#i love this game i love this mc i love fight club

[valfeathers]

***** ****

[ma1dita]

hi jo!! can i please have a ticket to here for the boos! with sylus :)))) with a ice cream and fries! happy october ;)

devil inside

[STARRING: SYLUS QIN x reader ; “I know what you did.” “Blood? Oh it’s not mine.” ] wc: 1.4k warnings: none, undercover stripper!reader, mentions of Xavier as a friend if you consider that a warning LOL, ooc!MC? if that's possible? best hunter in Linkon City but the devs play her off too ditzy for my liking so i gave her some duality and spice. but also that might just be how she is w Sylus anyway, title from inxs

monster mash-terlist

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Maybe he’s had a few too many gin fizzes tonight.

That, or Sylus Qin has found himself completely captivated by the sight of you dancing on stage. The leader of Onychinus is rarely impressed by anything or anyone. It’s all a part of the job, after all. 

If Sylus was ever to be caught off-guard, he risks losing everything he’s worked for.

Winning is how he survives, and ensuring that keeps everything and everyone in the N-109 Zone in order. Anyone good or bad knows not to play him at his own game. Still, there’s something in the way you look at him as you spin around that pole that makes him think you could be a worthy opponent.

He shakes his head, running his hand through his silver hair, but his eyes remain transfixed on the way your hands slither up and down your body. You’re good at what you do and everyone in the establishment can see that, dollar bills flying onto the stage like confetti as you sway your hips. But he won’t let himself be shaken so easily by a woman he’s never met before.

The song ends with the club’s roaring applause as you twirl and flutter your lashes, waving cutely at men who leer at you like you’re a piece of meat. However, you’ve already made your mark on the most feared man in the establishment.

Making your way over to him and his henchmen, you lean down and offer him a smile, “You look like you might have something I need.” And once your eyes lock, Sylus can’t fathom not getting to know you. He thinks he can hear Luke choke on his spit under his mask, or maybe it’s Kieran—one of them whacks the other but that all fades into the background as his blood red eyes roam your face and then, lower. 

He’s still a man, after all.

“Eyes up here, mister. I think I just asked you a question.”

You’re a fearless one, toying with him in front of so many unfortunate souls that will never see the light of day once he blows this place up later. 

Perhaps he’ll do you a favor and warn you. A face like yours is too pretty to go up in flames. He smirks, “Is that so? Run it by me again,” he croons, index finger playing with the pendant that hangs from your neck, “You’ve got my attention, kitten.” Your smile widens, saccharine and sinister, as you repeat yourself.

“Do you have what I need?”

Oh, he knows you’re not here for him tonight. The man you were supposed to interrogate for information is being dragged out the back entrance by the blonde guy who’s been starring daggers at him since you started talking. 

“I think your associate already has him out back. Unless you mean something else, sweetie.”

Pretty little kitty, rubbing herself up against the wrong bad guy. 

It’s not your fault per se—the mission report details told you the person you were looking for would stand out; though it just so happens that Xavier found him first. Your eyes flash, straightening your posture as you spare him another smile before turning to head out the back door, “Maybe next time then. Thanks, handsome.” You’re gone in a swish of sparkles and you don’t look back at him, not even once. But Sylus does love a game, and you’ve successfully captured his interest, even if that wasn’t your original mission.

Later, on his way out, he hears the sound of metal against metal from the alleyway. Sylus watches you fight back-to-back with your partner through the crack in the emergency exit door, slashing through Wanderers with sheer power and athleticism in every strike. 

Who knew his little kitten had claws? How interesting.

“Ugh! Xay, Tobias is getting away!” you grunt, holding your sword down by your side—and Sylus dares to wonder where you pulled that out from. There are still two Herte Knaves staggering up from the ground, ready to pounce, “You need to get that briefcase!”

“I’m not leaving you here!”

Slashing a Wanderer clean through, you take a second to wipe the sweat from your brow, “I can handle this Xavier. You need to trust me, and we need to finish the mission. He won’t make it far if you use your Evol.”

Your hunter friend hesitates, before taking off, looking back at you the whole time, “Please be careful! I’ll communicate with you!” And Sylus has seen enough, he thinks, stepping out into the darkness. If he were fighting with you, it wouldn't even enter his mind to leave you alone like this. But as he raises his faintly glowing hand to pummel the last Wanderer into dust, your sword gleams in the streetlights, hacking at its weakest points until it disintegrates. You don't see him lurking in the shadows, as you collect protocores, sheathing your sword against your hip. The beeping noises on your comms link remind you to inform Xavier of your whereabouts.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side, sweetie."

You jolt, averting your eyes when you catch him at the door.

How long has he been there?

Sylus looks at you through full lashes and time stops. You don’t remember how he got so close to you, or why you let him…something pulling you to him from the depths of your core. His hand wraps delicately around the base of your neck and cheek before you even realize it, breath hitching under his caress, "Is that...."

"Blood? Oh, it's not mine," you smile as if he didn't see you single-handedly annihilate a group of Wanderers on your own, "I just got sloppy."

Your smaller hand claps around his wrist, fingers barely wrapping around his skin as you push him away and start walking. It's best to get out of here, handsome stranger be damned.

"I didn't get your name, kitten. Do you belong to someone?" he says playfully, watching your figure sashay towards the end of the street. You stop, not turning to meet his eyes. It's risky to get involved with someone while on the job, much less in the N-109 Zone.

What would the Association think?

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out."

Expensive cashmere is draped over your shoulders. You don't remember hearing his footsteps come near you at all. When you turn back towards the alley, the mysterious man is gone. Swallowing hard, you button the suit jacket to protect your modesty—who knows what other unexpected deviants might follow you home.

Mephisto caws from a nearby powerline, mechanical eyes gleaming ruby red like his master's. He makes sure you leave before the club explodes, plumes of smoke filling the night sky.

But all he can think of is you and the challenge you've presented him— a week later, Sylus has bought out an entertainment complex that you frequent in Linkon. He goes to inspect his newest business venture, making the trip out in scorching daylight and losing sleep every day that week just in case you might drop by.

What he doesn't expect to see is you standing in front of the plushie machine on your day off, eyes fixated on the stuffed animals within the glass box. You've been trying to collect the Succulent Bunny for an hour now, and he thinks even a fire wouldn't break your concentration. Sylus has tried everything—walked back and forth down the aisles, pretending to help customers nearby....he ought to stick Mephisto in there to be caught by the metal claw.

"I just need to try harder..." you mutter, the green plush slipping out of the trembling prongs. It glows red the longer you stare at it, lifting itself towards the slot, before hitting against the glass.

What?

You can feel the energy flux thrumming from inside the machine. Is there a Wanderer inside the plushie? Its new position makes it easier to capture—you can't help but scream in joy when the bells go off and the stupid thing slides into the hole.

"YES!"

You look around you frantically, hair whipping against your neck and then you see a familiar figure leaning against the doorway just like how you left him at the club. Hugging the plushie, you quickly walk towards Sylus. He watches you come towards him again with the same determination in your eyes, though the behavior you've presented in the arcade is nothing like the seductress he saw at the club. Here, you're not a hunter—just a plushie enthusiast.

"I know what you did."

"I could say the same about you, kitten. Wanna trade thoughts on it?" he smirks, looking down at your amused expression.

Two can play this game— it looks like the both of you are willing to take a gamble.

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ma1dita's monster mash is closed for requests but ongoing for the rest of october!

[cursedonyx]

I read the post about students reacting to mc dying in their arms. You should do the professors (including Black)

Thank you for the ask! 💚

Hogwarts Legacy Professors React to MC Dying in Their Arms

Link to student reactions here

⚠️Content warning for Death and Body Horror Below the Cut⚠️

Professor Hecat

Dina Hecat had rarely found herself as impressed with a student as she was with you. Your tenacity, your aptitude for magic, your ability to pick up new and complex defensive magic was unmatched, though Sebastian made a valiant effort to maintain a solid second place behind you. Such was your prowess that Dina thought you might make an excellent Auror, and determined to tutor you privately once you expressed an interest. It was a thrill to begin with, to teach you all the tips and tricks an Auror might need in their arsenal, you picking them all up as if it was as easy as breathing, to the point that Dina grew complacent.

She’d heard tales of your exploits during your fifth year, of course, and fought beside you during the Battle for the Repository. She was confident that you could handle anything thrown at you, and you impressed her over and over and over. But all it took was one tiny misstep, one foot wrong, and all her Ministry training and the reason behind it was thrown into sharp relief.

The troll was supposed to be an easy dispatch. You’d defeated one when you were brand new to magic, after all. Dina had taught you an advanced form of confringo, or at least, she’d taught you the theory. It was a powerful spell, a short step below feindfyre, and she was eager to see it in practice. But the troll had flung its club just as you began the incantation, and everything went wrong. You were distracted as it flew towards Dina, and you lost control of the spell.

The resulting inferno was too much for mere aguamenti, and there was nothing Dina could do but wait for the flames to die down, listening to you scream as you blundered about in the middle of the fire, unable to find a way out. When the smoke cleared, all that was left of you was a charred skeleton, your clawed hand leaving sooty streaks on her skin as she took it, hoping that this was some kind of nightmare, some kind of illusion or hallucination, anything but brutal, cold reality.

There was an investigation, of course. Why was a seventh-year student out fighting trolls? Why was this student doing so under the instruction of a faculty member that should have known better? Why had this professor allowed things to get so out of control?

Dina avoided Azkaban for her neglect by a narrow margin, but she had to give up her teaching post. She passed a little over a year later, having drunk herself to death, unable to cope with the guilt.

Professor Ronen

Abraham Ronen had always had such a love of fun and games, determined to make each of his classes a joy for his students. Yes, he recycled ideas through the terms, a large timetable in his office holding large lists of games he could incorporate that was appropriate for each year of Charms classes. But even so, after several years in his position, he found these games began to grow repetitive, and he wanted to liven things up.

That’s where you came in. Your ingenuity was famous throughout Hogwarts for a reason, and so he called on you one day after class, requesting your assistance in thinking up new games to play. He gave you a list of the spells he was to teach his seventh-year students, promising to waive your homework for a month if you helped out. You took to the task like a kappa to water, assailing Abraham with a variety of ‘games’ that would help the other students learn. The problem was, most of your games involved far too much risk for his liking, including trying to steal a dragon egg. Despite your protestations that you knew where to find one, Abraham wasn’t having it. But he’d promised, and you’d promised, and a deal was a deal.

So extreme were your ideas that when you proposed the still dangerous but comparatively tame idea of delayed-action bombarda combined with glacius, Abraham thought the idea of students running through a booby-trapped field, freezing the latent explosive spells, was a positively marvellous idea.

The students were less keen. They, unexposed to your particular brand of fun, saw the folly in such a practice. But you, determined that everyone should have fun, decided to be the first across the field. Abraham realised far too late just how foolish this game was, and had barely raised his wand as you danced across the minefield before disaster struck, and you were blown apart.

He tried his best to gather the pieces of you that rained down. A severed foot here, a shattered forearm there, holding his robes like an apron and gathering you up. It was futile, of course, for once a witch or wizard’s head is detached from their body, even the very best healers only have a few seconds to make it right.

He could never get that image out of his mind. One moment you were smiling, laughing, joking, teasing the others for their hesitancy, and the next you were in bits, everything that you were tumbling from the sky in slow motion. Every student in that class was scarred for life, set to fail their Charms NEWTs, fifty promising careers suddenly thrown down the toilet. Abraham resigned in shame, and did not go home to his wife. He wandered until he became lost, and lost himself until he found a cliff. Only by shattering himself on the rocks below could he find some form of atonement for his sins.

Professor Sharp

Aesop Sharp had always preferred to be somewhat gruff and stern. It kept his pupils in line, and his firm but fair approach ensured that everyone that took his classes passed with good marks, even if they had a tendency to blow things up, a practice he’d secretly taken to calling “doing a Garreth.” You, on the other hand, slipped past his guard. Maybe it was your incredible aptitude for offensive and defensive magic, or perhaps it was your endearing wit and charm. It could have been your happy-go-lucky nature, your ability to smile no matter how dire things seemed to be, always poking fun at yourself before anyone else. He found himself growing fond of you, thinking of you as some kind of wayward nibling.

He still had to give you detentions on occasion, of course, because even you couldn’t cheek the Potions Master and get away with it, no matter how well-intentioned your words had been. He found such hours to be more of a delight than a chore, happy to talk to you about anything and everything, even laughing a little as you revealed some of the mischief you’d gotten up to, things he’d normally give more detentions for.

One evening in the dungeons, you were cheerfully scrubbing out the cauldrons, and you asked him about is days as an Auror. You told him about an Ashwinder camp you’d caught wind of, and how you wished you could eradicate them. Aesop knew he should report it to Officer Singer and keep you out of it, but hell, he’d seen you fight, and there was something in him that yearned for that spark of excitement that came with defeating his enemies. He suggested travelling with you to wipe them out, considering it worth at least three detentions. You joked that this meant you had two free passes to be cheeky in class, and he told you not to push your luck.

If only he’d known. If only he’d taken a moment to think. If only he’d listened to his Auror instincts that told him this was a bad idea.

You’d both crept up on the camp, wands at the ready. There weren’t many of them, but enough to pose a bit of a challenge. Aesop had every confidence in you, he knew your skills after all, but unfortunately, the Ashwinders did as well. The moment they saw you, they didn’t bother with their typical hexes. They knew enough about you to know they couldn’t waste a second if they wanted to live. Three Killing Curses were sent your way, and one found its mark.

Aesop thought he knew loss when his partner was killed in Scarborough, but this was something else. Watching the light go out of your eyes, the ghost of your last, confident smile on your face, broke him like nothing had broken him before. He didn’t even try to resist when the Ashwinders took him, snatching his wand and throwing him in a cage along with the kneazles they’d poached. He couldn’t get the image of you out of his mind, your still body lying amid the debris of the Forbidden Forest, already ignored and forgotten by your foes, left for whatever scavengers crept through the night to feast. He refused food and water as he was dragged from one end of the country to the other, kept prisoner by those that had killed you. It took weeks to kill him, but one morning, lying on the floor of that cold, hard cage, he just didn’t wake up.

Professor Black

Phineus Nigellus Black preferred to let the students of Hogwarts think he was a cold-hearted, pompous bastard. It was much easier to work this way, easier to make the tough decisions a Headmaster of Hogwarts needed to make. Budget cuts, cancelling quidditch, extending exam season and banning Hogsmeade visits to ensure student safety was easier to weather if his heart was already hardened to the complaints and cries of woe, the bitter mutters, the whispered insults, the playground songs made up to poke fun at him. Yes, it hurt, but he was better than that. Stronger. Prouder. He had a job to do, after all, and Merlin only knew the previous Headmaster had left a hellish mess for him to set right. He had to be hard to be kind. He preferred not to pay attention to those around him, erecting a hard wall around his heart.

You, however… you were different. He heard about what you did in your fifth year, and though he found it hard to believe at first, he paid a bit more attention to you as time went by, and found the tales of your prowess were, if anything, undersold. Phineas made an effort in your final year to take you under his wing, seeing a potential candidate for the position of Minister for Magic in your future. He wanted to teach you the finer points of politics and bootlicking, introduce you to the right people, like the Gaunts, the Blacks, the Malfoys and more to give you the boost you needed to clamber up that slippery ladder. The only gifts he knew how to give.

You were resistant, of course. What kind of firecracker would you be if you weren’t? Phineas relished the challenge, demanding more and more of your free time until you began to understand just what kind of privileges came along with knowing the right people and scratching the right backs. Ominis knew it and used it to his advantage perhaps less than he should have done, but this seemed to tip the scales in Phineas' favour, and you finally began to listen and learn from his wise tutelage. He found himself swelling with pride as you whipped about your newfound allegiances, terrifying students and teachers alike, reining you in when you frightened Hobhouse so much he wet himself, his scolding gentle and warm. He might have had five children, but you showed promise.

Unfortunately, even the shrewd and clever Phineas couldn’t have foreseen the simple dangers of existing in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

He’d taken you to the trophy room, waxing lyrical about the famous witches and wizards that had come through Hogwarts, pointing out their accolades with relish, his hand on your shoulder, a rare and affectionate gesture of genuine pride. He told you that you could achieve just as much, perhaps more, if you applied all your skills and knowledge in the right ways. He even smiled at you, and his eyes were warm.

You asked to see a particularly bright medal on a high shelf, and Phineas, taking a leaf out of your muggleborn book, decided to give the other life a try, just for once. If a muggleborn could be as impressive as you, perhaps he didn’t have to use magic for everything. He tried to reach the medal by hand, even climbing on the shelf to do so, smiling as it made you laugh. He climbed down, medal in hands, his brow furrowing as your face grew ashen. The next moment, you had barrelled into him, throwing him out of the way of the falling shelf.

By the time he picked himself up, scolding you for your behaviour, it was too late. The falling shelves and shattered glass had crushed you, slashing your neck. By the time Phineas realised you weren’t just pratting about like you usually did, you’d bled out, your skin pale, your eyes wide and unseeing. Phineas sat on the floor beside your corpse, holding your fingers closed over the medal that read:

Most Impressive Display of Honour.

Professor Garlick

Mirabel Garlick had endured her share of enamoured students, villagers, and even fellow professors in her time. She dealt with it all with the grace and decorum that was expected of such a sunny personality, treating all and sundry with the same level of ardent attention and big, bright smiles. She had a soft spot for you though, someone who appreciated magical plants for the marvels they were. She didn’t mind when you stayed after class to quiz her on the less known properties of pufferpods or the right way to tamp down earth around a mandrake to ensure maximum comfort. She’d heard all about your little adventure to see the giant venomous tentacula, and had been curious about your knowledge ever since.

She was more than happy to help you grow your plants bigger and better than what the school board advised. She even cleared out Greenhouse Four for your personal use, encouraging you to grow things most students would only ever see if they were extremely unlucky. But she trusted you. She believed you knew what you were doing, swept up by your enthusiasm, tempted by her own curiosity to see just how far you could push your skills.

So it was that the pair of you ended up breeding a new kind of Devil’s Snare, one that was resistant to light and heat. It took time, and though you both occasionally wondered what the purpose of such a plant would be, you were too excited by the prospect of your experiments bearing fruit to worry about consequences. Mirabel should have known better. The only defence against a Devil’s Snare is light and heat, and both of you pushed away thoughts of protection against such a thing. It seemed playful, intelligent, happy.

It was early on a Saturday morning when Mirabel decided to look in on Greenhouse Four. It was only by chance that she had decided to do so, and she would spend the rest of her life wishing she had been five minutes sooner. She saw the Devil’s snare distract you with dancing tendrils as it had so many times before, only this time, you were too close. It wrapped you up faster than a spider wraps a fly, crushing the life from you. No matter how many incendios she cast, no matter how much she shouted and beat at it, even conjuring a torch to hold against the vines, all it did was hurt you more as it crushed the life from you, each snap of your ribs loud above your gasping breaths, the crunch of your spine grinding in her ears, the blood from your nose splattering on the floor as your lungs punctured, your eyes bulging out of their sockets. Even still you fought to draw breath until there was no more room in your chest.

Mirabel had never felt so helpless. She sank to her knees, waiting as the Devil’s Snare took you into its core to feed upon your corpse. She didn’t resist when the vines caressed her face, then wrapped around her throat, her wand lying forgotten on the floor of Greenhouse Four.

Professor Fig

Eleazar Fig had always had a soft spot for you. He’d watched you grow from a novice to a master in the space of a year, popular and clever, beloved by your peers and professors alike. He always made sure to make time for you in his office, sharing a cup of tea as you discussed your past adventures, gossiped about the students, or just had a jolly good chinwag. You both shared a love of adventure, and made time at least once a month to get up to mischief, whether it was investigating old ruins, clearing out mongrel dens, or just running the occasional errand for those in need. You delighted in having your mentor along for the ride, and he adored helping you where he could.

Unfortunately for you, your exploits over the years made you enemies. Though you helped a good many people and made plenty of friends, there were those that were hard done by when you stole from them or caused them trouble on behalf of someone else. Eleazar knew this, and made sure to continually warn you to watch your back, clucking like a mother hen. Perhaps he warned you too much, his words of caution becoming background noise as you continually avoided retribution for your misdeeds. Eleazar did his best to keep you safe all the same, ardently researching your enemies and eliminating plots before they came to fruition.

But after almost a year of no schemes against you, he dared to relax. He invited you out to lunch at Steepley and Sons, intending to enjoy a quiet cup of tea, some nice sandwiches, and perhaps even a slice of cake, his treat, of course. He wanted to catch up properly, to make sure you were happy, on top of your homework, getting on with your friends. You wanted to know how he was coping after Miriam’s passing, if he was back on the scene, how his work as a teacher was going, and can he please get you out of detention with Professor Sharp?

Neither of you expected after all this time there were still those that held a grudge. The young wizard helping Mrs Steepley was actually an Ashwinder, and they poisoned your cup of tea. It took a moment to take effect, but once it did, the only way to save you was locked away in Hogwarts Castle. Even accio couldn’t have got the antidote to you in time.

Eleazar watched as your face went ashen, seemingly sinking in on itself as you clawed at your throat. He caught you as you listed sideways, his eyes locked on yours, trying to comfort you, soothe you as you struggled to draw breath, not even a pin able to pass through the tightness of your throat. Your nails left bloody furrows on your neck, your feet kicking feebly even as someone ran for J Pippin’s, hoping he’d be able to help. Eleazar knew better. He just held you as your body jerked, the last of your life sliding through his fingers as he tried oh so hard to hold on to it, begging you silently to just hold on a little longer. You were all he had, the last spark of joy in his cold, dark life. Once you were gone, there was nothing left for him. A swift unforgivable curse delivered to his temple as he lay in his chamber was enough to ensure he could see you and Miriam again.

witchdoctorpirate ~💚

[jemjams02]

Specifically asking for Mammon and Asmo cause they're my faves, but could you write some headcanons as to what they're like as a duo, both interacting with each other (in a platoic way of course) and MC?

They're my favorite dynamic in the game tbh hehe

Mammon and Asmo are definitely MC's number 1 party duo, if MC wants to go out, you're calling them. Not only does MC trust them to keep you safe out there in the demon clubs (there's some sketchy mfs at those places), but they LOVE taking MC out dancing!!

I personally think Mammon and Asmo also spend lots of time together, they both have similar interests in fashion, modeling and social media (although social media is mostly Asmo). Once MC came along, they wanted to doll them up! Although they have very different aesthetics, and often would fight over whether they'd look best in the Legally Blonde-pink outfit, or the leather jacket, ripped jeans and combat boots (Mammon usually caves first, mostly cause he thinks the pink outfit is cute too)

Mammon's the only one really allowed to be in the room when Asmo is having a pampering session with MC, since he's a model he understands Asmo's views on skincare and relaxation, and sometimes the three of them have massage circles while they talk shit.

I feel like aside from Mammon's habit of taking things from Asmo, they don't butt heads very often. Sure, Asmo makes the same comments his brothers do, but to him his brother is mostly just a dumbass. Usually they'll agree on things, unless Mammon says something profoundly stupid, then Asmo has some words to say

Mammon's one of the brothers who actually appreciates the manicures, whereas everyone else kinda just lets him do it. Mammon likes his nails painted, but sucks at doing it himself, so Asmo does it for him!

Asmo 100% goes to Mammon's shoots to make sure they're not doing his big brother wrong! He's NOT letting those people put Mammon in anything he deems ugly

Shopping. They love shopping. It's a hassle to get them out of the shops once they've gotten into it!

Mammon is willing to thrift, and Asmo is only going so he doesn't get anything ugly lol

Mammon has definitely just not said anything to anyone when Asmo comes home late with a demon that managed to strike his fancy; they usually make knowing eye contact with each other and then never speak of it

[blue-howlite]

Rambling about my new obsession because I'm the sole lord of this glorified trashcan and I can.

Sylus from Love and Deepspace.

Warnings: spoilers for his two story chapters, spoilers about Dawnbreaker, generic spoilers about the game, a lot of self indulgent thinking, error.404 coherence not found, we're hopping from one thought to the other like the sparrows on the window, inaccuracies are likely to happen I'm just a silly guy.

THIS MAN.

So, from the blurred scene we see as flashback when we're on the rooftop with him and stuff, someone made out the figure of a "Wanderer" Sylus on his knees, stabbed with a sword in the chest by the MC. I'll add the link to the Tumblr post with the video here. The video is from TikTok but it's easier to see here if you ask me and besides this is what triggered all my thinking.

Now, hear me out.

We know the other guys (well you guys probably know, I landed on the game for Sylus and saw almost nothing of the in-game lore of the guys, I only know spoilers from social media and something from the anecdotes) all sacrificed something for MC in her past lives. Faith, power, people... They had all to renounce to something to protect MC. Some people were wondering what Sylus sacrificed for her in her past life with him.

This would be the explanation.

He literally died for her.

Like in the flashback he tells MC to press on, so she didn't kill him as an enemy, but he LET her kill him. And for some reason she HAD to kill him too. We can see his clawed hand cradling hers and making her hold the hilt of the sword.

Now if we go down the wanderer theory, y'all are familiar with Dawnbreaker anecdotes right? How people started turning into wanderers and the alternative Zayne had to kill them even though they still had human looks for the most part.

So what if Sylus was, in another life, that kind of wanderer? A human turned into a monster, that MC had no choice but to kill?

BUT WE'RE NOT STOPPING HERE. OH NO WE'RE REACHING WITH THIS ONE.

The surroundings, for what little we could see in the blurry flashbacks, weren't of Linkon, or any place on the current in-game earth for that matter. A very post-apocalyptic vibe, right?

AND we know from Dawnbreaker that his world is going in a similarly dystopic direction: the government is hiding the fact that people are turning into wanderers, Linkon in ruins, normal wanderers roaming free and people forced inside their houses. We've seen suspicious wanderers in the new story chapters too, when we were at the club fighting the other faction of Onychinus. Just reminding y'all.

Now I won't reach THAT much by saying that Dawnbreaker is in the same timeline of wanderer Sylus and MC (though...) BUT what if in their timeline they found themselves in that similar situation, just way further ahead and way worse? MC as one of the few surviving humans with Sylus as her companion, both of them trying to "press on", with ultimately Sylus turning into a wanderer and getting killed by MC, then her dying later on.

This feels like a mashup of Doom Breaker and Eternal Afterlife but it's probably just me.

And all the possible simbolysm, as the person in the video noticed, like the claw gripping a heart on Sylus's necklace? Could it be symbolic of his wanderer self clinging to his humanity? Or maybe his wanderer self, still somehow conscious, offering his heart to MC to be killed, like he did in the flashback?

Also, just to mention the other necklace he has, with the heart being impaled; I don't know how strong vampire lore is in China, BUT a stake to the heart is what is traditionally believed to kill vampires. And vampires, traditionally, are represented as parasites, or rather humans that are possessed by a parasite, and killing them is putting the human soul at peace and saving it. So apply it to Sylus and the earlier reasonings about his past life with MC.

It's the theme of losing humanity and being saved through death before it's too late.

Also it would be such a good parallel with the scene from their first (not exactly first but you get it) interaction, when Sylus presses MC's gun to his chest and encourages her to shoot. Like MC killed him at the first chance she got.

Which would support the wanderer Sylus theory.

And that thing about not being killed by the same thing twice in Lost Oasis??? Hello???

Yes he didn't actually die and can use his energy manipulation to heal himself quickly but you get my point:

He coerced her into shooting at his heart. Where she likely stabbed him in the other timeline.

...

Okay now that we've talked about this (AAAAAAAAAAAAAA THE LORE THE SYMBOLISM THE PARALLELS THE DEPTH I JUST CAN'T WITH THIS GAME) let's go to something lighter!

Like, did you know that crows are one of the smartest and most loyal birds out there?

They have a great memory and will remember you if you help them, becoming loyal to you (following you around, giving you trinkets...) and sort of adopting you as their god in a way (since they give you offerings and expect food in exchange so you are getting my point I hope). What does this say about Sylus? EVERYTHING.

He comes to MC when he needs help and always rewards her, he literally says that he adores her (not in the main story), has his "flock" (Luke and Kieran, and Mephisto if we want) looking out for her, not to mention the stalking...

He's that perfect mix between adorable crow husband and tormented gothic antagonist.

Alr thank you for coming to my LaD talk, have a cookie 🍪

[vaccariia]

Omgg I love your keyframes fanart, your mc is sooo pretty <333. I need to hear your thoughts on Elio !! (If you feel like sharing ofc, I've been obsessed with him and i wanna know what other people think lol)

M.....MY FIRST ANON ASK????!?!? MY MC IS PRETTY?? AND A FELLOW ELIO FAN????? THANK U!!!!!

anon, you are opening the metaphorical pandora's box in me. i played the extended demo a few more times because i wanted to see elio again FOR RESEARCH so i think i'm ready to put my thoughts into paper

(Uhhh disclaimer, this is my first time doing something like this, normally i just keep my thoughts to myself. So everything under here is merely speculative and things i made up LOL)

(Also I took some screenshots and used them to reinforce some of my statements. Game and characters are not mine, they belong to blank house, etc. etc. please do let me know if screenshots are not allowed, i'd be more than willing to remove them from this post!)

______________________________________________________________

I want to begin by citing a post from the devs . Said post contains an ask summarizing the LI's into three words. For Elio, he's given the following descriptors:

Sweet, sensitive, wild Determined, hopeful, friendly

(First line is how the devs would describe Elio, second line would be how Elio probably sees himself)

And for the most part, the traits DO check out!! He's sweet, especially when he's with his boys <3 We've also seen him be considerate with the MC and others (i.e carrying groceries for mc and refilling bottles, among other instances)

But I do want to say that despite his wild and impulsive tendencies, he does have a more delicate side to him

When MC tags along with Percy and Elio for a snack run, they have the option to check out a plant stall manned by the horticulture club. It's in this part where he reveals to MC that he knows a lot about ferns, but there's a particular set of lines that made me feel that there's something more to Elio than he lets on

His reaction to seeing the staghorn fern and recounting his childhood tells me that Elio had some rather fond memories from his youth.

i'm probably projecting here, but he can also get a bit homesick because of it. (imagine being in Hawai'i your whole life and then having to move to NY for school. Guy probably had a hard time adjusting at first. I mean granted it's the same country, but different states still have different norms and values to go by)

Additionally, I find it quite interesting that Elio doesn't give himself credit (Or downplays himself) sometimes. Like, man was fighting for his life when he was being stickered by Rory. Ooor the part where he says that the gang doesn't have to celebrate his birthday

This leads me to assume that he's the type to look out for others and has the tendency of putting himself second...

I'm guessing Elio is also a big family man, judging by how fondly he speaks of his siblings. Aaaaaand he could also potentially be a bit of a hopeless romantic because he's hopeful about wanting to experience a love that's similar to his parents someday <3 <3 <3

So yeah, there! Elio is true to his name; a jovial man who embodies the light of the sun. He is loved by all, (except for most animals, i'm sorry </3) and he reciprocates that love tenfold. He's competitive and lively, but he can also show a softer side if he wants to hehe

Tl;dr: I LOVE ELIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[leanderfields]

I hope I’m not reading into this too much, but the way that the Touchstarved logo (with the characters) on the Red Springs Studios website and in the PV trailer is set up makes me think it’s not just an artistic choice. I know that the characters in the image have been rearranged in a different order for certain promotions, but I just want to talk about why I think the characters in the main logo are set up that way and what it could imply about Touchstarved’s routes.

As seen above, Ais is in the center with Leander on his right (our left) and Mhin on his left (our right). Behind him, there’s Kuras and Vere. Ais is obviously the poster boy for Touchstarved. He’s usually in the center for their promotional images and merchandise e.g. the game’s loading screen, the pins and the tote bag. The devs themselves have said that Ais was the first character they created and that they built the world of Eridia around him.

There’s lots of theories floating around about Leander’s design which features Ouroboros, his eye bags, motifs of life and death, his white lilies, and lots of other things. His belt in particular features a triple goddess symbol which represents stages of womanhood as the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. The Maiden is associated with beginnings– so things like (re)birth, youth, exploration, etc. The Mother is associated with, well, motherhood but also power and stability. The Crone is the opposite of the Maiden, being associated with death. I’m sure there’s already theories on his belt and this symbol, but I think personally Leander only represents one of them in the grand scheme of things.

I think Leander, Ais and Mhin respectively represent the Maiden, Mother and Crone. Despite Leander’s death motifs, I feel like him being the Maiden is fitting because of his personality and character design. His coat is green and so are his eyes and magical flowers. Green is the color of life. Though his flowers are typically used for funerals in some cultures, flowers themselves are full of life. He even comments that they don’t last long, but they’re beautiful nonetheless. As life is. Secondly, Leander’s personality is, perhaps, the liveliest among the cast. He’s always upbeat and smiling (or blushing) which is why I think he represents the Maiden. He’s what you’d think of when you think of youth. He’s partying, drinking, performing magic tricks, has a club/the Bloodhounds and he seems to be having fun all the time.

As for Ais, I feel like it's pretty understandable that he is the Mother. He’s marketed as powerful, violent and intimidating. He loves bar brawls and hates easy fights. Additionally, it’s implied that he used to be a leader or at least in a gang. Red is a predominant part of his character and design. The Seaspring is red. So are his horns, eyes and the accents on his clothes. Red is, well, a powerful color. It represents powerful, strong emotions like love and anger. And emotions are a big part of Ais’s character. They’re his fatal flaw!

And finally, Mhin is the Crone. I was actually debating whether they were the Maiden (and Leander would be the Crone) since they were fairly new to Eridia like MC… like a new beginning in a new city? I’m going on a tangent here, but I think it may be deliberate on the devs’ part. Leander and Mhin could possibly represent the Maiden and the Crone because life and death are intertwined.  Mhin has a celtic knot/triquetra on their cloak’s clasps. The triquetra is used to represent three things that are deeply connected e.g. the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In pagan traditions, it’s used to represent the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone… like the triple goddess symbol on Leander’s belt. Anyways back to Mhin, I think the Crone suits them the best. Their supposed monster form is either a crow or a raven. Black feathered birds are associated with bad omens. Moreover, crows and ravens are associated with death thanks to pop culture and media. Our first encounter with Mhin was when we were at death’s door. They also shroud themselves with a cloak, have white hair and are extremely pale when compared to the rest of the cast.

The way Leander, Ais and Mhin are set up in the logo makes me want to believe that they’re representing the triple goddess symbol and that at least story wise, they may be the most important routes. They’re placed at the front and all three characters have something to do with curses. Leander knows his way around curses. He might be cursed himself. His eye bags are pointed out by MC and he doesn’t seem to be that fond of sleep either. Ais technically doesn’t have a curse, but the last two lines of his character introduction are “He’s beginning to suspect that he may not be in control of his powers as he thought. Can you save each other, or will he drag you into the abyss with him?”... which sounds like a curse to me. And aside from Leander, is also the only one to know about MC’s curse. Then, for Mhin, they also have a curse of their own and have been seen sneaking around the Senobium… possibly for a cure of their own?

This isn’t to say that Vere and Kuras aren’t important and relevant characters. It may just be the typical thing with otome games where certain routes have more lore than others and it’s recommended to save them for last. It’s usually the poster boy’s route. In this case, Ais’s.

[little-buzz]

Guess who just wasted 2-3 hours playing DDLC on Roblox

I took a lot of screenshots through my journey, so you get to be in for the ride! This is just gonna be part 1 though because Tumblr only allows 30 pictures.

There is a lot to go through in this game. Let me know if you wanna see the rest of my shots��️

I'm with the girlies but in Roblox!!

I'm kind of surprised the game let you actually write a poem. It doesn't actually affect anything though because there's an option after which lets you pick which girl you wanna hang with.

I obviously wanted Sayori 😌

I was looking around the classroom and accidentally unlocked a part of Yuri's route! I needed to find The Portrait of Markov and read through a bit of the book. I thought it was interesting how the developer visually interpreted the novel.

Natsuki called out Yuri about her boobs (which were hilariously censored). Because Roblox is a game for kids, the developer switched parts of the narrative to make it more "family friendly".

Natsuki and Yuri’s fight turned into... a boxing match?!

This was the funniest part of the game for me. I'm sure a boxing match AU exists... somewhere. I laughed out loud because it was so fucking absurd.

Then somehow I get roped into it and joined the fight?? Sayori would never canonically say that, but I think it's funny as hell.

I don't think women have ever bombarded me like this before in my life. Also ignore my health bar I got hit more because I had to take these screenies.

WHERE THE HELL ARE YURI'S CLOTHES?? DEVELOPERS FIX THIS PLEASE 😭😭

Anyway I won, score one for the trans guy 😎

Aww Sayori is so stinking cute 🥹

I like it when Sayori said revolution instead of retribution. Love it when Yuri corrects her afterwards.

Noo Sayori, don’t go home :( You're too cute to let your depression get the better of you.

MC has never stated truer facts. I'm simply just a guy who beat up two women in a boxing match

This is my favorite Natsuki poem! I know it's speculated it's about Yuri and her sh, but is that actually confirmed?? I wonder if she showed her poem to Yuri... I'd assume so because the whole point of this activity is to share poems...

CLASSIC ROBLOX MAKING ME DO AN OBBY 🥲 I love this was the replacement instead of the closet cutscene w/ Natsuki.

I'm spitting facts in this poem y'all.

Her body type :( I wish the girls had different body types in the actual game. I get why Salvato didn’t, because he was masking the game as a classic visual novel. Yuri always gave me chubby vibes, though.

I miss Sayori!! Someone finally addresses Sayori's absence. She's the glue that holds the club together 🥰

This is it for now! I was kind of bored because not a lot changed in this Roblox adaptation. I understand that was the point, but I liked a few of their minor changes. I wonder what DDLC plus would look like in Roblox...

I was surprised this even existed on Roblox. For the most part, the developers adapted the game to Roblox pretty well. They even have other endings of the game, but I only unlocked the normal ending.

Even though this was made in 2017, some people still play this!! There were 20-30 active players. This hasn’t been updated since 2021 either.

Let me know if you want me to continue posting more of my playthrough ♥️

[differenteagletragedy]

HELLOOOO *^ο^* literally LOVE ur work. if ur taking requests, can you write the OLBA poly boys in highschool with the mc? like they all are highschool sweethearts!! i’m having massive brainrot of that.

Thank you! I've gotten two requests for poly high school sweethearts, so let's imagine!

-- Obviously they all live close enough to go to the same high school. Baxter is the same age (originally he was not but I can's separate them like that so everyone's all in the same grade).

-- Probably it would go similar to regular poly MC/boys timeline, which is that Cove and you get together first, then your bestie Derek comes on in, then you start hanging out with this weirdo upperclassman and oops, he's pretty awesome too. Love is magical!

-- Hangouts are at Cove's house. It's just Cliff there, who's cool with the situation, and you have plenty of room to hang out, plus the beach is right there for activities.

-- You can hang out at your house too obviously, moms are fine. Derek's parents are also cool, but if you go over there you're going to have his little brothers around, and Nicolas LOVES Baxter. He thinks he is so neat and fascinating.

-- Baxter's place is big, but you never go there because his parents would not be down for this situation. At all. Like AT ALL. He just doesn't tell them about you guys, which is all right. It's a sore spot, though, that he can't talk about his lil sweethearts with his own parents, so please give him hugs.

-- Baxter's the only one who has a car in high school, like his own all the time car, so that's the ride.

-- Everybody goes to Derek's games. Cheer loud, he deserves it.

-- Your parents and Baxter's parents are members of the country club, so you can both go to events and take Derek and Cove as your respective plus ones.

-- If Baxter's parents ask, your friends. He's going to be down about having to lie. More hugs.

-- Kids are gonna gossip, it doesn't matter how public you are or aren't. With the different kids of people the three boys would attract, a lot of people are going to want to get with them. So there would probably be some bullying from some of them who can't have who they want, and because teenagers brains are still cooking at sometimes they can't express things in the best way.

-- You might fight somebody if they take it too far, I don't know you, but Cove definitely will.

-- Somebody says something in the hallway that makes Derek's big ol smile falter? Yeah, Cove's getting suspended.

-- Oh you have to go to Baxter's ballroom competitions too. Derek is going to cheer inappropriately loud. Baxter's going to be down there, trying not to smile and to keep his form, but it's going to make him happy.

-- As in all poly universes, Cove takes Baxter out into the ocean his first time. It's been said before, but it's important.

-- Another theme is Baxter dressing everyone, and sorry, but he's going to be picking the prom outfits.

-- Cove has flowers for everyone, like individual flowers. Derek brought brought boutonnières/corsages (I recently played the soiree with Derek and I actually thought it was very out of character that he didn't bring one for MC so).

-- Baxter wouldn't go for a limo, I don't think, I think he'd rather rent a more classic car. Not like an old Mustang or something, like a classic obscenely rich person car.

-- Cove at least isn't wild about parties, so when you're done dancing you skip anything your classmates have planned and instead spend the rest of the night on the beach in your formalwear.

-- Cuddles, watching the sun come up. Memories to last a lifetime :)

[kisa-ownworld]

(Part 6) That's right folks!! It's time for my first impression of the Fudomine team! I've found out about this team's story through Tachibana's route in Gakupuri and maaaaaan FUCK those former members and their stupid coach! That coach totally deserved that punch from Tachibana! (too bad they ended up disqualified from the tournament because of that) It's a good thing they were able to form a new tennis club after all of that shit. I'm seriously touched after hearing their backstory TT~TT

Other than that, all i've learned from Tachibana's route is he can cook, he can protect you, he can take care of you when you're sick and most importantly, he's a captain that looks after his teammates and make sure to bring them all to the nationals together as a team. What can I say? He's just a perfect guy. I'm surprised to find out that the yellow hair is CANONICALLY his hair color from the manga and not just some color changes made by anime staff.

I kinda like Kamio's route in Gakupuri even though his story is pretty simple. Seeing him starting to fall in love after he finds MC's smile kinda adorable is my favorite classic fluff story. He even went ahead and investigate a ghost rumor after knowing how much MC is scared of them awww~ He really is a sweet boy~ The only thing bothers me is how much they really love making Kamio say the word 'rhythm' every 5 minutes

As for Ibu, boyyy this guy is REALLY hard to talk to in the game. He's so pessimistic that im glad at how patient MC was when talking to him (i would ended up getting in the fight with him in 5 mins even though sometimes i think just like him lol) He's pretty cool and hilarious tho.

It's kinda funny that Ishida is in the game but he doesn't appeared much compared to the other npcs.

(Part 5, 7)

[kyndredravenstories]

Eyes of Infinity: Delirium Chapter 3

Hello, I have been posting my work on AO3 and recently decided to venture here to Tumblr. Please note: This story is 18+. No minors. Please read tags carefully. Link to AO3 below but I will also be posting the chapters here.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53564641/chapters/148446469#workskin

Pairing: Sylus/Female MC with some elements of Xavier/Female MC

Genre: Romance, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Angst, Adventure, Smut, Porn with Big Plot and Big Feelings

Content Warning (For the entire fic): Explicit sexual content, spoilers and alterations to existing lore and cards/memories/tender moments/secret times, size kink, size difference, vaginal sex, cunnilingus, anal sex, fingering, all kinds of fingering, elements of consensual somno, dom!Sylus, jealousy, possessive!Sylus, Mephisto stalking, typical game violence, battle and combat

Summary: To love him meant stepping over the threshold and crossing into darkness. To be with him meant accepting the lure of the shadows. And to protect him from betrayal meant sacrifice. I knew not how, only that I would not let time sever our paths ever again.

Previous Chapters: Ch 1 / Ch 2

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When Xavier had mentioned that the Mythe was a luxury club, my mind automatically conjured images of the places I'd been to with Sylus in N109. The clubs he'd taken me to made visitors feel like they'd stepped into an alternate dimension. Spotless marble floors, walls adorned with the latest technological advancements, automated bartenders, glowing drinks of every possible flavor and combination, and a crowd full of people who were clearly the cream of the crop when it came to power and status.

In those places, each word exchanged was code for a business proposition. Each gesture had to be watched, dissected, and analyzed. Each brokered deal carried a hefty price, whether it was money, lives, or power. A vibe of danger buzzed in the air. One had to expect a fight to break out at any time. With all the different factions vying for supremacy in the No Hunt Zone, no visit to a venue was free from risk.

Compared to all of that, the auction event at the Mythe is quite a disappointment. Had I never seen the clubs at N109, I might have been impressed. All in all, it's a beautiful party. But even to my untrained eye, the furniture looks outdated; the lights are plain and dull; the music is calm and mainstream. The staff is very much flesh and blood, rushing around the ballroom to serve their guests. Still, the patrons seem to be enjoying themselves, smiling as they hold their drinks and mingle with each other.

"Where do you want to start?" I ask Xavier after we blend into the crowd. Hidden behind a large white statue of a regal dragon, we discuss our plan of action. First, we'll scan the room and see if we can pick up any more information on LUMINIS. Then, Xavier will clear an exit for our escape and return in time for the auction. Fortunately, we are not in a rush. We have a few hours to work with.

Deciding to stick together for a time to avoid suspicion, we circle the room. A few people engage us in conversation, but we don't linger too long in any given spot. I'm impressed at how well Xavier fits in. Though typically quiet and introverted, his speech is effortless and fluid as he maintains small talk with the strangers we encounter. He uses lingo and terminology completely foreign to me, making me wonder just how much I don't know about his past. 

After roughly an hour, everyone is settled into their drinks and food. A beautiful woman dressed in an elegant black gown comes center stage to play on the regal pianoforte in the corner of the ballroom.

"I think this is a good time to part ways," I whisper in Xavier's ear.

He nods. "Try not to draw any attention to yourself," he warns me. 

"I'll be a fly on the wall," I promise him with a smile. 

The look he gives me is dubious. "You couldn't be if you tried."

I start when he reaches for me and smoothes a stray lock of hair away from my face. Something tickles, and I realize that he's attached a low profile earpiece to my right ear. When I instinctively reach to feel for it, he takes my hand in his and places a gentle kiss on the back of it. I can't help but blush.

"How do I use it without my watch?" I ask him.

"It's one way. I'll call if something happens." His eyes grow cold and serious. "Are you ready?"

"I am. Everything will be fine here, Xavier. Focus on staying safe."

After Xavier and I separate, I start to mingle with the guests, making my way to a rather extravagant buffet table. At least this area looks well tended to; the array of food is incredible. There's an impressive selection of meats, cheeses, salads, and other delicacies. I even spot some black caviar, which is supposed to be completely extinct now in the culinary world. My stomach growls, but I can't risk eating too much in case we need to fight our way out. I don't want anything to impair my fighting capabilities. But, I'm only human. Despite my very valid line of logic, the dessert table calls my name. I pause before a rainbow of options, trying to decide between a few types of cakes, pastries, and other sweets.

"I would recommend the Ganache Cake with raspberry glaze," a voice says to my right as an elegantly gloved hand reaches over and points to one of the pastries I'd been inspecting. My heart jumps into my throat, my face snapping up to see who is speaking. It's a tall man, roughly Xavier's height, wearing an obviously expensive tailored mauve suit. Diamonds sparkle on his collar chain. Soulful violet eyes look back at me through a silver mask and matching hood. He makes a graceful gesture in the air, bending one arm and keeping it behind his back.

"I hear the chef was flown in from Linkon especially to make this treat."

The floor seems to dip beneath my feet as my eyes and ears attempt to reconcile what I'm seeing and hearing. I stare at the man before me, shaken and unable to reply, for his voice sounds too familiar and his eyes are ones I know too well.

But, it can't be.

Impossible.

The person I'm thinking of is gone. Stolen. Ripped from me, just like my grandmother.

"Are you alright, miss?" the man asks when I stare at him as though I've seen a ghost. I feel the color draining from my face. "Miss?"

I balk again; his voice is unmistakable. Fighting to maintain my composure, I reign in my hope and elation with an iron fist; I force myself to smile.

"Forgive me," I say. "You just remind me of someone I once knew."

The stranger smiles back, and my heart nearly shatters. The way his lips curve is familiar too. I'd know that smile anywhere, especially since my nightmares often brought it back to haunt me.

I gasp. Stumble. Before I can control myself, I'm grabbing the man's sleeve.

"Caleb?" I rasp. "Caleb, is that you?"

The man blinks and tilts his head to the side. There is absolutely no recognition in his gaze. "Miss, I think you might have me confused with someone else."

It can't be him. Caleb was always teasing me and calling me names. There is no universe in which his voice would be this cold when speaking to me. If he had survived the explosion somehow, he would have found me. He would never look at me the way this man is doing now, like a complete and total stranger. I need to control myself before I cause a scene and break our cover. I can already feel eyes on us.

The mission.

LUMINIS.

I have to focus on the mission.

Pulling back my hand, I take a deep breath. "Yes, I'm sorry. I may have had a bit too much wine."

My thoughts drift to Xavier. How I wish he was beside me now. 

"Are you here on your own tonight? The gentleman you walked in with earlier does not seem to be keeping you company."

It bothers me that he noticed. It meant others had noticed, too.

"He stepped out to explore the merchandise," I look around, for effect. "I'm certain he will return shortly."

"Then, until his return, perhaps you would honor me with your company?" He proffers his arm to me.

I want to laugh. Suddenly, all of this seems entirely too ridiculous. I give the man my best version of a smile to hide the pain I'm feeling. Caleb would never speak this way. Formalities were something he was allergic to. He would have hated this party, too. Wearing a mask was not his style, and -- I glance at the man's suit -- I couldn't even imagine my adopted brother wearing anything except casual clothes and his pilot's uniform.

The lights dim around us, and classical music begins to play. Elegant and mellow, a slow waltz. Xavier and I occasionally practiced dancing in case we needed to go on missions like this. I am fairly confident in my skills, but I don't want to dance with this guy. Shifting my weight between my feet, I look around one more time for my partner. Where is he? He'd left over an hour ago. Surely he was able to finish his reconnaissance by now.

Unless something hadn't gone to plan.

I ache to check my Hunter's watch or phone for a message.

"May I have this dance, miss?" the stranger in front of me asks, undeterred by my hesitation. I glance at his proffered hand, cornered. Refusing outright would look suspicious. I can't risk drawing too much attention to myself when I have no idea where Xavier is.

"Certainly," I nod, putting my hand in his and allowing him to lead me to the dance floor. A few other pairs break away from the tables and bars to dance as well. Despite my reservations, my partner is a fantastic dancer and leads like a pro. More proof that he couldn't possibly be Caleb, for my brother hated dancing and often made fun of me in our youth when I was interested in taking classes.

Following this man's lead is effortless, about as simple and fun as it was in my practice sessions with Xavier. He, too, was a natural at things like this.

The stranger holds me close enough for me to smell his cologne. It's nostalgic and familiar somehow. Apples come to mind. Fresh apples with a hint of spice.

"What may I call you?" the man asks, his voice like salt on raw wounds. It hurts to hear him speak despite all the exercises in logic I've just done.

"You ask a lady at a masquerade for her name?" I tease.

"No, my lady. I said 'what may I call you?'" He spins me around. As I come back into his embrace, he leans in so I can hear him over the music. "For example, if it would please you to call me by the name you mentioned earlier, you may do so."

His coy flirtation disorients me momentarily. "No, I'd rather not," I frown.

"Well, then, you may call me Malakai," he murmurs, pulling me in closer. "I, too, am here expecting someone. But, I was not expecting you."

"Expecting me?"

Malakai spins me around again as the song crescendos then comes to an end. However, he doesn't release me even as the music fades and ramps up into the next song. I have no choice but to go with the flow at this point. We continue dancing.

"It's rather dangerous for a lovely creature like yourself to be alone in this kind of place, isn't it?" he asks.

"I can take care of myself," I insist. "And I am not alone."

I don't like being this close to him. It makes me uncomfortable. His cologne is pleasant, and his hands are warm. He holds me respectfully and does not violate the boundaries of dance partners. But, my gut is telling me to get away from him immediately. I still can't stand the sound of his voice. No matter how much I tell myself that this isn't Caleb, the resemblance is just too uncanny.

This kind of confrontation with one of the still festering wounds in my heart is just too soon. Not even a year has passed since his death, and I'm still grieving. I can't calm down, and the anxiety is starting to unbalance me. Claustrophobic, my body tenses as I try to maintain the maximum distance between us. I pray that the song will be over soon; it seems to last an eternity.

The music finally stops. Still, Malakai doesn't release me. He bows gracefully while holding my hand. His eyes meet mine; deep violet. So much like Caleb's, but different. Caleb had never looked at his own sister with such a heated gaze, like he'll devour me if I'm not careful.

I feel sick.

"Thank you for the dance," I bite out. "I'll be going now."

When I try to pull back, his grip tightens painfully on my hand. "Don't leave so soon, my lady. I have some business to attend to and would love for you to join me."

I can't really process the situation at this point. Some man who looks like a clone of my dead adopted brother is openly expressing his interest in me in the middle of a critical mission. And I -- supposedly a strong and resilient Hunter -- feel like I'm about to vomit all over his very expensive suit, diamond lapels and all.

"There you are, dearest," a low voice cuts through my misery like a ray of light in a deep tunnel. A strong hand wraps around my waist and pulls me back and away from Malakai into a very warm circle of arms. I look up to see Xavier above me. His cobalt gaze searches my face, and I lean into him. If I don't, my knees will give way.

Malakai's gaze moves between Xavier and I. "This must be your plus one," he says without hiding his disappointment.

"That's right," I nod. "Thank you for the dance. I hope your business concludes successfully."

Xavier leads me from the dance floor back to the desserts display. He sits me down at the most remote table in the room; it's a two-seater corded off in the VIP section which he accesses with a code stamp on his wrist. I don't ask how he managed to snag one of those. At this point, all I can feel is massive relief. To be away from Malakai and to see that Xavier hadn't gotten in over his head.

"Did you find anything out?" I murmur after the waiters bring us a set of drinks.

"The auction will begin shortly. Unfortunately, the product we need is one of the last ones to be presented."

When I give him a blank stare, he covers my hand with his own. "Ellara, you're deathly pale. Are you alright?"

"That man, he..." I hesitate. I haven't spoken with anyone about the deaths of my family since it happened. Zayne had recommended that I go to therapy, but I never did. I feel safe broaching the subject with Xavier, but...perhaps another time. "He made me really uncomfortable."

"Did you get his name?"

"Malakai. Does it ring a bell?"

Xavier shakes his head.

"How was your reconnaissance?"

His eyes darken. "We have a complication."

I don't like the look on his face. Not at all.

"What is it?"

"The LUMINIS isn't being sold alone," he says in a low tense tone. "They've captured and poisoned a Hunter. She's part of the package." A beat as he hesitates one more time. "It's the girl from the lab who comes to your apartment sometimes."

My eyes go wide, and I grip my glass so tightly that my hands shake. My thoughts scatter, piecing together his description.

No way. Tara? These crooks have somehow managed to kidnap my best friend? How? When? Just yesterday, she was waiting for me at the lecture in the hotel with Lois. I remember seeing some missed calls from her on my phone earlier, and my heart sinks. I should have checked her messages. I should have taken her calls. While I was distracted with Sylus, I probably missed a call for help. Guilt worsens my nausea.

"That's impossible. Are you sure?"

Xavier's silence is all the confirmation I need. His brows furrow. "We can't wait for the auction. The chances of being able to steal the LUMINIS and rescue the girl are slim."

"When you say poisoned..."

"It's the typical presentation of toxicity we've seen in other victims. Looks like they gave her a pretty heavy dose. Her pulse was erratic, and she was completely unresponsive."

My body breaks out in cold sweat. "We have to get her to a hospital," I choke out. "If we wait too long, she could go into a coma."

Xavier suddenly stands up and walks around the table, kneeling beside my chair. "I need you to pretend you're feeling sick. I'll take you to the back, and we can go from there."

At this point, I don't have to pretend much. Xavier helps me up, and I lean on him, acting as though I've had too much to drink. He escorts me out of the ballroom and into the adjoining hall. Once out of sight, we sneak into a storage room.

"Do you still remember the layout?" Xavier asks. "Down the hall, first door on the left, down three doors, right turn and first door."

I nod and grip both of his arms. He's checking something on his watch, but I force him to look down at me. "Xavier. Listen to me. You have to get Tara out of here, even if I have to stay behind and follow you out later."

His expression remains neutral, but I see the unease in his eyes. He steps over to me, his features ice cold. When he speaks, his voice is lower than usual.

"You're asking me to leave my partner behind on a mission?"

I shake my head and take a step back. "No. I'm asking you to save my best friend. I can handle myself. You know that."

He takes another step forward, then another, until my back is pushed up against a metal shelf. My request isn't what he wants to hear, but I could care less. Tara's life is the highest priority now. Refusing to let him intimidate me, I straighten my spine.

"Please, Xavier. Save her."

He doesn't answer me, and I prepare myself to force his compliance. How would I even do that? I've never had to try. I don't recall ever disagreeing with him on any point during a mission. We've always functioned on one wavelength. But, the stakes are different tonight. I can get out of here on my own, but Tara could die if we don't get her medical help quickly.

"And how do you plan to get out of here?" he asks.

"I need to see what I'm working with first. Let's get to the holding room."

We regroup and prepare to move as swiftly and silently as possible. Our luck holds out. We don't run into anyone on the way. Once at the door, Xavier presses his wrist against the scanner and unlocks it.

"We'll have company soon," I warn, yanking off my glove and checking my watch. "We need to move quick."

The holding room is the size of a ballroom itself. Xavier leads me around piles of crates, boxes, chests, and Protocore cases to the very back. When I see Tara lying limp and silent in a padded coffin, I rush over to her without a second thought. I don't dare make a sound, but I check her pulse and feel her face. She's cold; so very cold. I can barely feel her heartbeat, and she's white as a sheet. She's wearing Hunter formal-wear, which means that Noxis must have captured her on the way to the symposium.

Beside the coffin is a Protocore case with a beautiful onyx-colored glass vial inside. I recognize the pattern on the bottle. It's LUMINIS, alright. The largest amount I've ever seen packaged at once. I glance at Tara and take one of her limp hands into mine. In that moment, my decision is made.

"Help me, Xavier." I turn so my back faces him. "Get this dress off me. There's a hidden zipper under the lining at my nape."

I don't wait for him to heed my plea. With swift motions, I start getting Tara out of her Hunter uniform. I need to change clothes with her quickly. There's not much time until the auction begins. When that happens, this room will swarm with staff and potentially agents of Noxis.

I'm focused on the task at hand so much that when Xavier wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him, I nearly jump out of my skin. I look up, confused at what he's doing.

"Xavier? What's going on?"

His grip on me tightens. A beat. Then -- "You're going to take her place?"

His voice sounds completely alien. I've never heard it dip like this, not even when he was angry.

"It's temporary. I need to get her in my gown so you can carry her out. Nobody will recognize her because I've had a mask on all evening." I pat his forearm. "It wouldn't be the first time someone needed to be carried out of an event like this for drinking too much."

"And your plan of escape?"

"It'll be easier for me to move in her clothes, anyway. I can sneak out with the LUMINIS." I point to my temple. "Don't worry. I remember the layout."

"The case is too large. How will you carry it?"

"Let me worry about that," I give him a smile full of a ray of confidence I'm far from feeling. "Please, get Tara to a hospital." I turn to face him, cupping his face with both of my hands. "Trust me."

His palm covers my left hand. He closes his eyes, leaning into my touch. A furrow cleaves his brow; he looks pained. When his eyes open next, they're burning with blue fire.

"When did you become this reckless?" he asks. Before I can reply, he pulls me into a tight hug. He pulls the earbud off my ear, replacing it with the one he's wearing. "Use the earpiece. Keep me updated. As soon as I'm out, I'm going to send for backup."

"Alright," I say, my voice quivering. Adrenaline is starting to flow through my veins, and my hands tremble as I return his gesture of affection. Against my ear, his heart is racing.

Taking one final deep breath, he pushes me away and turns me around, getting to work on removing my dress. There's no time for embarrassment. I don't give the awkward situation a second thought. Xavier helps me out of the gown, holding my guns as I change into Tara's uniform. I pull the gown onto my friend's limp body and secure the mask on her face.

"Don't worry, Tara," I whisper. "I'm going to help you. I won't leave you alone again."

Xavier easily lifts her petite form onto his back as I pick up the LUMINIS case. It's heavy. Much too heavy and bulky to take with me. It doesn't seem like I have much choice. I have to take the bottle out and carry it in my arms if I have any shred of hope in getting out of here without being seen.

When everything is set, Xavier and I share one final glance. We bump fists.

"Everything will be alright," I tell him.

With that, he turns and pads out of the room, leaving me alone in the darkness. Taking a deep breath, I steady myself. I close my eyes, reviewing the layout of the building one more time in my mind. Just two hallways. That's all that stands between me and the emergency exit. Xavier already made sure it was clear and open. I just needed to get there without being seen.

I unholster Sylus's gun from my thigh and hold it in one hand, cradling the bottle of LUMINIS against my chest with the other. Though the gun is much heavier than my normal blasters, I'm not concerned that the extra weight will interfere with combat. I pop out the clip and double-check that all parts are working as they should. Hours upon hours of relentless training ensure that my motions are second-nature. At this point, the only thing that can stop me is my moral compass. I would prefer not to shoot anyone today, but I will defend myself if I have to.

I check my watch before I head out.

8:39 PM

The auction starts at 9:30.

I need to hurry.

I move as fast as I can down the halls. My success is a combination of luck and paranoia. Several times, I'm forced to dip into a closet or bedroom to avoid a passing Mythe staff member. Only once do I see a pair of suspiciously dressed masked men passing by. I don't dare to wonder if these are agents of Noxis. Stopping for even a moment could get me in serious trouble.

At last, I make it out of the emergency exit and onto the Mythe's veranda. It's an old structure that could have used an update a decade back. A pergola acts as a canopy, strings of golden lights hanging from it to give the area a cozy atmosphere. It's a short climb to the bottom via a rickety old fire escape. I holster my gun so that I have a hand free to use for this purpose. My body shivers in the cold winter wind; I wish I had been able to bring a jacket or some kind of winter gear. Unfortunately, I'm just going to have to suck it up until I can get to shelter. Determined, I brace myself against the chill.

Then, just as I hike my leg over the ledge to begin my descent, my luck runs out.

Voices drift to me on the freezing winter wind. Clamoring and shouting. Instinctively, I crouch down behind one of the larger furnishings and cease all movement, my senses honing in on what's happening on the veranda. But, it's too little too late. As a bright beacon of light shines down right on top of me, I realize that I've been spotted.

"Target is in sight!" a man shouts into the watch on his wrist. "Permission to engage!"

My ears ring as the sound of gunfire envelops me. Bullets fly in my direction, and I'm only saved from instant death because I find a defensible spot behind a massive stone sculpture. I reign in my fear, telling myself that this is no different from all the times I've fought Wanderers who shoot fire or ice from their mouths. Shielding the LUMINIS with my body, I draw my gun again and return fire as much as I can.

I hear a few pained screams.

My body moves on instinct.

Stand up. Aim. Fire. Duck. Wait.

Repeat.

Again and again.

Until I have to drop my first gun and get my second.

Until that one is also spent.

With three bullets left, I huddle in my corner and shiver. I don't know how many I've killed or injured. But, no matter how much screaming I hear, the bullets keep flying. It's never-ending. Desperate, my eyes dart to the fire escape. Two solid rolls can get me there, but I'll be vulnerable when trying to jump over the ledge. I need a way to buy myself at least a few seconds.

"Cease fire!" someone shouts. The bullets suddenly stop. "Ellara Fireborne!" the same voice shouts over the howling wind. "Lower your weapons and come out peacefully! If you do, you will be spared!"

Come on. Really? How stupid does this bozo think I am?

Still, I don't have much of a choice. My only option now is to feign surrender and try to escape another way. My knees shaking, I stand up. There's at least six men barricaded behind a row of beer barrels on the other side of the veranda. All of them are pointing guns at me.

"Lower your weapon and come with us quietly," one of faceless men demands.

Adrenaline takes over again. I push my rising panic deep into the back of my mind. Looking around, I try to identify the biggest threat among the men. If I waste one of my last bullets on anyone, it needs to be the leader. Maybe getting rid of him will cause the moment of confusion I need to get away. I lower my hands as though I plan to put down my gun, bending my knees.

As soon as I'm low enough, I drop the rest of the way down and fire at my target. His arm explodes in a shower of blood, and he falls to the ground in a heap. The others start clamoring, but they hesitate to shoot. I manage to fire off two more bullets before one of them finally grasps the situation and fires back.

I lose track of what's happening.

I hear a scream.

It sounds like my voice.

Pain explodes in my shoulder a split second before I hear the bottle of LUMINIS in my arms shatter. Glass buries into my neck and cheek as I'm physically thrown backwards from an overwhelming force. The burning fragrant liquid sprays all over my arms and torso. As I hit the ground and stare at the churning dark sky above, I feel it seeping through my clothes onto my skin.

Get up.

Get up.

Stand up.

Right now.

You can't die here.

A voice is screaming at me.

Still mine.

Get up! Get up! Get up!

Without conscious will, I roll to my side and try to stand. Something hits me in the stomach so hard I see stars. A push on my shoulder. Blinding pain. Through bleary vision, I see a masked man above me pointing a gun at my face.

Something feral takes over. If I'm going to die here, I refuse to be shot in the head. I refuse to die like a dog. No. If these men want a piece of me, they're going down with me.

When the man turns to shout something over his shoulder at his cohorts, I push off my bent leg, rolling and kicking him in the kneecap as hard as I can. A sickening crack rends the air; his leg bends in an unnatural direction, and he crumples to the ground with a howl of agony.

Xavier had forced me to practice my self defense and hand to hand combat in the last few months. Not to mention, I'd had a few private lessons with Sylus himself. I'm grateful for that as two more men launch themselves at me. I use my smaller stature to my advantage and manage to knock two of them out with kicks to vital parts of their bodies. As soon as I see an opening, I dash for it.

More men funnel out of the building towards me. I double back, but someone catches my wrists and pins my arms behind my back. Another pair of hands forces me to the floor, pressing my cheek into the rotting wood of the veranda. I scream when a stun gun bites into my arm.

My vision goes dark.

"Get over here," a voice above me growls. "Hurry up!"

My head is spinning, but the shock wears off enough for me to move. I kick and lash out, wishing now that my Evol wasn't so useless in situations like this. If only I had Rafayel's fire or Zayne's ice. If only I was as strong as Sylus.

But, there's no point in wishful thinking now.

I have to fight for my life!

I wait for the man holding me to lean down. Thanks to the mesh fabric of my uniform sleeves, I manage to wrench my wrists free. Immediately, I turn and kick the man above me right in the chin. He goes down hard, his lower jaw digging into his tongue with a gush of blood.

"Don't kill her!" someone else commands. "We're supposed to bring her in alive!"

I don't have time to scramble to my feet before another man takes his place. He puts his full weight on me to hold me down. I buck and thrash, trying to get traction with my heels on the concrete, but it's useless. Barely restraining me, the man turns his face to someone behind me and shouts for them to get the "needle".

In the haze of fight or flight, time slows.

I suspect what the "needle" might be. Likely the same stuff used on me all those months ago in N109.

These men were trying to capture me. But, why? If this was Noxis, what use did they have for me? Did they intend to use me for the LUMINIS project? Did they know about the Aether core in my heart?

I had to assume the worst.

If I gave up now, I was going to be killed. No questions asked.

The man's hand is within reach of my mouth. My disgust only lasts a split second before I yank on him and sink my teeth as hard as I can into his hand. He screams and lets go of my wrists. I reach up and dig my fingers into his eyes. His screams intensify; the weight lifts off my chest.

I scramble to my feet before something hits me across the face.

Hard.

So hard that my vision goes completely black.

I fall to the ground, dizzy and disoriented.

Voices rise in a wave around me, but I can't make out what they're saying. My ears are ringing.

Somewhere far up above me, I hear a murder of crows cawing in the night.

I blink. My vision slowly comes back into focus.

A man stands above me. His eyes are filled with fury. He takes a step, and pain knifes up my wrist. I hear a crack. He'd stepped on my hand and is crushing my watch with his heel. That done, he kneels beside me. Once he's close enough, I spit blood into his face.

He lifts his hand to strike me.

But, the blow never comes.

The wind around us picks up speed. A searing thrumming tears through the air, a sort of vibration resonating deep within my bones. The strings of lights hanging from the pergola above me shake. One by one, the lightbulbs pop and explode. The cawing of the crows intensifies, nearly deafening now.

All hell breaks loose.

Men scream.

The deck beneath me shakes as bodies are strewn about.

More gunfire.

More screaming.

Something smells like melting skin.

The coppery tang of blood in the air. 

Footsteps to my right.

Slow. Deliberate.

The clicking of dress shoes on moist wood.

The man above me lets out a sound of pure fright as he looks in that direction; his face morphs into a picture of terror. He scrambles back.

"It's him. Oh God. Spare me. Spare m--" black and red mist wraps around his neck. I can see the indentations in his skin, like ghostly fingers. He gurgles and gags, his face turning red then purple. Saliva pours from the corner of his mouth as his eyes roll into the back of his head. As death takes him, his body goes flying, smacking into the deck with a sickening sound of broken bones and maimed flesh.

The cacophony of crows is so loud now that it's all I can hear.

Or is that more gunfire?

I can't move anymore.

I can't feel anything -- not pain, not my fingers, not my legs.

I can smell the LUMINIS on me.

The scent of fresh apples.

It's nostalgic. Familiar.

Then, everything falls silent.

A face looms in my line of sight. Beautiful, haunting red eyes.

A demon from a painting.

Something presses against my cheek.

As everything spirals into a blur, I can only think that I wouldn't mind going to Hell if this demon was my escort there.

[if-rambling]

My mc for “One Knight Stand” by @oneknightstand-if

Name: Alejandro Rodriguez

Nickname: Al

Pronouns: He/him

Orientation: Gay

Height: Tall

Vice: Lust

Addiction: smoking

Past: Childhood abuse

Secret: changeling

Club: fencing

Skill: magnetic personality

Hobby: influencer

Job: news reporter

Arthurian level: Lore newbie

Romancing: in denial about liking Adrian

Magic +mysticism: 10%

Physical strength + Athleticism: 31%

Intelligence + perception: 17%

Charisma + diplomacy: 35%

God I love the fact I can choose to be in denial about having a crush. It’s such a fun choice

Al and Adrian started off as friends so I definitely imagine that plays a huge part of why Al is in denial about his crush. Besides the whole commitment issues and secretly a changeling thing

Definitely gonna try and go for a charisma based build this game. I just like playing pretty/charismatic characters

Al doesn’t mind Merlin and is willing to be friends with him but he’s honestly probably a little intimidated by what Merlin may or may not know about his secret

I love all the flavor text in this game it’s so fun to see. I already like Adrian and Merlin so I can’t wait to see the rest of the RO’s and how they interact with each other. The game is great so far and I can’t wait to see more

The picrews I used for Alejandro

Below is some end of game stat stuff and in game description of Al

You are currently known as Alejandro (Al) Rodriguez a seemingly normal male reporter. You have green eyes, waist-length straight green hair, and a tall and athletic figure clad in a biker leather jacket with a P-100 respirator. People tend to take particular notice of your figure. At first glance, people tend to find you somewhat intimidating.

You excel at sword fighting, influencing the internet, and having a magnetic personality. Meanwhile, you've got a weakness for cigarettes and spiders, as well as having commitment issues.

You have a modest assortment of piercings in the ear, tongue, eyebrow, and genitals. As well as having a small selection of tattoos including a celtic chest tattoo, dragon back tattoo, floral arm tattoo, and star finger tattoo.

A tragic childhood of abuse lies in your past and the fate of your future remains murky with the apocalypse ever looming in the background. At least no one has suspected that you are actually not human.

Your past incarnation is unknown

Your ultimate weapon is unknown

Your favored warcry is "unknown"

Your final words were unknown

Blobbed: nope

Bold : 96 Sweet : 110 Sassy : 36 Optimist : 61

Health : 99 Mark Status : Healed Merlin Healing : 2 Merlin Forced Healing : 0

Caution : 39 Will : 5 Cloudcuckoolanderness : 9 Silent : 9 Curse Level : 4 Fear Level : 9 Corruption : -1 Mute : false Mindcontrol : false

Downtime : Had Breakfast |

Route : Went into Store Whole Time |

New Inventory : Matches | Multi Lighter | Cigarettes | Towel | Plain Mask |

They Know : false | It Sees : Masked | You Replied False

[choicesmonthlychallenge]

Choices August Challenge 2023

This month's challenge will be a little different. The previous host had to back out so I am taking over... however, I was already planning on hosting 2 celebration weeks in August, which with the 2 book clubs would leave me with 5 events, and that's too much, even for me. So we're making August a combination month!

PlayChoice Game's 7th birthday is August 17th, so instead of having a birthday week, I'm including prompts for this event below and it'll run through the entire month of August.

There will also be prompts for Hollywood U + High School Story, as it's been one year since PB pulled those games. Without their success, we might not have gotten Choices.

Also, I've rescheduled sibling appreciation week a few times, so let's just add that in.

I also have some August holidays and summer prompts.

And lastly, similar to @choicesprompts, if you have a WIP from a previous challenge or event from this year that you really want to finish, feel free to submit it here too (regardless of the prompt). Let's clean out some WIPs.

Any of the prompts below can be used with any story/characters. They do not have to be used in the context of the "theme" they're posted under.

Happy Birthday, Choices!

In addition to the prompts below, posts celebrating Choices and your favorites (MCs, LIs, Friend Groups, Books, etc), will be accepted regardless of if a specific prompt is used

baking a cake

blowing out candles / making a wish

the perfect gift

surprising them with their favorite flowers

surprise party

spa break

"I'm sorry did you just call my/your birthday my 'womb escape'??"

“Are you crying? Please don’t cry, I didn’t think the gift was that bad-"

"I never liked celebrating my birthday."

"I don’t think fighting for my life is an acceptable way to celebrate my birthday"

"I’d rather eat you than cake."

"Put down the frosting!"

Hollywood U + High School Story Appreciation

Just like last year's event, any and all HWU and HSS content will be accepted regardless of if a specific prompt is used

movie premiere / red carpet

behind the scenes

coffee (all the coffee)

library dates/sneaking around in the stacks

falling asleep watching a movie

classes at HWU related to your MC's field of study

"Does a ninety minute movie really warrant this amount of snacks?"

"Your taste in movies is so bad"

"I love you but I'm not watching _____ again" -----

prom

graduation

High School Reunion / Where are they now?

school clubs

skipping class together

putting secret notes into the other's locker

being paired up for a project/presentation

"I accidentally grabbed your notebook" (What do they find, doodles, writings, poems, songs, little hearts with their initials?)

"It's finals week and you forgot we have a history exam?"

Sibling Appreciation

Any and all content that is focused on siblings in the fandom will be accepted regardless of if it fits a specific prompt

teaching their sibling about/how to do something

teasing each other

being overly protective of sibling

"Could you just stop talking for once?!"

"Don't blame it on me!"

"Thanks for being there"

"Can you pick me up?"

Siblings would help you bury a body, but they wouldn’t bring out the trash for you, no matter how nice you ask.

August Days

any August holiday

August 4: International Beer Day ; National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

August 5: Sandcastle Day

August 6: National Friendship Day

August 9: Hold Hands Day

August 10: National S’mores Day

August 12-20: National Heritage Week

August 18: National Couple's Day

August 26: National Dog Day

August 27: National Just Because Day

August 30: National Beach Day

Summer Prompts:

popsicles

sidewalk chalk

camping

fairs/festival

fruit picking

stargazing

iced coffee

sunglasses

Making summer playlists for each other

“it’s absolutely sweltering, how can you still want to cuddle?!”

“do we have any ice cream left?”

"Summer's almost over…"

“I couldn’t help myself… All the ice-cream flavours looked so good!”

Remember, you can also submit any WIP you have that are based on previous prompts from any 2023 event.

2023 Monthly Challenge Prompt Lists:

January ❤️ February ❤️ March ❤️ April ❤️ May ❤️ June ❤️ July

Guidelines + Rules

Submitted works will be featured on a weekly masterlist

Every form of creative work can be submitted: fanfiction, drabbles, moodboards, edits, drawings, poems, songs, sketches, and more—all are welcomed.

Work from any book and story from the Choices (and Pixelberry) universe are welcome (new and old alike)!

You can participate as many times as you want during the month

Clearly list the prompt your used

You can combine submissions for this event and others

Please add a cut to avoid long posts and exposing other fans to triggering/disturbing content.

If your work is NS*W please label it as such and use appropriate warnings. Adult content should be hidden under the page break.

You can get creative with the prompts. It can be a variation of the word and/or concept. It doesn’t have to be exact or literal. If the word inspires a train of thought that led you to something different, put that in the notes and send it in! Have fun with it! Make them work for you! The ultimate goal is just to find joy in creating!

Please tag @choicesmonthlychallenge​​ and if you’d like to add me you can do so as well~ @lovealexhunt​​​ (feel free to DM me your work too since Tumblr tags are fickle)

[carewyncromwell]

After reading your Friendship Drabbles, I have a question for you; Which of our Hogwarts friends that we’ve rarely seen paired up or even never paired up before do you think would be really cool to see interact with each other?

Ooh, now that's an interesting thought! Hmm...well, one I liked including in those drabbles was Murphy McNully, Badeea Ali, Tulip Karasu, and Rowan Khanna as members of a Wizards' Chess Club! I liked the Chess sidequest Jam City wrote for the first three, and it just seemed so logical for Rowan to be among their ranks too. Rowan and McNully in particular I feel would find a lot of common ground, especially since they'd be in the same house.

Speaking of Rowan, I also really like the idea of Rowan and Ismelda Murk getting on better in years 5 and 6, especially if Rowan is sorted as Slytherin the way mine is! I feel like after MC helps Ismelda with her crush on Barnaby, Ismelda would open herself up a bit more to accepting help from other people in her year regardless of how different they are from her, and considering that Rowan and Ismelda are both so interested in History of Magic, I could totally see them striking up a (whispered) conversation or two over an essay in the library or something. One of my heacanons that admittedly flies in the face of the game is the idea that it's Ismelda who ultimately takes over teaching her class History of Magic in Rowan's stead after their death in year 6, and in my personal version of the Circle of Khanna, Ismelda actually joined the organization not just because Merula invited her to, but actively out of wanting justice for Rowan.

I also think Chiara Lobosca and Nymphadora Tonks would have developed a very close bond over time, both before and after school. Not only are their dormmates who quite frankly could learn a lot from each other, but I love the idea that half the reason Tonks is so blase and accepting about her future partner Remus Lupin being a werewolf is because she met and fully accepted Chiara first. I also really like the idea that Chiara was the one who put Tonks in contact with Lupin and the Order of the Phoenix in the very beginnings of the Second Wizarding War.

Speaking of dormmates, Charlie Weasley and Ben Copper were good friends at school, you can rip that idea out of my cold, dead hands. In my headcanon, I actually imagine Charlie -- in true Weasley fashion -- becoming a bit protective of Ben after Merula targeted him so openly in their first year for his ancestry. When Ben went through his radical transformation in year 6 and hexed Charlie, the two ended up in a full-on physical fight, though they mended fences when they helped co-found the Circle of Khanna.

Ravenclaw dormies Talbott Winger and Andre Egwu, on the other hand? I'm sorry, these two were always trading sassy barbed comments with each other, I don't make the rules. ("You aren't seriously thinking of going out to Hogsmeade in those, are you?" "I'm not the one strutting about in purple and white-striped pants." "They're lavender-and-white slacks. And they are fashionable, compared to -- whatever hokey American ridiculousness you've got strapped to your feet." "I'm surprised the supposed 'King of Fashion' doesn't know what cowboy boots are.")

Finally I love the idea of Chiara connecting really well with Talbott! I wrote Carewyn befriending these two back-to-back in her fourth year due to how well their side-quest plot lines synced up (and honestly, their introductory TLSQ's were among the best in the entire game, IMO) and I just love the thought that these two "Lone Wolves" in MC's year could find some fun common ground despite their shared tendency to ward people away from them.

Another person that ends up close friends with Chiara in my headcanon is Jae Kim, though there's a bit more Jam-City-canon ammunition behind this. The game also included the ideas that Talbott was friends with Penny before MC and Talbott and Badeea connected through the Circle of Khanna, and I like the thought that Talbott kept in contact with both of them well after Hogwarts too. Even Merula and Tulip's game-canon fractured friendship, which I don't imagine healed that well at school, I personally like imagining improved after Tonks's death, when Merula and Tulip both took comfort from each other at her and Lupin's funeral.

[hollowwrites]

Blindsided

Part 3

Ominis x MC

Summary - Before the year kicks off Lucan gathers all available students for Crossed Wands. Not wanting his duelling club to fall by the wayside, he calls upon outside members of the club to make things…interesting.

I loved crossed wands!! Wish more of the students participated. Maybe I’ll write something for how I think each would duel?

Again feel free to swap Evelyn with MC or Y/N

Also I’m completely aware that Snape created the Muffliato charm but I thought about it and I had to do it!!

Warnings - Violence? Just a bit of duelling, just a continuation of before

Word Count - 3150

~

The next few days were rocky but things were finally looking up. Sebastian had in fact been selected for the Tri Wizard Tournament and after the initial horror, Sebastian was correct. Everyone had rallied around him to lend their aid. Poppy had suggested they tend to some of the nearby nesting Dragons due to the popularity of the Dragon Egg challenge. Garreth had promised to brew any potion that he needed with the inclusion that he would follow the instructions exactly. Despite what happened, frequently, in potions class, Garreth was a skilled Potioneer he just had a tendency to make it up as he went along.

They had the luxury of a few more weeks of prep before the games began so, for the meantime, classes continued as usual. Sebastian suspected that they put off the announcement ceremony until Evelyn had gotten back from her travels with the hopes she would put her name forward. She hadn’t, much to the chagrin of the Headmaster and many of her fellow seventh years, so the name calling ceremony took place.

Lucan Brattleby had scrambled together as many of the seventh years for the their last Crossed Wands tournament.

“I will not be upstaged by some centuries old cup” Lucan protested “Please we have to shake it up this year. Evelyn. I’m on my knees.” His hands clasped together begging for her participation

“Okay okay I’ll compete” she laughed “Honestly I think you can count on Seb too he’s not going to pass up on the opportunity to take my title AND become Tri Wizard Champion”

“Excellent, I’ve talked Imelda and Poppy into it this year, and I’ve changed the rules too. Anything goes, Imelda said she’d only do it if she could cast from her broom and so long as she stays in the Bell Tower, I’m game” Lucan practically shook from excitement “I was hoping you could try and convince Ominis to duel, you’ve seen him fight right?” He continued in hushed tones looking over at the gaggle of Slytherins collected by the practise dummies.

“Yes. He’s quite formidable, very restrained, and poised too. I’ll see what I can do”

“Ah I could kiss you!! Thank you so much. Rounds start in 10 let me know”

Evelyn began her approach but noticed Ominis walking towards her. He put a hand flat out to stop her, shaking his head.

“Before you say anything, it’s a no” he said smirking

“Oh come on Ominis, don’t you want to take Sebastian down a few pegs.”

“As I told you, multiple times in fifth year, Sebastian never backs down from a fight. I don’t fancy facing that” his eyebrows furrowed as though remembering something “…again”

“But it’s getting so boring facing Sebastian at the top, I could really use some variety” she poked at his chest exaggerating her words “Aaaaand wouldn’t you like to show Sebastian just how much he’s annoyed you these past few years. It’s a great stress relief pummelling him into the ground. Please?”

He could never say no to her.

“Okay fine…” she began clapping excitedly. “If you help me out with something afterwards”

“Of course. I’d’ve helped you anyway. Win Win for me” she bounced up to kiss him on the cheek “Can’t wait to throughly destroy you, Gaunt”

Once the sound of Evelyns footsteps disappeared into the congregation of Crossed Wands fans, Ominis turned back to his other friends, touching his cheek.

“What was that about?” Sebastian said smugly

“Could something actually happen between you two this year? I’m growing bored watching you dance around each other” he heard a soft thwack of fabric eliciting a reaction from Imelda “What? I know you think the same”

“Don’t you think I’ve had this conversation with him before. He says the same thing every single time” Sebastian said

“Can someone enlighten me as to what is going on?” Ominis asked getting more and more aggravated each passing moment

“She kissed you, you fool. I know you’re blind but you’re not stupid” Imelda said equally annoyed

“She…she does it all the time, it means nothing” he lied, that was the first time she had kissed him. It was a friendly kiss though. Nothing more. Right?

“See? Told you. Same response every time” Sebastian said exasperated. “Next he’ll say that they’re just friends and he values her friendship”

“Enough of this! This is getting childish. I’m ending this conversation before one of us says something they’ll regret” he looked in Sebastian’s general direction. He had enough on him that any number of things could spill from his mouth.

As the evening dragged on more and more people filtered in to watch the spectacle. When the duels took place a huge crowd gathered by the portcullis to peer in, some sat on brooms hovering above everyone else to get a better view. As it got closer and closer to the semi finals, the overhead walkways of the Bell Tower began filling with people too, many belonging to Durmstrang and Beauxbatons to see what Hogwarts really had to offer.

The final four ended up being a Slytherin sweep. Sebastian and Evelyn were a given, what with them being the best dualists in the school but Ominis and Imelda had surprised everyone. Ominis ended rounds quickly and decisively with little to no room for error. If you made a mistake, you lost. Imelda had also been found to be quite difficult to hit on her broom, whereas she had no trouble casting from it at all.

Imelda and Evelyn went first. Imelda stood no chance against the reigning Hogwart’s Crossed Wands Champion and every time she mounted her broom or got just barely off the ground, Evelyn slammed her back down, all while protecting her broom. She knew Imelda loved that thing and they had become quite close. A quick Accio caused it to float delicately toward Evelyn’s hands. And with that, Imelda forfeit. Surprising to everyone present, she wasn’t bitter, she jumped up, giving Evelyn’s a quick hug before taking up her broom again for the final few fights.

Next up was Sebastian and Ominis. Sebastian’s tactic was to try and overwhelm Ominis immediately and hope that, that was enough. He cast out a volley of several offensive spells to which Ominis deflected them all. He stood twirling his wand around waiting for the next volley when Sebastian apparated closer to him.

“Come on Ominis, fight back!” He growled through gritted teeth

“Ah but it’s so much more fun listening to you struggle to land a hit”

With another gruff sigh, Sebastian threw out more spells, all ended up deflected or bouncing off a well timed Protego. Ominis laughed, throwing out the first spell and landing it directly at Sebastian’s chest. The Depulso threw him back against the pile of practise dummies and with a final Descendo, the dummies crumpled against the ground, collapsing under the pressure as Sebastian looked to be struggling with gravity itself.

“I yield!!” Sebastian barked “Merlin, I never knew you had that in you” he said as Ominis offered him a hand.

“Yes you did” Ominis squeezed his hand knowingly as Sebastian took it.

“That means it’s Ominis and Evelyn in the final round Witches and Wizards. The Heir of Salazar Slytherin vs The Hero of Hogwarts” Lucan bellowed casting a general Repairo on the stage. The practise dummies ballooned back out and returned to their original position whilst the crack in the stone from Ominis’ unrelenting Descendo sealed itself over.

Whilst Imelda and Sebastian took up their positions, Ominis and Evelyn secured themselves at the front of the crowd. They had they’re heads buried together talking and Evelyn waved a hand through the portcullis to get they’re attention.

“Don’t take this too seriously you two, remember you’re fighting for third” Evelyn flashed them a grin. Ominis let out a singular laugh as she linked her arm with his. They watched the fireworks display of spells volley past them with vague interest.

“Congratulations on that win” she said squeezing his bicep “I’ve never seen someone cast Descendo continuously like that. That crack in the stone? There must have been a terrible amount of pressure on Sebastian. No wonder he conceded”

“You can see for yourself if you like. But I had something much more interesting in line for you” he cocked his head down to her ear so she could hear him over the crowd. His breathe swayed the hairs falling on the side of her face and she felt herself turning red.

Do not let a silly school girl crush destroy your winning streak.

She locked her jaw and pursed her lips. Not that he could see her sudden shift in her face, but it helped her feel more confident in her words

“Don’t let it get to your head though, you’ve just secured second best duellist in the school” her tone was mocking but he could hear the glee in her voice. He laughed breathily down her ear, sending tingles down her spine.

“Shall we see?” He ushered her forward ahead of him to the stage.

She had missed Sebastian and Imelda’s duel completely, but from their faces she gathered that Sebastian had won. He was riling up the crowd for the final duel, pacing in the front row, two fingers sticking forward from his face like a snakes tongue, hissing. Soon, the whole crowd was a sea of serpents, with the Slytherin students getting particularly into the impromptu chant.

“Ready?” Ominis mouthed from the opposite side of the room. Something about the curve of his mouth and his whole demeanour, frightened her. No it wasn’t fear. Her chest felt tight and her skin was ablaze but she wasn’t scared, more…vulnerable?

“Anything goes…right Brattleby? He asked raising his head high and rolling his sleeves. Had he always been so…arrogant? And why was she okay with it? This sort of behaviour would usually immediately turn her off, she’d seen it with Leander multiple times. But this was different. Regal. Domineering. Attractive?

With the agreement made from Lucan, he cast off the starting flare, hitting the Bell Towers pendulum and the slow chug of the portcullis lowering began. The metallic rattle shook the arena and silenced the crowd immediately.

She turned her head, assessing her surroundings and she noticed, Ominis mirrored her, exactly.

How?

She shifted her feet pacing in the opposite direction and, again, he copied her exact moves.

“Is there something a matter?” He called to her and her eyebrows furrowed.

“Enough of this” she spat, casting out a flurry of spells. As he had with Sebastian he blocked them all but he hadn’t counted on her continuing. Though she’d cast it wordlessly, he knew it was Confringo based on the light aroma of burning wood and the blast that he took to his chest. He coughed out his next breathe, patted down his tie and loosening it as he did.

“Serpensortia…” he sneered and a bright white snake fell from the tip of his wand “Engorgio” it’s tiny lithe body bubbled grotesquely until a huge snake wrapped itself around half of the court. Screams came from onlookers but Evelyn, simply giggled. So he was going to use Parseltongue. Interesting. She heard Sebastian hollering from crowd, the only other person, she suspected, who knew what he was doing.

The snakes body coiled around Ominis’ feet as it’s head hovered close to his shoulder. His fingers skimmed under the snakes jaw as he whispered in its ear, no doubt trying to hide his gift. Was she jealous of a snake right now?

Following up on its masters wishes the snakes jaw unhinged and hissed violently towards Evelyn. It shot out toward her and she laughed maniacally. She was sure the other schools would think she was mad but, snakes were always, such beautiful creatures. And under Ominis’ control she knew she didn’t have to fear it.

“I’m so sorry, Ominis, I’m going to have to kill your little pet here” she wound her wand around her fingers gathering all the ancient magic she could. As she had done many times with spiders, she pulled the beast towards her shrinking it as it flew through the air. The, now tiny, beasts body hit her hand and it flaked to blue ash, dissipating in the cool spring breeze. She looked back at Ominis, a second too late to see the purple light of Accio flying toward her. G

She felt the tug of her collar lift her slightly from the ground, the tips of her shoes dragging across the stone as Ominis yanked her towards him. His fingertips grazed the skin of her chest as he grabbed at her clothing. The telltale sting of his touch seared across her collarbone.

“You really should keep your eyes on me” he chuckled softly “Do you concede?” He asked whipping his wand to press delicately against her temple and bringing her towards him. She writhed against his grasp as she pondered her next move. There was something but it was awful to do…especially to him. Placing her free hand against his chest to stabilise herself, she flicked her wand to his ear.

“Muffliato” she spat and he immediately let go. His hands flew to his ears trying to block out the many voices he was now hearing. He smirked, eyes darting around to try and hone in on her.

“Very clever” he shot back through gritted teeth.

Though on paper it may have seemed pleasant, having his mind filled with her voice, but it was anything but. Whispers and screams all overlapped fighting for attention at the forefront of his mind, each saying a different spell or incantation. Occasionally, her voice would ring forward with his name and he would turn in its direction. An instinct he now wished hadn’t become embedded in his very core.

Evelyn snapped her fingers a few times in front of Ominis to verify if her charm had worked. No reaction. She puffed her cheeks out in a sigh of relief, but she couldn’t help but feel a little bad. She watched his eyes dart around, and his erratic movements trying to seek her out, without his most dominant sense.

“Expelliar-“ she began before being cut short.

His hand flew to around her wrist, pulling her arm up and closer to him. She stood stretched upwards in front of him as she had to his Accio, only now, he dropped his face to hers. He was mere inches away.

“I’ll ask again” he whispered “Do you concede?”

“I still have my wand…Depulso” she barked causing enough of a blast between them both that they each went flying. They both landed and took up their wands.

“Confringo!” They cast simultaneously. The spell colliding mid field and as they both maintained the cast, the flaming lashes continued between the two of them. The roaring core of their spells bled out onto the stone, blackening where it touched. They stayed locked in their tug of war for a few moments before Lucan intervened.

“Enough!” He bellowed full of joy. His voice startling them both, interrupting the spell casting. “I think we have a first here at Crossed Wands today. A DRAW. We can’t stand here all night watching you two trade blows. Congratulations to our reigning and new Crossed Wands Champions!”

The crowd sang out with uproarious applause. Evelyn smiled widely, clapping for her competitors as Ominis walked over to her. He grinned back at her and bowed deeply, before taking her hand. They raised they’re hands high and both bowed to the crowd.

~

The crowd at the Bell Tower courtyard dispersed quickly. It was late and the Great Halls feast was only moments away. Ominis, Imelda, Evelyn and Sebastian walked together for dinner, occasionally being stopped by another student to congratulate them all on how well they did.

“I’m just saying, if those two are joint first, then I’m technically, technically, still second best in the school” Sebastian argued

“I don’t think that’s how it works. Does that make me third best?” Imelda asked

“Not with that shoddy display in there, Darling” he said mockingly. Imelda scoffed and pushed him through the doors to the Great Hall.

“We’ll collect some food and we can get out of here” Ominis said, squeezing Evelyn’s shoulder indicating he was talking to her. He felt her stiffen up and then immediately relax, her hand lightly brushing across his knuckles.

“Oh I had forgotten about that. It’s late are you sure you want to do it tonight? I don’t mind helping you over the weekend? I’m free Sund-”

“Oh no no you’re not getting out of this that easily. I seem to remember you saying you would ‘thoroughly destroy me’ How did that work out for you?” he teased collecting a few pastries “I’d say you owe me double no-“ he turned and bumped into a figure stood entirely too close to him. “Watch where you’re standing” he snapped

“Oh my you are blind. Mmm well that makes your victory at your little duelling club all the more impressive” a lithe French voice rang out from below him. He furrowed his brows in confusion.

“I didn’t win” he stated matter of factly “My friend here is a formidable opponent. I share my ‘Victory’ with her” his hand gestured to where he knew Evelyn was stood. He felt a silent rage wash over him with the heat emanating from her direction.

Imelda was clutching Sebastian’s arm willing him to listen to this display. He sat mouth agape eyes darting between Ominis, Evelyn and the Beauxbatons student. Imelda grinned evilly watching Evelyn, indulging in the drama of it all.

“You are too kind, too…humble.” The beauxbaton student placed the palm of her hand against his chest, leaning further into him. His neck craned backwards as she spoke up into his face “An excellent display, one I would have obviously expected from the Noble House of Gaunt” she kissed his cheek before leaving, the click of her heels against stone conveying her giddy gait.

A sickening silence fell over the four as they awkwardly gathered food. Ominis was the first to break it.

“What in Merlin’s name was that about?”

“Seems you have an admirer” Imelda’s voice was smug as she looked at Evelyn

Don’t. Start. Evelyn mouthed. Imelda shrugged and took a swig of her pumpkin juice, wiggling her eyebrows as she did.

You okay? Sebastian asked silently, before Evelyn could answer Ominis interrupted

“I can hear you mouthing to one and other! You know I hate that” he sighed “I think I’ve had enough socialising for one day” and he turned to walk away. When he didn’t hear Evelyn’s footsteps behind him, he stopped, turned and extended his hand towards her “Still not getting out of this Eve.” His fingers twitched slightly beckoning her forward “Come”

Masterlist

[goldenteaset]

What in Hell is Bad? (Belated) First Impressions

...AKA "This Hole Was Made For Me (But Oh God There Are Worms In Places)" XD;

Before I get into this, let me preface by saying I love otome games and have never played a Tower Defense game before. That is to say, I'm intrigued by the gameplay but am still in the "learning curve". With that settled, some bullet point'd impressions!

I've only able to actually play properly since yesterday, when all the crashes were finally fixed. (I do hope they fix the shop for the people who want to pay, though)

The quiz at the start immediately got me hyped! I knew I'd be having fun when I got to the "You've been trapped in an Angst Novel as a side character" question and one of the answers was "Create a 21+ romance out of it that's lewder than the original". My language, WHB (mostly) speaks it! XD

Actual R18 harem romance in an mobile otome game that isn't the Ikemen series('s non-canon events), truly incredible

STORY IMPRESSIONS

It's funny, I'm aware that the translation is very literal in places and does need to be fixed, but there are also lines I genuinely adore and hope stick around. (Gabriel's introduction, for example. Gorgeous, ethereal language that perfectly fits an angel.)

On that note, I'm an absolute sucker for stories that deal directly with (Fallen) Angels, Devils, and what love and free will means for them. The plot so far is such catnip for me it's not funny

I also have a fascination with fetishes and what they could add to characters, and most of these I've only ever seen in research papers. Having them be this integral is like a dream...

...I'll cry in frustration if there's another hand fetishist who chops off people's hands again though. JUST BUY A MANNEQUIN'S

Minheok is way more interesting than I thought he'd be. Hearing him speak Korean compared to everyone else's Japanese (or "Celestial/Devilish" if you will) is really fun. :D

I'm loving the MC, even as I'm also adjusting her (in my case) for "OC with some self-insert" purposes. Love that she's so horny, love that she has a wide-range of tastes as a cute nod to the "MC gets along with everyone" trope, and love that she wants to make Gabriel cry!!

After Beelzebub (quiz starter) and Sitri, the third Devil to have my heart was Valefor. He's my MC's big teddy bear who protects everyone ;v;

GAMEPLAY

The Secret Shop truly is secret, I haven't seen it yet

I'm loving being able to buy gacha currency with in-game money (pancakes) to better hoard. Please keep this, devs!

The level up etc. items keep making me hungry, it's genuinely great

I'm less keen on how hard it is to grind for certain items, but if I soldiered through FGO for five years I can survive this (I think)

That said, I don't think characters level up when you fight. That is ridiculous and would stop me from playing if the leveling costs became too high

Please let us play with the S- and A-Class Devils in Secret Club? :(

The chats are fun and cute, but I wish we had more...

Justice for Valefor let me put him in Secret Club he's been working so hard

Why don't the A-Class Devils have the boards like the L- and S-Classes? I want to learn about everyone!

The music is kind-of quiet? But I like what I can hear

I like the Day and Night-cycle on the home screen, very cute

Being able to have one of the Demon King's "assets" take up the whole home screen is both sexy and hilarious XD

The most YMMV opinion of them all: I wish the story segments were longer and that there was a way to do a kind of "Last time, in Chapter 1-(X)" to keep story info from being lost in the stream of battles

But in the interest of keeping things optimistic around here, I have one more impression to make:

GABRIEL

Instantly makes this GOTY for me and I wish I was kidding

One look and I fell in love. And then I saw his potential L card/scene in the final trailer and fell even harder!!

I would feel dislike toward him re: Minheok and the Devils, but as far as he's concerned the sandwich that he rang up (MC) keeps yelling at him. I'm satisfied

My excitement at his L card reached such insane heights I started writing something starring him. That is a sign if nothing else!

...So yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic and will hopefully have even more to say soon. :D