#is it so hard for an ask to be like: wow i also love John Constantine lets be friends why are the batfans always so bitchy

[agent371]

if my art was that ugly, i’d be mad too

I know you're talking about my recent art post I made, and I'm taking this as a way to explain because I like talking, and for some reason, I can only get hate. So I make art, and I make TikToks, but the TikToks aren't of my art they are just silly.

My art takes hours, and if I spent that much time making a silly video, I would give up, so I do doodles to make videos, the silly doodles that aren't meant to be that good. I'm just getting my ideas out without losing interest. Can people not be silly anymore. Anyway, it's always the Tim Drake and Jason Todd fans that are the meanest . Sorry, your favourite characters suck.

[going-to-ikea-for-the-fries]

It's a Match! || poly!141 x Reader

[Chapter 26] || [Chapter 27]

Pairing: 141 x gn!Reader Words: 500~ (in the video + picture) cw: accidental exhibitionism/voyeurism, good natured teasing Summary: While overcoming recent heartbreak, you decide to join Tinder in search of a rebound. Your friends advise to just Swipe Right indiscriminately... What happens when 4 soldiers from the same squad match with you? a/n: This chapter is **different**. You can read it OR watch it live! So sorry btw that the video is not embedded 😭😭🙏 a/n #2: Also this chapter is 100% inspired by this fanart by @ramvur but with Simon, instead of Price.

Chapter pre-27: Away (UPDATED!)

If you'd rather watch their text convo: CLICK HERE

It's 6 A.M. when your phone start buzzing repeatedly on the night stand next to you.

You paw at it languidly, blinking away the sleep as you attempt to unlock the phone and rub the sleep out of your eyes.

johnny: baby guess what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 johnny: baby johnny: babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy johnny: if ye dont answer my texts 🙄 you: jesus christ johnny its 6am what are you doing up??? 😑 johnny: good morning love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! johnny: weve got training today 😙 johnny: guess what happened you: what simon: Good morning sweeheart. johnny: WAIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING ANSWERING? you: good morning si 🫶 you: wait what do u mean u were calling for me no? johnny: I MEANT SIMON HES IN THE INFIRMARY HES NOT MEANT TO BE ANSWERING johnny: HOW DO YE EVEN HAVE YOUR PHONE you: i feel like u need to stop asking how he does things you: uve known him for longer than me and im not surprised anymore you: also IN THE INFIRMARY? johnny: thats what i was coming to tell you!!!!! 🙄🙄🙄🙄 you: why did u frame it like its a good thing?????????? johnny: because he got put there by Kyle during training johnny: we were practising chokeholds and he passed out you: I STILL DONT SEE HOW THATS A GOOD THING JOHNNY johnny: HES FINE YE DON'T UNDERSTAND johnny: HE GOT ROCK HARD WHILE KYLE HAD HIS LEGS WRAPPED AROUND HIS THROAT you: WHAT??? you: tell me more 👀 johnny: 😏😏 johnny: he was wearing shorts and his cock just popped out you: LIKE OUT OUT? johnny: out out 🍆 you: wow 😮‍💨 you: did u get any pictures? 👀 johnny: i did bonnie do ye want them? 😏 johnny: even caught the look in prices and kyles faces when it happened you: send me send me send me you: wait it happened in front of them???? johnny: worse happened in front of everyone 🥴 we were training with other units you: oh shit you: that has to have been embarrassing you: is he okay though from passing out? you: johnny? you: wow imagine ignoring me kyle: johnny's a little occupied at the moment lovie! kyle: good morning btw! 😚 you: good morning ky!! 🫶 you: occupied? kyle: ghost's chasing him for telling you everything and johnny's running for his life 😭 you: 🙃 you: normal day then? kyle: normal day 🥴 you: okay then well hope the training went well kyle: it did! 😏 anyway got to go kyle: pls go back to sleep need you well rested lovie you: i will i will.

Sighing a bit, you set your phone down on the charger again and attempt to go back to sleep... unsuccessfully so.

After half an hour of tossing and turning, you find yourself grabbing the phone again and your thumb clicks on John's name in your contacts.

You don't text him often, the last time having been nearly a week before, but, right now, you felt like you should.

you: the lads just woke me up you: johnny more specifically 🙄 you: now i cant get to sleep again john: if it's any consolation john: I told him not to john: need help? you: how would u help? john: can call you and sing you a lullaby? you: pls dont john: then I'm out of ideas darling you: u could help in another way john: and what's that? 😏 you: remember how u said u had a house of ur own you: and if i ever needed a break we could go there? john: i see 😏 john: want me to take you away for the weekend darling? you: yes please

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

taglist (CLOSED! not adding anyone else, sorry!):

@daisychainsinknots , @bunnysdaydreams , @iite-cool , @lahniu , @pagesfalling , @tapioca-milktea1978 , @live-love-be-unique , @thelaisydazy , @littleghosthunter , @bossva , @emotion-no-hot-yes-hotel-trivago , @chamomiletealeaf , @ghosts-hoe , @kariiiel , @ltbarnes , @irregulardongyoung , @spacelia , @hayleybarnesx , @cod-z , @frescoisnotinthemilitary , @leeeenistop , @lucienbarkbark , @xxshadowbabexx

@severenswife , @enarien, @agoodmoviekiss , @l0lziez , @whos-fran , @greatstormcat , @openup-yourmind , @neoarchipelago , @sodavrr , @cutiecusp , @lilliumrorum , @c-nstantine , @kneelforloki , @comeonatmebruh , @codsunshine , @waiting-so-long , @captainquake42 , @gazspookiebear , @mynameismisty , @reap3erslov3 , @reaper-chan666 , @poohkie90 , @kitwithnokat , @stick-the-dumbass , @mothsdrabbles , @justanerd1 , @thesinsoflust , @thriving-n-jiving , @blckbrrybasket

[undying-love]

Paul describing John: A compilation

"I knew nothing about him except that he looked pretty cool. He had long sideboards and greased back hair and everything."

"I’d seen him around a couple of times, because I realised later what it was, my bus route, he would take that bus, but he would be going to see his mum who lived kind of in my area. And then he’d take the bus back up to his Auntie Mimi’s. So I’d seen him a couple of times and thought, ‘Wow, you know, he’s an interesting looking guy.’ And then I once also saw him in a queue for fish and chips and I said, ‘Oh, that’s that guy off the bus’. I’m talking to myself, in my mind I thought, ‘I saw that guy off the bus, oh he’s pretty cool looking. Yeah, you know, he’s a cool guy.’

"I remember John looking... we used to think that John looked pretty cool. He was a bit older than us and he would do a little more greased back hair than we were allowed… so John was quite groovy. He looked like a Ted then - he had a drape. He had nice big sideburns."

"There was a guy up on the platform with curly, blondish hair, wearing a chequered shirt-looking pretty good and quite fashionable - singing a song that I loved: the Del-Vikings ‘Come Go With Me’."

"I know how I saw John. He was just a ted, on the bus – greasy hair, long sideburns, shuffling around like he was Mr Hard. And I saw him on the top deck of the bus often, before I met him. Saw him in the queue at a chip shop once. And I thought, “He looks cool.” Turned out my best friend from school knew him. We went and met. I happened to know this song, ‘Twenty Flight Rock’. John admired that."

"Up on the stage there were a few lads around, and there was one particular guy at the front with a checked shirt, sort of blondish kind of hair... a little bit curly, sideboards, looking pretty cool. [...] He was playing Come Go With Me."

"This Ted would get on the bus. I wouldn't stare at him too hard in case he hit me."

“I just thought, ‘Well, he looks good, he’s singing well and he seems like a great lead singer to me.’ Of course he had his glasses off, so he looked really suave…He was really the only outstanding member, all the rest kind of slipped away.”

"My memory of meeting John for the first time is very clear. … I can still see John now - checked shirt, slightly curly hair [...] I remember thinking, ‘He looks good - I wouldn’t mind being in a group with him.’ … Then, as you all know, he asked me to join the group, and so we began our trip together. We wrote our first songs together, we grew up together and we lived our lives together. And when we’d do it together, something special would happen. There’d be that little magic spark. I still remember his beery old breath when I first met him that day. But I soon came to love that beery old breath. And I loved John."

[felassan]

Transcript of the DA:TV ‘Meet The Companions’ panel @ SDCC.

Update: this post has now been updated into a full transcript.

BioWare have said that they are going to share a recording of the panel at a later date. In the meantime, here is a transcript of it. When the recording is available, I will update this post further if required. This is a word-for-word transcript (in as far as it was possible to make one, it was quite a noisy room with lots of people in it), but a few bits were not clearly audible - these are marked as "[...]". listening to the original source in audio/video format, when it’s available, first-hand is of course always advisable, in case of any mis-hearings or missing things out etc on my part!! :>

there are other things from the panel here in this BioWare blogpost, collected in this compilation post, and also in this Tumblr post.

The panel was moderated/hosted by Lucy James. In attendance were creative director John Epler, creative performance director Ashley Barlow, and the actors of Lucanis, Neve, Emmrich, and Harding - Zach Mendez, Jessica Clark, Nick Boraine, and Ali Hillis respectively.

----

[panel begins]

Lucy: Goodness me, there are a lot of you. Hello everyone. Hello San Diego. But more importantly, hello Dragon Age fans! Give yourselves a cheer! Now welcome to a panel that I am so excited to be moderating today. A little bit of, what do you call it, a little bit of, I'm just gonna say it, we're doing Q&A at the end. There is a microphone right here. I will give a warning - housekeeping was the word I was searching for. We're gonna be doing Q&A at the end. I will give you a warning to come up and ask questions to this incredible panel of developers from BioWare and actors from the brand new Dragon Age game, The Veilguard. I'm Lucy James, I'm your moderator for today, but you're not here for me, you're here for these incredible people, so let's go down the line and see who we have on the panel today. We have creative director John Epler. Creative performance director Ashley Barlow. The poised and pragmatic assassin, playing the role of Lucanis, Zach Mendez. The necromancer Emmrich, we have Nick Boraine. Absolutely did not mean to skip, but we have different, different lineup over here. The voice behind the private detective Neve, Jessica Clark. And returning franchise favorite, you know her as Lace Harding, the lovable Scout, Ali Hillis. Now, we all love Dragon Age games for multiple reasons, whether it is the combat, the impactful decisions that we get to make, the romances - I know my [...], I know my - but the heart and soul of every game is always the companions, and so we are gonna be doing a deep dive into some of the new cast as well as, like I said, returning franchise favorite. So I'm gonna kick off with you, John.

John: Awesome.

Lucy: Can, you know, you've been at BioWare for a couple of years now.

John: Yeah, seventeen years as of this year, so.

Lucy: Wow. Can you tell us a little bit about your history with Dragon Age?

John: Absolutely. So as mentioned, I've been at BioWare for coming up on seventeen years now. I worked as a QA tester on Dragon Age: Origins, moved into cinematic design, did that [...] Dragon Age II, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and then became lead cinematic designer for Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser, where I worked closely with Trick Weekes, building out that story. And then now as creative director on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which has been just a fantastic project to be a part of.

Lucy: Now, I assume pretty much everyone in this room has gone frame-by-frame through the trailers and gameplay videos and every BioWare social post about Dragon Age, but just in case there's anyone in the room who is unfamiliar, give us the quick overview of Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

John: Absolutely. So Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the latest entry in the Dragon Age franchise. It takes place approximately ten years after the end of Inquisition. You start the game hunting for Solas. It's a game built on some core principles of: be who you want to be, in a world worth saving, and with characters who matter. So, again, companions always at the heart of Dragon Age, they're at the heart of this one as well.

Lucy: And so, I mean, why is this team coming together? You mentioned it a little bit there, and like, what's bringing this, kinda 'rogues' gallery' together?

John: I mean it's the end of the world, and each character that you bring into your party understands that the world's ending, that they need to stop that, and you're really building, what I would say is more of a found family. These are characters who may not start off liking each other, may not even start off liking you, but over time, they grow to understand the importance of what they're doing and just, how critical it is to stop the elven gods.

Lucy: Now we were chatting a little bit before the panel, and you kinda said, like, a bold statement which was that this is one of the best groups BioWare has ever written. I say 'bold', cause we all have our favorites. What makes you say that? What's going on with The Veilguard that makes them so special?

John: Yeah, I mean, I think that every Dragon Age game the companions we write and create for those games are the best companions for that one. And I think in this case, what's really fascinating and what I've really loved to see come out through the game, through its development is, the way these characters form relationships, not just with you but with each other, so, whereas, you know, sometimes characters maybe don't interact as much. Each one of these has a relationship that extends beyond Rook, the protagonist, but also some become friends, some become lovers, and some become rivals. And it's just, the way that they learn to get over their differences, or put them aside, has really been fun and exciting, because they all represent a different part of the world of Thedas.

Lucy: I am very excited to see how these family dynamics come together, avoiding my real life family for my virtual family. Ashley, you’ve been playing a huge role in helping bring these characters to life. Can you tell us a little bit about your role at BioWare?

Ashley: Yeah. I’m the creative performance director, so I get to cast all of these characters, with the team at BioWare, of course. And then work tirelessly in the booth with them, I mean, they just met like this weekend. I just silo them off, and they do their work, and they listen to each other, and, you know, 3000 hours later, and then they get them back around, and we can iterate on it, and they can say, ‘oh, oh that’s what everyone sounds like!’, now they get to play off of it. So, it’s a big road-trip in a VO booth. From my house.

Lucy: A big road trip. A big deal. A big game. Where do you even begin with a behemoth like this?

Ashley: We, we audition our companions. We have to make sure that our leads can play off of each other, that compliment each other, that juxtapose each other. Like John said, it’s kind of like a family, an un-chosen family, and so we need them to, you know, it’s, you need to create an ensemble, a diverse ensemble, so that the players get the choice of who they want to bring on this hero’s journey. And so, we brought them all in, you know, and they, we do motion capture, so we need to see how they move, and how they walk, and how they talk, and how they can act like heroes. And they all carry themselves so well. Now, it’s tripping me out, because they all look like their characters to me.

Lucy: Now, there are plenty of returning faces in The Veilguard, but there are new companions that we will get to know and love. Let’s start with Lucanis. John, can you give us a little quick overview of his background, and what’s his deal?

John: Absolutely. So Lucanis is the stylish assassin from the Antivan Crows, you know. But, not bloodthirsty, more, as he sees assassination as a job, one that he is extremely skilled at. Over the course of the story, you learn more about him, more about his character, more about his relationship, not just within The Veilguard, but also with the Crows and with other characters in the world. And I think, it’s fascinating to see how that grows over the course of the game.

Lucy: Now Zach, you are the voice. I mean, how do you approach this? Where did you […]?

Zach: Well, when I first found out I got the role, I read Tevinter Nights, which is the book, that came out [...] and you should read. And I read The Wigmaker Job, in which Lucanis is featured. I read it about three times, and after I closed the book I realized, ‘this might be the coolest guy I ever get to play’. I mean, not only is he a smooth assassin, not only is he determined - yes, he can kill you a thousand different ways, but what struck me was, his mind is as dangerous as his knives. I mean this is a guy who takes in the environment with all five senses. He’s constantly attuning himself to the kind of shifting terrain of every mission. And also, he’s kinda hilarious. I mean, if you look at his relationship with his cousin Illario, in The Wigmaker Job, they’re constantly giving each other crap. But there’s a lotta love there, so I got to pull, you know, from my relationship with my brother. Because we love each other dearly, but we can be ruthless with each other. And so, it was really easy to play in that way.

Lucy: I mean, yeah, you mentioned being a comedian there. Ashley, how was working with Zach?

Ashley: Yeah.

Lucy: Harnessing that and bringing it to the character.

Ashley: Zach’s one of the funniest people I know. And that’s a lot to live up to. But, you know, he came in as one of the most adaptable actors. And, you know, we did a lot of motion capture during 2020, 2021, 2022, even 2023, and so Zach stood in for like, Assan, and Varric, like all the characters [...] just mostly, most - [a scene plays on the screen behind the panel of the actors doing mo-cap. Zach as Assan hops along the ground like :D over to Davrin, Rook and another character. Davrin is happy to see him and scratches him under the chin. Davrin motions to Rook, who then bends down and hugs Assan] - I mean I’m pretty sure [...] a huge inspiration for the cinematics. Once you see this scene that this is, like - remember it, 'cause [...] -

Zach: Just know, when you’re hugging Assan, you’re hugging me. That means a lot.

Ashley: It’s true! But, yeah, but, for Lucanis, Zach was able to bring, I mean once you get in the game and you meet Lucanis, you’ll know that he’s, you know, a murdering Crow, and then, is a […], you know, there’s a darkness. [there is a rumbling noise in the background and the panelists look around confused]

[?]: I think it's just thundering.

Ashley: It’s thundering, let's, let's do a -

Zach: The darkness.

[...]

Ashley: But in the darkness -

Zach: Prepare yourselves. [background noise continues]

Ali[?]: It’s coming.

Zach: Seriously, what is that? What’s happening?

A person off to the side: Other rooms!

Zach: Okay, okay, okay, thank you.

Ashley: Okay, thank you. [...] think you were doing it. As you can tell, he brought like a, he brings a lightness to it, ‘cause you can’t always be that heavy. I don’t want to be scared or crying in the booth all the time. And thank God the writers, John included, and all of the writers of Lucanis really brought some fast, quick-witted writing. So he’s quick as a whip, he really lightened it up, and can’t wait til you guys get in and play it and romance this sucker! Sorry! Sorry not sorry!

Lucy: I was going to say, how does it also feel to play a romanceable character?

Zach: Oh, I’m quite excited about it. Ashley has promised to give me the stats of how many people romance me. I'm really looking forward to that.

Lucy: No pressure, gotta get those numbers up!

Zach: Yeah, I know. But, that’s the great thing about Lucanis, is that, you know, he’s extremely smooth, as an assassin, but, and, yes, he does have a heart, he does have a soft side, he’s not completely adept at always dealing with other people and interactions of that such, you know, he’s extremely stubborn and stuck in his ways, so it’s really hard for him to let people in sometimes, so I’m really excited for fans to get to meet him, and, you know, help him open up.

Lucy: And before we go to the rest of your illustrious cast members, what’s, what was, what’s been your highlight of working on The Veilguard? Is it, you know, this moment getting to see everyone in person? Was it a story from on set one day, or an interaction with one of the devs?

Zach: Well, you know, I did, before the first day of shooting, I did kinda get an idea about how passionate the fanbase was, which made me really excited. I don’t wanna say nervous, because I don’t say I’m nervous, I say I’m excited. And so before the first day of shoot, I was very excited. And luckily, you know, Ashley and them, didn’t have me do too much on the first day. I played a lot of darkspawn. I darkspawn-ed my ass off, though. I want you guys to know, I really –

Ashley: Oh he did, yeah.

Zach: – and when I got home, I thought to myself, you know, ‘Zach, did you darkspawn hard enough?’ I was just worried! You know, and within an hour I got a text from Jeff, who’s a part of this cast as well, and Jee, telling me what a great job I did. And then, I’ll never forget. I got a call from Ali Hillis down here. And I will remember that conversation, because for thirty minutes, she made me feel like I was welcome in the Dragon Age family, and it gave me so much confidence moving forward. So thank you Ali, so much, I still remember that, God bless you.

Lucy: That is lovely. See, the family stuff coming up already. I’m very excited.

Ashley: [...]

Lucy: Right, let’s move on. Coming to the private detective, Neve, who we actually got a glimpse of in the gameplay reveal from a few weeks ago. Let’s take a quick look. [a scene plays on the screen; the scene when Rook meets Neve in the prologue with Varric and Harding, that we saw in the gameplay reveal video] Now John, can you give us a quick overview of Neve?

John: Absolutely. So Neve, as you can see in the video, is one of the first companions that you encounter in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. She’s from Tevinter, Minrathous specifically. And anyone who’s played Dragon Age before knows that we’ve always talked about Minrathous, we’ve always talked about Tevinter, so we wanted to have a character who showed, not the parts of Tevinter that we’ve touched on before, you know, obviously slavery is a big part of it, it’s a mageocracy, but somebody who was pushing back, fighting back against that. And Neve’s shown up in the ancillary media as well, in the comics The Missing. And it’s just, she is that, you know, somewhat cynical detective with a bit of a heart of gold, bit of [a?] romantic, and just seeing her character evolve over the course of The Veilguard, over the course of the game, because again, she’s one of the first people you meet, is. Always fun seeing Neve’s character bounce off other the followers, banter has been super fun, just the way that she, what she brings to the table is always, it’s always so interesting to me.

Lucy: Jessica, I mean, what was it like getting that call to find out that you were gonna be in Dragon Age?

Jessica: It was slightly terrifying, and it was, I just felt really honored immediately, because I feel like, to be, I feel like they entrusted me with such, something with such significance and such importance to so many people, and so I just really wanted to honor that, and bring everything that I could to this fabulous character that I had been gifted. So yeah, that was.

Lucy: And I understand that you are kind’ve newer to the kind’ve voice acting, kind’ve realm. How was it different from more traditional roles?

Jessica: I am pretty new to it. I’ve barely done anything as significant, Dragon Age is enormous. It was very freeing honestly, I mean, like Ashley said, they auditioned and auditioned and auditioned and auditioned us. Like, every time I was brought in, I was like, ‘oh I didn’t get that’, you know what I mean? And then three months later there was another audition, and. But it was just so interesting and so freeing, because it really is sort’ve, it almost felt like play pretend, like when I was a little girl, you know? And it’s like what you dream up in your imagination. Because they, you know, they give you this character, and they give you some of the dialogue and then they really wanna see where you go with it and how you move and how you embody her and how you react to dragons that aren’t there because you’re in an audition room. You know, like all of that. So, and then, also, playing Neve, it really allowed me, and being a voice actor, it really allowed me to sort’ve step into my power a bit more, because, you know, I’m very tall, and things like that. And so, in a lot of my, sort’ve, more traditional television and film work, they kind’ve want you to be the girl, and I have to raise my voice, and be a little softer, and you know, kind’ve, not diminish myself, I don’t wanna say that, but just be very conscious of my physicality. And then Neve, it’s completely the opposite. You know, so Ashley had to work with me literally on dropping my register and things like that, and it was so confusing at the beginning, and then it was so amazing, to kind’ve have that opportunity, so I’m very grateful.

Lucy: Yeah. I mean, what drew you, what’s your favorite thing about Neve? – get that applause going, go on, let's go!

Jessica: I love her loyalty, I love her dedication, I love how much she loves Docktown and its people and how she really sees a different vision for Tevinter than, as John said, than what’s previously been depicted. And she’s really really fighting for those people, and she loves those people, and so yes she’s cynical, and yes she’s kinda tough and brusque and all these other things, but when they say there’s a heart of gold, there really, like to have that kind of a passion and dedicate your life to something like that, I think that, that’s my favorite part about her.

Lucy: And what were some of your highlights from, I mean, is it, is it kind of strange to record a video game, because I assume you’re doing things in different orders -

Ashley: Yeah.

Jessica: Oh yes.

Lucy: - working with some people some days and other people different days - tell me about that?

Jessica: I mean in terms of that, I just trusted Ashley and John, you know, and they know, and I was there to learn and embody and kind’ve grow into that. But I think my favorite thing, even though we were all separate disembodied voices a lot of the time, we kind’ve really all bonded in the way that we were intended to, you know? And that’s why we’ve been so excited all week and all weekend, because we can be like, ‘oh my god, you’re here, oh my god you’re here, you’re here, you’re here’, finally, you know? And you know, I know on a lot of projects, people are like ‘oh yeah, we’re all like, we love each other’, but we really do, we really really do. And it just evolved so organically. And there was something magical about it just being our voices in the beginning. You know, like sort’ve taking anything else out of the -

Zach: Equation.

Jessica: – you know what I’m saying. I’ve run out of words.

Ashley[?]: Yeah, it’s like an audible penpal. […] speaking to each other for so long.

Jessica: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ashley: It's nice with Jess, [...] she hit it on the head, you know, voice acting, you know, I hate to say it, I don't wanna put Jess - Jessica’s obviously a beautiful woman, but in the booth, it doesn’t matter. We just, pulled out the power and the range that Neve has, and it’s limitless, and as a woman to see that kind of writing and that kind of performance ability is, I know for a lot of us in the room, probably, pretty badass.

Lucy: Jess, I wanna, I'm gonna come back to something, because you mentioned, like, you’ve been messaging, and that the cast, you know, really loves each other, is there a Veilguard groupchat?

Jessica: There are several.

Lucy: Hold up. Who sends the most memes, who is the person who only reacts with the thumbs-up emoji?

Jessica: I, I would say Jeff is the most active, who plays one of the Rooks, I would say, in that respect, and to bounce off what Zach said, just an incredibly generous actor. And then, Ali, like it’s so true, like I had that story too, like literally even being back there, I was like, [gasp], I was like, she’s like, ‘it’s gonna be okay’, she’s like, ‘it’s good, it’s like, you’re gonna love it, it’s gonna feel special’. She literally like held my hands and like looked into my eyes and was like [inhale, exhale], you know? [looks at Ali and reaches out to her] I love you.

Lucy: I was gonna say, if we’re doing an Ali love-in, she did that for me too. So.

[?]: She does that for everyone.

Lucy: She’s done it for everyone? Fantastic!

Ali: Guys, you’re making me cry!

Lucy: We didn’t expect, hang on, we did expect one of our companions to be - a stone cold gray fox. BioWare treating us well. Emmrich has been driving the internet wild. And so, John, can you give us a little bit of background there?

John: Absolutely.

Lucy: Where did Emmrich come from?

John: I mean honestly, I will say like, we expected a great reaction to Emmrich. Went beyond what we expected for sure. But it’s been fascinating to see, because again, Emmrich is this character, he’s more of the professorial, more, he brings a wisdom and kind of a calmness to the group, so even when things are at their worst, there’s that one person in the group who’s kind’ve like, ‘okay, you know, we’ve got, let’s figure it out, slow, take a deep breath’. And just his journey through his character arc and his interaction with the others, it’s been fantastic to see. Even just finding opportunities for him to bounce off the other characters, you know, the way he talks to Bellara, the way he talks to Neve, it’s all so different, but it’s all so just, again, based around this core of this warm, kind-hearted, professorial necromancer, which again is not something that you see a lot of in media, usually necromancers are depicted a very specific way. But it’s been, just awesome to see how Emmrich has grown and just, really one of the most, one of my favorite experiences has been just working with Emmrich’s writer and working with Emmrich as a character.

Lucy: And Nick, you are the voice behind Emmrich.

Nick: I am.

Lucy: How did you prepare for the role, you know, what were you told about him before you got into the booth for the first time?

Nick: I think I’ve been preparing for Emmrich all my life. I was very attracted to the role initially. And I was so, I was overjoyed when I got it because I think it was, the writing of Emmrich is really fascinating. It’s this, this man that is obsessed with death, on one hand, but on death as a comfort, death as a transition, death as something that is not scary, and that ability to enable people to transition, and the investment that he gives in that sphere, which we don’t give in our own lives. I was immediately attracted to that and I thought that that was – I’d never seen that before, and so to go in these two ways, to talk about death and to talk about it in a way that is kind and that the transition becomes a kind transition, that was fascinating to me, and I think, will be fascinating to you too, yeah.

Lucy: And I hear as well that Emmrich gets, I mean, you’re all gonna get some fantastic lines, but I hear that Emmrich has some quite spectacular ones. You, Nick, you and Ashley, I would love to hear about the process of, was it difficult to get like some of those tongue-twisters, and?

Ashley: Yeah, Sylvia the lead writer basically was like, ‘Ash, you’re gonna need a dictionary for all of the sessions with Emmrich’, it’s like, 'Okay!'. And we get there, you just nailed them all, like 'shduhfejdkjjdhdjdhfjehfjkhehe into the Fade'.

Nick: Well, I don’t know if I nailed them all, that’s very kind of you. But, there was some serious tongue-twisters there, and, but it’s great, it’s great to be in the booth, and to be given a challenge like that, and. Yeah, it’s fantastic, I mean that’s what I love to do, so it was great to be just gifted that.  

Ashley: You’re such a natural nerdy scientist. […]

Nick: It's my inner self.

Ashley: It's your inner secret.

Nick: Yeah.

Lucy: Now I love that, and I think, I think the, I, I’m drawn towards with Emmrich is that like, he loves learning.

Ashley: Yeah!

Lucy: It’s very clear, like, it seems like you’ve really just thrown yourself into this role and the world of Dragon Age. You know, I asked Zach a similar question and it’s like, you’ve been working on this for so long, what’s it like now that people have caught a glimpse of your character, it is just a glimpse, but people are desperate to know more?

Nick: I mean it’s so interesting that this character has kind of caught fire a little because, when I did it I thought ‘okay, well everyone else is like so sexy and like, it’s just amazing, and I’ll just be this kind of professorial kinda guy chatting in the background, having fun, you know, dealing with death, and you know, on the side’, and suddenly it became this thing of like, no, this is actually really interesting. And I think people have found it interesting, and I love that! I love that you guys have also found it as interesting as I have as because, it’s, it's a fantastic character, he’s a fantastic character, honestly.

Lucy: I mean, Ashley, working with Nick, any other highlights to share about your time in the booth, or?

Ashley: Oh man, every, Nick is the most consistent person I’ve ever met in the booth – or in his garage.

Nick: Yeah.

Ashley: Recording booth, he’s really like [a hippy in art?], so I, so it’s kinda trippy, seeing you again in person and knowing what your character looks like.

Nick: Yeah.

Ashley: But yeah, you’ve just been so consistent with Emmrich and bringing this grounded-ness, and I’ve learned so much working with you, and. Yeah, now, you tell me, what, what good really looks like.

Nick: Oh wow, thank you, thank you. Appreciate that.

Lucy: I mean obviously, there’s Manfred too.

Nick: [gasp!]

Lucy: Played by Matt Mercer. What was it like kind’ve having another character to [...] bounce off of?

Nick: Oh man! I mean that is such a hard question because Matt and I have never met.

Ashley: Yeah.

Nick: And we worked completely separately, and. I mean I know that the rapport is really great, but it’s in the ether, I mean it is just, the magic that these guys create, telling us how to respond, how to do that, but it’s, I can’t wait to meet Matt.

Ashley: We recorded, basically before Manfred.

Nick: Right.

Ashley: All of before Manfred.

Nick: Right.

Ashley: And so Manfred got to play off of your straight delivery -

Nick: OH he did? I did not know that. Oh man!

Ashley: I know!

Nick: He got the easy part!

Ashley: Yeah, totally! So you set him up, just to knock it out of the park –

Nick: Right!

Lucy: Okay, so you got to set the tone. You get [...]

Ashley: Yeah, yeah […]

Nick: Right right right right. I set the tone!

Lucy: And, finally. Last but certainly not least, Ali Hillis returning as Scout Harding. Please [indicates for applause]. Now, I’m so excited because, she’s one of my favorite Dragon Age characters period and it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of her. But what has she been up to, John, between Inquisition and The Veilguard?

John: So I mean, if you’ve read the comics, you know that Scout Harding has been working with Varric to track down Solas. So she has been on his tail for quite some time. The game starts just as they finally - tracked him down, figured out where he is, but she’s been working with the remnants of the Inquisition, working with Varric, and then also working with Rook and Neve. Again, if you read the comics, you know that Harding has met Neve, they have a […] relationship before the events of the game. But yeah, she is dedicated to taking someone who used to be a friend, someone she considered, you know, even if they weren’t close, because Harding wasn’t part of the Inquisitor’s core companions, somebody she knew, somebody who treated her with some amount of respect, and knowing what he’s up to now, knowing she has to stop him, so.

Lucy: She was in the core Inquisitor’s, of my heart, so.

John: That’s right, well, I mean, she had the light romance, so.

Lucy: I tried to flirt with her every time. Never went anywhere. Ali, you are no stranger to playing beloved BioWare characters, obviously, Doctor Liara T’Soni.

Ali: [in her Liara voice] It is very nice to see you all today.

Lucy: What’s it like to be returning as Lace Harding?

Ali: First of all, it was a complete surprise. I don’t know if it was for you guys, but it was for me. So I was so excited when I got that call, because I had no idea it was coming. And after recording the last Dragon Age, and going to cons, much like this one, and having the line in front of me and all my pictures spread out, and every few people, someone would come up and say, well, ‘Where’s your Scout Harding photo?’ I was like, ‘oh, I didn’t bring one! Like. I didn’t realize! Okay!’ So I started getting more into the idea that this was a really beloved character, and I didn’t realize! And she was so much fun to create because BioWare gives us so much freedom as actors, it’s such a collaborative effort, both with Liara as well as Scout, I remember getting in the studio for the very first time to record these characters. I do a lot of voiceover, I do a lot of amazing games, I don’t always remember the very first day in the studio with a project, and I do for both of these projects. Because they were so poignant in my life, because it was, it was, a group of people coming together, they had already obviously conceptualized these characters. There was art, there was writing, brilliant writing that we are only so lucky to chew on in these voiceover sessions with such expert direction. The material that we are given to work with, only, just blasts us off this planet, in the acting world. But, just, knowing that when we went in to create Scout Harding to begin with, and one of the ideas I remember us talking about was, like, ‘well, I wonder if she’s kind of a character whom, when she talks, maybe she draws in the dirt with her toe?’ You know, coming up with these little tiny bits of yumminess to create a character and build it, the fact that they give us that honor to work with them on it, you know, is incredible. So when I heard that she was coming back, I was thrilled from the inside out, because I felt a part of this whole thing, so thank you, guys, for bringing her back. You! [to the audience] You! [to BioWare devs' direction] Thank you.

Lucy: I think I can speak for all of us when I say, we are thrilled.

Ashley: Yeah.

Lucy: You know, a lot has changed in the time since Dragon Age: Inquisition. I mean, what, how, for you has the experience of recording changed, like, technology-wise? Obviously, a little thing happened in 2020 we don’t have to talk about, but how has it changed for you?

Ali: Yeah, and speaking of that little thing that we’re not supposed to talk about, but the way that this company pivoted and, I mean, we were working on something, we had a project in the works, and somehow, every single person had to deal with this big thing in the world that we’re not talking about -

Lucy: We can talk about it.

Ali: - and somehow produce a game! So when you guys play this, just know that the amount of effort that went into this one, you know, maybe exceeds every game I’ve ever worked on because, we had to, everyone had to pivot, you know, suddenly we’re working from our garages – me too – and usually we’re wearing pants. And, and, you know, when I worked on past games with BioWare, everybody was in Edmonton, pretty much, and then everyone just kinda dispersed and I didn’t know where anybody was, and Ash was working out of her house all the time. It was incredible because we just did it, we pivoted, like all of you did, like all of us did, and we all came together and we made it happen and I was really really proud of that. Anyway, I know we weren’t supposed to talk about it, but it was magical, and powerful, and incredible. And I’m so sorry, back to the original question.

Lucy: No, I mean, how has the process changed for you?

Ali: The process has changed for me? I got to do p-cap! I got to be her! I got to physicalize, they gave me that, I got to physicalize her this time, which I didn’t get to do last time and I did not get to do in Mass Effect. And I really had a great time with it! Because, just like these guys have all talked about, we all come from different acting and theater backgrounds, I think Ash as well, and different types of performance, and it was cool to get on the volume - the p-cap stage -because, it’s like a theater.

Ashley: Yeah.

Ali: You have freedom! It’s better than a theater because you can turn around backwards and talk like this and everybody still knows what’s going on, so, it’s freedom in acting and we get to really bring the character to life outside of being behind the microphone and envisioning all of it, we actually get to perform. So that was one big difference for me in this game particularly. That, and the, doing it from my home sometimes in voiceover, or studio, it was, we kinda just, went with the flow.

Lucy: Is it easy to come back to a character that you kinda know inside out, or is it kind of like a mental block about it because you’re returning to something, or is it easier to come up with something new to […] What was it like getting back into the shoes of Harding?

Ali: That’s a really good question because it had been a minute. I mean, I’m so excited this game is releasing, how about you? Woo! You know what, with her, again, just kind of like Liara, because we came about this character so organically, I did ask, I remember asking to hear voice-bytes, I just wanna make sure we were in the same ballpark. But also, you know, there’s been an evolution.

Ashley: Yeah, you’ve seen some shit.

Ali: Yeah. We can’t really talk about it, you guys’ll have to find out for yourselves. But there’s been an evolution, so.

Ashley: Yeah.

Ali: So, yeah, it’s, it's, I can’t really say anything else about it without giving stuff away.

Ashley: She comes back with such, like, a veteran voice, y'know?

Lucy: Yeah, I kinda noticed that, like, she’s, she’s got a little bit more of an edge to her.

Ashley: Yeah.

Ali: Yes.

John: Well, she’s been chasing Solas for almost a decade, so.

Ali: And I love that, that is an amazing relationship that you guys created. And then I’ll stop talking about that. Damn!

John: No more!

Ali: I’m so excited!

John: I know!

Ali: I defer to these guys!

Lucy: I mean, question, kind’ve for all of you. We kind’ve touched on it a little bit, the challenges, and you know, the fact that the game is almost here, Fall 2024. I’d love to know, down the line, and just, you know, what’s been kind’ve your guiding light for all of you on this project?

John: I mean for me, it’s always been about, Dragon Age has always been about the people. I mean, the companions, the villains, the allies you make along the way. And for us, making sure that that stayed central, that that was still our guiding light. We really wanted to focus the game, the story, the gameplay, always around yourself as a character, but also the other characters in the world, not just, again, how they relate to you, but also, having these relationships, having this idea of this world that exists, with people that exist, not just as kind’ve a theme park for the player character to go through. But they have lives, and they have internality, like they’ve got an internal life of their own, that cause them to act in ways that may not always be predictable, but is always fascinating, and makes them feel real, even if you’re only getting a few dozen lines, they feel like real people.

Lucy[?]: Yeah.

Ashley: Yeah. I think that was my guiding light, like, I’m, have to find logic in these, you know, over hundred thousand lines in the story and over 700 unique characters you can meet. And I, in this fantasy world, I, we’re all still looking for the truth. What is the truth? How can we ground this? Do I believe it? Do you believe it? Are we in it? And that was always my North star. And, you know, often times I’m in the booth, and sometimes I’ll just, ‘I don’t buy it, I don’t buy it’, or, and, so, it was my job to be the gatekeeper, I felt, in the booth, to make sure, that I buy it, so you will all buy it.

Zach: I made the mistake, before we started shooting, of checking out the Reddit of Dragon Age. Not a good idea. It was a bad idea. But what I did, what struck me is that these people, these fans, have the same passion for this game that I have had for a hundred fantasy worlds. You know, places where I’ve gone into and discovered different parts of myself through. through, following these stories. And so I felt an, I felt so, it was so incumbent upon me to put as much effort as I could into this game. And I really do feel like the fans inspired me to pour my heart and soul into this, and I just cannot wait for you guys to play it, I really cannot.

Lucy: Jessica, what about you?

Jessica: I would say for me it was the dialogue, honestly. I loved the writing, Brianne was my writer, and Ashley, and John, and she’s right, like it’s, you gotta go deeper, and like we’re trying to find it, and we’re trying to find it together, and sometimes we’re not there, and sometimes we have to come back to it, you know, there was, I could tell there was such an evolution in my work, and part of that was because I just kind’ve gave it over to the writing. And whenever I did get to play off the other actors, you know, sometimes they’ll have, you can play in with their lines, and that was just such a joy, and I got to like discover other little parts of the game that I had no idea about, you know, because we’re doing it in isolation. So that was kind’ve the joy for me, and just honestly trusting, trusting the team and Ashley and John, so.

Lucy: Nick?

Nick: Yeah, I mean I’d have to say narrative as well, I think what the writers have done on this show, you don’t get in other games, you just don’t. You don’t get the level of, the depth of character. And character makes story. And that is what they focused on here. And I just kept coming back into that booth going, ‘I’ve never, I’ve never, experienced this before’. And just one last thing as well, I think the fact that we were separate, and I’m only just sort’ve putting this together now, the fact that we didn’t see each other, the fact that we didn’t know each other, has created a kind of magic that, I think is extraordinary. You can’t see somebody and you have to listen in the dark for cues and signals, and you have to put it together. That, that is magical. And I think, out of the chaos of 2020, 2021, 2022, which was exactly when we were recording and trying to figure this out, that’s when the magic came together, that’s, and I think we all feel that here, and I really hope you guys do too.

Lucy: Ali?

Ali: Well I feel like they’ve kinda covered it. I was gonna speak to kinda like what John said. One thing I really like about this game particularly, and I think you guys will find this as well, is you really find yourself in it.

Ashley: Yeah.

Ali: And the relationships, not only with the player and the people you bring along, but the team with each other, it’s just, it’s so well-written, the relationships are so conditioned that you really get lost in the moment. And I love when I’m at a con signing somewhere and someone comes to the table and says, you know, ‘this is a game that took me away from something I was dealing with in my real life, and I’m so grateful for it’, and I feel like, this is one of those games. This is gonna take you into a world that’s gonna blow your mind. And, I was just so honored to be a part of this group, again, again, I’m just gonna echo everything everybody said. But when I would hear their voices in my cans, in my headset, and I don’t get to see their faces, there is something so specific and so intimate about that experience, when you’re not seeing each other, and you’re just hearing, they have this amazing system where we get to hear each other. Whoever’s recorded first is played, if I’m having a conversation with these guys, if they’ve recorded first, I get to hear them and talk back. Acting is reacting. So it’s really nice that I actually get to react honestly off of these guys with expert guidance. So, I was really appreciative that we’ve conditioned these relationships in a fantasy land and also in real life, and I think you guys will feel that when you play.

Lucy: Now we do have time for Q&A. I'm gonna ask the panel another question, but if you wanna start lining up, we have, people are jumping to their feet already, this is great. We have a microphone right here. Before we go to Q&A, I suppose, what's the big, the biggest takeaway you want when people actually get to play later this year?

John: For me, honestly, it's just, how much this project has just been a team effort in a way that, everyone is working collaboratively with each other, everyone is bouncing off each other. Everyone was talking earlier about the writing, but I think what's fascinating for [...] has been so awesome to see is, the actors also shaping these characters as we built them. Seeing, like, how, Nick delivers a line, how Zach delivers a line, how Jessica delivers a line, how, and then, bouncing off that and then forming the character, shaping the character, so. We realize, okay, so, Ali has this, you know, has this, says things in a very specific way. Maybe we, let's re-write a few things, let's really lean into this, you know, what she brings to the character, and it's just. That's true across the entire team. It's not just the actor, it's not just the writer, but everybody who has worked on it, has a little piece of themselves in it. And to me there's just this excitement that that brings, and just this amazing passion that you can see in everything that's been built in this game.

Ali: It's so cool, I was gonna say, when we were recording, and I know we gotta get these questions, when we were recording during the pandemic and we were at home, I didn't realize sometimes that on the Zoom call I'd only see Ashley's face, or sometimes, you know, whatever, whatever she puts up. And then suddenly I'd have a question, 'hey, so in this line, this and this?', suddenly, like, John, or somebody else would just pop in, and talk about the line, so, we were always collaborating, it was just amazing, I was very grateful to have you guys ever-present.

John: Thank you.

Lucy: Alright. Shall we go to our first question? We all ready?

[?]: Yeah.

Lucy: Alright.

Audience member: Hello. [...] fan of Dragon Age since Origins. Oh, I must say, I am very disappointed with this panel. You've failed to mention a very important part of the game! The factions!

John: Mmm!

Audience member: So I would like to know, what can you tell me about them, and, can you join them, or do you just interact with them?

John: So, you start the game, you get to choose which background you go with. Each one is tied to one of the major factions. But one of our principles from the start was the concept of 'characters not causes'. So we didn't wanna just give you, 'here's the Grey Wardens, they're just kinda this group that exists in the world', we wanted to attach characters to them. So I can speak to the Grey Wardens in particular, anyone who's read comics and any of our short stories know Evka and Antoine, they kind've represent your connection to that faction. And you can work with them throughout the story, you can help them out. And decide how much you want to spend time with them. But each one of them [...] represents these important forces in the world that you need to get on your side if you're gonna stop the end of the world, so.

Audience member: Looks good.

Lucy: I was gonna say, Zach, you've done, you've done your research, so how exciting was it for you to kind've see and hear all these factions coming into play?

Zach: What, I'm sorry, can you repeat the question?

Lucy: You did all your research, so.

Zach: Oh, yeah.

Lucy: How exciting was it for you to hear about these factions and then hearing about how they'll come into play in the game?

Zach: Well, I don't think they kept my voice for Antoine, but I did my best French accent, I think it was pretty painful for everybody else on set, I really did. Oh yeah, the Grey Wardens are a barrel of laughs, those guys, they're absolutely wonderful. Well, yeah, so I had to play a bunch of characters, so I had to really steep myself in the understanding that, okay, the Grey Wardens go a lot, go through a lot, actually, doing what they do. They make a pretty intense bond in order to carry out exactly what they do. So, I tried to bring that as best I can to the physicality when I did do the motion capture and whatnot, but I cannot wait to see how it plays out in the game.

Lucy: Next question.

Audience member: Hello, I've also been a fan of Dragon Age since Origins. So, I've noticed in pretty much all of the games, there's a lot of influence from classical fantasy and mythology. So I was wondering, general question for the whole panel, what was your first exposure to fantasy or mythological storytelling, and do you use any of that in your voice-acting?

John: Hm. I can speak to mine but I can't speak to the voice-acting part, obviously. I mean I read Lord of the Rings at a very young age, and everything that you read that you, any piece of art that you enjoy, engage with, it's obviously gonna have an influence on yourself and also what you do.

Ashley: Yeah, there's a [depth?], in it, you know, to the fantasy world, that acting, it's kind of timeless, right? It can be anything, anywhere, and I feel like when we were doing the voices, we, you know, we didn't want it to be in 2020 or 2024 or whatever, so I think that's how I was most influenced, is, what's the most universal sound or a language, or a mixture of those, that can feel like nobody knows what it is?

Zach: I mean I was obsessed with, I think it's Theseus and the Minotaur, that story, when I was young. Did I just put my foot, I think it's Theseus, it could be Perseus, I can never remember okay?

Audience member: It's Theseus.

Zach: It's Theseus? My man! Thank you. I appreciate it. But I love the symbolism in those types of myths, right? Like, the Minotaur is this half-man, half-beast, who sits in the middle of the labyrinth, and the labyrinth is, of course, your mind, and you are also the Minotaur, and you are also Theseus. But so, getting to see the symbolism that's represented in Dragon Age, and how deep the meaning is, like that, those the stories I've always wanted to tell, ever since I was young, so I, it was a real honor to get to bring this to life.

Jessica: I also, my first, was Lord of the Rings, but I also was very interested in Greek mythology growing up. And, yeah, I think it's that, as Zach said, the symbolism, that you see, and like, I think you really see that in Dragon Age, and I know you know, right, you all, like, know the lore, and go looking for things, and that's really exciting to me. And then, just, yeah, the limitless possibility, right? You're not limited to what people look like, or whether you're human, I don't know, you know what I'm saying, like, that can really can take your mind and the world and the depth of the world anywhere and everywhere. And that's so exciting.

Nick: Yeah, I mean, for me it was The Hobbit, as well, my mom read me The Hobbit, and I would go, 'stop, stop!' And I would run to her closet and put on a pair of her boots, these shiny boots, and wear a cape, and I would go 'okay, okay, carry on' [...], you know, just, I would just, I would just be so in it. And then I'd go like, 'stop, stop, I'm gonna read that bit, I'm gonna read that bit'. And, you know, it was just, it absolutely informed why I'm sitting here today.

Ali: I wish I had better answers. Talking about, instead of yesteryear, talking about recently, I was travelling, and we were in Greece, and I feel like I saw Dragon Age everywhere. Just like an inspiration to travel and look back and, I'm now infatuated with castles. So, actually, it's brought me into this world, instead of me discovering it, you know, a long time ago, this has what's really brought me here.

[?]: Thank you very much.

[?]: Thank you.

Lucy: Thank you for your question.

Audience member: Hello, thank you for answering questions. For the new companions, if you could romance, from your companion's perspective, which older companion would you romance?

Ali: This could get embarrassing!

Zach: I kinda have a thing for The Iron Bull. Yeah, I saw him for the first time when I was looking up some answer to some question I had when I was reading the books, and I was like, 'oh, that awakened something inside of me! Huh! Look at that!' - You guys are gonna leave me hanging after I said that I want to have sex with The Iron Bull?

Jessica: [...] Um, I, I, don't know, honestly, I'm overwhelmed by that question, so [...]

Nick: I guess I'm a little overwhelmed by that question too. I have a particular fondness for Manfred, but, you know that's, that's a very particular relationship. I would say, like, I think what you've done with Solas is really sexy [...]

Zach: Dorian is really cute too. Yeah. [...] the mustache. Dig that guy.

Ali: Well, he's sitting right next to me, so this is a little embarrassing, but every time I heard Emmrich in my cans. Just, woooo. I might be on-board with all of the fans out there for Emmrich. If you'll have me, if you'll have me.

[?]: Thank you.

Panel: Thank you.

Audience member: So, the first game I played was Inquisition, and, this is not a knock, but, because, my reference would be Mass Effect, and I love that series. For Mass Effect 1 to Mass Effect 3, it seems the games was more streamlined. I'm getting the same feel from Inquisition to this one. Does that, what you can expect from gameplay-wise?

John: I mean, I don't think there's any, I don't think it's streamlined, it's. Again, each Dragon Age has been fundamentally different in its gameplay. We've tried things, seeing what works, seeing what didn't. In the case of The Veilguard, just like the other games, you wanna keep that tactical, strategic complexity and make that the centerpiece. And each one we focused on a little bit differently. In the case of this one, I think our skills in particular are some of the best we've done. There's some exciting combinations you do there, so.

Audience member: Thank you so much.

John: No worries.

[?]: Okay. There we are, okay.

Audience member: I was wondering what your favorite aspect was of the character you voiced?

Lucy: Ali, should we start with you this time?

Ali: I mean, so many layers, man, we're talking BioWare characters here! I think some of my favorite things about Lace Harding are the little things. Like, she loves her mom, you know, she loves to write letters home, she's always talking about her mama's soup and stuff like that. I love that relationship. She likes plants, and raising plants, which is inspirational, since I kill them. But just the texture they add to the characters, that's, in general, but for me, yeah, it's those little things that really kinda give me a bunch of stuff to work with in my brain, for bringing these characters to life.

Zach: I love the fact that Lucanis is a good cook. I just imagine him finishing a job and then going home, and, you know, cooking him a meal to kind've calm himself down, but with like the same knife he just used to murder somebody. He cleaned it of course, he cleaned it, but at the same time [...] -

Ali: I recommend my mama's soup.

Jessica: I really enjoyed, we sort've worked to bring, like, a noir element to Neve, and her being a private investigator, and so I really enjoyed leaning into that. And then she's just so dry, you know, like, things really mean a lot to her, but she's not necessarily gonna let you know that, you know what I mean? You have to kind've, like, discover that underneath. And, so I, I related to that, and I love that about her.

Ali: I was gonna say, 'I don't know anyone like that'.

Nick: I loved the, the fact that the writers just took Emmrich and explored the whole idea of death. The whole idea of necromancing, and, I really responded to that, I got into that, and bringing kindness into it, I know that sounds crazy, but it's to not have this idea that death is vulgar or kind've to be, something to be terrified about, but something to actually engage with on so many levels. I just thought the fact that the writers had the courage to do that in a game like this, I thought, it just blew my mind.

[?]: Thank you for the question.

Lucy: I think we have time for a couple more quick ones.

Audience member: Hi, okay, so first of all. Okay, hi, again. So, first of all, my dad just died, so [...]

[?]: Oh, I'm sorry.

Audience member: [...] Thank you. [...] So, [...] what you said about your take on Emmrich, really, really, I appreciated that. So, my question, to, I guess, John, would be, so, lore-wise, mechanically, not like story-telling-wise for the lore, how do you decide what lore goes in what games? Like, just, okay, so like, what decides what goes in Dragon Age 3, what goes in Dragon Age 4, what goes in Dragon Age 90-bajillion? Not from like a story perspective, right, but from, like a, what do we want to do, right?

John: Mhm. I mean it really does come down to, each one, as we build, it's, it's hard to say it as [...] something that we come [...], it's like, 'okay, we're gonna do it this way, this way, this way', mechanically, but, we kind've, we always know the base lore of the franchise, of the IP, and as we start to build the story, we start to see these opportunities to again, [...] speaking mechanically, bring certain elements in that make the most sense with the characters we're building and the story we're telling. We try not to overwhelm by saying a bunch, having a bunch of lore included that's not necessarily critical to the understanding of the story, but we always wanna expand the universe, and expand the IP, so.

Audience member: Thank you.

John: You're welcome.

Ali: And, can we please have a Dragon Age 90-bajillion?

John: I'd like that.

Ali[?]: That'd be amazing.

Audience member: Hi, I'm Matt. I've been a fan of Dragon Age since, actually, The Stolen Throne book, before I even knew there was like a game. And my question was, for the voice actors, one of my favorite things is the party banter. Was there any, like, lines of party banter that you recorded that you can say that just made you just, like, laugh, 'cause some of the party banter is pretty hilarious. Like, is there a certain thing that just sticks in your mind, whether you can say what it is, or just who it was with, like, so I can be on the lookout for it?

Ashley: I have one, it's so not appropriate. Do I have permission to say it?

Ali: That's what I was gonna say.

Zach: Yeah, say it.

Ashley: Listen for "hand-to-bone combat".

Lucy: I mean, do we end it there?

Ali[?]: And, scene.

Lucy: Well thank you so much everyone for coming to the panel. Thank you [...] Fall 2024.

[panel ends]

--

[source: DA:TV ‘Meet The Companions’ panel @ SDCC. BioWare have said that they are going to share the recording of the panel at a later date].

[☕ found this post or blog interesting or useful? my ko-fi is here if you feel inclined. thank you 🙏]

[v1nsmoke]

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐘 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 // 𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐗 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑

oneshot - fallout's john hancock x reader

tw: mentions of drugs (usual hancock activity)

summary: after days of exiting goodneighbor, you and hancock finally get to talk

fandom: fallout

a/n: there is not enough talk about this fella omg… now that liking the ghoul from the fallout show is accepted, i can come forward (i chose the “romance hancock” option every playthrough). no pronouns used, so gender neutral ig? also the inspiration for the title is that one song thats viral on tiktok rn, also galvanized square steel mentioned

tags: -

wc: 0.6k

“Day twenty-five since leaving Vault 111, today is Monday and my location is Diamond City, it’s currently 2:41 PM. Me and my companion are at the noodle shop,” you say, speaking into your Pip-boy. 

Recently, you’ve been documenting every day, usually just a brief summary on that day’s experiences. These experiences consisted of hourly radroach attacks, accidental overdose on jet, or encounters with hostile Mr. Handy’s. Or accidental near-death situations with a deathclaw. That only happened once. 

You weren’t sure anybody would ever hear these, even better, be interested in these daily logs. Your companion seemingly couldn’t care less about these logs, as he ate his portion of ramen next to you. 

“The Institute remains undefeated, and I doubt it will change today, I’m not in the mood for it,” you continue.

“If it depended on your mood, it would be there forever,” Hancock cuts in with his sarcastic remark.

A sigh escapes your lips at his words.

“Maybe I should switch back to Dogmeat and send you back to Goodneighbor,” you reply.

“Now, what good would that do for you?”

“It would spare me from more of these remarks.”

“But can Dogmeat give you this?” He asks as he slides you a jet.

Hesitantly, but you accept it with a smile. 

“John Hancock, the ghoul you are,” you sigh.

A smile creeps onto his features. 

“See? You like me enough.”

“Whatever helps you sleep…”

You’ve been traveling with Hancock for the past week or so, after you accepted the offer of Bobby, who just so happened to lie to you. One thing led from another, and after finishing off Hancock’s bodyguard, you managed to solve the bad blood between the two of you by killing Bobby herself. 

Hancock was useful and good company, helping out where he could and making small talk with you. Not to mention that he was supplying you with a different kind of drug every day. They don’t have that stuff in Vaults…

Last night, the both of you got high as hell in the home you bought with hard-earned caps here, in Diamond City. It was mostly a box, so you decided to illegally expand it with galvanized square steel and eco-friendly wood veneers. So, after the finished construction - that lasted four days with the cheap and friendly workforce including Little John (Hancock) and yourself -, the two of you decided to celebrate.

He plopped down onto the mattress - the construction fee was too much for you to spend even more caps on a normal bed -, resting his back against the wall. You popped open a bottle of Nuka-Cola, taking your place on the mattress next to him.

“So, how do ya like it?” He asks, taking a Jet out of his pocket.

“So far so good,” you reply with a sigh.

“That’s all? Not ‘I love this place more than the Vault’?”

“I do like it more than the Vault, cause you’re here.”

He stays quiet for a few seconds before speaking up.

“That’s good.”

“That’s all? Not ‘Wow I, too, am really glad that I’ve got you and get to share Jet with you and that you defended me from that Deathclaw’?”

He lets out a slight chuckle, hanging his head low. 

“Thank you, then. For these past few days I’ve spent with you. Never thought I would find anybody who would accept me as their companion.”

© v1nsmokes 2024. Do not modify, translate or rewrite.

[lee-laurent]

Don't Go Breakin' My Heart - Luke Hughes

Summary: Luke gets his heart broken

content: children, angst, mentions of breakups, kissing, makeouts, mention of sex but no smut, mentions of using sex to cope with emotions, crying, oc x ex!john marino

wc: 4.6k

notes: PART 7!!! i want to thank everyone that still loves this series :) it means the world to me that there are ppl that enjoy my writing!! anywho... this one is a doozy. it was originally longer, but i've decided to split it into two parts! enjoy!!

Tori felt like shit. She felt like locking herself in her room and never talking to anyone ever again. But she's a mother and sadly that is no longer an option. So instead, she sat on the floor next to Riley's drawing table and helped him colour some pictures.

"What's this one?" she asked, pointing to one of the scribbles on his piece of paper.

"Mama and Dada."

Tori just nodded, letting her emotions get to her before she could tell her son how great his picture was. But Riley didn't seem to care, grabbing his red crayon and scribbling away on his picture of "Dada."

"What colour is that, Ri?"

"Red! Like 'ockey!"

"It is! It's red just like Dada's jersey. You're so smart, baba," she ruffled his hair, trying to stay in the moment.

"Pwetty?"

"Yes! All the colours are so pretty!"

Riley beamed at the praise, his attention fully on his artwork.

"Are you gonna give it to Dada?"

"Yes! Pwsent."

"A present? Wow, you're so nice, Ri-Ri."

Riley's face scrunched up in concentration, the crayon pressed against the page. Her heart ached with love for her son, but also the weight of everything that had happened since she met Luke. The kiss with John kept replaying in her mind, making it almost impossible to focus on the bonding moment they were sharing. She wished she could back and erase what had happened, especially the guilt clawing at the inside of her chest.

"More?" Riley asked, holding up the picture to show her.

"It's perfect, Riley. Dada's gonna love it."

He grabbed another crayon, blue this time, and added more lines to his creation. Tori watched, feeling like she was watching her life unravel in slow motion. How was she going to explain this to Luke? How was she going to keep everything from falling apart? Maybe she would take Riley and move back to Pittsburgh.

But as she watched Riley, so happy and innocent, she knew she had to be strong. Riley would be heartbroken if they went to Pittsburgh and he couldn't see his dad. She couldn't let her mistakes ruin everything, especially not for her baby. She had to fix this, to make things right with Luke, even if it meant facing the consequences of her actions.

"Dada's gonna be so happy with his present," she murmured, more to herself than Riley. She just hoped that, somehow, they could all get through this without ending up more broken than before.

She took a deep breath, "How about we add some yellow?"

Riley's eyes lit up, and he eagerly took the crayon from his mom. Tori watched with pride as he added more colour. She knew that no matter what happened with Luke, her priority was Riley's happiness.

When Riley finished his masterpiece, he looked up at her with a grin. "Done, Mama!"

"It's beautiful, Ri-Ri! Dada's gonna be so proud of you!" she pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Riley carefully set the drawing back down on the table, grabbing a new piece of paper. Tori's phone buzzed and she reached to pick it up. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed it was "Luke <3" flashing across the screen. This was it--the moment she'd been dreading.

"Luke?" she answered, her voice unsteady.

"Hey, Tori. Can we talk?"

Tori swallowed hard, glancing at Riley, who was already starting a new drawing. "Yeah, we can talk. Can you come over?"

There was a pause before Luke answered. "I'll be there in 15."

She looked down at Riley again as Luke hung up. She knew that no matter what happened, she'd shield Riley from it. Not allow herself to yell with him in the room. Riley was her first priority. Always.

~~

When the doorbell rang, Tori jumped, her heart racing. She opened the door to Luke, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Hey."

"Hi," she closed the door behind him, her stomach twisting.

Luke took a glance around the room, his eyes landing on Riley, who was still engrossed in making another drawing. "How's he doing?"

"He's... good. Been working on some art," she replied, her voice tight.

Luke managed a small smile as he walked over to Riley. "Hey, buddy," he greeted, ruffling the toddler's hair. "What're you drawing?"

Riley looked up, his face lighting up at the sight of Luke. "Look 'Uke! Pwsent for Dada!"

Luke's smile faltered for just a moment, but he was quick to recover. "Wow! That's awesome, Ri! I'm sure he'll love it!"

Tori didn't miss the slight change in Luke's demeanor, the way he tried to keep things light for Riley's sake. It only made her feel worse.

"Can we talk?" Luke asked, nodding his head towards the kitchen.

"Of course."

Luke shoved his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the tile of the floor. "I've been distant lately," he began, "And I know you've noticed. I'm sorry, Victoria."

Tori bit her lip, waiting for him to continue.

"I've been trying to figure out if I can handle all of... all of this. Being with you, being in Riley's life, dealing with everything that comes with it," he finally met her eyes. "I didn't want to just jump in without being sure, but I didn't know how to tell you without making you feel like I wasn't committed."

She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, determined to stay strong. "I wish you would've talked to me about it," she whispered. "We could've figured it out together."

"I know," he admitted, taking a step closer to her. "I was scared, Vic. Scared of messing things up, of not being good enough for you or Riley. But I'm here now, and I want to make it right."

"Luke, there's something I need to tell you too," she started, her voice trembling. "Something happened... with John."

Luke's expression shifted, the colour draining from his face as he processed her words. "What do you mean, 'something happened?'"

"We kissed. It was a mistake, Luke, I swear. I didn't mean for it to happen, and I regret it so much."

Luke stared at her, shock and hurt written all over his face. He turned away, running a hand through his hair as he tried to process her words. The silence between them was deafening, and Tori felt like she was suffocating under the tension.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Tori wiped at her eyes, her voice breaking as she replied, "I was scared too, Luke. I didn't want to lose you, and I didn't know how to make it right. But I had to be honest with you, even if it means..."

"Even if it means we don't make it through this?" he finished for her, his voice rough with emotion.

She nodded, heart shattering at the thought. "I don't want to lose you, Luke. But I understand if you need time... or if you can't-"

Luke cut her off, backing out of the kitchen. "I don't know what this means for us, Tori. But I need time. A lot of time. I just..."

"I get it. I, uh, I'll talk to you when you're ready."

Luke just nodded, holding back his tears as he exited the apartment. His mind filled with so many thoughts that he forgot to say 'bye' to the toddler who was waving at him as he left.

Tori felt her world crumbling around her. Luke's reaction, while deserved, was devastating. And she knew she needed to sort these feelings out soon. But how would she do that with Riley needing her constant attention?

She picked up her phone, her fingers hovering over the call button next to John's name. She didn't want to tell him what had happened with Luke--not yet, at least. But she needed the space to breathe, to think.

"Hey, V," John's voice came through the line, sounding surprised. "Everything okay?"

"I was wondering if you could come by and take Riley for a little while. I just... I need some time."

"Of course," he replied without hesitation. "Be there soon."

When John arrived, Riley ran up to him excitedly, holding up the drawing he'd made. "'Ook, Dada! Pwsent!"

John's face lit up with a genuine smile as he knelt down to admire the work. "Wow, bud! This is amazing! Thank you!"

As John lifted Riley into his arms, Tori could see how much Riley adored his father. Seeing them together only made her decisions more difficult. She couldn't ruin Riley's happiness, but what about her happiness?

"Ready to go, big guy?"

Riley nodded, clinging to his father.

"John, can I talk you for a second before you go?"

John shifted his attention to Tori, sensing the seriousness in her voice. "Ri, why don't you get your backpack?"

Riley ran off to his room to find his little backpack, probably filling it with toys in the process.

"What's up, Tori?"

Without thinking, Tori stepped forward and kissed him. It was a desperate, searching kiss, one that held all her confusion and longing she couldn't put into words. She needed to know if there was anything left there, anything worth throwing away for Luke.

John was momentarily taken aback, but then he responded, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, and for a moment, everything else faded away--the pain, the guilt, the confusion.

When they finally pulled apart, Tori stared at him, breathles and conflicted. "I... I just needed to know."

"And did it help? Did it make things clearer for you?" he held her face in his hands, staring right into her eyes.

She fixed her gaze to the floor, "I'm not sure."

"I'll take Ri for as long as you need. Just let me know."

He turned to go to Riley's room when she grapped his wrist, turning him around.

"Stay," her voice trembled.

John hesitated, searching her eyes for a clue to the turmoil inside her mind. The words Tori wanted to say were stuck in her throat. The last thing she wanted was to lead him on, to make promises she wasn't sure she could keep, but the thought of being alone now felt unbearable.

"Please," she whispered. "Just for a little bit."

He nodded, gently squeezing her hand. "Okay, I'll stay."

Tori released his wrist, leading him to the living room, the air thick with unspoken words.

"Ri will be okay playing in his room for a bit."

John nodded, his eyes never leaving her. "Tori, you don't have to explain anything right now. I'm here for you, whenever you need."

His words only made her feel more conflicted. How could she sit here, next to the father of her child, after what had just happened with her boyfriend? Was he even her boyfriend anymore? And yet, here was John, offering her support without asking for anything in return.

"I don't know what I'm doing," she admitted. "Everything's messed up, and I'm making it worse."

John reached out, intertwining their fingers. "You're doing the best you can. None of this is easy, and it's okay to feel lost."

Tori turned her head away, not wanting John to see her cry, but he gently cupped her cheek, turning her face back towards him.

"Don't hide from me, V," he said softly. "I've seen you at your best and your worst. You don't have to pretend with me."

That broke her. The tears she'd been trying to hold in, spilled over. She let out a shaky breath, letting everything crash down on her. John pulled her into his arms, holding her close as she cried, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"I'm scared, John. I don't want to lose Riley, or you, or Luke."

John pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "You're not going to lose Riley, V. And as for me... I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

She clung to him, still feeling guilty. She didn't know how long they'd sat there cuddling, but eventually, her tears began to subside, leaving her feeling drained but a little more at peace.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. You're the mother of my only child, Tori. I'm here to help you figure out everything."

"I just... I need time to think. To decide what's best for me and Riley."

"And you've got that time. Look I don't know what's got you feeling like this. But you're not alone."

"Can we... just sit here for a while? I don't want to be alone right now."

"Of course."

Tori rested her head on John's chest, feeling the tension slowly leave her body. She had no idea what the future held for her and Luke; but, for now she let herself find comfort in John's embrace, knowing that for at least for this moment, she wasn't alone.

~~

The next morning, John felt a sense of unease as he left Tori's apartment. The night had been filled with emotional turmoil, but he had stayed with Tori, because she needed someone, and he didn't want her to feel alone. They hadn't crossed any lines after that kiss, but the fact that he'd spent the night at her place could easily be misunderstood--especially by one Mr. Luke Hughes.

John shook off the thought as he got into his car, trying to focus on the day ahead. Practice. He'd already texted Lindy to let him know he was running late, but he wasn't looking forward to facing the guys in the locker room, especially not Luke.

When he finally walked into the Devils' locker room, he could feel the eyes of his teammates on him. John wasn't one to shy away from attention, but today felt different. There was an air of suspicion, that hung over the room.

Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Nico called out with a grin, breaking the silence.

John smirked, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, yeah, I know I'm late. Don't worry, I'll make it up on the ice."

"Where were you, Marino?" Jack chimed in, not letting it go. "You usually don't roll in this late unless something's up."

John hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room. He knew there was no easy way to say it, but lying would only make things worse. "I, uh... I spent the night at Tori's."

The room went quiet. It was the kind of quiet that made you feel like everyone was waiting for something to happen.

Luke, had been tying his skates, suddenly froze. His eyes snapped up to meet John's, and the fury in them was unmistakable. He shot to his feet, fists clenched at his sides. "What did you just say?"

John held up his hands, trying to diffuse the situation before it escalated. "Luke, it's not what you think-"

But Luke wasn't having it. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, shoving John hard in the chest. "You spent the night at her place? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Luke, calm down," Jack interjected, stepping in between them, but Luke was too far gone.

"No, Jack, stay out of this!" Luke snapped, his voice raw with anger. "You think you can just waltz in here and tell me you spent the night with Tori after everything that's happened? What the hell were you thinking, John?"

John's jaw tightened. He understood Luke's reaction, but the accusation still stung. "I wasn't trying to hurt you, Luke. She needed someone, and I was there. That's all."

Luke wasn't buying it. His breathing was heavy, and his fists still clenched. "Bullshit! You've been trying to get back with hers since the moment I showed up. And now you're just... what? Moving in on her because I wasn't there?"

"That's not what happened, and you know it!" John spat back, his own temper flaring now. "I'm Riley's dad, Luke. I was trying to help her out!"

"By staying the night?" Luke's voice was full of sarcasm and disbelief. "You knew we were having issues, and you used it to your advantage. You've always been a selfish prick!"

John's patience snapped. "And you think you're any better? You've been so focused on your own doubts that you've pushed her right back to me. So maybe you should look in the mirror before blaming me for everything!"

Luke lunged at him, and the locker room erupted into chaos. Their teammates rushed to pull them apart, Jack and Nico holding Luke back while Dougie and Dawson grabbed John.

"Enough!" Nico shouted, trying to get control of the situation. "This isn't the place for this shit!"

But Luke wasn't listening. He was seething, his eyes locked on John. "You're dead to me, Marino. Stay the hell away from me, and stay the hell away from Tori!"

John, breathing heavily, didn't reply. The tension between them could've been cut by a knife, and it was clear it wasn't going to be resolved easily.

Lindy walked in just as the chaos was settling down, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. "What the hell is going on in here?" he barked.

"Nothing, coach," Nico quickly covered, trying to defuse the situation before it got any worse. "Just a little disagreement. We'll handle it."

Lindy didn't look convinced, but he nodded curtly. "Handle it fast. We've got practice in five. And I don't want any of this shit spilling onto the ice."

He walked out, but everyone knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

~~

John wasn't sure why he decided to go to Tori's after practice. Maybe it was because he wanted to see Riley or maybe it was because he felt the need to protect his family after his dispute with Luke. His emotions were running high and he felt an intense urge to be with Riley, to connect with the one person in his life who brought him genuine joy amid the chaos.

When he walked in, Tori was in the kitchen, trying to distract herself with mundane chores. She looked up, surprised but grateful to see him.

"Hey."

"Hey. Riley's in his room. Playing dinosaurs I think. He'd love to see you."

John opened the door, finding Riley sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by plastic dinosaurs.

"DADA!" he scrambled to his feet, running over to John and throwing his arms around his legs.

"Hey, buddy!" his heart swelled with love for his son. "What're you up to?"

"Pwaying! "Oo pway, Dada?"

"Of course I do," John replied, joining Riley on the floor.

"Dino 'venture!"

"Oh are they going on a dino adventure?"

"Yes! Dino 'venture!"

"Rawr!" John growled playfully.

"RAWR!"

"Wow! You're a scary dinosaur, Ri!"

"No! No scawy! Just Wiley."

"Oh thank goodness it's you, Riley! I thought there was a scary dinosaur in my Riley's room!"

They continued to play dinos, Riley making sure his dad knew that he didn't need to be scared and that they were just toys. The weight of the world was lifted off John's shoulders as he spent time with his son. Riley's laughter lifted his spirits instantly and reminded him of how much he loved his son.

Tori watched from the doorway for a few minutes. Seeing the genuine joy John brought into Riley's life stirred something in Tori. It was a stark reminder of why she had fallen for John in the first place--his effortless love and his ability to bring light into her life during rough times.

After a couple hours of playing, Riley was starting to yawn. John helped him get his pjs on as Tori prepped his bottle. Tori watched as they read dino books together as Riley began to drift off. John tucked him in, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Night, Ri-Ri. I love you," he whispered, going to join Tori in the living room.

"Thank you for coming by tonight. Riley loves spending time with you," she grinned, setting her book down on the coffee table.

"I needed it too. More than you know," he grinned, reaching out to hold her hand.

"John…" she started, "I don't know what to do anymore. Everything feels like a mess."

"I know, V. But right now, all I want is to be here for you. For both of you."

Tori's facade crumbled. She had been holding back her feelings, trying to figure out her emotions. But now, with John so close (and after seeing him bond with Riley), it was hard to resist the pull. She leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close.

They shared a kiss filled with the desperation and longing they both felt. It deepened quickly, and before either of them knew it, they were laying on the couch making out. Tori's hands in John's hair and John's wrapped about her waist.

John was the first to stop, helping Tori up as he led them to her bedroom. Their kisses growing more fervent. They fell back onto the bed together, and for the first time in a long time, Tori took her shirt off and laid back with John hovering over her. His touch was both comforting and electrifying, filled with a sense of familiarity. And Tori was surprised to say that making love felt like they were mending all the broken pieces between them.

Afterward, they lay together in silence, Tori's head resting on John's chest, her leg thrown over his. She couldn't deny the connection that they shared. They both knew that fucking didn't solve their problems, but in that moment, they felt connected in a way they hadn't since they found out they were having a baby together. And for now, this was the only way Tori knew how to bring that feeling back.

~~

Tori woke up the next morning, the warmth of John's body next to hers. The night had been a whirlwind of emotions, but now, as sunlight filtered through the curtains, she found a sense of peace. Her thoughts ran to Riley, who was still asleep in his room.

She slipped out of bed quitely, not wanting to disturb John. As she made her way to Riley's room, she was greeted by the sight of her son snuggled under his hockey-themed blanket, his Winnie the Pooh clutched in his arms, his face peaceful and serene.

She gently shook him awake, knowing that he wouldn't be able to nap later if he slept in, leaving her with an irritable nightmare.

"Good morning, baby," she whispered, brushing some hair from his face.

"Mornin', Mama," his tiny hands reaching up for a hug.

Tori lifted him from his crib and carried him to the kitchen. She was eager to start the day, to make it as perfect as possible. The dream she had been chasing for so long seemed to be within reach. John and Riley together felt like she'd finally gotten the ideal family she had always envisioned.

She set Riley up with breakfast, watching as he happily dug into his cheerios and sliced strawberry. Tori busied herself preparing a fresh pot of coffee, her mind racing with thoughts of the future. She imagined what her life could look like as a picture-perfect family, with John and Riley by her side. It felt right. It felt like she'd always wanted it to be since she first found out about Riley's existence.

John joined them in the kitchen, his presence bringing normalcy and comfort with it. He kissed Tori on the cheek, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Morning, big guy."

"Mornin', Dada!" Riley exclaimed.

They enjoyed breakfast together, and Tori couldn't help but revel in the warmth and closeness of their family unit. It was like a dream come true. Riley's little giggles and John's easy banter made her feel more relaxed than she had in ages. She was living the life she's always dreamed of.

As she showered, she imagined their future. Family picnics, holidays together, and cozy evenings spent at home. The idea of a perfect family with John seemed so tangible that it was hard to consider anything else. The dream was intoxicating.

In the midst of her euphoria of spending a day at home with her family, the idea of reaching out to Luke didn't come to mind once. The idea of confronting the complexities of their relationship seemed distant compared to the joy she was feeling with her boys.

That evening as she sat on the couch with John, his arms wrapped around her waist, Riley playing happily with his cars, she felt so much fulfillment. She was determined to hold onto this feeling, no matter what the future tried to throw her way.

~~

Luke sat in the dark of his bedroom, the only light coming from the TV across from his bed. A show was playing, but he wasn't paying attention, zoning out and losing focus every couple minutes. The rage he had felt in the locker room had gone down and now was just a flicker in his chest. He felt more betrayal and confusion now than anger.

How could Tori do that? How could John, someone he used to see as a teammate he could look up to, stab him in the back? Spend the night with his girlfriend? Luke thought over every moment he'd spent with Tori and Riley, wondering it was all just a lie.

He felt betrayed by both Tori and John. Tori, who he had fallen for deeply and quickly, had kissed another man. And not just any man, her ex-boyfriend, the father of her child--while Luke was trying to figure out if he even belonged in her life. And John, a teammate and supposed friend, had gone behind his back. It felt like the rug had been pulled from under him, and he was left flailing his arms as he lost his balance.

Luke had always prided himself on keeping his cool, not being as quick to temper as his brothers, but this? This was too much. The frustration of trying to fit into this ready-made family, the doubts he had about being there for both Riley and Tori, and now this-- it all came crashing down on him. And he didn't know how to process it.

Jack knocked on his door, letting himself in without waiting for an answer. "Hey man. You okay?"

Luke shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. His throat was tight with the effort of holding back tears and keeping his composure.

"I get it. This sucks. It's messed up. But you gotta keep your head, okay? Don't let Marino and Tori mess with you. You need to focus on you and what you want."

"What I want?" Luke managed, his voice hoarse. "What I want is to go back to when things were simple. Before all this... this bullshit."

"I know. But you can't. You've got to deal with it now. What do you want to do? Do you still want to be with her?"

Luke's heart ached at the question. He wanted to be with Tori; that much was clear. He was in love with her. But how could he be with someone who kissed another man--her ex, no less-- while they were still trying to figure things out? Could he trust her again? Would things ever be the same?

"I don't know, Jack. I don't know if I can do this."

Jack just nodded, offering silent support to his brother. Luke was at a crossroads, and he had no idea which direction to take.

For now, all he knew was that he needed more space-- from Tori, from John, from everyone. He needed time to think, to process, and to figure out what the hell he was going to do next.

[ladylooch]

Odds were against us - John Marino

A/N: My submission for @wyattjohnston Winter Fic Exchange 2k24! This is the first time I have participated in a fic exchange and wow has it been really fun for me! Thank you so much, Demi, for being a gracious host and your rockstar organization!

@pcttymcrlecu I hope you love this as much as I enjoyed creating it for you. Also, I am IN LOVE with the song inso for this. I listened to it on repeat the entire time I was working on this. Thank you for sharing 🥰

Song Inspo: Solider by James TW

Word Count: 2.5k

The odds were against you. 

Well, maybe not right away. You did grow up two houses down from each other. 

But once you moved away for college, the world seemed to keep you apart as much as it flirted with the idea that you two could be together. 

Growing up, it was the Masschusettes version of the three musketeers: John, Paul, and you. There was never a Marino brother around without you. Living on the same street had great perks, like a hockey net to shoot at, a ton of legos, and endless nights spent on their backyard play set.

From the beginning, John and you had a connection. Even as his twin brother was supposed to know him the best, you always seemed to be on the same page with your buddy. For years growing up, you and John had been tango-ing with will they, won't they, before he went to Harvard and you went to theUniversity of Pittsburgh. The next three years, every time you were both home, the tango continued. Both dating other people, never wanting to ruin the friendship, finding excuses for why you could never talk about the elephant in the room. 

Then, John left Harvard after his junior year to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins. You were thrilled to show him the city! You took him to your favorite restaurants and introduced him to your college friends. It was you sitting next to his brother and his parents, in a freshly pressed Marino jersey, as he did his solo rookie lap in black and yellow. 

It was you who left Pittsburgh a year later.

While others in your major wanted to be at Google and Microsoft, you wanted to use your computer science degree for good. When the call came for your dream job at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, you knew you had to decide. You loved John, but he didn’t know, and it was hard to imagine a life where you stayed on the sidelines for potential. So before you decided, you nudged the situation to see what John would say when he was faced with the possibility of losing you.

“I got a job offer!” You exclaimed to him at happy hour. 

“Whoa! Of course you did! You’re so cool.” He puts his chin in his hand, giving you googly, heart eyes in admiration. He is joking, but it puts a silly smile on your face. He sits back up, taking a sip of his beer, waiting expectantly. “So tell me everything. Will you get an office? How close will you work to the arena? And can I come to have lunch with you every day because that is a requirement. We have spent too much time apart.”  Your stomach drops out of your body. You look away, taking in a heavy breath. 

“That is the one downside.” You bite your lip, then continue. “It’s not here.”

“Oh? Is it like out in the boonies or Philly?”

“No. Like Colorado.”

Surprise slaps across John’s face. Then he looks away, trying to gather himself quickly.

“But you just got here and maybe I shouldn’t go...” You trail off. You hold your breath, wanting John to say something. You know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. But a yearning inside of you begs for John to tell you to stay with him in Pittsburgh. 

“You should go. This is everything you’ve been wanting. You deserve this.” John’s words are everything he should say, but they fucking sting. Tears build in your eyes and you nod. “I’m proud of you.” John finishes with a dainty whisper. He licks his lips, looking away. “Look at us.” He tries for a laugh but it comes out like a cough. “Both of our dreams are coming true.” 

You want to ask him why it feels like your chest is imploding?

But you don’t. 

Instead, you hug your childhood best friend while telling yourself how selfish it would be to confess you’re in love with him before you go

- - - 

Three years later, so much has changed since you hugged John on that bar stool. You have been promoted twice and received national recognition for your work in solar energy. John had rough seasons in Pittsburgh, but has found a new, comfortable place in New Jersey. Paul is with the L.A. Kings in California. You make it a point to meet up with John and Paul when John visits on his West Coast road trips. John and you connect when he is in Colorado. When you’re back home, you make the commute to Jersey and fly home out of Newark. Otherwise, you’re texting daily, sending GIFs and memes and tiktoks back and forth while keeping each other abreast of your busy life. 

You’re closer than ever. More in love with him than ever too. But how would it ever work? 

The repetitive thoughts consume you as you stir the queso you had been making for your taco night at your new home in Golden. It has been a long, competitive process to get this house, but you are so proud of it. A dream home to match the dream job that the dream boy will see tonight. 

A knock sounds on the door. The dream boy waits for you on the other side of the wood.

“Hi!” You squeal when you see John. “Welcome to MY home!”

“Uh, Ma’am, where is the owner of this home? You’re too young and single? It couldn’t be you?” He jokes, then pulls you in for a tight hug. “Thought we could celebrate.” He tilts the bottle of wine at you. It is nothing fancy. In fact, it's Cook’s, the bottle you two had stolen from your parents’ bar to have after prom on the beach.

“Let’s get this expensive gal in a nice lil ice bath.” 

“There is nothing nice about an ice bath. Or that wine.” He snorts, shrugging his coat off. 

“You can put that in the closet right there.” You point to his right. He opens the door, settling his jacket between two of yours. A warmth spreads through your body at his clothes mingling together with yours, gathering each other's scents.

“Don’t dawdle in the doorway, Johnny. Come into my kitchen!” You’re giddy as John's sock covered feet slide across your wood floors to join you in the open, modern space. 

“Gas range?” John oos and aws at all the fixtures you show him. He hypes and gasps at all the right moments. Your cheeks hurt from grinning as you become Vanna White against your refrigerator. 

“Go best friend!” He cheers as you do a little spin and dance for him. You laugh at the end.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” You tell him honestly.

“Me too. Glad we got in early.” He opens his arms for you. The weight of you settles against his chest, creating a bonded connection. John squeezes tight, his chin on the top of your head. He works you both into a sway, enjoying the weight of each other’s arms. This version of John is your favorite. The one who blurs the lines between best friends and lovers. You breathe in the fresh scent of his cologne, then wait, making him be the one to break your embrace. 

“So is there an upstairs?” He wonders. 

“There is! They gave me two whole levels!” 

“What! Scam. It’s all a scam.” 

“Look at my wall of pictures.” You point out as you head up the stairs. There is a whole gallery wall of frames and people, many of which John is in. Paul too. 

“I know these people!” He grins, looking at their decades of memories. “My favorite night.” He points to a picture. It’s the New Year's Eve you were pretty sure you almost kissed. 

“Mmm, it’s up there for sure.” You agree, waiting for him. His eyes trace the memory like he wants to burn it into the membrane of his brain. Then he turns to you, grabbing your hand and leading you up the stairs, becoming the tour guide. 

“So up here we have uh…” He looks around. “An office!” 

“Oh! And a standing desk?! She works on her fitness.” You fill in. 

“We have very different definitions of fitness.”

“I hope so, NHL player.”

“And over here,” He tugs you by your fingers. “We have a guest room. You would never have blue as your color. It is not boring enough. This can’t be your room.”

“Shut up! I love neutrals! They’re in!” You shove at him as he howls with laughter. 

“Paul’s room for when he comes to visit. Your parents and sister too.” You can’t help but notice John doesn’t include himself in that.

“Oh here we go.” He gets to your room, pushing the cracked door open to expose your favorite space in the house. He pauses in the doorway, taking it in.

Two lamps on either side of the bed illuminate the room as the sun sets behind the mountains outside. Your white walls are warmed by their dim light. The bed is made with a plush, white comforter and a light tan blanket draped along the foot of the bed. The walls had been painted the faintest of olive green. Various shades of cream and tan pillows create the look of a bed you want to jump into to mess it all up. A black and white picture of waves sliding onto a Nantucket beach is above the headboard. 

John has gone still and silent. You are nervous as he continues to look around the comfy oasis you have created as your escape from the world. You were meticulous in your quest for homey, comfort items that would dull the sometimes harsh world out there. Does he hate it? 

“What do you think?” You finally ask.

“Honestly?” He murmurs.

“Yes!” You giggle, trying to cross the distance you feel separating you.

“I wish this was our house.” 

You freeze. John keeps looking at the bed, eyes ravenous over the clean bedding like he is seeing something else. 

“I wish this was our bed.” He sighs. “I wish I was the one who got to sleep here with you because this is so clearly your dream house and I wish I was your dream man.” He stands there with his hands in his pockets, still not looking at you. This is when you realize he really doesn’t know. How does he not know?

“You are.” You whisper. 

It’s John’s turn to be still and dumbfounded. 

“You’re my dream man, Johnny.” 

You bite your lip and John rushes towards you. His hands grip your face, tugging you into his lips. Your head falls back, delirious at his mouth finally being on yours. He holds your head up, working his lips to an angle so his tongue can devour your mouth. You never want to breathe again. His tongue and lips on yours are everything you’ve ever wanted. How will you stop? 

Need takes over and you break apart begrudgingly. John rests his forehead on yours, thumbs delicately stroking your cheek bones. 

“I’m in love with you, Johnny.” 

“Good. Cause I am deliriously in love with you. And I’m sick of not telling you that every day.” You grin, inhaling heavily as tears fill your eyes. 

“How are we going to do this?” 

“I don’t know.” John sighs, gripping your face tighter in his fingers, like that will stop the rest of reality from intruding on your moment. 

“I’m scared. We live so far apart. I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”

“We’ll have to be brave, sweetheart.”

Being brave is your second act.

The next 6 months you navigate the journey from friends to lovers while trying to mitigate the 1,700 miles that separate you. A 2 hour time zone difference weighs heavily on your relationship, along with two careers that threaten to ground you before your relationship even has a chance to take off. Then the off-season comes and John decides to train in Colorado with local NHL players at altitude, convinced it will give him that next step in his game. 

The season begins again and your bed is as empty as it was before. You’re miserable. Lonelier than you’ve ever been and it spews mean thoughts in your brain at all hours of the night. John feels the same. You both discuss it openly, but neither of you have solutions for this next roadblock. Something will have to give, you both know it, but neither of you can speak it.

Right before Thanksgiving, your fist feels heavy against his Jersey City apartment door. He isn’t expecting you, but the relieved sigh when he has you in his arms tells you how welcome you are here. He ushers you in, pasting his lips against your skin as you try to set your bag down. 

“What are you doing here?”

“Accepting my job offer.” John bolts up.

“No.”

“Yes.” 

“No, babe. Don’t do this for me.”

“I’m not going to pretend it isn’t because of you. Of course it is. But this is a really good career move for me too. We can have it all.”

“Your house-” 

“-will always just be my house. I’m ready to upgrade to our house.” You lock your hands around his neck, fingers guzzling up every bit of warmth from his skin. “I know what I want to do in my life and it’s to be where you are.” John groans then hugs you into his chest desperately.

In another month, you cut those 1700 miles down to 0. You and John move into your new place together. While you’re unpacking the neutral bedroom decor he makes fun of, John walks in then pops down to one knee. 

“Can’t wait another minute.” He confesses. “I’ve been downstairs trying to talk myself out of doing it and why? For what? Because there isn’t an audience? There isn’t a photographer? Your nails aren’t done? That’s not us. This is us. So, marry me?”  Your bottom lip quivers. A blink sends tear tracks down your face as you nod enthusiastically, telling the man, who is still your dream boy, “YES” you will marry him!

The wedding is a fast plan, you need to do it in the off-season and neither of you care for anything super fancy anyway. It’s a quaint ceremony on a similar Nantucket beach that hangs above your now shared bed. You and John stare in awe as you take turns reciting written vows that may as well be a decades long love letter to each other.

“Let’s keep betting on us, baby.” John finishes. You laugh, nodding vigorously. 

When it’s time to seal the deal, John winds his hand around your waist, then tilts you down, kissing you so fully that you’re dazed when he brings you back up. 

Like it has for thousands of years, a kiss between two lovers seals your fate. 

It’s been decided.

A forever commitment.

One that binds you and John as partners, who keep bending the odds and winning anyway.

[weirdmageddon]

I'm taking the plunge because why not:

What are some headcanons regarding small, silly things that happened during the 3 year trips on the Golden Yard and Meteor?

oh lets go i love this sort of ask. no meteor crew stuff sorry im kinda tired but

on the prospitian ship:

the crocodiles are never recovering from that shit bro. un-stonks

alchemizing sessions. probably with mundane household devices like toothbrushes or something. patterned toilet paper. davesprite absolutely remakes the sbahjifier for himself but i think he also likes to hand draw them from time to time. also john and jade alchemizing bathing suits and going swimming on lolar and hanging with the turtles. casey can come too. floaties on casey

the sbahj canon diverges. so many sbahj in-jokes exclusive to the prospitian ship. unfortunately the retcon make it so none of this ever happens :(

he’d never say it but davesprite likes it when john and jade fall asleep on him doing whatever, it makes his presence feel wanted and appreciated by the people he sacrificed his self and humanhood for good for. sorry for immediately going into davesprite but good god is he tragic. oh yeah heres more. he’s still part dave and shares the same history with john and jade that alpha timeline dave does. john gave him his shades on his 13th birthday in december 2008, he sent john the con air bunny and jade a physical copy of sbahj as furries in the mail. he is identical to alpha dave in relation to his friends before the timeline splits off. dont forget that 4/13/2009 was also his first time meeting his online friends john and jade in person, even after 4 months chronologically of sburb grinding—nearly a year with all the time shenanigans—and going back to day 1, since john and jade were dead in his timeline

tries not to cry cries anyway but only when he knows theyre asleep. pov when the weight of everything suddenly hits you (you are an emotionally repressed 14 year old)

also because he’s fucking fluffy and absolutely knows it and probably thinks to himself “yeah this is the best possible use for these otherwise pointless breast feathers” and yall already know he craves cloth mother plus probably has nesting instincts

(source)

adding on to that also i think people forget sprites are actually fucking LONG and his wingspan is fucking huge he could be a pillow and a blanket at the same time

i wrote davesprite jade cuddles and john thinking about mushrooms and davesprite thinking about how they contribute to the ecnonony

^ john toked too hard on the lowas mushrooms by accident one time

it feels like pajama parties would be a common occurence just the vibes im getting. literally jade is seen sitting on a pile of squiddles and theres plushies fucking everywhere you know they got up to plushie mayhem. do you think they ever alchemized them. look how lived in that room is they all contributed something

jade resumes gardening :) but theres no sun :( but she alchemizes some plastic plants :D but its not the same :(

canonically the imps in johns house just gave up tormenting him and started hanging out and having snacks on movie night

PENIS!

imagine looking up into the sky and seeing a giant casey the size of a planet sleep. jade resizes stuff for fun like this just to introduce some novelty to their lives

this is something

davesprite has beavis and butthead do america (1996) in his collection somewhere in his apartment on lohac

yall theyre watching johns fuckin spongebob dvd box collection. you KNOW john owns the spongebob squarepants movie (2004). and the best thing is it brings all of them together without any of them objecting. they all love spongebob

when the episode jellyfish jam comes on johns like “wow, pretty much this exact scenario happened to me with the imps.” (arthur flashback sfx)

DAVESPRITE: yeah well you didnt have a giant sound system did you

jade warps dave’s bro’s sound system from lohac and sizes it up. they put on stadium rave and the entire fucking house shakes

[candysparks]

Even more of Demon! Reader because why not?

[I'm thinking about giving Reader a love interest! You see, I really adore John Constantine. I think his drunk and terrible habits are stupidly charming. Also he's an exorcist and constantly deals with demons, ghosts, cursed spirits, and all that other cool stuff] Content warnings for Cult mentions, fighting, and alcohol.

I want to think that their first meeting was slightly chaotic. Like, Percy just got kidnaped by another cult who was trying to kill him and sever the ties between him and Reader. Why? Idk probably so they could 'free' Reader and make them somehow indebted to them? I haven't worked all of it out yet.

So basically Reader is starting to get pissed off at the fact that these losers keep trying to hurt Percy. So they flip the hell out and start beating these guys up, eating one or two because they are feeling particularly hungry, and in bursts John Constantine.

Dude is, obviously, a bit buzzed and had stumbled into the basement by pure accident. Man just wanted to find more booze in the bar, how was he supposed to know that there was a group of cultist in the basement of the bar?? That's just poor luck and poor planning on both parts.

He takes one look at the slightly crying child and then back to Reader, who is currently ripping some guys head off, and lets outa sigh. From his quick glance he can tell that the kid and the weird demon were the ones being attacked. How you may ask? Because both have chains on and the rest of the people are wearing dumbass cloaks that he's pretty sure they got of fucken Bamazontm.

John does a wave of his hand, golden magic coursing through the air and unlocks the chains on Reader and Percy. Percy takes this chance to dodge the few standing cultist running at him and hides behind Readers back.

Percy, having been raised by Reader for roughly two years at this point, takes up the broken chair and starts beating one of the cultist with it like this is WWE. Reader gives Percy a quick glance, just to see if he's okay, and lets out a laugh. They taught him well.

"Smart kid you've got there" John says as he casually lights a cigarette with his free hand. He doesn't want to take part in whatever is going on here on the account that he's tired and in need of drink. Of course nothing goes as he wants because he spots one of the cultist aiming a gun at the kid, so now he has to act.

In a quick wave of his hand and a quick mutter of a spell, Percy is no longer in harms way. In fact now he's sitting right behind John on the stairs. The gun fires but the bullet gets jammed and Reader punches the guy so hard he flies across the room.

"Just sit right ere' kid" John says before he takes a few steps into the basement room. He picks up a broken bottle, giving it a glance of pity before using it to stab a cultist.

The broken bottle is quickly shattered with the force of his jab, leaving it useless. But John isn't about to get his ass handed to him in a poor bar fight like this, so he starts swinging with his own fists. This catches Readers eyes.

Reader gets smitten almost immediately. In the old dull lighting his hair seems to light up like gold. And the way he fights? The blood splattered on his cheek as he continues to fight with his own hands and his magic? For a demon and kid he's never met before?

Oh wow. If nobody's going to lay claim to that fine piece of human flesh then Reader will. But then the fight ends all too quickly and Percy comes rushing back to Reader, embracing them in a bright hug as the two of them turn back to John.

They both share a look, nodding in a silent agreement of what exactly? Ehh not for us to know just yet. But Percy then breaks off from Reader and tugs on Johns trench coat, playing up the innocent act just a smidge as he thanks him.

John lets out a huff before patting his head with a gentle hand. Reader gives John a pat on the shoulder with a toothy smile. They say something along the lines of 'you fight good' before the three slip into a casual conversation.

Course as the three leave the place John no longer has a worry about looking for any more booze. Reader had given him a wink as they gave it to him as a gift. He takes a look at the new bottle of whiskey in his hands, seems like something straight from hell with the way there's literal fire in the bottle but he doesn't mind.

If Johns heart did a little 'pitter-patter' when Reader patted his shoulder and flashed him that wink then that's no ones business than his own.

This probably could have been written better but I'm feeling a bit lazy. Also I feel like if Reader didn't pick John Constantine then they'd probably pick Barry or Diana. I mean, I don't even have to explain it. Its Barry Allen and Diana Prince. What's not to like about them?

But you also might be thinking, "Why John Constantine? All he does it drink, smoke, and fight demons and the like." And it's really simple. I think him and Reader would be the definition of "Angry Drunk Bastard x Annoying Cosmic Horror" and I find that really silly. Also because I, as said before, find him annoyingly charming.

How does Percy fit into all this? Percy is actually a little shit. I mean lets be real here he was raised by Reader of all people. He's gotta be at least somewhat of a little shit to others. Plus he never really got over the death of his mother so he's clinging on tight to Reader. He doesn't really care if Reader dates because he knows he's always going to be their top priority.

So when he sees that look Reader gives John from across the basement, he doesn't really feel too upset about it. Percy sees how John acts throughout the fight, he knows that a good fighter is what really get's Readers attention in the romance department.

But if you were to ask him on a deeper level then Percy would say it's simply because he thinks John would be a great addition to their small family.

[mee3pp]

farmhouse pt9

Cw: swearing, father daughter verbal and physical fight (not abuse)

“Wow ya didn’t strike me as an artist” You hum taking a bite of the sandwich as you sit across from Johnny. The Cafe is the perfect amount of quiet and busy so it’s not too awkward but also you can hear your thoughts.

“I wouldn’t say I’m an artist lass, i just like drawin’” Johnny chuckles sipping his coffee. His sentence makes you scoff because the pictures of his drawings that he showed you are beautiful, stunning even. “Bullshit mate ya drawins’ are amazin” You gleem. Johnny grins at you, he’s not really listening to you more admiring your beauty and he can’t lie if he said he wasn’t hard as a rock right now. You’re absolutely stunning with your rough features that you no doubt got from your father. Those cold commanding eyes that soften when you’re around your loved ones it’s something so captivating about them.

Your heart sinks when you hear the faintest sound of the all too familiar voice of Simon. Who is supposed to be keeping your father busy. Holy shit are they coming closer?

“Johnny…” You hum trying not to panic “did you also hear Simon? Or was that just me?” You say your rough cockney voice going up a few octaves. Johnny and you freeze when you both hear your father and Simon enter the coffee shop thankfully you two are seated at the back. “Fuck” Johnny whispers. You manage not to panic as you hope they won’t spot you.

Well your prayers and hopes weren’t answered because unfortunately your father turns around and looks up making direct eye contact with Johnny. His eyes harden when he recognises that all to familiar hair of yours and that little squeak you make. Price slowly approaches the table “Johnny please don’t tell me you are on a date with my daughter” Price says holding in all his anger because he’s out in public. “Ahhh….errr…” is all Johnny can get out before you whip your head around. “Piss off” you hiss.

“I told you two to stay away from each other, especially you John” Price growls as he stands infront of you and Johnny on your gravel driveway outside your house.

“And I told you we are adults” You growl back. Simon and Johnny would be lying if they said you both weren’t fucking scary right now. “He’s my soldier who is no good for you” price says pursing his lips. “I don’t care” you Growl balling your fists and stepping closer. “You’re a fuckin bad man John you can’t even follow simple instructions” Your father growls at Johnny as he tries to move towards your beloved Johnny you side step blocking him. “Uh ah, I’m the problem here you ain’t focusing on him” You hiss your father’s fists ball up too. Once again you are both toe to toe snarling and growling.

“I can go on dates with Johnny if I want. I ain’t a little girl for fucks sake” You snarl “I ain’t even fuckin him, we shared a bed ONE time when we were shitfaced” that makes your dad even angrier. It usually wouldn’t but you and Price have the same temper… extremely short and explosive. You both inch impossibly closer to each other. “You’re fuckin disobedient John, you’ve crossed a line now” Price hisses towards Soap. That’s what blew you over the edge you were the first to swing taking a quick step back before swinging at him and of course your dad swings back hitting you in the face. This happens about two swings more before Simon and Johnny pull you off each other. “Wot the fuck?” Simon yells as he holds back Price and Johnny holds back you. Your father and you are both now sporting bloody noses and a split lip on your end and a nice incoming black eye on his end.

You both are dragged inside into separate rooms to ice your wounds. “What the actual fuck was that?” Soap asks as he looks at you. You shrug putting the ice to your nose. “Ain’t the first time, Prices aren’t known for a great temper”.

“Yer can’t go fightin’ yer own dad Bonnie” Soap sighs kissing your forehead. “He had it coming that bitch”

[ I feel like this wasn’t long enough but oh well 🤷‍♀️]

Taglist:

@tabbslouuformer

@thepowers-kat-be

@amberpanda99

[soft-pine]

spn20rewatch: 1.21 salvation

wow okay. okay okay.

(i fear my prey-dean-core brain kicked in an cannot turn off so apologies that this one is gonna be slightly less hinged maybe)

anyway on that note. something about john saying this:

This ends, now. I'm ending it. I don't care what it takes.

and then dean coming into focus behind his shoulder really gets me.

there's so many cutting things about dean, sam, and john's conversation in the motel room.

JOHN: All right, something like this starts happening to your brother, you pick up the phone and you call me. DEAN: Call you? Are you kidding me? Dad I called you from Lawrence all right? Sam called you when I was dying. I mean, getting you on the phone? I got a better chance of winning the lottery. JOHN: You're right. Although I'm not too crazy about this new tone of yours, you're right. I'm sorry.

so things john wants to be called about: sam's visions. things john doesn't want to be called about: dean dying. like i know at this point john is actually more worried about the visions than either son's life but it's just so intense to have it confirmed like that.

and i LOVE that dean calls him out for it. i love that dean, who has been dealing with unreachable father who only seems to want a one-way communication system all season can finally express how fucked up that is! god i love him! this is what i meant last post about the fracture lines of their relationship. john describes the way dean's been acting as a "new tone." keep in mind dean has not pushed back very much against john - and yet, that is new.

now i don't usually spend much time talking about john's emotional landscape but i do think about it a lot (because i have MASSIVE DADDY ISSUES thanks for asking). and i find this line from later in that conversation very interesting.

JOHN: No Sam. I want to stop losing people we love. I want you to go to school, I want Dean to have a home. I want....I want Mary alive. It's just....I just want this to be over.

i mean i can and have pointed out all the ways and times john made choices that made those things unlikely and impossible. but i think the interesting thing here is that john genuinely wants this. i mean in 6.02, sam says that john always said hunting was temporary. 14.13 makes clear that john really did want a different future for his kids than the one he forced them into. to me i guess that is what makes him such a wholistic villain. he's acting out of crisis mode - all of the time. so he can always excuse the current cruelty or unfair situation his kids are experiencing because he's "doing the best he can" or "it's only temporary" or he "has no other choice" etcetera.

and not to get too much into it here but i think dean knows this about him and god that's such a sympathetic place to be honestly. like i can critique john till the cows come home but i won't for one second pretend i don't understand why dean empathizes with him. cause of course dean doesn't want his dad's life to be hard. he doesn't want anyone's life to be hard.

there's a theme i've been picking at through 1.11, 1.12, 1.16, 1.20, and now 1.21: dean slowly stopping believing john wants to keep him and sam safe. i mean john all but confirms that dean's life is not his priority at the beginning of the ep. but at the end of 1.16 and 1.20 we get another layer: dean still wanting to protect john himself. in 1.20 he says, "we're better as a family." and he disobeys john's orders in order to save him - clearly knowing that's at the risk of john being very angry.

i think this exchange really solidifies the two parts of this pattern:

DEAN: I'd feel a lot better if we were there backing him up. SAM: I'd feel a lot better if he were here backing us up.

dean doesn't reply. he just looks away.

dean's concern that john will throw his life away for revenge also extends to sam, who dean has to save from trying to run back into the burning house on the chance he could kill the demon.

it's interesting because between 1.09 and 1.21, dean symbolically saves each member of his family from the fire. in home, he saves the mom. in salvation, he carries the father and the baby out (again). however, he never symbolically saves the older sibling - i.e. himself.

it's interesting because the season ends with dean alone almost dying...

and i know. i know a lot of stuff happens after that and it all gets more complicated. but he can try to save his family and he can die for them but he cant save himself and so whose gonna save him? ANYWAY....

Sometimes I feel like I'm barely holding it together man...*

*man who has been concealing the cracks in himself all season. ough, oooof, owie, etc.

also when i said that dean is john's errand boy last time, i didn't realize that john is literally just like, "[did you] get it?" both times.

lastly, i have literally played myself bc i've done almost the whole first season rewatch notes and been yapping about dean and john and shit and now 1.22 is gonna hit me like that goddamn 18-wheeler.

[rambleonwaywardson]

i have been rereading ttmab the last couple days and it mentioned that John no longer has any family left. Which is so sad now given the Christmas flashback fic!! Do you have any thoughts about when/how the boys handled that? With John wanting to share these moments with his parents and also Gale both as spouse and someone who experienced his first real family unit with them?

(Sorry it's taken a hot second to reply to this!!)

Wow, yeah, that is an amazing question that I've been worried someone would ask me 😆

I'm not sure if this is the part you're referencing, but Chapter 5 (the wedding) comes to mind. I honestly really wish I had fleshed their story out more by the time I wrote that. When I started TTMAB (back when chapters were 5k words or less instead of 10-12k monsters), I had no idea that I would end up building a whole world around this fic and didn't think certain things through quite as well as I did later. This is one of them, and I thought a lot about it while writing the Christmas flashback, thinking about these same exact questions that I wish I had addressed in TTMAB.

Bucky losing his parents, I think, is something that happened well before TTMAB began, before he assimilated into the astronaut corps. It was an unexpected loss that, of course, was extremely difficult for the boys to navigate, especially as younger adults when neither of them were as emotionally available. It hit Bucky hard, and he likely became reserved for a while, a little depressed. It hit Gale pretty hard, too. He'd found a family, only to lose it. But he considered it his responsibility to be strong for his then-boyfriend. While they shared the sadness and the remembrance at the time, it was only years later that Gale would really be able to talk to Bucky about how he was affected by that loss.

By 2025, when TTMAB takes place, the loss wasn't fresh anymore. That's the kind of thing that affects you in your daily life, all the time, but the weight -- both the extent of it and the way you carry it -- starts to change. Of course, the boys desperately wished Mr. and Mrs. Egan were there to see the life they'd built, see their accomplishments in the Air Force and at NASA, and they express this from time to time. (As a little side note, Bucky would have carried a picture of his parents with him on the ISS). Leading up to the wedding, it was hard on both of them, but especially Bucky, that his parents wouldn't be there. While it's been years, this was an emotionally charged moment where he longed to have his family with him. They were supposed to be there. This hit him repeatedly throughout the wedding planning process, and made it difficult at times. That's why there's such an emphasis on found family -- Marge and Curt especially being key players in keeping both of the boys sane and surrounding them with love.

A little detail I wish I'd incorporated in TTMAB (and may shove into Soon You'll Get Better) is the idea of Bucky wanting his parents during his recovery and/or Gale being crushed by the need for them to be there (to care for Bucky and to support him), but they're not.

A long answer to a question that honestly deserves so much more exploration!

[lothirielswandc]

TEAM DAMIRAE OR TEAM KONRAE?

Superman & Batman

Bruce Wayne: You're really asking us that question?

Clark Kent: I think it’d be nice to have Raven as a daughter in-law. 

Bruce Wayne: You can't have her, Kent. She’s too cool. And she fits our aesthetic better.

Clark Kent: You’re Batman: you literally adopt everybody. You tried to adopt Barry once. And you already have Kory, you can't take Raven, too!

Bruce Wayne: She’s already hitting it off with our villains.

Clark Kent: Raven and Luthor could get along; they both meditate and share a genuine disgust towards people.

Bruce Wayne: I can already hear the future screams ringing out from that scenario. 

Nightwing & Starfire

Dick Grayson: Yeah, Damian’s just a more decent human being around Rachel, so...you know. 

Koriand'r: You know, if I married you, and Raven married Damian, we could both have a double wedding AND we’d be sister in-laws. *gasps* We could take one of those family photos on the beach together, where we’re all in the white shirts and denim and we’re jumping! Wouldn't that be so amazing? 

Raven & Superboy

Rachel Roth: Um…

Conner Kent: You're really being put on the spot here.

Rachel Roth: I am. 

Conner Kent: I can make a suggestion, if you like, milady.

Rachel Roth: Thanks...milord. *shakes head and bites back a smile*

Poison Ivy & Zatanna

Poison Ivy: Ugh, it's such a hard decision! Raven and Robin have so much in common—and if Raven started dating him, she could stay in Gotham more. But Superboy has a much sweeter personality.

Zatanna Zatara: I know! And they’re both so good-looking.

Poison Ivy: Oh yeah, they’re heart throbs.

Zatanna Zatara: If I were a teenage girl, I would probably be obsessed with them.

Poison Ivy: Creepy, but relatable. Who would you choose, then?

Zatanna Zatara: Oh boy. Um...I think I would go with Damian. He’s so dark and mysterious. And Raven told me that he lets her cut bagels with his samurai swords.

Poison Ivy: He's a keeper.

Zatanna Zatara: Yep. Plus Conner’s advanced hearing would make me feel so uncomfortable. What if he hears me crunching on potato chips a room over or something? 

Poison Ivy: I don't think I could date someone who could hear everything. 

Harley Quinn & John Constantine

John Constantine: Superboy. He'll be easier to kill if he breaks my kid’s heart.

Harley Quinn: Aww. Dad goals. 

John Constantine: And he’s nice and all...also it would really piss off Clarky to have a closer relationship with me. 

Harley Quinn: So, basically, Team Superboy for revenge and spite. I LOVE it! 

Cyborg & Shazam

Billy Batson: Team Jacob :D

Victor Stone: Dude. No. 

Beast Boy & Blue Beetle

Garfield Logan: You know, I actually used to have a HUGE crush on Raven.

Jaime Reyes: Seriously? Wow, it's hard to imagine the two of you together. Is this the hidden ship? It would be super weird if, after all of this, she ended up with you.

Garfield Logan: HAHAHAHAHAHA......yeah.

[itsbroz0neglitters]

Brozone Little reunion....

After trolls band together as the brozone brother had a little reunion just to catch up clay still had some mix feelings about john dory and john dory is trying his best to get clay to like him again and forgive him for the past mistake that John made....

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"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want my brothers to be afraid of how much they love me." John dory said As he looked over at clay and smile at clay awkwardly as if john was trying so hard to get on good terms with clay again because during most of their band days john and clay were the one mostly fighting beside bruce...

"I consider myself a good person...but I'm gonna try to make him cry." Clay told both floyd and branch "woah don't make an old man cry just yet clay wait for a fews days then you can make him cry." branch said

As floyd wasn't listening at all he was just minding his own business as he stumble across a article "uhh guys who is Justice Trimblelake?" He asked showing a Mug shot picture.... As the room was dead slient

"Uhh don't you mean Justin Timberlake? little bro." Bruce told floyd "Sounds better the way I said it." floyd said flipping through pages

As john kept trying so hard to be friends with clay "Why are you the way that you are?” Clay asked John "what, you mean little bro I'm always the same old john dory." he said getting closer as clay back away slowly from john "I mean why are you trying so hard to be my friend again after what you did to us?" clay replied

"Clay I told you so many fucking time I did came back but no one was there I assume you were dead but I luckily knew bitty b was alive because he save everyone from the rock apocalypse." John said

As he turn to look at clay "Sorry I annoyed you with my friendship!" John said punching the wall as he left there was tears in his eyes and his face was super red aswell Plus he left a pretty big hole on the wall

"wow, I've never seen john dory this angry before." floyd said "congrast clay for making an old man cry." bruce said "should we check on him?" branch asked "he's fine he's a old man he'll figure it out." clay said

"Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?' and if they would, I do not do that thing." Bruce said glaring at clay who was just doing a crossword puzzle "what bitty B said to make him cry." clay said "okay blame it on the baby who you left behind and never came back." branch said crossing his arms

"Sometimes I'll start a sentence and I don't even know where it's going. I just hope I find it along the way. Like an improv conversation." Branch also added in "then why the fuck you told me not to make an old man cry just yet?" clay told branch

As John was outside with Rhonda who was comforting him "Do I need to be liked? Absolutely not. I like to be liked. I enjoy being liked. I have to be liked. But it’s not like, this compulsive need to be liked, like my need to be praised." John told Rhonda Poor John dory just wants to make things right with his brother clay

"Also, I was being super sarcastic." branch said "Boy, have you done lost your mind? Cause I’ll help you find it!" Clay said about to throw something at branch but floyd stood in between them "guys we're all family here please don't fight we're all grown mens now." floyd said

"That's what she said." Bruce said "who said?" floyd asked "his wife brandy remember he's married and had 13 kids so we're uncles." branch told floyd "I understand nothing." Floyd said

Poor floyd was trapped in a diamond prison for two months straight which cause him to have some memory lost well his brothers and queen poppy and also viva is helping him regain that memory back =D

"is okay floyd you'll get there eventually." branch said

As Poppy and viva came to check on the brothers things weren't going good as poppy had hoped "branch, I see this isn't going well." poppy said "yeah, clay made john dory cry and angry he punch a whole on the wall." branch said

"well, we still have cake I'll find John." viva said hopping off to find john dory

As poppy grab branch hands "come on branch; If I don't have some cake soon, I might die" Poppy said dragging branch to get cake

"That's what she said." Bruce said laughing while looking at floyd “I wonder what people like about me. Probably my singing voice” Floyd said clapping his hands together like a happy child "yep, that's why velvet and veneer kidnap you and lock you up." clay said

as bruce rolled his eyes at clay "I just want to lie on the beach and eat hot dogs." He said walking away "FLOYD ON HOTDOGS!" Floyd shouted across the room happily following behind bruce

As Viva saw John sitting with rhonda "hey, John I heard you were upset." viva said sitting with him "Clay hates me." john said "No he do not, I'll tell ya this he misses you alot so much he acts like you and even talks about you." viva said....

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

If you watch The Office than you know the references; anyways part 2 will be on my 2nd blog account @broz0neglitters very soon

xoxo,

@itsbroz0neglitters <3

[winniethewife]

It's undeniably real (Layla El-Faouly x The Moonknight system x Reader)

Chapter 3: How wonderful life is while you're in the world

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Thanks to @reallyrallyauthor for turning me onto the Pic.

Warning: sex mentioned, aftercare.

Words: 1159

Steven and I were having a day in. Sitting next to each other in bed while we each individually reading. I glance over at him at the same time he glances at me and I smile.

“You a’right there love?” He gives me his usual cheeky grin and soft Puppy dog eyes.

“Yeah, I’m good baby.” I lean in and kissed his cheek. “I love our lazy days. Just you me and a couple good books.”

“Me too. It’s nice, but I am having a little bit of a hard time focusing on my book.” Steven says with a chuckle

“Yeah and why’s that?” I put the bookmark in my book and smile at him as he does the same.

“Well, with you sitting right here, In these cute little PJ shorts…” his hand glides up my thigh as his hand reaches the edge of the shorts she slides his hand along the edge teasing.

“Well… I didn’t mean to be distracting baby…” I smile at him and move to straddle him on the bed making him instantly blush. “Does this help?” I tease.

“Uhm…depending on your definition on help?” His hand landing instinctually on my hips, as his face flushes brighter and her looks up at me biting his lip slightly. “Gods you’re beautiful. Just my luck innit? Getting to see you every day…we’re just really lucky to have you.”

“And I’m lucky to have you, all of you.” I say softly as I lean in and kiss him softly on the nose. And then on the lips. A small whimper leaving his lips as I taste his lips. I slide my tongue over his bottom lip to encourage him, his lips part and I take the opportunity. Our tongues played together, my hands go up into his hair as his hands run up my back pulling me in closer. Just then the bedroom door creaks open and Layla chuckles

“You two getting busy without me?’ She teased.

“What did you want to join?” I asked with a smirk as Steven turned an even deeper shade of red.

“I think…I wanna watch.” Layla says seductively as she takes a seat on the bed opposite us. “If that’s okay with you Steven.”

“Y-yeah...Of course Love.” He managed to stutter out.

~

When Steven and I went on our first date I had already decided I was telling them yes but figured it was only fair to give everyone a chance.  Steven and I met at the local Science and History museum. I was a little nervous, I was meeting Steven for the first time, what if…

“Sorry, so sorry I’m late love.” The British accent made my heart leap in my chest, he wore his curls loose, a kind of goofy patterned shirt under a over shirt, he was adorable, something I would never say of his other two alters.

“It’s alright, I didn’t even notice.” I smiled as I turned to him.

“Woah, you look amazing!” He looked me over, I laughed, just a dressy top and Jeans was apparently enough to wow him.

“Thanks Steven. I’m glad to finally meet you.”  I took a step closer and gave him a hug, which he reciprocated with the most adorable surprised sound

“I-It’s good to meet you too.”

As we make our way through the museum Steven is listing off facts and telling me interesting stories about almost everything we come across. At some point he’s explaining something about the formation of the quartz in front of us when I reached for his hand taking it in my own and weaving my fingers in between his. He stuttered for a second as he looked down at my hand and smiles softly.

“That’s nice…I like that.”

“I thought you might.”

“You’re…I mean…I really like you.” Steven looks at me with a shimmer in his eye, a smile on his lips as he squeezes my hand

“I really like you too Steven.”

“That’s good…Can I…Can I keep holding you hand?” He asked innocently

“I’d like that.” I smiled.

~

I was heavily panting, Steven also breathing heavy on top of me as we ride out our highs, My eyes look over his upper body covered in marks from our love making, I lean up and kiss him softly, a soft moan leaves his lips. I feel a soft touch on my face and I see Layla out of the corner of my eye, her dark eyes filled with love.

“Ya helo, look at you…so pretty under him...” She murmurs

“Layla…” I look over at her and reach out to hold her hand as Steven leaves kisses along my neck, he cuddles in close, his naked body against mine as Layla leans in kissing me softly, soft lips on mine, our fingers woven together as she leans in. the Smell of her Egyptian musk perfume tickles my senses as she drags her fee hand along my chest.

“My beautiful girls, I just can’t get enough…” Steven caresses Layla’s hair and Kisses my neck again. I softly moan into the kiss as he sloppily glides his tongue along my neck. Layla chuckles slightly in to the kiss before puling away, I let out a soft whimper of protest.

“Shhh…that’s it pretty girl, be good for me now, I’m gonna go start dinner.” Layla says as she runs her thumb across my lip before giving Steven a quick kiss on the shoulder and heading out of the room. Steven looked at me with a loving look in his eye. His soft expression is endearing. I lean in and give him another soft kiss. Running my fingers through his dark curls.

“I love you…” He says softly as he presses his forehead to mine.

“I love you too…I always will.” I reply with my hands still in his hair. He lets out a soft chuckle.

“Will you always be happy like this? We’re married to Layla…We can never marry you…Doesn’t that bother you?” Steven asks with genuine sadness in his eyes.

“No it doesn’t, Steven I don’t need to be married to be happy. I’m happy just being with you. My life is better with you all in it and that’s all I need.” I stroke his face gently as I say this in an attempt to reassure him.

“That’s…That’s good.” He smiles relieved and gives me a soft quick kiss. “You know we’d marry you too…If you wanted…Jake thinks about you in white all the time.” He chuckles softly, I can imagine Jake cussing him out for telling.

“Does he now? Well, sometimes in the poly community we do things like commitment ceremonies, they’re just like weddings but nothing legal about them really.”

“That sounds nice. Maybe someday we’ll do something like that yeah?”

“Yeah maybe someday.” I smiled at the eager look in his eye, I get the feeling Jake might not be the only one who wants to see me in white.

~

Translations:

Ya Helo: my beautiful

Masterlist

Next Chapter

[weirdmarioenemies]

Hi. Look at this thing

Hee hee! There it goes! Where are you going? Silly thing?

Debut: The Lost Vikings

The Debut line was a bit late today, sorry! It missed its cue because there was no Name line. Because this thing just does not have a name, it seems! It is just some kind of weird guy.

A weird green guy with a tubey mouth who wears a scarf! Isn't that so wonderful? If this didn't wear a scarf, I would think "that is funny" and smile, but it DOES wear a scarf, so it is even better! It is prepared for the cold, at least a little bit. This creature is oh so naked, but maybe it has its own biological method to stay warm, except for its neck. This thing is too wacky to be in the token Snow World!

And that's because it isn't! I don't know if there is even a Snow World in this game. Funny Silly Greenster lives in Wacky World! Wacky World is like, vaguely Christmas themed, but also not? It exists in a black void, but the walls are red and white striped, the ground can be covered in chocolate, and candy canes grow from the ground! What a nice place. Maybe the scarf is camouflage? Or maybe it is just having festive fun! Yippee!

The Greenest of Goofaroonies has a Funny Trick, of course. What good is a tubey mouth if you can't shoot anything out of it? It still is really good, admittedly. Look at a pipefish. That's awesome! Look at it now!

Yeah! So cool! Such a beautiful funny face. Are you done looking at it? Now get back on topic, you rascal, and look at the pretend green thing from funny game.

Wow! You looked just in time! John Green was just about to unleash a Special Attack! Also its only attack, but doesn't that just make it even more special? Its torso inflates in a slightly upsetting manner, and the air travels through its snout to eject, for some reason, a blue musical note. Like my friend Fuaah Picopets would do! But they didn't bother to give it a funny sound while attacking. What gives! Could that be intentional? In Wacky World, are sounds as we know them silent, yet solid? Every noise an Object that now occupies a physical space? Who am I asking this question to? Do you know the answer?

I think there is a lot to love about the Greenstown Memorial Goober! Definitely more interesting than Some Vikings, I think. No offense to Any Vikings, but something this green and silly is hard to be more interesting than, no matter what you are! The moral of the post is: "There was a green thing"