#ive always had issues with the management but i felt like i didn't have to handle it that much bc im not full time

[florida3exclamationpoints]

.

[i-will-cry-you-a-river]

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Fall: I’ve been wondering, how did you get into writing? You seem like you’ve got such a strong grasp on it. It’s kind of intimidating, honestly. You are way too good with your words, especially compared to us, mere mortals.

Shen Yuan smirked as he typed out his reply, leaning back against his hospital bed.

Shizun: You flatterer! But honestly, I’ve spent way too much time hate-reading terrible webnovels and thought, ‘Well, I can’t do worse than this’. Writing fanfiction was kind of a last-ditch effort to keep my sanity after reading PIDW for so long. And…

He started to hit backspace but hit enter instead. Shit.

It took a minute for Fall to answer. Against his hopes, not without asking about that ‘and’.

Fall: “And…”?

Fall: But LOL. I should have known that nothing can beat spite. Not sure if you know - probably you do, since you love PIDW’s world so much -, but there's a commenter, Peerless_Cucumber, who is like that. The angrier he gets, the more eloquent he writes. Barring all the swearing, LOL.

Fall: Shit! Wait. No. Now that I think about it, please, don't check him out! If you two would collaborate, you could take over the world.

Shen Yuan couldn't decide whether to cry or laugh. It seemed, it was a good decision not using his Peerless_Cucumber acc, but it was quite strange to read about himself. Maybe he should tell Fall it was him.

Hahaha. No. Fuck, no.

Shizun: Hahaha, I know about him! Would it be strange if I'd say that I kinda use his long-ass comments/essays as bases for improvement? He is always so detailed with all the problems and issues, it is much better to use those instead of the fan Wiki.

Shizun: So… about the “and”.

Shizun: I used to be quite sickly when I was young. I spent a lot of time in the hospital, and I found out that reading and writing was a wonderful way to forget about the real world. Funnily enough, I'm actually at the hospital rn, turning towards writing once more.

It took a little longer for Fall to answer. Biting into his mouth, Shen Yuan hoped that it wasn't too personal too soon. Shen Yuan glanced at the IV drip beside him, the sterile smell of the hospital room filling his senses. It wasn't that bad.

It wasn't good either.

He wanted to go home. Home had his own bed. Home had his PIDW merch and his favorite pillow his er-ge forbid to bring him to the hospital.

Fall: Oh, shit. That sucks.

Fall: I get that. Reading (and maybe writing, but you may never know) is a safe space for me too. It helps to forget about all the problems in the world, to imagine you are somewhere else, in a better place. Also, I hope you are doing okay! I'm also in a similar situation, so high five bro! (Kinda managed to do something very, very stupid. Did you know that ramen is liquid and liquid does not go well with electricity?)

Fall: On a lighter note, I really think that you are good at writing. You should try to do original work if you want to - you are, like, natural at balancing world-building and character development. I'm kinda jealous, but I've learned a lot just from reading your fic.

Shen Yuan blinked at the screen. It was one thing for random commenters to leave praise, but for some reason, hearing it from Fall felt... different. He found himself smiling stupidly, warmth blooming in his chest. Fall was just so…

He was lovely.

A great “bro”, it seemed. Way to be bro zoned.

Shizun: First of all, don't you dare to

sell yourself short! Not on my watch! You’ve got some pretty good ideas yourself. I can tell from your comments you’ve got a solid grasp on storytelling. Second, what the fuck, Fall?? You okay???

There was a longer pause before Fall replied. Shen Yuan knew that logically, Fall had to be safe, since he could write - they had been communicating constantly for the last two weeks -, but that didn't make it less scary. To know that Fall could have…

To think that Shen Yuan could have died… if either of them died…

They could have never met. It was a strangely disturbing and upsetting thought.

Fall: I'm good, I'm good! Dw!

Fall: Okay, but consider this: I don't think anybody would be interested in what I'd write. What I would like to write about.

Shen Yuan only had one answer to that:

Shizun: I'd read that.

Fall didn't reply for a long time after that, but that was okay. Shen Yuan assumed he needed some time to think about it, and that was okay. He just hoped his friend would realize how much Shen Yuan thought the world of him. He believed in Fall, even if Fall didn't believe in himself.

Shen Yuan, after all, had experience in believing in authors with great potential, who lacked the spine to be themselves and write what they wanted, instead of what the majority of the people demanded.

-*-*-*-

Fall: I've been thinking a lot about SJ and the way you portrayed him handling the Immortal Alliance Conference. It was fascinating to see the parallels. Him killing WY, who murdered those kids to save YQY versus him throwing LBH into the Abyss, believing that he, as a demonic cultivator, also killed all those kids. It was such a great moment! Shocking, because I think we all thought he would not do it since your SQQ wasn't as brutal as Airplane's, but you executed it so well! Oh, I wish Airplanes would have done the same. So heartbreaking! While PIDW created a monster out of SQQ, you created a human.

Fall: I'm also wondering if you plan to make him struggle with that choice later. Like, will he regret it in hindsight?

Shen Yuan considered this, tapping his fingers against his laptop. Fall always asked questions that made him rethink his plans. Actually, he didn't really think that he did such a great job at drawing parallels between the two Conferences, so he planned to switch POVs and continue it from Luo Binghe's, but…

It was actually a great question. The readers already knew about Luo Binghe's experiences in the Abyss more-or-less. Shen Yuan planned to show how staying at a more stable peak affected his physique, but it could be fascinating to explore what happens to Shen Qingqiu meanwhile.

Maybe he could do both…

Maybe-

Shizun: You raised a good question. I think I'll have him grapple with the consequences, it could be interesting to see how things turn out in the mortal world.

Fall: I think you should do it. It would fit your world-building theme… You could make the story feel more real. Like, the world, the characters and their choices have weight, y’know?

Shen Yuan knew exactly what Fall meant.

Shizun: Yeah, you are absolutely right. It was definitely something PIDW was missing - characters suffering real consequences. Even if they did something, be it either bad or good, it didn't really matter, because they either died in the end, or…

Fall: or had sex?

Shen Yuan snorted, typing back quickly.

Shizun: I wanted to say kinky, yet utterly boring papapa, but yes.

Fall: Oh, don't mention it! If I never read the words ‘thrust’ and ‘dangling’ again, it’d be too soon!

Shizun: I hate you.

Shizun: I want to bleach my eyes. I hate those words! And all the euphemisms Airplane use. ‘Flowers’, I get. Even ‘heavenly pillar’ makes sense! But comparing breasts to cow's udders?!?! Sometimes I wonder about Airplane's sex ed background…

There was a longer pause after that. Only his nervous ticks revealed his anxiety over that pause. Was he too offensive? It was not his Peerless_Cuvumber acc, so maybe he shouldn't have been so critical over the papapa scenes? But that was the best part in his friendship with Fall! He felt free to be open, to be himself!

Before he could work up himself, a reply came.

Fall: Maybe he doesn't really like writing sex? Or specifically, hetero sex? Maybe he is…

Shen Yuan stared at the words.

Airplane, his favorite and most hated author might be similar to him?

Maybe.

But…

Shizun: Don't care. I'm gay, and I could write better hetero sex scenes if I wanted to! Sexual orientation is not a good reason to be so bad at something!

Only after he sent the message did he realize that he fucked up. Sure, he might have flirted sometimes as they were talking with each other, but only within the boundaries of a no-homo friendship. But now that he came out in the heat of the moment…

He didn't want to lose a friend.

Fall: Okay, but you are different. You dare to write what you love.

Shen Yuan only realized that he had been withholding his breath, when he could feel himself breathe normally. It was not an explicit acceptance-

But it wasn't a rejection either.

He would take it.

Deciding, he would not bring attention to his accidental came-out, he wrote:

Shizun: If you ever decide to write something, you can also write whatever you wish to. It will be great, I'm sure of it!

There was a break in the conversation, again. He hoped he didn't push hard, since he knew Fall had been pretty hesitant to talk about his own writing in the past, but he hoped his encouragement helped.

Fall: Maybe one day. If I get brave enough to write something worth reading, you’ll be the first to know!

Shen Yuan smiled at his phone, feeling the familiar warmth settle in his chest. He wasn't sure why, but the idea of Fall sharing his work with him first, felt like something worth waiting for. The guy had a way with words, it was obvious from his comments. He was insightful and had an eye for details. Shen Yuan knew that if he ever wrote something he really liked, it would be an instant hit.

-*-*-*-

As the time passed, the day of Shen Yuan’s discharge loomed closer and closer. Which, don't misunderstand him, he desperately waited for!

However…

He had to admit. He didn't really want to leave the Hospital Guy. Sure, he still didn't know much about the guy - not even his name, for fuck's sake! -, but he had grown attached.

Hospital Guy was funny and smart and weird and hilarious. Shen Yuan enjoyed spending time with him, their quiet moments in the garden. He liked talking with/to him about everything and nothing. Hospital Guy was attentive when he ranted about the series he binge-watched between two chapters of PIDW, and they also had the same taste in music! He liked seeing the guy relax, and he loved it even more that he, Shen Yuan, was the reason for his more relaxed state!

He just liked Hospital Guy, okay?! He was just adorable, both inside and out!

So, on the day of his discharge, Shen Yuan mustered the courage to do the one thing he had yet to do: visit the guy's room.

Hospital Guy was clicking wildly on his phone, but the moment he noticed Shen Yuan, he stopped, and focused all his attention on him.

“Hi,” Shen Yuan said, surprisingly shy.

“Hello, Stranger,” Hospital Guy grinned.

“I'm leaving today,” he blurted out. The grin was instantly gone from Hospital Guy's face, turning into an unreadable mask.

It was concerning.

“Oh,” was all he said.

Shen Yuan waited, hoping for something more. A request to stay in touch, disappointment for not continuing their daily walks, or at least a goodbye that felt more meaningful. He waited for something, anything-

But the guy just nodded, his gaze drifting away from Shen Yuan, as if with that, he had already forgotten about the friend he made in the hospital.

Maybe they weren't really friends. Maybe everything was only in Shen Yuan's head.

Maybe he had bothered Hospital Guy all along.

Disappointment surged through Shen Yuan. He’d thought, maybe, there was something there; a connection, a friendship, maybe even more! But the guy didn’t seem to care.

It was as if Shen Yuan didn't even exist anymore.

“Alright,” Shen Yuan said, his voice tight. He would not cry. He would not scream. He would not fight. He would not bother Hospital Guy ever again. “Take care of yourself.”

And with that, he left.

[day-drawn-blog]

Part II : Slow burn ❤️‍🔥

Lace your heart with mine Let your sleeping soul take flight

I feel your breath on my neck, the soft caress as cold as death

Your blood like wine, I want it in, oh darling make me drink and make me feel

- I want to live

Tags: angst, fluff, sadness, angst, fluff, then maybe eventually smut because I do love that

Pairing: Astarion x Reader -- Set in Act I

Part I. Crowned light moon of mine - I found you too soon

Part II : Lace your heart with mine Let your sleeping soul take flight

Part III : Maybe tonight, I'll rest in peace

Part IV : There is much to do and I still want to live

Part V : Our futures bound, our bodies known

Part VI : These ain't my sins, I'm not to blame

Part VII: You are not mine and am I truly yours

Part VIII: your blood like wine invites me in

Part IX: I'll welcome my sentence and give you my penance

Part X : I can't go yet...don't let me die

---------

Next day, you woke up early and you remembered the rollercoaster your heart had been through. And your little secret. Ah, you almost forgot. So caught up were you in your pining you ignored the safety of those around you, and the resolve you had made last night to help and protect those around you. And right now, nothing posed more of a threat than a blood sucking vampire posing as an ally. You did not quite trust him yet. After all, you did not know him well at all.

You left your tent, resolved to confront him.

To settle this issue as best as you can on behalf of those innocent of his real identity. You spotted him next to his tent. His messy curls, even more disheveled in the morning. But his countenance brighter than yesterday. You wondered if it was the effect of the favor you did him. Somehow a part of you felt happy, that you made a difference to him.

You broached the subject.

"Can we talk?" He looked up surprised. "About your... condition. I was curious how we were going to feed you from now on."

His eyes widened.

I guess he did not realize you would confront him about this first thing in the morning. But it has to be done, sooner the better. Before everyone else wakes up. "How... how are you?" He managed, flustered. At least he has it in him to be polite and ask, you thought. You approved of his shallow charm. Now to the point.

"I am alright. But I am worried." "You have my word. I will never put any of us in harm's way. And if I ever do, I will ask, first" he flashed his cheeky grin. You almost gave in. And then suddenly, rustling behind him, startled you both.

Shadowheart walked out of his tent.

You were completely blindsided, Astarion was more embarassed and looked away.

Shadowheart was surprisingly, normal. "Good morning. Are you guys planning breakfast? I heard talks about a meal, or something... " she drawled in her usual charming manner.

"Ah yeah.. something like that.."

you managed to say, and decided to drop it. Before your heart shattered into pieces again, you decided, you walk away.

You wished you could leave them at camp.

So you didn't have to be distracted by those two as you navigated such dangerous lands. But, you all always travelled together and at least there will be other people, to distract you, from Shadowheart and Astarion's intimate moments together, where he held out his hands, to help her on a step. Or she cast her guidance and radiance to protect him, or where he took out a threat with his sneak attack before they ambushed her.

You felt weaker in combat that day.

Several times, Karlach had to protect you. You almost got knocked down, and she had to help you up. Thankfully Wyll had your back too. You felt terrible how much you let this matter get to you. Back at camp, exhausted, and down to your last breath, you decided to put him out of your head once and for all. You needed to wash up, and rest.

This was not serving you.

As you sat in your tent that night, going over the events of the day. You felt tears come up. You wanted to be the one being protected. Looked after..by him. To be important enough.

To be valued and loved, by him.

Dammit. Why should you put him on a pedestal like this. Better start thinking really hard how you could avoid that from happening again. This was your only way. Should you ask them to stay behind at camp the next day? No ..you need every ally you can get fighting for your life.

Suddenly, your thoughts were interrupted by approaching footsteps. You were confused, you thought everyone had gone to bed early that night, tired from all the ambush you had faced that day. So who was it? And why were they coming inside your tent?The tent flaps parted, and you saw a familiar tall silhouette.

You stopped breathing in surprise.

You both stared at each other for a few moments before he broke silence. "I am sorry to disturb your rest, the hour is late. Terribly, and truly" and it seemed like he was second guessing himself and walking back out again. Then he stopped and turned around "You see, this was my first.. I had never drank from a ...thinking creature before. Cazador... my master, would only ever let me feed on rats. "

Where was he going with this?

"Would you be so kind, as to grant me this favor one more time? I completely understand if you don't want to, and this is, well very embarrassing for me to admit" You could see his ears turn red as he shiftily looked anywhere but at you. "But ever since last night, I have not been able to forget... how you tasted". "I could do anything for one more time...please?" And he looked at you with his eyes full of endless misery, that familiar pleading voice and gaze...

You were weak against that but you were annoyed.

Who does he think he is. Does he think himself so charming that he can just waltz into your tent, demanding you donate your blood for free while he went back to Shadowheart right after? You did want to be the hero to those that needed you, but this is just taking advantage of you. You liked him a little less at that point. You were fully resolved to turn him down. After all, this felt wrong, not just to you, but to Shadowheart as well.

You got up.

"I am afraid, Astarion, I will have to turn you down tonight. Isn't Shadowheart waiting for you? What will she think of your absence?"

"She doesn't know. No one does. And I would like to not tell everyone, as long as I can, if you help me. You are the only one, who knows. And if everyone were to find out, I am afraid they would not show me the kindness you did. I would be cast aside. And left to fend for myself."

For all the outward intimacy between him and Shadowheart, you realized, they were not after all, close at heart. What did you expect. Did you expect him to be someone that would allow himself to fall in love with someone or genuinely love and care for someone other than himself? Your first impression of him, was right. The suave and snooth bad boy, with a thousand charms was after all, just that.

You sighed.

Battling with your moral dilemma. You wanted to cave, and earn his trust even more, and maybe a bit of affection. But was that really the right way to go about it. To exploit his weakness? You couldn't. You needed to save everyone. Even the ones that were too proud to admit they needed saving. You sighed again.

"Astarion, I would like to help you. However I cannot, be your only source of.. sustenance. This will affect me in battle. And I thought we agreed you would feed on our enemies, since they are as good as dead, as you said."

If he was disappointed he did not let it show.

"But of course. I only just wanted a little bit. You wouldn't even feel it. I promise. It will be a gift, that I will never forget" He looked at you with his intense gaze that sometimes betrayed the storm raging inside him you suspected. "I understand..." His countenance fell. He was pained. "Have a good sleep. I'll see you around in the morning" And he turned to leave.

"Wait"

Dammit. You cannot turn him down. Or anyone. When they genuinely seem to need your help. But did Astarion really need you? Or was he being greedy? Were you being deceived? Probably. Behind the facade of one who seeks your help is someone simply using you. You felt that. And yet, you were drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.

"Yes, you can...again, tonight. Only a little bit"

"Really? You would?" Genuine surprise in his voice. He quickly stepped in and drew the tent flaps shut. He took your hand and suddenly took the lead. Taking you to the back, gestured to you to sit. You sat down, he knelt in front of you, lifted your arm like last time, with both his hands, gave it a kiss, and looked at you one more time, as if to ask for your permission one last time, and when you nodded, proceeded to bear his fangs at which you looked away.

It didn't hurt, nor did it last longer than a few minutes. Afterwards he drew away, and sat down next to you, as if sated to his utmost. A grin across his face like last time. you looked at your wrist, and the two little dots where his fangs had pierced your skin. The ones from last night were fading. Tonight's red. He looked at you looking at your wrist. "Does it hurt?" He seemed...guilty.

"Let me wrap it"

He proceeded to tear a bit of linen from somewhere nearby and tie it around the bite marks. Hiding your doing, I see. This is no act of kindness. You felt your resolve melt. You felt glad to have been of use to him. But also sad, he was about to leave. And go back to shadowheart. You had served your role. He had used you, and no longer needed you.

Thank you ...you whispered to him

Part III : Maybe tonight, I'll rest in peace

[peachywontyell]

ive had this bouncing around in my head for a while, so here we are.

i am a sucker for pretty boys with kind brown eyes and jaime fits that description perfectly...so i decided to give him a lot of pining (that is definitely reciprocated), he has to be a big brave boy and confess 🫶🏾 also, this is placed before the events in the movie !

inspired by

hanging out with jaime has always been very warm, cozy, comfortable. ever since you were children when you'd spend weekends riding your bikes around the neighborhood, only to crash at one of your houses after having way too much food. it happened so frequently that it got to the point where it just was the new normal for both of your families (impromptu get togethers were very common).

the friendship you guys had only grown stronger with each year that passed and well- there were definitely feelings there that weren't strictly platonic now. you were trying your hardest to push them away though, and jaime was having the same issues...however neither of you dared to even threathen the sanctity of the bond shared by confessing. that is until one summer came along, you guys had gone to different universities, and even though you called and texted daily, summer was when you guys could actually hang out like the old days. and here you were, having gone to pick up jaime from the airport with the rest of the reyes. as he walked through the gate you let his family say their hellos first- it's safe to say he almost drowned in hugs and kisses, and when you finally got to say hello you didn't hold back with the bear hug either.

you missed him dearly, and the weird feeling of anxiety, excitement and happiness settled in your stomach as he squeezed you back and actually just fully picking you up. it made the feeling in your stomach even stronger.

"JAIME DIOS MÍO BÁJAME"

"Que no, don't wanna"

"okay so if that's how this is gonna go, cárgame bien, señor"

suddenly you guys were in your own world, talking and laughing and everyone could clearly see what was happening here. milagro was gonna have a field day with the teasing as soon as she had a chance. he ended up putting you down- but only after he carried you all the way to the car. it was embarrassing yes, but now as embarrassing as the older couple that chuckled as you walked past and talked to themselves in hushed voices about 'how sweet young love is' and how they wished they could go back in time and experience it all over again.

that got you both blushing...and made the drive back home for lunch a bit...strange. nothing really changed, you still sat together and chatted, but jaime couldn't stop thinking about what they had said. did you guys actually look like a couple? should he had said something to them? the fact that he didn't mind if they thought so made him feel warm and fuzzy.

two weeks pass, and while you've somehow managed to push away those fuzzy feelings, things have definitely flipped for jaime- and milagro did not help one bit. she woke up much earlier than he did, you did too, and it usually meant that as soon as he walked out into the kitchen he'd see you just having breakfast.

"buenas morning" you say, trying not to laugh cause his hair looked bonkers, but even if you found it hilarious, it was still endearing, and the fuzzy feelings you had to fight every single day before meeting him were back and they were looking for vengeance. and when he almost put his full body weight on top of you for a hug not caring that you were in the middle of eating? well, you felt like you were going to die. "mornin...." he didn't move off. "jaime." "Hmmm?" "get off of me and go shower, tenemos que encontrarnos con el grupo in like an hour". with one last, extremely dramatic sigh, he moves off and does as told. it's not like he didn't want to spend the day with you and some of your other friends, they were his friends too, but he would much rather stay in and chill.

not even two hours later and you guys are at the little picnic area everyone agreed to meet up at, playing silly games, chatting and just catching up! and jaime just wasn't feeling it, he couldn't really pinpoint the reason why until he sees how talkative and close you are with one of the guys there. okay. that's fine. it's just a hangout, nothing is happening, you definitely aren't flirting with him. thank god someone called the guy over cause he didn't know how much he could take.

"so how'd the flirting go?" he thought he sounded casual, calm, normal. he did not sound casual, calm or normal. he sounded upset and looked like a sad dog. "what flirting- what the hell happened to you? why do you look so sad? ¿qué pasó?" "hm? nothing." he shook his head, making you squint. okay, if he didn't want to tell you, then you'd just come up with absurd reasons as to why he would be upset. "¿tas celoso?" funny how you got it right first try. you don't know that, though. "what? no- ¿qué?" he prays to god the blush creeping up his neck isn't noticeable, prays it doesn't betray him. "Ayyyyy si es eso you don't have to be, tu sabes que you're irreplaceable" you laugh and god is definitely on his side cause you're called over a few second later by someone of the order people and he can feel his heart beating so fast he fears its gonna burst through his chest.

the hangout went by smoothly, he genuinely couldn't be happier, even if at first he didn't want to be there. he has to admit, he did miss his friends, so he's glad he could spend some time with them. now you guys are laying on his bed, chismeando and just debriefing when the topic of him being "jelous" came up again. maybe he could just do it. he knew it was risky, but....he was willing to take the chance. "....you know what? maybe i was. maybe i was very jelous, maybe i still kind-of am." he felt you sitting up and all he could do was pull a pillow over his face and keep this shit rolling "you've always made me feel so comfortable and...warm, and ive always loved you, but at some point i think it turned into love...? does that make sense- no- it's fine- okay- look i just- de verdad que me gustas mucho y pues no sé- i don't wanna fuck this up aunque creo que ya lo jodí-" he huffs and sits up to face you, looking embarrassed and flustered "you're so special to me and i really don't want to mess up the friendship we have, okay? but i'd just...i'd really like to be yours."

you aren't sure if you should just kiss him or shake him by the shoulders. so you settle for taking his hand in yours, feeling your face grow warmer- if that's even possible after that confession. "jaime, look at me." that boy is holding onto the pillow for dear life, using it to still obscure his face while he shakes his head. he's trembling. you use your other hand to grab his face and look at you "please, just kiss me" "really?" "si-" and he does, like he's been starving. he almost doesn't let you pull back even though you both need to breathe. "jaime mi amor, you will always be my favorite pretty boy and im so happy i can finally tell you."

[slarpg]

SUPER LESBIAN ANIMAL RPG v1.1 IS HERE! This is the most substantial patch since launch. On top of the usual bug fixes, we have new area maps, the new Additional Guidance mode, and most importantly... Melody now has a pet cat!! Look at him

As always, Steam users should get the patch automatically, while itch users can redownload the game from the store page. Common technical questions are also addressed in our FAQ page.

To try and manage expectations here, while this update contains more than the usual bug fixes, I don't currently have any plans to add a huge amount of content to the game. Right now I think it's already long enough, and the game's structure (with a definitive ending and no postgame) isn't conducive to adding DLC. And also, you know, what's there already took almost eight years of my life to make, and that kinda takes a lot out of you. But these additions felt like they would meaningfully improve the experience of what's already there.

Full changelog below!

v1.1 Changelog

"New content":

Additional Guidance mode can now be toggled on or off from the start of the game or via the in-game Options menu! When enabled, this will occasionally offer more direct hints on what to do next in a few specific parts of the game for more story-focused players - particularly a few puzzle segments, as well as helping you find the side content late in the game.

Ultimately, the total number of hints added across the game is low. Exploration, dungeon puzzles, and returning to previously-visited areas with new tools are core pillars of SLARPG's design, and I don't want to hold the player's hand every step of the way. But these specific bits have been parts where some players just gave up and messaged me (usually at like 3am), or posted a cry for help in the #SLARPG tag on Twitter. Which isn't optimal! So now an extra nudge in the right direction exists in-game, should you ever need it.

New area maps have been added for the Amber Woods, Sapphire Coast, and Uncanny Valley! They can be acquired from Park Ranger Taylor, the beach souvenir shop (first accessible in Act III), and Rafael, respectively.

And finally, as was originally intended, Melody now has... a pet cat in her house!! He is truly the most important part of this patch, and the most important thing that will ever be patched into the game.

Other tweaks:

Unrevealed enemies should no longer have their health bars displayed when using multi-target attacks.

The menu (and, by extension, the options menu) can now be accessed during the Prologue.

Fixed the Bestiary entries for the Loot Scooter and Helper Jelly not properly unlocking in the Sapphire Coast.

The animation for Megalith from the Geomancer Spellbook now plays for each individual enemy that's caught in its area of effect. (A compatibility issue was found with the script that made AoE attacks only play one animation, and this was the only skill in the game that needed said script.)

Originally the columns in the last "puzzle" room of the Flurry Mountains had no collision because that room is just a joke and I didn't want people to get stuck in a maze that exists purely for a gag but they now have collision so that I stop receiving bug reports about it

Added new line when entering the Fortune Teller's shop late in Act IV (or Act V) saying that he can help locate uncompleted major side quests at that point in the story. (He will now also point you in the direction of Fawna's side quest if you haven't completed it.)

A backup method of acquiring the missable Spellbook in Act III has been added late in Act IV. (You can still only get it once.)

The Crypt boss can no longer be defeated in a way that makes a certain unique status ailment remain after the battle.

There's now an additional warning at save points past the point of no return.

Other minor fixes.

Enjoy the update, everyone!

[pinyeti]

dear tumblr

today I start my first day of junior year of college pt2

not really an insane first but it feels pretty important for some reason let me give you a rundown

I have an art thing due today so I spent all of last night on that THEN AT 4AM I SAW A MUKBANG ON NOODLES and don't ever do this I feel sick I ate noodles very early and I put frozen corn in it except it was very last minute so I doubt it had time to cook properly which is probably why I feel this sick anyway then I DONT FINISH MY ART THING cuz I've never worked with neutral tones before and have no idea how to design it for a wall in 3 hours so I just.... watch Carol and the end of the world for a bit and slowly fall asleep at 4.30am

I have a 9.30 TODAY [CURRENTLY WRITING THIS IN MY TAXI ITS 9:14] SO OBVIOUSLY I wake up at 8:30 unprovoked thank god I had the forethought of having my shirt ironed cuz clothing decisions would have killed me, I contemplate making breakfast for my family [my moms not in the country rn] BUT I REALIZE THE MEALS IVE PREPPED FOR THE WHOLE DAY HAVE BEEN EATEN BY PIG BROTHER so I decide im gonna order them something at lunch time then (ok tmi [actually what part of this ISNT tmi]) I try shaving my girl stache cuz I've had issues in the past but MY STUPIF PINK GIRL RAZOR WONT WORK I DOUBT I CAN DO ANYTHING WITU IT AND ITS SO OVERPRICED FOR NO REASON so I pull out my dads razor (A NEW ONE DW) AND IT WORKS WONDERS WTF AND IM WILLING TO BET MY NEW SQUEAKY CLEAN BABY FACE ON IT BEINF LESS EXPENSIVE anyway then I go keep all my dishes in the kitchen cuz I have a billion in my room you'd think my depressive episodes give birth to them but really it's just me always (woah my taxi guy just dodged a food biker and I felt it in my bones) I steal my little sisters makeup cuz her makeup is pretty cute she's pretty cute i wish I started makeup when I was younger so I'd be a pro now but no I had to be not like other girls UGH. THEn I take my club banner im president just president things and run to a taxi and start updating everyone on tumblr and it kills time till my first class of the day isa301 introduction to database management systems surprise I do information systems and business analytics and I have no idea why

I think some of it is me being extremely insecure about my skills, I love art but a career in it? after seeing my dad struggle following his dreams? yeah no I'd take a cushy job and financial freedom any day

the world wants dreamers to dream when everythings working against them you're sick for that world I hate you but I adore my dad for being a dreamer and I think he's the coolest and he's so supportive my moms so supportive too ofc there are the absolute horrible moments but today I feel like seeing tje world in a good light (I'm expecting pictures of the messy room I left behin)

whys it taking me this long to get to class it's 9.27 and I have the banner to keep in my office so I need to do it quick hmmmm should I be late to nash's class or walk in with a banner snd a sob story I really need this professor to be on my team cuz he grades you based on how much he likes you seriously I didn't realise people like this actually existed okag I might have time to quickly go place the banner it's 9.28 I'm so dumb I didn't check where my class is

[yae-35]

Ive had these two neverafter ocs for a while but I never really planned on sharing them because despite having watched all episodes intently until now I am just a Girl with Half the Facts and idk how I could fit one of my ocs into the story in a technical/magical sense. Especially my second OC bc she has that Main Character energy peppered into her story and idk if Neverafter's rules can be aligned with her story

Theyre basically a duo of kids around ylfa and pinocchio's ages. The older one (who's probably like, a few years older than ylfa, around the 15-16 yr age range) is the youngest of the twelve dancing princesses who ran away from her controlling, emotionally-gray, father. She harbors extreme resentment against him and her brother-in-law for banning them from entering and essentially destroying the one true place she and her sisters had felt joy. Ofc in their eyes, they are protecting these girls, they're just going about it in such a Horrible Bad way... They feel guilty, but they're not in regret, y'know? Overall, it's a messy situation, and I feel like out of the two of the kids, she's more susceptible to the princesses' agenda, and it's one of those situations where Destiny's Children need to convince her to be on their side or else the princesses will swoop in.

My second OC is an iteration of the ugly duckling who doubles as the secret love child of Odette and Odile, a little younger than Pinocchio. So it goes like this: in the multitude of versions of the Swan Lake that exists, there's a version where Odette and Odile were enemies until they were Awakened. They became friends, then something more, until one day one of them lays an egg. Odile is a sorcerer's daughter, and I feel like she knows that this egg is a symbol of her and Odette's love for each other, and this symbol is an error to their story. She also knows that in this particular world, there are forces that will try to elimate any and every error to the best of its possibilities, like cells in a body that attack any invaders that could compromise the body's health. It's either 1) Odile managed to gain or has always had access to power as great as Baba Yaga's (or the Stepmother's) and managed to pushed this egg into a story where its deemed as an element to be allowed existence not unlike Pinocchio being shazam'd into another random Pinnochio's husk? 2) Odile knows the Baba Yaga, and the offer of such a power made to the Stepmother wasn't the first of its kind made by the Baba Yaga, Odile is just more... err??? let's say level-headed when it comes to using said power. That or the Baba Yaga only gave her a sliver of that power, just enough to push that "tumor" of an egg into a more accomodating host/story. The "duckling"'s whole schtick or arc is that she's tired of her worth being tied to her appearance and/or the anticipation of her appearance, but it's expressed in the way that only a 7-ish year old can.

They are a party of two, and the dancing princess is basically the guardian of the "duckling". Their own mission is to basically stay put in this world, and maybe find the duckling's parents. The duckling herself is ambivalent to finding her parents, but the dancing princess has been having visions of two women, in black and white tutus, calling out in the woods for the duckling's name ever since she took the duckling under her wing.

Idk what happens after I just know that Odette and Odile are like the wlw version of Henry and Timothy and they're looking to adopt this angsty teen with parental hurt.

They're both precious to me because I too have daddy issues, and if you know me and my blog, I love everything wlw and I have a soft spot for kids (CHIRP FEATHERFOWL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE IN MY HEART) I also really dig the vibes and themes of "we are the children this system was supposed to protect, but didn't" that Neverafter has going on because it just SPEAKS to me

[limerancy]

i just got top surgery almost exactly two months ago!! i was really scared to go into surgery too, but it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be and now im so happy with my chest. the worst part is the drains and the nipple bolsters, but literally the moment those were gone, at my post op appointment after a week, i felt 10x better. i was worried about how my scars looked for the first month because the swelling was so bad that they looked weirdly wavy, but almost all the swelling is gone now and i absolutely love it! i hope your recovery goes as well as mine did

hello!!! i keep meaning to answer this and then just forgetting

i think the hardest thing for me to conceptualize was just......waking up and it being over. like literally i remember the guy giving me something in the IV (i think he said it was fentanyl?) and saying it would be just like having a glass of wine, and then wheeling me over and putting the oxygen mask on, telling me to breathe deep, and then.....i was waking up in the recovery room 3 hours later. ive always had sleeping issues so "putting me to sleep" is like. the expectation was absolutely not that bc i always wake up during the night and usually somewhat aware of my surroundings. after he gave me that stuff, i didn't even have the time to be anxious (i also didn't have my contacts in so i didn't even see where i was going) and then it was just...over. it's still wild to me

urgh yeah my post op is tmrw and i am so ready to get these drains out. im holding on to every last shred of sanity i have to just get through this night and the ride to the appointment tomorrow. they gave me a compression vest so it's like. my whole ass torso, and that's also been sensory hell. i feel like it'll be so much easier once these drains are out and the bolsters are off—i can shower again, i don't have to empty them, i don't have to keep and eye on where the tubing is and where the lil bulbs are and whether it's getting caught on or under me or whatever (also less worry about the cats seeing some wiggly tube and deciding it's a snake they need to attack bc that....would not end well for anyone)

im honestly not too worried about the scars. the actual visual aspect is not as important to me—how it looks under clothing and the literal weight off my chest, the fact that i won't have to bind just to feel comfortable, etc. i trust the surgeon who did the procedure (it actually ended up being the number one guy in that department at the hospital, even though my paperwork said someone else—not complaining, bc he was my first choice anyway) and i know my scars are generally pretty manageable/flat/light-colored anyway

im also hoping recovery goes well!! so far it seems to be okay, other than my own sensory issues. honestly just waiting until i can actually enjoy and feel the relief of top surgery, as i am still within the trials and tribulations stage 😔

[the12thnightproject]

Heyyy! Just to let you know ive been rlly invested in your ikesen series with your ocs. Just havent rlly finished any of them and ive quite stop reading at some point, since most of them weren't my favourite suitors.

Sorry.

But id love to hear more if you have any ideas or planning on writing more ikesen series like that but with other suitors? And can share about how you get inspiration about your storyline and your oc katsuko?

Thank you and keep it up!

Hi Anon!

Thank you for the love and for liking Katsuko (I'm a little sad for Shingen and Mitsunari... but Cybird has been rather light on giving us new content for them that will help us fall in love with them).

Ok... for your questions (later... oh boy, this got really long... sorry).

I am absolutely writing more in the series - it can take me a year to write each longfic. My goal was mid-late March for the next story, but ... I'm about 70% done with the first draft, so we'll see if I can manage that.

Before there was a series, it was just me playing the game, and suddenly realizing that I was thinking about it when I wasn't playing it, and the things that I was thinking about (daydreaming actually) were scenes that were not in the game, and not with MC. The people I was imagining in the scenes eventually became Katsuko (although she didn't have a name at that time) and Akihira. Eventually though, I felt like I needed to write them down, at which point I started thinking more in terms of "what is this, exactly?" And I wanted to write Katsuko with more than one character, and then I wondered if I could create an OC who, like the game MC, would fit as a love interest with every game character (spoiler alert - I #failed at that one), and also figure out a way that multiple versions of Katsuko could exist (which is how the multiverse part of it started).

At that point, there were ten routes already released in the game. The idea is that the final longfic in the series will be Sasuke & Katsuko traveling through all the existing timelines, trying to make ensure that they didn't collapse on each other. It's somewhat like the concept of Loki - that some timelines will start interfering with others. There was supposed to be a longfic with every available (at that time) suitor, plus I set it up to potentially also include Yoshimoto (if his route story made sense with the multiverse). The Shakespeare angle came up because it occurred to me that if Katsuko and Toshie were both isekai'd into Sengoku, and then separated, then it was sort of like the plot of "Twelfth Night." And then I decided to make things difficult on myself by having the individual longfics each be inspired by one of Shakespeare's plays.

This is what I originally thought I was going to write (in some order...):

Shingen, a route inspired by Twelfth Night. Shingen needed to go first because his canon issue allowed me to do a lot of world building and setting up rules for the multiverse.

Mitsunari, inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Hideyoshi, inspired by Julius Caeser.

Ieyasu, inspired by Much Ado About Nothing

Nobunaga, inspired by Hamlet.

Masamune, inspired by... [kind of drew a blank on this one, but I was considering Pericles]

Mitsuhide, inspired by The Taming of the Shrew

Yukimura, inspired by As You Like it

Kenshin, inspired by The Winter's Tale

Sasuke, inspired by The Tempest. He needs to be last to tie up the multiverse.

But what I thought I was going to write, intellectually, ran up against the wall of creativity (meaning, ok, I sort of had an idea, but those ideas didn't always work out for various reasons).

So this is what actually happened - plans? Ha! What plans?

Shingen - done

Mitsunari - done

Hideyoshi - as I started to envision it, I realized that some of the plot was repeating things that happened in Shingen's route, so I put that idea on the back burner until I can better figure out what will happen here.

Ieyasu - Actually had a couple of scenes in mind, and once I put Hideyoshi aside, I thought I would write him next, but I couldn't figure out an overall storyline, so I've temporarily skipped him.

Nobunaga - every time I start trying to envision it, I run into a wall of angst and tragic ending (he kills her ... because she's there to assassinate him). Temporarily skipped until I can figure out another approach that doesn't end in MCD.

Masamune - So... I basically have "screen tested" Masamune with Katsuko, and ... they have no chemistry. Total 'good friends' vibes, no conflict. I tried to work around that with a high conflict plot... but then...

Mitsuhide - Was supposed to be later, because I wanted to focus on some of the more neglected characters. He jumped in and demanded that I write his story. Enemies to lovers - in the previously written fics Katsuko and Mitsuhide have said that if they had to work closely with each other, they would be tempted to murder the other... so... let's see if that happens. Fic in process, hopefully out in Spring 2023.

Yukimura - I think this one may be after Mitsuhide. Probably. It's the one I can see the clearest in my head. Likely to be a buddy comedy with lots of adventure, if it develops the way it's started.

Kenshin - I have a solid idea for this one, but it's tangled up with what I had in mind for Sasuke's as well, almost to the point where I think I have to write it in two parts, with part 1 coming first, then ending on a cliffhanger, picking up in Sasuke's story ... or something.... this is one where the problem is less his story, and more how do I solve a plot twist where another multiverse Sasuke & Katsuko are needed to step in and help.

Sasuke - see above, but it's supposed to be the final story.

Other warlords: If a storyline occurs to me for them, I may add them. Some of them may actually fit better with a different OC, e.g., the character of Shohime/Sho may work better with some of them (Keiji, Masamune, Motonari - or even Hideyoshi), so there may be some spin-off short stories or novellas going that way instead of full fics with Katsuko.

All of that means that there will be more stories, but not the ten total as I originally wanted.

Ok... so for your question about character inspiration. Going all the way back to when I had the idea for the Tempest stories - there were things about Katsuko that I mostly knew - that she would have a self-deprecating inner dialogue, and that she would be more athletic and have had less of a stable upbringing than Mai, and, having been in the Sengoku longer (7 years), she would be less peace-loving, and more used to the war and death of the era.

Some of that was due to things I already wondered about Mai... how could Mai disappear into another era without her ending up as a "missing persons" cold case... we never see her go back to her family/friends and explain what happened. So to make that an easier issue with Katsuko, I decided that she would be kind of a loner, and that her only family is her brother (and he gets yanked into Sengoku era Japan with her).

When I started to write the prologue, she was actually really different. Instead of a rebellious athlete type, she was actually a party-girl/failed gymnast. I got about 5000 or so words into that version, and realized I didn't like her, she was too whiney, and I didn't want to spend a bunch of longfic writing about her. I trashed everything I had written, and started over.

Mostly, I knew what I wanted her to be able to do... and then worked backwards to figure out what basic skills she would have (athleticism, adventurousness) that would provide canvas for Aki to train her in the skills she would need to survive and thrive. I sent her back 7 years prior to the arrival of Mai/Honno-ji, in order to give her time to adjust, to pick up the skills she could use in the longfics. And then in the prologue, I put her through a near death experience, which left her with a bit more ruthlessness than before, and the claustrophobia.

But for some of the other aspects of her personal history, most of those I discovered when I was writing the first draft of "Twelve Lies..." The fact that she was a vegetarian (as much as possible), her mother's story, the flashbacks to her life in modern Japan, the fact that she once had a cat (named Tony Stark)... those organically appeared in that story - at which point, I went back to the prologue and made some edits, since I had a clearer vision of her.

The discoveries about Akihira didn't come to me until I was partway through the second draft of that story (which again... necessitated more rewrites - originally Aki was supposed to be native to Sengoku Japan... I didn't figure out that he was also a time traveler until later). So basically it took me two drafts to learn that the central relationship, the one that goes through all the fics, is the relationship of Katsuko and Aki, and that the overall theme of the all of the fics together is a father/daughter story.

So sometimes, when I discover something like that, it's an "oh of course, that's how it needs to be." And sometimes, like with Aki, it was an "of course, he has to be this," followed by my brain going, "ok, but how the hell are you going to make that work." I'm still trying to figure out some of the multiverse rules with Aki.

Inspiration is a combination of necessity, and discovery. My brain knew that in order for Katsuko to be good at what she does, she needed to have certain skills or be put into a position to learn them (hence the long prologue that covered 7 years). That was necessity. But other things I could only discover by just sitting down and writing and seeing what came out. I have to turn off my brain, and stop editing in that first draft.

There are quite a few times when I'll write a scene and about halfway through hit a dead end. I just circle that section (oh, I hand write my first draft, btw, as it makes it easier to allow play time and stop editing... I KNOW I'm going to fix it later, because it's going to have to get typed up) and write "cut??" and start again at the spot where it originally turned down a blind alley. This happened a lot more in Mitsunari's story than it did in Shingen's -- I probably have about 10,000 words of material that existed in the first draft that lead toward blind alleys, and scenes that went nowhere, that I had to back out of (a couple of them were perfectly good scenes by themselves... but they didn't work in the context of the story).

Sometimes if I get really stuck at where I am, I'll put it away for the night, and suddenly when I'm doing something else, I'll realize what needs to happen next. Sometimes it won't be until a later draft that I realize something is missing or necessary. There's a chapter in "Twelve Lies" that wasn't even in my third draft (Chapter 32, though I expect you might not have read that far). But as when I got to around Chapter 28 in the posting, it occurred to me that things that were to happen in Chapter 36 didn't feel as motivated as they could or should have... so I wrote an extra chapter (which in turn, made it necessary to rewrite parts of chapters 33-35).

And sometimes, it's the nature of episodic posting that gives me ideas... I had a couple of lovely, very active and responsive readers on Ao3 who were commenting and reacting to every chapter. Occasionally things they said gave ideas to edit and tweak chapters that were written but not yet uploaded. For example, in the first draft Yoshimoto didn't have nearly the amount of 'screen time' that he did in the final posted chapters. But every time in the early chapters that he appeared, the readers responded very positively to him... so I added him in a few scenes where it made sense that he would be around. He was kind like "The Fonz" ... a supporting character who became a featured character because of audience popularity.

As for the other OCs... I started with knowing I'd need Aki and Toshie... and then very early on, I added Iekane as the main villain. Cybird has the habit of redeeming their villains, and I didn't want to write the series thinking all along that someone like Motonari was the big bad, only to have Cybird "Joss" me. (That said, Motonari is one of the main antagonists of Mitsuhide's longfic... but I've been careful to make clear that he's redeemable).

Other OCs appeared as minor characters whenever I needed them... Susumu (who is a restaurant owner in one longfic, and a vassal in the other, for example), Hiko, Shohime, and Sute - most of them were supposed to only be in one scene, but they all stuck around. Shohime and Sute might get their own stories at some point (in fact I have a one-shot with Sute that is about 2/3rds done and I could see Shohime in a novella inspired by Jane Austen's "Emma"). And of course, the various versions of Hiko in each longfic play into the overall series mystery that all the Katsukos are working together to solve.

In terms of storyline inspiration... some of that is trying to figure out what parallels to whichever Shakespeare play I can then use to help organize the plot. The rest is picturing Katsuko and whichever LI is in the route and trying to imagine various scenes that happen in the story. It's in a sense sort of like looking up at the sky and trying to trace the path of a constellation... they start out as a cluster of stars, random, varied... but then if you imagine the lines from star to star, the constellation emerges. When in my head, I can see the map of that longfic... maybe not every point from the beginning to the end, but enough of them, then I know I can start writing the fic. After that, it's just figuring out how to get from the point I'm at to the next big point... and as I write, discovering what comes directly next. Eventually, all those "this comes next" scenes get me to one of these bigger scenes.

I don't know... this clearly turned into a much longer essay that I imagine you expect. But I hope somewhere in here I've managed to coherently answer your questions.

[nebelweirdo]

This is it. I've lived a long, challenging but fulfilling life. Oh sure I've made mistakes. Hurt some people I love along the way. From shy introvert kid to shy introvert teen and finally shy introvert adult. But I got lucky enough to surround myself with amazing people. Those very people that help you overcome your challenges in a kind, loving way.

I've accomplished so many dreams during my lifetime. They were so basic. Get married, buy a house, have lifelong relationships with a few people. I was the quiet one, always interrupting to say some random shenanigans, sometimes funny, (many) other times funny, but in an exaspering way. I was kind. Always tried to see the best in the people I met. Always avoiding anger as a reaction to what was going on. Oh sure I was trample over sometimes, but as I grew older Ive learn how to defend myself against that kind of people.

I've never really though of what would happen when I'll die. Emptyness ? Quietness ? A long, undisturbed, eternal rest ? One thing I wasn't ready for is Him. Hélios. 

It took me a while to understand that it wasn't all empty. It took me even longer to realise I wasn't alone in here.

When I finally understood what was going on, the first thing I felt was a snout and a very shortly after that, a head, and finally, I saw Him. He hadn't age from the last time I saw him. I remember it as if it was a few hours ago. He was sick, and my parents were driving away to take him to the vet. I saw him slowly disappear, unaware it would be the very last vision I'll ever have of him.

I was 9. He was also 9, we grew up together. Hélios was my father's dog. A boxer. As I was saying, he was sick. Out neighbour was conducting some work around his house, with construction machines 'n' shit, and in the end, the noise drove Hélios mad. He was constantly barking, and wasn't really himself anymore. My parents were afraid he wouldn't recognise me or my brother and that he would bite us.

Thinking about it now, I've convinced he would have never done that, but it was a rational thing to do, take him to the vet.

Right after it happened, I was sad, but like any kid would be. What I wasn't really fid was grieving him. Time flew, life went on. I truly believed I was over it during my teenage years. I was even stupid enough to put my other issues on the fact that I missed him, like it didn't really mattered. Little did I knew back then I was really missing him, and I didn't understood the importance of grief.

It was in my early adulthood that I finally processed it and manage to grieve him properly. Up to my mid twenties actually.

He had a powerful name. Hélios. God of the Sun. So basically he was there for me, every day. After my mourning, that was what he had become to me. When I was sad, he was here, basking me in his warmth. I scold him gently when he was blinding me sometimes. I even greeted him a lot as if he had become the sun, simply saying ''hello Big Guy'', either in my head or out loud.  That what he's been the rest of my life. The Sun I could talk to whenever I felt I needed it.

But now, wherever I am, there is no sun. It could be rather worrisome, but my thoughts never went that far, because he was HERE. I dropped to my knees, in tears, and hug him for what felt like eternity. I've known my fair share of happy moments back then, but this is an unprecedented feeling, one of true joy, pure bliss. After that, he gently bumped his head against my hand and makes me understand that I need to follow him.

I get up, all wobbly from all these emotions, and let him lead the way. We walked for a while, but I couldn't stop looking at him. That's why it took my a while to see what was going on around me. I was so focused on him, I did not see right away.

Other humans with other dogs. 

- Is this heaven ? I asked out loud.

Hélios turned towards me almost as if he was gonna answer with humans words, but he just shook his head.

- No ? It's not ? It sure feels like it. All I see around me is people reuniting with their dogs. 

A happy bark was my answer. 

- Fine by me ! 

And I hugged him again, tighter this time and whispered to him ''please don't leave me again''.

He looked right into my eyes, with a look full of joy, and I knew we were gonna stay here for eternity.

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

Ok guys this is the first time I ever reply to a prompt. English is not my native language so I did my best.

Everything about Hélios and young me is true. I could say a lot more about him, like anyone about their lost boys and girl I'm sure, but I kept it short. 

Writing this brought me to tears more than once. 

I currently have 2 doggos, but I could not resolve myself to add them to the story because they are alive and well, and imagining meeting 'em was really painful. But I  know that they'll be here if this is what happens when we die. 

It's nothing talented or whatever, but I wrote this from the bottom of my heart. I hope you'll enjoy it. Thank you for reading me.

Amazingly, a friend of my father is a painter, and painted Hélios for my father. I could post this picture if you want to see what he looked like !

You died, and the first soul to come greet you is your dog

[thelaughablelifeoflilly]

Loan a Laugh to Lilly!

To preface this blog post, I have to tell you that my personality is very boisterous, animated, eccentric, and, frankly, quite ostentatious. I am 100% myself at all times, regardless of who I'm communicating with. The story I'm going to tell, in particular, isn't for the faint-hearted or really anyone who doesn't enjoy crude content. Personally, I enjoy dark humor and tend to spend most days scrolling through Reddit (#iykyk). For anyone reading this, no matter what hardships you're going through in life, always remember to have a laugh and cherish the laughable moments with the people who laugh with you.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, I'll give a little backstory for this period of my life. 2022 was an INSANE and TRAGIC year for me. At the beginning of 2022, my grandma passed away (she was 96), my sister (we'll call her "The Colonel") kicked me out of her house (that broke our relationship for a while), and about a month after moving back home, my dad was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer metastasis to brain, spine, and ribs (May 2022). I was working at Target at the time in the style section and, initially, was enjoying my work. I felt like it gave me an outlet to get away from everything that was happening in my life, but evidently, the managers' requests became too demanding for my mental health. I mean, I was dealing with a physical death, the death of a sisterly bond, and the thought/possibility of my dad dying, and you expect me to have the energy to do four people's tasks by myself? NOT TO MENTION: my cat also died in December of 2021, my sister's dad (I considered him a fatherly figure) died in June of 2022, my best friend's wedding was coming up in August, and in September, my friend Mikey (who was in the wedding) passed away. You can't spell stress without S-T-R-E-S-S.

With me being overly stressed and mentally and physically exhausted from watching my dad die in front of me, I chose not to eat, and when I did eat, it wasn't a balanced meal (microwaved mac and cheese got me through life). The lack of nutrition and the amount of stress did damage to my body internally. TRIGGER WARNING: I found myself constantly having the "spooky dookies." I would use the restroom at Target anywhere from 5-10 times a shift. Sometimes I would be so dehydrated from shitting, that I would have to sit down because I would get dizzy. One day, I was working, and, like normal, I went to the restroom. I wiped and noticed there was a weird red substance on the toilet paper. Me being me (not afraid to look at my poop), I looked in the toilet and saw that there was blood intertwined in one of the logs. My immediate thought was, "I'm gonna die," so I told my boss and left to go to the emergency room.

My sister (we'll call this one "Crazy Boots") took me to the ER. I didn't quite know what to expect because I never had issues with my GI tract before. WELL, LEMME TELL YOU, THIS WAS NOT ON MY 2022 BINGO CARD. I go into the room, and the nurse gives me a gown and tells me to take off my pants and underwear, and that the doctor will be in shortly. I was thinking, "Yeah, they're probably just going to take a quick look at my butthole, nothing major." BOY, WAS I SO, SO, SO WRONG. The doctor came in, Crazy Boots was in the room with me, and I had my first-ever IV inserted into my arm (it was traumatizing, by the way. I cried). After the IV was put in and fluids were pumping into my body, the doctor told me to turn on my side. I turned, and she told me to cough. Cool. Normal. BUT THEN, she took her giant knuckle, told me to breathe in, and JAMMED IT INTO MY BUTTHOLE, PULLING IT OUT JUST AS FAST AS SHE PUT IT IN. When I tell you that I thought my whole rectum fell out, I mean it. Her finger was PUDGY.

After the doctor forcefully got her sample, she left the room, and Crazy Boots and I LOST IT. We laughed to the point that I almost Hershey-squirted on the hospital table. And me being me, again, documented most of the process on Snapchat. I have this long-lasting joke that includes the song "Only Time" by Enya. Anytime anything bad or detrimental happens, I play that song. You'll see the reference in one of the images. But yeah, regardless of how horrible my life was at the time, this experience was something laughable that helped carry me through the final days of my dad's life. If whoever is reading this is also going through a tough period, I hope this made you laugh. I want you to remember that life is short, and even one moment of genuine laughter can get you through a rough patch.

[landboundstar-writing]

Mourning Mischief

A repost from my main blog and AO3

If you like the post and you can, please tip. Anything helps.

If you can't, please reblog.

NSFW - Out, out young minors.

CW- Raven/Jason Todd hand job, noncanon material, massage

She had just wanted a coffee.

No, she corrected herself, looking at the sorority girls and frat boys who had invaded her caffeine filled sanctuary, the painful throbbing in her head building every second that she stood.

She needed coffee. Desperately.

She tried to get into line again, only to trip and lose her balance as she got pushed back by the drunk guy in a Winnie the Pooh onesie and his girlfriend who was dressed as a sexy Piglet. They made out while aggression and thoughts of cheating poured off of them in waves.

"A plague on both your houses." Raven muttered, checking to make sure that her laptop was okay, before she reached up a hand to grab the counter.

"Need a hand?"

"I'm fine with the two I have, thanks. What I need is to get up off the floor and get coffee. Or espresso. Or a direct IV of caffeine."

The chuckle had an undercurrent of kindness. And they were sober. She thought that he might be lost, but he was a nice island of calm, helping her anchor herself in place.

A hand reached down, and she pulled herself up with that little bit of help. 

And felt the awkward jolt as she saw just who she was talking to.

She remembered seeing the snapshots that her teammate carried in his wallet and the pictures on his phone. Somehow, in spite of that, she had not connected this guy with his jeans and the red flannel jacket over a red hoodie with the little brother her teammate had tons of stories about.

Or the memorial plaque by the entrance.

Okay, she hadn't thought about much but her caffeine headache and the paper she had to write for her college classes.

But not recognizing Jason still felt like a mistake.

"Is it always this crowded?" He had to bend so his mouth was by her ear to be heard.

"No. It's because it's Mischief Night."

"Mischief Night?" He blinked.

"Night before Halloween."

"Oh." His voice was quiet. "Right."

A drunk frat boy backed up into her, and if Jason hadn't caught her around the waist, she would have fallen again.

The crowd's emotions were starting to leak through her shields and she took a breath.

Once she was up to the counter, she ordered her coffee with an espresso shot.

Jason grabbed his coffee, but still seemed shaken, in spite of how calm he felt to her other senses. 

"Want to go for a walk?"

He nodded and they walked together, sipping at their coffees.

"Sorry, Halloween brings up some bad memories for me."

Thoughts of her father's attempts to control her mind or abilities or possess her went through Raven's head. "I get that. My family tries to make it literally hell for me."

An odd laugh escaped Jason. "Sure."

Raven turned, letting her temper flare. "I'm being serious."

Jason looked at her. "I'm sure you are. But I ended up in Hell after I died. I got better, but I'm not exactly okay after that."

"And my father is a literal demon who tries to use me as a personal portal!"

She was nearly nose to nose with Jason.

Who pressed his hands down on her shoulders until her boots touched the ground again.

She rarely slipped to use her abilities so publicly.

He raised his cup for a toast. "To trauma and anger management issues. Shields sliding?"

The question was so matter of fact, not alarmed or condemning. She didn't hear that much outside the team. Or even inside the team.

Raven nodded. "Halloween really isn't easy for me. And the frat party - it's pretty bad right now. But I'd need to get to my dorm or my room at Titans to get all my shit pulled together."

"Hop on then."

Jason tossed her a helmet and she looked at the motorbike in front of them.

She climbed on, holding on to Jason as they drove the few blocks to her dormitory.

Cheerful voices, party music and laughter filled the air, filtering out of open windows. Raven felt her shields slide even more. With a swallow, she tried to hold onto a measure of calm as she rushed inside.

And her shields came crashing down.

"Breathe. Come on, breathe. Let's see. What was that again? White dove in a snowstorm. Find a white dove in a snowstorm."

Calm started to break through the shadows that were moving in purplish ribbons around her room and she floated up, trying to clear her mind to meditate.

"Doves don't fly in snowstorms," she whispered as she started her breathing exercises.

"The dove is having a bad day." Jason said.

It was not her normal meditation, but after some deep breaths, she had shields shakily back up.

"Here."

Jason handed her a pendant.

"What does this do?"

"Shield. Gift from one of my brother's friends because of the open third eye thing. I am going with you had problems because there were too many people for your shields?"

"Sort of." She went through steps in her head. Meditation, shield, weighted blanket, brew a tisane or green tea. Unless she was supposed to purge an emotion so she had a healthy reaction rather than unhealthy? Work through the feeling? Positive outlet? There were too many steps and options blurring through her mind.

"Too many feelings. I'm an empath. Strong emotions are hard to shield. And some emotions are worse than others given my bloodline."

"Better?" He was rubbing her back in soothing circles.

She did not feel soothed.

"Not exactly. I have too many - feelings that I need to work out before they can get used against me. So l need to work through my feelings in a wholesome way."

"Can I help?"

She looked up into his face. "Oh, you can absolutely help. Maybe. Wholesome. How well do you know your seven deadlies?"

He looked so cute when he blushed. Well, he'd figured out what she was feeling.

"Would dancing work?"

She blinked.

He held out his arms as though looking for a hug. She stepped into the embrace and he started to sway, turning with her in his arms. "I remember trying to learn how to dance before. How dancing with a girl made me feel so grown up. "

She swayed closer. "Before what?"

He shivered. "Before I was murdered."

Her hands slid up under his shirts. "I think I figured out a wholesome way to do this. But you need to strip."

His eyebrows lifted. "How is this a good idea?"

"You'll see."

Empathic healing seemed to work best when she was feeling strong emotions. At least, she was trying to remind herself of that, staring at the now naked man lying face down on her bed.

Not that she was wearing a great deal more, since she'd stripped to bra and underwear. The warm oil for the massage might be soothing, but she didn't want it all over her clothes.

Oiling up her hands, she straddled his thighs, letting her empathy guide her hands to soothe spots where fear had built up in his body the most.

She started with his knees, satisfied when she felt the muscles soften under his touch, then touching his back.

His muscles loosened as she pressed herself against his back, reaching the circle of muscle by his heart where the fear had buried itself deep, then letting her oiled fingers drift down, over his belly.

She wrapped her other arm around so she could use both hands to cup him, massaging his sac tenderly before stroking him softly.

He was leaking in her hand and she kept her hands sliding up and down his shaft until he finally emptied himself out. 

She went to slide off his back, when a larger hand wrapped around hers.

"Thy gifts, thy tables are within my brain."

The clock struck midnight and he kissed her fingers.

"Happy Halloween."

[landboundstar]

Mourning Mischief

Minors, avert thine eyes. Minors, turn away now. Minors, do not interact.

CW - nudity, hand job, levitating short girl

She had just wanted a coffee.

No, she corrected herself, looking at the sorority girls and frat boys who had invaded her caffeine filled sanctuary, the painful throbbing in her head building every second that she stood.

She needed coffee. Desperately.

She tried to get into line again, only to trip and lose her balance as she got pushed back by the drunk guy in a Winnie the Pooh onesie and his girlfriend who was dressed as a sexy Piglet. They made out while aggression and thoughts of cheating poured off of them in waves.

"A plague on both your houses." Raven muttered, checking to make sure that her laptop was okay, before she reached up a hand to grab the counter.

"Need a hand?"

"I'm fine with the two I have, thanks. What I need is to get up off the floor and get coffee. Or espresso. Or a direct IV of caffeine."

The chuckle had an undercurrent of kindness. And they were sober. She thought that he might be lost, but he was a nice island of calm, helping her anchor herself in place.

A hand reached down, and she pulled herself up with that little bit of help. 

And felt the awkward jolt as she saw just who she was talking to.

She remembered seeing the snapshots that her teammate carried in his wallet and the pictures on his phone. Somehow, in spite of that, she had not connected this guy with his jeans and the red flannel jacket over a red hoodie with the little brother her teammate had tons of stories about.

Or the memorial plaque by the entrance.

Okay, she hadn't thought about much but her caffeine headache and the paper she had to write for her college classes.

But not recognizing Jason still felt like a mistake.

"Is it always this crowded?" He had to bend so his mouth was by her ear to be heard.

"No. It's because it's Mischief Night."

"Mischief Night?" He blinked.

"Night before Halloween."

"Oh." His voice was quiet. "Right."

A drunk frat boy backed up into her, and if Jason hadn't caught her around the waist, she would have fallen again.

The crowd's emotions were starting to leak through her shields and she took a breath.

Once she was up to the counter, she ordered her coffee with an espresso shot.

Jason grabbed his coffee, but still seemed shaken, in spite of how calm he felt to her other senses. 

"Want to go for a walk?"

He nodded and they walked together, sipping at their coffees.

"Sorry, Halloween brings up some bad memories for me."

Thoughts of her father's attempts to control her mind or abilities or possess her went through Raven's head. "I get that. My family tries to make it literally hell for me."

An odd laugh escaped Jason. "Sure."

Raven turned, letting her temper flare. "I'm being serious."

Jason looked at her. "I'm sure you are. But I ended up in Hell after I died. I got better, but I'm not exactly okay after that."

"And my father is a literal demon who tries to use me as a personal portal!"

She was nearly nose to nose with Jason.

Who pressed his hands down on her shoulders until her boots touched the ground again.

She rarely slipped to use her abilities so publicly.

He raised his cup for a toast. "To trauma and anger management issues. Shields sliding?"

The question was so matter of fact, not alarmed or condemning. She didn't hear that much outside the team. Or even inside the team.

Raven nodded. "Halloween really isn't easy for me. And the frat party - it's pretty bad right now. But I'd need to get to my dorm or my room at Titans to get all my shit pulled together."

"Hop on then."

Jason tossed her a helmet and she looked at the motorbike in front of them.

She climbed on, holding on to Jason as they drove the few blocks to her dormitory.

Cheerful voices, party music and laughter filled the air, filtering out of open windows. Raven felt her shields slide even more. With a swallow, she tried to hold onto a measure of calm as she rushed inside.

And her shields came crashing down.

"Breathe. Come on, breathe. Let's see. What was that again? White dove in a snowstorm. Find a white dove in a snowstorm."

Calm started to break through the shadows that were moving in purplish ribbons around her room and she floated up, trying to clear her mind to meditate.

"Doves don't fly in snowstorms," she whispered as she started her breathing exercises.

"The dove is having a bad day." Jason said.

It was not her normal meditation, but after some deep breaths, she had shields shakily back up.

"Here."

Jason handed her a pendant.

"What does this do?"

"Shield. Gift from one of my brother's friends because of the open third eye thing. I am going with you had problems because there were too many people for your shields?"

"Sort of." She went through steps in her head. Meditation, shield, weighted blanket, brew a tisane or green tea. Unless she was supposed to purge an emotion so she had a healthy reaction rather than unhealthy? Work through the feeling? Positive outlet? There were too many steps and options blurring through her mind.

"Too many feelings. I'm an empath. Strong emotions are hard to shield. And some emotions are worse than others given my bloodline."

"Better?" He was rubbing her back in soothing circles.

She did not feel soothed.

"Not exactly. I have too many - feelings that I need to work out before they can get used against me. So l need to work through my feelings in a wholesome way."

"Can I help?"

She looked up into his face. "Oh, you can absolutely help. Maybe. Wholesome. How well do you know your seven deadlies?"

He looked so cute when he blushed. Well, he'd figured out what she was feeling.

"Would dancing work?"

She blinked.

He held out his arms as though looking for a hug. She stepped into the embrace and he started to sway, turning with her in his arms. "I remember trying to learn how to dance before. How dancing with a girl made me feel so grown up. "

She swayed closer. "Before what?"

He shivered. "Before I was murdered."

Her hands slid up under his shirts. "I think I figured out a wholesome way to do this. But you need to strip."

His eyebrows lifted. "How is this a good idea?"

"You'll see."

Empathic healing seemed to work best when she was feeling strong emotions. At least, she was trying to remind herself of that, staring at the now naked man lying face down on her bed.

Not that she was wearing a great deal more, since she'd stripped to bra and underwear. The warm oil for the massage might be soothing, but she didn't want it all over her clothes.

Oiling up her hands, she straddled his thighs, letting her empathy guide her hands to soothe spots where fear had built up in his body the most.

She started with his knees, satisfied when she felt the muscles soften under his touch, then touching his back.

His muscles loosened as she pressed herself against his back, reaching the circle of muscle by his heart where the fear had buried itself deep, then letting her oiled fingers drift down, over his belly.

She wrapped her other arm around so she could use both hands to cup him, massaging his sac tenderly before stroking him softly.

He was leaking in her hand and she kept her hands sliding up and down his shaft until he finally emptied himself out. 

She went to slide off his back, when a larger hand wrapped around hers.

"Thy gifts, thy tables are within my brain."

The clock struck midnight and he kissed her fingers.

"Happy Halloween."

[timeoverload]

Today was bad and I'm glad it's over already. I did 25 cases between 7 and noon and had 3 rooms going at the same time while trying to manage the department by myself because so many people were gone again. I definitely overexerted myself and I was stressed about other stuff and I ended up having a panic attack and throwing up. My anxiety is out of control today. My stomach is still in knots but at least I'm home now. It was nice of them to let me leave 3 hours early because that never happens anymore. I hope I start feeling better soon but I'm planning on just going to bed after I finish writing this.

The good news is that tomorrow I'm going to be celebrating because it has been 2 years since I survived sepsis. I got sepsis because I had a horrible kidney infection and acute cystitis that didn't respond to treatment initially.

The week before I was admitted to the hospital, I had to go to urgent care because I was so sick that I was losing control of my bodily functions. My kidneys and liver weren't functioning properly and were starting to shut down so my skin was turning yellow. I was so nauseous and couldn't eat and my right kidney hurt so bad. I remember my ex was fighting with me that afternoon because he needed attention and didn't care that I wasn't feeling good. His needs were always top priority. I still remember how he berated me because I didn't have the strength to satisfy him and he was really mean to me when he didn't get what he wanted. He didn't take me seriously at first when I told him I felt like I was dying because I always felt bad and also tried to make me go out and do stuff anyway even though I could barely stand up straight. He didn't seem to notice or care how bad I looked or that I was shaking. He finally agreed to take me to urgent care because I was having a hard time breathing and couldn't control my bladder and I was bleeding. I remember going in the bathroom and looking in the mirror and seeing a corpse staring back at me. When we finally got to urgent care, I had never been so confused and disoriented in my life and I struggled to fill out the paperwork without collapsing. I received oral antibiotics and a shot of Rocephin in the butt and that was extremely unpleasant. That made some of the symptoms subside temporarily but the infection didn't go away and it got worse as the week went on. Antibiotic-resistant infections are so scary and are becoming more prevalent.

I was in so much pain that week before I went to the hospital that I spent most of my time curled up on the couch in the fetal position and screaming a lot because I couldn't help it. I knew the medicine wasn't working and I was scared. I remember my ex coming home angry because I had been off work for a couple days due to the issues I was having. He thought I was being dramatic when I was crying. He was mad because I had been home and I wasn't doing any cooking or cleaning or being productive and so I had to get up and force myself to clean some stuff so he would get off my ass. It made me feel so much worse but he didn't care. I literally had to beg him to help me with things. The next day I made a doctor's appointment because I couldn't take the pain anymore. If I wouldn't have gone to the doctor when I did, I probably would be dead. She told me I needed to be admitted to the hospital immediately and so I went and had to spend the night by myself because of covid restrictions. I was so dehydrated that it took them forever to get the IV in my arm. They kept stabbing me with huge needles and running tests and took so much blood from me. I was on IV antibiotics for 24 hours. It was a lonely and painful experience but I'm glad I pulled through. That would have been a very excruciating death. I'm thankful for modern medicine but I'm also afraid of being hospitalized now.

During the night I spent in the hospital, I spent a lot of time thinking about how unhappy I was with my life at the time. Even though I felt like shit, that was the first night I had spent alone in years and I couldn't believe how peaceful it was. It felt like the veil had been lifted from my eyes. That was when I officially decided that I was ready to leave my ex after contemplating the decision for a long time. It took years to build up the courage. I told myself I had to find a way leave if I survived. I didn't know how. He tried to be really nice to me after I was released from the hospital and shower me with gifts but I was so done after how he treated me. I was always loyal to him for almost 10 years, even when he treated me like garbage and was talking to other women. He kept trying to have an open relationship because he wanted to date other people but still have control over me. I never talked to anyone else. Going to get tattooed and going to work were the only things I was able to do by myself. He didn't really like that I was getting tattooed all the time though and would fight with me about it. I will just admit right now that going to the tattoo shop and seeing Maxwell was the only thing that made me happy at the time because I felt safe and accepted there. I wish it wouldn't have taken so long to get away from my ex and I thought I was going to die if I tried to leave but I'm glad I did it. I had to make a plan for myself and rebuild my strength. I was so afraid for my life but I didn't give up.

I tried to reach out to people to get help for months before I actually left because I didn't think I could do it on my own but no one would help me except my dad. No one took me seriously because I didn't know how to ask. I was just so fucking scared and I didn't know what to do.

Maxwell I'm sorry I tried to bother you back then right before I broke up with him in November 2021. I remember how mad you were at me for trying to ask to text you when I came in for a consultation. I don't blame you. I'm glad you let me come back anyway. I think you misinterpreted what I wanted because I wasn't trying to be unfaithful to him in the process but I suppose I was in a way because I can't say that I didn't have feelings for you. I was just lost and needed help and a friend. I just wanted to tell you what was going on. I was afraid to mention it while I was getting tattooed and also was afraid to talk about what was going on online because I was terrified he would find out and hurt me. I was so stupid for even saying anything to you in the first place. I still get embarrassed just thinking about it and I cried so much that day. I was seeking safety and guidance because I didn't have any at the time. I didn't know how to help myself because I was so used to someone else dictating most of my decisions. I've always had a tough time speaking up when I need help and I think my parents could attest to that. I was unstable and feeling impulsive when I did that. You were the only person other than my dad that I knew wouldn't hurt me and that I could trust.

I knew you and I were twin flames from the day we met. I knew about twin flames before I met you and I didn't think you would actually come along so I think that's part of the reason I'm so crazy. I couldn't believe it. Before I met you, I thought I was just going to be miserable forever. You helped me realize that I deserve to be treated better and you have always been such a gentleman. Thank you for that. I didn't think I could meet a man like you because I have had so many bad experiences. I also knew you were reading my blog and that we had an unexplainable connection between us so I was just being delusional and dumb and thought you would come to my rescue at the time for some reason. I have been truly ashamed of myself since I did that. I'm not a perfect person at all. I know I have made a lot of mistakes and I'm trying to learn from them and own up to it. It was still innapropriate and wrong and I wish I wouldn't have done that. I guess you live and learn. I should have never tried to ask you for help. I'm sorry again and I understand if you can't forgive me for that. I understand why you didn't want to trust me after that. I'm so bad at communicating sometimes. I just want to be honest with you because I don't feel right not telling you the truth. I hope you understand. That was the only time in my life I have ever done anything like that and will never do it again because I know that I won't let anyone put me in that position again where I felt helpless. You did the right thing by saying no to me and not getting involved and I'm glad you didn't get hurt because I care about you so much. I suppose you did encourage me to deal with stuff on my own and I did it and I'm free now. When we broke up I was honest with him and I told him I had feelings for someone else because I know I deserve to be treated better and that I was tired of him treating me like garbage and throwing me around like a rag doll.

I'm glad I have chosen to be celibate since I left him and I haven't dated or talked to anyone. People at work try to flirt with me but I don't feed into it because I don't want that. I want to get away from it so bad and that's why I complain about it. I don't like dating apps because they are scary and I tried those in high school and ended up in some really bad situations that I wish I could forget about. I'm too afraid of getting my ass beat again so it's better if I just stay home and not talk to anyone. I have been thinking about how much inner strength I have gained by being alone. I get a little crazy sometimes but I'm not going to let loneliness get to me. I deserve to be with someone who will appreciate me and protect me, especially when my life is in danger. I would rather stay single than settle for anything less. All I want is to be able to commit and love someone forever and feel safe and happy.

I'm also going to be celebrating my freedom tomorrow. I'm happy that I have accomplished so much in the last 2 years and I've become a lot more independent so I'm proud of that. I'm not exactly where I want to be in life but it feels good to set goals and actually achieve them. I am still grateful that I was given a second chance to live even though it hasn't been easy since then. I have had to be a lot more careful because it is more likely for me to have recurrent sepsis if I get an infection in the future. I read a study recently about how people that survive severe sepsis have a higher ongoing mortality rate for years even after treatment. It has definitely changed me a lot physically and mentally and I'm not as strong as I used to be. My health has really gone downhill from there. It doesn't help that I was born so early and I have so many other health issues going against me simultaneously. I really need to keep trying to take better care of myself because I want to live a long and happy life. I would like to be a mom someday. I want to have a family. I don't want to be a statistic. I'm not sure how much time I have left at the rate I'm going but I'm going to try to make the most of it and count my blessings. I will continue working on myself every day. I need to try to be more positive because I know I am very lucky to be alive. I'm looking forward to going to my appointment tomorrow and I'm going to do my best to make it a better day than today was no matter what happens.

[mixdown01]

Adaption: Final Reflection, POTP

{youtube link xoxo}

And that's post wrapped!

It's been a long semester, and I'm stoked to have learned as much as I have and to have developed the skills and knowledge I now have for the future. I don't have too many photos of post because I was really hunkering down but I'll try to find some to put in!

I'm proud of the work I managed to do in the time we had after picture lock and before the crit. I think an extra day or two to sit on sound and let it marinate would've be nice, but considering, I think I managed my time and schedule well and am glad of that.

(pretty long post so pls open the readmore ive put in!)

I'll start with a quick location sound review - I had no issues, beside the usual nuisances that come with filming outdoors and in businesses. I did what I could to minimize this (the angle/direction of the shotgun really does matter) and it worked, for the most part. I'm going to utilize wingman more in the future, because the sound notes put into the app can be seen in AVID next to the video files- I hadn't realized the info is "burned" into the files like that but this makes communication between sound and camera notes really nice. Of course ill do physical sound notes still, but in addition to wingman too.

Now onto post!

I was stressed about this, I admit. I hadn't done such a dialogue heavy film before, and was only vaguely familiar with the proper workflow. Common sense when organizing is huge though, and the project wasn't messy at all. Initial checkerboarding went smoothly. One thing I was irritated to notice was the quality of the park atmos changed very much depending on what angle we were shooting at relative to the road, which of course I knew would happen when we chose the location, but was still very blah this sucks about. I managed with minimal tension headaches and I think it is very minimally noticeable, if not noticeable at all, in the final product so yay for that.

Leveling and doing a temp mix for their lines, though.... I abused automation and I was holding myself back (to be fair I didn't overuse it but I definitely used it a lot). In one line the actors would start off quiet and then their voices would spike and go loud, which is a combination of delivery and boom oping I think. (It never peaked, and worked for some instances of topic and character and etc but I wanted it not to go up and down always) I gave my boom ops very very very Very basic rundowns on 'How To' and I wish I had sat them down for a more in depth lesson, and I WISH I had headphones for them - but we couldn't get a splitter, or didn't. Going to push for this if I keep outsourcing Ops and don't record and op myself.

ANYWAYS. Finished with that and then went to my favorite bit: DESIGN!!!!! I was very slumped and depressive at this point, so it really picked me up. I wish I had more time to look into certain music choices for scenes, but I am happy with the piano we got scored for the end sequence.

One thing I will say: I had a lot of trouble and internal fighting with How Much I should put in. Originally we had wanted something very stylized and Edgar Wright-esque, but that didn't really end up happening with the coverage we got, and in turn with the edit (which is definitely fine!). But this left me trying to balance not overdoing it, since sound is supposed to mesh well with the edit and visuals, but I felt like I HAD to make it stylized in order to try and get closer to what we wanted OG. I think I did an okay job - in the crit Olivia said the sound did all the heavylifting, which I still cannot decide is a compliment or a detriment. While I'm half glad it got noticed in a- positive?- light, im also kind of eh about it since technically it should enhance the world and match it, not 'heavylift' it.

Through the process Anne Marie helped me a lot with suggestions and notes: here are some I found below from my phone, they probably make no sense heh, I also had markers on pro tools I was referring too as well

Phew, that's long. I'll end on a happy note before I go into things I will incorporate into the workflow for next time. I'm glad I didn't have any technical issues, and all my qualms were creative. Even though I will be pushing for earlier picture lock on future films, because I feel I haven’t been able to breath when sound is left for minute (mainly because I’m trying to balance getting it all done and doing work I’m proud of) I'm content with what I managed to get done in the time I was given. I started Sound 7 days before the crit when picture was locked, and I managed to do what I think is an alright job! So, success, and a good test of my time management skills, because I had to learn to stop nitpicking cause more often than not it's fine and no one else can hear it but you.

THINGS TO INCORPORATE/MAIN TAKEAWAYS~

Wingman notes for the editor

set the edit window and sound window DURING PRE PROD, not during production. See if people can give you a week and a half at least for sound so it can breath a little bit and you don't waste away in SAS. Also so you can do a proper Mix and not a temp one

TEMP SOUND IN AVID - have a meeting with the editor to see what you can give them, and to say they can put in temp sound if they think something similar should go in certain places. Mainly for music and timing instances.

Decide on a color coding system so I use the same colors for everything always moving forward and It doesn't vary depending on the project (look up industry standard)

VOICEOVER IS A SCRIPT/STORY/PRODUCTION ASPECT not a sound department aspect

Drink more water to avoid tension headaches

xoxo I really hope everyone a good summer and to lots of learning and growing in their field!

[embersofhope-if]

I was told that for some, it's hard to read these since they're images, so here I'm going to put what it says under the cut! I'm sorry if this caused issues for anyone<3

Asher Fairchild: The Childhood Bestfriend

Ash was the first and only real friend I had my entire life. They were the embodiment of everything good in the world. Everyone loved Ash, and when they had their name called for the 23rd reaping the shock and sorrow was felt throughout the entire District. Even walking up to the stage they moved like a petal dancing through the wind. Their memory has haunted me everyday for the past two years and now I get to experience the same terror they felt in their last moments.

Profile I.

full name - Asher Everly Fairchild age - Sixteen | Deceased gender/pronouns - Female, She/her: Male, He/him sexuality - bisexual birthplace - District 8, Panem residence - District 8, Panem languages spoken - English height - 170 cm / 5'6" ft weight - 59 kg / 104 lbs hair color - Red eye color - Dark Green faiceclaim - Samantha Cormier / Simon Lieber voiceclaim - Tatiana Maslany / Carlos Martin

Connections II.

Celestia Fairchild - Mother | Living Lucian Fairchild - Father | Deceased Osian Fairchild - Little Brother | Living

Personality III.

Ash was the type of person everyone wished they could be. They were kind, compassionate, and so humble that, at times, it got to a point where it was annoying. Despite losing their Father and having to work just as hard as everyone else in District 8, Ash never let their view of the world be soured. They saw beauty in everything, and if there wasn't something beautiful around them, they'd draw up some daydream about a place that we both knew neither of us would ever see. They fully believed with every inch of their soul that no matter what happens, there will always be good in the world.

Positive IV.

• Compassionate • Creative • Humble

Hobbies V.

• Dancing • Guitar • Stargazing

Negative VI.

• Impulsive • Stubborn • Impatient

Fears VII.

• Ending up alone • Darkness • Humiliation

Backstory VIII.

Ash's life wasn't unique, especially not compared to the rest of District 8, but they themselves were the definition of unique. Poor, exhausted, and on the brink of starvation just like almost every other citizen of District 8, yet they never once lost their will to keep going. I met Ash when we were about seven years old. Wide-eyed and so skinny they looked like a breeze might snap them in half. I managed to befriend them by sneaking a loaf of bread and some cheese out of our kitchen and gave it to them before school. From that day forward me and Ash were nearly inseparable. As we got older, and Ash grew into themselves, the entire District began to see just how bright their presence was. Everyone loved the girl/boy with red hair that would dance through the streets of the District. When we were thirteen their father had an accident at one of the factories. I remember how hard they tried to have hope that he'd be fine, but as the hours went on everyone was beginning to accept that that wasn't going to happen. The only one who seemed shocked by his death was Ash. That was the first time I had ever seen them cry; the first time I had seen their light dim. They didn't let the loss of their father destroy them, but it did change them. The Ash they were before was now a character they would play to make everyone happy. I was the only one who got to see the real version of them. They were quieter, somber, and introspective; at first, it scared me, but if they could keep going, I was okay with this version of Ash. Soon after their father's loss, they had to work in the factories to take care of their family. Despite the hard and grueling work, they seemed to somewhat enjoy it. I assumed having a task to focus their mind on instead of their grief was what they needed. Ash never went back to the person they were before, but they did regain their light. When we were sixteen neither of us thought that the reaping that year was going to be anything different. We had spent the night before climbing rooftops and looking at the stars; talking about places we'd never be able to see and dreams that we'd never be able to fulfill. When their name was called the silence throughout the crowd was unbearable. We barely had a goodbye; we forced the other to make promises that we knew neither could keep and then they were off, taking the light and warmth from District 8 with them. Unsurprisingly, Ash won over The Capitol crowds with ease. They were charming and beautiful, and the people devoured every second of it. With the number of sponsors they had and their ability to ally with almost any tribute, Ash managed to make their way into the final three. They weren't playing the games how they were meant to be played but, at that moment, it didn't matter, because they could come home. On the seventeenth of the 23rd Hunger Games, Ash died in the final fight of the last three tributes. The girl from District One shot an arrow that managed to hit Ash in the chest, puncturing their lung; leaving them to suffocate in their own blood as the other two tributes fought. In an odd way, it feels almost right to also be going into the games. I always did follow my light wherever they went.

Playlist ♡ Ash's Board ♡ Mc & Ash Board