#including in game storytelling hints

[puhpandas]

every day I think about how the elevator situation was literally the trolley problem, a famous moral dilemma for being impossible to choose either option and people still see Gregory experience that in ruin and believe he should die

[felassan]

"Journal #3 Dragon Age: The Veilguard is coming October 31 Pre-orders Open Now Hello everyone, We’re excited to finally share the release date for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which is officially October 31, 2024 worldwide! Please note, this is a simultaneous release; we will announce exact timing at a later date. We want to extend a huge shout out to the Dragon Age community for your patience and enthusiasm; we can't wait for you to jump into the role of Rook and embark on your journey to save Thedas. We know the wait has been long, but the wait will be worth it. In the meantime, we want to give you a hint at what's in store for you in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. You're leading a desperate fight for the future of Thedas with your companions, the stakes are higher than ever. So grab a seat and click on the thumbnail below to watch this brand new trailer (includes some small story spoilers). “As someone who’s been working on Dragon Age for over 15 years, I know just how much our community has been looking forward to this day, and I’m equally excited to share and celebrate that the game will officially launch on October 31,” said John Epler, Creative Director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. “We wanted to give you the choice to really express yourself, and do that in a world full of adventure and danger. So whether you’re a Warrior, Rogue or a Mage, we can’t wait for you to gear up, gather your party, and set out for another thrilling adventure through Thedas this Halloween.” As a character-driven RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers you a crafted experience woven from the threads of rich storytelling and fantasy worldbuilding the franchise is known for. In this bold, heroic adventure, you will experience expansive and dynamic stories that navigate love, loss, and complex choices that affect relationships and the fate of each member of the Veilguard. In true Dragon Age fashion, these bonds of fellowship are the foundation upon which Rook’s journey is built, and it will be up to you to determine how their personal story unfolds. Pre-Orders Now Open Fans who pre-order* the Standard Edition of Dragon Age: The Veilguard for $69.99 USD‡ on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, or $59.99 USD‡ on PC via Steam, EA App and Epic Games Store will receive cosmetic Blood Dragon Armor sets for Warrior, Mage and Rogue classes. EA Play Pro† members on the EA App will enjoy unlimited access to the EA Play Pro Edition* starting October 31st. Check out the full breakdown of the different editions we have available here: Digital Editions"

"- Standard Edition  - Dragon Age: The Veilguard - PC: $59.99‡| Console: $69.99 USD‡"

"- Deluxe Edition - Dragon Age: The Veilguard - 3 Rook armor sets (cosmetic only) - 6 Rook weapons (cosmetic only) - 7 Companion armor sets (cosmetic only) - 7 Companion weapons (cosmetic only) - PC: $79.99 USD‡ | Console: $89.99 USD‡"

"- Pre-Order Bonus* - All Pre-Orders (Standard & Deluxe) will receive: - Blood Dragon Armor Set (Warrior, Mage, Rogue - cosmetic only)"

- “Rook’s Coffer” Edition (Does NOT include Game) - Lyrium Dagger - Thedas Map with Quiver Tube - Rook’s Deck - Potion Flask - Enchanted Die - $150 USD‡"

"- Vyrantium Pack by Scanavo (Does NOT include Game) - Exclusive SteelBook® Case (No Game) - ICONART™ Metal Print and magnet wall mount - Notebook - Collector’s rigid Outerbox Check in with your local retailer to find out about the availability of this edition in your region"

"The Art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard by Dark Horse (Does NOT include Game, Deluxe Edition shown above)  - Standard Edition - 256-page art book providing a behind-the-scenes look at Dragon Age: The Veilguard - $49.99 USD‡ - Deluxe Edition - Includes extra prints - Includes exclusive slipcase - Alternate cover - $99.99 USD‡ - BioWare Gear Edition - Only available while supplies last, sold exclusively on the BioWare Gear website - Includes an exclusive print - BioWare Gear Edition alternate cover - $55.00 USD‡ What’s Coming?"

"ICYMI, we released our August Roadmap this week! Next week, we’ll have a dive into our game’s combat and more information on our PC Specs. There’s a lot more to come in September and October, too; so keep your eyes peeled on our socials.  We're beyond excited to be on this adventure with you, and we can't wait for you to get your hands on the game. Chat soon. - The Dragon Age Community Team *Conditions & restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/dragon-age/dragon-age-the-veilguard/disclaimers for details. ‡Offers may vary or change. see retailer site for details. †Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details."

[source]

[ask-the-prose]

The Gun In This Guide Does Not Go Off

Hi yall, sorry for the late post this week! I'm running this blog by myself, so if you are interested in helping mod this blog or write guides, please fill out the mod form linked in the pinned post! If you have anything you want to see covered or specific questions answered, please don't hesitate to send an ask! Anon is on.

Onto the guide!

This week I want to talk about foreshadowing, what it is, why incorporate it, and how!

What is foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing is an event, line, dialogue, or other element of a story that alludes to or predicts a future event. Foreshadowing can be overt or covert, and it can appear in many different elements depending on your writing style, story needs, or reader interest.

Overt or concrete foreshadowing is directly and clearly stating a prediction or allusion to an event in the future. This can be a line of dialogue ("Winter is coming" from Game of Thrones or the musical number "Be Prepared" in The Lion King), an event or image (Korra's anxiety dreams about losing her bending in season one of Legend of Korra), even the title of the work can be foreshadowing (The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe).

Covert foreshadowing is a little more subtle. An example includes bad weather in Great Expectations to allude to Pip's future angst. Symbols, setting, and throwaway comments can be utilized as covert foreshadowing as well.

Why would I want to spoil the twist?

Foreshadowing doesn't necessarily mean spoiling the twist or ending of your story. However, spoilers can be utilized to your advantage if you do so purposefully (John Dies at the End started out as a web novel serial. In every update, readers tuned in to see if this was the chapter in which John dies, as spoiled by the title). The key word here is "purposefully." Foreshadowing is not accidental, and it can do a lot of heavy lifting with the emotions and feelings you want your reader to experience while reading.

Your reader is smart and will pick up the hints you lay down. You can use this to your advantage to create tension, dread, excitement, or simply a desire to discover what happens next.

How do I incorporate foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing usually happens at the beginning of the story. If you're a pantser like I am, foreshadowing may be difficult to incorporate in your first draft when you don't know where it's heading. That's okay! Foreshadowing can be added in later drafts when you know what exactly happens in the story.

For the plotters out there, consider foreshadowing during your outlining. When you know what happens next, how do you hint at those events early on? There are so many different ways to incorporate foreshadowing into your story. Your imagination really is the limit.

A few notes about what foreshadowing is NOT

Foreshadowing is not a flashforward. A flashforward is a moment in the story in which the narration moves forward in time. The narrative shows the reader explicitly what will happen in the future by depicting those events. Foreshadowing is an allusion or hint at events but not the depiction of those events as they happen.

Foreshadowing is not Chekhov’s Gun. Chekhov’s Gun is a method employed by storytellers as a rule. Anton Chekhov said in his famous quote that if a gun is described hanging on the wall in chapter one, it must go off in chapter two or three. This is to say, every element in a story is there for a reason. The gun is only described because the gun will be used later. If the gun does not go off, it should not be mentioned in the narrative.

The difference between Chekhov’s Gun and foreshadowing is that foreshadowing is an element of the story, whereas Chekhov’s Gun is about the storytelling process. Chekhov’s Gun is not a real rule, so much as a suggestion that if you are to create tension in the story, it must pay off. Foreshadowing is the act of creating tension.

Foreshadowing is not a red herring. Building off of Chekhov’s Gun, if the gun is described but never goes off, following Chekhov’s rule would indicate the gun is a red herring. A red herring is a hint or allusion to something that never comes to fruition, such as describing a gun to create tension that it will fire and then never firing it.

Conclusion

Foreshadowing is an interesting and, frankly, fun storytelling element to incorporate into your writing. Readers often love rereading books to see all the hints they missed at the beginning! That’s foreshadowing.

Foreshadowing can exist in many methods and elements, and it is up to you how you want to approach foreshadowing. Keep in mind how you want to utilize tension in your story, and you’ll find the foreshadowing falls into place to create an interesting and engaging story your readers will love and love again.

– Indy

** Edit: 6/8/23 fixed an error regarding one of the examples in the first section.

[psychhound]

[ID: a banner that reads "immigration sale" in large light letters, with "8 games 40 - 60% off" in smaller light text. the background is a home's porch with a rocking chair, with a light brown translucent text box over it. end ID]

HEY YALL I'M DOING A SALE

so my little brother @hmooncreates and his partner @paladinbaby are working to move in together!!! faun does not live in america and the visa application is Not Cheap so im having a sale to help out!!!

the goal is $150 but literally anything is awesome!! all proceeds will go straight to paying for the visa application

the sale includes some big games!! if youve seen my sales before, you'll be familiar with:

little shepherd, little spy: a solo or duet journaling game where you are a spy in the fairy war, delivering messages through your spy ring through coded messages in the books on your bookshelf

dead mans hand: a solo storytelling game where you travel around the weird wild west learning peoples stories through a poker hand oracle system

little celestial fieldwork guide: a solo or multiplayer city exploration photography game where you use tarot cards to get hints as to what objects little spirits are hidden as to catalogue them for your research

familiar field trip: a competitive multiplayer game where you are all witches' familiars causing havoc in the village, teaming up or betraying each other to get the most mischief points

some BRAND NEW GAMES that have NOT been on sale before are:

shadow/giant: a duet game where one player is a gruff, jaded adult and the other player is the magical child now under their care

the graveyard game: a solo journaling game where you interview people to write an ethnography of a magical, haunted graveyard

with breath & sword: a solo journaling game where you gear up and fight monsters in order to calm down from real-life anxiety, using grounding methods and breathing techniques

the narrator paradox: a solo narrating game where you have to wrangle your protagonist into listening to the story you're trying to tell and not defying the narrative

each game 40% off or get all 8 for only $18!!!

also check out hollis's fundraising sale with a zine and dating sim inspired ttrpg (its so so fun) and faun's fundraising sale commissions (theyve drawn most of the art for my dnd game theyre amazing)

checking the games out and spreading the word so appreciated!!! thanks yall!!!

[kingofbodyrolls]

Friendcation (m) | myg | two

When you get a flat tire, you think it’s bad luck, but when you fall flat on your ass and Yoongi offers to massage the pain away, has your luck finally turned? 😜

→ Pairing: Yoongi x reader (female) → Other characters: Jimin, Jungkook, Taehyung, Namjoon, Hoseok and Seokjin. → Genre/AU: best friends to friend with benefits to lovers, non idol!au, camping!au, roadtrip!au, mechanic!Yoongi, humor, slight angst, smut and fluff → Rating: mature/explicit/R18 (This is mature/explicit content, so minors, please do not interact.) → Disclaimer: I do not own BTS or know them personally and this work of fiction is purely fictional and for entertainment purposes only. The actions and personalities described in the story do not reflect those of BTS— it’s just fiction. Also, if you would kindly read the tags/warnings before reading, that would be lovely: and if you don’t like whatever is described in the tags, just hit return and find something else to read. Thank you 🌸 → Status: completed! → Word Count: 12,7k → Warnings: more pent up sexual feelings, second hand embarrassment, feelings, very tiny angst, smut; oral (female), moaning (yes it is a warning for this chapter), Yoongi fixing a flat tire. → Author’s note: I didn’t plan to include smut in this chapter, first in chapter three, but here we are 😆 I just couldn’t help myself when I wrote the second to last section! I hope you enjoy it 😍 → Read on AO3? [link] ✨

← previous | s.masterlist | m.masterlist |  next →

As the July sun blazed overhead, you and your friends embarked on the familiar ritual of packing up your camping gear in Busan. 

Beads of sweat formed on your foreheads as you disassembled the tent, the fabric warm to the touch. The scent of sunscreen lingered in the air, a reminder of the fun days spent at the beach. 

Amid the hustle and bustle of folding tents and stowing away supplies, a bittersweet feeling washed over you. Leaving Busan meant saying goodbye to a place filled with cherished memories, but it also meant welcoming new adventures and destinations. 

As you secured the last strap on the van’s roof rack, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.

During the drive to your next destination, Changwon, the memories of the ‘Never Have I Ever’ game played a few days ago kept swirling in your mind. You couldn’t help but wonder about the intriguing responses, especially Yoongi’s question about having sex at work. It piqued your curiosity. 

As the van rumbled down the highway, you turned to your friends seated in the back, a mischievous glint in your eye. 

“Hey, guys, remember that game of ‘Never Have I Ever’?” Your voice carried a playful tone, drawing their attention.

Jimin, who was busy fiddling with his phone, looked up with a grin, Jungkook and Taehyung exchanged sly glances, while Yoongi, who was behind the wheel, shot a quick glance at you through the rearview mirror. The anticipation in the air was palpable.

“Yeah,” Jimin replied, his interest piqued. “What about it?”

A sly smile played on your lips as you leaned back in your seat, ready to stir up some conversation. 

“I’ve been wondering about the answers you gave. Especially that question about having sex at work… How exactly does one do that?” you asked, your tone filled with intrigue and a hint of teasing.

Jimin chuckled, leaning forward in his seat, eager to share. “Well,” he began, his eyes dancing with mischief, “it’s all about finding the right time and place. You see, when you’re working late in the office, and the tension is high because of deadlines or a demanding boss, that’s when things can get interesting.” 

Jungkook chimed in, his playful grin widening. “Exactly. And sometimes, there’s an empty conference room, and you steal a few passionate moments there.”

Taehyung, ever the storyteller, leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Or picture this: the office party is in full swing, everyone’s a little tipsy, and you sneak away to a quiet corner. The thrill of doing something taboo can be a huge turn-on.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at their vivid descriptions. “Sounds like you guys have it all figured out,” you teased.

“Was it with a coworker?” you asked, leaning in with genuine curiosity. “Wasn’t it weird and uncomfortable after?” Your interest was piqued, especially in the dynamics that followed such encounters.

Jungkook leaned in, his eyes sparkling with the memory. “For me, it happened during a photoshoot,” he began, his voice carrying a touch of nostalgia. 

“It was one of the make-up artists. We clicked instantly, you know? Working long hours together, sharing laughs, and all that. So one day, things just... happened,” he chuckled, his cheeks faintly tinged with a rosy hue.

As he continued, his expression turned more serious, yet reassuring. “I’ve seen her afterward, not in that context, just at work,” he explained. 

“And honestly, it wasn’t weird at all. We talked it out, agreed that our working relationship was too important to let something like that get in the way.” He paused, his comforting smile returning. “So, no, I don’t think it’s weird. It’s all about how you handle it, I guess.”

His words carried a sense of wisdom beyond his years, and you couldn’t help but appreciate the candidness with which he shared his experiences.

You turned your head to Jimin, curiosity piqued. “Jimin, I’ve never heard this story before,” you said, a hint of amazement in your voice. Jimin simply shrugged, wearing a sly grin. “No biggie, just had a little rendezvous with my boss in her office.”

Your eyes widened at this unexpected revelation, but before you could react, Jungkook and Taehyung burst into laughter, their excitement palpable. Jungkook playfully nudged Jimin, teasingly exclaiming, “Jimin, you sly dog! Tell us more!”

“Gross, Jimin,” you teased, wrinkling your nose in exaggerated disgust. 

“Is that even legal?”Jimin chuckled, unfazed by your reaction. “We’re all adults here, and honestly, the company didn’t seem to give a damn,” he replied with a nonchalant shrug.

“Gosh, I’m surrounded by a bunch of grown fuckboys!" you exclaimed, playfully covering your eyes with your hands, as if shielding yourself from the collective mischief of your friends. Their laughter filled the air, and the camper van was filled with an infectious energy that made you all feel like carefree teenagers on a wild adventure.

“Hey, I’m not a fuckboy!” Yoongi protested, his mock offense causing you all to burst into laughter.

Taehyung, never one to miss an opportunity for teasing, chimed in from the back seat, “Are you even getting any action, Yoongi?”

“Well,” Yoongi retorted with a smirk, “I’m not celibate!”

There were snickers from the back seat, and Jimin couldn’t resist prodding further, pushing his eyebrows up and winking mischievously. “What about you, ___? Never had an office fuck?”

You groaned at the mere thought, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 

“God no!” you exclaimed, nearly shrieking. “That’s a level of drama I can happily live without.”

“I bet you get a lot of action with your vibrator, right?” 

Taehyung’s question was directed at you, and it made your cheeks turn a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato. You weren’t a prude by any means, but openly discussing your sexual life with your close friends, especially in such a candid way, was still somewhat uncharted territory. You had talked about it with Jimin before, sure, but with the other guys, it was a whole new level of awkward.

“That’s for me to know and you to... wonder about,” you quipped with a playful wink, crossing your arms beneath your chest. As you did, you couldn’t help but notice how Yoongi’s gaze momentarily lingered on your breasts before returning to the road.

“She totally does!” Jungkook exclaimed, and both he and Taehyung erupted into laughter. Jimin just chuckled knowingly; after all, he was the one who had gifted you the damn thing. You used the vibrator to get your mind off Yoongi, so, yes, you had your fair share of fun with it.

Yoongi kept his eyes on the road, but a subtle smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He found the subject slightly amusing, and he couldn’t help but steal occasional glances at you. 

He enjoyed seeing your cheeks flush with embarrassment and the way you pouted in response to the teasing banter. 

“Can we talk about something else, please?” you say in a sour voice, slightly irritated by the subject.

Jimin, ever the peacemaker, quickly chimes in, “Sure thing! Let’s talk about our plans for Changwon. Any must-see places or activities?”

As you arrive at your next destination in Changwon, a picturesque camping spot by the ocean, the anticipation of setting up camp fills the air. The soothing sound of waves crashing nearby adds to the tranquil atmosphere.

While you and the others begin unpacking and setting up the campsite, you notice Taehyung approaching Jungkook and Jimin with a hopeful expression. He speaks up, his tone almost pleading, “Guys, can we change the sleeping arrangement again?”

Jimin chuckles, clearly aware of Taehyung’s motives. 

Jungkook, always up for adventure, flashes a mischievous smile and nods in agreement. “Why not? I haven’t tried sleeping in the van yet. Let’s switch it up,” he declares, promptly gathering his belongings and tossing them into the van.

For a fleeting moment, curiosity nags at the back of your mind, making you wonder why Taehyung suddenly wants to change the sleeping arrangements. 

His request is not entirely unexpected, given his penchant for mixing things up, but there’s a subtle curiosity tugging at your thoughts. You steal a brief glance at Taehyung, who’s now helping Jungkook load his things into the van, a sly smile playing on his lips. 

You’ve known Taehyung long enough to recognize that look, but you decide not to dwell too long on it. 

The sun hangs low in the afternoon sky, casting a warm, golden hue over your group. With appetites awakened by the salty sea breeze, you and your friends unanimously agree to visit the bustling local fish market. 

As you step into the lively marketplace, the air is filled with the pungent scent of freshly caught seafood mingling with the excited chatter of vendors and shoppers. The vibrant array of colorful stalls and the sounds of fishmongers calling out their catches surround you. You can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and camaraderie as you navigate the maze of stalls, each of your friends pointing out their seafood preferences. The lively banter, laughter, and occasional friendly debates about the perfect catch for dinner add to the lively atmosphere. 

With every step, the rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and shared excitement draws you all closer, making the simple act of buying fish for dinner a memorable and heartwarming experience.

As the sun begins to set, casting a warm, amber glow across the campsite, the enticing aroma of sizzling fish fills the air. Yoongi and Taehyung, the resident culinary experts of your group, work their magic over the crackling campfire. 

The flames dance and cast playful shadows as they flip and season the fish, their laughter and easy camaraderie creating an enchanting atmosphere. Meanwhile, you, Jimin, and Jungkook find yourselves lounging comfortably by the campfire’s side, the fire’s soft crackle a soothing backdrop to your conversation. 

The twilight sky above is painted with hues of orange and pink, and the gentle sea breeze rustles the leaves in the nearby trees.

Amidst the cozy ambiance, Jungkook’s voice is infused with excitement as he proposes a plan for tomorrow. His eyes light up as he describes the local Cherry Blossom festival, where the trees are said to burst into a breathtaking display of pink and white blooms. 

You can’t help but be captivated by his enthusiasm, and a shared sense of anticipation washes over your group. You eagerly agree to his suggestion, imagining the serene beauty of cherry blossoms. 

To cap off the evening, you indulge in the mouthwatering dinner masterfully crafted by Yoongi and Taehyung, savoring every bite of the freshly grilled fish. As the satisfying flavors linger on your palate, you bid your friends goodnight and retire to your sleeping quarters, the day’s adventures and the promise of tomorrow’s cherry blossoms still echoing in your mind.

The following morning, you’re roused from slumber by the soothing symphony of splashing water and the mirthful echoes of laughter. 

Intrigued, you venture outside, where you discover Jungkook and Taehyung diligently tending to the laundry. To your chagrin, they are playfully inspecting your underwear, their mischievous giggles dancing through the air. 

A crimson blush creeps across your cheeks as you grapple with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement.

“Why are you washing my underwear?” In response, they simply dissolve into more laughter, their mischievous whistles serenading your frustration as they hang one of your panties up to dry.

“Why would you wear something delicate like this while camping, of all things? Don’t you want to be more comfortable?" His bewilderment adds a layer of humor to the situation, making you reconsider your choice of undergarments amidst the camping adventure.

Jimin and Yoongi exchange glances, their eyes filled with amusement as they observe the unfolding scene.

“I am perfectly comfortable in my lacy underwear, thank you very much!” you declare defiantly, snatching the rest of your freshly washed undergarments from Taehyung and Jungkook. 

With an air of determination, you hang them up yourself, your actions echoing your unapologetic confidence.

Jungkook snickers mischievously, casting a knowing glance at Yoongi.

“Don’t tell me you’re wearing those to seduce someone,” he teases, clearly trying to bait you. 

With a sly grin, he stirs the pot, well aware of your feelings for Yoongi. It’s a playful jab aimed at riling you up, and he’s not holding back. 

“No,” you reply with unwavering confidence, “I’m wearing them for me.” Your response carries a hint of defiance, a subtle assertion that your choices are entirely your own, not influenced by anyone else’s expectations or opinions.

Jimin playfully teases, “Aw, it must be tough for ___ and Yoongi, having to endure three long months without any... relief.” 

He shoots a mischievous glance at Yoongi, waiting to see his reaction. The atmosphere in the group is charged with a mixture of humor and anticipation, and all eyes are on Yoongi to gauge his response.

With a sense of frustration and embarrassment boiling inside you, you lash out, "Why is everything always about sex? It’s like this trip has turned you all into a bunch of horny teenagers!” Your words carry a mix of exasperation and humor, and your outburst breaks the tension, causing your friends to burst into laughter.

Jungkook chimes in with a playful glint in his eye, “Well, they could always help each other out,” accompanied by a suggestive wink. 

Your face flushes crimson, and you wish you could just disappear into the ground. 

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch what might be a subtle blush on Yoongi’s cheeks, but your own embarrassment consumes your attention too fully to be certain.

Taehyung shrugs nonchalantly. “We’re just being guys, you know? It happens. Aren’t you feeling a bit... horny too?” he teases, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips.

You quickly change the subject, determined to put an end to the awkward conversation. “I think it’s time to head to the Cherry Blossom festival,” you suggest, a glimmer of excitement in your eyes. 

“Let’s not waste any more time. Come on, everyone,” Yoongi encourages, his voice filled with enthusiasm as he rallies the group.

As you step into the Cherry Blossom festival, a breathtaking sea of pink engulfs your senses. The delicate petals of the cherry blossoms flutter in the gentle breeze, creating a mesmerizing pink canopy that feels like something out of a dream. The air is filled with a faint, sweet fragrance that adds to the enchantment of the moment. 

The beauty of the scene is almost overwhelming, and you can’t help but feel a deep sense of appreciation for nature’s artistry. The soft, rosy hues of the blossoms against the clear blue sky create a picture-perfect backdrop that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale.

Your group is equally captivated, and you decide to capture this magical day in photographs. First, you all gather for a group photo, with the cherry blossoms as your backdrop. The smiles on your faces reflect the joy and wonder you feel at being surrounded by such natural beauty. Then, you take turns photographing each other amidst the blossoms. You frame shots that showcase the individuality and personality of each person, making sure to include the vibrant pink blossoms as a stunning backdrop. 

The laughter and camaraderie among your friends make the experience even more memorable. These photographs will serve as cherished mementos of a day filled with beauty and friendship, a reminder of the remarkable moments you’ve shared in the midst of nature’s splendor.

After a day filled with the enchantment of cherry blossoms and the joy of friendship, you all decide to wind down with a delightful meal at a local restaurant. 

The day’s adventures have left you with a heartwarming sense of contentment. As you step into the cozy local restaurant, the aroma of delectable dishes fills the air, teasing your senses and making your stomach rumble with anticipation. 

The ambiance is inviting, with warm lighting and the comforting hum of chatter from other diners.

You find a table together, and the atmosphere is instantly filled with laughter and stories of the day’s highlights. The restaurant’s menu offers a tantalizing array of local specialties, and you all eagerly explore the culinary delights on offer. 

The dishes that arrive at your table are a symphony of flavors, each one a testament to the region’s culinary prowess. You savor every bite, the taste of the food mingling with the happiness of being surrounded by your best friends.

As the meal draws to a close, you can’t help but think that this day, with its cherry blossoms and heartwarming dinner, has been nothing short of magical. The anticipation of a restful night’s sleep settles in, but you know that the memories of this day will stay with you for a lifetime.

With satisfied stomachs and hearts full of laughter, you make your way back to the campsite. 

The evening sky is painted with hues of deep orange and soft purple as the sun bids adieu for the day. As you arrive, a sense of tranquility washes over you, and you realize that the night is just beginning to reveal its charms. 

Eager to extend the enchantment of the day, you and your friends decide to kindle a campfire. The crackling flames dance to their own melody, casting flickering shadows that playfully chase one another across the forest floor. The warmth of the fire draws you in, its glow reflecting the camaraderie you all share.

A cooler stocked with chilled beers stands nearby, beckoning you to unwind and continue the festivities. You reach for a bottle, the condensation cool against your hand, and the first sip is like a soothing sigh that complements the serenity of the campfire. 

As you sit around the fire, stories and anecdotes flow like the gentle babble of a nearby stream. The night air is crisp, and the symphony of chirping crickets provides the perfect background score to your laughter and conversations.

The stars above twinkle brightly, as if they too are part of your circle, and you can’t help but feel a profound sense of contentment. The world may be vast and full of uncertainties, but in this moment, by the campfire’s warm embrace, you are exactly where you’re meant to be.

Jungkook, with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, turns to Jimin and Taehyung, his voice carrying an unspoken plea. “Do any of you want to switch sleeping places with me?” he asks, his tone hopeful. 

Taehyung chuckles, his laughter carrying a mysterious undertone that leaves you intrigued, “No thank you”. 

Jimin, on the other hand, remains silent, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond the fire’s glow.

A sense of intrigue swirls within the circle as you begin to sense that there’s more to this situation than meets the eye. 

You steal a glance at Yoongi, hoping for some clue, but his stoic expression gives nothing away. In the midst of this silent exchange, you can’t help but feel like an outsider, yearning to unravel the enigma that seems to bind your friends together.

As you watch the flickering flames, you’re left with an undeniable curiosity, a desire to understand what lies beneath the surface of your friends’ unspoken words.

Your voice carries a hint of curiosity and a playful pout as you question Jungkook’s sudden desire to switch sleeping arrangements. With a furrowed brow, you inquire, “Why don’t you want to sleep in the van anymore, Kookie? It’s only been one day.” 

Your genuine wonderment laces your words, as you genuinely try to fathom why he would prefer the tent over the cozy confines of the van, which had offered you all a sense of comfort and security.

The firelight dances in your eyes as you lock gazes with Jungkook, your expression reflecting a mix of amusement and intrigue. It’s not just about the logistics of sleeping arrangements; it’s about understanding the underlying reasons and motivations of your friends. 

The campfire’s crackling cadence seems to mirror the anticipation in the air as you wait for Jungkook’s response, eager to unravel the mystery behind his choice.

Silence envelops the group as they exchange subtle glances, each seemingly holding a piece of a hidden puzzle. 

Frustration simmers beneath the surface, and you can’t help but let it rise to the forefront. With a surge of emotion, you break the silence, your voice carrying an edge of exasperation, “What?” 

The word resonates with a mix of curiosity and impatience, urging your friends to divulge the secret they seem to be guarding. Your declaration hangs in the air, a challenge for them to finally share what’s on their minds.

Yoongi and Jimin exchange resigned glances, their silence hinting at an unspoken truth. You venture a guess, your voice carrying a tinge of hurt, “Is it because I snore?” 

The words hang heavy in the air, revealing your vulnerability. Jungkook hesitates for a moment, then starts to confirm your suspicion, “No, well, yes, you do snore.” 

His confession is met with icy glares from both Yoongi and Jimin, who seem eager to shield you from any embarrassment.

Frustration creeps into your voice as you press for answers, demanding, “What is it then?” 

Your determination to uncover the truth adds an air of suspense to the conversation.

Suddenly, Taehyung’s voice shatters the tranquility of the evening, his exclamation sharp and forceful, like a thunderclap. 

“God, woman! You fucking moan in your sleep!” 

He punctuates his words with wild, flailing gestures, as if attempting to physically expel the shocking revelation from the air. 

The sheer unexpectedness of his outburst left you gaping, your mouth forming a perfect ’O’ of astonishment. Dumbfounded and utterly caught off guard, you felt a blazing rush of embarrassment coursing through your veins, your body tingling with warmth, and your face flushed a deep crimson. 

Overwhelmed by the situation, you instinctively cover your mouth with a trembling hand, as though to shield yourself from the embarrassment that threatens to consume you. 

With furtive glances, you scanned the faces of the men in your group, only to find fleeting eyes, a collective attempt to evade the discomfort that now hung heavily in the air. It was as though an unspoken agreement had fallen over the group, tacitly declaring that this subject was not one they wanted to delve into any further. 

The silence that follows is thick and palpable, saturated with a shared sense of unease, leaving everyone grappling with the intimate and unexpected revelation.

“I moan in my sleep?” you stammer, your voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and mortification. 

Your gaze darts anxiously around the circle of your closest friends, desperately seeking any sign that this confession was nothing more than a cruel joke or a misunderstanding. 

The weight of your realization bore down on you like a ton of bricks, and you couldn’t help but wonder if every single one of them had been privy to your most private and vulnerable moments. The sheer embarrassment of the situation threatens to swallow you whole, and you wish the ground would open up and swallow you.

“Sometimes you sound like something that came straight out of a porno,” Jimin chimed in casually, his tone laced with playful teasing. 

Your eyes widened in shock, and your face flushed an even deeper shade of crimson. 

The words hit you like a freight train, and you could hardly believe he had just said that out loud. 

Utterly mortified, you bury your burning face in your hands, overwhelmed by the sheer embarrassment of the moment. This was undoubtedly one of the most awkward and cringe-worthy situations you’d ever found yourself in.

“I don’t understand how Yoongi hyung manages to sleep in that van with you,” Taehyung chimed in, a hint of laughter in his voice but genuine curiosity shining through. 

You let out a groan of embarrassment, your face still buried in your hands, when you suddenly feel the reassuring touch of Yoongi’s hand on your shoulder. 

“It’s really not that bad, honestly,” he said, his voice calm and comforting. The warmth of his hand and the support in his words easing some of your mortification, but you couldn’t help but wish the ground would swallow you whole still.

“But it is! Apparently, I sound like I’m having sex while I’m sleeping, and you’ve all heard it!” 

You hiss in frustration, a jumble of emotions swirling within you—sadness, anger, and utter embarrassment. Yoongi’s hand continues to rub your shoulder in soothing circles, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the storm of your embarrassment and frustration.

As you feel Yoongi’s reassuring hands on your shoulder, you gradually begin to relax. His comforting presence helps ease the embarrassment that has overwhelmed you. 

“Don’t let it bother you,” Yoongi remarks casually, his shrug implying that to him, they were just harmless noises. It was clear that the situation didn’t seem to faze him at all, unlike the others.

Jungkook couldn’t contain his laughter as he continued, “At first, I thought she was masturbating! I was so confused!” 

The others, except Yoongi, joined in, their chuckles filling the air. 

You couldn’t help but feel a mix of exasperation and amusement at their teasing, realizing that they were trying to lighten the mood after the initial embarrassment. Frustration bubbling inside you, you finally speak up, “If you all have a problem with it, I think you should sleep in the tent!”

Your voice carries a hint of anger, but Jimin, ever the peacemaker, chuckles softly and replies, “I really don’t mind,” as he gives an indifferent shrug.

“I don’t have a problem either,” Yoongi says nonchalantly, his words sinking in like a soothing balm. 

“I think your noises are sorta cute.” 

Your face flushes an even deeper shade of red, and your mind races with questions. 

What does he mean by ‘cute’? 

The ambiguity leaves you intrigued and flustered all at once.

“Alright, then. I’ll sleep in the van with Yoongi and ___, and Jungkook and Taehyung, please be mature about this,” Jimin says firmly, leveling a stern gaze at them, daring them to challenge his decision.

As the night envelops the campsite, you lay there with a heavy and embarrassing heart.

Restlessly, you toss and turn in your bed, the weight of the day’s revelations making it impossible to find solace in sleep. The whispers of embarrassment and insecurity haunt your restless mind, leaving you in a state of sleepless torment.

The following day, you embark on a mission into town, a touch of determination in your stride. Your goal? To purchase earplugs for each of your friends, a thoughtful gesture to spare them from the nightly symphony of your sounds. 

As you select the earplugs, you can’t help but wonder if this small act of consideration will help you regain some of your lost dignity and comfort in the company of your friends.

As you stroll through the Art Village later, you can’t help but marvel at the kaleidoscope of colors that surround you. Vibrant buildings painted in every hue imaginable line the streets, creating a whimsical and picturesque backdrop for your day. 

Taehyung, with his keen eye for photography, eagerly captures the essence of the village, ensuring that your memories are forever preserved in the form of vivid snapshots. You all pose for pictures together, your smiles reflecting the joy of this shared experience.

At Taehyung’s request, you also venture into the Art Museum, where you’re greeted by a world of creativity and imagination. Each piece of art tells a unique story, and you find yourself drawn into the intricate details and vibrant colors that bring the canvases to life. 

On the following day, your group decides to split up, each sub-group pursuing their unique interests. 

Taehyung, Jimin, and Jungkook are eager to explore the enchanting world of cinema by visiting an open film set. Their faces light up with excitement as they step onto the hallowed ground where movie magic comes to life. The intricate set pieces and behind-the-scenes glimpses of filmmaking inspire awe and ignite their creative spirits.

Meanwhile, you and Yoongi opt for a more serene and leisurely pace, immersing yourselves in the tranquil beauty of nature. 

Your day begins at a pristine lake, where the waters glisten under the gentle caress of the sun. Surrounded by the calming embrace of nature, you both take in the serenity of the scene, finding solace in the rippling reflections on the water’s surface.

From there, you venture to the Junam Reservoir, a place where time seems to stand still. 

Yoongi, ever the observer, finds solace in watching the graceful dance of birds soaring through the endless azure sky. The harmony between Yoongi and the natural world around him is truly a sight to behold, a testament to the profound beauty of simplicity and tranquility.

As you sit by the reservoir, you can’t help but be captivated by the elegance of the moment. It’s an image of nature’s artistry, with Yoongi at its center, offering a different kind of beauty—one that transcends words and resonates deep within your soul. 

You don’t know which is more beautiful, the sight of the birds or Yoongi himself.

Upon your return to the campsite, a shared sense of contentment and camaraderie envelops your group. 

The day’s adventures have left you all feeling rejuvenated, the bonds of friendship growing stronger with every moment spent together. As you gather around the campfire, the crackling flames casting dancing shadows on your faces, you engage in lively conversation about your respective experiences.

With the warmth of the fire as a backdrop, you collectively decide that tomorrow is the perfect time to embark on a new adventure. The anticipation of exploring the next city on your journey sparks excitement in each of you. Ideas and plans for what to see and do in the upcoming destination fill the air, igniting a shared sense of wanderlust.

In this moment, your friendcation feels like a beautiful tapestry, woven from the threads of laughter, adventure, and the unbreakable bonds that connect you all. 

The promise of new experiences and the thrill of discovery infuses your discussions with a sense of purpose and anticipation, making the decision to move on to the next city a unanimous and exciting one.

As you prepare dinner together, the aroma of a delicious meal fills the air, a testament to the harmony and teamwork that define your journey. The campfire becomes the heart of your campsite, where stories are shared, laughter rings out, and dreams of the adventures to come light up your eyes. 

Under the gentle morning sun, its warm rays casting a golden glow on your group, you gather around Holly, ready to embark on the next leg of your journey. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation and excitement, each of you fueled by the promise of new experiences waiting in Jinju.

As you load up the van, it becomes a symbolic vessel of your shared adventure, carrying not only your belongings but also the countless memories you’ve created so far. 

The engine roars to life, and you feel a rush of exhilaration as you hit the road once more, the open road stretching out before you like an invitation to the unknown. The drive to Jinju is filled with moments of camaraderie and shared laughter, as Holly becomes a haven of conversation and connection. 

You discuss the sights you’re eager to see in the new city, swapping stories of past travels and adventures along the way. 

The drive to your next destination is a breeze, guided by Yoongi’s skilled hand at the wheel. With the precision of a seasoned traveler, he navigates the roads and effortlessly leads you to a picturesque campground nestled in the heart of Jinju’s natural beauty. 

As you arrive at the campground, a sense of familiarity washes over you. Setting up camp has become second nature during this journey, a well-practiced routine that you and your friends execute with graceful efficiency. In no time, tents are pitched, the campfire crackles to life, and Holly is neatly parked, blending seamlessly into the tranquil surroundings. 

The scent of nature fills the air, intermingling with the anticipation of the adventures yet to come. Each time you assemble your temporary home, it’s as if you’re building a sanctuary of shared memories, a place where laughter, stories, and heartfelt moments come to life. The campground is your canvas, and together you paint it with the vibrant hues of friendship and camaraderie.

With the sun’s rays gently warming your faces, you embark on a leisurely walk into the heart of Jinju. The charming town greets you with open arms, its streets bustling with life and the tantalizing aroma of breakfast wafting from cozy cafes. 

Your destination isn’t just a place to satisfy your hunger but a chance to immerse yourselves in the local culture. As you step into one of the quaint cafes, the air is filled with the comforting scent of freshly brewed coffee and the delightful aroma of pastries. The clinking of cups and the hum of conversations form a symphony that welcomes you into this charming establishment. 

You take a seat, savoring each sip of your morning brew and indulging in a hearty breakfast, filling not just your stomachs but also your hearts with contentment.

Afterward, the excitement of the day ahead lures you to the roller skating rink, a place where fun and adventure await. 

As you arrive at the roller skating rink, the anticipation of trying something entirely new courses through your veins. With each of you lacing up a pair of skates, the world transforms into a playground of possibilities. 

The skates clasp onto your feet, a curious blend of excitement and nervousness bubbling within.

With wobbly legs and unsteady steps, you gingerly take your first strides onto the smooth rink. 

The sensation of gliding, the wheels beneath your feet, is a revelation, and the laughter is infectious. 

You’re no seasoned skater, but that only adds to the thrill of the experience. As you make your initial, somewhat unsteady strides on the roller rink, Jungkook’s effortless grace on skates stands out like a beacon of skill. He glides around the rink with the finesse of a seasoned skater, effortlessly twirling and weaving, as though he was born with wheels on his feet.

His laughter harmonizes with the rhythmic sound of his skates cutting through the smooth surface.

Your friends, too, navigate the rink with varying degrees of grace, and the atmosphere is a delightful mix of cheers and friendly teasing. A mischievous grin tugs at Jungkook’s lips as he watches your tentative movements. 

“She’s like Bambi on ice!” he exclaims, punctuating his words with a light-hearted laugh. 

His taunting, though playful, only fuels your determination to master the art of roller skating. Despite it being his first time on skates, Jungkook’s innate talent shines through. His adaptability to new challenges is nothing short of infuriating, yet you can’t help but admire his ability to conquer new terrain effortlessly.

As you teeter on your skates, struggling to maintain your balance, the vast expanse of the roller rink seems like an insurmountable challenge. 

Each step feels precarious, and you clutch onto the side of the rink, desperately seeking stability. Your friends, caught up in their own laughter and playful antics, continue to circle the rink with ease, their mirth echoing in the air. 

Amidst your unsteady attempts, Yoongi’s attentive gaze doesn’t go unnoticed. 

He skates gracefully toward you, a silent guardian amidst the joyful chaos. His dark eyes, filled with a blend of concern and determination, meet yours as he approaches.

Without a word, Yoongi extends his hand, a lifeline amidst the rolling chaos. His fingers, calloused from his mechanic’s work yet gentle in their touch, brush against your palm as you accept his offer. The warmth of his grip sends a reassuring current through you, steadying your wobbly stance.

“Watch closely,” Yoongi’s voice resonates with a blend of confidence and warmth, inviting you to observe his movements with undivided attention. His skates seem to effortlessly glide across the rink, a testament to his innate grace and the mastery he holds over the roller skates. 

With each fluid motion, he propels himself forward and then effortlessly returns to your side, bridging the gap between your uncertainties and his expertise.

As he demonstrates the art of skating, his actions become a mesmerizing performance, leaving no room for doubt that he’s a master of this craft. 

His feet create a delicate dance with the smooth surface of the rink, a ballet of balance and control. With precision, he showcases the subtle nuances of turning and gliding, his movements both graceful and precise. 

But what truly sets Yoongi apart is his unwavering patience. 

As he returns to your side, he offers a reassuring smile, his dark eyes filled with encouragement. “Now, it’s your turn,” he says, his voice a gentle reminder that you’re not alone in this endeavor.

With meticulous care, he guides you through the basics of roller skating while holding your hand. He shows you how to shift your weight, find your center of gravity, and maintain balance. 

Each step is accompanied by his steady guidance, making the process feel less daunting and more like a shared adventure. When it’s time to learn how to break, Yoongi’s guidance is equally invaluable. 

He demonstrates the technique, emphasizing control and finesse. As he patiently assists you in mastering this essential skill, his presence becomes your anchor, turning uncertainty into a sense of accomplishment.

With every lap, you grow more confident, finding your rhythm in the mesmerizing dance of wheels and floor. The joy of discovering a new skill, even if it involves a fair share of stumbles, fills the air with an electrifying energy.

“I think I can try by myself,” you declare, a newfound determination glinting in your eyes as you release Yoongi’s hand. With a cautious yet adventurous spirit, you set out on your own, your heart racing with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

As you take those initial strides, the rink beneath you seems to come alive. The sensation of movement, the cool breeze brushing against your cheeks, and the rhythmic sound of your skates against the smooth surface all merge into a thrilling symphony of sensations. 

Your first solo swirl might be a modest one, but it feels like a monumental achievement.

A triumphant smile creeps across your face, a testament to your burgeoning confidence. The laughter and cheers of your friends fade into the background as you revel in this small victory, savoring the feeling of independence and accomplishment. 

Each subsequent swirl becomes smoother, your body adapting to the unfamiliar motion with every passing second.

Your heart swells with pride as you skate around the rink, each movement carrying a newfound sense of freedom and exhilaration. 

The fear and hesitation that once held you back have given way to a sense of empowerment and liberation. And as you continue to skate, you steal a quick glance at Yoongi. His face bears a mixture of admiration and encouragement, mirroring the pride that surges within you. 

“That’s it, you’re a natural,” Yoongi smiles warmly, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration. 

You can’t help but playfully roll your eyes at his comment, well aware that your roller skating skills are far from what most people would consider ‘natural’. But in this moment, you’ll gladly accept his compliment, not for the accuracy of the statement, but for the warmth and encouragement it carries.

The other guys burst into applause, their cheers echoing throughout the roller skating rink. Their skates create a playful symphony of clicks and clacks as they circle around you, celebrating your progress while throwing in a few teasing comments here and there.

Jungkook can’t resist a playful jab, calling out, “Look at her go! Our very own roller skating superstar.” 

He effortlessly glides past, performing a twirl that leaves you in awe of his agility. Taehyung adds to the fun, mimicking your initial wobbles with exaggerated gestures, causing everyone to burst into laughter. “Don’t worry, we’ve all been there,” he reassures you with a wink, making you feel less alone in your roller skating journey.

Jimin joins in, executing a series of quick spins before skating backward in a mockingly dramatic fashion. “You’re doing great, ___! Just remember, it’s all about the style,” he advises with a grin.

The playful banter and camaraderie among your friends make this roller skating adventure even more memorable. Despite the initial challenges, you can’t help but smile and laugh along with them, grateful for the support and lightheartedness that defines your friendship.

You dedicate several joyful hours to roller skating, ensuring to take short breaks in between to catch your breath and share a few light-hearted moments with your friends. 

Your own roller skating skills may still be a work in progress, but the smiles and laughter you share with Yoongi, Jimin, Jungkook, and Taehyung more than make up for any wobbles or missteps. They skate with effortless grace and confidence, performing dazzling moves that leave you in awe.

Jimin effortlessly glides past you, executing intricate spins and turns, as if he’s been roller skating all his life. His finesse on wheels is nothing short of impressive, and he even offers a few tips to help you improve your technique.

Jungkook showcases his agility, weaving in and out of the group with remarkable speed. His daring tricks and maneuvers earn cheers and applause from everyone around, including you.

Taehyung’s fluidity on roller skates is a sight to behold, and he effortlessly combines style and grace. His movements seem almost dance-like, adding an artistic touch to the experience.

After your roller skating adventure, you return to your campsite and decide to cap off the day with a cozy campfire by the van. 

The warm crackling flames cast dancing shadows across your group, creating an intimate and inviting atmosphere. 

Sitting in a circle, you all gather around the fire, sharing stories and laughter as you prepare and enjoy a delicious dinner together. The aroma of the food mixes with the scent of the burning wood, creating a mouthwatering ambiance that heightens your senses.

With full stomachs and hearts warmed by the camaraderie, you reach for some cold beers, their refreshing taste a perfect complement to the flickering firelight. 

The clinking of bottles and jovial chatter fill the air, adding to the sense of togetherness that defines your friendcation.

Under the star-studded night sky, you share tales of your adventures, reminisce about funny moments, and dream about the destinations yet to be explored. The campfire becomes a hub of storytelling, where the bonds of friendship grow even stronger.

As the night wears on and the fire’s embers begin to fade, you all gradually retire to your sleeping arrangements, carrying with you the warmth of the campfire and the memories of yet another unforgettable day on your journey together.

Your anticipation builds as you embark on the scenic journey towards a picturesque campground nestled near the tranquil Pyeongsari Park, its beauty whispered by the stories of those who have ventured here before. 

The road weaves through lush landscapes, revealing glimpses of nature’s grandeur as you draw nearer to your destination. The air is alive with the melodies of birdsong, and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze is your soundtrack. The promise of the crystal-clear lake, its waters mirroring the azure sky, fills you with a sense of serenity and excitement.

The tranquil hum of the van’s engine fills the air as you journey towards the campground. The serene surroundings lull you into a state of peaceful contemplation, the anticipation of a day filled with outdoor adventures bubbling beneath the surface.

Then, suddenly, the tranquility is shattered as Holly encounters an unexpected pothole. 

Your heart leaps into your throat, and instinctively, you reach out for the handles, gripping them tightly for balance. 

The van shudders and dips, sending a jolt of adrenaline through your veins.

Beside you, Yoongi emits a low groan of frustration, his skilled hands deftly maneuvering the van to the side of the road. 

It’s a testament to his expertise as a driver that he’s able to bring the vehicle under control with such ease, his calm demeanor a reassuring presence in the midst of the unexpected turbulence. As the van comes to a halt by the roadside, you exchange glances with your friends, a mixture of relief and curiosity in their eyes. 

“What just happened?” 

You and the group in the back seat collectively exclaim, your voices tinged with a mixture of fear and bewilderment, the unexpected jolt still reverberating through your bodies.

“Damn it. Blew a tire,” Yoongi curses, his voice tinged with irritation. He pounds the steering wheel in frustration, but then exhales deeply, regaining his composure in an instant.

“Are you kidding me?” Taehyung exclaims nervously from the back, his voice tinged with anxiety.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere,” Jungkook adds, his gaze fixed on the seemingly endless stretch of road outside the window.

“Relax,” Yoongi says, his voice calm as he tries to reassure everyone. “I know a garage not far from here,” he adds, reaching for his phone and dialing a number (thankfully, there’s service here).

While Yoongi is on the phone, a heavy silence blankets the van. All of you sit in anticipation, allowing him the space to make the necessary arrangements. His voice carries a tone of determination as he orders a new tire, arranging for it to be delivered to your remote location in the middle of nowhere.

“They’ll be here in about an hour or so,” Yoongi informs your group, nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. “Maybe we should get out and stretch our legs?” he suggests, aware that it’s not ideal to remain cooped up in the car while it’s parked on the side of the road. His proposal breaks the tension that had settled in the van.

As you all step out of the van, the minutes seem to drag on endlessly. 

You wander around the parked van, stretching your legs and trying to make the most of the situation. While you and your friends wait anxiously for the new tire to arrive, Yoongi takes charge, using a jack to lift the van in the back. 

With practiced ease, he untightens the bolts and removes the flat tire, expertly preparing for the replacement. The sense of anticipation lingers in the air as you watch him, all of you eager to hit the road again.

At long last, a car comes into view and pulls up beside your stranded van. 

Two men step out, and there’s a warm exchange of greetings between them and Yoongi. 

You can’t help but wonder if there’s some history between them, perhaps a mechanic’s camaraderie. The sight of the new tire being wheeled out and handed over to Yoongi fills you with a sense of relief and anticipation, knowing that you’ll soon be back on the road. 

It’s a brief moment of connection with these strangers who’ve come to your rescue, and you can’t help but appreciate their help in this unexpected predicament.

With the flat tire loaded into their car, the two helpful strangers bid their farewells and drive off, leaving your group standing there on the side of the road. You watch their car disappear into the distance, grateful for their assistance, and ready to continue your adventure with a renewed sense of camaraderie among your friends.

As you stand there, watching Yoongi work with swift and precise movements, your attention is drawn to the focused determination in his eyes. 

Beads of sweat glisten on his forehead under the sun’s warm embrace, and his muscles flex subtly as he tightens the bolts with the torque wrench. It’s as if you’re witnessing a master at his craft, his competence both captivating and alluring. 

Unbeknownst to him, your thoughts wander into forbidden territory. You find yourself admiring his strong hands and the way he effortlessly handles the task at hand. It’s a moment of vulnerability, a secret desire that surfaces as you imagine those hands on you, tracing patterns of warmth and comfort. 

You quickly snap yourself out of the daydream, cheeks flushing with embarrassment, and focus on the sight of the new tire perfectly in place. 

But deep down, a lingering sense of longing remains.

“All done.” 

Yoongi’s voice snaps you out of your momentary reverie, and you quickly refocus on the task at hand. The sound of the van gently settling back onto the ground punctuates his announcement. It’s as if the world around you has synchronized with his words, reminding you of the reality you share with your friends.

As you shift your gaze from Yoongi’s work to the now-complete task, a sense of admiration washes over you. 

You appreciate not just his mechanical prowess but also the way he effortlessly handles life’s challenges. His competence and unwavering dedication have always been a part of what draws you to him. 

With the van ready to roll again, you push aside your lingering thoughts and offer a genuine smile, grateful for Yoongi’s quick and effective resolution to the situation. 

The collective sighs of relief fill the air, almost like a harmonious symphony of gratitude and anticipation. Each member of your group, relieved to be back on the road and one step closer to your destination. 

As you all settle back into the van, there’s a renewed sense of camaraderie and adventure in the air. The shared experience of overcoming an unexpected obstacle has brought your group closer together, reinforcing the bonds of friendship that have been growing stronger with every passing day of your friendcation.

With the van’s engine revving back to life, you exchange smiles and knowing glances with your friends, a silent acknowledgment of the shared memories being created on this unforgettable journey. 

As the wheels start turning once more, you can’t help but wonder what other surprises and adventures await you on the road ahead.

As you approach the campground, the earthy scents of the surrounding woods welcome you, and you catch sight of a meandering river reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. The campground, bathed in the warm, fading light, beckons you like a hidden oasis.

As the sun dips below the horizon, you swiftly pitch the tent, arrange your campfire, and prepare a delightful dinner under the twilight sky. Savoring your meal, you all retire to your sleeping arrangements for the night.

With the break of dawn, a humble breakfast fuels your day, followed by a refreshing lake-side shower. Soon, you’re on your way to Jirisan National Park, immersing yourselves in its splendor, indulging in prepared snacks amid nature’s wonders. 

As the day wears on, you venture towards the majestic Chiri-san mountain. With afternoon rays painting the sky, you secure a campsite, anticipation in the air. Tomorrow promises a thrilling ascent to the mountain’s zenith, igniting excitement among your group.

Dawn breaks, and you greet the day with renewed vigor, eager to conquer the breathtaking mountain ahead. 

Your backpacks brim with sustenance for the ascent, and you slip into sturdy hiking gear, lacing up your trusty boots. The anticipation of reaching the summit fuels your determination.

As the group readies themselves, you embark on your mountain adventure. Side by side with Jungkook leading the way, your enthusiasm propels you forward. Behind you, Jimin, Taehyung, and Yoongi follow, forming a close-knit trail of camaraderie and anticipation.

The narrow trail winds its way through the rugged terrain, offering just enough space for two or three people to stride alongside each other.

As you trek through the rocky trail, a comfortable silence envelops your group. 

The crunch of rocks and the gentle rustling of grass provide a soothing soundtrack to your hike. Suddenly, Jungkook glances over his shoulder, his eyes dancing with mischief as he turns to you.

“You know,” he says, his voice a conspiratorial whisper, “Yoongi hyung is totally checking out your ass.” 

His mischievous smirk grows, and a subtle laugh escapes his lips, adding a playful undertone to his observation. 

A warm blush creeps up your cheeks, a mixture of embarrassment and amusement dancing across your face. The sight of Jungkook’s laughter only deepens the hue of your blush, and the shared moment of teasing adds a playful, lighthearted energy to the hike.

“What’s so funny up there?” Taehyung’s voice breaks the silence from behind, and you take a moment to collect yourself before responding, your tone teasing yet good-humored.

“Nothing!” Your voice comes out a bit louder than you intended, and you feel a rush of embarrassment. Avoiding eye contact, you continue walking, hoping to change the subject.

Time seems to blur as you climb, and when the mountaintop finally greets you, exhaustion washes over you like a wave. 

Collapsing onto the ground, you’re struck by an insatiable hunger. Your hands reach for your water bottle, desperate for some relief, and you gulp down the refreshing liquid. 

Your companions do the same, their faces marked by exhaustion and satisfaction. With a grumbling stomach and the scent of adventure in the air, you eagerly unpack your carefully prepared feast. The spread includes delectable Kimbap sandwiches, spicy Gochujang pasta, and tangy Kimchi Bibimmyeon. 

As you all dig into the hearty meal, the camaraderie of the moment and the breathtaking view from the mountain peak enhance the flavors, making every bite a savory delight.

As you all savor the flavors of your mountain-top meal, a sense of serenity washes over the group. Jimin, his eyes reflecting the tranquility of the moment, takes a deep breath and exhales, his voice carrying the weight of relief, “This is really nice. It’s just what I needed to destress.” 

The collective nods of agreement ripple through your group, a silent acknowledgment that this journey has been a balm for all your souls.

“I’m genuinely going to miss this,” Jungkook laments with a playful pout, his enthusiasm almost causing him to inhale his food.

“Yeah, you know what? I think I’ll sleep in the tent tonight with Jungkook and Taehyung, just to make the most of our last days,” Jimin announces, playfully patting Jungkook on the shoulder, which causes him to choke on his food, leading to a fit of coughing.

Taehyung gazes at Jungkook with concern, gently patting his back. “I’m okay,” Jungkook manages to say between his coughs, and Taehyung quickly offers him a sip of water.

As the evening sun casts long shadows, you begin your descent from the mountain top, cherishing the last moments of this breathtaking adventure.

The trail is treacherous, and your feet struggle for purchase. Suddenly, you slip on loose rocks, landing hard on your ass. 

Pain shoots through you, and you let out an involuntary cry. Jimin and Jungkook rush to your side, their concern evident. 

“Are you hurt?” Yoongi’s penetrating gaze scans your body, causing a warm flush to spread across your cheeks.

“I-I’m okay, I think…” you groan through the pain. 

“Fuck, you’re not okay.” Jimin’s face tightens with worry as he runs a hand through his slightly damp hair, contemplating what to do next.

You attempt to stand up, but the pain in your backside intensifies. 

“Shit, my ass hurts,” you groan once more, attempting to massage the discomfort away.

“And DON’T crack any anal jokes right now!” you quip with a voice that’s both pained and playful, fully aware of the absurdity of the situation. 

It must look comical.

Jungkook bursts into uncontrollable laughter, doubling over and clutching his stomach. Taehyung isn’t far behind, struggling to contain his own laughter. Jimin chuckles, rolling his eyes at your remark. Yoongi watches in amazement, wondering how you manage to find humor even in such a situation.

“We’re almost at Holly. Can you manage the rest of the walk?” Jimin asks, concern evident in his eyes as he notices your discomfort.

You shake your head, exhaling a heavy sigh, your pain evident.

“I can carry her,” Jungkook offers, his laughter still lingering in his voice as he steps forward, ready to help despite the humor of the situation.

“No, I’ll do it,” Yoongi insists, his voice soft and reassuring as he steps closer, his touch comforting against your back.

“You don’t have to, Yoon,” you protest with a slight pout as you attempt to rise, but a sharp surge of pain shoots through your spine, causing you to wince and falter.

“You can’t even stand up. I’ll give you a piggyback ride. Come on,” he strides ahead, crouches down, and extends his hand for you to climb onto his back.

You reluctantly climb onto his warm, sturdy back, and sink your weight onto him. 

Wrapping your arms around his neck, you nestle your head into the curve of his neck and rest your chin there. His neck feels soft, and you’re enveloped in the soothing scent of cinnamon and vanilla, likely from his body wash. His long, black hair gently brushes against your cheeks as he carries you down the mountain.

As the rest of the group follows you and Yoongi down, their voices become a distant hum in the background. 

Your mind, however, is consumed by thoughts of Yoongi. His body radiates warmth, and you’re attuned to the rhythmic thud of his heartbeat against your chest pressed to his back. His hands securely cradle you beneath your ass, providing a reassuring and comfortable seat for your descent.

After nearly 45 minutes, you finally reach the van. Jungkook quickly finds a chair and pulls it out for you, and with gentle care, Yoongi lowers you into it. 

You can’t help but groan once more as your sore ass meets the chair’s surface.

Taehyung anxiously glances around at the rest of the group. “Should we take her to see a doctor?” he suggests, concern etched across his face.

You dismiss Taehyung’s suggestion with a grimace of pain. 

“Nah, Tae. I don’t think anything’s broken. It just feels sore, like it’s my muscles that’s hurting,” you explain, wincing as you settle back into the chair.

“Anything you need, just tell us and we’ll get it for you,” Yoongi says, sinking into the chair beside you with a tired sigh, his eyes filled with concern.

“Hey, I’m not that heavy!” you jest, playfully tapping his chest, a hint of flirtation in your voice, which makes Yoongi’s cheeks flush slightly.

“No, but you’re not exactly a feather,” he smirks, his eyes sparkling with humor, and then bursts into laughter, the sound echoing through the serene mountain surroundings.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re calling me fat,” you grump playfully, a mischievous glint in your eye, and then break into laughter. Joking about your body feels comfortable because you’re confident in your own skin.

As you begin to rise, ready to inquire about any leftover food, Yoongi’s hand gently reaches over, resting on your arm, halting your movement. “Sit,” he commands with a firm, yet gentle tone. His intense gaze holds your attention, compelling you to obey and settle back into your seat.

Jimin arrives with a plate of food and a cold beer, presenting them to you with a warm smile.

You eagerly accept, ready to savor the flavors and unwind. Jungkook, ever the thoughtful one, has kindled a campfire, not for warmth on this balmy summer day but to add to the cozy ambiance of your gathering. 

As you recline, indulging in the comfort of your friends’ attentive gestures, you savor the food and beer. Though you’ve only had two beers, their numbing effect gradually eases the discomfort in your aching muscles.

Feeling the weariness settling in, you let out a big yawn and stretch your arms and back. 

“I’m exhausted,” you declare, preparing to retire for the night. “Goodnight, everyone.” With a wave, you rise from your chair and make your way into the van. 

However, before stepping inside, you turn to Yoongi, who’s engrossed in his beer. In a drowsy tone, you ask, “Hey, Yoongi, is it alright if I sleep downstairs? You can take the top bunk then.”

Yoongi merely nods in agreement as you close the van door behind you.

Your eyelids grow heavy, and sleep claims you swiftly. It’s always easy to drift into slumber when the comforting backdrop is the sound of your friends’ voices and laughter.

Sometime after you’ve drifted into slumber, a faint creaking sound rouses you from your sleep. 

You slowly open your eyes to find Yoongi standing there, not far from where you rest. 

“I’m sorry I woke you up,” he murmurs, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. You respond softly, “It’s okay.”

“Are you alright?” he inquires, taking a seat beside you on the bed. His concern is evident in his eyes.

You instinctively move closer to him, craving the comfort of his warmth. “I’m just sore. My butt hurts,” you admit, your voice filled with exhaustion. “I wish I could massage it, maybe it would help,” you add, almost mumbling in your drowsiness.

“I could massage it for you?” 

His offer hangs in the air, sparking a bolt of electricity within you, and you suddenly feel wide awake. 

You’re left speechless, unsure of how to respond to his unexpected proposal. “Yoon, you really don’t have to,” you say with a casual shrug, attempting to downplay your discomfort, even though you secretly acknowledge that a massage would provide much-needed relief. 

It’s just a bit odd, considering he’s your best friend – and someone you have a crush on, no less.

“You mentioned it might help, and honestly, it’s a shame you can’t walk properly just because you fell on your ass. If it were for some other reason, you might even feel proud of it,” he remarks casually. 

You chuckle at his comment, but then it slowly sinks in, and you begin to wonder if he just insinuated what you think he did.

“Can I remove your duvet?” he asks softly, waiting for your consent. When you nod in agreement, he gently pulls the duvet down, letting it rest at your bare feet.

You’re relieved you’re wearing shorts; otherwise, this would be even more embarrassing. 

The nervousness courses through your body like wildfire as you anticipate his touch. When his warm hands finally make contact with your ass cheeks, it feels like a surge of electricity, making your entire body tingle. His fingers tenderly grasp your cheeks, starting with a gentle massage.

You can’t help but acknowledge the soreness, but beneath it all, an overwhelming surge of desire courses through you. The level of intimacy, even with a close friend, feels like uncharted territory.

“Is the pressure alright?” he inquires, his voice weary yet steady, sending shivers down your spine.

You nod, your voice failing you in the presence of his incredible touch. The warmth of his hands sends waves of desire coursing through your body.

You feel the desire building in the pit of your stomach, a raging fire ignited by something as innocent as a massage. 

You blame it on months of a dry spell, but deep down, you know it’s mainly because it’s Yoongi. 

A rush of warmth engulfs your entire body, and you struggle to stifle the moans that threaten to escape your lips. Overwhelmed by a flood of arousal, you can’t help but notice the growing dampness between your thighs, praying silently that Yoongi remains oblivious to your heightened desire.

“Lift your ass for me,” he instructs nonchalantly.

Your voice quivers as you ask, “What did you say?” The air between you two crackles with tension, and you can’t deny the anticipation building within you.

“Lift your ass, then I can massage it better.” 

A shiver runs down your spine at his words, and your heart races as desire courses through your veins. 

You swallow hard, trying to find your voice as you reluctantly obey, lifting your ass hesitantly. 

The anticipation is almost unbearable. Then he gently slaps one of your ass cheeks and a moan escapes your mouth. 

Fuck. 

Your mind races with a mix of desire, fear, and curiosity. You can’t deny the undeniable attraction between you and Yoongi, and in this moment, you’re willing to explore it further.

“Good girl,” the air thickens as Yoongi’s chuckle washes over you, sending shivers down your spine. 

The vulnerability of your position heightens the intensity of the moment. Your cheeks burn as you realize just how intimate, sexual and daring this has become. 

His skilled hands explore your inner thigh, where your ass cheek meets your thigh, sending electrifying waves of pleasure through your body. You struggle to stifle your moans, your hand muffling the sounds of your building arousal. 

Every touch feels like a tantalizing ticklishness and ecstasy, making it harder to maintain control.

His skillful hands continue to work their magic on your sensitive flesh, expertly teasing and tantalizing your senses. Each stroke and caress sends shivers of pleasure down your spine. The contrast between his gentle touch and the underlying hint of roughness drives you wild, igniting a fiery desire within you.

“You like it?”

Your incoherent moans are all the answer he needs, and a mischievous smirk tugs at his lips. 

He continues his skilled ministrations, taking you to new heights of ecstasy with each passing moment. The pleasure coursing through your body is almost overwhelming, and you find yourself losing control.

“I like all those pretty noises too.” 

The sensation of his finger tracing down from the top of your ass to your clothed folds is electrifying, making you quiver with pleasure. His words send a jolt of heat through you, and you struggle to form a coherent response as your desire intensifies. 

“You’re so wet already.” 

Your thoughts become a tangled mess, and your body betrays you, craving his touch even more.

“Fuck!” Desire courses through you, overpowering your inhibitions. 

You can’t hold back any longer, surrendering to the overwhelming sensations. Your exclamation is a raw expression of your primal need for him, and you grind your ass against his hands, seeking more of his intoxicating touch.

“I want you, Yoon,” your voice is a desperate plea, filled with raw desire. You arch your back, shaking your ass teasingly as you offer yourself to him. The intensity of your need is palpable, and your words hang in the air, heavy with longing.

His fingers trace the edges of your shorts, and you shiver in anticipation, “Can I take off your shorts?”

When you let out a breathy ‘yes’ he finally takes action, and it’s swift and electrifying. 

Your shorts slide down, revealing your longing and your vulnerability. The intensity of his gaze, the way his fingers caress your lacy panties, sends a thrill through you. You feel exposed, vulnerable, yet incredibly aroused. 

The delicate fabric barely covering your cheeks makes it possible for him to run his fingers down your exposed cheeks, and you can’t help but moan softly as his touch ignites your desire.

“Damn, you’ve soaked through your panties, babe.” 

His words, combined with the sensation of your panties being pushed aside, make your body quiver with need. The way he calls you ‘babe’ sends a shiver down your spine, and when your glistening arousal is exposed to him, your desire intensifies. 

You can’t help but arch your back and moan louder, craving more of his touch.

“Can I take them off?” 

Your anticipation is building as he asks to remove your panties. You bite your lip in a mix of nervousness and excitement, then give a soft, breathless ‘yes’. With gentle but deliberate movements, he eases your panties down to your knees, then lifts you slightly to remove both your panties and shorts, tossing them aside. 

The act is executed with a combination of care and desire, intensifying the sensual atmosphere between you two.

“Damn you look so good,” he murmurs, his lips parting slightly as he traces a finger from your clit to your wet folds, capturing a glistening bead of your arousal on his digit. His hunger and appreciation for your beauty are palpable.

“Can I taste you, babe?” he inquires, desire dripping from his voice like honey. His fervent longing is impossible to miss, making your anticipation rise as you eagerly await his next move.

“God, yes.” 

You gasp breathlessly, your voice trembling with a potent mixture of desire and anticipation, granting him unspoken permission to fulfill your shared cravings.

He sensually swirls his tongue around his own finger, savoring the intimate essence of your desire. “You taste so good,” he purrs, smoldering with a potent mix of hunger and affection.

With each sultry, expert stroke of his tongue, pleasure courses through you like electricity. 

You gasp, your back arching as your fingers dig into the sheets, overwhelmed by the sensations he’s unleashing upon you. The van seems to spin as he works his magic, and all that exists is the electrifying connection between you and him. 

As his tongue explores your intimate depths, it’s as if you’ve entered a realm of ecstasy. His relentless, skilled movements leave you trembling and moaning, lost in a whirlwind of sensations. 

Every flick and swirl sends shockwaves of pleasure radiating through your body, and you can’t help but arch your back, offering yourself more fully.

“Fuck, Yoongi, I’m close already,” you gasp, your voice laced with urgency and desire. 

Waves of pleasure are crashing over you, threatening to pull you under. Your words hang in the air, a plea and declaration of your impending release, leaving the tension palpable as you teeter on the brink of ecstasy. 

As Yoongi continues his tantalizing assault, his mouth working wonders on your sensitive areas, his skilled fingers descend to your throbbing clit. With deft, teasing strokes, he sends electric pulses of pleasure coursing through your body. 

Your breath hitches, and your back arches involuntarily, every nerve ending on high alert as you drown in the overwhelming sensation of his dual stimulation.

Ecstasy courses through you like a tidal wave as Yoongi’s expert ministrations send you spiraling into a powerful orgasm. 

Your body quivers with pleasure, and your voice escapes in a fervent moan, his name an impassioned cry on your lips. The intensity of the moment washes over you, leaving you breathless and sated in its wake.

Overwhelmed by the intensity of your orgasm, you slowly crawl away from Yoongi’s tantalizing touch and collapse onto the bed, your body still tingling with aftershocks. The sensation lingers, leaving you breathless and flushed as you try to catch your trembling breath.

Yoongi sits back on his knees, his eyes never leaving your flushed and trembling form. He seductively licks his fingers clean of your essence, savoring the taste with a hunger that mirrors your own desires, a wicked smile playing at the corners of his lips.

“You are so pretty, babe,” he whispers with a mixture of affection and desire, his eyes locked onto yours. You let out a soft laugh, rolling onto your back so you can fully admire his flushed face, glistening with your essence and slick around his mouth.

“I–,” Your voice falters as a surge of emotions washes over you, rendering you momentarily speechless.

“I like you too, babe.” 

Yoongi’s words hang in the air, and you find yourself both surprised and touched by his confession. With a soft smile, you reply, “I’ve felt the same way, Yoongi, for longer than I can remember.” 

His gentle touch on your arm reassures you that this moment is real and filled with genuine affection.

As you beckon him closer, he leans down, and your lips meet in a passionate and heated kiss. The intensity of your lust deepens, expressing the desires and emotions that have been hidden for so long.

In the dimly lit van, your voices barely above a whisper, you express your longing for his touch, “It’s not that I don’t want you, Yoon, I’m just so damn tired. Will you cuddle with me?” you ask him pleadingly and you are thankful that he says yes. 

The desire is there, but the exhaustion has taken its toll. Yoongi’s agreement to cuddle becomes a lifeline in the darkness, and even though you can feel his erection, you both seek solace in each other’s arms, sharing an unspoken understanding of the moment’s limitations.

As the soft morning light filters into the van, you find yourself nestled in the warmth of Yoongi’s embrace. His tender kiss on your temple greets you, and in that moment, the world outside seems to fade away. 

“Morning, pretty,” he murmurs, his affectionate voice like a soothing melody. You respond with a gentle chuckle, feeling grateful for the serenity of the morning.

Being the early birds has its perks; you and Yoongi share a quiet moment, shielded from the prying eyes of the others. 

It’s a secret, an intimacy between the two of you, and there’s a thrilling allure to keeping it hidden. 

The morning hush adds to the mystique of the moment, as if the world is conspiring to let you savor this precious time alone.

Yoongi whips up a breakfast feast, skillfully crafting a meal that not only nourishes your body but warms your heart. The aroma of sizzling food fills the air. His culinary talents shine as he presents a delicious spread, a testament to his care and consideration for all of you.

As the rays of dawn kiss the campsite, Jungkook, Jimin, and Taehyung emerge from their slumber, their youthful energy replenished with the new day. With contented smiles and sleepy greetings, they join the gathering, completing the close-knit camaraderie that makes your mornings together so special.

“Already whipped up breakfast? Thanks, Yoongi,” Jungkook remarks, his eyes lighting up as he indulges in a piece of the sizzling Yachaejeon from the campfire. His mouth full but his heart fuller, he can’t help but express his satisfaction with a beaming smile.

Jimin gazes at you, noticing your proximity to Yoongi. 

There’s a faint inkling of something, a connection perhaps, but he’s not entirely certain. He decides to keep his observations to himself for now, choosing to watch and learn more before drawing any conclusions.

“Are you all ready to head back home today?” You inquire with a tinge of melancholy in your voice, savoring the delicious pancakes Yoongi prepared for breakfast.

Jimin’s response is tinged with reluctance and a touch of grumpiness as he sighs, “No, unfortunately. We’re out of vacation days.”

As breakfast concludes, you all work together efficiently, swiftly dismantling the tent and organizing your belongings back into the van.

The drive to Daegu is bittersweet, a mix of laughter and nostalgia filling the van as you approach the train station. Your heart heavy with the impending farewells, you make sure the journey is filled with cherished memories, savoring each moment before you reach your destination.

As you arrive in Daegu, the weight of impending goodbyes settles upon you like an anchor, tugging at your hearts. 

The camaraderie and laughter you’ve shared over the past weeks have created a tapestry of unforgettable memories. With a heavy sigh, you begin the inevitable parting of ways, starting with Taehyung. He, with his own journey ahead wanting to visit his parent’s farm, heads towards the bus stop to catch his ride, and you bid him farewell with warm hugs, cherishing the bond that brought you all together.

The farewells continue, and your embrace with Jungkook is filled with shared memories and unspoken sentiments. He lifts you off your feet, symbolizing the weight of parting. 

Then, as you hug Jimin, his whisper in your ear stirs a rush of emotions, “Something happened with Yoongi, didn’t it?”

His knowing words about what transpired between you and Yoongi make your heart race, “Thought so.” 

With a teasing wink, he hints at the passion that unfolded, causing your cheeks to blaze even brighter, “I heard noises, other than you moaning.” 

As Jungkook and Jimin bid farewell to Yoongi, the air is charged with secrets and the bittersweet taste of parting.

“Hope you have a good time alone for the next month before Joonie, Hobi and Jin join you.”

Jimin’s teasing remark lingers in the air, a reminder of the impending month of solitude before the arrival of Joonie, Hobi, and Jin. His mischievous tone hints at the adventures and challenges that lie ahead. As he and Jungkook disappear into the train station, the weight of anticipation and uncertainty settles in your chest, making you wonder what the future holds.

→ Author’s note(2): Thank you so much for reading! 🌸 I appreciate every like, comment and reblog, and please don’t be afraid to let me know what you think;  your kind words makes me extremely happy 💜 → Taglist: @idkjustlovingbts @constancelayon @wobblewobble822 @ktownshizzle @moonchild1 @ultimatefangirl0 @baechugff @jimintaemin @parapiop7 @fckkntired @iluvfndms @citypop-princess @tarahardcore @bergandysam @massivelyfullenthusiast *strikethrough means tumblr isn't letting me tag you :(

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[winchester-reload]

I have a few thoughts about the Winchesters finale, and though I wasn’t gonna weigh in on this, it turns out I needed to write this down to get it out of my head, so here we go.

I understand that Misha was approached to be included on the show and that there was a “scheduling conflict” that included multiple conversations with Jensen. Here’s my interpretation of that: 

I believe Cas was supposed to make a cameo in episode 13 to tee up the confession resolution—this was always the episode where they were going to crack open the “surprise twist” even before learning they would only get 13 episodes total. In the original scenario, episode 13 would have been the hellatus episode rather than a finale, leaving room for everything to come to a head with episode 22 instead. It’s then they would have given us the actual Dean and Cas reunion. This would have wrapped both stories nicely with each group going off into their own respective sunsets—their own happy endings, while still leaving all the room for the new crew to explore more seasons; all along, we see, The Winchesters was about Dean and Cas as much as it was about Mary and John.

When they didn’t get the back half of the season picked up, I assume they feared it would be more dangerous to show a Cas cameo without getting to address the confession, so Misha likely opted to be left out instead. With the only hint to Cas being Dean’s line that he was looking for his family when he found the Akrida, then directly drawing the parallel that Jack and Bobby were “family.” The core crew for Dean has always been Bobby, Sam, Jack, AND Cas. And he wasn’t looking for Sam because he was still on earth. So who’s left? You might be compelled to believe he was window shopping AU versions of his parents, but he confirms he ran into the Akrida in this world and then sought to interfere with the order by approaching John in an effort to prevent it from spreading to Sam's world. (Why Cas would be AU hopping, idk. The boy is really afraid of being shot down, I guess.)

It goes far to explain the vast narrative parallels we saw reflected in the Monster Club crew if it was intended as a setup for the confession payoff. It honestly doesn’t make a lot of sense otherwise. There’s no reason these people should be living Dean's experiences and regrets every episode unless the writers wanted the viewer to be thinking about the lessons and resolutions in how they relate to Dean too.

Additionally, as this has been a largely uncontested take, this is Jensen's well-funded fanfic come to life. Complete with the embracing of many of our favorite fanfic tropes and emphasized by Dean’s own words throughout the season. Because this is an obvious embrace of that “write your own story” fan side, I believe the reason Dean couldn’t even say Cas’ name in the episode is because they were going to change the spelling from “Cass” as it was in the show proper to the fan-adopted (and more accurate) spelling of “Cas,” which would have appeared in the subtitles and later the script pages.  And even that little thing right there would have been a huge giveaway to the whole game. And a very dangerous thing to do if there wasn’t going to be enough time for follow-through. 

But the truth is, this isn’t a game for many people, and the harm that can be caused by good intentions is just as real. It also begs the question: why should this be so difficult? The answer is it’s not. Edging forever isn’t fun. It’s torture. I understand there’s an art to storytelling, but your audience is weary, and trust has been violated too many times. Even still, the flip side of that coin is honest to god respect for DeanCas endgame means taking the story and the reveal seriously. It’s a tightrope walk. And one that Robbie somehow managed to keep balanced after the finale, without it falling either way.  Also we also need to consider the possibility that Jensen did pitch a full-on destiel love story spin-off but got shot down, opting to couch it in a more CW-branded world instead. He’s mentioned over half a dozen pitches were rejected. It's up to you whether you want to give him the benefit of the doubt on that.

But, I’m gonna be honest here, I don’t know that we will ever get that resolution we crave. Even Robbie confirmed The Winchesters were always meant to “go it alone” after the first season. It’s hard to imagine Dean popping in there to fuck around again after that handoff. But the dude is clearly a very restless sea-faring*, swoopy-haired mofo right now, so I’ll leave that one up to the SPN multiverse and the new Mr. Superwholock’s magical universe-traveling impala. (This show used to be about what again? *looks at notes*.) And FWIW, if they do get green-lit for a whole second season or are allowed to move networks, I believe a good-faith effort will be made to tie the narrative parallels we saw in season one to some real Dean and Cas resolution. If there gets to be a world where John *might* not turn into an abusive dick, then this possibility has to be true too.

For the record, I enjoyed The Winchesters, all the new characters, and the doors the finale opened for the possibility of more. I would have been fine half-watching it with no promises, empty head no thoughts, but I got my clown** suit on again, and though I mostly kept quiet, unlike last time, I did regrettably manage to drag a few friends down with me yet again.  Though the spec sessions were epic, and we did get some art out of it—it still rocks the boat when the base level expectations were only 1. Dean alive, and 2. seeing Cas again. 

But for anyone, like me, upset by the (likely unintentional) Cas-baiting or anyone still reeling about why this stuff can hit so hard, here’s an interesting article about the way our brains respond to fictional characters. Tl;dr: There’s nothing wrong with you. This is science. And while you’re at it, take a look at this article about the very real power of disenfranchised grief over character loss.

Ramble on, fam. And take care of yourselves.

<3 Jackie

*Um hi he appears as a sailor? Literally, on a show with a story Dean is writing whose audience is looking for a resolution to a conversation between two people who’re famously the “most shipped” characters of all time? That’s not an accident. That’s intentional. And it’s another reason why there might be a bitter taste in your mouth. These nods came without resolution, so it still feels dirty, despite the brilliant Easter egg.

**I hesitate to say “clown” here because the lesson on episode 12 was that the clowns were the ones who chose a self-induced limbo rather than face some personal hard revelations. That sounds more like a certain closeted character than it does the people cheering him on, and that felt like an intentional nod too.

***obviously, this is my own rambling spec as I try to reorder my thoughts in the wake of the finale.

[kinnoth]

The fuckin garbage thing is that radahn/miquella should have been a use-the-force-luke guided missile right up my specific fucking alley, I mean:

- fatalistic ideologue + devoted vassal? 👍

- literal star crossed lovers?? 👍👍

- gods cursed to fates they simultaneously strive for and yet do not fully understand???? 👍👍👍

- brotherfuckers?????? 😮

And yet there is so little substance to this ship that I can't even make up something to do with it. It's just. A dead end of zero buildup, zero interactions, zero environmental details, just a couple item descriptions that are totally exclusive to the AU bubble of the DLC and not foreshadowed or hinted at anywhere else

Like it would not have been difficult to include .... Literally anything that tied radahn personally to miquella in the base game. Give him a single haligtree crest on his armour somewhere, have him use even one of miquella's miracles, sneak in there somewhere that he's got mysterious beef with mohg, have him wearing a golden lock of mystery hair in his-- like, fromsoft, this is literally your whole deal, this is the reason your games have a whole category of games named after them, if you are not supposed to be the kings of environmental storytelling, who the fuck is?

Like I still cannot reconcile the HUGE FUCKIN PLOTHOLE that is radahn NOT throwing the fight with malenia. Like if he was a willing participant in this 5D chessmaster plan, surely the whole point of the whole war was that radahn ACTUALLY DIES at malenia's hand. But he doesn't fucking die. Radahn resists malenia for real and he doesn't fucking die. He does not throw the fight, he does not let her kill him. Like how are we supposed to reconcile that very concrete plot point with "radahn agreed to die so he could be miquella's consort"? He didn't fucking die!

Headcanon: everything related to radahn in the DLC is miquella's propaganda campaign to paint a pretty story ahead of his ascension to godhood and radahn's forcible ascension as his elden lord

[acesw]

Uniforms and Emblem Customs in the Foundation

The St. Pavlov Foundation & SPDM both have uniforms that are representing of the goals of the Foundation and tend to have different variations. Some officials would have customized uniforms while some do not. Every official in the Foundation, including late stage SPDM students, wear insignias that look akin to angels.

Now, this post will serve as a documentation of the uniform/uniform variations we have now, as well as exploring the possible symbolism behind them.

Insignia

The Foundation uniform is notable for having an insignia that serves as a telltale sign that the person is from the Foundation. Every official is required to wear one and it has to be visible. However, there is no say on how it can be worn for certain people.

The insignia itself is a golden emblem, with its centerpiece being an angel with its arms held out. Variations of this insignia are found everywhere, including brooches, medals, buttons, and pins.

In SPDM, once a student has reached Academic Year 6 (10-11), they will receive their own insignias, which are worn around the neck. Interestingly, they wear a cloth around the middle of the emblem. covering the head/torso area of the centerpiece. This can symbolize that the student is still training to serve for peace and humanity.

It's only when they graduate that the cloth is abandoned, which then symbolizes that they're ready for the world that they're tasked to serve for.

Such a custom is also applied to students in the School of Discipline, I think. Since Jessica wears the insignia in her graduation uniform. But because she's in Vertin's team, this requisite is excused.

(look at her, she's so <3)

Anyway, speaking of Vertin, she—alongside other arcanists in her team—are not required to wear the insignia. Why? This can be because of Vertin's status as the timekeeper. As the timekeeper, she's required to be outside a lot, and to only observe and document with no growing suspicion.

This can mean that she has to be undercover in some tasks, resulting in her not wearing the insignia on her uniform. And because the arcanists under her wing are not taking direct orders from the Foundation, they are not required to wear them as well. In a storytelling perspective, this might be for creating a distinction between Vertin's team and the Foundation; that Vertin and the suitcase arcanists are not completely on their side.

The only other exceptions to this rule is Tooth Fairy and Mesmer Jr. Tooth Fairy only works part-time as the school physician, while Mesmer currently works at Laplace, which does not make wearing the emblem a requirement.

Now that this is out of the way, I will go into the uniforms.

Main Elements

The main elements in the Foundation uniforms are that they follow a monotone color pattern (black, grey, white) while having a checkered diamond pattern. The standout colors are gold, purple/violet, blue, and occasionally the afflatus colors. (I'll show why later down)

There are also some occasional gold patterns found on the uniforms like the crowns on collars and stars on the grey sleeves.

The reason we find checkered patterns everywhere is because it symbolizes the duality of existence, balance of two sides (good and evil or light and dark). The Foundation prides itself of being the beacon of balance between humans and arcanists. Clearly, it's not like that and there is an imbalance at play.

Update: Upon further research, I found that the crossed laces are found to be also a symbol. Based on Ms. Moissan's "Foundation Heeled" boots, the crossed laces symbolize obedience.

Uniforms - SPDM

There are two variations of the SPDM Uniform that we see in game. One is where Vertin and Sonetto were around 8-9, and the next is seen throughout the rest of Chapter 3.

Students are required to wear fully white uniforms, but they vary between the stages that they are in. In early stage, they wear a collared shirt or dress with a hint of gold underneath the collar. Meanwhile, for late stage/work immersion students, they wear a long-sleeved shirt under a tunic, alongside their covered insignias.  The boys are wearing shorts while the girls are wearing a skirt or a dress altogether.

When its winter, they wear black cloaks with the hood being in its checkered pattern inside. It's held together by the insignia as well.

The students have a bit of freedom when it comes to their hair as well as (in very restricted fashion) the accessories that they wear. Sonetto and Mesmer wear a headband (which was carried after graduation), The Ring wears a giant bangle around his head and a chain of rings on his belt, Isabella wears two brown clips on her hair as well as a checkered scrunchie around her wrist.

Otherwise, this is the standard uniform that's expected to be worn with modesty and cleanliness.

For the Instructors, they're expected to wear a brown coat with the insignia. Meanwhile, for monitor assistants, they wear a grey uniform with hints of red. The insignia is worn as a badge with two red tags on it.

Foundation Guards

Guards wear varying uniforms that would tend to go by functionality and tactical-ness, and the main colors tend to go with the usual color palette alongside the insignia and colors that match an afflatus. Some wear jackets, and some wear capes depending on rank. There are also patrol defenders, security guards (SPDM), and general officers who all wear additional headgear.

In 4-21 (Good Weather), the Guard Leader boss is wearing an additional suit with equipment coming from Laplace. It continues to serve the point of the practicality needed for all situations.

Investigators

Investigators from the Foundation wear a grey and white uniform that covers most of their body, and wearing a headdress that obscures the entirety of their head. The headdress of female investigators would have an additional veil at the back of their heads, while the male investigators wear a cape. The insignia is also worn around the neck.

The only person that has a variation of this uniform is Sonetto. Since she is a squad leader and thus higher ranked, she has a bit of liberty in modifications to the uniform. So with it, she abandons the headdress and wears a cape that's adorned with her merit medals. She also wears a few accessories. Truly one of the best of the best.

Foundation Staff

The Foundation staff in headquarters and the offices wear varying uniforms, especially the politicians. But we can start off with the normal staff.

The normal staff wear a standard office suit, with either a jacket or a coat to compliment it. They also wear headgear that is smaller in size compared to ones worn by investigators. The checkered pattern is more prominent, found in ties or garments worn over the dress shirt.

(These two are investigators named Adolf and Angie, I'd see them having lunch together as friends :) )

Horropedia, also being higher ranked and coming from a different investigative unit, wears a variation of this uniform. The cuffs are checkered and he wears a light grey vest. Additionally, a green clip is donned on his tie. While semi-compliant, Horropedia stands out for his wits and his eccentric-ness with his love for horror. He prides himself on his knowledge and wants to show that now that he has a taste of the little freedom he has now.

Meanwhile, as the Timekeeper, Vertin wears a different outfit entirely. She wears a suit with a color palette of indigo, purple, cyan, and black; Complimented with a cravat with an indigo gem, and a purple top hat with a cyan ribbon. On the cuff of her right forearm, there is a nixie tube watch timer that helps her foretell the storm's countdown easier. Once again, this creates her distinction from the rest of the Foundation. Indigo amongst black and white. And Indigo conveys integrity and deep sincerity. - Empowered by Color (the text is linked!)

(bonus vernetto crumbs for the gays)

Government Officials

Now, for the politicians in the Foundation. The politicians wear varying uniforms, but they are meant to be relatively the same as any other professional suit. Most of them wear coats and/or vests that are in the same monotone colors. Many wear the insignia on the left side of their chest, with the exception of Constantine and Madam Z, who wear it in the middle.

The politicians can wear formal suits for debates just like with the one between Delegate Mark Hal and Committee Member Pedra Rosa. Mark had a green and orange color palette for his formal suit, which made him stand out quite a bit. Meanwhile, Pedra wore standard blues and greys.

Now, the people that stand out to me personally are Madam Z, Constantine, Pedra, and Bernard. The reason for this is how distinct Z and Constantine's uniforms are, while Pedra and Bernard have colors that stand out amongst the monotone colors.

Madam Z wears a collared dress with a style similar to the one that the female investigators wear. She has a grey and white coat and its sleeves are pushed up by black gloves. The insignia is found to be worn as a centerpiece for a tie. She looks like she could be an investigator herself, really. As if she were one with her colleagues of lower rankings for that matter.

Constantine wears a suit with ridiculously large collar and odd-looking sleeves. Donning a grey vest and wearing the insignia as some kind of necklace. There are also a garments worn under the suit, showing the checkered pattern once again, and the diamond accessories. This really makes the distinction of her being the Vice President, no?

For Pedra and Bernard's case, they're the only people that we know so far that integrate the navy blue in their outfits. I can see it representing their power as humans, in a way. It evokes the conservative and authoritative traits that they have across the Foundation and the world by extension.

There's a lot to ponder about the Foundation and the uniforms. Even with its plain colors, the game manages to bring so much depth in the Foundation's uniforms and the people who wear it. There's so many characteristics that show through the modifications our Foundation characters have, and it makes them stand out amongst the sea of black, white, and gold. Hopefully there might be more modifications in the future now that we're back in the Foundation. For now, this is all I can find about the topic at hand. Thanks for reaching the bottom here and feel free to add/ask about this. :)

[arcadiabaytornado]

do you think that Chloe being able to take Rachel’s bracelet in BTS even though Frank has it in LIS was another inconsistency or was it supposed to be like. tragic?

like did decknine forget about that or do you think they were trying to imply that rachel would take it back at some point?

I think the bracelet could be read either way.

There's a non-zero chance that Decknine just didn't care about the continuity in general and therefore didn't bother to account for Frank having Rachel's bracelet. My proof to back this statement up is: Joyce both being referred to as a smoker and a non-smoker. Max and Chloe being 14 in Farewell instead of 13. James Amber being super over protective of Rachel and then just...not looking for her in LIS. The fact that neither the truth or lie choice we're given at the end of the game fits into canon.

So, yeah, it's possible that they just didn't care. However, it's also possible that the bracelet was supposed to be a hint about how Rachel and Chloe's relationship faded a bit over the years. Rachel taking back an item that symbolized her and Chloe's escape to give it to someone else implies a LOT. The heaviest implication being that she had stopped holding out hope to escape with Chloe, and had given that hope to Frank instead.

However, in my personal opinion...I just really think that Decknine did not care at ALL about the continuity and that's what happened with bracelet. I don't know that for sure anymore than the next person, but Before The Storm did such an overall bad job with it's continuity that I just have a hard time giving the game the benefit of the doubt.

Maybe and hopefully the bracelet was meant to be this genius piece of wordless storytelling that gave us a hint to Chloe and Rachel's romantic relationship deterioration...but I lean more toward the idea that Decknine just, for whatever reason, did not want to make a prequel and so instead made a stand alone story that very loosely took elements from LIS 1. Including Rachel's bracelet.

[love-too-believe]

Why Namor x Shuri makes sense in terms of story structure

So if we go off context, Nashuri was already planned by the writers, as seen in interviews and the og script. Which isn't surprising because viewers picked up on their chemistry and romantic undertones in the movie already. The only reason this was changed is because they wanted to focus on the theme of grief and dealing with loss. Which has been the main theme for phase 4 in general since we're moving on to new heroes.

Also not sure if people are aware of this but the choice to kill Ramonda was more or less a last minute decision by Ryan. Angela only agreed to it after Ryan brought up how often it is for characters to come back.

So this could mean Ramonda's coming back to life or will continue to make appearances. If she does come back to life this more or less weakens the "but he killed her mom!" Argument.

Now let's talk about Shuri's story and Namor's role in it. Because at the end of the day this is Shuri's story.

Shuri's story in WF is her journey from childhood to adulthood. Tenoch has said this is his favorite thing about her story.

In the beginning she is a girl by the end she is a woman.

The particular kind of story structure Ryan used is called "The Heroine's Journey" a popular method to use in storytelling with female leads.

You'll find similar stories following this method in movies like "Star Wars, Labyrinth, The Hunger Games, The Wizard of Oz etc."

"The Heroine's Journey" is a female version of "The Hero's Journey" which is used for male leads. T'Challa actually goes through his hero's journey during "Civil War" and "BP" so im not suprised Ryan used the female version for his sister.

If you look at the structure of the heroine's journey Shuri pretty much hits all of these.

Distancing herself from her mother, venturing out of Wakanda (both in America and in Talokan) aka leaving the nest, and having her time to shine.

Both the hero and heroine's journies are a method to mature your lead in a way that makes sense and is relatable since hey, we all gotta grow up some times.

Also a subtle thing Ryan incorporated was how both Ramonda and Okoye treat Shuri like she's a child while Namor treats her like an adult, because she is.

Now something that is not always included but is common in both, is the hero or heroine's being presented with sexual incitement, at times for the first time. This signifies them coming into sexual maturity which is why you won't see it in every story or may just get subtle hits of it.

Now if it wasn't obvious Namor is ment to be Shuri's expirence with sexual enticement. Possibly her first encounter since we don't know her history.

And this isn't a "maybe" situation he literally just is. Firstly, this role usually is presented when the hero leaves the nest, not to mention Namor takes up every single trope of this role.

-Invades the hero's space (hut scene)

-whispers to them (again hut scene)

-touches or caresses them (First holding her hand then putting his mother's bracelet on her)

-shows them something new and exciting (Talokan)

-Is usually older then the hero (20s vs 500)

-Often times wears clothing that is either tight fitted or very little clothing (bro is literally walking around in nothing but jewelry and booty shorts)

Secondly, sometimes you'll straight up get subtle hints and/or introductions of sex it's self.

-In Star Wars there's a scene where Leia has to sit on Han's lap and the ship starts bouncing up and down...

-Again, in Star Wars Kylo Ren wipes his mouth which we see has water on it after meeting with Rey through the force...

-With Shuri in Namor, their fight has a weird amount of grappling and holding, not to mention the back scratching...

Namor treats and speaks to Shuri like she's a grown woman. He doesn't handle her with kid gloves like everyone else, he respects her as an adult who can make her own decisions.

In a dark sense even when it comes to either raging war after Ramonda's death or the alliance. He leaves it up to her to decide.

Also Riri, just isn't this to Shuri. This is not to say people can't ship it cause you can ship whatever you want, their all fictional. But Shuri refers to Riri as "a kid", "a child" or "a girl" depending on what translations you watch. This is to show the audience that Shuri does not view Riri as an adult. They're confirmed to have a sisterly bond. Shuri lost a sibling and gained a sibling.

But back to Namor, he also is noticeably kinder to her then he is to literally anyone else in the movie besides his people. Not to mention it's canon that he finds her charming and interesting. He also likes her smile.

It's confirmed by Ryan that he never wanted to kill her even during their fight which some fans noticed, he never tries to kill her even when he has an obvious chance.

And lastly, he sees Shuri as an equal by the end of the movie, showing he has respect for her as a protector of her nation and possibly even views her as a god now but we have to wait and see on that one.

As quoted by Ryan, Namor is ment to be a Peter Pan archetype and when you think about it he really is. He's black and white way of thinking is very childish, he's incredible stubborn, he's arrogant and cocky, yet at the same time, curious and charming. Like Peter he's a father to his people (he literally refers to them as his children) and their sole protector.

There's innocence to his character that's very compelling and shows how young he is in mind.

-he collects (maybe steals, very Killmonger of him) Mayan artifacts from the surface since he never got to see Ancient Maya.

-speaking of collecting things, he even collects random surface world stuff. He has 2 gramophones in his hut, which he most likely got from a ship back in the day.

-he's suprised and charmed by Shuri's kindness. Which makes session since she's the first surface person he's ever spent time with.

-and hey, he got his love of drawing from his mama.

Now what does all this mean for Namor and Shuri in the future? Well for one you got a good amount of back up for them no longer being enemies.

1. Shuri's heroine's journey is over now.

2. Namor was the one who forced her into womanhood.

3. We concluded the story at her finalizing her grief

4. It's canon that Namor was humbled by Shuri after their fight.

5. Wakanda and Talokan will be working with each other.

6. Namor may play a mentor like role with Shuri

7. Dispite many romance scenes being removed they still chose to keep enough hints for people to pick up on.

8. Their fight is described as "intimate" by both writers.

9. Namor and Shuri are described as "two sides of the same coin" and "twin flames" (these are the same descriptions that were used for Rey and Ben Solo in Star Wars)

Why does them having a possible relationship make sense? Well the most basic answer? They're the only two people that can understand what the other is going through.

Their both protectors of great nations that are centered around a resource unique to their land and have a culture and ancestry untouched by colonization. They both know grief of losing people they love. (Namor's mother and his two handmaids, Shuri's brother and mother) Their both EXTREMELY intelligent. (Namor build a vibranium sun underwater and I don't remember where I read it but he learned English in a week.) They both find each other interesting. They both see each other as equals. They both have alot of growing to do.

So will they have some kind of relationship? Most likely. Will it be romantic or platonic? Who knows. But we know they won't be enemies so we have to wait and see.

[underprivilegedcactus]

It's totally fine if you don't think God!Gale and Ascended!Astarion endings are necessarily bad endings. I agree there's definitely some ambiguity when it comes to these outcomes, but there's something that people should consider: When writing a character, one of the things a writer can choose to focus on to build them out is to consider What They Want vs. What They Need.

Gale WANTS to become a god (eventually) to both show up Mystra and to help mortals the way he feels that gods should. What Gale NEEDS is to realise that he is enough as is, that he is more than just his power and any more strength he could aqcuire. Gale needs to have more confidence in his own self worth.

Astarion WANTS ultimate power so that no can ever hurt him or those he loves ever again. He wants to be so strong that no one would even try to harm him, and if they do he can effortlessly squash them. For him, it's only through power that he can ever be truly and forever free. What Astarion NEEDS is healing from centuries of cruelty through true friendship or even romantic love and to be seen as an equal, to take back control of his bodily autonomy and choices, and to become actually free from not only Cazador, but from becoming a slave to his darkest impulses that his rough life has exacerbated.

Sure, both Gale and Astarion are happy when they get what they want, but there's lots of hints that it's not what they really needed.

Gale becomes the god of ambition, which is never satisfied with its lot and will likely cause trouble for the pantheon down the line. It's also very clear that he lost a vital part of himself, and I don't think it's his connection with his mother or Tara, which are still important facets but are ultimately not the core of what he lost. It's the fact that he no longer cares about doing actual good for people, a key component of his former personality. One of the things I love about his character is that no matter how high he rose, mortal Gale still cared about helping people in positive ways. Ambition doesn't give a damn where its drive takes people, for better or for worse. Mortal Gale would be horrified if he knew that he influenced evil people to do worse things in the name of ambition. Mortal Gale would also be horrified that his god version openly admits to not offering ANYTHING to his followers, which is anathema to what Gale originally wanted godhood for. But hey, he got what he wants and he's happy, so that MUST be good, right?

Ascended Astarion has entirely lost any shred of his humanity, and is now a complete slave to his darkest desires. He no longer views his romantic partner as a person. They're just his most prized object, whether they want to be or not. He enslaves other people, inflicting on them the exact kind of bondage he had to deal with for two centuries, including the person he used to love. On top of all that, he loses his capacity to even recognize the wrongness of his actions. For all intents and purposes, Ascended Astarion becomes a megalomaniacal homicidal psychopath who's hunger knows no bounds. Worse, he has no way to ever recognise if this is a problem anymore or something he doesn't like. But again, he got what he wants and he's happy, so it MUST be a good thing, right?

There's nothing wrong if you still see these outcomes as good endings, or even just better endings than an outright "bad" ending. I see what you mean, and also, it's a video game and these are fictional characters, not people who can actually get hurt. Like so much media and art, it's really more of a thought experiment than any kind of moral indicator.

I do however implore you to consider why so many people, Larian included, don't see these outcomes as good, and in some ways perhaps even worse than other "bad" endings. A very common but very relevant trope in storytelling is "be careful what you wish for because you might just get it", and it's usually to remind us that getting what we want isn't always what's best for us in the long run.

[etaindelaserna]

Can I ask from this ask game : https://www.tumblr.com/toomanyfandomsthings/749729499738996736/send-me-a-ship-and-a-number-and-ill-tell-you?source=share

No. 2, 10, 11, 12, 15 for Dramione, KakaSaku and SukuIta....Thanks 🌻

Dramione

No 2. Draco's love letters are written on the best pergament one can buy with gold. In addition he has made an effort to charm them to smell like freshly mown grass, because he knows how much Hermione adores the smell. His impeccable handwriting and phrasing are meant to turn these letters into literary pieces of grandeur about the nature of love and how obessed he his with Hermione and when she is finally going to marry him BUT in reality they are discussions about charm and potion theories, books they think the other should read and A LOT OF arguing about the practical application of said theories. There is still a lot of flirting and teasing on Draco's part, which never fails to either make Hermione almost explode or smile with the hint of a blush on her face. Hermione takes her responses very seriously and thus they are always too long, which in return causes Draco to point out, that she had made her point already 3 pages earlier. Since Hermione doesn't really get the hint that Draco is indulging her with these discussions, he at one point had started to include book pressed flowers with his letters. He even extended that to her most read books in the library.

No. 10. They are united by their love for adventure and fantasy shows that have either a certain storytelling or entertainment quality to them. They watched Game of Thrones, Vampire Diaries (of course comparing these vampires and werewolves to the real deal), Westworld, The Walking Dead (but only till season 5), Once Upon a Time (they're both intrigued by how mystical magic is portrayed), Stranger Things, Charmed, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, True Blood, Xena, The Witcher and American Gods. They tried to watch Outlander but Draco was annoyed that Hermione seems to get awefully quiet every time Jamie smiled or smirked or was shirtless, so Hermione watched Outlander, Spartacus and Rome on her own. Draco on the other hand was hiding from her Band of Brothers, Homeland, House of Cards and The Pacific.

No. 11. Draco's first impression of Hermione was, that she seems to be just as snotty and aristocratic in the way she carries herself as he was but without the name or reputation to back it up. She thought too highly of herself, her opinions and seemed to think she was better than anyone else. She seemed to only help others if it benefited her. Hermione thought Draco to be just another rich brat, who thinks Daddy's money is going to solve all of his problems instead of working hard.

No. 12. They don't talk about it, athough Draco is dropping hints and he wants to negotiate what they are going to do for their anniversary, but Hermione says, she's too busy and whatnot. In the end Draco kidnaps her. They are visiting Versailles and the Louvre and he schedules an interview with one of Hermiones favourite authors. Hermione feels guilty for not realizing how much this day means to him and allwos him to take her to a fancy restaurant. Afterwards they take a walk along the Seine and they dance and laugh and drink a bottle of wine. She tells him, she loves him and kisses him and in response he asks her if they now can start working on "Project Baby".

No. 15. Sometimes Hermione whised Draco wasn't so high and mighty but then he wouldn't be Draco and she wouldn't be able to tease him about it. Draco sometimes whished Hermione wasn't so god damn selfless all the time, he whished she would take more care of herself instead of sacrificing everything for everyone.

KakaSaku

No. 2. Kakashi's love letters are basically just post-its or random torn-off pieces of paper which Sakura finds EVERYWHERE: on her desk, her drawer, the fridge, among her medical supplies, sailing out of her clothes or stuck to her backpack. They mostly contain one or two sentences, sometimes just a word or a doodle. But the most emportant thing: they always make her smile. Sakura's love letters are at least two pages long and contain detailed reports about a new medical jutsu she has mastered, a new food item she has tried or the complete mystery of why all of her plants keep on dying. In between she slips sentences about what he would have said or done in these situations. One of Kakashi's ninken has been put on mail duty and is to stay with her until Sakura has finished her reply.

No. 10. Sakura would never admit it but she actually enjoys watching rom coms, period drama or soap operas with Kakashi. Not because she wants to use them as ammo to tease him about it but because they are lighthearted entertainment with some analysis or commentary about the hardships of relationships sprinkled in every now and then. They ease her mind and she adores how invested Kakashi is. It's kinda cute. They watched Bridgerton, How I met your Mother, Ugly Betty, My Secret Romance, True Beauty, Downton Abbey, Poldark, Tudors and Outlander. The more teenage-targeted shows like Vampire Diaries, Never Have I Ever, Reign, Riverdale, Smallville and One Tree Hill she keeps to herself. Kakashi doesn't watch anything if it's not with Sakura.

No 11. Kakashi's first impression of Sakura was that she is just another kid who hasn't figured out life yet and who is still too focused on herself and on superficial things that won't matter in the long run. He tries not to judge her too harshly for her perspective because just like all genin, she'll have to grow up faster then she thinks. Sakura had a hard time believing that this man really was an elite shinobi with a widespread reputation that makes him known, respected and even feared by s-class criminals. He seemed too goofy, yet bored to be their teacher and not really interested in teaching, which enraged her.

No. 12. Sakura debated with herself for a long time whether she should bring up the "anniverseries" topic at all with Kakashi. Not because she thought he was indifferent to it. The contrary: she knew him to be a hopeless romantic. So she felt a lot of pressure to deliver something profound. Kakashi noticed within a week what it was that put Sakura under this much stress and decided to plan little things for them before the actual date: they tried the new ice cream flavor in Konoha's one and only gelato shop, he bought a new board game for Saturday nights, they went to take pictures of them with silly little hats and mustaches, they took a dance class together and tried to paint a portray of each other, which caused Sakura to laugh so hard, she almost peed herself. It made Sakura realise that they didn't have to do anything super extraordinary. So when their anniversary came around, they spent the better part of it assembling a new kitchen cupboard. Sakura cooked Kakashi's favourite dish and in the afternoon they went to the book shop and challenged each other to find the funniest romcom title books. They read them out aloud and whoever laughed first, lost. Sakura lost and Kakashi decided to drag her to a karaoke bar. Afterwards they sat down in the park and watched the stars together.

No. 15. There are times when Kakashi wished Sakura had abandoned Sasuke earlier. Not from her life but from her heart. A lot of her training and strength was a result of not wanting to put the burden of dealing with Sasuke on Naruto alone. Some of her heart was broken and it took a long time to fix the damage. Sakura wished Kakashi wouldn’t try to handle everything by himself all the time.

SukuIta

No 2. Yuuji loves to write love letters. He spends hours deciding on the perfect paper and what kind of colours Sukuna likes or doesn't like. When it comes down to the actual writing, Yuuji isn't a man of huge or many words. He likes to ask Sukuna silly questions such as "Would you still love me if I was a worm?" or "Do you want to be my boyfriend? Yes, No, Please don't check both". Yuuji decorates the letters with little hearts or flowers, sometimes slipping in one of the fotos he's taken of Sukuna while eating or napping with a commentary on the back of it. Sukuna would rather die than admitting that he kind of adores Yuuji's innocent, silly displays of attachment. He still thinks they're a waste of time. If he didn't like the brat, the brat would know. But he doesn't want to be an asshole so he either writes Yuuji beautiful poems or paints something in return. But he never answers Yuuji's letters, which bothered Yuuji at first, but then he read the first poem and still tries to recover from that.

No. 10. Yuuji always thought it would be such a headache to persuade Sukuna to watch ANYTHING with him, let alone comedy horror, body horror or horror with some romance or strong friendships sprinkled in it, but no. Sukuna does complain a lot about the nonsensical plotlines or the lack of gore at times but for the most part he was down to watch What We Do In The Shadwos, Ash Vs. Evil Dead, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Last of Us and The Walking Dead. Since Sukuna wanted a little bit more suspense and psychological horror he blackmailed Yuuji into watching American Horror Stories, The Hounting of Hill House and Hannibal. Ulterior motive here being to make Yuuji snuggle up to him. Sukuna doesn't bother watching anything without Yuuji but Yuuji tries to hide the fact that he likes to watch Jane The Virgin, Sex Education and Young Royals when he feels down.

No 11. Sukuna's first impression of Yuuji was that he thought him to be weak and overly concerned with the safety of others to the point of it being not entertaining anymore. Just an annoying brat who lets himself be easily manipulated and who would break under the slightest pressure. And yet said brat was able to control him, which angered Sukuna beyond measure. At least his vessel had a great physique if nothing else. Yuuji on the other hand felt indifferent about Sukuna at first. He didn't know who or what he was only that he wasn't about to surrender his body to him.

No 12. Yuuji thinks anniversaries are important because it’s important to make new memories and also to remember the old ones. Sukuna couldn’t care less but let’s the brat do whatever he likes to do for an anniversary. So they end up in the ice cream shop from where they kissed for the first time and eat ice cream until they feel ill. Afterwards Yuuji drags Sukuna into a nearby park to watch the clouds together. Sukuna thinks it’s silly but he is indulging Yuuji and at least he gets to cuddle with him.

No 15. Yuuji wished Sukuna would stop thinking that Yuuji only likes him for his power. This and that he has zero empathy for everybody else. Sukuna wished Yuuji would finally use his power for selfish reasons and unleash his full potential. That’s something he wouldn’t be able to forgive him.

[jselorekeeper]

Jacksepticeye Ego's Explained (1/2)

Welcome my dear viewers to this explanation of the egos and their stories, this is for all theorists new and old who want to relearn or learn more about the egos! To get lost in Jack's world of storytelling.

Let us start with the people behind the making of the ego lore!

Part Two's Link here!

First and most obvious is Jacksepticeye, he plays and makes up the egos through a series of videos, comic books, games, and podcasts to come! (Note the game and podcasts have not come out yet)

Secondly will be TurquoiseMagpie, they are a freelance artist whom Jack reached out to a while ago to help story plan the egos, they tend to tease little hints of lore when we approach new videos including all of the egos.

Third would be Jacksepticeye's editors, which includes Alice (BitofAlice) who has recently retired from working for Jack! Alice Robin started editing for Jack around 2016 and was the first person to help bring egos to life! She spent endless hours editing every single ego to the best of her ability which helped create this world that is not like any other.

Then Trey (Tr8ss) who is a new editor within the group, he has helped bring projects such as IRIS to life! Trey typically edits most of Jack’s stuff now from ego lore to everyday videos when he is given the chance!

We also have Diceroll who is a common editor for Jack who tends to appear at random, he has helped tease the egos a few times alongside just being part of the ride!

Hyper RPG is a company that helps creators create interactive livestreams, virtual production, etc. The company had a part in the production and creation of IRIS and the IRIS interactive live stream.

BadEgg Publishing is a company that helps bring the ideas of comic books to life, recently it has been revealed that BadEgg had a part in the production of the comic books “Void Silver” and “The Somewhat Incredible Jackieboy Man!” or better known as the “ALTRVERSE”

Kyle Horwood is an Indie game developer who has created games such as “Security Booth” which is a game that Jack decided to play one day and absolutely fell in love with. Jack since then has reached out to Kyle about developing an IRIS-themed video game! The game is still a work in progress and has no release date!

The Magic Circle is a UK-based company that surrounds itself based on the idea of magic and show business, The company has been mentioned within the description of Marvin’s lore within the comic books! 

Arin Hanson, or better known as “egoraptor” and one of the faces of Game Grumps! Arin plays as Dr. Hanson (Fanon name) in IRIS, he accepted Jack’s request to be part of the universe and quickly made a bit of time in his schedule to help out!

Now we have some of the artists and editors of the ALTRverse comics!

First is Suzi Blake who is one of the artists for ALTRverse, she has teased a few photos here and there about Marvin’s story and the scenes she is working on!

Secondly is Laurz Drawz who is a comic book artist and illustrator, they created the cover for Marvin’s comic “Void Silver #1” and has expressed their gratitude to work with the team and bring something beautiful to the community!

Thirdly is Skylar Patridge, she is a comic book artist, illustrator, and sometimes writer for the comics she works on! They helped create the cover for Jackieboy’s comic “The Somewhat Incredible Jackieboy Man #1” and had a bit of help from the next artist!

Next is Megan Huang, they are a comic book artist who had part in the cover for Jackieboy’s comic “The Somewhat Incredible Jackieboy Man #1” as they created the background for it! 

Lastly is Michele Abounader, she is the publishing associate of Badegg, editor, and writer for comic books! She helped bring light to some of the artist who has taken part in ALTRverse!

Now onto the Directors, Writers and Color Artist!

First is Robert Meyers who is the Director of Publishing within Badegg, he has met with Jack multiple times and helped decide which egos should get comic books! He has had a hand in both stories but mainly Void Silver!

Secondly is Alejandro Arbona who is a writer and editor for the series, he is the writer for Void Silver so he makes sure everything makes sense and flows well!

Third is Andrew Dalhouse who is another artist within the series who does the coloring, he is one of the many artist working on Void Silver, he helped with the little preview we saw of young Marvin and his cat!

Fourth is Robert Meyers who is the Director of Bad Egg Publishing! He has stated he helped work on both Void Silver and Jackie's comic books, but ultimately he has more of a hand in Void Silver.

Five is Philip Sevy who is one of the artist of Jackie's second book! They admitted they enjoyed creating the art and is more than willing to come back in the future to draw again.

[artsekey]

Do the other players in your game know about cas's origins as the blob boy? Was it a suprise to them when he was resurrected as a monster or just a suprise to their characters?

The first hint that ANY of us had that Casimir might not be entirely human was about 5-6 sessions in. My DM (who I've played with for about five years now) is a great storyteller, and I always trust her to play with the backstories I send.

If you've seen a lot of Cas's art, you might've noticed he's got a strange accessory-- a glass lens.

He used to use it whenever he saw aberrations to check whether or not they were actually "there". Before coming to Barovia, it helped him stay grounded in his day-to-day life, but since arriving in Strahd's domain it's gotten a lot more practical use. The way it works is simple:

When you look at the real world through the lens, it blurs and distorts the subject as you would expect a lens to do.

When you look at something that's not really there (an aberration enjoying a brief jaunt through the ethereal, for example), the subject stays crystal clear.

Early on in the campaign, our party's cleric-- Tao-- was struggling with hearing and seeing things that he thought couldn't possibly be real. Casimir offered to let Tao borrow the lens and check to see if what he was looking at was a hallucination, and when he glanced back at Casimir, well...

He stayed crystal clear.

Tao didn't bring it up in earnest for a long time, instead trying to use spells like Detect Good and Evil to discern exactly what was going on with Casimir (at this point, Tao and Casimir barely knew each-other, and there are plenty of deceptive monsters in Barovia), but eventually came to the conclusion that Casimir didn't have any ill intent. He was just a little... weird. Detect Good and Evil revealed that Casimir was both undead and an aberration, which generally left Tao with more questions than answers.

This revelation was swept to the wayside as Tao was forced to face his own problems-- false gods, crises of faith, a soul sucking plague... but that's a story for a different post!

Fast forward an arc or so and we catch back up with the present. Of the party (consisting of Ireena, Izmark, Nimir (Kasimir in the module), Van Richten, Ezmerelda, Tao (PC), Borovoj (PC) and Casimir (PC)), only three had any inkling that Casimir had something unusual going on: Tao, Borovoj, and Ireena, who's been with the group since the beginning. Everyone in the group knows the spells that he casts are strange...

But given how helpful those spells are, most of the group doesn't pay it much mind. Unfortunately, after last session, there's not a lot of room to ignore just how strange Casimir is. The players (including myself!) suspected something like it might happen, but the moment he came back up confirmed it for us. As for player characters: Tao did his best to help; of everyone in the group, he's the one who's suspected something the longest. Borovoj didn't actually see it, I don't think. Van Richten, Ezmerelda, and Izmark had no idea. We haven't seen the fallout yet, but it was probably pretty jarring for them.

Nimir, who's kind of the resident expert on aberrations, tried to preform some type of ritual as soon as Cas kicked the bucket. Van Richten thwacked him and broke his concentration mid-spell (fortunately).

Casimir, who remembers nothing about this incident but has seen ample evidence to support that something weird is going on, is doing his best to reaffirm that he is just a lil' human person. Which... he might be. There's some weird stuff going on with the Ethereal plane, and we've only scratched the surface of finding out why Casimir is the way he is. I'll keep y'all updated, though!

[96percentdone]

Every time my old post expressing bafflement at 'anti player theory' undertale and deltarune fans gets a note, I go through the war again. Maybe some of them are normal, but like every post from these people that I have ever seen is never content to just have a strictly in universe read of the text. They gotta assert that believing a video game has meta elements spits in the face of craft and storytelling, and no video game could ever draw attention to it being a video game as part of it's thematic identity. They have to debunk the concept of metafiction just to be right, which is hilarious because they end up overwriting the thematic craft they claim to be the only real supporters of.

Undertale is about war, and violence, and hate and how we respond to it. Most monsters don't really want to fight, half of them are just hanging out, so they're happy to be friends if you are, but the memory of the war between monsters and humans lingers. Whether they don't entirely understand the war's true essence because of their purehearted natures make them antithetical to it (Papyrus, Monster Kid), or use the narrative around it as a prop for their personal goals and are forced to contend themselves (Alphys, Mettaton), or try to teach its horrors with its methods (Toriel), or are convinced that the only way to escape the shadow of the war is to win it (Undyne) even if they don't really want to wage war at all (Asgore), the history of that war informs it all. Flowey is who he is because that violence ravaged Asriel, a small child, SO hard his grief and anger are now everyone's problems. He cannot feel love because the cycle of violence stole his ability to believe in it. Every genocide boss only fights you to stop you from carrying out your own. They know that if the entire underground is so easily destroyed, there is no reason humanity wouldn't face the same fate, and this cycle must end, even if they are powerless. The ending is determined by whether you perpetuate war. The genocide run is a grueling, unfulfilling, deliberately difficult challenge as punishment for enacting war for nebulous gain, while pacifist ending brings about the best future, where everyone including Asriel is saved, and it is the most fun to play, because is one where you commit to kindness and understanding. They both are in service to the thesis statement that "love and compassion are good and the key to rectifying all wrongs."

Hbomberguy and NezumiVA have made videos on the same lines, but Undertale's meta because it's about how we engage with video games as a medium. It's about completionism. It asks whether mining a story for every possible scrap of information is worthwhile. Chara's true name is literally a derivative of player character, you are meant to name them after yourself, and project onto them and Frisk until the game seperates them from you because you are a real human being, not a character in a video game. You only learn Frisk's name by the end of pacifist, the best possible ending that you should be satisfied with as a means of separating your ties, and you only meet Chara when you go way the fuck out of your way to get the worst possible ending because of vague hints that there is one. Undertale uses the vibe and aesthetic of old turn-based rpgs to draw you in, get you comfortable, only to use it's characters to ask why are you doing any of this? Is this why you like stories? Are video games merely arrangements of lore to be logged into a wiki until you run out of data to sort, or did you like Undertale and other video games because its characters and ideas resonated with you emotionally? The text has a lot of compassion for Alphys and her fan hobbies, and it only criticizes her when she treats the real world as a self insert fanfic, and it's meta thesis for you is similar. It's fine and good that you love your favorite games, but what are you getting out of engaging with the medium in this way? "Don't you have anything better to do?"

But Deltarune is where they really start to lose me. It is not finished, things could change with later installments, but from what little we have, it follows up on Undertale's commentary about the cycle of violence, and brings it back to suburbia. Violence here is interpersonal abuse and neglect. It is adults caught up in the myriad problems of adult life they do not notice, or fail to support, or do not care about the children suffering under those same systems. Kris is a child who lives in the shadow of their older brother. They befriend Susie, who eats garbage and doesn't seem to have parents (or at least not any that give a shit), and they have a childhood bond with Noelle, who has lost her sister, her father is in the hospital, and her mother is absent and otherwise not great. Even Berdley has a whole complex about needing to be smart thanks to his upbringing. Kris opens this portal themself, literally escaping into a fantasy land where they, children, are the most important and powerful, unbeholden to adults and their baggage. They get to be agents, not subjects, and yet the dark world still has those same anxieties. Lancer is afraid of his father, Queen is an overbearing mother, Rouxls is an opportunist most concerned with himself, King struggles in vain to liberate himself from being a subject while forcing his subjects to adhere to his agenda, Spamton wants to escape his chains and is the incarnation of a spambot, Seam gives up, and Jevil escapes into his imagination. Kris can abuse Noelle into the snowgrave route, and Susie and Berdley are bullies because kids are just as capable of hurting one another as adults are. Darkners may say shit about not wanting to fight anyway, and Ralsei might regurgitate Undertale's lesson as truth like it's his full time job, but even he re-evaluates by the end of chapter one. In the real world things cannot be as simple they were in Undertale.

Agency obviously relates back to the meta, as Kris' is literally overwritten by the red soul you are asked to give your own name in a dialogue that once again separates you from your fictional vessel, a player character, then goes even harder when they slam dunk that little guy you made into the trash because "No one can choose who they are in this world." You can't either. You can get Kris to abuse Noelle into killing people, carry out the abuses that made these kids desperate to escape in the first place, even if they don't want that, but understanding the player solely as a force that strips agency, much like understanding Undertale's player as a comment on real world morality, is incomplete.

If Undertale critiques completionism and datamining as a valuable ways to understand art, then Deltarune reuses its cast and critiques is thesis as part of a its meta to showcase the it's real value. It is a story that even in universe is about fiction. The dark world and its inhabitants are palatable reflections of Hometown. Kris and Susie keep going back because it is freeing, and allows them to grapple with the their complicated feelings about their world. They can come out more confident in themselves, with a healthier mindset, or Berdley can fucking die! Violence in the dark world comes back out of it because the dark world is a mirror. Video games aren't real, you don't actually kill monsters or darkners, but war is real, and violence is real, and abuse is real, aren't they? Isn't that why you get sad when characters you like die? How often do we use analogies and metaphors to explain our feelings, or complicated ideas? Fiction is just a tool to understand the world. What are the stories you love saying to you?

If the meta doesn't compel you, it's not what you find value in, or how you interpret the text, I don't care, even if I think it's strange. What you get out of these games belongs to you, and you deserve to have your reading as much as I or any meta proponent does. But anyone making claims about what fiction must be, just to deny the a meta angle is possible? That's anti-intellectual bullshit. It denies metafiction exists as a tool altogether. It shits on not just Undertale and Deltarune, or meta video games, but stories written across every medium that have ever used their work to comment on itself, its genre, its medium, or art as a whole. If you denigrate a whole artistic convention and the work of countless artists just to validate your hot take? You don't deserve any respect.

[cyvonix]

Cyv Reads Homestuck - Act 3 Wrapup

where doing it man

where MAKING THIS HAPEN

Holy SHIT, where do I even begin? Act 1 was fun. I enjoyed it. Act 2 intrigued me. It kept me wanting more. Act 3, by all accounts, has latched its hooks all the way into me. I am IN, dude. While this act retains the quirky and random interactions that made the previous ones so casually enjoyable, the astonishing leap in the density and frequency of narratively interesting content here is undeniable. And now, at the end of it, I'm the most excited I've been to see the next turns these insane plot threads will take, and how these characters, who have fully endeared me by this point, will develop.

All of the characters have been left in a place that leaves the story ripe to explore so many things. Starting with John, who has now reached the first gate. I have no idea what that even means for him. I know that it was the goal, and that apparently each will be more difficult to reach, but we haven't been told in any way what the journey to those other gates will actually entail. The side story with his dad trapped in the dark kingdom has also been fun to witness, and I'm sure we'll be getting more of that soon enough.

With Rose, it leaves the most obvious cliffhanger. Now that she has also entered the Incipisphere, what happens? We've only seen one character in this environment thus far, so who's to say what adding another one to the mix will even look like? Dave has obviously been tasked with being Rose's server player (the ways he fucks with her game even in the face of imminent despair was absolutely hilarious) so that leaves me to wonder if he will also be transported into this world at some point, but also how Rose will be able to simultaneously manage John's game now that she has a client world of her own to take care of. The other interesting thing with Dave is his relationship to his brother, which clearly hints at the parental figures in their lives being absent in one way or another. With Dave also so clearly seeming to look up to his brother in an immense way, I think that could lead to some really great storytelling.

And then, there's Jade. Oh lord. What can I even say about Jade Harley, other than rambling off the many ways in which I was bewildered by her constant disregard of every "normal" aspect of the three other kids. My point being that she is a total and complete mystery. She seems extremely sweet, and almost aloof, but has by far the most compelling narrative implications of any of the cast. Not only does she not have surviving family at all, instead being cared for, or at least assumed to be, by some sort of magical dog creature of unknown origin named Becquerel, but she is also living on some sort of secluded island littered with ruins that seem to beg the reader to ask their purpose. As if that weren't enough, we now know that she is capable of using her dreams to see into both the past and future, to reasons that are unknown even to her. And as we've already seen how this can drastically affect the events of the story, including in the thread we've been following surrounding the odd denizens of the post-apocalyptic future, I have no doubt that this will play a large part in things going forward.

Finally, the mystery of Sburb continues to deepen, as several of the characters keep finding control rooms, symbols, and various other interfaces that so clearly resemble the iconography of Sburb. Just what the hell is this game? What is its true purpose? How does it tie in to the overall balance of light and dark in the world that has been proclaimed to us? I have a feeling that these questions will not truly be answered for a long time, but the breadcrumbs are enough to keep me fully engaged. Even the lore of this world itself, the idea of the Incipisphere, Skaia, and the two kingdoms in constant conflict for eternity, and all the things that this cosmology implicitly allows the exploration of, is so exciting to me.

Whew. So yeah, I guess that's about as condensed as I'm going to get my thoughts on this one. What a wild ride. I guess here are some other miscellaneous things to mention:

I read the entirety of Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff. What a horrid, crusty, amazing archive of media.

Of course I know that the trolls will eventually enter this story, but I have zero spoilers for the context or even who they are as character; just that they exist. Thus, I've kept track of which trolls have appeared in Pesterlogs so far, and those are: carcinoGeneticist, grimAuxiliatrix, and adiosToreador. So we'll see how that goes in the next act.

The concept of Jade's dreaming mind/dreambot and the golden city, including the sleeping John Egbert, is clearly important. And clearly has something to do with whatever species is roaming the deserted future. But I have such little idea of how to begin parsing that at this point that I don't have much to say about it. But I am absolutely keeping it in mind

If you actually read all of this: Damn. Thx for inexplicably caring what I have to say despite being an irrelevant poster and like a decade late on this shit :P More (much smaller) updates to come soon as I move forward with this story