#he deserves to be an indie darling

[catharusustulatus]

Free my man Joe Keery from Stranger Things. He filmed four movies and one tv show in between season 4 and season 5, just imagine what’s in store for after he’s free! Cast this man!

[everygame]

"One of the finest of his generation of critics"—Kieron Gillen (Die, The Wicked + The Divine) Fifty-two essays composing the very best of veteran video game developer and writer Mathew Kumar's "Every Game I've Finished" project, published for the first time in print with commentary from the author. Releasing October 21st, 2024 in print, and available for pre-order now for Kindle or as epub/pdf. Games covered include legendary icons (Wizardry: Proving Grounds Of The Mad Overlord), indie darlings (Papers, Please), beloved obscurities (Attack of the Friday Monsters!), Triple-A franchises (Mass Effect) and modern classics (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild). Essays take the form of everything from straight critique to strategy guide, and represent an overview of the state of the art in video games across its history distilled into ten years of highs and lows. A book that takes video games as seriously as any art form and as deserving of collected criticism. “Mathew’s project, to finish the games he plays, and to write about those he finishes, can be simply stated but it represents a noble act of critical commitment. When taken in concert, these reviews –– unflinchingly acerbic, truthfully stated, and deeply unconcerned with external factors of fashion or consensus –– provide both a diary of criticism, and a long view of the judders and lunges of this still-evolving medium; A charter, too, for what we might cherish, and what we might disdain, in this emergent art form.”–Simon Parkin (A Game of Birds and Wolves, Death By Video Game)

---

Phew! When I announced exp. 2601 I mentioned it was the ten year anniversary of Every Game I've Finished in 2024 and that it might be important, and here it is, a celebration of my last ten years of writing that you can buy as a book that you can own in your house. I didn't originally plan it this way! I intended to release Every Game I've Finished 14>24 as a (somewhat) quick and dirty ebook release, and I did the majority of the work at the beginning of the year pre-exp. 2601, but after realising it would only take a "little" more work to self-publish the book physically I decided if I was going to vanity press, I might as well do it for real.

Of course, it's taken a lot longer than I expected, but I finally have a proof in my hand that I'm satisfied with, and it really does look very nice. 

Vanity press or not, there are a few vectors to this release. Firstly, if you've ever enjoyed any of my writing of the past ten years, here's a nice way to support me and either get a lovely physical or handy digital edition. Secondly, if you haven't, here's a way to immediately get fifty-two of the best articles I've written which you can peruse at your leisure.

Thirdly, I just honestly think that there should be a culture of criticism around games just as there is for literally every other art form, and I think that this book existing makes as much sense as, say Clive James On Television, so I'm just fucking going for it.

That all said, Every Game I've Finished 14>24 is being released on October 21st 2024, and is being released in print on Amazon. I'm no happier about this than you are, but it's the simplest method. I would love to offer copies here on Ko‑fi for launch day, but they (sneakily) give author copies a long lead time and (of course) it's impossible to compete with Amazon's postage rates.

Amazon also--for bafflingly unclear reasons--won't allow me to offer a pre-order of the print edition, so please mark the date in your calendar or follow me on Bluesky or (spit) Twitter if you want to get a copy.

However! If you're just looking for the ebook, you can pre-order it on Kindle or epub/pdf right now! Subscribers will receive their shop discount on the digital edition, so don't forget you can support me for just $1 a month. This release has been, and I know it's a cliche, a real labour of love, just as Every Game I've Finished has been a labour of love for video games (even if it doesn't always read like it.) I can't wait for you to get your hands on it, and I'm so thankful for all of you who have joined me on this journey.

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Did someone say Helnik coded songs by indie artists who deserve more attention? Probably not but I’m gonna give you some anyway

See the Kanej version here :)

Witchcraft by Vian Izak - “Those fingers in my hair, that slight come hither stare, that strips my conscience bare it’s witchcraft” “it’s witchcraft, wicked witchcraft, and although I know it’s strictly taboo when you arouse the need in me my heart says “yes indeed” in me, proceed with what you’re leading me to”

Fair by The Amazing Devil aka THE helnik song argue with the wall- “she promises to fight them all, when it all becomes too much, and he, he curses at the world for leaving him behind he’s falling out of touch and she is stronger, than he’s ever been he knows” “she’ll turn to him and say “it’s not fair, it’s not fair how much I love you. It’s not fair, ‘cause you make me laugh when I’m actually really fucking cross at you for something” and he’ll say “oh how, oh how unreasonable. How unreasonably in love I am, with everything you do I’ll spend my days so close to you”” “he says “I know exactly what I want and it’s this life that we’ve created inundated with the fated thought of you and if you asked me to, if you asked me I would lose it all like petals in a storm, ‘cause darling I was born to press my head between your shoulder blades at night when light was fading””

Allies of Enemies by The Crane Wives - “Remember when I could tell you not to smile when you were mad? And you would always crack and we’d both be laughing in the end. Now you’re not so quick to forget. Are we allies or enemies? This will be the death of me” “all is fair in love and war but I can’t fight with you anymore, this will be the death of me”

Immortal by Reinaeiry - “Sometimes when I look in the mirror I still see your face resting on my shoulder, and my heart beats so fast that I start to feel alive again” “and I’ll always find you again and again and I’ll love every version of you and you’re never truly gone as long as a part of you in me lives on”

Till Forever Falls Apart by Ashe, FINNEAS - “Out on our own, dreaming in a world that we both know is out of our control, but if shit hits the fan we’re not alone” “and if the sky falls from Heaven above just know I had the best time falling into love, we’ve been living on a fault line and for a while you were all mine, I’ve spent a lifetime giving you my heart I swear that I’ll be yours forever til forever fall apart”

I might add more if I think of them, but for now this is the list and please feel free to add more!

[thelarriefics]

BEACH FIC REC: Below are fics that take place on or near a beach. 

📖 Tired Tired Sea by @mediawhorefics (113k)

As a B&B owner on the most remote of all the British Isles, Louis Tomlinson is used to spending the coldest half of the year in complete isolation, with his dog and the sea as sole companions. Until, one day, a mysterious stranger on a quest to rebuild himself rents a room for the winter.

📖 Jade by @halohamilton (91k)

Harry was in a shipwreck, lost at sea with an injury to his head that causes him to lose part of his memory. Louis happens to notice the boy and dives in to rescue him, then aiding him to health again with his mother’s help.

Harry may have lost part of his memory, part of his life, but he gained something better than he could have ever imagined; he fell in love with Louis.

But, the life that Harry couldn't remember may just come between them.

The Amnesia AU where Harry and Louis still end up falling in love.

📖 Ace of Spades by @allwaswell16 (78k)

Living as a sheltered omega in a farming village has not prepared Harry for life aboard the most notorious pirate ship to sail the Atlantic.

Or Louis is a pirate, Harry is his captive, and no one is who they say they are.

📖 Si Pudiera Volar by @softfonds (69k)

When Harry’s fiancé leaves him for his cousin, he looks the other way for the sake of his happiness. He’ll do anything to forget about him, including joining a monastery. It isn’t until his cousin’s former lover, a pirate, appears that he realizes everything is not as it appears, and an honest pirate might be the only person worthy of his heart.

Or, a fic loosely based on Corazón Salvaje.

📖 In Four Colours by @ireallysawanangel (59k)

Harry's a workaholic who threw himself headfirst into his work after his divorce ten years ago and hasn't come up for air since. His two daughters and his best friend notice how overworked and stressed he is, so they surprise him with a trip to the coast of France. The last thing Harry expects to do on his holiday is relax, but when he meets the kind, beautiful stranger staying in the cottage next door, his holiday starts to look a little more promising.

Or, the older larry AU featuring sun, sand, and the French countryside with a sprinkling of divorced Harry and silver fox Louis.

📖 Full Moon Dreaming by @jacaranda-bloom (43k)

Every month, Full Moon Dreaming reveals a person’s soulmate. Sometimes it’s an object or a place, or for the lucky ones, the love of their life.

Louis has given up hope of dreaming of a person, resigned to living a life devoid of that kind of all-consuming love for another and receiving the same in return.

But when a new neighbour descends on Louis’ beloved Hanson Bay and moves into the other beach house, could all that be about to change?

📖 Flowers in the Window by @justanothershadeofblue (33k)

Harry is a lonely and depressed popstar who sailed out of his hometown on Eroda years ago to chase his dreams. He comes back to the island only to find his shining childhood best friend Louis just as cold and dreary as the island they grew up on.

📖 Away From Home by @marchessa (12k)

the one, where Harry is a servant to the Tomlinson family and he ends up as one of the lone survivors of a shipwreck. But maybe he can still find paradise in the tragedy.

📖 Tan Lines and Some Memories by @harrieberrie (11k)

It’s summer in California and blockbuster movie star Louis Tomlinson is looking forward to a break and spending his days lazing away at his beach house.

Harry Styles is the indie movie darling he’d been avoiding ever since Louis saw his movie at Cannes and harbored an unreasonable grudge against him.

A unicorn t-shirt finally brings them together in person.

Summer romance ensues.

📖 Heat Waves by @chai-hat-tea (10k)

Louis, a surf instructor by day and a bartender by evening, meets vacationer Harry for the first time, and he knows that he doesn't deserve someone like Harry. Harry proves him wrong.

📖 come my love be one with the sea by @larrydoinglaundry (6k)

Pirate captain Louis gets saved from the storm by mermaid Harry, and grows particularly fond of this mysterious creature.

📖 Climbing The Swells by @cyantific (6k)

One surfer out of his depth amongst some territorial locals makes a bold move and a very unwelcome entrance. After things go wrong, another surfer reluctantly takes mercy on him, offering some first-aid and unexpected hospitality aboard his Airstream. A couple dimples and a few wayward curls go a long way to soften one surly local, and what started out as a rough morning becomes a very sunny spot to the day.

Or… The one where a clumsy Harry and a stubborn Louis reconcile their grievances on the beach with a heartfelt apology from Louis on his knees without saying a word.

📖 The Way You Smile Golden by @moonhusbands (5k)

it's 1967 and two boys find themselves alone on a beach.

📖 beach tits by @jaerie (2k)

Louis catches Harry pumping in the car. He can't help that he's really turned on by it.

📖 wet sand by @ialwaysknewyouwerepunk (1k)

harry and louis are part of the same friend group that's on a trip together. after they play a drinking game, louis and harry run to the beach in the middle of the night, where things get heated.

📖 Oh, Those Summer Nights by @beelou (1k)

An extended scene of the beginning of the movie Grease as a larry au

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

Because I know few people will see this and it’s getting late and the dash is crazy

Just a reminder that a certain someone (like someones in the past) also chose a public kind of life. To the supernova extreme that Taylor’s is, no, but this is the industry they chose as their vocation too, and this is the partner they chose to love from the outset.

Does that mean this someone deserves hate or harassment from her fans? No. Even if he had done something truly heinous which there is no indication of yet. But to also act as if he or any of her past partners are shrinking violets plucked out of obscurity as truly private citizens and her fame was a noose around their necks is completely disingenuous. These are not accountants or teachers or doctors who relinquished privacy upon meeting her. These are professionals in the entertainment industry who are seeking a level of public life to further their careers, in the sense that they have work in film and music and modeling and sponsorships and public appearances in service of those careers. Should commenters online be civil to any of these subjects when interacting with them? Absolutely. But let’s not pretend they haven’t chosen part of this life, and a certain public life would be an expectation of any they chose.

To act like Taylor’s dedication if not outright embracing of some of these aspects for her own career is a loaded gun is hurtful to her. (And to women in general in the industry.) I said this the other night, but Taylor has been mega-famous for over a decade; even if she were in a lull post-1989, that was still more attention than any human will ever experience in their lifetime. Choosing to jump into a relationship with her is an inherent acceptance of that, and forcing her hand in an effort to remove that — the intensity of which she for the most part has no control over — is unfair, and no wonder she’s pissed if it came down to that. I used an analogy that it’s like choosing to date someone with kids: they’re a package deal and by choosing them, you’re also accepting the full package. If you can’t handle it at that point of your life, the greatest kindness you can offer is to move on gracefully before everyone gets more hurt. Taylor’s life is no mystery in this respect, and choosing to date her but reject the core parts of what make her her — the appearances, the performances, the collaboration, the constant churn of projects to keep the creative juices flowing, etc. — truly could be death by a thousand cuts. Especially if for every inch she gave the person took a mile.

What I’m trying to say is: people shouldn’t be flooding these subjects’ social media accounts and dragging them, or harassing them on the street or whatnot. But, these are all grown ass men. Part of them (yes, even that one) want parts of this kind of life. If not, they would stick to plays in the west end or truly indie flicks, and not starring in leading roles in hyped tv shows or chasing after Hollywood movies with Oscar-darling directors. Or attending promotional events or participating in ad campaigns. They have agents and publicists and managers and all the trappings of celebrity. Everyone deserves their privacy absolutely, and I certainly sympathize with that level of intrusion because it seems unbearable to a dull normal like me. But, the parts that are a fundamental foundation of your career — performing, networking, supporting each other at events — shouldn’t be weaponized against Taylor because she’s at least honest about wanting it. We really don’t need to be protecting these men for the things Taylor is villainized for. These men may not admit it, but they chose to do the same kinds of events Taylor does, albeit on a much smaller scale.

I’m not saying it isn’t awkward that Taylor may be airing some dirty laundry in her upcoming music. But, for all we know, she may have reason to be pissed. And again: this isn’t new behaviour for Taylor. She’s always written music about her life. If someone isn’t comfortable with that from the outset, maybe they should have rethought their motivations. I don’t want to make assumptions, but thoughts are definitely thinking.

In short, stop babying men who choose this life to take down the women who embrace it.

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Family, Loyalty - Finwë & Fingolfin

Ah, an uncomfortable letter :S

Very gen, but not very sweet...

To Ñolofinwë, son of Indis, beacon of hope

My beloved, wronged son,

I hope that the right to address you thus is not yet denied to me.

Mayhap, you shall frown at receiving this missive, unlooked-for, from one who’s decided—against the council of his wife and despite the need of his cherished progeny—to follow your wilful, quarrelsome brother into exile.

Impertinent and selfish as such a plea might be, I dare ask you not for your forgiveness but for your understanding, and I beg you to hear me out rather than toss this letter into the nearest fireplace.

You wouldn’t, though, would you?

Never have you been as changeful and brash as Curufinwë, and this quiet strength of character of yours, amongst other more pressing and just as unfair elements, has allowed me to act as I have.

How cruel and heartless a father must I appear to be, seemingly indulging and condoning the shocking misdeeds of my firstborn son against you, my darling boy—believe me when I say that it is not so.

Curufinwë Fëanáro, you must understand, is suffering, and I blame myself for his unhappiness.

Of course, you’ve never known Míriel; she was beautiful, radiant, and inspired, and I loved her dearly.

Nevertheless, I shall not hide from you that—since the day of his birth—Curufinwë, and all the helpless, overpowering devotion I feel for him, has eclipsed even my deep regard for my spouse.

I admit freely that it is an ignoble, deplorable stroke of fate that this fatal weakness has led to both your birth and your abandonment for—holding your brother in my trembling arms—I’ve understood that I’d yearn for that singular feeling of terror and amazement forevermore.

Your mother is wroth, and I don’t doubt that my whole household is rightly displeased with me—this I must bear with equanimity as I deserve nothing less.

By wanting and loving my children too much, I keep leaving half-orphans in my wake, and I know not how to stop the avalanche of misery my unquenchable need has set in motion.

All I can say in my defence is that Curufinwë needs me and that, having lost his own dear mother and been relegated to the rank of a tolerated but little-loved intruder by yours, he would have lost all faith in me, had I refused to stand by him. I couldn’t bear that, you see?

There is great potential and creativity in him, too much maybe, but he lacks your enviable tendency for empathy and forgiveness.

Fear not, my son, even as I pen those lines, I’m aware of how callously cruel it is to call upon your best qualities even as they serve as pathetic justifications and excuses for my hurtful actions—your gentle heart and unwavering loyalty should never bring you suffering, especially not at the hand of the ones you love.

I hear Curufinwë stirring, and thus, I must leave this letter unfinished.

I hope that we shall soon be reunited so I can tell you, in person, how proud I am of the man you’ve become and how much I’ve loved you even before you were born.

Finally, let me reiterate that I do not beseech you to absolve me of the malefactions I’ve inflicted on you, but—if you can find it in your heart—pardon your brother for his temporary folly.

I’m sure he regrets having parted in anger even if he doesn’t admit it.

I love you. All of you! Never doubt that and convey my fond greetings to your siblings.

Your father

Link on Ao3

[futurecorps3]

hello darling!

many congratulations on the 800 followers milestone, im so so proud of you for getting so far; it's entirely well deserved and for you to put in the time and effort to organise an evident with so much thought is incredibly considerate of you, thank you so much for doing so (ɔˆ ³(ˆ⌣ˆc)

on that note, i'd love to participate in your celebration if that's alright with you, my love

i'd like to request a 🩸 Kir Royale please for the Harry Potter Fandom, Marauders era, if you can, but im not opposed to Lightening Era either

and just some info on me :

i love men <3 ; i am open to listening to all sorts of music genres so long as it fits the mood, however, i tend to lean more towards R&B/Soul/Hip-Hop, Indie and Alternative Lo-fi, my favourite movies are all studio ghibli or animated movies, my top love languages are acts of service, quality and physical touch. i love deep conversations and listening to people tell me their story - getting to know more about other people is one of my favourite things to do. i want to be a mother one day, im a hopeless romantic who is very much into self-care and self-pampering, i also love baking, especially cookies and apple pie. i love art but enjoy paper crafting and watercolours the best and my aesthetic would be soft girl/light academia. i love my friends and family and value them above anyone else to the point where, if they were threatened/hurt in anyway, i would get incredibly angry and overprotective, which is rare for me to be.

some bad traits now... TT^TT time to expose myself - i can get pretty lazy, i tend to get into planning my life a little too much, i have perfectionist tendencies, im horrible at replying to people and can't resist chocolate and donuts or dairy products even though im lactose intolerant...i also tend to ramble sometimes for example, this paragraph XD

p.s thank you so so much for the kind mention in your celebration event post, you really didn't have to since you did most of the work, nevertheless, that was still so incredibly kind of you so thank you c⌒っ╹v╹ )っ huggies for my lovie!

Honey this means the world! Thank you so much mwah mwah kisses

James! Like I can totally see him baking with you (while eating the ingredients as you do so hehe), spoiling you with art supplies under the condition you paint something for him, and that whole protectiveness of friends and family screams Prongs!! He also dreams of being a dad one day so yeah <333 I actually headcanon him being lactose intolerant too so dw, he’ll eat the things you shouldn’t with you shamelessly. ❤️

p.s Thats the least I can do to reciprocate how sweet and kind you’ve been! Huggies all the way back for u

[hauntnowpod]

Casting Announcement Round 1

With 51 VAs this season, we've got quite a few ghosts (and humans, too), to introduce!

Without further ado, let me present:

Alana Rader, joining us this season as Maggie & Kate Fox.

Alana is a Brooklyn-based actor/writer/director & proud rescue Pekingese dog mom. You can hear her as Sweetie on the podcast “The Chronicles of Rolling Hills: Dog Psychiatrist & Zombie Lawyer” as well as Obedience in the new podcast “If We Really Were Witches.” alanarader.com 

Ali Hylton, returning as one of the voices of The Apartment!

Ali is a Texas-based synesthetic artist with a love for storytelling and turning life experiences into art. She is the producer of the audio dramas Dining in the Void, Human Error, and is working on several upcoming shows such as Written in Stardust and Fallen Memories. They are a composer for shows such as Dining in the Void, Someone Dies in this Elevator, SHIFTS (Season Two) and HUBRIS. Ali has also written for the show HUBRIS and is a producer for the networks Zebulon Podcasts and The Shadow Network. You can find them on twitter @MissAliHylton or visit their website alihylton.carrd.co for more!

Alex Bui, joining this season as The Drivers.

Alex Bui is a Vietnamese-American voice actor with a remote studio in San Antonio, TX. He has always had a passion for acting and was only recently able to pursue his dreams. He has been in various indie projects such as Doomsday Paradise, Nightshade Academy, ThatLovePodcast, and more! Alex is always eager to work and learn from those around him and always puts his best foot forward to give the life to his work that it deserves. alexbuivo.com

Archer Devon, joining the cast this season as Poltergeist 2!

Archer is a 21 year old disabled queer voice actor who has always loved performing, and has been on the voice acting scene as early as 2019. When ze's not behind the mic, ze can usually be found playing video games with friends or snuggling with zir cat, Nessarose. Right now, you can also hear him as the voice of Celeste in the upcoming visual novel Celestial Crowns! You can find him on Twitter at @ArcherDevonVA.

Ariane Marchese, returning in a new role!

Last season Ariane was the voice of a Death's Cookery contestant. This season, she's back as TV Voices! Find Ariane online at arianem.com

Aubrey Akers, joining us this season as Professor 2!

Aubrey Akers is a Columbus based voice artist appearing in multiple audio dramas and commercial work. Find Aubrey online at voices.com/profile/aubreyakers

Becca Marcus, returning as Lota--who has some important unfinished business to figure out this season.

Becca Marcus is a disabled voice actor from the UK. She has been drawn to performing from a young age, growing up in local theatre and dreaming of acting as an adult. Lota is very dear to her heart and she's thrilled to be back haunting for this season! You can also hear her as Elio in Moonbase Theta, Out, as well as in podcasts such as Sidequesting, Someone Dies in This Elevator, and A Ninth World Journal. You can find her on Twitter @beccamarcus_, and at https://beccamarcus.carrd.co/

Ben Akira Spencer, joining us this season as Bill's Assistant and McMansion.

Ben Akira Spencer is a Canadian voice actor who has featured in video games, animation, and podcasts. He is set to appear in several international releases this year. Find him on Twitter @HeyHowdyVA

Brad Colbroock, returning as Cas, the leader of the ghost hunting gang, You Haint Seen Nothin' Yet. (We're also thrilled Brad's doing the sound design, it will be delectably haunting!!!)

Brad Colbroock is a sound designer specializing in scripted audio fiction. You can hear their recent horror work on BloodyFM’s Skin Crawl, Mayfair Watchers Society, and some less visceral content on Magnesium Film’s Celeritas. Hear all of Brad’s work at bradcolbroock.com/#sound

Bree Frankel, joining this season as FF House Ghost 2 and FF House. YES the FF stands for something, NO I will not tell you. Spoilers, darling!

Bree Frankel is an Australian LGBTQ+ voice actress based in Melbourne. Bree embarked on their voiceover journey in May 2022 and has given their voice to animation, video games and audio dramas, with the vocal range and acting ability to bring a wide variety of characters to life. breefrankelvo.carrd.co/ 

Candace McAfee, joining us this season as Netta. Their contribution to this season is truly magnificent.

Candace McAfee, also known as Candace the Magnificent, is a Black queer NB voice actor, TTRPG performer, writer and musician. When they’re not working, Candace enjoys collecting books, spending time with their two cats, and making beautiful things. Learn more about them here: https://linktr.ee/candacethemagnificent. 

Carl G Brooks, joining the haunting this season as Theodore and FF House.

Carl G Brooks (He/Him) is an actor and writer living and working in Dallas/Fort Worth, Tx. Here Carl writes screenplays and provides voice over. Apart from business Carl enjoys practicing drum set, hiking, visual art and crafting. www.carlgbrooks.com

And me, Courtney Floyd, returning as Eulalie!

Please share our crowdfunding campaign widely and contribute if you can! igg.me/at/hauntresponsibly

[thelordofgifs]

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Round 4

Nerdanel vs Idril

Nerdanel:

Nerdanel, called The Wise, was the wife of Fëanor, and known as a great sculptor. She refused to follow her family to Middle-earth in the revolt of the Noldor.

Best known as the woman who looked at the hot mess that is Fëanor, went “is anyone going to marry that?” and did not wait for an answer, Nerdanel is also so much more than just the beloved wife of Fëanor. Most notably, she is a sculptor (apparently a male-dominated field in Noldorin society) - her statues are so life-like that the friends of the depicted would go up and talk to them! She is also wise enough to land the epithet Istarnië, which means Wise One, and she is the only person Fëanor ever listened to, which borders miracle territory. Although when she married the pretty young crown prince of the Noldor, people said she was not good-looking enough for him, Fëanor begged to differ, as they had seven kids together, which is the largest amount of kids any Elven couple ever had. There must have been a lot of passion there (or maybe they just really wanted a daughter?). Although Nerdanel always seemed to have wise counsel for her husband, apparently she did not put up with his, as she was close friends with Indis, his stepmother he did not like. Unfortunately, their marital bliss did not last; when Fëanor pulled a sword on his half-brother Fingolfin (Indis's son) and was exiled, she did not come with him and instead stayed with Indis. This is often seen as her inventing divorce, although a more boring reading could simply suggest she disagreed and did not fancy accompanying him (LaCE does say Elven couples could keep separate households for extended periods of time). She also did not think about coming to Beleriand with him after he swore his terrible oath, although she did beg for him to leave her at least one of her kinslaying spawn sweet adorable baby boys (preferably the one she very ominously tried her hardest to name The Fated as a baby). I suppose the resulting, kind of permanent, separation, could definitely count as divorce.

she is a sculptor and an artisan so skilled that Feanor’s love for her competed with his own love of craft and creation. She raised seven sons and pleaded for their fates with Feanor because of how much she loved them and even though she loved him too, she stuck to her own beliefs and refused to leave Valinor….she’s so girlboss and she said you can go be a tragic archetype but our children don’t deserve that and also I will stay right here. We love a woman who refuses to give up her joys and her home even for a man she loves and ESPECIALLY since it was Feanor….the strength of her will is insane. I love her.

Idril:

The princess of Gondolin who led a remnant of the city’s people to safety and formed the second union of Elves and Men when she married Tuor.

Idril my darling: singlehandedly responsible for saving every survivor of Gondolin through her foresight! Instead of worrying over the implications of marrying a mortal she just decided to try taking her husband to Valinor and seeing what happened, and it seems like it worked! Vote Idril she's the best.

Round 4 masterpost

[jules-van-hering]

@hustledbones tagged me for 5 songs I've been listening to recently and I decided I won't go to my repeat playlist to spare y'all all the bruce that's there atm. instead I'll give you some of that recently added stuff that's been playing a lot. here you go :)

apparently deadletter will play a show in my town this year, I had never heard of them before, but saw them advertised by the venue and liked the vibe. also really like their song the snitching hour. alt-indie with saxophone, ofc I'm gonna be down for that

unfortunately hey team dissolved last year and I just learned about them because it used to be a new friend's band. also really like their song o.k. sis. alt-rock-ish indie vibe

old friend played it for me in the car during an intense music exchange session, first reaction from me: that's a bob dylan impersonator! apparently this dope lemon dude is already quite successful. good for him

more saxophone! did not expect that. new music nerd friend is a big thin lizzy fan, I checked that out and was surprised how good it is. and no, this is not a cover of that other dancing in the moonlight song (of which the best version is by king harvest from the 70ies btw, not toploader)

after all I'm still a country gal. dale is my newest addition of cowboys. am really enjoying this one about him not having the money his love deserves just yet and trying to make his darling stay and be patient till he can afford that bling

I would like to get a glimpse into the playlists of @finch-connor @cowboy-jules @lottie-starling and @brucefuckingspringsteen if y'all would be so kind :) no need to write fucking essays like I did, a simple list is mighty fine ❤️

[dramalets]

Well I thought that ending tied the things that needed to be tied and left us not confused about anyone’s endings.

Tbh justice for Boston, where his friends are concerned anyway because Nick did the exact right thing for himself, he’s just a hoe and that doesn’t mean he’s not deserving of his friends. He’s only as messy as everyone else in the room.

Mew still severely needs the stick removing from his butt.

I also live for Sand just being a darling, pathetic little indie boy who absolutely knows that when he loves, he loves wholly and without restraint. He is yours and you are his. A puppy dog.

[blackandwhlteaesthetlc]

https://at.tumblr.com/blackandwhlteaesthetlc/well-aftersun-hit-a-little-too-close-to-home/1yzgaij3t4m9

Yasss!! I’m so glad you liked it. The director Charlotte Wells and producer of the film Barry Jenkins did a q&a after the movie in LA that was really great. Hearing her story about the movie and her dad was so sweet! I agree, no win but I’m so happy he was nominated. Can’t wait to see him with Saoirse Ronan (Foe), Josh O’Connor (History of Sound) and Andrew Scott (Strangers). I think he’s really choosing some great roles. I hope the Gladiators rumor was true cause that would be awesome! It’ll be a box off hit for sure and really put him as a household name. He won’t be the indie darling/hidden gem after that. Also, Brian tyree hill💜 I’m diving into causeway this weekend. ☮️

CHARLOTTE WELLS SHOULD’VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR BEST DIRECTOR. 😩😩😩

And I haven’t seen Women Talking yet but the buzz and outrage alone tells me Sarah Polley also deserved a nomination. I’ll stay bitter about it forever. But that’s a whole other discussion.

God bless Barry Jenkins and A24, I’ve loved what this studio has done for Horror but as a whole it just DELIVERS. Aftersun is so good, it really resonated with me on a personal level. Such a strong performance from Paul, so much more subtle than the other nominees. Also agree on his involvement with Gladiator! How exciting for him. Oh! And I remember you sent me a link for the sequel announcement but I didn’t get the chance to answer. I noticed Gladiator was added to Netflix at the same time that news came out. I’ll need to give it a rewatch, I’m sure it still holds up. With Paul involved, my expectations have definitely been raised!

Looking forward to seeing Causeway for BTH too. Aftersun put me in the mood for another good drama so I’ll try to watch tomorrow or Saturday.

I have to say I gave Triangle of Sadness a try and didn’t gel with it. It seemed, on the surface, like it had all the aesthetics of a Wes Andersen film without the charm. Idk, I’m going to really have to sit down with it again to see if maybe I’ll appreciate it more on a second viewing.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts as always, ☮️ anon. I’ll keep sharing as I chip away at the Oscar nominees too. 🤓🍿

[everygame]

Every Game I've Finished 14>24 OUT NOW

Every Game I've Finished 14>24 is OUT NOW in paperback and Kindle at Amazon and epub/pdf at ko-fi. 

Physical copies and Kindle editions are available at your region's Amazon (for example, .ca or .uk) so feel free to change .com to your region or search for it via Amazon's search bar.

Thank you so much for your support and I'm excited for you to get your hands on this!

---

"One of the finest of his generation of critics"—Kieron Gillen (Die, The Wicked + The Divine)

Fifty-two essays composing the very best of veteran video game developer and writer Mathew Kumar's "Every Game I've Finished" project, published for the first time in print with commentary from the author. 

Games covered include legendary icons (Wizardry: Proving Grounds Of The Mad Overlord), indie darlings (Papers, Please), beloved obscurities (Attack of the Friday Monsters!), Triple-A franchises (Mass Effect) and modern classics (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild). Essays take the form of everything from straight critique to strategy guide, and represent an overview of the state of the art in video games across its history distilled into ten years of highs and lows. A book that takes video games as seriously as any art form and as deserving of collected criticism.

“Mathew’s project, to finish the games he plays, and to write about those he finishes, can be simply stated but it represents a noble act of critical commitment. When taken in concert, these reviews –– unflinchingly acerbic, truthfully stated, and deeply unconcerned with external factors of fashion or consensus –– provide both a diary of criticism, and a long view of the judders and lunges of this still-evolving medium; A charter, too, for what we might cherish, and what we might disdain, in this emergent art form.”–Simon Parkin (A Game of Birds and Wolves, Death By Video Game)

[starlitwinter]

XIII

Maybe I shouldn’t have told him that. Did I break him? she thought while passing her hand before Teivel’s eyes. The lad was like frozen and hadn’t made any moves since she told him she liked him.

“Teivel? Are you okay?” She snapped before his face and finally gave him a little slap on his cheek which make him react. He took Nenlissë’s hand in his and put a kiss on her knuckles.

“I’m sorry my darling.

-You are… sorry?” she said, her voice slightly trembling

-Yes.” he nodded, “for not responding.”

-Oh. Oh. Do you…?

-Like you? Yes. Obviously. I like you too Nenlissë.”

She threw herself in his arms and hugged him for some long minutes while he stroked her back.

“Wasn’t it obvious?” he asked, “I knew liked me, i thought you knew for me too…

-How would I know?

-Well… when an elf find his true love, we can felt it and make a sort of telepathic bond with each other.

-I don’t think I can do that…” she said, looking at their hand and avoiding his gaze.

-Why?

-Because I’m not an elf Teivel.

-You are not… an elf?

-You didn’t know?”

He shook his head before pulling back the strands of hair in front of Nenlissë’s ears, running his fingers gently along the edges.

“I… thought it was a deformity. What are you then?

-Human, even if you’ve never seen them or met them… I’m not even sure if they were created…

-Human?” He recoiled as if the young woman was about to jump on him, “You are one of his second born?

-Yes…” she replied, embarrassed and with a wave of sadness across her face at the reaction of the elf she loved, “Is that a… problem?”

She could still see a bit of disgust in his eyes and it brought tears to her eyes. Why am I human? Why? she thought, cursing Eru again for not making her an elf when she came to this world or when she died. But Teivel, seeing the sadness and anger forming in his companion’s eyes, let out a small smile before walking over to Nenlissë and taking her in his arms. His voice was full of tremolos that might suggest that he was also about to cry, but if someone was standing next to the young couple, they would have seen that a bright smile was drawn on his lips.

“My Lissë, I beg you, accept my apologies. I’m only a fool who doesn’t deserve you.

-Oh Teivel… No, I’m the one who’s sorry… I should have told you sooner…”

He felt a tear fall onto his jacket and hugged the young woman even tighter while placing two or three kisses in her hair. Nenlissë sniffed, took a deep breath, and revealed what was weighing on her heart.

“Do you still love me?”

This question made Teivel react, and he lifted Nenlissë from his chest and with both hands on her shoulders, coming down to her level.

“Of course I still love you Nenlissë. Who would I be to throw you away a few seconds after declaring my love?

-So… it doesn’t bother you that I’m human?

-I was just surprised… if you’d told me sooner…

-I’m sorry, I…

-It’s all right sweet thing, I’m sure we can find a way to have a relationship even if… you’re missing a few things.”

He kissed her forehead before taking her hand.

“Shall we return in? I’m sure your family awaits you.” He was playing with a strand of her hair, making Nenlissë blush because of their proximity, “Don’t you have to meet your grandfather?”

She nodded and let him take her toward the door. Just before passing it, she kissed his cheek and it was his turn to blush.

“Come with me Teivel, i don’t want to be alone…

-Anything for you my girl.”

He put a last kiss on the top of her head before opening the door. Nenlissë took his hand in hers and walked in the ballroom. Together, they walked towards Arafinwë and Eärwen, who were standing with Finwë and Indis. Teivel subtly removed her hand from Nenlissë’s and answered her questioning look with a smile. Arafinwë saw his adopted daughter and took her by the arm before placing her in front of him as her grandfather and grandmother looked on.

“May I present my daughter, Nenlissë. My darling, may I present your grandfather, Finwë, and your grandmother, Indis.”

The two elves greeted the girl with smiles, and Finwë turned to his new granddaughter’s companion.

“And this young ellon is?”

-Teivel asked Finwë. He is my…” she looked questioningly at Teivel,

-Partner. I’m courting my Lady Nenlissë.”

Her words had the effect of a bomb on Arafinwë and Eärwen. Finwë and Indis smiled mischievously and quickly excused themselves, leaving the two couples face to face. Nenlissë had placed a hand on Teivel’s bicep and stood slightly in front of him, as if to protect him from her father’s possible wrath. It was Eärwen who reacted first, taking her daughter’s hands in hers.

“I’m so glad you finally found your match, Lissë!

-Thank you, Mother.

-And I am delighted to meet you, Teivel,” she took Teivel’s hands and looked at him with a gentle gaze, “I am sure you will have no trouble fitting into the family. Are you not a knight of our domain, a friend of our sons?

-That is correct, my lady, it is an honor to meet you in person.”

Unfortunately, this small moment of joy was short-lived as Arafinwë gently pushed his wife out of the way to grab Teivel’s shirt collar. Nenlissë tried to step between the two ellons, but it was her lover who nodded for her not to interfere.

“‘Knight in our house? And you dare to lay hands on my daughter?

-Do not think that I have evil thoughts my lord, I love Nenlissë with all my heart and you know that an elf loves only once in their life and I have chosen Nenlissë to be that one and only.

-What can you offer her? Everyone here has a comfortable life, but you know as well as I do the conflicts and dangers that hang over our heads. How can you protect her if you are not here? How can you give her a life of love if you are not here? If you die, you will leave her alone here.

-If I have to do this to show you how much I love Nenlissë and that she is my only concern,” Teivel took a breath before locking his eyes with those of his beloved, “I would give up my bow.

-No!”

Nenlissë stopped the two ellons in their quarrel. Teivel turned to face the woman and opened his mouth to tell her to not interfere but the look on her face stopped him.

She pressed her forefinger into his chest to keep him away from his father before turning to Arafinwë.

“You will not force Teivel to give up his knighthood. And need I remind you that if either of us can give up the other, it is me? Because I am human?

-Nenlissë. That has nothing to do with it. I am just concerned for your future.

-Dad. Teivel just told you that he loves me. And you know perfectly well that no elf in his right mind would want or desire me. Because I will inevitably die and leave them alone for eternity. Teivel loves me and I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve him.

-Lissë…” putting a hand on her shoulder before taking her in a hug, “Don’t talk about yourself like that. You’re wonderful and I’m the one who should be wondering what I did to deserve such an extraordinary person to love me.”

Arafinwë, seeing the looks of love the young couple were giving each other, gave up and raised his hands in the air to surrender and get their attention.

“All right. I give you… permission to see each other. But if you hurt her even a little bit, you will be the first elf to die at the hands of another. Do you understand?

-Understood.”

Nenlissë extricated herself from Teivel’s embrace and took his hand to lead him away from her parents and away from prying eyes. Her eyebrows were furrowed and Teivel had a sheepish smile on his lips. To try to calm her anger, he intertwined their fingers together and stroked the back of Nenlissë’s hand with his thumb. When they reached a small corner, he planted a light kiss on her right cheek and took her back into his arms, cradling his head in the hollow of her neck. Nenlissë returned the hug and spoke up.

“That was stupid.

-Nenlissë…

-Listen to me Teivel, admit that it was stupid. Why would you give up everything you’ve done in your life just for a girl you met not even a week ago?

-Because I love you.” He replied, planting butterfly kisses on her neck, making her shiver. “I told you before, elves feel when they meet their soul mates. Elven relationships begin quickly. Relationships between elves are quick, everyone can see that we love each other and I have the impression that you want to keep your humanity a secret my Nenlissë…

-Teivel…” She murmured before trying to look to see if anyone was watching them but no one was paying attention to the couple, “Don’t…

-Let me finish. If we don’t move forward with our relationship quickly, they might get suspicious because it’s not common for elves to wait more than a week before they start courting. Or even get engaged, once the bond is established.

-But you know, I can’t create a telepathic link

-How would you know? I’m sure your friendship with Manwë could help us find a solution.

Nenlissë nodded and they fell into a comfortable silence for a few minutes.

“I just realized that… I love you Teivel. I hadn’t said it properly yet.

-I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say my name, sweetheart.

-Should we… go to Manwë and ask him? Or would you rather I wait until tomorrow?”

Nenlissë had quickly changed the subject, sensing that if their conversation continued, she would not be able to restrain herself. We haven’t even kissed yet and you’re already thinking about stuff like that! The young woman mentally argued and when Teivel stepped back a little, to see her face, an amused smile was on his lips.

“Let’s go right now, tomorrow we’ll see what we do depending on his answer.

-Okay.”

The young couple approached Manwë who was standing not so far from them. Once they arrived in front of him, Nenlissë spoke.

“Manwë… We wanted to ask you a question.

-Please, tell me.

-Do you think there is any way that… we can form a bond?

-A bond?” The Vala said, a look of surprise in his eyes but when his gaze fell on the intertwined hands of Teivel and Nenlissë, he understood, “I see. Congratulations, if I may say so.

-Thank you Manwë.” Teivel replied with a smile. “Do you think it would be possible for Nenlissë and me to form a telepathic bond like the other couples?

-I see no problem with that.

-Even if I am… “Nenlissë began to whisper, “human?

-Yes, normally, if there is an elf in the equation then the connection is possible. Well, that’s just the theory. It must be said that this is the first time a relationship…like yours has existed.”

Nenlissë turned to Teivel, excited by the news. He looked at her with a broad smile and took her in his arms, carried away by the joy that surrounded them.

Their emotions turned a few heads in their direction, and Nenlissë felt herself blush like a tomato, still locked in her lover’s arms. Teivel, on the other hand, was so euphoric at the news that he kissed Nenlissë on the corner of her lips, even though they were in front of fifty people.

With a triumphant smile, Teivel turned to the crowd watching them and displayed their intertwined hands, much to the dismay of Nenlissë, who didn’t want to show off their relationship so soon.

Arafinwë joined his daughter and smiled.

“If that is what you want, Nenlissë, I will not object.

-Thank you?” She replied, almost asking a question with the tone of her voice.

Her father then addressed the crowd and announced that the ball was over.

About ten minutes later, only the family and Teivel were left, and they were told that dinner was being prepared and that they were expected in the main hall in half an hour. Nenlissë took the opportunity to take her lover to the garden, to their place, to have time to discuss their future before rejoining her family.

“Is there a problem darling?

-It’s just… I wish we’d talked about it a bit more before telling everyone.

-I’m sorry Nenlissë, but you know perfectly well that it had to be done. And wasn’t it the perfect timing? You can bond with me!

-Maybe I can. We don’t know anything for sure Teivel…” she sighed, “and then, how does the bond form? Do you have to… do something?

-Normally it’s formed during the betrothal ceremony. A kiss is enough.

-A kiss… that’s it?”

Teivel nodded and began to play with a lock of Nenlissë’s hair before speaking again.

“What do you want to do? Wait a month or two, the day of our engagement to try it, knowing it might not work because you’re human, or do it now? And advise something if it doesn’t work?

-I would be tempted to ask you to do it now… To avoid public humiliation for you and my family… But… first of all, I’d like you to explain to me what this link does.

-Once made, it is for life. You can’t break it or make another one unless one of the two of us dies. You can’t block it. It’s a kind of telepathic link, I can hear your thoughts if I want to, I can feel your emotions all the time, we can have conversations without talking. And vice versa, of course.

-Is that all?” Nenlissë asked, surprised, she thought there was much more to such a link.

-That is all. Normally you can’t feel when the other is listening to your thoughts, except at first, it’s a matter of habit.

Nenlissë weighed the pros and cons before meeting Teivel’s gaze. She lifted one of her hands to rest on his cheek and moved closer, almost pressing their bodies together.

“Do it.”

[kusogamesss]

AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! -- A Reckless Disregard for Gravity

The captivation of the early Steam indie landscape can never be understated. Before the arrival of Steam Greenlight, the walled garden meant a very select few titles graced the storefront now resplendent with asset flips and low-grade eroge. Renowned games like Project Zomboid didn’t even appear on the store at that time — it and other indie darlings relied on Google Checkout and Desura for distribution. So limited was the indie space on Steam that days, weeks could go by without a new title. In looking for what underground, offbeat goodness was permitted, users invariably came across AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity, the first title alphabetically on the store. In Dejobaan Games founder Ichiro Lambe’s words:

“A name should be interesting, memorable, and descriptive — a game about jumping off of a perfectly good building in a flimsy wingsuit should be exciting. We had plenty of other ideas. The working title was Low Altitude, and we considered a bunch of others: Screaming and Falling AaaAaaAaa! Deploy Parachute for Hot Chicks Jumping to Earth From Tall Buildings Bridge. Antenna. Span. Earth. Falling Toward Earth Your Personal Crater Free Fall Don't Forget Your Parachute Remember Your Parachute Spicy Mountain Lion Freedom, Free-Fall, Freedom I Fell From a Building A few of those were obviously thrown in as jokes. "Deploy Parachute for Hot Chicks" was a dig at the industry's obsession with boobs. Spicy Mountain Lion was my personal favorite non sequitur. But when our PR/Marketing dude, Leo saw the list, he poked his finger at "AaaAaaAaa!," and refused to let me adjourn the meeting until I agreed to go with that.”

Though also available from Direct2Drive, GamersGate, Impulse, and WildTangent, the one-two punch of Steam's self-imposed exclusivity coupled with an ostentatious title made AaaAaaAaa! an enticing proposition for a couple years. Its inclusion in The Potato Sack on April 1, 2011 made it (relatively) explode in notoriety over a year after its initial launch. A crucial part of the associated Portal 2 ARG, many players, myself included, snatched up the game at its steep -75% discount and got to work inflating the player count, seeking clues, and nabbing potatoes for the ultimate goal of releasing Portal 2 early. Ten days after The Potato Sack launched, player numbers remained as high as 4,253, a number which would never be even approached again. By June 27, 2011, concurrent players topped out at 624. A year later, only 13. Since mid-2014, AaaAaaAaa! has failed to reach double digits. It has become a footnote of a footnote, a stepping-stone towards the contemporary AA indie zeitgeist of Game Pass and publishers and safety.

AaaAaaAaa! is reckless, an emblem of a sliver of a fraction of time wherein indies were starting to get the recognition they deserved. The polish of contemporary indies is absurd, their development cycles arduous, their teams an enormity, publishing rights are snatched in an instant. Finji co-owner Rebekah Saltsman in 2021 stated “Five years ago, I’m like, ‘Oh, I can make a game for a million dollars.’ And that was crazy then. And [now] I’m like, ‘I can’t make this for under four [million].” By contrast, Dejobaan’s marketing budget for AaaAaaAaa! was $0. With assets that seemingly fell out of a wallet containing lint and a single fly, AaaAaaAaa! and its ilk prided themselves not on their graphical fidelity or scale, but singular ideas explored maximally within small packages. AaaAaaAaa! isn’t bursting at the seams with content, but it didn’t need to. Like Zineth or Voxeltron or Darwinia, the aim was to present something new that hadn’t been explored within the games space as a sort of proof of concept, an offer of what games can accomplish.

As an in-effect sacrificial lamb then, AaaAaaAaa! is easy to dismiss as unimportant, as belonging to its position as a footnote’s footnote, but in revisiting it (having realised the kids of today know nothing of this time beyond its winners, its Super Meat Boy and Minecraft and Limbo) I was surprised at how enjoyable it remains. The gameplay is little more than falling while grazing obstacles and responding to simple button prompts. It isn’t good to look at. Yet it kicks ass in all the right ways. This first-person adaptation of BASE jumping evokes concepts of bullet hell with its tight navigation of enclosed spaces, of racing games in its sheer velocity, of arcade high-score chasing as you go for one more kiss, one more score plate. It oozes with risk’s rewards. It is drenched in text as an accessory, taking its overlong title and applying it to every facet of the UI and gameplay experience. It contains small nothingburgers of video chaos as if it is some valid reward in its own right. Image macros bespeckle gray slabs of polygonery. It is balloonshop’s Oreo, sounding not even half good but it is good, really Most importantly, it doesn’t wear out its welcome in the slightest, being just long enough to explore itself fully without the pressures of content bloat on the player. It would be reiterated upon with its semi-sequel AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! for the Awesome semi-reconstructed with its long abandoned half brother 1… 2… 3… KICK IT! (Drop That Beat Like an Ugly Baby), mobilised with AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! (Force = Mass x Acceleration) and is apparently being revitalised with the upcoming AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! (if it ever releases).

It would be irresponsible to act like Superflight, Steep, Rush, and even Just Cause 3 haven’t trounced AaaAaaAaa! in nearly every regard with their years of hindsight to work off of, their immeasurable polish, and astounding budgets, but AaaAaaAaa! did it without a shred of shame, staying true to Dejobaan’s obtuse philosophies of making games that raise an eyebrow for their names, premises, and gameplay. It doesn’t blow my gourd, but it doesn’t need to. It’s fun, and it sits at the top of my Steam library for eternity. Jumping off of it into thousands of other games as I scroll and scroll seems fitting, somehow. It’s like Dejobaan knew they would be pioneers on an ever-growing mountain that forever shifts its form. It is a stratum fondly remembered.

[jengapuzzles]

"indy, darling, don't worry so much, no harm done, you could tell he was a man with a sense of humour!" linus said, playfully nudging her side when he could both see and feel her judging him. linus was always like this, and he knew it. he winked at indy. "i will take such good care of him and don't you worry. how about you get yourself some rest instead? i mean, you just had to deal with me for a bit, lord knows that's deserving of a good cuppa and a cookie or five," at least linus knew he was trouble and admitted it, which was more than he could say for some others. "no but honestly indy, it's going to be fine, just transport him up to us and i'll make sure to fix everything needed and then you won't have to deal with me until the next burn victim comes in!" he said it cheerfully, kissing her cheek and then giving a wave and a bow, being on his merry way up to the higher towers where he belonged, probably for the best.

THE END.

"Uh... actually-" Indy had been about to answer that question, but Linus seemed to manage to give her no time to do so. If there was anyone in this hospital who knew about the many instances when the younger doctor had gotten himself in trouble for something that he had said, it was Indy; but it was also clear to her that even the disciplinaries did not seem to stop him from running his mouth. If it had been anyone else, she was certain that they would have been fired by now. But Linus was indeed a fine surgeon, and it was his talent that had allowed him to keep his job so far. "Whatever you say..." Playfully rolling her eyes, she followed him into the room. As Linus pulled up a stool to sit by the patient's bedside, she stood behind him with a small smile on her lips. Hearing the perky tone that he used when he spoke to the patient caused her to become slightly concerned, no doubt, but he did not seem to be entering the 'offensive' territory just yet. So, she decided to stay put. This patient needed a plastic surgeon, and Linus was the best one they had. She might as well just let him do his job instead of lecturing him on patient etiquette... for now. It really shouldn't be her problem, but it was. "I told you that he could figure out how to fix you." Indy herself had perked up this time, her smile growing slightly wider. She had always been proud of how skilled Linus was as a surgeon, not to mention his rightful confidence in his abilities. She wanted the patient to know that she was also confident in her colleague's treatment plan. But her smile quickly fell when Linus made the comment about the scarring. When will he ever learn? Indy followed him outside of the room, and once they were out of the patient's earshot, she hit his arm gently. "Linus, you've really got to stop saying shit like that..." She shook her head, exhaling a sigh before she shook her head. "Alright, I'll have him admitted, and arrange for him to be transported upstairs. Once he leaves A&E, I've got nothing to worry about. He's all yours, Dr. Horner."