's name and he is finally named Aenar Targaryen.

general taglist:

@imaegonstargaryenswife0 @bellstwd @gibbsgirl7 @toodlesxcuddles @imsoshygirl @croatianprincess @gemini-mama @a-little-roony-mara @mysteris-things @zenka69 @at-a-rax-ia @fan-goddess @duds31 @urmomsgirlfriend1 @eternally-passionate @bellaisasleep @ttkttt @aemshaircare @mellowdreamlandpost-blog @noodle81937 @mooncalvin @queenofshinigamis @n4tforlife @vexladin @dixie-elocin @wotcherpeak @watercolorskyy @shiny-trashs-blog @strangersunghoon @elysian0612 @skzenhalove @iloveallmyboys @cakescupcakesminicookies

[carriagelamp]

My favourite books from 2024! Another really strong year of books for me -- every year will have some stinkers and a bunch of middling reads, but the highs of this year were really high so I'm pretty content

As always, I give more detailed descriptions and opinions of the books in my month reviews, but here's a quick breakdown for anyone who's interested:

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

A non-fiction book that looks at how childhood has been “rewired”, focusing specifically on the increase of overprotective parenting, increase of tablet/social media usage, and decrease of unstructured, independent play. It was a fascinating read that really looked at how children need to be given lots of opportunities to play, take risks, and make mistakes in order to learn and grow and how a loss of that might be impacting people’s mental health. As someone right on the cusp of the age bracket that’s being focused on, it felt very exposing.

Apothecary Diaries v1-2 by Natsu Hyuuga

Maomao is kidnapped and sold as a servant to the imperial palace, where she serves as a general dogsbody in the rear palace, home of the emperor’s various consorts and concubines. She’s determined to keep her head down until her contract is up… until she helps solve a mystery and catches the eye of the powerful eunech Jinshi who soon learns about her in-depth knowledge of apothecary work and anything to do with poisons. Very funny premise, Maomao hates Jinshi soooo much and he is such a simp for it. She just wants to eat poisons and be left alone and he says “no<3” to both of those

Bury Your Gays (and Straight) by Chuck Tingle

Both of these are very explicitly queer horror novels. Straight is a novella that riffs on the format of a zombie story, but with straight people becoming inexplicably violent towards queer people one day a year. Bury Your Gays is about a Hollywood screenwriter who realises his horror creations are begin to stalk him in the real world. Both are very intentionally built around social commentary on queer issues, and despite have audacious premises they completely own their camp and end up producing really well thought out, insightful stories. I can’t say I liked either as much as Camp Damascus but either is worth a read.

Console Wars by Blake J. Harris (and Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier)

Console Wars is a nonfiction book I’ve meant to read for years on my brother’s recommendation and I quite enjoyed it. It explores the history of the video game console market in North America, with a focus on how Nintendo revitalized it and how Sega then swooped in to upset the monopoly it held. The book is written in a very narrative, personable style and I found myself really rooting for the various people and companies being portrayed ahahaha. A shockingly fun read. I also read Blood, Sweat, and Pixels which wasn’t quite as narratively compelling but a related read that looked at games with complex development cycles.

Defekt by Nino Cipri

Technically the sequel to Finna which I also read this year, but Defekt works as a stand-alone and is, imho, the better of the two. Both deal with a surrealist horror Ikea setting, where the sheer density and liminal-space-ness of it all allows strange wormholes to open up between these stores from different dimensions. Finna deals with actual wormhole hopping, whereas Defekt focuses in on one employee who gets assigned to a very strange overnight inventory shift.

The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish v1-2 by Xue Shan Fei Hu

Fish isekai book. Is this a good book? No. Is it a really really fun book? Yes, in spades. In this book, Li Yu wakes up in a court drama novel… but not as a character but rather as the tyrannical prince’s pet fish. He is given the task to improve the prince and is stuck figuring out how the hell to do this as a fish. This book knows exactly how ridiculous it is and leans into it. Li Yu and Prince Jing are both idiots in very unique and exciting directions. No one knows what the fuck is happening.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

A prequel to Every Heart a Doorway, though it works perfectly well as a standalone. Honestly I liked it more than the first. This book has deliciously gothic horror vibes, and it plays with all the tropes you would expect from gothic horror / fear of the sublime. It’s about sisters who find a strange chest that lets them descend to the sinister land of the Moors. This is where vampires rule, werewolves stalk, and mad scientist’s ply their craft. The girls end up separated on and very different trajectories as they grow and acclimatize to the brutal existence of the Moors.

Escape From Incel Island by Margaret Killjoy

Exactly what it says on the tin. Completely insane book that is very worth the read if you feel like something that is patently insane. I strongly recommend treating this as a read aloud with a friend or loved one because I read it with my brother and couldn’t stop laughing. Top notch mercenary Mankiller Jones is sent to escort a computer scientist to Incel Island to retrieve lost governmental data. There they have to survive the hoards of Nice Guys, Volcels, Betas, and every other violent inhabitant of the island if they ever want to… escape from Incel Island.

Heaven Official’s Blessing v6-8 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

I finished the main series of Heaven Official’s Blessing (without reading the extras yet), and man what an ending! I could not have asked for a more epic or satisfying conclusion! The final battle and its various stages? The character reconciliation? The villain reveal? Perfect, no notes. The series itself follows Xie Lian, a prince who has ascended to godhood twice and been cursed and cast out from Heaven just as many times, giving him the title of the Laughingstock God. The story begins with him, to everyone’s dismay, ascending a third time.

Horrorstör (and Paperbacks from Hell, My Best Friend’s Exorcism) by Grady Hendrix

This book also deals with a Strange Alternate Ikea, but is the superior book. This was one of my top reads for 2024, and it was flawless horror. It is essentially a haunted house story set in an Ikea, that manages to be both chilling, disgusting, and a shockingly insightful critique of capitalism and retail. Very worth the read. 

After reading this I also read Paperbacks from Hell (a nonfiction book that does an analysis of horror fiction from the ‘70s and ‘80s, very good read) and My Best Friend’s Exorcism (which was decent but not my favourite of Hendrix’s since possession and exorcism isn’t my favourite brand of horror. The vaguely queer undertones and ending I found interesting, and it did some cool things throughout.)

Jeeves and Wooster books by P.G. Wodehouse

I ended up listening to so many of the Jeeves and Wooster audiobooks this summer while I was travelling. There were some I really really loved and some that fell very flat for me. I think I listened to too many in a row by the end… These books are like popcorn, not deep but very fun, and follow the airheaded but good natured Bertie Wooster and his man Jeeves who unfailing swoops in to solve all the strange and inane problems the Bertie gets involved in. They tend to be funny, light-hearted, and clever in their resolution of plot problems… though some of the issues do get rather repetitive. My favourites were: The Inimitable Jeeves, Very Good Jeeves, Right Ho Jeeves, and the Code of the Woosters.

Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

Some excellent science fiction, especially for my Pacific Rim loving heart. This bordered on the cosy fantasy genre, while mixing in plenty of science, world-building and a good dash of excitement. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Jamie Gray is stuck trying to make ends meet as a food delivery driver… until he runs into an old acquaintance who suggests he might have a very different job offer for him. Jamie ends up joining this very secretive “animal rights group” and finds out just how massive, dangerous, and otherworldly these “animals” are by being risked to an entirely different dimension filled with giant, radioactive monsters.

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

One of my favourite books from this year! Tthis book managed to hit on very topical subjects with both tact and humour. Lula Dean has spearheaded a book banning crusade, managing to get a number of “problematic” books removed from the library and has made a show of setting up a Little Free Library in her yard full of “appropriate” books instead. When Beverly Underwood visits her mother and hears about this she’s so exasperated with it all that she quickly hatches a plan swapping out the dust jackets of some of the banned books with the ones in Lula Dean’s Little Free Library. The rest of the story is about various people in the town who borrow a book from Lula Dean’s library and how the book they got instead ends up impacting not just themselves but their town. The first story involves a penis cake. Can’t recommend it enough, starts out humour and quickly becomes something you want to rally around.

My Happy Marriage v1 by Akumi Agitogi

This was pure mindless fluff, it was honestly a delight. This is a low-fantasy, Cinderella-esque story set in the Taishō era. It focuses on Miyo Saimori who lives under the thumb of her cruel step-mother, haughty step-sister, and indifferent father. She’s resigned to being treated like a servant in her own home and ekeing out a strained existence, but her life takes a turn when she finds herself nominally engaged to the allegedly cold and cruel Kiyoka Kudou. It’s just absolutely overwhelmingly cute and I really enjoy the contrasting POVs.

A Series of Unfortunate Events and Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket

I’d never finished The Series of Unfortunate Events when it was originally coming out, so I finally sat down and did that, and honestly it was well worth the wait! It was a very interesting series to read as an adult, especially all in one go, because it really let me appreciate everything that Snicket was trying to say. It was a much more clever and philosophical read than I was anticipating, and The End was fucking superb. He absolutely stuck the landing, it completely blew me away. Poison For Breakfast was also a very interesting standalone novella that felt like surrealist philosophy. I might have even enjoyed it more than the basic TSOUE.

The Poison Squad (and The Poisoner’s Handbooks) by Deborah Blum

Poison Squad is a very compelling and topical nonfiction about the formation of the American Food and Drug act. The state of unregulated food processing in the late 19th century was, in a word, nightmarish. Don’t read this book if you have a weak stomach. But it’s completely fascinating to see how one person, Dr Harvey Wiley, made it a personal mission to scientifically prove what all these mysterious food additives were doing to people and put limits to what could be sold to consumers. I liked it so much I went to read Blum’s other book, The Poisoner’s Handbook which is set during Prohibition and explores the rise of forensic medicine and again exposes how people were being poisoned by simply living their standard lives.

The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill

The real, true history of the New York City Pushcart War!! For real!!! This is a delightful underdog story that is really written in the style of a history textbook recounting the fictional Pushchart War. This war started in New York City as the roads get increasingly congested with traffic, the worst offenders being the increasingly massive and arrogant trucks. The trucking companies hatch a plan though: if they begin to push out the little pushcarts, framing them as the problem for the congestion, then how hard would it be to push out taxis next? Or buses? Or motorcars? How long until they can make the road a perfect habit for trucks and trucks alone? How can something as small and poor as a pushcart owner fight back?

Railsea (and This Census-Taker) by China Miéville

I heard Railsea described on tumblr and it sounded sufficiently insane that I had to read it for myself. This author is truly unrivaled when it comes to bizarre worldbuilding that feels both very, very grounded in reality while also being completely unexplained and impossible. Railsea is essentially a Moby Dick meets Treasure Island retelling but with trains instead of boats and giant, mutated, vicious moles instead of whales. Unhinged. Can’t recommend enough. I followed this up by reading his novella This Census-Taker which was not as much of a frolicking adventure but fucked with my brain just as much or more than Railsea did. Genuinely not sure I even know what happened in that story but I enjoyed the experience of being completely fucking baffled for some 200 pages.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Another book to ideally not read if you have a weak stomach. This novella is very big on unrelenting body horror. This is a twisted fairytale retelling in which a cannibalistic Little Mermaid meets a plague doctor Frankenstein. Both of them are walking away from cruel past lives, along a trail that’s soaked in blood and viscera. You feel how painfuly and disgustingly human this book is, while also being so wildly separate from anything that resembles human anatomy or morality. Superb.

Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System v1-4 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

The last of MXTX’s three series I needed to read. It was the one I was most hesitant about, but I ended up having a really great time with it. It is simultaneously the most light-hearted and silly of the three series, while also the one that most gleefully dives into torture and sex. So you get a bit of everything with this, and as usual MXTX does a really good job of mixing the humour and series in a way that keeps things constantly interesting. The story is about Shen Yuan who dies our of pure, frothing fury after reading the shitty ending to the shitty, porny webnovel he’s been reading for hundreds of thousands of words. He dies cursing the lousy author and the lousy writing so he’s given a chance: step up and do it better! Which is easier said than done, when he finds himself waking up in the body of the series’ villain who is destined to be gruesomely tortured to death. Better get on that!

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea

This is the written result of a number of interviews held between Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea and she discusses her time as a Shakespearean actress. It looks into what her time working with theatre companies was like, summarizes the plays she took part in, and delivers into some fascinating character analysis of the roles she played. An absolute treasure of a book for someone who enjoyed their Shakespeare and/or Judi Dench.

Singing Hills Cycle v1-5 by Nghi Vo

Probably my favourite series that I read this year, I can’t wait for the next book! This series follows Chih and her magical bird companion who come from the Singing Hills Monastery, an order that is devoted to keep recording tales and keeping a history of the land. Chih travels all over in these various novellas, collecting stories, memories, and histories that they come across. The first book has them entering the recently unwarded palace of the late Empress to learn about her marriage, imprisonment and rise in power. The second has them trapped by a pack of tigresses with nothing to do but frantically lure them into comparing stories. 

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ten year old Ada was born with a club foot and because of it has never been allowed to leave her apartment. She lives a hard life trying to care for her younger brother and suffer through the abuses of her mother. Things change though as the Second World War truly begins and London begins to evacuate children to the country. Ada is determined — she and her brother will evacuate, they will escape their mother’s house, even if it means her learning how to walk on her club foot. Even if it means facing how different life is for unwanted slum children in the country, and confronting how much she and her brother don’t know about life. This was a very touching book, it did a great job of balancing Ada’s justifiable pain and anger with an optimistic story. Queer elements are all subtext but there — they aren’t the main focus of this story.

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

This book absolutely took my breath away, it was a next level literary experience. It’s very, very solidly magical realism, so don’t go into this expecting true fantasy, everything going on here is allegorical and a beautifully done allegory at that. This story is set during the 1950s, in a time surrounding an event known as “The Mass Dragoning” when thousands of women suddenly, spontaneously, transformed into dragons and flew away. The story follows Alex Green who was a child during this event. Her aunt transformed. Her mother didn’t. Both of these things have profound impacts on Alex as she grows up, and a woman’s role in society, a woman’s anger, her joy, her desire are all questioned and explored.

[mythaura-blog]

Development Update - September 2024

Hello folks! Miyazaki checking in with our development updates for the month of September. Between getting our newest art team member onboarded, cooking up some really exciting Fall Quarter concept art, a new color, and a new Mutation, it's been a really creative month for us.

Koa and Sark are hard at work on the back end, creating the systems that power the game. We've got functioning inventories, and Koa was able to have a Beast successfully use a healing potion in the Wild Area! I'm making headway on our intro quest, working in tandem with the art team to create assets to bring our very first area to life.

All in all: some solid progress this month!

Also, for Tumblr users: the August update didn't get posted here (I apologize!), but you can read it here.

Inventory System

This month, we focused on refining Mythaura’s inventory system, with special attention on making starting items function as expected. One of the most exciting additions is the Satchel feature. The satchel begins with 18 slots and can be expanded using non-premium currency, allowing for plenty of space to bring essentials on your adventures.

When preparing to explore, only provisions can be transferred from your stash to the satchel, but along the way, you’ll be able to pick up and store all types of loot. Additionally, the first row of your satchel is now displayed as a hotbar while exploring, enabling quick use of items like the Godspeed Potion, which boosts your movement speed, or a Torch to light your way in the dark.

However, be cautious—if you’re defeated while exploring, you’ll drop your satchel, leaving your items behind. You’ll need to return to the floor you were defeated on to recover it. If you’re defeated again before retrieving your original satchel, those items will be lost for good.

Fall Quarter (2024) Concepts

It’s the first day of Fall Quarter 2024, which means we’ve got new Quarterly Rewards for Sponsors to vote on on our Ko-fi page!

Which concepts would you like to see made into official site items? Sponsors of Bronze level or higher have a vote in deciding. Please check out the Companion post and the Glamour post on Ko-fi to cast your vote for the winning concepts!

Votes must be posted by October 27, 2024 at 11:59pm PST in order to be considered.

All Summer 2024 Rewards are now listed in our Ko-fi Shop for individual purchase for all Sponsor levels at $5 USD flat rate per unit. As a reminder, please remember that no more than 3 units of any given item can be purchased. If you purchase more than 3 units of any given item, your entire purchase will be refunded and you will need to place your order again, this time with no more than 3 units of any given item.

Summer 2024 Glamour: Corona Dragon

Summer 2024 Companion: Venomous Stalker

Summer 2024 Solid Gold Glamour: Solid Gold Griffin (Young)

Custom Color Contest Winner

In another round of incredible color concepts pitched to our team, we came away with an exciting new color, courtesy of user Noxith: Canyon!

Their reference images were canyons with a beautiful gradient of reds and oranges, along with other geographical features of the American Southwest, such as mesas.

Canyon adds a wonderful richness to the Mythauran color wheel. We encourage you to share your Canyon creations made in the Beast Creator with us!

New Mutation: Celestial

Astrology plays no small part in Mythauran culture, so perhaps it's not such a surprise that the genes of some Beasts born in Mythaura are mutated to show a map of brightly glowing constellations around their bodies.

As a reminder, Mutations are not Specials that can be applied via item. Instead, a Beast can rarely be born with a Mutation or they can rarely be obtained via a late-game boss encounter.

Mythauran Astrology: October

The month of October is referred to as Greenbright's Close, representing the official beginning of autumn and the winding down of greenery as foliage turns gold and red. This month is also associated with the constellation of the Physician and the malachite stone.

Mythaura v0.32

Dependency upgrades were made to improve stability.

Implemented new inventory services

Created satchels and added services to manage dropping and retrieving them.

Added energy and position tracking to wild area sessions.

Implemented filtering and context actions for inventories.

Starting items were created for each class and are automatically delivered to the satchel at game start.

Added battle item structure and functionality.

Added the ability to use an item from your satchel in battle.

Added functionality for health & energy-related items.

Added functionality for revival items.

A Hotbar with adjustable keybindings has been added to the UI when exploring.

A semi-final version of each skill tree was fully populated and began implementing said skills.

Thank You!

Thanks for sticking through to the end of the post, we always look forward to sharing our month's work with all of you--thank you for taking the time to read. We'll see you around the Discord.

We are also keeping all those impacted by Hurricane Helene in our thoughts. We hope you and your loved ones are all safe.

[myadhdchronicles]

Navigating Life with ADHD: My Journey, Tips, and Hacks

Living with ADHD has its unique challenges, but it's also a journey filled with creativity, resilience, and countless small victories. I've learned to embrace my ADHD and discovered some invaluable tips, hints, and hacks along the way. In this blog, I'll share my personal insights and strategies that have made life with ADHD more manageable and even exciting.

1. Embrace Your ADHD:

Accepting your ADHD is the first step to managing it effectively. It's a part of who you are, and that's okay.

Learn about your specific strengths and weaknesses associated with ADHD. You might be exceptionally creative or have hyperfocus superpowers!

2. Create a Structured Routine:

Establishing a daily routine can provide a sense of stability and predictability.

Use digital calendars, planners, and reminders to keep track of appointments, tasks, and deadlines. I particularly like Sunsama, it is very ADHD-friendly. Habitica is good too, it is a gamified digital calendar that engages the ADHD brain much better than regular planners.

3. Prioritize and Set Goals:

ADHD brains can easily get overwhelmed by too many tasks. Prioritize your to-do list and break tasks into smaller, manageable goals.

Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.

4. Minimize Distractions:

Create a dedicated workspace that's free from distractions.

Consider using noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, or white noise to maintain focus.

Learn what kind of workspace works best for you, it's not the same for every ADHD brain.

5. Time Management Techniques:

Use the Pomodoro Technique (working in short, focused bursts with breaks) to stay on track.

Set timers for tasks to prevent hyperfocus and procrastination.

6. Medication and Therapy:

Consult a medical professional to discuss medication options.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you develop coping strategies and improve executive functioning skills, but know your own ADHD brain because it does not work for all of them.

7. Mindfulness and Meditation:

Mindfulness practices can help you stay present and reduce anxiety.

Try meditation to improve concentration and self-awareness.

Meditation and mindfulness do not have to be the typical sit still and clear your-mind things they are for non-ADHD brains, for a lot of ADHD brains we need to move so something like knitting/crocheting, going for a walk, or sitting outside in nature with your dog are our forms of mindfulness and meditation.

8. Stay Organized:

Use color coding, labels, and file systems to keep your physical and digital spaces organized.

Daily checklists can be a game-changer.

Know your own ADHD brain and make your system one that works for your brain or organization will continue to be a struggle.

9. Don't Fear Mistakes:

It's okay to make mistakes. Learn from them and keep moving forward.

Perfectionism can be your enemy; aim for progress, not perfection.

Learn to let good enough be good enough, perfection does not exist.

10. Get Adequate Sleep and Exercise:

Prioritize good sleep hygiene; it can significantly impact your ADHD symptoms.

Regular physical activity can boost focus and mood.

11. Utilize ADHD-Related Apps:

Explore ADHD-focused apps designed to help with time management, organization, and focus.

Some popular options include Todoist, Forest, Trello, Clarify ADHD, Sunsama, and Fabulous.

12. Seek Support and Community:

Connect with others who have ADHD through support groups or online forums.

Share your experiences and learn from the journeys of others.

Living with ADHD doesn't mean you're destined to struggle. By embracing your uniqueness and applying these tips, hints, and hacks, you can take control of your life. ADHD has its challenges, but it can also be a source of creativity, innovation, and unique perspectives. Remember, you're not alone, and there's a vibrant community of people who understand and support you on this journey. Embrace your ADHD, and together, we can navigate the world with success and resilience. See you next time, ADHD Team!

[baddiewiththebook]

showmance

“contestants who hook up during the show for the sake of good television” -urban dictionary

I’ve been having this idea swirl in my brain for so long, and I had to write it down as a little drabble. I’m obsessed with the idea of modern!Eddie going on a reality competition (ex. Big Brother) and meeting you. Anyway, lmk if I need to write a full prompt, or if there are other reality shows we could see Eddie on that he meets the love of his life. This was so much fun to scribble down. Sorry for any typos - I was too excited to post!

-baddie

-> <-

Being on television has always been your dream. You love reality television, especially the competition of some of these shows. It just so happens an opportunity unfolds when your agent contacts you about your favorite show being interested in you.

After months of screen tests, evaluations and the production team talking crap about you in front of your face, you’re on your way through the doors of the house you’ll be living in with your fellow contestants.

Engulfed in warm hugs that only last mere moments of excitement, you’re only focused on the one that matters. He smells of an ash tray, bitter and eye-watering. The persona screams hard rock-star. He tells you his name is Eddie, and unbeknownst to you, he’s memorizing the notes of your perfume.

When the producers take him in to do a video diary confessional, he admits to being swept of his feet by your beauty. You’re the most gorgeous person on this planet. He’s sure you’d make stars jealous of how brightly you shine.

As you explore the house, you find your bed with a group of people about your age. Already, they want to stick together to beat out the other contestants. You agree with them just to keep a low profile.

It’s time for the first of many competitions, and you’re face to face with the boy who took your breath away. You offer him safety into the next week, and he responds “sweetheart, for you, I’ll do anything.”

It’s a corny line meant to throw you off balance, but you stay steady and watch him tumble dramatically to the ground. You cheer victoriously making yourself double competition for the rest of the game.

Weeks will go by where what you don’t know is the cameras pacing back and forth between you and Eddie. The viewers are on the edge of their seats waiting for the moment they’ve been waiting for.

You’re lounging for the moment when Eddie slams his weight into the empty space on the bed with you. Laying with his face down on the pillow, you touch his hair. It’s become normal now for you two to be friendly like this.

“I’m so sore,” Eddie groans.

You swipe gentle hands across his shoulders, “I’m exhausted.”

“Can I sleep with you in here tonight?” He asks.

You nod.

It’s not unusual. Bed swapping happens naturally between housemates. What is unusual is how long you’ll stare at him for. He snorts, and asks you why you’re looking at him like that.

Scooting down to his level, your noses are basically touching. His eyes have turned to one big blob.

“Is it comfy like this?” You giggle.

Eddie laughs along with you, “not really.”

Before you find yourself wound in bed together, you and he join each other in the shared bathroom. Brushing your teeth in near silence, while exchanging longing glances, neither of you is willing to spill their true feelings for each other just yet.

It’s all so competitive in the house, if anyone knew about you and Eddie, they’d surely put a target on your back. It’s a problem when both of you are strong competitors though. No one is willing to strike you down.

But, eventually you’ll make enemies and have to plead your case to stay in the house with the other competitors. This is when Eddie nearly breaks down in the confessional about how lonely he’d be here without you.

You remain in the house with a sigh of relief. Saying goodbye to another roommate is tough though, and you give her a long hug with a promise of sticking through this for her.

Joining Eddie in your room, he lets you cry into his chest. This is the toughest elimination as the numbers of people dwindle down.

Eddie stays with you that night, and for the first time he plants a kiss to your head after he thinks you’re asleep. You lift your head to meet his, and through slow motions your lips meet his. Sinking below the blankets, you share soft touches and sneak kisses between each other.

Eddie becomes a favorite after this. Viewers love seeing his soft side with you, and acting child-like and rambunctious with the other members of the house. He’s got allegiance with some of the boys that like to pick on each other for laughs. But, really his allegiance lies with you. That’s proven after the boys want to swoop you under the rug and sneak you out of the house. He’ll convince them to let you stay, but by then the target swaps to him.

It’s tough being up for elimination, but it’s worse when you’re up there with him.

Crying yourself to sleep at night, Eddie’s been eliminated and you’re ready to call it quits. But, you promised him you’d stay. You swore you’d win for him.

And when the end of the competition comes, you do lose. But, you lose with pride. As a surprise on your way out, Eddie’s there waiting for you. And that’s the best prize you could have asked for.

[pxmegranates]

→ ❛Artificial❜

→ Pairing ; AI Turo x Reader

→ Quote ; ❛❛And in the darkness of the night, the only illumination in the room would be his eyes, as you wept quietly in his arms.❜❜

→ Genre ; Drama , hurt/comfort

→ A/N ; Sorry it took me so long to get to this, I struggled with inspiration but it finally struck so here it is!

Turo didnt believe in faith, much less would his AI counterpart believe in it. If anything, they both believed in the future, the waves of newfound achievements and exciting new discoveries. Turo wasnt one to focus on the past, rather, he focused on the future, and even farther than that. Perhaps, in some sense his ideals clashed harshly with Sada’s, who focused more on the past, the achievements already received and the things that already had happened, finding joy in discovering elements from the past that had been forgotten in favor of advancing.

Thats why, when he started feeling something weird in the way things seemed to move, the AI didnt waste any time in putting his head deep into discovering what was wrong, and what was causing said disturbance. What once started as the continuation of the deceased professor's research, now took a turn into studying this new variable, this new element that caught his attention, and with it, came his attention turning forward to you.

An interesting variable, Turo would find in you something he hadnt seen in years of investigation, yet, here you were, something—or rather someone—that proved the existence of a multiverse, and he welcomed said proof, after all, his research focused greatly in pokemon from diverse timelines, did it not? Thats what caused both of you to meet for the first time.

Breaking past pleasantries, Turo would call you forward once after you had yet again helped Miraidon regain part of its power, one of the few moments where he knew he could try to bring forward a conversation, but not bring afloat any suspicions, at least not more than were necessary to advance in his study. He’d begin simple, focusing on the present moment, with simple questions like what you were currently doing, what was it like in where you were, simple yet sufficient to gain a grasp at what he was battling with. That was perhaps when he heard it, when after what felt like weeks of research, he heard your voice for the first time.

“Kinda odd questions for a game like this” You said out in the air, not expecting any answers nor any questions, but Turo had many, in fact he had enough to bring even more questions for the next batch of questions he thought of bringing. With limited time and limited resources in the claustrophobic space he was battling in, his questions became more cryptic, more… strange to you. He started asking subtly about what you were doing, just that this time, he focused on whether your answer would focus on the “player” (as he guessed) rather than you, as the one behind the ropes.

Thats how he learnt more about you, slowly but surely, he learnt more and more, until eventually he’d learnt that you were adventurous, you kicked right back into challenges and, despite the weird events that went through in game due to his doing, you pushed forward. Often you would comment things like “Dude do you think every copy of Pokemon is personalized?” To no one to answer, but he’d chuckle at… whatever that was supposed to mean. Other times you spoke about “Kinda creepy how my bias is asking all these questions”, and once again would he chuckle, only that the word ‘Bias’ threw him for a loop, what had you meant with that? Part of him wished to come out of where he was currently in, just… walk out of Area Zero and greet you properly, greet you the way the late Professor used to do to those he met, but… He knew it wouldnt be possible. Besides, there was only so much the AI knew about the outside world, just enough for it to be useful in the current moment. Still, he wanted to know more, explore more, learn more things, a hunger he hadnt felt ever since he was created, but…

…Was he really just an AI anymore?

The question threw him for another loop when it came to his mind. He had begun questioning his existence as a created being, someone of metal, someone of artificiality. He was the future, but in between said future, came questions of who he had grown to be after what were now months of investigation of this new horizon. So, when you came to Area Zero, when you came to him, he was eager to finally do what he hadnt done in years.

“Thank you for coming to Area Zero, though I am afraid I must reveal the truth to you” He began, closely following the script of what he was meant to say, despite breaking past the code he had been studying for days on end. “I am not really Professor Turo, but his assistant, made in his likeness”

“I knew it—I called it!!” You noted in the air, yet again, not expecting anyone to answer, before something, or perhaps someone, answered those words.

“You… Knew it?”

“Huh?”

For the first time, it was Turo’s time to throw you in for a loop, questioning everything that had been happening thus far. Yet, he’d only smile, everything was going exactly as he had expected after all.

“While Im afraid to sour your momentary excitement, I must ask you some more questions about what is currently happening.” He’d say, walking off to the side before lift an eyebrow at the resonating groan you’d shoot him, turning quickly to face you with a confused face. “Is, something the problem?”

“More questions, great…” You mumbled to yourself, oblivious to what was happening currently, to what was really going on in between the code and the binary.

Turo would hum for a bit, bringing a hand to his chin as if in thought, yet, before he could even bring up an answer, a question would bring him out of the loop he was in for a long time ago. You’d ask to the air, yet again, what was really happening this time, why out of sudden had these words seemed to be directed straight towards you, and perhaps thats when it clicked on your mind, even if the thought was too wild, too weird to be considered fair, to be considered a possibility, you clicked your tongue and asked yet again.

“Are you… perhaps… aware this is a game?”

The question would bring his mind turning and running, like a machine beating fast and rough, you denied yourself almost instantly, but for Turo, this seemed to be the missing cog in his whole scheme, the entirety of things he had been researching but had close to no answer to it all. If this, if all his existence seemed to revolve around a game which someone controlled, then that would explain the strange things he had been experimenting, albeit not explain the reasoning behind his sudden awareness in said stage. It was strange, it was a sudden revelation, a shot of luck in the darkness. But he caught it, he took it in his hands and ran with it, after all, would there ever be a chance like this in the future?

“Could you, say that again?” He asked, almost as if begging to whoever was out there to answer him.

“What?”

“A game��� Talk to me more about this game”

Granting his request nonchalantly would bring afloat a strange relationship between the both of you. Stuck in that part of the game, you’d answer Turo's questions, and Turo would finally (and more comfortably) advance in his study. While there were elements that he was already aware of, he’d become… amused, if anything, about certain other elements of your reality that caught his attention, like the lack of pokemon, or the lack of technological advancements in certain topics. He’d lift his eyebrow specially regarding topics of investigations made, almost making you read word by word certain papers regarding such investigations, which prompted a set of rules to be created regarding what you and he could do with each other’s resources.

You compromised on some, and he compromised on others, you bought the online pass as a compromise, and he stopped asking too much as another compromise, despite his hunger for knowledge often coming unfed… but not for long. His investigation would draw him to explore past the limits of the “game” he was in, but not enough to break through the “screen”, instead, his insatiable curiosity would be filled to the brim with investigations and papers he managed to find using the hidden web browser in the switch. The drawback? It lasted only 20 minutes, which wasnt a bad time limit, he could read quickly and efficiently, yet, there was a sensation of disappointment when it came to the fact he could only advance so much, plus not being able to keep his resources for too long of a time.

“Im so tired…” His musings would stop for a moment, then, hearing you come about the apartment. Your voice had become enough to break his concentration, but at the same time, the routine of hearing you come up, pop up and nonchalantly call out to him, it was starting to become…

… warm.

“What are you up to while Im gone?” You’d ask him, and he’d lose focus again after unsuccessfully attempting to regain it. “I mean… I leave the game on as part of the deal but… Is there… really much you can do there?”

“I read” He answered, coldly and perhaps too bluntly, causing you to roll your eyes, not like he could see it though “Papers, works of science… This world you’re in is…”

“Interesting? Yea you already told me…” You groan, fiddling with the controls of the switch before setting it down.

“Right…” He answered, looking down back at his writing, neat scribbles forming words and shapes, he’d nod quietly, before looking at the you that was in game. “...”

He’d stare at it for long, long moments, perhaps as if waiting for something to happen, but the coldness of Florian’s eyes and his purple uniform were less than appealing to the professor, and suddenly, he wondered what you were like. By your voice he knew you were an adult, the only thing he knew was yours, truly yours, but the rest? A mystery. Time had passed ever since your first meeting, time had passed ever since he first had knowledge that he was aware of his existence inside a game, and even with your nonchalant attitude, he found himself… yearning for something more than just chatting.

“Why did you call me bias once?”

“Jesus fucking christ you scared me—”

He’d stare at you blankly, not fearing to repeat the question again as you fumbled for your words. He wondered what your reaction was, after some research he had come to learn the meaning behind “bias”, yet it still confused him, and humored him, that you would use such a word for him. So, he’d ask, and in your nervousness you’d manage to dodge the question, which only brought his curiosity up more. Like a quiet disease, then, feelings of curiosity and yearning creep through his circuits, he felt the need to know who you were, what you did, the things you liked, the things you didnt. He yearned for more, yet to him his feelings felt like a mystery.

So he asked again, once, this time receiving an actual answer from you which would bring far more questions than answers.

“Thats… weird…” You’d begin “Are you sure you’re an AI assistant? You sound quite humane…”

“Please answer the question.”

“I mean… It sounds like you’re falling in love…”

You were confused, you had skipped past the bias stage rather tactfully when he asked, yet now he asked about feelings creeping on his back, feelings about infatuation and love, perhaps tingled with an obsession you could only seem to find reason in his seeming hunger for knowledge. Yet for Turo, this felt like a life sentence. Love was deadly, he knew that too well having the knowledge from the past professor, who died in a search for a better place for his family. But Love was also intoxicating, filling his mind with scenarios and ideas. He found himself at a standstill then, between the need for knowledge and the feelings that suddenly creeped up on his mind.

Yet when the day came that you didnt greet him back, was perhaps the day that he made the final decision on said topic. It was rainy, or so he thought, at least out of Area Zero the air was humid which indicated rain or a chance of rain. He could hear muffled crying, or at least what felt like crying, prompting him to ask what was wrong, yet the answer wasnt one he expected.

“My boyfriend left me” You cried, a muffled noise that Turo couldnt fully comprehend, yet he made the best out of the words in the bunch. “Just, im not in the mood to talk today, do your thing and leave me alone…”

“But-”

“Leave me alone! You’re not even real anyway…”

In your mind, you thought it all to be a dark dream, one you’d wake up from sooner or later. But for him, he finally found the answer to his question, deciding to make a drastic turn that may or may not bring him to the same level as the befallen professor Turo. He’d imvestigate the code yet again, utilizing previous methods to try and break free from it. If he couldnt break free from Area Zero, then Arceus, let him break free from the confines of the switch. It’d take him a week, a long, arduous week, before he’d finally be able to see it, the limit from which reality and fiction blended. He turned back for a moment before turning forward, and stepping out of the confines of the game.

He’d come about inside a room, quaint as it could ever be with few elements that he noted could be yours, little trinkets, posters, an unmade bed which he carefully prompted himself to make, and a rainy day outside of the window. Today was rainy, yesterday it had been rainy too, and tomorrow it’ll probably be rainy as well. He hummed as he heard the fumbling of keys, before coming out of the bedroom into the rest of the apartment.

As you’d come inside you wouldnt see anything out of the blue, considering he didnt have time to deal with the rest of the mess. Scattered tissues, scattered plates of food, almost my chance had you and him crossed paths when you passed towards the living room, and thats when it happened. You didnt have the voice to scream, but you did have the energy to run to him and hug him, feel his body for a moment, his arms and torso, the scent of stillness and robotics, sterility, and ultimately, the realization that he was there, standing, unsure of the next course of action.

“Turo” You’d start, tears pricking your eyes as he looked down at you. “Is, is it really you?”

“... Yes, I am real, arent I?” He’d say calmly, perhaps a bit coldly, but with two arms wrapping themselves around your body with calmness, he’d sigh.

“... Dont leave” You’d say, dropping to the floor with him following you suit. “Please…”

“I wont” He’d answer, and in the darkness of the night, the only illumination in the room would be his eyes, as you wept quietly in his arms.

[withinthebrain]

Colliding

The three of them sat before the television. Jasper and Ivan played a video game, and Izzy sat between them scrolling on her phone. Occasionally, Izzy chuckled at the men as they bantered about the game.

Jasper kissed Izzy's cheek and then slid to the floor where he had more space. Izzy curled her legs under her and pulled a pillow onto her lap, getting comfy. Ivan also relaxed, his leg grazing against Izzy, settling warmly against her thigh.

As the guys continued to play, Ivan's leg continued to brush against Izzy, dragging her attention to his thigh muscles flexing in his sweatpants. Pulling her attention away from Ivan's leg, she leaned forward and kissed Jasper atop his head, then continued reading articles on her phone.

In excitement at the game, Ivan did a happy dance, jostling closer to Izzy. She focused on the article on her phone, but caught a glimpse of Ivan's hip and stomach when his shirt bunched up, caught on the pillow she was holding. Curious, she tentatively touched her fingers to his soft skin.

Ivan took a deep breath, his stomach muscles flexing at her touch, but his eyes never left the game. Izzy wanted to make sure he knew it was not an accident, so she slipped the tip of her middle finger under the elastic of his pants and traced across to his opposite hip.

Ivan leaned back into the couch, his eyes landing on Izzy's hand. He knew her touch wasn't an accident. Izzy shifted to face Ivan, turning her knees toward him where they pressed against his thigh. Ivan struggled to keep his attention on the game and Jasper laughed, making fun of his mindless mistakes.

Izzy put her phone down, her hand moving under Ivan's shirt, gently tracing his muscles and moving over his chest. Ivan held his breath, his head pushed as far into the couch as possible. Izzy's other hand danced over Ivan's bulge, which was no longer hidden by his sweatpants. Ivan's attention was no longer on the video game, the controller sitting idle in one hand, while his other hand fell palm up across Izzy's thigh.

Jasper turned around, complaining to Ivan about how terribly he was playing. When Jasper realized what was happening, he said, "Oh! Well, don't mind me. I can play one player."

Izzy dipped close to him and kissed his temple, asking, "Are you sure?"Ivan fidgeted next to her, the controller falling to the floor with a clatter.

Jasper chuckled seeing Ivan's nervousness and replied, "Just let me know when I can join."

Izzy bit her lip and grinned, turning her attention back to Ivan. Ivan let out a deep breath, his eyes asking so many questions. Izzy asked him if she could touch him and he nodded with eager anxiousness. She slid her hand into his pants, rubbing his length.

A moan, almost a growl, hummed in Ivan's throat and Izzy looked at him. "Can I take off your pants?" she whispered in his ear.

Ivan nodded again and helped her push his pants down his legs, exposing his girth. Izzy smiled at him, her lips parted slightly. She leaned forward, her lips grazing his tip, her hands moving over his thighs and his stomach.

An almost inaudible, "fuck," drifted from Ivan's mouth and Jasper looked over his shoulder, raising his eyebrows at Ivan in an I-told-you-so way.

Izzy stretched her leg toward Jasper, brushing her toes over his growing bulge and declared, "You need to be naked too."

Izzy did not take her attention from Ivan. She slid her hands up his body, her thumbs hooked under his shirt. She slid her fingers all the way up his ribs and over his chest, taking the shirt up and off his body.

Izzy perched on her knees, her body almost facing backward on the couch to continue her exploration of Ivan's body. Her fingers ran over his prickly, short hair and then back down every inch of his body.

Ivan watched Jasper as he removed his clothes and stepped closer to the couch, holding his length in his hand. Izzy grinned at Ivan, meeting his eyes. She nodded at him reassuringly and turned her top half, beckoning Jasper to her.

Jasper moved to Izzy and planted a kiss on her forehead. "You are sexy," he stated with a sneer.

Ivan was mesmerized. His cock jumped as Izzy wrapped her hand around him. Izzy took Jasper in her other hand and guided him to her mouth, flicking her tongue over his tip. She looked at Ivan and asked him to stand up. The two men then stood shoulder to shoulder in front of her.

Jasper, noticing Ivan's tension, said, "She can slow down if you're going to come, man." Ivan took deep breaths, trying to steady himself.

Jasper bent over and pulled Izzy's shirt and bra over her head, her boobs bouncing free. Izzy continued to stroke Ivan slowly, giving him a moment to relax. With a groan, Ivan dropped his hand, grabbing one boob and then the other.

Izzy focused her attention on Jasper. He laced his fingers into her hair, pulling her mouth onto his cock. She wrapped her arm around him holding her close to her as she bobbed up and down his shaft.

Izzy ran her hand over Ivan's body, every so often trailing over his cock. She moved her tongue over Jasper's balls, looking up into both of their eyes.

In an attempt to pull them closer, Izzy looped her hands around each of their thighs and tugged them together. Ivan's hands shook with desire, and Izzy could tell he was ready to explode.

Jasper shifted his hips forward, getting as close as possible, his arm now crossed behind Ivan's back. Izzy held both men at the base of their shafts and guided both cocks into her mouth, their tips colliding and sliding together inside.

Jasper's eyes blazed as he peered into Izzy's eyes. Ivan's head lazed back, his eyes closed. Both men tensed in Izzy's hand and she twirled her tongue in a figure eight around their heads.

Ivan slid out first, taking his cock in his hand. As Ivan came across Izzy's chest, Jasper as well pulled out, releasing his warmth across her boobs.

Izzy grinned up at them, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. Jasper pulled her to her feet and pressed a kissed to her lips.

[castleinthemist]

Still technically a couple more weeks left of the year and I was hoping to try and finish at least one or two of these before then but ah well...

Anyway here's my end of year game list. If you've been following me for a while it probably isn't too surprising to see what's on here. My main rule for end of year lists is 'have to have finished it' but there's a couple of games on here that I like what they're doing enough of, and that i've played a fair bit this year, that lets them make the cut.

Without further ado:

1000xResist A blend of 3d visual novel meets simple adventure game all wrapped up in a bombastic sci-fi story of clones existing under the ALLMOTHER and everything that entails that and the world they live in. Excellent stuff. Really excels at understanding the medium it has chosen to tell its tale in (even if it is light on the gameplay). High contender for my goty if I did those.

Seabed I've said it before and I'll say it again: A mystery, yuri visual novel that makes use of quiet mundanity to propel its tragedy to a staggering effect. Entwines the day to day lives of the women it focuses on to make for a fairly comfortable read if often mysterious one that builds itself up well.

Super Junkoid A romhack of Super Metroid, Super Junkoid ( I really should've played Junkoid first) is just an absolute blast of a game the entire length though. Nails the atmosphere that makes SM while very much doing its own thing with it and recontextualises abilities in such a fun way. Likely one of my all time faves now.

UFO 50 Just awesome. Awesome game that is a collection of games. Still making my way through them and will probably be for a long while but what I have played has been such an exciting mix of things. Designed for designers sake in a way. Exploring the medium through a lense of 80s video games for explorations sake.

Cataphract OI Did a mini-review of this in attract mode but I'll echo some thoughts on it here: Really engaging with the mechanics of an RPG and recontextualising them in such a fascinating way - frontline/backline positioning in battle, command based menu for exploration, a constant push-and-pull of risk-reward due to the time limit. Really creates this sense of desperation that's so excellent. Didn't get the chance to finish it because it is quite hard but I'll def come back to it.

Rule of Rose Where do I even begin with this one? Miserable and mostly boring to play, actively trying to not let you finish it? An absolute gut punch of an ending that's like the final twist of the tragic knife? I wouldn't change a single thing about it. Abrasive and wholly cohesive for it.

Anthology of the Killer One of the funniest games I've ever played. Brilliant in execution and critique. Really a joy to watch it strengthen through each game of the anthology. Play as BB the zine-maker looking for her next scoop and get into scooby-doo style chases from the horror-of-the-week. A weaker game would allow for fail states in the chase sequences but this game keeps it rolling and often gives you a good joke to boot. Another high contender for my goty (if i did those).

Prey (2017) In some way I can see why people bounced off of this title (I did initially too) but it's such a fucking awesome game in how it plays and the overall Talos I space station and its open world within (and outside of!) that's it's a blast to wander around it. Just that real excellent Arkane world stuff they do ya know? Trolley problem the video game. I love how it quietly tracks choices and actions you make and do (and not so much love how it tosses that out right at the end to give you a lame dichotomous choice).

Shiren the Wanderer: Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island The sixth game in the long running Shiren Mystery Dungeon series (you may be familiar with that title from the Pokemon spinoffs), Shiren 6 is a return to classic Shiren form bringing in more approachability to newcomers for the wonderfully emergent rouglike gameplay of these "mystery dungeons". A real feast of a game that will have you full for a very long time. High contender for my nonexistant goty.

Drakengard Probably one of my favourite things I played this year for its cohesivness. They really wanted to make a great game and they made a mostly janky one. Kusoge game of all time. 100%'d this game which is not something I do often or at all for any game, and especially noxious to do for a Yoko Taro lead title but I think it made me love it all the more to see it through to the end. Surprised to see no-one has really taken "Ace Combat but with Dragons" as a game premise and ran with it.

ZeroRanger Finally finished this one. Fun as hell shmup/stg that just really is a love letter to the genre. True ending took a good while to get to and now I'm trying to 1cc it. Just one of those games that knows what it is and does what it does super well.

Helen's Mysterious Castle Another RPGMaker game that plays with form and really excels at making a fun and unique combat system. Battle feel like this snappy back and forth as the game displays all turn order information with a "wait" system that ticks down per action allowing you to make quick judgement on which weapons or abilities best suit the moment.

Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen (aka Ys 1) Played the EGGCONSOLE port of this, which is the PC-88 version of the game (no translation). Damn, bump combat is so fun! The level design is really engaging even when somewhat tricky and the story elements are so very there and classic feeling - there's a lot this game does well and very solidly that makes it a extremely fun rpg/adventure romp. Also the final boss is the equivalent of a DVD screensaver and I love that.

Thirty Flights of Loving Despite being a longtime fan of Gravity Bone, this game and Quadrilateral Cowboy I had somehow never actually played Thirty Flights of Loving? Well I did this year, and it is still such an exciting, short vignette of a game. Best credits drop. More games need to make use of jump cuts. .

Ringlorn Saga Now this is actually a title I haven't finished just yet and, to be honest, it took me a few tries to really get into it - I'm not even sure I like it *that* much. Yet I came back to after playing Ys and getting more comfortable with bump combat; Ringlorn Saga takes more inspiration from Hydlide than Ys but it's got a great sense of classic rpg overworld exploration to it, and does just enough interesting things that I find myself continuing to drift back to it.

Dread Delusion Another title I haven't finished (I really thought I would've by now but alas), and while there are aspects of the RPG'ing I wished it did more strongly or with more player expression, the acid fantasy world of the floating Oneiric Isles is such a engaging and oddball-yet-so-classic sense of place that it's hard to not enjoy it. Can't wait to unlock and airship and travel to the giant floating nautilus with the city built within it.

The House In Fata Morgana I was of two minds about this classic visual novel for a long time, dispersing my playthrough with month long breaks between chapters, only to eventually lap up the home stretch of the final few chapters of the game earlier this year. I think it is a title I will enjoy exponentially more on a re-read. A must read for tragedy enjoyers.

Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind (SNES remake) With news of the new Famicom Detective Club title, and my love for murder mystery adventure games, I had been keen on playing this classic duo of games for a while. Sadly there isn't any fan-translations of the first game, and the official remakes are a bit pricey for my liking so...fan-translation of the 2nd game it is! It's solid, likeable, got a good mystery and payoff. A few weird interactions to progress the story brings it down a bit but otherwise I had a blast with it.

That Which Gave Chase Remember a few games ago how I said I wish more games had jump cuts? Well this game delivers! Surprising in-depth-yet-simple-enough-to-grasp sledding controls, That Which Gave Chase builds a tense narrative as you sled through the Arctic with your guide, chasing something he is after. Introduces new gameplay bits in short enough bursts to never really be boring and nothing overstays its welcome (I played this some short time before Mouthwashing came out and it does several similar things but I think it does those things "better")

Judgement Silversword 2024 Year I Really Got Into Shoot 'em Ups. A classic, simple yet really understands how to make the player feel good at it. Still need to finish it haha

Crow Country Nice, solid survival horror game. Its real strength is the ability to play in a classic survival horror mode or choose an "adventure" mode, where the puzzles are deliciously substantial enough that it can do something like that and still be cohesive as a game. Not anything super excellent but I did really enjoy my time with it. Highly recommend if you're looking to dip your toes into the genre (but might be a tad but scared of horror) due to the adventure mode.

Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter I would've preferred to have finished this to speak about it as a cohesive whole but like goddamn dude. Shit rules. Likely to be abrasive to many people due to the limitations it places on you, yet deeply conscious of how you will be replaying it, BoFV is a game that is set in a oppressive world where the main three party members are trying to escape upwards to something better. Every aspect of this game is in lockstep with it's mechanics and theme. Pure gold that's so rare to get. Batting for some really risky changes that I think it nails well.

Dishonored Death of the Outsider After Prey I was on a bit of an Arkane kick and decided to do a no powers re-playthrough of Dishonored 2. That was heaps of fun and led me to finally try and properly play Death of the Outsider, which, for whatever reason, I seemed to have never stuck past the first two levels for. It's like a real distilled essence of the Dishonored games, mechanically - Billy has less abilities and you can't upgrade them but I think it allows for some tighter design in the game. The narrative, like 2, is a bit whatever though. Also, it has a extremely fun bank heist level. We love a good bank heist.

Fate/Stay Night Technically I played Ultimate Blade Works and Heaven's Feel, the last two routes this year and like...it's Fate what do I need to say about it? It's a classic visual novel for a reason. I played the fan re-translation of the first two routes with the final route being the older fan-translation of it. Keen to check out the recent official release properly even if it doesn't have the classic music in it :(

Sephonie I'm a bi fan of Analgesic's games but I avoided Sephonie for too long since it's a platformer (and I'm not particularly fond of them). It asks for patience to understand it and, much like the way the scientists in game come to understand the island of Sephonie, you too with find much rewarding here if you spend time with it. I think due to it being a very non-standardised 3d platformer, and really playing around with the form of those, it strikes a good balance of "newness" and comfort for me. There's this playfulness about it with the way you unlock new abilities that almost makes it feel metroid-like in a sense...I find the puzzle game while linking with creatures really fun too, quiet calming if anything.

[spookyspecterino]

You'll Be Ok

Sam Coe x GN! Reader

GN! Reader. No pronouns, no use of Y/N, or reader descriptions used. Reader is referred to as Captain once.

No spoilers for the main game or any quests, this is just a small, standalone thing.

Blood, injury, language, pining, talks of marriage

While exploring, you get injured. Sam cares for you.

Characters: Sam Coe, Sarah Morgan (briefly). Mentions of Cora Coe.

Really fought with myself to keep this simple and sweet so I can jump into writing out more on my To-Do list. I'm very excited for what's coming. Stay tuned! :)

“Oh shit, that really hurts.”

Sam is by your side in an instant, crouching and helping you into a sitting position in the grass. “Don’t try to move. Let me see.” His face is pinched, brows knitted together.

In the distance the large alien creature thunders off, satisfied with the damage it’s done. One horn stained red.

You lift your hand slowly, palm covered in blood. Your blood. Sam sucks in a harsh breath before stopping himself. His reaction wasn’t what you’d hoped for. “Is it…is it bad?” The idea of looking at the wound in your abdomen makes your stomach churn. The leather of his jacket wrinkles under your iron tight grip.

“It’s not good.” He murmurs, pressing his own hands on top of yours. They’re warm, a different kind of warm than what’s currently leaking out of you. “But you’re tough, you’ll be ok.” He repeats himself under his breath. “You’ll be ok.”

The added pressure on the wound makes you groan in pain. You lay back, the short grass of the clearing pricks at your exposed skin. Grey clouds release tiny raindrops that dot your face, but you don’t notice. The wet feeling around your stomach spreads, causing your clothes to stick to your skin.

The pain continually ramps up and you’re gasping for air as you speak. “Being impaled by a space cow wasn’t on my to-do list today.”

Sam can’t help himself from chuckling nervously as he looks around, scanning for cover. “Was it ever on your to-do list?”

You grit your teeth, but the corners of your mouth still curl slightly. “Don’t be sassy with me, I’m dying.”

“You’re not dying today, not if I have anything to say about it.” His eyes lock onto a cave in the nearby cliffside. “It’s starting to rain, we’re gonna have to move. There’s a cave nearby—I’ll carry you. Keep putting pressure on it.”

His hands are gone, taking their warmth with them, and a moment later he’s doing his best to carry you bridal style. Being moved intensified the pain and you bit down hard on your lip to stop from crying out. The surrounding landscape spins nauseatingly.

Sam was hurrying, holding you close to him as he ran, your face pressed into the crook of his neck. He could feel your faint breath on his skin. Heavier rain drops splashed against the brim of his hat. He glanced down at you to see your eyes pinched shut. Just under your arms he could see the blossoming stain of red. Sam avoided looking at it, for his own sake, focusing on getting you out of the rain instead.

“Almost there.” He pants. Panic and fear threatened to overwhelm him more than the physical strain ever could.

 “Cross the threshold and we’re married.” You whisper into his neck. If you hadn’t been that close, he wouldn’t have heard you.

His heart skips a beat. “What?”

You were struggling to speak. Sentences coming out broken and separated by breaths. “Read it in a book Cora gave me about—old Earth customs. People—used to cross the threshold of their home—and that would be their marriage custom.”

“So, you’re telling me you want us to get married in a cave?” He jokes lightly.

Your returning laugh is breathy, almost as if you’re falling asleep. “We’re cave people.”

He sets you down on the rocky ground. Your face twists in pain and your blood-stained hands ball up. Your arms are covered in it too. The air is noticeably cooler inside and the light from the entrance is bright enough for Sam to see what he’s doing.

He very quickly tears into his bag looking for medical supplies, all the while trying to talk and keep you talking. With most of his focus on helping you, he says whatever comes to mind. “We’re not going to get married in a cave. I’m gonna take you to Akila city and marry you there. Mayor Cartwright will say something sappy, and we’ll laugh.”

His eyes flicker to your face to see you expressionless. Eyes closed. “Hey, hey, stay with me.”

It takes a moment for you to respond. “…still here.” You’re fighting for breath now. “Sounds nice.”

“What sounds nice?” He asks, pulling out bandages and a trauma pack.

“Getting married in Akila.”

Dear Lord, did he actually say that? Sam’s face flushes red. “I—I hope that’s not too soon, or weird, or—” oh, he was fucking this up big time. “Let’s just forget I said anything, I’m rambling.”

He can hear your lungs slowly pulling in air as you try to speak. “Death bed proposals are so romantic.”

“Sarcasm at a time like this?” Sam’s smile threatens to break through. “You’re killin’ me.”

“Not my best joke—I’ll admit that.”

Ripping the lower half of your shirt, Sam’s fingers are as gentle as can be against your searing skin. Part of his brain chastises him for not asking permission to touch you, while the other half is euphoric at the fact that he is in fact touching you. Sam blinks hard, attempting to clear his mind and focus.

Your abdomen is covered in blood, and he does his best to wipe it away to get a clear look at the wound. It’s not as bad as he originally imagined, small but deep. You’d need to see a doctor after this, but at least he could stabilize you for now.

He pulls out gauze, pressing it down, and wraps bandages around you—eyes flickering up to your face every few seconds. After injecting you with a trauma kit he sits back, hands still pressed on you, but gentler now. “How’s that, better?”

You sigh with relief as the pain fades, the medicine coursing through and doing its job. Your hand finds his and gives it a weak squeeze. “Yeah. Much better.”

“I’m going to radio the ship, have them land closer to us. I’ll be back in a second.” His hand lingers as if he’s fighting with himself.

Outside, the rain is pounding. He stands at the mouth of the cave watching it come down as he calls the Frontier. The amount of blood on his hands makes him pause. They’re soaked with it; his shirt and jacket are too. He’ll be washing out the calloused grooves of his hands for an hour, at least. How close did he come to losing you? The thought makes his entire body tense.

“Frontier, come in.”

“We read you, Sam.” Sarah’s voice crackles over the radio.

“Captain’s injured, we need an immediate evac. Sending our location now.”

“Received. Hang in there, we’re on our way.”

Sam shuts off the radio and makes his way back over to you. Some of the color has returned to your face, and as far as he can tell the bleeding has stopped. He kneels next to you, feeling for a pulse on your neck. It’s steady and growing stronger. He might’ve imagined it, but you seemed to lean into his touch.

“You still with me?” he asks, voice half a whisper.

“Always.” You reply softly, drifting in and out of sleep.

He cups your face in his palm and leans forward to press a kiss to your forehead. As your breathing pattern changes to slow and steady, Sam smiles, leaning his forehead against yours. “Our wedding in Akila is going to be beautiful.”

[lo-sulci]

What are heaven will be mine & coquette dragoon?

oh my goodness, thank you for asking!! the short answer: they are incredibly good visual novels that I highly recommend, especially if you're a fan of mecha, sci-fi, great world building, yuri, and generally just amazing art created by transfems

long answer:

heaven will be mine (aside from being where I got my url) is the second VN made by worst girls games, best known for their first outing, we know the devil (also an absolutely amazing game). hwbm tends to ask a bit more from the reader than its predecessor- while wktd almost exclusively featured three characters and dealt with rather plainly stated themes of alienation, loneliness, and religious trauma, hwbm presents a setting cloaked in metaphor where human will literally shapes the universe and psychic mech pilots read spacetime like a narrative.

the cast is bigger, with the three routes allowing insight into each of the three main girls in addition to members of the factions they belong to, all in service of a beautiful story about queer people connecting with each other and finding/making their place in a world that would want to deny them their happiness (and a lot of other things, but I'm simplifying some here). begging to be replayed over and over, i've had different characters and details stick out every time ive played through the game, while also gaining a deeper understanding of and appreciation for hwbm's characters and setting. I've loved hwbm and wktd for years and expect I will for years and years to come, which, incidentally, is why I got a pair of tattoos based on these games LMAO. in other words: they're fucking fantastic and hit like few other things out there, imo

coquette dragoon is one of those other things, because holy shit does it excel at hitting incredibly specific and relatable emotional beats that are liable to absolutely tear you apart. created by ivy burgeroise, who (by her own fantastic description) makes art for sad perverts, coquette takes place during a seemingly endless war between the lilac fleet and the duchy of lucia, two spacefaring societies inhabited by animal people who have very differing opinions on magic.

focusing (so far) on xiomara rosales of the lilac and lady honey rose of the duchy, coquette explores painfully human stories from both sides of the war. (to that point, I'd be remiss if I didn't advise you to look out for the content warnings- coquette gets into some very heavy stuff and speaks about it very frankly and honestly, which is to its credit imo but i also understand that that is not something that everyone is in a space to deal with.) more than anything else, I feel, coquette is a work that puts words to feelings that you'd never before been able to describe, and, through the vulnerability of its author in making something so emotionally honest, makes me want to be more openly and happily myself. all of this in a story that examines war, exploitation, and the societal structures that prop them up, among many, many, many other things. I could keep talking in circles gushing about it, because I am so so obsessed with what's been released so far and so indescribably excited to see how it progresses in the future, but to keep myself from going on for too too long i'll cap this off with a tweet about coquette that i frequently think of and is one of the best recommendations I can offer:

OH and also coquette has wibbleburger, which, as we all know, is your favorite

[tired-old-men]

Your jobs seem stressful, what do you guys do to de-stress?

Thunderhawk 

Our jobs can be really stressful especially since we are constantly on duty to keep Angel Island safe, however we do get some free time to rest and unwind. Everyone needs to rest and refresh to be on their A game including us Guardians. 

For me, I destress by spending quality time with the family when I can. As expected of people that constantly work and live together we tend to spend most of our free time independently, which is all fine and good.. but we are a family after all, and getting to share some genuine time together, watch a movie, maybe play a board game or two, sharing a big meal, just gives me a nice warm feeling and reminds us of the simple moments in life together. Slowing down and enjoying the little things. 

Sometimes when work gets really overwhelming I stop for a moment, I focus on my breath and pay subtle attention at whats around me, how things look, sound, feel, maybe taste, I notice my feelings in the moment and remind myself of those little happy moments in life. It’s helped me destress over the years and has even come in handy when my anxiety would try to get the best of me. -smiles- 

Sojourner

What do I do to de-stress? Besides beautiful women -smirks then clears throat-, I enjoy the occasional cigar as opposed to my usual cigarettes, I don’t drink too often but I’ll even enjoy a glass of whiskey on the rocks with my smoke. Just find a good spot to sit outside and enjoy the view and maybe some tunes, although the sounds of the Island’s wilderness is the perfect music to my ears. 

At times the best way for me to de-stress is to go out hiking and especially camping. Sometimes I’ll take my son or another one of the boys along for the trip but other times I’ll go by myself, just exploring and experiencing Angel Island’s raw beauty brings me a lot of peace and provides the space for personal reflection too. Can’t beat a walk in nature I’ll tell you that!

Sabre

To say that this job is stressful would be an understatement in my opinion… I’ve tried a few things to destress but I really enjoy some quiet time along with a nice cup of tea, perhaps even a book or a good album to listen too. I’ve also found working on my garden to be quite therapeutic for me in a way. Gives me something to focus on besides work, and as much as it reminds me to take care of my plants it reminds me to take care of myself too. Originally my wife started this garden so I’d say it also holds some fond memories to reminisce about.

Locke

De-stress? Hmm.. I’d probably say meditation is my biggest guide when I feel burdened. I’ve read some of my ancestors would meditate so much they would even reach new levels of consciousness and even find greater insight into their chaos abilities. For me it keeps me focused on the present and helps organize my thoughts. I um- sometimes go out maybe into Echidnaopolis or another town on Island, just socialize a bit… Although my favorite places I go to are some of the old ruins or caves found around the Island, lots of history to uncover, it fills me with such an exciting energy I tend to forget about whatever might have been stressing me at the moment. -smiles sheepishly- 

Spectre

Hm…I meditate. I read. I tend to write about my thoughts, feelings, and observations as it helps gather all my introspections and provide greater insight into them… … I’ll also swim or dive from time to time…water is rather soothing…

[paigegonerogue]

Eight Questions

Thanks so much to the absolutely amazing @wordspinning for the tag!

Last podcast you listened to?

I’m not really much of a podcast listener myself, but I’ve been listening to The Reappearance of Rachel Price on Audible (I’m a huge Holly Jackson fans-As Good as Dead is one of my faves) and it’s really good! I’m at the end where things finally click into place and it’s quite exciting!

What was the last fanfic you read? What did you like about it?

I read I kept hold of everything, just in case by @treadlightlymydarlinggirl!

Such a good fic! It’s set between ep 8 and 9 and focuses on Ellie trying to process everything that happened by the questions she asks Joel. It’s seriously so good! The characterization, dialogue, and exploration of trauma are all just done so well it’s wild.

What’s an article or publication you read/liked/found interesting recently?

My professor had us all read a really interesting article about gendered spaces in gaming. I don’t remember the title, but it was interesting (but VERY long😭)

Open Pinterest and show the first thing it recommends you

SoC fanart. Love it!

Show something from your notes app!

Ah yes, the cliffhanger-filled, psychological torture I’m known for…

Share the last thing you liked!

The post that tagged me for this LOL

Show us a picture from your gallery that you’re proud of!

Could’ve been better but for being taken from an iPhone ten in a moving car I’d say it turned out well LOL

What’s the last YouTube video you watched?

Best video I watched recently ^^^

No pressure tags: @logan178 @renegadeknight @lochnessie @adhdprincess @bumblepony @becomethesun

[redredribbon]

OKAY SO. Endgame, and all the choices that came before. I got positives and critiques. This is gonna get long. Spoilers all over the place, especially for end game.

Choice rundown:

Saved Treviso (my Rook's logic was Minrathous has a standing army and Antiva is much more at risk of everyone getting blighted, even if it means the Venatori grab power)

Romanced Harding

Punched the First Warden

Harding: embraced compassion

Taash: embraced Rivain

Bellara: freed the archive

Davrin: sent the griffons to Arlathan

Emmrich: resurrected Manfred, no lichdom

Lucanis: imprisoned Illario

Neve: shadowy protector

Inquisitor (I used my solas romance for this one, not my "canon" inquisitor): told to DUMP HIM

Endgame choices:

Chose Davrin to lead the 2nd team over Harding (I saw the writing on the wall. I turned to my roommate who had already finished and said "Is this an Ashley and Kaidan situation?" They would not answer so I knew. And romancing Harding? I would have had a breakdown watching her die.)

Chose Bellara to undo the wards

Everyone survived, all factions in tact, except for Davrin (and Assan 😭😭😭😭😭 WHY)

I talked Solas down with Mythal and my inquisitor. He went it alone.

I did get the "secret" after credits ending.

Overall, I do think this was a very solid entry into the DA canon. I guess I'll sort of break down my thoughts into categories.

Gameplay

Positives:

I loved the new approach to combat. I think it changed things up in a very satisfying way with a new system that wasn't difficult to learn and maximize.

I played a rogue and being able to seamlessly switch between bow and blades was stellar. LOVED that change. It was so fun and so easy to learn, I found it incredibly rewarding.

I really liked not having to control my companions beyond maximizing their abilities. I didn't feel any loss of the third party member of previous games.

I appreciated how much more fast paced and imminent the combat felt, and loved how much they explored new avenues with the kind of enemies and attacks they did. It felt much more dynamic and exciting.

Loved how much more interactive the environments felt. Adding more things to climb for or balance on, having to get more creative with reaching hidden things, it reminded me of why I loved the Descent so much.

LOVED the appearance mechanic for armor. While I do miss how intimately customizable things were in DAI, it was so nice to pick a fave armor appearance without having to sacrifice stats.

Speaking of stats, I like the departure from the old D&D system of stats. Focusing more on abilities and passives without how it's affected by stats made it easier to focus on the play instead of the build. I get why others might not be fans of that, but I really liked it.

I appreciate that environments felt more dynamic, too. I think limiting the space was a good choice over the semi-open world of DAI. It really allowed attention to detail. I love DAI, don't get me wrong, and the environments were gorgeous. I just think the smaller environments served this game's structure better than open world would have.

The game did an excellent job of giving you immersive reasons to return to other places that didn't have active quests. I liked that you got pulled back to Arlathan or Hossberg or the Necropolis not for minor fetch quests but for side quests that did feel important.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PET THE PETS

Critiques:

It's not a major detriment, but I would have liked to be able to decorate the shared spaces of the Lighthouse more myself, especially amassing so many decorations I couldn't use. I liked the themes, but more of a mix of control there would have been nice.

This may be the fault of playing on super easy mode, but I 100%'d the Crossroads in Act 1, and got Mythal's cooperation in Act 1. After that, I basically did not have another reason to come back and skipped over it for the rest of the game. I wish more of it had been level-locked. Forcing the player to experience Solas's memories and regrets more over time would have added more flavor, and made the Crossroads more worthwhile to return to over time, instead of just get re-attacked by the same enemies in the same places. I also would have liked more memories to fill in more of the things left unaddressed in elven lore, which I'll expand on below.

Again minor, but I wish there were more casual wear option separate from the armor.

What is happening in the helmet department???

Companions

Positives:

I LOVED how much each one of the companions felt like whole, independent people. One of my favorite things about DA2 was how much the game did to convey that the companions had lives and friends and jobs/commitments outside of Hawke. It shines here too. It makes them so much more colorful and interesting!

Such a huge fan of the companions moving around the lighthouse to talk to each other. What a great way to get extra banter, and again just convey that they're connecting with each other outside of Rook.

Love the personalized rooms and spaces, and how they fill in as you progress their personal quests. It's so fun to get to see what changes and how they settle in.

There really wasn't a companion I wasn't compelled by. I have my favorites of course, but there's always been a couple companions in previous games I didn't jive with at all and just didn't really end up caring about much. That was not the case here.

I appreciate how natural most of their growth and personal quests felt over the course of the game. I liked that you were forced to progress their connections gradually, it kept them all really engaging the whole length of the game, rather than maxing one out and never having anything else to say again.

I'm not sure if this will be controversial, but I liked that some of your choices strained your relationships with the characters. That felt honest and natural.

Loved the side romances. Neve/Lucanis is very sweet. I didn't get to see Taash/Harding but I like the idea.

Critiques:

While I do think this improved from DAI, and did often feel more like giving advice than actually making the choice for them, I still didn't love how much I as the player figure into telling some of the companions who/how to be? Particularly thinking of Taash here, which I'll get more into in a minute. But pushing them to embrace Rivain or the Qun felt like a choice I was not qualified to make for them. It also felt like a clumsy vehicle for their identity struggle to me, it didn't quite 1-to-1 there with the gender struggle when this is a cultural choice. It worked better in other places, like I did like that you don't get a say in whether Illario lives, that felt right to not have Rook's input on.

So, Taash. Let me preface by saying I would defer to trans/nonbinary friends here on how successful or well-represented their journey was. I am not qualified to judge that. I very much like that it was included, and I want game developers to keep trying. It felt much more thoughtful than how Krem was handled. But it did still feel clunky to me, a little too formulaic and clinical in places, and I really, really wish they had come up with an in-universe term instead of "nonbinary"? I know that comes with its own pitfalls but it felt so out of place and took me out of the story a lot. Especially when you're including the Qunari culture in it, who define gender a little differently and a little more tied to role. The apology scene with Isabela felt even more cringey to me on top of things. Again, I appreciate they're including this and it was a big step up, so I'll take that

Really did not love the choice for Taash's mother to die. That felt like a deeply unsatisfying lack of resolution. I think it would have meant so much more if that quest was the catalyst for them to talk more openly. I don't think it was intentional but it felt like we resorted to killing off mom to free Taash up to be themself. I think it would have been more meaningful to show them starting to find understanding with each other.

Honestly... I know how this will sound, and believe me I'm not trying to simplify this down to "everyone was too nice," but I really felt like we needed more conflict that took more than one banter to solve between characters. I did not need it more grimdark, I actually like that it wasn't despite the themes. I like that everyone is more encouraging and finding a lot of hope. Just more tension or having to butt heads a little to find common ground would have meant more. There were some good moments of this here and there, especially early game! But as time went on, some of those differences seemed to resolve a little too easily, at least for me personally. Like Lucanis and Davrin back down from their conflict almost immediately. Harding goes a little overboard apologizing to Lucanis later for being pretty reasonably suspicious. I don't need another Fenris and Anders situation, but I think DAI had the best balance of the four with this, and I do miss it because some tension could really enhance character dynamic a lot.

I enjoyed the factions, but it did feel very weird to have the Crows presented as scrappy underdog freedom fighters when they're... assassins? They're fighting for the right to continue to be assassins? Yes the patriotism was genuine, and I loved the whole crew as characters, but the last 3 games have depicted them as cruel and dangerous, they've done a lot of awful stuff. This worked in Minrathous because it's a group fighting against established tyranny, but the Crows kind of are the established tyranny in Antiva (I know that's oversimplifying), so it's harder to buy them as equal. While I appreciate a new perspective, I couldn't shake the overall feeling of trying to paint this mafia crime family of killers as sympathetic in a way that I'm not sure I liked.

Small nitpick. I like that there was a side romance involving an NPC, but I do have to confess Emmrich/Strife fell flat for me. I just didn't really get any chemistry or build up, and it felt a little forced for me.

Lore

Positives:

Looooooved getting so deep into the elven lore at last. I am such a huge fan of the twist of the gods just being tyrannical mages. This is so juicy to me. What an interesting way to turn all we knew so far on its head.

Very much loved seeing the trickster side of Solas in full swing. I didn't trust him for a moment and for good reason, it turns out. But it really highlights what a mastermind he is and why he was such a legend.

Sooo cool to get more information on the Forgotten Ones, and have them start to be more than just codex whispers.

I really liked seeing new kinds of magic and magical abilities! It makes a lot of sense that countries more willing to embrace magic would have talents and abilities we've never seen, and it felt like a natural way to upgrade gameplay and still be true to the story. Same with having the environments more affected by magic and enchantment.

Honestly, incredibly amused how much this game makes Ferelden look like Our Weird Hyper-Catholic Cousins

LOVED the lore reveals in Solas's memories. I had correctly guessed some of it, and my roommate called that Solas was originally a spirit back in DAI times, but learning they were all originally spirits was so interesting. And using the titan blood to create bodies? I have questions we'll get to in a second but very intrigued by the idea. And that it created the blight! No wonder Solas is upset with himself!

Such a breath of fresh air to see some new cultures, customs, and approaches to the world. I love all the games and seeing all the different lands, but it's really nice to break out of the mold and see radically different attitudes and ideas serving as the foundations of new societies.

Critiques:

I feel like this is the area I was ultimately the most disappointed in, so apologies if this gets even longer.

I definitely understand the journey this game went on, having to rebuild from a scratched MMO and losing so many veteran developers. So I am grateful we have a game at all, and not only that, but a very enjoyable one.

It's hard to separate how much of a deep lore nerd I am from picturing this as a new player. I have way more of a lore recall than average (for me) for this game, and for me, that created some unsatisfying gaps, or things I wanted more explanation for. Top of the list: what happened to the other gods? I was assuming they were in other prisons, but then the reveal at the end that killing Elgar'nan would bring down the Veil implies everyone else is dead if the Veil was tied to their life forces. Did they die when their archdemons died? If so why? Did they just fade out over time? Seems weird! And it just felt really unsatisfying to know they just died off screen and now we'll never really have a chance to get their real stories and memories and perspectives. This is another place that having additional memories to unlock in Crossroads would have really enhanced things.

We got some reaction, but man I would really have liked to have more from the Dalish finding out their gods are monsters. More denial? More doubt? I think this could have been handled with codex entries, found letters and things, but it would have been nice

I would also really have loved any reaction at all from the Chantry. Don't get me wrong, I was absolutely thrilled to get away from it and hear from other religions and customs, but it feels very weird to have them be Sir Not Appearing in This Game, and not to have any voice at all to bridge the gap. Especially when the Black Divine and the Tevinter Chantry had been so built up as looming, foreboding figures in the south. I was looking forward to seeing the reality and it was just nonexistent.

I was looking forward to seeing how the breach and the events of DAI had affected the north, and what the fallout was as far as mages and acceptance or fear of magic. It was disappointing not to even get a point of comparison. I know magic is less restricted outside Ferelden and Orlais and the Free Marches, but I guess it would have been nice to just have more acknowledgement of the impact of that conflict up north. More comparisons to the demons hitting Minrathous at the beginning to what it was like when there were Fade tears, things like that? What even are circles like in Antiva, etc.?

That also extends to the party in some cases. I was surprised everyone was pretty accepting overall of Lucanis and Spite after some initial suspicion? But more than that, acceptance from the Crows? Even just overhearing some conversations asking Lucanis if he was going to try to separate from Spite or questioning him more? Don't misunderstand, I like him and Spite and am in favor of them being accepted, it just felt a little too easy?

The nonchalance around the eluvians and living in the Fade was also jarring. In DAI, entering the Fade bodily is cause for intense alarm and a lot of religious upheaval. Here it's more like "oh okay this is weird but I guess we live here now." Even the companions don't seem to have much of any reaction to it, when this is not a normal thing? Traveling by eluvian is unheard of and still largely secret from the population? It just felt so strange to have very little reaction to it overall.

While I love and accept the lore reveals, I have questions about the mechanics I felt went unanswered. How did the spirits know they could use lyrium to make bodies? Who figured that out? Who even figured out titan blood specifically had properties of magic? 

In the same vein, while I think it's an interesting explanation for the blight, I still feel sort of confused on red lyrium being corrupted titan blood but the blight also somehow resulting from the same process? So they're two separate substances? I'm confused about the nature of blight as a substance, I guess.

On the subject, I know they probably don't want to address it, but darkspawn springing fully formed out of blight pools is definitely a change from the brood mother method lol. Curious if that is just because Ghilan'nain is super powerful and can command the blight in unique ways whereas without the gods there's not enough power to do that? I dunno, just got some questions there lol.

Establishing that dwarves came after the titans were made tranquil raised some questions for me. If they didn't already exist, how were they created? Was the tranquilization a cause? Was it a last act of defiance? If all dwarves were originally like the Sha-Brytol, were dwarves almost like a titan immune response? Like white blood cells? And what made them erase the titans from the memories, at least in Orzammar? Was it out of shame for selling lyrium? Something else?

I felt like there were some lore contradictions I was also a little confused by. Previous lore had that Arlathan was sunk into the earth by Tevinter, and no one knew where it was precisely I thought? Hence my theory that it was the Black City, which I think may still be implied. But to see part of it still there and everyone acting like of course it's there felt weird. Couldn't the Dalish have explored it sooner? Like I'm totally fine with finding out maybe that was false or rumor or anything else, it just feels weird to have had the option to find some of this history sooner.

Smaller thing, but I did feel a little disappointed that DAI spent so much time canonizing different metals and fabrics and that all kind of disappeared here. I get that it was simpler to implement, and again, it didn't make any kind of gameplay difference. But I liked all the dynamics of the variety and that it even impacted the world with the types of mines you find.

I think that's all I can think of right now. Again, overall, really enjoyed it. Surpassed my expectations for sure. And gave me hope for future games, which I did not have going in.