#instead of sherlock holmesing your way to figure out the story

[21st-century-minutiae]

https://www.tumblr.com/cetitan/729222156562628609

Perspective on environmental storytelling and it’s cultural association with Bethesda games?

Human history is rife with storytelling. Up until the very late twentieth century, stories took the form of a storyteller conveying a tale to an audience, whether through the media of speech, prose, song, plays, movies, radio drama or the like. The audience was the passive recipient, with a few, minor exceptions (interactive media like tabletop/live action role playing games and avant garde art installations did exist, but they weren't prominent). However, in the early twenty-first century, a new, inherently interactive, form of media achieved prominence: video games.

While video games initially imitated the classic forms of storytelling, (narrators, character driven dialogue, set piece curation, etc...) writers and artists began exploring the possibilities inherent to the media for new forms of storytelling. For example, telling a story via difficulty for the audience and using the 'game over screen' and repeated attempts to convey matters, or building in branching storylines of interactivity to have choice be part of a narrative, or playing with time and space in manners that can't easily be conveyed by voice and text...

One particular form of storytelling emerged: Environmental Storytelling. Environmental Storytelling is a medium of conveying a story through the mechanics of exploration and intentional immersion. The audience is not a passive participant, but an active seeker of information, more like an archaeologist discovering matters after the fact. It relies on players making the intentional choice to search the game for details, and rewarding them with details of stories. Most commonly it is done via text artifacts, such as books or audio logs that have been left in locations in a game, or through item descriptions. Other times it can be done with visual presentations and other game mechanics, such as having two skeletons lying side by side each with a single 'ring' in their inventory.

Being a form of storytelling reliant on exploration and direct audience interaction, environmental storytelling is most often found in games with free roaming, such as role playing games. Bethesda games, as mentioned in the ask, are known for incorporating environmental storytelling into their worlds, as an addition to the traditional storytelling they convey in their curated quest lines. FromSoftware games are notorious for almost exclusively relying on Environmental Storytelling, which helps convey a sense of confusion and the breadth of the world. Environmental Storytelling is also very common in mystery games and horror games, as a growing part of the genre convention.

Environmental Storytelling is very broad in scope, but there are some commonalities inherent to the method. For one, it is not and cannot be curated in the same way that a traditional book or a cutscene or a movie might convey. While writers can subtly try to lead players through a story in a natural order, every detail is inherently missable, and sequence breaking is always possible. Requiring player action and interpretation also forces a level of interpretation on the player that just saying something outright does not require. This can be more confusing and mysterious, especially if players only get access to pieces bit by bit, and have to go long times between learning new pieces of key information. It also has the effect of diminishing the player's inherent nature as the center of a game's universe. In traditional storytelling, everything is provided to the audience for the benefit of the audience at the convenience of the audience. The audience is, effectively, treated as entitled to all information, with the idea that important things will always happen in view. With environmental storytelling there is instead a sense that there is a full world that goes on outside the protagonist's perspective, diminishing their importance. Environmental storytelling also tends to be very past focused, as remnants and records rather than direct plot and action.

There is some level of controversy to the practice, and not every player is a fan of the idea. By shifting the onus of storytelling onto players, there is an implication that the writers are doing less work. Are they crafting a deep, mysterious world that a player must spend active effort to decipher? Or are they simply leaving vague notes without substance around the place to avoid having to write a good story (or to avoid having to HIRE writers?). This particular accusation is often leveled against indie horror games, which have a community of theorists happy to dissect every bit of environmental storytelling into a compelling narrative whether or not such a narrative actually existed. Random notes scattered around can be seen as a lazy method of pretending to have substance behind the ambience. That said, it is generally understood that it is possible to have a compelling story told through high effort environmental storytelling. It is also generally enjoyed as a world building and setting enhancing tool when it isn't the ONLY form of storytelling. People can generally tell when effort is put into a project and can enjoy the effort behind this technique, which is fundamentally an OPTIONAL and MISSABLE detail in a game that hopefully has other substance.

Ultimately environmental storytelling is a single component in a small number of genres in a single media of storytelling. Some people like it a lot, some people find it annoying or insignificant, and some have come to expect it as a necessary staple for the genre. And perhaps a large majority of people wouldn't even know what it is, having never noticed it before. While there have been efforts to explore the limits of this storytelling outside video games with ARGs and the like, the early twenty-first century is still dominated by traditional storytelling, and there is no indication that it will ever lose its dominance.

[missdaviswrites]

WIP Meme

Do This: List all the things you’re currently working on in as much or little detail as you’d like, then tag some friends to see what they’re working on. This can be writing, art, vids, gifsets, whatever.

Tagged by @vulgarweed--thank you for the distraction!

I have A LOT of pieces of fics on my computer, so I’ll just talk about the ones I’m likely to finish someday:

Full Court Press--my Johnlock college basketball AU. I’m almost done with chapter 22 and there will be maybe around 30 chapters total?? It’s taken far, far, far longer than I expected, though I knew it would be this length. I went from averaging 1 chapter a week to 1 chapter a month while writing this.

Breakable sequel (working title: Dunno Some Kind of Follow-up)--This will most likely be the next long thing I write. It has about 9600 words in the file right now. This one appears to have both an internal AND an external plot!! Also, Mary and Moriarty are both in it. :) Possible tags include: mental health issues, anti-depressants, paralysis, way less angst than the first story, there's still no cure though, sorry!

Better Off Together--This retirement Johnlockary fic has three chapters on AO3 and I have some of the 4th one done, but I have to be in the perfect mood to write it. It’s not abandoned, and I’ve always known it would be a slow-to-update story. It’s my happy place fic. My only problem is do I change Alice’s name to Rosie?

Johnlockary Trip to Walt Disney World--I’ve got about 3500 words done on this but haven’t worked on it in a year. Basically John and Sherlock and Mary go to Disney and take turns watching their child so the other two can have sex in weird public places. Don’t know if I’ll finish it, but I’ve been to Disney so many times that I feel like I can get the right level of setting detail for once in my life.

Established Relationship Coffee Shop fic--John takes a second job and Sherlock doesn’t like it.

Mygolly fic--Mycroft was never much into people, but he’s started thinking about Lestrade and that Hooper woman now that they are together. He doesn’t really want to be with them, but maybe he would like to watch?

The Last Time  Alone--I thought this was finished but I think I am going to write two more chapters of it from Sherlock’s POV sometime in the near future.

Public Librarian AU--John is a reference librarian, Sherlock is a cataloger, they meet when Sherlock has to do his weekly two hours at reference. I’d like to get a Brit-picker for this one though. Ideally a British librarian. Not sure how long this will be--multichaptered?

Could Be Fun--I am considering trying to rewrite this as non-Sherlock and shop it for publication? I did see some possible markets and it’s the right length. Having a hard time thinking of three people who would have a similar friendship to John-Mary-Sherlock though.

Under the cut are other, less-developed or abandoned projects.

Things I will probably write but don’t have much done on yet: Pretend relationship with parentlock. A fic (probably Johnlockary) where Mary makes Sherlock deduce what she wants every step of the way. A Johnlock fic set after s4 where Sherlock wants John to hit him but John’s been working on controlling his temper and that’s not going to help. Another Johnlock fic where John suggests ways for Sherlock to distract himself when he wants to get high. (Maybe those last two should be combined.) I do want to do something with John taking Sherlock’s addiction more seriously than “yeah we’re just going to take turns keeping an eye on you for a few days.”

Things I have started but will probably never finish: The Sherlock/Sally thing where they pretend the other person is someone else while having sex. Not fun to write so I probably won’t. The Sherlock/Decorating Cents crossover fic. Not worth the effort to write. The Mrs. Hudson/Mr. Holmes/Mrs. Holmes fic. I might write that if I ever settle on good first names for the Holmeses. Mary going into labor while at the Holmes’s parents house. If I’d gotten to it before s4 I might’ve finished, but not that interested in it now. Same with the fic from Mary’s POV where she tries to get John to go on a case so she can take care of Magnussen but he is just so clingy now that she’s pregnant but she really needs to go do something about CAM now that she’s going to have a family. A bunch of things from John’s POV during TLD, or the one where Sherlock uses Mary in his Mind Palace to figure out what to do when he’s in the hospital then. The fic where instead of Mary shooting Sherlock in HLV, that moment is used for Sherlock to go into his Mind Palace and figure out they should start an OT3 instead. Sherlock talking to Eurus about how he feels about John.

OK, yeah, I have a lot of ideas. I wonder if I’m going to switch to Dark Tower fic come August? I don’t know how I would write in both fandoms at the same time since the writing voices are so different. 

Not tagging anyone because I’m too shy but feel free to share your WIPs if you want! 

[magicalthoughtsendinterriblefics]

My Best Friend’s Sister - Request

Requested by anon:  can you do a one shot where the reader is sherlock sister and she fall in love with john, but she's very shy so john makes the first move?

Summary: Sherlock’s sister comes to pay a visit. She impressed John with how different she is from her brothers, making him fall instantly for her. Sherlock notices and encourages him to ask her out.

Pairing: John x reader

Word count: 1,651

Warnings: None.

A/N: As a Sherlock girl, this was an interesting thing to do. I’m not sure if I got John correctly, but since I liked the final result, I hope that you do to.

Enjoy!

To be a Holmes wasn’t particularly  an honour, especially when one of your brothers was the only consultant detective in the world and the other had a major spot at the British government. But family is family.

“A sister?” John spoke. His voice resonated from the other side of the door, reaching her ears in a morphed sound.

“Yes, my sister. She’s at the other side of the door and you’re making a drama instead of letting her in.” Of course, Sherlock obviously knew she had been standing there for the past ten minutes, listening to John’s tantrum.

“All I’m saying is that you should’ve warned me first.” John hissed in a lower volume. (Y/N) might have not been Sherlock or Mycroft, but she did have a great ear. “I’ve got enough with you and your brother.”

“Just open the door.” Sherlock groaned. (Y/N) figured he would be laid down on the sofa or staring out at the window preparing himself to receive her.

John opened the door, and the view in front of him took his breath away. She wasn’t as he had imagined her in those short ten minutes he had since Sherlock confided to have a sister. She wasn’t as tall as Sherlock, and she didn’t have the usual “smelling crap” face but rather a shy, wide-eyes look that resembled to a scared mouse. “Hi.” John breathed out a smile.

“Hi, sorry to come like this… I guess I should’ve known my brother would tell you last minute.” She spoke rapidly.

“No problem, I’m getting used to unexpected Holmeses… ness…” John stuttered and cleared his throat. “Sorry, come in.”

“Thanks.” As soon as she stepped into the messy apartment, Sherlock turned around dramatically from his spot at the window – as she had figured out already – to look at her, wearing a big smile and extending his arms to her.

“(Y/N/N)!” He cheered as he walked over to her, “My dear, less intelligent, sister.” (Y/N) rolled her eyes, “How are you?”

“Fine.” She simply replied, “Mom and dad say hi, she wants me to give you some cookies she made but I know you don’t like them so just text her saying they taste nice and were done.”

“Impressive.” John mouthed at Sherlock from behind her back.

“Work is fine, I’ve travelled a lot. I met a lady in Rumania that claimed to have met you, don’t ask her name, she thinks you’re the biggest arsehole she’s ever met.” (Y/N) continued, she had the Holme’s ability of fast-talking everything. “Mycroft and I had breakfast this morning so, for now, tea will be fine. You know how I like it.”

“I missed you.” Sherlock said once she was done talking.

“No you didn’t, but I did miss you so we’re even.” She winked at her brother playfully. Sherlock leaned down to hug her before walking to the kitchen to prepare her favourite tea – which Mycroft had made sure to send him just so Sherlock wouldn’t forget to buy it.

“So you’re all the same.” John sighed. (Y/N) turned around to see him.

“You wish.” She laughed, “My brothers are rather… Antisocial pricks. I’m the nice one.”

“Also the dumb one.” Sherlock added from the kitchen, “When Mycroft made me feel stupid, I would only need to go to her room to feel smart again.”

“Funny.” She hissed, but she knew it was his way of expressing his brotherly love.

“So, what do you work as?” John asked, inviting her to sit down at the living room with him.

“I do a lot of things.” She replied, “I travel, and take pictures, I go to art museums and plays… I write poems at times, and some others I teach people new languages.”

“She’s basically a fancy vagabond.” Sherlock finished. He came back from the kitchen with three tea cups, which he then handed to John and (Y/N) and kept one himself.

“I’m a free-lancer, it’s different.” Sherlock rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He truly admired his sister’s free soul, and the fact that she could get out of her brain as she pleased, instead of dealing with it 24/7.

“That’s nice.” John commented, “I’ve always wanted to travel.”

The whole evening went by with John and (Y/N) talking about themselves, sharing stories and funny anecdotes and even exchanging jokes – something about a shabby paralian singing an aubade to a llama in Whales - while Sherlock moved his gaze from one to the other. He enjoyed his sister’s stories, but he was focused on how much chemistry his best friend and her had.

Of course, Sherlock noticed John’s attraction towards her from the second he opened the door and gasped at her beauty. He also noticed how her heart skipped a beat when John confessed to enjoy her favourite book as much as her. It was as if Sherlock had set them up for a date, especially because none of them were looking at him anymore, just staring into each other’s eyes as they spoke.

They would unconsciously mimic each other’s moves, and Sherlock could see how their feet pointed at the other. (Y/N)’s smile grew a bit wider whenever John spoke, and vice versa.

The night came and (Y/N) had to leave to her hotel. Neither Sherlock nor Mycroft would take her in at their own places – not that she would’ve enjoyed it anyway – but they would pay her a nice room at a nice hotel for her to enjoy her beloved solitude.

“It was delightful to meet you, John.” (Y/N) beamed.

“It was delightful to meet you.” John replied with a boyish grin.

“I will be in London for the rest of the week, maybe we should… Do something.” (Y/N) suggested, although she was careful enough to look at her brother as if she meant the three of them.

“Sure, Sherlock and I do need a rest from work.” John nodded.

“No, I don’t.” Sherlock squinted, receiving a death glare from (Y/N) and John.

“I’ll call you.” (Y/N) promised with a warm smile before giving a quick peck on Sherlock’s cheeks and left.

John breathed out a sigh as his looked turned into an enamoured glance at the door through which she had just left.

“I can’t believe how great your stupidity is.” Sherlock mocked his friend.

“Excuse me?” Watson furrowed angrily, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“My sister isn’t me, John.” Sherlock stated, “She does feel attraction, and she is attracted to you.”

“Don’t be absurd.” John snapped, “Someone as – as precious as her would never…”

Sherlock laughed again. “You honestly can’t be so dumb.” John groaned, “She hasn’t called a cab yet because she wants you to ask her out.”

John was about to argue but he knew it would be in vain. He did like (Y/N), and he had considered to ask her out after ten minutes of talking with her, but he felt like it would be wrong considering it was his best friend’s sister.

“John, in spite of the common belief, my sister is too shy.” Sherlock explained, “I would have to ask things for her when we were kids. She won’t make a move until you do.”

“She’s your sister.” John mumbled.

“Obviously.” John rolled his eyes, Sherlock then understood what he meant. “John, I trust you not to be a prick or whatever it is that I’m supposed to be worried about. Just go for her before she calls her cab.”

“Right, I’m going for her.” Watson nodded and breathed in as if he were going into battle. “Wait, what if Mycroft kills me?”

“He won’t kill you; we’re not the ordinary type of brothers.” Sherlock insisted, gesturing for John to go out and even opening the door for him.

“I know.” John inflated his cheeks with air before letting it out as a deflated balloon. “Don’t pressure me.”

“Not pressuring you, but…” Sherlock checked his clock, “She just lifted her hand to call the cab.”

John didn’t need more incentive. He ran out of the flat as fast as he could, stumbling right at the door, which caused his triumphant comeback to turn into a clumsy one. However, (Y/N) found it adorable, and couldn’t help but to giggle.

“Did the floor move, John?” She joked. John blushed slightly and walked carefully towards her.

“Minor earthquake, nothing serious.” He joked back.

“So…?” She lifted and eyebrow.

John opened and closed his mouth several times, looking for the right words. He looked back to the flat, and then at her. He scratched his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. (Y/N) stared at his whole ritual with a tender smile on her lips.

“I uh…” John breathed in deeply, “I wanted to know if you’d like to go out with me… Sometime?”

“Sometime while I’m in London?” She inquired, unable to keep the blush from reeking through her cheeks.

“Yes.” John responded. A cab parked in front of them, and asked if they needed a ride.

“Just a minute.” (Y/N) begged the driver and he nodded. “I’d love to go out with you, John.”

John smiled widely at her. “Tomorrow evening?”

“Pick me up at my hotel.” She winked at him.

“Sure.” John muttered.

They stared awkwardly at each other for a split second before the driver horned to call her attention back. (Y/N) took a shot and kissed John’s cheek before walking confidently to the cab, without looking back at him until she was inside the black vehicle.

“Give Sherlock my thanks.” She asked and the cab started moving.

“What for?” John inquired, chasing the cab as it moved away slowly.

“For asking you to make the first move.” John giggled shyly at her statement. Allowing the cab to drive away from Baker Street.

John was damned to form part of the Holmes’ family one way or another, and he was thankful that it was through (Y/N) and not Sherlock.

*Requests are ALWAYS open.*