#my roommate is hades spoilers

[oatmealdaydreams]

So, I Watched "My Roommate is Hades"

Here's some reactions from me as I watch the pilot episode. Maybe be a bit of rant/long post. Told and expressed in bullet points (list).

Trigger/Content Warning: nude/naked mention (vague), all-caps, cursed image, boomer, fire (fake, CGI)

Major Spoilers: My Roommate is Hades (MRIH) [Pilot Episode]

SIR, I HAVE THOSE SAME GLASSES, WUT-

his name is Homer. like the Greek poet, Homer.

FUN FACT: Lehrer means "teacher" in German

Homer Lehrer -> Greek poet name and also surname means "teacher"? oh f*ck yeah

Matthessy? like... like Odessey? or am I just a nerd.

nice theme song ya got there - catchy

"yeah, that Hades" what other Hades would he be, your main audience are all queer as f*ck, we KNOW Greek Mythology

second time to college - good to note

first degree in chemical engineering but went nowhere? love me some "Thomas projects on his characters" content

Homer is a sweetheart, look at him in his little videos on campus, he's ready to learn, a curious poet man

over 10 years since he last went to school, m'kay

"oh sheesh" -> I laughed at his reaction to how long it's been since he was in school LMAO

yeah, some adjustment period, huh?

Homer's lighting is warm hue and Hades' lighting is cold/icy hue

"HEy-" ffs, Hades almost scared me, jfc

why does Homer look scared in Hades' POV but in his own POV, he just looks annoyed?

^hmm, interesting...

ALSO: NEW MEME/REACTION IMAGE UNLOCKED

^I'm laughing, omg-

"doughy mortal" my dude, you make him sound like a pastry

Homer says "mortal rights"

just love the interaction of Homer thinking doughy means he hasn't been working out or something & Hades is like "no, I mean you're soft" and goes on a mini tangent about how he'd die to the easy-feat crocodiles back in Ancient Greece

I have a feeling Hades is gonna talk about Ancient Greece a lot throughout this series - cause it's home

"again with the crocodiles" -> man has talked about crocodiles before, hasn't he?

Hades is an early sleeper, I guess??

^also, 3pm? my dude, that's the afternoon, no need to sleep that f*cking early

love how Hades can just whoosh into visibility from the shadows - excellent for stealing pizza from roommate

"I like my money" OKAY THEN, RICH BOI.

wait, wtf are you doing in college, you f*cking snobby pizza-hoarding mf?

Hades is just walking around with very little to no clothes on, and Homer just closes his eyes and takes off his glasses like "this f*cking dude" in annoyance

"In Ancient Greece, everyone was naked all of the time!" -> everyone in Ancient Greece was also very gay and queer, shut up

^"puppet shows-" WAIT WUT

"You keep bringing up the meaninglessness of mortals' lives." // "To be fair, you're pretty good at bringing it up yourselves."

^I HAVE PERISHED (/pos)

"that's gen z" // "I'm a millennial, I can only be depressed-"

^gonna cry, omfg LMAO

Homer being surprised at Hades' confession that he doesn't want to be here either is something to note; perhaps they both don't want to be the situation they're in, for different reasons

^something to connect over?

Hades misses his doggo

ah yus: brother Zeus says "ya kinda weird bro" and then yeets him into mortal college

"f*cking community college-" I DIED, H A-

mm, love it when Gods get yeeted by their siblings into mortal bodies to learn a lesson - very delicious trope

"yes I did, Benjermin Franklin" // "what the f*ck-"

HE CALLS HIM BENNIE - I'M SOBBING

Bennie is my favourite, omg

never pause this video - oh god

HERE, HAVE A CURSED IMAGE

^suffer with me :3

"college is useless, death is inevitable" -> you would get along with gen z, wouldn't you?

"fate worse than immortality itself" -> using this every time I have a mild inconvenience

Homer has an existential crisis - relatable

"So, upon seeing the ghost of Benjermin Franklin, something broke inside my brain."

^HADES, STOP BREAKING YOUR ROOMMATE'S BRAIN. MORTALS ARE FRAGILE; THEY BREAK EACH OTHER'S BRAINS ALREADY ON THEIR OWN, DON'T ADD TO IT

Homer being like "learning that Gods exist was a shocker, but hey - worse sh*t has happened" is my fav thing about him

^this is him upon learning the Afterlife is real

RIP Homer's Sanity, never had a chance, 2023 to Never

ah yus, Greek God eats grapes like he's posing for a statue made after him. classic Gods behaviour

FLORAL SHIRT - the flower motif continues

love how chill Hades is about the Afterlife/explaining it as if Homer didn't just have his entire worldview and reality break in half

5 rivers, Tartarus, Rive Styx - love all of this Greek Mythology knowledge

^the true gayness comes out when GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Hades doesn't know Beyonce - a true Greek tragedy

"is any of them, idk, nice?" // "eh-"

^that's not reassuring

Homer's Existential Crisis, Part II

scales of judgement, mm

...can we please give Homer a hug? he needs one.

Hades has teal/light blue fire- neat

Homer studied Greek Mythology in school? that's very gay of you, sir.

Afterlife has Purgatory and Cool Kids Club, confirmed

Hades not putting people in places cause grey areas and "too much paperwork" - relatable lmao

I just realized Hades is basically like "back in my day" with Ancient Greece

^is Hades a boomer-

^^OH GOD, HE'S A BOOMER

Homer really said "um morals tho-" and Hades gets angy

Hades complaining about the weird deal between Zeus and Menelaus(?) is funny to me

wait, Hades complaining about Orpheus is funnier, omg-

I sense some "no one listens to me or heeds my advice" angst from Hades

"f*cking artists-" laughing, crying, TIME TO PERISH

"not even mortals listen to me" -> I WAS RIGHT

hmm, a wager? interesting...

this is gonna get so gay, oh dear lord

"little man" -> Homer is short, confirmed

THE FIRE-WHEN-MAKING-A-DEAL TROPE - YUS

Immediately recognized Hermes, the casting is brilliant

gay-ass Hermes, yep

THEY'RE ALL HERE - uh oh-

Persephone is mentioned and then Hades is like "skjhfkajs- I mean, oh really? haha, how is she?"

Hermes being like "I have no f*cking clue" is funny to me LMAO

Hermes is a flirt, confirmed

^he literally winks/flirts with Homer lmao

Zeus heading a fraternity? most canon thing in canon

"if there's one thing I care about less than humanity, it's my family"

^LMAO Hades is an emo edgelord with a literal God Complex

"a living hell... in a bad way" -> why is that funny-

"I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE"

the best ending line, lmao

mm, outro

===

Some Overall Thoughts

Because this is the Pilot episode, and Thomas had admitted somewhere that he's not entirely sure how to do what he intends to do, I didn't expect perfection. I was right not to. This is still a very good pilot episode, even with the random things I noticed. It does sound a bit more scripted in an obvious way. Which can be a bit... just eh. We'll see how this goes.

The different lighting choices for Hades and Homer was a nice touch. I appreciate the blue/icy lighting for Hades, as he is portrayed as a cold character. I also appreciate the orangish-yellow/warm lighting for Homer, as he is portrayed as a kind and moral character. There's even some colour themes with them, evident in their student cards. Homer has that beige theme, and Hades has the light blue theme. Hades' fire is even teal/light blue, which is a nice little detail.

The generation jokes were funny (to me, at least), but I can recognize how they'd be kinda blah with other people. Hades seems to be a bit of a boomer (always talking about Ancient Greece in the back-in-my-day fashion), while Homer is a millennial (literally says so in one of his generation jokes). Even then, still funny to me.

^But still, can be a bit flat in the humour department.

I love everyone's distinct personalities already. We have our protagonist, Homer Lehrer, who just wants to go to college and make something of his life; Hades, a Greek God who's "out of touch" with the real world and thus has been sentenced to community college; Hermes, who's a flirty, flamboyant mf with no clue who tf sent the letters or where tf they came from (even though he's literally The Messenger); and we have everyone else, yet to be seen on screen.

The family banter already (between Hades and Hermes) is 100% my fav part about the Greek Deities. Them just bickering like mortal family members would. I love it!

Some lore/theories to think about! Who sent the letters that knocked all of the Greek Deities out and sentenced them to mortality and community college? Why did this happen? Where did the letters come from? How tf did Hermes send himself a letter and then blackout like his amass of siblings & family members? What's the deal with Persephone and Hades? Why won't she talk to him? What happened between them?

What is Homer's purpose of being there, sans him going back to college for self-fulfillment reasons?

How tf did Zeus head an entire faternity so fast?

Homer being roomies with Hades is the funniest sh*t about this entire series.

I do both love and feel weary about the sitcom vibes from this. Sitcoms are funny in their own corny, classic way. It's scripted in a sorta obvious way, but there is a good amount of natural flow to it.

===

Anyway: that's all my thoughts for now. Hope everyone enjoyed this lovely lil pilot. Feel free to share your own thoughts and theories!! I want to hear them.

[bookishnewt]

The other gods are here!?!

Persephone is also here!

I am here for the potential Hades and Persephone drama that is to come

Hermes hitting on Homer

Of course Zeus has found the fraternities.

This is gonna be a wild series

One mortal dealing with college and all of Olympus.

[makiokuta]

Hades 2 fanart under the cut; spoilers for the boss of the 2nd area's design ^^

Scylla, my darling, you're beautiful.

My roommate got the early access, and yeah I am obsessed with this design.

[radioactive-dazey]

My thoughts on Thomas Sanders (criticism but more of me complaining)

Something I don't see people talk about nearly enough (read: not at all) is the fact that, we are still analyzing videos that came out 4+ years ago.

It's not the "analyzing old videos" that's the problem. It's the fact there hasn't been any new content since then. It really feels like (at least to me) the fandom (once again, could be just me) is desperately picking at episodes like POF or SVS for any scraps left behind.

I started one of my fics about a year after POF came out and I remember being nervous because "This takes place immediately after putting others first, this could become really dated really fast"

Turns out I had nothing to worry about.

Lack of plot relevant content is one thing. Everything else that has resurfaced rubs salt in the wound.

Oh, and now to address the fandom itself: some of yall have an insane perspective on everything. I'm all for trying to be objective about the criticism (bc lets be real, one or two things ive seen circulating makes me scratch my head,) but blatantly defending Thomas with "he doesn't owe you anything" is so fucking WILD to me.

He's a content creator. It's his job to make content. Ofc nobody expects him to pump it out like a factory machine, and there's mental health to consider, but it is still his job to make content.

I don't even know where this ideology came from. Who sent you all down that path. Was it Thomas complaining setting a boundary over someone demanding content?

For clarification I don't think anyone should be messaging Thomas to demand content but like... come on dude.

Scalding take, Thomas SHOULD thank us for supporting him.

If he's getting burned out from creating TSS content, we as his fandom are entitled to know instead of sitting and waiting. Did you guys know we are closer to the 10 year aniversarry than we are the 5 year one?

It all sucks horribly. I still want to support him. I still want to wait and see what he does next. I still love Sanders Sides and Cartoon Therapy and My Roommate is Hades. But I feel so hypocritical to still support and follow him when all this shit is piling up. I know nobody is forcing me to stick around, but without Sanders Sides, I have nothing going on in my life. This is my only community, and I somehow managed to tie it down with two of my only hobbies with it.

Does he know a chunk of the fandom is angry and now watching his every move? He should.

Edit: oh and I saw spoilers from the patreon of what the new ep is going to be. It's not worth the wait for me personally. Lowkey I think the premise alone is weak asf but I don't know the thing they're referencing super well. Doesn't add much to this post but I wanted to bitch about that too.

[contritecactite]

As ever, it takes the tiniest hint of encouragement (thanks @grimboigio ) to goad me into generating a wall of text. Well, actually, the wall was already there. Big big Hades II spoilers below in the form of messy half-baked notes I've been jotting down as I play. Some are just things that I got excited about, but there's a tiny sliver or two of theories and expectations.

I think we're headed for no happy ending, just acceptance—the battle is against Chronos, but it's really about *time* as a concept; for these gods, time really did take its toll and change the way mortals relate to them. Supergiant will never make another sequel for the same reason: things belong in their own time.

The lycaons *could* just be heralding Cerberus, but they somehow give me a sense of the trappings of Roman the Empire creeping in (in an intentional, storytelling way). Same with the emptiness of Ephyra and the hints of war in the mortal aspect. It feels like this is the fall of the cultures we now call "ancient Greece" as told through the eyes of the gods who get left behind or changed.

Apollo is giving me traitor vibes. He had a line about how we "have all the time in the world," and there's just something too carefree about him.

This feels like a lovely little patchwork quilt of Supergiant games. Homer is more reactive like the Bastion narrator. The music, the social bonding opportunities, and the inventory and lore screens feel a bit like Pyre. Some upgrade systems remind me of Transistor, and the mood reminds me very much of it as well. The writing and combat are still very Hades, and there are new aspects that speak of a team that has taken the time to understand what works, what doesn't, and what improvement and innovation should look like within their existing framework.

Echo's whole thing is fucking clever. Those gifts: Either repeats or diminishing returns—just like an echo. Holy fucking shit the way I vibrated when I met Echo the first time.

I love my randomly assigned college roommate who never goes to her classes and moves all my shit for no reason (Dora). If she were my actual roommate, I would feel a very different way about this.

Eris is perfect. I love her being mean-spirited mischief rather than brute force or accidental mischief; it feels like a unique character composition. She's awful. I can't stand her. She's perfect. She also reminds me of Spoiler from Pixie Tricks, a series I read as a kid (both in personality and, vaguely, design).

Nemesis and Artemis sound like they have a no-strings on-again off-again kind of thing going on and I love that for them. Also hope Charon and Hermes get to see each other again soon bc I'm rooting for them so hard.

I literally shrieked when taking out one of the sirens *actually impacted their contribution to the song*. I shouldn't have been surprised, but it was so much fun to hear it happen anyway. Very immersive! I'm also in love with Scylla. She reminds me very specifically of Ryan Stiles' Carol Channing impression and a little of Dolly Parton. Also. Her fucking hood. Jesus.

One of my favorite things about Hades is that there was nothing that an enemy or boss could do that you couldn't do through some combination of boons, weapons, and upgrades. The same seems to hold true here so far, and I just can't say enough how *cool* that is. The worst part of any combat-heavy game to me is the realization that the boss or even the cutscene of your character can do things that you, the player, can't initiate or control during a regular battle. Hades says "yeah, fuck that. It'll look different when you do it vs. when that sea serpent does it, but you can accomplish the same action/effect." Likewise, there's practically nothing your character can do that isn't also usable by at least one enemy. That keeps things balanced and combats the sense of "ah yes, you are the Most Special Chosen One" that's often inherent to RPGs. It gives the sense that skill matters a lot and makes me as a player feel skilled—I'm not visually doing anything that my enemies can't do, so... maybe I'm actually kinda good at this? (I am mediocre at best, but the game lets me *feel* skilled).

Additionally, just as in Hades, the enemies in an area are very informative about how upcoming bosses will behave. It rewards a player for paying attention and makes each enemy populating an area make *sense*.

After beating the sirens, ALL I wanted was for Melinoë to be able to have one single fan among the shades like Zagreus in the Theseus map. What I got was even *better*; the same type of interaction, but in a way that takes into account *her* task-focused, serious personality while still giving a little bit of levity. She is *done* with being here and ready for everyone to clear out, and that grumpy shade is not having it. He even makes a new little face! Love you, purple shade in the corner.

Oh, hey, charybdis, there you are

THE 2 IS IN *ROMAN* NUMERALS I'm having a moment

yeah that's it that's what I got. For now. My gaming buddy keeps falling asleep when I try to gush and talk through things, so Tumblr gets it instead.

[quibliography]

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

Synopsis:  This webcomic is a retelling of the meet cute between Persephone, the goddess of spring, and Hades, the king of the underworld. Demeter has finally let Persephone move to Olympia and Persephone intends to use this opportunity to discover her independence. Unfortunately at her first party, she ends up on Aphrodite's bad side and gets tricked into passing out in the back seat of Hades' car. From that moment starts the story of Hades and Persephone, along with a whole cast of Greek characters.

My Quibs: Just first off and unrelated to anything, but I love stories that have unique origins. Lore Olympus started as a webcomic on Webtoon, which has a concentrated fan base. And it rose so high in popularity (the most viewed webcomic on the platform in 2019), it broke into physical publication. So I really hate to whip out this old complaint of mine, but I really need to stop reading things with such young protagonists. Her naivety which allows practically everyone around her to dictate her life as they deem fit infuriates the hell out of me. And I mean everyone, not just the jealous ex Minthe or Apollo but also her mother Demeter and her roommate Athena and her boss/crush Hades. I understand part of the point is she's journeying to independence but even by Book Four she hasn't taken any steps towards that (except she's learned to get angry). But still half the time she's looking at her friends with big Bambi eyes and they swoop in and coddle her. I want to see conflict and resolution, struggle and growth. I don't want to see a pretty girl trip and stumble into the arms of others. And Smythe does reach for the dark parts; she even has a disclaimer about it. But those parts are satellites to the cutesy love story. Even Persephone coming out to Eros about what happened, she didn't fully do; he intuited it using his godly powers. And maybe I haven't found the right wavelength to fully enjoy the story. I want to see some messy struggle but that might be too human-like behavior when the characters are gods that rip out the eyes of paparazzi because they were embarrassed.

Should you read it? It’s beautifully drawn and an interesting twist on a classic tale that if you don't already know, you should. I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it even if I personally didn't enjoy it. There's clearly an audience for her work.

Similar reads? I don't read enough webcomics nor enough Greek mythology inspired content; thus, I have no similar reads to compare this to. Though (shoutout to @encephalopoda) if you liked Punderworld, also a Greek mythology inspired webcomic, or the Percy Jackson YA series by Rick Riordan, this might be up your alley.

(Spoiler Alert!) My tipping point is when she rushes to his office after class because her classmates don't like her anymore. Granted, to confront him about something wrong he did, but she's still throwing a tantrum. I would've closed the book then and there if she had been able to cut the line, but thankfully no. Though probably that scene was just to make room so she could be bullied some more in Hades' face so then he could swoop in and save her from Ares' warring aura. Le sigh. I wonder if romance just isn't my genre 😬.

What did you think of Lore Olympus?

[smallraindrops-blog]

Hades 2 impressions/rambling

Putting everything under here. Long post beware.

Spoilers spoilers everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay I am doing my best to keep everything understandable but no promises. I am still pretty early on in the game but I felt like I got enough to talk about.

Using a list format to help my brain.

Melinoë

Heavens help me, she is too precious for this world. Her genuine effort to help/befriend any one that comes across her is so heartwarming to see.

She definitely giving the honor student and perfect daughter vibe to the family even she and her family doesn’t know it.

It is clear how similar Zagreus she is with her determination and smart comments however they did a great job of making Mel her own character in her polite manners and studious attitude along complex relationships.

I love that the creators acknowledged Melionë feeling like she is fighting for both an impossible future and a family she never knew. I feel like we don’t often get see that kinda of thing.

The fact that Hecate kept reminding Melinoë that Hecate is not her mother and never will be is a kick in the teeth.

It is so painfully clear that just like Zagreus, Mel is looking that sense of belonging but unlike Achilles, Hecate had openly rejected even the possibility.

Then having Mel not right out stating that she find her worth in Hecate’ opinions before they fight and Hecate scolding Mel for her behavior.

Oof, knife to the heart.

I can’t wait to see how Mel and Hecate’s relationships changes and grow.

Hecate

For whatever reason, she won’t let anyone close to her, even the child she rised and played with and loved so deeply.

Maybe because of that love she won’t show it, in fear of getting her or worse, her enemies using her love for Mel as a weak point.

Like Nyx and Hades, she put Queen Persephone on a pedestal. Which I completely understand. It also clear that to Hecate, Mel and her mother are more like than not, both kind and seeing the best in everyone.

What I am really interested in is the break between her and Demeter. I wonder if she did really had to hide Mel from everyone or was she just trying to control everything and everyone? Could she really not trust anyone?

Even the grandmother would do anything for her grandchildren. Who maybe learn her lesson from losing her daughter and grandson from the first time.

Dora

her roommate/best friend/sibling relationship with Dora is amazing too. I just how Dora tries to be completely shallow and shameless in her lack of ambition and refusal to engage with other shades but not able to completely pull it off.

I don’t know if ties in with the box or her refusal to accept what happened to her, but I am invested.

Nemesis

I adore their messy/bully relationship.

She had a similar function to Thanatos but she is actively unhelpful ( for me anyway) which is definitely a fun game mechanic.

I do think she is good for Mel since she keep the princess on her toes.

but depending on how the story plays out, her unwillingness to work or listen to anyone will definitely end up hurting their causes (which might end up being a turning point for her. I am putting my full faith in SG and their storytelling)

Odysseus

ahhhh, the man, the legend! I love his voice, definitely a good fit for him and feel like smooth butter.

He is definitely that uncle who gave the kiddos candy when the parents were’t looking. And I love his character design, and his grin is so prefect for his character.

He and Mel have a better relationship than most I think however it is clear he is putting on his best face for her and not being entirely upfront with her.

Which i understand, he probably still see that little girl she once was, the one who just want to play hide and seek and make others happy.

So understandable. *sobs*

I am little concerned that in his entry, it mentioned a weakness for witches. Which yikes. But I need to remember the EPIC take on Odysseus is just now slowly becoming the normal.

What I will in mind is that Odysseus is two things above all. He is nobody and he is always lying.

So it definitely possible he is playing it up in order keep his family safe.

Also the fact he find peace in the garden??? Omg I can’t with this sad man.

Schememeus

ahhhh! He looks so good! My man got himself a big, beautiful beard! I love that we are getting more of the lore about him! (I am so glad I gave him more attention in northern star)

He is still so wonderfully supportive and I know he would do anything for the princess.

Charon/Hermes

They are married, your honor!

Gosh, I think they might be one of the top highlights for me.

For Charon, I’m glad that more people are appreciating the work and effort he putting in for them. Esp since they definitely didn’t in the first game.

The fact he doesn’t even hide how concerned he is for Hermes make me cry especially since one expects him to act cold in front of others. His relationship with Mel is a little more softer than it was with Zagreus which I appreciate.

Hermes is still perfect, no notes. I haven’t gotten much time with him but his updated design is the perfect way to tie his relationship with Charon.

So far I would say he treats Mel much like Zagreus but we have to wait and see.

I love that we can get to see Shelly a lot better now and she looked so happy just to be with her master even if there was an horrible war.

Moros

He is such babygirl.

In all seriousness though, his calm demeanor and polite manners makes him the perfect emissary for the Fates.

He takes no pleasure in his duty nor does he pity the morals, he just simply is.

It is clear that he understands that he often isn’t welcomed by many and is keeping a distance. Which hurts that he stays just outside of the circle.

His relationship with Nemesis is interesting to me. They clearly worked together and i would say it seemed like they even have an amicable relationship. But i am curious if we will find out more.

Selene

Ahhh, they did so good with her design! Her eyes even look like full moons with no noticeable pupils ( i wonder her eyes will match with the moon phase, i haven’t see it in the game but i ma making it my HC now)

Her crown/helmet is so amazing, the fact it hold the moon ( or at least appear so) was a fantastic idea. Her moonstones and the celestial jewelry is pure eye candy to me.

If it was possible, I would do anything to have her luscious hair. I am glad they really play with the colors with her design, it reminds me of opals.

The first time one meet her, you can immediately tell she is a regal goddess/titan and can’t help but in awe. Her Pegasus looked just like a little girls’ dream horse and i am here for it!

Selene is also a genuine kind person even if she is a tad nosy. ( I am nosy too so)

I do need to spend more time with her to get know her better but I love that she keeping a watchful eye on Mel and I can’t wait to see how everything goes.

Arachne

Her silk dressses have saved my behind so many times.

I like how complicated her and Mel’s friendship is. I don’t believe Mel have the full story of what happened and don’t understand Arachne’ distrust of the gods. Doesn’t help Arachne doesn’t want to speak of it as well, hiding things from Mel as well.

It seems like she is waiting for Melionë to act like the others, kinda setting her for small tests.

I do hope they will reach an understanding. I don’t think she will betray Mel ( I hope) but it isn’t outside the realm of possibilities. If she and the Time Titan meet, and she falls for the lies…

Demeter

This poor woman can’t get a break.

First her daughter and her grandson are hidden from her then when it seemed like everyone was a fresh start with princess Melionë only for her Father to come in and steal away what must like hope itself for her.

Her grief in losing her family, not once but twice, is so painfully clear in every single conversation with her. She never even got to see her grandkids grow up.

While she is like that rich grandma who scold people who use the wrong spoon for soup, it is clear she is ride or die for her grandchildren.

Artemis

If my heart didn’t belong to someone else…

I love everything about her, despite of the war she really has grown into herself and feels far more confident in this game. I’m so happy get to see more of her personality shine through!

No wonder she and Zag got on, she is just as cheeky sometimes. I love how she is with Mel, praising her often during their share battles and letting her closer than most.

Also ‘my woodsy goddess’????

um?????

The Olympians

keeping this part short since I want to wait until i get up there to interact with them more.

I love how everyone is like ‘oh it happened again with Hades’ kids, oh well- hello long lost family member! We love you, *mawh* now have this godly power and um. Go kill the old bastard, k thanks.’

Chronos

Ewwwwww- Botha- what is that????

He is a bee in my bonnet and i hate him. (Can’t wait to have more conversations with him, he is a fun villain)

I already have a few run in with him and I can see why the morals fell for lies. Like if someone could bring back a golden age, I can definitely see it being him, the titan’s portrait just oozes power but it won’t be. Never will be.

Even Zeus admitted that.

Also the fact he claims he will never wonder in the woods but he sure seems pretty comfortable getting close to it. I just hope he doesn’t try to find the crossroads.

(Also anyone had that conversation with Hestia, where she muses over how to permanently be rid of him?? How to kill a god indeed.)

Narcissus

I hope they never move the veil. Every conversation with this guy both delighted and frustrated me.

He had been surprisingly useful for me.

Scylla and the sirens

baby I will get you as many morals as you want- just stop killing me please.

They did great on everyone’s designs, feel very much like Josie and pussycats ( the animation one from the 1970ish). Scylla’s shell is such a pain in the ass.

Hypnos

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN! 😭 my babygirl!!!!!!!!!

Design

His updated portrait looks so effing pretty. While sleep, he looked so peaceful. I love they went with the longer hair, it works for him along with being another way to note the passing of time.

My only is note that I wish it was more proofy and less flat. However if his hair is super thick, it possible that it just weight the curls down, along with being against a pillow all the time.

Also his little wing is now missing from his new portrait. Maybe it flat against his head while sleeping. so maybe it only appears when he is wake.

It might just be me, but he also looked like his face looks a little more grown up as well.

I love how the eyemask had hanged colors as well. The purple is making wonder if it supposed to tie with someone else possibly with his mom or Hecate. (There had no mention of his canon wife so I am going to assume for now she isn’t in this game.)

His cloak had changed as well, with gold buttons ( or coins stitched in it?). The gold isn’t seen in the first game as per his model sheet so that is an interesting change. i wonder if that is supposed to be a nod toward Charon or just a style choice.

Also all those poppies! Ahhh, i love it they tied it in. However I wonder where they are coming from. It is likely Melinoë herself had been putting them there but she had made no mention of doing so yet.

Another possibility is that Hypnos is creating them his sleep or maybe the witches added as it way to help him with his powers.

Location

He is given his own area/garden with one of Hecate’s more bigger guards looming over him. He is also given gentle lights and surrounded by plant life. Which I love.

I love this sign of care and effort Hecate is giving Nyx’s son, she is showing so much respect and hospitality for him and I am for it.

Most people would be resentful of someone sleeping all the time but I haven’t sense that from Hecate.

Relationships

With Hecate, I suspect ( and everyone else) she know more about hypnos then she is letting on. She obviously respects Nyx and that shows in the way she cares for Hypnos and his siblings.

Melinoë doesn’t seem to know what to do with him. In the book of Shadows, he isn’t considered part of the crossroad but is put in the same list as Chaos ( another person Mel seem unsure of) However it is called ‘The Rest’ so it just might be a pun on Hypnos always sleeping.

I do think she cares and admires him even when others dismiss Hypnos. I think his cheerful demeanor is exactly what she needs rn and will make them great friends.

Nemesis still hold little respect for Hypnos however she like with almost everyone so not unique.

Charon mentioned that Hypnos was more useful sleep than wake. However it was more like he was completely serious than rather being mean to Hypnos (like Hecate, he knows more but is likely waiting until Mel is ready)

So I am hoping that means his relationship with Charon had improved.

I still haven’t gotten anything from Moros or the others so I am curious as to when I will be able to learn more.

I have heard in the new update there are new Hypnos stuff but I am trying to go in blind for now. So no comment on that.

Anyway I rambled on enough ( congrats if you made this far lol)

In conclusion, I can’t wait for more!!! They did so good with this game!

[kitsaystransrights]

Okay I’m starting a new series on here called “I just finished this game” where I gush about a game I just finished.

Anyway, if you’re a fan of musicals, visual novels, or Greek mythology, you NEED to play Stray Gods.

If you haven’t heard of it before, Stray Gods is a visual novel with branching story routes, but it has the twist of also being a musical! Many of the game’s major choices take place in the songs themselves, and the songs will actually changed based on your decisions! Each song has numerous different permutations based on around 3-5 choices in each one. I recommend checking out Challenging a Queen, one of the early game songs that’s relatively light on spoilers, to see how some of the choices really add some spice to the game and weave through the songs.

The game’s story just follows Grace, a 20-something girl who witnesses the death of Calliope, the Last Muse, and to make matters worse, she has inherited her powers and role. The Chorus, leaders of the remaining Greek gods (known as Idols), give Grace one week to prove her innocence before she is executed, and the line of Calliope is gone forever.

Accompanying her on this journey are a variety of gods, monsters, and her mortal (strictly platonic… strictly) roommate, Freddie. The cast of Stray Gods is easily its best aspect, full of lovable and complex characters, leaving you laughing a lot, sobbing sometimes, and sometimes not knowing who to trust. And when it’s backed up by a fantastic voice cast, and nearly every character getting their own song if not multiple, I’d be astounded if you managed to get through the game without getting attached to SOMEONE lol.

(For the record, my favorite characters are Freddie, Persephone, and Aphrodite hehe)

And of course, what’s a musical without its music? The soundtrack of Stray Gods is absolutely incredible, even beyond the incredible amount of work and dedication it took to integrate so many variations of all the songs in the game. Lots of variety with the genre, sometimes even changing in the middle of a song! If I haaad to pick a few favorites, I suppose it’d be The Ritual, Look Into Me, and If Only. I’m a sucker for the emotional songs, but Look Into Me is suuuuuch a banger, it feels so threatening and I LOVE it.

OKAY now I’m gonna gush about my favorite parts of the story and get all spoilery so if you don’t want to be spoiled, DON’T KEEP READING! Go play the game yourself! Iirc it’s on all current platforms. Enjoy :)

So HOLY SHIT APHRODITE’S SONG HIT ME LIKE A BRICK??? I love the moral dilemma her whole cycle of rebirth puts you in, deciding whether to honor her wishes and let her die again or to convince her to find peace in life rather than trying to forget. I tried SO HARD to save her without forcing her and she ended up passing on anyways.

Persephone’s character is also SOOOO well done here, the reinterpretation of her story where she kills Hades is a fantastic direction to take her character. She ended up being my main investigative partner for the game and I did NOT regret it. I almost ended up romancing her, and I definitely will on my next playthrough, but I didn’t this time because of…

Freddie!!! Freddie absolutely rules and is my favorite character in the whole game. Mortal Greek mythology nerd who is super gay and wears a cool hat, how could I NOT love her??? My heart was completely torn to shreds when she died, and even though I knew she had to be able to come back somehow because you could romance her, the fury it raised in me made me blaze through the last four hours of the game and finish it in one sitting XD.

And JEEZ the way they let you bring her back is so well done. It’s not outright good or bad, it’s complex! Freddie and Grace are both traumatized by her death and resurrection, and the fact that you went against Freddie’s wishes and passed the line of Calliope onto her just makes it even more interesting from a storytelling perspective. It’s part of what makes If Only one of my favorite songs in the game. And of course, I’m a sucker for stories of unrequited love like Freddie’s is for Grace and now I’m gonna feel so guilty romancing anyone else 😭. Freddie is so relatable istg.

Anyways uuuuuh that’s all I have to say, maybe I’ll do a full review on my YouTube? Thanks for checking this post out tho! Okay bye :)

[kawaiilizzie]

A Song from My Crying Heart

When Tale of @tokuteasings introduced me to the song Good Riddance from Hades (All versions in the video), I immediately fell in love with it. It’s so hauntingly beautiful! She also mentioned it could be a song that Naoto and Tetsuo would sing as a sort of hymn to their fallen friends and the days of old, hence the concept of this one-shot focused on them.

Warnings: Spoilers for Saber up to episode 21, angst, past trauma, grief, and possible Hades spoilers, I guess? I haven’t played the game, but figured I should mention that just to be safe.

Tetsuo took a deep breath as he stood in front of the door to Kaede and Shion’s shared apartment. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. He might’ve had no problem with confronting Touma, but with Kaede, it was a lot more personal.

He hesitated to knock the door for a moment, but he did, and Yukina opened the door, giving a sympathetic look upon seeing him and quietly letting him in. Kaede and Shion were quick to notice.

“Ah, Daishinji-san.” Kaede said with a smile which faded upon seeing the soft look in his eyes. “Is there... something you want to talk about?”

Tetsuo simply nodded, looking down for a moment. “Kaede... I-”

“It’s about our current situation, isn't it?” Kaede asked. “We were going to ask you and Ogami-san about it as well.”

So, she understands why I’m here. Tetsuo thought before speaking in a soft tone. “Kaede, I want to duel with you. Just the two of us.”

Shion and Yukina looked at each other in disbelief while Kaede was confused. “Huh...? For what reason?”

“I know how difficult this is for you.” Tetsuo’s left hand lightly brushed over Suzune’s handle. “But you should know that you can’t save everyone.”

“I understand that...” Kaede sighed as she looked down. “There is also a deep burden we carry that only grows heavier the more we continue to fight. You know that all too well, don’t you Daishinji-san?”

“Yes.” He confirmed, locking his gaze on her. “You carry the burden of those you’ve failed to save when you swing your blade. The more you fight, the heavier the burden gets. This is what it means to be a swordsman.”

“But what about carrying the burden of another?”

Kaede’s words caught Tetsuo off guard. He kept his gaze on her as he stepped back a bit, eyes widened in surprise. “What...?”

“Big sis carried a similar burden when she became a swordswoman.” She walked over to him and gently grabbed his arm. “She knew she could only do so much to protect people. She gave her life protecting me to prove it. I never expected to inherit her legacy as a swordswoman back then, I wanted to become a singer so my songs could inspire hope even in the darkest moments. So, when the Fubuki reawakened to me, I knew I had to have the courage to fight so there can be a future I can pursue my dreams in.”

“Aw, Kae-chan...” Shion muttered, she and Yukina giving sympathetic looks to her roommate.

Tetsuo could feel himself shaking for a moment as Kaede let go of his arm and spoke, “Daishinji-san, if this is what’ll convince you to fight alongside me again, then I’ll do it.”

She really wants me to believe she’s not a bad person... Tetsuo thought as he nodded his head and silently left the apartment, feeling himself shake even more as he did.

He found himself gazing at a fountain alone. Kaede and Shion told him they were at this particular fountain taking photos together before they were caught up in the Megid’s first attack after their reemergence, leading to Yukina reappearing to Kaede and enabling her to become a Rider.

I can’t believe I’m actually going through with this... He thought, feeling his tears begin to fall. Ayaka... I’m sorry. Me and Kaede know you would’ve never wanted this to happen. We’ll make things right... I... I promise.

Overwhelmed by grief and heartbreak, Tetsuo sobbed softly, his tears falling onto Suzune. Its emblem glowed, as if in response to his sorrow, and a pink ball of light flew out, spinning around him, leaving a trail of pink sparkles as it did.

He looked up to see the ball of light before it landed near him and expanded outward for a moment. When the light faded, Naoto stood in front of him in her human form. She walked up to him and gently brushed her hand across his face, wiping away his tears.

“You don’t have to be so hard on yourself, Tetsuo.” She said in a gentle tone. “Our duel with Touma confirmed he’s the one your grandfather said would unleash Rekka’s full power, I’m sure Kaede can prove she can handle the burden to create a future for herself and her friends.”

Tetsuo held her hand that wiped his tears away, taking a deep breath to even his breathing. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s just that this duel is very personal to me, Naoto. After Kaede proves herself, we’ll leave the organization.”

“And we’ll be able to fight by Kaede and Touma’s side again.” Naoto finished. “Though it wouldn’t hurt to pay tribute to the friends we lost all those years ago, would it?”

Tetsuo shook his head, that was all the confirmation Naoto needed as she sighed and began to sing a somber song that the two knew by heart. As she sang, she gently held his hand as she pulled him away from the fountain a little bit.

Her voice was as gentle as a lullaby, a reassuring voice telling Tetsuo that everything will be okay. Even though several of their friends are now gone, all they can do is keep moving forward while remembering the times they shared. He felt Naoto grip his hand tighter, and instinctively began to sing with her.

While he sang, he held Naoto’s free hand and the two began dancing together, spinning around holding each other’s hands. Naoto smiled as she listened to her chosen warrior sing, happy she could take his mind off the current situation and find time for the two of them to have this moment.

Tetsuo gripped her hands tightly and Naoto simply smiled before the two of them began to sing together as they continued dancing, their voices in harmony with each other. Every step they took following the melody of their voices.

By the time the two finished the song, they were embracing each other in a warm hug. They looked at each other, softly smiling at being able to dance and sing as a way to cope with the grief and the burden they both carry. Tetsuo really needed that, and he’s glad that Naoto could provide him that comfort.

“Thank you, Naoto.” He whispered.

Naoto hugged him gently. “Anything to make you feel better.”

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Books I’ve read so far in 2022!

Friend me on Goodreads here to follow my more up to date reading journey for the year!

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311. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot--⭐️⭐️⭐️

Re-read December 2022. I'm excited to be re-reading this even more now because I don't think I've ever gone past book 2! Mia continues to grow a bit as a character, even though the adults around her continue to be unaware of how everything is truly affecting her. I did like seeing a certain moment that redeemed her best friend because of her actions. Also, still a little weirded out by how Michael is 18 and she's 14. That's...yeah.

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312. The Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another amazing MGLit fantasy title that I will be more than happy to recommend to my younger customers! I loved the adventure in this and how the story flowed so well that there were never any boring moments. There was always something happen and I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the concept and the fact that these kids have so much responsibility despite the hurdles they face. I think stories like this have so much potential because we only got to explore one small section of the world. I want to see what these characters accomplish in the future books (which I will absolutely be checking out when they come out!) The only thing that threw me off is that one of the characters is four and he didn't act like a four year old? I'm always commenting that kids are smarter than people think they are, but save for a few mispronounced words, this four year old sounded like a nine year old. That's the only thing that was a little jarring. I'd recommend this to readers who like road-trip style fantasies where the characters are forced to go on a journey; readers who enjoy stories where the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of the MC; and anyone who likes seeing MCs befriend and connect and magical beings/animals.

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313. Lore Olympus Vol. 2 by Rachel Smythe--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sigh, this series is so good. I'm mad at myself for taking so long to finally start reading it. Listen, questionable decisions were made by certain characters in this volume, but Hades can still get it. Why is he drawn so....damn. Anyway, I agree with Smythe in their commentary near the end before the bonus story about how one particular chapter is their best work yet. That whole letter writing scene (not a spoiler) was gorgeous but also portrayed so much emotion. I sometimes just want to give Persephone the biggest hug.

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314. Lore Olympus Vol. 3 by Rachel Smythe--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this series so, so much. Even more-so after reading this volume. One can just tell when the chemistry can't be ignored. Whenever the two of them are on the same page, the attraction just jumps off the page. Pity for those outsiders who think they have any power or control when it comes to this budding romance. That conclusion made me smile the biggest smile even though everyone knows that they're endgame. But I especially love that in this one, one truth comes out and Persephone hears some absolutely solid advice. My heart aches just thinking about this series and I want to look up the series that the author has posted online.

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315. The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: Transphobic and Sexist commentary. Deaver does it again with their newest YA romance novel! While I still LOVED their first book the most, this one dealt with some important topics when it comes to identity, how we judge before we know someone, and how we can sometimes misinterpret a situation when we are surrounded by self-doubt and the belief that age is a factor when it comes to whether love can be felt or not. I loved the budding relationship between the MC and his roommate. I loved watching the judgmental MC learn that his words and actions have consequences, and that maybe communication would go a long way to better understanding both a situation and oneself. This one was a bit interesting reading it as an adult because I could see the MC's pain when he is visiting his family, but I could also see the situation from the mom's POV (except for one glaringly obvious situation where I think she failed as a parent). This helped round the story out a lot more because I think that if a reader were to re-read this book, they would notice the moments where that anger towards and characterization of certain characters could be something that is more nuanced than just initial interactions. That's all to say that I, again, enjoyed another Deaver novel and I can't wait for their next one!'

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316. We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

TWs: R@pe, Death and descriptions of death and gore, Teen pregnancy, Bullying, Grief WE ARE NOT FROM HERE is an incredibly difficult book to read. It is unapologetic in its portrayal of trauma, the violent realities so many people and children face, and the brutal journey some have to take in order to escape even worse living situations. This book is truly not for the feint of heart and I'll be honest, I am very surprised it was YA (even though I think it is very important that it is a YA title). The only reason why I'm not giving this a full five stars is because of one character that frustrated me. I understand that they're just a child, but I just felt so much frustration because of their actions and lack thereof. One of the impactful things, however, is that this character helped showcase the patience and love of the other two characters. This character also showed us that while this book has many heavier and more adult-themed topics, it is a book for younger readers at its heart (the innocence, the naivety, and the wish to just go home.) If you're looking for a powerful book about the dangers of this kind of immigration story, then I think this should be added to your list. I cried, I laughed, and I hoped for the best for these poor kids who just wanted a safer, new life.

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317. Amari & the Great Game by B.B. Alston--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved the first book in this series and I was happy to finally pick this one up! While I enjoyed it slightly less than the first book, I still had a great experience following Amari and her best friend as she tried to solve a mystery that begins early on in the book. One of the things about this book is that it made me so mad for Amari. I was surprised to see that the word "racism" wasn't used in the tags because this book features it so heavily--especially with the comments alluding to her race, both in skin colour and the type of magician that she is (which was also a theme in the first book). This book is one of those books that is a fantastic adventure for younger kids, but also, an allegory for older readers. Amari is a powerful Black girl who faces some serious prejudices in a fantastical world--showcasing that even magic can't save you if you don't fit the "societal [racist] standards". Anyway, this series is awesome and I think anyone can read it. It's a great teaching resource as well as a great adventure for kids, and a great reminder for older readers!

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318. Uphill by Jemelle Hill--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the greatest things I've done with my reading this year is introduce myself to memoirs and autobiographies. I love learning about different people that I would never learn about through any other means than a book. I love reading about experiences that others have had because it has helped me widen my understanding of how others see and experience the world. UPHILL by Jemele Hill was one of those books that will stand out for me long after 2022 is gone. Her memoir sits on a mental shelf starting to fill with powerful Black women who have succeeded despite the world being so strongly against their success, and her words of justice and her refusal to cater to others are now added to my growing sense of awareness. Hill is a woman who had an extremely complicated relationship with her mother, who also had a difficult experience with her own mother. Despite the poverty, her mother's drug addictions, and the racism that Hill faced, she came out on top. She pursued her dreams and broke the generational trauma that she was raised in. Her story is incredible and seeing her form connections and meet people who either helped build her up, or tried to knock her down, is inspiring. I especially loved seeing when her sassiness and no-nonsense behaviour slipped onto the pages. Let's just say that listening to her life story told in her own voice was a treat. I'm becoming more critical of memoirs and autobiographies, but this one was just such a fantastic and eye-opening read. Please be aware of the TWs since there is mention of r@pe, sexual assault, racism, victim blaming, and physical abuse.

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319. Jackal by Erin E. Adams--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the get-go, JACKAL made me incredibly uncomfortable. It wasn't like in a way where I couldn't read the book because it was deeply enthralling, but in how it handled certain situations and presented the realities of small towns that flirt with the concept of being a sundown town. The overt racism was palpable. The fact alone that it is Black girls that are going missing made this even more terrifying because of how much it mirrored missing cases that are happening around the world (especially when we look at how many BIPOC girls and women go missing and the police and media do absolute shit-all.) The paranormal aspect of this was, in my opinion, the most fictitious part of this story and helped with the uneasiness I felt while reading this book. The MC is treated in such a way that the gaslighting could have set fire to the whole town. I didn't know who the villain of the story was going to be, but I did know it would be someone I wasn't expecting. This book also touches on that "One of the good ones" theory because of how the image of the missing young girl who is mixed white and black is treated by the people of the town. There is even a moment where the white mother refuses to acknowledge that her mixed daughter shouldn't be grouped with the other missing Black girls because she isn't the daughter of drunks or drug addicts. That in itself shows the otherness that can happen when a child is mixed and one of the parents is white in an extremely white town. JACKAL was creepy and uncomfortable and deeply enthralling. There is this sense of dread that lingers on the pages and you just absolutely NEED to know what is happening to these poor young girls and why they're being taken. This book, however, is not for the feint of heart. Be aware of the trigger warnings.

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320. What We Saw by Mary Downing Hahn--⭐️⭐️.5

I don't really much to say about this one. It was surprisingly short and not at all what I was expecting. First of all, with a cover like that, I never thought that this would be more of a middle grade book (considering how old the characters are). I think this book could have used more fleshing out of the story--I think it could have been more compelling if we got to learn more about certain characters and had more time to grow attached to the characters that betrayed the MC and her best friend. I think some aspects were a little random and some of the choices made were really dumb (even though I know I always have to remind myself that these are children.) I did like the ending and how realistic it was for it to end the way it did. These characters are so young and are just learning who they are and who they might become. Of the whole book, I think that was the most realistic approach to these characters. If you want a quick thriller and if you're looking for a thriller for the younger readers in your life (no younger than 12 because some of the topics explored), then I think this one might catch their attention.

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Happy readings!

[cinnabun-faerie]

A/N: Is 5.3 the end of Shadowbringers? Honestly I don't any of the game parts but their numbers. This confuses me a bit ^^''

Warning: Spoilers! If you have not finished anything past Shadowbringers, please don't read any further

WoL Revealing they have Azem's memories by playing wrong notes of a familiar song

Okay so Emet-Selch would feel happy when you tell him you want to play the piano with him

it was just like old times

honestly it was very hard for him to not see you as Azem

you were...well, you

while he'd be happy to play piano with you, he wouldn't let it show

conceal, don't feel

don't let it show

okay Elsa

aNyWaYs

he would not want you to know

so instead he would complain as if playing with you was the worst thing he could do

he's shocked by how close you sit by him on the bench

it was always Azem's mission to practically sit on him when they played

it seems you react in such similar manor

when he moved, you moved

poor man would be on the edge of bench with you happily sitting very close next to him

"You're in my personal bubble."

"If it was an issue, why did you pull me into your bubble to begin with."

it was true, he had in fact took your hand in his to show you this beautiful piano

"Well, I didn't say you could make it your home."

"But you also didn't say I couldn't make it my home. So I'm staying. You and me are roommates in your bubble."

eventually your squabble would die down and you'd both start playing some tune

he tried to lead you into a song, hoping that there was a sliver of a chance that you'd remember

but to no shock, you were getting notes wrong

yet this seemed familiar

he saw the smirk on your face as he heard the first few notes

alright, nothing to odd

"Let's try again, follow my lead."

yes, you'd gotten it right so far

wait a minute

that smirk on your face and the glint in your eye

Megalovania

oh for the love of all that is worthy

save this poor man from you

"How is it that you know of this wretched song?"

"You love it and you know it, Hades."

"???"

"If this doesn't convince you that I have Azem's memories, than I don't know what will. I remember quite fondly that you would smile whenever Azem would play it."

"Smiling through the pain, perhaps. I did not do it out of enjoyment."

"If I do recall, you promised to play this if you ever met Azem in a future life in hopes that they'd remember you. And you did just that. The jig is up, Hades."

he gave you a glare but it only made you laugh

just like old times

he would have it no other way

[oatmealdaydreams]

Hey, so, who was gonna tell me there's a second episode to My Roommate Is Hades??

This only spurs me to add a chapter to the fanfic I wrote about MRIH, add Hephaestus in the bunch, and continue with my unhinged & very self-indulgent OC (Lesches). I need to go back and review the Pilot episode, my notes on Lesches, what plot was...

WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME (/not mad) (/light-hearted)

[gaykey]

Hi Asher! Jason again. Reading the last few asks and it dawned on me -- yes, Key is absolutely dipping into the queer coded villains in pop culture thing. I knew it felt familiar, besides the camp horror and sci-fi vibe that the art, teasers, and mood samplers gave.

My roommate and I watched the MV together. They thought Key looked like an anime villain. So there's that. :)

Jason here again. Wanted to share my thoughts on two separate asks. Thinking about when you've been asked for evidence about Key and your picking up on subtle - and maybe not so subtle - cues.

Then I realized - that's exactly how I picked up on Jonghyun.

mmmhmmm yes. we talked about rocky horror & the labyrinth during the spoiler season and like? those movies feature some of the most queer-coded villains of the camp sci-fi horror era no?

but villains that are meant to seduce you with their sexy evil ways

then in the mv, we get the adrogynous ethereal demigod of hell vibe

hauntingly beautiful and alluring. dark, scary, but you can't help but be lured in. the whole, seductive enticement, with the gold and glitter and chains, forbidden fruit ect ect ect. he's giving hades, he's giving artemis, he's giving lucifer....

it's all there and it's very gay, you get it. the symbolism. metaphors and shit.

and yep, exactly. you just know. i've talked about itbsoooo much at this point. but gay people pick up on cues from other gay people. that's how we find each other.

[redbone135]

Hi, Red!! Hope all is well with you these days :) Is it hotter than Hades down there yet?

It's getting hot up here and it made me think of you so I thought I'd shoot you an ask :)

Also: I am REEEEALLY struggling to get through this ACOTAR series... Ugh. Book two IS better and I like Rhys (I did just read the nightmare scene though, that was really good) and Azriel but... it's still a struggle. How about you? Have you been able to finish the ACSAL trilogy?

Hey, sorry for the super late response - I got a new phone and took Tumblr and Insta off of it in an effort to limit my screen time, but then Sara needed my laptop because it has a webcam, so I’ve been pretty technology free for the last... too long, lol. 

It is unbearably hot these days, much hotter than last year, which probably means we’ve got a bad hurricane season coming on. How about y’all, enjoying the summer days that you love so much? 

I’m sorry you’re struggling. I do remember the first half of the second book being okay, but nothing special. But once I got to the second half I read it all in one sitting. But hey, not every book is for every person. Where are you now? I wonder if you’ve gotten to my favorite scene yet... Rhys is great, so is Lucien. Az reminds me of my old roommate. A lot. So much so that I picture him looking exactly like Twi. His story in the later books... no spoilers, but I think you’ll continue to like him. 

I haven’t read any more. Sorry. Things have been so busy here with life stuff... plus I finished my first novel, so I’ve been talking to and trying to read a bunch of Indie authors works so I can ask questions about editing and publishing processes if I decide to go that route. Like I said, it’s just been crazy busy, but things should slow down around September, and hopefully I’ll be able to pick up the next two then and just binge read the heck out of them. 

[allwaswell16]

{Recently Read 1D Fics}

February 2021

These are all the One Direction fics I read and enjoyed in February. There are 16 recs here in all and are in order by word count and organized by pairing. You can also listen to my podcast to hear me talk about each of these fics as well as an overview of what was posted on ao3 in February! Please let the writers know if you liked the fics by leaving kudos and comments! Happy reading!

Fanfictional Podcast #22 | ko-fi | other fic recs

Larry

❤️ Still the One, @dandelionfairies​ (E, 51k, exes to lovers au, past cheating, post divorce, small town, kid fic, single father Louis, preschool teacher Harry, fate, fluff, smut, the softest past cheating fic you’ll ever read)

❤️ Frankly My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn, @mizzhydes​ / MsHydeStylinson (E, 45k, famous/not famous au, tattoo artist Louis, famous Harry, singer Harry, vacation, Los Angeles, NYC, Vegas, punk Louis, holiday fling, strangers to lovers, smut, happy ending, so much fun!)

❤️ Breakable Heaven, @daggerandrose​ / amomentoflove (E, 44k, Greek mythology au, Hades Harry, dark Harry, Persephone Louis, kidnapping, falling in love, smut, always in the mood for a good Hades/Persephone story!)

❤️ No Friends and An Empty Heart, @maelstromroots​ /  Maelstrom_Roots (E, 36k, Fleabag au, television series au, Fleabag Louis, hot priest Harry, guinea pig Niall (literally he’s a guinea pig lol), therapy, sex addiction, mentions of death, mentions of past suicide, angst with a happy ending, I’m obsessed with this fic it was so damn good)

❤️ You Left all your Dreams on the Threshing Floor, @londonfoginacup​ / LadyLondonderry (M, 26k, Marcel au, magazine, Manchester, fashion, journalism, bullying, past sexual assault, hurt/comfort, plot twist, i don’t want to give away spoilers but I was shocked)

❤️ Up, @slowlyseducedbycurls​ / Thingssicant (M, 26k, Up movie au, Clifford the dog, Charles Muntz, old age, period typical homophobia, adventure, balloons, minor character death, fluff, angst, happy ending, what a unique and sweet fic!)

❤️ as in olden days, @scrunchyharry​ (T, 18k, historical au, 1920s, Canada, British Harry, Canadian Louis, French, Christmas, winter, strangers to lovers, rich Harry, language barrier, holiday romance, New Year’s Eve, bed sharing, snowed in, mutual pining, so soft and lovely)

❤️ love put us two together (but we don't know how to stay), @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed​ / we_are_the_same (T, 10k, friends to lovers au, best friends, pining, five times fic, dreams, alternate universes, dream guides, dreams vs reality, light angst, Louis pov, absolutely loved this and got a little choked up)

❤️ Read My Lips, superglass (NR, 6k, 90s au, friends to lovers, famous/not famous, famous Louis, musician Louis, baker Harry, winter, London, Brit pop, getting together, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, pining, fluff, smut, such beautiful writing)

❤️ Event Horizon, @mercurial-madhouse​ / writing_practice (M, 4k, soulmate au, soulmarks, twin flames, angst, dark magic, hurt/comfort, implied sexual contact, curse, so intense omg)

❤️ It's All Mixed Up!, @mayflowersinapril​ / iamnotgroot (G, 2k, five times au, established relationship, long distance relationship, misunderstandings, humor, freight ship, surprises, so funny and cute!)

❤️ safer by your side, @polkadotlou​ / twoshipsdrifting (T, 1k, part 5 of where the lights are beautiful series, a/b/o, alpha Harry, omega Louis, established relationship, mention of heat, fluff, implied smut, an update to my fav a/b/o fic?? yes pls! this is emotional and made the back of my neck tingle)

❤️ Pound Cake, @kingsofeverything​ (NR, 1k, friends to lovers au, baker Harry, birthday, love confessions, baking, roommates, best friends, butthole series, lol this was both hilarious and emotional)

Gryles

❤️  sad sex is…no, @disgruntledkittenface​ (NR, 2k, fwb, angst, communication, getting together, smut, oof so much emotion for 2k!)

Lilo

❤️ bad luck to talk on these rides, @quelsentiment​ / wordsnnotes (G, 10k, Lilo friendship fic, established relationship with Zayn/Liam, friendship, developing friendship, platonic relationships, asexual Louis, family issues, 5 times fic, hurt/comfort, alcohol, fluff, humor, this fic made my heart so full)

Shiall

❤️ Get Burned By the Fire, orphan_account (NR, 12k, Niall/Shawn Mendes, fwb, based on Small Talk, bartender Niall, side Larry, loved this and the twist was so good)

[kingandfireheart]

I don't know if this is a trope or not but I was wondering if youve any recs for books where the girl hasn't been with any one before/knows very less about s*x and then the guy comes along and he shows her what she's been missing? Like with casteel and poppy!!

Hi nonnie!! I've got some recommendations, but I'm also asking my mutuals to chime in . [Mutuals, please advise with recommendations!]

FBAA is pretty high on my smut scale - the sex is described explicitly and there's some kinky shit happening. A lot of YA books I've read have a bunch of build up and then will fade to black when it comes to actually intimate scenes. (I'm assuming you're familiar with the The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black and the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J Mass ).

Here are some books (mostly new adult or adult genre) I read recently that may fit what you're looking for:

[I mention virginity in these, just to answer the question properly, but I just want to put it out there that it is a social construct and sleeping with people is not something that indicates character. idk how old anon is, and I don't want you to feel any pressure to read about/have sex until you're totally ready. I'm the mom friend, I had to include the disclaimer. Come talk to me if you have questions. I promise I'm nice.]

Smut levels are based on taco bell sauce packets so in order: mild (not a lot of detail), hot (detail but I can probably keep a straight face while reading), fire (my apple watch is telling me to breath because my heart is racing).

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston is a modern romance (with some time travel), where the MC is a 23 year old bisexual virgin who meets a girl on the train and falls in love. The writing in this book is excellent, and a lot of the more intimate scenes are mentioned in passing, but August does have her world rocked. [smut level: medium]

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova is an arranged marriage Hades/Persephone fantasy romance, where the MC hasn't been kissed prior to the start of the book. She is whisked away to marry the Hades character, and spend a lot of time learning about magic. This isn't a smutty book, but the few love-scenes are satisfying and fun! [smut level: mild]

Radiance by Grace Draven is an arranged marriage fantasy romance and features one of the healthiest relationships I've read in a long long time. The MC is not a virgin, but didn't enjoy her prior experience, and the first love scene is really well done. The whole book is wonderful. [smut level: like 2 scenes but they are hot]

The Mistake by Elle Kennedy is a modern college romance, where the girl is a virgin, but isn't completely inexperienced prior to the first intimate scene in the book. The guy is a veritable player, and knows exactly what he's doing, but is a bit emotionally constipated. The whole series is about a bunch of white college roommates [they play hockey at a fictional new england ivy league school] who start the series as major players and end with steady girlfriends, so it's not unpredictable at all. They are terrible, which obviously means, I love them. [smut level: fire]

The Deal by Elle Kennedy is a part of the same series (it actually comes before the Mistake). Same general premise: college hockey player who is allergic to relationships convinces girl in his ethics class to tutor him. Shenanigans ensue. I don't want to be too spoiler-y, but I feel like I have to explain why I'm including it here. [TW mentions of past rape and physical assault] The MC is not a virgin, but has struggled finding physical pleasure in past relationships, because she was raped several years prior to the start of the book. The first few intimate scenes are really earth-shattering for her (in a good way), because she's able to work through some of her struggles. [smut level: fire]

The Dare by Elle Kennedy is a tangentially related book (its fourth in the second set of books about hockey players at the same university). It's about a college hockey player who is known for his fuckboy status, and a plus sized-sorority girl, who end up fake dating. Conor is dealing with imposter syndrome after he transferred from LA to escape his past, and Taylor is just trying to escape her sorority sisters relatively unscathed. Shenanigans ensue. Essentially Conor tries (and succeeds) to seduce Taylor, and she finally feels comfortable enough to be vulnerable with him. [smut level: fire]

Shatter Me by Tareheh Mafi is a dystopian romance about a girl who hasn't really been touched her whole life, and so all of her romantic/sexual moments are a bit life-changing for her. [SPOILER: she doesn't have sex until the third book]. This series is a piping hot mess, and while the writing is gorgeous, the actual plot (especially books 4-6) made me want to pull my hair out. If you read this series, I recommend you end with Ignite Me, unless you really love the characters. [smut level for book 3: medium]

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalo hasn't been released yet, but I KNOW this book is going to have Poppycas AKOFAF vibes. The first book, Kingdom of the Wicked, is about a witch living in Italy who summons a hell prince to help her solve her twin sister's murder. There is one steamy make-out scene, but the sequel is supposed to be written for the NA genre, and include a lot more intimate moments. The sneak preview of the first two chapters already has some steamy scenes! [smut level for book 1: mild, book 2: i'm aspirationally saying fire]

If anyone else has recommendations, please reply to this post and help anon out!!

Recommended by mutuals:

The Roommate by Rose Danan (recommended by @noonewhoislikeyou) [link to book description because I haven't read it] [update I read it and this whole series focuses on sex workers and is really good]

Anyway, thanks for coming here and asking me! If other people send recs, I'll compile a list for you!