#i think making games like that more often would be a better compromise than whatever theyre doing with classic sonic

[sonknuxadow]

to be honest i think classic sonic as a separate guy sucks and it should have just been a one time thing in generations that they never tried again. sorry classic sonic enjoyers .

[calisources]

𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒.

All sentences on this memes are taken from different sources of literature, television and media about enemies to lovers trope and enemies and lovers trope with some angst thrown into the mix. Change pronouns, names and locations as you see fit.

Does it hurt? Loving someone who can’t love you back?

Break his crown, break his throne, rip his monarchy apart.

What are we doing?

You are capable of making my blood boil like no one else, and yet I feel a magnetic pull I cannot explain.

It’s not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand

Like whether you should kiss me or punch me.

Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.

You make me feel things that shouldn’t exist. 

Whatever this is, we should stop. I have been. . .compromised.

There’s a fine line between love and hate, and maybe we crossed it a long time ago.

I never thought I could detest someone so much, until the day I realized I was falling in love with you.

We may fight like enemies, but deep down, we both know that our hearts beat for each other.

You infuriate me, challenge me, drive me crazy, but damn it, at the end of the day, I can’t resist you.

It’s that tension that makes this so irresistible.

You’re like an addiction I can’t break free from, even if I wanted to.

You’re the thorn in my side, the fire in my veins, and I can’t help but crave your presence in my life.

Loving you feels like a dangerous game.

You infuriate me, yet you’re the only one who truly understands me.

You scare me to my core.

There’s no denying the fire that burns between us.

If any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies.

I thought we had agreed not to lie to each other.

Tell me you don’t feel this between us. Look at me and don’t look away while saying it.

You claim me your enemy and yet, let me crawl into your bed every night.

You are the bane of my existence, and the object of all my desires.

Do you even know all the ways a lady can be seduced? The things I could teach you.

I did not asked for this. To be plagued by these feelings.

I tried to deny it for so long, but I don’t want to anymore.

Follow me around. Look at me as if you find me fascinating. Touch me, and say nice things to me. And then, you pull away as if you did nothing at all.

There’s no need for these games.

Well, you know that old saying, “Keep your friends close and make out with your enemies.

You read me wrong.  I wasn't trying to lead you on.

Is that all I am to you? A resource to be used in your scheme?

Stolas, don't act like what we have is anything more than you wanting me to fuck you, okay? You make that really clear all the time. But I just- I can't do it tonight, okay?

 You'll lay a man out for implying I'm a whore, but you keep calling me one to my face.

So, the only man that can have you is one who's already tried to kill you. That's logic.

It's like a little death. Several, in fact.

Oh Max, if you really hated Kyle you couldn't have slept with him.

So go on... kiss me... kill me... Do something.

I've often wondered what this moment would be like. Me... you tied up. 

Once this is over, we should really have angry sex.

Hate and love are not so very different things. Both are focused upon another. Both are intense. Both are passionate.

It just means you'd rather be with someone you hate... than be with me.

She's difficult and irritating, and she tries to hit me all the time.

We have a deal, what are you so afraid of?

Only I can hurt you this way. Only I can kiss you like this. 

You dragged me down and now I can’t quit you. 

This is the last time we do this.

Last night was also the last time. And yet, you keep coming back.

Better my mouth than my knife, right?

[austinsastrology8991]

Secrets from > PLUTO < that he told me

Pluto is dark. And its hard to understand him. He is your shadow; he hides from you and you hide from him. But your both watching each other very closely >

> 1 > The brighter something is > The darker the shadow. You cannot expel darkness, you can only accept it. Evil things exist and they always will. NO matter how hard you try to remove something with 'evil eye' or try to fight the good fight; whatever your fighting will always exist and the ever prevailing fight of; 'good vs evil' always will prevail. But everyone seems to forget that the darkness resides in everyone as much as their light does too.

> 2 > Rules don't exist; but we think they do. Rules funnel everyone in similar directions > When you see a rule you are forced to go in certain directions in order to avoid 'breaking the rules' but by not breaking the rules you are 'following the rules' and this makes you go in certain calculated directions (set up by people in power/social constructs) in order to avoid trouble. Or out of frustration you purposefully break them; so rules have a much greater pull on all of us then we all want to give them credit for. Also the mere concept of a law or principle defining how we must live; makes us all compromise into the laws of that are governing us. And thus; we are all products of our environments; of the rules we were forced to obey. Social constructs, government laws, or issues of any sort affect your free will, and whilst you can do whatever you want; there are many punishments awaiting you, which inevitably will affect your overall happiness/contentment because when you thought you could do anything; you realise you are very restricted and you compromise far more often than what you would like to admit.

> 3 > The more you front; the more your showing us who you are > When it comes down to it its actually very difficult to fool anyone. You may have the hang of it; but if you meet someone who also knows how to fool others; you will both stick out like a sore thumb to each other. And well once the jig is up; and the perception of yourself falls as it always does. You will feel like a pathetic person, and so it is almost always worth telling the truth; the longer you lie, the darker the dark becomes. To you and to others. and it will make the shadow work far more difficult to overcome. Embody your light as much as your dark and you will not be afraid of yourself let alone others; and you will not feel the need to 'front' > 4 < The more you prove yourself to others, the more you proved you are trying to prove yourself and rarely did you prove what you wanted to prove. You simply approved yourself as someone willing to prove themselves

> 5 >"When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you" > I love how everyone thinks they are better than one another, because we can point out certain flaws that maybe we are avoiding; to pretend we are better than the other. But your ratchetness is just as ratchet as another, or worse. Does that make you a worser person? well maybe. But that should make you feel pretty stupid for calling other people ratchet. People need to be told what is correct and what is not; but it simply doesn't matter most of the time, because that person usually is very aware of how destructive they are, because its hard to ignore the messes you create, and sooner rather than later, they will find their karma; so why intefere? work on yourself and become an example, don't adopt someones elses kids when they are already rebelling their real mothers.

> 6 >No one can or will hurt you more than who or what you love > your enemies may sting but if your love one hurts you, as no one knows you better than them, when they strike it will hurt. And sometimes you cannot recover a relationship because you 2 have hurt each other too much. Enemies will piss you off, but truthfully fighting enemies is good fun. Fighting love ones is a whole nother ball game and that is a far more plutonian thing. Sometimes it is necessary to hurt those we love so they learn a lesson, but far more often than not ; you both will cause irreparable scars that will leave a sore spot in both of your hearts. > 7 < You are equally as powerful and as powerless as you believe to be. Your flaws are as real as your strengths; and the longer you deny your strength or your weakness, the more it will sting when the realization hits that you are both. You are not worse or better than anyone, and the more someone pretends they are one or the other, the more pathetic they are. Regardless of which form they choose to show. > 8 < You can't blame anyone. Only yourself. If your the vessel of your destiny than everything that passes you is just the current; and you will have a difficult time arguing with the laws of nature. Learn to accept what you are and what is around you, and then you will discover ways to manipulate it. Do not try to educate something that is immovable, but allow it to pass you; in a respectful manner, that is true power; allowing something to exist and not let it interfere with your sense of being. Because you are able to be apart of the dark > notice how any light on in the dark is a magnet to everything that is awake in the dark? > 9 > "The most beautiful thoughts are always besides the darkest" - dark lives in the shadow of light, and because of this many times over when your fighting darkness its when you feel the most powerful; and its because you are actually embodying a more darker aspect of yourself, as you also embody a stronger 'light' within; "dont you know you can only get as high as you fell?"

I don't want to talk about my pluto; I'm just discussing what pluto means to me. There are so many places you can find him, these are just some places I've found him.

[centrally-unplanned]

Wack question but do you think an increase in artworks from AI that aren't necessarily that creative or original results in the overall diminishment of creativity or originality we as a species have?? To me it seems the bar would remain the same?? Talented people will keep creating good/original works regardless of whatever tools (AI or not) they're using innit.

I would first say upfront "way too contingent to tell!" - the technology is too new, and the pipelines for "art" too insanely diverse, for anyone to make an actual, solid prediction. Not to mention the word "creativity" doesn't have a single meaning. Just getting that out of the way.

To provide some ~thoughts I think things will probably be fine because of a sort of "conservation of effort" that goes into things; when you find you can radically reduce the time it takes to do one part of a job, you do often reduce the amount of net time on the job; but just as often you increase effort in other areas because now you can. So if we make some arbitrary assumptions about AI art getting better and more controllable in its output, you would almost certainly see a higher % of "images of art" on your feed or w/e being AI art. Based on your definition, that might be less creative than the past. But you will almost certainly also see a net increase in the number of webcomics! Combinations of many pieces of art & text, with the art in particularly being very time consuming to make, now much easier to do so your previously "eh if I get time" webcomic idea can now surface. Again based on your definition that is a definite increase. Dynamics like this will abound in creative industries - from that lens art will shift but not reduce.

However, I do think there is an argument for a creativity reduction. Commercial art is generally made by large teams of creatives & non-creatives, and this comes with a lot of compromises by everyone involved as they push and pull. And a lot of times the financial side of things would ideally want to make "the most marketable thing", but can't really implement that vision because they need the creatives who execute on board and they have their own zany predilections as artists. You can very frequently see in "new" artistic fields that early on, some really crazy shit gets funded because only like 50 guys can make video games or anime or w/e, and you just sort of have to do what they say. Over time that fades as production grows and lots of new trained staff emerge and the people involved become relatively "replaceable", and so balance shifts to the financers. All relative ofc, other dynamics are going on here as well.

Here you can see AI art as a sort of accelerant of "optimized" art - by making the art much easier to make, commercial ventures can more effectively "force" a production to be exactly what they want it to be. It lowers the bargaining power of artists, who typically do want to do more adventurous things. Again relative ofc, plenty of indie arthouse business types and staid, workhorse artists exist. But still, I could see a world where commercial art becomes more predictable as production pipelines get better at "tamping down" on the human variation in the product.

Again do I think that will happen? No clue, tech is way too young, and a bunch of other stuff will happen too. Just some ideas to watch for.

[vacate-et-scire]

Hello! Good day/evening(whatever time it is for you)! This is my application(if you will) in your Blue Lock Match Up event:

Im gonna start of with my personality, I would describe myself as someone who prioritizes logic than emotions. I personally believe that thinking rationally is better in making decisions in life. My MBTI is INTJ-A, so you can probably infer that I am more introverted as well. My friends and especially my family like to tell me that im intelligent(quite the genius even, although I think that is a stretch) when it comes to academics and writing stories and articles but quite dumb in household chores. Also, I am quite creative and the perfectionist when it come to arts and crafts( especially in painting).

Btw, I am 5'1 if that helps hehe

As for intetests and hobbies, well I am a writer/author, in fact I aspire to be a full-blown author myself one day, along with another lifelong dream to be in the medical field. However, right now I am also interested in reading, crocheting, painting, anime/manga(my personal favorite rn is One Piece), K-Pop, playing video games, action/ fantasy TV shows and movies, and weirdly, studying.

Now when it comes to relationships, I have a very small group of friends, only like 5 people including me, and these are people whom I took the time to really get to know, so you can say I don't really have the ability to get to know a lot of friends because I want to know people on a closer level to ensure trust and close bonds in the relationship. The same goes for romantic relationships, I would prefer to be friends or at least really get to know a person before even considering having romantic relations with them. So yeah, personality is really important with me, I don't care if a possible s/o have different interests than me as long as they are (ideally) kind, understanding, caring and have clear ambitions that I can support, I'm cool with that. I am always open for compromise.

Anyway, that is all I can think about at the top of my head, hopefully this is enough, considering it reaches you hehe. Thank you in advance😊🫶.

Your Blue Lock Matchup: Sae Itoshi

Sae Itoshi would be the perfect match for you, as his combination of intelligence, ambition, and reserved nature would complement your personality beautifully. While Sae can come off as distant and often driven by a desire to win, beneath that exterior lies a deep sense of commitment and a strong focus on his goals—qualities that align with your own logic-driven, perfectionist side.

Sae shares your analytical approach to life. He, too, is highly focused on his goals and has a clear sense of what he wants to achieve, especially in his career. Just as you value rational thinking, Sae is someone who calculates his moves and plans for the future. His ambition mirrors your own aspirations, and you’d both understand each other’s drive to succeed, whether in your academic or creative endeavors.

Being an INTJ, you're more introverted and thoughtful, which would be reflected in your bond with Sae, who tends to be quiet, reflective, and not one to wear his emotions on his sleeve. While he can come off as cold at times, it’s not that he doesn’t care—it’s that he values depth over superficial interactions. Both of you would prefer to take the time to truly understand each other, forging a connection that’s deep, meaningful, and built on trust.

You both value your own space and boundaries, which would make for a relationship where mutual respect is key. Sae is the kind of person who understands the importance of solitude, just as you do. In your relationship, he wouldn’t push you to open up before you’re ready, and he’d appreciate your calm, measured approach to life and relationships. This would give both of you the space to grow individually while still being able to support each other emotionally.

Your dynamic with Sae would likely be one of quiet understanding and mutual support. You would both be emotionally self-sufficient, not needing constant validation but knowing how to lean on each other when necessary. He would admire your intelligence and dedication, and you’d be impressed by his clarity of purpose. As both of you are perfectionists in your respective fields, you’d have a shared drive for excellence, whether it’s in your writing, studies, or his athletic career.

Your shared values of logic and ambition would create a strong foundation for your relationship. While you might not jump into romance quickly, Sae would be patient and wait for a deeper connection to form before anything more serious. He would respect your need to get to know someone thoroughly before committing, which aligns well with his own reserved nature. Over time, as trust builds, Sae would open up more and more, revealing the layers of complexity beneath his stoic exterior.

While both of you are highly driven and intelligent, Sae’s sometimes emotionally distant nature might clash with your need for clear emotional understanding. You may find yourself needing to push him to open up or share more, but with time, he would come to trust you enough to reveal his inner thoughts and vulnerabilities. As you’re both perfectionists, there could be moments where you’re both too focused on your own work or goals, but this wouldn’t necessarily be a problem—it could lead to mutual respect for each other’s ambitions, and you’d both support one another through the highs and lows of life.

Sae Itoshi offers a match that balances intellectual connection, ambition, and mutual understanding. His quiet nature, combined with his drive for success, would complement your logical and introspective personality. He would respect your space and independence, while slowly building a meaningful and deep connection with you over time. If you’re looking for someone who shares your passion for personal growth and success, Sae would be an ideal match—patient, ambitious, and emotionally aware when it matters most.

[messier-47]

RE7, RE8

A study of Ethan Winters cause I love him as a character and he's so fucking weird? definetely interesting.

I've taken a few liberties about his character

RE8 is so fucked up.

I hate it.

Okay, so Resident Evil games have this entire set up/scheme that they religously follow. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it, right? RE7 was different because it was a FPS with a very intimate horror setting. It relied solely on horror and not just the adventure side of most Resident Evil games. RE8 was crafted exactly like a typical Resident Evil videogame which isn't bad but Ethan made the difference.

Ethan is "a regular dude" given the motive "save my daughter" with the added emotional turmoil of "my wife is dead". Kinda sounds familiar right? it's almost in parallel with RE7.

"My wife's been missing for 3 years" -> "i just my wife get murdered"

"I must find my wife" -> "i must find my daughter."

So now we have Ethan's entire emotional state and motive to go forth into dangerous scenario to base videogame off of. However...all too quickly everything gets way out of hand. In RE7, the presented story is something understanble and maybe even relateable to Ethan's understanding of the world. He went into the deep swamps of Louisiana and there's a crazy murder family who'd been snatching victims (this is without the explanation of mold which is later revealed to him). Now he walks into a european village and there suddenly werewolves? steampunk man with metal powers? marionette witchcraft? hunchback of putrid mutant? evil seraphim? this is way out of his league of understanding!

And yes, he had some form of military training and was in some form of witness protection program? However there's a BIG difference between "yeah I survived Louisiana madhouse that just happened to be a mold hot spot, afterwards getting military training" and then Leon Kennedy level of bullshit bumfuckery. speaking of Leon, RE8 was odd because it kept treating Ethan as if he was Leon!

I don't mean the "Ethan Winters your reputation proceeds you" or how RE8 was just a reordered version of RE4 with some diverse bossfights, it was the "let's treat Ethan like the heroic character" when...he isn't. RE8 would have been so much better if Miranda and the Lords weren't so concerned over Ethan's appearance. What if Miranda and the Lords were going about their business getting ready for the ceremony when suddenly there was "some guy" who starts culling their army reserve?

Ethan's character in RE8...is pretty bland in comparison to RE7. Again, it's probably because he's a "quiet" man who doesn't really talk to the camera about what he knows, what he's thinking or feeling. RE8 is so big and momentous that it sorta drowns him out as a character with agency. His dialogue isn't as rich, his choices are very guided towards an endpoint, and...even the shit we do see makes Ethan out to be more heroic than what we've seen in RE7.

It's...odd? and maybe this is just bais and opinion at this point but Ethan Winters is a character ill-fitted into the protagonist role of RE8. Whereas Chris Redfeild, Leon Kennedy, and Jill Valentine could all be fitted into heroic roles and imagery like King George and the Dragon, David and Goliath, and Joan of Arc, Ethan was never a character to lead an epic journey. He's more of a "silent hunter"? idk, keep having the image of a slow and steady persistence hunter, verses...whatever the hell the other heroes got going for them.

Really, the storyline of RE8 is ill-suited for Ethan. Can't say I don't understand, a videogame is often just a videogame so the story is compromised to better fit the gameplay. and because it's so bad, I'm really tempted to do a RE8 rewrite fanfic out of pure spite but lmao ain't got enough braincells to spread across two fandoms when i'm already invested in one.

So we go up against the 4 Lords before we have a face-off against Miranda. The segment in Lady D's castle...was awkward in a character development sense. Ethan heads into the castle over and over against cause it's the biggest building around and thus the most likely to have his daughter, except even with the Duke's hints and encouragement, Ethan's motive was really shaky. Why? Because was he in the castle to save his daughter or to kill vampire ladies? would've been better if that part of the game was more dedicated to "run, hide, and investigate" with the sisters trying to hunt for him just like later Lady D would do. Instead we have multiple mini-boss fight scenes before we see the cradle and remember why we're in the castle in the first place. then we fight+defeat Lady D. Which is weird? Okay, so game mechanics Lady D just happens to find you after you kill her 3 daughters and start tomb-robbing. However...story wise it's weird because your PRIME motive is "find my daughter" so why go on killing spree? why the heroics?

we go to Duke and finally get our mission to find/build master key and also collect daughter parts from the 4 Lords.

We go to Beneviento's house which was a WASTED OPPORTUNITY for some character exposition. CURSE YOU ETHAN FOR BEING A QUIET MAN!!! We got to hear Mia talking to herself throughout her pregnaucy and honestly without the added context of "Mia was confronting the truth about both Ethan and her baby being mold people" ...i would have thought all her dialogue was due to a hard pregnaucy. This could have been prime real estate to expose Ethan and Mia's relationship, how they healed after RE7, their thoughts about building back their marriage, their fears and even the doubts about having a child. but we get NOTHING from Ethan! Was the monster baby a representation of Mia's fear? Ethan's fear? or was it just a monster? IDK! this part was so good horror wise but storytelling it SUCKED!

the Monreau segment was so lackluster. It was just a RE4 reference except more gross with acid and boogers everywhere. Ethan is able to get ahold of his daughter piece and for some reason he found pity for Monreau's weeping? He definitely stopped to listen to whiny fish baby's tantrum which I find really odd because...why??? He never showed much sympathy so why now would he stop to listen to "Miranda wants her baby back" speech? unless it was only meant for a game mechanic which i'm getting sick and tired of because it's just shit writing at this point.

We go get to reunite with Chris and get some answers as to what's going on but really Chris? you're gonna look the same man who UNTRAINED and COMPLETELY IGNORANT managed to clear an entire bioweapon's mold infestation BY HIMSELF and try to say "stand down" and expect obediance? yeah, your brainwashing military training ain't that strong.

Then we get to Karl's segment and... honestly why? why was Karl even interested in Ethan? Ethan doesn't have extraordinary abilities other than "fuck you" levels of adrenaline and perseverance. So why did he want Ethan on his team as he reblled against Miranda? Heh, almost understanable why Karl/Ethan is a thing because i can't think or anything other than pure lust probing Karl to make his offer. Karl is a bioweapon engineer, having built an army of cyborgs and is probably the only person in the village who know how cellphones actually work. Oh, as he had magnet powers so why does he want/need Ethan? In order for Rose to be reliably handled and managed? she's a 6 month baby, not even potty trained, wtf?

then chris comes clean about everything and Ethan uses tank to defeat mutant Karl with some moves pretty sure Leon Kennedy would be proud of cause they were pure bullshit.

Ethan finds out about his own mold problem and ugh you can't convince me the whole "Ethan knew he was going to die so might as well sacrifice himself" was just add to trigger the fuck out of Chris who'd seen his friend in RE5 die in an incredibly simular way. Very dramatic, heroic scene. Very "i face god and walk backwards into hell"

All in all...RE8 was a videogame. Forgiveable? Yeah, cause it was never meant to be a story. the problem here is that whilst all Resident Evil games are literally video games and makes compromises about characters, their development arcs, their stories so that it's more about the game than an actual narrative, RE8...was just a game with a cobbled together story with no care to the actual characters.

And it wasn't just Ethan who got the short end of the stick. Chris Redfield was casted into an anti-hero role and Mia was a forgotten SUPER SKETCHY character throughout. Uuuuuuggggghhhh at this point i'm just raging against a video game instead of doing an indepth character study. sorry gang

[woodaba]

I Still Like Tyranny

i replayed tyranny after getting a bit tired of seeing that Other Big RPG recently, and to my delight, i thought it was still good, for the most part. it represents the kind of breadth and scale i value most in these kinds of games: less an enormous field of markers and possibility, more a dark forest of snares and traps, always one foot away from stepping into a nest of vipers.

for those unfamiliar, tyranny is a game about playing a middle-ranked officer in a conquering army in a bronze-age fantasy society, managing a civil war between two factions within the army. you work for the villains, carry the authority of villains and most of your conversation options will have you speaking just like a villain.

tyranny is smart. despite this being the selling point of the game, it's acutely aware that most players will take this as a challenge - as statistics and statements from multiple developers, including obsidian themselves suggest, almost everyone who plays these kinds of games plays a Good character - and try to defy the stated premise try to claw out some form of heroism in this awful world. knowing this, tyranny carefully and methodically pushes back against attempts to be an honorable and noble person within the role of the fatebinder. it dangles the carrot of self-preservation and gratification to lure you away from the path of righteousness, to ask you to make one compromise - just one, just now - in the hopes that will lead to a better future that has already been closed off from you. it never lets hope die completely - not till the very end - even though you can have completely ruined any chance of defiance with the sixth click of the mouse button after character creation.

each playthrough, i have tried to rebel against kyros, to join the indigenous population and beat back the obviously evil invaders, and until now, i have failed, tripping and falling down a slippery slope that begins with attempted nobility, drops further into compromises and justifications stacked one after another, and ends on a world little different than how it began, save the markings of my boot-print upon it. this time, however, i succeeded: i negotiated an alliance with the rebels of the tiers and forged a true resistance against Kyros the Overlord, and ultimately, i think i found the experience a little wanting.

it's not that it's disappointing, but rather that it's the opposite: i think it lets me rebel too much. tyranny is fun when you play it as a cackling supervillain, but what it excels at is making you a spineless coward, abusing legal loopholes to make meager gains without damaging your power and authority, to be a lickspittle for as many factions as you can to curry favor among them, to do one thing and say the other, to act as a CRPG protagonist so often does, in ways utterly tinged and made sharp by the nature of the premise. at its core, tyranny is a game about how the state and the law will twist and morph whatever actions you take to be in its benefit, to incorporate criticisms and spit them back out, to take rebellion and absorb it into its mass, to take hope and erode it's convictions until the flames only burn for what the state wants them to burn for.

there's little of that to be found in the rebel path, sadly. bereft of the central power of the premise, you're mostly playing a normal CRPG about uniting the tribes against a greater threat, only with your character being a bit more of an asshole about it. this would be fine if the game maintained its fantastic ending - often mischaracterized as empty and unfinished, the slow zoom out of the map to show that all that you have done has been anticipated and accounted for within the system, that whatever gains you have made, whatever you have done, all of it will amount to naught in the end, to be swept away in the tide of history by a force that is Bigger than even the almighty CRPG Protagonist can survive. but it doesn't, not quite - you can hurt Kyros in this ending, not entirely, not completely - and still in a way that makes clear that this is within the scope of Their design, but I think that is too far, too supplicant to the player's need for power and gratification.

when i first finished it, i wondered if the rebel path was simply fully subtractive from the experience, but with further thought, i don't think that's the case. as much as i think it is strictly weaker than the scarlet chorus and disfavored paths, i do think there is value in it's existence - not to play, but to know it exists, to strive for it, and ultimately fail. i don't play tyranny to win - as much as i think the gameplay is better than many give it credit for, i don't think it's strong in the ways that the more traditionally driven games in this genre are strong. i don't play to escape the forest of traps: i play to try, and fail, to be caught in my own compromises and contradictions, to fall into that nest of vipers, and lose myself in them.

[nexus-nebulae]

What would you consider to be middle class then and what are some tell tale signs someone is middle class in your opinion? I feel like the lines are so blurred sometimes

I dunno. As far as I'm aware, recently it's pretty much been agreed upon by most people who know more about economics than me that currently, the middle class pretty much no longer exists, more and more people finding themselves lower and lower class-wise (I actually got an ad just this morning for Kamala Harris' campaign saying she intends to start rebuilding the middle class; i hope so that sounds nice. also proposing hard caps on medication prices god i hope so).

Middle class America (from what I know, which is always flawed, i am not an economist) is pretty much the suburban model. You're able to support your needs as a person or family (whatever size that may be) and often don't need to make large compromises on purchases. It's not quite like, gated community, HGTV cookie cutter house, HOA type living- that's more upper middle- but usually you're not renting your home and you might have a spare room or an office in your house. You can afford a good enough computer and phones, you probably have at least one gaming console (though sometimes for those you have to wait until a discount or sale). You probably don't have to work multiple jobs to support the household, or there's enough people in the household working one job each that it works out. You're able to support yourself/ves and don't necessarily need to rely much on community/governmental resources (in fact, I'm fairly sure it gets more and more stigmatized to do so the more well off you are. which probably contributed to the death of community in america tbh)

From what little I know about economics, the middle class is a fairly new thing- coinciding with (or causing) the rise of the suburb and the nuclear family model, if I'm thinking right. And a lot of the time, the lines are blurred, as depending on a lot of factors they can move and shift over time. There are legal definitions for some, which you can find online calculators for, using a few factors like your household's income and housing costs- though it might not always be accurate to how well you're meeting your needs. Inflation plus stagnant wages over the course of quite a few years has been causing the middle class to shrink more and more. To me it honestly feels like there's six class distinctions that make sense to me right now: poverty or inability to support the home at all (which should never exist imo), lower class which is mostly struggling but still functioning, lower middle where it's not as constantly stressful but you're still not comfortable, upper middle HOA types, upper class influencer/celebrity/ceo types, and then the 1% (which also shouldn't exist imo) . Hopefully Americans start to agree on how to make stuff economically better soon and actually put it into action.

[edwardrichard10]

Relax and Recover: Why Gym-Goers Love the Foger Switch Pro

Wind-Down: How Smart Features Are Shaping the Future of Vaping

As someone who’s always on the move, I’ve found two things that keep me sane—travel and staying active. Whether I’m hiking in the hills, exploring beach towns, or winding down after a workout in a new city, I’ve realized how much small habits impact my lifestyle. One of those habits? Vaping. And recently, I’ve found a new favorite in the Foger Switch Pro Kit.

This post isn’t about hyping products. I want to talk about something practical—how we, as travelers and gym-goers, can use smart vaping tools like the Foger Switch Pro Disposable Vape Kit to wind down, recharge, and stay balanced without compromising on convenience.

Let me walk you through why I (and many other fitness-minded folks) are leaning into the new generation of Foger Disposable Vape devices, especially after long days of exploring and sweating it out at the gym.

The Problem: Tension After Travel and Training

If you’ve ever traveled frequently, you probably know how exhausting it gets. Add regular gym sessions to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for fatigue—both physical and mental.

Even after pushing through a tough workout or a long hike, I often struggle to relax. My mind races, and sometimes my body feels too “charged” to fall into a restful state.

And if you’re like me, you want something that helps you disconnect, not just crash. Some of us turn to meditation or music, while others light a candle or enjoy a quiet smoke. For me, vaping became part of that ritual—but not just any vape would do.

The Agitation: Traditional Vaping Gear Isn’t Travel-Friendly

Let’s be real. Most vaping setups are clunky.

Carrying multiple vape juices, chargers, and devices while traveling just doesn’t work when you’re moving city to city or living out of a backpack. I’ve had enough moments fumbling with wires in airport lounges or spilling e-liquid in hotel rooms to know this isn’t sustainable.

Here’s what started to frustrate me about traditional vape devices:

Too many pieces (tank, mod, battery, coil).

Constant refilling and maintenance.

Charging every few hours.

Inconsistent performance.

As someone who values both fitness and freedom, I needed a solution that could simplify my post-workout wind-down without complicating my travel plans.

The Solution: Foger Switch Pro – Built for the Active, On-the-Go Lifestyle

Then I discovered the Foger Switch Pro Kit, and it genuinely felt like someone finally designed a product for people like me. Gym-goers, travelers, minimalists—whatever you want to call us—we just want things to work without the mess.

So, what exactly made the Foger Switch Pro Disposable Vape Kit a game-changer for me?

1. Smart Mode Switching

This is hands down my favorite feature. The Foger Switch Pro Disposable Vape comes with two modes:

Turbo Mode: For those times you need a quick hit after an intense session.

Smooth Mode: Perfect for evening wind-downs, especially after long travel days.

Just a flick, and I can switch between modes depending on my mood or activity level. That flexibility alone makes it feel like more than just a disposable vape—it’s a part of my routine.

2. Zero Refills, Zero Stress

There’s no need to carry juice bottles anymore. The Foger Switch Pro Kit is pre-filled and lasts long enough to keep up with my lifestyle. I’ve traveled for two weeks with just one kit and never had to worry about finding a refill shop.

3. Rechargeable Design

While it’s technically disposable, this device comes with a USB-C port so I can recharge it when I need to. That means fewer disposals, less waste, and better consistency. It feels like the perfect balance between disposable convenience and rechargeable reliability.

4. Compact and Pocket-Friendly

Fits in my gym shorts, side pocket of my backpack, or even the little pouches on my water bottle carrier. I don’t need to think twice about space or weight. For someone who counts every ounce on long hikes, this matters.

How the Foger Switch Pro Fits Into My Travel and Fitness Routine

Let me break down how I use the Foger Switch Pro Disposable Vape Kit during my usual week on the road.

Post-Workout Cooldown

After strength training or a long cardio session, my body is buzzing. I find a quiet corner, grab my Foger, switch it to Smooth Mode, and take a few puffs. It helps me settle down, breathe deeper, and ease into recovery mode.

Travel Day Blues

Flight delays, long train rides, and traffic jams? All part of the game. But that doesn’t mean I have to sit through them tense and agitated. The Foger Switch Pro Kit helps me chill in transit, especially when I'm in unfamiliar cities where smoking isn't allowed or practical.

Night Wind-Down

When I finally land at my Airbnb or hotel, I go through my usual recovery ritual: a quick stretch, protein shake, maybe a journal entry—and a few smooth hits from the Foger Disposable Vape. That’s often the last piece that signals to my brain: it’s time to relax.

Key Benefits of the Foger Switch Pro Disposable Vape Kit

If you're still wondering if this is the right fit for you, here's a quick recap of what made it work for me:

Dual Mode Control – Adjust intensity based on your mood or activity level.

Travel-Ready – No leaks, no juice bottles, no fuss.

Rechargeable USB-C Port – Keeps going even when you're on long trips.

Sleek & Simple – No buttons, no screens—just puff and enjoy.

Long-Lasting – Great battery and e-liquid life, even for frequent users.

Why This Matters for Travelers and Fitness Lovers

There’s something to be said about simplifying our routines. When I started carrying the Foger Switch Pro Kit, I eliminated a lot of mental clutter.

I didn’t have to worry about:

Refilling tanks

Carrying multiple accessories

Charging multiple devices

Figuring out nicotine levels

The Foger Disposable Vape became part of my daily gear—not just as a tool to enjoy vaping but as a smart addition to my overall wellness routine. It’s low-effort, reliable, and tailored for recovery.

Whether I’m wrapping up a trail run in Chiang Mai or lifting at a gym in Lisbon, I know I can count on this device to bring me back to baseline.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Smart

I’ve tried a lot of vaping devices over the years—some bulky, some expensive, some high-maintenance. But the Foger Switch Pro Disposable Vape Kit ticks all the boxes for me as someone who values efficiency and recovery.

If you're into travel, fitness, or just want a smarter, cleaner way to vape without overcomplicating things, give the Foger Switch Pro Kit a try. I genuinely think you’ll appreciate how seamlessly it fits into your lifestyle—just like I did.

And honestly? It’s not just about the nicotine. It’s about the ritual. That moment of pause, reflection, and recovery that helps you take on the next day.

[ninjakittenarmy]

Look, I really hate all the posts going around saying that authors should NEVER listen to their audience because it like, compromises their vision and always makes things worse or whatever. It’s usually made by people who just can’t handle that their tastes aren’t popular and think everything would be as they like it if authors didn’t care about their audience. You should not, as an author, ignore your audience.

That being said, there is ARE cases where listening to a group’s demands and pandering to them has never, ever ended well and only ended in pissing a whole lot of people off, including most of that group and I feel the worst example is when a group of people complain that not enough characters are dying. I have seen several examples of authors ramping up character deaths seemingly just because people said the stakes weren’t high enough and more people should be dying. The two examples I think of are Call of Duty: MWIII from last year and the last arcs of Attack on Titan.

It’s POSSIBLE that the artists chose to start killing off a bunch of characters and making the most truly baffling decisions about who to kill off on their own but it seems odd that both had some vocal fans complaining that fewer people were dying than usual and the stakes were too low and both included several deaths that weren’t even necessary for the plot.

With AOT, I can believe that tbh because that’s been a big problem from the start. The large number of shocking character deaths was often talked about as a selling point of the series and it did a lot to establish tone but to do that, it killed of a lot of characters that would have been pretty interesting if they lived (Levi Squad for example) mostly for establishing the dark tone in general and frankly I never thought it was worth it. That was never something I considered a selling point. So I can believe Isayama made the same mistakes on his own later just even worse. I still find it suspicious that said deaths in the later part of the series were so abrupt even by AOT standards and so poorly thought out.

MWIII I think was panicky pandering all the way through. Both because there was so much executive meddling to begin with and because so little thought was put into that game from a writing standpoint. COD is known for lots of important characters dying because it’s war and the Modern Warfare reboot wasn’t really doing that so some people complained, so they wanted to raise stakes by killing off one if the most beloved and important characters in the series at the very end at the hands of the main villain who they were forced to introduce early because marketing even though it made zero sense for said villain to be anywhere near the area at the time (if you’re gonna set off a bomb to flood a subway tunnel, why would you have your leader anywhere near said tunnel? Let alone leaving an attack to make sure the bomb doesn’t get disarmed?). This death happens just at the end and affects nothing.

And in both cases, NOBODY was happy, not even the people who wanted more deaths because shockingly, setting a quota for character deaths without any real reason to kill off anyone in particular is a great way to derail your story and character arcs!

Frankly, I think it’s never a good idea to kill off a character purely to raise stakes and/or darken the tone. Like, even if you make a character specifically for that purpose and only ever intended for them to die, that doesn’t mean there aren’t better uses for them. Isayama learned that with Sasha and then fucked it up later. How he thought killing a character he specifically saved bc of fan demand and got immense praise for doing so would go over, idk. You need a reason besides the general tone to kill off a character. The general tone being lighter than you expected is well worth keeping them most of the time and frankly, if you can’t establish darker tone and higher stakes without character deaths, something that lots of story’s have easily managed, you have a serious lack of creativity. You need to work on other methods or find a different profession.

As for the people who actually demand this… Stop. Stop demanding more character deaths. You don’t know what you’re doing. I don’t like saying people’s media and trope preferences are wrong (outside of stuff related to politics obviously) but this is an exception. All evidence I have seen points to this being a bad idea on just a factual level. You are making things objectively worse. The voice in your head telling you to make this criticism is the devil talking. Stop.

[cagenewman]

No weekend spiral necessary, I promise you. For once, we actually just have a normal, regular Newman Family weekend ahead, we can sleep in tomorrow and everything, It's supposed to rain in the morning, that's as good of an excuse as any other to hang out in bed for a little while longer, right? I hope so. I just wish I could have been less of a mess when he was still here, you know? Speaking of raising that little girl, I did drop a text to Rafael, just to find out if that was something he could help with. He can, and said that he can get it started any time, so. I'm really good at tormenting you into loving me, when you think about it. As a kid, as a teenager, as a full grown adult… Oh, I don't pay for the storage unit. I restored the owner's home years ago, and he was so happy with the work that he literally gave me two lockers in his unit and told me that it was grandfathered in. You just have to know the right people. No, I just… I don't know, dreams change, and our life is a lot different now than it was when we were kids and you used to lay in the bed of my truck with your head on my chest. Do you think that Cordelia, teenaged Cordelia, do you think I'd still be the man of her dreams? They're not shriveling, you're so dramatic, you make it seem like you're fifty. I probably did, and then I went and did the crazy thing and bought a ring and I sort of skipped a few steps, and now I'm circling back. I know you're not. And I know that I'm very lucky that you are patient enough that you haven't given up on me. I don't want to miss out on a window, either, I just… want to make sure we're okay, that we're ready. What if -- can we compromise? Talk about it more often, get through the wedding, the football season, give these kids the best holiday season they've ever had, and then… if we feel good. If we feel it's right. Try? Nah, I know, and he's kind of a lot like dad in that way, he was always at the farm, always working hard, taking care of us kids. I try not to push, you know? I get that. You didn't want to get hurt again. And I am sorry for that, I never meant for you to feel that way about relationships, I was a dumb kid, I wasn't thinking about how much it would stick with you, fuck you up, you know? I didn't think about how much it would fuck me up, either. No. I didn't even like her that much. She was really pretty and hooking up with me was sexy and taboo for her because I was working for her dad. It was the only time that I ever fucked up, as far as being careful. I think I liked the danger, the excitement, I got caught up in it. Honestly? I don't know. I don't have a number, it wasn't one of those things where I was keeping score or trying to rack up a body count, I was young, I was attractive, I was good, and I didn't miss a single opportunity. She was texting me a few weeks back about strippers. So I'm pretty sure she likes you better than me, anyway. But we'll let her get whatever photos she wants this time around, and I promised they'll get better placement on the walls, even. Yeah, he can go in as receiver if he wants, but if they end up having a high scoring game like that the rest of the season, he could play fourth quarter, too, when they pull first string, and that would be really good experience for him. JD won't let them get too stressed out, he's a good guy, he'll keep an eye on both of them, you know?

Good, I'd be worried if you didn't get it, and we've been married six months now. I'd have to wonder who did I marry?! That's not a spiral I'm looking to go on this weekend. He would have been proud of you for so many things. Settling down, running a business, starting another family business, taking in and raising another teen to give him a shot at his dream and a great scholarship, raising a little girl as your own, keeping the family together with the help of your brother. There's so much he'd be proud of. Well, given he was that much older, I don't think I would have ended up ever having a crush on your brother, if I'm honest. Maybe if you hadn't come along and pulled my hair and tormented me into loving you, but I guess we'll never know. Storage units work too but those you have to pay for, where as if we build you pay it once and done. Yes, you are the man of my dreams, is that really so hard to believe? Even if I'm absolutely stuck with you not that I've got this ring on my finger. I mean... it's a crawling slow pace, my eggs are shriveling up as we speak... I'm just saying! I feel like I heard let's talk after the holidays before? Didn't you say that last summer too about waiting till after the holidays? I promise, I'm not trying to be difficult, but -- there is part of me that is worried the longer we wait, the more chance that it's not going to happen due to time, due to it being harder to get pregnant with older age, and those worry me. Guess I don't want to miss out on our window of time... Well you've foiled my plan, now I don't know what I'll do because you'll probably tell your brother my big plan and I'm screwed! Guess as long as he's happy that's really all that matters. Think I'm in the mindset I just also don't want him to miss out on anything because he feels like he can't go out and have fun because he's on the farm. Well, after you left, the idea of commitment really was broken, I didn't trust the idea of relationships. If you could leave, if my parents could be who they are, I couldn't trust anyone again. I could date, I could have sex, that was easier. I had needs like you said, but I didn't want complications, I didn't want messy. So, had you not had Colton you don't think there would have been a relationship with his mother? A lot of sex? How many we talking here, Newman? Don't worry I will talk to her, less likely to kill me, or I think so anyway. Just think it'd be good to have multiple and let her enjoy. Also, think we should look to hire a videographer. Well, we couldn't have brought her or it would have defeated the purpose of getting married in secret. They played amazing, starting the season off with a win, can't do much better than that. I don't think he minds, it's not like he doesn't get play time in another position while he has backup to Shawn to keep him in shape and everything. I will say I won't let that coach stress them sick over eventual scouts though, I can absolutely kick his ass if needed. I know they mean well, and it's important but just want to make sure they don't go overboard with school just starting.

[curseofaphrodite]

Two of Hearts

daemon targaryen x reader | deck of cards part 2/3,

series masterlist | summary: night time visitors often come with complications

Late into the night, you heard knocks on your door. There were persistent and rough, so you already knew it wasn't going to be your handmaiden. With curiosity getting the better of you, you pulled it open.

"Hello," Daemon tilted his head to one side. He didn't appear drunk, and he smelled fine, but something about him said he was intoxicated.

"What do you want?" you asked cautiously.

"I sensed you weren't sleeping and thought we could have a party of our own."

"Be serious."

"I am," he nodded towards your room. "I have much to talk about with the future queen. All politics, of course."

"I'm — Daemon, you can't be this stupid," you sighed. "I am not going to bed you. It's foolish you'd even think I would."

He blinked. "Who said anything about bedding?"

"I don't know what you think about me but I'm not going to be a whore. And if I am, it won't be for a prince who has more tantrums than a 12-year-old."

His puppy dog eyes immediately turned blank. Fear crept inside, because you knew you had finally annoyed him. You preferred him to look actually furious instead of whatever the hell he was doing now.

His right hand reached upwards quickly, grabbing your chin with an unfamiliar softness. While his touch was firmly gentle, his eyes said otherwise.

"Disrespecting me is disrespecting the court," he said sharply, forcing you to look at him. Your heart started hammering for more reasons than one. To add more bad luck, you heard footsteps in the distance.

"Someone's coming," you hissed, not wanting to be seen together in a somewhat compromising position.

"I bet it's Alicent... or maybe Viserys—"

Rumors, rumors, rumors. They had more power to destroy you than fire. You had learned that quickly even before coming to Westeros.

"Now's not your time for games," you said, gritting your teeth. Then you did the only thing you could. You grabbed him by his collar and pulled him inside, shutting the door behind him as quickly as possible. He let go, but he seemed just as surprised as you.

"You can't be that scared of Viserys!" Daemon laughed, but there was a genuine question behind those words.

"I'm not scared!" You plopped down in your bed, looking out the window with a frown. "I just don't know what I'm doing here."

"Don't play clueless. You're here to get the Iron Throne, as foolish as it seems."

"Why?" your eyes turned to him, determined. "Why is it foolish for someone like me to get the throne?"

"You're not a Targaryen. You'll never be a Targaryen."

"Are you calling a war against my house?"

Daemon walked towards the table, then took the chess board which you had brought from your home. You had no one to play it with, so it remained useless. Until now.

Wordlessly, he arranged the wooden figures, then drew himself a chair so he could sit next to you. You frowned.

"Make a move," he asked, nodding towards the pieces. You hesitated before pushing a pawn forward.

"Your house is reputable," he murmured, lost in the game. "But it's not enough. When worst comes to worst, dragons are what people fear. Not the rulers."

"I'd still be a better ruler than you. And certainly Viserys."

Daemon used his horse, so you did the same. The game passed in silence for a while, like he was contemplating more than just the strategy.

"You would be a better queen." He stated finally, looking up. But right as he said that, he also took your king.

Son of a bitch.

-----

He returned the next night. And the next. And the next.

To be transparent, Daemon did have a plan. He would think of the sweetest of things to say to you (anything to fuck up your wedding), yet words failed him every time.

It wasn't because he chose not to say it. He simply couldn't. He'd open his mouth and he'll already know what you'd reply if he called you beautiful. He already knows how you'll laugh if he compares your smile to a winter's moon. He knows you won't fall for any of his tricks.

Simply said, he knows you know him. So he resigned to chess games and talk of books, all of which only made him more restless.

Little by little, Daemon Targaryen found himself losing the act he wrote for himself.

-----

A WEEK LATER.

-----

The door seemed to be mocking you.

No matter how many times you've considered knocking, you couldn't bring yourself to do it, nor could you walk away. It was all a blur of wondering if you were crossing a line you'd already crossed. You were contemplating everything wrong you ever did in your life, from birth to where you were standing.

Then, out of the blue, the door opened loudly, startling the life out of you.

"I could hear your existential crisis from inside," Daemon said, his voice monotone. Despite the late hour, he was fully clothed. His white shirt and messy hair stood out against the candlelight. He smelled of sand, making you wonder if he was out by the sea again.

"I—" you coughed. "You haven't come to my room for days."

He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize I was obliged to."

"Daemon," you sucked in your breath, wondering just how awkward this conversation was going. "You're the only fr-acquaintance I have in this palace."

"You can say friend."

"Fine then. Friend."

He sighed. "The rumors were getting more complicated. I couldn't tell every person I saw on my way back from your room that I was merely teaching you how to play chess. it sounds unbelievable even to me."

"Since when have rumors stopped you?" you challenged, glaring. "Do I remind you that they're going to spin stories regardless of the facts anyway?"

"Do you really want a chess partner so much that you're willing to lose every night?"

"I'll win one day," you said, glad to sound light-hearted again. "And like I said, I've grown to like your annoying ass. You're one of the evilest men I've encountered in my life, but you're just as entertaining."

"Well then, it'd be rude of me to not invite you to your jester's room." He said, stepping aside. "Which reminds me, I have a particular book you'd love. It's about a queen trapped in a high tower."

"Let me guess, a prince saves her?" you asked, walking inside. Your eyes didn't miss out on anything. His room was different, with a large silver bed and more windows than you can count. Everything appeared regal and expensive, but all of them were just as messy.

"A dragon does." Daemon left the door unlocked, as if it could give you extra reassurance. You internally rolled your eyes.

"Sounds very Targaryen."

"The book is supposedly a Targaryen artifact too."

"Supposedly?"

"I stole the book from the vault when I was 9 years old. It bore the family crest and looked important so I figured what's the harm."

You laughed. "Did you really?"

Maybe you imagined it, or maybe your laugh had something to do with how his eyes suddenly softened. You felt butterflies just by the thought.

"Don't believe me? Check the cupboard. The book's there."

You wandered across the room until you reached where he was pointing at. You pulled it open and saw a mess of decoratives inside; from goblets to jewel-studded rings.

"Don't you ever clean?" you asked, looking for the mysterious book anyway.

"I don't think the servants know this is my room. Who could blame them, I'm hardly even here."

"Yes, I forgot you like to spend your time in others' rooms," you teased, wondering whose room he had been in the last few nights. You were almost tempted to ask.

"I truly am sorry if you were led to think I was mad at you. Forget the rumors, I just didn't want to disturb your duties. You're undoubtedly busy." His voice grew more grave, if that was even possible.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"The wedding's in three days." His voice came from right behind you. His body was pressed up against yours, and his hand reached over your shoulder to get to the higher shelf.

"The book is up here." He said for clarification. But you didn't move, didn't reply, didn't even take the book from his hands as he lowered it. You simply stood there, registering his words and his warm breath right beside your neck.

"The wedding preparations are done so I'm not busy," you whispered. Why did it sound like you were apologizing?

Daemon put the book back and slowly circled your waist with his arms. It was purely affectionate, and that made you want to hug him and cry. He rested his head in the crook of your neck, taking his time to answer.

"It's a wonder how Viserys gets everything I want. The throne, and now you." He said, and you didn't know what was softer — his touch or his words.

You groaned. "Stop that! Stop acting as if I'm anything more than an unfortunate liability for your throne."

"That's the irony in it," he pressed a kiss against your neck and you melted into a puddle inside. You were dead and resurrected back to life when he dragged his lips across your skin. "We're both traitors. I'm a liar so you can't trust a word I say so if I ever truly love you, you won't believe it anyway."

"Because it'd be a lie."

"I will plead with you just once." He turned you around, cupping your jaw. He stared intently, bravely — as if he was about to do something he never did. "Just once I will beg. Don't marry him."

"Daemon—"

"Please." He went down on his knees, holding your hands instead. He wasn't even looking up at you, like that would cost him plenty. His voice was shaky and he knew this wasn't just an act. He would never humiliate himself for his tricks.

He was truly desperate.

"I can't back out of the wedding. Viserys would call a war on my house. My family—"

"I know you won't say yes but hear me out, humor me for a minute," He clasped your hands tighter. "We could run away, I don't want the fucking throne. I want you—"

"I have to go," you said firmly, fighting back the sudden urge to kneel beside him and never part. "I shouldn't have come."

You pulled back and he let you go, wide-eyed and surprised. He stood up and watched as you walked off. He followed halfway, then upon realizing you were indeed gone, he slammed the door shut.

"Fuck!" He yelled, kicking the nearby table.

It didn't help. His shoulders started to shake, he was breathless, and before he knew what was happening — he started to cry.

------------------------

next, final part will be out soon! itll end happy i swear 😭🤌

-----------------------

taglist: @eexphoria @sebastian025 @cecilyjmorgenstern @lilitheal @imnotyourbcbe @loveandlewis-reads @mariamyousef702 @1-800-isabellapotter @skywalkerr27 @ohhh-boo-tiful @paula-lkr @purechaosss @andrea-np @makaramosss @snixx2088 @ephemeralninon @wulfriedxanthene

[elliebean714]

Hello again!! So I was just doing some thinking and something popped in my head...

Emily x reader x Matt!!

Matt needs someone who has time and patience to take care of him as much as he takes care of others! And Emily needs someone that can stand her girl talk and understand her fashion!! I can be that person!!!

Sorry got excited, uhh please, and thank you 🦋💘

Yeyy!! Emily is my favourite girl!! (Well second. My heart belongs to Ashley 🥺💕) But Matt deserved better than her, let's hope thats you💀 sorry this took so long and is so short, I've had a lot of writers block lately. Please forgive me😭 I'm working on your other request right now, shouldn't be too long 🙏

Matt Taylor x GN!Reader x Emily Davis

Headcanons

Fluff

Pre-Game

Okay so you'd probably have to be the mediator in this relationship💀

You'd have to remind Matt to stick up for himself and that his feelings matter.

And you'd have to remind Emily to be nicer and to appreciate Matt more

Sorry Em but Matt deserves better😭✋

Whenever Matt is feeling down or emotionally needy you'd be there for him, holding him, kissing him, just talking to him, cus we all know Em won't be💀

Whenever Emily is in a really bad mood you'd be the only one able to calm her down, paint each others nails, let her do your make-up, or just chat about what's bothering her

You being there would probably make Emily less likely to cheat with Mike.

Because she genuinely loves and respects you and she doesn't want to hurt and betray you.

If Matt and Emily ever had a disagreement, the first thing you'd do is ensure Matt won't just back down to do whatever she wants

The next thing you'd do is try to find some sort of compromise they can both agree to

The most important thing would be to make sure Matt is happy and is not just going along with whatever you say to avoid the conflict

Because you're the loving and supportive partner you are, you'd go to every single one of Matts Football games

Showing up in his letterman jacket

Screaming his name in support 😭💖

You and Emily go on shopping trips verrryyy often

Completely spoiling each other

Buying each other clothes

But she's always the more stylish one😭

Overall, you'd be the mediator in this disaster of a relationship💀

Video Games And Characters You Can Request

Request Always Open 🦋

~Elliebean714

♤♡◇♧☆♧◇♡♤♡◇♧☆♧◇♡

[lyranova]

Hello! For your new ask game, can I request 1, 7, 14, 18, 19, 27 and 44 for Vanzel? If I should have only chosen one number, sorry, you can choose 🥰

Hiya anon! No worries you can choose as many numbers as you like I don’t mind 😁, I never put a limit as to how many numbers a person can choose because…where’s the fun in that 😆? So please feel free to choose as many as you like 🥰!

1. Describe their first date.

I feel like their first date was spontaneous 😆! Like I just imagine Vanessa coming up to him after the SE and BB’s had a joint mission together, grabbing him by the arm, and telling him that they were going to celebrate a job well done at some restaurant and when he asks if the others are coming to she just winks and says “Guess you’ll have to find out.” and so he just…goes along with it 😆. In Nozel’s mind it’s just the two of them celebrating a job well done, but eventually he realizes that this is more than meets the eye, and that Vanessa actually took him out on a date without directly telling him it was a date 😆.

That’s just how I imagine their first date being lol!

7. How often do they say “I love you”?

Hmm I feel like they both say it at least once a day! Vanessa probably says it a little more than Nozel, but that’s because she’s a little more affectionate than he is. But I think Nozel developed this habit as a child right after Acier died, he would recall how he didn’t tell his mother that he loved her the night before she passed and before Vanica attacked her. And he’s regretted it ever since. So in order to never repeat that mistake he always tells Vanessa that he loves her before she goes on a mission, or before she leaves, or before she falls asleep.

14. Do they enjoy PDA, or are they more private with affection?

I think they’re a bit of both 🤔. Vanessa enjoys PDA while Nozel prefer’s private affection. But, as the two are together for a while I feel like they compromise on it. Vanessa tones down the PDA and will express herself more in private, while Nozel tries to be more open and comfortable with PDA and will try to express himself more in that way!

18. How do they care for each other when one of them is wounded/sick?

Hmm, I feel like Nozel would get the best of the best medical team if Vanessa was wounded or sick. He would soare no expense in taking care of her, and once he was assured that she would be alright, he would take care of her to the best of his ability as she healed/got better (I imagine he’s pretty clumsy at taking care of someone since he hasn’t done it before 😆!).

Vanessa would probably consult Owen on how to best take care of Nozel if he was sick/wounded, she would ask Charmy to make some of her best recovery food, and would ask Finral to help take her places so she could get supplies to help Nozel heal/get better. Like Nozel she would probably be a little clumsy at it at first, but she would get better at it as time goes on and would do whatever she could to help him recover!

19. Do they wear each other’s clothes/jewelry?

Oh 100% Vanessa wears Nozel’s shirts, coats, etc! I can just imagine the first time Nozel saw Vanessa wearing one of his shirts, his eyes probably went wide and his cheeks turned a bright red 😆! Her wearing one of his shirts probably unlocked something in his brain that he didn’t realize, so now he kind of encourages her to wear his clothes, which she doesn’t mind, since all his clothes are pretty comfortable to lounge around in 😆!

27. How do they say “I love you” non-verbally?

Nozel would probably do littles things for Vanessa to try and show her that he loves her. I still HC Nozel as “Acts of Service” in his love language so he probably cleans up after her, or makes the bed, or even rearranges her wine collection to make it easier for her 😆! While Vanessa shows her love for him by giving him gifts or physical touch (such as hugging, holding his hand, that sorta stuff)!

44. Do they cuddle often? Why or why not?

I think they do! I think Nozel would be a bit unsure of cuddling at first, but the more he and Vanessa do it the more he finds that he really enjoys it! Now after they’ve been together for a while Nozel will initiate cuddle sessions, especially when it’s been a tough day. And Vanessa doesn’t mind, she actually really enjoys it herself 😁!

[spamtonology]

tell us somethin about spamton you haven’t previously discussed here

Hm, I generally like a prompt else my brain draws a blank.

I've talked about his infantilization before and there is still a lot to go through regarding that aspect.

There's a very common trope, which is giving Spamton a bath or making him take a bath.

It makes sense, and it's generally pretty smart to offer someone like him a bath, since he's been living on the streets for so long. Baths and showers also relieve stress as well!

However, the problem lies in the execution, in this case how the ubiquitous bath/shower scene plays out in fanfiction.

You do have cases where he takes a shower by himself without any help, which is good! He can do this, he would not have forgotten how to bathe, it's just been some time. Then, you have the opposite, where Spamton is being given a bath or shower.

Usually a reader insert or Swatch, this person assumes the role of authority and pushes him into taking a bath, often with disregard to his complaints and sometimes being rough with him. Bonus points if the Acid Theory plays a role.

What is the problem with this? it is infantilization/dehumanization of his character: Treating him like a baby or feral animal who cannot consent and must be forced into taking a bath he desperately does not want.

To push this further, helping him with every single step of taking a bath is also an issue, why can't he just scrub himself, and dry himself? There is an exception to be made when the situation calls for it e.g. Spamton is injured/incapacitated in some way and as a result cannot physically move in a way that would allow scrubbing and drying. Most fanfiction I have seen seems to not use this particular situation anyway in favor of treating him like a cat, for whatever reason.

There is nothing in the game itself that would indicate Spamton having any aversion to bathing/showering, so I think one of the reasons it comes up is due to his present homeless state, and the popularity of the Acid Theory. Another is that it is actually a fairly popular fanfic trope in some circles to give characters, in the same or similar situation as Spamton, a bath.

That is not to say I don't want to see this kind of scene anymore. I've seen Spamton shower scenes be pulled off incredibly well such as in our favorite fanfiction Steppin' Out, where he has a realistic breakdown and epiphany to his current situation while he takes a shower on his own accord.

My fanfiction also includes a shower scene, but in a medical setting, so some things have an exception here, but there's also subversion.

He is offered help with showering by a nurse, and turns down the offer, claiming he can do it himself. The nurse understands this, and respects his choice; he only needs help with undoing his hospital gown since the way to open it is on the back and hard for him to reach. The nurse stays outside the bathroom door in case of any emergencies, while Spamton showers himself.

The whole time, he is treated as any middle-aged patient would be, no more and no less.

It's not perfect, but it is slightly better than some examples I have seen in fanfiction.

The other problem I have is the inclusion of the acid theory in regards to him taking a bath. I will say I do not have PTSD so I cannot accurately estimate why warm, clear water would be equal to boiling, lime green acid at all, but...Apparently it can? I also do not see why he would throw a fit over it, either.

If the character never knew that Spamton has trauma associated with acid, they can apologize for the mistake and come up with a compromise. If the character already knew, and therefore did not care about the consequences...I think that's considered abuse.

[chasingpj]

𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

pairing: leo valdez x gn reader

summary: five ways he says i love you through his actions

warnings: implied nudity and s*x, discusses food and eating and nothing else, i think. oh, and maybe some typos

category: headcanons

love letters/notes

leo is a busy boy

he's always picking up new projects so he can spend all day in his workshop or the forges with his siblings

when you guys live together, he leaves small notes on the refrigerator for you

they're always short, saying simple things like "i love you" and "i miss you already"

for the love letters, he'll leave them in random places for you to find

if you're a big reader, i can see him hiding it between the pages of your book

one day, you pick up your book to read, and the note falls on your lap

it's a love letter written on a piece of blueprint paper; there’s a little bit of oil smudged on the side of it

he got distracted while he was working on something because you were the only thing he could think about

his love letters never fail to make your heart flutter

sometimes they make you cry

he's quite sentimental

leo always tells you he does better writing down his feelings than he is saying it out loud because he can organize his thoughts better

you know that leo has a hard time with that because of how he grew up

when you guys have an argument, which isn't very often, he writes his feelings down on paper

he's always quick to apologize if he did something wrong, and the notes help him form the apology that you deserve, and you're quick to forgive him

once, you were super angry after an argument, so you locked yourself in your shared bedroom

you needed to calm yourself down

the both of you much too angry and stubborn to make a compromise

as your recollecting yourself, 40 minutes in, a folded piece of paper slips from under the door

the letter has teardrop stains, and the ink is slightly smudged

on the paper, it's all his thoughts written out in the best way he can explain them

after reading what he wrote, you quickly deemed that whatever you were fighting about was silly, and you guys made up

you love his spontaneous notes so much that you do them back

you guys have a game of who can find the most creative hiding spot for your notes

one time you found one tapped to the inside of the toilet cover

you found it hilarious

you throw folded post-its with messages in his tool belt

he finds them during the day while he's working on something

after you joined in on the fun, he scatters notes in random places, and every few days, you find a new message hidden somewhere randomly

they're just so sweet; there’s never a time where they don't make you smile

gifts

this is a given

it's not a leo headcanon if gift-giving isn't included

he would make you things like roses from scrap metal to literal furniture

if you have a lot of jewelry, he will make you a cute jewelry box

if you're a big book reader, he'll make you bookcases to support your book collection

he's always giving you little trinkets that he made with leftover materials from projects

he loves making things for you and gets upset when you decide to buy something from ikea instead of asking him

"babe, why would you buy that? I could have just made it for you!"

when he's on his way from returning on his quest, sometimes he'll find something that reminds him of you in a store, and he'll buy it

when he has the money for it, he'd buy you a star :(

says that he spent even more money to buy an extra bright star

because "you're the sun in my universe"

brb gonna cry

also, he'd gift you a bond bracelet

you know, those bracelets where every time you tap on it, it makes the other person's bracelet vibrate

the both of you get anxious when one of you goes on quests, so the bracelets bring the other person who's at home comfort

because when you tap back, at least he knows you're alive and vice versa

one of the best gifts you've ever received from him was your engagement ring

he made it himself

he took so much care and effort into making it

imagine leo forging your wedding ring himself??? i'm in spain with no s

he was so nervous that you wouldn't like the style, so he had piper casually bring it up to you

piper was so nonchalant about it that you didn't even think twice about the question

the ring has the prettiest gemstone or diamond (whatever you prefer)

you cried so hard when he told you he made it himself that you couldn't even say yes to his proposal clearly

he makes both of your wedding bands too

he carves a saying that's dear to the both of you on the inside

this is nothing to do with anything but imagine when you guys have kids, he makes animals out of pipe cleaners for them i'm gonna cry, brb pt 2

overall, whether he makes the present himself or not, he puts a lot of effort and care into it

every gift has a meaning and a place dear to your heart

cooking for you

leo is canoningly a good cook

he loves cooking for you

and you love eating what he makes

he's usually busy on the weekdays, so he cooks on the weekends

you guys always joke that he'd be the cutest househusband

you got him an apron for Christmas as a joke gift one year, and he wears it all the time

there's something so charming about him wearing an apron with a funny saying like "Mr. Good Lookin is Cookin" or with like a ripped out shirtless guy in front of it

you giggle every time you see him wearing it

oh, no matter how many times you've seen it, it's still so bizarre when he takes out hot trays from the oven with his BARE hands

everything he makes tastes amazing

he makes all kinds of food and is always trying something new

if you tell him what you’re craving, he’ll cook it for you

once he woke you up to ask if you wanted ribs… it was 3 am but like, of course, you wanted some

unless you're vegetarian or vegan, sorry, HAHA

often though, he does make Mexican food

it reminds him of when his mom was alive

he always has some story to share

every time he makes caldo de pollo (chicken soup), he always talks about how his mother would make it in the summer and that when he was little, he would always complain about eating hot soup in hot weather

you know he doesn't notice his constant telling of this story, but you don't mind

it's so bittersweet when he talks about his mom

through the cooking of his traditional food, you feel closer to him and his late mother

the memories he shares with you makes your eyes sting with tears

especially when leo says how much he wishes that esperanza could have met you

sorry, that was a little emo

also, leo usually wakes up earlier than you

he knows you're a sleepyhead, so he'll cook breakfast for you

so that when you're running around in the morning trying to get dressed and your things together

you never leave the house hungry because there's always a tupperware filled with breakfast, and if he has enough time, he'll fix you something to take for lunch too

if you come home late from work or school, he'll make dinner even if he's tired to surprise you

so many times you've come home from a shitty day at work or school, and the small table where you guys eat your meals is all set up with your favorite food

leo greets you by peeking his head into the hallway from the kitchen, tossed curls, cheerful brown eyes, and a bright grin

"I hope you're hungry," he says, despite knowing that you are hungry

and then you guys talk and laugh together over a delicious meal

compliments

leo's really observant

he notices when you’re in a bad mood, even if you try not to show it

he also notices when you change little things about your appearance

if you get a haircut or you get your nails done, he'll comment on it right away

especially outfits

if you buy something new, he'll complement it

imagine standing in front of the mirror, looking at yourself in your new outfit

leo comes behind you, his hands coming around your waist

he'll pepper kisses on your neck, a soft hum leaving his lips as he meets your eyes in the mirror

"is this new, mi amor?" he asks, hands running up your sides

once you affirm that it is a new dress or shirt, he'll smile and tell you how beautiful you look in it

maybe says he'd rather see it off of you wink wink

there's never a day where he doesn't compliment you

he thinks you're the prettiest person in the world

you've caught him staring at you lovingly plenty of times

he's just asking himself how did he manage to get someone as beautiful and amazing as you

you always squirm under his gaze and playfully ask what is he looking at

"you're so pretty, mi amor. I can't help it."

AHHH!!!!

alongside the endearment of mi amor, he'd always call you bonita and hermosa

you're so sweet to him, and he can't help but tell you how much you mean to him every chance he gets

surprises

leo is an acts of service kind of guy

i think he'll spontaneously do things to make you happy

if you've been busy studying for finals or just beat up from a day at work

he'll draw you a bath

or he'll cut up some fruit for you and leave it at your desk

he randomly buys you flowers

he never needs an occasion to buy your flowers

it'll be a regular tuesday, leo just happened to walk past a store with flowers displayed in the front, and he thought about how bright your smile would be if he showed up with a bouquet

I feel like he's pretty introverted, enjoys being at home with you

the both of you are pretty broke for a while, so a lot of dates were at home

leo made the most of it

you guys will have nice dinners at home

he'll set the table nicely, set the mood with candles

he'll redecorate the space so well you feel like you're at an actual restaurant

and of course, his food is amazing

breakfast in bed is another thing he'd do for you unsolicited

especially if you guys had a looong night wink wink

you're woken up by his still groggy voice, fluttering kisses on your cheeks

you open your eyes to see he's set a tray with your favorite breakfast on top of the bed

the two of you will eat breakfast together, which usually leads to you staying in bed for the rest of the day

just enjoying the warm cocoon your sheets create around the both of you

overall, he's super observant and caring, and he goes the extra mile to make sure you're happy because he knows you do the same

anyways, does anyone know where I can get a leo?

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