#i don't expect another interaction since. yknow. all the shit is going down

[mettywiththenotes]

I literally just finished Act 2 but

VIKTOR AND JINX ON THE SAME SCREEN THEY INTERACTED THEY DID IT

"Ask for a miracle healer, get a metal fortune cookie." "*cough* Cookie."

"However, I have one condition."

"Looks like you've got a couple."

"You have much to offer this commune, Powder."

"Your talents can be used to build, instead of destroy."

"I'll... stick with what I know, thanks."

AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!!

THAT'S 4 TICKS OFF THE WISHLIST BABY

[lemonlilactea]

I don't tbink I've posted this so! Have it I guess

And yeah I'll tuck all my writing under the cut bc I don't want to spam a wall of text onto the tag

“I'll miss you, V.”

“You too, Johnny.”

It isn't time yet, but it does feel like they're on the edge of it now. They're alone like usual, together. V sits with one leg off the bed, the other tucked under them, a cigarette dangling from their hand and smoke curling in the air. “D'you think…..we really did anything? Really left a mark in the city, in a way that meant something?” Their eyes glance from him to the window, the neon shining like impossible stars.

“Fuck, I hope so. Don't think I'd like to die again without at least a scratch on this place.” Johnny, of course, is in one of his usual moods. Sitting on the couch, head leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “Did a lot of fuckin' work to be remembered.”

“Yeah, that's one way to put it.” V snorts a laugh, before taking a few puffs of the cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray. “But really, I mean…..hell, what if it's all for nothing? World keeps spinning, Night City paves over the graffiti of our names, we go back to bein’....nothing, I guess.”

“What's with you? Been talkin’ spiritual shit with Misty again?”

“Nah, just thinking out loud, maybe. Dunno.” They drag a hand down their face, sighing, and falling back onto the bed with their arms out. “Can I blame the migraine?”

“Sure, fuck it.” Johnny snorts a laugh from the couch, and in a moment, him image flickers to stand beside the bed. “Look like shit, by the way.”

“Gee, thanks. You say that almost daily, yknow.” They sling an arm across their eyes, blocking the artificial light from the window. “Almost like I'm dying, or something.” There's a beat, longer than usual, and they're tempted to look at him. Not enough to risk the light causing a swell of pain, though, so they keep their arm in place over their eyelids.

“Right, well, bet I've seen a prettier corpse than you.” It's his usual, that easy automatic joking, but there's something in his voice these days. Anytime V brings up the imminent demise, even while they're both fighting it, Johnny seems taken aback, somehow. Like he doesn't expect to hear about it, again and again. Like it isn't going to happen. “Low bar.”

“Obviously.” By this point, their banter is practically rehearsed, a daily occurrence, even if it's grown less aggressive over time. All their interactions have slowly but surely grown softer, as much as is possible for either of them. Johnny is still a dick, and V is still stubborn, but they've grown to respect, and maybe even care for one another. “Not gonna shower til the headache goes away, though. Hell, moving hurts at all. Talking, too.”

“So why you keep yapping, idiot?” Not that they can tell, but Johnny sits on the edge of the bed, no weight to shift the mattress. “It's like you wanna flare that shit up.”

“Well, there's this voice in my head…”

“Yeah, yeah, shut it.”

“You first.” They grin, and would laugh if not for the throb of pain in their head. Days like these are harder by far, but even now, even with Johnny they can't help but keep up the mask. That facade that they're alright, they'll be alright, they'll handle shit just like always, no matter the odds. When someone lives in your head, though, it gets hard to hide the cracks. Under the banter and the chaos, both of them know just how scared V truly is. Both of them, frankly. They've both died before, come back different, trapped with someone they didn't know and hated at first. It's insane, impossible, terrifying. But it's also shifted over the time they spent together. Adapted from begrudging allies to almost friends, now. Probably closer than anyone has been, since Jackie. Shitty run of luck with friends for V.

Fear feels different when it's two different people. It comes from different places, expressed differently. Where Johnny wants to rage and scream, V might just observe silently, might negotiate where Johnny would shoot first. It leads to frustration, mostly, but sometimes to connection. The knowledge that even if they're different, deep down, fear is at least somewhat the same. Fear of pain, of death, these human things that line the path to understanding one another. A slow process, made slower by host and parasite both being more stubborn than imaginable, but one that they've made it through, mostly. Johnny is still a douchebag, V is still shockingly gullible at times, but they're together, at least. Never alone for a choice or consequence, always someone there to listen and assist as best he can, when they need it.

“....hey, Johnny? When you were alive, did you ever…I dunno, get scared of shit? Your memories, the way it feels, you always felt…confident to a fault, kinda unaware how bad you were, but fearless about it.” Their voice breaks the silence, softer than intended, not quite a whisper. The connection hasn't exactly been simple, and memories are muddled enough without the warped minds they both have, and both have learned asking is the best way to get anywhere.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

welp, not to beat a dead horse but I found your posts on trigger warnings fantastic and I'm curious: what are your thoughts on content warnings for published media? is that the same pitfall? should there be a different expectation from a consumer who experiences triggers? we've had those 'viewer discretion is advised' warnings before cable programming, sometimes accompanied by a general list of potentially upsetting content/themes—is that the same thing?

I agree with everything said but I also ask this because content warnings have quickly become the norm in interactive fiction, the medium I'm writing in. the format is a little unorthodox since the reader engages with hundreds of thousands of words in second-person and plenty of people play as themselves. I wonder what is reasonable for the author to be responsible for. A lot of my readers, so far anyway, are young too, so I wonder how forgoing the short content warning I currently have at the start would be received.

and finally, the one time I've ever made a content warning suggestion was for another IF where the author (iirc) did want feedback on potentially triggering content. there was an unexpected scene featuring spelunking that was written well enough it actually made me extremely anxious and panicky—so ofc I gave the writer props and let them know it could potentially trigger someone else, which they did.

ofc I was completely fine regardless; and I still go into all media without bothering with a trigger or content warning because I'd rather just experience something and put it down if I can't handle it. I've blown cash on video games that I figured out too late I can't even pick up (basically any horror FP I thought I could take; Among Us triggered me helpless after less than 20 seconds of social interaction). That shit just... happens. People don't know me so I don't expect people to know and cater to my specific set of psychological baggage.

but yeah, that brings me back to wondering what an author should expect of themself and what others can reasonably expect of them when they're, yknow, paying for their work. thoughts? you could also just ignore all my blabbing tho 😂😅

love the blog, have a good one!

There are two key differences.

Firstly, the content warnings actually show you, as a witness, the disturbing content. It's not up to your imagination or your experience, your interpretations.

Whenever the content warnings occur, it's always about the visual and/or audio presentation of what happened. The news does not spologize for telling you that the assault, suicide, rape, etc, happened. It warns you that they're going to show it to you. To be there as it happened, in some way.

And secondly, they're reserved for content that is regarded as objectively disturbing. Which is to say that people who have not experienced any trauma or adverse experiences would find it disturbing.

They don't say "content warning: the word 'moist.'" or "content warning: clowns."

Someone is screaming on the 911 phone call. Someone is being beaten with a whip in Afghanistan. The body of someone who jumped off the 12th storey lies on the pavement. The re-enactment of a rape.

Nobody needs to have actually experienced these things to find them disturbing.

Triggers resulting from upset or trauma are subjective and the result of that specific experience. Something everybody (or almost everybody) else will not relate to, because they weren't there.

==

In the case where you're talking about fiction and a young audience, I would say that you should consider the same sort of classification as the film, TV and video game industries.

I would look at the themes, not the minutiae. Is there drug use, sexual content, violence, crude language, etc. And mark it as suitable for a certain age upwards, with appropriate qualifiers: D, S, V, L, etc. Then treat them as grown-ass adults - or whatever your chosen age boundary is - who can handle what you have to say, or can put it down and manage their issues if they can't. Instead of expecting you to.

No matter how many content warnings you put on it, there will be someone who will be upset by something benign in your story. They got hit in the face with an orange at school, so it's upsetting that your character ate an orange, for example. There is no lowest common denominator, so trying to find it will be just an exercise in frustration and futility. Their trauma is not your responsibility.

[xnchxntmxnt]

OMG HAPPY 2OO LUV!! ILYSM, AND YOU DEFINITELY DESERVE MORE!! AS EXPECTED I'M HERE FOR THE MATCHUP EVENT AND I'M SO SORRY FOR BEING LATE KSDJFHSDF

1 | name : amie 2 | pronouns : s/her 3 | preferred gender : doesn't really matter 4 | self-description :

— it's ya clown sho <3 anyway, i'm an ambivert but more inclined towards the introvert side. my MBTI is INFJ and i'm a Gemini. i'd describe myself as someone who's very observant? yea, i guess. i'm awkward and you know it. My favorite color is blue, specifically sapphire, but i love all pastel colors. My fav show is Chicago Medical and all the psychological and crime thrillers out there are my favorite ( silent patient is my #1 though ) I love painting, playing piano and basketball!

— what i look in a partner you ask, uh, someone who can tolerate my silence. there are times when i go quiet for a whole day, i'll barely speak, no interaction nothing. i want someone who'd not exactly 'deal with it' but 'understand it.' also, i want someone who i can talk to without any hesitation. i have a hard time opening up so i don't do it but when i do, i spill almost everything. i might cry, might have anxiety attack, i might even shout. i know it's not very healthy but i want someone who can help me with those. plus someone who i can read with please <3 cheating and not having any respect for personal space would be the major deal breaker for me

5 | gen. aesthetic : my fashion sense starts from sweats and ends in sweats. i'm a big fan of those oversized hoodies and shirts, like something really comfy. however, i do have a collection of formal wears like blazers and dress.

6 | color/s to describe myself : red, actually. if not read then blue. it switchers but red 90% of the times.

7 | fav song/s : literally everything by Chase Atlantic and The Neighborhood. However, my absolute favorites are some of the famous classical pieces like Experience by Ludovico Einaudi and Chopin's Ballade No. 1 Op 23.

8 | fav genre of music : classical music ( Beethoven, Einaudi and Chopin own my heart )

Lol this is very lengthy I'm sorry, btw congrats again!

I looked into MBTI, I looked into zodiacs, I went off of what you said

Here he is, the man, Seijoh’s do-it-all guy

HANAMAKI TAKAHIRO ur new boyfriend

There is not enough content for him, anyway

How You Met

Bear with me here

Think about this

Artist!hanamaki

You love painting? Art club.

Idk if youre actually in any art club but shhh

Anyway, it was probably some sort of community thing full of tons of different age artists (bc you’d have basketball or something after school and he had volleyball)

So like once a week on thursday afternoons everyone gets together and does all sorts of artsy stuff

Everyone listens to lo fi music (or you can bring headphones) and chit chat and just paint for a couple hours

Its in the back section of a library (bc the library near me does stuff like this its awesome) so if you want you can go read a book while you wait for things to dry

One day the person that ran it suggested you talked to the new guy

He was about your age, it was his first day, they didn't know what all he was good at, and tbh they thought you two would look cute together

Just the vibes yk

So you set up your canvas and stuff next to him and introduced yourself

And you guys just vibe to the playlist

He’s REALLY good

Compliments you a lot too

Which is fun because he’s cute so it makes you a little flustered

You find out you guys go to the same school and he’s on the VB team

And says he has a (practice) game that weekend and asks you to come if you can

Which you do

And they win! So its fun!

Matsukawa basically asks you out for him though

He’s heard all about you already

“You don't get it issei! She’s so pretty!! God, she touched my hand and I thought I was gonna die!!!!!” “the enthusiasm is new for you” “shut up asshole” (conversation from the night before)

So he walks up to you after the game and is like “Hey so,,, we’re going out to get some lunch, you wanna come?”

Makki thinks HES flirting with you and is pissed off about it

Until you all sit down for lunch and oh, the only open spot for him is next to you (since when is matsukawa willing to sit between iwaizumi and oikawa??)

He asked you out after art club that week (Mattsun threatened not to give him any more monster for the rest of the month if he didn't get the guts to do it)

General Headcanons

You date hanamaki, you're also dating matsukawa

There’s no separating them (good thing ur MBTIs work together too, especially for strong friendships)

This was literally my first thought

So

Good luck with both these trolls

More on that later

Of course he’s going to be worried if you go radio silent for a while, but he'll understand

There are some days he’s not gonna wanna talk either

He’s really supportive on your bad days of course

Expect a random text in the middle of the evening from him

“Hiya sweetheart, just wanted to remind you that you’re beautiful, I love you, and I hope your day is going well.”

When he’s having a bad day, the same thing is all he needs from you to keep moving

He’s a really honest person. If you want to talk to him, be prepared not to get any sugar coating. If you tell him to shut up because you don’t want advice, he will. But if you expect advice from him, expect brutally honest advice. Subtlety is not his strong suit, so when it comes to advice, he’s going to tell it like it is. He's just trying to help, yknow?

However, he’s pretty good with people, so will know how to comfort you when something is bothering you. Tea and cuddles? Gotcha. Dancing at 11pm because neither of you want to sleep yet? On it. You want him to hold you? Perfect.

He’s not like...the most touchy person? There are some things he’s really indifferent on, and other things he’s stubborn as hell with. Whatever you wanna do, though

His weakness though

⚠️this part is slightly little bit suggestive⚠️

He will randomly walk up to you and pull you against him, give you a really deep kiss, smirk and walk away like nothing happened

Like hands in hair probably almost making out and then just

Walk away

Because that’s how he kisses and it’s breathtaking every time

It’s either little temple kisses or forehead or cheek pecks or something

Or that

And probably leaves you flustered and it’s funny (to him) (and to me if I was there with you) (bc that would be funny)

Hmm I’m thinking

I’m thinking hair dye dates

He needs help doing his hair from time to time Y’know (he doesn’t he just likes spending time with you) and he wants to make it pink again

So he teaches you how to do his hair and even offers to dye yours one day

Either just a strand or the ends or everything, up to you

Imagine having twinning hair dye with makki isn’t that cute

I think it’s cute

I said ur platonically dating mattsun right

Yes you are now

He absolutely adores you and loves how much makki loves you

Probably would have asked you out if makki didn’t but he was really pushing for makki to because he was just all over you in the beginning

He wasn’t overly attached to you romantically so being friends? Perfect. Sounds great

You two get along wonderfully though like you act like siblings once you warm up to each other

Again, very brutally honest person, but a little more awkward so doesn’t know what he’s saying might come off as he’s acting like a dick

He doesn’t try to though and he does really care about you

Flat out told makki if he breaks up with you and breaks your heart he’s gonna kick his ass (makki doesn’t know he had the same (less aggressive) conversation with you)

Tbh all of the VBC at seijoh loves you

Oikawa loves talking to you he thinks you’re great for makki

Gets you in on he and makki and mattsun’s antics

Iwa thinks you’re good too he just doesn’t know you as well

I think that kunimi would like you (he was almost a runner up--)

Kindaichi too

The first years just think you’re cool even if they won’t say it out loud

Seijoh VBC loves you

You got mattsun’s approval

And hanamaki loves you with literally everything in his life

So

You’re pretty set with your strawberry baby huh

Date Night!

SLEEPOVERS

I was waiting for some matchup to come along that gave me sleepover vibes

In a perfect world where you could do sleepovers with your bf because most parents would,,,not let that happen

Imagine…

He shows up at like 7:00 after practice, pizza in hand because he picked up dinner

You two eat, chat about your day, he probably scarfs down half the pie bc it’s after practice ofc he’s hungry

So when you guys are done eating you head up to your room

And make pillow fort

It’s mandatory

Different design every time, but there’s a pillow fort nonetheless

And then when there’s just enough room for the both of you to climb in

You get a blanket and a couple pillows and one of your phones or laptops or whatever and watch a movie and cuddle

When the movie is over you guys break out the face masks

You ever wonder why he has such great skin? It’s thanks to you (or if you don’t have masks, he picks them up on the way home from practice)

But anyway you guys talk shit about people for a while and sit with the masks on (it’s usually him talking about how Oikawa is a bitch as much as he loves him) (or about whatever he and Mattsun were talking about lately)

You both get chances to vent while the masks sit on your face and you just vibe with music (usually that you pick) (he listens to like,,,meme songs and like CORPSE yk)

After masks you guys make/get some snacks and munch on those during another movie but this time you’re in comfy jammies and more relaxed Y’know

Less paying attention to the movie you’ve seen a million times and just vibing in each other’s presence and it’s just really sweet

Fall asleep on his chest

Let him fall asleep on yours

Either way, you’ve got him whipped for you he loves you

Not that he doesn’t already but that’s his favorite thing ever so please just let him do that

Always makes sure to tell you he loves you before you sleep too

If you fall asleep first he takes embarrassing pictures of you with your hair being a mess & you best bet he sends them to mattsun because “she’s so cute omfg” “dude” “dude what” “you’re so fuckin stupid” “?” “Whatever—good luck being whipped just tell me when you need to get a ring, k” “you’re such a jackass” “yeah yeah Gnight”

Zodiac/MBTI

Okay so I’m not doing a big long paragraph for all this BUT from what I understand, Gemini/Aquarius are really compatible, and ENTP and INFJ are known as “perfect matches” sO (I had a really hard time deciding between Atsumu and Makki because they're both ENTP)

Psst Gemini + Leo is compatible and so is INTP + INFJ,,,, so, again, asking you to marry me sho 💍💍

Aesthetic/Vibes

Playlist

Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major, BWV 846

Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio (meme song)

Sky Full Of Stars by The Piano Guys

Someone To You by The Piano Guys

Shut Up And Dance - Simply Three

Runners Up

Miya Atsumu, Tsukishima Kei