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wirewitchviolet · 2 years ago

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The actual gameplay of FF14

Over the course of last month, I sat down and wrote down a probably somewhat intimidatingly long plot summary/review for Final Fantasy 14, but I kinda made a point of not really getting into any detail about the actual gameplay. A big part of that if I’m really honest is that a HUGE portion of the gameplay really is just walking between quest markers and talking to people who send you off to other quest markers to talk to other people (or maybe talk to them again), and hell sometimes you don’t even walk, you just talk to someone three times in a row. It’s true for the main plot, it’s true for side quests, but I’m not going to estimate the overall percentage since, well, the bits with real gameplay meat are frequently things you’re going to do more than once and it really screws the count. The bits where you actually do stuff though are pretty engaging (at least, eventually, when you’re deep into the expansions, people kinda constantly talk about how the base game just really sucks. Anyway, I want to ramble about gameplay, so that’s what’s happening.

Progress Gating

So, FF14 is an MMORPG, and that means a big part of it is taking quests from people with big exclamation points over their heads. As a matter of convenience, these come in a few flavors. Standard yellow for minor side quests. Blue if there’s an interesting unique reward at the end, and with this jagged border meant to evoke a falling meteor if it’s a Main Story Quest. Some games gate progress behind level restrictions (which... in fairness this game also does, but it rains experience down on you just for progressing the story it should never be the limiting factor). Some games do regional reputation grinding, or scattering around several decently long quest lines to be tackled in any order. FF14 gates EVERYTHING behind milestones in the Main Story Quest progression.

There’s a dozen or so unique quests in each of the three starting cities, and a few points, mainly at the start of expansions where the path will briefly split and then re-merge after each branch is explored, but for the most part, there is this strictly linear unbroken chain of several hundred quests, stretching from “hey walk around the town you started in and talk to the important NPCs,” all the way up to whatever was added to the most recent patch for the most recent expansion, with no skipping around, and even though you’ll find handy guides like this one breaking down when you can first access basically everything that isn’t the MSQ line (aside from the periodic blooming of a dozen or so new sidequests as you travel to different areas), almost all of those unlocks really mean “while you’re doing MSQs with a minimum level requirement around here. These days these MSQs in particular have their experience rewards cranked up so high that even if you do nothing beyond plowing through them as quickly as you can, if you’re sticking with a single class you’re probably going to be at least a good 10 levels ahead of that curve at any given time. You’ll hover around par if you’re simultaneously leveling two or three classes at once (and on the other hand, I imagine people who decide to take advantage of those cash shop “story skips” probably get a rude awakening, since while the level progression requirements are normally a total non-issue, instantly checking all these off is also taking the best source of experience off the table).

Classes and Jobs

This is one of the kinder design elements to FF14. Every class in the game has a unique weapon type, and simply equipping a weapon used by a class switches you over to that class. Experience is tracked separately for each class, so just saving a gear set for each class to the hot swap list let’s you essentially have an alt of every class without ever having to log out, and all sharing the main plot progression, inventory, etc. etc. and letting you do that Maxed Out Save File thing if you like. Oh and speaking of gear sets, equipment has minimum level requirements too, so unless you think ahead and put on a bunch of pure-cosmetics stuff with no stats, every single time you join a new class for the first time, your level becomes 1, not meeting the requirement for anything you’re wearing, and your clothes dramatically just kind of explode off your body. This is never not hilarious and I pretty much guarantee you will forget it happens every time new classes become available.

There’s a couple other funny little quirks with classes. You don’t get really get to pick your starting town, it’s based on where the class quest giver for your starting class (initially) hangs out. If you want to punch guys, go sword and shield, or blast away with fire and ice, you’re in the desert. If you want a bow a pointy stick or healing spells you’re in the woods. If you want Pokemon or an axe, you’re in pirate town. If you want to run around with your arms behind you do flippy jumps and dual wield knives, that class is also in pirate town, but it wasn’t a thing at launch so the FF14 historical preservation society insists you start as something else and join it later. Incidentally, this means even if you join every class in your starting town, you can tank or you can heal, but not both. Fortunately this isn’t an issue until the first dungeons open up and at that point you’re hopping all over between the three. And of course with the non-combat classes the one that makes clothes from plants is in a different city from the one that gathers plants, but you really want to go all or nothing on those classes anyway.

The other funny little quirk, as per the little chapter heading here, is that FF14 has both Classes, and Jobs. Being a good 13 years old now, there’s a hell of a lot of weird artifacts kicking around as vestigial remnants of older versions of the game, and I think this is one of the weirdest. See, way the hell back when, there was this system where in order to unlock your classic Final Fantasy Jobs, you had to level the appropriate more-typical-MMO-class to a certain point, and also have two specific other classes at a certain level, with the cool new unlocked job blending stuff from each. They streamlined that out forever ago, and now you just get whatever class to level 30 and it kinda promotes up... but take a good look at this chart for how it used to work.

Arcanist was the base class that lead to both the Summoner and Scholar jobs. What’s super weird is, that’s still true. You get it to level 30, and two quests show up that open up jobs. Summoner is a straight progression from playing with pokemon like you’ve been doing, scholar replaces your pokemon with a fairy and now you have healer stats. But... experience gains are always tied to your class, so while these are two completely different jobs, they share experience and you can end up maxing out your level on one or the other without ever actually playing it. Quirky. Oh and all the ones added in expansions came after this change so like a Dancer is just a Dancer and they aren’t technically getting Softstepper experience or something.

Quests and Duties

So getting back to quests for a moment, like I said before, the vast majority really are just talking to people, that’s the whole quest. Now and then, mostly at the very very start in the game and when just compulsively doing every side quest, someone asks you to kill X number of monster Y like every other MMO, but those are vanishingly rare overall. There’s a lot of quests that force you to drop out of any party you may be in and generally drop everything else to have some little plot fight in a locked off instance, and later expansions sometimes give you control of one of your other party members for these instead of your actual character. Later expansions throw around things where you switch to first person to try and spot people walking around in the distance or knock them out with a blowgun or something, and there’s a few that have something actually unique and interesting going on. And then once in a blue moon, you get one that opens up a chunk of the real meat of the game, duties.

There’s basically two flavors of these. Dungeons and Trials. For dungeons, you’re forced into a party of usually if not always four people- 1 tank, 1 healer, 2 DPS, you get a nice little setpiece area where you run around, kill a huge pile of monsters, stopping a couple times to kill roughly 3-5 minibosses along the way, and the who thing gets introduced with a cool sweeping fly-through camera.

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Trials are just one big boss fight, early game ones giving you that same party of four fixed roles, basically everything from level 50 onwards doubling that up. Generally they’re bigger more complicated things with phase shifts and a unique soundtrack that shifts at the halfway point from just an instrumental thing to a more intense thing with lyrics. In both cases you have a time limit of an hour and a half to clear the thing, but if you aren’t just wiping constantly it’s honestly only like a 10-20 minute commitment.

Since you have to wait until you have the appropriate party for one of these, and you probably don’t want to just stand around by the entrance (unless you keep making the same mistake I did, hoovering up every little side quest as they appeared and having nothing to go do while I waited as a result), they came up with this clever little UI feature called the Duty Finder. One of these things unlocks, it gets added to a list in the menu. Either show up at the front door, or just select it out of the menu, and you can queue up your party hunting. It’ll automatically do matchmaker stuff in the background, and you can wander off to do whatever in the meantime, as long as it isn’t other instanced content.

Another neat thing with this is they bribe the ever-loving hell out of more experienced players to repeatedly go back and do old duty finder content. There’s eventually a little “roulette” menu with a dozen different flavors of content to pick from, with substantial daily rewards of experience cash and tomestones (I’ll get to those, don’t worry), and extra bonuses for whichever character type is in highest demand. So if you’re some newbie just trying to kill Ifrit for the first time, you queue up, 3 people trying to level up every class or do some endgame timesink or whatever get pulled from either the list of people who feel like doing old trials or whatever’s-needed for a bigger experience boost, tada, you have a full party, it’s most likely people who know how this fight works, and odds are they don’t want any of the loot drops. There’s a few other incentives too, including extra rewards when a new patch reworks something or it’s an obvious bottleneck, etc. Much like the main story quests constantly sending you back to the major cities and their outskirts all the way through the latest expansion, it’s a good system.

I do have a couple problems with it though. First it just sort of divorces these places from context. I’m off wandering around some exotic local dealing drugs for bugs or trying to win people’s triple triad cards or something, my roulette queue goes off, suddenly I’m in some cave full of poisonous plants. I barely remember this place, can’t recall what continent it was even on or why there was a reason to be here way back when. Also when you queue it notes what class you’re in and demands you switch back to it when it finds the party. If you haven’t switched out, and you don’t accidentally close the pop-up menu, you can join right in. Watching a cutscene? Whatever, you’ll get dropped off right before you talk to whoever to launch it after. But if you switched classes, perhaps to do resource gathering or mop up sidequests with a class you don’t play as much? There’s no drop what you’re doing and go option. You need to finish that cut scene or combat or weirdly long post-teleport load time, then hurry up and switch back to whatever class. And I swear they always pop up at the worst times. Oh and they’re currently retrofitting everything so you can skip all this and just roll in with 3 NPC pals.

And then of course there’s also Alliance Raids (like a dungeon but with 24 players and with a very theme-parky level of spectacle), Normal Raids (serialized bite-sized mini-dungeons and trials), and Savage Content (variations on the rest of this with the difficulty cranked up super high). And of course while I’m listing miscellany, normally all instanced content is “synced,” meaning your stats abilities and equipment are capped out at roughly the best they could be when you first met the requirements (plus a few levels of wiggle room), there’s a slightly hard to find option to turn off both that and the usual party composition requirements at the cost of getting no experience, which is nice if you want to go back for sub one minute kill times on old bosses to get that one rare drop you need, or if you want to play a blue mage in a dungeon/trial at all.

Class/Job/Role Breakdowns

When you unlock the first dungeon, you also unlock a set of tutorials on how playing in a party works, which are worth doing because the reward for sitting through them all is some nice gear sets and a ring that gives a huge experience bonus at low levels.But they also give straight up terrible advice, especially to tanks, and should not be trusted. Here’s how you actually play.

When you have all of a class’ abilities unlocked, generally speaking you have a chain of 3 attacks that do bonus damage when landed in order, another that does area damage (the magic number of how many enemies you have to hit at once to be worth using it is 3), a long range attack option (good for when you have to hang back because the floor is lava), something that gives you a defense bonus for a bit, something that debuffs a boss temporarily and/or cancels certain boss attacks, some big splashy thing you can use for a big damage spike every two minutes or so, and generally some kind of quick dash/hop sort of thing. Most of these abilities are on this shared global cooldown, where you use an ability and (most) of the rest get locked out for I want to say a 2 second window, roughly, and there’s a nice generous input window where you can queue up your next action about 7/8ths of the way through that timer. Your other abilities tend to all be on their own independent timers or spend some meter or other to use, and you can pretty reliably squeeze 2 activations in between the global ones.

At some earlier point in the game’s life, there was this whole system of bosses being strong and weak to certain elements or blunt/slashing/piercing damage, D&D style, but they pretty much totally gutted that, so now it’s a game where every class just kind of has a perfect idealized ability rotation you just kinda commit to muscle memory and repeatedly tap it out in a steady rhythm, while focusing all your mental energy on the actual real core gameplay: Dodging attacks with increasingly ridiculous and convoluted tells. And at later levels when the game decides to seriously grow some teeth the design really does go all in on making that interesting. But anyway, there’s also this big pile of classes worth talking about.

First we have the tanks. As is standard for MMOs, these are the stupidly hard to kill people whose main job is to trick all the enemies into attacking them and only them, and FF14 tanks are kind of hilariously great at this. Another weird old design artifact is they used to all have an ability to shift into an aggressive stance for bonus damage, and another to shift into a tanky stance where they just get all of the monsters’ attention forever, so long as they actually hit them. At some point they dropped the aggressive stances, presumably because players have a mindset of more damage=finish faster=optimal and weren’t using the important one. So now everyone just has this dedicated ability that toggles on “the rest of the party doesn’t die instantly” mode, which will stay on forever and there is zero downside to keeping it on (well, until you’re doing higher difficulty stuff with two or three tanks and you need to take turns taking all the hits). New tanks often figure there has to be some sort of catch and don’t keep it on. New tanks also get the advice from that bad tutorial to open combat by hitting one enemy out of a group with a ranged attack to peel it away... but enemy AI in this game doesn’t do peel-aways. As soon as any given monster in a group gets hit with something, they all get angry and follow their standard attack priority of: Tanks if a tank hit them any time at all recently, anyone else who’s been hitting them a lot, healers, whoever’s closest. So, used a ranged attack, the healer gets mobbed. Instead, you just run in and do area attacks.

All four tanks kinda play exactly the same. Warriors get self-heals, Paladins get parries, Dark Knights get vampirism, and Gunbreakers get lots of fiddly little abilities, but if there’s a boss, you just get their attention, stand by a wall so they look away from everyone else, and use your many defensive skills when a big attack’s coming. For everything else, you spam area attacks, make yourself a living katamari sweeping up every enemy up to a locked door/boss room, pop defensive stuff so you can take the heat, and stand there in your horrible clump of like 30 monsters doing more area attacks.

Then we have healers. Healers heal tanks when they’re about to die, the whole party after a party-wide attack hits, toss out various buff spells as needed, and otherwise use their super boring attacks. Generally instead of the three hit combo stuff, the have a single target damage spell, an area damage spell, and a damage over time spell, and that’s it. Fortunately a well-played tank will keep them on their toes by doing super reckless stuff like forming a 30 monster katamari at a full sprint. Oh and sometimes someone fails to dodge, then you use swiftcast, revive, and a big heal.

The weird thing of course with healers is they all have a range of healing spells with increasing HP restoration and MP costs but you kind of never want to use any of them. Once you have all your abilities unlocked you have those slow expensive heals, but then like 6 or 7 other abilities on independent timers for instant heals, regeneration auras, and so on to use instead. White mages are super vanilla, but their area spell stunlocks things too. Scholars have weird restrictions on when they use what but fairy pals as backup healers. Astrologians do tarot readings to pass out weird semi-random buffs. Sages heal people by shooting monsters with flying laser cannons and mostly do stuff to tweak the targeting and efficiency.

Then there’s the direct damage types. All they do is do their optimal damage rotations and dodge stuff, but their damage rotations are all extra convoluted and make you look at meters/timers/pop-ups to distract you from the dodging.

We’ve got spellcasters. They have to stop moving while casting spells, and learning the little window when one is finished and the next hasn’t started where they can slide over a bit. Black mages get speedy fire spells that make them actually have to care about MP, something nobody else but healers when things are going bad has to do, slow ice spells that regenerate MP, and a bunch of buffs and weird conditional things popping up to throw that rhythm off. Red mages have quick lame spells and super slow big damage spells, but every other spell goes off instantly. Plus they’re balancing out two elemental meters, sometimes have fast high damage spells, and periodically dash into melee to do physical attacks and shift into high power mode. And they can heal and revive (with instant casts even) so sometimes they’re back-up healers. Summoners just have a nice rotation of throwing pokemon at people and could be played blind but you just leveled them by leveling scholar and don’t know how they actually work.

We’ve got melee folks. Sometimes they have to be behind or to the sides of things, bread and butter attack combos are extra long and weird. Monks have faster cooldowns, and break the sequence of their rotations to power up big finishers. Dragoons over-commit with jumps and have to think farther ahead on positioning. Ninja have a little spell system that wedge like 9 abilities into 4 inputs, and one of those is a personal haste spell. Samurai have multiple power ups that stack and unlock different finishers. Reapers didn’t get introduced until Endwalker. I think they have like a demon mode with different moves a quarter of the time or something.

And we’ve got ranged folks. They just kinda juggle like a dozen independent cooldowns. Bards have a bunch of buffs and debuffs that maybe actually call for changing up their strategy conditionally. Machinists get grenades and robots they maybe have to think about placing in good places, and so many buttons to mash. Dancers have most of their abilities becoming available as a 50/50 thing after using other abilities and big buffs that require quick games of Simon.

Oh and Blue Mages are Blue Mages, which means they’re so broken they can’t join parties without turning off those balance restrictions and have a fun minigame of hunting down their 100 different potential abilities and deciding which to use.

Oh yeah, there’s also limit breaks. Standard FF game concept, slow building meter, does something cool. When maxed out, healers can pop it to revive everyone and fully heal them, tanks can pop it for 15 seconds of party-wide invincibility. Everyone else gets huge damage spikes. Everyone shares the one meter, but when starting a new boss fight it resets, so in dungeons you shouldn’t just try to save it all for the last boss.

Absurd Boss Mechanics

As previously stated, the real meat of the gameplay is just getting your personal damage optimization responsibility down pat so you can focus on dodging absurd things from bosses. At its simplest, FF14 was, I believe, in on the ground floor of that thing I think all MMOs, and a lot of other games do now where bosses telegraph their attacks with big glowing circles rings and pizza slices that appear on the floor, showing you where not to stand. It’s a little weird in that the timing on when not to be standing there is synced to when the floor stops being orange, with actual attack animations still playing out well past the point where not only is it safe to stand there again, but there might be a follow-up before the animation’s done where that’s the only safe spot. But as the game goes on, it’s far from just glowing orange pizza slices.

We’ve got attacks that target whoever has aggro and do fatal splash damage to anyone nearby. Attacks that distribute their damage among everyone nearby, so everyone has to huddle together and distribute the load. Attacks with absurd knockback sending you halfway across the arena, sometimes chained together so you have to triangulate pool shots where you’re the ball and the pocket is the one spot you won’t fly off the edge of the arena. Icy floors. Attacks whose tells appear only in the chat log. Attacks whose telegraphing slowly spreads over a huge area until they go off making it harder to judge what’s safe. Big meteors that fall from the sky and do good chunk of damage if they land on someone, but kill everyone if nobody slows their decent with their face. Attacks whose telegraphing straight up lies to keep things spicy. Gaze attacks you have to face away from.

Then there’s the weird stuff. Hop on this boss’ back when it turns into a plane or die in the strafing run, then do a QTE to dismount. Get knocked a few miles into the air and dodge energy balls on the way down. Play DDR. Play Wheel of Fortune solving for damage tiles. Have a math problem. You know that thing where the character follows a line and has to turn down every side path it sees? That but then there’s an explosion. I just fought a boss where first half the party grows snake heads with petrifying gazes out of their shoulders, the other gets targeted with acid bombs, and some non-shoulder snakes need taking out with a one two combo of these without any friendly fire. Then another variation where you need to avoid killing the snakes until the end so you can use them as cover from 360 petrification on upgraded shoulder snakes and everyone needs to share the acid bath and distribute the damage. Then there’s a whole second fight against the same guy where you have to play some kind of alchemical combination magical DNA matching minigame to create the right minibosses to have pokemon battles on your behalf. The whole back half of the game is this process of dying to something truly ridiculous you’ve never seen before, having to work out the rules it follows on the fly, and then coming up with some elaborate dance choreography to get around it. Or, you know, put off the real hard mode stuff and come back with level limits off and way better stats.

Syncing, Gear, and Tomestones

One thing I think is kind of neat with FF14 is it’s designed in a way where you don’t really have to worry about equipment until you hit the bleeding edge of current content. Well and before the first time credits roll, when you just have to make do with whatever random stuff drops in dungeons and it’s outdated like an hour later. As soon as you beat the final boss of the base game or any expansion though, you get access to a fresh new set of tomestone gear. Like way too many games these days, FF14 has like 50 different kinds of currency. Most of these don’t ever really matter. You spend gil on fast travel options, buying a house, and I guess whatever people throw up on the market board. Doing tribal side quests for monstery pals gives you their personal currency, but you get more than enough to get all their unique rewards as soon as they unlock. Then there’s tomestones. Basically, they’re eBooks from a dead civilization and this one merchant loves them. Said merchant also stocks absolutely ridiculously good gear sets that become available as soon as you finish the base game or any expansion. Basically anything you do spits a bunch of tomestones at you, you trade them for parts to a gear set, that gear set is hands down far and away better than anything else you have access to until you’re a bit over halfway through the next expansion. And even then, you’re probably good until you finish that one and access new tomestone gear. So more often than not, you’re decked out in that, and can ignore all the loot drops or craftable things you see unless it’s a good look and you want to do the whole glamour thing.

This isn’t true though any time the expansion you just finished is the current one. Then it’s a damn mess. There’s 3 different flavors of tomestone, two of which only drop if you’re at the level cap, one of those has a cap on how many you can snag per week. Rather than just trade them in for the good stuff, you get loot from the hardest bosses around, or the best possible crafts, pay some mix of fancy tomestones and weird little bespoke tokens to upgrade that, and OK, there’s your best stuff... until the next patch when there’s a tougher set oft toughest stuff and the whole rigamaroll gives you slightly better gear. Honestly it’s not good enough to really matter, UNLESS you’re doing the hardest content in the game, in which case the absolute best stuff means attacks that would instantly kill you might leave you at like 7 HP with some awful debuffs instead. 2 chances over 1 chance ain’t nothing. OR you can ignore it all, wait for an expansion to drop, and tada, the absolute pinnacle of this one can be just bought outright with tomestones that rain down from the sky.

There’s also ultimate weapons with like 7 step upgrade paths after every expansion that require a truly astounding amount of grinding and jumping through hoops and... are instantly outdated if you just skip’em and move on to the next expansion. They glow though.

This whole weird mess of endgame content also causes this weird issue where gear has both a minimum level for your character to be able to equip it, then an item level on a scale that bloats up absurdly. Like the current level cap is 90, then the best gear is item level 635 or something, at this exact moment. In the base game, those numbers stay even. Which of course is why when you’re getting bribed to do early game stuff, we have the level-sync thing to pull you back down to where you’re balanced. Of course, it’s also common wisdom for RPGs that you don’t just start with all your cool abilities, you get them spread out as you’re leveling up. And this really really sucks here.

In the lowest level dungeons in FF14, not only do you not get access to the things that make your class unique and interesting, you don’t even get your 3 hit combos. You run through a whole dungeon with like, attack #1, attack #2, and a whole bunch of greyed out buttons. It’s not absolutely terrible because again, the fundamentals are all about managing monsters’ attention and learning to dodge things, but it’s still pretty darn dull. And there are whole facets of some classes that just don’t exist until level 60. Or 70. Or 80. You end up getting meters that build up, but not the abilities you spend them on, or things that eventually activate power-up states but for now just do a marginally-worth-it extra splash of damage. You’re kinda forced to pick classes, then spend hundreds of hours leveling them to find out if you like what you eventually get. Then you do a roulette and you’re back in low level hell again.

Travel

This is getting long and I’m getting tired, but you start the game on foot, which sucks. Later you get mounts which are at least a bit faster. Then as you get into expansions, in each new area there’s a bunch of collectable things where you learn the wind patterns. A bunch are just scattered across each map, then a bunch come from side quests, one from a main quest. Collect them all, and you can fly on that map. It’s a nice little gameplay loop. Problem is they decided to retrofit flight into the base game after they added it, and rather than make you go collect currents, they just let you fly everywhere from when the credits first roll to when you first set foot in the first expansion’s maps. Where flight is really really nice to have as map design is suddenly very 3D and convoluted.

Anyway you can teleport to basically anywhere you’ve been and should, it’s cheap.

The freaking Gold Saucer

Remember that casino from FF7? It’s just straight up in this game. Chocobo racing and all. And the card game from FF8? That’s here too. So, those are big time sinks.

Think that covers everything? Oh. There’s crafting. It’s the same as every other MMO’s crafting but with like combo setups so it feels like real gameplay at least. Mostly just good for making better crafting gear, but also for playing dressup or decorating your house.

#Final Fantasy 14 #ff14 #Final Fantasy XIV #ffxiv #oh some quests make you say things to people. Like in the chat box. In front of everyone. That's fun

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realitiesedge · 1 year ago

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So I posted these last night to my personal account but I wanted to upload them here too along with some information on these characters! ^^

Pauline: Pauline is an interdimensional being. She lives in the Hyperverse and works at the ITC (interdimensional traveling company) as a security guard! She loves everything pink and girly. She is seen by others as a stereotypical bimbo who’s always bubbly and sweet, but she does her job quite well and can stand up for herself easily. Despite how others see her she is independent and incredibly smart. She’s currently dating Oliver (will post him later), the IT guy for the ITC.

Callus: Callus is a villain and also a part of The Next. He is a Centrite ( avian demons basically). He was a royal, meaning he was very vain, cruel, and.. a little stupid. Most royals don’t do anything for themselves and are incredibly sheltered, so they never really learn many life skills (if any). Callus is especially cruel in particular, however. He doesn’t care for anyone or anything besides himself and money or power. He will do ANYTHING to get what he wants. And I mean ANYTHING.

Jinx: Jinx is a part of Wick’s theater ( not pictured). She is a background character and doesn’t really have significance in the story, but she still does have a story of her own. She is one of the younger actors only being 19. She got lucky since her aunt is a costume and clothes designer for his theater. She is an incredible singer and actor, however she is often ignored unfortunately. She still does play in most of the plays, but she never gets any main parts (thanks to Charlotte since her damn DaDdY is secretly threatening Wick to give her anything she wants).

Red: Red is one of the main characters for RE. He is an alien from a planet called Floris. Red has MANY accomplishments, including but not limited to:

- veteran

- guardian ( Hyperverse protector)

- inventor

- scientist ( biology and anthropology is his specialty)

- Architect of knowledge ( basically the gods who made EVERYTHING)

- has two spouses and 14 children, as well as 1 grandchild

- freed his planet’s god, Alcemedy

And much more. He is known to be a workaholic and doesn’t know when to quit. I will keep the rest of his story a secret :)

Beatrice: Bea is the last one on this list. She is also a background character and doesn’t have any significance to the main story, but she’s still an interesting character. She is also from Floris. She is a part of a group who wants to live their lives as humans and stay on Earth permanently. She is the youngest of this group being 19 years old. She loves music, especially scene music or anything good to dance to. She tries to fit in but it can be difficult at times (especially when she only mainly speaks Floris). Thanks to Red she can stay human as long as she wears the flower in her hair.

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herenya-writes · 1 year ago

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Day 16: Angel

When the Herald had asked Dorian if he wanted to accompany him back to Haven, Dorian had said yes almost before the words were out of his mouth. His eagerness was embarrassing, and he was tempted to wave it all away and take back his answer. But the Herald’s eyes were knowing, not judgmental. So Dorian stayed.

It was only a small group that left for Haven with the Herald. The majority of the mages would be following later, once everything was sorted out with the King of Ferelden and the mess with Alexius was cleaned up. He had to repress a shudder just thinking the name. Time travel was not something people should have access to, but Alexius had always enjoyed pushing the boundaries of what was possible. Once, Dorian had found that drive indescribably alluring and had contributed more than a few of his own boundary-pushing ideas. Now though? In the wake of that horrible not-future? He wanted to be as far away from Redcliffe Castle as possible.

So here he was with the Herald, a Grey Warden, Varric Tethras of all people, and a Seeker. It was a motley crew to be certain.

For the first day of their march, he kept mostly to himself. He was still trying to process everything he had seen and done, and he didn’t fancy the idea of tossing himself into conversation just yet. Wouldn’t do to show his vulnerabilities right away. He wasn’t the only one keeping to himself, though. The Warden, Seeker, and Varric spoke off and on, argument and banter flowing back and forth the way it does when people are stuck together under a common goal for long enough. The Herald, however, only commented when his opinion was sought. Perhaps he was still processing as well.

The second day, Dorian got up the courage to fall in step with the Herald. For a while, they walked side by side in silence, which should have felt terribly awkward. It didn’t, though, and Dorian let the silence stretch for almost an hour before asking,

“How did you find yourself with the Inquisition?”

The Herald held up his hand, which pulsed off and on with a green glow. The mark everyone spoke about. Dorian had seen the Herald close rifts with it with his own two eyes, but he had a feeling there was more to the story.

“Yes, Herald of Andraste with a mark of the fade. So I’ve heard. But why did the Inquisition choose you to attend the Conclave. I assume you weren’t the Herald then?”

The Herald frowned at him. “The Inquisition didn’t send me. I was there on behalf of my clan,” he said.

Dorian started. “Interesting. That’s not the story your soldiers are spreading, you know.”

That drew something that was almost a sigh from the Herald. “I’m not surprised. ‘We were planning to execute an elf but he turned out to have been saved from the Fade by an angel/prophet/goddess and now he’s the Herald of Andraste’ isn’t very flattering.”

Dorian stopped walking. The Herald took a few more steps before stopping too and turning to him. His arms were crossed in front of him, as if he was expecting to have to defend himself.

“They were going to execute you?”

“They thought I was responsible for the explosion. I don’t have any memory of the Conclave except for arriving and then being rescued from the Fade by a figure. They didn’t find that story very credible,” the Herald explained in a matter of fact tone. “But they figured out the mark on my hand was the only way to seal the rifts.”

“And so they spared your life and named you the Herald of Andraste. Yes, I can see how the Inquisition might not want that version of the story circulating.” He shook his head. “So you have no choice but to be here. Do you even believe in the Maker?”

The Herald shrugged. “Not really, no. I follow the Creators, the elven gods. I’m not sure the two are mutually exclusive.”

Dorian blinked. That was a rather open-minded view for someone whose people had been hunted by the Chantry and humans for centuries. He kept that particular thought to himself, though, and turned the conversation back to the Herald’s arrest. “Did they know what would happen to you when you used the mark on the rifts?”

The Herald gave a humorless chuckle. “No they didn’t. But it was try and close the rifts or be executed, and I didn’t feel like having my head chopped off. At least with the rifts I would die trying new magic. But I survived.”

“They made you the Herald of Andraste under pain of death.”

Another shrug. “Maybe, but I do have the mark. I don’t claim to be chosen by the Maker, but I have a skill no one else does. If I don’t close the rifts, who will?”

Dorian looked long and hard into the Herald’s eyes. This man had charged into the fight with the demons at the Redcliffe Chantry without a second thought. He had forged through that twisted not-future with determination to stop any of it from ever happening. And he did it despite everything the Inquisition and the world had put him through.

“Thank you for allowing me to join you,” he said after a long moment. “The world needs saving, and I’d like to think I can help save it.”

Something that was almost a smile curled on the Herald’s lips and he nodded. Then, he turned away and began walking once more. For several moments, Dorian just watched him walk away, his thoughts churning. He would be wary of the Inquisition, knowing what he did now. But the Herald? The Herald he would follow to the Fade and back again.

#my fics #dorian pavus #arlaros lavellan #dragon age inquisition #dai

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albertonykus · 2 years ago

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Doraemon Movie Review: Nobita's Dinosaur (1980) and Nobita's Dinosaur (2006)

What is Doraemon? The title character of the Doraemon manga and anime is a blue robotic cat from the 22nd Century who keeps an array of high-tech gadgets in a portable pocket dimension on his belly, and has traveled from the future to improve the fortunes of a hapless schoolboy named Nobita. Although relatively obscure in the English-speaking world, Doraemon is a Mickey-Mouse-level cultural icon in East Asia (and some other regions, too). The Doraemon franchise was a big part of my childhood, and there are still elements of it that I enjoy now.

Doraemon has released theatrical films almost annually since 1980, most of which involve Nobita and his friends (kind Shizuka, brash Gian, and crafty Suneo) getting swept into adventures thanks to Doraemon’s gadgets. Despite being of potentially broad appeal to fans of science fiction and animated films, there are very few English reviews of the Doraemon movies, so I’m embarking on a project to write about all the films that have come out so far. Good luck to me...

Why the films in particular, and not the rest of the franchise? For one, over 40 movies is a lot, but it is still a much more manageable number than the over 1300 manga chapters and over 3000 (and counting) anime episodes. For another, the movies are relatively easy for an English speaker with an internet connection to find if they know what they’re doing, unlike most of the manga chapters (English releases of which are largely limited to Kindle and region-locked) or regular episodes (some of which seemingly have not been uploaded online at all, let alone with English subtitles).

This is mostly uncharted territory for me. I don’t usually review fiction, and when I do it’s typically through the lens of examining how it portrays scientific understanding. I’m not going to pretend that I’m in any way qualified to perform film or narrative analysis, nor that these reviews will consist of anything more than my personal impressions and opinions. My main intention here is to encourage discussion about these films in the English-speaking sphere. As usual, however, the most reliable way for someone to determine whether they’d enjoy a movie is to watch it themselves.

Movie premise: Nobita revives a plesiosaur and raises it, but is eventually forced to release it into the wild. Cue time travel adventure.

My spoiler-free take: Worth watching if one is interested in “child and their pet” stories, paleontology in popular culture, or Doraemon history, but not the best movie Doraemon has to offer.

The 2006 remake is a serviceable film itself, though I don’t think it does much to recommend it over the 1980 version. It may be most interesting to people who are already familiar with the original, as an alternate adaptation of the same story.

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT

Review: Here we go, the one that started it all. Looking at the movie poster, it’s interesting to see that this film is barely advertised as prehistory-themed. There’s a pterosaur on the poster, but it’s hardly front and center. In fact, Nobita’s plesiosaur, Piisuke, is not even shown. This movie is really billed as a Doraemon film first and foremost.

Much could be said about the scientific elements of the movie (for starters, Piisuke is not actually a dinosaur), but I have already written about the paleontological background of this work in a previous post. What do I think about it as a film?

Leaving aside the time travel component and the fact that the pet is an extinct animal, this is a fairly typical “child and their pet” story in many ways. The protagonist brings a new pet into his life, bonds with it by learning to care for it, goes on an extraordinary adventure with the pet by his side, and foils antagonists who want to take the pet away, but ultimately still has to say goodbye to it. It’s a popular narrative for a reason, and Nobita’s relationship with Piisuke is certainly compelling.

As for the other main characters, Doraemon, as always, is necessary for the plot to happen and progress, and his decision to change how he looks after Nobita at the beginning of the movie provides a foundation for the emotional resonance of the narrative. Shizuka, Gian, and Suneo don’t drive the story substantially once the adventure is underway, though they do get enough characterization that they don’t feel absent.

All in all, this is a decent take on a classic storyline, but it also reads as a relatively “safe” first attempt at a movie for the franchise. The highest of highs in the Doraemon film series are yet to come.

Star rating: ★★★☆☆

I’m not done here yet though, because this movie received a remake in 2006. How does that one stack up?

Review: Mirroring the original’s status as the first movie in the franchise, this was the first Doraemon movie to come out since the anime was rebooted in 2005. The overall story is not changed much from the original outside of minor details. The most obvious differences between the remake and the original are instead visual in nature. Besides the switch to digital animation and updated designs for many of the extinct animals, the art style in this film is much more experimental than that of most other Doraemon movies.

The biggest changes to the story occur during the climax, and I appreciated that this movie is one of the few to acknowledge that Doraemon’s pocket dimension can be used for anything other than storing gadgets. I also liked that Piisuke got to play a role in helping the main characters escape from the villains’ lair at the end. Given that not much else about the plot was changed, however, I’m giving this movie the same rating as its predecessor.

Star rating: ★★★☆☆

Original or remake? Both the original and remake versions of this movie are fine films to view on their own. If I were to choose only one to watch, however, I can’t think of much reason I’d pick the remake over the original.

#Doraemon #Anime #Nobita's Dinosaur #Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 #ドラえも��

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itsmemateinnit · 1 year ago

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Whitechapel series 4 press pack

Patrick Schweitzer - Producer

What can we expect from the new series of Whitechapel?

We entered into this series with the remit of making a very visual, very exciting gothic drama on the backdrop of a TV detective show. Caroline and Ben wrote the first and last story with Steve Pemberton writing the middle part, which meant that we had a really great range of stories to play with. Also I think the character arcs that have been introduced across all six episodes will really enrich the texture of the series. Jon East directed the last episodes of the last series and he set quite a high benchmark. His episodes were ‘edge of your seat’ material and so it’s been great fun keeping up that pace.

What about the individual stories in particular?

The first story touches on witchcraft. The second story is about a killer who’s flaying his victims and the final story is about human sacrifice and finding out why bodies are being found in sewers across London underneath Whitechapel.

What role do Buchan and the real historical crimes play in this series?

Buchan plays a big role again in this series. All the research Ben and Caroline do is from true crime events that are inspired by the past. The series has moved from copycat killings to using history as a route to understanding the current crimes. So Chandler is still delving into Buchan’s amazing mind to find out what could be the cause and what’s happened in the past that could indicate clues as to how to find the killer and what is going on in contemporary Whitechapel.

Do you need to be mindful of stories going too far or over the top?

Yes you do have to be mindful. I think because Whitechapel tends to be a world where people want to watch in a suspended reality, we don’t try to give massive reminders of contemporary life. Computers and mobile phones take a back seat, we don’t have huge amounts of car travelling scenes so you stay in this world where you’re able to enjoy the unexpected a little bit more. I think that’s always been a real strength of the show that we’re carrying on with this year. The way our characters interact as well, instead of it being a very contemporary police procedural show we get to play with those elements far more so hopefully everyone is going to enjoy that.

Does this series cover anything from previous episodes?

We don’t tend to touch on previous stories too much, so that each story can be fresh. If you’re a regular fan you may notice hints of previous situations that the characters have been through but we tend to take each episode as a fresh piece of drama. If you’ve never watched the series before you can pick up any of the stories and just enjoy it for what it is – I think that’s quite a strength and we try and stay focused on that. In terms of character development we’re very mindful that there needs to be a development in each character’s story but it’s not a main emphasis at all.

Will there be any famous guest stars in this series?

We don’t tend to go with big names for guests stars, I think partly because if a viewer is aware that at some point we’re going to introduce the killer you don’t want anyone to be too obvious and to stand out. We just want really good actors and people that will fit into the world of Whitechapel and we’re very free to use the best actors for the role.

Why was the area of Whitechapel chosen?

Ben and Caroline have created this ‘world’ of Whitechapel that I think is beyond the specific area of Whitechapel itself. Everything that happens has a darker leaning but

it does stem from the history of that part of the East End, which has had a slightly higher percentage of crime over time. I think what makes the series more interesting is that we want to go for the wackier events that might happen.

Are all of your locations in the East End or do you cheat?

Some of it is cheated, obviously if there is a good location in another part of London then we do tend to go for the best places. Using Hornsey Town Hall as our police station is a prime example. This building has been fantastic this series. It’s the same physical space as series one and three but we’ve re-done it. We’ve created a slightly different mortuary set and we have an inter faith prayer room. We’ve also created a few more corridors so that the journeys around the police station take a bit longer. It’s been a real blessing to have this building - it is listed so anything we do, any changes have to go through the council, but we’re very used to that.

Is all of your post production set up here too?

Yes, part of the joy of working in a building like this is that you can actually house your edit suites in the same space. Quite often on other projects I’ve worked on the edit is in Soho and the main sets out in Ealing so everything is quite separated. Here we have everything in one hub which means in the canteen you’ll have the editors sitting next to the DoP and actors. So it’s a great creative environment to be in where everyone feels very attached and involved in the project. Also for my job it means I can pop upstairs, have a look at where we’re at in the edit and then nip back downstairs and carry on prepping for the last block – so it makes life a lot easier and makes the process feel quite fluid.

Is it difficult to film in central London?

Luckily a lot of places that were needed in the script weren’t the most populated areas. To keep London as a successful filming city we really believe that you have to comply with the regulations. It’s only reasonable to ensure that film crews wrap by a certain time as it can be quite noisy and disruptive. I think with any restrictions, whether it’s monetary or time frame to shoot something, it makes sure everyone is on board with getting the best results.

#whitechapel #whitechapel itv #text

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kyogre-blue · 2 years ago

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Finished Ayaka and Yoimiya quests on my alt, which means I’m ready to start Inazuma act 2.... the one you can’t do without an archer.

I will admit that I didn’t pay particularly close attention to the two story quests, but it was still interesting to see them a second time. I’ve grown more fond of the characters, so my impression isn’t quite as negative as when Inazuma came out, but there’s still some things to mention.

As a reminder, Ayaka’s and Yoimiya’s story quests are mandatory between Act 1 and Act 2.

Looking at it charitably, there’s two things this does. First, the quests both mention the political situation, particularly Sakoku, to some degree, so if these quests aren’t locked to here, they’ll look quite strange if you happen to play them later, after Act 3 or worse, after Raiden chapter 2.

Second, it might be intended to provide some padding to the archon quest. Playing through Mond, you are almost certainly going to do the Amber, Lisa and Kaeya quests somewhere in the middle, which helps to give some breathing room to an otherwise quite rushed story. These characters also have very little presence in the actual archon quest but they appear at the very end, after the hilichurl invasion, so having their story quests here lets you feel like you know them better.

Now, the Mond starter quests aren’t hard-locked to anything from what I recall, but you’re going to need to raise your AR, so you’ll probably do them during that period. And I think the Ayaka and Yoimiya quests might be intended to have a similar effect.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t necessarily work that well.

One problem they have is that, well, there’s two of them. Both of them end with you going to the festival island, and there’s some overlapping things they bring up, like an emphasis on how the Traveler should consider Inazuma their home and always feel free to return there. Doing them back to back (as you’re forced to, in order to continue the archon quest), it feels repetitive in some ways.

Additionally, Ayaka’s quest in particular doesn’t really fit in here, imo. It’s a personal story with a much more laid back tone. We’re in the middle of a very tense situation, and Ayaka deciding to go look for her mother’s theoretical old friend, including preparing a new outfit and gifts... it feels quite weird and out of place. There’s very little linkage back to the main story, and it’s really just about Ayaka.

I think both quests would have benefitted from tweaking Ayaka’s to leave out mention of Sakoku and just letting it not be mandatory.

Yoimiya’s also has a more lighthearted tone in places, but the main plot line is about Sakoku and people affected by it. It’s also more similar to the archon quest, in that it’s focused on Inazuma as a nation and the people who live there. There’s quite a bit about what kind of place Inazuma is, and in particular what kind of place it is outside the current wartime situation.

I like it more on the second playthrough for a few reasons, like Yoimiya’s JP VA being extremely charming, and just being more receptive to the concepts being conveyed because I’m not trying to get to the next act, like dang, I just had to sit through Ayaka’s date, and now this too? Can’t I just get on with it?? It was so frustrating when Inazuma released.

One interesting thing to note about Ayaka’s quest is that she occasionally frames her struggles and situation from specifically her perspective as a woman. She relates to her mother, she doesn’t seem to feel like these are feelings she might share with her brother, despite them being in roughly the same situation, etc. She even says “as a woman” a couple times, iirc.

This stands out a bit because I don’t recall any other character doing this, and it falls into a pattern of lowkey... sexism?... in Inazuma, with it also being the only nation where a female character was explicitly told she can’t do something because she’s a woman and with the negative framing of marriage from the woman’s side with Chisato in Ayato’s quest.

I’m still not sure what to make of all that.

#playing genshin

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relative-dimension · 2 years ago

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“Flashpoint”

Season 2, episode 9 - 26th December 1964

[id: Jenny and Barbara watch as the Doctor stands at the controls of a scanner, the screen of which displays static. The Doctor is saying “Can I do anything with this scanner?” /end id]

The way in which the first ever companion exit is handled is really interesting. By the time we get a few Doctors in, the formula for both regenerations and companion exist becomes fairly established, with either a choice to leave the Doctor behind, after which the Doctor is sad, or a dramatic death in the climax of the story, after which the Doctor is sad. Here, though, half an episode is dedicated to the slow build-up towards that speech which has been deemed iconic enough to be representative of Hartnell for The Five Doctors.

The decision is also not strictly Susan’s, although to say that Dr Who forces her out or leaves her behind would be misrepresenting things - Susan and David’s relationship has actually been built up over the implied time which passes over this serial (I don’t know how long it takes to walk from London to the Daleks’ mine, but it can’t be that fast) and it’s clear from the way she acts during this that while she wants to keep travelling with what’s implied to be the only family and connection to her own culture that she has, as a teenager she also needs some sort of stability in her life, and David could provide part of that, along with the rebuilding of the planet. It’s a shame that the show has never returned to the promise that “one day, I will come back” (although I’m sure it’s been done several times in Big Finish and with books etc) and also immediately taking on another teen girl does make it a little less impactful, but really this is a very effective exit.

Also it makes me excited because next episode is Vicki’s debut, and she’s genuinely one of my favourite companions in the whole show. Sorry Susan lovers.

Fun: 4/5

Production: 3/5, there were shades of it in the last episode of their first story, but this episode’s climax takes the hilariously easy defeat of Daleks to a whole new level.

Pacing: 2/5, because Susan’s exit takes so long, the end to the Dalek plot happens incredibly quickly and slightly out of nowhere, they just decide that one of Barbara’s failed plans from last episode will actually work this time.

Character Writing & Use: 4/5, in fact, the ending is so rushed that Susan doesn’t even get any scenes until her exit. This may have been due to production issues or scheduling during shooting (I didn’t check lol) but it does make her exit a bit of a shock when she was barely present earlier, however I think the strength of that scene makes me forget about that, I think it’s really good.

Depth: 3/5, as much as it makes little narrative sense and strips the Daleks of a lot of their menace very quickly, the defeat of the Daleks through mass resistance to their attempts at control could say something about antifascism if you squint. More significantly, though, Susan’s exit is much more character and theme driven than the often plot-based exits of many of her successors.

Not Ageing Horribly: 3/5, Susan does begin a somewhat irritating trend of female companions who get married off to side characters for no particular reason at the end of their contracts. That being said, this is much less shit than the other times that’s been done, since with Peri that was a last-minute retcon when it’s a miracle that episode ever got made, and with Leela they weren’t even sure she’d be leaving then, whereas here it’s clearly threaded through the story, and other reasons are given.

Overall Score - 19/30

#doctor who #dw #dw review #first doctor #ian chesterton #barbara wright #susan foreman #daleks #companion exit #season 2 #16-20

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kolbisneat · 2 years ago

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MONTHLY MEDIA: November 2022

I was travelling a bit for work and leisure this month so a lean Monthly Media post. With that said, here’s everything I watched, read, heard, and played this month.

……….FILM……….

Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy (2022) Does this count as a movie? I dunno. Either way, it was fun! I don’t think I’ve seen any of Kroll’s other specials but I always enjoy him on the Comedy Bang Bang podcast. I wasn’t expecting quite as many poop jokes in this one, but overall it was worth the watch.

……….TELEVISION……….

Sandman (Episode 1.01 to 1.11) A really interesting adaptation that I...generally liked! There’s something about these stories (both in the series and the comics, particularly the portion in the diner) that I find deeply unsettling but perhaps that’s the point. I only wish they made Morpheus look a little more otherworldly. Platform boots so he’s 7 feet tall, slightly paler skin, I dunno. Anyway I still recommend it.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (Episode 1.01) After ages of thinking I was too much of a scaredy cat to watch this, I dove in and watched the first episode. And you know what? Not into it. Not that it was too scary, but it just felt weirdly paced and poorly plotted. Checking Letterboxd reviews, it looks like this one was one of the middle-to-better ones of the season so I don’t think I’ll be continuing, which is a shame.

……….READING……….

The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale (Page 100 of 288) Only just started and honestly, it’s been a tough read. I don’t imagine it getting any easier so I’m taking my time with it.

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett (Complete) The last few in the series have seemed to follow a particular formula (abstract concept/object gains sentience and causes trouble) so this was a nice change of pace. The characters continue to be top-tier and the city of Ankh-Morpork is such a rich city I just want to spend all my time there.

Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbot (Abandoned) I really should’ve researched this one a bit more. I didn’t realize it was mostly a historical graphic novel blending the history of Sunderland with the history of Lewis Carroll and the creation of Wonderland. If this sounds interesting to you then awesome! But for me, dreadfully boring.

……….AUDIO……….

Los Ángeles by Rosalía (2017) So I was working in Spain and met a lot of really cool people. This is to preface the fact that I got a crash course in Rosalía’s career and current presence in the wider culture. I wish I understood more of the songs but for now I’ll settle for the beautiful musicality of her work.

……….GAMING……….

Neverland: A Fantasy Role-Playing Setting (Andrews McMeel Publishing) Both of my regular groups are in Neverland this month. My Tuesday crew is navigating some political trouble with a Fairy Queen, and the Mof1 group just discovered a very intriguing dead body. We have fun. Oh and if you want to read the recaps of my weekly group, they’re over here on Reddit.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (DotEmu, Gamera Game, Tribute Games) I’m late to the pizza party here cause I ordered the physical copy. Worth the wait. The art, the gameplay, the music, it’s all so much fun. Despite seeing lots of reviews and such I was still pleasantly surprised by a lot of character appearances and I hope this leads to more TMNT (or arcade-style) games in the future.

And that’s it! See you in December.

#Monthly Media #Kolbisneat #Andrew Kolb

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featherxquill-yuletide · 2 months ago

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Dear Yuletide Writer 2024

Dear Yuletide Author,

It's been a while since I posted one of these! (holy shit 2016 how does that feel like half a lifetime ago). Thank you for offering one of the fandoms I requested this year! I'm excited to play again and I'm glad we matched.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of things I like: worldbuilding, small character moments, atmospheric setting, casefic, crackling dialogue, missing moments, unlikely pairings (romantic or otherwise), older women with rich interior lives, realistic bodies, things unspoken but very much felt.

I don't really have any major DNWs (I'm pretty game, or pretty stupid? idk) and I'm open to everything from gen to full-on smut (except where otherwise noted). I prefer romantic or sexual interaction of any variety to have a sting in the tail (I'm not super into fluff in general) and I prefer for any smut to come from a place of character, but yeah, have at it. I don't think I really need to say 'keep all characters over the age of 18' given who I've requested, but yeah, that.

Onto my individual requests:

Request 1

Slow Horses (TV)

Characters: Catherine Standish, Jackson Lamb, Louisa Guy, Roddy Ho

DNW smut in this fandom, please. I don’t mind flirting or shippyness if you see it, but I’ll need convincing, so do the fic equivalent of buying me a drink first, yeah?

Things I love about this series: the whip-smart dialogue, the unlikeable characters that sneakily trick you into loving them, the moments of humour and unbearable tension. The character I’m most drawn to is Standish, so please make sure she is included in the story. You may add any or all of the other characters as you wish.

Some ideas I’d love to see, if they take your fancy: missing moments at Slough House between these characters. I’m currently reading Mick Herron’s book series alongside watching the show, and I’m charmed by the connection between Catherine and Roddy that the books hint at but the show doesn’t really explore, but I’d also love to see Catherine bring her particular understanding of people to any of the residents of Slough House - what kind of understanding does she have with Louisa, or fellow addict Marcus (though he’s obviously at a quite different stage in his journey), or touchy and damaged Coe? Explore that twisted codependency between Standish and Lamb some more - I like the dysfunctional parents vibe they have and would love to see it played around with over time. How has their dynamic shifted as people cycled through Slough House? Do they have a history before that? Feel free to bring in characters not at Slough House, too - what would a lengthier interaction between Standish and Taverner look like if they got stuck in a car or lift together for some reason?

If you prefer a more ensemble cast, give me a case fic - the team solving a mystery despicable or benign, dealing with another brilliant idea of River’s, or maybe even dealing with something supernatural, if you care to invoke a bit of Ben Aaronovitch or Neil Gaiman. The slow horses fucking over the Park is also always a delight.

Request 2

Butchered Tongue - Hozier (song)

This request is very open. Basically, I adore this haunting little number. It evokes for me stories of travel and homecoming, violence and trauma, protest through voice and language. The narrator could be a person meeting people and collecting stories, or a witness to colonial violence. It could be a story of voices silenced and found, of people searching for the idea of ‘home’. I love the juxtaposition of earth as both a place of burial and a place for growth, of places close and distant that all have similar stories. I’d love for you to write about whatever journey this song takes you on.

Request 3

Hamlet - Shakespeare

Honestly, make this one as fucked up as you like. Hamlet is my favourite Shakespeare play, and although I’ve taught it as many times as I can, my interest has never been all that academic. I love the way it’s one big soap opera, all the dysfunctional relationships in it and the different possible motivations of the characters.

Gertrude is consistently the character I’m most drawn to, so I chose those three characters because I’d like some combination of Gertrude/Claudius, Gertrude/Hamlet or Gertrude/Claudius/Hamlet in all their fucked up glory.

Some questions/prompts: why did Gertrude marry Claudius, and how is that working out? Was it purely to avoid the power vacuum that her husband’s death left behind, or did she really want him? How is the rank sweat of that enseamed bed? Is it all she ever wanted? More than she bargained for? Was that poisoning plot all his idea, or is she the master manipulator?

And what is Hamlet’s obsession with his mother’s sex life? How much more intense have interactions between them been? Is Hamlet jealous of Claudius? I am absolutely here for all the twisted mother/son dynamics you can come up with.

If it helps, my preferred staging of this play is the 2009 RSC production with David Tennant (currently available on YouTube). I would love to read something both kinda hot and deeply discomfiting.

Request 4

Arc of a Scythe - Neal Shusterman

Scythe Curie, Scythe Faraday, Scythe Rand

I love this series! I love this world, the it's not-really-a-dystopia-actually of it all. I love the politics of Scythedom and the complexity of feeling around the idea of taking human life, the rituals the various scythes have for coping with the moral burden of their duty (or not, as the case may be - pretending that there isn't any moral burden and this thing should be fun).

I've chosen all the characters for this tagset because, with these three characters, why not? That said, you don't have to include all three of these characters. I'd like my gift to involve Curie, who is my favourite, but you can decide who you would like to write about her interacting with.

Some ideas: I love the canonical relationship between Curie and Faraday, so if you'd like to write me a moment from their seven-year affair, I'm all for that in whatever form it takes. I love a good bit of angst, too, so what was the first time they saw each other again after 70 years like? Make it emotionally fraught and achey and full of longing, or make it adult and moving on and finding closure, whatever appeals to you. BUT. These two were done DIRTY by canon, so I'd also love it if you FIXED THAT. Are there, somehow, two copies of Curie now in existence? Did she get revived somehow on earth in a way that the Thunderhead/Cirri never learned about, so now there's the version 2.0 we met in Gleanings, but also the OG revived on earth and getting to have her retirement off grid somewhere with Faraday? MAKE IT HAPPEN. My only note here is that I'd prefer to see these characters as adults with a bit of life experience, like we see them in canon or at least after their first turn-of-the-corner or two. I'm not really interested in Curie's years as an apprentice, so I'd prefer if you avoided that.

If you're more interested in Rand, I'd love to see an interaction between her and Curie. Have they interacted at Conclaves over the years, or was there a time when Rand considered breaking away from Goddard, sought out a more old-guard mentor and got rebuffed? If you can make me believe a femslash moment between them, I'd be into it, or could there be a time where Rand was involved in raising new apprentices that Curie had something to do with? Does she have a special skill she has demonstrated to terrified new apprentices?

I absolutely welcome treats, my main is featherxquill, and you'll also find me on Twitter by that name. Thank you for writing for me!

#yuletide #yuletide 2024 #dear yuletide author

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silent-silver-slip · 8 months ago

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Technically a very late written piece for @dragonsampersanddragons but also a fun little exploration into something very very post-Rising Dragons.

Of course, you don't actually need to know anything to read this snippet. Rather, it's just some friendship/found family vibes with dragons and a campfire thrown in. What more could you want?

(There was also no editing done and I also can't remember my conlang pronouns correctly but hopefully I recalled them properly lmao.)

There was a time before dragons, Issi knows. The dragons themselves have stories of course, and so do Issi’s people, but Issi hadn’t really been around then. She knows history is important. It’s in the scars of the land, the scars of her people, the scars of the dragons. But Issi’s never really been one to remember history, no matter how it’s told.

She leaves that for Ezra since ze is obsessed with history. Ze has a particular interest in the myths about Zeend and Desi, the first bonded pair, though Issi’s always thought that there are a lot of cooler stories than two people who just, like, travelled somewhere.

Of course, telling Ezra that is bound to lead to a rant that Issi does like to hear but also really doesn’t want to hear.

It would be a good way to distract Ezra from your cheating though, Hel points out. Issi’s dragon stretches tort neck, before placing tort head back onto tort massive paws. Tail swishing, Hel hums. I really think it would be better if you used that red card though.

Hel’s favourite colour is red. If tor had tort way, there wouldn’t be any other colour and Issi would only ever wear red. Thankfully, Issi gets some input.

“And I think,” Ezra announces, “that’s my win.” Ze places zir last card down with a flourish.

Issi frowns down at it, before sighing. “Your win,” she agrees. “Are you really not cheating?” It seems impossible for Ezra to have done so well otherwise. Ze must be cheating—or there’s magic at hand.

“I’m only cheating as much as you are,” Ezra says evenly, which… Well, considering that Issi had started cheating two rounds ago to keep up with Ezra’s skills, she’s not entirely sure how to take that. “Still, it’s getting late. I was kinda using Berin’s vision to actually see the cards for the end of that round.”

Groaning, Issi replies, “Gods, I wish I’d thought of that!”

Ezra simply laughs at her as ze gathers the cards up before packing them away. Without the cards between them, they shift so that they’re pressed against each other. It’s not really cold, not with the campfire crackling before them and their dragons helpfully protecting them from the worst of the chill.

The silence that falls over them is quiet and comforting. Issi leans against Ezra and can’t imagine any other life.

Oh shit, incoming, Hel says, tone long-suffering. Tort head is lifted but tor doesn’t seem tense at all. Considering tort tone, Issi has a fairly good idea of who’s coming. Not to mention, Berin’s heaved sigh and shifting movements indicate that the company they have incoming are likely to join them for a while.

The beings appear in a group, landing somewhat haphazardly. Two of the three manage it alright, only one stumbling upon landing. The third, however, goes whizzing through the fire, just misses hitting Ezra, and slams into Berin’s side with a yelp.

Issi doesn’t even bother hiding her laughter, letting it ring out. Ezra shakes beside her.

The hatchlings—though Issi supposes they really aren’t hatchlings anymore—don’t go far from one another. They fall over one another, batting at each other with paws and wings and tails, and the youngest one quickly makes tor home between Hel’s paws despite Hel’s stubborn refusal to look at them.

Everyone here knows the truth though—Hel has a soft spot a day flight big when it comes to hatchlings. No matter what façade tor may try to uphold, it’s a lost cause.

One of the hatchlings settles at Berin’s side, cuddled against their wing, whilst the third sits in front of Ezra and Issi like an overgrown dog. All three hatchlings are perhaps a little bit too big to be considered dog-like these days, but that doesn’t stop Issi from reaching out and scratching the hatchling’s snout.

It’s evenings like this, with Ezra and their dragons and a flickering campfire, when Issi doesn’t think her life could get any better. It feels like home, like safety, like love.

There was a time before dragons, Issi knows. But it was not Issi’s time—her time is now, with dragons roaming the skies and sharing their campfires, with love at her side and in her heart, with Hel as her bondmate and forever beside her.

Really, what better time is there to be alive?

#wip #rising dragons

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fangirleaconmigo · 2 years ago

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Gahhhh you guys were so sweet and encouraging in the replies that I have to let you know how it went.

It was a bar, I don’t know why i thought it was a pizza shop. Anyway, I was the second person to arrive. The first guy was a middle aged Mexican guy with a fairly heavy accent and a nerdy tattoo. To put in context, I’m a middle aged Mexican American person, so that put me at ease almost right away.

And if anyone is reading this like…why is she worried about identity and gender, well when you have a lifetime of being told you can’t do things, or you’re a fake nerd, being spoken down to or whatever because you’re a girl/woman, that fic and shipping is gross or cringe, or that nerdery is a white person thing or a young person thing, those things can sort of infect you.

Or you just get so tired of the prospect of being treated weird that you just start sticking to “your own”, (the intersection of nerd Women/queer people). And as a result you can stop taking risks.

Also, and this is relevant, I live in an extremely conservative area of the country (USA). There are flags (trump flags, flags with guns on them) and Bible verse signs telling me I’m going to hell, all over my neighborhood. So I’m so cautious to meet anyone! I’m queer as fuck! I’m an atheist! That is only the beginning of the objectionable parts of who I am!

But I don’t want that baggage or self consciousness to stop me from doing things or to close me off from meeting new people because meeting new people is awesome. It reminds you that life is made of endless possibilities and new beginnings and stories you’ve never heard. Also, I don’t want to make assumptions about other people the way people have made assumptions about me.

And to just say, when you are meeting strangers, you cannot tell from a picture anything about their queerness or gender experiences or identity. There’s no short cut to just showing up and meeting a stranger and getting to know them. Risk! Possibility! All in one!

Yes I am really like this. This is really how my mind works. Anyway, that’s just to explain that.

But back to me and Fernando. He had a book with him and I was nosy about it and he was smiley and friendly, so that was a good start.

Then I went next door to a ramen shop to pick up some ramen to eat (bar didn’t have food) and when I got back, the rest of the party was there. I got some wine and I figured, good ramen and wine, if nothing else, there will be this.

Woops I ate it before I took a pic. Trust me, it was pretty with the egg and mushrooms on top. Ok, so.

The rest of the party were men, so yeah it was just me holdin it down, but for all my talk of self consciousness, if you ever met me in real life, you would not be able tell that I feel those things at all. No one can ever tell when I’m anxious because I shove it down so deeply it is only visible to balrogs. So I chit chatted and it was nice.

The dm (Garrett) was a bearded gentleman probably in is thirties. He was a beginner dm and wanted to do a good job, you could tell. He said one of the other guys called Nick (out of five guys, two were named Nick) would correct him if he fucked anything up. Nick #1 was like…you’ll be fine. Nick #1 was super relaxed about it and I felt like this was a good sign.

So the dm did a meta explanation of what DnD is, and it’s so interesting to see how other minds frame and understand things.

He said if we’ve seen any quest based fantasy movies, that’s the concept, but explained that since it was a one shot for teaching purposes, it would be more of a task than a quest.

He said it is based in a pre-medieval time period, explained the level of technology available (and not available) in this particular time period, talked about the various professions, and explained some of the reasons people might need to travel or move from point A to point B.

I asked a lot of questions about how points and turns worked (how do you quantify imaginary actions into numbers?? How does the dm decide the number threshold for success at an action?? Is he pulling this out of his butt? -tho I said it nicer- and are we doing this as a group or individuals? Like do we all have to vote on what we’re gonna do or??). He explained but I did not get it and I quickly realized I would just have to play to understand. So we moved on.

Then he explained the roles and asked who we wanted to be. I chose rogue because 1) he said it was beginner friendly or simpler to play and 2) the description sounded a lot like my girl Inej Ghafa from Six of Crows, so I thought I could understand the character via Inej.

My girl jumps around on roofs and hides in shadows, has a ton of knives, and can kill you before you even know she exists. Her nickname is the Wraith. I mean how cool is that?

So, I asked if a rogue was kind of like Inej:

None of them had heard of her (which wasn’t completely surprising given the demographics) but when I described her, the dm said yes. Sounds like it. So I was like aight I’m Inej (in my mind).

Then, I chose a bag with a dragon on it because obviously. If you have the chance to choose a dragon, you choose a dragon. The dm said all the bits of dice have different functions but that the main one was the 20 one. I have vaguely seen D20 in the tags on tumblr (so maybe it’s a show) so I was like YES I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT. And he gave me a sheet. Here’s my setup:

The little plastic guy did not have Inej's flair, but I forgave him. He was my little guy.

The dm was like...oh, I forgot to tell you. Your character is a halfling. I was like...that's cool. Halflings saved Middle Earth. This seemed to please him. As I said, he was a bit nervous that it would go well, which was endearing. Also, it was nice to not be the only person working on a bit of nerves.

So then he explained the task, which was to infiltrate a cult. Apparently we were all big time advisors to a king, who had sent a team to stop this cult from summoning a snake god to destroy the world. This team had consisted of our fellow citizens (one from each 'race'), one of them being my cousin. Problem was, no one had heard from them since. So the mission was like...rescue our people unless they've been converted, in which case we would kill them.

I was immediately into it, hoping I would not have to kill my dear cousin. We may not have spoken in awhile, but she would always be dear to my heart. Obviously. We had a bond. I mean, who wouldn't, after what we had been through together.

Nick #2 thought that since we were the 'B' team, we weren't very important to our country. I disagreed, saying that our mothers sent their least favorite first, as they were more disposable. But since that failed, they were forced to send us, their golden children. They went along with my assessment ha.

Since it was a 'one shot', we just sort of appeared at a building with one lookout. We started talking about what to do and Mario (the guy I haven't mentioned yet) said he wanted to barrel up to the lookout guy and say "hey are you in a cult". (He was the barbarian). Also, Mario was cracking up and having a good time, being like yes, my char is really fuckn dumb.

So ok, this was gonna be silly and I wasn't gonna take it too seriously.

Only I was like babe, why would you do that? Shouldn't we look around and gather intel? Then Fernando (this was his first DnD also, and he was a ranger) was like...let's just kill this guy. I have a bow and arrow.

I was like damnnnn Fernando it's like that? I didn't know you were hiding such bloodthirstiness in there. You seemed so nice! (Turns out he had a slytherin tattoo on his forearm so I shoulda known).

Now I was on Mario's side. I was like, ok well if it's talk or murder (I have ethics damnit and Inej does too) let's talk. (Also, I pointed out, we couldn't even see a face under the robe, what if that was his damn cousin!) And I was gonna suggest sending someone with a bit more finesse, but Mario was so happy about his choice of trundling up to this guy and asking him if he was in a cult, I couldn't break his heart. I was like...can the sorcerer at least go with him? (thinking the sorcerer would have more finesse)

But after Mario stomped up to this guy with the sorcerer in tow and was like...'hey are you in a cult?' the sorcerer (Nick #1) was like yeah, can we join? This cult sounds amazing.

Nick #1 was having a great time too.

This did not turn out well and the guy disappeared to go 'ask if you can join', so I asked if I could just lead for a bit. I snuck around. We got into the room. Then we got into a secret room, and hallway, and then finally in some basement where some ritual was going on.

At this point I've rolled a few times and seen how it works. If your roll sucks, the dm comes up with some way you fail. If it's in the middle, the dm comes up with some way you can gain something but not have it go perfectly. If you roll really high, you get more. It's all extremely subjective, but fun to see what he came up with.

Anyway we're in a ritual room now, and it looks like the barbarian's cousin is there and has been turned and has a serpent head.

(I want to kill him, says Mario. I was like...DUDE. TRY TO CURE YOUR COUSIN. ALSO, WHERE TF IS MY COUSIN?? I DON'T SEE ANY HALFLINGS IN THIS ROOM THERE SHOULD BE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM)

The guys decided to just kill the shit out of everyone. Since it was four on five, I considered myself an extra and snuck around the back rooms investigating.

The game went long, so one guy had to leave before it was over. So, the dm had his character run away and elope with one of the cult members. That was cool. The cleric (the very quiet Nick #2) deserved his chance at love.

Speaking of Nick #2, he also a beginner, and he seemed a little shy. He sat next to me and almost never spoke, but he wanted to throw spells. I think magic is very cool so I kept being like...can't Nick throw a spell now? Come on, this one sounds fuckn cool! Something about defense against evil?? Aren't these guys evil? What about detecting poison? What if they converted our cousins with poison??

But turns out the spells you have are so limited in use, that he didn't get to throw any until the big fight. I kept grabbing his sheet and holding it up to the dm, "he wants to use his magic, what can he do?" And the dm was like...you CAN throw that spell, but I can tell you it's not gonna help. lol. But Nick #2 did finally get to use magic to kill cultists in the end, which is what I think all these guys came to do anyway.

Then he got his happily ever after with the one surviving cultist.

I never found my cousin. After investigating, she apparently also converted and got her own branch elsewhere, which hey kinda proud they recognized her leadership potential.

I guess the next stand alone will be the next step.

Then the dm asked me whether he did ok, and how it was, which again, very endearing. I said he did awesome. (I mean, I have nothing to compare it to, but he was nice and helpful and that's what I needed.)

So, yeah. My thoughts are, since it was a small task based one shot, I didn't get to do any character building or story spinning really, which I think is gonna be one of my favorite parts of it, but I got to get a taste of what it is and what it's like in a casual, silly, fun kinda way, which was exactly what I needed it to be.

I would definitely try DnD again. I did feel lost a lot of the time, but I was having fun, and that's what matters. If you've made it this far, feel free to tell me if this squares with your experience of DnD, what you think about my experience, and any advice you may have.

Just so you all know, ya girl is being very brave tonight.

I have always wanted to learn to play DND. Always. But I’ve never had anyone to teach me. I’ve never known anyone who plays locally.

There have been times when really lovely people have offered to teach me online, but I just have this mental block learning things remotely. I want to learn in real life.

But I recently saw that a local geek group is holding sessions to teach people. So I’m going to a meet up with COMPLETE STRANGERS (at a pizza shop) on our local Geek group on meetup. I went on the rsvp tab and saw it’s all men, so I almost cancelled. Pls do not judge me for that.

But I gathered my strength and I’m still going because I’m very brave and because hey there’s a slight chance they aren’t all cishet boys who are gonna be very annoyed by the way I fandom.

I’m wearing my Michonne t shirt and my witcher necklace. Here we go. I might make some local nerd friends.

(My friends are all so lovely but none of them are nerds to the degree that I am and I also have always wanted local nerds)

I’M GONNA FINALLY LEARN TO PLAY DND FOLKS

#dungeons and dragons #dnd #random irl post

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micamicster · 3 years ago

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Wait, how DO you feel about public transportation? 👀 (re: your tags on the Russian Doll season 2 post)

Haha I think I really just meant that i romanticize trains too much!

But if you want a serious answer, I think trains are an excellent choice of setting for a show like this. Firstly because they’re inherently liminal, which goes well with the time-fuckery they’ve got going on. And second because they’re a form of travel that involves sharing a space with other people! Russian doll is very much about a community and it’s rooted so deeply in a very specific place (thompkins square park). Putting the cast on the subway promises to be the best of both worlds, in that it’s something both transitional but identifiable as part of a specific setting and community.

#nooo idea if this makes sense? but yeah I love public transportation it is so important to me #I’m getting my hopes up for season 2 I have gotta reel them back in #remind me to send you some stuff about the thompkins park riot ? seriously this show is so deeply interested in setting and history #i don’t have any particular interest in time travel in stories but it really does feel like the natural progression of the themes of season

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misspearly1 · 2 years ago

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Yours

Pairing: Joel Miller x You (F!Reader)

Summary: Feeling one particular emotion at the wrong time and place, how does it affect the friendship between you and your fellow survivor Joel Miller? Your only good friend and trusted ally amongst a group of twenty, who remains oblivious of your silent crush - how does the man react when you're running away from packs of Hunters and you are… aroused.

WC: 3.2k

Warnings: 18+ Content. Minors DNI. Smut. Hunters doing hunter shit (no one gets hurt). Little bit of angst (With a happy ending of course). Unprotected PIV sex in a risky, unsafe location. Oral. (M receiving) Face fucking, deep throating. Dirty talk. Praise kink. Slight Ownership Kink possibly? Breast/Nipple play. And lastly, lots of fluff.

AN: Yass, I’ve missed writing out oneshots and really enjoyed exploring this short story. It’s nice to take a break and use a different era/setting, so I hope ya’ll enjoy this as much as I did. (May pick it back up in the future, idk yet) <33

Emotions are a funny thing right? They’re just feelings, a chemical synapse in your brain responding to everything around you in some type of way - they’re funny to you because you can’t explain those feelings sometimes, and this is one of those times where you can’t explain why or how you feel the way you do.

The harrowing experience in which you are going through right now is just like every other day in this dark world; passing through a town, and surprise surprise, you get ambushed, split up from your group and therefore have to fight your way out. Same shit, different day.

This would count as the third time it has happened in the last four month traveling on the open road with your small group of survivors, and honestly, you’re starting to get used to it.

The Lakeside Lodges used to be your camp once upon a time, but just like every other camp as it seems, it fell to the hands of Infected and you all had to move on. Your fellow survivors aren’t all that bad, there are a few questionable people of course, there always are, but the vast majority are safe to be around, and besides, you can take care of yourself if any one of them tries to overstep.

The rules are as follows; no stealing, no fighting or killing each other and if you see something first, it’s yours. You just have to yell it out like the boss can hear you - and so far, there hasn't been any push back with those rules set by Deacon - the leader of the group. He does a decent job at keeping the rowdy ones in line and a lot of people look up to him. Not you, but mostly the men in your group.

They respect him, but you, on the other hand, respect his sister. You don’t dislike Deacon, but you don’t exactly place him on a pedestal like the others do. If anyone should be in charge, then it should be his sister Melissa, or maybe Joel Miller. Truthfully, Melissa would be the better choice and the only reason you nominate Joel is because you have a crush on him. He has leadership material for sure, but he’s not interested in leading twenty people into a new world.

And you know this because you’re his only friend, well, sort of. You annoyed him enough to give in and open up a little, but not too much. The man is overall a quiet person, keeps himself to himself and doesn’t bother anybody. Initially you thought he did that to avoid a fight, but after seeing him fight on many occasions now, you know it’s because he could quite easily kill any man in this group, therefore he doesn’t get involved with anyone to avoid making a mistake that gets him banished.

Today is day three of your hellish escape out of this town with groups of hunters and the dead around every corner, but lucky for you, Joel was at your side when your group got scattered. You weren’t on your own, which would seriously lessen your odds of survival, but the reason you are having a meltdown right now is because of that one emotion you feel during a time like this. Arousal - you are aroused, and that’s why it’s so damn funny to you.

It’s funny because it’s confusing and silly. You should be terrified for your life right now. Joel and you ducked into a hotel with Hunters hot on your heels, but the way the man was grabbing at your arm, pushing you in front of him, as if shielding you from any harm, was driving you up the wall. Why? Why does this guy, who is so quiet and doesn’t get involved with anyone, stick his neck out for your safety?

You assume that it’s because he cares. In his own little ways maybe, but it’s in moments like this where you really get to catch a glimpse of how far you and Joel have come together. It’s called friendship, people that you can trust. And Joel is your friend, but boy do you want it to be more than that. You want him to take you in his arms, seal his lips over your with a fervent kiss then fuck you senseless. Stop thinking about him like that! Now is not the time! You yell inside.

“Keep movin’, girl.” Joel urges you forward quickly, but carefully too so you don’t trip and fall. “Keep going, just keep going.” He repeats and your mind thinks of him saying those words in an entirely different scenario. Sighing frustration, you needed to get a grip of yourself and act proper, especially at a time like this when you can hear the Hunters boots ascending the stairwell. There’s only five of them, easy numbers to take, but Joel seems adamant to put space between you both and them for some reason.

Upon reaching the end of the hall, he looks into the empty rooms and sees that one of them has a giant hole in the ceiling. “Alright, up there.” He ushers inside fast. “We’ll lose them up here.”

“Joel-” You try to protest, finding reason for his absurdly different fight tactics. “-Why are we trying to lose them? We should fight.”

“Not now, Y/N.” He brushes you off, then forcefully turns you around to face the cabinet underneath the hole. Gasping from the contact of his hands boosting you up by your ass, suddenly you don’t feel the need to protest anymore and love his new fight tactics. Jesus! That small amount of contact was sparking pleasure, but it wasn’t enough. You wanted more.

Turning around and reaching out for him, he climbs the cabinet with ease and takes your hand to be pulled up through the hole, however he loses his footing and causes you both to stumble backwards, the action pushing your breasts into his chest as his thigh jams between your legs. “Oh!” You moan, and your cheeks instantly begin to burn, however Joel doesn’t pay any attention to it.

“Shit, that was my bad. Are you hurt or good to keep moving?” He asks, completely oblivious to the fact you had just breathed a moan into his face, enjoying the contact of his leg grinding against your core. “Y-yes.” You stutter, hoping to keep your silly emotions hidden from him. “I’m good. Let’s move.”

Moving out of the room and into the hallway at a slow pace, you could hear the Hunters searching for you and Joel on the floor below, however there was a much more prevalent danger lurking on this floor. Infected were standing dormant, awaiting stimulus in their surroundings. “Oh shit.” Joel grunts softly, pulling you close to him and dipping into another empty room.

As much as you like how protective he was being right now, it wasn’t like him and you had enough. “What is wrong with you?” You ask, trying to reason with him. “We’re putting ourselves into more and more danger here. We need to kill the threats and get out of here.”

“Y/N - not now.” Joel persists, gesturing with his hand to get you to stop prying. “You wouldn’t understand anyways, darlin’.”

“Understand what?” Asking him another question, even though you can visually see that he is pissed off, you felt comfortable enough with the man to know he wouldn’t direct that anger at you, but he doesn’t answer. Watching him look around the room for anything he can use to fight with, you watch the man you’ve seen fight enemies with his bare hands look frantic and distressed. It was worrying.

Why is he so worried? You wonder. We’ve been in worse situations before. After hearing the distant sounds of Hunters climbing through the hole you and Joel climbed through, he looked at you with heavy eyes. His expression cycled through the emotions, as if there were too many to handle all at once. “Jesus, Joel.” You whisper, shaking your head at him. “Talk to me, what is wrong with you right no-”

“I don’t want to lose you!” He yells - actually yells, not caring about who or what he alerts. An imaginary gust of wind blows through the room between you and Joel as you just stand there, staring at him. Those words drifted around the room, clung to the air and held a heavy amount of weight. He doesn’t want to lose me? Your eyes widen with the meaning of that statement. A smile on your lips appears. That imaginary weight hanging in the balance drops and love wraps itself around your body like a warm blanket. Joel doesn’t want to lose you, because he loves you.

Gliding across the room, your lips crash onto his in a searing kiss as you push him backwards. The sounds of Hunters fighting Infected fading out in the background as you push him into a closet. Joel pushes back, but only far enough to reach for the doors and close them, completely encasing you in darkness, wrapped up in his big, strong arms, wrapped up in his love.

“Y/N.” He groans your name in a whisper, a soft breathy sigh, hinted with desperation. Fighting for leverage by grabbing your hips, the man pulls you into him as he bucks his hips forward, showing his dire need in this exact moment. Silly, silly emotions in a time like this, but it’s apparent that you’re not the only one with untimely emotions. Joel is hard, painfully hard, it’s currently poking into your lower stomach. And you - you are soaked through with desire.

“Joel.” Breaking off from his passionate kiss, you hold a finger to his lips and whisper. “Stay quiet, handsome.” You plant a kiss on the corner of his lips then fall to your knees, the action drawing out a shaky ‘fuck me’ from him before he tosses his head back, biting the back of his hand. Your delicate hands roam the expanse of his clothed crotch, palming his bulge with intention before working the belt buckle open.

Wishing that he could see you within the darkness of this small space, Joel focuses on your touch and pictures your beautiful face behind his closed eyes. The zipper to his jeans open and his cock springs free, audibly slapping his stomach. He breathes heavily with anticipation, feeling you pull his jeans down until they pool around his ankles, and then, your warm breath fans over him. The sensation of your soft lips and shallow breath trailing up his inner thigh making his cock twitch, you stop at his hip and plant a kiss on the skin.

“Y/N - please.” Pleadings choking up his throat, he can physically feel you smiling into the kiss on his other hip before you reassure him. “We’ll get there, baby.” You say sweetly while dragging your tongue up his rock hard cock then back down again. “I want to take my time with you.”

“I'm afraid we won’t have enough time, darlin’.” He grunts, still biting the back of his hand to muffle his moans, however he couldn’t stop the sharp gasping noise he made when your lips landed on his balls. You took the sac in your mouth, swirled your tongue around and very carefully sucked, just enough pressure that it was all pleasure for him. “Goddammit!” His growl hums through his hand, biting the flesh so hard it was close to drawing blood. “When the time comes, girl.” Joel's voice whispers down from above, laced with warning. “When the time comes, you’ll feel my payback for days, darlin’.”

“Oh, I look forward to it.” You moan, then correct yourself. “In fact, I’m desperate for it, Joel. I’m desperate for you.” Licking a path up his cock again, this time you give the man what he so dearly wants and take the head of him your mouth, extracting a pornographic noise from his lips. You hum eagerly when burying your face into the hairs of his mound, holding yourself there for a few seconds before pulling back with an obscene gasp for air.

“Show me how desperate you are, Joel.” You heave a silent request for him to take over, to fuck your face like he owns your mouth like it’s his own personal warm hole. “Take me, baby - I’m yours.” You mewl, practically begging him. It was disgraceful of you, on your knees with your mouth open, ready for him.

“My pleasure, doll.” Joel grunts before threading his fingers through your hair, gripping it tightly before thrusting his cock inside your mouth. You choked, feeling the tip of his prod the back of your throat in the most delicious way. There was no time to wait and so he began fucking your mouth at a steady pace, giving you a break for air each time he pulled his hips back. “Play with yerself, babydoll.” He groans through gritted teeth, eyes rolling to the back of his head from the wet glucking noise of you taking him whole every time. “Go on, get that pussy ready for me, Y/N.”

Moaning around him, the bliss-filled tears stain your cheeks as you slip your hand down your body and inside your jeans fingers landing directly over your clit. You jolt from the delectable sensation and coat your fingers with your slick before delving two inside your quivering hole. “Oh that’s it, darlin’. Good girl.” Joel praises, smiling from the sounds he could hear. “You’re drenched, I can hear that wet little pussy, baby.”

Moaning again, you nod when he buries your face into his mound and Joel keeps you there while using his other hand to palm your breasts through the fabric. “Know how many times I caught myself staring at these? Huh?” He asks, then pinches your nipple, drawing out a cry from you. “Oh, there she is.” He mocks a sickly sweet compliment. “There’s my girl.”

Hips pulling back to give you a break for air, Joel twists his body and brings you with him, now with your back placed to the wall. “Keep those open.” He kicks your feet apart, then warns. “You’re gonna take my load, baby. I’m close.” You manage to utter a teasing reply before he forcefully opens your mouth and buries his cock inside again, muffling your moans of pleasure.

Sampling a taste of him, you swallowed beads of pre-cum and used your other hand to cup his balls, fondling them gently to get him there. You jaw aches and the back of your throat felt bruised, but if you could, you’d allow Joel to fuck your mouth mercilessly for as long as he possibly wanted. His pleasure is yours, and although you like receiving, you love to give a whole lot more. Just hearing him grunting above and feeling his hips snap forward was driving you over the edge into the pools of ecstasy. You wish you could see his cock, but just feeling him in your mouth suggests that the stretch is going to be impressive when the time comes.

“Shit!” He breathes sharply, resting his forearm against the wall while fucking your mouth. He slipped his hand behind your head, protecting you from the contact as his pace picks up. “Oh God. I’m gonna cum. Holy shit, holy shit! Baby, I’m cumming!” Joel yells, bursting ropes of his warmth on your tongue and you gulp it back, emptying your mouth to take more. The noise of your actions was loud, you could hear it yourself and you knew Joel could too. He even praised it. “Yes, baby, yes. Keep going, just like that.” He cries, thighs jerking from the sensitivity. “Take it all, Y/N. Nnugh! Good girl, there we go.”

Pulling back and only hearing you catch your breath from below, Joel does the same and breathes through the aftermath of his orgasm. He misses the sight of your face, hates the darkness in this closet that keeps him from seeing you. Nothing outside this small space could be heard and he takes a gamble that the danger has disappeared. Standing up straight, he kicks the door open behind him with his foot and light floods the room. And he didn’t think you could look any more sexy than what you are.

Sitting on the floor with your knees to your chest, spread out with your hand inside your jeans, where there was a clear damp patch in the crotch area, but your face…Oh God, your face drives him - a sound minded man - absolutely stir crazy with hunger for more. A mixture of his cum and your spit smeared across your chin, your pretty eyes blotchy with tears as your cheeks blossom red - you look beautiful. Beautiful and desirable. “Oh.” You say, crooking one eyebrow with a smirk on your lips. “Looks like someone isn’t finished yet.”

Looking at his growing cock, it hardened again and you were right, he isn’t finished. Not at all. “C’mere.” He whispers softly, reaching down to help you off the floor. Kissing you on the lips while walking backwards until he meets the base of a bed, Joel slips his hands to your front and impatiently opens up your jeans. The man didn’t even wait until they were at your feet before sliding his cock through your slit, coating himself with your desire. The position was something you’ve never done before, he was rolling his hips forward, using your thighs that were squeezed together to give him pleasure, which was stimulating your clit.

“I need you.” He mumbles into your mouth, desperate to feel your warmth wrap around him. “Take your shirt off, baby. I’ve fantasized about how your boobs look for too long.”

Taking your shirt off along with your bra, Joel wastes no time with ducking his head down and taking your pert nipple into his mouth, sucking on the sensitive skin harshly with a gentle bite. “Joel!” You mewl. Tossing your head back as he grunts like some wild animal chasing his own high. Dropping an arm to your leg, he brings it up high, spreading you apart so he can take what he really wants. A broken whine escapes you as he inserts the tip of him inside, round and bulbous, stretching you open nicely for what's to come next.

“I don’t ever want to lose you.” Joel repeats his statement from earlier, burying himself to the hilt inside your heat. Relishing in your moans of pleasure as you clench around him, he presses his forehead to yours and whispers. “That’s why we’re leaving the group. We’re never going back to them - they’re gonna get us killed and I can’t lose you, darlin. I can’t.”

“Joel.” You sigh a breath of relief. After planting a kiss on his lips, joy floods your chest with a smile spreading across your lips. You look him in the eyes, feeling his warmth inside of you, wrapping you up in his love, and therefore bringing you to repeat your statement from earlier too. “I’m yours, Joel.”

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