#last one's team to survive the dungeon gets it

[felassan]

Some snippets from DA dev Luke Barrett on the unofficial BioWare forum, cut for length:

DA:I -

User: "I am still convinced that Bioware cut the healing spells and went with barriers instead because of the Multiplayer." Luke Barrett: I can't speak to any other games directly but I can give a bit of historic context for DAI. The game was initially a more dungeon/linear delving - see how far you can get - experience and there was no barrier of any kind. As a side note: healing has always been a hot topic in design because as soon as you include it there are many other conceits you now need take into consideration for the gameplay - one of which I will call 'the Anders problem'. Anyway, as DAI got the date moved and shifted more into the pseudo-openworld the concept of attrition (see how far you can get before having to return to camp) became less relevant and we needed to help the Players have more moment-to-moment agency around their survival. Unfortunately for various reasons (one of which is the sad reality of designing a game with a shifting timeline) the healing couldn't be re-added so we ended up with more of a mitigation strategy in the barrier system. It went through a lot of iterations but eventually landed on what it shipped with which I would call... acceptable (but just barely). Now, I will concede that a part of the reason it didn't return after that shift was an aversion to holy trinity gameplay specifically for MP but it wasn't the core reason. As a side story, trying to balance the game (as that was my job on DAI - and yes, it could be much better haha) we had to all but force Players to take barrier. It is intentionally the first skill in the first tree for the Mage and all the autolevel (I also handled that) is designed to get it right away." [source]

User: "Merry Christmas Luke! Sooo what was the hardest class you had to balance? [DA:I]" Luke Barrett: "I feel like anyone who was around for the post-launch content will already know the answer to this as it was the bane of my existence when I got put exclusively on MP after launch but the Knight-Enchanter barrier absorbing was a pain. Stuff like that is very challenging to feel good without being broken as they are relative to damage so scaling is fairly open-ended. Too little and the casual players won't get use out of it, too much and the character builders will be wildly OP. We actually had a 'no nerfing' guideline for the SP side so it was a hard battle to fix that silly thing 🙃." [source]

"As a fun fact, I did all the logic for autolevel on DAI and the guideline I was given was literally "make functional builds, but don't make something optimal that you'd play"." [source]

DA:TV -

User: "If you can, say thanks to the people making the no die option possible." Luke Barrett: "Done! My team handles this stuff so I let them know 😊" [source]

"Comically, I designed the majority of the items and skills and I am still finding it fun making awesome builds (been almost entirely doing playthroughs lately" [source]

"Was really important to the team that everyone could play the way that felt best to them." [source]

"Each specialization has a focus around a few specific mechanics, some of which are the weapons or damage types but you can go off script and make it work for sure (this was intentional in the designs)." [source]

"I designed all the skills and so they're each enjoyable to me to some extent. I have been playing through the game over and over the last couple months for balance purposes so I've played them all fairly extensively." [source]

User: "Necrotic sounds like it could be either Spirit or Nature." User: "For Rogue, it replace "poison". For Mage, it replace spirit (Spirit bomb). For Warrior, it's more spirit (especially Reaper), but some skills could work as poison too. So basically they merged spirit and nature." Luke Barrett: "Thats pretty close to spot on. They were actually heavily iterated on throughout development - I can't (at least currently) go into specifics as to why though." [source]

"the target for the progression vision is that you can make a viable build out of almost** any aspect of the gameplay." [source]

"As for timelines, We started DA4 in October of 2015 roughly. The entire team was moved to MEA for about 3-4 months to help it ship and I also spent all of 3 weeks helping out on Anthem. But otherwise I've been on some incarnation of DA4 for about 9 years now - pretty ready for it to release 😅." [source]

"yes, years of working on the same thing can cause some burnout but I've played through the full game probably about 8 times in the last few months and it's still fun (though some of the specific levels that haven't changed in a long time I've done 50+ times easily and I could do without ever seeing them again 😂)." [source]

User: "I do kind of feel that at this point the DA team has put so much work into creating and improving their tools and learning the ins and outs of Frostbite [...] But who knows what the devs in the trenches really feel" Luke Barrett: "I will say it does some things very well and some things poorly, relative to other engines. Personally I really enjoy Frostbite but I've been using it since 2012. In an ideal world, many engines would be viable and developers would make games suited to the strengths of a specific engine." [source]

User: "Since this game is much more stat heavy than prior titles, specifically when it comes to skills and gear, there's likely a need for some balance changes to be made post-launch. Does the game being playable completely offline hinder the data capture side for your team (in terms of analytics), or is this a non-factor?" Luke Barrett: "Generally speaking, most people leave data analytics on so we get more than enough data coming in. Additionally, I'll personally be watching several channels for things that are underperforming (relatively speaking) and not have to nerf anything. The rpg side is vast though and I'm sure people will find OP combinations/synergies that might need 'adjustments' but as long as it's fun and not an "I win" button that trivializes combat I'm pretty cool with it." [source]

Luke Barrett: "I can safely say there are many builds for each class that will feel very powerful if you're not on the highest difficulty 😉. What I'm really excited for is when the guides comes out that show people the fastest way to get some of the uniques that unlock 'special' gameplay 😊. Let's just say I love the feeling of rushing to Patches in DS1 and kicking him off the bridge for the Crescent Axe (iykyk)." [source] User: "Speaking of guides. Will there be a guidebook like there was for DAI? " Luke Barrett: "Not that I'm aware of but I'm happy to help feed info to somewhere like fextralife or the dragon age wiki after a week or so to help with those pursuits. Have to leave some time for exploration and discovery before the optimizers streamline the experience 😉" [source]

"Effectively, at least until the game launches (and likely a week or so after), you won't get anything interesting out of any of the devs save Mike Gamble or John Epler. Longer term I hope to be very active, at least for build mechanics and all the combat/rpg nuts and bolts conversations." [source]

"I started "da4" in October 2015 and so after 9 years of effort (minus 3 months on Andromeda) I'm quite excited for tomorrow and the launch week. I don't know if I'd say nervous, I feel pretty confident in the product, but definitely that eager kid before Christmas feeling 😊" [source]

"As the person who did all the balance, I will say that if you are comprehending how to make a cohesive build and understand the combat mechanics, you should play on Underdog. One of the downsides to having a lot of power growth vectors is the difference between people who engage vs those that don't becomes a chasm quite quickly. If you start blowing enemies up rapidly, turn up the difficulty (or play on nightmare where that will not be the case) - basically if it ever feels super easy or like enemies are health sponges you're probably on the wrong setting for your skill level. The custom difficulty settings are there to make the gameplay enjoyable (for whatever that means to you)." [source]

"As a tip from me, the balance is subtly tipped in the players favor until the last fight of the 3rd combat mission. Be warned if it's feeling too easy you may want to wait until after that to decide." [source]

[on DA MP] Luke Barrett: "It was actually pretty fun but very much not what most people wanted us to make (including internally). Also we had, let's say, limited staff who had a passion and background in MP so it was definitely the right call to go SP only. Now, it would have been nice had we just started that way but so it goes sometimes." [source] User: "You still play it yourself from time to time (DA MP), or have you left it be?" Luke Barrett: "After playing variations of DA4 for so many years (9!!!) it's hard to go back to anything with DAI controls/gameplay speed. Even the initial Joplin prototypes I was doing were much more snappy/twitchy - for everything good about DAI the combat was definitely in the middle of two different styles." [source]

[on aiming bows] "we actually used to have separate buttons for ADS and ranged attack but it was wildly overloading the controller. These RPG games need controllers with at least 2 more buttons (fingers crossed for the next gen)" [source]

User: "After the last few games, I'm really surprised by the current skill... tree?" Luke Barrett: "I call it a skill graph - aside from the beginning where you have 3 choices the entirety of it is 2 choice splits and it'll essentially make a build for you. Just go a little at a time and aim for whatever specialization seems most fun to you 😄" [source]

"Loot is not random so theoretically guides with drop locations should appear pretty soon." [source]

"Yep, Spellblade is the only spec that directly impacts fire damage but you can get benefits from most of them and still go fire. As for the specs, yes it would have been nice to support all of them but just wasn't in scope unfortunately. Mage has Mourn-Watch, Shadow Dragons, and Antivan Crows specializations - only the Rogue has a Veiljumper one. Deathcaller left side you can go beam based and use a Fire weapon. Evoker you'd likely need to do a hybrid ice/fire build." [source]

User: "Bit of a side question, but for those who intend to make more characters, is BioWare considering upping the amount of playable character slots you can have (currently at 3)? Or is there a hardware restriction here given the game is offline playable?" Luke Barrett: "Don't quote me as I don't handle the technical side of this but my understanding is we have to allocate a specific amount of HD space on the consoles so we basically have to pick a limit, relative to our save file sizes, and then divide that by number of careers. I'll inquire if this is something we can increase with an optional download or something but I suspect consoles are stuck that way, unfortunately." [source]

[on Patch 1] "It's been awhile since I actually did the content for this patch so I'd have to check but I have a pretty anti-nerf policy for SP games. I know I fixed up a couple enemies that weren't as hard as they were supposed to be and definitely boosted a bunch of synergistic things though. I'll take a look tomorrow but for those that don't know, the turnaround time on these things is about a month of it's not an emergency due to certification process with consoles. Longer term my goal is to keep an eye in telemetry of any underused abilities and items (or enemies with too many kills under their belt) and audit them just to double check if they need a boost or if people just haven't figured them out yet 😉." [source]

"The equippable items are all predetermined with a minor exception*. Some items are class specific (all the weapons, a small amount of armors and accessories, 2 runes) so when you play a different class you'll see your classes 'version' of that item. Things that are random (from a table/pool) are valuables. Exception: Near the very end of the game we do a few checks on what equipment you haven't acquired. A bunch of those final drops, and inventory on the final merchant, simply find stuff you don't have and give it to you. That's basically the only major RNG we have with loot. If you notice even 99% of the skills and item mods employ an effect after a condition is met X times rather than a more traditional 'proc chance'." [source]

[on modding] "Once this starts to pick up, feel free to PM me if anyone needs help 'finding' assets or has questions about how one might mod something. We don't officially support mods buuuuut we don't have any kind of anti-modding stance either" [source]

"To give the high level gist of the resource economy: - each class starts off with minimal ability usage, this is intentional to force people to learn the other combat mechanics as they're a necessary skill and it's easy to lean on a crutch like ability spam and kiting - abilities are designed to feel powerful on use, thus they all have a decent cost and can't be spammed* - weapon attacks generate your resource - in the bottom right of the center skills area is a node to make each class's resource easier to manage - halfway down all starting segments (N, SW, SE) there is always a node that boosts generation - there are +max nodes on all sides of the skill graph for each class, this is particularly important for the Mage as they start each fight at max - each class can build into being ability focused but starts intentionally rounded - loastly, the first ability is always a resource spender and 1 or 2 of the next available ones will be cooldown gated. It is recommended to have at least one cooldown based ability slotted" [source]

"So loosely the rogue momentum works like this: - each ability costs 50 momentum - hitting enemies generates ~2 momentum per hit (base), you get extra for bow weakpoints - when you are directly hit, you lose 15% of your current momentum, this means the more you hold the more you will lose (this loss has a small cooldown so you don't lose a whole bar when you get hit rapidly) - momentum carries forward between combats (compared to warrior rage which decays when out of combat) If youre having issues, make sure you get that skill in the middle section that reduces momentum loss when hit. As a helpful tip, the Quicken buff generates small amounts of momentum each second so it's a good way to get more if you're having issues." [source]

"I highly recommend using the belt that grants Quicken early game until you can generate momentum faster yourself. And yes, the time dilation affects everything in the world except the Player so all your buffs and things still tick at normal speed" [source]

User: "If I knock an enemy off an edge, if they were supposed to drop something will it appear on the edge, or is it lost for good?" Luke Barrett: "It should appear on the ledge. I will say the 'real' loot from enemy drops are all hand placed. The actual random stuff is just valuables and materials." [source]

" The way it actually works is very complicated with a lot of necessary exceptions but loosely - each ability has a base damage and ones that hit multiple times have an offset multiplier. - That value is multiplied by the sum of all your stat bonuses, conditional bonuses, resist and layer modifiers. - We then subtract enemy defense and multiply by 1-resist (with penetration being calculated here). - this new damage then gets multiplied by 1+crit+weakpointpoint (so those bonuses always feel meaty) and then multiplied by a random number between .95 and 1.05 just to give a little range to the floaties (basically just a presentation thing) - we then multiply again for buffs and debuffs so they, again, always feel meaningful - lastly, we take all added damage and add it flat on top" [source]

"Specific enhancements make enemies immune to the matching affliction. For example, Fire Enchanted enemies are immune to burning. Juggernaut enemies are immune to being staggered but otherwise it should work in everything." [source]

[groovypandapainterzonk]

Also, if your lover is of a long lived species, boom, you get to be together longer! The bloom of youth and short lived fancy has ended? Pssh, nah, baby, it's til death do we part. And the Reaper ain't showing up for another thousand years.

How do you. How do you NOT expect a wizard to want to become immortal??? Like hi person with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and wonder for the world and burning desire to know how everything works and recreate it. You only get max 100 years to experience it all. Sorry.

So OF COURSE wizards pursue immortality. It’s in their nature. It’s what makes them wizards. Sure, you can talk about the loneliness of living forever and the boredom of not having an end but guess what else doesn’t have an end. Science. I’ll be very content travelling the world, helping people, and publishing my 39th paper on the solvent properties of moonflowers in potions while you’ve been lying in a grave for 200 years, thanks.

The problem is societal stigma against research into necromancy, which pushes young wizards away from studying ethical and safe methods of immortality and forces them to rely on untested, volatile myths about lichdom, inevitably creating yet another “evil necromancy wizard”. You think they would turn to such means if they had proper support? Proper resources?? You branded them as heretical and insane first! Why are you surprised that desperate, isolated, and stigmatized individuals become what you make them?

Wizards believe that life has more to offer than unfulfilled dreams and a sudden end. And the wizard is RIGHT.

[risingsunresistance]

we started "running" m1 and by running i mean we make it to bonzo and then die bc it's giving more class and cata exp than we get for winning against livid. but we've tried to kill bonzo anyways bc What If We Get Lucky. we can survive for a while but eventually something kills us both at the same time

but the long survival has led to some great stats

such as 1.85b damage JKHFDG

[thesugarhole]

genuinely surprised most people in DD dont like shuffle comps. like... i got the shieldbreaker dlc and never looked back its just soooooo funny when you find enemies that are all about destroying party balance but everyone is a switch. you know

my perfected dd1 comp in terms of fun is jestal + hwm + sb; junia cant move sure but she has any position moves so even if shes up front its nbd, and then everyone else moves around for her.

love saying its my perfect comp when its 3 rogue types on the lower end of hp and defense with one healer/tank (and another healer for the Other Hp of Darkest Dungeon Known As Stress) but hey they hold their own believe it or not. except when its a sleeper boss fight followed by darkest dungeon. the game ALWAYS does that to me on endless runs and its infuriating

[athanasius-symposium-of-writings]

Chemistry

Inspired by art from @/jackthepeeper here

Rated: Mature | Warnings: Richard calls reader 'princess' but still gn (trust me in none affectionate way), reader calls Richard 'dick'

Richard Sterling is the classic beautiful knight, the sort to save a princess from a high tower guarded by a fearsome dragon. It is undeniable his beauty, storybook to the letter, yet you find yourself unable to trust a pretty face like most do. Most ladies would think you are being too cautious, clearly you should be swooning and falling over him. It is made to seem like something is wrong with you, which you are not going to feel about! Father says to trust your instincts; trust and verify.

Richard Sterling probably sees you as the princess in need of saving, Florian did too, but you are quite clear that his assistance will only be called upon if necessary.

As one who practices the art of escape as, once the great Houdini did, you have not always needed rescuing.

Jose Baden and you have come up with plenty of ideas of how to use your talents combined when dealing with the most difficult hunters to contain. A bit of confusion can do wonders against those like Ivy or Percy.

You are not sure Richard— Dick, you call him when he gets on your nerves— Gets it, yet your luck has been shit as he has been saving your ass far too much. Jose had thought he could tease you about it but you make it very clear to him to stop.

This last match would have nearly cost you if he had not stayed behind to save you from Discipline. It was risky but it got a tie.

“There is no need for thanks,” Bowing, “After all, any princess needs a knight.”

“Not a princess or prince, pretty boy.” Florian has a hero complex, easy to deal with. Richard, you think would be the same way but there's something off. Heroic deeds yet it is like he is playing a practiced role. Florian at least wants to save people though he seems to get off on it. Fucking weirdos all in this place, at least they put their differences aside to survive.

“My apologies for assuming. It could not be helped given your current circumstances of late.”

“We all have bad days… or weeks.” Mumbling with this pleasure, “Just have to go practice.”

“If you are in of company—”

“William is already joining me.” You cut him off, “See you whenever.” Going to the left of the intersecting hallway and heading to your room.

“Farwell, princess.” That last part is said with a sly smirk.

All of your lockpicks have been used, Jack is relentless, and Night Watch is quick with chairing. Duo hunters are always a pain in the ass to get through as certain hunter combinations make or break a match.

Both Jack and Night Watch's abilities are a great combo and there are only four remaining survivors…

The Knight is containing the hunters as they decide to tag team against the newest survivor. You use this opportunity to save Luca and Lucky Guy from their chairs, Luca has the crowbar but the dungeon location is a mystery currently on the snow version of the Arms Factory map.

You could leave Richard, he has helped you but he a dick about it as he calls you “princess”. Luca pings no dungeon where he went to and Lucky Guy pings the hunter is on him.

“Evening, princess.” Richard finds you decoding in the factory, you see the hunters did a number on him before both hunters saw Lucky Guy who shot Night Watch with a flare. Merc's armbands will only get him so far. “Might I request a touch from the fair nimble-fingered princess?”

“Ew, why do you talk like that?” You hate his laugh that makes him wheeze in pain, “Stop that. Here,” Handing him Demi’s Dovlin you bought, “Drink this it will help the pain.”

“Wine? Rather unwise to be inebriated in our current situation.”

“Dick, it will heal you. I don't know how but does so fucking drink it!”

“As my princess wishes. Perhaps after, we could enjoy a glass of wine later?”

You stare at so long enough to fuck up the cipher for a second, “Get us a win and maybe I will entertain that.”

Holy shit… A tie… You cannot believe the… Lucky Guy and Luca are cheering while you are completely flabbergasted. A two-person kite and the dungeon were found just in time.

Dick got his dinner and wine because that win was impressive. The dinner was added because you want food with your wine.

You figure dinner in the sunroom is safe. Though private and often reserved for tea parties, at night you found it to be the best spot to gaze upon the stars.

“Princess,” Dinner and wine, “There is no reason to shy away.” It makes you both too bold and stupid.

You have slept with Florian. He is attractive and you are weak for a man in uniform. Slept with Mike too, he made you laugh your first week here. Made out with Mary during a Valentine's Day celebration. In short, you are not surprised you are on the floor with the pretty boy playing knight. Without the vest, his blouse partly open, and his tight pants not leaving anything to guesswork; his is gorgeous.

“I'm not shy. You're just so much.” You open his shirt as he takes off his trousers and shoes. “A lot much.” Your fuzzy brain from drinking is not giving you the ability to form proper words or find the right one. You are not the type to drink, socially you drink rarely, so your tolerance is low. Especially given the vintage is from Antonio's secret stash he tries to hide in the wine cellar.

The food helped until the night grew longer and longer, more cups of wine poured, your inhibitions lowered, your tongue loose— There is an old saying ‘loose lips sink ships’ and boy was your ship sinking.

Richard seems to be able to hold his liquor, you envy him, he is so pretty and… Your mind is too fuzzy to figure out who leaned in first for the kiss.

By now, you both are on the floor near the large glass ceiling, two bottles empty, both glasses fallen and rolled somewhere, and both sitting under the stars. Romantic.

When he kisses you, it is the perfect kiss, you are swooning a bit. Perfect then demanding with his tongue in your mouth, his hands on your face keeping you in place so he can steal your breath.

The escalation was so close from how his hands wandered and groped you; your hands tugging at his clothes yet there was not much you could do in your current state. The kiss is hot and heavy, and you swear you are ready, then he stops. Not panicking or pushing you away abruptly, he is gentle and lays you under him.

“Richard?”

“As much as I would enjoy ravishing you,” You have no idea how he can speak so clearly with two bottles in both your systems, “However, I would much prefer our night of passion to be recalled not forgotten.”

And in the most gentle way, he did not sleep with you that night.

Princess. You hate being called that. You are no princess or prince in need of a knight. You see yourself more as the jester who struggled to amuse the crowd unless you were escaping impossible odds— Life-threatening ones often. Yet, to Richard, you are a princess running away from impossible horrors and narrowly escaping.

The a few ladies like him, a few of the guys, and you still believe under that facade is a dragon rather than a knight.

“Princess?” Answering the door surprised to see you there. The only visitors he gets usually is Vera (he likes her perfumes) and occasionally Margaretha (stress relief), and maybe Evelyn for a nightcap.

Here you are looking crossed with him, he does not resist when your hand touches his bare chest shoving him back, this allows you to enter his room and slam the door behind you.

“If you are looking to manipulate me into some alliance with you, well, you're a dumbass. Alliances will not help you. We have to all work together if we are going to survive this.” The rant is long as you jab your finger against his chest not noticing how he is allowing you to vent until you are out of words. You glare and then look down seeing where you are touching the knight.

It might not have been the best idea to corner him in a nice room that smells of perfume and is well organized— You pull your hand back realizing your hand is on his partially exposed chest. His usual fencing vest and sash are gone, his undershirt open making him look like a damn male lead of a romance novel cover.

You look away then point to the closed door in the heat of your anger about how things were different between you and him (he had even been in your room helping you with your hangover), you came upon him at an inappropriate time, “I uh, bye.”

“Wait,” Grabbing your hand and for the first time since that tonight over a week ago, you can feel his bare hand. “My apologies for being so forward; it lead to this miscommunication.”

You hate how eloquent he speaks, Norton might be rubbing off on you.

“You are correct about me seeking something from you, princess. We were close to it, however, it would be wrong for a gentleman to take advantage of a princess at their most vulnerable.”

“... You can just ask me for sex.”

He laughed, “How crude. Though I suppose a blunt request would have caused less stress.”

You roll your eyes, “Dick—”

“Richard, (Name).” His hand traveling up your arm, “I wish to bed you. If you wish, perhaps we can share our desires often with one another.”

You hum, “Friends with benefits?” Thinking it over for a second,  “Alright.” Not like there are strings attached or love involved.

Chemistry is just as vicious as love.

Desire can twist infatuation into obsession.

Sex with Richard is amazing! You were so sure the man was gonna chivalrously vanilla, not there is anything wrong with that but you have your tastes and thrills. Florian liked it when you poured candle wax on him, Mike liked how playful you can be, and Mary adored it when you let her use her mirror shard to slide against your skin (never cutting you). Richard is… Very experimental.

When his hand is wrapped around your throat; when his usual gentlemanly demeanor switches to this sadistic man who wants to break you; the fact he is thankful after the rough sex he takes care of you— Thinking about right now as you walk to your room is making you giddy.

You love it when he uses his sash to bind your wrists or use it as a leash, your next favorite is when he has you wear his helmet so you can not see making it partly difficult to breathe. It thrills, risks, and you both feel alive.

Sex is sex, the highly stressful situation and often traumatic matches, you find for a few hours it keeps you from attempting to set the manor on fire. It is a tool and the chemistry between you both is perfect. There is no love, Richard is a decent guy but not someone you can picture yourself in love with.

Even when the sight in your bedroom is him wearing his underlings and blouse, the seductive look of a promised bliss. The invitation of his finger beckons you to him.

And you go to him all too willing to have an hour or two of escapism, to pretend you are not in some hellish manor, to have your thoughts halted and voice made horse from saying his name rather than from terror.

“Good princess.” He is going to ruin you within these four walls, strip you bare, ravish the princess in need of saving.

[boss-poss]

See, Lethal Company's real genius is that it somehow marries two normally opposed genres, those being horror and comedy together into something greater. Mechanically it's a multiplayer looter extraction survival type game. It's designed to create stressful and scary situations by forcing you to speedrun mini randomized dungeons while monsters hunt your character to meet a certain quota (our asses are not making quota). That's not the clever part though, no, that's giving the players the ability to fuck themselves over and the hilarity that comes from it.

Anything you say into your mic is said in the game world and can be heard by certain monsters. Many items, similarly, can be used to make noise and you can bet there is little impulse control when a player finds an air horn or gets a walkie talkie. The sound of a distant honk somewhere out of nowhere is not something most players are prepared for while in a pitch black maze. Sound in this game has a doppler effect, which makes it harder to hear the further away the source is, allowing screams to fade into nothing and unintelligible yelling heard for a second before vanishing. You must rely on your senses but those are, by design, limited and regularly tricked.

Because level layouts, monster locations, and item spawns are all random, it's insanely easy to get lost or lose track of thigs, especially in the dark and especially when panicking. Seeing a bracken for the first time will almost certainly send a player running in the opposite direction and get lost, if they even see it all. No one is prepared to have a hand wrap around their face and snap their neck in an instant. It's utterly shocking and will leave you gasping in surprise to first time you experience it.

Certain weather patterns make levels harder, some even nearly impossible (looking at you eclipse), and sometimes your options are avoiding deadly lightning or not being able to see due to fog. High level moons have excessively valuable loot but also feature the worst foes and cost a fee to access, forcing a compromise between greed, ability, and resources.

Dying, likewise incurs a penalties. Your team is fined for dying and not bringing the bodies back but if you all die, all your collected loot goes poof. Gone. A team wipe can and will effectively end the run in an instant if you do something stupid like stick around when you hear "pop goes the weasel" or try to pick up that funny looking roomba. You can almost feel the pressure weighing down on your shoulders when you realize you're the last one left and you need to get back to the ship or miss the quota.

The monsters likewise, are engines of terror that are comically effective killing machines with no cohesive theme to help anticipate them. The already mentioned bracken is one of the scariest things I've seen in a game, and those technically aren't even that bad. They're completely manageable if you keep your head on a swivel and pay attention to your surroundings. Coilheads are these mannequins with bobble heads that will path to and kill you in a microsecond the moment you aren't looking at them, weeping angel style. There's a thing called the ghost girl that I have yet to see but is apparently one of the most terrifying critters in the menagerie. Forest giants. If you know, you know.

All these little mechanics, these choices that are made by and for the player, create a maelstrom of unpredictable chaos that, like a buxom blond transforming into an orgasming pooltoy, turns what would be strictly serious horror into a unique form of dark comedy that layers over it like jelly on peanut butter. You are scared, you are on edge, and it only gets worse when you know what these things are capable of, but the sheer hopelessness is something you all have in common. It's funny how little hope you have. You will die. A monster will wipe your team. There will eventually come a quota you can't beat. You were doomed from the start.

So why not get silly with it? Why not try to fight that bracken with shovel? Fuck him. Why not just run past a turret and try to nab that fat jar of pickles? Why not wander off from the group? You're just as likely to come back with arms loaded and the quota met as you are likely to not come back at all. You're already dead, so take the gamble, do stupid shit, repeat this hell until you can meet its horrors with grim determination and put in the effort to afford that goddamn boombox. Dance. Just press 1 and dance the fear away.

You are all united in your mortality and duty, fragile sacks of flesh working to break even at the behest of perhaps the greatest horror of all: The company you work for. You are so preposterously fucked beyond all belief from every angle there really isn't enough adjectives to describe it. And that's comedy baby, when things are so bad all you can do is laugh.

[merao-mariposa]

I'm weak for Phil/Missa with a worship focus

Think about this:

We're looking at the angel of death and a reaper of death.

We are seeing the guy who has survived everything since the beginning of time and the guy who keeps dying, and coming back, choosing what he always wants to return to.

They are united more than they should while one wields a sword to defend those he loves, the other clears the clouds in their loved ones path because he loves them! He wants them to be happy!

They will both forever remember those who were in their heart, The Antartic Empire and Team Vacío Legal lives forever, no matter how much time passes because they were loved by Philza and Missa; the most loyal immortals.

Oh! And something more; the focus on their immortality is so unique! When did I meet him I was told that; “The only thing Phil knows is that he has not died yet” But Missa I think is very aware of his death, he died, he died and he came back with a fourth chance when the others had until the third chance to return and he came back from the dead a fourth time. time, he would do it a fifth, sixth and seventh time he would do it all over again because he cares about.

While Philza in life gives everything of himself for people once they earn his loyalty, trust and appreciation. He won't stop being the same emotional-constipate-crow-dude but God knows he will follow his closest friends to the end of the world, he took the world alongside Technoblade and then he would destroyed another next to him! He is a patient crow, domesticated by death herselft (for whom he is waiting patiently to be with her) staying home and being domestic? He can do it, chaotic raiding dungeons and loting everything that makes his “shiny!” Brain go?, he won't say no. This man can do both if the people he cares ask him.

We have years of lore about Phil, I'll be honest. while we don't have much information about Missa but what we do have comes from HIM and US (his community) do you want a prince-ish son of la Santa muerte? He can be, do you want an labor overexploited reaper? poor thing lmao but here him is! Do you want him to be 26 (or more) meters high? well, ask the admins but no one will deny you //I have seen him ominous, savage, bear hybrid, anguished, violent, etc, the limit is in the imagination!

(You have so many styles)

They worship each other by the way they complement each other. Just by thinking of Philza as the one who has not died, silent and anxious, waiting almost patiently for his complement, his missing half, the father of his children and his husband to return to him after literally being in the center of the end, the end of their life together, the end of watching his children grow and grow, until grow old (even though the mere thought of them aging beyond them breaks him)

After literally being in death and its domain only to choose to return, Missa would never believe in taking away Phil's free will so he's prepared to not see him there, he'll be fine; It is his right. Someone like him with the eternity in front of him would get bored of waiting for a guy like Missa.

Only to arrive and be absolutely adored and hugged till death (again) by his husband. He is happy to see him, he is so glad to see him waiting for him, Philza is happy that not so much of that so-called “time” has passed since the last time he had him in his arms (where Missas belongs to), so happy that their life together is not over yet. A life he loves and a husband he would fight for until he dies.

Obviously he drags him into the house where Missa is absolutely delighted to be welcomed (he always will be) like a crow carrying a new treasure to adore to its hiding place, only that Missa in his soul shines brighter than many of his shinys.

Missa is a reaper of death, literally a part of him feels explicitly built to respond to Phil as his angel or to BBH as a companion of duty, but it's too much, almost too instinctive and natural for him to worship Phil, not that he has a lot of experience but it is nothing like the crush he once had with Quakity, this is more real and deeper than the kiss he shared with Roier.

It's almost like nature for him to adore Philza.

And he doesn't make it any easier for poor Missa, so great and kind, Missa will always be vocal about how incredible and charming his husband is, how much he wants to spend time with him despite the adversities and hazards of the job that he does. prevent, they are worth it as long as he can be under his presence like a cat with sunlight.

It doesn't matter if Phil doesn't want him anymore because Missa is his because he decided it for himself/the skeleton isn't going anywhere, Phil is patient but as long as they are on the same earthly plane of life he is not going to let go of Missa, simply because he is loyal to him (hes also a little chaotic, not above dragging Missa around like putting a collar on a wet kitten)

En conclusión:

DEATHDUO KILL ME YAIIII :DDDD

❗️How we interpret their relationship does not change that Phil took the name “platonic husbands” correctly. (Pissa AND deathduo are totally valid, don't worry, we can get both :D )❗️

[catgirlforeskin]

Since Wizards of the Coast is torpedoing all the good-will they have with DnD to wring more money out of it, I want to make a guide for people who recognize they should jump ship, but don’t know alternatives.

If you’re deeply invested in DnD and want something as similar as possible, Pathfinder 2 is what you want. It’s the next biggest game in the tabletop scene (in the US), you can find physical copies in stores easily, and Paizo allows free resources online to exist without constant threat of being taken down like WotC does. It will remain free to play on any VTT while DnD will require you to subscribe to their proprietary one.

Most importantly, though, it improves on almost every aspect of DnD. Combat and class balance is extremely well thought out and makes all combats engaging and difficult in a fun way, requiring teamwork and clever thinking. Roleplay is integrated into character creation and play better, and you no longer have to choose between being good in combat or exploration or roleplay, you get to play and feel useful during all aspects of the game. It’s hard to emphasize how much better it is without just playing, if you still want something like DnD, play Pathfinder 2.

If you like high fantasy adventuring but are willing to get more out there, Fellowship and Dungeon World are good options. Fellowship is a more free-form adventure game focused on creating a cinematic experience over getting bogged-down in rules-heavy play. If you want to play a Lord of the Rings style campaign and have it feel like the movies, Fellowship is the way to go.

Dungeon World is called “Powered by the Apocalypse” which means it was inspired by Apocalypse World, an amazing ttrpg that revolutionized the scene and became the gold standard for interweaving roleplay and gameplay. Dungeon World is meant to be a bridge between DnD and indie rpgs, and it’s good for that, though there are better PbtA games. It’s a good introduction to principles like failing forward and playing to find out what happens (and hell, a good introduction to games having principles lol). There’s also an Avatar the Last Airbender licensed PbtA game that’s very good, if that’s your thing!

Speaking of licensed games, Free League Publishing sets the benchmark for rpgs built for existing intellectual properties, and while I haven’t played all of their games, I’m a big fan of what I have played. They also have independent settings, like Twilight 2000, a really good apocalypse survival game set in a collapsing warfront between an alternate-history NATO and Soviet Union as the two dying empires bring all of society down in their death spiral. I’m using it as the base for my Halo rpg, it’s very good.

Blades in the Dark is another big name in the indie scene, and for good reason. It’s a heist game that has been adapted to lots of other settings (games that say they’re “Forged in the Dark” take inspiration here) and it’s clear to see why so many have used it as a foundation once you’ve played, it’s an exciting crime procedural where you play a group of scoundrels punching above your weight and facing the consequences

There’s a million other amazing rpgs I could mention here, and I’m sure people will talk about plenty of lovely ones I’ve missed in the notes, but I think the most important thing I want to convey with this is that there’s a whole world of diverse and interesting rpgs at all levels of production, from big corporate teams to one girl with a laptop who barely knows how to make a pdf, and there’s no better time to start exploring them.

A common refrain is that DnD can be modified to do anything, but once you’ve played other rpgs you’ll see why that’s not true, and why those creative efforts would be better spent in other systems. Hacking rpgs is as old a tradition as rpgs themselves, but if the only tools you know are DnD, you’re being limited with what you can create more than you could possibly know. There’s no better time to leave this Plato’s Cave and see the beauty and wonder of the whole ttrpg scene

[yandere--stuck]

Could you write a few Yandere headcanons for Ragnvaldr? I'm interested in your interpretation of him

🍖 Born with the Soul of The Tormented, Ragnvaldr always knew his life would be forever marred with struggle. Even from his youngest years, nearly dead by his own father's hands during a famine. The thing he had to do to survive… Best not to think too hard about it. As he grew, though, he became optimistic. Comfortable. Happy with the family he had made and the community he had grown into. For once, things were looking wholly up for the Outlander. But, of course, he should have known better. He should have expected tragedy to strike at some point. His family. His people. His home. All gone. All gone, by the command of a fair-haired captain who slaughtered and stole from his people. Consumed by bloodlust and revenge, Ragnvaldr promised to himself and those he lost that he'd get revenge. That he would kill that man with his own hands…

🏹 The Outlander certainly hadn't planned on making friends during his journey into the dungeons, but after coming across you in the courtyards, he found himself drawn to you. Years of experience and tragedy behind him left him with a certain amount of distrust toward others, but something about you lowered those walls, made him want to be by your side. And he had to agree with you - there was strength in numbers. It certainly made the trek deeper into the dark a lot less lonely and just a bit more comforting. It also helped that you were easy to talk to. When you had moments of reprieve, you'd talk about your life on the outside, what brought you both here, what your interests were… Ragnvaldr wasn't exactly ready to spill his soul and bloody past to you (not to mention the exact reason he was there), but… He was able to be himself around you. He talked about things he'd never had the chance to utter in so long. Hell, it'd been ages since he last really conversed with someone, and… Talking to you was both a comfort and a relief.

🍖 The deeper you delved and the closer you grew to one another, the harder and more desperate Ragnvaldr began to fight. This was no longer about just the Knight captain, this was also about protecting his newfound comrade. No matter how strong, skilled, or adept in magic you are, Ragnvaldr will encourage - or, all but force - you to stay behind him or hide to keep you out of the way of danger. It came to the point where he nearly killed the stray wolf down in the catacombs, if it hadn't been for your offering of rotten meat to quell the beast. All the more reason why you made such a great team! Ragnvaldr was a man of action, and someone who was able to step back and attack trouble from a different angle was refreshing and, much as Ragnvaldr loathed to admit, good for him. Good for the both of you, even.

🏹 The closer you grow, the more desperate Ragnvaldr's behavior becomes. He even goes so far as to begin devouring the bodies of enemies so as to allow most of the food to go to you, designating the rotten food to Moonless. He fights with even more determination and fury, not even daring to allow a chance for an enemy to get a hit on you. If you give any signs of wanting to part from him, Ragnvaldr will at first try to subtly redirect your or change your mind, but it won't be long until the Outlander will be begging for you to stay, threatening to harm himself or any allies you've met on your journey. He may even begin to align himself with Sylvian in an attempt to successfully become a marriage with you, if he really believes you'll leave him.

🍖 Whether Le'garde is alive or dead, it doesn't change the outcome. You knew full well by this point why Ragnvaldr is here, and whether you agreed with his methods or not didn't matter… He… He was your friend. He deserved closure. He'd beat Le'garde to death, until his fists were bloody and he was shaking with effort and spent rage. He'd keep going until Le'garde is unrecognizable. The floors, walls, Ragnvaldr himself… All covered with blood. Even if Le'garde was already gone, he'd brutalized the man's body until he's satisfied. Afterward, he'd acknowledge that the captain was good for something, at least - meeting you.

🏹 You are what soothes Ragnvaldr's tortured soul. You're all he had left now. You and Moonless. He couldn't just let you leave! Without you, there was nothing. No reason to go on. You couldn't part now! Meeting each other had to be fate. He could take care of you. Please? You don't think you could really just say no to him, do you? When he was strong enough to break all your limbs or saw them off, leaving you dependent on him forever. Please, just make this easy on yourself. On him. He's been through so, so much. He just wanted to have you. Love you. And he would do whatever it takes to make you realize you and he were meant to be. He'd been through too much to start taking the easy route now…

[alphaketoglutaricacid]

man im glad kabru put his sword down n acknowledged hes no good w monsters. He hurt himself so much trying to be a person hes not… dying over n over again… becoming so good at killing people in the service of that goal n it gets him no closer to it… and i dont think dungeon life is actually what he wants either… he had such a miserable time but i feel the people he met…was the journey. Maybe. I think theres something moving about him venturing out n meeting ppl from all walks of life.

And a life of many more…and i may be about to do a horrific misreading but i always thought part of the reason kabru got namari n toshiro to go w him instead of his own party was trying to keep em outta harms way esp rin. But in turn he cut himself off of his closest connections while interacting w ppl who bring up really bitter memories for him. Man kabru n rins relationship… they dont love each other in the same way but u can tell theyre always thinking of each other. Like interacting w the canaries is hard for him. But also on another level he may have taken them bc they do in fact live up to his idealized version of ppl who can effortlessly slay monsters n its something he knows he lacks. But idk if being good at slayin monsters particularly helped in the end of that situation tho it was good to have a few ppl good at it on retainer. Kinda bummed they cut out of a lot of kabrus interactions w namari and shuro bc i do find them interesting in the short moments they interact. Thats the b team (w mithrun acting as the antag of it so he flits in and out)

Like kabru has a moment of vulnerability in telling his own story to them honestly. It was hard for him. And if they cut out namaris genuine moment of unconditional kindness when she reaches out for kabru while everyones trampling over each other and hes having a ptsd moment ill be at their doors. I think it was a pretty vital moment in reminding him why he feels so strongly abt autonomy. I feel kabru very rarely gets acknowledged for his kindness often no string attached. N ppl are much quicker to note hes manipulative n a charmer but i think some of these moments he just likes listening to ppl some of whom have never been listened to in their lives…. Its sad how much kabrus willing to accommodate others n give em grace n yet he wont give it to himself : ( But also that those two were genuinely moved by his moment of vulnerability and even tho theyre mainly there for their frat bro allegiance towards laios where theyre like idc if he did that #freemyman, i do think what pushed them over the threshold is thinking about what he said about the elves trampling everyone and how they trampled over this delicate infrastructure ppl built for their livelihood . I like to think their lil turn everyone against the canaries was them pouring one out for him. Carry his dream on a little bit longer bc they dunno if he survived. I found it like aw. That all his like kabrus been trying to carry a mountain on his back, trying so hard to be a manipulative charming person to that end, but he can move ppl just as he is. By being open n vulnerable .

the last survivor of utaya… but is just surviving enough? Think its good he makes a new home in melani so that he can move onto the next part of his life while keeping every place hes ever been close. A dungeon that wiped out all life. A dungeon that created a new one

[k9catastrophe]

Even MORE games for alterhumans!! Just like the last one, these are all games where you play as an animal, but this time they aren't all super realistic!! A few of these cost money, indicated by a "$" next to the title, but all of them are free on the last list!!

Animal jam [Play Wild!]: Starting off this list with another BANGER as of today, AJPW updates monthly, with a new animal, pet, and den in every update! AJPW released in 2015, 5 years after the classic version! The game is super active and likely always will be, and there's no singleplayer option, but there's no requirement to interact with others to play.

Playable Animals: [every update animal leaves shop with the next update, so im only listing the ones that do NOT rotate.] Choose between Monkey, Bunny, Wolf, Fox, Tiger, or Panda as your first animal, and buy the Arctic Wolf, Horse, Lion, Lemur, Snow Leopard, Arabian Horse, and Eagle later on with your sapphires!

Customizability: you can customize every animal's fur colour, special pattern, eyes, and accessories to your liking!! The wide range of accessories lets every player have their own unique look!!

Rating: I give it a 10/10! I've played AJPW since 2018 and i dont think ill ever quit..

Dungeon Dogs: Dungeon Dogs is an idle rpg released in 2020 by Pocapp Studios, with tons of dogs to collect and battle with!! It's entirely singleplayer, and im not quite sure how often it updates 😓

Playable Animals: Dogs!

Customizability: With accessories, coats, and pets you unlock upon leveling up, you can customize your dog to look however you'd like!

Rating: 10/10, i like the events and silly main story, and it's fun watching my little team of dogs beat up bears and leopards.

Castle Cats: Another singleplayer idle rpg released in 2017 by the creators of Dungeon Dogs!! Again unsure of how often it updates 😓

Playable Animals: Just cats!!

Customizability: Just like Dungeon Dogs, you can entirely customize your cat's fur, accessories, and pets upon leveling up!

Rating: 9/10, It's still silly and fun, I just prefer the art on Dungeon Dogs more 💔💔

$ - Shelter 2: Take care of your four cubs as you fight to survive the wilds. Hunt for them, defend them from predators, and watch them grow up. Released in 2015 by Might and Delight, it's a VERY pretty game <3

Playable Animals: Lynx!!

Customizability: You cannot customize any of the Lynx beyond their names!!

Rating: 10/10! This game is so pretty!! i love the exploration, and the ending is always my favorite part of it!!

$ - Paws - A Shelter 2 Game: Play as a lynx cub on a quest to get back to your family after getting separated.

Playable Animals: Lynx cub!!

Customizability: You cannot customize them!!

Rating: 10/10!!! The entire game feels like a storybook, it's so cute <3

$ - Cattails: Released by Falcon Development in 2017, Cattails lets you become a pixel cat, join a clan, raise a family, maybe even create your own clan!! Hunt, gather, participate in seasonal events, decorate your den, just be a cat!!

Playable Animals: Cat!

Customizability: You can customize your eyes and your coat whenever you'd like!! You can buy some coats from shops, unlock coats from quests and redeem LOTS of coats with LOTS of codes!! My favorite is the Winter Snowday !! [Check out this coat colour guide too!!]

Rating: 10/10!! I love the style, and causing chaos with my devsprint is super fun !!

$ - WolfQuest [Anniversary Edition]: Released in 2019 by Eduweb, Wolfquest 3 is a pretty realistic wolf game !!!! This version is a lot nicer than the original, and the creators still update it! It even has a multiplayer option!! The main goal is to raise and protect your pups, but you can do whatever you want!!

Playable Animals: Wolf!

Rating: 10/10!! SUCH a pretty game !! I have a black wolf who is like 8 [ingame] years old..

[theabhainnhotel]

I had a dream last night that Emily was experimenting with dangerous magic in order to help sinners. It was supposed to cause feelings of pacifism. The spell went wrong and backfired, leaving her with these red marks on her neck. She spent the next few days hiding the marks from anyone, but then she began to mutate. Emily lashed out and attacked a group of winners, turning her into a monster. Sera and some of the exterminators captured her and brought her down to a dungeon/lab under Heaven.

Emily only got worse. She turned into this half red panda half viper monster. The winners she attacked began to display similar symptoms and they also had to be brought down to the dungeon/lab. One day, Sera went down to visit Emily. She missed her and tried to talk with her through the cage. The viper parts were missing and she looked like an extra fluffy, normal red panda, so Sera thought it would be safe to go inside.

But then Emily attacked Sera and ripped part of her face and wing off. Sera transformed a few days later. Soon, there was a massive outbreak of this disease in Heaven. Lute managed to survive and flew down to Hell to get help. Obviously, no one in the hotel trusted her, especially Vaggie and Charlie. Everyone heard a roar from Heaven and it began shaking, Charlie had a bad feeling about this. She and Vaggie called for an evacuation and helped sinners into safe zones and bunkers meant for the extermination. Then the monsters came down from Heaven and attacked the remaining sinners. The hotel and Lute teamed up to fight them. Angel Dust was attacked and bitten and Charlie had to defend and save him. Then the dream ended.

The moral of the story is: Don't read MLP infection AUs before bed.

[subnautica-reviews]

Welcome to total drama persona. I’ve pit three teams of persona users (well, two teams of all persona users and one team that has a goddess but they needed an 8th member) against each other through the challenges of total drama island 2007 tosee who comes out on top. Since there’s three teams, i’m putting in AS’ spa hotel as a reward for the winning team, while the losing team has to vote someone off.

For our teams we have:

Not So Happy Campers:

The three teams will first compete in a cliffdive competition. The team with the most divers gets carts that make bringing crates to base camp easier. There they’ll construct hot tubs from the parts in the crates. The team who has the best hot tub in Chris McLean(the host)’s opinion wins.

The cats win the carts, cause even Futaba would probably jump, given that she always goes directly with the thieves through all their dungeon crawling adventures. Given these are the Royal thieves, they’re all making huge leaps in palaces n stuff.

I also think that the bears are more likely to get all their members off the cliff cause Chie would just push everyone. I doubt Fuuka or Yukari’s jumping without any pressure though, meaning the dogs have more chicken hats.

The dogs would get their carts to camp before the bears cause they have more strong members. Also the bears have the least techsperience of anyone here, so their hot tub is easily the worst.

The cats win here not because of tech, cause fuuka is the most techsperienced person competing, but because Yusuke painted their hot tub, which Chris thought looked nice, meaning the cats get luxury tonight.

The bears have to vote someone off. They’re voting their bear.

Marie survives because Teddie likely said something out of pocket (as he usually does). 7-1 vote, most likely.

The Big Sleep:

The first part doesn’t matter. The challenge is simple. Stay awake as long as possible. First team to be fully asleep loses. Last team to still have members/a member awake wins spa hotel.

Aigis is actually first to fall asleep, cause she’s on a 24 hour timer. Nobody else is, though Ken isn’t exactly far behind.

Between the cats and dogs i feel like being able to pull an all nighter in the metaverse is more impressive than any staying awake feats sees has. Sees has fuuka’s ten day stay in tartarus, but that was 10 hours for her. The thieves had at least twelve in Maruki’s palace. Tl;dr Dogs Lose.

The bears win against the cats though, cause goddesses don’t sleep. Tl;dr Marie sweep. IT get luxury.

Alliances formed. For the dogs: Yukari and Mitsuru formed an alliance. Fuuka and Junpei formed an alliance. Ken, akihiko and shinji formed one (we are assuming post femc still alive shinji).

For the bears: Chie and Yukiko (obviously). Kanji and Naoto (begrudgingly on Naoto’s part) and nobody else.

For the cats: Futaba and Yusuke (+Akechi, because Futaba’s scheming). Ann, Haru and Makoto formed one. Ryuji and Sumire just kinda paired up cause there’s nobody else willing to work with either.

Futaba tells Akechi to convince Ken to get the dogs to vote off Aigis. Akechi understands how that’d be advantageous and uses is best detective prince smile while speaking to Ken. Ken’s strong social position allows him to also get Fuuka and Junpei in on the vote.

Meaning that in a (probably) 5-2-1 vote (idk who Aigis, Yukari and Mitsuru voted for tbh) Aigis goes home. If only she had a more durable battery.

Dodgebrawl:

The challenge is slightly different. The teams will be doing 7 v 7 games of dodgeball (One Cat sits out). Team with most wins gets luxury. Team with least wins votes someone off.

Initially Futaba sits out cause she sucks at physical activity. During the Dogs v Cats game however, Ryuji loses his footing because of his knee injury, costing the Cats the match. They make him sit out the next match.

First the dogs face the bears though. Easy win for the dogs. The bears have hard hitters like Chie and Kanji but it’s not enough.

The cats, now with futaba instead of Ryuji cause he’s injured, now face the bears. It’s tense. Chie and Kanji hit like trucks, but so do Makoto and Yusuke. Yosuke almost dodges everything, but a well timed Sexy Technique❤️ sacrifice play from Ann takes Yosuke out of the game. At that point, the Cats’ numbers advantage overwhelms Chie and Kanji.

Rise decides to work on an alliance with Yosuke. She also convinces Naoto and Kanji to help her with a vote against Marie (Rise doesn’t like Marie). Chie and Yukiko vote Rise with Marie (Chie and Marie don’t like Rise).

4-3 vote sends the Bears’ goddess home despite the fact that she carried them last episode, all because Rise was a little annoyed by her.

Not Quite Famous

Talent show. Each team sends three acts. Each act gets judged. Team with the most points by the end wins, team with least points sends someone home.

The Dogs: Akihiko wants to punch something very hard hard and break it. Junpei plans to hold another Junpei’s Believe it or don’t. Finally they decide Shinji should cook.

The Bears: Kanji’s making a plushy. Rise’s singing and… idk Chie’s doing backflips or something.

The Cats: Yusuke’s painting, Ann’s modelling and Sumire’s doing a gymnastics routine.

While the performances are happening, Futaba gets to work on Ryuji. She convinces him that the girl’s alliance is planning to boot him. She suggests that he and Sumire vote for Ann tonight, should the cats lose, as Ann’s their weakest link. Ryuji agrees, mostly to save his own skin.

In an attempt to make herself useful, Yukari decides to sabotage one of the other performances, specifically Yusuke’s paint. As a result, the Cats have a rough start. Junpei’s believe it or don’t also doesn’t hit with the audience that well. Chie’s backflips are ironically the winner of the first round. Futaba saw Yukari sabotage the paint, since she planted the paint there in hopes someone’d try the sabotage.

Akihiko, Kanji and Ann all do pretty well. Ann’s Sexy Technique❤️ gets the cats their first points. The other teams are still ahead though.

Finally, Shinji’s cooking and Rise’s singing knock it out of the park. Sumire unfortunately messes up part of her routine. Rise got 1 point more than Shinji though, making the Bears this episode’s winner. The Cats lose, meaning they finally have to send their first person home.

Futaba talks to the girls alliance and tells them about Akechi talking to Ken and about Yukari sabotaging the Cats, insinuating that Akechi’s falling back on old habits and betraying his team. The girls agree to vote Akechi. Futaba also tells Yusuke and Akechi to vote Ann. Akechi’s getting a tad sus but plays his part for now. Futaba throws her own vote on Ryuji.

4-3-1 vote, Ann goes home. Futaba mentions that she voted Akechi as intended. Akechi, noticing Futaba’s plan, claims to have voted Ryuji. Makoto and Haru are made to be suspicious of one another.

[powderblueblood]

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR EDDIE

— the 411 on the loser playboy of the midwestern world

Tagged by @jo-harrington & @deathbecomesthem who got this stunning prompt on the road, love this love youse

let’s talk MUNSON!

What story is he from? What kind of story is it (Fix-it fic, Older!Eddie, Rockstar!Eddie etc)? The Eddie darling that takes up prime real estate in my brain is of course Hellfire & Ice Eddie, which is a teen romantic-dramadey with sprinkles of crime capers on top. We meet him at 18 years of age, drug dealin’, Dungeon wheelin’, at the absolute top of his bottom of the food chain game. He’s all raw nerve and engine sputter, our consummate not ready for prime time player. He is brassy, ballsy, funny, terrified.

What inspired you to write this Eddie? Flight of Icarus, actually! It reignited my initial love for him by basically confirming what I had already known to be true—he’s a little bitch that’ll take any opportunity to be struck down lovesick and he’s doomed by his bloodline.

What are your favorite headcanons about him/share something you never shared in your story? Eddie runs on a full tank of defiance, just burning rubber against what’s expected of kids his age—but to zoom in? Eddie sometimes wonders what it would be like if he was different. Tried harder. Cut his hair, joined the basketball team, really pulled himself up by his bootstraps and divorced himself from his stain of a last name. Folded in and blended, made all the right moves. Why couldn’t I do that? he thinks, Just pretend. I’m good at making shit up. But that’s selling out. And Eddie Munson is no sell out—rap sheet or no, his life is his own.

What does he wear on a casual day? On a dressier day? What does he wear to bed? Casual day, it’s your cartoon character stock costume of insert band t-shirt here, ripped jeans there, doubled up battle vest and leather cut to top it all off. There might be a variant in jean shade but that’s it. He likes to stick to a look. The dressiest he’ll go (he does not own dressy clothes) is a black cable knit sweater, very old, with the thumb holes worried through the cuffs. To bed, preferably nothing, but boxers of absolutely necessary and a very old, ratty pair of flannel PJ bottoms and an old t-shirt or a faded sweatshirt of Wayne’s if it’s freezing.

Favorite foods? This FUCK loves a pizza with the most fuckass toppings. Anchovy, black olive, pepperoni, sweetcorn (for the vitamins!), pineapple (for the jizz thing!) all on the one pie. But he can cook, to an extent, and we unfortunately have to hand this to ex-line cook Al who taught him how to grill a cheese and make a bitchin’ spaghetti with honeyed tomato gravy and lots of oregano. Eddie also loves a snack he can gesticulate with, see: Twizzler, corn dog, ice pop. Bordering on phallic foods.

Tell Us About His Family/Friends: Immediately in the gene pool—Al, the absent and up-to-no-good father who somehow still has a knife in Eddie’s side and will twist it with the simple words, “C’mon, that’s my boy!” Wayne, uncle and father figure, silent but loving and the only real pillar Eddie could ever lean against, and he feels like such a burden for it sometimes. Elizabeth, mommy dearest and dead, canonised like a saint in Eddie’s mind, and might have been but also might not have been. The root of his love of music and his need to tell stories to survive. The found-by-the-hand-of fate family— Ronnie Ecker, the Stalter to his Waldorf, the Bonham to his Page, the only person he’d ever follow into battle because you wouldn’t think it but Ronnie, who is secretly rage akimbo, would accidentally lead that charge. He loves her like a sister, she loves him like a dog. Just kidding. Maybe. He wants to be Ronnie Ecker when he grows up. Granny Ecker comes as part of this deal, one of the people credited with whooping Eddie into shape. We don’t quite know what shape yet, it’s Picassoan in nature. Then, the extension again that is the great Corroded Coffin/Hellfire crossover event—Jeff, Cyrus, Dougie and Gareth. He’s not quite as close with the boys, but they’re good boys. They love and fear him, except for Cyrus who is a true enigma which pisses Eddie off because he’s supposed to be the fucking enigma here, dammit.

Yeah Yeah, he's a Metalhead. Tell Us MORE About His Taste in Music in your story: We are working off Flight of Icarus rules so he’s got a taste in the mouth for Howlin’ Wolf style blues, real down and dirty Detroit shit. He also loves a sleazeball, so enter Tom Waits and when he’s feeling REALLY sentimental, Leonard Cohen. Eddie loves to bite a thumb so he has some punk spinning too—Richard Hell, MC5, The Cramps, and reluctantly Iggy and the Stooges. They’re Al’s favourite so kind of tainted. Last but not least, I think that Johnny Cash’s Live From Folsom Prison album gets a lot of play. Particularly Cocaine Blues and Dark in the Dungeon, which he’s definitely incorporated into some campaign. He does NOT listen to CHICK MUSIC because he’s a loser boy (Wayne has a Linda Ronstadt record that makes him cry).

What are his views on romance? On sex? Eddie Munson falls in love fourteen times a day because at the be all and end all, he’s an artist and he’s sensitive as shit. Let’s get one thing straight—he can flirt to beat the band, once anyone gives him the time of day. Which they don’t. But in his mind? He’s a silver tongued Casanova. It’s just easier to use on people he hates. Once he has a crush, he has an obsession, even if he’s oftentimes too chickenshit to act on it. Cue pulling pigtails in the playground routine. He wants so badly to worship someone and be worshipped in return, okay, it’s reciprocal worshipping—give him mutual pathological obsession or give him DEATH. He wants to build a shrine, and will, to the right person. He’ll preoccupy his mind with every detail about them to the point where, yeah, it is borderline kind of stalkery but he’s still 18 years old. Speaking of, sex? Yeah, he’s done it. Badly. He’s like to do it again, goodly. He’d like to do it with someone that wasn’t treating it like an experiment, someone who’d let him slobber all over them and rut and keen and whine like the hound in heat he fucking feels like. He has no goddamn control! He experiences pleasure in a total headrush, never been able to stay cool and sexy and commanding a day in his life. He just wants, wants, wants and he burns so hot. Eddie wants so clumsily that it comes out at the most inappropriate times, like the nurse’s office after he gets his fist busted. He’s not some sex god, just some dick with an overeager cock. But he sure is willing to put in the work.

Is he optimistic or pessimistic? Pessimistic on the surface, the life is shit and then you die so might as well do some whippits poster boy but so so secretly, Eddie holds the tiniest flame of hope that someday, somehow, things will get better. At the very least easier. That he’ll grow into his bones somehow, or someone will help soothe him into them. That he’ll feel some kind of belonging. Because he does want that, really. Some soft place to land.

Where or with whom is he most comfortable? Those pockets of alchemy at Hellfire Club when he’s got a rapt audience. With Ronnie, sitting on the sagging couch outside his trailer. Playing chauffeur to a certain princess across-the-way.

What are his views of his future? What are his hopes/dreams? Pie in the sky? Cover of Circus with his cheeks out, duh. A Grammy or two, his own metal club, a published fantasy author, shit. He’s not askin’ for the world, here! But honestly, Eddie’s view of his future is 18 year old misanthropist bleak. He hasn’t even considered college as an option, not that he’d get there with his grades. He figures he might just start selling full time for Rick once (if) he graduates then hopefully have the good enough sense to take his money and split to Chicago or someplace. Might hit it lucky when he’s played in a couple more iterations of Corroded Coffin and con someone into letting him be a session guitarist—which wouldn’t be the cover of Circus, but would still be a huge deal! But as much as an ego game as he likes to talk, he’s got this terrible, looming feeling that he’ll never leave Hawkins alive.

What do you imagine his future looks like? (If your story is incomplete or if this would be a spoiler you're not willing to share, you can skip this question.) I’ll give you a couple details, because I am writing a sequel about this. Picture a brief stint in Indianapolis. Meaner, grizzlier, bartender-ier, going on a decade of heartbreak, performing at his sexual best but nearing burnout and about to turn 30 with some side dealings at home that are edging out of the side and into the forefront. Heavy is the hand that wears the ring. You look so much like your father!

Anything else you'd like us to know about your Eddie/your story? He is so full of love and piss and vinegar. He is going to end up cherished. Like, violently so.

Optional Vulnerable Question: Why do you write fics for Eddie Munson? I love a tragedy touched smartass who folds at the first sign of affection. I want to nourish him and eat him up like the witch from Hansel and Gretel. Or have Lacy do it for me, whatever.

tagging: YOU. READING THIS. Not KIDDING IF YOURE READING THIS GET TO WORK

[overdueforarevival]

Whumptober Day 11 - A Million Little Times

'Leave no trace behind, like you don't even exist'

Summary: Regulus Black has spent years hating James Potter and yet, somewhere along the line, he became the best thing that ever happened to him. For months, the two sneak around, anonymous to everyone and for a while, they can live in blissful oblivion. What happens when reality comes crashing down on the two and the truth is shown one single time?

Also posted on AO3

‘Make sure nobody sees you leave,’

‘I know,'

‘They can’t know,’

‘I know, sweetheart,’

Regulus is tying James’ tie around his neck, long fingers working deftly and so gently James could almost laugh. He knows why he’s doing it, though. He wants to make sure that nobody will see the bruises now littering James’ neck.

They can never know, Regulus always reminds him. The Quidditch changing rooms are certainly not the most ideal location, but they’re both Captain of their respective teams and know the rota by heart. It’s the only place they can be sure to never be found.

Regulus’ parents will lose it if they ever find out that not only has their son been snogging a man, but a Blood Traitor no less. Walburga and Orion could probably look past James’ inability to produce an heir for Regulus, but they would never forgive him for bedding a Potter.

And James… James might not survive if Sirius were to ever find out that he’d been the one to defile his baby brother. He hadn’t meant for it to happen, truly, it just sort of did. One day, they were screaming at each other across the empty Quidditch changing rooms after a particularly brutal game and the next Regulus had James pinned up against the wall and James was a goner.

‘Same time tomorrow?’ Regulus asks hopefully, flattening James’ tie against his chest.

‘I’ve got detention with Minnie tomorrow. Pete and I jinxed Snape’s last essay to read as a dramatic proclamation of undying love to whoever reads it,’ James apologises. He’s never felt bad for pulling a prank on Snivellus before, but the look on Regulus face makes him regret ever having the idea. ‘Day after?’

‘Hufflepuff are practising ‘til eight and you know what Harper’s like, they’ll be here hours after that,’ Regulus huffs. ‘Friday night? We’re got the pitch, but I’ll have everyone out by half seven. You can come ‘round for eight?’

James smiles and leans forward, pressing a kiss against the boy’s forehead. ‘Friday it is,’

Regulus’ eyes flutter closed at the gesture and James wishes they could stay here a little while longer, but Remus will start getting suspicious. Not that he’d say anything, but Regulus will kill him if anyone finds out, even Remus.

James backs away from Regulus, his hands falling from the boy’s shoulders and he smiles ruefully as they part. It’s not like they’re some kind of long-distance lovers who only see each other once in a blue moon, but it still hurts. Even if they manage to see each other in secret at night, knowing that when they see each other in the day they must act indifferent to each other hurts. If he could, James would avoid Regulus at all costs and yet he’d tear himself apart if it allowed him to catch just a glimpse of him in the hallway.

The stolen looks they dare to risk are enough to keep the oxygen in James’ lungs and, if the corridor is really busy, they might be able to brush arms as they pass. It sounds pathetic, but it’s what James lives for. In a world slowly falling into war and ruin, James will do anything for his breath of fresh air. The small reminder that there is still good in this world. That good is Regulus Black.

James turns around only at the last moment, he always leaves first and then Regulus will follow a while later, turning right to the dungeons while James turns right to Gryffindor tower. He pulls the hood of his robes over his head, keeping his eyes on the ground as he walks. Walking through the Hogwarts grounds in the dark is a difficult task and James has to concentrate to not trip over the roots of the Whomping Willow which must stretch for miles. He doesn’t dare light his wand.

Sirius will be expecting James back soon, he’d told his friends he was out for a run, knowing that even the crisp October air wouldn’t lessen the red in his cheeks by the time he reaches the tower. With every step, James’ heart continues to hammer in his chest, no matter how many times he sees Regulus’ face, the novelty of being with him never seems to wear off. The very moment James sees Regulus Black, he is, well and truly, a godforsaken mess.

James doesn’t take the usual route to the tower, opting for the secret passage Peter discovered in third year that winds through the outer wall. There’s a few windows dotted about and, when James peers out, he can just about see the silhouette of Regulus sneaking back towards his own common room.

It’s late now, nearly midnight, and most of the younger students have vacated the common room in favour of their beds. The only ones left are a few fifth years studying furiously for Slughorn’s potions exam tomorrow. James remembers that one, over half of his class failed and were sure the same fate awaited them in their OWLs.

In the middle, right by the hearth, are his friends. They always wait up for him and he knows it should annoy him, knows that it only makes the likelihood of being caught higher, but it's nice of them. James has the best friends and he hates lying to them, but he knows that Sirius wouldn’t take the news of his relationship with Regulus very well. Sirius has enough going on right now.

Remus is lounging in on a sofa, one hand holding open a book on his lap while the other hangs down and across Sirius’s chest. Sirius always sits near Remus, ever since their argument last year, it’s like he needs to know that Remus isn’t going to leave. It’s a trait James has noticed since they were kids. Anytime Sirius would fall out with someone, Sirius would plaster himself to the person’s side and James hasn’t quite figured out if it’s a sign of loyalty or apology or perhaps something more concerning.

Either way, Remus never seems to mind. Peter is working on an essay in a chair next to the two, parchment wrapped over a book, but he doesn’t seem to be writing much. James can’t blame him, he hasn’t started their Defense essay yet either.

‘Evening, lads,’ James grins easily, hoping that nobody else notices the way his heart is still beating erratically in his chest.

‘Good run, Prongs?’ Sirius asks, looking up at James and for a moment, there’s a flicker of something in his eye. Something like doubt, or perhaps he knows something. No, Sirius can’t possibly know of anything amiss about James’ nightly outings.

‘Yeah, all good. Nearly tripped over one of them bloody tree roots, can’t escape the fuckers anywhere,’ James grumbles. It’s not a complete lie, but not exactly the truth either. ‘I blame Moony,'

‘Oi! Wasn’t my idea to plant a giant fuck-off tree, I’d have been happy with a some chains and a wooden shed,’ Remus jokes, eyes never leaving his book.

‘Wouldn’t you just,’ Sirius smirks slyly, looking up at his boyfriend. Peter gags loudly and Remus smacks Sirius across the face playfully. James laughs at their antics, all the while trying to battle the awful mental image currently trying to take root in his mind.

‘Well on that unsettling note, I’m heading for a shower, you lot enjoy yourselves,’ James tells them, jogging past and up the stairs to their dormitory.

He showers quickly, washing his hair and scrubbing the smell of Regulus off his skin. When he gets out, he dresses in his pyjamas, then wraps his towel around his neck just to be sure. That’s the thing about these illicit affairs, as they reach their end, all evidence is erased and they all move forward as though it never happened a million little times.

Regulus makes sure to spray a little cologne before he exits the bathroom, finding his friends all sitting around their dorm, chatting to each other. Barty and Evan are sitting together, the latter relaxing back against the former and Regulus can see their fingers intertwined on one side. A pang of jealousy strikes through his heart and he hates himself for it. Evan’s parents couldn’t care less about who he dates, in fact Evan once said that he was thirteen when he came out to them. As for Barty, Regulus is pretty sure he lauds his relationship over his father’s head just to spite the man. Regulus wishes he had the guts to do the same.

Nobody will know that James exists in Regulus’ mind. No trace is left behind of Regulus’ whereabouts and nobody will ever even consider the notion that Regulus would do something so preposterous. Regulus Black is and always will be, the perfect heir to his family’s name. With Sirius having been disowned over a year ago, Regulus has taken his place without fuss and this will be his fate until the day he dies.

James’ words echo in his mind for now, promises to always be his and vows that they’ll find a way to be together forever. It’s not that Regulus doesn’t want to be with James for the rest of his life, but he can’t let himself hope. He can’t allow himself to entertain the thought that he could grow old with James and live with him until their dying days. The world will never allow that, not for Regulus. So he won’t hope.

The high will fade as he sits on his own bed, heart still hammering, and joins in the conversation with his friends. Pandora and Dorcas have come over, Dorcas has been quieter recently and Regulus knows she’s planning something, though she isn’t sure what. Pandora keeps casting him sad looks like a puppy watching its owner leave for work.

Even as he talks with his friends, though, chatting about all the work they’ll have to do now that they’ve started studying for their NEWTs, his mind drifts back to James Potter. He’s like a drug and Regulus swore he’d quit, promised himself he wouldn’t let it get this far. Professor Slughorn once told them that drugs lose their potency as you use them more and more, but James works every bloody time and Regulus can’t make himself stop. Every time he catches the boy’s eye across the corridor, he needs to hear his voice, feel their hands clasped together. Regulus needs to stop, but he knows he won’t.

Deep down, Regulus knows that he’s going to keep going even when his parents bring him before the Dark Lord when he goes home for Christmas. Even when his arm is marked with a sign he knows will turn James’ stomach, Regulus will keep going. He’ll keep going until James hates him and it will all blow up in Regulus’ face. One day, he’ll wish he never met James Potter, but for now he’s going to beg for every second with him.

In the end, they don’t even make it to Christmas.

Early November arrives, bringing with it the Scottish bitter cold and one evening when Regulus is busy attacking James’ neck with his lips, the boy comes up with a truly absurd idea.

‘The boys all have detention tomorrow,’ James says breathily, fingers twirling around Regulus’ curls as he sighs contentedly.

‘Don’t make me think about my brother,’ Regulus frowns, sinking his teeth down on James’ sensitive skin, then quickly soothing it with his tongue.

‘Could use my invisibility cloak, bring you up to the dorm. Do this proper, you know,’ James continues and Regulus officially loses his appetite.

‘You want to fuck me in the room where my brother sleeps?’ Regulus pulls away and raises an eyebrow at James disbelievingly.

‘Uh… yes?’ James grins at him sheepishly and Regulus should really refuse the offer because it’s got ‘danger’ written all over it. Even if he can sneak into the dormitory, what if they come back early? What if someone manages to see them? What if the cloak falls off and everybody knows?

What if Sirius finds out?

‘We shouldn’t,’ Regulus sighs, turning away from James because there’s no way he’ll stand his ground if he catches even a glimpse of those doe eyes he’s so adept at. ‘People could find out,’

‘They won’t! Come on, Reggie, think about it! You and me, big four-poster bed… think about all the things we could do.’ James steps forward, hands creeping around Regulus’ waist, prodding gently.

Regulus doesn’t need to see James to know the look on his face. It’s not one he can say ‘no’ to.

‘One time,’ Regulus insists and immediately feels the smirk on James’ face.

‘One time,’ he agrees.

It is, in fact, not one time. Regulus promises himself he won’t do it again, but then an owl brings him a note as he’s getting changed after taking a brutal thrashing from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. James’ friends are celebrating in the Hufflepuff common room tonight, Regulus can come over again.

He doesn’t say no. In the end, he stays the night, hidden behind the curtains of James’ bed, secure in the boy’s arms. It’s the safest he’s felt in years and now that he knows how it feels, he’s not sure he’ll ever be able to stop.

Regulus stays the night every Tuesday and every Friday. Sirius always stays late after Gryffindor Quidditch practice on those days to run his own drills and Remus always watches. It’s easy, apparently, to get Peter to stay behind, saying that Sirius could really use a hand or Remus wants the company. James is first back and he lets Regulus in, hidden under the cloak.

As the weeks fly by and nobody finds him huddled next to the Gryffindor Golden Boy, Regulus finds himself lulled into a sense of security, a routine that won’t be broken. And then, Sirius has to have one of his genius ideas.

It happens in the middle of the night, Regulus is sleeping soundly against James’ chest and all of a sudden, there’s a loud crash from the right. James wakes first, jumping so violently that Regulus is shaken out of his sleep as well.

‘I’ve got it!’ Sirius announces proudly to the room, clearly oblivious to how little anyone wants to hear whatever it is he’s got to say at this ungodly hour. It’s still dark out for Merlin’s sake.

‘Not now, Pads!’ Remus groans loudly.

‘Shit,’ James mutters, lifting his head and looking at Regulus with wide eyes. Regulus pushes himself up onto his elbows, frowning.

‘Prongs, I’ve got it! I know what we’re gonna—’ Sirius pulls back the curtains to James’ bed and promptly cuts himself short, jaw falling open and eyes blowing wide.

The two are under the covers, both shirtless (Sirius does not need to know that James isn’t wearing any trousers either) and any idea of bullshitting his way out of this is thoroughly dashed. James sits up slowly, one hand remaining on Regulus’ knee , fingers drumming on the joint nervously.

Regulus stares up at Sirius, eyes locked unwaveringly as all of Regulus’ fears melt away into pure stubbornness. He will not lose this argument, not when James is the best thing that has happened to him in years.

‘What the fuck?’ Sirius deadpans, eyes flicking back and forth between his brother and his best friend, seemingly lacking coherent thought. Regulus continues to stare his brother down.

‘Ever heard of a little something called ‘privacy’, Sirius?’ Regulus asks coldly. There’s a gasp from across the room, no doubt as his voice is recognised by the two boys who can’t see Regulus. James squeezes his knee gently, clearly trying to communicate something, but Regulus isn’t paying enough attention to decipher that.

‘Shittin’ hell, James. You fucked Sirius’ brother?’ Peter is the one to respond when Sirius continues to stare bug-eyed at the two. Regulus opens the curtains on the other side of the bed so he can turn his glare on Peter and the boy shies away.

Remus is getting out of bed now, sliding his feet into his slippers and making his way over to Sirius, a nervous look on his face. Strangely, he doesn’t appear shocked.

‘Sirius,’ he says quietly, reaching out a hand to gently touch the boy’s shoulder. Sirius shakes him off roughly.

‘Don’t,’ he mutters, looking down at James with a look Regulus didn’t think Sirius could ever hold for his best friend. In all of his and James’ antics, he never considered that this could do something to James and Sirius. As long as Regulus has known James, he’s been everything to Sirius, the brother he always wanted to have and at first Regulus resented James for it.

An odd flare of indignation rises up in Regulus' chest and he sits up straighter, putting himself in between James and Sirius. Sirius can be angry at him all he likes, but Regulus won’t stand by and let him look at James like this.

‘You fucked my little brother?’ Sirius says finally, echoing Peter’s words, voice trembling with anger as his fists shake at his sides. Regulus tries to move towards Sirius, but James holds him back before he can pull the duvet away from his lower half.

‘I didn’t ‘fuck’ him,’ James responds firmly, then frowns. ‘I mean, I did, but… that’s not- it’s not… Shit, just hear me out, Pads—’

‘No, don’t fucking ‘Pads’ me, you fucked my kid brother! He’s a kid!’ Sirius shouts angrily.

‘Don’t call him ‘kid’, he’s barely a year younger than us!’ James snaps and Regulus can see the anger forming in his eyes. He shouldn’t be angry at Sirius, that’s his best friend. This wasn’t meant to ruin them.

‘It’s okay, James, he can be mad at me,’ Regulus tries to calm James down, but the boy is springing out of bed and Regulus sees, thankfully, that at some point before they fell asleep he’d pulled some boxers back on.

‘No, it’s not okay, we’re allowed to be together, there’s nothing wrong with us!’ James gestures wildly between the two of them and Regulus absently thinks the uncoordinated movement sums them up perfectly.

‘I never said that, baby, I just—’

‘Don’t call him ‘baby’! What the fuck?’ Sirius is staring incredulously at the two now. ‘Why are you doing this to me? This is- This is- What the fuck?'

That seems to be about all Sirius can manage right now and Remus is, once more, trying to get close to Sirius. It doesn’t work and Remus backs off, staring at the back of his boyfriend’s head worriedly.

‘Nobody is doing anything to you, Sirius,’ Regulus tells him firmly, also leaving the bed in favour of standing next to James, wrapping an arm around his waist. ‘We aren’t doing this to hurt you, we’re doing this because we…’

Regulus trails off there, unsure how to finish his sentence. Sure, he loves James with all his heart and always will no matter how this ends, but he’s never said it outloud before. Not to anyone and certainly not to James and James has never said it either. This isn’t exactly the time for grand announcements or dicey assumptions.

‘You what? Huh, you what? For Merlin’s sake, James, that’s my brother! What is wrong with you?’ Sirius yells at them, face contorting with anger and Regulus is used to that being directed at him, but nobody should look at James like that.

‘Sirius, stop it! Take a breath and listen to them, will you? This is getting ridiculous,’ Remus interjects, appearing to give up listening to Sirius’ clear aversion to his presence right now and pulling his hands down from where they were gesturing angrily at James.

‘No, I won’t listen, Remus. How could you do this, James? You know… you know everything and you still… fuck you, James. Fuck. You.’ Sirius shakes his head, all anger dissipates from his voice as he speaks until he merely sounds defeated. James opens his mouth to say something, but before he can get any words out, Sirius is marching away and out of the door, letting it slam shut behind them.

Regulus flinches as the loud bang echoes around the room and as the silence stretches between them, James pulls Regulus closer. James always knows when Regulus is about to cry and he holds one hand up against the side of Regulus’ face, shielding it from the view of the others. James’ chin rests on top of Regulus’ head which is buried against his neck as Regulus clings to the boy tiredly.

‘It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re okay,’ James whispers soothingly. Regulus feels the words vibrating in his throat.

‘I’ll talk to him in the morning, he’ll come around. He just needs some space,’ Remus says and James nods awkwardly against Regulus’ head. Regulus doesn’t say a word.

‘Let’s get back to sleep, Reggie, nothing to do about it now,’ James murmurs, steering them back into bed and arranging the covers across the both of them.

There’s rustling and shuffling as Remus and Peter no doubt do the same and James leans over to pull the curtains shut again. As he does, Peter’s voice drifts quietly across the dorm, clearly words only meant for Remus’

[happiness-of-the-pursuit]

2023 Fic Round Up (Part 1: Fic List)

I have been tagged in about a million different round ups of sorts, so here's Part 1: A Comprehensive 2023 Fic List sorted by month posted (if a multichap, I listed it the first month it posted), featuring the major details and a single-sentence summary/quote (so a fun challenge for me).

I'll post Part 2: Favorite Quotes and Part 3: Channeling Nora Holleran to Bring You My AO3 Data over the next two days (for the data I want to wait til the last possible day).

Without further ado, here is my 2023 Fic List:

January:

Nothing, I was still a lurker.

February:

Prince Henry and FSOTUS Alex Claremont-Diaz Answer the Web’s Most Searched Questions (T, 2.4K, YouTube Script Fic)

10 Things Alex Claremont-Diaz Can’t Live Without (T, 3K, YouTube Script Fic)

10 Things HRH Prince Henry Can’t Live Without (T, 2.5K, YouTube Script Fic)

March:

Prince Henry and FSOTUS Alex Claremont-Diaz Take a Couples Quiz (T, 5K, YouTube Script Fic)

The Super Six Take a Lie Detector Test | Vanity Fair (M, 7K, YouTube Script Fic)

Baby's First Pride (E, 10K, WIP Multi-Chap)

Post-canon, canon-compliant (ignoring bonus chapter) look at the Super Six celebrating their first pride after the emails—I want to come back and finish this (I got interrupted by Life) but my writing has evolved a lot since March and I'm daunted by all the editing I'd have to do, lol

ALEX CLAREMONT-DIAZ COMMUNES WITH HIS ANCESTORS WHILE EATING SPICY WINGS | Hot Ones (T, 3K, YouTube Script Fic)

April-June

Trying to survive the end of the school year as a teacher before I left my job :)

July

PRINCE HENRY SENTENCES US TO THE DUNGEONS WHILE EATING SPICY WINGS | Hot Ones  (M, 3K, YouTube Script Fic)

August

FirstPrince Sings Queen, Lil Nas X, and Taylor Swift in a Game of Song Association | ELLE (T, 2.5K, YouTube Script Fic)

Claremont 2008 (M, 26K, Complete Multi-Chap, Canon Divergence)

A world where Ellen gets elected in 2008 instead of 2016, and the friends-to-lovers path that puts Henry on. If you want to relive the early 2010s, enjoy epistolary fics, or want a glimpse of a world where Alex & Henry go to college together, you might like this.

September

How well you play...that's up to you (M, 4K, FirstPrince Week)

Grey's Anatomy-Inspired AU, where Alex & Henry are both surgical residents—currently a one-shot, but I plan on writing a multi-chap prequel for this at some point.

Keep this Love in a Photograph (T, 2.6K, FirstPrince Week)

Post-Canon: Henry finds Alex's old photo album and they take a stroll down memory lane.

The Starwand (T, 1.7K, FirstPrince Week)

Three vignettes from Alex's life (two featuring Henry) where a sparkler makes an appearance—both a kid fic of Alex and Alex with his kids.

Somebody Call 911 (M, 2.4K, FirstPrince Week)

College AU where Alex is sneaking around with Henry behind his roommate's back—until it all goes to shit.

October

Sets on the Beach (M, 4K, FirstPrince Week)

Crack Treated Seriously, Alex and Henry are on rival queer beach volleyball teams.

Water over Blood (G, 3K, FirstPrince Week)

Post-Canon 5+1 of five times Henry's niece loved Alex, and one time she loved Henry

L(ate) S(leepy) A(morous) T(exting) (M, 1K, FirstPrince Week)

Text-fic of a missing moment from the book, because I am convinced that Alex did, in fact, study for the LSAT (it's just more realistic if we're to believe he scored well enough to get into NYU)

November

Freaky Friday (I woke up in my enemy's body) (M, 9K, Halloween, Huh?)

Canon Divergence, Freaky Friday-Inspired Body Swap AU, Crack Treated Seriously: Between Cakegate and Alex's visit to London, the boys swap bodies and proceed to learn a lot about each other. And themselves.

December

Alex Claremont-Díaz Answers Your Questions | Actually Me |GQ (M, 2K, YouTube Script Fic)

Super Six and the Siren's Call (T, 111K Total, Posting Bi-weekly)

The Percy Jackson AU, co-written with @read-and-write- and @inexplicablymine. Quests and Greek References abound! Check out more @auntiepezzasupdates

(Dil)Do It Yourself (E, 16.7K, New Traditions Advent Calendar)

Alex attends a DIY Dildo Workshop for the holidays, where he meets Henry, who's helping to lead the workshop—and eventually, helps Alex in other ways. The tags will tell you all that you need to know.

Thanks to @rockyroadkylers @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @kiwiana-writes @welcometololaland and anyone else who tagged me that I missed! I was waiting to post all my fics for December before I did this :) Since I'm pretty late, I'll tag @ssmtskw @matherines @affectionatelyrs and an open tag to anyone who's made it this far and wants to do this!