#now i almost want a fallout 3 musical

[phoenixsoul13]

peeking in the mailbox for Vera lore… i need to read up on fallout so i can ask relevant questions lmao.. anything just that you’re thinking about with her playlist?? 👀

ahhhhhhhhhh 💕

thinking about how lonely it is being forced out into the wasteland after growing up in the vault. Growing up surrounded by people she knew all the names of and then out exploring the wastes, she could go days and only meet a handful of strangers.

also feeling a lot of things about her and her dad's relationship, 'cause his actions are the inciting incident of Fallout 3. Finding out he's lied to her her whole life (about always being in the vault), but she can't talk with him about it because he's run off! so now she has to go find him out in a strange new world.

and then shortly after she finally finds him but before they can sit down and properly talk shit out, she watches him die. 😢

so now she has so many complicated feelings about her dad that she has a hard time processing because he's now forever beyond her reach.

and that's why i have two Repo songs on her playlist XD (although James, her dad, had good intentions for what he was doing; Nathan from Repo is.... a whole fucking other thing, omg.)

[phxntomsdusk]

My forever - Will x GN!Reader

summary: you never planned on falling for your best friend, but you don’t regret it<3

warnings: none<3

tags: @ax-y10 (ask to be added)

word count: 2k

You and Wilbur had been friends forever. Meeting in primary school, and clicking almost instantly. Nobody could separate you two even if they tried, you were glued at the hip.

Of course, challenges came along the way. Friend group fallouts, family problems, summertime depression, etc. but you two always had each other, no matter what. And of course, with every cliche friendship, feelings got involved.

It started with the simple questions you received in the hallways. “Are you dating?” “Are you two a thing?” It was a constant reminder that everyone would assume you and him were together, even if you were just really close.

But it made you question yourself, could you ever date him? You always said he was your other half, the person you could always go to. You would never discuss it with him, it was saved for your journal to rant and curse out all of your emotions and thoughts.

You didn’t know Wilbur was doing the same thing, questioning himself every time he caught himself staring at you got a bit too long. How could he not stare? He was best friends with the most beautiful person he had ever met. But of course, he didn’t dare make a move.

Eventually, it became obvious to your friends that the two of you had a thing for one another, and they came up with a plan that just had to work.

Every weekend everyone would meet at your friend Chris’s treehouse, but this time, they would all find a way to leave you two alone with the lingering topic left for you to discuss.

“Hey, guys!” Your friend Kelly smiled widely at you and Will, helping you get inside the treehouse door and allowing you to sit on the small makeshift couch in the corner. Will joined after you, taking his spot right next to yours, and wrapping an arm over your shoulder like he always did. “Graduation is, like, a few weeks away. That’s insane.”

Your attention was brought to Chris, nodding at his words. “I know, right? We’ve all known each other for nearly 10 years at this point. We’re so old.” You earned a laugh from Will before he spoke up and leaned forward, moving his arm around your back. “Exactly. We’ll all be heading off to uni in a few months too, well, maybe not Zach.”

Your friend, Zach, let out an offended gasp. He was known as the dumbest one in your group, mostly because he had failed all of his classes through all of high school, yet somehow passed the year. “I definitely will get into uni! I’m going to Harvard.” He scowled at Will, earning an even louder laugh from him.

“As if, you’d be better off getting a job as a janitor for Harvard,” Chris spoke up with a teasing smile, before looking over at you and Will with a knowing look. “Guys, when do you think we’ll all get married?”

The question struck you with confusion. Why would he be talking about marriage? He didn’t even have a girlfriend, let alone someone to marry. “Why do you ask? I mean, I’d hope to get married by around 25, I don’t wanna be in my 30’s.” You shrugged and leaned back into Will’s hold, watching as he nodded in agreement.

“25 is a good age. But with the way I want to get into music, I may be touring by then. I’m telling you now, I’m gonna be famous.” He smiled and looked down at you, running his hand up and down your arm. “I bet Will and Y/N will get hitched by 21,” Kelly spoke up with a grin, giggling under her breath.

It took you back, both you and Will. Did they all think you were dating too? Sure, you were being touchy, but this was how your friendship worked. But they thought you would get together?

“Me and Y/N? Are you crazy?” Will’s words slightly hurt, earning a frown from you as you simply nodded. “Maybe not crazy. Just delusional.” You smiled at him, sitting up and resting your head against the back of the ‘couch’.

Chirs and Zach looked at each other with the same knowing look, before announcing they had to leave for a moment. You were confused as they got up, climbed down the ladder, and rushed inside of Chris’s house. Kelly soon joined them, leaving you and Will all alone.

The silence was eating at you, wanting to speak up and say something, but not knowing what to say. Until he spoke up for you.

“Could you see a future with me?” He looked at you with a curious and hopeful expression, almost as if he wanted you to say yes. You had never thought of it before, but now that you were, you definitely could. “I mean, yeah. Can you?” He thought for a moment, smiling and nodding at you. “Yeah. I can.”

The two of you sat in silence for a bit longer, simply smiling at yourselves. “Wanna go on a date? To try and test it out, maybe?” You looked back at him, a light blush on both of your faces. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

It was settled. You and Wilbur were attempting a date.

About a week had passed, and it was nerve-racking, you didn’t want to get too dressed up or be too underdressed. Should you do your hair? Makeup? Wear special jewelry? Would he even notice? He was taking you to the movies, why did any of this matter so much to you?

You settled on a simple band t-shirt, jeans, converse, and a necklace he had gifted you on a previous birthday of yours. It was a simple yet good enough outfit for a date.

He picked you up at around 6 pm, he always said nighttime movies were the best, and he wasn’t wrong at all. You were going to see Spider-Man, his choice of course. You were lucky he had enough cash on him to get popcorn and some drinks, even getting you a box of your favorite candy, because who doesn’t love overpriced candy?

“I never thought I’d be taking my best friend on a date. Especially one of the most cliche dates in history.” He spoke as you two entered the theater, sitting towards the back and getting comfy. “Me neither. I bet our friends are happy.” You smiled at him, taking a bit of the popcorn from the hun he held. “Oh. Before I picked you up Chris called me and gave me tips on how to kiss.”

The simple comment made your cheeks flush for a second, Chris expected you two to kiss? It wasn’t like you’ve never kissed anyone, you just never kissed someone this close to you. “Really? He’s a huge dreamer. I swear his dreams are more unrealistic than Zach getting into Harvard.”

Will laughed at your comment, and you noticed how pretty he seemed to truly be. The ways the corners of his eyes crinkled up when he smiled, the way his dimples would become extra visible whenever he smiled at you. Were you falling for him?

“You’re staring.” He commented quietly before his attention was brought to the lights being shut off and the intro playing for the movie. He wasn’t wrong, you had been staring. “No, I wasn’t.” Denial was the best plan at this point.

It was silent for the most part, besides the movie, but there was an awkward tension between you two. It was like you knew something but wouldn’t tell the other.

Your eyes were locked on the screen, occasionally laughing or commenting on a scene, but mostly sitting in silence. Until he spoke up.

“Wanna head to our spot after this?” He looked at you with a smile, one that somehow made your heart melt. By his spot he meant the parking garage at your local mall, the top had been blocked off due to the concrete beginning to give out in certain areas. “Yeah, I’m down.”

And of course, that’s where you went. The two of you sat on the hood of his car, staring up at the darkening sky as you spoke about anything and everything.

“Do you ever think the stars could, maybe, help find your soulmate?” He blurted out randomly, followed by a laugh. “Like, when you meet your soulmate, imagine if you saw your initials in the stars. That would be so cool!” You simply laughed along with him, shaking your head at his behavior. “You’re so weird.”

A comfortable silence fell on the both of you, you hadn’t even noticed he started to stare at you. It wasn’t weird or creepy, it was comforting and sweet. His gaze was soft, one of his hands gently grabbing ahold of yours. You moved your head to look over at him, meeting his gaze and smiling lightly.

There was a feeling between you two, you both felt it. But it wasn’t foreign, it had been the same feeling you’d developed over the last 10 years of knowing him. You two were in love with each other and didn’t even realize it.

“I think I need to be honest with you.” His words were quiet, and he adjusted his posture for a second and sat up. “Y/N, I think I’m in love with you.” He looked at you with a worried yet hopeful look, almost like he wanted you to say the same.

Did you feel the same? Well, he was almost always the first thought when you woke up. You would fall asleep on a call with him, making sure he was the last person you spoke to before sleeping. Maybe you did love him.

“I think I love you too.” Your voice was equally quiet, the two of you sharing a knowing look before he slowly leaned in and gently kissed you. It only lasted a few moments, but it was still meaningful. “Did Chris’s advice pay off?” He spoke in a joking tone, earning a laugh and nod from you. “Definitely.”

One week. One entire week since you two kissed.

Today was graduation day, you had barely seen him during the week of your schedules not lining up. Your cap and gown paired nicely with your outfit somehow, a smile on your face the entire day.

The ceremony was short and sweet, at least when you weren’t paying attention. Hearing your name be announced, earning your diploma, getting that final handshake. It was unbelievable. You were practically on autopilot during the entire thing.

It wasn’t very memorable until it was over. Everyone meets up with their family and friends afterward, getting congratulated for making it through the entire year. And then you spotted him.

Will was stood off to the side, awkwardly messing with his cap string before looking up to meet your gaze. A wide smile appeared on his featured, rushing over to wrap his arms around you.

“Y/N! I’m so proud of you.” He smiled widely at you, before pulling you into a sweet kiss. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders, smiling into his kiss for a moment until the two of you parted. “I’m proud of you too, Will.” You two didn’t bother to even find your families, simply basking in each other's arms at the moment.

He continued to admire you, placing a hand on the side of your face and running his thumb over your cheekbone. “Can I say something kind of cheesy?” He smiled lightly, earning a nod from you.

“Y/N. I want you to be my forever.”

Your heart melted almost immediately at his words, letting out an audible ‘awe’ as you leaned up and hugged him closely. “You’re so cute.” You mumbled against his shoulder, smiling to yourself as you felt his arms firmly wrap around you.

“I mean it, I love you.” He whispered in your ear, planting a kiss on the side of your temple. He loved you, he did. You looked up at him with a lovesick expression, “I love you too, Will.”

[ms-snape]

I have a request but its totally up to you alright, if you wanna write it or not. I was hoping you could write a james x childhood bestfriend!reader fic where over the years in hogwarts they just have a fallout? Readers in love with james but james have the marauders and lily and she didn’t feel like he needed her so she moved on and found her own group of friends but reality, james felt exactly the same as reader? They meet again years later for work or smtg and it just felt right?

Request: just look up

Summary: Y/n and James fall apart but end up finding each other again

Warning: Jealousy, angst, insecure reader, blind james,fluff, happy ending, lily ad james doesn't get married, and peter is still a marauder

word count: 3320

A/N: This litteraly took me the whole night to write, cause it's my first request and i wanted it to be just perfect, and i'm not like a james stan so i didnt know how to write it properly without my inner Snape coming out but I really tried my best, the request is awesome and I loved the idea, hope u guys will like it <3

Masterlist

---

The sun hung low over the Hogwarts grounds, casting long shadows of the towering castle onto the emerald lawns. Y/N stood at the edge of the Quidditch pitch, her heart racing as she watched James Potter soar through the air, his laughter ringing out like music. The Marauders were at their usual practice, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing for the boy who had once been her world.

"Y/N! Come join us!" Sirius Black called out, a broad grin plastered across his face. He waved his broomstick in the air, beckoning her over.

She shook her head, feeling the weight of her unspoken feelings settle heavily in her chest. "I’m fine here, thanks!" she shouted back, her voice barely masking the sorrow that had become so familiar.

James, spotting her from above, waved enthusiastically. “You’re missing out! This new move is epic!”

“Yeah, sure! Epic!” Y/N forced a smile, but inside, she felt the ache of a friendship that had splintered. Once, they had been inseparable, sharing secrets and dreams beneath the stars. Now, James had his friends—the Marauders—and Lily Evans, the girl who had stolen his heart.

As the practice continued, Y/N turned away, her gaze falling on the Forbidden Forest in the distance. Memories flooded back—bittersweet moments of laughter and joy, now tainted by the reality of their growing distance.

“Hey!” A voice broke through her reverie. It was Remus Lupin, his warm brown eyes sparkling with concern. “You alright?”

“Yeah, just… watching,” Y/N replied, forcing her gaze to stay on the ground. The last thing she wanted was for Remus to see the sadness in her eyes.

“James has really taken to Quidditch, hasn’t he?” Remus asked, glancing at the pitch. “He’s got talent.”

“Yeah,” she said softly, her throat tightening. “He’s amazing.”

“Want to talk about it?” Remus probed gently.

“No. I mean, yes! I mean—” Y/N took a deep breath, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Can’t we just enjoy the moment? I don’t want to ruin it for anyone."

Remus nodded, his expression understanding. “Alright. Just know I’m here if you need to vent.”

“Thanks, Remus,” she muttered, grateful for his kindness. The Marauders were undeniably entertaining, but being around them felt like a constant reminder of what she had lost.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the practice ended. James landed with a flourish, his face flushed with exhilaration. “Did you see that? I almost had the snitch!”

Sirius clapped him on the back, his laugh booming. “You’re a legend, mate! Lily won’t be able to resist you now!”

Y/N’s heart sank further at the mention of Lily. She turned to leave, but a voice stopped her.

“Y/N! Wait!” James called, jogging over, his hair tousled and carefree.

“What?” she asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

“Are you joining us to the feast tonight?” He grinned, a flash of hope in his eyes.

“Uh…” She hesitated, glancing back at the pitch where the others were gathering. “I might… have plans.”

“Plans? With who?” James’s brow furrowed, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

“Just promised… some friends to join them,” she replied, avoiding his gaze.

“Oh. Right. Friends.” He seemed disappointed but quickly masked it with a smile. “Well, it’s gonna be a great time. You should come!”

“Maybe,” she said, her heart twisting. “I’ll think about it.”

As she walked away, Y/N felt the familiar sting of loneliness. It was a feeling she had grown accustomed to, but it never got easier. The laughter of the Marauders faded behind her, replaced by the silence of her own thoughts.

The Great Hall buzzed with excitement that evening, the enchanted ceiling reflecting the starry night. Y/N sat at a table with her new friends, a group that had welcomed her after the rift with James widened. They laughed and chatted, but her mind was elsewhere.

“Y/N, earth to Y/N!” One of her friends, Maria , waved a hand in front of her face.

“Huh?” Y/N blinked, shaking herself from her thoughts.

“Where were you?” Maria asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve been staring at the marauders table for ages.”

“Just… thinking,” Y/N replied, forcing a smile.

“About what? That Potter kid?” Maria teased, nudging her playfully.

“Of course not,” Y/N snapped, then softened. “I mean, maybe a little. It’s hard to ignore him.”

“Why don’t you just tell him how you feel?” Maria suggested, her tone earnest.

“Because it doesn’t matter anymore,” Y/N said, bitterness creeping into her voice. “He’s with Lily now. He barely even knows I exist since he met her and his new friens .”

“No, that’s not true!” Maria insisted. “He waved at you earlier!”

“Yeah, like I’m some sort of ghost,” Y/N muttered, her heart heavy.

“Alright, enough with the pity party!” Maria exclaimed, her voice loud. “Let’s enjoy the feast!”

Y/N forced herself to join in, laughing at Maria’s antics. But every time she glanced at James, who was animatedly talking to Lily, her heart cracked a little more.

Days turned into weeks, and the distance between Y/N and James only grew. The Marauders had become a tight-knit group, while Y/N found solace in her new friends. But something felt incomplete—a piece of her heart remained tethered to a boy who had once been her best friend.

One afternoon, as the leaves turned golden and the air grew crisp, Y/N sat under a tree, sketching in her notebook. The vibrant colors of autumn surrounded her, yet she felt trapped in shades of gray.

“Hey there!” a voice interrupted her solitude. It was Peter, his round face beaming. “What are you up to?”

“Just doodling,” Y/N replied, glancing up at him. “What about you?”

“Nothing much, just trying to avoid the chaos of the Marauders,” he chuckled. “You know how they can be.”

“Yeah, I do,” she said, a wistful smile touching her lips.

“Want to join us? We’re going to the lake for a bit,” Peter offered.

“Sure, why not?” Y/N closed her notebook and stood up. As she walked with Peter toward the lake, she felt a sense of camaraderie that had been missing for so long.

When they arrived, the Marauders were already there, laughing and splashing water at each other. James, with his tousled hair and carefree smile, stood at the edge, tossing stones into the water.

“Y/N!” he called, his face lighting up. “Come join us!”

“Uh, maybe later, when i'll make sure that the giant squid won't drown me” she said, her heart racing. She felt exposed, like her feelings were laid bare for everyone to see.

“Don’t be a coward!” Sirius yelled, splashing water in her direction. “Get in here!”

Against her better judgment, she found herself laughing as she stepped closer. The warmth of friendship enveloped her, but every time she caught James’s eye, she felt that familiar ache.

“Let’s play a game!” Remus suggested, his voice cutting through the noise. “How about a round of water tag?”

“Yeah! I’m in!” James shouted, diving into the lake, laughter trailing behind him.

Y/N hesitated, but the thrill of the moment pulled her in. She joined the fray, splashing and running. Laughter echoed around her, but the moment James tagged Lily, pulling her into a playful embrace, Y/N felt her heart drop.

“Nice move, Prongs!” Sirius hollered, his eyes twinkling. “You’ve got her!”

“Thanks, Pads! I’m unstoppable!” James replied, his laughter ringing out like a triumphant bell.

Y/N stepped back, feeling the laughter fade as she watched them. She could never compete with that, she thought, turning away to hide the tears that threatened to spill.

“Y/N, wait!” Remus’s voice cut through her thoughts. He had noticed her retreat. “Where are you going?”

“I just need some air,” she said, her voice shaky. “I’m not feeling well.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, concern etched on his face. “You don’t have to leave.”

“I’ll be fine,” she insisted, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Just give me a moment.”

As she walked away, the laughter from the lake faded into the background. She sat on a bench near the castle, staring at the ground, trying to push away the storm of emotions inside her.

Weeks turned into months, and the rift between Y/N and James only deepened. The Marauders seemed to grow closer, while Y/N drifted further away, lost in her own world. The holidays approached, and with them, a sense of finality hung in the air.

One evening, as snow began to blanket the grounds, Y/N found herself wandering through the castle's corridors, lost in thought. She paused in front of a window, watching the snowflakes dance outside.

“Hey, Y/N!” a voice called, pulling her from her reverie.

It was James, striding toward her with an easy smile. She felt her heart flutter, but she quickly buried it.

“Hi,” she said, trying to sound casual.

“Nice night, huh?” he gestured to the snow, his breath visible in the cold air.

“Yeah, it is,” Y/N replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I haven’t seen you around much,” James continued, his tone more serious. “Is everything okay?”

Y/N’s heart ached at his concern, but she forced a smile. “I’ve just been busy, you know? Studying, hanging out with friends…”

“I miss you,” James said suddenly, his voice softening. “Things aren’t the same without you.”

She looked at him, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “I miss you too, James, but… things have changed. You’ve got your friends, your life, and I don’t want to be in the way.”

“You’re never in the way,” he insisted, stepping closer. “You’re my best friend, Y/N. That hasn’t changed.”

“But it has,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “You’ve got Lily now and your new friends, and I’m… I’m just me.”

“Lily’s great,and the marauders too, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you,” James said, his eyes searching hers.

Y/N shook her head, the tears finally spilling over. “It’s just… too hard, James. I care about you so much, but I don’t think I can keep pretending it doesn’t hurt to see you with her.”

“Y/N…” James’s voice broke, his face etched with guilt and sadness.

“I need to move on, James,” she said, her voice trembling. “I need to find my own happiness, even if it means letting go of our friendship.”

James opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he reached out, pulling her into a tight embrace. Y/N felt her resolve crumble as she clung to him, tears soaking his sweater.

“Promise me you’ll still be my friend,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

“I promise,” she replied, her voice barely audible.

They stood there for what felt like an eternity, the snow outside falling silently, as if the world itself was holding its breath. When they finally pulled apart, Y/N felt a strange sense of peace, as if the weight on her heart had finally lifted.

“Take care of yourself, James Potter,” she said, her voice steady now.

“You take of your self, Y/N,” he replied,

As she walked away, Y/N felt a mixture of relief and sorrow. The bond between them had been fractured, but perhaps, in time, it would heal. For now, she needed to find her own path, even if it meant walking it alone.

The snow continued to fall, blanketing the castle in a soft, silent embrace, as Y/N disappeared into the night, ready to face whatever the future held.

---

The dim lights of the Muggle bar cast a warm glow over the wooden tables and the soft hum of conversations filled the air. Y/N sat at the bar, nursing a drink as she stared into the amber liquid. It had been years since she’d seen any of her old school friends, years since she’d felt that familiar mix of camaraderie and nostalgia that had defined her youth.

“Hey, Y/N!” a voice called out, breaking through her thoughts. She turned to see Sirius Black striding toward her, his trademark grin lighting up his face. “What are you doing here, all alone? Thought you might’ve turned into a statue.”

“Very funny, Sirius.” Y/N forced a smile, though her eyes betrayed her. “Just… reminiscing.”

“About what? The time James nearly got us all kicked out for trying to charm the jukebox?” Sirius chuckled, his laughter cutting through the bar's background noise.

Y/N’s heart twisted at the mention of James. He had always been the life of the party, the one with the infectious smile and mischievous glint in his eyes. But over the years, that image had become blurred, overshadowed by his friendships and his infatuation with Lily Evans. Now, James was nothing more than a bittersweet memory.

“Something like that,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sirius studied her for a moment, his expression shifting from amusement to concern. “You okay? I know things were… complicated back in the day.”

“Yeah, complicated.” She laughed softly, the sound tinged with sadness. “I guess we all drifted apart. I found my own way, made some new friends, you know?”

“Right, right.” Sirius scratched the back of his neck, a hint of awkwardness creeping into his demeanor. “But you’re back now. That’s something, right?”

“Yeah.” She glanced around the bar, watching the flickering candles on the tables. “It feels different, though. Like everything’s changed.”

“Maybe we can change that,” he suggested, his voice brightening. “How about a little reunion? Just us, like old times?”

A lump formed in her throat. “I don’t know, Sirius. It’s been ages. What if—”

“What ifs don’t matter. Come on, it’ll be fun! I’ll even buy the first round.”

“Fine,” she relented, a small smile creeping onto her face. “But only if you promise not to get us thrown out.”

“Deal!” he laughed, and for a moment, the weight on her heart lightened.

The night of the reunion arrived, and the bar was more lively than usual. The usual background chatter was replaced by the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses. Y/N stood at the entrance, her heart racing as she spotted familiar faces around a table in the back.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” Peter exclaimed, waving her over.

“Glad to see you, Y/N!” Remus added, a kind smile on his face.

“Hey, everyone!” she replied, forcing enthusiasm into her voice. As she moved closer, her eyes caught on James. He looked older, more mature, but that same playful sparkle remained in his eyes.

“Y/N!” he called out, breaking into a grin that sent her heart fluttering. “You made it!”

“Of course,” she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Grab a drink!” Sirius nudged her toward the bar, and she complied, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

As they settled into conversation, Y/N found herself laughing and sharing stories, each moment pushing the past further behind her. Yet, every time her gaze drifted to James, the ache of lost time returned.

“Hey, you want to step outside for a bit?” James asked, interrupting her thoughts. “It’s getting a bit loud in here.”

“Sure,” she replied, her heart racing as they stepped out into the cool night air.

Once outside, the sounds of the bar faded, leaving them in the stillness of the night. Y/N glanced up at the stars, avoiding his gaze.

“So… how have you been?” he asked, his voice breaking the silence.

“Busy with work. You know how it is,” she replied, trying to keep her tone light. “And you? Still with Lily?”

James sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Not anymore. We… we broke up.”

“Oh.” The word slipped from her lips before she could stop it. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. “It was my fault, really. I couldn’t give her what she wanted. I thought… I thought I loved her, but I was just lost.”

“Lost?”

“Yeah.” He took a deep breath, his blue eyes searching hers. “I thought I needed to be with her to prove something. But I realized I was just pushing away the people who actually mattered to me—like you.”

A heavy silence fell again, and Y/N felt a whirlwind of emotions. “I moved on, James. I had to.”

“I know.” He shifted, looking pained. “But I missed you. We all did. I thought I could handle everything—our friendships, my relationship with Lily—but it just made me feel more alone.”

“We already had this conversation, about our friendship, we agreed on moving on James, it was mutual” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I know, but I didnt want this " He stepped closer, his expression earnest. “I thought you were fine without me.”

“I was trying to be,” she admitted, her heart racing. “But I missed you too.”

The tension crackled between them, and Y/N felt a pull, like gravity drawing her closer to him. “James…”

“Y/N, I—” he started, but she interrupted.

“You were busy with your life. I didn’t want to be the one left behind.”

“Lily left me because she felt I didn’t love her,” he said, his voice low and heavy. “But I did. I just didn’t know how to show it. I’ve spent too long pretending.”

“Pretending?” she echoed.

“Pretending to be someone I thought everyone wanted me to be. But I’ve changed. I want to be honest, especially with you.”

The sincerity in his voice made her stomach flip. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I still care about you, Y/N. More than I thought possible. And I realize now that I’ve always loved you.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “James, I—”

“Please, let me finish.” He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. “I don’t want to lose you again. I’ve spent so long regretting that fallout between us. I don’t want to pretend anymore, I love you Y/n”

Tears pricked at her eyes as she processed his words. “You mean it?”

“Every word,” he said, his voice steady. “I want to make this right.”

“I…love you too, and I want that too.” Her heart raced, a mix of hope and fear coursing through her. “But what if we just end up hurting each other again?”

“Then we’ll figure it out together,” he replied, determination in his voice. “I want to try. You mean too much to me.”

With a shaky breath, Y/N took a step toward him, closing the distance. “I’ve missed you, James. I thought I’d moved on, but I never really did.”

He reached for her hand, entwining their fingers. “Then let’s not waste any more time. We can start over.”

As they stood there, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them under the vast expanse of stars. The past had shaped them, but it wouldn’t define their future.

“Together?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Together,” he confirmed, his smile lighting up the night.

Months passed, and the impromptu reunion had ignited a spark that neither had anticipated. Y/N and James navigated their new relationship with care, each moment filled with laughter and discovery. They spent evenings exploring new places, sharing stories of old friends and lost dreams, rebuilding the bond that had once felt irreparably broken.

“I can’t believe we let so much time slip away,” James said one evening as they walked down a quiet street after dinner.

“Yeah, but maybe it was all part of the journey.” Y/N leaned against him, the warmth of his presence comforting. “We’re here now.”

“Right. And I won’t let you go again.” He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer.

As they walked together under the streetlights, Y/N smiled, feeling a sense of belonging that had eluded her for so long. The echoes of their past intertwined with the promise of a brighter future, and for the first time in years, she felt whole.

[psink]

Translation of the interview with Kamiya Hiroshi (Kusuo's VA) and Nojima Kenji (Kuusuke's VA)

The TV anime "The Disastrous Life of Saiki K: The Final Chapter" will air as a year-end special program on the TV Tokyo network on (friday) December 28th from 7:35 to 8:30.

The January issue of PASH!, which is now on sale, features an interview with Kamiya Hiroshi-san, the voice actor of Saiki Kusuo, and Nojima Kenji-san, the voice actor of Kuusuke Saiki. We’re releasing a preview ahead of tomorrow’s broadcast. 

Amidst the busy end-of-year, good grief, a world-involving sibling fight…? We spoke to Nojima Kenji-san, who plays the older brother Kuusuke, and Kamiya Hiroshi-san, who plays the younger brother Kusuo, after they had just finished recording about the truth of the matter!

―― Please tell us how you felt when the decision to make the Final Chapter was made. Kamiya: I was very happy. Even if you want to adapt every episode from the original work, it’s not always possible to do so. But with this series, everything fell into place. I think the biggest reason we were able to adapt it all the way to the Final Chapter was because of the fans’ wishes, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

Nojima: I had heard that the Final Chapter would be made, but I was wondering about what form it would take, and it turned out to be a two-part year-end special. Could people really sit through an hour of this work?! What kind of focus would they need to watch it? I was a bit worried about that (laughs). But I’m sure that “The Disastrous Life of Saiki K” will deliver dense content that makes you lose track of time again, in the way only it can. 

―― Compared to other anime series, “Saiki” has about 2 or 3 times more dialogue per episode, right?

Kamiya: I had vaguely noticed that, but… Nojima: You didn’t want to know, did you? (laughs)

Kamiya: Certainly, for a 30-minute anime, it takes a lot of time to go over the script. Even when watching the DVD to check it, I thought “Hm? Is something wrong with the machine?”, because it felt like it was playing fast-forward (laughs).

Nojima:  I’ll be honest now, but on the day I first participated in the recording, I actually went into the recording without finishing all the checks.I checked the script at home and then immediately went to the studio. I was calculating in my mind the timing to start reading the script to record whilst still keeping my role preparation fresh. 

But, the amount of lines was beyond my imagination, so I couldn't finish the preparation… This was something that shouldn’t have happened, but honestly, I got through the latter half [of the recording] just with concentration (laughs). But, since I was able to maintain the momentum from the first half, I’m glad I was able to bring out a good sense of raw feelings. Kamiya-san, how was your first recording?

Kamiya: I already can’t remember, but when I re-watch Episode 1 now, I think the pace is still slow. It’s gotten gradually faster since entering season 2. In season 2, Director Sakurai was probably broken as the pacemaker (laughs). Nojima: Ahaha, I see. It's like a live band where the rhythm gradually speeds up, and you keep going without knowing the original pace.

Kamiya: Exactly. 

Nojima: Since you can’t keep up by just listening to the lines as words, you have to listen to the partner’s tone and match it. It might be similar to a music session.

―― In the Final Chapter, the relationship between Kusuo and Kuusuke seems to be a highlight. What do you both think about these brothers?

Nojima: The reason they can fight so much, do terrible things, and act recklessly is probably because, ultimately, they’re brothers. In a different case, it would have ended in a complete fallout, wouldn’t it?

Kamiya: That’s true. After all, what Kuusuke is doing is almost criminal. Nojima: Ahahahaha.

Kamiya: What I found especially dangerous about what Kuusuke did was the story of making the elderly villagers wear powered suits. The way he disguised it as caregiving while completely using them as his own puppets was seriously dangerous. Nojima: It’s surely his own sense of justice. I wonder if it’s an antithesis to how we should handle the aging society going forward (laughs).

―― Kuusuke’s obsession with Kusuo is also quite dangerous, isn’t it?

Nojima: Kuusuke has a very strong desire for approval, wanting to be recognized by Kusuo above all else. Challenging him to fights is, I think, a distorted expression of that. But I believe it is also an expression of his love and his desire to be loved back.

Kamiya: Kusuo probably thinks Kuusuke is a troublesome person, but Kusuo is also at fault. Although Kuusuke is a genius, he worked hard to create the control device for Kusuo to help him control his superpowers, didn’t he? Kusuo should be grateful, but he doesn’t express it. “Thanks, big brother. I can’t live without this” - it would’ve been nice if he could’ve said that, but Kusuo doesn’t understand the feelings of those without [superpowers], so that didn’t happen. There was also the sense of taking it for granted because they're family, but thinking how this resulted in that difficult brotherly relationship is quite sad.

―― That’s deep.

Kamiya: Although Kusuke knows he’ll lose, he keeps challenging Kusuo to fights and enjoys the process, which shows his malicious side. He’s also quite twisted. So they’re both equally to blame. From an outsider’s perspective, their relationship can be summed up with one phrase "they’re just just not honest with each other”.

Nojima: Despite that, there are also times when they rely on each other.

Kamiya: It’s complicated. That’s why even in the Final Chapter their relationship will likely be depicted. 

―― Finally, could you give a message to the readers who are waiting for the broadcast? Nojima: I was worried about how much Kuusuke would appear, but he ended up having a lot more screentime than I had expected, so I was satisfied. I have no doubts that the viewers will enjoy it as well!  Since the story’s pace is fast, please acquire the ability to not blink while watching (laughs), and surely, you will be moved to tears in the end. There are emotional parts, but more than anything, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for cherishing and enjoying this series for so long!

Kamiya: The TV anime is finally reaching its conclusion. For those who are watching for the first time, it might be difficult, as the story keeps quickly progressing whilst you’re wondering “what is this?”. But there is a scene at the beginning that reviews past episodes and introduces the characters, so I think you’ll understand what this series is about. That said, since it’s a gag anime, I hope you can enjoy it without thinking too much.

As for the highlights for the Final Chapter, Kusuo finally moves [his mouth] and speaks for the first time. You might be wondering “What is this person saying?”, but it’s exactly as it sounds (laughs). Please watch the main story to uncover the truth behind it. I’m sure you’ll be surprised.

[stay-mon-army]

Cuddles and Chaos

Word count: 1,359 words

Warning(s): None that I can think of?

Pairing: Fuma/Yuma/K/Nicholas x gn!reader (mostly platonic)

Note: I wrote this for a Lune friend that I made whose birthday is today! I wanted to say thank you for accepting me so quickly and sharing your crazy thoughts with me! This isn't my best work, but I wanted to write you a little something special! I hope you can see my vision here! I hope even more that you had a wonderful birthday and that you know that there are people out there who get really excited to interact with you, even when they're small interactions! <3

Living with a group of boys would sound stressful to anyone, but in reality, it was a joy you couldn’t imagine living without. You had four roommates who were all boys, and unlike the lies about cleanliness, the stereotype that boy roommates are chaos incarnate was completely true – at least it was about your roommates.

K was probably the calmest of the four about 80% of the time, but it was all a ploy. He acted like a sweet, calm, gentle giant, who listens to jazz music and lights candles, but in reality, he was the quiet mastermind. He would secretly encourage all the other boys to be their most problematic selves. You were convinced it was mostly for the plot – he would often be found laughing while you fumbled to fix whatever new situation was arising from the fallout. He was lucky you loved the sound of his laugh or you would’ve throttled him by now.

Yuma was the biggest instigator – he loved getting a rise out of you and would often push buttons, cause little inconveniences, and all around created chaos in the hopes that he would be able to get your attention for just a little while longer. He was exactly like a cat in that regard; if it wouldn’t make a terrible mess, you’re convinced he would have started knocking things off the counter and shelves if it meant you’d look at him a little longer. Not that you needed much encouragement to do that, seeing how his smile was enough to blind the sun itself. You were lucky to have such gorgeous roommates.

Nicholas was a similar breed to Yuma, although on the calmer side for sure. If Yuma was an orange cat, Nicholas was the black cat of the house, no doubt. You could often find Nicholas lounging just on the fringes of whatever activity was going on, watching and waiting for his moment to strike. Don’t get him wrong, he loved to laugh and spend time with all of you, but nothing was more hilarious to him than getting a rise out of one of the boys or you. He often picked fun, making jokes about someones mistakes or bickering over useless things, as though he loved watching others get worked up further and further. He would always make it up to you though; he was a cuddler and a gift giver, meaning you would often find little trinkets and gifts left in your room seemingly at random, and fighting off his random attacks of love was a nearly impossible feat.

Fuma was the only genuinely quiet one. He didn’t tend to fall for Nicho’s attempts at verbal back-and-forth and he was basically the dad of the group – always making sure everyone is fed, happy, unharmed, and entertained. He could disappear for hours at a time playing his games, face glued to his switch screen. When you weren’t sure where he was, he was either there or hidden away in his room, watching the newest anime on the TV in his room. Sometimes, if you were real lucky, he would invite you in to watch along with him, curled underneath the piles of Pokemon plushies that the man seems to hoard. The only downside to Fuma was that if you managed to get him talking? He would not. Stop. Talking. You swore, he almost didn’t need breath! He could talk your ear off for hours, and getting him to stop or trying to run away will only result in pouting, childish sulking, and a lot more talking.

Nevertheless, the boys were all sweet at heart and wanted nothing more than your attention. Everyone in the house had their own room, so you were able to get some alone time away from the chaos whenever you needed, and the boys were good about listening to you when you shared what you did or didn’t need at any given point. They were all relatively clean, helped contribute to food and rent, and were truly hilarious to watch go at each other.

One of your favorite parts of living with the boys was the monthly game and movie night that you all had. You would all congregate in the living room with blankets, pillows, games, movies, and your energy. You would play games until you got too tired or (more often) you had to break up the biggest argument about cheating or slander.

Tonight was one such night, so you had spread out blankets and pillows to create a giant bed on the floor for the chaos to happen upon. You had snuggled down amongst the comfort with your favorite drink, sitting back to watch your favorite boys. Usually, you would jump right in the action as well. However, a tough day full of annoyances at work and unnecessary drama left you horribly drained of energy to keep up with the energetic balls of chaos you called your roommates.

Instead, you rested back against Fuma’s wide chest; your head slotted perfectly against one shoulder as his hands ran shapes across your legs and waist. Every so often, he leans down to press a kiss against the crown of your head or whisper some sweet-nothing into your ear. You wonder how you haven’t fallen asleep yet – that is, until a new piercing shriek fills the air.

Ah yes, your other lovely boys.

You watch as Yuma launches himself across the game board at Nicho. K howls with laughter, falling onto his back with the force of it. Yuma is sprawled across Nicho’s body, pretending to wrap his hands around Nicho’s neck while Nicho thrashed and shrieked.

You can feel the rumble of laughter from Fuma behind you as he pulls you tighter back against him. You take a sup of your drink to hide your smile.

Finally you speak up, getting the boys attention, Yuma doesn’t move from on top of Nicho, both simply turning their heads to face you. K sits up, brushing away tears and swallowing small giggles.

“Let’s call it a tie and move on to movies, okay?” You suggest, reaching over to pluck a random discarded movie off the floor.

“Only if I get head pats this time.” Yuma pouts, blinking tears into his eyes for prime puppy dog eyes.

“You always get head pats.” K lightly pushes Yuma’s head. Yuma’s head whips around to scowl at K, who sticks his tongue out at him.

“Yes, you can get head pats. Now calm down.” You laugh at the antics, especially as Yuma turns to cheese at you, flashing his snaggletooth at you.

Yuma bounds over, slamming down beside you to press his face against your thigh. The moment your hand that isn’t holding your drink touches Yuma’s hair, you can feel the vibrating hum that Yuma releases. K stands, takes the movie that you have since dropped back beside you, and goes back to the tv to put the movie in. Nicho crawls over after Yuma, laying on your other side to lay his head against your other thigh. He uses his head to push Yuma over slightly who glares at him, before laying back down on your lap. When K finally sets up the movie and turning off the lights, he settles behind Nicho, back by Fuma. He lays his head on Fuma’s other shoulder. He reaches out his hand, unapologetically grabbing your drink from your hand, moving it out of the way so he can hold your hand instead.

You settled in for the movie, warming up under the weight of your roommates cuddled against you from all sides. You couldn’t imagine living your life without every single one of the boys surrounding you – they made you laugh, helped you forget any of your problems, and were possibly more obsessed with you than you were with them. Tired and comfortable, all 5 of your ended up falling asleep before the movie ended. That was how most of these nights ended, but you wouldn’t have had it any other way. You couldn’t wait for the next game/movie night were hopefully you would have more energy to engage in their hellish chaos.

[chadfallout76podcast]

Death Shroud Q&A (submitted by @completely-legit)

completely-legit submitted:

10h ago

Death Shroud Q&A!

Writing Questions

Q: 1. "You only ever took one of us." – Paladin Danse, Death Shroud Meta jokes aside, it's obvious you enjoyed playing some of the best of Fallout 4's cast off of each other in ways that we weren't able to get in the game due to the mechanical restrictions of the gameplay.  Which was your favorite dynamic between characters to write?

A: Honestly I loved writing all of it. By the time you're well into the story the Red Rocket is filled with the strangest assortment of people/not people in the entire Wasteland. The conflict, ball busting, unexpected friendships that would be blossom out of that is really fertile soil for writing. Moreover, on a shared journey 2 years later they have a comfortable familiarity with each other they just slip back into. I also love Jefferson/Silver Shroud's dynamic, because you have a superhero level character who starts off 2 dimensional ripped out of a comic book and is suddenly REAL in a way that doesn't fit with reality. As a result he's kind of bumbling and awkward. Jefferson is the embodiment of him "not fitting in" outside of the page where he's idolized as well as stylized. It's just great stuff.

2. I believe you mentioned you turned to Dick Tracy for inspiration while writing this picturesque slice of noir life – what's the most important thing you've learned about writing a radio drama?  What was the most difficult thing about resurrecting a much older style of media that you didn't appreciate until you were deep in it?

A: I looked at a lot of inspirations to get the feel right in the beginning acts. Relistened to old school Sam Spade radio dramas, rewatched The Maltese Falcon (Bogart's version of Spade inspired the character of Valentine in development), as well as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and "Dick Tracy". Since I've been writing radio drama for almost 5 years now, I think the biggest thing I've learned over time is getting the rhythm right. I write in a way that I want to take people on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey in pretty much everything I do. Because that's life. We laugh, we get anxious and tense, we pine for people, cheer them out, mourn their losses and feel their pain. I always try to recreate that ride in any story we've done whether it's this or other productions we do. Lastly, always give people what they want: a satisfying ending. As far as resurrecting an older style of media...that was really easy as I've been listening to Old Time Radio since I was a teenager.

3. Did you do everything in one take or have any rehearsals/direction?  It seemed like all the VAs were in one call together, which is some incredible coordination and effort!

A: Nope! All recorded one night in one take with no rehearsal. Mostly because I was sweating over the script and didn't finish polishing it until 3 hours before recording. We did it all on Zoom and not 5 minutes in, a lightning bolt hit a transformer down the street, knocking out my power. Wes had to continue recording for me (it's why there's a big grid of people at the start as opposed to the single actor view later on. I was crushed I wasn't there live while they were recording.

4. The amount of voice (and writing) talent in this production is incredible for something so unofficial!  How long did it take you to bring this 3 hour noir tour of the Commonwealth to fruition?  How many times did you have to replay/reload Fallout 4 to fact check your details? :)

A: Thank you! We started asking people a few months ago. I had a brainstorming meeting with Wes and Emil from Bethesda who offered some helpful notes as I wrote on their characters. It took me 26 hours or so to edit and design the media elements, add effects and music scoring. It took 14 hours to render in 4k and only finished rendering at 10am the morning of airing. I was sweating over night that it would finish rendering in time. lol I didn't have to replay Fallout 4 as I have a really good memory of it, but looked to the Wiki on some key details and transcripts of how the characters talked in the main game.

5. Obviously, the plot had to wrap a bit around which VAs were available; were there any specific plot changes you had to make based on availability, or did you only seriously bend to writing after you already had a list of actors available for participation?  Anything extremely fun you had to cut?

A: At the last moment sadly Lynda Carter couldn't join us otherwise I wouldn't have written in Magnolia without her. Shari Elliker came in clutch and did a great job voicing her! I really and truly wanted MacCready a part of it, but Matt Mercer is INSANELY busy and was taking a much-needed vacation. Despite that he was kind enough to record for us. I wanted to try and bring EVERYONE back but between not being able to reach some people, others just able to wrangle their schedule...I think we did a good job getting as many people as we did. There was a bunch of stuff I had to cut for time (because this thing was already 3 hours). There was going to be an attack by the Mechanist on Diamond City, following the events at the Lombardo's with the Mechanist taking out the Detective Agency in retribution for meddling in their plans, but felt that was unnecessary and we'd already put listeners through enough torture. lol I was going to bring back Scribe Haylen as a link to investigate some of the Brotherhood's Black Market dealings in salvaged synth tech as part of the surprise return of Kellogg. But honestly the most fun scene would've been a trap in which they're lured to a train station thinking Harold is coming in by rail from the Capital Wasteland only to be chased by an Endritch "modded into the Universe" version of Thomas the Tank Engine. It would've resulted in a car chase with the Shroud realizing Jefferson has used all his James Bond-like car gadgets already so the most they can do is throw bottles at it that Hancock has emptied. lol

Plot questions:

1. "You started something two years ago you never finished."  - Boss Lombardo, Death Shroud

In my opinion, one of the biggest successes of Death Shroud was fans were of course hungry for the answers about what comes after a "happy ending".  In Death Shroud it's apparent that Nora chose to assist the Brotherhood of Steel along to a victory against the Institute - but it becomes clear that the ending wasn't perfect for everyone. There's been a lot of discussion over the years about how every faction ending to Fallout 4 has its own unique drawbacks.  In this case it seems like even beyond sacrificing the Railroad (and a lot of synths) the Brotherhood left a power vacuum in the Commonwealth which is allowing for raiders and the like to take back over in the absence of both the Institute and an effective Minute Men alliance. What was the most important part of this "ending" and its consequences for you to address?  What made it the best backdrop to set Death Shroud in?  The play mentions more than once that poor Nick is running out of spare parts with the source of synthetic limbs destroyed!

A: I picked that ending for our story because honestly it's one of the most dire from which to grow the story from. The rise of raiders and Triggermen (mafia control of parts of the city) is very Film Noir. I also needed Nora to have dipped out of the spotlight and honestly trying to just go live a quiet life and come to terms with what they did to the railroad was necessary plot wise. The Cabot storyline was also essential...she needed to have let him loose in order for the pieces of the story to come together. I also think it's important to remember that the Brotherhood REALLY aren't their for altruistic reasons. Once they take out the Institute they don't give a crap about rebuilding Boston. They salvage tech, hoard it and that's kind of it. By the time our story begins Nick and our former companions are doing their best just to keep things in some kind of order. Even Hancock needs to go back to run Goodneighbor to prevent it from falling apart.

 2. The biggest breakout original character was Charlie, Nick Valentine's protege turned traitor; wonderfully played by Aeric Azana.  I actually experienced several double takes during the first airing of the play and had to google to make sure I hadn’t completely forgotten the character somehow, he fit so well with the rest of the cast.  What was the inspiration for his character?  Care to give us some more loose backstory about how he wound up in the Valentine detective agency?

A: Aeric Azana is BRILLIANT and really completely lost himself in that character and brought it to life. I think the character fit in and felt so natural because it felt like a character that would be there. Following the events of Fallout 4, I think Nick would learn the importance of friends and family and in chasing down Nora's son, a set of continuity of beliefs and ideals. Seeing the Institute destroyed and most of the synths wiped out...there's no backup, no spare parts. Nick can be killed and destroyed and all that he was would be lost. Not only does Nick need help at the agency I think he wanted to have something he could never have: a sense of family. Taking in Charlie off the streets, raising him, teaching him would make sense for him. I have some thoughts on his background and how Nick found him...but that may end up being a story, so I'll keep quiet about that for now. Suffice to say, missing people is not all that Nick finds on cases.

3. No noir sleuth story is complete without organized crime!  Fallout players are intimately familiar with a lot of the gangs of the commonwealth, be it the Khans, the Forged, or even the Gourmands – but Ma Lombardo, played by the lovely Ellen McLain & her rabid dog son Carmen (the Boss) played by the equally talented Zack Ward - represent a newer type of evil in the Commonwealth.

In your opinion how does organized crime fit within the wasteland societal structure that already... lacks organization as it were?  Are they essentially just raiders who will monologue at you before gunning you down for your caps? Who is even standing up to them at this point?  Prosecuting them for their perceived crimes?  It’s funny to consider that these crime families are essentially more organized than most of the remaining political structures in place!

A: Say what you want about crime families, but they do hold up a semblance of order where there is needed one. If you take a look at the arc of the Godfather, in the beginning there is a balance of justice, deep seated respect of an order...a code of honor. Ma and Carmen Lombardo return because we've broken what little of that was left with the Triggermen by the time we were done in the Commonwealth. The hierarchy peaking order has been obliterated, so it leaves both a structural opportunity for them to return and also a true need to try and BE the stabilizing force after the power vacuum that was left by our choices. Nora and the gang basically fuck up the Commonwealth in one way or another and I honestly think it would be out of character for her to WANT to be a ruler. So who's left? The Triggermen under Lombardo aren't just raiders...they were forced inline in a way they hadn't been in a long time. Raiders wouldn't have stood a chance against them.

4. "If I’ve learned anything, people are what they believe" – Nick Valentine, Death Shroud

Nick Valentine is a character who has struggled with his identity in the past but came to some degree of closure about it by choosing to believe in/focus on the goodness of his deeds despite being a perceived copy of another man.  In Death Shroud we see him brush up against a much more literal (and meta) manifestation of the power of belief in ideas - it's a pretty poignant juxtaposition of the character's much-deliberated ideology vs a rather wild plot.  Is that the reason Nick was the only man left standing at the end?  The manufactured man who was both someone else's idea but how he defines himself, who he is, is his own choice as well?

A: Honestly the reason it was him still standing in the end is because this ultimately is HIS story, a Nick Valentine Mystery. What Nick misses completely is that like Nora, he is a keystone event. Unlike any other synth out there he is aware of who he is, who he wasn't, can't hide in plain sight like others can. Because of his journey, his actions, the people he helps, saves, draws to him, a tapestry of ripples of his existence, choices and actions forever ripple throughout the Commonwealth. Magnolia's comments in the end both speak to his position in their reality and also direct speak to us as players, "in the end we're not just stories".

5.  Follow up:  I also found it to be an incredibly fascinating character arc for Nick as well.  He was offered the keys to Diamond City, albeit by notorious criminal Ma Lombardo, but then later essentially by Charlie as well - but our synthetic hero turns both of them down since he's a “just a detective, not a politician”.

A: It's more than that also. Nick isn't motivated by power, has lived long enough to see how power corrupts and creates the illusion of choice. What Charlie misses is the EXPERIENCE Nick has as part of his journey. Could having that kind of power mean no more missing people? No more broken hearts? Yes...but it also means denying people the choices and lessons they've learned as a result of actions they take. He wasn't born. He was made. He was built to replace people. He was given memories, a life and story he didn't earn, didn't choose. He made the CHOICE to to throw all of that away and do the most human thing real humans often don't do: help people without reservation.

Over the course of the play it becomes clearer as characters reminisce over the events of Fallout 4, Nick's not entirely satisfied with some of the choices Nora made along the way and more notably some of the ramifications.  This is followed by the very end where Nick takes control to reset reality to a ‘previous save’ far in the past before the entirety of Nora’s adventure - rather than say, just before everything involving the events of Death Shroud went to hell in a handbasket.  Any particular reason that was Nick’s chosen reload point?  Do you think Nick has reached a point from his experiences where he would take a more active role in guiding Nora's decision making going forward?

A: Nick didn't have a choice there. There is only the current state or as teased in the commercial in the very beginning the only saved state available to you. "Safe equals saved" wasn't just a funny commercial, it was a promise that going back means returning to the start of the tapestry of choices, actions and impacts that began when Nora's keystone moment began. The day she was woken up and became something other than Nora. If you pay attention, throughout Fallout 4 Nick offers very specific guidance in some areas and specific wisdom. Knowing full well how important choice is to the causal nexus and maintaining the tapestry of reality he would walk that line very carefully in the choices made vs. influenced.

Last Question:

I’m very curious what the three sentence pitch was to get most of these VAs on board with this amazing project - and even Pete Hines and Emil Pagliarulo as well – if you can share that with us!

A: There really wasn't one. I've become really good friends with Wes these past few years and the other voice actors, Pete Hines, etc. are also people I've gotten to know through Fallout For Hope. So I think our track record as far as fundraising goes, trust in me/Fallout For Hope, etc. from working together on both unofficial Fallout community projects, causes and events and official NDA ones we've done the past few years created a unique situation this thing could even happen. This was our 3rd production this scale, but the one I'm most proud of.

[ourlordapollo]

Just realized I never posted my Narumitsu playlist so let's goooo

It's in rough chronological order by the OG trilogy and stops after T&T

Tracklist

Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder

You're on the road and now you pray it lasts

The road behind was rocky, but now you're feeling cocky

You look at me and you see your past

Is that the reason why you're running so fast?

Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

Loving you isn't the right thing to do

How can I ever change things that I feel?

If I could, maybe I'd give you my world

How can I when you won't take it from me?

Before I Got There - The Mountain Goats

And in a pit behind the altar,

The bodies of the fallen

Heavy tracks up to the lip

Just to prove that they were crawling

Faces turned toward the sky

That they would never see again

Victims of the fallout

I have failed you, sweet young men

Yesterday - The Beatles

Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be

There's a shadow hanging over me

Oh, yesterday came suddenly

Fix You - Canyon City

When the tears come streaming down your face

And you lose something you can't replace

When you love someone and it goes to waste

Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

Stars - fun.

And I've been saying that you,

You're always holding onto stars

I think they're better from afar

'Cause no one here is gonna save us

—

You Run Away - Barenaked Ladies

You run away

You could turn and stay

But you run away from me

I tried to be your brother

You cried and ran for cover

Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

And it was not your fault but mine

And it was your heart on the line

I really fucked it up this time

Didn't I, my dear?

At Least It Was Here - The 88

But I love you more than words can say

I can’t count the reasons I should stay

One by one they all just fade away

But I love you more than words can say

Europe's Skies - Alexander Rybak

I don't know you, but I need more time

Promise me you'll be mine

Birds are flying over Europe's skies

Tell me please, why can't I?

Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus

I never meant to start a war

I just wanted you to let me in

How to Save a Life - The Fray

He will do one of two things

He will admit to everything

Or he'll say he's just not the same

And you'll begin to wonder why you came

No Children - The Mountain Goats

I am drowning

There is no sign of land

You are coming down with me

Hand in unlovable hand

Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day

I walk a lonely road

The only one that I have ever known

Don't know where it goes

But it's home to me and I walk alone

—

Love You Madly - CAKE

I don't want to wonder if this is a blunder

I don't want to worry whether we're going to stay together 'til we die

I don't want to jump in unless this music's thumpin'

All the dishes rattle in the cupboards when the elephants arrive

Cellophane - Sia

Patience is your virtue, saint of mine

I'd have fallen through the cracks without your love tonight

Iowa (Traveling, Pt. 3) - Dar Williams

How I long to fall just a little bit

To dance out of the lines and stray from the light

But I fear that to fall in love with you

Is to fall from a great and gruesome height

Hey Jude - The Beatles

Remember to let her into your heart

Then you can start to make it better

Lean On Me - Keb' Mo'

Lean on me

When you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

Pompeii - Bastille

But if you close your eyes

Does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes

Does it almost feel like you've been here before?

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

Little darling

I feel that ice is slowly melting

Little darling

It seems like years since it's been clear

Here comes the sun

[ipsey]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! get to know your mutuals and followers <3

I'm not dropping asks (busy day and I will forget) but I will say my five things that make me happy. 1) Constructing cakes - The whole process of baking and putting together a cake up to decorating it is very soothing and relaxing for me. Sometimes it takes me months to plan a cake - right now I'm working on a violet and lemon cake idea with edible flowers I've had since January. I may miss my window for it since I don't have time. 2) I like being uninvested in video games but enjoying them anyway. Like I know there's deep lore for Fallout and Elder Scrolls but I don't care. I'm enjoying right now the experience of running around taking pictures of things I think are neat and sharing them with my friends.

Like this dragon frog I found the other day! He's just a guy and he breathes fire. I love him! My friend @witchbabywigg got fallout 76 recently and they made fun of me for having a big gun so I made an even bigger gun.

I don't maximize my stuff or care too much about what the brotherhood of steel is doing. But I will watch the show, cause it looks neat. 3) I love World of Darkness and the Storyteller system. Not so wild about 5th edition - it's a different game entirely, almost, with the trappings of the old. But I love the stories and meanings behind it. I will deep dive into the lore of it and spend hours reading the books for fun. 4) I love color - all sorts of color. Sometimes I wear clothes for the purpose of being not naked and comfortable, but when I'm feeling myself I dress like I'm a presenter on children's tv with bright colors and notable patterns. This weekend I wore a dress with pink swirls and bisexual striped tights because I wanted to be easily identifiable in a crowd, and it worked. 5) Dance - My first associates degree was in Dance, and my primary discipline is ballet. I am constantly choreographing dances in my head, and will sometimes dance as a stim to the music in my head. It makes me weird, but I don't care. It makes me happy.

[memaidraws]

On Repeat Playlist Tag Game

Rules: Shuffle your repeat playlist 10 times and tag 10 people. Tagged by @flymmsy 😘

If you've ever wanted to laugh at my musical tastes, no better opportunity now, folks!

I know a lot of you guys are within the venn diagram of shared/mutual fandoms, so what I'll do for this (to make things interesting) is assign a pairing for each song and a wee rationale as to why ;)

Tagging: @defira85 @atypicalacademic @dirty-bosmer @henbased @braindancer @feykiller @vasiktomis @circlejourney @chickenparm @sweatandwoe (sorry if you've been tagged before!)

SHEPARD / GARRUS (Mass Effect) Okay, Reina's technically not 'Shepard', and this is a big cheat because Jeon Somi is her voice claim haha. Definitely a song she's released out of spite when Garrus all but disappeared to play vigilante on Omega ;)

MARTIN SEPTIM / MARINA CORVUS (TES IV: Oblivion) Listen, listen, this song is so perfectly them it actually kind of hurts a lot. To people that surrounded Martin, Emperor-to-be, Marina was exactly the kind of troublemaker they needed him to stay away from. But to Brother Martin the man made of flesh? She was everything to him uwu

GORTASH / DURGE (Baldur's Gate III) Come on now, the lyrics are PERFECT for a Durge lamenting about the big dumb crush she's got on Enver and oh my god? He likes her back? (She says, kicking her feet in the air, after a bloody massacre, much to Sceleritas Fel's dismay)

MAYOR HANCOCK / LEE (Fallout 4) UGH oh my god so I know Lee Know from Stray Kids is his faceclaim but this song is very much them. Wanting to run away, seeking freedom where they can take it? Not wanting to take shit for all the crap that's been thrown their way? Yeah <3 Maybe for a modern AU <3

GORTASH / DARK URGE (Baldur's Gate III) It's not cheating! If Kill! Kill! Kill! was from Durge's perspective, I can see this being from Gortash's perspective (the fact this is one genuine emo/alt??? perfect for Gorty's aging rockstar look). Like come on, it's in the name, the lyrics, the screamo bridge? Davey Havok knows what's up.

ONMUND / ALREK (TES V: Skyrim) Oh man. Oh man so this particular album from Bastille has been very Onmund/Alrek coded to me (for reasons I won't get into yet ;D) But this is very much like Alrek watching the world quite literally burn and the only thing he can think of is courting the cute mage and throwing all his cares into the wind. After all, when the world's ending, why does any of it matter?

CAPT DELACOURT / MC (Heart of a Sky Pirate) Hey, my otome game officially lives on an app, so this counts ;D But these more upset, shanty-esque songs definitely reminds me of Delacourt and his romance route. Throwing your cares to the wind (literally) and having a grand ol' time no matter where the adventure takes you.

F!SOLE SURVIVOR / CURIE (Fallout 4) Hear me out: I think Parker's (my sole) romance with Curie is almost highschool puppy love. And it doesn't help that they both have some pretty huge baggage that they need to work through-- so having someone to lean on and love in a way that's easy, carefree and happy? Yeah they're gonna hold onto that <3

STELLE / MARCH 7TH (Honkai: Star Rail) Forever crying that my Caelus is getting so many better pulls than my Stelle, but fwiw, I definitely think Stelle and March have a very fun, easy-going relationship. Kinda need to when you're Trailblazing across the galaxy in a giant space train (and angering gods along the way, oops!)

GALE DEKARIOS / TAV (Baldur's Gate III) Hear me out: I think these two would be so into each other in the way that they absolutely would not leave each other alone. You think Astarion/Tav is bad? These two have it worse. To be more precise, my Tav for this romance, Rae, is very much into exploring his romantic curiosities with Gale. No one else makes him feel as safe and wanted uwu

[annikuh]

wait omg noooo makes me sad to see the season 3 of clonehigh was no good… what happened

OUGH ROBYNNNNN DONT GET ME STARTEDDDDD

haters will say I’m just mad bc they wrote Topher out almost entirely (I saw a mutual say he had 16 mins of screen time the entire season…) BUT I feel like overall it just took itself a little too seriously & way too far from what the original show was (which was a big issue in season two, with big character inconsistencies & such, but it was still kinda silly and fun so I could live well enough; CH realistically has no place in modern culture bc the type of show it was originally parodying doesn’t REALLY exist anymore, but it was fun if you didn’t think too hard abt that.)

but even so, by the reboot’s standards, it didn’t even really connect with the 2nd season.

gotta put this shit under the cut bc I went off a lil too much LMAO

(1) they set up a subSTANTIAL amount of time with Abe & Topher, & the season ended with a lot of possible dramatic fallout for the two of them, and the last episode gave him a clear in with the bigger friend group, & then they straight up…didn’t interact in the 3rd season at all. they dropped everything related to that.

(2) they built up so much with the other “principal” type character, Candide, & the entire season ended with Joan being chosen to be groomed to be the next world leader, & everyone mad at her bc she tried to kill all of them. & then that just…didn’t matter anymore. That “world leader” plot line was never touched again, and people stopped being mad at Joan by the fourth episode, so it didn’t even matter.

(3) they wrote both Candide and Topher out almost entirely. both of their characters were whittled down to nothing and did basically nothing. I couldn’t even tell you what Candide did in the season. & there was so much potential for Joan and Topher to interact, bc she joined that stupid fucking outcast group that they gave Topher for NO REASON. but even without that group, like here we have two total outcasts, AND even just taking him at his word, Topher did say he had a crush on Joan, but they did nothing with this at all. WASTE.

(4) they completely started making the weirdest pairings on earth. they put Joan with Confucius for reasons I uhhhh didn’t care for. And they did SO much gay baiting with Abe and JFK to a point that it was actually uncomfortable and very much forced. like I didn’t completely hate the idea of the two of them fostering a closer relationship, but it was VERY pushy and sudden and I just couldn’t handle it.

(5) they’d completely forgotten about Scudworth’s “Cloney Island” plan in the 2nd season which was his main motivation in the 1st season (he wanted to make an amusement park/zoo type attraction of the clones). But they decided to bring it back now, which is dumb as hell bc the last season ended with Scudworth being like “these clones are like my kids, I love them so much” so like what gives.

(6)…no musical episode.

(7) the absolute AMOUNT of new characters in an already VERY bloated cast. They added one new guy for Harriet to fall for who took up a few episodes. THEN literally the most insulting awful one was Mary who was the manic pixie dream girl they paired Abe with bc he wanted to fuck so bad, and she turned out to be…Bloody Mary. like are we fucking crazy what are we doing here. Can anyone hear me? Hello?

Idk the whole season just felt insecure, disrespectful to their own and the source material, lazy, weak as fuck, and god so much more. honestly it just felt like bad fanfic.

bad season‼️ peace and love, but hope it doesn’t get renewed. let it die in peace.

(after I binged it I was so upset I was like “I wish they never made this reboot” & everyone was like “but then you wouldn’t have topher” & I was like “it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” I just pretend like it didn’t happen.)

[ursifors]

anyway taking a break from other aus because i've been thinking about my fallout au a lot lately! i'm currently building Eventer in fallout 4 to get pic refs but that'll take me quite some time. for now, an updated version of the au framework!

i wrote this: "since we have joe, bk, and ky now i have to add them! i think bk and ky were traveling together for awhile, both of them being from a recently opened vault. joe i think is someone from a different settlement that takes a shine to michael and follows him to Eventer." in a different post but i already want to change that so *scribbles over it* REDO god this au has so many retcons already

i had to read more this bc i started fucking RAMBLING

gavin is not a vault dweller, he is a mr. handy who was put into a synth body (like curie) this explains his british accent and also i think it just fits. i have a wip of a fanfic of them doing the procedure to transfer him into the synth body that maybe one day i'll finish and post here, who knows.

YOU KNOW I GOTTA ADD THE NEWBIES <33 it will be very hard for me to not make joe "guy who gets inexplicably attached to michael and follows him everywhere" in every single au i make but for this i think joe might be a vault dweller (for reference, jeremy and previously gavin before i retconned him were the only vault dwellers) i just think being a vault dweller can give you that kind of new baby but quickly learning the ropes feel that joe has for me still

bk is definitely a shop owner or caravaner that eventually just moved in because she made so many friends. she has such a big and friendly personality i really see her making a lot of social connections and being on good terms with most people who caravan or have stores. i think in eventer she runs a weapons store!

ky i can see as almost like, the unofficial mayor of eventer. she brings everyone together and makes the community closer! she's great at organizing events (heh) remembering important things about what the community needs or wants, ect. she isnt "in charge" as no one really has all the power, but i think her jack and trevor are the ones most respected and who people go to when they need a town wide decision made.

speaking of, i decided i wanted to have trevor and alfredo sort be what valentine is and make them detectives! i want to incorporate more red web vibes in my aus and fallout is a perfect place for that as there are canonically aliens and cryptids in the fallout universe, as well as. you know. murder and such.

as far as who lives together and their roles in the community the updated version would be:

michael and lindsay live together and run a general goods store and as such are involved in trade with other towns and farms nearby. lindsay is a ghoul in this au btw. because i couldn't not make someone a ghoul and i think ghouls are fucking badass so its them, as the most badass person in ah.

gavin lives alone but has several cats. he is the doctor and runs a small clinic out of his home.

jack lives alone and is the radio dj! mostly playing music but also settlement wide announcements when necessary and covering the news ect, like most fallout radio djs do.

trevor and alfredo live together and run a detective agency. when they don't have any cases, trevor builds stuff to help the community and alfredo picks up guard duty rounds as he is one of their most competent with a gun.

matt and jeremy live together! matt works with their livestock (which is just a handful of brahmin and also a radstaag they cant get to leave) while jeremy is more of the "main character" since i made this au because of him, so he goes off an adventures the most. of course he comes back at least every 2 days because of his cats! who if you'll remember, are an eye bot (zipper), a tiny securiton (booker), and 3 real cats.

bk and ky live together - bk runs a weapons story which i am electing right now to call Friendly Fire because thats their team name but also it FITS SO WELL OMG - anyway ky helps with this sometimes when she's not busy planning a cookout, or helping matt set up something for the animals, or giving jack news updates to talk about ect.

EDIT I FORGOT TO ADD JOE: joe lives alone and i think is the head guard like he patrols and keeps the town safe bc its very open. he also delegates patrolling schedules ect. cannot stress enough how he is not a cop tho. he is guarding the town from mole rats and raiders not arresting ppl for crimes.

[arainmorn-art]

I'm in a mood to talk about my art As I still have this artist ask .

1. Show your most recent wip

2. 5 favourites of your own work?

Hmmmmmmmmmm. That's a tough question. I guess we should exclude Deciphering x)

This spread page from Facade. It was cathartic to draw.

Steelhooves sketch portrait from 2015, Fallout Equestria fanart. I still don't know how I made this undead ghoul eye so cool only with white marker and felt pens x)

My old OCs, Bates and Luvi. The longest project of my own, about 10 years in the making - aaaaaaaaaaand if I'll return to it, there should be tons and tons of revisions.

Another OC, a chubby android girl Genivieve

Centaur deer 3. Least favourite things to draw?

Legs, ugh. I try to draw them as quick as possible and stop thinking about them.

4. Favourite things to draw? Answered it twice already: bing and bang

5. Anything you haven’t drawn yet but want to?

Actually it would be nice to draw a classic medieval fantasy. I also like an idea about drawing Slavic folklore.

6. Which artists inspire you right now? Oh gosh, Riccardo Federici. This man, oh, he is a master of academic classic drawing and painting in dark fantasy comic book. Just take a look at his Saria series.

7. Favourite works of all time excluding your own?

Ooooooooh man, this question is even worse. I love so many artists... okay, let's try to find out. ...And I think I know what I should show you. Art is not only pictures, isn't it? - Arcanum OST

Words can not describe how much I love this OST. I love the game too, of course, but gosh, this music. This somber feeling of a slow dying. Echoes of a long gone past. Faces, feelings, thoughts lost in time. It takes your heart, fills it with a fading magic and crumbles it in its old metal hand.

- The Longest Journey I love this game to death. I played it when I was 15 for the first time - and since then I replay it almost every year. It's magical. I don't care how old it is, I don't like sequels, I hate what creators made with my beloved April - this game is so deep in my heart it will never go away. I love it with a burning passion.

8. What do you like most about your own work?

Answered it here

9. What are you currently trying to improve?

I really should improve my anatomy, but it's soooooooo boring to me. What I'm currently improving is background painting. I work as concept artist right now, so I need it.

10. What’s that one thing that inspired you to make drawing your consistant hobby?

That one thing... Creating a feeling in my art - and sharing this feeling with others. There also is a storytelling, but, I guess, feeling comes first.

Other 13 questions will be next time.

[organicbabybattles]

Round 1, Side A, Poll 5

Jo Mayfield-Wayfair ( @calameowri ) VS. Crosby ( @henbased )

-------

( art by calameowri )

What is your baby's name? Pronouns?: Jo Mayfield-Wayfair (he/him)

Is your baby from a fandom or original?: splatoon but its also a zombie apocalypse au …?

How old is your baby?: 11

Tell us about your baby!: [tw for parent death]

he's just generally big hearted and i love him :] jo wants to have a good time, but he also works really hard to do his best !! he wants to help with everything and be as positive as possible. jo also dreams of playing turf war once he's old enough, even though he's kind of in the apocalypse..

he did lose his mom near the beginning of civilization deciding to collapse [TM], but he's been trying his best to move on, and he's been basically adopted by two fellows (friends' ocs). he still loves her and always will

his hobbies include practicing with his splattershot, making music, and gardening :]

Anything else you want to add?: i made him planning for him to die eventually and then i couldn't. now he's my most loved and popular oc he almost gained server mascot status once

----------

( art by henbased )

What is your baby's name? Pronouns?: Crosby ( she/ her )

Is your baby from a fandom or original?: fallout (3 specifically)

How old is your baby?: 8-9

Tell us about your baby!: [ MOD NOTE: TW for child death and child harm ]

her name is crosby because on the radio she heard the name "bing crosby" and decided crosby was a very suiting name. she doesn't have parents to contest this issue. in fallout 3 there's a rumor in the shipboat city (rivet city) that a kid fell off the flight deck because of lack of railings. that was crosby. she's fine btw. she's also part of a gang in rivet city of child orphans who mug and harass the people living on the boat (cannot kick children off boat; children may die) and visitors of one of the best trade stops in the capitol wasteland. she pickpockets money and stores it in her eyehole.

the hole in the face is from getting shot. idk the logistics of hows or whys. i liked the walking dead ten years ago and some things stick around. she doesnt let it bother her she thinks it's cool. it is cool (built-in coin purse)

Anything else you want to add?: would try to rob you with a knife. nat 19 luck +3. congrats youve been robbed by a child.

[pippinoftheshire]

AO3 Wrapped [Writers Edition]

(Found this on Tumblr somewhere obscure so...)

How many words have you written this year?

How many works did you publish this year?

What work are you most proud of (regardless of kudos/hits)?

What work of yours has the most hits?

What work of yours got more feedback than you expected?

Favorite title you used

If you use song lyrics, which artist’s songs did you pull from the most?

Pairing you wrote the most for this year?

Favorite pairing you wrote for this year?

What work was the quickest to write?

What work took you the longest to write?

How many WIP’s do you have in your docs for next year?

What’s your longest work of the year?

What’s your shortest work of the year?

What WIP are you taking into next year with you?

What’s your most common “Additional Tags” tag?

Your Favorite character to write this year?

The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

What’s one pairing you want to explore next year?

Which work of yours have you reread the most?

How many kudos in total did you get this year?

Which work has the most comments?

Did you do any collaborative works this year?

Did you write any gifts this year?

Did you receive any gifts this year?

What’s your most common category?

What do you listen to while writing?

Favorite work you wrote this year?

Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

Biggest surprise while writing this year

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

I Don't know why I decided to torture myself by doing this but here we go:

1. 150,849

2. 52

3. And They Call It Salvation (TMFU/Unfinished)

4. House Telcontar (LoTR)

5. Oh… either my series The Fallout (Mission: Impossible), which was more of a self-indulgent thing tbh; or my long running Witcher fic, On the Streets Of Novigrad.

6. And Our Love Shall Be Like The Stars (TMFU)

7. The only times I have uses song lyrics (This being twice, and only for Good Omens fics) were The Velvet Underground and Lauren Aquilina.

8. Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin (Sometimes Gaby joins this tag). Second place goes to Ethan Hunt/August Walker. By ONE FIC!

9. Crowley/Aziraphale (Good Omens)

10. Scales and Secrets (TMFU) I think it took me two hours.

11. The Finer Act of Kindness (The Witcher.) Though there are a few others who come a close second…

12. about six or seven 😊

13. On The Streets of Novigrad (Witcher)  By a long shot.

14. If I Could Turn Back The Time (TMFU). At 588 words.

15. And They Call It Salvation (TMFU), Narnin O in Duath O Ernil (Middle-Earth) and On The Streets Of Novigrad (Witcher)

16. Napoleon Solo is a Little Shit. (Thank you, Writing GOD!!!)

17. Oh darn… tough one… Either Crowley or Illya/Napoleon…

18. Bruce Wayne. By far.

19. I’d like to do more Aziraphale/Crowley next year, but also to try and get back into Sherlock/John.

20. Eughhhh that’s an embarrassing question! …It would be, I Can’t Not Love You (TMFU)

21. 1,530

22. On The Streets of Novigrad (Witcher)

23. No, sadly 😊 But it’s on the Bucket List hehe

24. I did indeed! 4 of them!

25. No. Unless Kudos and Lovely comments count- I got plenty of those <3

26. Like Fandom? I’m confused. If it’s fandom then it’s Man From UNCLE 2015…

27. Dear lord- I have far too many playlists on Spotify- tailor made for almost every fic… So uh… Music?

28. At the moment it’s either We All Have Our Shadows (BvS), or Scales and Secrets (TMFU)

29. Blarghhhh why are these questions so HARD???

llya does too, but he is far from willing to offer that up. Now, in the stillness, Illya takes his first uninterrupted look at the man he has been looming over. The dark curls mattered with sweat and blood… eyes the color of a summer sky… O’ bozhe but Illya misses the sky… the way it would unspool in an endless ribbon over the city. In his memory, the buildings are untarnished, the clouds drifting on a slight breeze as a little boy runs amongst the leaves in a park, blond hair shining in the sunlight. Nothing has hurt him yet. Perhaps nothing ever will… if Illya does not blink.

30. Probably just how kind everyone is. The fandoms I belong to- especially The Man From UNCLE one- are just such wonderful people <3

[many-lovely-queer-creatures]

The VHS:

"Hi dearest<3 My name's Vivianne. Vivianne Vex~ (They/Pony/She) Trans femme butch/futch/femme Ponygender Cyborg/Cybernetic Unicorn succubus enby, but who I am doesn't revolve around sex and violence (anymore). It revolves around humor, VERY silly memes like that barely qualify legally as memes, MLP, Fallout, Halo, and loving and supporting the people around me, not least of all my 15-year Partner and love of my life, Cole/Panza<3 I'm a surrogate mom to a lot of people, and will do almost- and will do *anything* to protect trans kids, trans people, or any marginalized folk. I love you. And I'm proud of you. I'm glad you're here<3"

"Hey! My name's Colton or Panzara(depending on my current gender) Zander Marluxia They/He/She/Bug I'm a toric/achillean transmasc bigender genderfluid girl boy! I'm a mage from the tropics, I'm very soft-spoken, and I bugging love everyone, and try to be kind and understanding towards everyone, as does Vivi my Wife and love forever<3 I like Half-Life, lil bugs, boys<3<3 fresh fruit, Halo, and being outdoors! Uweh<3"

"uh uhm uhm uhh uh H-hi, my name's um... Willow or Wren or Ren, still kind of uhm.. Experimenting, uh, I'm just a lil trans pony girl who loves her friends and is kinda silly and trying to do better and find out who she is. I love you<3 Uhm, I think."

"Hai!!! :D My name's Pinkie Pie, and I'm a kinda ace-spectrummyy bisexualish lesbainish pony with she/her and im trying out pink/pink pronouns!! Im the most recent member of the system, and i love everypony here! They're all so nice and friendly and supportive, oh, I really like sweets and parties and Twilight and soda and baking and making friends and candy and everything! Everywhere! If I could, i'd give everypony in the whole world a biiiiig hug!! I LOVE ALL OF YOU, DONT FORGET TO SMILE AND DO STUFF THAT MAKES YOU SMILE! LOVE YOUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

"Hello/Hallo. My designation is LSTR-512. I go by Elster. I am a fictive, of some definition, from Signalis. I am a he/him lesbian. I am... Incredibly dedicated to my partner. I love her. Very, very, very much. She is the light of my life. Meine shatz, meine leibe, meine sonne und meine mond und mein sterne der nacht. Ich liebe dich. Du vervollständigst mich. I enjoy very much classical music, wine, Bavarian food, and Centaurworld."

"Hewwo!!! bork bork! X3 My name is Koda she/her and i am doggy girl. i like u and biting and smothing peoples in my chest floof and i love you!! brrruf :3 das about it love u byeeee ||3 *waggywaggywaggy*"

"hey. my name's Jonas. Jonas Kujo. some of my friends call me Shen, or sometimes Jojo. Aroace, he/they pronouns please. im a pretty soft, quiet dude. but... i love trans people. Mogai people. my people. I'll do anything, and fight anyone for you. Pinky promise. i have a fire in me that won't go out. I will burn down the world if it means keeping the folks i love warm for another winter. I will not fail you. You are my family. You are my strength. You are my heart. My name is Jonas. and I'm gonna save the world."

Not pictured/without comment: Smiley, a Yes Man fictive who helps out when other folks are under a lot of emotional toil, and has repaired me several times after stress damage<3 -Vivianne

"Howdy! Ah'm Workhorse, an Applejack fictive, she/her. I'm just now startin' to stretch my legs, but y'all might hear from me soon. Take care, y'all! :D"

Raer Gorebeest, It/Its/Itself, is a cryptid who enjoys drawing with crayons, scaring people, biting things, and and many other violent possibly triggering actions, but don't worry!! It's actually very sweet and lovey, and kinda just a big kid! -Colton

All others didn't want a spotlight, but are still as much a part of the family as an others. Feel free to ask about us and stuff, we're pretty open, friendly folks.

[wookofwallst]

Starfield: The game that didn't learn gaming's past failures.

It was 2016 when I first sat on the couch in my first apartment with my then girlfriend to sit down and enjoy a Bethesda title Fallout 4. Now, I had played Skyrim on its original release on Playstation 3. Unfortunately, I was more of an outside kid skateboarding, playing other sports, and generally getting into a whole bunch of shenanigans around town. So Skyrim wasn't really on my list of top things to go out and do.

Playing Fallout 4 seemed so fresh and exciting. Seamlessly going from one outpost to another killing and stealing my way through, I was addicted. Every day, I'd come home and want to play it even though there wasn't really much else to do in the harsh winters of Buffalo, NY. I didn't want to leave the one bedroom cubby I lived in in order to play more and more. I did almost every side quest, every main mission, and talked to each individual I could. Beat it with several play through until later that year when a new game came out.

No Mans Sky was released with more anticipation than any other game in history at the time. I had people who didn't play any video games come over to just watch me play it because they heard how epic it was supposed to be. I went to my local Walmart at 11:55pm and got the physical copy and was playing it by 12:30am as it was installing I started to pace around thr room I couldn't stay still I started cleaning up the house just so time didn't feel so slow.

Finally, it launched. The main loading screen buzzed by me with stars that had yet to be discovered and named the music hummed in, and I could feel the goosebumps on my arm start to burst. I loaded in the game, and I loved my first few hours, fixing the ship and getting basic resources together so I could fly from planet to planet without a single loading screen. Even going from Star System to Star System didn't even feel like it was loading because they made it look like you were just jumping lightspeed to another system.

However, the more I played, the more it became apparent that this game had nothing of pure substance. The lies, the false promises that the developers Hello Games made before its launch were staring me in the face. There were no factions, there was no base building, there was no grand space war the "mysteries" were nothing but going to obelisks and deciphering words on a tablet that were pass fail that also ended up pointless and there was no actual progression.

There was nothing keeping me playing the game, no hook, no intrigue. It was an ocean as deep as a puddle. Once you had been to one of every type of planet, you had seen what the game was offering. Procedurally generated worlds are cool, and 16 quintillion plantes are cool. But since there wasn't a single thing that was hand crafted, since there wasn't a story or naritive pushing me through the game, there was really no reason to keep playing after 20 or so hours.

Now, this being the year of our Lord 2023 No Mans Sky is extremely improved upon the game is "fixed." I wouldn't say it lives up to its pre-released hype, but none the less it is much much improved.

Some time after that, Cyberpunk 2077 would be released with even more hype than NMS. They had BIG actors playing BIG roles in the game. It was supposed to be a perfect rendition of a dystpion future where you play as V a antihero that has Reanu Keves riding shotgun on your bloodthirsty rampage through night city.

Aaaaaaand then it released. Broken, unfinished, glitchy as all hell. I ran my way through the game with a level 1 revolver that did fifteen thousand damage. I three shot the final boss of the game only because he has nessicary animations he has to get through. The dialog and writing of the game were sub-par, and it was a total drag listening to it was exhausting. The combat was atrocious, although it's funny that if you do a certain mission, you can get a vibrating dildo to beat people with.

Once again, just another over hyped game that upon release was just a splash in the pan. It's a game I just wanted to get through and not play, though, if that makes sense. (Except I couldn't actually complete the game because of a glitch that locks out the final mission in Arasaka Tower.)

Bring us to the present day 2023. So fuckin many great games have been released. Baldurs Gate 3, Armored Core 6, Zelda TOTK, Diablo IV , Jedi Survivor and Remanant 2. All of these games are great at something and here comes Starfield.

Another insanely hyped up game now an Xbox exclusive. Promising endless exploration, a main story so original you won't know what hits you side quests and character interactions that were both fun and not chalk full of those pesky fetch quests. I was extremely skeptical. I knew that it wasn't going to be as good as they said, but I still wanted to give it a chance.

It was a day or so after Starfield came out for early access when I finally saw some game play. I'll be honest, i I was enamored with the gamer itch "I NEED TO PLAY THIS." So I stomached up the 100 or so dollars and got to downloading. It took 5ish hours for it to download because Microsoft servers are awful. I finally get in, and I'm floored with boredom.

The first few main quests aren't great. The hook is weak and not very interesting. Sure it's cool that magic sheet metal is giving me some kind of futuristic visions and that I'm not the "chosen one" just some guy in the right place at the right time to obtain these powers.

Then the guy you're digging this sheet metal out for comes by gives you a ship, and you're on your way. He just tells you to go see his buddies in the big city. Don't worry, they're not they aren't dangerous. The game opens up for you fully without any limitations. Except for how far you can travel on one tank of gas. No, you don't have to refill it. You just can only go so far to a star system and then go back to the map and click on where you want to go again. Redundant.

Oh, you wanted to go to that system? Loading screen. You wanted to go on to the planet? Loading screen. Wanted to get up from your cockpit and onto the planets surface? Loading screen. Do you want to just walk into a shop? Loading screen. Oops, you walked into the wrong shop? Loading screen. Loading screens Loading screens. I counted in one single 4 hour session. I hit 137 loading screens. That's 34 loading screens per hour. That's far from seamless and far from "free exploration." You can't even fly your ship on the planets. Only in space.

Speaking of exploration, it's bad. Exploration isn't endless as eventually you'll hit an invisible wall after you hit off the same exact buildings that you saw on the previous 12 planets filled with nondescript "Spacers" or nondescript Ecliptic mercenaries. Anything cool is found in side quests not exploring. Exploration isn't rewarded by finding some secret thing. It's rewarded with more procedurally generated garbage that does nothing for you.

Oh boy, the dialog is so terrible. It's bad. It's unbelievably bad that conversations also feel like a drag to get through. The dialog options are so unbelievable that it's hard to pick an option in some places.

The combat is good. The guns feel snappy, and the impact is hard. But the grenades are completely pointless. Level 22 enemies getting hit with an explosion tickles them, and they keep shooting.

The stat system is good it could use some more user support and a better explanation. Lockpicking is good and the best system so far that I've seen for that "mini game/skill".

The bugs in this game aren't terrible. They are manageable sometimes it's funny, but I haven't seen any game breaking bugs that lock you out of missions, although some people have reported that.

So you might be wondering. Why did I bring up Cyberpunk, Fallout 4, and No Mans Sky? Because I feel that Starfield falls somewhere in the middle of all these. It's Fallout 4 but bigger. Nothing really changed here. There hasn't really been an expansion on the made on the mechanics other than through gun recoil and skill progression. Mainly because they share the exact same game engine.

The freedom and ease of traversal in No Mans Sky is light-years beyond what Starfield has currently. The constant need to load every little thing is a big problem. Although SSD's make it load up in seconds, it's still a loading screen and that kills player immersion.

Where Starfield is better is that there is actually content. There's so much content people who love this game will be playing it for months if not years trying to do everything the game has to offer. I just don't think I'll be one of those people.

They took the worst of No Man's Skys boring, lifeless, procedurally generated planets and made them worse because of loading screens. And once again, there is no benefit for you exploring. You'll run into the same enemies with slight variations to the weapons they carry.

Cyberpunk 2077 being it's closest aligned game in terms of scope and futuristic drama. The dialog/writing and voice acting is much better than that of Starfield. Starfields main story has copied and pasted missions towards the middle and end. The relationship dialog you have with certain characters of Starfield is fucking atrocious. It's so bad you wouldn't see this on mid day soap operas.

Starfield was released in a better state than Cyberpunk. It's actually playable. Sure, bugs and glitches are something that plagues Bethesda titles. But this one in my own personal experiences wasn't so bad.

Overall, this game lands in the middle of the pack. It does somethings well, and other things not so much. It's an interesting game. It doesn't reinvent the Bethesda wheel. It's much too conservative and doesn't go outside its comfort zone. The side missions are stellar and unique, while the main story is a copy pasted mess that I just wanted to get through.

It's playable and less interesting than Cyberpunk. It has the same exact gameplay as Fallout 4 they improved on its foundation and slapped on a completely new coat of paint, and put an expansion on. But it's the same old house. Exploring is an unrewarded chore just as in No Mans Sky, but a multimillion dollar studio made it worse with loading screens and extreme limitations on where you can fly.

I put out my score of 7.2 for Starfield halfway through the game. But then I finished and was extremely disappointed. I wanted to score it better. But I just couldn't do it. It's just an okay game. If I were you and you wanted to buy the game, wait till it's on sale or get a game pass. It's worth it, honestly.

Now on to Lies of P!