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uniquexusposts · 8 months ago

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Her || Charles

Main characters: Charles Leclerc x OC Genre: fanfiction, fluff Story type: novel Part: 6/? Word count: 2006 Co writer: @mistrose23 Story summary: Matilde Jørgensen, the new Scuderia Ferrari team principal, faced the nerve-wracking challenge of reviving the team's fortunes and aiming for a championship. Leading a historic team as a 'newbie' and separating her work and personal opinions posed a significant challenge. The big question: is she capable to do so?

Previous chapter

Chapter 4. F1 Giggles & Tea

"Another week, another episode of F1 Giggles & Tea," the girl with the blonde hair opened the podcast with her friend, her voice carrying a cheerful tone. "Today we are gonna talk about Matilde Jørgensen."

The girl with brunette hair, the co-host of the podcast, nodded and smiled widely. "The girl boss of the grid."

"The team principal of Ferrari."

"Not gonna lie, she is living the dream," the blonde girl said.

"Although she isn't the first female team principal in F1, she certainly is one of the youngest."

"Only 29 years old!" The girl with blonde wavy hair raised her eyebrow. "Did you know who she was before she joined Ferrari?"

The brunette slowly shook her head. "She wasn't on my radar until she debuted as team principal. The thing in F1 is that you will not be known until you do something special, or if you are a head of department or a principal."

"Yeah, it's a shame, actually. There are so many people working behind the scenes. But I looked Matilde up, because I feel like we need to give her a platform. She is a team principal, but I'm quite curious to know how she got there," the girl with the brown hair said and took a sip of her coffee. Even though the podcast was called F1 Giggles & Tea, the girl preferred iced coffees. But the name was nice. The co-host nodded. "Matilde Jørgensen is from Denmark. I found on her Instagram that she was born on October the 8th, and she is 29 years old-"

"I still cannot believe she is a team principal under 30. It's really impressive."

"I mean, it feels like Ferrari had no candidates but Matilde, like she was the only one who applied for the job, no offence to Matilde." They both laughed. "Anyway, she studied at the Technical University of Denmark: Engineering in IT and Economics, also doing a mathematical degree at the same time. She got a placement at Red Bull Racing in IT. After that, she got a job within Red Bull as a strategist, and worked her way up to Senior Strategist, working closely with Hannah Smitz. And now she is the team principal of Ferrari."

The brunette looked impressed. "It sounds so easy," she said. "And that while only being 29 years old."

"I'm 25 and I can't handle my job at the supermarket."

"I'm still crying myself to sleep over my studies." Laughter filled the podcast. "But to our comparison: how is she doing her job so far? Let's compare her to last year's season."

The girl with blonde hair nodded and grabbed her notes. "Bahrain, 2022: Charles p1 and Carlos p2 In 2023: Charles P5 and Carlos p4. Saudi Arabia, 2022: Charles p2 and Carlos p3. In 2023: Charles p4 and Carlos p5. Australia, 2022: Charles p1 and Carlos DNF. In 2023: Charles p2 and Carlos p4," she said. "Baku was after Monaco, but this year it is before Miami. So Baku, 2022: Charles DNF and Carlos DNF. In 2023: Charles p4 and Carlos p2."

"Hmm, it sounds like the start of 2022 was more promising than this year," the brunette mused.

"Yes, but let's be honest: the end of 2022 was a disaster for Ferrari. God knows what Mathilde had to deal with when she got there. I can imagine it was a mess," the blonde girl smirked. Let's compare the results so far after four races, shall we? Charles had 78 points in 2022 and currently has 53 points. Carlos had 33 points in 2022 and now has 46 points. In 2022 Ferrari had 96 points and they have 99 points in 2023. An overall difference of three points."

It was silent.

"It's... I hope they will stay consistent."

The blonde girl sighed. "I mean, Carlos has more points now. And the team has three more points. It's not a downward trend. Considering where Ferrari came from last season, it has improved already. I feel like the team is doing better, but we will find that out later this season."

"I hope this girl boss will fix this team. But first the next Grand Prix: Miami!"

* * *

The Floria sun blazed brightly in the midday sky as Matilde and the team gathered at the entrance of their hotel in Miami. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of race weekends and a lot of travel and it was intense. Someone from the media team proposed to go to the beach with the entire team. It was a much-needed break; it helped to adjust to the jet lag as well.

Matilde, who wore blue and white coloured linen shorts, a dark blue top and a white shirt, exchanged smiles with her colleagues as they gathered around in the lobby. The atmosphere was quite uncomfortable, perhaps it was because their team principal, their boss, was joining the team on a day out. At first, Matilde doubted going, because she would feel uncomfortable too, but Gemma convinced her to go, to work on the team building.

A few minutes later, the team made their way to the beach. Groups were formed, and people were talking. Matilde found an English girl among the hospitality people, they bonded because they both used to work for different teams. Liza used to work at Alpine and she started her job at Ferrari last year, one year ahead of Matilde. They could talk about Red Bull and Alpine and the things they had gone through.

The beach was a lively tableau of vibrant umbrellas, laughter and crashing waves. As Matilde and her team claimed an entire beach club, they settled down and ordered some drinks. Matilde sat down on a sunbed, looking around; almost the entire team was Italian, but there was a mix of nationalities and personalities after all. However, the common thread that bound them was their shared passion for racing.

Some people decided on dipping in the sea, others decided to work on their tan, or spend time together. Matilde grabbed a book out of her bag and decided to keep it to relax. She was reading the latest book by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø.

"Oh, Jo Nesbø. My mum reads his books as well," Liza said. "She thinks they are amazing."

Matilde closed the book, realising reading wouldn't work. Her mind wasn't committed to it, she had too many thoughts racing through her head. "He is one of my favourite writers."

"It's so cliche, but I'm currently into reading those cheesy romances. Sarah Jio is currently my favourite writer," Liza replied and took a sip of her mojito.

A smirk left Matilde's mouth. "I read The Last Camellia on the plane. It's easy to read and it has such an amazing plot."

Liza nodded. "I loved that one too. Cliche, but good." She looked at the sea. "I don't know if you know this, or heard it, but there's a podcast going viral on TikTok. The viral episode is an episode about you."

Matilde raised her eyebrows. "I had no idea. What did they say?"

"Not much, but they talked about who you are since they didn't know much about you. They kinda dug into your history. Nothing personal came up, which made them frustrated," Liza chuckled. "Nothing negative."

"Who?"

"Two girls, they're hosting the 'F1 Giggles & Tea' podcast."

Matilde nodded. "I see." For the last few weeks, the media and fans have been very critical of Matilde. And she had to agree with them, because she too would create an opinion on a new team principal as well, but now that she was a team principal and people had an opinion on her, she had a different opinion on it. It felt unfair, because no one knew what she was doing and all the negative quotes were harsh on her. "I mean, I already read a few articles, positive articles, on how much they praise me for being a female team principal."

"You're doing a great job, Matilde. Ignore the media. Claire Williams did the same."

"As much as I respect Claire, things went downhill at Williams when she was the team principal."

"Then show them that you can do it. The Italians are tough, but you got this."

"I like your way of thinking."

"Give me a raise and we will talk again."

A laugh rolled over Matilde's lips. "We will see. Alright, enough about the media, I'm going to swim."

Liza nodded. "I will stay here and finish my drink. Will be there in a few minutes."

"Yes." Matilde got up and put on her sunglasses, making her way to the sea.

It was not like she was insecure about her body, but she knew that she didn't have a model body. She didn't have a six-pack, toned legs or arms. There was fat, she was midsized, skinny fat. And she was fine with it, she wasn't a gym girlie. But seeing all these models on the beach made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

While the team was enjoying a beach day, Charles had to follow his training scheme. He and his trainer Andrea were also on the beach. Andrea pushed Charles to his limit and it worked; Charles hated it and Andrea liked it.

As the training session progressed, Charles couldn't help but let his gaze wander occasionally towards the beach. He noticed some people from his team and it made him jealous. They relaxed on their day off and he still had to train. His eyes fell on a woman in a black bikini who was walking towards the sea. He tightened his jaw. His eyes lingered on Matilde's figure, she had beautiful curves. His attention was divided between the workout and the sight before him.

Andrea, noticing Charles' distraction, raised an eyebrow. "Focus," he said, his tone stern. "You're here to train, not to daydream."

Charles snapped back to attention, giving a sheepish grin. "Yep."

"Keep your focus on the workout, or you won't win."

As the workout continued, Charles struggled to keep his attention on his training. His eyes were inexplicably drawn to Matilde. She was talking to some other girl, both only having their feet in the water. Charles found himself following her movements, his concentration shattered.

Matilde walked further into the sea, the cool water offering a refreshing feeling from the sun's heat. She listened to Liza, who shared a story about a race she would never forget. Matilde let out a satisfied sigh, enjoying the sensation of the waves washing over her.

Andrea's patience wore thin as he watched Charles' lack of focus. With a sigh, he tossed a ball towards Charles, aiming it directly at his head. The ball made contact, snapping Charles out of his reverie.

"Ouch!"

Andrea crossed his arms, his annoyance was evident. "Maybe if you paid as much attention to your training as you do to whatever is distracting you, you would have caught that ball."

Charles muttered an apology, forcing himself to re-engage in the workout. But his eyes kept on wandering towards Matilde, who was now walking out of the sea, droplets of water clinging to her skin. His heart raced as he tried to regain his focus, but it was a tough battle.

Finally, Matilde saw Charles looking in her direction, and a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She had to pass him to go back to her sunbed. "Ah, lovely to train outside instead of the gym," she commented, her tone light and warm.

"Yes, quite the change of scenery," he replied curtly, his gaze flickering away. The response was colder than they both expected it to be.

Matilde squeezed her eyebrows together, sensing the change in his attitude. She was taken aback by his abruptness, but before she could reply to him, Charles turned his attention back to his workout. Matilde walked away, shook her head and walked back to her sunbed, following Liza.

As the workout processed, Charles pushed himself through the rest of his training, determined to shake off his distraction. But the memory of Matilde walking out of the sea, water glistening on her skin, lingered in his mind, igniting a spark of attraction that he couldn't ignore.

Next chapter

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kkcauseway · 1 year ago

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Oh Baby P3

Chapter summary: The end is nigh, what you've been waiting for is finally here. Baby is coming! and you have the best support, Joel really is so good at everything he does. It's a hard labour but Joel helps you through it in the best possible way. Chapter warnings and content: Tw-childbirth, pregnancy, waters breaking. Breast/nipple play, I guess pregnancy kink kinda? Unprotected PinV, Caring!Joel, Parent!Joel. Joel being the best girl dad. Events of after the outbreak. Word count: 6.6K Authors note: Part three we made it! The end of an era eeek! i really hope you enjoy reading this!

Series Masterlist I Main Masterlist

You’re sat up in bed when Joel finally wakes. Its only six, but it’s like he can sense when something isn’t right. You’ve been awake for a while, but he must’ve felt your presence leave the room to make the tea or felt as you slipped back into bed but didn’t get yourself comfortable next to him again.

“You okay baby?” he questions sleepily on seeing that you’re sat up in bed with a cup of herbal tea, visibly tired, but unable to sleep.

“She’s awake so y’know what that means” you groan stroking your stomach with one hand when your back spasms. “And of course, I’ve been having the nightly occurrence of pains” you roll your eyes.

“Oh, y’gonna be okay today?” he sits up studying you.

“Yeah” you reach out to stroke his cheek, “I’m more than-”

“Used to them by now” he finishes for you. “Yeah, I know baby I just hate you bein’ like this. Y’know this patrol today, I don’t have to go, Tommy and Maria both said I didn’t need to do anymore especially with how you’ve been.”

You chuckle, “I know Joel, but you’ve also been losing your mind being cooped up, don’t try, and lie and say you haven’t, cus you have. I’ll have Ellie with me all day! You’ll be back before you even realise you’ve gone, trust me I’ll be okay, so stop worrying.” You chuckle, but then wince the laughing causing your boobs to bounce. “Fuck my boobs are really sore” you whine.

And Joel knows exactly what that means he needs to do. In about one of the only ways, he can make you feel better.

He sits up in an instant. Dirty smirk on his face. “They just need a lil bit of lovin’ s’all don’t they?” So, he bends to draw his tongue over your nipple twirling it round and round before biting softly, he then does the same on the other.

He begins to massage them in his warm large palms causing you to moan and writhe. “Needy again aint yah baby? Never known someone who needs to fuck so often.” He chuckles taking one hand away to find its way to your core. Stroking his fingers through the slick of your wet cunt before spreading it to you clit and circling. Setting a pace that has you nearing release almost instantly.

“Mmm Joel” you whimper.

“Such a good girl, I’ll make you feel good don’t worry” he squeezes your breasts harder. Taking them back into his mouth as he puts more pressure on your clit, whilst shoving a finger in and out of your tight hole.

“Ugh, g- gonna come Joel.”

“S’it good girl give it t’me!” he demands into your breast, not letting up his pace.

You lose yourself after hearing his gruff voice once more. His ability to make you feel things you never thought you’d be able to leaves you forever wanting. So really, it’s his fault you wana fuck all the time.

“Fuck me” you whisper when his fingers eventually leave your core. Still shaking post orgasm. Your whole body already begging to be filled once more.

“Yeah? S’that what y’need?”

“Yeah” you whisper.

He helps you to lie on your side then before slotting in behind you lifting your thigh ever so slightly as he aims himself at your aching cunt. He pushes in all the way on one agonising thrust. Bringing a hand round to touch your breasts once more “I’ll make you feel better baby.” He whispers into your ear as he begins to move.

“Ugh Joel” you moan.

“Come on baby know you’ve got another one in there for me.” He coaxes moving slowly within you holding you tight as he finds a new, deeper angle.

🩷

Once satisfied Joel then helps you to get ready for the day. It’s Tuesday and as arranged you and Ellie are watching Ted so Maria can go to her important council meeting and of course as per, Joel and Tommy are out on a patrol. The pains you had through the night every so often left you completely restless. You definitely feel as though they’re different, even if it’s only a slight difference. Looking after Ted will mean you have your hands full, you’re already glad of the distraction and it’s not even begun.

On his insistence Joel slowly walks you over to Tommy and Maria’s. Not satisfied until you’re content in the house. There’s no sign of Ellie when you first arrive but it’s not long until she knocks. “Sorry overslept” she utters out of breath when Joel opens the door to her.

With Ellie as your personal ‘aide’ for the day, him and Tommy leave for their patrol and then it isn’t long till Maria goes to meet the council. Explaining they’re determining someone’s fate, on if they get to stay in Jackson or not after an incident on a previous patrol.

🩷

You lap up every second of your nephews company. Enjoying him being crazy till he tires himself out and then all warm and snuggly.

You’re snuggling with Ted on the sofa after having some lunch. Ellie offering to wash up. He’s curls up round your bump, his head resting against your chest as he watches a cartoon. He’s sleepy but fighting it. You can’t wait to do this with your own baby.

“Heyyy!” Ted suddenly shouts lifting his head to look down at your stomach.

“What’s up Teddy?”

“The baby kickeded me!”

You laugh “They’re just sayin’ hi! They know that their cousin Teddy is close.” You stroke your belly, and he follows the pattern you draw with his own palm. Content for a second until his crazy three-year-old mind begins whirring again.

“Why am I the baby’s cos-un?” he questions looking at you.

“Why are you the baby’s cousin?”

“Yah!”

“Well remember I told you this before, your daddy and Uncle Joel are brothers, aren’t they?”

He nods “yeah, I love my Uncle Joel and my daddy, they’re the bestest!”

“Yeah, they are huh? Well, they are brothers and you’re daddy’s baby aren’t you and then this baby is Uncle Joel’s baby. So that makes you and this baby cousins.”

“Is it fun?”

“Fun being a cousin?”

He nods looking to you curiously.

“Oh yes, so much fun! When I was your age, I loved my cousins more than anyone else in the whole wide world! We had weekends where we used to make blanket forts and eat loads of sweets!”

“Yay! I’m so ‘sited! I want the baby to come now! Can they come now?” he looks to the bump once more.

“They’ll come soon don’t worry, but right now they want a snack! Do you want one too?”

“Yes peaseeee!” you smile at one another then before going on a mission to find food.

🩷

Throughout the day you notice the pains you have seem to be slightly different, but you’re so distracted running around after Ted that you don’t take too much notice. It’s always in the back of your mind though that this could potentially be ‘it’, and it’s an exciting prospect.

The day is over before you know it and with Maria arriving back, you tell Ellie she can go and meet Dina if she wants, which of course she does. She jumps at the chance. Anyone would think she hates your company, but then you remember what it felt like to be young and in love-which she definitely is (even if she wont admit it to you), and so you can’t blame her for the way she behaves.

With Ted finally down for a nap you get started on cooking with Maria’s help. Getting some lovely food ready for your boys for when they get back from their exhausting day on patrol. You find this to be the best opportunity to finally relay your feelings to Maria.

“Maria, I think there’s a chance I could be in labour? Maybe I’m not sure. How did you know you were in labour?”

“What? Why are you thinking that?” she startles. “And my waters broke it all started there for me, but not everyone’s waters break right away.”

“Well, these pains today are definitely seeming to be different. Only a little, but they seem to be in more of a pattern too. And they’ve never been in a pattern before.”

“Oh, how exciting! It might be especially if you say there’s more of a pattern.”

“Guess we will have to wait and see huh?” you giggle so excited at the thought it could be.

You leave Maria to go to the bathroom a short while later, with a real sudden urge to go, but stop in your tracks along the way, not even making it out of the kitchen. You feel something trickle and find yourself gripping your stomach.

“Maria!?” it comes out squeaky.

“Yeah?” she turns from the stove to look at you. “What’s wrong, what’s up?”

“How long till the guys get back?”

“Erm only about an hour or so now why?” she looks to her watch then back to you.

“I think my water might have just broke.”

“What really are you sure? You, okay?” she’s quick to be at your side walking you over to a chair and helps you to sit.

“Yeah, I think so. Like I said I’ve had pains off and on all day and I knew they felt different to my usual but of course I wasn’t sure, although it was in the back of my mind, but this now I can feel it leaking out of me. Oh God this is actually happening.” You laugh. Finding yourself not panicking, but everything seems to be hitting you at once and you can’t seem to stop talking. Always one for nervous chatter.

“Okay just take a breath!” Maria laughs “Are you okay? You need anything?”

“I’m fine, excited, nervous” you laugh. “I’m gonna, ouch!” you moan briefly feeling a spasm in your back. “I’m gonna go put a pad on, cus otherwise this chairs gonna get all wet, I’ll be back” you wink.

Maria helps you to stand holding you when your back spasms again.

It’s whilst you’re in the bathroom that you have your first proper contraction. You sway your body side to side as you breathe softly, rubbing at your hardening stomach. You can’t believe it’s finally happening. That the day is finally here after waiting and praying for so long, you can’t wait to finally meet your baby. It makes you smile. You’re at a point in your life that you always dreamed of but never though would happen. Especially with adding the end of the world into the mix. You’ve never ever been happier.

After sorting yourself out you walk back to the kitchen smiling at Maria upon entry.

“It’s definitely happening, had a proper contraction in the bathroom.”

“Amazing… Man, it makes me want another one so badly! Think Ted would love a little brother or sister, don’t you? I’ve radioed down, they’re only 30 minutes out so won’t be long, don’t worry I didn’t say why I was asking would give Joel a heart attack if I did” she chuckles. “But we’ll keep an eye on you, call for Jen if we need her, if not, let’s get some food in you and then you and Joel can go to the clinic afterwards, okay? Unless you feel like you need to go now, if you do we’ll go I’ll drop Ted with Ellie at Dina’s?”

“No honestly, I’m fine for now, the second we need to go, we’ll go. I’m starving though, can’t wait to eat!” you giggle.

“That’s good you’ll need all the strength you can get, so a big meal will work wonders. You just stay comfy here I’ll finish the food.” She smiles at you rubbing your shoulder.

🩷

Dinner is served just in time for when the boys make it home. Ted is now awake from his nap, being fed by his mother as Tommy strides in walking straight over to her to give her a kiss. “Hey Sugar.”

“Hey Babe.” She utters against his lips.

You quickly stand to go and find Joel, whose by the door taking off his boots.

“Joel” you utter softly.

“Hey Darlin’.” Evident relief in his face upon seeing you after a long day.

“Hope you’re feeling brave.”

“What, why?”

“My water broke.”

“What?”

“My water broke not that long ago.”

“Shit” he jumps up “Do we not need to-.”

“No not yet” you cut him off. “Second we need to go to the clinic we’ll go. I just don’t want to be in there for any longer than I need to.”

“Okay baby, whatever you wana do, you promise me you’re, okay?” he pulls you in for a hug.

“Contractions are about 15 minutes apart roughly me and Maria have been working out. It’s obviously going to be a long labour and they hurt, but I’m fine. Very, very glad to have you home though” you kiss him.

“My gorgeous baby, I love you.” He utters pulling away briefly before kissing you again even harder. “Still can’t believe you’re makin’ me a daddy again.”

“Well believe it” you whisper. “Come on lets go eat before it gets cold.” You smile as he puts his arm round you as you begin walking back.

“Fuck...” you suddenly whimper. Your whole-body tensing and you seek Joel instantly. Turning your body into him as you moan through the pain.

“You got this girl” he holds you close as you moan through the pain, “just remember to breathe” he coaxes.

When the pain depletes you stand and look him in the eye “They aren’t that bad yet, I’m okay I promise” you smile as he smiles back at you. He places a delicate kiss to your forehead as you close your eyes from the feeling. Opting to wrap his arm back around your waist as you continue walking into the room, you note how worried he seems already.

“Jeez y'look like you’ve seen a ghost!” Tommy jests upon seeing his brother.

“No ghosts, I just told him my water broke!” You announce excitedly.

Instantly Tommy’s face changes, to an expression identical to that of his older brothers. Just as you expected.

“Exactly brother.” Joel laughs. “Now do y’get it.”

“Man, family’s gonna be expandin’ again, can’t wait!” Tommy mutters big smile on his face before he begins eating.

“Me too” You reply happily sitting at the table with the help of Joel.

“Unc Joe, the baby kickeded me today!” Ted announces when Joel takes his seat.

He gasps dramatically “did they now?”

“Uhu” He nods.

Joel chuckles lightly. “I’ll make sure to tell her off” he winks to his nephew who tries to wink back but just blinks.

“Hey where’s Ellie?” Joel interrupts the silence not long later.

“I’m surprised it took you so long to notice haha, where d’you think?”.

“Need I ask, they’re obsessed with one another I swear” he shakes his head laughing.

About an hour after Joel makes it home it’s clear it’s time for you to go to the clinic. Contractions now around ten minutes apart, but with your waters already broke you decide rather to be safe than sorry. So, you pack up what you need and make the journey over.

🩷🤍🩷🤍🩷

Two hours after arriving:

“Fuck it hurts Joel!” you moan.

“I know Baby, I know, you just keep going, you’re doing so good.” He pushes on your back as you lean over the bed.

You breathe in and out the way you’d read to in the preparing for childbirth books Joel had found on one of his patrols.

“Good you got this Baby; y’know exactly what you’re doing.”

“I’m just so tired Joel” you whimper letting out a long sad sigh through the pain “why won’t she just come out!”

“She’s comin’, I promise she’s comin’, just taking her sweet time; wants to make an entrance. Come on you’re her mama after all, she’s gotta at least try t’be as dramatic as you.”

You laugh, Joel actually manages to make you laugh as the pain finally beginning to subside.

“God help us if she’s like me” you jest rolling your eyes.

“Well, I for one hope she’s just like you, would love to have two of you around t’keep me company.”

“Yeah, then add Ellie into the mix, you’re gonna have your fuckin’ hands full Miller!” you laugh.

“Can’t wait” he mumbles instantly. And boy does he mean it. His life will be complete once he has his three girls, even if one of them is looking down on him rather than living life with him.

With the pain now completely subsided you stand up straight, leaning back against Joel’s chest as he cuddles you tighter to him with the squeeze of his arm.

You rub a hand over your protruding stomach.

“God I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Me too baby, me too.” Joel brings his right hand to your stomach and strokes, his left arm still holding your chest to squeeze you ever closer to him.

“She’s our biggest blessin’ ‘sides Ellie, and of course my Sarah, ain’t never been more excited than when she was born, even if I was shittin’ myself. I can’t wait t’do it all again.”

Joel openly talks about Sarah to you now, it took a while, but he always tells you there’s no one he trusts more than you, and you see Sarah as your daughter too now in a way, never having had the pleasure of meeting her, seeing her gorgeous face in person breaks your heart; you keep the picture he has of him and her out on display constantly. But God you know just how much Joel cherished every single second of fatherhood; that girl never wanted for anything. It makes you smile knowing this baby is going to have the world’s greatest dad.

“Me too I can’t wait. Man I can’t believe we’ve finally made it here.” You finally add placing one of your palms over Joel’s knuckles and you both just stand there. Stroking your bump. Embracing the last moments before the bump is gone and the baby is here. A whole new future awaits.

Joel rests his chin on your shoulder, eventually talking softly into your ear. “Shall we get you comfy before it’s time to go again? Or are you okay stayin’ like this Baby?”

“Erm, I think I’ll get back on the bed actually, yeah. If I sit, will you sit with me, hold me? You’re about the only thing keeping me sane right now.” You laugh before you look at him, your beautiful eye gleam that he fell in love with still evident, even though you’ve been doing this for hours.

He smiles “Course. You know I will darlin’.” He kisses the tip of your nose.

He then helps you to climb back onto the clinic bed and with you sitting in a somewhat comfortable position he toes off his boots and climbs to sit behind you, he spreads his legs to make room so you can get yourself comfortable; head resting on his chest, hands stroking your belly. Joel begins to play with your hair, gently tickling your scalp with his fingertips.

It’s silent for a moment. So comfortable.

“Don’t you think it’s crazy that we made her. That she’s a part o’us?” you utter softly; content.

“I know it’s the craziest thing, thought the exact same with Sarah, n’when I held her for the first time and her eyes looked up at me it’s like she recognised I was part o’her. And I just couldn’t believe I made her; well partly. That she came from me.”

“She was so lucky to have had a daddy like you.”

“Think you mean, I was lucky to have her. She was absolutely perfect. The love of my life. I’d never known love like it, didn’t know my heart could hurt that much with this need to protect, to love. She was my babygirl, will always be my first and she was my entire world. Just like you are, and Ellie is andddd” he reaches down to your belly poking it, “this girl is.”

You chuckle lightly.

“What we gonna call her?” You question as it goes silent once more.

“I don’t know darlin’ you got any ideas?”

You sigh solemnly “None, yet.”

“Well let’s see her face first, I’m sure when we see her it’ll click.”

“Yeah, I hope so, or maybe Ellie could help pick?”

“I love that idea” he chuckles lightly.

“I can’t wait to- ffff - fuck- holy shit- ugh Joel!” you begin to curl into yourself as the pain waves over you.

“Okay babygirl, you’re okay just breathe, breathe, good girl. I got you; I got you” Joel strokes your cheek with one hand the other hand being squeezed by yours.

“Fuck- Joel it really hurts. Holy Fuck!”

Maria walks in then with Jen the midwife of Jackson following closely behind, placing on a fresh pair of gloves; obviously coming back to check you once more. Maria observes how you’re curled into Joel. Screaming in agony.

“Oh dear!” Maria says softly as she runs to your side grabbing your other hand and letting you squeeze.

“How we doin’?” Jen questions.

“It hurts so much, fuck Jen! How have some people here done this like five fuckin’ times… fuckin’ lunatics!”

That raises a laugh from everybody.

“I know honey I know, it’s so worth it though I promise.” Maria adds.

“Hey, look at me sweetie” Jen asks, and you look up at her the pain still ripping through you. “Just remember the breathing exercises I told you about, okay? Big breath in, hold for four, then out.”

You nod before copying her, eyes watering.

“That’s it, goooood, see you know what to do. You’re a fighter mama.” She smiles at you in praise.

It takes a minute or two longer for you to fully recover from the pain. When you finally spread back out alleviating some of the pressure in your back, you look to Maria with a pained smile as Joel continues to caress your belly.

“I can examine you again now if you’d like, see how you’ve progressed?” Jen suggests.

“Yeah, okay please, I just need her out” you whimper.

She nods makes her way over to you after washing her hands thoroughly but quickly, wanting to ensure the examination is over before you’re in pain again, asking you to put your heels to your bottom, legs nice and wide apart. You do so swiftly and take hold of Joel’s hands.

“Just some slight pressure okay just take a breath for me.”

You wince as she checks you. Gripping Joel’s hands in your own tight.

“Okay good eight centimetres look at you go girl! Racing through! Won’t be too much longer now okay.”

“Oh, thank God!” you cry.

“Nearly there!” Maria praises before adding “Oh by the way, I just came back in to let you know Ellie’s right outside, she’s there with Dina.” You follow her finger as she points, looking through the small window in the door and find Ellie and Dina both pacing outside “They’re both refusing to leave. Ellie asked if she could come and see you, I said I’d ask you?” Maria continues.

“Yeah, course she can come in, she doesn’t have to ask!”

Maria nods at you with a smile before she walks back outside of the room and fetches Ellie, you watch through the small door window how Ellie gives Dina a kiss on the lips before parting from her. You shift slightly on Joel’s chest in as much as an effort as you can to look up at him.

“So, they’re an actual thing now- finally?”

He looks down at you a smile on his face as he begins to caress your cheek.

“I don’t know baby, but they look pretty cosy to me.”

“I hope so, Ellie deserves to be happy. Dina’s so good for her; I think they complete each other”

“She does darlin’ you’re right. And yeah, I agree Ellie seems much calmer with Dina. If that’s at all possible.” He chuckles before he kisses the top of your head.

With Dina and Ellie parted, she walks in, and comes straight to give you a hug.

“Hey Els, you okay?” You kiss the top of her head before she pulls away shocked.

“Why are you asking if I’m okay? Course I am, you’re getting ready to push an entire human out of” she gestures to between your legs. “How the fuck are you?”

“Well Joel’s a pretty good help. So that’s something, but fuck it hurts.” You half laugh half moan.

You try your best not to swear in front of Ellie but a whole human is about to rip itself from your body and if that doesn’t give you a free pass, well then nothing does…

“You best be helping her out properly Dino? Don’t wana hear no reports that you’ve been slacking on the job” Ellie looks to Joel then, pointing her finger.

“Dino?” he quizzes. “That’s new” he chuckles.

“Yeah, well you know being born during the Mesozoic era kinda comes with the nickname.” She says giving a nonchalant shrug.

You laugh then, but you’re the only one, Joel’s face remains straight, emotionally untouched. There’s no reaction whatsoever. Eventually he urges “Hmmm, remind me to bring that back up later.” face still unreadable, but it’s clear he’s joking around.

“Sure thing old man” she winks.

“Enough with the old, s’like you wana send me to an early grave.” He sniggers lightly the seriousness forgotten.

“Yes sir” she salutes. “And may I just add I do not want to do that, you might be old but you’re gonna live forever, please and thank-you.” She smiles and Joel salutes her back understanding and accepting of her demands, like he’d ever leave his girls!

She reaches for your belly then, slowly, and gently caressing it, as she takes a seat on the stool next to the bed.

“So, how’s my little sister doin?”

“Yeah, she’s good, planned her escape well, just a shame I’m paying the price in the way I am” you sigh.

“She’s doing great, they’re both doing great” Jen adds in from the side lines with a smile looking over her shoulder briefly before focusing back on prepping everything ready in the room.

“Hey anyway,” Ellie begins, cheeky smile on her face as she chuckles lightly “you chose to get in this mess, so you gotta get back out of it. Not that I wana think about how you got into this situation… ew” she grimaces.

“Well, she’s got you there hasn’t she Darlin’?” Joel adds softly.

“Yeah, I know, but hey you can’t say you aren’t happy we chose this” you tap her lightly.

“Definitely, I’m super happy can’t wait!” Ellie almost bursts as she replies.

“Exactly!” you shout back.

You wince as another pain begins to take over. Rather than curling into yourself this time you begin to straighten yourself out, sitting upright in your place on the bed. Allowing your upper body to rock slightly. Joel sits up with you adjusting so he can properly access your shoulders as he begins to rub. You scream as the pain rips through you, Ellie grabs your hand, and you squeeze “ahhh fuck fuck fuck fuck” she’s quick to add. “Sorry!” you manage to moan back through gritted teeth.

You pant and pant as your body feels paralysed from the pain. It seems to go on and on, and it leaves you traumatised. Beads of sweat run down your forehead and your eyes well with more fresh tears.

When it eventually begins to ease you drop back against Joel, completely and utterly exhausted. Finally Letting go of Ellie’s hand.

Joel shushes you as you weep quietly; you take quick deep breaths.

“Fuck Joel, I just want her out!” you cry.

“Soon babygirl I promise soon.”

You then look at Ellie, “I’m so sorry El, I didn’t meant to hurt you.” That makes you cry even more. You really didn’t mean to squeeze so hard; she didn’t deserve that.

Fuck your spiralling. Everyone knows you had no intention of hurting anyone.

“You didn’t hurt me, just didn’t realise you could grip so hard I was shocked, you’re even more badass than I thought” she responds.

All four of you laugh then.

🩷🤍🩷🤍🩷

2 hours later

Ellie is gone, shooed away when every other word of the sentences you were stringing together became expletives. The pain unbearable and you don’t want Ellie to be witness to you in this state. Maria has gone back home to her beautiful family showing her face for support a few times before you begged for her to go on home to be the mama she deserves to be, rather than having to be witness to this. It’s just you and Joel. So utterly in love. So desperately in need for one another; to be close. Jen close at hand the whole time but it’s just you and Joel, in your love bubble. Nothing else in the world matters but this moment; cherishing your last moments together before the baby comes.

🩷

It’s on the next examination after a particular awful pain that you finally hear what you’ve been longing for “You can push, you’re there!” It’s music to your ears, you let out the biggest sigh of relief, as does Joel.

“Y’hear that garlin’?” he chuckles excitedly.

“She’s coming” you whisper panting hard.

“She is baby, she’s comin’!”

“Let me know when you have a pain sweetie and let’s get this show on the road! Soon as that pain hits start pushing into your bum. Don’t want any noise okay you focus all your energy on pushing down, getting this baby out.”

You nod smiling at her slightly still panting.

“It’s coming!” you shout breathing speeding up.

“Okay great sweetie listen to your body and just go with it, push this baby out let’s go!” she encourages.

“C’mon baby you got this!” Joel screams in encouragement from behind you. Still cradling you the way he has been for hours. His knees are bent as are yours your body fitting into the shape of him. He makes you feel safe, he makes you feel as though you have the energy to keep going even when you’re desperate to quit.

As the pain comes over full throttle you push giving it absolutely everything that you’ve got. It’s silent as you squeeze and squeeze. Face getting redder by the second, but you can feel what’s going on and it keeps you going, pushing till you’re desperate to take a breath.

“Good!” Jen shouts in praise. “Big breath in and go again if you can, let’s get their head out!”

And so, you do “Come on baby, doin’ so well m’so proud of you!” Joel encourages gripping his hands over your thighs tighter pushing your knees closer to your chest to help as you push, just as you’d requested.

The second push gets most of the head out and you give once more, not allowing yourself a rest till you know this babies head is free from your body. With one more all mighty, slightly noisy push, you gasp in relief as you feel the head pops out. Your whole body relaxes. You’re panting hard, beads of sweat swimming on your forehead. Joel releases his grip on your thighs in case you decide to move in any way.

“Well done, that was absolutely wonderful!” Jen adds rubbing your knee in praise. “Take some nice deep breaths for me now, wait for the next contraction okay, well done!”

“Can I feel her head?” You question looking into Jen’s eyes your vision blurred as tears threaten release.

“You don’t need to ask, they’re yours course you can” she smiles.

You quickly bring a hand between your legs, gripping your tiny babies head. “Is that hair?”

“Sure is!”

“Oh Joel, you need to feel her and all her hair.” You turn your head to the side as much as possible to try to gain eye contact with him.

He looks down at your sweaty face, the tired replaced with a newfound energy at knowing this is all almost over. “Can I?” he questions you. He’d absolutely love to, but only if you’re certain.

“Yeah” you whisper.

He manoeuvres himself slightly so he can reach over you without shifting you too much, coming to bring his hand to grasp his tiny new babies head.

“Oh” he gasps wetly.

“Doesn’t she feel beautiful” you utter quietly still panting.

“So beautiful” he whispers.

“Oh fuck” you whisper before beginning to pant, “I can feel it coming!” you suddenly shout, the next pain taking hold.

Joel is quick to remove his hand, sitting back in the bed and grabbing your thighs once more, this time your hands join his, willing your legs to be as open as possible to get this baby out promptly.

You push again feeling as the baby much more easily now begins to slide from your body. You quickly gasp between pushes.

“One more big, big push and baby will be here!” and that’s all you need to hear.

You push for a final time screaming the roof down with this one. Your body wills and the baby is out. And then it’s all over. Your body heaves, so relieved, so drained, so excited.

You’re quick to release your thighs along with Joel and you sit up, him following resting his chin on your shoulder as Jen hands you your screaming baby. You cradle them against your chest as they squirm and scream at their first look of their new world.

“Oh, she’s here, she’s here!” you cry. As Jen grabs a towel wiping the baby over as you hold them close.

“M’so proud of you” Joel mutters quietly allowing himself to release the tears he’d been holding.

“Oh, I know shhh” you hold them close to you willing the cry’s to settle down which they do quickly. “Good, shhhh there you go.” You move the baby to be cradled in your arms then; tiny body and face squishing into you as they’re already on a mission to try to find food.

“Guess we should confirm it’s definitely a girl huh?” Joel practically whispers.

You chuckle wetly slowly moving one of the cute bundles legs so you can check. Going into a fit of giggles with that you see.

“Well would y’look at that” Joel chuckles lightly. “Another daughter. How lucky am I!”

“My beautiful baby girl” you whisper to her crying.

“Daddy do you wana cut the cord?” Jen questions after a few minutes.

“Sure.” He quicks takes the scissors from her, and the cord is cut, she’s separate now, her own person.

“Lemme move baby so y’can lie down with her, okay?” You nod as he moves from behind you slowly on the bed helping you to lie back against the pillows. He stands at your side, cooing over his brand-new healthy, pink, content flesh and blood. His smile so wide it hurts.

“We’re just waiting on the placenta okay sweetie, I’m just gonna push on your belly a little, okay?” Jen asks but you’re not paying that much attention, besotted with your new daughter.

“Okay” you nod, wincing at first touch, jumping slightly from the pressure. “Jen wait a sec” and she stops instantly.

“You, okay?” she’s quick to ask.

“Yeah just” you turn to look at Joel. “Will you cuddle her daddy? Whilst we do this I just don’t wana hurt her if I flinch or something.”

“Music to my ears baby, gimme my girl, we need some daddy daughter time.” He grabs her gently ensuring she’s still wrapped in the blanket shushing her as she groans; but not before taking off his shirt so he can have some skin to skin contact with her, opting to grab another blanket to further wrap her as he holds her close.

He sits just for a moment with his newborn daughter as she looks to him, and he looks down on her studying the features of her father. It doesn’t take long for her to begin smacking her lips together, desperately needing food. Thankfully, the placenta has now been delivered and so Joel is quick to return his daughter to your chest once Jen has propped you up better with the pillows so nursing will be comfortable.

As soon as you take your daughter back from him, he’s there at hand to help you to ease your daughter into feeding at the breast. No help is needed from Jen as the child latches almost instantly. Guzzling away once a steady flow is being released. It isn’t without winces from you which keep making Joel jump, but you assure him it’s all because it’s new, you’re not in pain just in shock. You’ve grown and birthed an entire human. A human you’re now responsible for. And god she is gorgeous.

She’s out cold after a feed, lying against your chest snoring softly, you and Joel both can’t keep your hands off her.

Joel hears you sniffling softly, and it suddenly dawns on him that you’re crying.

“S’wrong baby? You in pain?” you can hear just how worried he is.

“No, no I just- hiccup- I just am so in love with her, and it’s making me cry and I can’t stop.”

He shushes you gently, kissing your temple “I know Baby she’s so beautiful. You did it! You did it so well, brought her safely into this world!”

“I can’t believe it’s over, after everything we went through.”

“It’s not over baby, this chapter might be, but we have so much now that’s only just starting. The beginning of so so much!”

“I know, I just I’m so happy and so excited… where’s Ellie, I miss her, and I want her to meet her sister?”

“Jen went to get her. I said don’t bother going to Tommy’s she will be with Dina” he chuckles lightly.

“Haha yep one thing about that girl is, she’s so predictable” you laugh back wetly.

🩷

It’s about twenty minutes later that Ellie is back, ecstatic at the prospect of meeting her sibling.

“Holy shit, I can’t believe that they’re actually here!” she exclaims as she first enters the room. She runs straight to your bedside admiring her sleeping sibling.

“Ellie, meet your sister” you utter softly.

“Sister? Damn you guys were actually right all along. Haha that’s brilliant. Oh, by the way I brought her this”, she offers over a blue t-rex stuffed toy. “Gotta make sure she’s as educated as me, start her early.”

“What she’s out of the womb maybe three hours and she’s already due a lesson?” Joel remarks.

“Hey, you can never start them too early!”

You chuckle.

“You wana hold her?” you question kissing your daughters head when she stirs slightly.

“Erm, I- I mean yeah I do, but I’m a bit out of practice with holding a baby.” She utters slightly embarrassed “I don’t know if it’s a good idea. I don’t wana drop her.”

“Trust me it’s second nature. Y’wont drop her.” Joel utters standing to allow Ellie to sit in his chair and he then begins to carefully pick your daughter up, shushing her gently when she grunts. She settles fast in her daddy’s arms. He bends slowly to lower his daughter into his older daughters hands. Releasing her only when he sees Ellies confidence shine through, and she settles into the comfortable feeling of having a baby in her arms.

Joel takes a step back coming to sit on the edge of the bed holding your hand as you both watch the sisters bond with one another. Eventually she opens her eyes and stares curiously at her big sister, Ellie brushes one of her fingers over her sisters eyebrows and smiles softly.

You stay like this for a while, content, happy, complete.

“So, what’s her name?” Ellie questions quietly.

“Well, this is the thing” Joel utters and Ellie looks to him curiously.

You add “we thought maybe you’d like to name her?”

“Me?” she’s shocked.

“Well why not?” Joel adds.

“Because I -I mean, seriously? You actually mean that?”

“We actually do” you nod.

“Well, there was actually a name that came to me the second I saw her, but I presumed you’d already have one picked out, so I didn’t say anything.”

“N’what name was that?” Joel quizzes

“To be fair it would fit for a boy too… so maybe I’d have thought it if it was a boy?” it’s clear she’s nervous to say.

“Just spit it out” Joel chuckles.

“Frankie” She announces “I think Frankie Miller sounds perfect.”

“Frankie” Joel whispers.

“Oh, Ellie, I love it.” You mumble trying to hold back tears “so beautiful.”

“Yeah, I thought so too. Well, there we go then! - Frankie Miller, welcome to the world!” she coos down at her sister whose eyes beam up at her. You and Joel are still transfixed on watching the two sisters bond.

“Welcome to the world Frankie baby” you whisper.

“Happy birthday babygirl” Joel utters smiling.

#joel miller #the last of us #maria the last of us #pregnancy #sarah miller #angst #fluff and smut #tommy miller #after outbreak #Oh baby #Part three #pedro pascal #pedro pascal character fanfic

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livelaughghoul · 2 months ago

Text

Disclaimer: This is for entertainment purposes only, nothing observed or taken away from this should be considered fact.

I’m not gonna lie, I haven’t watched a single thing for this race. I don’t know if I will either. I’m sick, my body hurts, and class is kicking me ass (literally no longer sure I want to even be a lawyer). I’m going to try and not let my shitty attitude influence the cards, but I make no promises. Honestly I would only take like, 15% of this reading and then discard the rest. I’m feeling brutal/lethal, and I’m sorry I can’t be more involved in the cards.

I’m not looking up who qualified where, so here are just the cards with the positions.

P1 - 10 of Swords

This is interesting, because it’s either one extreme or the other. It’s either going to be an absolute showstopper of a masterclass tomorrow, or someone else will make contact with him and he’ll be taken out or lose significant positions.

P2 - Temperance, reversed

It’s a card of balance, and with it being in the reversal I’m imagining that there was some difficulty in earlier sessions and they’ve managed to find that balance again. Should be a relatively smooth drive for them tomorrow.

P3 - 7 of Pentacles, reversed

It’s a card of reward, change, and assessment. Since it’s in the reversal position I’m taking it in more of the assessment meaning. I think tomorrow will be a challenge, but it’ll be needed for them to reevaluate the long term plan.

P4 - 6 of Pentacles

It’s all about resources, and what they have at their disposal. Much like the 10 of Swords it’s either one way or the other. You either have the resources and knowledge or you don’t. I imagine either way it’s going to be a hell of a drive for them.

P5 - The Emperor

This may be controversial of me, but I’m going to guess that whoever is here is going to end up on podium tomorrow. It’s such a dominate card, and in this level of intensity I’m imagining that it’s going to translate over and dominate the track.

P6 - King of Cups

Whoever qualified here had better have an incredible amount of patience, because I feel like they’re going to be in a bit of battle tomorrow. I’m taking the tolerance behind this card as making best with a shitty strategy.

P7 - Justice, reversed

The cause and effect of this is likely going to be contact with someone tomorrow, removing two or potentially more from the race.

P8 - The High Priestess

I’m not expecting much from this position tomorrow. I think that they have potential, solely because this is one of those incredibly mysterious cards that really can go any way. Either we’re going to see an incredible drive tomorrow or it’s going to be like, go girl give us nothing

P9 - The Fool

It’s gonna be a great day for them tomorrow, they’ll absolutely make up some ground and take a few positions. It’s a card of faith, and I believe in whoever qualified here, go whoever you are! You have my vote!!

P10 - 7 of Wands

Oh my god, I love this, cause this is such an aggressive card. Whoever qualified here is out for blood. It’s going to be incredibly defensive from them, I don’t think they’ll make much ground, but it’ll be a wild ride.

#f1 #formula 1 #formula 1 tarot #f1 tarot #mexico gp 2024

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amidst-wonderland · 12 hours ago

Text

dragon age: the veilguard | thoughts

not gonna lie, i really wanted to play a dnd-adjacent game but i’ve yet to really find my footing with balder’s gate in terms of gameplay so, i got gifted veilguard for christmas and i’m gonna try it out as inquisition second hand, as its £30 online. also, this is more takes on this game as a single release rather than overall as i'm not clued in enough on the overarching lore. this is also based on two runs, both mage but first was lords of fortune, second crows.

rook is so pretty! (my mum was like, "bit narcissistic, don't you think?")

oh the hair physics are so good.

think there’s a glitch on the human inquisition cc cause it’s making the eyelashes and eyebrows the same colour.

strife’s va sounds like bruce greenwood so i can’t unhear batman.

i feel like some of the va’s are hit or miss, some of them are so dry is bordering on flat, particularly neve, who slips into some american? even though she’s english.

can’t believe rook can be a gordie, right bioware, head up past the border next time!

we meet again cor vincent and chloe.

gimmie back the griffins!

i dunno what to make of neve to be honest.

i’m gonna go back and update my thoughts on this after i’ve beaten the game, so unlike my other ones, because i’m going in blind in terms of characterisations cause i already knew everyone in p3, ff15, spidey and rebirth.

checking out the cauldron with the elf squad.

i’m kinda gutted there’s not all lot of calls to the fact rook is an elf in-terms of grievances with npc’s. more seem to find issue with her previous occupation than that of her own gods tearing down the world and you only get internal conversations with bellara.

not enough spite for my liking. his first scene was so intriguing, like we don’t really know what draws him to rook, especially when lucanis can end up with neve but he still likes rook.

i don’t know if anyone else says anything, but it’s nice to know neve approves of rook’s relationship choices (i think taash does?)

gotta say, i think all the characters have grown on me but davrin, emmerich and bellara especially.

it really bothers me there’s no specific lines about rook being an elf trying to save lace from her magical rage, considering her channelled speech. there is, it’s just really long winded because you don’t get it until one of the solas regret debriefs which was 10-15+ hrs later for me.

“i’m a mage! i’m a mage!” yeah, y’know who else is? rook! and the only people to mention it is lace and taash.

i don’t care about the “dog-ification” of mythical creatures, assan is my baby and you get to hug him!

wow, i though cyberpunk had dire clothing options. my favourite is rook’s default.

too many english characters not saying “arse”.

is it just me or was taash’s non-binary story not handled well? it was so hand fisted and that isabela scene was so awkwardly done.

taash has the best and worst emotional range, but it think that’s more down to the voice direction and writing.

mage rook plays like a significantly more aggressive aerith.

well played bioware ya got me (rip)

#elfsquadkillsthedreadwolf (honestly, this feels right. the elf heroes, taking on an elf tyrant to take down the elevan gods and i’m a little annoyed they don’t toy with rook about the fact she is an elf enough).

yes, i stupidly got harding killed and neve captured but, bellara is my healer with a hardened neve and i googled what happened if davrin got killed and i couldn’t let my baby assan go like that, as poetic as it is.

it’s weird seeing “fucking” in the choice, i’ve only heard two drops of it, maybe two. lucanis, then i think taash might have.

okay… so, #superelfsquadkillselgar’nan.

i love playing a pint-sized lass taking on the world, considering i never really get to.

those cut lucanis scenes are my thirteenth reason. like seriously?! first river now lucanis?! it’s so blatantly obvious that scene pre minrathous isn’t their first kiss and i’m willing to bet it’s not their first bang either. like imagine cutting a character’s romance arc so bad that the player character has their first kiss offscreen. my guess is, the scene back at the lighthouse we got was your debrief scene later in the game and it was supposed to be the gondola scene at the villa because the jump cut is far to jarring and doesn’t fit what lucanis actually says, which to paraphrase is, “peace out, i’m gonna go fuck my girlfriend.”

rook joking her, belle and darvin are elf spirits is pretty funny

elgar’nan says “you will regret that” and all i could hear was was bandit heeler unicorse’s “you will live to regret that.”

there’s a part of me thinking that it’s more fitting for bellara to take the fall instead of neve with everything the elves have been put through via the gods and the fact the gods are taken down by their own people in the end. then again, she might be dead cause i’ve not seen that route.

my rook has put neve through the ringer and she’s completely my collateral damage. like babe, i’m sorry but i can’t break up the elf squad, bellara is my healer (a collateral in itself) and i didn’t want locked out of lucanis.

i just know spite said something vile to lucanis about rook and that’s why he didn’t kiss her.

i don’t love the implications that neve and lucanis end up together (and it’s fine if you do) but on both a story level and meta it’s contradictory and kinda insulting. neve’s romance isn’t locked if you don’t go with her, but it’s not the same vice-versa, not to mention it makes his feelings for rook feel a little disingenuous and that it was just spite who liked rook, when he implies that he’s not keen on neve. lucanis is willing to forgive neve but not rook especially with attempting to throw treviso under the bus (which, fair enough) and he’s willing to look past that? also, once again whilst yes, it’s a “straight romance” it’s primarily female players getting shafted, again. plus i get it’s his personality but they two still flirt until you lock-in with lucanis. like my babe rook who is serving more face than anyone on this team will not play second fiddle.

also, you get more content if you go as a crow which makes sense and it wouldn’t bother me so much if the game made up for it in other ways, lucanis is a mage killer and yet there’s no comment on it. even on the elf thing, there could’ve been a comment from any of them, particularly lucanis (if you wanna do it in a flirty way), his grandmother or teia that the crows like recruiting elf’s to disarm human targets because they find them attractive.

the lines you get about and from viago are hilarious as a crow, rook is his liability baby. i would have paid to see the look on his face when he found out about rook and lucanis

the fact that the treviso missions are kinda brushed over as a “battle for the cowl” thing, baring in mind, lucanis doesn’t seem too fussed about being first really bothers me. the crows are a dark faction, illario and lucanis went through child abuse at the hands of their grandmother as child soldiers and none of that is handled.

seeing the sketches of the cut content confirms it could’ve been a lot tonally darker.

the venetori are truly the most gullible cult. like you pissed off your bosses because you killed an elevan creation, how did you think that would go?!

pissed the only scottish accents i’ve heard are venetori.

we literally did shrooms with davrin.

i killed manfred and i regret it. emmrich said a line about “honouring the dead” and i was like fair, but then i thought about it more and… i don’t like the implications of emmrich running from death and i think you’re giving in to his flaws. also, finally a matt mercer voice i couldn’t recognise.

it’s the fact rook calls out to harding in the fade and it’s neve that’s with her, it’s all coming full circle.

i accidentally made my inquisitor really small and i knew i wanted to get the true ending so all i could think in the final battle was, “rook’s already tiny compared to solas and my inquisitor is even smaller, how is that kiss gonna work?!” but it was actually fine.

“varric is-“ and there it is. solas’ angle on rook. i’d argue solas toying with rook about varric is what he assume would be her undoing but it ended up being the catalyst to his downfall.

gameplay-wise, incredibly fun. the third act is the strongest if i’m honest but, it would be helpful is rook wasn’t the ai’s only target.

i was running about for so long trying to wonder what i had missed in the heart of corruption. turns out i had opened the champion blight wall in the converged city but not gone down to beat it.

beat the game in 50hrs, had almost all factions at 3 stars (except the wardens and shadow dragons) and got solas to do the right thing.

strife and emmerich?! omfg that’s amazing, could call rook a tactical matchmaker.

i’m not seeing enough people talk about this but that fact lucanis got on his knees for rook. a crow, the first talon, a dellamorte… like it was so fucking sweet, and the wings! spite doesn’t get involved my ass.

if you romance lucanis, that final fight with ghilan'nain is with an added layer of stress but it’s the fact rook get grabbed before getting him out and other than rook (and harding / davrin) he was the closest to ghilan’nain and they know.

most of lucanis’ lines are just him saying rook in a different tone.

evka really grew on me. i honestly thought her and antoine were one and done appearances just to link you to davrin but i was pleasantly surprised they follow you through to endgame.

ghilan'nain only calls out bellara and davrin for being elves coming to get her and rook’s just there like “and i’m what?”

considering the distain solas, elgar’nan and ghilan’nain have for the elves of today it’s so good to be with the elf squad.

i think i’ve finally got solas shtick down. it’s that he can do wrong, do right but cannot take accountability.

i love the fact the team squad can start with four women (two, potentially three woc and a dwarf) bet the grifters were real pissed. then a bisexual assassin who’s a big softie.

yeah, taash basically says to lucanis, “ya’ll should bone with the wings.” i stand by the fact taash is most definitely autistic and it’s amazing.

people seem to forget da is modern fantasy, and not medieval. non-binary is not “out of place” any more than lucanis saying elevator to davrin (literally a captain america reference) and minrathous has magical neon signs.

rook literally says to davrin, “…and we’ll head to treviso.” even though you don’t have to take him.

okay, there’s two non-venetori scottish npc and what the fuck is that one in minrathous' accent?

rook not having a default ‘rook’ casual wear is kinda annoying. i hate how your outfit has to look like the factions.

does the human rook honour the dead in english?

“i also used to wet the bed, want me to start up that again.” / “i’d rather you didn’t.”

spite missing manfred is so cute

the lucanis and davrin soup poison conversation is hilarious.

saw a tiktok talking about how we could’ve played as the inquisitor during the three weeks rook was gone, helping to build back the team and honestly that would’ve been perfect. rook is their glue and after loosing three people the are not okay. so, based on who i had left you could see glimpses on them coping, taash finally turning emmerich to help with their grief, finding bellara in neve’s room or it getting a little dicey between davrin and lucanis, who to me, probably take rook’s disappearance the hardest (outside of romance), with the romance angle it’s so much worse for they two and their natural dispositions butting heads in a “i have to let her go or it will kill me.” vs. “it’ll kill me if i do.” plus, it adds so much more to the solavellan ending with her being there and it could be her idea to make the fake dagger.

dying at rook translating isabella’s elven mishap.

the way she announces spite is like, “the incredible demon spite!” then is like, “oh and lucanis is here too, i guess.”

lucanis is a girl dad, the way he is with mila and has had enough of “girl dinner”.

“she’s a cloud! how do i kill a cloud with a dagger?!”

(bellara to emmerich on elves as spirits) “i asked davrin about it and he just shrugged!” / “pfft. he would.” (rook seemed ambivalent in her answer).

davrin has the most compelling arc, like i did not expect that to go the way it would and the warden’s without a shadow of a doubt don’t deserve those griffins back.

there’s a part of me that feels sorry ghilan’nain she’s as much a victim as she is villain. seeing the venetori hurt that halla confirms it. similarly with her archdemon. she is their protector, creator. elgar’nan groomed her and i stand by it. i don’t forgive nor absolve but contextually i can see this damage is not all her own volition.

everything varric says comes into so much question, especially the talk just before fighting the two dragons in the wetlands. even if rook fights him on it, solas makes it clear the team must be willing to die for the cause, for her. then, back at the lighthouse, what does varric press her to do? help her team get past their issues. also this might not be intentional but sometimes varric but you can hear solas’ accent (which, the va seems to be leaning more into his welsh accent for solas).

on accents, rook saying “fix up your gear” and “we’re in dock town proper.” in the thickest gordie accent is incredible. i was half expecting her to finish the latter sentence with “like”. this woman’s giving “i’ve got paper-cuts on top of fucking paper-cuts.”

emmerich’s transmog has glitched out on the most horrific outfit.

i’m actually really pissed off that rook isn’t in the ‘ossuary’ with spite. like i get the devs were real excited about neve and lucanis but it just feels like a kick in the teeth.

“is this elf your servant?” there’s two elves pal. then bellara does back it up with the fact they respect “human mages.”

elgar’nan’s planning to sacrifice elves for, some would argue retribution. lucanis do you really think this is the best time to have your first domestic with your elven missus?! (no but him yelling at rook, the gate and the lock is hilarious).

i just know lucanis is a loving, low-key handsy drunk and rook putting him to bed after drinking with davrin would’ve been so cute!

rook and harding are having a heart to heart and rook is apologetic about the titans, then davrin talks about how solas doesn’t feel guilty because he did it. then it cuts to lucanis is this weird meta way who just says “mierda’ after a pause like he remembers the camera has cut to him.

vorgoth’s “rook” and a wave is so funny.

“till taash teaches him how to swear…”

almost thought spite was going to look to the camera and to “bleugh!” at rook and lucanis.

i just know rook finally let go the breath she’d holding when she heard lucanis shout for her after the ghilan’nain fight.

still can’t believe the inquisitior’s va is alt from cyberpunk.

“mortal threats are a dull blade.” goes so hard, and honestly at the gloom howler’s core you can understand and sympathise how her anger and hurt manifested.

crow!rook not being able to have the same grace as neve for not saving minrathous is kinda icky. like, yeah you’re angry about your home but also mine was also being attacked.

the way evka is constantly making faces at rook during weisshaupt’s boardroom like, “oh my christ, you are not helping.” then when rook runs off to the dragon trap, she looks at antoine like, “is she for real?”

“tell me about you and lucanis.” omfg, lavellan! morrigan stalking rook’s love life was not on my bingo card.

can we talk about the fact that lucanis technically doesn’t actually, succeed at anything he was recruited for? he missed the first time, harding / davrin provided a distraction the second and teia saves his ass the third. rook you’ve bagged a man that is perpetually failing upwards.

next run is gonna be a male rook, or another female rook but i wanna see bellara and davrin's romances next cause both times i did lucanis, because i wanted to see if being a crow makes a difference, it doesn't. it's more teia and viago scenes that change.

veilguard insists on, "solas's" instehad of "solas'" and its throwing me off.

bare with me, but someone on tiktok pointed out that despite the cut content, lucanis and rook feel the most ‘canon’ to the overarching theme and that in love, rook is a foil for solas. rook has everything he wanted and lucanis is everything he wanted to be for mythal and lavellan, similarly with zara and illario who took advantage of the envy demon. it’s why he chooses to fuck with rook about lucanis specifically because he constantly talks about the sacrifices rook has to make for love, despite never doing it himself out of fear. rook doesn’t have that, she drops the ball and scarified a member of her team to ensure lucanis’ safety and loses the upper hand in the fight, she stands by him even when the team don’t risking their trust in their shared goal, which exactly what solas is afraid of. unlike solas, lucanis lets rook in, he doesn’t want spite near her and he’s scared but he takes that risk, and again, every bit of love he’s had has been transactional - like solas and mythal - and it takes him so long to accept that rook’s isn’t, he lets go of his fear that he might loose her. hell, taking all of that and everything she’s been through with lucanis and pushes the lesson learned onto lavellan. solas knows everything lucanis and rook have been through and uses the consistent fear she has to break her, the same way it would him. he made the sacrifice to leave lavellan to keep her safe without confronting his fear, just mitigating it. on that ghilan’nain fight, lucanis could’ve dropped the dagger and saved harding, but he didn’t because it was at the cost of rook’s life and the one thing she had asked from him.

#dragon age the veilguard #dragon age rook #lucanis dellamorte #bellara lutare #lace harding #davrin dragon age #emmerich volkarin #dragon age taash #neve gallus #varric tethras #solas dragon age #solavellan #dragon age inquisition #elgar'nan #ghilan'nain #assan dragon age

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risette-blast · 1 year ago

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I finished the persona 3 manga today!

overall it's been a very mixed journey I'm not gonna lie 😭 Sogabe clearly improved his art and general writing a lot from when he started this to when this finished; heck, he even finished a manga for P4 before finishing the P3 manga.

like I dunno I think the best way I really could describe this manga is that it was mid. and that's a real shame because persona 3's story is incredible; the game(s) are great, the movies are great. but the main thing that really killed it for me was just how awful the pacing was. the story is told completely out of order (it essentially is a series of flashbacks leading up to Ryoji's reveal) and when I say it completely ruins the pacing, I genuinely mean it. it is all over the place; it makes no sense to anyone who may be unfamiliar with persona 3, and it is still just ??? for those who are. this issue alone really drags down the quality of the manga for me.

some of the early art just sucks too. off model, looks derpy. I know this was Sogabe's first manga, but it really does show unfortunately.

on the other hand, there are some fun highlights in the story. seeing the friendship between Minato, Aigis, and Ryoji is really nice, and Aigis even calls Ryoji her friend in the end, which is really sweet. there are some cute moments between various characters (the manga really pushes Shuyaka in particular). and honestly, after it's revealed who Ryoji is (and this is also where they stop really jumping back in time except for brief flashbacks), the quality of the pacing and story telling really does pick up. for example: they made the Jin fight in Tartarus really interesting by drawing parallels between him and Akihiko:

the nyx fight afterwards is pretty good, and the time leading up to the rooftop scene is handled very well too, with everyone struggling to remember their memories. I'm not a big fan of how they adapted the ending (loses a lot of the emotional impact that the game and movies had), but they had some subtle, nice details (notice Minato's speech bubbles being transparent, whereas Aigis's aren't)

overall? look, it's Persona 3, I can't hate this. but aside from some highlights here and there and the last few volumes, it just wasn't a great experience. I actually took a long break from this manga bc I had so little motivation to read it with how bad it was early on.

#persona #persona 3 #atlus #p3 #persona 3 spoilers #persona 3 manga #p3 manga #p3 spoilers #ok seriously though why is the pacing so bad

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twilightknight17 · 5 months ago

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The Promised Day - Part 3

Man, I left this for a while. God. Too much to do, too little time, and work is fucking exhausting. But let’s talk about the ending, finally.

Where last we stood, the Great Seal was cast, and everything faded to white.

Probably the closest any of you will ever get to seeing the Sea of Souls.

It’s crushing, how upset they are that everyone made it but one person. Honestly, I get the sense that any number of casualties would have been too much. This was an all-or-nothing fight. It was supposed to be that everyone goes home, or no one does.

But no, the one person they lost was their leader. In the end, there was nothing they could do.

…….it’s not the Sea of Souls, it’s the Universe. Oh god. Of course he can hear them.

Stop talking like you and Nyx are the same. T_T You’re not!

He does sound proud of them, though.

SEES is returned to the front of the school, Tartarus dissolves into light, and Minato walks out of the now-normal building so that everyone can hug him and cry all over him. If I didn’t know how this ends, I’d be really mad about ten minutes from now.

I do like that, after the timeskip, this version of the ending starts the exact same way as the other one, since they still don’t have their memories in this version.

Man oh man am I popular, though. This isn’t even all my social links, and look how many people want to talk to me!

It’s morbidly hilarious that this game literally started the trend of “walk around and talk to everyone the day before the ending”, but Minato’s the only modern protag who wasn’t going to leave. Not by choice, anyway.

You and your girlfriend can’t both have amnesia, my guy. Get it together.

We find out that Kenji is excited because apparently there are going to be three new teachers next year, and they’re all hot. So he has learned nothing. Lots of social links sent letters, because the end of their link was literally them leaving town.

(Minato wasn’t going to leave, everyone else was. Inverse Persona ending. X’’’D)

The Gourmet King is gone (no tears here). Maiko’s dad says she’s doing well but also says I’m absolutely not allowed to marry her. We’re able to give Akinari’s mom the notebook with his story in it. Mamoru and Kaz are doing fine. Bebe, tragically, has decided not to come back to Japan right away. He’s gonna stay with his uncle for a while so they can grieve his aunt together.

Ms. Toriumi is taking the accidental revelation that I’m her MMO buddy very well.

God I laughed so hard.

All the cats I saved from Tartarus are vibing in the back alley!

I think I saved eight total? I wonder if there’s more. Secret cat ending. Fill the whole alley.

And…

...can I listen to my music box now? Please. T_T

As Mitsuru makes her graduation speech, SEES starts to remember, and rushes for the roof, where Aigis and Minato are already skipping the ceremony.

That’s a long time.

I ended up dating Aigis just because I actually maxed her link, and I think the only other girl I maxed was Yuko? Maybe? And Maya, but that wasn’t a romance option, which I still think is weird.

So, the credits. They, uh, didn’t have to do that. Like, it’s brilliant. Having his silhouette sinking deeper and deeper and gradually fading away to represent him doing the same. He vanishes completely and only then does it end, and we get to see SEES reach the roof just barely too late. Beautifully done, Atlus, I started tearing up, how dare you. X’D

And then the main menu is no longer the Dark Hour.

So, overall, other than some nitpicks, I think this was a really solid game. But as a modern remake of a preexisting game, I think they could have gone further. Why NOT just make your male teammates possible social links? Why NOT include Hamuko? Why NOT include The Answer with the base game? Why lie and say you want the “core” (read: original base game) P3 experience, but then add new things?

Why make Ryoji tell you he wants to be more than friends and then not give you a third dialogue option?!?!?

(I know the answer is money. It’s always money. I am just salty.)

But I could forgive more of that if they hadn’t nerfed the final boss. I did some googling, and pinpointed some other things about the Nyx Avatar fight that didn’t line up. Before, he could attack twice per turn. This one can’t. They gave the Death Arcana an extra thousand health, but the old version automatically took half-damage from EVERYTHING except almighty. They took away Moonless Gown, and therefore took away his ability to become invulnerable. Apocalypse can reduce your HP to 1%, but if he’s not attacking twice per turn, someone always has time to heal, so who even cares?

(Shoutout to the Fandom wiki for being like, “It is strongly encouraged to heal when it uses this skill”. No shit, guys. Wow.)

And yeah, they buffed his spells up a level, but ultimately, all the things that might have actually made the boss genuinely hard got nerfed.

It kind of sucks. They gave him a cool new color scheme for the final arcana and then weakened him. Why even.

Anyway, gonna do NG+ on hard mode to finish all social links and the compendium, and also probably going to do something really stupid like solo the Avatar with my level 99 Minato and Thanatos just for giggles.

Because hell yeah. :D

#Li plays P3Re #finally finished this writeup god damn #If I find anything wild in NG+ I'll make another post #oh yeah like if I manage to beat Elizabeth #because she killed me dead the one time I tried her fight before the ending this time #Like actual game-over dead not like when the twins just tell you you suck and send you on your way XDDD #Liz plays for keeps #actually now that I think about it how do you even beat her if they ALSO took away the Infinity spell.......

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hazardworld · 2 years ago

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It’s time for more Monster Town! Get ready for some Steddie (finally lol)!

WB1.WB2.WB3.P1.P2.P3.P4.P5.P6

-------

"So I’ve got Sirens: A Detailed History, Mythic Anatomy and Physiology, Twisted Tails of Sirens and Mermaids, plus a few others,” Dustin set the stack down on the table with a smack, giving him a few annoyed stares.

What, like he cared?

This was a library, not a hospice.

"Dustin, Siren Mating?" Will held up the small book with a raised eyebrow, and Eddie’s eyes seemed to widen instantly.

Bingo.

"Lucas said there was a whole thing with Chrissy, so I was wondering if that had anything to do with it," Dustin responded cooly, just like he practiced, while also very obviously flitting his eyes between Will and Eddie. Will seemed to catch on, and glanced behind him at Eddie, before smiling and nodding.

"Got it, makes sense." Will winked and set the book to the side, right between him and the older teen.

Dustin sat, ears twitching as he heard the almost silent swipe of Eddie taking the book. He pretended not to notice, but he and Will made eye contact, exchanging grins.

Both him and Will reached for books, and they began researching.

——

"Apparently, there’s an obvious difference in tails," Dustin read of Mythic Anatomy and Physiology. "Siren tails are longer and thinner so they can choke their prey, whereas mermaid tails are shorter and bulkier for more fat storage,"

"Smart, but are we really gonna be seeing Jason’s tail by the end of this?" Will countered. "It’s smart to know the differences, but I highly doubt we’ll be able to get him to shift if it proves his guilt."

Dustin sighed and nodded, knowing Will had a point.

"Yeah, that makes sense. What did you find?"

"Sirens: A Detailed History talked about the history of Melusine. Wasn’t that Steve’s ancestor?" Dustin grinned.

"Yes! What did you find?" Will opened the book to a page entitled 'Creation Myth' and slid it towards him. Dustin looked over with eager interest.

"In the beginning, yada yada yada…" Dustin skimmed the page until he found anything relevant. "The second sibling, Melusine, was entranced by his beauty, and chose to stay with him on human land. Knowing he would fear her true form, she bathed alone. They lived a happy life, until the fateful day when the Prince, now King found her lie, and she fled to never be seen again."

"Then it kinda goes into migration patterns of land sirens, and after that siren dialects? I’m not sure." Will commented, and Dustin gave a nod.

"It’s a good start, but it doesn’t explain anything we can use against you-know-who," Dustin looked around as he spoke the nuanced name. Even though the Party wasn’t in danger anymore, Jason was still protected by the public, and you never knew who was listening in on you.

Will nodded and reached his hand behind the stack of books. "That’s why I took a look at this one," He pulled out a large, purple, leather-bound book entitled 'Sirenic Magic,' and Dustin gasped.

"Dude—" He was immediately shushed by the tables around him, and rolled his eyes. Will chuckled. "Dude, that’s perfect!"

Immediately, they poured into the book.

"’Sirens must cast on a routine basis in order to maintain good health.’" Dustin read aloud, and he and Will made worried eye contact.

"Didn’t Steve say he doesn’t use magic anymore?" Dustin nodded.

"He doesn’t like it. Even when he used it on Robin it was only for fun." Will turned around.

"Eddie?"

Dustin grinned when he saw Eddie’s burning cheeks, engrossed in his book.

See, Dustin had known Steve was into Eddie for awhile.

He’d started suspecting something when Steve took care of Eddie before his name got cleared. Apparently, Steve was nothing if not chivalrous and kind to him. This was vastly off because Dustin knew anyone in the party, especially him, could report that generally, Steve’s care and affection was almost always mixed with snark, sarcasm, and playful bitchiness.

(For Upside-Down related events, it was always more calm and thoughtful. It wasn’t that Steve was ever unkind, it was just that he acted like an older brother.)

Steve had gone to the hospital every day to see Eddie, and Dustin would constantly see them gingerly touching each other. Usually, they’d be playing with each other’s hands.

Robin had "confirmed-but-not-confirmed" Steve’s bisexuality in the hospital hallway. Weeks later, a few days after Eddie started living in the new trailer with Wayne, Steve had confirmed it himself in a panic induced breakdown Dustin had accidentally burst in on.

Now all Dustin needed was to make sure Eddie liked Steve back.

"Eddie," Dustin asked innocently, "Have you been reading that book the whole time?"

Somehow, Eddie’s face found an even redder shade to shift to as his head turned to face the two boys peering at him inquisitively.

"…maybe maybe not…" Eddie mumbled, pulling a strand of hair to pull in front of his face and chew on. Dustin grinned.

"Why that book, Eddie?" Will asked with the same faux innocence as Dustin. "Why Siren Mating?"

"Because…because…" Eddie looked around, as if he was looking around for an excuse. "Maybe it has something to do with Chrissy and Jason’s dynamics?"

"Cut the shit, Eddie," Dustin deadpanned, and Eddie’s face blanched. "We both know you wanna bone Steve,"

"What? Nooooo…" Eddie trailed off nervously, but sighed in defeat when Dustin and Will didn’t relent. "How did you know?"

"Gaydar." Will smirked, and Eddie’s eyes widened as the two boys high fived.

"What?"

"In my defense," Dustin explained, "I’ve been noticing things and only started testing the waters today, so…" he shrugged.

"And I sorta pegged you from the beginning."

"Why is it you all come to me?" Eddie asked, though Dustin clued into it being rhetorical. "Can it be me telling you for once? On my own terms?"

"It’s not your own terms when you’re reading a book to woo the only siren we know who doesn’t wanna kill you." Dustin decided to ignore the rhetorical-ness.

"Wait," Will spoke over an audible groan from Eddie. "Are we not the first to come to you about liking Steve?"

"Max." Dustin groaned. Of course Max got to Eddie faster than him. Dammit! Sneaky shit.

"Course it was Max." He parroted his thoughts out loud.

"Anything interesting in there?" Will asked genuinely, leaning his elbow on the table and his head on his fist.

"Well," Eddie turned back to the book, "It says that for interspecies relationships, the siren always initiates the ritual. It’s supposed to be like an 'offering of peace' or some shit."

Weird. Werewolves didn’t really do that. If anything, alphas (if and when there was one trying to mate) initiated mating rituals, but that was the only occurrence Dustin could think of.

"What’s the first gift?" Will raised an eyebrow at Dustin’s question. "The first thing Steve’s supposed to do or give Eddie,"

"It’s called a caddou*, apparently. It’s supposed to be some sort of token of his trust, something with his magic in it. My job is to do the trust thing and return back with some sort of thing to show for it."

Most werewolf mating rituals started with one party making something for the other, with the other party reciprocating if they wanted to mate. The ritual showed the care and attention shown towards each other and the relationship.

"Well sirens are all about luring people to their death, so I guess it make sense." Both Eddie and Dustin turned to Will, who had leaned back in the chair so both could see him.

"What?"

"What do you mean?"

Will shrugged. "Well, the ritual is showing the siren has trust in you, and therefore cares for you and doesn’t want to kill you. In completing the trust exercise, you’re essentially saying that given the chance, you’re not going to hurt them or their things."

Ohhhhhhhh.

Yeah, that made a lot of sense.

"Why is that so cool?" Eddie asked. "Seriously. That’s so cool."

"How are you gonna know when it is? It could be anything!" Dustin asked. Werewolf mating wasn’t as cool, but it was a lot more clear.

"And does Steve even know how to use his magic, much less infuse something with it?" Will chimed in, and Dustin nodded.

"It says here if I complete the task he’ll give me something of his in return." Eddie read further, "Then I’m supposed to—actually, fuck it, I’m checking the book out. I’m gonna forget this." A pause. "Wait—didn’t you guys need me for something?"

"Yes!" Dustin exclaimed, and Will dragged the book over to Eddie. "This says that Steve has to be doing magic, but he can’t, right?"

They paused as Eddie read the text a couple times over, frown deepening each time.

"Yeah, no, magic users have to use a certain amount of magic within a certain amount of time, like a magic quota. Sirens fall in that category, but Steve said he hasn’t been using magic consistently since Hawkins Round 1." Eddie sighed. "Look. I’ve heard of untrained witches powerful enough that their magic just kinda…oozes out of them when they don’t use enough."

"Steve can’t be that powerful though..." Dustin asked, slightly in disbelief. "Is he?"

*pronounced cah-DOH

Part 7!

Tag List:

@estrellami-1 @cookies-and-doom @beckkthewreck

#steddie #werewolf dustin henderson #banshee will byers #witch eddie munson #pan dustin henderson #gay will byers #gay eddie munson #bonus points to anyone who can guess what language siren things are based off

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strawbrygashez · 2 years ago

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P1 DUDE X (FEM) READER X P3 DUDE

HEATER (Part 2)

👻 second part!!!!!!! This is also pretty long but enjoy or whateva I guess!! Sorry if any errors!

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“I don’t like this. Can you guys stop with the joke already? You win or whatever. I just wanted somewhere warm for the night” You looked genuinely a bit exhausted by all this and Dude, finally seemed to get the obvious hint to fill you in. He sighed and looked over to the other Dude who was just looking at the ground. “It’s not a ‘joke’. Believe me or not there is..multiple versions of me. Tons of other ‘Dudes’. I really don’t know this one. But I can assume he’s a really fucked up even more mentally deranged version of me, and some other ‘Dude’ must love messing with him if he’s that terrified of me. If you don’t believe me I can’t help you that much. Sorry.”

Did he really think you were that gullible? What was he getting out of making all this up besides the chance to see you go along with his whole made up story and to be able to make fun of you once they decide to drop the act. Which sounded like a very ‘your’ Dude thing to do. You gave another glance to the other Dude who still hadn’t really reacted to what Dude was saying, and then back to your Dude. He wasn’t showing any hints of a grin or being on the verge of breaking into a fit of laughter either.. and he was usually really bad at hiding the fact he was messing with you most of the time. He seemed to catch on to the fact you were trying to find some hint of him enjoying what was currently happening right now so he cleared his throat before setting his drink down onto the small table next to the couch.

“Look I really am telling the truth, okay? I wouldn’t lie-” he suddenly cut himself off with a stupid chuckle and grin “Well, okay I would lie to you if it was for your own good. But I’m seriously telling you the truth here..” his smile faded some as he decided what to say next. “I’m sure if you stay around me longer..you’ll probably end up meeting more of these loser wanna-be me’s. It’s kinda always random when one of us shows up. I don’t really know why it happens to be honest but you should know by now weird stuff always happens when I’m around, right?” Well, he did have a point there at least. A good amount of the time you guys hanged out together, some of the weirdest opportunities would present its self to Dude and he had told you strange stories of jobs and events that he’d been a part of but for the longest time you’d thought he was just the kinda guy to exaggerate or likes to tell tall tales but with Dudes persistence with this story and the fact this other guy probably really couldn’t have pulled off that good of a ‘act’ earlier without Dudes explanation being true…..Damn. Being around Dude has truly effected you because you are starting to believe something as crazy as this…

“Well..I guess you’re kinda right. But if I find out you’re really just messing with me, you won’t hear from me anymore” You warned Dude (in your heart you knew deep down even if this was a joke, you probably wouldn’t be able to never speak to Dude again. Lord help you). Dude gave you a sweet grin again before ruffling your hair. “Good thing I’m telling the truth then. Wouldn’t know what to do without ya.” He teased. You felt your heart race a little at that but before you could say anything, the other Dude finally looked up Dude and spoke up. “T-there really is a lot of other mes?” You felt kinda bad for almost ignoring the fact that this other Dude clearly was battling with his own worries and doubts of his own right now. Dude removed his hand from you and faced down to him before giving a snarky reply, “What? You finally trust me now? I’m not gonna mess with your hair too if that’s what you want.” The tone made the other Dude slightly frown and look down at the couch space in between you and him with a huff. Dudes comment probably was gonna spiral him down into being scared again so you, yet again had to remind Dude to be nice. Which made him roll his eyes but listen none of the less. “Fine. Yes there are others of us.” Dude said before thinking to himself for a moment and added, “and none that I met would probably hurt you. You probably just got unlucky and only have ever met a real shitty one so, yknow. You can calm down now, alright?”

Even though he said that in a slightly irritated tone it seemed good enough to make the other Dude look up again at him and relax just a bit more. You knew he probably wouldn’t be able to fully trust him for a while, from what you now know you understood why but you were just glad that everything didn’t feel as tense as before. “Fine but…I got my own gun on me so.. don’t try anything..to me or her.” The other Dude replied as he adjusted his glasses. You had to admit it felt kinda nice that this guy seemed to worry about you though he had thought you’d broken into his house. Way too many misunderstandings had happened tonight. Dude chuckled and took another sip of his own drink. “Wouldn’t dare.” He sarcastically replied as he went to go put his now empty mug away.

The other Dudes eyes fell onto you once Dude had walked away as your eyes met his. That’s when you noticed something, even though you assumed all his shaking had been from fear, he still was shivering some as he watched you. That’s when it hit you that he had been outside in the snow storm, running from whatever. How he didn’t freeze to death out there or how he was able to let alone run in all that snow was unknown to you. “Oh, are you cold?..you can have this I really don’t mind.. though it might be cold now.. I could make you a new cup.” You offered as you held out the drink Dude had made you. You hadn’t drank out of it anyways with all this going on. He however shook his head no and gently tried pushing it back toward you. “No thanks..Im fine really. Im kinda cold but I’m used to it. You need it more than I do probably.” He replied. That wouldn’t settle it for you though. You knew he had to have been suffering out there since it was supposed to have been in the negatives, so you stood up and placed your mug down.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make you your own cup. So we would have all had one, okay?” You said with a grin. It looked like he was about to deny a cup again but your Dude chimed in. “Nope. Sit back down. I’ll make him one.” You looked over at him as he went to yet again look for another cup. “I’m perfectly fine making one myself, Dude. You already made me some.” He just gave a shrug at that before replying, “Don’t care. Sit down. I’m already over here.” Ugh he could be such a hard head. You sat down anyways, giving a look to the other Dude about your Dudes behavior. He only just watched you in silence again. Maybe that should have been something you got creeped out by but you got the feeling when he was silent and just looking at something when interacting with someone, he was just thinking to himself or of something to say and boy, was the next thing that came out of his mouth something alright. “Are you his girlfriend?”

A heat washed over your face at the sudden question (while unbeknownst to you, your Dude suddenly got that cold freezing feel again like you’d both had when the other Dude burst in) and you dared not to look at your Dude to get…some kinda conformation? You knew you and your Dude had something going on for sure but both of you still hadn’t really set anything in stone...and Dude didn’t really made a big move on you yet. Though it hurt you a bit to think about it, really all that could be going on between you and Dude could just end up being a friends with benefits type of situation for all you knew so you just managed to answer honestly though mumbling, “N-nope. We’re just kinda friends I guess.” you picked at a loose thread in your pajamas pants, looking away from either Dude as your face continued to burn.

Though you couldn’t see it, the other Dude looked over to your Dude who was just standing there looking off into nothing. Jeez, for a guy who pretended to be so brazen and masculine, he couldn’t even ask out a girl he obviously had a thing for. And that thought was coming from the most mentally unwell Dude there was. Noticing neither of you were probably gonna start acting normal until he did something himself, he tried to give you a reassuring grin. “Oh. Sorry for asking I guess. I don’t have a girlfriend either! So maybe all of us Dudes don’t.” The other Dude said in a attempt to calm you down. Your Dude also noticed your uncomfortableness with the situation so he tried to regain all the confidence he could before he sarcastically said “Man, I wonder why you don’t have one.”

Feeling as though your Dude didn’t take the other Dudes question to seriously or to heart as you did, you forced yourself to look back up and grin at the man in front of you a bit. “Oh. Well, I’m sure you’ll get one one day. You seem kinda..cool.” You said. Now this time, neither of you noticed your Dude looking over to both of you with a…certain concerned look in his eyes before quickly focusing back to his task at hand. The other Dude shook his head with a little chuckle. “Nah. Probably not. Too much going on with me.” He replied to you as he looked over to a window near by. The snow had seemed to have picked up even more in speed. It would be one hell of a walk home for him…wherever that even was if this wasn’t his home.

You followed his gaze over to the window and watched as the snow fell. “Jeez. I don’t think anyones going anywhere for a while now.” You pointed out with a chuckle. The news said it was going to be bad, but this bad? You hadn’t imagined it would. Oh well at least maybe your Dude would have to finally relax at home and stop getting into weird, possibly dangerous situations for a bit. The man next to you got up and walked over closer to the window as he nodded. “Yeah. Just wonder where that fucker went to.” Oh yeah. He’d mentioned someone or something following him earlier.

“Who?” You asked, not really thinking of if it would open another can of worms or not. He didn’t answer you for a bit. He just stood there, presumably scanning his eyes around the area before he finally stood back enough to close the raggedy curtains. “I guess the ‘Dude’ who fucks with my head. It…or he, didn’t look exactly human though out there. But it was heading right for me. Those red eyes..fuck. Those keep me up at night.” He answered, looking no where in particular until your Dude walked up to him with a drink in hand. He grinned as he handed it out toward him. “Damn. Sounds like fucking with your head isn’t the only fucking you two have going on. Tell me more about his red eyes?” Dude teased with a fake dreamy flutter of his eye lashes. This made the other Dude frown but take the drink out of his hand rather roughly, some drops falling to the floor. “Fuck you. Did you do anything to this?” He asked as he looked down into the hot beverage.

“No dipshit. I already said I’m not gonna hurt you. Lighten up would ya skippy?” Your Dude said before taking a seat next to you. “And no more hot chocolate for the night. I’m not some stay at home house wife who makes-” you shoved him before he could go on. “I TOLD YOU I COULD-” “Yeah. I know I know. Just shut it would ya?” Dude joked with a grin at you getting ‘upset’ with him. The other Dude watched you two as he took a couple sips. To be honest he was kinda glad he did get the drink after all. He should really pick some stuff up to make his own cups of hot chocolate once he got back home..right. Back home.

“Well.. I guess, uhm. I should figure out how to get back home soon.” He awkwardly interrupted you and Dudes little rough housing (more like shoving and light smacking) match. You looked away from your Dude to him, your grin leaving as you realized he was perfectly fine with the idea going out in that snow storm. You didn’t even feel the need to ask if what you were gonna offer was okay to Dude before you spoke. “You can’t go out in that! Stay here for the night. You probably wouldn’t be able to make out where anything is anyways out there.”

Dudes grin also left once those words left your mouth. “Huh? Y/n you know this is my house right? He decided to barge in.” He said with a sudden seriousness. “Oh cmon Dude. Just look how bad it is out there though. And wasn’t someone following him? You saw uh..how scared he was. No offense other Dude.” You rebutted. The other Dude slightly shook his head with a grin. “None taken.” Dude grumbled and looked at both of you, still not convinced. It wasn’t his problem that this Dude had a obsessive Dude following him. Not at all. But you decided to say something that would reallllly change his tone. “If you let him I guess I would have to sleep somewhere else in the house for the night.” You said, making sure to add a little bit of a flirty tone to the end so he’d connect two and two. Somewhere else? Where else could you slee- OH. His bed.

Like you assumed, this got him to give a big ol’ smirk and suddenly cave in. “Well when you put it like that. Sure. The fucker can stay.” Dude announced, more than ready to share a bed with you as he stood up before holding his hand out for you to take. You couldn’t help but grin either both because you found Dudes reaction silly and you also had one more thing you wanted to spring onto Dude last minute. You took his hand and stood up. The other Dude looked just slightly uncomfortable at the major flirting undertones going on right now but gave you a awkward smile and a..thumbs up? As he made his way to the couch. “Oh. O-okay. I’ll just sleep here on the couch then I guess. Thanks.”

“Mhm. Let’s go y/n. I promise my bedsheets are clean! I had to clean them last week since Champ-” you decided to interrupt him now. “Wait..one more thing." He still kept his excited grin as he gave a “hm?”. “Can he share the bed with us? That SpongeBob blanket didn’t do a good job at keeping me really warm.”

Now BOTH of them looked at you like you had grown a extra head. The other Dudes eyes doing that unnaturally wide thing again but you didn’t feel the need to retract what you said. “What?…huh” He dumbly responded. “I’ll join you if he can come with. I said-” Now Dude cut you off. “No I know but- UGH” he looked up at the ceiling, like he was silently praying for you not to actually want that but knowing you probably wouldn’t budge and that this would maybe at least still let him have his arms around you…fuck it. Sharing the bed with some fucking weirdo would be somewhat okay he guesses as long as you’re next to him in it. He sighed and looked at you both. “Fine. Whatever weirdo. Just keep your hands to yourself, other me. If I feel a hand…” he glared at the other Dude. “N-no I mean I-I’ll probably be fine right here-!” He suddenly started to become red and man was it a lot more noticeable on him than your Dude. This other Dude definitely didn’t leave the house that much with how pale he was.

“It’ll be fine. Please? Also it could be for like…yknow if that one guy comes back. We both are here to protect you.” You tried to convince him. It wasn’t that you were attracted to both Dudes….okay maybe you were slightly attracted to this other Dude..which is probably okay because they are all the same guy??? Right? But you were also genuinely worried about him for a couple reasons. Luckily the promise of protection seemed to sway him into agreeing..though he was on the same boat as your Dude of thinking it was a tiny bit weird..but oh well. “F-fine..okay. I-I’ll just sleep at the end or something..” he finally said as he got up and went over to you both.

As you all made your way to Dudes bedroom, Dude mumbled in a mocking voice “oh but Dude your heater is on”

———

Note: I left the ending slightly ambiguous bc 🤷‍♀️!!!!! BUT I would like to imagine it ends with the reader & Dudes all ending up in a cuddle pile..that y’all prob don’t talk about until a couple days later 💀

#postal dude #postal dude x reader #postal 1 #postal 3

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shinyrhinestones · 8 months ago

Text

TW: sexual topic

Not gonna lie i hate p0rn. And i hate when people try to justify it.

“We’re just not judgy.”

“We’re more open minded.”

Bro there’s literally p0rn for everything now a days and that doesnt mean you’re more open minded. You really shouldn’t think that it’s being open minded when it’s inc3st, r@p3, abuse and so on.

P0rn is a very women degrading and misogonystic thing.

Not only that but it kinda ruins the beauty of intimacy.

“Oh but what about smut?” I get that it might seem weird that i’m openly against p0rn when i literally have posted smut.

But tbh i feel like there’s a difference (atleast from what I’ve written.)

My smut has contained like I’m pretty sure zero kinks. Like it’s very soft and bland. Plus, you have to imagine it in your own mind, like it’s not there RIGHT infront of you.

Idk if i’m the only one who dislikes p0rn and finds it weird. Especially because sex is the most intimate thing humans have together and you wanna straight up film that and maybe even use it for your own satisfaction? Yes, you kinda do that with smut too but i guess it really depends on what kind of smut it is and if it’s smut about fictional characters.

#ranting #gotta get these thoughts out #really #smut #fanfiction #fics #fanfic #fic #smut fic #fanfiction smut

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umgeorge · 2 years ago

Video

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george russell is interviewed after qualifying, bahrain - march 4, 2023 transcription under the cut

Interviewer: So how do you feel about sixth and seventh for the team today? Going into quali... Yesterday feels like a year ago, and yet coming into today there was a lot of promise and hype. And we talk about the wing level changing. How much of a difference did that make, and are you ultimately where you expected to be? George: Yesterday, to be honest, was a bit of a shock for all of us. We didn’t really know why we lost such performance and why it was off the pace. We made some changes and they sort of exceeded our expectations, so that’s a positive. But, realistically, after winter testing, this is probably where we expected to be. I thin our goal over the winter was to make sure that we’ve got a car that we can build upon, and that there aren’t any significant problems.

We spent three-quarters of the year, last year, problem solving; understanding the porpoising, understanding why the car characteristics are so bad, why the car is so stiff. And now I feel like we’ve got a car that feels nice to drive. It doesn’t bounce. It generally feels like a good car, and now we can just focus on adding downforce and adding performance, which is what the team have done for so long.

So there’s definitely signs to be positive but, of course, the lap times don’t lie and we’ve got a lot to improve.

Interviewer: You’re right, because problem solving distracts you from performance. George: Yeah, it does. Interviewer: So what does all that mean? How does this translate to tomorrow and the race trim of the car?

George: I think, translating it for tomorrow, there’s not going to be any substantial changes. I think we’ve got a fight on our hands for P3. I think Ferrari, over the last four years, have always been really strong in qualifying and struggled a bit more in the race, so I’m relatively pleased to be not so far behind them. Obviously they took the second set of tires in Q3. And Fernando, he’s probably more of a dark horse than what Ferrari is. He had some really good race pace last week in testing so I think, yeah, it’s gonna be a really good fight for P3. It’s just a shame the Red Bulls are a bit too far ahead for now.

#george russell #f1 #formula 1 #bahrain gp 2023 #fic ref #fic ref 2023 #bahrain #bahrain 2023 #bahrain 2023 saturday

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arcplaysgames · 2 years ago

Text

P4G Post-Mortem

deep breath. this is a LONG post.

it's still not as good as P3P but it's pretty good

What I Liked:

The characters in P4 are pretty fucking good, I'm not gonna even try to lie. They are all much rougher and messier than SEES. I noticed right from the start that the maturity level of this cast was a huge step down from P3P, and that actually bore out through the entire game. For this game and for this tone, it worked. Just due to P3P's solemnity and its obsession with death, I don't think anyone in P4 would fit into the P3 cast. They each suit their environments well. .

The voice acting in this game is tremendous and frankly saves the game from its dodgiest moments of writing. If Yosuke was not performed with so much depth, he'd be nothing more than The Teammate Everyone Secretly Hates. All of Chie's flaws and the times her personality chafes are smoothed by how fucking consistent and empathetic her performance is. And I feel like both Rise and Teddie are character I would have straight up not liked if they were not performed so fucking well. Also Troy Baker turns in another stellar role, what the fuck else is new. .

The villain was just better in P4G. Strega was a fucking joke that I could never take serious because who the fuck could with trashy coachella jesus? Adachi though? My god. What a fucking great villain. The unfurling of his character was tremendous and I loved almost every minute of it (except for the shoe-horned sexism that the game itself basically dropped the second it could lmao). .

I went into P4G braced for impact re: a lot of ambient discourse over the years, and I wound up flinching much less than expected. I think it's a very flawed game in how it tackles sexuality and gender, but I think personally it has a bad rap that is maybe undeserved. Kanji is truly a bisexual king and while I totally get the disappointment around Yukiko deciding to stay in Inaba, I think the nuances of her arc get glossed over a lot because it's fairly complex. And while I wish Naoto got the actual exploration he deserved, there was a lot fewer microaggressions than expected. Which, low bar, but the bar was there nonetheless. .

Yosuke is such a fucking complicated nugget of a character. I found I really enjoyed the rollercoaster of our resident closet case, because I really did genuinely grapple with what I felt about him for the entire game. And I think my favorite moment of the game is still Yosuke's quiet moment with Reverie after the talk with Adachi. That was great. If anyone could have survived in SEES, it's Yosuke honestly. .

Until the Izanami thing, I did really like the plot of the game a lot. Like with P3P, I think the ending is....... Fine. Honestly, its interesting that they seem to have opposite problems. I found Reverie dying at the end of P3P kind of unnecessary and disappointing. The sheer sunshine happiness of P4G was a little too neat for me. But the way the plot got SO fucking crunchy when you finally meet Namatame, that was tremendous. .

The writing is just better overall on a technical level, I have to admit. I like the plot and themes and twists of P3P more, but the writing was much rougher and we all know it. The writing in P4G is better, more naturalistic, and is so frequently genuinely funny, I'm a big fan. .

I am going to have some Stuff to say about the protag in a bit but one thing I did like about P4G: You can play this game gay. Oh my fucking god you can play a huge flaming homosexual in this game. At almost every single turn when the game asks you to be het, there is a Get Out Of Het option available, and they are often really fun picks. Does it fucking suck that Yosuke is transparently in love with the MC but is not romanceable? YES. I THINK EVERYONE WHO CAN SHOULD INSTALL THE MOD TO RE-IMPLEMENT THE YOSUKE ROMANCE. But I cannot deny that Reverie Vantas was fucking gay as hell and I was a big fan of that aspect of the game. .

This game has Kanji Tatsumi in it. Like. What else can even be fucking said?

What I Didn't Like So Much:

yeah yeah blah blah arc is a nerd no one cares but some of the arcana associations here just weren't stellar. Some were good, so I forgive it, but Yosuke was not a fucking Magician, Yukiko was not a High Priestess at ALL, Dojima as the Hierophant frankly baffles me, and why the fuck is Nanako Justice? Are all Persona children obligated to be Justice? .

The music sucked. I'm sorry. I played all of P3P and all of P4G and even though P4G had more variety of tracks, I found myself actively annoyed by the music fairly often. I think the battle themes are either mediocre or Actively Bad (god i hate Reach Out To The Truth). I'm literally going to go put on FeMC's battle theme to detox right now. .

Naoto. Naoto was a huge disappointment once they joined the party. Oh, in main scenario scenes I loved Naoto and he got a few of the funniest lines in the game. But the way the game went in so hard on the gender thing in Naoto's recruitment only to just whistle and non-nonchalantly nudge all that under the rug after-- I have thought about it a lot and I think I would have preferred they tried ANYTHING with Naoto rather than just wussing out on the entire thing. It's so palpable that Atlus didn't know wtf to do with what they set up with Naoto, and I literally would rather they have tried and landed on something offensive and bad than the completely anemic SLink Fortune turned out to be. how the fuck did you make FORTUNE boring? Goddamn. .

Unfortunately I think the ending might just be really mediocre. The final reveal felt like a joke, the last boss was so blah after Adachi-cum-Ameno-Sagiri. It feels like the game peaked with Adachi and the rest of the story coasted with a slow miasma of diminishing returns all the way to the final ending. Izanami just is so boring as True Villain. LIKE HERE IS THE THING I KEEP COMING BACK TO. Nyx, right. Nyx is technically revealed as the final villain very late in P3P. But with the themes of P3P and its foreshadowing, it feels like you were always fighting Nyx. P3P is truly and deeply about what it means to be alive, and that to live is opposition against an inevitable outcome. You will someday fail, but there is beauty in struggling each and every day until your eyes finally close. Even if it is not named Nyx until the end of the game, you have been fighting Nyx the entire game. Izanami just.... sucks because Adachi has already covered the ground she does and better. Adachi is the actual confrontation against falsehoods and complacency. He's already given the player the question (and frankly at least he HAS some arguments, unlike Izanami). And then another 20 to 30 hours later, Izanami is all "wait do humans NOT want to live in a fog of lies? fucking wild." It's just a very meh ending. .

Which is not helped by the pacing. Holy shit I got impatient when P3P made me wait a month to give Ryoji an answer, but P4G is so badly paced it drives me kind of batshit. .

I've talked about this a lot but I really miss characters having their own stories together. Yosuke and Teddie eventually get this, but literally every single time this game HINTED that the characters were off hanging out together instead of with Reverie, I was thrilled, and it just didn't happen enough. There is no equivalent of Yukari and Mitsuru's promise, there's nothing like Ken, Akihiko, and Shinjiro's shared history, there isn't a wrench in the plot like Junpei and Chidori. P4G is afraid of that friction, of letting the characters exist outside your influence, and it's a fucking shame because it makes everything more shallow.

And the biggest problem I have with P4G...

actually i'm gonna put that in its own post, this is already long

#p4 #persona liveblog #post mortem

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greatsealed · 10 months ago

Note

have you played fes or portable? it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on how they differ from reload to you!

oh i grew up playing FES & p3p!!!! i would love to go off

i won't lie, persona 3 is an extremely nostalgic and comforting game for me, so i was honestly terrified about a lot of p3r's changes. i remember reading articles months before the game came out about how all of the voice actors for SEES were new and how all of the tracks were gonna be remixed and i was legitimately terrified. i grew up with the original cast and got so attached to them/their careers that i looked up other media that they were in. to this day they are voice actors i can recognize and name right away!

the original soundtrack for p3 is so iconic too and i thought it'd lose its charm when it got remixed, but boy, was i wrong. the new battle theme (it's going down now), the lyrical changes to burn my dread - last battle, even the exam music and changing seasons. UGH, changing seasons has to be my absolute favorite of all of them... adding lyrics to the most catchy part is the best thing they could have done.

i will say (and this might be nostalgia talking), i am still really sad that yumi kawamura got replaced as the singer for nearly every song. i think the main songs that mess with me are the ones where her iconic vocals are replaced ("deep mentality" Specifically doesn't sound right with the new vocals imo), but on the whole, i like a ton of the new songs and the remixes.

onto things that aren't surface-level changes, lmao-

i absolutely adore the screentime they added for strega. they played a part in persona 3, but they were always in the background. chidori got 90% of the screentime. seeing takaya have a crisis over his feelings for the protag & jin being super codependent with takaya was SO good. hearing more about their reasoning and their backstory being more fleshed out ugh;;; the bit with the prototype evoker fucked me up especially. and seeing takaya eventually resort to using an evoker in his boss fight? HURTS

(aigis vc) RYOJI RYOJI RYOJI, DEATH DEATH DEATH. the original game (while playing as the male protagonist, at least) did not focus on the relationship between him and the protag, like...at all. which is so funny because they made it a highlight in the manga AND the movie! i've always loved ryoji to bits, but i've also had to rely a lot on the femc's route and the movie to think about how they could have bonded in the original :( thank god reload gave my boy more content because he NEEDED it. ryoji's connection to the protagonist should really be emphasized in every piece of media, and they FINALLY did it. also just about every day before i reached november, i would rant to my husband about how "there needs to be more ryoji/protag content. it doesn't HAVE to be on the level of "i'd love you even if you were a boy" but i need SOMETHING." and then atlus smacked me with "i want to be something more" and i LOST IT. THEY DID THE THING. atlus embracing the romantic tension between them MY BELOVED. (in case it isn't obvious, ryomina is my favorite ship)

SHINJIRO. the first time i played persona 3, i really didn't care for him (i've never liked characters who are stand-offish and constantly push people away without apparent reason). it was only after i realized the greater backstory that i learned to appreciate and sympathize with his character, and imo, one of p3r's greatest additions was the ability to interact with shinjiro and ken before shit goes down. shinjiro's plotline where you try to convince him to go back to school is devastating, especially when (spoilers) you find a re-enrollment form filled out in his room. absolutely fucking HEARTBREAKING. i already cried during his death (way more than i did in the original game, which is kinda crazy), but damn, they got tears out of me AGAIN with that one. i also noticed that there's a lot more foreshadowing and it is SO effective. i already went off about this on my shinjiro blog, but damn, they fucking nailed it with him.

FRIENDSHIP ROUTES!!! i can't tell you how frustrating it was trying to balance social links between all of the girls. it made me lean more into focusing on yukari (best girl) and nobody else lmao. one of the points of persona 3 was that social links were near-impossible to complete, and they really realized that goal with the girls imo. however!! getting to see the protagonist opt for friendships is really sweet. i love seeing a good rejection where neither party holds a grudge or feels humiliated. it's a really nice touch, especially because i've always wanted to see how friendships would pan out between the mc and the Gorls.

general quality of life changes & the addition of theurgy. i love that theurgy had more depth to it than just a "super move;" looking at the personality conditions is so nice and adds more to the characters than they already had. seeing that shinjiro's resolve deepens when his hp is less than half made me so :'))))

those are big things i love about p3r's changes. aside from the protag not being able to change weapons (my favorite part of original p3), i think the biggest complaint i have is that they left out the answer (p3p has been ported to modern consoles, so you can still experience the femc's route, but the answer is ONLY on ps2 to this day), and even then, i've read that they're planning to add it as dlc.

i've said this before and i'll say it again: i know people have gripes with the answer, but i absolutely adore it. it's the most realistic portrayal of grief among the dorm, which hits differently for EVERYONE. every single change to their personalities makes sense, especially taking their reliance on the protagonist into account. it's made so much more obvious in p3r (which i love), but everyone cares deeply about the protagonist. losing him is a devastating blow. and then aigis gaining his power? yukari is SO justified for being distraught and jealous. that's the realest shit i've ever seen.

also the fights between them because they can't decide whether to go to the past or look to the future...the entirety of the answer is heartbreaking because it hits so hard. yukari, who (aside from aigis) was hit the hardest by losing the protag, obviously wants to go to the past, back to a time when he was alive. the others either want to compromise or move on. the answer is about accepting life's hardships and finding a way to move on and that's beautiful. it's always hit so hard for me.

that's not even delving into metis and aigis UGH... i could go off about the answer forever.

as for p3p-

i played p3p nearly every day when i was in middle / high school. i'd bring my psp to school and play it religiously. i still remember blasting "heartful cry" on my ipod and playing p3p on the bus, lmao.

it's not my favorite iteration of persona 3 now (p3p was good for travel + when i was in school and needed something to get me through the day), but i do have a soft spot for how much effort was put into the femc's route. i will say that i'm not as devastated as a good chunk of the fandom that the femc isn't in p3r or even p3d, but i do love her character and i hope she's also eventually added as dlc (if they're gonna add the answer, then why not add femc again?). i'm really glad she was included in pq2 though, ESPECIALLY because there were so many validating twin moments between her and the male protagonist :')))

i will say, as a final note, that p3r REALLY nailed the feeling of original p3, but i think it made me way more emotional with how it was executed. i've PLAYED the game a million times! i knew every plot detail, i knew exactly how the game would play out (aside from the new additions), and i STILL sobbed several times by the end of the game. i've said this to my husband, but p3r was so well-executed that i felt like i was playing the original game for the first time!! and as someone who has experienced the game MANY times, that's such an incredible feat. i adore the remake. i'm so glad that none of my initial fears were warranted.

for once: thank you, atlus.

#🌕 || time for bear. (ooc.) || 🌕#🌕 || the answer to life's greatest question. (answered.) || 🌕#{ you gave me permission so i went off DKSJFJDKS SORRY }#{ i love p.ersona 3. p.ersona 3 is my LIFE }#{ thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to ramble about it. i don't think this is everything but it's already a lot so fsdkjfjds

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