#i hope 2024 has been treating you all kindly so far

[savedpeople]

me looking at the things in my drafts from as early as 2020: is it... too late to respond to these...

[speakergame]

Progress Update - 3/4/24

Hello and happy March!

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? 😅 Well, I finally have some good news for you this time: I have some actual news!

I'm happy to be able to announce at last that an update is on its way! I’ve still got some assets to make and code cleanup and testing to finish, but I should finally have something to show you soon.

I’ll put a cut at the end of this and go into more detail about the what and why of what I’ve been working on during this long and unintended hiatus, but the tl;dr is that I hope to have an update out by the end of the month, and that said update will break any saves made in Chapter 4. Unfortunate, but unavoidable, since Chapter 4 had to be recoded from the beginning 😞

I just want to thank all of you once again for sticking with me through my extended silence! Especially to my patrons who’ve put up with me putting everything on pause month after month while I dealt with my real life shit, and to everyone who’s sent me kind and supportive messages to let me know Speaker hasn’t been forgotten. It really means a lot to me.

Okay, enough of that sappy shit! I’m gonna get back to work finishing this up 😁 I’ll put out another update later this month once I have a more definite release date.

Thank you all for reading! I hope you’re having a fantastic 2024 so far, and that the rest of the week treats you kindly. See y’all soon! 💙💙💙

(For those who want a more detailed breakdown on what’s been happening and what to expect, hit the readmore)

I won’t go into the personal life stuff I’ve been dealing with this past year that has slowed down my work, but as far as the actual game goes: 

To put it simply, I just wasn’t happy with it. Some of it could be because of how many times I had to reread the same section while I was coding the scenes that would’ve taken place after the last update, but no matter how much I edited or rearranged it, I didn’t like how that scene turned out. There was something… formulaic that had been happening with the way I always laid out scenes, and a bit of stagnation in the story, character, and relationship development that bothered me.

So I rewrote it. And when I still didn’t like it, I rewrote it again. And I still didn’t like it. I thought about scrapping the whole thing on more than one occasion as I struggled to get out of the corner I’d written myself into.

Inspiration finally struck at the beginning of this year, thanks in part to another interactive novel I follow, and I really like the direction I’ve taken it now. 

Instead of the RO split scenes happening where the last one left off, Speaker, Seer, and Gavin are gonna have a chat about Things™ to move the next story arc forward. Then Speaker will get some downtime, by themself at first and then in an extended scene split with the RO of their choosing. 

All the Big Plot Things that were going to happen in Chapter 4 will be moved to Chapter 5 instead, and 4 will be a bit more of a filler episode. A deep breath before the plunge, as it were.

This split won’t just be a quick conversation/reaction from the RO, but a full on different direction for the rest of the chapter based on who you choose. Most of them will involve leaving the house; all of them will involve actual one-on-one time (or one-on-two time, as the case may be) away from the others. And though romance isn’t required, all of them will have the potential to really move the romance forward if you so choose. One or two might even have a lock-in choice (maybe. I’m not 100 percent on that, so don’t hold me to it) 

These scenes won’t be in the next update, because they’re all very complex, but the update will definitely have the Seer chat and at least some of the by-yourself stuff. The update after will have the rest of the alone time stuff (including the clothes/body CC you’ve all been waiting for), and then the one after will start the RO scenes. I think.

I may actually split the RO scenes into separate updates, and let my darlings over at Patreon vote for the order they’re released. That way I can focus on one at a time instead of trying to split my attention six ways at once.

Okay, that’s enough rambling for me today. Time to get back to work! Still got a lot to get done before this is ready, but it’s so close now.

[mooseonahunt]

HAPPY NEW YEAR

This piece is dedicated to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this year through the Resident Evil fandom.

Just like everyone else, long message is beneath the cut.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported me and my works this year. I truly could not have made it this far without my followers, mutuals, and my friends. I didn’t have anything planned for NYE, but I threw this together real quick so I could get my thanks out.

The Resident Evil fandom has not always treated me or my friends kindly, but the good people I’ve met outweigh the bad ones. Even though I’ve only known a few of my current friends for a couple months, it’s felt like a lot longer and I certainly do hope to continue knowing these friends for years to come. Falling into the RE hell pit and carving out a safe space with people I cherish and adore has been quite the experience, and I’m glad I didn’t have to spend a single second in this fandom alone.

Thank you especially to @hamartia-grander for introducing me to RE with your RE4R posts. Laying my eyes on Luis and watching an RE4R playthrough to get to know more about him was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. It’s led me to friends like @wisecrackingeric-2 and @theprestigegirly. I can’t imagine my life without any of you in it, and, quite frankly, I don’t want to imagine it. In the short amount of time that I’ve known you all, you’ve all become like family to me. And @bag-0f-b0nes, I know you weren’t into RE for very long, but thank you for joining me on Tumblr even when I stopped posting about DBH and kinda sorta abandoned my IG page. Your support has been invaluable to me.

Of course, thank you to my mutuals as well! I may not talk to all of you, but it’s always a pleasure seeing you on the dash. You’re all fantastic individuals and I hope this new year brings you all great things.

Last but not least, thank you to my followers. You’ve had to put up with so much of my rambling and nonsensical posts as well as spam reblogs that have led to a couple Asks wondering if I’m okay. Some of you have been constants in my notifications and I’ve come to recognise you. Those of you that I recognise, it’s been a joy seeing you interacting with me and my friends this past year. Thank you so much, truly, for your support and your kindness.

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope 2024 brings you all wonderful memories.

[asurasleeping]

Backloaded my queue with every non-ych piece I've done since September last year! Its mostly CS prompts with a few other things sprinkled in I'm so sorry I haven't been the most active.

I haven't really had the spoons for social media lately and as a result my art's been kinda... scattered among discord servers and Not Much Else.

If you'd like to get ahold of me for any inquiries and things, your best bet is to reach out to me on my ToyHouse (coffeebean) or email (asurasleeping@gmail.com).

Hope 2024 has been treating you all kindly so far!

[boosoonhao]

so glad to hear that you’re doing better :) it brought such a smile on my face to see you on my dash, I wish you nothing but the absolute best !!

Thank you so much for the well wishes! So far 2024 has been treating me very kindly, and it’s been very nostalgic going through all my old writing as well to repost it.

I even found some old, unfinished drafts specifically for the even death and highways anthologies that I’m kind of considering finishing up, but we’ll see!

I hope you are well, too!!

[daisynik7]

happy new year Nikki! playing along with the ask game 🤔 Are there any new characters you want to write about?  🛏 Is there a new trope you'd like to write this year? 

the happiest new year to you too mochi! how've you been? hope that 2024 is treating you kindly so far! thank you for playing along :3

🤔 - YES! Choso from JJK has been very heavy on my mind lately and I really want to write for him, though I'm a bit intimidated by it. I have a few an ideas already, but nothing really fleshed out all the way yet. We'll see! 🤞

🛏️ - omg yes, I would love to try my hand at a proper love triangle story, either full of drama or very comedic (probably the latter, since I get pretty overwhelmed writing angst lol). Something where the two male leads hate each other and are seriously competing for the reader's heart. I've got a couple of characters in mind for this, but I may not write it until closer to the end of the year. 😬

Writer Goal Ask List for the New Year

[themculibrary]

Arranged Marriage AU Masterlist

Links Last Checked: May 13th, 2024

part two

A Marriage of Inconvenience (ao3) - WhinyWingedWinchester loki/tony, natasha/thor, odin/frigga M, 80k

Summary: Forced into an arranged marriage with Prince Loki of Aysgarth, Tony knows that he is not the ideal husband to the son of a king, but he still hopes that he might find true love with his husband like the stories he loves to read of adventures and happily-ever-afters.

Prince Loki, however, does not wish to be married, and he makes this clear to Tony even after their vows have been said before the priest. Life is no better for Tony in Castle Aysgarth than it was back in Iron Reach - he is as unwanted by Loki as he was by his father.

But slowly, things change. There is a steadily growing affection between them, something that might, perhaps, grow into more and Tony can only hope his love for Loki might one day be returned.

But then an assassin strikes unexpectedly, pirates attack, and Tony very well might be living an adventure from one of his books, but it looks like happily-ever-after might be too much to hope for.

Brookland House (ao3) - Ark steve/bucky E, 8k

Summary: “You seem distressed, my angel. Are you not pleased with the match? The word from court is that Lord James Barnes is an upstanding gentleman, not given to the wild circles around the Prince Regent. And Steve, it was he who asked for you. The young man has kept you in mind all these years -- despite our circumstances.”

Cold as the Night (ao3) - whatcolourmyeyes darcy/loki T, 27k

Summary: Darcy has been sent with Jane to Asgard as her personal handmaiden... but her presence there might have more purpose than she knows.

Gold Standard (ao3) - TenSpencerRiedPlease tony/t’challa N/R, 39k

Summary: T’Challa sighs, somewhat annoyed with the turn of events in his life as of late. The need to open Wakanda up to the rest of the world is necessary for a number of reasons, T’Challa agreed, but he did not know why that should involve marrying him off. He thought Wakanda was past that particularly dark part of their history where they treated their omegas like cattle more than people but his father’s current plan to integrate them into world politics stated otherwise.

*

Tony had zero interest in Wakanda, the prince, or anything else in relation to this whole marriage thing. But Obi had insisted, claiming it would be good for the company.

Hate doesn't even describe it (ao3) - elcapitan_rogers steve/natasha E, 153k

Summary: Steve hated Natasha. Natasha hated Steve. Everything was fine until their parents decided to fuck shit up for them...

Inimitable (ao3) - TenSpencerRiedPlease tony/t’challa N/R, 63k

Summary: Tony has absolutely no interest in this marriage but his mom seems to think this is a good idea. “I worked hard on finding someone you would actually get along with, Tony. I’m sure you will be happy,” she says.

Happy with someone in some random foreign nation that he’s never met before? Yeah, he gives his mom an incredulous look for that. “Something tells me this isn’t going to end well, but it’s only the rest of my life,” he mumbles.

*

T’Challa isn’t exactly sure about this marriage but his father insisted and he maybe loves his father a little too much given that he agreed to this.

Life, Love, Empire and Cake (ao3) - manic_intent thor/peter quill E, 45k

Summary: Peter Quill's mom had (as far as he remembered) always been a sweet, gentle and kindly soul. As such, he had grown up convinced that his father must have been, by way of cosmic balance, an asshole, and 100% a dick.

After all, Peter had to have inherited that particular character flaw from someone.

Making a family (ao3) - EaSnowPw tony/stephen T, 39k

Summary: "I'm not getting married again," Tony declared. "I don't want more pups anyway, so fuck that."

"First of all, you're healthy enough for pups," his father countered. "Secondly, you need to play the family game for the investors."

The second argument was more convincing.

"Ugh, fine. Let me just..."

"Nope. The last time I let you marry for love, look what happened."

OR

Apparently, an arranged marriage wasn't the worst thing ever.

OR

Tony and his pups try to make sense of their new alpha. Stephen is trying to make sense of his new life.

Male Order Bride (ao3) - faeleverte clint/phil E, 219k

Summary: Agent Coulson’s mission is simple: fly to Amsterdam; meet up with a fake mail order bride (a member of Dutch intelligence); fake a relationship; intercept stolen weapons plans; get home in one piece. But it’s the kind of operation where everything that can go wrong does, starting with a mixup in the introduction service paperwork.

Mercenary Hawkeye’s goal is clear: grab a temporary spouse; keep his real identity hidden; get himself and his partner back to the US; forget that whole failed mission ever happened. Unfortunately he gets more than he bargained for when his groom turns out to be perfect… and hiding a few secrets of his own.

Me and You (is who the future belongs to) (ao3) - melonbutterfly loki/tony T, 29k

Summary: Tony is in for quite a culture shock when he leaves for Jötunheimr to meet his soulmate for the first time, especially since what little he knows of the place is hearsay passed on through Æsir, who aren't exactly neutral on the subject. But he wouldn't be Tony Stark if he didn't roll with it.

One Reason Why (ao3) - NotEvenCloseToStraight peter/wade E, 149k

Summary: An Arranged Marriage brings Alpha!Prince Wade and Omega!Prince Peter together and neither are happy about it. Wade is obnoxious and Peter is stuck up and despite a fairly adorable accidental first meeting and instant attraction, they can hardly be in the same room without arguing.

Alpha! Wade is determined to win the bratty Omega over and tries with sarcasm and humor and enough one liners to make Peter scream.

Omega!Peter is brilliant, beautiful and too hurt from a past Alpha to try again. He doesn’t care about Wade’s scars, but if the Alpha doesn’t stop talking, Peter might just kick him out a window.

An unexpected moment forces them together and even Peter can no longer deny their bond. Even if he still isn’t sure he wants an Alpha, he can’t stay away, and every kiss and night spent together brings them closer to bonding. But outside forces want to tear them apart, and when tragedy strikes, Wade asks the Omega to bond so they can face it together but Peter still isn’t sure. Can Wade come up with One Reason Why Peter should be his?

Spoils (ao3) - Yen erik/t’challa E, 45k

Summary: Upon the realization of his imminent defeat, T'Challa could feel his body begin to change, preparing itself to be claimed by the winning alpha.

Teach Me How to Love You Right (ao3) - isabelbarret steve/bucky E, 93k

Summary: Steves spent his whole life wishing he'd be able to decide his own fate but when a foreign army invades and Steve finds himself getting sold into a marriage with a complete stranger that wish comes to an end. Steve can only hope that his life being Bucky's Barnes mate will be better then any other life he could have had.

The Loss of Little Threads (ao3) - infiniteeight clint/phil E, 12k

Summary: In the kingdom of Seveth, marrying anyone but your soulmate is unthinkable. With an offer of alliance on the table and his ability to bond fading, Phillip of House Coulson has been thinking a great deal.

Traded (ao3) - arianapeterson19 steve/tony T, 4k

Summary: Arranged marriages weren't exactly unheard of but Tony was fairly certain most of them weren't set up with the hopes of one party getting killed.

OR

The one where Howard uses Tony in his quest to steal from Wakanda.

Two-Point Perspective (ao3) - FestiveFerret steve/tony E, 109k

Summary: Dear omega,

Congratulations! You've been selected. Alpha #95847872 has been assigned as your pre-bondee. A group bonding ceremony will take place on the 14th, unless other arrangements have been made by your alpha or their family. A valid bonding license must be submitted to Omega Services within 45 days of this letter or all services will be cancelled and any transferable benefits will not be applied to your alpha's package.

If there is some reason why you cannot be bonded on this date, please apply for an extension by calling 1-800-555-6827 within 7 days of receiving this letter.

Sincerely, National Omega Services

Watch Them as They Fall (ao3) - mischiefgoddesscomplex darcy/loki M, 40k

Summary: When Loki discovers it's the All-Father's intentions to marry him off to an unfamiliar Jotun princess in the hopes of uniting the two kingdoms, he'll do anything in his power to stop it. Even if that means pulling off the greatest lie he's ever told - with the begrudging help of Darcy Lewis.

You Know Who I Am (ao3) - BuckyAboveEverything steve/tony T, 48k

Summary: Young Tony Stark is forced to marry Captain America.

It is either the best or worst thing to happen to him.

Spoiler: It’s for the best, mostly. :)