#found these guys in an obscure antique store today

[the-wanderer-returns]

small glass whale and Some Fish (also small and also made out of glass)

[meguyummy]

pls see the vision lets have a reddit love story guys! reader owns a book store, izuku's a nerd, pt 1.

--

Internet anonymity is something that you abuse often. Who could really blame you, though?

It's late evening, almost closing time. Sat behind the counter in your small antique bookstore, the only noises you hear are the occasional rustling and crunching of autumn leaves. Today was a slow day, and you're insanely bored. Pulling out your phone, you wonder which app to kill time on before closing up shop. Twitter has been uninteresting, and YouTube has irritatingly long unskippable ads. So recently, you've turned to Reddit. More specifically, r/HeroSnark.

Initially, all your critiques on heroes were posted on Twitter, long and profane rants that got you suspended multiple times. You gained a following for being an outspoken "hero hater", but the sheer amount of die-hard All Might fans who almost found your location deterred further posting. Hating in peace was way more fun than getting swatted.

Has anybody else noticed how sloppy Pinky is getting with her acid recently? Public damage is out the fucking wazoo. Istg if I see another hole in the sidewalk I'll riot.

After posting to the subreddit, you turn off your phone and stand up, ready to flip the sign on the door to "closed" and head home. That's when the work phone rings. Of fucking course that's when the phone rings.

Plopping back down with a groan, you yank the phone out of the receiver and greet the caller, wondering if they've ever checked your closing time (or have, and were just shameless enough to not care).

"Hi! I noticed you have a copy of Captain Cosmos' special edition autobiography and I was wondering if you could hold it for me. I'll pay extra!"

You cringe, scrunching up your face at the phone. The voice on the was certainly.. enthusiastic. The caller was a guy, with a deep, but still somewhat boyish voice. He must be a fanboy on a different level if he liked Captain Cosmos, an ancient and mostly irrelevant hero. Your store offered all kinds of obscure old books, and despite your personal dislike, you knew better than to hurt business by not selling hero media.

"Yeah... I could do that if you're planning on coming to pick it up within the next two days. Are you?" You hope your exhaustion isn't too obvious from your voice.

"Yes! Yeah, I am. Thank you so so much I've been looking all over for it. I'll be there tomorrow!"

You say both say parting words, and you put the phone down, closing up quickly so no other last-minute calls can stall you. Walking up the stairs you retire to your apartment.

Living above the shop was a dream come true, allowing you to thrive without the possibility of an annoying downstairs neighbor. The space was cozy, designed perfectly to your liking after years of living there. After a relaxing shower, you slump into the couch. Checking the post, you read replies from others who have noticed the exact same issue and are equally frustrated by it, some even bringing up more problems you hadn't even noticed yet. You upvote a couple responses, reply to others, and turn on a sitcom.

The amount of bitching done online doesn't mean you're an asshole to people in real life too. Not to normal people, at least. The fact that heroes act like celebrities instead of the crucial emergency workers they really are grinds your gears. Who needs to see Can't Stop Twinkling's annoying ass on TV for something that isn't a rescue? There's a pedestal that they always put themselves on, like they're all-mighty and amazing and need to be praised, but their actions never speak enough for your liking.

A new reply catches your attention, and your brows furrow reading it. This is probably because she's been suffering injuries from her last mission and has still been pushing herself to work and save civilians! We should all be a little bit nicer :)

You frown, blinking hard down at your phone at the reply. Why the hell is.. u/minimight on here to spread positivity? Wrong place for that, bud. You pause the sitcom and sit up from your slouching position on the couch, readying your thumbs.

First, the downvote button gets smashed. Hard.

Dude, I honestly couldn't give less of a fuck that she's injured. If she can be a guest judge on The Masked Singer while injured, she can try a little harder to not make the sidewalk in my area look like Swiss cheese.

Why would anybody who likes heroes spend any time in that subreddit? The whole point is being able to dunk on them freely. You're not going to let some random guilt-trip you.

A reply comes in a minute later. The sidewalk is going to be fixed soon, it was just a minor inconvenience that came during her battle to save a life!

Way to make it deeper than it was supposed to be, u/minimight. You send another quick downvote.

Don't care lol save it for a hero-dickeating subreddit, not this one. You type.

While I understand your frustration, we should give more grace! I know how inconvenient and annoying things like this are, but not everything turns out as planned.

Holy shit they're not done. You don't really feel like arguing with a hero stan tonight, so you reply with a photoshopped picture of All Might in a clown suit.

They quickly reply. I just wish more people would have an open mind on these issues.

Yeah, u/minimight is gonna feel the banhammer soon. After swiftly downvoting their reply, you click on their account. They're a member of a couple All Might subreddits, which are expected, but also some more snark ones as well. They've written a couple of long posts written about random obscure heroes and their 'impact on hero culture'. Seeing that, you decide to write them off another annoying hero superfan and turn your phone off, changing the TV to a movie you've wanted to watch for a while.

Disappointed, (the movie was way worse than you expected) you switch off the TV and head to bed. As you lie there in the darkness, the image of All Might in a clown suit comes to mind, bringing a slight smile to your lips. Maybe tomorrow will be a less annoying day, free from hero fanatics.

[keelywolfe]

FIC: Knick Knack Paddy Whack (BAON)

Summary:  As far as Stretch is concerned, there's only one solution when you're addicted to thrift stores. Selling all the crap you bought so you can buy more!

Notes:  Stepping outside of the main storyline for a moment, we'll get back to the aftermath we're all expecting in a moment. 😁

Tags: Spicyhoney, Established Relationships, Domestic Fluff

Part of the ‘by any other name’ series.

~~*~~

Read it on AO3

or

Read it here!

~~*~~

Stretch was a bonafide thrift-a-holic, he honestly was, and he knew it. It was an important thing to know about yourself, really, because certain problems arose from bad case of oooh-shiny-itis.

Sure, one ceramic zombie hand thrusting up from the dresser to hold his rings and change was an awesome thing to behold, but an entire collection of zombie hands was a tough sell to the person you were living with, especially if that person was Edge. Not that he’d managed to find a collection of zombie hands and if he had, that thrift store would have been on the weekly check list, for sure. But the same premise applied to ‘zombie hand plus an entire horde of other bizarre ceramics surrounding it’.

Stretch wasn’t bitter about the limitations when it came to his collection, nah, he got it. There were certain things you couldn’t ask for from the person you love, and a house filled up with weird tchotchkes that looked like they belonged to the grandmother of the chainsaw massacre family was a step too far. Plus, asking Edge for more space would be unfair. He’d either agree because he didn’t want to tell Stretch no, or he’d say no and feel bad about it. Nah, the set of porcelain dragons playing instruments in a rock band he’d found wasn’t that important, not if it gave Edge a case of the guilts.

Problem was, Stretch really couldn’t resist sometimes. How was he supposed to turn away a wedding painting of Yoda and Kermit the frog? Or a coffee mug with a penguin orgy on it? He couldn’t, that’s how, but his allotted space was filling up in the house proper and soon he’d started to amass quite the collection in his lab, too. It was when the overflow expanded enough to start infringing on his erlenmeyer flasks that he decided he needed a new strategy. Science waited for no one and definitely not anything with the word ‘taxidermy’ included.

That’s when Stretch came up with the plan. Okay, it wasn’t a plan, exactly, more like a flash in the pants of brief inspiration, but hell, he’d been flying by on those his entire life, why stop now?

One of the places he frequented was an antique mall, which was a fancy way of saying one rung on the ladder above actual thrift store, except they rented stalls for people to sell their stuff, so maybe it was more like a glorified garage sale. People carted in their junk for other people to buy and the cashier up front handled all the transactions. Minimal time, minimal effort, that was exactly what he and his kitsch needed, so Stretch went ahead and rented a stall of his own.

The not-exactly-a-plan worked out pretty well. He could buy something at the thrift shop and proudly display it for a while around the house, and then when it came time to replace it with a new find, he’d add it to his stall and whatever money came from it, he donated to the local kid’s charity that the Antique Mall supported. That meant he got in his kicks and joy without looking like a prequel to a Hoarders episode and Edge only had to deal with the octopus tentacle ashtray for a few weeks.

Seriously, it was a win-win all the way around.

A few things did take up permanent residence, of course; he couldn’t give up his zombie hand. But so long as it wasn’t a clown, (clowns were disposed of by Edge immediately and with great prejudice), he was allowed things like his nested Matryoshka dolls of Nicolas Cages for a time.

About once a week he went down to add new things to his stall, mostly during the weekday hours when the buses were on the empty side and he could take up an extra seat with his box of additions. It wasn’t exactly a secret, Andy came along a few times to help, but he never really mentioned it to Edge. Not until today when Stretch realized he’d let things go a little too long and he had some extra boxes to haul down.

Better to take care of it while he was thinking about it, otherwise it tended to turn into an endless cycle of ‘oh, I should do that today’ and him forgetting, but aside from the extra lugging required, it was also Saturday and the bus would be loaded. Hitching a ride would be required, plus a little extra muscle, and his husband was his favorite source for both.

He found Edge in the kitchen, sitting at their temporary table with his laptop and yeah, it was Saturday, time to drag him away from whatever bullshit work he was doing. Stretch put on his best wheedling face and asked, “babe? can you give me a lift today?”

“Of course.” Edge didn’t look up, what a total waste of Stretch’s beguiling charms. His gloved fingertips were soft against the keyboard as he finished whatever he was typing before glancing up at Stretch, and maybe his schmoozing wasn’t entirely wasted; the way Edge closed the lid on his laptop spoke of a guilty conscious for working on his day off. “Where are we going?”

“downtown,” Stretch tucked his hands into his pockets and rocked on his heels. “i need to hit up my junk and disorderly shop.”

That got him a pause, “Your what?”

“heh, you’ll see.” Stretch curled a finger at Edge in a ‘come hither’ motion that his husband didn’t follow, only watched suspiciously. “c’mon, i need you to help me carry some stuff.”

“This ride is starting to sound less like transport and more like a chore.” But Edge followed him to the basement for the boxes, and, surprise surprise, his willingness to help went up a few notches from wary to eager when he figured out what Stretch was doing. Eh, couldn’t blame him. At the top of the pile was a plush frog with the top hat that played ‘hello my baby’ whenever you pushed on its foot, something Red did every single time he walked past it, plus anytime he’d felt like shortcutting in for a quick press. Time to let it damage the sanity of another family.

The boxes were tossed into the trunk of Edge’s car, frog and all, and soon they were on the road, heading downtown. Truth be told, Stretch wasn’t sure what Edge would make of the place. He tolerated thrift stores well enough, but the antique mall was a different kind of beast. An entire building of obscure collections cluttered together into eclectic displays that others were trying to barter and sell.

There were stalls filled with milk crates of old records, shelves and shelves of antique glassware and dishes. Some stalls had vintage clothing, feathery boas mixed in with disco pants and ruffled aprons. Old instruments, rusty farm equipment, strange kitchen gadgets that looked more dangerous than useful, this place had everything and then some.

Plus, the mall had a certain sort of smell, a musty, dusty scent verging on decay that settled into the sinuses and hung around for a while. Stretch thought it was the smell of a life well-lived and he kinda liked it; after years of thrifting, he associated it with finding treasures, but who knew if Edge felt the same. His tastes in smells (heh) ran more to clean and green, not old-timey funk. Could be it reminded him of shower mildew.

Whatever his opinion of the odors, Edge kept it to himself. He helped with the box carrying and checked out Stretch’s stall curiously but didn’t say much. Probably recognized the stuff on the shelves as having once been on a table or Stretch’s nightstand, until the glee wore off and it ended up gathering dust in the basement. He wandered off at some point, heading into the depths of the mall, and left Stretch to restock his meagre wares.

It took longer than he’d expected. Since he’d opened up his stall, not everything Stretch found thrifting found its way into the house proper anymore. Some of it he bought as a straight-to-video option and he was getting pretty good at finding interesting doodads at the thrifty places that might sell better here, location, location, location, that was the ticket.

Stretch always priced his junk reasonably, usually not much more than he’d paid for it. Wasn’t like he needed the money, and besides, Stretch knew himself pretty damn well, therapy did that to a guy. At the end of the day, he knew what this was really about; all an elaborate scheme to satisfy the inner packrat in his soul that struggled sometimes with giving things away.

Bartering had been built in him before he could say the word; in the Underground, he’d gotten damn good at getting deals for what he could scrounge at the dump. This was the same thing, really, just with slightly different stakes. Dinner wasn’t riding on his latest stash of dvds anymore, always a plus, and these days he could simply look at the empty shelves, content in the knowledge that his Smeagol cardboard cutout had found a new home.

Hey, therapy wasn’t the only way to work out a few kinks in your internal lines.

When the last box was emptied, Stretch wandered up to the front desk to give the lady who ran the front register his new inventory list. That was when he heard it.

There was an old piano up front with a sign on it that said, ‘Do not ‘play’ if you cannot play’. Most of the time it sat silently but someone up there was giving it a good try today. The notes were slower, with obvious hesitations as the player searched for the correct keys, but the song was one Stretch knew. Gently melancholy, a match to the cautious playing.

His curiosity piqued, Stretch wandered over to watch and he wasn’t entirely surprised to see Edge sitting on the piano bench, his attention on his hands as he slowly played. It was a tough choice between watching him play and simply listening to the song and Stretch found himself trying to do both. The uncertain skill in hands he knew so well as they coaxed the music free.

When the last note faded, a faint smattering of applause came from the different stalls around them. Stretch waited for it to end before sitting on the bench next to Edge.

Quietly, Stretch said, “i didn’t know you played.”

“I don’t,” Edge said. He smoothed a hand over the keys, not pressing down, simply touching them. “Not really. I can’t read music, but I know a song or two by rote. A friend of mine pushed me to memorize them.”

Welp, Stretch didn’t have to ask what friend, now did he. An old friend back in another world, and people weren’t replaceable even if they wore the same face. He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to; Stretch understood in a way only a few people could, and he settled a hand on Edge’s leg, squeezing his knee gently.

“that was really good,” Stretch offered, “you have a good memory, babe.”

“Some of my memories are better than others,” Edge said. The words were more contemplative than sorrowful, and he didn’t look at Stretch, only touched the back of his hand briefly with his gloved fingertips. “You tend to feature in the best ones, love.”

He reached for the keys again and started to play. The song was more confident this time, bright and cheery, with only the occasional missed note. A handful of other people drifted over, some pausing to watch and some moving on, going about their day with a song to carry them along.

Stretch only tapped his toes and listened as Edge played, more than willing to let him go on until he was ready to stop. If Edge wanted to take a brief dive into the past, then the antique mall was a place for it, where memories and times past mingled with the present.

Besides, a new memory to take home was better than any knickknack.

-fin

Note:  The first song Edge was playing was 'Clair de Lune' by Debussy and the second was 'The Entertainer' by Scott Joplin. In case you were wondering. 😁

[little-astro-naut]

serendipity | namjoon

serendipity n. the phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for In which you are a university student working at a vintage/book store, and Kim Namjoon is a tad clumsy.

college/university!au

pairing: kim namjoon/reader (gender not specified in fic!) genre: fluff!!! just a wholesome read in general word count: 1.9k warnings: none, unless you need a warning for namjoon being the cutest clumsy dork note: Happy New Year!

Taking a 2021 leap of faith by posting my first fic ever, and it's for the ever lovable Kim Namjoon of BTS. This has been sitting in my WIPs for so long, but I'm glad I finally got the guts to just sit down and finish it. This fic is just a short happy little thing that I wanted to welcome the new year with, so I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

May this year be much, much better for you all. Thank you for clicking on this tiny thing, and enjoy!

[crossposted to AO3]

The day begins like usual.

You wake up at around seven in the morning. It takes a few groans and some burrowing under the covers before you reluctantly leave the comfort of your bed to get ready for another day of school. Today is Thursday, you note. Just one more day after this until the sweet, sweet embrace of the weekend.

On Thursdays, your classes begin at nine in the morning and end at three in the afternoon, after which you walk a few blocks down the street from your university to your part-time job at the little vintage shop right across the convenience store.

It’s owned by a pleasant, middle-aged lady with a love for collecting antiques, trinkets, books, and other unique finds she’s stumbled upon in her numerous travels around the globe. She often drops by the store when she isn’t away on another trip, waltzing in through the front door, clad in her signature ensemble of an expensive silk headscarf, a flowing floral dress, a pair of vintage designer boots, and a pretty little purse that magically fits everything and then some.

She’s like a real-life Mary Poppins—that is, if Mary Poppins had the aesthetic of a suspiciously rich 50-something lady whom you can usually find day drinking at some obscure Spanish restaurant. You don’t really know where she gets the money to own all that she does and travel five times each month (A small vintage shop at a university area surely wouldn’t make that much money, right?), but you don’t need to know. The elusiveness is part of her charm.

You met her one day as you were intently reviewing every single item on the shelf to score some hardbound anniversary edition copies of your favorite classics for cheap. She had noticed you frequenting her store, and finally offered you a part-time position due to your sincere—albeit novice—appreciation for quietly valuable things, and you said yes on the spot. It meant extra money and a 20% discount to your favorite shop, after all.

The walk to the store is short—a five-minute stroll along pretty rows of old brick apartments and quaint ice cream parlors and small restaurants with cuisine ranging from Japanese to Mediterranean. Your usual brisk walk becomes a leisurely pace today, thanks to the rare early dismissal from your Contemporary Asian Art elective, your last class of the day.

Breathing in the fresh afternoon air and looking up, you take time to admire how green the trees are at this time of the year. It’s calming to watch the leaves sway gently with the breeze, giving way for sparse rays of the sun to illuminate patches of the ground like tiny twinkling stars. Your eyes absentmindedly scan the sidewalk for the bits of sunlight that pass through.

The day feels brighter and kinder when you’re not hurrying, you think to yourself.

The mellow tingle of the chimes interrupts your reverie, announcing your arrival to the shop.

“Hey!” Taehyung, your co-worker, greets you with a smile as he packs away a small stack of readings and notes in his messenger bag. “Got a big exam today so I may have to go a little sooner, is that okay?”

“Yeah, don’t worry about it. Good luck on that test!” You smile back, taking a seat behind the counter as you review the day’s transactions so far. “Wow, that’s a good number of purchases today—and it’s only three p.m.”

Taehyung swings his bag over his shoulder and ruffles his already messy black hair. “Right? Oh! Remember that really handsome guy I told you about? Broad shoulders, cute smile, even cuter laugh? The one from my English class?”

You give him an enthusiastic “YES?” in acknowledgment. Taehyung has not shut up about him all semester, but it took just one chance encounter on campus with “really handsome guy” to prove to you that “really handsome” was a gross understatement, and that if you were in his position, you’d never keep your mouth shut either.

“He came by this morning. Must’ve left his magical touch on the store.” Taehyung pauses, wiggling his fingers around to illustrate his point.

Taehyung’s silly action makes you snicker, but the gravity of his statement hits you all of a sudden, causing you to widen your eyes in response. “Wait. You mean I missed him!?” You frown in disappointment, and Taehyung gives you a sympathetic nod. “Damn. Well, at least he bestowed enough magic to help you survive that huge exam.”

“Not just survive it; I’m gonna ace it.” Taehyung winks. “And hey, I’m certain Mr. Eye Candy’s left enough magic in the store for you, too, out of his kindness.”

“When you finally get the guts to ask the guy out, tell him thank you!” You laugh and give each other one last wave before he skips to the exit, almost bumping into a customer who has just entered the store. They bow to each other in apology.

“Good afternoon! How may I help you?” You stand up from where you’re seated to make yourself available to the tall boy in a black cap and blue shirt. Funny, you haven’t even seen his face yet, but you already think the denim is a good look on him. Not a lot of people don’t look like a joke in denim shirts, but even fewer people are blessed with the ability to look amazing in them. The first customer of your shift, whoever he is, is one of those people.

He takes clumsy steps through the entrance, retreating the arms that pushed the door open back into his pockets. The cap on his head, however, is doing nothing to help you get a better glimpse of the boy who has kind of piqued your interest.

Then he topples over a whole stack of books on display up by the front of the store. Now you’re really interested.

As he picks up a couple of books from the floor, the “SALE” sign beside also falls with a muted thud when it hits a hardbound copy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. He looks up from where he’s knelt on the ground, searching for someone to whom he can address more of his profuse apologies before standing up in shame, waiting for the cute person behind the counter to approach and also maybe but hopefully not reprimand him for his stupidity.

“Oh, shit,” you hear him whisper in panic. “I am so sorry about that. I’ll fix it.”

He tries, at least.

His eyes meet yours as he straightens up, as if to admit defeat against the on-sale books still on the floor. You’re chuckling, walking towards him and effectively pretending you are not the least bit fazed by the stranger’s slightly obscured puppy eyes and mild panic and how he towers over you while being as threatening as a lost child.

“Need some help?” you chuckle again—out of nervousness more than anything, if you’re being honest—and he reciprocates shyly.

“Sorry about this.” He gives you a sheepish smile as he adjusts his cap and scratches the back of his head. It’s quick, but it’s more than enough to give you a perfect glimpse of his handsome face: timid eyes, full cheeks, and a guilty smile boasting of a dimple on each side.

You lag for a moment upon the unobstructed sight of him, but almost immediately catch yourself. A brief clearing of the throat and you begin picking up the books sprawled on the floor between the both of you. He quickly bends down to try and be of assistance, picking up a few and checking to make sure he made no damages to any of the copies before returning them to the display rack.

You both reach for the dog-eared paperback edition of Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being at the same time, and you could’ve sworn a sudden spark jolts you the moment your hands meet.

He’s the first to look up. The boy in the cap waits to meet your gaze as you blink to yourself a few times before deciding to check on said boy in front of you. Now it’s your turn to say sorry, and you’re not really even sure why. Just felt like speaking would help make this less nerve-wracking for you and your now pounding chest.

And then he snorts. It’s not even supposed to be a pleasant sound, but it tickles your ears and heart in a way that requires all of your willpower to keep yourself from melting into a puddle right then and there. He picks up the book, stands up straight, and looks at you—still smiling, still so attractive it honestly hurts. The softest of giggles leaves his lips, and you really, truly, die a little.

“Sorry, um…” He scratches his head. Maybe a cute habit of his? He has no real followup to that apology, so he pretends he didn’t say it and just continues with the next thought in his head.

“I’ve been looking for this for so long.” He lifts the copy of the Kundera novel in his hand.

Ah, the book. You almost misunderstand.

“I’ve wanted to own this in this particular cover, but for some odd reason, it wasn’t in any bookstore I’ve visited before.”

“Oh, well then, I’m glad you found what you were looking for here.” You smile shyly.

“This and more, really,” he whispers to himself, and you don’t quite catch it.

“That copy’s actually also our last of that novel. If you had come by on any other day it might have been gone already,” you explain, mentally patting yourself in the back for finishing your sentence without stuttering.

You fidget with your fingers, praying for a reason to continue speaking with the beautiful stranger and the courage to maintain eye contact the way he’s effortlessly doing.

“I’m glad I dropped by today, then.” He stares at you for a moment, hoping you catch just what he really means before his eyes turn into crescent moons when he scrunches his nose to give you a playful grin.

It seems that your prayers work. Without missing a beat, you find uncharacteristic confidence from within your nervous bones to respond, “I’m glad you did, too.”

“Maybe I should drop by again tomorrow,” he says, your answer giving him a boost of confidence. “And the next day, too, maybe?”

“We restock books on Fridays and Saturdays. I’m off then, so my friend Jimin will be the one to assist you if ever.” You smile, teasing.

“Hmm, how about Sunday?”

“We’re closed on Sundays.”

He purses his lips as he holds back another fit of giggles, shaking his head lightly. He has been nothing but a dork and a dumbass this whole time, and yet, luckily, it seems like it’s working. So he pushes it.

“How about I make it simpler by just asking you out right now? Since it’s your day off, how does tomorrow sound?”

You laugh at this, before coyly looking at him to say, “What makes you so sure I’ll say yes?”

“Just trying my luck, really.” He laughs, too.

“Today must be your lucky day, stranger.”

“Kim Namjoon,” he responds, perfect smile still there on his face. “My name’s Namjoon.”

“Well then, Namjoon, today’s your lucky day.”

And mine, too, you think to yourself. You hope Taehyung doesn’t forget to extend your gratitude to Mr. Eye Candy.

a/n: Thank you for reading! Feel free to drop by my ask for comments, suggestions, or just to say hi!! Constructive criticism is welcome, but please be kind! I'm very new to this so I would greatly appreciate kind feedback.

[bohemian-napsodyy]

Piano Man

Request: Freddie hearing a piano playing in a store, he goes and looks and sees a beautiful girl, falls heads over heels, few days or weeks later he finds her at a like festival (like live aid) and finds out she sings also, and that she’s a major star in America and course Freddie goes up to her and asks her out, in his own way, by singing to her -- requested by @angelfuzzy2

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: if you count a cheeky little bastard who steals your heart piano then yes, okay, I guess that’s one (1) warning to make note of

A/N: No joke i had so much fun writing Freddie for this one! idk if I need to post a disclaimer or anything but the lyrics I use near the start aren’t mine, they’re from Wings by Birdy, which you can listen to here. Also, the piano bit Freddie plays near the start can be seen here (and no joke i was BLOWN AWAY holy crap this guy is amazing dear god)

August, 1973

The floorboards creaked beneath your feet as you made your way further into the antique shop, eyes scanning the rows of furniture that were laid out haphazardly around the store.

You needed a piano of your own. For the last two years you had been going to your neighbour’s place to practice throughout the week, but you were really starting to feel like an inconvenience. You were writing songs now, and sometimes not being able to find the right chords or remember a really good set of lyrics you didn’t write down in time made you want to hit a cluster of piano keys in frustration. 

But you couldn’t exactly do that to a piano you didn’t own. So you figured setting some money aside to buy one would be a better idea.

“Excuse me,” you called out quietly to the shop owner, whom you spotted meticulously dusting tiny glass figurines on a display shelf. “Do you happen to have any pianos for sale?”

The older man glanced up at you and adjusted his glasses on his nose. He gave you a gentle smile.

“Yes we do. Only one right now, in fact. Follow me.”

As the shopkeeper led you further into the store, the sudden smell of old wood and mothballs filled your nose. You found yourself in a room at the very back of the store, filled with larger furniture. He gestured to the corner.

“It’s the brown one over there.” The man explained with a smile. “Feel free to try it out if you like.”

You nodded, expressing your gratitude and thanks. “You don’t mind if I play? It might echo a bit throughout the store.”

The shopkeeper beamed at you, eyes sparkling behind his glasses.

“I haven’t had anyone play that piano there for a very long time.” He answered. “It will be a nice gift, to hear someone finally play it again. Go right ahead, dear.”

You settled down on the piano bench just as the friendly shopkeeper’s footsteps echoed faintly as he walked away. The few nerves jumping around in your stomach settled down as soon as he was out of sight. You always preferred playing when there was nobody else around.

You began playing the start of a simple tune you were writing — you only had a few words to go along with the music so far. As you continued to play, you had the strong urge to try out your lyrics and sing along. Glancing up briefly, you scanned the store to see if anyone was lurking around. You smiled when you didn’t see anyone. No audience meant no nerves.

“Sunlight comes creeping in,” your voice was barely louder than a whisper as you sang. “Illuminates our skin,

We watched the day go by,

Stories of all we did.

They made me think of you,

They made me think of you.”

You were singing much louder now, losing yourself in what few words you had written so far.

“Under a trillion stars,

We danced on top of cars,

Took pictures of the stage,

So far from…”

You trailed off as you reached the end of your lyrics, but you kept playing the piano. You cycled through the chords once, twice, three more times, before deciding to end with a flourish.

“Why’d you stop, darling? That was lovely.”

You jumped in surprise at the voice you heard. Your heart automatically started to beat faster. You could’ve sworn there was no one else here.

“T-thanks,” you stuttered, glancing down at the piano keys. “It’s not much, and it’s kind of bad-”

The bench shifted as the man sat down beside you.

“Don’t be silly sweetheart,” He interrupted with a grin. You noticed his eyes seemed to be alight with mischief as he spoke. “All diamonds start out as ugly little things, but look what they become.”

You giggled at his obscure comparison, which earned you a cheeky wink from the man.

“I’m Freddie, in case you’re wondering.”

You smiled. “Y/N.” 

“Well, Y/N,” Freddie began, leaning one arm on the edge of the piano as he gazed at you. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave. This piano’s mine, you see. I’ve got to take it home now.”

You frowned at Freddie, blinking in confusion at his sudden order.

“What do you mean?” You asked, instinctively moving closer to the piano. “I was going to buy this, I was here first!”

“Did you pay that short little man at the front for it?”

You wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off Freddie’s darn gorgeous face, dammit.

“You see,” Freddie continued. “While you were back here playing that lovely song of yours -- and it really is lovely darling, I enjoyed it very much -- I walked in, asked the man about a piano... didn’t need to try it, you had done that already, thank you... so I told him I’d take it and-”

“You came in after me?” You demanded as you crossed your arms over your chest in frustration. “And you just... bought the piano I was playing?”

Freddie grinned. “Yes, that’s exactly what happened.”

“But...” You protested exasperatedly. “That shop owner knew I was at the piano, surely he would’ve said something about me being a possible buyer...”

Freddie shrugged. You hated how comfortable he was making himself at the piano, his fingers silently tracing the keys as you spoke. 

“Money talks, darling...” Freddie mumbled, his fingers now moving to follow the grain of wood on the top of the piano. “And people listen, they really do. That little man didn’t even bat an eye when I said I’d take it.” 

You sighed in defeat. It looked like finding a piano for your own place was going to prove more difficult than you had expected, thanks to Freddie.

“Alright then, Piano Man,” You began with a bitter edge to your voice as you stood up. You nodded at the piano. “You’ve got to prove yourself if you want me gone from the piano that badly -- show me what you got.”

“Ooh, cheeky. I like it.” Freddie gave you a wink as he moved to the middle of the piano bench.

He started playing a rather fast tune, faster than anything you could have played, and with one hand only nonetheless. Your eyes widened just as the short tune ended faster than you were expecting. Your heart sank a little when the music ended -- you wanted Freddie to keep on playing and never stop. 

“It sounds better with the rest of the band joining in, of course.” Freddie muttered, shrugging to himself. He looked up at you, and a smile danced on his face one more. “There. Did I pass the audition? May I have my piano now?” 

“You’re in a band?” You asked incredulously. Freddie nodded, moving over on the piano bench and patting the empty spot beside him -- a signal for you to sit back down.

“Yes, we just released our first album actually.” Freddie replied. You could see the pride shining in his eyes. “That tune I played... that was off the album. Seven Seas of Rhye.”

“Wow...” You breathed, looking down at the piano keys in amazement. You couldn’t believe he was able to play that riff so quickly with only one hand. 

“What about you, darling?” Freddie asked, nudging your shoulder with his own. “Are you with a band?” 

You shook your head, laughing to yourself as you thought of all the times you’d gone knocking at your neighbour’s door and asked to use her piano. 

“No... I wish though. I’m just making music for fun, I think.”

“Don’t stop.”

You frowned. “What do you mean?”

Freddie nodded to the piano. “Don’t stop making your music. Keep writing. Keep singing, and before you know it, you’ll catch the attention of thousands.”

The proud air Freddie held around him dissipated for a moment as he looked down to his hands in his lap. 

“I’m hoping for the same thing too, actually.”

Your heart softened at the sight of the man beside you. Initially, especially with his cocky attitude, you thought he was a real pain in the ass. But now that the two of you had been talking some more,  your initial judgements were quickly melting away.

“What’s the name of your group?” You asked, placing a hand comfortingly on Freddie’s back. “I want to find your music. If you can play that without even batting an eye, your band must be pretty damn good.”

Freddie met your gaze, and the mischievous look in his eyes returned.

“We’re Queen.” He explained with a smirk. “And we’re more than ‘pretty damn good’. We’re fucking good, darling.”

You let out a laugh as you got up from the piano bench. You nodded at Freddie, who was still sitting down.

“Well, it was nice to meet you Freddie.” You said with a smile. “And I wish you and your fucking good band all the best.”

That got a laugh out of him. He stood up and approached you, and you noticed how he stood just slightly closer to you than before. 

“If ever you’re missing the piano that got away...” Freddie began. He placed one arm casually against the edge of the piano. “You can always come visit it... and me... at my place. The offer’s open.”

You giggled at Freddie’s comment, shaking your head with a smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Take care, Freddie.”

July, 1985

You bounced on your toes as you stood backstage at Live Aid. The Dire Straits were playing their final song, and you were on next. 

After performing on tour for seven years, you didn’t really get nervous anymore. But today was an exception. It was fucking Live Aid, for crying out loud. Everything was being broadcast as it was happening, and if you were to make a mistake-

No. You stopped yourself from thinking anything further. You were going to do just fine. 

A hand on your shoulder startled you and made you yelp. You spun around, expecting to see the sound guy letting know you were going on soon, but you were surprised to see a somewhat familiar face instead.

“Freddie!” You exclaimed as you rushed forward and barrelled him in a hug. “Oh my god, it’s been so long!”

“How are you, darling?” Freddie asked. His hands were set firmly on your shoulders as he smiled at you with the same glint in his eyes all those years ago.

“I’m really great,” You beamed. “A little nervous but... great.”

Freddie winked at you. It warmed your heart to see him here, he definitely looked like he had grown so much since your last encounter.

“You’ll be brilliant, Y/N.” Freddie whispered. “You've never been anything less.”

You had taken Freddie up on his piano offer back in the 70s. But to your dismay, the visits didn’t last as long as you had hoped. Queen had gained recognition extremely quickly, and he had gone off to tour Europe and America. 

You, on the other hand, began a music career of your own, after being noticed by a producer at one of your small performances at a cafe. Before you could even attempt to contact Freddie to tell him about the news, you were whisked away to America to collaborate with numerous other singers as well as record your own albums.

But you never managed to collaborate with Queen, even though you had hoped over and over you would cross paths with Freddie once more. You were two different genres so you only ever admired them, and Freddie, from afar.

“Tell me darling,” Freddie continued. You noticed his eyes sparkled as he spoke. “Did you ever finish that song? I never heard it on your albums.”

“Which one- oh! You mean the one I played in that antique store?” You asked with a laugh. Freddie nodded intently.

“Yes. Please tell me you’re playing it today.”

You shook your head. “Freddie, that was one of my earlier pieces. My music has grown so much since then, I don’t think it would be a good idea to play my very first song I ever wrote-”

“Please.” Freddie begged. “I think about that song so often. The people don’t know what they’re missing out on.”

“Oh, I think they do,” You joked with a laugh, but Freddie’s solemn expression made you drift off. 

“You actually want me to play that song, don’t you?” 

Freddie nodded emphatically. You hadn’t seen this much sincerity in his eyes since the time he told you he loved what you played in that antique store twelve years ago.

“If you don’t want to play it for anyone else,” Freddie added quietly. “Play it for your biggest fan won’t you?”

You raised an eyebrow. “And just who might that be?”

Freddie rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You know, darling, you can be absolutely dense sometimes.”

Before you knew it, Freddie had stepped forward and enveloped you in a strong embrace.

“It’s me, you goose.” He giggled as he hugged you. “I’ve missed you, Y/N.”

You returned his embrace just as strongly. 

“I’ve missed you too, Piano Man.”

“Y/N, you’re on in thirty seconds.”

You reluctantly broke out of Freddie’s embrace and nodded to the sound guy on your left. 

“You’re playing that song I love, right?” Freddie checked with you one more time. You laughed at his persistence. 

“Yes, Freddie. I’ll play it.”

Freddie nodded in satisfaction. “Good. And maybe afterwards, you could come pay that old piano of mine a visit? I know he’s missed you, the poor dear.”

You felt your heart swell as you smiled at Freddie. And for a few short moments, you felt like you were back with him in the antique store for the first time, all those years ago.

“I’d love to, Freddie.” You answered quietly. “I’ve missed that old piano... and its owner... very, very much.”

[galdrastafir-by-raevedis]

THE GALDRABÓK - PDF

FULL ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT

This is a PDF version of the infamous Galdrabók (MS ATA ÄMB2). This book is often referenced in modern work such as Stephen Flowers', but the manuscript itself is actually really hard to find in its original form.

As I'm sure you guys know, there's not many of these old Galdrabóks left today. Many were burned as heretic books and others were hidden away by their owners to later be forgotten and decay into nothing in some nameless hiding-spot. Those that have survived however, can now be found stored away in several Scandinavian archives, while others are tucked away in private collections.

Back in the day, there were a lot of rumours of black art books like this one in existence. Books said to contain powerful magic in the form of depicted Galdrastafir, Spells, Troll-runes and more. One of the most famous historical manuscripts of this kind is the mythical "Raudskinna" (Red Skin). This fabled manuscript was said to have been written by the Icelandic bishop Gottsálkur Nikolásson (1498-1520's), who was considered a very cruel man, and also one of the most powerful Troldmænd of his time. "Raudskinna" was lost to the ages unfortunately, as the story says the Bishop took it with him to his grave.  

The Galdrabók that I'm sharing with you guys here however, is one of those manuscripts that survived. It's actually one of the more infamous of the surviving black art books that we still have. It's a small book compiled on parchment, consisting of 32 sheets in all. The oldest parts of the document were written down in Iceland sometime during the 16th century. Later, the book found its way to Denmark, and at the beginning of the 17th century a Danish Troldmand (sorcerer) supplemented the manuscript with more content. Alas, a more exact date for when this happened is obscured, along with the names of those who wrote the text. Some of the content is likely to originate from other Galdrabóks, but it's really hard to say at this point.

In 1682 the manuscript was bought in Copenhagen by the Swedish language- and forn-researcher Johan Gabriel Sparfwenfeldt. During 1689-1694 he worked hard on collecting several "gothic" memorials and manuscripts for the Swedish Antiquity Archive.

In 1786 the Swedish Antiquity Archives was placed under management of the Royal History and Antique Academy, and this is where the manuscript can be found today - indexed and shelved as ATA ÄMB2.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE

As always this PDF is free to download, free to print and free to share digitally! #FREEGALDRASTAFIR

[jamiekturner]

Best iPhone adventure games with epic stories behind them

If you are searching for iPhone adventure games, take a tour of this article with really interesting and engaging apps.

They are a good fit for those times when you want to live an adventure in your iPhone’s small screen.

You will also find many interesting stories in these apps. Some are focused on travel, some on horror and some on mysteries. From old-school to more modern iPhone apps with great graphics, take a look at some of the best adventure games for iPhone and iPad.

iPhone adventure games to check out

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

If you thrilled to the first two versions of Telltale Games’s take on The Walking Dead, you’ll enjoy this latest installment, too.

But even if you’re new to the mobile series, there’s plenty to enjoy with this zombie apocalypse game, which places an emphasis on character interaction and the emotional burden of decisions made.

Batman: The Telltale Series

Telltale Games brings its unique brand of narrative adventure to the Dark Knight in Batman: The Telltale Series. Telltale’s more story-based approach lends itself well to an aspect of the Batman character that is rarely so well-explored in more action-oriented titles: the dual identity and constant tension between Batman and Bruce Wayne.

The first episode of the game comes free, with subsequent episodes available as in-app purchases. With the release of episode 5: City of Light, you can now play through the story in its entirety in one go.

Her Story

Are you a fan of true crime shows such as Serial and Making a Murderer? Here’s a similarly themed game for you budding Sherlocks out there. Sam Barlow’s Her Story has you doing the detective work and piecing together a mystery surrounding a woman being interviewed about her missing husband.

Armed only with a mothballed computer and an antique police database, you must search through the files for short video clips of the woman’s seven police interviews to unravel the whole story. To say more would spoil the experience.

Game of Thrones

Enter the world of Westeros in Telltale Games’ adventure game based on the hit fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. Players take control of the scions of House Forrester, minor bannermen of House Stark, in the great struggle for the throne of the Seven Kingdoms.

Telltale Games’ signature high-stakes, timed decision-making is particularly apt for the Game of Thrones episodic game, with players having to think on their feet as they make tough choices in the battlefield and within the murky politics of the court. With the release of the sixth episode, “The Ice Dragon,” users can play the entire game in one go.

République

Watch your step! République is an episodic stealth adventure by Camoflaj that immerses you in a fictional surveillance state. Armed only with backdoor access to surveillance cameras and security systems, you must help the young girl Hope escape and evade a gauntlet of guards.

Intuitive touch controls allow players to easily hack objects and switch among cameras, giving you quick one-tap control for helping Hope evade guards and pick up mission objects and collectibles. With the release of the fifth chapter, Terminus, players can finally play through the entire story, as Hope takes on the repressive Overseer.

Mr. Robot: 1.51exfiltrati0n.apk

This tie-in game for the popular TV series takes the same slow-burning formula pioneered by Lifeline and pushes it in interesting directions, even as it intertwines with the events of Mr. Robot’s first season. The game masks itself as a messaging app from in-show corporate titan, E-Corp, sitting in a lost phone that you found and picked up.

From there, you start receiving messages from a mysterious hacker’s collective that wants your help to “reset the world.” It’s a slowly unfurling technothriller story that plays out from your smartphone screen.

Day of the Tentacle: Remastered

Turn back the clock and experience a point-and-click classic with Double Fine Production’s remastered edition of Day of the Tentacle. This sequel to the original Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle has players guiding a lovable bunch of misfits through a comedic time travel odyssey as they work together to keep a purple mutant tentacle from taking over the world.

The new edition features remastered graphics and sound effects (as well as the option to play through in the original low-res mode). You also get commentary from some of the game’s original creators such as Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP is an audiovisual experience wrapped around an adventure game. You take control of the Scythian as she explores a pixel-art fantasy world, doing battle against strange creatures with her sword and using the magic of “sworcery” to solve arcane puzzles.

The gorgeously rendered world and soundtrack are accompanied by some fun writing for Archetype, the narrator, who is best described as a silly, hipster Conan the Barbarian. This game doesn’t break through the fourth wall, because it never bothers to build one in the first place.

Grim Fandango Remastered

Step into the shoes of Manny Calavera, travel agent to the dead in the remastered version of the classic adventure game Grim Fandango. First released in 1998, Grim Fandango melds Mexican folklore, film noir sensitivities, and a healthy dose of humor to create a fun and memorable adventure game.

Double Fine’s remastered version features improved graphics, an orchestral score, and a wealth of extras like developer commentary and concept art. About the only thing that hasn’t translated well is the obscure 90s adventure game puzzle design, which can be counterintuitive to modern gamers.

80 Days

Inkle Studios’ latest piece of interactive fiction is the remarkable 80 Days, a steampunk adventure based on Jules Verne’s classic novel “Around the World in 80 Days.” As the loyal valet Passepartout, you accompany your master Phileas Fogg in his globe-trotting journey through an alternate Earth filled with automata, artificers and airships.

Players must race through the world’s great cities, discovering new routes and stumbling across mysteries while exploring each city through a “choose your path” interface. Discover the fastest routes, balance your finances, pack the right inventory in your limited luggage space, and you just might win Fogg’s epic wager and circumnavigate the world in 80 days.

Broken Age

Double Fine’s adventure Broken Age, the game that helped start gaming’s crowdfunding revolution, goes mobile with the release of Act 1 on the App Store. The first act of Broken Age tells the story of two teens, each struggling against traditions that bind them.

Deep in the bowels of a starship, Shay Volta is trying to escape the clutches of a stiflingly maternal AI, while Vella Tartine has been chosen to be sacrificed to a mysterious monster in order to save her village. Gorgeously rendered 2D graphics, a neat soundtrack and a genuinely well-built adventure make Broken Age Act 1 a keeper, and we’re sure many gamers eagerly await the release of Act 2.

The Silent Age

Armed with a time travel device and stuck between a dead future and a present that ignores him, it’s up to Joe to save the world in The Silent Age. It’s 1972, an age of free love, Cold War and the blowing winds of social change. Of course, all that seems to have passed by Joe, an average guy scraping by as a janitor living a life of soul-crushing tedium.

His life changes, however, when he’s suddenly confronted by a dying man who seemingly appears out of nowhere to hand Joe a time travel device and a dire warning: Unless Joe acts now, humanity will be extinct in 40 years.

The Wolf Among Us

The developers behind the wildly successful Walking Dead game have released a new narrative adventure with The Wolf Among Us, based on the critically acclaimed “Fables” comics by Bill Willingham.

As Bigby (as in Big Bad) Wolf, the Sheriff of Fabletown, it’s up to you to investigate a bloody murder that has set the hidden fairytale creatures of Fabletown on edge. Hard choices and dark secrets await in the first episode, “Faith,” with further episodes available as in-app purchases or through a Season Pass.

Ryan North’s To Be Or Not To Be

Imagine William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as a choose-your-path gamebook, and you get Ryan North’s “To Be or Not To Be”, which has you playing the part of Hamlet, Ophelia or Hamlet Senior on their insane adventures.

Powered by Tin Man Games’ Gamebook Adventures engine, the app takes full advantage of the digital format by accompanying the text with music, sound effects, hilarious achievements and an end-game “Haml-o-Meter” and a statistics page that compares your choices with the Bard’s.

A particular delight is the wealth of illustrations by a variety of webcomic greats such as Kate Beaton (Hark, A Vagrant), Zach Weinersmith (SMBC), and Matthew Inman (Oatmeal). Incredibly hilarious and brilliantly executed, “To Be or Not To Be” will make sure you’ll never look at Shakespeare the same way again.

Panmorphia

An impressive first entry from Indie developer Lydia Kovalenko, Panmorphia straddles the divide between traditional and casual adventure, providing a leisurely, dream-like journey through a puzzle-dazzled world.

A Short Tale

Although it wastes most of its narrative potential, for anyone who just wants to play a game chock-full of fun and unusual puzzles while exploring a charming and nostalgia-inducing environment, A Short Tale provides plenty of entertainment for a few hours.

Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today

Even with a few rough edges, Dead Synchronicity stands as a modern adventure classic, telling a dark, sad and brutal tale that will leave you wanting more, but equally satisfied.

The Trace

The Trace is a brief and easy but fun exploration-filled murder mystery that will have you engaged from beginning to end.

Contradiction

Whilst a lack of gameplay variety and a slightly lacklustre ending limit its appeal, Contradiction manages to provide solid FMV production values and an interesting mystery to solve.

  Dream Revenant

A pleasant surprise that is both chilling and moving, Dream Revenant is an immersive, surreal narrative experience, although it’s currently marred by its many technical issues.

Tengami

This pop-up book isn’t just for children; if you’re looking for a peaceful interlude to while an afternoon away, check Tengami out.

Detective Grimoire

Detective Grimoire breathes some new life into the investigation/visual novel sub-genre with its compelling setting, characters and humour, undermined only by puzzles that are nowhere as enjoyable as the rest of the game.

DEVICE 6

If you’re looking for some absurdly fun puzzles and a truly unique storytelling experience, you’ll want to check out DEVICE 6 on iOS, but you’ll wish for a gameplay integration upgrade.

Blackbar

The unique Mad Libs-style text presentation of Blackbar’s sci-fi social commentary is certainly engaging, but it works better as an innovative reading experience rather than a fully-realized adventure game.

Lost Echo

A richly defined, innovative experience, Lost Echo is exactly what an iOS adventure should be, capturing the spirit of traditional adventure gaming with all the potential the platform has to offer.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery: Episode 1 – A Bump in the Night

While the first episode is a little uneven in its story and puzzle pacing at times, Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery is a delightfully stylish debut that makes me want to come back for more.

The Next BIG Thing

(Known as Hollywood Monsters on iOS.) Whatever its title, in the hands of Pendulo, the studio behind the popular Runaway series, you could almost call this game “the next sure bet”. As expected, the offbeat comic adventure set in a 1940s Tinseltown filled with real-monster movie stars is creative, bizarre, and superbly produced, though it does get a little hairy at times.

The Journey Down: Chapter One

Yo, listen mon! Dis HD remake of a delightful point-and-click freeware adventcha is all kinds of island fun. With a reggae and jazz-infused soundtrack, Jamaican accents and character models based on African tribal masks, this first of four parts has a distinctive style all its own, and it’s entertaining as well, patterned after the classic LucasArts titles of old.

In other words, somewhere between Elaine Marley and Bob Marley!

It gets better with these iPhone adventure games.

BlindSide

Who says great adventures need good graphics? In fact, who says they need graphics at all? Certainly not indie developer epicycle, who have created a unique audio horror adventure that’s not to be missed. Awakened in the middle of crisis with no eyesight at all, with monsters now lurking in the all-encompassing shadows, can you listen and feel your way to safety?

MacGuffin’s Curse

Two words: crate puzzles. Still here? If that prospect doesn’t scare you off, then you should enjoy this lighthearted comic puzzler, which blends an entertaining story about a man cursed to become a werewolf in moonlight with a series of progressively difficult obstacles to overcome, one locked room at a time.

You’ll activate switches, operate control panels, and shove lots and lots of crates to make a path in both human and lycanthrope form alike, chuckling all the way.

Broken Sword: Director’s Cut

One of the best adventure games from the 90s comes to the iPad in style with Broken Sword: Director’s Cut.

And Broken Sword does retro gaming right, redesigning the interface for the touchscreen in a way that actually adds to the game. In addition to the classic story, the iPad gets some exclusive content, so even if you are just hoping to relieve the good old days, you’ll find something new. And for those that didn’t play the original, this is a must-have download.

Swordigo

On the more hack-and-slash side of things, there is Swordigo. This platformed adventure has fun puzzles, nice action and epic boss battles. You’ll start out with a sword, but you’ll soon add spells to your bag of tricks, which are used both for fighting and interacting with your environment.

Swordigo is one of those iPhone adventure games that gets the interface right, so you spend your time fighting enemies in the game rather than the control you have over it. If you love iPhone adventure games like Zelda, you’ll love this one. Perhaps a bit too light on the story side of things, but it is a fun romp.

Mirror’s Edge

Mirror’s Edge may have the name and story of the console version, but it’s turned the original on its side. Rather than simply port a watered-down version of the game to the iPad, EA redesigned the first-person experience of the console game into a third-person side-scroller and somehow managed to do so without losing the action and excitement of the original.

As Faith, you will run and jump your way across the rooftops of the city, all the while evading authorities as she completes her mission. It’s a fun (if somewhat short) thrill ride.

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

The Secret of Monkey Island is one of the most famous and beloved classic adventure games ever released. It was developed and published by Lucasfilm Games in 1990, featuring a young man named Guybrush Threepwood, who has a dream to become a fearsome pirate.

Back in the day, The Secret of Monkey Island was one of the first adventure games to completely avoid death as a gameplay mechanic, instead encouraging exploration. And you can be sure that there’s a lot to explore in The Secret of Monkey Island. The game takes place on Mêlée Island, where Guybrush encounters many memorable characters and humorous situations.

The lost fountain

An exciting journey in which you will visit an abandoned island in order to find a healing fountain. Explore ruins of the ancient civilization. Complete tasks, apply the found objects. Break temple gates, find secret passes and other secret places.

Distraint: Pocket pixel horror

Play as a young man who has stolen all properties of a poor old woman. He was punished. He got into a gloomy mansion full of traps and weird inhabitants. Explore a strange house, interact with the objects you find and try to escape!

Want to see more iPhone adventure games?

Keep scrolling.

Milkmaid of the Milky Way

Adventures of a milkmaid who becomes a member of a galaxy spaceship crew. Travelling among stars the main heroine will face evil alien empress taking energy from people. Cope with aliens and bring back stolen energy!

Corpse party: Blood drive

Take a girl along gloomy corridors of an abandoned school. Help her avoid traps, hide from evil spirits and other supernatural creatures. Interact with the characters you meet on your way, look for the clues to find and rescue friends. Pick up batteries for a flashlight, medicines and other useful objects in order to survive in that horrible place.

Nelly Cootalot: The fowl fleet

Exciting adventures of a pirate whose name is Nelly. Help the heroine rescue birds stolen by insidious baron called Widebeard. Start a dangerous journey, interact with characters you meet on the way, solve puzzles and find a villain. Don’t leave feathered friends in trouble!

The secret of Chimera labs

Find out what a secret research laboratory deals with. Move along the corridors carefully, complete tasks and look for evidence. Clear out what kind of research and experiments are done here. Stop a crazy scientist!

Mysterium: The board game

Explore a mysterious mansion and find a murderer together with a group of psychics who called a ghost to help them. Play as a ghost living in a mansion and give hints to other players or play as a psychist and decode the messages of the ghost. Special cards will help to examine the scene of murder and find evidence.

Beneath a Steel Sky

Beneath a Steel Sky offers a very different world: a dystopian vision of an industrial future, where civilisation is confined to skyscraper cities and segregated by class. Abducted by armed police from his home in the wastelands, you play Robert Foster as he attempts to navigate around the dark metropolis and escape back to the wilderness.

Despite the fact that death is around every corner (save often), the game has a healthy sense of humour, partly embodied in your robot sidekick, who’s none too pleased at having to make do with a vacuum-cleaner chassis for half the game.

Sadly, this ‘remastered edition’ hasn’t had the same love as Monkey Island, keeping its 1994 artwork, with only minor improvements to sound and cutscenes.

Flight of the Amazon Queen

As LucasArts has yet to bring its Indiana Jones games to iOS, Flight of the Amazon Queen will have to do: the globetrotting adventure Pepsi to Indie’s Coke. Joe King (yes, really) is the star here, and his adventures take him to jungles, ancient tombs and all the fun holiday locales you could hope for.

Sadly, like Simon the Sorcerer, this hasn’t been properly optimised for iOS and also like that game it’s affected by bugs and crashes. That’s a shame, because the action underneath is a fun romp that never takes itself too seriously.

Machinarium

A beautifully drawn adventure about an adorable robot in search of his metallic other half. It breaks convention by not featuring a single line of dialogue, but that’s not to say it’s without humour; and the puzzles are tough enough to keep the grey matter engaged.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

More like an interactive story than a game, this anime adventure first found Western success on the Nintendo DS. You spend an awful lot of time tapping through dialogue, but it’s all so charming and silly that it doesn’t seem to matter. Besides that, the memorable characters and satisfaction of pinning the right piece of evidence on a slippery murder suspect make this something everyone should try.

Puzzle Agent

Another Telltale game, but moving away from the ‘use hammer on nail’ style of the past towards traditional maths, logic and lateral-thinking brain teasers. The story concerns Nelson Tethers, sole employee of the FBI’s underused Puzzle Solving Division, who is dispatched to investigate missing erasers at the White House. Wonderfully silly.

McPixel

Concerned all these adventures may be too time-consuming? McPixel has a novel take for you: each scenario gives you 15 seconds before something explodes. You have that brief time to avert disaster. Whether you succeed or blow up the world, you’re presented with another puzzle straight away.

To The Moon

To The Moon [$4.99] is an experience that depends almost entirely on the way its story unravels, and the exceptional music backing it. Spoiling the story, any bit of it, beyond the premise would be doing any potential player a tremendous disservice.

And while I can offer up all kinds of praise for the audio, it’s not as though that’s easy to convey through text. So what should I write here?

Let’s start with this: To The Moon is an amazing journey through the memories of a man who has reached the end of his life, and as long as you don’t mind the fact that the gameplay doesn’t involve much more than walking around and clicking on things, you really ought to play this…

Faraway

It’s hard to hear the word Faraway and not think of Eliss [$2.99] developer Steph Thirion’s forever-in-development constellation creating game, but while I’m not sure if that one will ever actually see the light of day in the meantime there’s a new Faraway in town that’s stolen my heart.

Officially titled Faraway: Puzzle Escape [Free], the game makes no bones about being a “modern tribute” to the all-time classic Myst. You’ll explore 18 different temple ruins solving various types of puzzles in order to open the path ahead and continue marching onward.

There’s also quite a bit to discover, too, including hidden pages from your father’s diary which will help flesh out the story and explain why you’re doing what you’re doing. Or you can just solve puzzles, it’s up to you!

Year Walk

Hello, gentle readers, and welcome to the Classic Reload, the monthly feature where we wander out into the snow to look for horses. Each month, we take a look at a classic game from the App Store’s past to see how it holds up in the here and now.

It’s a chance to revisit old favorites, reflect on their place in the overall iOS library, or simply to take a deeper dive than our reviews typically allow. I try to pick a varied selection from month to month, but if there’s a game you’d really like to see featured, don’t be shy.

You can let me know by posting a comment below. Since the schedule is planned well in advance, you might not see your suggested game soon, but it will be added to the master list for future consideration

Red’s Kingdom

As was hinted at last month, our little pal Red has gone to the casino in a new update for Red’s Kingdom [$2.99] which just arrived this morning.

Similar to the huge update the game received in early March, this latest update includes two new areas to explore, the fishing port called Roth Ennis and an area called Rath Crom which is home of the famous The Golden Nut casino, and more than 50 new levels to explore and solve. You can also expect to run into several new types of enemies and even some new puzzle mechanics.

The Forgotten Room

The last of these iPhone adventure games is The Forgotten Room. Play as a detective and find a girl who disappeared in the abandoned mansion. You are going to deal with paranormal phenomena. Reveal gloomy secrets and prove that there is something supernatural in this mysterious house.

If you liked this article with iPhone adventure games, you should check out these articles as well:

Best Sports Apps for iPhone

Best Arcade Games for iPhone and iPad

Best iPhone apps of the year

Best iPhone Action Games To Pass Time

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