#from my lapin servants to you

[mccoyquialisms]

More bits from the 1st night of the London D20 live show that brought me joy:

The little “ooooohhhhHHHH” bit everyone in the atrium did as they were rolling the bingo cages for their characters

How NUTS everyone went when Lou got Fabian and everyone started chanting “hoot growl”

A second, just as loud cheer when Siobhan got Adaine and her and Lou ran around the stage together

Siobhan, unprompted: “GIVE ADAINE A GUN!”

Emily has apparently named a stray cat after Plug <3

Sydney straight up eating the ground (it’s ice cream, she’s fine. Sort of.)

“It’s a smell so counter to everything human life needs, in a way that almost kills you, but also, only in a way someone from New York can understand, makes you proud.”

The party refusing to call the candy wyverns anything other than “bugs”

Zac interrupting the ongoing banter to announce Skip is already boarded and sucking on the saddle of the wyvern

“I throw a flash grenade.” “I turn into a giant pigeon.” “I cast unseen servant to untie him.” “I shoot a guard.” “Okay, so everyone decides to do something SUPER SUBTLE.”

I mentioned it before but it’s SO good: “the DC is 500. Only a Nat 20 will do it.” Beardsley: [rolls a Nat 20 first try] [pandemonium in the arena]

“Have you seen Succession?”

The gabagool 🤌

“Adaine, we have saved the world multiple times. These are the scariest people we have ever met.”

Lou losing it at Sydney’s grenade having 1 point of poison damage in addition to all the bludgeoning damage

Skip gives Fabian a laser gun. He does not know what it is until he shoots Calroy with it

“Adaine, this gun thing you’re on? I get it.”

Cocaine Bear

“I YEETED YOU!”

Pete and Skip instant besties. Pete and Fabian instant enemies.

“You named him Anus and now I just have to do it the rest of the show!”

“I absolutely hate to add insult to injury…” “THEN DON’T!”

Adaine passing her wisdom save by 1 point to prevent Kugrash’s polymorph spell from turning her into a rat

The absolute ROAR that went up when Skip transformed into Lapin

“Anus?” “Not today.” “Not today WHAT?”

“I thought I was just on another planet starting a revolution I don’t intend to stick around for.” “America!”

Ally confidentially declaring Lapin and Aguefort have swinger vibes

“Do you want to just take him?” “Do you mean in the biblical sense?” “Another exciting use….”

[croaky voice] butterfly in the skyyyy

Pete opening 6 different flavors of seltzer while the rest of the party does kublacaine

Elaine Lee in the house!!!

Kugrash the greatest chaperone who ever lived

Lapin and Aguefort…and they were roommates…..Lapin’s “how do I look?” before they go into the egg fortress lmao

Syd’s perfume missile dealing 68 points of damage to Fabian and instantly knocking him unconscious. “Are you rolling D20s for damage???”

“I’m going to use my tides of chaos to reroll….worse.”

Tina the butterfly familiar that everyone totally remembers

“Well shit, any house where we kill the people in it becomes our house.”

Pete dissing Fabian so hard he feels the toxic masculinity coming back

Lapin requesting an exam extension for Adaine and Fabian from Arthur via dating app

The collective psychic damage everyone took from the “yar har har” scene

“Pete just starts dancing with a scarf in a way no one else has seen before.” “That’s my fucking thing!!!”

Sydney just enabling every pvp encounter alsdkghsdg. Giving Fabian unlimited capacity to his gun as he’s shooting Pete, with Fabian hitting twice and criting once.

“I can pleasure you or throw grenades, you gotta pick one.” “The first one, obviously!” “Okay!”

Lapin, Adaine and Kugrash chain smoking in the corner suffering through the pain of existence while the rest of party goes nuts around them

Murph incorporating the words “come/coming” as much as possible into Kugrash’s farewell speech while Brennan mimes Gilear’s enormous dick behind him. Not even Fabian’s battle sheet is enough to conceal that hog

“That’s right, I’m the king. And then I jump into the dumpster.”

GILEAR…MY…..OLD FRIEND………Aguefort and Gilear fwb real

“Not another person with their penis frozen to the walk in!”

[manonamora-if-reviews]

Elsinore: After Hamlet by Jinx/Lapin Lunaire

============= Links

Play the game See other reviews of the game See other games by Jinx or follow @lapinlunaire-games

============= Synopsis

The year is 2021—or maybe 1602? Hamlet the Younger has just tragically died and Fortinbras the Younger, King of Norway and newly-conquered Denmark, has a lot of cleaning up to do. Elsinore: After Hamlet is an interactive fiction exploration of William Shakespeare's Hamlet as a plague text and a reckoning of Asian American identity during these trying times.

============= Other Info

Elsinore: After Hamlet is a Twine (Harlowe) game. It was the first game from this author.

Status: Completed Genre: Isekai, Adaptation, Slice of Life

CW: blood, death, violence, illness, bad puns, explicit language, panic attack, mention of racism, animated text (not toggable).

============= Playthrough

First Played: ??? Last Played: 08-Aug-2023 Playtime: around 2h (most endings) Rating: 4 /5 Thoughts: Is Life adapting Art? or Art adapting Life?

============= Review

Staged during the pandemic, this story will take you on a strange adventure, where reality and hallucinations become one. As you try to finish an essay on Hamlet, your crippling thoughts keep going back to your worries about "these trying times"... until you are transported into a cold and mourning castle. Will you be consumed by your hallucinations? or claw back to reality to finish your assignment?

Spoilers ahead. It is recommended to play the game first. The review is based on my understanding/reading of the story.

I should probably preface this review by saying I've never read Hamlet (or Shakespeare's work) outside of lone lines or loose adaptations (I think the Lion King/Dune applies?). And while I know there are murders, betrayals, unrequited feelings, madness and monologues galore, the game does not punish you for not knowing the intricacies of the text. Because the story is set after Hamlet's death... and it is not really about Hamlet either.

E:aH uses Hamlet as a framing device to explore the themes of grief, the fear of and hopelessness about death, and identity (esp. Asian American), when living through a global pandemic. During this period, many of us have experienced grief and hardship, from not being able to meet people, to losing family members, seeing one's health worsen, or being subject to violence from others... And within its 15k+ words, this game creates a snapshot filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Yet, amidst the depressing setting, the prose is parsed with humour, little gems bringing levity to the story.

The story happens in two folds: you working on your assignment, trying to suppress worries about your loved ones and the state of the world, and your hallucinations(?) set in Elsinore, imagining events following the end of the play. Both somewhat mirroring or criticising the other. You struggle to find something meaningful to say about the the text, while Horatio scolds you for downplaying their agency as people. A "plague" starts in Elsinore, which you notice from a servant coughing. you share comforting words to Horatio and compassion for his situation, recalling times of struggles during the "war" against COVID and the violence some were forced to endure because of their ethnicity.

The game feels like a critique of the text, through the added character of Petra challenging the crown while passive Ophelia goes mad, or a critique of some reading of the text, like with the comments about the relationships between Horatio and Hamlet. The critiques are sometimes a bit more blunt, with the player character roasting Hamlet for derailing his father's quest (meeting his demise) or his poor treatment towards other characters (esp. Ophelia).

While the UI strayed very little from the basic Harlowe base, it does utilise the enchantment macros in an interesting manner, often enhancing the player character's feelings, a few even added to the hallucination assumptions (especially when ignoring the first sign). Some of the strangely formatted text will hide the way to advance through the story. I wasn't particularly fan some typed text (a bit too slow) or timed ones (wait a bit too long), and one hidden link was biiit too obtuse to find - but it didn't detract my overall enjoyment of the story.

But as every story, this too must end. So let's finish with the endings. The game has 7 possible endings. Some easier to get than others; some longer than others; some good, some bad, some neither. I reached the shorter ones more easily than the longer ones. Depending on your choices, the story will confirm these hallucinations were just a dream or will let you believe you are still trapped in Elsinore; you may reach a bittersweet end where your heart lightened, or one sharing the same fate as Ophelia. Out of those, I think I preferred the ones where the isekai theme was the more obvious, regardless of how forceful the return to reality is, as it mirrored best the start of the game and felt more like a closing the circle moment.

[insomniac-jay]

Well, Here Are Things You'll Never Know

The Gotham rogues gather at an estate for a party hosted by the mysterious Madame Nightshade.

Only, their host has no intention of being a good one.

Title taken from XS by Rina Sawayama

The sight of the estate's grand entrance was enough to make Penguin jealous. With its green, manicured lawns to the African blackwood doors featuring carved scenes of an epic battle to the statues that overlooked the fountains. It wasn't a stretch to imagine Gotham's newest rogue sat on a pile of gold.

And the interior was just as grand as the exterior. Scarlet velvet drapes hung above the windows and doorways. An expensive, intricately designed rug laid on the floor of foyer while a chandelier made of real crystals hung above.

"Looks like Brucey boy has competition." Penguin stuffed his cigar in his mouth, hoping to avoid any further jealousy.

Catwoman simply looked around, looking for anything she could grab and make off with once the party was over. What kind of person was the host? Who could afford for so many luxurious treasures to be in just one area?

"Cool, isn't it? I neva imagined walkin' into a place like this!" Harley Quinn took her spot alongside the feline thief. Poison Ivy was not too far behind.

Riddler kept his eyes on the chandelier, studying it. Surely the hostess wouldn't mind if it went missing. His sidekicks Query and Echo chatted amongst each other before noticing a familiar face from across the room.

"Eddie, don't look now, but Monochrome's here," Echo whispered.

"Mon lapine." Riddler was already giddy and the party hadn't even started.

But Riddler looked anyway. Sure enough, the mysteriously alluring Monochrome was there with her henchmen.

Her monochromatic hair was styled neatly, giving her a smooth, clean look. And how could he ignore the beautiful black and white dress she wore?

Two Face quietly stood off in the corner. He wasn't too happy about being called out of work to attend the event--even if the invitation did say attendance was mandatory. His plan was just to come, drink a bit, then go home. Simple and easy.

The clicking of heels caught the attention of the guests as a woman came out into the foyer. She had brown hair with sleek gray streaks and green eyes. Her dress was navy blue with matching gloves.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Penelope Richards," Penelope greeted. "Madame Nightshade has been expecting you. Please follow me."

Penelope led them to a large room lined with covered tables full of food on silver platters. On the walls were paintings that would rival those found in the Sistine Chapel. Crystal glasses of champagne and wine awaited them as well as a chocolate fountain. Servants dressed in pricey Italian suits stood off to the sides, ready to meet the demands of the guests.

The other rogues looked around in awe. Just when they thought they'd seen everything.

"Madame Nightshade will be with you shortly. For now, why not enjoy a drink?" Penelope snapped her fingers and servants brought around trays of drinks for everyone.

Riddler kept his eye on Monochrome. The suit he wore was much different from his usual style, but he hoped it would impress the always stylish art thief.

"You know she finds your staring weird."

"Two Face? I never thought you'd come here."

"Don't got much of a choice when the invitation says it's mandatory." Harvey took a sip of wine. Probably one of those super expensive brands no one knew the name of, but damn did it taste good. "What do you suppose this Madame Nightshade wants?"

"Must everything be a conspiracy? Why not it be a simple party?" Riddler turned his attention back on Monochrome, who was talking with Catwoman. "Must there be an ulterior motive to everything in that mind of yours, Harvey?"

Two Face rolled his eyes.

Slow heels walking down the steps caught turned everyone's heads. Three more women descended down a grand staircase.

On the left side was a woman with dark brown skin and curly black hair done into a neat bun. Her dress was purple with a diamond necklace.

On the right was a brown skinned woman wearing traditional South Asian wear. Her hair was black and flowed freely down her back.

In the middle was a woman wearing an elegant scarlet dress with a black fur shawl wrapped around her. Her hair was styled into neat curls. If her appearance told them anything, it was that she's the boss.

Onyx eyes looked down at the guests from the balcony of the staircase. They examined each and every person present; likely making mental note of who's who. Then, they shifted to Two Face.

When Two Face saw the woman's face, the glass in his hand was crushed. Why his days as a DA flashed before him, he couldn't say, but he knew that face the moment she came downstairs.

"You!" He yelled out in anger.

The woman stood tall, not flinching under the anger of his voice. "Hello, Harvey Dent. I'm not that surprised you still remember me."

"Course you're not, Marjorie!" Two Face growled. While the whispers of the others about how they possibly knew each other filled his ears, he blocked them out. Instead, he reached in his side and pulled out a gun.

"Tell the-"

Bang, bang!

Two Face screamed in pain as he felt two bullets enter his shoulder. But he had no time to nurse it as two more bullets entered his other shoulder. He writhed in pain on the ground.

In the woman's hand was a smoking gun. Despite the attempt on her life, her face remained stoic, cool, calm.

"Too slow yet again, Harvey." Frost laced her voice. So calm as though she hadn't just shot a man twice in both shoulders. After returning the gun to its place, she fully put her attention on the guests.

"Welcome. My name is Madame Nightshade." Madame Nightshade raised her head like she were a queen. "I'm glad you all accepted my invitation and graced my home with your presences. However, this is not a party."

Gasps and whispers emerged from the crowd.

Madame Nightshade made her way down to the floor, followed by the other two women. Her eyes shifted from side to side, taking in just who walked into her home. "You may not know me, but I know all of you. Or maybe you do, but do you really know me?"

"What do ya mean by that? What are you getting-" "Oswald Cobblepot. It's wise not to further increase your debt."

Penguin was taken aback by the newbie knowing his real name. She hadn't even turned around when she said it. But his shock quickly turned to anger.

"What debt do I owe you? You just got here!"

Penguin's eyes widened. "The Iceberg Lounge? What's that got to do with you?"

Nightshade's gaze stung the crime lord, forcing him into silence.

"Yours is one of the lengthier ones. But since you wish to test me, fine. Relinquish the Iceberg Lounge to its rightful owner. It's just enough to clear your tab."

The guests were speechless. Madame Nightshade built the Iceberg Lounge? Since when? First Two Face knowing who she was, now this. Just who was this woman?

"Who do you think financed its construction? The workers? The merchandise?" Each word was laced with venom. They sunk their teeth into Penguin, making him uncharacteristically quiet in minutes.

Nightshade went on. "It was my money that built your precious lounge, and I'll have no problem taking it from you--should you wish to see how far I'll go."

Nightshade picked up a glass of wine from a tray. While nonchalantly taking a sip, she looked out into the crowd.

"Come hither, Edward Nashton. "

"Your recent stunt as increased your debt to me. Meaning you owe me over six hundred million dollars." She looked down at him with contempt. It transported him back to his childhood. "Does someone like yourself even have access to the needed money?"

Riddler walked up to her. He did his best to hide the trembling in his body. Once near, he bowed best as he could.

"Y-yes, ma'am?"

"N-no, ma'am."

"Figured," Nightshade hummed. "Especially when I can see all the poor financial decisions you make everyday. How do you expect to have a woman like Mona Lisa Beauvais when all you can afford is Ramen and crackers?"

Monochrome froze when she heard her name. Becoming a target wasn't what she had anticipated for the night.

"For all your genius, money is your weakness. That's such irony." Nightshade continued her lecture.

"I-I can come up with the money by tomorrow afternoon." Riddler sweated. His heart pounded against his chest from feeling her venomous gaze on him. Riddler's knees had been threatening to fail him ever since she called him his birth name.

Once Riddler found his place back in the crowd, the spotlight was placed on Monochrome. Usually she'd be reveling in it, but it felt like she'd been put on trial. Even more embarrassing that she'd just been called Riddler's girlfriend.

Nightshade only hummed in response. While she didn't doubt his capabilities, she surely knew that the task was impossible.

"Of course you will. Return so that I can give my attention to your novia."

Just as she did to the other three rogues, Madame Nightshade set her gaze in on the art thief.

"Just because you're a widow and a mother doesn't mean I clear your tab. But, I do believe yours will be relatively easy to pay since your finances are more sound than your novio's." Nightshade set the glass on the table.

She then took the rest of the time exposing the other rogues and informing them of their debts to her. Honestly, it made her laugh how much these fools didn't know how she'd woven herself into the very fabric of Gotham. No one could separate their money from hers without risking death or financial ruin.

Suddenly, a noxious gas was released.

The air became so thick that it caused the guests to start coughing. Madame Nightshade, however, was perfectly fine. Like she'd experienced conditions like this before.

"Listen closely and listen well: I'm not just a boss in Gotham, I am Gotham. So every bank you steal money from is my money. Every hitman you hire is my hitman." She walked over to an unconscious Two Face and rolled over his body with her foot. Shaking her head in disappointment, she went back to the other rogues. "I own everyone in this city, including all of you and the Batman. I don't expect flattery or worship; but when you are in debt to me, I expect my due."

The ice in her voice sent shivers down the spines of many. She then walked towards a pair of doors leading to an outside balcony. The night air flowed through the room once open, giving the rogues some sense of relief.

"Take this as your first and final warning: Deceive me and you'll never get the chance to do it again."

@floof-ghostie @calciumcryptid @jasontoddssuper @honeysgalaxy

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

[id: #you shouldn't eat that either /end id]

[OPENS FRIDGE, REMOVES TUPPERWARE CONTAINER LABELLED "Pomegranates from land of dead do not eat"]

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

Pros of chubby bf:

- soft

- nice hugs

- thigh pillows??????

Cons of chubby bf:

- none

Pros of skinny bf:

- fit in arms real nice

- your clothes are too big! adorable

Cons of skinny bf:

- none

Pros of muscled bf:

- probably works out and that’s hot

- can pick up! Stronk!

- bicep.

Cons of muscled bf:

- none

Pros of short bf:

- better angle for throat punching facists

- I can give piggyback rides

- can be picked up!

- very good at stealing clothes

Cons of short bf:

- none

Pros of a tall bf:

- can reach things!

- lean down for kisses

- curbstomp facists with ease

- good clothes to steal

Cons of tall bf:

- none

Pros of disabled bf:

- is own independent person

- often has very profound comments and/or a hilarious sense of humour but it’s ignored a lot

- unique lifestyle that works for him and he’s gonna live life to the fullest

- stronger than any damn marine

Cons of disabled bf:

- none

Pros of autistic bf:

- he stims when he’s happy

- tells you about his special interests

- super knowledgable about his favourite topics

Cons of autistic bf:

- none

(mlw nblw and wlw solidarity post here, mlnb nblnb and wlnb solidarity post here)

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

When the orcs came, there was no place left for them to claim, for the elves had the forests, the dwarves had the mountains, the humans had the plains, the gnomes had the caves, the halflings had the valleys, and the dragonborn the desert.

And so Grummsh, chief of the orcish gods, came first to Corellon Larethian, deity of the elves, asking

"My people need a place to live, will you share your forests with us?"

"Nay! The forests are for the elves and the elves alone!"

Cried Corellon Larethian, the one and holy.

Grummsh gazed upon the untouched forests, but said nothing.

So Grummsh came to Moradin and Berronar, the Dwarf-father and Revered Mother of the dwarves, asking

"My people need a place to live, will you share your mountains with us?"

"Nay! The mountains are for the dwarves and the dwarves alone!"

Cried Berronar and Moradin in one voice.

Grummsh looked at the undiscovered depths, and said nothing.

So Grummsh came to the human pantheon who refused to pick a ruler, asking

"My people need a place to live, will you share your plains with us?"

A great cacophony arose, but only a few spoke against the howling majority:

"Never! The plains belong to the humans, and only the humans!"

Grummsh bit his tongue and turned away, gazing over the wide steppe.

So Grummsh came to Garl Glittergold, king of the gnomish gods, asking

"My people need a place to live, do you have room to spare for the orcs?"

But Garl Glittergold shook his head sadly.

"If we had more space, we would share with you, but we have nothing to give. Our homes are too small for orcs, and we are hard-pressed"

Grummsh nodded, and promised that the orcs would hold no grudge.

So Grummsh came to the dragon gods that the dragonborn worshipped, asking

"My people need a place to live, do you have room to spare for the orcs?"

Bahumut and Tiamat ceased their endless struggle to answer

"We have not room enough for the dragonborn, and they will soon be scattered. You should scatter your orcs, it will teach them to be hardier"

Grummsh bowed his head, and turned away silent.

So Grummsh came to Yondalla, leader of the halfling council, asking

"My people need a place to live, do you have room to spare for the orcs?"

The council discussed his petition, and Yondalla replied with disappointment clear in her tone

"The halflings cannot give all the orcs a home. We live amongst the humans and in the valleys and under hills alongside the gnomes, and we cannot help all the orcs"

Grummsh nodded, and was about to thank them when she continued

"What we can do is offer you Haven. We have room to spare for your travellers, we have food to share with your children, we have swords to share in battle. The halflings cannot give all the orcs a home, but that does not mean we won't try."

"Your kindness will be remembered, Yondalla. All halflings will have a place with the orcs, and even if we have nothing to share but song we will lift our voices high. We will defend your homesteads from raiders, and if your people need help just call."

But despite unexpected success, Grummsh still needed a home for his people.

So Grummsh returned to Corellon Larethian to ask again for a place in the forests.

"Corellon Larethian, will you hear me out? I ask again for a place for my people-"

But Corellon was angry that this young god dared try again when they had denied him the first time, furious that he dared come petitioning for a home the way no other race had had to, and a seed of white-hot fury was planted in their heart, and all the hearts of elves ever after.

Blinded by rage, Corellon raised their longbow and aimed at Grummsh's left eye.

Grummsh staggered but did not fall or scream as Corellon hissed

"Orcs will never have a place with the elves. You should have done what the other races did and found yourselves a place"

To this day, orcs and halflings share what they have when they have it, Grummsh weeps tears of blood for his children who do not have a home,

and elves aim for the eyes.

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

[id: #Brennan lee mulligan / end id]

Let me examine closer *my eyes turn purple and blaze with spiritual power* oh yeah no that’s an egret not a heron, it’s got black legs

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

Friendly reminder that guys love girls.

I asked my friend what love meant, and he said "it's like you get really dizzy when you see her, but in a good way."

"It's like her laughter is the best thing in the world."

"I fall for her eyes, her smile, her hair, her skin, over and over and over again."

Love is so goddamn wholesome.

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

I'm laughing so much. The matrix is a fucking trans allegory. Written by two trans women.

The red pill is hormones and the blue pill is prozac (an antidepressant, due to... Being constantly misgendered)

"ah yes fellow terfs, take this estrogen pill to symbolize the reclaiming of your womanhood against a society that thinks you shouldn't exist" 🤔🤔🤔

(image id in alt text)

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

You deserve to eat today.

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

[Id: "You'd have done the same," said Lily.

"No," said Granny. "I'd have thought the same, but I wouldn't have done it."

"What difference does that make, deep down?"

"You mean you don't know?" said Nanny Ogg. /end id]

I need a Thank u Mr Terry tag

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

HEY

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT THAT @that-rat MAKES REALLY FUCKING GOOD ART

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

The problem with Bastille is that I'm horribly, horribly torn between dancing like a wild thing and yelling the lyrics at the top of my lungs and going on a protest, and driving to the middle of nowhere to lie down and stare at the sky and just feel myself slowly sinking into the dirt

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is an illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me.

- Conan the barbarian, (written by Robert E. Howard)

(bolded for reading accessibility)

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

who the fuck was supposed to teach us? everyone just assumed we knew. everyone gave us Chromebooks specifically so that we couldn't mess around with local folders.

it's horrific, but our fault, for not psychically Knowing the way you all expect us to? god. you sound like my parents, who homeschooled us and limited internet access and were then shocked when we hadn't seen xyz cultural movie. like... no, we haven't, because you haven't watched it with us and deliberately sabotaged our ability to find it on our own.

this can't be true can it

[the-ruler-of-rabbits]

@thesuperduckling24