#hence the protagonist waiting room

[shadow-pixelle]

So great news team, apparently that one fic showing up at the office door has started a fucking stampede as all of the protagonists in the waiting room are all storming the doorway trying to shout their ideas over each other.

There are like five fics and they are all trying to tell me all at once word for word what their first/next chapter is supposed to be.

I have coursework still to do, buddies, sit down and wait your damn turn. I am super close to finishing all of these pieces and if I get it done before the Easter break then I can crash for a while and work on you.

[nicolesainz]

Your thighs up like my anticipation (MM7)

Mason Mount x f!reader

Author’s note: due to popular demand, the filth shot will have as its protagonist the hot stuff no7 of Manchester United, Mason Mount. This idea came to my mind abruptly given I love seeing pics of footballers screaming.

Summary: Its pure filth there's no plot

Warnings: minors dni, 18+, praise kink, pet names, sub/dom, oral sex, unprotected sex (do not encourage it whatsoever)

"I am disgustingly in love with how you taste" Mason moans along with me as I feel his lips attached to my pussy.

Match days should be exhausting a player usually, not give them more energy. Mason defies the odds in our case.

I refuse to remove my eyes from his feasting. My whole body is shivering as his strong arms hold on to my thighs, needing balance, while he is sucking on every last drop of my wetness. My hands are holding onto the bedpost, so I can find an ounce of self control.

Because my self respect has disappeared.

It's already midnight, the neighbours are sleeping and the only thing echoing in this entire block are my moans from Mason torturing touch. I get more wet as each lick slides my pussy, getting me all excited and worked up. This man knows how to make a woman feel good.

"Thighs up for me baby. I need to have you all to me." I push up my thighs, giving him more room and to my surprise he slides in my clit two fingers, pumping them slowly but painstakingly erotically inside me, causing me to gasp out of breath loss.

"Don't hold back. Let me hear you scream." He demands and I decide to test him a little bit, for which I will be punished afterwards.

"You will have to do better than that." I fearlessly reply and feel a wave of coldness rushing against my pussy, given he removed his fingers and mouth in seconds.

"What did you just say? Do better?" His face comes closer to mine, lips attacking my already bruised neck, sucking more painfully than before. Motherfucker had found my soft spot and kept on sucking until I scratched his back with my fingernails.

"Not enough for me daddy." I saw with a loud moan coming along as Mason furiously inserts his middle finger inside my cunt, pumping it along with the pace of his kisses.

"Say that one more time sweetheart and I promise you, that you will not be able to walk for days." I can feel his cock pushing against my pussy, even under the boxers, becoming needier as time goes by.

"I need more." I repeat myself knowing the consequences to my actions.

I trusted Mason with my life knowing he would never hurt me physically or mentally, hence why I always challenge him.

"Not playing nice missy. Do you know what girls with your behavior are?” He takes ahold of my hand and places it on his hardened cock, above the boxers.

I raise my eyebrow playfully, knowing I have a portion of control on him. As I breathe in more deeply, my breasts pop out, grabbing Mason’s attention in mere seconds.

“Eyes up baby” I sternly say and he lets my hand loose, as I afterwards slide it inside his underwear and start tracing his cock with my fingers. I can feel on the tip the pre cum with just a slight touch.

“Slutting it up I see?” He weakly says, before his cock springs out and I turn our bodies on the opposite, with me being on him. Mason underneath me is my favorite second version of him. The first one is the goal scoring version.

"Only for Mr.Mount's eyes." I whisper seductively in his ear as my fingers play with his hard rock cock, waiting to have a taste of my pussy. Mason's slight groans of desperation excite me. I am so incredibly proud of his performance today so I think he deserves to be treated specially.

"Baby I need you so incredibly much. I can't hold myself. Please let me make you feel good." The way the words fall out his mouth make him very irresistible to me.

I place his cock against the entrance of my cunt and slick it softly before I open my legs a bit further so Mason can slide in more conformably. Once I start feeling the stretches in my pussy a loud breathless moan escapes my lips, weakening every ounce of control I had on him. He fits so perfectly it feels like a crime.

I hadn't realised when Mason switched out positions and for once again I was underneath him. My eyes were glued to his abdominal part, where I could get the best view of his Champions League tattoo and simultaneously his V-line from where veins pop out with each thrust.

"If you are to stare at my tattoo so much I might as well get one of your liking." He has suggested that again, although I prefer if he gets ones he likes, given I have no say on his body, except for a few minutes almost everyday.

"All your tattoos are to admire Mase. Just like yourself." I manage to say before Mason shuts me up with a deep stuck thrust followed by a passionate kiss, sucking up all the air I have left.

"Being nice won't make me go all soft on you darling." His fingers trace the lining of my nipples, arousing me to the fullest. My hands are holding against his bum so he deepens himself inside my pussy until I can't breathe.

"Look at you, all weak and needy for my cock, taking it so well as I see." I get dizzy as Mason hits my soft spot, forcing me to grab onto the sheets, almost ripping them off from the pressure.

"You are so fucking beautiful and only mine. What a joy." Mason's lips are all over my neck, trying to not leave any spot of it without a hickie. I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up with his name spelt on my body with purple marks.

"I love you Mason. Oh" I gasp before I feel both Mason and mines arousal coating me. Mason falls next to me, both trying to catch our breaths, hands against each others chest, feeling the beat of our hearts.

"I am sorry if I was a bit rough with you my love. You know I always want to please you."

"Tonight all that mattered was to please you. I am incredibly proud with your performance, like I always am Mase."

"I am so incredibly lucky to have you. I love you too."

[thanatika]

an interesting lens to analyze pathologic would be through the ways it references commedia dell'arte. part of it is that the conventions of commedia have left a lasting imprint on theatre, puppetry, and performance in general, but i think there are some very specific nods as well.

for an obvious point, farcical character archetypes represented by masks were an essential aspect of the art form. pathologic not only uses that concept in mark immortell's masked plays, it also uses the same two types of masks: a flat mask that covers the face with holes for eyes and mouth (also comparable to ancient greek theatre masks), and a mask featuring an exaggerated, beak-like nose.

i'd say there are also references to the commedia archetypes in the actual characters themselves. for example, i'd be surprised if "vulgar comedies" wasn't an intentional reference:

(i don't have a clear translation of "площадных комедий", the term that clara uses for "vulgar comedies" in russian, but the russian wikipedia page for commedia dell'arte is the first thing to come up when I google it.)

that's not to say i think the game is trying to completely frame dankovsky as il dottore, the laughable caricature of a psuedointellectual. but clara certainly sees him as one! and arguably his characterization is closer to this archetype in her route, as well as in the pathologic 2 haruspex route (mister "i was blessed with a naturally high intelligence", among other hits). these differences are possibly an indication of unreliable narrator.

after all, changeling's route is from the POV of a religiously-fixated teenager who sees the world in terms of stark good and evil, and whose character is bifurcated between pure good and pure evil herself. arguably the NPCs in her route act as elevated, exaggerated versions of themselves due to her perspective. and pathologic 2 leans harder on the "it's all a play" framing device than the original game did, giving the player a role to embody and making NPCs feel more like characters who exist for the purpose of the play (and for artemy as the protagonist) than as fully realized people. hence how in p2!artemy's first and last confrontation with the bachelor, you find him staged dramatically in a room cast in mood lighting as though his sole purpose is to wait there for you to enter. (well, either that or it's just that he's a drama queen.)

at least, that's one interpretation of why he comes off as more of a pompous twit depending on the route. another aspect of commedia dell'arte is that the protagonists often go unmasked, and relatively unexaggerated, compared to the masked villains and comic relief characters. bachelor is the protagonist of his own story, and arguably the deuteragonist of the haruspex route. but in changeling route and p2 his role is more of a bit player among many, cranked up into the role of learned fool.

[anathemafiction]

Just wanted to thank you, love your story, so much that it became a comfort read to me. I’m a classics student, hence consider me head over heels for the world you’ve built. There were also so many options for MC to react and all them felt… just right? As if playing the Romanus in a parallel universe, but also gives room for reader’s customisation as well, though none feels out of character at the same time? How did you manage that? Lol.

Our companions are also so cozy, and yes even our rat king. As a person who doesn’t have that… conventional beauty, I relate to them so much. (Even though we haven’t read much about him but I’m considering the asks on this forum) MC having a scar and option to mourn for your beauty also was an option felt to the heart. I also had such scarring for a stupid mistake which left my face altered, I never was and still not a vain person but one still thinks “I could’ve saved puppies from fire and wear this scar bravely - but I cannot have it for //this// reason!” In short, can’t wait to learn more about the other companions, still it’s suffice to say that our core group already gives me “warm blanket and a hot chocolate while it snows outside ” vibe.

Thank you again, can’t wait for the next book for real. 🫶❤️

You're too kind. Romanus isn't meant to be a completely blank-slate protagonist since they have a history and a set of pre-determined goals that are outside of the player's input. But I also wanted to leave enough room for you to make them your own.

Yes, you are always a mercenary, and you will always have that glove, but are you more manipulative or straightforward? Do you most value life or the completion of your goals? Do you hide what you feel with a quip or a stoic facade?

These are all questions I want the reader to answer, not me, and ultimately, I want the reader to be the one who determines Romanus' fate.

[cornus27florida]

Hogwarts AU Lore - dive deep

Basically my fanart of GwenDerick in hogwarts AU make me thinks of HC story' but IDK if I ever realizes it to be true TBH.. (something to do before going to bed but can't due to me waiting for my energy in Hogwarts Mystery recharge)

Talk about the tags first there!!

Tags:

Mutual pining (Frederick the protagonist of this story instead the Canon CPC where he's the deuteragonist) is fancying Gwen, unaware that Gwen fancies him too as 'the only boy that could be awakes in History of Magic lectures' + very cute hunk that loves shared favorite books

Romance: come mainly from Gwen/Frederick, and the grudging respect-to-lovers Prez/Whitney & Leopold/Jamie, tired to be perfect/accepting the flaws Blaine/Maria, and Triad Quidditch Aces - Lorena Chaser, Lance Keeper, Suzy Beater

Nerd duo that loves ToRT, Monika/Orson

The Divination model student/the Charm model student Nell/Jolie

The counsellors couple SyRon [So.. 7 ships? Well actually 8 haha math sucks)

Mystery and Drama (in short, CPC main goal is to search the Clam then destroy it - unaware that their 2 'missed recruits' is holding the biggest key leads as Gwen's father is the one that hides it and know the exact location while Frederick's father secretly makes 'private dark organization' to sought the Clam's unlimited knowledge power - idk how to lead it to that far

That fic will become pro all Plaid x Pastel thou (except LeoMie cuz it different kingdoms) - Why? Cuz;

make note that not only I am changing age so does years, their persona are also different than CPC Canon - as for example in the world of them inside becomes witches and wizards , so is not making sense to have Frederick still thoughts Gwen as a witch while could makes Freddie fancies Gwen from early on (in their 4th year! It makes Frederick 15 while Gwen 14)

CPC in this story isn't acronym for Cursed Princess Club but "Cursed People Club'" because kingdoms in this story doesn't exist, but Hogwarts are 'elite school' - that the students there come from Houses of Families (also they're 'so assorted' like various races skins etc but generally no difference which bloodline they are, IK it's make no blood purity bigotry but well gotta make things simple and the goal of this story unlike Canon HP after all)

Btw the houses (not inside the Hogwarts, but of families) is still the name of article/element of clothes so we have House of Monochrome for example (same analogy with Sirius' Family, House of Black)

all the interactions and relationship building happened 'naturally' not like CPC which happened due to arranged/forced/accidental event ~> well tbh not all meetings like that but well it dominating like yk arranged marriage, accidental meeting between Whitney and Frederick? Is not happening here, their first meeting is formal one at the first gathering of CPC in room of requirement

Also in this story, curses are not affecting the person's life as heavily as Canon CPC - not because it could be cured easily but because it's more on normality. Because when 'practising' magics, the example of one becomes 'permanently' older looking is not something that grave situation but more like "ouch it happen.. dw you'll lives on and even it not cured we'll understand and accept you in society"

But cursed people also could 'hiding' themself in sense to not inconveniences other (like Aurelia's and Renee situation that granted permission to no need eating in public a.k.a the great hall, because one'll disintegrate utensils (although here it easily fixed with reparo charm) and one will throws out frogs any time she 'talks' - hence the reason they're BFF in this story although in different houses which is Hufflepuff and Slyterin: they're eating at the kitchen together

I haven't fleshed out details about how CPC members become cursed (as no kingdoms, no kidnapping little princess for being a pet crow for example) so some things will differentiate

Also I am WhitPernia shipper and I like to not have them started with wrong foot as Whitney accidentally cursing Calpernia - but they're indeed have a "troubled, mysterious past" - yet they're choosen by the headmaster/mistrrss as respective head boy and head girl with special mission that explained in the next paragraph…

Headmaster/mistress secretly gives mission to respected head boy and head girl to forcing a secret group to find a highly coveted powerful artifact - the Omniscient Clam, and sought to destroy it. It's inherited secret task but always failed till Prez and Whitney decides to taking advantage of their situation being cursed.

Apparently, in this story cursed people could 'detects' curses either be it from people or things - like as being cursed people gives them ability to identifying curses - with various degree and methods (so it's incomparable, cursed people just feels 'curse' without standarized way which make results varied - and curses comes from anything, anywhere, and always changing

I've already imagined how the first meeting go for CPC! Ofc it happened at the Room of Requirement

Frederick mistaken as a cursed people because his exclaim when got a howler from Leland which resulting to him get kicked out from the library being heard by Prez' spider "Urgh, I feel cursed!" - without hearing the next part about mocking Leland silently

While Gwen due to her appearance, unlike half-breed of any 'beasts' known so far in the story world (Braided Island in this story is the origin place of the cursed artifact of the Omniscient Clam and so isolated - only Jack ever visits it with a Professor that inviting Lilyth to study at Hogwarts decades ago)

Our main couple mistaken as cursed makes the CPC wary at first, but this about story of developments and twists - the members that likely not knowing anything actually the jackpot to fullfilling secret mission from headmaster

Non CPC couple (LeoMie, Blaine/Maria, Lorena/Lance/Suzanna) kinda becomes background couples but integral to the story -

they are realizing their youngest siblings gone so often routinely and becomes close with assorted people espc the head boy and head girl

prob the story could leads to Gwen and Frederick trying to give any 'reasons' to hides what CPC is

~ while at the same time realized their father is the key leads to CPC's mission

Also like Canon CPC, CPC in this story is the sanctuary for cursed people hanging out together and feels stronger together

Cursed people in this story have more lightened burden at the society than canon, but doesn't mean the support system' no neededthe moral story' also differs a bit from the Canon CPC which is 'learning relationship of self-love with hunt of romantic love' -> imho it could be: your parents aren't defined you, Power isn't everything, cursed people have feelings toowelp not really romance hahaha also sorry if those ships is not what the readers like, like the Triad if Lorena and Lance and Suzy!

[osc-aus]

This is mainly based on an old hfjone au I made but.

Airy (a fanon version but sush) is a college student in some other universe that’s based on standard shows. (hence why it’s implied the only countries are Inanimate Island, Goiky, and Canada) The universe seems to have a greater control over other worlds and a general awareness of stuff like the waiting room. The entire thing takes place when ONE is happening, with Airy’s motive being the group project, which is to do something with multiversal tech. (example: the universal radio, Airy’s computer, Keychain’s book) However, Airy’s project is very obviously fucked up cause of, kidnapping. Speaking of, as well as Airy, his classmates get a good amount of attention, and sure as hell are they colorful.

There’s:

Keychain (she/fae)- The main protagonist and Airy’s roommate. Probably the only person here that could pass as being from hfjone’s world.

Honey Dipper (she/they/hir/sie)- Classic nerd character and Keychain and Candley’s friend. Most sciency out of everyone, who are all science majors but eh.

Candley (she/bun)- Runs the school newspaper and the sweetest character in the cast. Yes, the Amelia parallels are intentional.

Pursey (she/her)- Trademark Rich Popular Girl, “Everything And More” is so her.

Schoolbook (any pronouns)- Trademark Bully Target and Pursey’s roommate. Is sooo tired.

Also it’s implied that Airy based the hfjone guys off of them. Sorta, not exactly but he probably chose them for that reason, they all have an comical hatred of him so hey, maybe that’s why he said nothing in Amelia’s rant.-Hello Charlotte Anon

OOOOOOO oh i actually love that the guy ever basing contestants off friends

[deleonbill]

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[reecey9o5]

While I could (lol, 'eye') could probably drive myself a leetle mad finding a deep lore reason for this, 'Limbus' is just the Latin for limbo.

There's limbus patrum, essentially the waiting room for pre-Jesus godly people to hang out before he did his whole 'salvation of the world' routine. (So, this is where Abraham was biding his time and shooting pool, essentially.)

There's also, and more famously, limbus infantium or limbus puerorum. The one where babies and very young children are posited to go in Catholicism, which is generally just called 'limbo'.

These are both really interesting, because, well, the Bible doesn't actually state that either of them exist. They're both a consequence of early Christians trying to reconcile the stated mechanism of salvation (no heaven unless through Jesus) and the reality that some people are incapable of doing that (either because they lived prior to Jesus or are too young).

You can see this reflected in The Divine Comedy as the first circle of hell is limbo, where Vergil is hanging out. It's actually important in Christian thought for limbo (at least limbus patrum) to be in hell, due to the stated existence of the Harrowing of Hell (essentially Jesus going and converting a bunch of dead Jews to Christianity).

Arguably I should have started with that last thing first, but, dammit, early Christian eschatology is really interesting and I want to inflict it on people.

The word is derived from edge, or boundary in Latin, hence the definition you found.

Although, if you think about it, our four canto protagonists have been pushed to the edges of society by their life experiences. So there's that.

Wait hang on.

You squad what does limbus even actually mean? Let me look it up.

limbus. noun. lim·bus ˈlim-bəs. : a border distinguished by color or structure. especially : the marginal region of the cornea of the eye by which it is continuous with the sclera

Via Merriam Webster.

So uuuuuhhhh. What do we do with this Information

@reecey9o5 @confusedgull i feel y'all can draw something from this cause I just don't have the prerequisite knowledge of literature or the lore for it.

[sepublic]

On the one hand, a part of me feels ready to greenlight Darius as actually a pretty decent dude; On the other hand, with how he did apprehend Raine and the BATTs, there’s arguably still room to interpret him as a general jerk and asshole, but one who makes good points; Like that meme of the worst person you know making a great point!

Darius is a pretentious snob and Luddite, but he’s not totally wrong for it either; Alador turning Abominations into a cold and mechanized war industry is definitely something you’d be critical over, even if Darius has potentially taken his dislike of machines too far as a result; We’ll just have to see. Likewise, it’s not entirely fair to expect a kid to pull himself up by his bootstraps to think for himself, and look down on him as not worth your time until he does prove he can actually think on his own... But fundamentally, we should all expect kids and just people in general to not mindlessly dedicate their entire lives to a purpose.

(Plus, Darius might’ve legit been concerned for Hunter and pushing him to look out for himself for once, via tough love, because it’s hard and even risky to be compassionate when you’ve been in the coven for so long.)

Darius could stand to be more compassionate about things (don’t hold a kid accountable for not fitting your expectations of his predecessor), but a lot of his ideas are still in the right place, hence why he remains a coven head but is still reasonable about it. And for all we know, he actually really IS that nice and kind, or will be; Especially since a promo seems to imply, alongside the end credits, that Darius will join Raine in their rebellion... He’s not perfect and arguably morally gray, but he’s got sides and duality to him, and when Darius has to pick one...!

He’s arguably a ‘lesser of two evils’ who upon realizing he’s an evil amongst worse ones, decides the ‘good guys’ are closer to those standards of his anyway, and hangs out with them to avoid going down the slippery slope. He’s still a jerk but he’s our jerk! Darius ain’t nice that often but he’s nevertheless good and knows when to make it count, if that makes sense.

Also love the idea of him following in the previous Golden Guard’s footsteps this way; Obviously both still flawed and their ideals aren’t always the best... But it comes from an actual good place and that’s the difference that matters. I’m not sure just how nice Darius is and to what extent, I’m still cautiously waiting for a full verdict; But he’s looking more and more valid! Sure he got motivated to murder because Eda got dirt on his clothes, but nobody’s perfect and everyone’s got their eccentricities-

Also this makes me view his lack of enthusiasm in apprehending the BATTs with new light and context; Darius isn’t just interested in pampering himself over this, his heart really isn’t in it? Love this dude and the potential recontextualization of his actions, like with so many other characters such as Amity or Hunter, whose antagonism appears different than it initially had... Tbh I enjoy the idea of Darius still being an overall jerk but he’s right about some things, and that’s what incentivizes him to side with the protagonists, because there’s enough decency in there to appeal to and work with.

[syyskirjat]

(Carmilla Weekly, Sept 4, chapter one)

I'm just gonna stop pretending that I don't know the protagonist's name, okay, I don't think it's a spoiler that her name is Laura, and I can't be bothered to wait until it's used in the text.

So, Laura opens with a very conveniently helpful comparison between her circumstances and those of English girls in England, to give a handy reference point for English readers lol.

Despite the fact that Laura has never been to England and the only English person she seems to know is her father, I really get the feeling that Le Fanu wants her to come off as an Ordinary British Girl. Someone relatable and familiar but put in a very "exotic" situation. A bit like one of those movies where your average middle class family, through some random contrivance, ends up living in an old mansion in the middle of nowhere. (And the mansion is probably haunted, and/or there’s a monster on the loose somewhere nearby.)

Except it's a straight up fairy tale castle and Laura's been living there her whole life so really it should be pretty ordinary for her. Also I'm really not so sure if I'd call her family "middle class", as much as she tries to emphasize that she's totally not fancy at all even though she lives in a castle.

That said, I do have the impression that much of English literature at the time was about the upper class anyway, and I’m sure living outside of England while still being very English was nothing new for the British Empire, so by that standard maybe Laura is a very average protagonist, actually. Or maybe I’m trying to analyse this too hard lol

Either way, the class thing is very interesting to me in Carmilla:

I must tell you now, how very small is the party who constitute the inhabitants of our castle. I don’t include servants, or those dependents who occupy rooms in the buildings attached to the schloss.

Of course you don’t include servants....

Keep this in mind, I think it’s an important point to make about this story. Laura’s isolation and loneliness are such a huge part of her character and it’s not just because she’s living in the middle of nowhere (although that doesn’t help), since there are definitely still some people around. But they’re not part of her social sphere. They don’t count.

Most of the actual human beings around her just don’t count.

Hence she’s stuck with her father and her two governesses and nobody her own age.

And this is not just me being like “oh boo hoo spoiled rich girl“, I think it’s genuinely tragic for her. Yes, she’s incredibly privileged, but at the same time that privilege, or specifically the social systems behind it and possibly(?) the need to uphold the family’s class status (even if it means living in the middle of a forest because it’s the only way they can afford the luxuries they’re supposed to have), trap her in this state of social isolation.

[altocat]

I first want to say reading intellectual, well thought out responses regarding Sephiroth is a breath of fresh air to me. There's so many people who let's just say focus on his appearance a lot. Yes, we get it he's physically attractive, but he's more (so much more) than a pretty face. So keep doing what you're doing. That being said, I would like your opinions on the relationship between Sephiroth and Angeal. Angeal seemed more like an arm's length away when it came to Seph I feel.

Hhhh thank you! I'm so glad that you're enjoying my ramblings! It's a lot of fun and I love everyone's asks!

Seph and Angeal....

-I think of his two friends, Seph was likely closer to Genesis. The game itself doesn't feature Angeal and Sephiroth interacting much, nor does it show Sephiroth's reaction to Angeal's death. A major oversight imo, especially since they are established to be friends.

-That said, Sephiroth speaks fondly of Angeal recounting his lectures. In my stories, I utilize this in a way that positioning Angeal as a potential brother/semi-father relationship with Seph. Or at least a guardian influence of sorts. Add to this Angeal concerning himself with Sephiroth's weight and I get the idea that he felt responsible for looking after both Sephiroth and Genesis.

-That said, I think Angeal was well aware of what Sephiroth was capable of, especially after the incident with Genesis in the training room. I think part of him knew how dangerous Seph really was, even if he cares about his friend. Hence why he was training Zack with an offensive Seph hologram. Angeal knew there was something off for sure.

-Angeal turning his back on Sephiroth's Masamune during the fight suggests he was at least more worried about Genesis flying off the handle than Sephiroth. He likely recognized that Seph wasn't about to escalate so long as Genesis could be prevented from pushing him.

-Afterwards, Angeal and Sephiroth share their concern together waiting for Genesis during his examination. When Seph approaches to offer for the blood transfusion, Angeal gently nudges him away before Hollander even mentions him not being viable. They shared mutual concern about Genesis and Angeal didn't seem angry at Seph apart from his mentioned lecture. Apparently it contained the old "dreams and honor" song and dance, which means he does value/push Seph into challenging his goals and ideals.

-Sephiroth's bond with Angeal is also implied to be what drives his affection for Zack, especially when it becomes a distinguishing factor to help the two bond and relate to each other. It's likely Sephiroth felt a level of trust and positivity in Zack in associating him with Angeal.

-Anyway, Angeal and Sephiroth needed more scenes together. It's clear that they're friends and Sephiroth's behavior suggests that they're close, but the game genuinely lacked enough interactions between them to back the idea up. I think there was a level of strain between them after Genesis' incident, but they were still good friends Seph was willing to risk his career over.

-Angeal still bears a level of responsibility in Sephiroth's abandonment issues. He certainly didn't stick around when he switched sides with Zack and he seemed to have been in communication with Zack only. Buuut again, I just blame the game itself not focusing on Seph and Angeal's individual bond and read less into this. Zack is the protagonist after all so of course the focus is more on him.

-One thing I really try to do in my fics is flesh out their bond. In my stories, Angeal is a healthy, supportive confidant for Seph, a mediator between him and Genesis, and ultimately the closest thing he has to a familial bond. Angeal recognizes how twisted and messed up Sephiroth's origins and potential are, but also tries to give him space. They have a close bond, but it's clear that Sephiroth is more focused on Genesis overall. Angeal, for his part, isn't resentful and works to take care of both his friends, and later Zack.

-Angeal leaving is ultimately a major unconscious association for Sephiroth in terms of repeating the pattern of being abandoned throughout his life, reflecting the loss of both Professor Gast and his mother, Lucrecia. And Sephiroth would blame himself for Angeal's death in sending Zack to Modeoheim instead of facing his friend directly. This, ultimately, is one of the many things that later contributes to his madness.

[call-sign-shark]

Ohhh what a nice surprise. Thank you so much for including Heaven in this great horror tale. Your work is a wonderful addition to Lee’s event and it was a very pleasant read. First of all, you did more than justice to Heaven. I adored every moments in which she was — it feels like you got a perfect understanding of her and what she’s radiates off. I’m thinking about this specific passage:

• ““Heaven waltzed in behind him, looking like an angel in her white fur coat. The snow haired beauty’s presence seemed to ease Arthur’s nervousness. He wrapped his arm around her waist as she held out her hand for Mrs Shelby to shake.” Like, this was freaking incredible and so canon. From how you describe her graceful movements to Arthur calming down with his angel. You even remembered that she wears white fur coat and that she has crystalline eyes!! Wow I’m touched and a bit teary ngl 🥺🖤

The dinner/meeting scenes were the best. You have managed to instill a sense of creepiness and danger, not only around Lilith but around all the guests. We definitely feel that Mrs. Shelby is trapped in a room full of dangerous predator and she is the little prey. Hence my deep love for the nickname “little mouse” Lilith gives her. It echoes super well with Heaven’s “cat-like smile” (which made me squeal because I often picture Heaven’s smile really Cheshire-like.)

Also you’ve did a really great job at portraying the many characters, kudo for your portrayal of John, Tatiana and Jack, because they all feel 100% in character. I must say that you’ve made such interesting pairings here! + Jack and Scarlett KILLED me when they tackle Tommy about how he has changed for another wife again and how this one won’t last either. It must be so painful for Mrs. Shelby to hear these kinds of murderous comments.

Now about the cruel demise of Mrs. Shelby: I freaking love it. I think my favorite part was how Lilith explained wickedly to the protagonist that she’s no match for Thomas and that what the Shelby are looking for his the other half of their soul, such as Heaven and Arthur, Scarlet and Luca or, soon, Thomas and Eva. I think this is particularly clever that Lilith kind of chooses his favorite brother’s wife, knowing her choice will suit him. I must admit btw that I’m a sucker for power couple and this is exactly what you did with Jack and Lilith. They have a great dynamic and I particularly appreciated the scene when she’s kinda scaring the shit out of Mrs Shelby all the while Jack starts kissing her shoulder and biting her. Extra sensual and dark, love it. Intriguing OC and excellent work! Admittedly, I’m always a bit “meh” when the oc are too praised in the narrative but here it worked like a charm since its a horror tale and enhances the demonic aspect of your character. I think you should def stick with the demon/succubus allegory for Lilith — it’s even in her wonderfully chosen name! 😘

Anyway… what a great ride!! And thank you again honey I am beyond touched by your Heaven cameo. Can’t wait to read more of your work! 🖤

In The Graveyard with Lilith Rose Shelby (and Jack Nelson)

This work is inspired by @zablife and her 2K celebration: An Evening at The Arrow House. The OC of Lilith Rose Shelby is my own. The characters of Scarlet Shelby, Aurora Sabini, Heaven Shelby and Eva Smith belong to @zablife, @evita-shelby and @call-sign-shark. I only mentioned them because they inspired me. Eva is only mentioned by name but I did my best to do Scarlet and Heaven justice. Thank you for inspiring me.

TW: Violence, Sexual Content, Swearing.

Lilith Rose Shelby was all grown up. She’d flown the coop and (unlike most members of the Shelby clan) had miraculously escaped the clutches of Tommy’s schemes. Some suspected that her untapped freedom had to do with her immense luck in life… but for those who knew better….it was because Thomas Shelby loved no one more than his youngest sister. No one held such an influence over the greatest gangster turned MP in all of Great Britain (and its dominions) than Lilith, no one else had the keys to his smile or to his heart. You might ask Why, then, she was allowed to roam free? Not shackled to the Arrow House as Ada had once been to the shithole in small heath. Not obligated to attend every family dinner or family meeting that Tommy threw whenever he felt like it.

       “Why?” The new Mrs Shelby kissed up Tommy’s back as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Will she not meet me?” Of all the people she desired to make a friend of in this family, Mrs Shelby wanted to make the best first impression on her mysterious good sister. Everyone spoke of her with reverence. Lilith’s name was the very essence of sorcery. Once spoken, even whispered in corridors and in dark corners, a shiver danced up one’s spine…or one’s blood spiked with adrenalin and excitement.  

Thomas bristled and stiffened, not responding. Mrs Shelby paused, a pout forming on her nervous lips. In truth, she had expected for Thomas to be eager for his new wife to meet Lilith. The siblings were so close, that she’d expected for her to have been the first person he’d have introduced her to. Instead she was met with a cagey Thomas.

       “Lilith doesn’t like Arrow House.” He deflected easily, lighting a cigarette as he stood up and wandered to the window, looking out into the foggy grey autumnal morning. He exhaled some smoke in the way that had her swooning, before he spoke again. “It reminds her of Grace.” Mrs Shelby’s heart dropped. Grace, the woman whose shadow she was forever enshrouded by. She didn’t openly wish to express her dislike of Grace or Lizzie, but she was beginning to despise them. She knew their spirits were mourned and honoured in this house…. if only by the staff and the children. It was complicated. But she hated being compared to them, hated the way the children refused to acknowledge her but would gaze in awe at the portraits of their respective mothers. It made her feel like a replacement…. nothing more. Perhaps Lilith would think the same of her. She chewed on her lip.

        “She must have loved Grace a lot.” She mused. Tommy scoffed.

        “On the contrary, Lilith hated Grace.” He licked his lips, glancing at his wife. He’d put it politely for her, spared some of the details. No one hated Grace more than Tommy’s beloved little demoness. “She disliked Lizzie as well, but for different reasons.”

        “Oh.”

        “Grace betrayed me. Lilith refused to forgive that. The only reason she refrained from dancing with joy when she died was that she loved me too much.”

        “And Lizzie?”

        “Lizzie broke John’s heart.”  Tommy spoke casually, remorselessly as though he’d had nothing to do with it.

        “I’ve not done anything to hurt anyone.” Mrs Shelby sulked, looking at the floor. Tommy strolled back over to the bed and took her into his arms.

        “Quite right.” He kissed her forehead. “Perhaps it’s not such a bad idea to invite her this weekend.”

        “But she hates the Arrow House.”

        “She’ll come for the family, and for me. The kids will be delighted to see her”

        “She’s good with them?” Her interest was piqued. Perhaps Lilith could shed light on the way to Charlie and Ruby’s hearts.

        “She dotes on them.” He smiled, a real genuine smile. “They’re mine, after all.”

*****

Mrs Shelby skipped towards Tommy, her letter filled left hand raised in triumph. Her sparkling sapphire engagement ring sparkled in the light.

     “They’re coming.” She kissed him joyously. “They’re all coming.”

     “All?” He chuckled.

     “All.” She confirmed. “And they’re all staying. Scarlet and Luca will stay in the room opposite Finn and Aurora. Alfie and Ada will stay in the room opposite Polly and Aberamma.” Tommy smiled as she babbled out her arrangements. He imagined it was a good idea that Alfie and Arthur should stay in separate wings of the house…. otherwise Ada and Heaven would be forced to intervene, and no one wanted a mess. Gina and Michael would go next to Ada and Alfie. John and Tatiana would have to be kept in the room next to Tommy and Mrs Shelby so he could keep an eye on that mad bitch. Speaking of that insane Russian duchess…. she’d have to be kept as far away from Lilith and her beloved husband, Jack Nelson. Last Christmas had been a disaster when Tatiana – having had way too much to drink – announced that herself and Lilith had been lovers for the entire year before Lilith had met Jack. Jack had hated her guts since. The children would have three whole rooms to themselves. Something Mrs Shelby wasn’t sure was appropriate, but something Tommy had insisted was necessary.

     “They all love being together.” He insisted. “And it’s not like we’re giving them the entire house.”

     “I’m still so shocked they’re all coming.” She smiled dreamily up at him. “I’ve always wanted a big family.”

     “Well, now you have one.”

     “You never told me Lilith was married.”

     “Ah.” Tommy looked sheepish. “I didn’t think she’d bring him.”

Two years ago she’d eloped with Jack Nelson, the last man on earth Tommy had thought suitable or good enough for Lilith. Jack Nelson was everything Tommy (ironically) hated. He was unfaithful, violent, a fascistic Irish American and he was the most obnoxious, ambitious, cunning bastard he’d ever encountered…It was like looking in an ever so slightly warped mirror. His dislike of the American hadn’t stopped Lilith marrying him though…And yet somehow, the marriage worked. Jack followed the little Shelby witch round like a lost puppy, salivating whenever she looked at him. It was like she held some sort of magical enchantment over him. The loved up pair made Thomas feel a little bit sick. Mrs Shelby smiled teasingly.

      “You can’t stand him, can you?”

      “He’s not good enough for her.” He grouched. “But for some unfathomable reason, he makes her happy. That’s enough for me.” From the way he gritted his teeth it seemed like that hardest thing he’d ever had to say.

      “Everyone thinks you’re a big bad gangster…but I know you’re really just a big softy.”

      “Don’t go telling everyone, ey.” He laughed, “I have a reputation to uphold.” Wrapping his arms around her waist he hoisted her up onto the table, taking her lips with his own. Someone coughed. Tommy turned to see Mary, the maid.

       “The house is all prepared for the guests, Mr Shelby.”

        “Thank you, Mary. That will be all.” She nodded, turning to leave but not before she eyed Mrs Shelby with frigid, calculating eyes. Thomas didn’t seem to notice though as he shifted his attention back to Mrs Shelby as his fingers slid beneath the hem of her dress.

*****

They were nothing like she expected. None of them. Polly arrived first, gliding in like the image of sophistication, barely glancing at Mrs Shelby. Aberamma following closely at her heels. He grunted in greeting, simply tilting his head after removing his hat. Arthur and Heaven arrived at the same time as Scarlet and Luca. Arthur’s greeting had been sweet. He seemed to like her, spluttering over his words to greet her. His hands shook and his eyes looked a little wild. But he meant well. Heaven waltzed in behind him, looking like an angel in her white fur coat. The snow haired beauty’s presence seemed to ease Arthur’s nervousness. He wrapped his arm around her waist as she held out her hand for Mrs Shelby to shake.

     “You must be Heaven.” Mrs Shelby stuttered, transfixed by her crystalline eyes.

     “Pleasure.” Heaven’s eyes slid to Tommy and her expression instantly shifted to a predatory one. “Bastard.” She acknowledged with a cat like smile.

      “Yes. He is.” Scarlet stated as she sauntered through, pushing her way past them and following Polly into the drawing room.

      “You’re not going to say hello, Tesoro?” Luca paused in the hallway, smiling at Mary as she took his hat and coat.

       “There’s no point in greeting Tommy’s latest victim. Knowing him, she won’t last the year.” Scarlet called back. Tommy watched Mrs Shelby’s confidence dissipate momentarily. Headlights glowed in the driveway.

       “Heaven, why don’t you take Arthur and Luca into the drawing room.” Tommy suggested. Heaven’s icy eyes hardened before narrowing at him. Her lips parted in order to respond in a somewhat poisonous manner but Mrs Shelby stepped forward and whispered to her.

       “I wouldn’t normally agree with Tommy but Alfie’s just arrived.” Heaven observed the mouse like woman Tommy had married for a moment before she nodded, escorting her husband and brother in law to the drawing room. Music blared as the door opened and Mrs Shelby could see the reflection of Scarlet in the large mirror as she turned the gramophone up.

       “SHALOM Thomas!” Roared the bear of a man as he wandered in. Ada rolled her eyes beside him. She hugged Thomas tightly before embracing Mrs Shelby, much to her surprise.

       “I hope they’ve not been too scathing to you.” She whispered. “Don’t worry, they’ll warm to you with time.” She pulled back and smiled. “This is my son, Karl, my daughter, Elizabeth and this,” She brushed her hand over her swollen midsection as Alfie beamed with joy. “Is baby Solomons.” Tommy paled as she spoke, only just noticing the pregnancy.

        “Jesus Christ.” He muttered beneath his breath.  Mrs Shelby held his hand and gave it a squeeze as she spoke.

        “You’d better head on in before he has a stroke.”

Tommy had just about recovered when the door to the drawing room opened and he heard Arthur exclaim.

         “Fookin’ hell Ada! You bloody kept that quiet, din’t ya?!”

Finn and Aurora Sabini arrived next. Polite and jovial as ever, though Aurora didn’t appear to like the way the youngest Shelby boy looked at his new sister in law. John, Tatiana, Michael and Gina all arrived together. Lawrence ran in from the cold, zooming in circles around Tommy and Mrs Shelby before running past them to the drawing room, banging on the door and yelling “Granma, Granma!”

       “My boy!” Polly called in joy as she came out and greeted him, swooping down and collecting him in her arms before slipping back inside. Gina made a noise of disgust.

       “Thomas.” She acknowledged.

       “Regina.” She scowled as he full named her.

       “So this is you’re newest whore?” She studied Mrs Shelby with critical eyes. “She doesn’t look like much, I’m surprised you’re so taken with her.”

        “She’s worth ten of you, Regina.” He snapped.

       “Michael.” Mrs Shelby smiled warmly. “Thank you for coming.”

        “It’s nice to see you again, love. I hope he’s treating you right.”

        “He is. Very Much.”

        “I took the liberty of bringing a wedding gift. It’s out the front.”

        “That’s very generous of you. Really, you didn’t have to.”

        “Yes, Michael. You didn’t have to.” Gina snapped before stalking off to the drawing room and loudly demanding a drink. Michael winked at Mrs Shelby, smirked at Tommy and left them to it. He turned to greet John and Tatiana and froze.

      “Fuck!” He fumed. “What the fuck are you wearing?!” He looked at John. “What the fuck is she wearing John-boy!”

      “Don’t worry, Thomas.” Tatiana purred sensually. “It’s not for you…or your wife.” She stepped around him, the thin scrap of material she called a dress clinging to her figure. “Tatiana Petrovna Shelby, delighted to make your acquaintance.” Mrs Shelby blushed and stepped closer to Tommy as the Russian duchess invaded her space. Grabbing her jaw, Tatiana kissed both of Mrs Shelby’s cheeks.”

       “She’d got a beautiful neck, Thomas. I can see why you like her.” She paused. “And that ring!” She snatched Mrs Shelby’s hand, admiring the sapphire encrusted in diamonds. She tutted. “I would have thought you’d learned your lesson with sapphires.”

       “They’re a particular favourite of my wife’s.”

       “Grace liked sapphires too.” Tatiana smirked, her dark eyes flickering madly in the candle-light. “Is Lilith here yet?” She changed the subject.

       “Is she the reason you’re dressed like a whore?” Tommy took a swig of the amber liquid in his tumbler. “You not bothered by this John?”

       “As long as I’m the only man she fucks, doesn’t matter to me.” He joked.

       “It’ll only ever be you Johnny.” Tatiana turned and kissed him.

       “Aye, John-boy. As long as you’re a Shelby, she’s not picky.”

       “What’s that supposed to mean?” Mrs Shelby asked, nervously glancing at Tommy.

       “It means that before she chose me, she was fucking Tommy…until she got bored of him.” John answered. 

         “Are we interupptin’ somethin’?” Came Uncle Charlie’s deep gravelly voice. He stopped short to shake Tommy’s hand, flanked by Johnny Doggs, Isiah and Curly. Curly smiled bashfully at Mrs Shelby and handed her some flowers. She blushed.

         “Thank you Curly.”

         “How’re you findin’ us so far, petal?” Johnny Doggs asked loudly.

         “So far I’m struggling to find someone who likes both of us. Polly, Aurora and Gina dislike me, everyone else has a gripe with Tommy.” Johnny Doggs barked out a laugh. “Welcome to the clan!”

          “Families.” Isiah scoffed. “Who’d have em?”

*****

Lilith Rose Shelby was the most beautiful creature Mrs Shelby had ever seen. So beautiful, that the air rocketed out of her lungs when she first saw her. They heard Jack first as he escorted her up the steps and held the door open for her. She looked like a goddess, draped in silk. Tommy was fascinated that Jack never once looked away from her. His only greeting to the new Mrs Shelby was a nod and a smirk. He sneered at Tommy before his attention gravitated back to his wife. She had the most beguiling dark eyes Mrs Shelby had ever seen. They were like pools of endless night. Lilith catapulted herself into Tommy, who embraced her tightly and inhaled her scent. Pomegranate and dark amber. She relaxed into him. Releasing her, Tommy cupped his baby sister’s face in his hands and looked at her for a moment.

     “You grow more and more beautiful every time I see you.” He smiled.

     “Brother.” She spoke quietly….and she sounded like magic. Soft and sensual. “You look well.” She beamed at him. And Mrs Shelby’s heart fluttered at her smile. Jack snaked a hand around Lilith’s waist and pulled her back against him.

      “Shelby.” Jack acknowledged. “Married again? You can’t seem to get em’ to stay, can ya?”

      “Nelson.” Tommy spoke evenly. “I can keep women just fine. In fact, I’ve never had to cross a continent and steal a woman away to make her mine. I suppose that means I have better luck than you.” Lilith covered Jack’s hand with her own.

     “Or,” She interrupted loudly, “It simply means that I was special enough that he had to travel all this way to find me.” Mrs Shelby watched, fascinated as both men melted at Lilith words. Jack kissed Lilith’s forehead and Tommy smiled.

    “Could be.” He agreed. Lilith stepped away from Jack and turned her attention to Mrs Shelby. All the noise fell away. She couldn’t hear anything. Apart from the sound of her blood pulsing through her at a rapid speed. She glanced at her husband, and watched his beautiful lips move as he spoke to Lilith and Jack. She watched Lilith study her, eyes raking over her in an unreadable manner. Mrs Shelby’s finger twitched as Lilith’s eyes pause over her engagement ring, her full soft lips quirking into a small smile for a moment before it vanishes. Mrs Shelby gasped, startled when Lilith unexpectedly stepped forward and smiled at her. Lilith took Mrs Shelby’s left hand in both of hers. Her thumb brushed over the sapphire. Her eyes pierced into Mrs Shelby’s hypnotically and Mrs Shelby found herself transfixed as Thomas brushed a hand up and down her back, comfortingly…. obliviously.

      “Sister.” Lilith tested the word on her tongue as she surveyed Mrs Shelby. “You’ll be good to him, yes?” She sounded so innocent. So angelic. Her eyes held no malice. Mrs Shelby stuttered.

      “Y-Yes. I shall try to be all that he deserves.”

Lilith beamed at her and released her hand. Mrs Shelby’s ring finger throbbed momentarily as she watched her fascinating sister turn and enter the drawing room with Jack. She saw through the reflection in the mirror as Polly embraced her niece tightly and was startled to see Lilith’s reflection gazing predatorily through the looking glass at her.

*****

Dinner was a fucking disaster. It had been nothing like she had hoped. Perhaps she was just projecting her own fears but it seemed that none of them liked her…. even the ones who appeared to. It seemed as though they were watching her every move with a pre-existing negative judgement. She was guilty to them, of something. The problem was she didn’t know what and she didn’t know how to change that. Tommy had enough to deal with, especially after Tatiana had goaded Jack into a row and she was swearing at him in Russian. Arthur had had way too much to drink. Scarlet was screaming at Tommy for something he’d done years ago and Luca was trying desperately to calm her down. She turned to look at Michael, who was in a heated discussion with Gina…and Aurora kept throwing her dirty looks.  In the end she’d left the table, claiming to check on dessert. She’d just found a quiet alcove to take a few moments when someone touched her shoulder. She jolted and turned to see Lilith.

    “Feeling overwhelmed?” Her voice was so soft, sympathy swirled in her onyx eyes.

    “A little.”

A lot. I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.

    “I know. We can be a lot to handle.” She looked out into the darkened garden. “Why don’t we go for a walk.” She suggested. “Take a moment to ourselves.” Mrs Shelby’s heart soared at the prospect of having a moment alone with someone who might actually like her and in doing so, might sway the opinion of the others. She nodded and took Lilith’s offered arm as the two of them stepped out into the cool autumn air.

It hadn’t been long since they had returned from their honeymoon and so Mrs Shelby hadn’t yet had time to explore the grounds of the Arrow House properly. In the dark murkiness of the evening she couldn’t really see where she was going and clutched on to Lilith’s bare arm a little closer for security. She smelt dizzyingly alluring. Away from all the smoke and whiskey the magic of her perfumed the air in a wonderful way. 

    “How did you meet my brother, if you don’t mind me asking?”

    “Da’s one of his employees at Shelby Company ltd. I met Tommy when I brought Da his lunch.”

    “How…. quaint.”

Mrs Shelby wasn’t paying attention. She was too bust staring at the purple love bites littering Lilith’s creamy throat. Lilith flushed and giggled when she noticed.

    “I’m sorry, I should have covered up more, Jack can get carried away some times.”

    “He’s very fond of you.”

    “And I, him.” Lilith patted Mrs Shelby’s hand. “I never expected to find Jack. But he’s my better half. As Heaven is Arthur’s and Luca is Scarlet’s. We were worried Thomas would never find someone….worthy.” Lilith stopped her movements and released Mrs Shelby’s arm. For the first time, Mrs Shelby noticed her surroundings. Lilith had brought her to the churchyard close to the Arrow House. She turned, only just able to see the outline of it looming in the moonlight. She shivered, looking back to Lilith who was now staring at something in front of her. “Thomas has very specific needs.” Her voice had lost all of its warmth. Mrs Shelby’s mouth ran dry as she read the names on the gravestones in front of her.

Grace Burgess Shelby.

Daughter, Mother, Beloved Wife.

Elizabeth Stark Shelby

Mother, wife, friend. Lost to childbirth.

Something rustled behind them. Lilith turned and smiled adoringly as Jack stepped out of the shadows. Mrs Shelby wondered how he had known where to find them. “You have to be a certain kind of person to survive in this family. Don’t you, my love?”

    “Ya got that right. It’s an honour to love a Shelby…to be prepared to kill and die for them.”

“Thomas needs a fighter.” Lilith reached out and caressed Mrs Shelby’s cheek. “You didn’t fight tonight. You fled, little mouse.” Lilith tutted and stepped closer, so close, Mrs Shelby could feel Lilith’s sweet, warm breath burning against her flesh. “How can I trust that you’ll fulfil him?” Lilith shook her head, looking sad, disappointed even. Jack brushed his wife’s hair off her shoulder, exposing her flesh. He pressed a kiss into the crook of her neck. Mrs Shelby watched Lilith relax a little. “You’re not good enough for him.” Lilith purred softly, Jack’s lips and tongue trailed down Lilith’s neck as she spoke. “Neither of them were, either.” She glanced to the gravestones behind her. “I was lucky with Lizzie; God took care of her. But I had to intervene with Grace.”

  “B-but we’re happy.” Mrs Shelby spluttered, fear creeping into her voice every second longer that she spent in Lilith’s presence.

   “For now. Until he realises that you’re not enough for him.” She paused, relishing in the look of despair on Mrs Shelby’s features. “Don’t worry. He’ll be happier than ever with Eva. They’ll be perfect together.” Jack hummed in agreement with his beloved and imprinted his teeth in a perfect love bite into her neck as she slid home a beautiful carved and somewhat bejewelled blade into Mrs Shelby’s sternum. Mrs Shelby gasped in pain, a sharp sound leaving her soft lips. “She’s earned him, you haven’t.” Lilith continued as she twisted the hilt, a horrible tearing noise was heard before Lilith let go. Mrs Shelby staggered back and fell back against the willow tree overhanging the makeshift graveyard.  Lilith looked down at her blood spattered fingers. Lifting them to her face she licked one, smearing her lips in the substance. Greedily, Jack took her fingers and painted his own mouth with them. Lilith spun in Jack’s arms, giggling and moaning as their lips fused, unbuckling his belt. She murmured something to him and he acquiesced without question, sitting and leaning back against Grace’s headstone. Lilith slipped her dress over her head until she was wearing barely anything in the coldness of the autumn night. She straddled Jack, kissing him deeply before sliding down onto him in the ghostly glow of the full moon.

Mrs Shelby heaved, opening her mouth. She tried to call for help but no sound emerged. Instead she found herself mute, only coughing and spluttering on the crimson blood as it tried to liberate itself from her mouth. Her vision grew blurry for a moment as tears gathered and obscured her sight.

And then she saw them.

The ghosts of Grace Burgess and Lizzie Stark, both completely drenched in blood and staring in horror, not at her but at Lilith and Jack, as he flipped his wife over and took her like an animal. Lizzie’s expression was melancholic. Her hair loose and wild, eyes ceaselessly spilling tears and her mouth agape in silent cries of agony. Her body had been slit open from chest to lower abdomen and still, even in death, she was bleeding. Grace stood beside her still in the gown she wore the night she was murdered. the bullet wound on her chest still wept even though she didn’t. Her face was curiously, disturbingly calm. The sapphire around her neck pulsed and throbbed and pulsed and throbbed. And suddenly Grace wasn’t looking at Lilith and Jack anymore, her pale grey eyes locking onto her second replacement. Mrs Shelby found herself growing shivery and yet unable to move, unable to scramble backwards as the sapphire whispered to her over and over some kind of spell in Romani. The curse…. she recalled hazily as she forced her limbs in an attempt to move. Tommy believed it had been cursed by the Russians. Mrs Shelby’s fingers dug into the soil as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Every movement was excruciating in both pain and in effort. Her eyes fluttered closed in exhaustion and the spell of the sapphire seemed to sing louder and louder, it’s feminine voice echoing seductively in her ears. She realised it was coming not only from the necklace Grace’s ghost wore, but also from the ring on her engagement finger. Struggling, she tried desperately to remove it. But to no avail, it was as though it had fused to her flesh, strangling her finger.

Mrs Shelby’s eyes snapped open. Just in time to see the ghost of Grace stood over her.

“I should feel sorry for you.” Grace whispered. “You’re a victim of this family, just like me.” She paused, licking her discoloured corpse lips. Grace heard it too. She heard that it was Lilith’s voice cursing her inside the blue sapphires, not Tatiana’s. “And Tommy does love you.” There was a moment of silence. “But… I’ve come to realise something.” Grace leaned down and kissed Mrs Shelby’s lips, her ghostly fingers coming up to wrap around Mrs Shelby’s throat. “If I can’t have Tommy…” Grace murmured as she pulled back looking deeply into Mrs Shelby’s eyes.

Her grip tightened...and tightened…and tightened. Mrs Shelby choked and spluttered, her body convulsing. The last thing she saw was Lilith’s dark eyes staring at her over Jack’s shoulder, her nails digging into his back as he held her to him. And Grace’s hoarse voice looming over her.

“Then no one can.”  

[obeythebutler]

hi! I saw requests are open and I was wondering about the brothers reaction to an mc who used to be in those survivor vs Hunter games? ( dead by daylight, identityv)

MC WAS IN SURVIVOR VS HUNTER GAMES

LUCIFER

He was a bit curious as to why MC always carried a whole array of weapons with them.They threw a knife at Leviathan when he tried to attack them....Not to mention their choice of clothing....

But then MC told him that they were the main character of dead by daylight...and had killers thirsty for their blood and life...

That explains their agility and wariness.What injuries and terrors MC must had have to bear...Lucifer assures MC that no harm will come to them here in the Devildom.

But he is proud of them for surviving for so long, and secretly educated himself all about the game.

MAMMON

MC that is a goddamned butcher knife you are holding- what in the seven hells

All poor Mammon wanted was to talk to you, but he has a nasty habit of not knocking, and considers his sacred duty to barge into MC's room.

They muttered, while putting away their knife the they thought he was Jeffrey, he used to do that all that time.

Jeffrey?

When MC explained that they were the MC of Dead By Daylight earlier, he was shocked.So that is why MC was always on guard around everyone...

Well, still, the Great Mammon shall protect them!

LEVIATHAN

They dress up just like a survivor x hunter protagonist.....the weapons, the mask, the overcoat...

Oh wait, they actually are?! Woaaahhhhh!

Say the name of the game and he will know all about it already.Also, respect for MC increases tenfold in Levi's eyes...And also play the game with them...

He will asks a lot of questions like an excited child, and wants MC to show them all their inventory.How is pyramid head on the power scale? Is Michael Myers- calm down.

SATAN

A bit odd choice of clothing there, MC...

The MC always had weapons on them-knife, gun, blowtorch, you name it and it's there.And their choice of clothing, and that time they threw a knife at Leviathan..

MC told him that they were the MC of Dead by Daylight earlier, and hence the weapons and behaviour.

So that is why they were so skittery and alert all the time....Now Satan wants to play that game...But he is also in awe of their abilities, at least they can protect themselves...

ASMODEUS

Honey, that is a weird fashion choice there.The MC always had weapons,clothing and other items on them, and always dressed like an apocalyptic character...

And that time when they threw a knife at Levi...Asmo like feisty humans..

But when he got to know they were the MC of a survival game he was tongue tied for a hot moment.His MC, running away from killers while injured?

He's glad they are safe now.Asmosues will coddle them and act a bit more cuddly...and MC is going to find moisturizers in their pockets....

BEELZEBUB

Why is MC so nervous and defensive all the time?

The way they dressed, moved and fought, all reflect some past bad experiences...Beel them got to know they were the MC of a survival game.

He was genuinely concerned, and asked them if they were okay, and enveloped them in a hug.He swears to not let any harm come to them.

MC will perhaps start finding snacks around their room now...

BELPHEGOR

This human is too damn fast and alert.

Belphegor noticed the way their eyes followed each and every moment, how they were mindful of everything around them and had weapons on had.

Then he got to know from MC they were the MC of a survivor x hunter game.That explains a lot....

He will want to know everything about their universe,and ask them to show their abilities.

[onebizarrekai]

v3′s art is comically terrible for a professionally distributed game in a series: a compilation

in this not-essay I will list all of the mistakes and problems I have spotted in v3′s art. don’t worry, it’s entirely for fun and I’m doing this on a whim, so please feel free to not take this seriously but also it’s hilarious and embarrassing how ridiculous this is like what happened did they speedrun the whole production or what

see, there are some things you can take as meta like “they made it bad on purpose to allude to the downfall of tv shows that have been on air for much too long” but I have a very strong feeling this is not the case due to the nature of some of these errors

disclaimer, the more I study this art, the more I fear that the artists were underpaid and underslept, so if this is in fact the case, I am so sorry to all of them but also I’m going to make fun of the art anyway

anyway let’s get started!

if you study this image for longer than 5 seconds, you will see that kaede is the only one fully shaded and keebo is literally just his normal sprite pasted into the image. every other character is just an ordinary ref, hence most of them facing the exact same direction with neutral expressions on their faces. it looks like a bad edit, and is probably one of the worst pieces of art in the game. it kind of gets better from here on, but my roasting will not.

with that out of the way, here’s the problem that officially bothers me the most and clarifies my viewpoint of “this is not meta and an actual lack of company communication”

this freaking cg, which seems normal at a glance, but some wiseass was like “oh, kaede is a girl, so obviously she’s going to be shorter than the Male Protagonist™” ah, that’s funny. because if you look at the character bios, kaede is, in fact, one inch taller than shuichi and not like 6 inches shorter as she is shown here.

also shuichi’s shoulder is disproportionate and horrendous and he looks vaguely like a jojo character, but I wasn’t even thinking about that until right now.

thanks guys, 50% of the fandom who has never bothered to check these bios thinks that kaede is like 5′3 (did the developers really put so little thought into her to the point where drawing her correctly in the game didn’t even matter??)

also I would like to point out that, even though this isn’t related to the art itself, yes, a character kaede’s size being only 117 lbs is unfeasible, but this applies to literally every character in danganronpa ever and it’s not new news that it’s unrealistic

update: someone in the tags informed me that in versions of the game that use centimeters, like the japanese version, kaede is actually shorter than shuichi, which just adds another thing to the list of weird decisions the localization team made for no reason. that said, after confirming this, kaede is 167 cm in the original, while shuichi is 171 cm, which are approximately 5′6 and 5′7 respectively, but one inch is still nowhere near as drastic as it is depicted above. (in spite of this, I would rather depict kaede as slightly taller, so I’m probably going to keep doing that.)

the journey continues!

bro if you want kaede to have shoulder length hair then stick to it to begin with

you can pretend this is at an angle all you want but they definitely committed the shorter kaede sin a second time

wait a goddamn second.

DO YOU SEE THIS

no………… it wasn’t kaede who shrank. it was shuichi who got taller

speaking of which, can we talk about how shady the perspective is in this elevator pic? look at shuichi and kokichi in comparison to kaede. kokichi, who is canonically 7 inches (edit: or 5, if you’re loyal to the original) shorter than kaede, looks taller than kaede. he’s growing too. what steroids are these gays taking

running into the room, electric boogaloo: I don’t think tsumugi is supposed to be the same height as kokichi

gonta… gonta you’re lookin a bit like a jojo character there

I love how kaito’s head looks kind of like it was pasted onto his body. why is he the same size as shuichi? shouldn’t he be high school bully size or something? his torso is teensy

ah yes, white angie.

I love this cg but why is shuichi’s right hand so much bigger than his left hand

I also love how this cg looks like they literally took pictures of trees and pasted them into the background, especially on the left. the shadows are so weird, especially closer to the ceiling, it’s difficult for me to believe they didn’t do exactly that.

return of Enlarged shuichi

puberty update: kokichi is now taller than shuichi in spite of shuichi never missing leg day. what crimes will he commit

I have to mention it, guys. this has to be one of the worst danganronpa cgs. kokichi’s facial proportions look atrocious. look at the way his face sticks out like his jaw is in the wrong place. his scarf is a pasted texture. that’s it. this moment was so iconic but the cg just looks so… so… off. like something is terribly wrong, but you can’t put your finger on it.

you know what? let’s get into that ‘pasted texture’ thing.

let’s imagine you’re an artist working on a professional game. you’re assigned to draw cgs of kokichi ouma, who has a checkered scarf from hell. sure, it will be terrible to draw, but you only have to draw it once at a time! plus, perspective is pretty important, right? can you be bothered? nah, actually. let’s just copy paste a checkered pattern into the cg, because I’m sure nobody will notice. it’ll blend right in with the other cgs that someone actually put effort into drawing his scarf in, right?

no. the answer is no and I very much noticed. this genuinely looks terrible and I would understand taking a shortcut like that in fanart or even an indie game but this is a full price pc and console distributed game

(an addition: look at kokichi’s TINY HANDS in that last one)

meanwhile, they straight up forgot to color in kokichi’s scarf in this cg.

dude. I forgot about whatever the hell this cg was. anyway look at keebo please just look at him

lovin kaito’s baby arms

real talk, maybe you could argue that he’s missing muscle because he’s deathly sick, but most of his cgs don’t line up with this, and his arms just look disproportionate to his torso size (granted this is a consistent problem across all danganronpa games and a lot of characters have this weird problem, like hajime, but also kaito is bigger than hajime so I kind of have higher expectations of him) maybe it’s his stupid goatee and the way he reminds me of yasuhiro?? it creates this illusion that he’s older than he is and so I keep expecting him to look more like an adult

oh, also rantaro is missing some of his accessories in that video he made–you know the one–but I don’t wanna go back and screenshot it

also you may have noticed that I’m skipping all of the monokub cgs because I literally do not care about them and I’m not even bothering to check and see if they have artistic mistakes in them

JIMMY NEUTRON???

hey um uh kaito you seem to be missing your neck

hey guys do you like my pregame fanart

so, that done, the sprites are also pretty terrible at times. they’re not as interesting to go through, however, and downloading the full sprite sets for every character and studying every single one of them will drive me insane, so I’ll just sum some of the ones I noticed up. I made things for kaede and shuichi before deciding I wasn’t going to get into it, so here are these.

that said, other mistakes include kokichi missing his purple highlights in all of the sprites encompassing a specific pose, stray pixels all over the place on everyone, and everyone also has heavily inconsistent shading, but literally all I think about is how pregame shuichi is unshaded and two of kaede’s pregame sprites have glaring outfit change mistakes in them

anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my ridiculous ramble. in all seriousness, there’s this looming presence of some lack of communication in the development team, like with all the art and design inconsistencies, pieces and sprites that look rushed, stray pixels, and missing basic proportional stuff. these are the kinds of things that you supposedly have to pretty much have in the bag in order to get jobs in professional businesses, so it’s really weird to me that this game suffers from so many of these problems. it’s like they tried to make the art so much more crisp than the other games, but it fell on its face as they realized it was going to take longer to draw everything and they started to rush. it’s weird, because the coloring itself looks normal–it’s just sloppily drawn, and the proportions are a mess once put into the context of perspective. many of the cgs look like they were drawn by different people, and I’m still not over the fact that half of kokichi’s cgs have his scarf pasted in as a texture.

the moral of the story is that if you’re selling a game at full price that also happens to be in a series that has had 3 very good games in it already the stakes should probably be higher than this. v3 has been out for more than 3 years and it’s still $40 (did it cost more than that before? I sure hope not), and the overarching quality of the game is just not as high as the other games. I’m not saying that the other games don’t have any problems with their art at all, they’re just not as glaringly obvious and every artistic choice in those games feels intentional.

regardless, I had a blast roasting the art at 2am, so maybe you got a kick out of all this chaos.

[nihilnovisubsole]

when we engage in a difficulted novel our imagination is challenged and captured by imaginaries and ideas that we haven't encountered before, hence the difficulty. in video games everything is catered to the player. as a writer what allures you to that medium?, and what are you trying to achieve as narrative designer?

that's an interesting question, and while i'd like to be lofty about it, it's not something i can divorce from practical concerns. the plain truth of the matter is that a full-time job at a video game studio allows me to write for a salary. it gives me health insurance and a paycheck in a field where trying to pay bills is notoriously chaotic and miserable. it means i can support myself, especially after my mother retires. when you've been through the straits that we have, that looms large in your mind.

so at the outset, i was a writer who needed a good job, and to get that job, i needed to learn narrative design. the small-scale flavor branching we did at voltage didn't prepare me for the grand structure of RPGs, so i had a lot of catching-up to do. once i got my grubby little fingers into it, i realized how much theory and experimentation goes on behind the scenes. there's a whole community of gamedevs who are into things like systems and procedural narrative, which are too sophisticated for me to understand. depending on what you mean by "catering to the player," i'd bet there are indie games out there that directly challenge that. a lot of big-deal titles may have straightforward storytelling, but you might be surprised - as i was - at what else you can dig up.

when job interviewers ask me questions like the one you asked, i tell them about how much i love customizable protagonists. if i get to imagine, say, mass effect not as default shepard's story, but irina shepard's story, i have an ironclad bond with it. i feel like i've been invited into the writer's room, and in an interactive story, that's how i want to engage with it. i want to have my own ideas about who a player character is. i want to decide how events happen and which characters matter to them. i mean, i don't need permission. i can always change canon in fanfic, and god knows a linear plot or a set protag won't stop me. but when a game encourages me to play that way from the outset, they're speaking my language, you know? they want it to be personal.

now, designing a game is a lot harder than playing one, and i'm only an associate, so i don't make those high-level decisions. but it would be fun to contribute to a player feeling that feeling. i'd hope to write characters that at least a few players find memorable. in that sense, i don't think my aspirations have ever really changed. [i can't wait for the gifsets either, though. i love a good gifset.]

[terrible-fanfiction-of-course]

All thanks to you

Lila sits in her room rewriting the latest chapter of her novel, A novel she started when she transferred to (school name). As she finished, she mused on the best part that had yet to come. You see, Lila is a writer who loves being inspired by life. She doesn’t mind trying to create her inspiration, also known as manipulating people. Lila moves so often that it been a hobby for some time now, Lila had long given up on actually forming real bonds with people. It never works out and she usually would have to move soon after. 

Lila daydreams about the first days of this school initially she wanted to try and write a romance novel about two people from different worlds type of thing when that got ruined fast. Hence, she assumed her inspiration would become someone having to deal with having a wrong first impression and coping with bullying, so she avoided school for a while, and strangely when she came back, no one else knew she was a liar. And her lies were not smart. It would have been too easy to figure her out, yet these people believed every word she said, barring that Marinette character. Marinette was prefect; she created such a beautiful chance at her favorite genre of writing. Tragedy. She loves tragedy, she loves the aspect of seeing a story play out, and with only a few decisions seeing something that could be a happily ever after turn so terrible. Lila realizes that this makes her a terrible person she just doesn’t care, at least she will come out and say it. when she wants to. but for now she wants to think about Marinette 

Marinette was the prefect protagonists or I guess victim, I so easily turned all her friends against shifts the aspect and comfort she took from those people and even poisoned her own thoughts about them. To the point, she chose a healthier life and has moved on mostly, cutting all of those too stupid and greedy to see through the thin veneer of my lies before it was too late. And while she didn’t leave without a few emotional scars, she will be all the better in the end. Marinette, my wonderful protagonist, had her ending. But the tragedy aspect of the story is no longer just hers. An epilogue is in order for those left.

The players who made this whole drama come to life deserve to know what there just deserts are. As Lila finishes typing up Marinette’s new ending, she stands up and gets to gathering items she has been buying and saving for months. Being a part-time model did help with this, but she doesn’t think she would want to continue with this. Modeling was tedious, and so was Adrien. So dull that she is almost glad that her romance novel failed so fast, she has a feeling that she would have had to scrap it anyway. Anyhow she got to finishing warping all her gifts for her wonderful classmates. Monday would be an exciting class. She had already convinced her naive teacher to be out of the classroom for her show. She can’t for the life of her recall what lie she used for this but it’s unimportant as she finished her preparations and snuggles up to bed and falls asleep. Monday comes around as Lila gets up early and makes her way to school with giant bags of presents. She made it to class first; she places all the gifts on each desk. She then makes her hidden cameras were well hidden and video set up.  She sits on the teacher’s desk and waits, and as her classmates come inside, she tells them that she has a surprise but not to open the present till the end. As everyone gets to their sits and looks so excited and happy and really why shouldn’t they be? They don’t know what about to happen to the perception of reality. The only desk with no gift was Chloe a very surprising character indeed, she made for a beautiful and unexpected redemption arch, she sits in her seat and simply glares at me. I smile sheepishly and once everyone is settled. I start my spiel. “Hello everyone, today I wanted to thank you so much for all that you have done. If it weren’t for you all, none of this would have been possible. I’m going to play this video and I just need you all to watch to the end thank you as Lila leaves the room and goes to an empty classroom to watch from the cameras she had set up earlier in the morning. The video starts with Rose, “Rose I wanted to thank you. You saw me as a friend and trusted me so fast, you were so able to gather all the girls like no other and because of you, Marinette understood that none of her ‘friends’ really cared about her anymore” Lila makes sure to air quotes, in the video, the word friends of course. She had seen true and real pure friendship and this class didn’t cut it. Rose and really the whole class seem to turn from happy and thankful to shock as she continued to speak, and Adrien looked the sickest of them all. But seemingly too shocked to stop her speech. “Of and Juleka I also have to thank you for being so willing I believe everything I said and making sure Marinette couldn’t get comfort from your big brother of yours it really helped the isolation aspect that you completely turned everyone outside of school against her but really I guess I can give credit to everyone for that” Lila blow a big kiss to room and flips her hair back. This unforcedly seems to break them from there stupor and Rose stood and said “I-I didn’t do that! I just wanted Marinette to go back to being a good friend why would you say such things?!” and Juleka says more quietly “Marinette did so many terrible things I didn’t want my brother getting involved in the wrong crowd” she seems to tremble like the weight of saying her words are too much. Lila having seen this coming had set up the video to say “now calm down, I have a reason for saying all this, and I promise everything will be clear in the end, while everything may seem bad to you now I promise by the end you’ll have new clarity about everything.” this rather surprisingly seems to calm them down. Though I have the sneaking thought that the present in front of them was an excellent positive investment to say silent for just a while longer.

 I start going through everyone involved with making Marinette miserable, some of the highlight being Kim looking somewhat ashamed when he and Alix pushed Marinette down the stair multiple times and Max and Sabrina made sure to get the taps erased every time. Their expression was of a child being scolded for something they didn’t think was wrong. Which made sense they still thought of Marinette as a bully a terrine person. They didn’t seem to understand why I brought all this up. And why I was adding you chose and did this with no instruction from anymore else to the statements. The build-up was killing Lila and looked like it was killing Adrien as well. Oh, to see him squirmed was such fun.  From her classroom, she laughed and kept recording there reactions. So much fun really. But before we get to the fun of causing a spineless boy to squirm their video goes over Alya’s involvement of her so-called ‘my best friend’ “Alya oh Alya you were always there for me, guarding me and making sure Marinette stayed in her place. Calling her a jealous bitched and completely disregarding anything she tried to tell you while also still trying to take advance of free babysitting and free clothes and pasties usually on the same day you make her cry.” Alya’s face was red she stands up to start yelling she had a betrayed expression on her face. “Girl what are you saying? I was defending you from a bully!” The class nodded in agreement. And Chloe starts to laugh “Really are you all this ridiculously stupid??? She is literally telling you how you fucked up and you still can’t take responsibility” Chloe said expression of sadness and slight disgust as she stares at them. While Lila didn’t like the interruptions to her spicy video she let it slide as it gave pause time for people to scream for a good ten seconds. “we still have one more person because I can finish my little speech.” past Lila said with a wink. She then speaks to Adrien I wanted to thank you most! If you had gas-lighted Marinette into staying silent and then totally abandoning her when supporting her would have been a widdle bit hard, without your totally knowing and willing approve and support now of this would be possible.” Before the class could argue more she added “Most all of you took my side because you thought you could get something from me, you wanted to use me the same way, Marinette was going to let herself be used by you. You deemed me a more valuable asset when you found you couldn’t have both and then diluted yourselves into thinking you are the justified ones. But your wrong, because I was lying to you all about everything I said to you were totally lies.” The class seems to freeze then exploded and start yelling and freaking out, I stare at them to recall all their beautiful betrayed reactions. As they started calling me the bad guy, all I say is please open your gift and read the letters first” video Lila was explaining what the letter was because the gifts were just that useful nice gifts for the most part. Rewards for being such good suckers and throwing away their ‘good friend’ The letter was super well-documented evidence of the harassment and bullying they had all done to Marinette while Lila was in the class. It showed how they chose to do what they did. It finally seemed to sink in for them that hey had fucked up and the expressions on their faces would be so helpful to finish off her novel as the all tried to call Marinette only to discover that she was gone they have no way to get in contact with her. Truly only then had some of there actions seem to matter at all to them. They have finally expressed the loss that Lila was craving for them to feel.