#not enough for the behemoth/ope

[mikimeiko]

The Expanse | 3x09. Intransigence

[haneys]

one piece is like sooo good-bad. because like it's bad, it's basicially exposure dump and exposure dump and exposure sumo and tell don't show over and over again and I'm like wow. but at the same time oda's skill as an artist, the action, the way he frames and positions everyhring in his panels, just how fucking goofy, wacky and dare I say silly the characters are, both in personalities and looks, the world they occupy, it's all sooo good. and I'm always like wow this is not good from the litersly perspective. but like, I'm 99% sure that I am having fun non the less because I keep on coming back and I wanna read more even tho it's bad. am I making any sense

[bunny-jpeg]

blow one's roof ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

john 'soap' mctavish

cw: drug use (weed), intoxication, baby trapping, breeding, outdoor sex, unprotected sex, lying, missionary, the consent is dubious, john is obsessed with you

a word from bunny: like the fic? suggest your own! really like the fic? leave a comment! reblogs are always appreciated! ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

to blow one's roof is to get stoned. and to get stoned is frown upon in the british military. even for special ops. but while most of your fellow soldiers and commanders enjoyed their hard liquor, you had to get creative on how you got your fix.

enter john. john liked to play as the funny man to his more stoic counterparts. he wasn't a behemoth like his counter part, simon. but he was smart, the kind of smart that should be a concern. he was excellent at what he did, you once overheard a commander tell the scotsman that he could pull off anything he put his mind to.

and one days off, he only had two things on his mind. weed and your sweet pussy. so it was only natural that you worlds would collide. nobody would check his bag when he left or entered base, he was too high level to be caught up in something like that. so it wasn't hard to go to the nearby city and get what he needed for an afternoon with you.

you'd both leave base soon after, he'd take one of the trucks and drive out to the woods. he kept a hand on your thigh as he drove up to the beginning of the forests. you left the truck with two things, a blanket and enough weed for a fun afternoon.

you ventured so far that no one would find or smell you. you watched him roll a joint using paper from a bible he found lying around base. He shrugged and said "makes a good use for king james."

then you two got stoned in the woods, which led to you two getting frisky on the blanket you had laid out. you kissed one another laid out on it as he tugged at your uniform.

"fuck you're amazing." he said with a bit of drowsiness to his voice, "i wanna breed ya and keep ya." he chuckled before he looked into your eyes.

you got him out of the shirt he wore and he worked on his pants soon after. you were far enough out of anyone's reach to worry about having some decency. unless someone got really lost in the woods, no one would be able to find you.

"you can't breed me, silly." you chuckled, "you've been using condoms."

"yeah... yeah." he gave you a dopey smile, "been usin' protection. i forgot." but you were too stoned yourself to realize that he unconvincing tone was letting off his little secret.

he had been spending the last several months getting you stoned and fucking you in the woods with pierced condoms. the little holes did little to protect your vulnerable womb.

the rush of getting you pregnant and getting stoned left a thrill in john's body that he couldn't even begin to put into words. yeah, it was going to suck that you had to leave service to raise your little family, but don't you worry.

he had hearts in his eyes as he pulled away from you and rested on his knees. he gazed down at your naked body which only aroused him more. he laughed, "you look so good. fuck." he rubbed his red eyes before he took you by the hips as playfully rubbed his cock up against you wet slit.

"don't butter me up, soap."

"hey, don't be callin' me soap when it's just the two of us." he pointed at you, he nodded his head, "it's johnny when i'm fucking your brains out."

you blushed and covered your face with your hands. you could feel your heartbeat in the back of your head as he continued to tease you cunt. you moaned into your palms as he moved against you.

"yeah, that's my girl." he said with almost pride in his voice, "you have the most lovely moans I've ever heard."he blinked to keep focus, the excitement was too much for him.

he had hoped that you were too stoned to notice that he didn't put a condom on. but before he sank his length into you, your voice peeked through.

"johnny." you said so innocently, "the condom."

"ohhhh right, lovely." he gave you a big smile, "i guess i had a little too much."

you looked so innocent under him, you had your hands by your mouth as you said, "we don't have to do it if you don't want to."

"nah, nah." he waved a hand at you as he pulled himself towards his pants on the forest floor, "i always want to do it with ya. feels better when i'm stoned anyway." he pulled the condom quickly out of the pocket, he wanted to make sure you didn't see the holes in the foil.

you shifted your hips and laid there, waiting for him. he put the condom on while his side was turned to you. he wanted to make sure you saw as little of the condom as possible. he couldn't risk being found out, not when he believed his goal was so near.

he turned back to you and you were laid there before him. like a beauty aphrodite with the gently sounds of the forest around you. your eyes were closed, he worried that you were asleep. he touched your thigh and you giggled, 'that tickles.'

he got back between your legs and rubbed his cock up against you, "you look amazin'. the more i look at ya, the more i fall in love." john learned very quickly the the line between obsession and love was only a millimeter thick.

"i'm already sleeping with you." you giggled, "what else do you want?" you felt yourself grow wetter the more he teased you.

everything, he thought. everything he could take with his two hands. you have given him everything, but now you just had to be good and get pregnant. he knew you could do it, he believed in you. he'd spend years fucking you while you were high if it meant that he could see your beauty grow as you had his child.

he arched over you and looked into your eyes. you looked back at him, taking in the sight of how blue they were. they felt like they stared right into your core, but were slightly hazy due to the drugs.

"my beautiful girl." he said with a drawl to his voice, "take good care of ya." he held onto your thigh with one hand as he guided his cock into your wet sex.

you tensed up, but relaxed the further he got in. you held onto the blanket underneath you and felt your hole be stretched by his impressive size. while he wasn't the largest on base, at least according to rumors, it still felt like your innards were getting bruised every time he took you doggy style.

he exhaled deeply when he got all of himself inside of you. then the pace became a little more aggressive. he held onto your hips with both hands and thrusted into you like a madman. he watched your breasts and the chub on your stomach jolt with each heavy thrust.

you were certain that the pleasure plus the weed was frying all of your serotonin. alone in the forest you two fucked. it was brutal and fast, it felt like your uterus was in your throat from how hard his thrusts were.

he loved the sight of you, he marveled in it like a man coming to christ. his dog tags moved with each of his movements, they shined in the afternoon light. his head was full and empty at the same time. it felt heavy but there were no thoughts to be had, except for the echo in the very back of his mind that called out 'breed her'. it became what drove him to keep moving his hips against you.

he blinked a few times to get the dryness out of his eyes as he continued to thrust into you. the sound of your heavy breathing and the slick sound of your cunt filled the air. you were so docile under him, it was sight he wanted to admire forever.

"that's my girl, i'll take care of ya forever. rest of my days." he laughed, "get high with ya till we can't hold our own spliffs."

you giggled as you felt good all over. you were so stoned that you couldn't even register what he was saying. but soon your mouth hung open as you gasped for breath. you kicked out your legs in a manner that john found adorable as you climaxed.

the sight of you basking in pleasure made john quickly finish as well. he made sure all of his cock was inside of you as he came against your womb. if he was a praying man he'd be trying to make peace with the man upstairs to make sure you got pregnant.

he laid out beside you and buried his nose in your hair as you tried to catch your breath. he chose well, he thought to himself.

"we should get back soon." you murmured against his chest, your nose brushing against the hairs.

he rubbed the back of your head and said, "how about we get somethin' to eat first. then i'll park somewhere and i can get one more in ya."

"do you have enough condoms?" you asked.

he chuckled and nodded, "i do, don't worry, love. you're safe with me." his voice was a low purr and it made you moan in such a way that it made him hard. "you'll always be safe with me." <3

[graymanshoots]

Try

FWB!Ghost x GN Reader x pastHookup!Konig

Tags: Hookup,semi public sex, regret, angst, yelling, ginger konig, konig doesn't wear his mask constantly like ghost (Only on the field), vulnerability , crying, arguments,no beta we die like men

Part: 1 - 2

A/n: I finally finished this on two days of no sleep and a missing beta reader. Hope guys enjoy the tad bit of spice at the beginning and as needed 18+.

Seeing the head of ginger hair standing out not only cause of its color but because it belonged to the tallest person in the room, filled your stomach with stones.

The memory of the familiar face shot through your mind like a bolt of lighting igniting your nerves as you tensed next to your teammates.

You were all shipped up and sent to a warehouse a couple of weeks after finding out you’d be working with kortac.

Having arrived days before they had you were granted time to stop for a drink with johnny and kyle. Price didnt join claiming he wanted to be prepared and if price isn't coming neither did ghost much to your benefit.

Maybe if he had come you would be piss drunk with the team probably getting dragged back to the warehouse by the man himself, instead you were barely tipsy with your cheek pressed into the leather seating of a stranger's car.

His broad chest rubbing against your back with each harsh thrust, the car surely visibly shaking on the outside.

You dont even have to guess how fucked you would be if he remembered you and decided to ope his mouth.

You cross your arms over your chest and lean against one of the metal support beams that the building had an abundance of.

Despite your wishful thinking the red headed man's eyes fell on you and you knew he knew.

You were quick to notice the slight quirk in his lip before going stoned face once more.

He introduced himself as “konig” before introducing the rest of his team, his eyes occasionally flicking over to you.

“Fuck sake, this guys huge.” Kyle whispered to you coming around to your side.

Kyle had no idea how true his words were, the phantom feeling of being filled by Konig's thick cock.

You nod in acknowledgement to what Kyle says letting out a sigh, “Laswell described him as a battering ram, yeah” you say.

You don't fail to notice the way Konig eyes you up every chance he gets like he had done in the bar nights prior. When you saw him in the bar he was far more blatant with his staring, his interest apparent as he shifted his stance debating on whether to approach you or not.

Rubbing the sweat built from nervousness off his palms and onto the tight cargo pants he wore he finally came over when the boys were getting another round of drinks to approach you.

The conversation between you two was short as you both seemed to have the same goal in mind: get laid.

After Simon you hadn't slept with anyone else but it was a welcomed gift to feel wanted again.

Konig was definitely someone you found attractive, you wouldn't have had breathy moans pulled from your throat in the back of his car if he wasn't.

But he wasn't simon.

A small piece of you felt guilty while the rest was saying fuck it, ghost ditched you not the other way around.

You mentally return to the conversation when you hear your name being said, you realize price is introducing the team and you give a small acknowledgement, your fingers twitching at your hip.

“Oh, I’m familiar.” König responds to your introduction with quick ease causing your teammates eyes to fall on you. Johnny gave you a knowing look of mischief, his bright blues having seen you with the man before you disappeared from the group.

“Just a brief meeting in a bar, unfortunately I did not stay long enough to meet the rest of you.” He clarifies noticing your subtle glare.

The encounter was anything but brief, you thought to yourself as the conversation was then drawn off of you.

It’s wasn’t until later that you bumped into the behemoth of a man.

“You were so vocal a few nights ago now you walk around quiet as a mouse.” He comments a smirk playing on his uncovered lips.

“You pester all your random hookups?” You retort your lips stretching into a thin line as you looked up at him.

“Just the ones I have to work with, mein Freundin.“ he chuckles ignoring your unamused expression.

“Well if that’s all I’ll be going.” You sigh not wanting to get involved any further.

But as you pass his hand grips your wrist and suddenly your back in front of him with his other hand at your chin.

He forces your head to the side and a smirk comes to his lips as he looks at the newly exposed skin .

“So schön, sie sind wie eine Blume .” And then he’s gone and already halfway down the hallway by the time you gather yourself.

Ghost walking down the opposite side of the hallway having seen the interaction from a distance. His eyes arrow on you and then the retreating redhead.

You let out a huff of frustration when you see him and reluctantly start walking in his direction.

“You two seem close, got anything you want to share?” He questioned you his tone accusatory. After weeks of barely speaking to you he breaks the silence to ask about a personal situation.

“It doesn’t concern you lieutenant.” Your quick to respond but he doesn’t want to take that answer.

“It’s concerns me when it’s involves an enemy and You.” He grumbled crossing his arms over his chest.

“Why do I concern you Ghost? I’m just someone you used to use so fuck off cause I already know what your thinking.” The words come out harsher and more bitter than what you intended. Your frustration and resentment to the man you wish you didn’t love coming out almost full force.

Ghost stiffened at your words, his jaw and fists clenching as you brushed past him.

Once he could no longer hear your steps his entire body deflated his shoulders feeling heavy with shame.

He was being unfair to you and he hated himself for it but he felt so selfishly it was hard to stop.

Ghost adjusted his mask and shook off the guilty feeling that loomed over him before continuing down his path.

You could feel your skin buzzing with irritation, your palms stinging from being squeezed into tight fists. Why did he have to make everything in your life harder every time?

No matter how many steps you take away, ghost manages to still be right on your tail. You found yourself spacing for the rest of the day until your sat across from the same person you didn't want to see again that day.

Ghost sat across from you staring you down as you ate the unappetizing food served in mess.

His gaze was unrelenting; he looked as if he was aching to say something but stopped himself instead opting to tap his finger on the edge of his empty plate idley.

“Y’think Lt’s mad at ye?” Johnny questions quietly from his place beside you. You narrow your eyes at the sergeant, “Why would he be?”

Johnny had this look on his face like he did something he wasn't supposed to as he clicked his teeth and shifted awkwardly in his seat.

“He asked aboot whit we were up to at the pub, an i think i might ‘ave talked ye into some trouble.” he confessed glancing over at simon who was still boring holes into the side of your head.

You didn't have time to retaliate against your teammate for his loose lips before simon was standing from his seat arms crossed. “We need to talk, now.” His tone was sharp, his words spoken in that usual gruff manchester accent.

You sucked your teeth and agreed not wanting to make a scene in the mess hall, mentally you vowed to eventually get johnny back for damning you.

After leaving mess ghost lead you to an unoccupied meeting room shutting the door behind the both of you.

“Looks like you got a type.” Ghost started leaning against the door with his arms crossed.

“Don’t fucking start with me ghost, what i do outside of work is none of your damn business.” you hiss plopping down on one of the many chairs in the room.

“Don't tell me it's not my business when you have a drawer of shit at my apartment.” he retorted, his eyes narrowing on you. His body was tense and his shoulders squared like he needed to move but wouldn't allow himself to.

You could feel your eyes burn as your frustration grew, your fists clenching and unclenching.

“You can throw all the shit away, i don't even know why you still even have it.” you mutter looking down at ghost’s shoes avoiding his glare.

“I kept them because i ca-” you cut ghost off before he could say anymore, “Dont you dare fucking do that to me simon!” you snap meeting his glare with glazed eyes.

Standing from the seat you approached Simon's further tensing figure. “You're a jackass, Simon, y’know why? Because i told you how i fucking felt and you fucking left. Now im living my adult life and you want to act like im your fucking girlfriend or something, let me move on!” you were borderline shouting the frustration bleeding out of your eyes and into your voice.

Simon couldnt hold your gaze anymore he couldn't stand that look in your eyes or the dampness of your cheeks. He could feel the words crawling into the back of his throat but none of them were the right thing.

What could he say to fix this, what could he do when your fury spoke so loudly that he wanted to shrink away.

“I…” he took a breath “Im sorry” his arms hung loosely by his side, fingers tapping rapidly at his palm.

“Sorry doesnt change the fact that you left, then treated me like nothing, and ar now trying to grill me about my sex life when you removed yourself from all of my personal life.”

You wiped your face as your tone came down, the short burst of aggression dying down with it.

“I'm tired simon, I devoted so much to you for so long for it all to end because you cant figure yourself out.” You bring your eye’s down to the ground again before back up at simon.

“You’ve had years of us playing this cat and mouse game, if your still confused, if your still unsure, if you don't want…” Your eyebrows pinch together as you clench your jaw.

“If you don't want me, then why are you here? Why are we even having this conversation if your actions speak your truth, because that's all I have to go off of?” Your question struck Simon and his breath caught in his throat.

He rubbed his face over the mask, the feeling of the fabric suddenly becoming so suffocating.

The rough material rubbed uncomfortably on his skin as he pulled it off his chapped lips parting for a heavy breath.

He disheveled with his messy blonde hair and eye bags that seemed deeper than usual.

“You’ve ruined everything for me…” he starts your eyebrows furrowing at his words.

“Everything in my life is so fucking mixed with yours and i can let it go. I thought avoiding you would help make you leave every piece of my being but it just made it worse. You know what happened to my family, and i dont want to use that as an excuse but im fucking terrified of seeing you in my nightmares.” Simon's lips are drawn into a thin line and his body slumps into the wall, his shoulders dropping.

“I know im an arse and big fucking mess and selfish as all hell, but i feel different for you and i dont know what to do with it.” his shaky hands clasped together in front of him.

“You have no idea how many times we’ve been together and i just wanted to have all of you, how many futures that have lingered in my mind over our years together. I want you for the rest of my life but I don't know how long that life will even be.” simon looks to you with a tired sigh.

You feel frozen in your spot the bitterness and frustration in your chest deflating into an equal exhaustion.

“Where do we go from here simon? I love you and I've loved you for over a decade but I can't keep going if you’re going to take years to tell me what you want.” You say stuffing your hands into your pockets unsure what to do with them.

“I like who i am around you, and i dont want to loose one of the only good things left in my life cause im being fucking daft. Am I too late?” his tone was soft almost a whisper. It felt so uncharacteristic for a man like simon ‘ghost’ riley to say something like this, to speak so softly and seem so nervous. You almost felt unsure about how genuine his words were but his glazed eyes had crushed your doubt.

Bringing your hands from your pockets you hesitantly grabbed simons hands before pulling them around you. He immediately melted into the hug, his hands gripping at you as if you'd disappear if he didn't hold you so tightly.

You could feel his relief as you held onto him his shaky breath evening out and his muscles going almost lax.

“We can try again.”

[Good ending] :)

[vermillionwinter]

Fever Dream

Simon 'Ghost' Riley x Civilian f!reader

Summary: How many chance encounters can you have before you decide fate has intertwined your threads? With the 141 on leave pending an investigation, you appear to Simon, a lighthouse in the distance calling him to safety.

Warnings: Mutual attraction, slow-burn series (our boy's got a lot of work to do), Spicy thoughts-not explicit.

Note: I haven't had the will to write like this in years, but Simon Riley has reawakened a beast, and I need to get all the words out. So, this is a very rusty piece of work, but hope y'all find some enjoyment! Tattoos are the only physical descriptions I believe. the 2nd POV's are bringing me back to middle school Quizilla days.

Quiet. Everything in Simon’s Manchester flat was too fucking quiet, and the air stagnant when he was home. And that silence gave his thoughts the freedom to creep and dance to the murkiest valleys of his subconscious. Wrapping its tarry tendrils around the very memories Simon wanted to keep locked behind the chained door, dragging them out of him to relive every excruciating moment the darkness saw fit to unleash. 

Sitting in the single chair of his small, round table, Simon could catch wafts of soil and decay wrapping him in the tight confines of the damp wooden coffin. His lungs tightened, constricting the oxygen he needed. The fear of no escape webbed its way through the calm fog the prior glass of bourbon provided. It was as if the darkness narrowed in on him, boxing him into the point of full paralysis. The arms of his chairs he gripped tightly in his fists began to transform into the feel of the corpse that once was buried with him. 

HONK!

Simon’s eyes shot open, and he took the deepest breath he could muster as his lungs got used to the feeling of a full inhale and exhale. His eyes darted around in panic taking in every detail of his barren flat. It was sparsely furnished with essentials, one of them being a bed large enough the behemoth of a man could stretch upon comfortably. As comfortable as one could get when they're accustomed to the hard ground or the scantily padded cots.  

Simon shot back the bourbon he originally poured to savor and appreciate relishing in the slow burn it made down his esophagus. What he wouldn’t fucking do to get back out on the field. 

“As soon as we're back, gents, we are boots on the ground finding these bastards. We’ll find Shepherd and every lost Shadow.”

Ghost hadn’t been deployed since he took the last shot at Hassan in Chicago- weeks have passed. Bloody fucking investigation into Shepherd’s and Shadow Company’s off book deals called that all operators on the ops related to Graves’ and Shephard’s stolen missiles had to take mandatory leave pending investigation. Shadows were still getting wrapped up for questioning. There were few still on the run. But they’d find them. They didn’t deserve the courtesy of living their lives in fear. The face of death is all they were due. 

Betrayal. Betrayal got his family killed. Got Simon Riley killed. And now good soldiers lie dead in fields, their graves forever empty; and families lie dead in the streets of Las Almas. Innocent lives taken by those he once defended, defended the 141. 

Glass shattered against the opposite wall before Simon realized he threw the blown sand from his hand. Shoulders sagged, defeated, depleted, ready to give into the quiet of his home. The benched operator stood from his chair and made his way to the shower. He’d clean the mess later. He was alone after all. Always alone. 

Simon walked through the small crowds, prolonging the journey to his destination to walk to a path he didn’t have to squeeze through a throng of people. Wisps of the fresh air sauntered over him, releasing threads of tension into the open. Easing him from looking over his shoulder and checking his surroundings more often than they stayed in front of him. To his relief, no one was following him. Venturing out into society felt like an op in its own way. Having to blend in when you lived your life in anonymity. He wore a different mask in the calm of the world. One fewer people were familiar with than the ominous mask he donned on the field.  

And Las Almas was proof of why. Shephard was a loose-end that needed to be handled yesterday, and Simon couldn’t shake off the constant feeling he would be found. Just as Roba had found him. He couldn’t very well walk around with his most distinguishing feature on full display, a beacon where to strike next. Simon had to stay vigilant. For himself, but most importantly for them. Nothing could get to them. 

Sleep was an elusive luxury Simon would not allow himself since he was dismissed on leave, not that he had the best slumber before then. Running on cat naps, caffeine and spite. The blame and guilt eating away at him, letting those bastards go unseen. And all he wanted was five minutes alone with Shepherd. Ghost wanted the ex-general begging for his life as it left his very body. 

To…

All of Simon's plans of vengeance were halted when you stepped out onto the patio of the bakery he found a form of solace in on leave- emerald lace dress billowing around your body, combat boots peaked through with each step you took. Ethereal. A goddess among man. You were divine and entrancing as you stepped lightly, despite the clunky footwear you chose. He was in the door before he could notice where you sat, but hell he found himself praying at your altar you would be in perfect view. 

La Gouter was one of the few havens Simon had found in the area. The crowd was moderate, but constant. Tea was always fresh, and the man could not resist the warm, buttery treats. Today he sat with a chocolate croissant with his black tea- two sugars, no cream. Balance. 

A book tucked under his arm, he leaned against the mural of Paris- where he had a clear view to the left, right, patio door adjacent to his table, and the entry of the cafe itself. Which also gave him the view of his tea shop muse, and a sudden warmth rushed over him when you looked towards him, eyes honing in on his eyes. Target locked. 

Looking down quickly, he cracked open the book that accompanied him. Laying there waiting to be read, to transport the reader to another realm. A world where he didn’t have to be Simon Riley. Now he could get lost in the spice filled sands of Arrakis. Simon let his eyes settle on the pages behind the orange cover. 

Twenty pages in, half the tea gone, he felt his eyes drifting again. Black nails adorned your lithe fingers-wrapped around a pen you used to write in the notebook splayed on the table. Legs shifting, the slit of your dress exposed more tattoos scattered on your smooth leg. Wouldn't it be nice to run his fingers over the lines of each piece of art that was displayed there? To feel those hands wrapped around him instead? To lay you out in front of him the way your notebook was exposed to you. Lines of intrigue covering both flesh and paper. He wanted to know the webs of thought spinning from your head to paper. The sounds your lips would release at his touches. Were they soft and airy? Low and rough?

Fuck, he shook himself from the lasvicious thoughts (swirling in his head) throwing back the rest of his tea that he dearly wished was bourbon, and left for the gate. But as he threw his trash into the bin, he had that feeling. There was an energy when eyes bore into you. Watched your every move, like you were prey. Their target . Taking in even the smallest of twitches.

Chalked it up to being on edge after Las Almas, but fuck he needed to get back to his flat now. What if Shephard had found him? Ghost had no shortage of enemies that would crave nothing more than to spill his blood. Were the others still alive? Gaz. Price. Soap. But Simon wasn't met with a bullet when he turned around to face whoever was trailing him. No. Simon found curious eyes glistening in the sun- following his every move. Down to the smallest twitch.

Simon felt his heart stutter, a catch in his throat when you flashed a disarming smile, painted in dark red. Stomach in unfamiliar knots, he froze for a moment soaking in your warmth in the moment of vulnerability. He wanted that warmth to blanket him in its softest rays. It was terribly disarming. Blinking out of his stupor, he found tantalizing eyes paired with a shy smile greeting him. But, the brute didn’t know how to respond; his mind was still in conflict. And he left without another glance in your direction, all the while wondering how someone could glow in the dull skies of London. There was enough sunlight to bathe you in its golden rays. The shimmer upon your skin was like nothing Simon had ever seen, your beauty enraptured him. 

You watched the giant of a man turn-hands shoved in his pockets-and leave the cafe, and you couldn’t help the appreciative gaze as your eyes roamed the backside of the man who stopped dead in his tracks and stared at you for an agonizingly small amount of time. Whom you had caught staring at you minutes ago. His gaze, through red lenses, overwhelmed you, a vehement aura exuding and reaching.

He was statuesque, a gargoyle in the flesh wrapped in the darkness of his fabrics, sitting at the small metal table against the bright paints of the Paris mural. You certainly appreciated the contrast. Auburn beard covered a strong jaw, but his face was mostly obscured by the black Everton cap and red lensed shades. The hoodie did little to conceal the firm bulk of his arms, broad shoulders. When he broke eye contact to read his book, shades went to his hat, but angled his face to further obscure your view. A shiver chilled you. Why was he hiding? But you didn’t let your attention linger, though you did want to. You wanted to watch him read, and immerse himself in whatever tale he was venturing through.  

In. Out. In. Out.

The mantra on loop to keep his thoughts focused. Singular. Not focused on red lips pressed against his neck. Teeth grazing a path over a protruding vein. So he ran faster. Faster. Faster, until all he could think about was how to get enough oxygen to his lungs, Lamb of God blasting through his headphones. The opening notes of Walk with Me In Hell leading him through the end of his run. Spent. Overexerted. Exactly what he needed. He’d finally sleep, and just not fucking care what happened next.

Simon released a breath he had not realized he was holding until it left him. Disappointed relief. The tea shop siren was absent from his visit. It was strange. The wanton desire to be in the presence of another being. He was used to alone. It was easier to work when you didn’t have the reminder of how many lives were in your hands. It was effective, and he was damn good at it. You had his mind in a whirlwind of confusion. Not even the women he's fucked stayed with him the way you have. You've never even said a damn word to him, and he was crumbling. Under a spell you were unaware you cast. Synthesizing his dreams to your every whim.

“Fucking Christ.” A soft growl met his ears, eyes slid toward the culprit. And there you were, just as gorgeous and warm without the infrared glow of the burning star above. Even with the snarl across your painted lips, coffee spilled in front of you as you picked up the few items you dropped. The espresso color accentuated the shape of your plush lips, and he wanted to know what the supple flesh felt like between his teeth, tongue sliding in sync with yours. And fucking hell he’s heard your voice, further fueling his mind. Simon’s base instincts were bleeding through more than he would care to admit. Like some horny school boy seeing tits for the first time. He didn’t care for it, wanted it gone. Made him feel compromised. It was consuming him in a time he couldn’t afford distractions. When could he ever?

Your morning started out shit, and seemed to become progressively shittier. You had an assignment due by midnight. The internet at your place was out, and the company had been very little help with an ETA. It had been your day off, but Deana was out with some virus her kid picked up from school and you were the lucky winner to be on rotation that week for the store. All you wanted was the comfort and warmth of a white chocolate mocha, and now that was also ruined as the caffeinated beverage seeped into the porous concrete of the patio. 

You had been set and determined to complete your assignment covering the impact commercial farming has had on the environment and global economics. Then, you saw him. Shades sat atop his same hat, the once full beard had been trimmed, hugging the shapely jaw. You liked it, so much so that you stumbled on a table, coffee slipping from your hands.

You wanted to scream, cry, kick the chair, but instead you blinked back the tears and picked the empty cup from the puddle of cream, sugar and caffeine. Feeling like a bloody idiot for being that damn distracted by a bloke you’ve not actually seen yet. If he walked around without the hate and sunnies, you’d most likely not realize it was him. But hell if the mystery wasn’t all the more enticing.

 You sighed, paying no more mind to the gargantuan on your left-dizzy from the distractions- and set your workstation. Three hours. That’s all you had before your shift at the shop.

You sat with one earbud playing music as you began cycling through your notes finding topic points and sub plots for your outline. The angelic voice of Florence Welsh guiding you through the motions of the ebb and flow of your homework routine. And deep in your concentration and will to see this task complete, you did not notice a dark figure leaving its perch. 

“Excuse me?” you looked to see one of the younger baristas standing with a coffee. “Uh…some dude ordered this for you, and wanted me to bring it out to you?” 

You quirked a brow taking the drink from the nervous kid and thanked them. When they skittered back into the building you took a look around seeing Paris missing one of its Gargoyles of Notre Dame.  A jolt of excitement warmed you when the sweet velvet flow of the caffeine hit your tongue. A perfect coffee to lift your spirits from a perfect stranger.

[sapphire-weapon]

To be fair, despite my deep subjective love for RE6's lost potential and good elements that are there, the idea of trying to revamp it gives me a migraine lmao

I can't really blame any director for not wanting anything to do with that clusterfuck of ideas and vibes. Whatever director/producer does decide to take on that behemoth, they will not pay him enough (bc it'll definitely be a dude)

I mean- Just the mere detail that RE6 is an 'all in one' package. Leon's campaign is a horror game. Chris' campaign is an action game. Do you keep that? Do you revamp it into something singular for all campaigns in terms of gameplay? Or do you try to nail the balance that they seemingly tried to nail with the original RE6? Nah, that's literally a migraine waiting to happen

And that's not even touching on the story 💀

Honestly I don't want them going anywhere near RE6make until they figure out, build, and release RE5make anyway -- just for the co-op alone. RE6 is a much longer game and the co-op is so much more important in it.

RE5 and RE6 were both plagued by bad net code and awful AI if you were playing solo. Figure that the fuck out first please. Then worry about the intersecting campaigns.

[tojisun]

omg so sorry i didnt understand the sabrina carpenter post? different edm as in? sorryyy

omgg pls dont apologize!! edm as in edmonton, the oilers’ home ice!

post is basically op playfully (or is it…) begging the oilers to play better in home ice—“i beg you, don’t embarrass me, motherfuckers” LMAO—especially after todays game :’33

too much rambling under the cut, pls ignore again!!

the oilers scored FINALLY after a shutout on saturday’s game, so it was genuinely their first point in the finals round AND THEN THEY NEVER SCORED AGAIN 😭

panthers racked up points, and the game ended 1-4. the panthers took the lead in the series (2-0)

the oilers were always consistent in the way that they get back up in the second game, but today broke that streak so fans are stressing, and rightfully so.

the panthers are a behemoth. bobrovsky (their goaltender) is insane on his own; they broke down how much pucks make it past him and 0% of ones that are sent on the ice make it (idk how else to explain it but it’s when you hit a puck with your stick, and the puck glides on ice). he stops those shots 100% of the time. his weakness, they said, are pucks sent from the shoulders and up but those are rare so, in a sense, bobbys got those covered too 😭

and the panthers’ forwards? fucking assholes (positive). they’re so flexible and fast; you think they’re being marked properly, then next thing you know they’re angled to the goal and then the puck is flying and then boom—they score.

(im not an athlete so do forgive me for these nonsensical comments, im just really buzzed)

AND THEIR DEFENSEMEN? menaces. theyre hot on your heels, and they TAG TEAM PEOPLE. mcdavid has been, as ESPN eloquently said, “double teamed” (sounds like a euphemism 😭). they also tried to, and succeeded with, separating mcdavid and draisaitl because these are the oilers’ best duo. in their prime, their shots always made it in. in this season’s games, mcdavid would be checked by two players, and draisaitl would be slammed onto the glass protector or something, and the deliberate way they are being iced out of each other made it difficult for davo and drai to do their duo plays

and its not just them, but every hard hitter in the oilers would find themselves marked by two people once theyre in the offensive zone. its an insane play (i havent watched enough hockey yet to be able to put hockey reference but this type of defense is so consistent and prevalent in basketball, especially against bigger players. so seeing it be applied on ice was so sick too)

AND THEIR STEALS? DUDE. the panthers are so good at snatching the goddamn puck. sure it led to many MANY cross checks, but its still undisputed that in their aggression, they make insane plays

additionally: matthew tkachuk? a scrappy kitten. he is so terrifying on ice, cute when being pulled away from fighting, and his shaved sides reminds me of johnny 😭

BUT YEA. theyve always been an insane team but its different seeing them play against the oilers who, from what ive seen this season, were a beast of their own—with davo at the core of it

[henlp]

Back on Castle Crashers

Due to unfortunate circumstances, found myself playing the Switch version earlier than expected. The good news, is that I still love it a whole bunch, the first playthrough was challenging enough, got me back in the groove.

The bad news is that I don't think I'll be able to give it a ranked spot in my favorite games list, because Insane Mode has not been fun.

I was sure that I had unlocked everything on the Steam version, years ago, which means I would've had to play on Insane Mode at least up to the fourth-to-last level. But even abusing the Painter boss to grind my Industrialist to a higher level has not proven very fruitful, with two levels still unbeaten on the western continent in-game.

The benefit of the combat in Castle Crashers, which is simple and accessible to learn and lends itself well to couch co-op, seems to also be to its detriment when playing on the higher difficulty mode. Maybe I just had more patience nearly ten years ago, but I've not found it fun to run away from enemies, trying to get into position so as to juggle them in the air. Health sponges that take far too long to get rid of, while dealing... insane amounts of damage to you, and get to spam and possibly stunlock you with magic or bombs.

For now, until my circumstances have been resolved, I'll instead focus on unlocking some more of the characters you get from clearing Normal Mode. Hopefully at a later point, I'll just max out that lil' Industrialist and try to power through Insane Mode until I get that fuckin' Cultist. But I'll definitely be looking forward to the upcoming Painter Boss Paradise DLC, even if obviously you can't use its modding feature on the console versions (unless The Behemoth and Tom Fulp start organizing some contests to get player-made characters into the game proper).

[hunterontheedge]

There’s all too much I have to say so I’ll be typing it out up here. o7

I have a ferocious undying love for indie games and most of them changed me to some capacity. Other games that aren’t indie but changed me are Pokémon Mystery Dungeon and PokéPark. I am a huge sucker for lessons in friendship and found family so without further ado here’s my list.

Undertale, to kick it off strong- has been my oldest and dearest fandom. A game held together by spaghetti code and a bunch of fantastic elements - despite the bad rep, the game itself is beautiful. If you somehow haven’t played Undertale for yourself, you should do so. I think it would be good for this game to be experienced firsthand; make up your own voices for the characters in your head, pick your path, show love or gain LOVE.

Battleblock Theater, a game best experienced with your friends! This game was a wild ride and often thought to be a crazy fever dream- but it wasn’t! And when you’re playing with your friend, it adds an entire new layer to the experience. The levels even change to fit the co-op experience! Blow eachother up. Help eachother out. Get in a call or some kind of chat and shake eachother VIOLENTLY. If you end up liking Battleblock, I will also highly recommend the Behemoth’s other games: Alien Hominid HD, Castle Crashers, Pit People, and Alien Hominid Invasion. All of their games are such a fun fun FUN ride.

Wandersong… I met a LOT of my good friends here. Shoutout to those and also that of who I’m reblogging this from because Wandersong is by far one of the nicest fandom spaces I have ever been in. People are so so so kind here and everyone is so beautifully unique, just like in the game. They made an AWESOME zine recently- organized by my buddy raekeiko/artseniccatnip. It’s all so colorful and the game itself reflects those who played it very beautifully. There’s a chorus of voices- and a dance of hands for those without. Even if you are not the hero, you still leave an impact that’s so powerful, it keeps the world from ending for just a little while longer. Everhood may not be a fandom I interact with, but people seem interesting. The game itself is one hell of a ride, and takes you on a trip that really makes you question life as a whole. Whether immortality is really all it’s worth. Everyone is also transgender and nonbinary and one of the mages is canonically gay but in the end? It’s all left up for interpretation. There are no absolute truths. You make your own path.

Underhero!!! I couldn’t have gotten far without this silly masked child and their hilt. I’ve met beautiful people in this fandom space, and— really, most of them were already my friends from Wandersong. The idea that you can break whatever cycle you’re trapped in— no matter how deep in— it’s fascinating. You may feel like nothing in the moment but once again, you’re so much more than you think you’re worth.

I could prattle on but I’ve said enough. Hugs, kisses, thumbs up, nods of appreciation— all of these go out to my friends and fandom mutuals. Your souls are beautiful. You are beautiful. I love you, strangers.

cringe culture is dead but also, no, an adult shouldn't base their entire personality on liking a single media property. neither should a teenager. a self-respecting fan of any age really ought to have at least, like, three things they'll make an absolute fucking fool of themselves over at the drop of a pin. diversify.

[destroyerarcher]

Alien Hominid HD - Return of a Classic

Alien Hominid HD is a rerelease of the game of the same name, primarily using the Xbox 360 version as a base. This means that for people revisiting the game, they will not experience the original space/ending cutscene music from the PS2/GC versions of the game, and other changes from the 360 version will persist in this version of Alien Hominid. Note that there is no online co-op functionality whatsoever, not even for PDA Games which formerly had online co-op support in the 360 version. Co-op will only work if multiple controllers are present, so there cannot be a mix of one keyboard, one controller player in co-op without having a second controller. Unfortunately, despite being a rerelease, not very many changes have happened between the original 360 HD version and this version. While preserving the old spirit of the original is good, I was hoping at least that the non-HD music tracks or adding an option for only one roll keybind instead of two keybinds/buttons would be added. While keybinds can be made playable enough where I earned all achievements with keyboard and mouse, controller still feels overall smoother even after I tried rebinding my controls primarily because of the two separate roll buttons.

In terms of new technical additions, the main differences are that the max framerate can now be up to 480 FPS and up to 4k resolution support. There is also a launcher that appears while starting up the game, which while mostly pointless, also does not significantly impact the experience overall.

Alien Hominid throughout the years has aged fairly well overall, given that it is effectively a Flash game given the content of a full release. While controls are a bit clunky, shooting FBI agents and the like still feels satisfying, and unleashing a charged shot on bosses always feels satisfying. Levels are different enough where you always feel like there is something fresh in each new level, and bosses never feel like they are insurmountable for long. The artstyle, given that this was The Behemoth’s first console release, is very much reminiscent of Adobe Flash, and I really like it even today. That being said, some people may not like that type of artstyle or gameplay, which is understandable. One thing that I am not a huge fan of is how fast the normal attack can be shot, which can feel extremely spammy and is used a lot in speedruns, which is essentially the main replay value of Alien Hominid.

Earning 100% achievements is a fairly fast task. I completed the game in 9 hours, and some of that time was spent messing around with settings or in co-op where I was not actively making progress on achievements. Two achievements of note that differ from the 360 version are Survivalist, which requires 10 minutes instead of the original 20, and Head Chomper, which now requires 10 consecutive head bites instead of 50. These changes make earning all achievements noticeably easier. Some achievements I recommend keeping an eye out for is Hungry Yeti, which I think might actually require the kills be in one game, and Perfect Fight, which requires beating the final boss without a continue and thus, fighting the boss on friendly while doing that achievement is recommended. For some more specific achievements, I personally used level 2-1 for Head Chomper, where I camped the outpost, Urban Challenge for Survivalist by staying in cars and charged shooting enemy cars, and camping on top of the first 3-3 computer for Killing Spree, as it is a safe spot for farming 1,000 kills.

Minigame wise, the offerings are just like that of Alien Hominid 360 HD. Of particular note is PDA Games, which are platforming minigames where the objective is killing all agents and reaching the exit. The content offered in them matches the 360 release with all DLC pre-included, so no additional purchase is required for all the content. There is no level editor for PDA games unlike the PS2/GC releases, and there is no longer online support for it in this version. Some other minigames include guiding a soviet missile and having it travel as far as possible, and a minigame somewhat like volleyball that requires another player and is effectively the only PvP mode included.

Even after 19 years, Alien Hominid still holds up well enough that I can recommend it at full price for people that have not played it before. That being said, if you do not like how the first level feels, you probably will not like the game as a whole.

[shinelikethunder]

btw THE way to have fun going down the SPN rabbit hole is to find one (1) gifset that makes you insane, scroll through OP's blog or organizational tags for a while, go back to the notes, find some reblog tags that make you want to gnaw on drywall, scroll through that person's blog for a while, and lather rinse repeat until you've told on yourself all over 12 different people's activity pages with your strings of likes. and - crucially, cannot stress this enough - do not touch the sitewide tags. do not touch the blogs that seem to share your interests but in a way you find a tiny bit annoying. find one tiny corner of the behemoth whose derangement is vibrating on your frequency and isn't full of dumb discourse, and blog-hop to construct a protective filter bubble of weird little freaks who are making shadows on the cave wall that fucking slap.

(if you're here because i told on myself all over your activity page but i haven't followed, it's because i'm still telling myself this is a brief fling and i will get well soon. know that your takes are sexy and i am kissing you on the mouth. if you're into that or whatever.)

[fraxiommusic]

thoughts on update 11.9?

not a super substantial update in terms of battle mechanics and new content, but those new units are. hm.

new ul - 200% wild doge (and other behemoth enemies) is officially in ul, also why lowkey and relic bun on the same stage. endgame players have fun on belated priest 3*

catman talents - dodge on a 440 range unit is a. choice

supercar cat - 1.7k hp 51k damage at lvl 30, 100% shield pierce/barrier breaker/kb vs all traits, single target, 140 range? definitely looks like an interesting unit, i think it's pretty balanced and not super op given how low its health is and its slow speed by rusher standards. definitely funny though

gloomy neneko - gains wave block and stands at 310 range, definitely breaks some specific wave stages, not as good as eva 00 or tokyo miku but considering its accessibility and that range? also not even requiring a gold cf seed lol

skull vars tf - pretty solid unit, 100% kb and slow vs zombies seems pretty useful for cadaver bear. good buffs but balanced

amakusa tf - gains minor hp buff and halved attack cooldown, now with 7k dps. i think this is really really really good because amakusa already has 420 range, which is enough to outrange fallen bear. he now has extremely solid dps, plus he already has surge immune and massive dmg vs aku. my expectations are high for satoru and lucifer

new sf ubers - i doubt we'll ever get these in en but they seem alright? base stats for both are pretty low, but one has massive dmg and other has strong vs all traited enemies.

new girlsmons uber - 380 range, LD, 2 part multihit with first hit from 1-381 and 230-630, strong vs and 50% chance to weaken all traited to 50% for 6 seconds. i think this is pretty damn powerful, as multihit raises it to 75% chance, plus she has a really wide LD and about 4-5k dps vs traited, which isn't too bad for LD, i'm for sure gonna roll on guaranteed girlsmons when it comes to bcen

brainwashed fish - slightly weaker stats than crazed fish, targets zombie instead of red, still has 735 cost. it could definitely be useful against zombies, especially considering its cost is reduced. i can see it being used alongside shigong for melee damage and tanking.

dracula yuki - seasonal yuki variant with weaker states, target vs. floating, and 30% chance to survive. i've heard some people say that the trait targeting isn't optimal, but honestly that's not a big issue. the survive lethal is a nice bonus. growing green is now 5 seconds faster i guess. also the design is sick as hell

i'm looking forward to 12.0, hopefully it'll drop in around october for bcjp? or maybe we'll just go onto 11.10 or something. i have no idea what might possibly come up for the end of ul or if we're going to get another set of legend stages, i just hope they add some new mechanics that change the game. also i'm looking forward to lore lol

[anghraine]

#oh op!!#I’d never considered the parallelism of lady Catherine and Mr Bennett#I feel like perhaps lady Catherine’s treatment of her charge (Anne) and her expectations of her as this grand lady as equates some how to#the possible road Darcy could have gone down with Georgianna#this is a half baked thought but anyways#you put it all into words very well here#1000000/10 (via @a-mythologynerd)

Thank you! I think that's a great reading, actually—Georgiana isn't in poor physical health or a fragile waif in appearance the way Anne is, but she's shy, vulnerable, and respects Darcy's force of personality and conviction to the point of near-awe (for instance, when the narrator briefly shifts to Georgiana's perspective, we find her believing "his judgment could not err"). It would be really easy for Georgiana to be completely overshadowed by him the way Anne has become this total nonentity in the shadow of the behemoth that is Lady Catherine's personality.

(This even extends to appearance, even though Georgiana doesn't look like Anne. Elizabeth notices on her first introduction to the Rosings ladies that while Anne isn't plain, she's forgettable and looks nothing like Lady Catherine; upon meeting Georgiana, Elizabeth thinks she's womanly and pleasant-looking but not as beautiful as Darcy. Elizabeth is not unbiased in either case, but it does seem that Darcy is physically and in demeanor a much more striking person and presence than Georgiana, much as Lady Catherine is re: Anne.)

I think we see some interesting indicators about this, actually, in Darcy's remarks about Georgiana to Lady Catherine, when Georgiana isn't even there. Lady Catherine is pushy and overbearing about Georgiana in a way that would undoubtedly overwhelm timid Georgiana if she were there. Darcy's responses are civil enough but equally clear and forceful in insisting that Georgiana does not need to be pressured.

From what we see of his relationship with his sister, Darcy seems to know how easy it would be for him (much less Lady Catherine!) to crush Georgiana's spirit without much effort. While he's a very present quasi-parental authority figure in Georgiana's life, he's clearly careful about providing opportunities for her to express things—he defends her constant musical practice, Georgiana talks more when he's around, he encourages Georgiana to join him in social niceties without putting it all on her, they write long letters to each other, etc. Anne doesn't receive this kind of careful nurturing (and as far as we know, she's never come as near to danger as Georgiana did—yet Darcy's approach to Georgiana doesn't seem at all determined by l'affaire Wickham). The Darcy siblings' relationship could end looking very much like Lady Catherine's with Anne given the temperaments involved, but instead Darcy is evidently going to a lot of pains to make sure that doesn't happen.

In a way, that (inverted) parallel reminds me of how Darcy and Lady Catherine are also paralleled in terms of their authority over the many people under their power. Both are highly active, involved authority figures in what they see as their social responsibilities where Mr Bennet is an irresponsible procrastinator (Elizabeth is nowhere near as bad as Mr Bennet, but doesn't appear to ever think about social responsibilities reaching beyond her own genteel/upper mercantile world until she meets Mrs Reynolds—by contrast to someone like Emma). There's almost a Mirror universe quality to how Darcy's proactive concern for those under his power has its recognizable but much worse counterpart in Lady Catherine sallying forth to settle her cottagers' disagreements, silence their complaints, and "scold them into harmony and plenty."

Even Lady Catherine's officious interference with Darcy's marital choices based on a plan for him made years earlier with Lady Anne has its echo in Darcy's own interference with Bingley's marital choices. Lady Catherine's motives are tied up with her relationship with her sister, with the prestige and wealth her daughter would gain (and her aggressive advancement of said daughter's interests), with her desire for an effective merger between the Darcy and de Bourgh properties via the Fitzwilliam connection (something that would benefit all three families including Lady Catherine), etc. It's not a villainous plot against Darcy, but a plan in which, on paper, everyone stands to benefit enormously (Darcy most of all, in fact)—but there's an obvious element of self-interest and self-aggrandizement in it for Lady Catherine, too.

Similarly, Darcy's motives are tied up with his relationship with his sister, who he'd like to marry Bingley. I'd argue that, socially, Bingley is far beneath what Georgiana could expect in the ordinary course of things, but not so far as to be inappropriate, and he's personally kind and gentle in ways that would be really good for Georgiana in a few years after what she's been through. But the convenience of the Darcys can't dictate Bingley's life choices and he doesn't see Georgiana that way at all.

At the same time, Darcy is also motivated by concern for Bingley's future, social advancement, and happiness based on a genuine belief that Jane is admirable but doesn't love Bingley. And Elizabeth herself earlier argued that someone who doesn't know Jane is very likely to reach that conclusion—she thought that was a good thing and Charlotte that it's unwise on Jane's part, but they agreed that it was probable before Darcy ever started evaluating Jane's behavior. His approach feels less obnoxious than Lady Catherine's because he's a more complex, intelligent, nuanced, and principled character than his aunt, and because he himself soon recognizes his misjudgment when it's pointed out to him (in very unfavorable circumstances!) and eventually takes active steps to fix things. So again, there are important differences in the finer points here—but we can still see an echo in Lady Catherine of the kind of person Darcy could be if he just lets himself follow his inclinations.

That's a lot of rambling, but I hadn't fully thought of the extra parallels/contrasts between them as parental figures, so I appreciate it!

I'm drafting a long semi-headcanon post as I try to phrase it properly, but I'm tired right now so I'll just leave you with the conclusion:

Mr Bennet has made Elizabeth into the closest feasible approximation of the son he wanted and never had, and relates to her through that framework as much as possible. Meanwhile, Lady Catherine can't quite acknowledge that her literal daughter is a disappointment to her, and instead just openly fantasizes about a totally unrecognizable version of Anne that has never existed. Her real spiritual daughter is Darcy.

[quietsun5268]

(Poll) Mass Effect Andromeda - Save Krogan Scouts or Salarian Pathfinder?

In the Mass Effect series there are some choices where you have difficulty choosing. Like which is right or not. This is one of them. It's especially difficult since Andromeda doesn't have a sequel yet so you don't know the consequences that would carry over to the next.

For this you must choose whether to save the Krogan Scouts, or to save Pathfinder Raeka.

Pathfinder Raeka is the last original Pathfinder and a close friend of Alec Ryder. She's a competent leader and has saved your life. She doesn't seem to see Krogans with prejudice. But if you choose to save her and the other Salarian Civilians then you not only have a pissed Drack (Who won't trust you enough to show you that Kesh has children), but also have to face Krogan Behemoths (Who are strong difficult enemies)

If you save the Krogan Scouts then not only Drack will trust you enough to show you that Kesh gave birth to a clutch of her own but you won't face difficult enemies (mutated Salarians aren't difficult to fight). The Krogan Scouts will also assist you in Meridian: The Way Home.

Priority Op - Krogan Scouts or Salarian Pathfinder?: https://strawpoll.com/qpzyszp91/r

If you wanna read about my opinion involving Shepard background and vote on their Background/Class preferences go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/663393551709863936/spoilers-poll-which-background-and-class-do

If you wanna vote on which Ryder you prefer as the Pathfinder, along with their training go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/664228741953748992/polls-who-do-you-prefer-as-a-pathfinder-sara-or

If you wanna vote on Who do you prefer Shepard and Ryder with go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/664759150421655553/polls-who-do-you-prefer-shepard-and-ryder-with

If you wanna vote on some of the First Mass Effect Choices go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/665228082527043584/virmire-who-should-be-saved

If you want to vote on "2 Polls About The Mass Effect 2 Choices That Can Be Difficult To Choose In My Opinion" go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/665425646903771136/some-polls-about-the-mass-effect-2-choices

If you want to vote on "Some polls about Major/Moderate Mass Effect 3 Choices" go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/665578001693540352/some-polls-about-majormoderate-mass-effect-3

If you want to vote on "Some Polls of Mass Effect Andromeda Choices and Consequences" go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/665684285938958336/some-polls-of-mass-effect-andromeda-choices-and

If you want to vote on "Which Gender Do You Prefer For Shepard?" go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/665784298876616704/poll-which-gender-do-you-prefer-for-shepard

If you want to vote on "Mass Effect Trilogy - What Morality Do You Play Your Shepard?" Go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/666153702970802176/poll-mass-effect-trilogy-what-morality-do-you

If you want to vote on "(Poll)(Redo) Mass Effect Andromeda: Post-Game - Ambassador Pick" go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/666343264744603649/poll-mass-effect-andromeda

If you want to vote on "(Poll) Mass Effect Andromeda: Accept Primus's Deal or No?" Go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/666264694341976064/poll-mass-effect-andromeda-accept-primuss-deal

If you want to vote on "Mass Effect 2 - Destroy or Preserve the Collector Base?" Go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/666788274845663232/poll-mass-effect-2-destroy-or-preserve-the

If you want to vote on "Which Choice Would You Make in Order To Reach A Ceasefire Between Quarians and the Geth in Mass Effect?" Go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/667320214731538432/in-the-mission-priority-rannoch-you-have-to-meet

If you want to vote on "Who is the Best Squad Members in the Mass Effect Trilogy?" Go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/667351678589255680/poll-who-is-the-best-squad-members-in-the-mass

If you want to vote on "Who is the Best Squad Members in Mass Effect Andromeda?" Go here: https://quietsun5268.tumblr.com/post/667381587860701184/poll-who-is-the-best-squad-members-in-the-mass

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[topaziraphale]

Any good nsfw aus or multi-chapter recs? I’m in dire need for Top Azira content 💕

There aren't actually many AU'S that I read. However, there are a few that have really caught my eye. I only have 4 stories for you here. Unfortunately none these are finished yet as of the time I'm answering this, and I don’t recommend WIPS on the off-chance they never get completed, but these are honestly just too good not to share. All fics listed are rated E on Ao3.

Getting Sacked by vgersix

Office-romance AU, where Aziraphale and Crowley are both humans that work in a London building for a major conglomerate. Crowley is introduced to the world of BDSM and explores submission with his new boss, Mr. Fell, who is an experienced Dominant. But kink is not the only kind of work Fell is hiding from his colleagues...

This story is unfortunately unfinished, and will not be continued. But I recommend this anyway because I think, not only is it a good read, it's also includes education on the nuances of queerness beyond the typical cis gay experience, and for kink, debunking some misconceptions about the practice. Crowley is gnc and queer (also implied/most likely nonbinary), and Aziraphale is explicitly asexual. Okay so I'm probably cheating by putting this fic here since it's strictly D/s and not top/bottom like you asked, but I can't help it, this is too good not to recommend.

Push(ing) Down on Me by raiining

This work is directly inspired by the fic above. Detective AU! Crowley is a D.I. investigating a human trafficking ring in London. When the Interpol gets involved with his case, he finds himself going on a deep undercover mission to infiltrate a BDSM scene with Interpol agent Fell, in order to expose something even bigger than they were initially going for. But Crowley hardly has an idea of what he's gotten himself into.

This is, just, really kinky, and I like it a lot. This might sound weird but it's sort of like a porny action movie, but, you know, with actual good production. For anyone that loves exhibitionism and/or knifeplay, THIS one is for you. The fic is actually done for the most part at the time of posting this! Just needs a finale epilogue chapter.

Rough Enough for Love by nekhen

Fake-dating-turned-real-dating human AU. Anathema sets Crowley up with one of her friends so that he won't have to attend a family wedding alone. Of course they end up catching feelings for each other.

This is a behemoth of a work, already past the 300k mark and going still. I don't even know where to begin with OP's writing. Their prose, their diction, their similes and metaphors and-- everything! Is just so incredible. The smut is scorching hot and the feelings, my god the emotions, are so intense and raw and so real. This really is a long, intricately thought-out story of two people in their middle age finding love after living most of their lives having failed at it. If the phrase "Gentle Dom Aziraphale" appeals to you, you have to give this one a shot. This Aziraphale is such an incredibly gentle soul and I love him SO so much.

Stitch Me Up by get_wrexed

Hospital AU! I’ll let fic’s actual description take care of the plot summary, because there’s no way I can cover just a small amount with anything less than a small essay. I’m just here to praise the amount of subject matter covered and how well it’s done. This fic tackles many different heavy subjects, and the biggest one by far is living and coping with mental illnesses and the trauma that comes with it. 

I’ll keep it real, this one gets heavy. This fic does not sugarcoat its subject matter. The highs are high, and the lows are low. But this is ultimately NOT a sad story, not by a long shot, not from what I can see so far. It’s an inspiring story. There is a beautiful balance between the good times and the bad times, much like they are in real life. Every single update is nothing short of a delight and a highlight of my day. 

~~~

(NOTE: For the last two stories on the list, there are a few occasions where a/c do actually switch, but the power dynamic remains the same. As in, Aziraphale is only ever a Dominant bottom and Crowley is only ever a submissive service top. I like it a lot, but I can see why those of you that followed this blog might not be interested in that. So there’s the heads up.)

[whileiamdying]

The Dakota: New York’s First Luxury Apartment Building

More than a century after it helped usher in a new era in haute living, the Dakota still has a hold on the city’s imagination

By Kim Velsey 09/30/15 11:30am

Skaters in Central Park shortly after the Dakota was built. It’s always been a standout.

New York owes its skyline largely to speculators and egomaniacs, and Central Park’s perimeter is no exception. From the skyscrapers rising along 57th Street to the surprisingly large quantity of flash-in-the-pan luxury development that has gone up (and not infrequently come down) amidst the stately limestone behemoths and whimsical Art Deco towers, the area’s atmosphere of genteel timelessness can be somewhat deceptive. But never when it comes to the Dakota.

Designed by Henry Hardenbergh—the architect who would go on to build the Plaza and the Waldorf-Astoria—and developed by Edward Clark, a lawyer who made his fortune as a co-founder of the Singer Sewing Company, the Dakota had an almost preternatural presence from the start. Though the oft-repeated tale that it was so named because the Upper West Side was as remote as the territory when the Dakota was built is untrue (Clark was simply charmed by Western names, so much so that he championed renaming Eighth, Ninth, 10th and 11th avenues Wyoming, Montana, Arizona and Idaho place, respectively), it was, from the beginning, a literal standout. When it was completed in 1884, there were few other buildings in its immediate vicinity, save for the recently constructed American Museum of Natural History and a smattering of rowhouses and shanties left over from the area’s quickly vanishing agrarian past.

The Northern facade of the Dakota, completed in 1884 and still a charmer. (Kenneth Grant)

But more significant than the role that the Dakota played in the west side’s development was the one it played in the city’s residential transformation. It was New York’s “first truly luxury apartment building,” architectural historian Andrew Alpern argues in his new book The Dakota: A History of the World’s Best-Known Apartment Building ($55, Princeton Architectural Press), which comes out on October 13.

The Dakota was the first apartment building well-designed enough to lure and keep the upper middle classes, who were reluctant to leave their brownstones for a form of housing associated with tenements. As Mr. Alpern notes, the Dakota had a number of antecedents, but it was the Dakota that finally won the city’s upper crust over to apartment living with features like 14-foot ceilings, oak and mahogany-paneled entertaining spaces, state-of-the-art kitchens, elevators and innovations that kept servants and delivery staff at beck, call and a seemly distance. The popularity of the building, whose 65 original apartments were all leased before the building’s completion, helped to usher in far denser residential development across the economic spectrum.

And unlike many other once-grand buildings that fell on hard times, the succession of owners who maintained the Dakota as a rental until it went co-op in 1961 never let the building’s opulent standards slip. The co-op board maintained it to the same level, even going so far as to restore all of the fireplaces to working order. Moreover, the Dakota has maintained its impressive stature without the stolidness of a 740 Park or 834 Fifth, its allure enhanced by the many famous artists, intellectuals and stars of stage and screen who have called it home: Lauren Bacall and Rudolf Nureyev, Leonard Bernstein, and of course John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Henry Hardenbergh, the architect, who went on to design the Plaza and the Waldorf-Astoria.

The Observer recently conducted an interview with Mr. Alpern via email, during which we discussed the Dakota’s construction, its unique features and why it continues to exert such a strong pull on the collective imagination. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Why does the Dakota remain such a source of fascination some 130 years after its construction? I believe that the Dakota is very well known for the wrong reasons. People all over the world connect it solely with the murder of John Lennon, especially as that horrible act took place at the instantly recognizable grand entrance to the building. And of course the continuing residency there of his widow Yoko Ono has kept the spotlight trained on the building. Although much diminished now, the scene setting at the Dakota of the movie Rosemary’s Baby added to the building’s worldwide visibility.

Do you think any more recently constructed residential buildings will have the same kind of magnetism? Part of the reason the Dakota has a hold on the imagination is its great age, and its appearance as a relic of an earlier time. Most of the comparable buildings of that period have disappeared, and those that remain can’t hold a candle to the visual impact of the Dakota. It is a unique landmark, very different from every other luxury apartment house in the city, and far older and bigger than most of them. The Osborne on West 57th Street and the Gramercy on East 20th Street are the same age, but they were lesser lights to begin with, and they never developed a mystique such as the Dakota has. There are no recently constructed buildings that I see as ever being capable of developing such a magnetism.

You write about the role of the apartment hotel—how it led to the development of the apartment house but was itself quickly outmoded. What were some of the major differences of the Dakota that marked it for extreme longevity?

It appears that initially the Clark/Hardenbergh team was planning a very grand residential hotel, where the tenants would make the place their permanent residence, but where all the amenities of a hotel would be provided. The nomenclature then was “family hotel” and the included restaurant would be open to both residents and the general public. For some reason, they decided fairly early to make the restaurant a private one exclusively for the residents and their guests, but to keep many of the other hotel-like features. The Dakota survived perhaps because its ownership was held by an exceedingly wealthy family that was not dependent on the rental income.

You write about how the Dakota was the first true luxury apartment building. What features set it apart from the other early apartment buildings?

The things that made the Dakota extra special and a real pioneer (and why it qualifies as the first truly luxury apartment house in New York) was space and amenity inside each apartment: very large rooms and lots of them, very high ceilings, all the materials, finishes and details that could be found in a really grand one-family house, the latest in modern equipment in the kitchens and bathrooms, electric lights in all the rooms and the public spaces (generated on site by the Dakota’s own dynamos); also size and grandeur in the building itself (developer Clark said that only very few people could afford to build a palace to live in, but his tenants could afford to live in a palace that he would build). Plus there was a rooftop promenade and play spaces for children on the roof as well (with views in all directions for miles around).

The decorative ironwork on the dry moat. (ScoutingNY)

What the dry moat a common feature of the time? A dry moat around a building creates a double advantage of providing light to the basement and protection and privacy to the first floor apartments. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries when sidewalks were wider than today, it was a very common feature of upscale buildings. Even with the incursion of a moat, there was still a wide enough sidewalk. When increased traffic throughout the city was the impetus to widen the roadways of the streets and avenues, stoops were shorn off residences, and moats were filled in, to the detriment of many grand buildings. Then building laws were changed to bar new ones from being constructed, as they trespass onto the public space beyond the property ownership line.

The apartment of late actress Lauren Bacall, which is listed with Warburg at $23 million and is currently in contract.

Do you believe that any developers or architects working now are as astute at responding to unseen needs and desires of their clientele as Clark and Hardenbergh were?

The architect who immediately comes to mind is Robert A.M. Stern. Bob has the something extra that Hardenbergh obviously had—the ability to understand the goals of the developer and to craft a project proposal in which his own ego (not insignificant) is subservient to that of the builder (often even bigger). Akin to what Hardenbergh did at the Dakota, Bob takes ideas of luxury living giant strides ahead of the competition and then works with the developer to loosen the budget sufficiently to make the added investment that will allow Bob’s ideas to be realized. He did that spectacularly with 15 Central Park West, where he and the Zeckendorfs created an over-the-top level of luxury that became instantly desirable amongst the über-rich. Proof of the concept is evident in the astronomical resale prices that apartments there have fetched.

At the time of the building’s construction, the decision was made to put the main entrance on 72nd Street rather than Central Park West, which would seem unimaginable to a developer today.

Many of the finest buildings in New York are accessed from the side street. The grand limestone-fronted masterpiece by McKim Mead and White at 998 Fifth Avenue has a grand 50-foot-long iron-and-glass marquee protecting its massive entrance doors on East 81st Street. There are practical reasons for this, as it’s easier and less obtrusive to come and go on a less-trafficked side street than on a major avenue. Many other newer buildings have the best of both worlds by keeping both avenue and side-street entrances open and manned. 15 Central Park West does that with its entrance driveway on 62nd Street and its pedestrian doorway on CPW.  

Bacall’s dining room—note how small the table and chairs look.

The Dakota remained a rental until 1961. However, there had been co-op schemes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Why did the co-op take so long to catch on? The earliest co-ops were the Hubert Home Clubs, of which The Chelsea was one. They were hybrids that provided rental apartments whose income subsidized the maintenance of the building for the resident owners. They needed to be professionally managed, and that was done with mixed success. It is only with the generally-rising economic markets we have been experiencing since the end of World War II and the improved laws governing co-ops, that they have flourished.

When the Dakota opened it had some of the most modern amenities, but it now lacks many of those found in new skyscrapers, like pools, yoga and Pilates rooms, conference centers, etc.

What constitutes a luxury building has changed dramatically over the years. In the 1880s, a single bathroom would have sufficed even for three or four bedrooms, because small sinks in built-in marble countertops would be placed in closets for convenience, and people simply didn’t look on bathroom usage the way we do today. Closet space for clothing in today’s luxury apartments covers far more square footage than ever in the past. To bring the complement of bathrooms and closets up to modern standards, luxury buyers often sacrifice other space and make significant and expensive alterations. Some accept these burdens because they like the elegance and cachet of an older building. Others require all the bells and whistles of a new project. It is one of the drivers of New York’s real estate market that the city can support both camps.

The film Rosemary’s Baby used the Dakota for exterior shots—and it would seem, inspiration—though the interior scenes were filmed elsewhere. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)

The building is known for being home to actresses, intellectuals, dancers and famous artists. But the early residents had quite staid jobs, as your book illustrates—bankers, lawyers, businessmen. When and how did the building’s population shift to more artistic residents?

In the beginning, it was the staid segment of New York’s population that had the money to afford the luxury-level rents that the Clark family charged for the apartments. Over time, alternative newer buildings were constructed that appealed to the wealthy of the city, who have always wanted the newest and the best. But the Dakota remained a visually unique and romantic-looking building, which appealed to intellectuals and those in the arts.

Was there anything that surprised you greatly in the course of researching this book? In looking very closely at the many early photographs of the building that I uncovered, I was very surprised to discover how several aspects of the building’s architecture developed over time. In particular, I had always assumed that the pair of grandly huge gas-powered wall-mounted lights flanking the entrance were original to the building. They certainly look eminently suitable and venerable. In fact, they were late additions, as was the copper-clad sentry box and the pair of cast-iron urns on circular pedestals.

One of your previous books is Holdouts! about little buildings that stood in the way of big developments, which you co-authored with the late Seymour Durst. How did the collaboration come about?

Seymour was an old friend with whom I would periodically have dinner. Our conversation would range widely, but would often center around some current problem he was having in creating a property assemblage that he hoped would eventually be the site of a full-block office-building project. He personally dealt with the holdouts he encountered. One especially memorable conversation included stories of several past holdout situations he had experienced or knew about. When I said, “Seymour, there’s a story for a book there,” he responded, “So write it!”