#playchoice

[disease]

NINTENDO 'PLAYCHOICE' AD | 1990

[dutifullynuttywitch]

Redemption is a Perpetual Journey

Series: Bloodbound

Pairing: Kamilah Sayeed x Gaius Augustine

Rating: Mature (angst)

Word count: 1,491

A little birthday gift for the amazing @thosehallowedhalls ! Based on a chat we had... and because you have made me see our dear Gaius in a new forgiving light 🤭 I hope you have an amazing day - you deserve happiness and all good things! I'm so glad I met you, Caro 🌺🎉

The year is 3024.

The world had transformed beyond recognition.

Vast expanses of the earth had become unliveable, forcing its inhabitants to shelter in massive city-states.

The city of Novopolis had risen from the ruins of New York during the times of upheaval.

It sprawls beneath a massive shimmering dome, its skyscrapers reaching for the artificial sky like thousands of jagged steel fingers.

The domes were built centuries ago, consequence of the ozone layer’s depletion. Humankind in its hubris having failed to reverse the climate crisis. This development had been convenient for the vampires who could now walk in the daylight amongst humans, cyborgs and all manner of supernatural beings.

Kamilah Sayeed lands smoothly in a forested park on the outskirts of the glittering, fast-paced city.

A tap on her smartwatch, the lightweight wings disappear into her outfit.

She takes in her surrounding with a sharp glance. Smoothing her sleek dress. The digitally-enhanced fabric changes to align with her desired look – an elegantly dark don’t fuck with me style that makes her feel powerful, in control.

Today, she needs to be in control.

A thousand years had passed since they had defeated the original vampire, the Goddess Rheya. Since that fateful conversation with her sire, her on-and-off lover for nearly two thousand years.

******

2024

“Kamilah… in Japan… you said one good deed doesn’t undo all the evil I’ve caused. How many do you think it would take… to call me friend?”

“Come talk to me in a thousand years. I’ll let you know what I think then.”

“A thousand years…” he smiles wryly, “I suppose I could give it a try.”

*****

Gaius Augustine had been true to his oath.

The vampire had spent the past millennia wandering the known world, hunting down criminals and supernatural villains without reprieve. He seemed to have kept mostly to himself, not staying anywhere long enough to build attachments. Only leaving a trail of whispers of his exploits across continents.

Avoiding all contact with other vampires, anyone from his old life.

That was fine by her.

Kamilah had not wanted to see him. She remained angry at how he had degraded her, corrupted her into becoming a killing machine for thousands of years. But more so, Kamilah was furious at how she had let herself be seduced by his charisma, his allure. Allowed him to tempt her into following his murderous inclinations for so long. No, it would be disingenuous to lay all the blame at her maker’s feet.

And there was the issue of Rheya. Gaius had said she was not completely to blame for his behaviour, though she had locked away his empathy, his ability to feel guilt. How would their lives have turned out without her toxic influence?

At least, the pain had dulled over the centuries.

She had begun to forgive herself.

As for Gaius, she would see.

Kamilah takes a deep breath, composing herself.

The elegant vampire sets off at a leisurely pace, strolling beneath the shade of tall trees.

She heads towards a massive wooden bridge crossing a stream. A vestige of New York. Nothing made of wood was created anymore, the few surviving forests too precious to misuse so.

Kamilah crosses paths with humans, faes and other mystical beings. Most now have artificial limbs and enhancements thanks to growing advancements in biohacking.

Lily would have thrived in this environment.

Kamilah vividly remembers the vibrant, energetic young woman who had sacrificed her life to help defeat Rheya. Lily’s contagious positivity and selflessness had managed to thaw her heart a little.

The other members of their ragtag crew – Adrian, Amy, Jax, Seraphine, Nikhil – also held a soft spot, though each had followed their own paths over the centuries.

“Kamilah.”

Gaius’s soft whisper jolts the woman from her musings.

“A thousand years apart, and yet here we stand.”

He stops a few feet from her, movements uncertain.

Quickly calming her heartbeat, Kamilah takes in his appearance.

Physically, he had changed little. Those same handsome, sharp features. That charming, deviously seductive smile. That ageless face.

Though a constellation of new scars told a story, centuries of rough living. His blue eyes now held a certain melancholy.

“I’ve missed you.”

He smiles tentatively, his angular face softening slightly.

Kamilah remains silent. Observing him.

Attempting to process the chaos of emotions churning deep within her.

Together, they had danced, loved, hated and fought through epochs, their passion always an unbreakable thread. But now, after so many centuries apart, he felt like a stranger to her.

Kamilah’s gaze turns away, sweeping over the cityscape.

“Novopolis. A monument to human resilience. And yet, it lacks the wild beauty of our old world.”

They lean against the worn bridge, staring out at the jagged skyscrapers. Letting the sunlight warm their exposed skin. The dome above them hums softly, shielding them from the toxic atmosphere beyond.

“That is does. I miss the vast forests of old. How one had to spend months hidden on cramped ships to travel between continents. Spend weeks on horseback, traversing vast fields and woodlands, our bodies stiff with the harsh journeys. I had never felt more alive. Now, everything feels fast-paced, ephemeral.”

“Except us. We remain constant through all of it, unchanged.”

“Are we truly unchanged?”

Gaius asks, turning to her, gazing into her eyes intently. As if her response meant everything to him. Could perhaps redeem him.

Kamilah returns his gaze. Silent. Her face an undecipherable mask.

The man sighs.

“I have done my best to atone for my past deeds. Though it can never erase all the harm I’ve brought this world, I dare hope that somewhere down the line, I… I will begin to hate myself less. And perhaps, so will you…”

Those last few words are whispered. A confession to himself, to her.

Kamilah’s gaze finally softens. The tension eases from her shoulders.

“Gaius, for the longest time I have blamed you for our bloody rampage across Europe. For nearly destroying New York. Killing Amy, and countless others. Truth be told, I have my share of misdeeds to atone for. I am still working on forgiving myself."

Gaius takes her hands in his, willing her to look at him.

“My dear, you have always been the greater one. My moral compass. I will forever regret not heeding your advice during my darkest moments. Gods if I could take it all back…”

“But we can’t. We can only move forward.”

Those hands. Kamilah shivers unwillingly at the familiar warmth, as a surge of memories overwhelm her senses. Oh, how these hands had caressed her so tenderly, sensually for centuries. Traced every curve of her body, memorized her intimately, elicited a range of pleasure and emotions that no other being – man or woman – had been able to match since. How these same hands had also threatened her, hurt her and her loved ones. Caused her uncountable grief and sorrow.

What were they to her now?

He notices the conflicting emotions flashing across her exquisite face and steps closer, sliding his hands up, caressing her arms, shoulders, wanting to ease her pain. Somehow.

On impulse, Kamilah reaches out, tracing his cheek with the tips of her fingers. Such familiar features. That soft skin, so warm.

He closes his eyes, leaning into her delicate touch. The shadow of a smile dances on the corners of his lips.

“Gaius, will we ever find peace?”

He opens his eyes, locking onto hers. A mix of emotions flickering in those endless pools. Sadness, self-loathing, tenderness… and hope.

“Perhaps. Perhaps… we can attempt to continue our journeys of atonement together?”

Kamilah closes her eyes at that, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Gaius gathers her into his arms tenderly. She buries her face into the crook of his neck and breathes in his familiar scent, hints of leather and earthy notes. Allowing herself to be vulnerable for a moment.

Just a moment.

As the city buzzes in the distance, Kamilah whispers against his warm skin, regretfully.

“I am not certain I am ready for that.”

Gaius holds her tighter, unable to let her go just yet. He nods his understanding into her obsidian hair, bending towards her ear to murmur

“I have waited a thousand years to see you again. For you, my queen, I will wait a thousand more.”

[frogshunnedshadows]

Retro Arcade Afternoon: The Write-up!

Almost the first thing you see when you enter is the giant, double-size Hercules pinball by Atari, twice as big as a regular pinball game, which I also think uses a pool cue ball instead of a regular pinball ball. It's not up & running, and I don't think it has been for years.

The first thing I did was try my hand at my favorite, Galaga. Managed to brute-force my way to 134,580 at level 21, but that was not my best playing. I think that particular machine has a flaky joystick : /

Moved over to Butterfly, IIRC, which is a Spanish-made game, apparently. Old electro-mechcanical pinball. – The first one I played that day. Love to hear the little dings and bells of the score increasing.

Gave Attack from Mars a whirl, then tried the original Frogger in an original cabinet for the first time ever. Noticed the little Gremlin logo on the marquee (above).

Tried a little Super Mario Brothers on an original cab, and then Contra (for the first time) on a Play Choice cabinet.

Had a quick go at the Back to the Future trilogy machine by Data East. Nice art, appreciate them including all 3 films.

I liked Black Knight 2000. Lotta nice flashing lights on this, and some cool art. High fives for the entire Black Knight 2000 team.

Have to call out the wild and weird playfield on the Gottlieb Haunted House – three separate levels, with their own flippers = 8 flippers on this machine. And two sets of buttons for them, which I originally could not figure out. Great backglass art.

- - - To Be Continued! - - -

[choicesficwriterscreations]

Open Heart FotW - Oct 22-28, 2023

✒️= Fanfic | 📱= Text Fics/Edits | 🎨= Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA 🎃 = Halloween Reminder! We are on vacation this week and will be back on November 6th! If you want any of your creations shared the following week, we MUST be tagged this week. We'll take care of it upon our return.

ETHAN RAMSEY

20 Questions ✒️| Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @zealouscanonindeer

Hunger Pains (PG-13 Version) ✒️| Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @cariantha

Little Pumpkin 📱🎃| Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @genevievemd

Talk of the Town ✒️| Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @storyofmychoices

Too Many Clothes 📱| Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @potionsprefect

Trick or Treat ✒️🎃Ⓜ️🔥| Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @coffeeheartaddict2

RAFAEL AVEIRO

Breakfast in Bed ✒️| Rafael Aveiro x F!MC - @rafasgirl23415

Moving In ✒️| Rafael Aveiro x F!MC - @rafasgirl23415

SIENNA TRINH

Christmas Presents 📱| Sienna Trinh x M!OC - @liaromancewriter

TOBIAS CARRICK

Better Luck Next Year 📱| Tobias Carrick x F!MC - @jerzwriter

Like it's 1989... 📱🏳️‍🌈| Tobias Carrick (x F!MC), M!MC (x Bryce Lahela) - @jerzwriter

Main CFWC F/AotW List Blades F/AotW List

[dutifullynuttywitch]

Ahhhh this is poetic 🥺 whispered little shards of glass, tucked away in a dear friend's heart... i loved this

And Then We Snap a Polaroid

Book: Immortal Desires Pairing: nb!MC (Luca O'Rinn) & m!OC (Viktor Ivanov) Ratings/Warnings: Teen, allusions to trauma and mental health Words: 300

Prompt: Liminality - Thresholds, Waiting Rooms A/N: Didn't actually mean to write a drabble for this edit series, but here we are lol

Tagging: @choicesficwriterscreations @choicesjunechallenge2024 @thosehallowedhalls @lilyoffandoms @stars-are-within-me

Backstage is for whispered secrets. Confessions. Broken things they carry that they need to put down.

Their words are safe to say, in places like this. When they wait to go onstage together --in the back alley, the green room, the underpass outside the dive bar-- their secrets are crushed and muddied.

Nothing is real here. Everything is muted cheers and the static hum of amps; cold night wind, velvet and leather, and hot, nervous sweat.

These places aren't one or the other. These places aren't quite real. So, the secrets aren't real, either.

I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this.

I'm scared of running into my father again.

I don't know who I am anymore. I don't think I ever really did.

I still have nightmares.

I just want it all to stop.

It is by unspoken agreement that they never bring these things up, afterwards. They remain whispered little shards of glass, tucked away in a dear friend's heart.

Maybe there will be a knife-edge of agitation in Viktor's performance as he clutches the mic... but then, he's always like that, isn't he?

Maybe Luca hisses and swears because he snaps a drumstick this time. But... they always have a lot of restless energy, don't they? It's nothing unusual. Nothing anyone ever comments on. The band have drinks and they laugh and snap photos afterward, and go on like nothing matters.

But Luca knows. And Viktor knows.

And if all they have time to do is squeeze the other's hand before the gig starts, then that is enough. A shared look, a hug, a kiss on the forehead.

It is enough.

Because their secrets are stolen away when they cross the threshold, spirited away into the air. Every time they step beneath the lights, they claim love, strength, courage. Every time they walk onstage, they decide who they will become.

[choicesenthusiast]

with fortunately convenient timing, the unnanounced narrative game company founded by former pb employees now has a name! candlelight games, led by none other andrew shvarts aka mr. blades himself (along with his brother daniel), megan schwarz (lead of tna, ame, ds, weh) and royal mcgraw (who headed the original hollywood u and then choices until 2021).

their first project is a fantasy story, so if the series ai acquisition and, most recently, the blades iii ai cover reveal upsets and disappoints you (which it should! fuck ai fr), i'd recommend taking a following to them as i have. i'm looking forward to what's to come!

[rustyharveysbox]

"You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me"

The asylum they raised me in:

[ladylucitor]

Rightful queen of Stormholt

@playchoices

[dutifullynuttywitch]

This!!!! How had I not seen this before?!!!

I love how you write. And Rin... I know I keep saying this, but I seriously adore Rin. The look, the attitude. How she epically stood up to her mom. That gift - the teddybear - oooh that scene gave me shivers!

I'm too tired to write a coherent comment but coming back to this. Just wanted to send my appreciation your way! 💛

Really quick drabble I wrote insprired by @jerzwriter [this post] It's not exactly a Valentine's fic but 😭 it was so fitting that I had to!! Will edit later for formatting stuff 👍 (im tired rn)

Title: Happy Valentine's, Hater Book: The Junior (i think) MC: Rin (you haven't properly met her yet!!) Words: 749

Rin chewed the butt of her cigarette. She sat in the corner of the cafe, wrapped in leather from head to toe. The lingering winter chill bit through the freezing leather, but even that was a welcome sensation. A sharp grin spread across her face as Rin flexed her fingers in front. She’d never thought she’d be able to tie up her loosest ends so neatly.  

Somehow, her mother had found her. Against every odd and prayer, Starla Bishop was going to saunter back into Rin’s life like she’d never left. Like she hadn’t abandoned Rin in an empty lot at thirteen while police swarmed the place where all the people Rin knew were being handcuffed one-by-one. 

The older parts of her that remembered everything: the blue-red of police cars blaring through the windows, the shattered glass, the pain as she struggled to run alongside her mother. The setting anger as her mother’s back went farther and farther without her. 

And yet, the six year old in her only recalled her mother’s warm smile. Only remembered the occasional chunks of chocolate they’d share on special days. Only remembered the scant good things they were to remember about that wreck of a woman. 

The rest of her kept count of the colder ones, like unsettled debts. Her back remembered the sharp sting of cold, ragged sticks on dark nights. Her ears still stung remembering all the different curses Starla would hurl at her during the day. Her eyes still remembered the pure vitriol leveled at her with every action. Her heart still remembered each disparaging comment. 

So when Starla, voiced pleading –almost repentant– had begged to see Rin, even if just one day… Rin knew it was finally time to settle the score.

The cafe door chimed. 

Rin saw a cloud of grayed hair. 

She heard the clack of shoes against the wood floor. 

Before she knew it, there was her mother. The same height as her. The same smile as her. The same eyes as her. 

Unbidden comments from her childhood spilled into memory. There was a time Rin would sit up prouder after noticing another similarity between her and her mom. Now? The very idea made her itch for a lighter. 

Looking away, Rin gestured to the seat across from her. Tears tethered on the verge of falling, constricting her voice, “Don’t just stand there like a dumbass.” 

Starla’s hands reached out, showing off expensively decorated nails. Her voice was comforting, it was the tone of the mother who’d adored her baby. A voice that Rin could sparsely recall, “Oh sweetie…” 

Yanking away, Rin swatted at Starla’s hands. “Let’s get somethin’ straight,” she said, cold and hard, “you ain’t gotta right to touch me like that or call me like that, clear?” 

Starla nodded, the sort that was too practiced to be genuine, “I understand, Renee.” 

“The name’s Rin now.” 

“A shame, Renee was such a pretty name…” She trailed off, cautiously asking, “is it a nickname for Renee?” 

“No, ain’t want nothing with that name,” Rin responded, flippantly flicking her cigarette towards Starla, admiring when she flinched away, “and that includes you.” 

 Enough hurt painted Starla’s face that Rin felt bad. 

“Renee, sorry, Rin,” Starla said, only looking a little apologetic. Shifting forward, her voice grew thick, tight with tears, looking at her own splitting image glaring at her. “Know that I didn’t mean to hurt you.” 

“So? You did.” 

“I was young–” 

“You were thirty.” 

“I was dumb.” 

“I agree.” 

“I want to make things right with you.” 

“I know.” 

Starla perked up, “Rinny? You changed your mind.” 

“Rinny?” Rin repeated, “Who the hell’s that? My name’s Rin.” 

Starla flushed, “I thought it was a cute nickname.” 

“We ain’t close enough for that.” 

“I’m trying to fix that.” 

“I don’t think it’s broken.” Rin suppressed a snort, placing her cigarette back between her lips. She licked over the groove her teeth had made, stand up before losing her nerve. Callously, she handed Starla a small gift bag. Barely bothering with a glance, she continued, “I wanna a clean break from you. I got a little something, in case you ever feel like talkin’ ta me again.” 

Pulling out the gift, she placed the small teddy in front of her mother. Each of its fur-covered paws held half of a broken heart. It wore a black shirt reading: Bye Bye! 

Rin didn’t stick around long enough to know what Starla said. If she said anything at all. 

[urdilfred]

Blades of Light and Shadow(Fanart)

[mikaelsrose]

they massacred my boy 🥲

[disease]

PLAYCHOICE #10: LATEST IN COUNTER INTELLIGENCE [NINTENDO | USA, 1990]

[kainebell]

damn nobody wants him fr 😔

[sapphicspaceart]

the twelve catalysts

[storyofmychoices]

PB shared the announcement on their blog.

I googled "Series Entertainment" and found article about this news and the article starts with:

Series Entertainment – itself a game development company that "pioneer[s] the use of generative AI to transform imaginative ideas into unforgettable gaming experiences" – says the acquisition "signifies Series' strategy to build out its studio system to deliver a diverse catalog of different genres that leverage its world class development technology, the Rho Engine", the world’s first "AI-native, multimodal full-stack game creation platform". [X]

And here is another article

Series Entertainment, a fast-growing AI game development company, has acquired interactive fiction mobile game studio Pixelberry.

From the companies website...

So basically we told Choices we didn't want AI and they sold the company to an AI entertainment company 🤦‍♀️

[lampyri]

Hi! I finally have the capacity to be doing something like this so I'll be drawing a sketchy headshot (see above) in exchange for $7+ donations to any of the gfms linked below:

Donation campaigns - May 20

Vetted fundraisers from Gaza & Sudan

Gazafunds

Gazaesims (1 9$ eSim = 1 headshot, 1 $16 eSim = 2 headshots)

All I'll require is a receipt/proof along with the timestamp sent through DM and I'll draw you a headshot of any character of your choice!

In case you're unable to donate please reblog this post to spread the word!!!