#player; the young tamer

[murderofravens]

BABY, I'M RIGHT HERE

pairing: hwang inho/young-il/frontman x fem reader

part: 2/3 [finished]

warnings: large age gap (20 vs late 40s) angst. slow burn. slight infantilization. no use of y/n. codependency. obsession from both sides. unhealthy dynamics. plot with porn. fingering. oral fixation. brat tamer inho. sub!reader. reader is very touch starved. a little yandere vibes. emotional manipulation. i made him very fatherly but toxic oops.

summary: he promised that you will make it out alive. he will make sure of it, no matter what it takes.

word count: 8k more or less

SERIES MASTERLIST | MASTERLIST

please ignore mistakes.

you can't remember half of it. everything happened so quickly— your little moment of bliss shattered by 388's quick warning. the lights went out. one moment you were in young-il's arms, the next he was dragging you down towards 456, who was hiding under another bed. he shifted to make room for you and you crawled to his side. young-il followed.

"stay quiet," 456 whispered, looking around. not much was visible in the dark, but soon enough, the loud noise of bottles shattering and people screaming began echoing through the hall.

"they're killing each other—" you whisper, eyes wide. you shift slightly, raising your head. you try to sit up. "they're killing our side of the people—"

young-il halted your movements with a hand on your arm, "don't move." he hissed. "we can't leave till the guards come in."

"what?" you snap, voice hushed, "if they kill all our people, what's gonna happen in the next vote? we'll lose!"

"there won't be a next vote," 456 added, flinching slightly at another sharp cry. he looked determined. "we're stopping this today."

you glanced at him, heartbroken. you looked out again, heartbeat picking up as you saw player 380 run away from nam-gyu. he was on her tail, visibly trying to kill her. a bottle lay there by the bed, and before young-il could stop you, you slid it out. nam-gyu tripped on it and fell on his face. luckily, it was too dark and he was too worked up to check who it was. you just hoped it gave player 380 enough time to hide.

young-il restrained you then, pushing you down slightly so you were fully sandwiched between him and 456, "don't compromise our position!"

"how much longer?" you whispered, ignoring him. you winced as more sounds of bones cracking and people choking on their own blood took over the entire room. neither of them answered, but even 456 jumped a little as the body of one of the girls on your side fell to the floor.

your eyes widened as the girl's eyes met yours, and then she sputtered out blood before laying there, lifeless.

"don't look." young-il voiced out, craning his neck down to meet your gaze. he clenched his jaw, settling you with a cold glare, "look at me."

"you should've told me this was the plan," you hissed through gritted teeth, squinting as the flashing of lights overwhelmed your senses, "would you be okay if that was m—mphh!"

he put a finger to your lips, shaking slightly as he gave you another warning glare. 456 watched with bated breath, as if counting all the people dying.

the lights go off again, and the room remains dark. only the noises of people fighting can be heard.

"time to move," 456 tells young-il, who nods and begins shifting out of the bed. you follow along, but he pushes you back in, "don't get out until i tell you."

"what?" you frown, confused. your words are quick, "you expect me to hide here while you go out there to do god knows what—

as you speak, young-il grits his teeth, frustrated. he's desperate as he grabs your shoulders. he glances back, makes sure no one sees before silencing you with a kiss. it leaves you breathless. he cups your face and looks into your eyes intensely, "don't get out until i tell you to." his voice is urgent, "close your eyes, put your hands to your ears. trust me, and listen to me for once."

you blink rapidly before nodding, still a little out of it. you don't think you'll ever get used to how good kissing him feels. you wish you could feel it again and again, under better circumstances.

456 hisses for young-il, and he pats your head before rushing away as soon as the doors open. the guards come in, rapidly firing their machine guns towards the ceiling, stopping the fight. you watch carefully, heart dropping to your stomach as young-il and 456 lay there, as if dead, along with 390 and 388. you almost rush out to check on them, but young-il's previous words hold you back. you watch as the guards start putting those devices to the dead bodies' ears, and when they reach your team members, 456 suddenly attacks. the rest of the team similarly manages to take their guns away, and kill the remaining guards. you almost jump out of your skin as a firing match starts— and young-il and player 120 skillfully kill most of them. you look on with bated breath, flinching as the guards fall to the floors. you begin to get out from under the bed, panting. one of the guards was still hiding, and he immediately aimed the gun at you. before you could move, young-il shoots him dead.

you look around the room, swallowing the lump in your throat at the sight of all the dead bodies. so many people with hopes and dreams. people with families, laying there, lifeless. cautiously, you looked around with purpose, before your eyes fell on player 380's body.

she couldn't hide.

you look away, sweat rolling down the side of your head. you clench your jaw and glare at the other team, eyes narrowing with resentment as you catch sight of nam-gyu. swallowing hard, you walk past the bodies, careful not to step on them. your eyes fell on your team members gathering the guards' weapons.

so this was the plan. you frown, rushing forward to help them. the guns are heavy, but you manage to place many of them along with some ammo on the bedsheet laying there.

456 announces the plan— something about capturing the ones who captured them all, and going to their headquarters to make them pay. you shift your gaze to young-il, who stares ahead blankly, as if thinking hard. you wonder if he's scared.

"anyone who knows how to use guns and wishes to join us—" 456 calls out, "please step forward!"

the players are silent, frozen. cowards, you think to yourself. you step forward immediately, and young-il's face hardens so dramatically, it almost makes you laugh. he takes a step towards you, "absolutely not!" he snaps, "stay right there."

"you need all the help you can get!" you argue back sharply. you point an accusatory finger at player 100 and his team. "don't you see? even these so called tough guys aren't willing to go with you! don't put your trust in these people, i can help more than they can! my aim's great!"

while you talk, young-il pinches the bridge of his nose, calls your name again gruffly. a warning.

"don't drag us into this!" player 100 interrupts angrily, his lip curling with disgust. "this is madness! you don't stand a chance against them!"

you quite literally snarl as you rush towards him, jabbing a finger to his chest. it makes him stumble backwards, "you had no issue with risking our lives and your own for money, but standing up to those who caught you is where you draw the line?" you glower at him, scoff at the rest of his team. to emphasize your point, you gather saliva in your mouth, spit it by his shoe. "fucking pussy !"

young-il quite literally snatches you away by the collar of your jacket before the other team can do anything. it's a little baffling how swiftly he moves, even while carrying such a big gun. he takes you to your side of the bunker, shoves you onto the bed, "don't make me tie you up." he grunts threateningly, "you are not going and that's final. you're built like a bird, you won't stand a chance against armed guards. i refuse to watch you get killed."

456 calls out for you, voice soft but urgent, "it's best if you stay here. we won't be able to focus if he's— if we're worried about you."

you grit your teeth as you scowl at young-il with glassy eyes. they're tears of anger. you want to scream at him. you want to pull him towards you and never let him go. you look at your team, watch with longing as player 120 guides them on how to use their guns. she's brave and badass, it makes you want to be like her.

"and you're okay with getting killed?" you drift your attention back to young-il, voice cracking. "what am i supposed to do if something happens to you?"

young-il sighs, gaze softening as he kneels before you . your lips wobble as you glare daggers at him, eyes narrowed. he shakes his head, "i'll come back to you alive."

you scoff bitterly. "how can you be so sure?"

"i just am."

"promise me." you hold your pinky up, clenching your jaw as you stare at him intensely, "promise me you won't die. promise me you'll come back for me."

he looks at your pinky, and then at you. you've always found him harder to read than other people. but you see reluctance in his eyes. he sighs, before raising his own pinky, joining it with yours. the contrast between your hands would've been comical if you were not in this shithole. he gives you a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

"i promise."

you can hear player 100 yelling at his team, clearly talking shit about you. you look over young-il's shoulder, and he glances at the old man too before turning to you knowingly.

"don't get in any trouble while i'm gone." he whispers softly. he reaches behind his back. "and just in case— i want you to have this."

it's a pistol. he probably took it from one of the dead guards. your eyes widen and you look at young-il. he teaches you how to unload it, and reload it, and how to work the safety, before placing it in your palm. your gaze never leaves his face. questioning.

"you've made enemies here," he explains, as if it's obvious, "if any of the men there try anything—"

"you want me to kill them?" you quirk an eyebrow.

his mouth curls into a smirk, "i want you to be safe."

he gets up, and as player 100 looks at you again, you jokingly aim the gun towards him. he jumps back in fear, stumbling into the younger men at his side. you chuckle, and young-il lowers your hand. "behave."

it makes your heart jump.

"why does that kid get a gun and we don't?!" one of the younger men yells. young-il ignores him.

you grin at him almost childishly. he shakes his head before addressing 149— the old lady who got here with her son.

"don't let her leave," he tells her, giving you a stern, sidelong glance. you roll your eyes.

before he can leave, you grab his hand and look at him intensely. you can only hope your eyes can convey what you can't verbally, not in front of people. for his sake.

"be careful." you decide to say, voice cracking. you memorize every feature of his face, with only one thought in your mind.

you're not allowed to leave me.

he nods, looking away before walking to his team. you yell at them too, telling them to be careful and watch as they carefully exit. you look on with longing as you watch them go, before glancing down at the gun in your hand, and then at the door again. soon enough, you can hear the faint sounds of guns firing. it makes you jump, but player 149 puts a hand on your shoulder, comfortingly guiding you to sit beside her.

you almost contemplate rushing out, what would these people even do? stop you? you have a gun in your hand, although you wouldn't want to pull it on 149. she's a good lady. people are already scared. you don't want to make it worse.

so you stay, and hope that young-il keeps his promise. pinky promises are sacred. you either keep them, or you die.

you decide that if he dies, you'll just bring him back to life somehow and kill him again.

you don't remember how long you wait. multiple times, you stand up and pace around the room. agitated, scared. every gunshot has you looking at the door again and again, hoping that somehow young-il will decide to burst through it. 149 tells you to be calm, tries to distract you with your life outside the games. it doesn't work.

thankfully, the pistol in your hand had scared the other team enough to not try anything with you. they talk within themselves, trying to busy themselves with conversations and anxiously bouncing their legs as they look at the ceiling. you wonder how they can be so calm after killing your team.

"you people are cowards." you say to no one in particular. the message hits the target though, because the ones who weren't willing to go and help shift uncomfortably.

"you'd rather die losing to a stupid game instead of a noble death trying to help people," you chide, chuckling bitterly. 149 tries to stop you from talking, but you shrug her words off with a shake of your head. you stand up and face the other team again. "it's shameful. you had no problem killing others who were in the same position as you, but your oppressors is where you decide to stop?" you gesture towards the dead bodies. the sight of blood doesn't make you squeamish anymore. it just makes you sad.

"these people died because you wanted to keep playing." you hiss, "you killed them."

the people on the other side don't respond, instead lowering their gaze to the floor. you look at nam-gyu sitting on the side, fiddling with something. you want to kill him. you want to kill everyone who stopped you from going home, who became the reason more innocent people died. your morals are a bit fucked, you think, but you're okay with it. people who do bad things deserve to die. you raise the gun, aim it at player 100. he flinches, and sits straight up, raising his hands. his team members shuffle away from him, and it makes you snicker. when he's on death's door, they abandon him. "have you gone crazy!?"

"game or no game, you were meant to die." you clench your jaw, your mouth twitching. "shall i kill you, old man?"

you don't get to pull the trigger. you're interrupted by player 388 rushing inside, panicked and covered in blood. your eyes widen, and you go straight to him, grabbing his shoulders. he looks shaken up, "what happened? where's 001? is he okay? did you find—"

"gather all the remaining ammo," he says shakily, fumbling over his words, "we ran out. i need to take some back."

you nod, and 149's son comes to help you check the dead guards' gear and gather the remaining ammunition. 388 wraps it up in a jacket, and rushes to the door, before suddenly stopping. you pause, looking at him, sweat breaking out across your skin. there's a bad feeling in your stomach. "what's wrong? aren't you going?"

he doesn't respond. you can't see his face because his back is turned to you. a moment passes and you step forward cautiously. he drops the walkie talkie, and your eyes fall to the floor where it lands— where you can hear the voice of player 120 asking where he is. they have no ammo.

"i can't do it." 388 whispers, shaking. he rushes back to his bed, drops the little makeshift bag full of ammo and cowers into himself. your eyes widen. you look at the walkie talkie, and back to him. if they don't get ammo soon, they're going to die. you rush to the bed, shoot 388 a frown— you consider comforting him, but you have another priority now. you grab the bundle and turn to leave.

149 runs after you along with a few others, pulling you by the sleeve of your jacket. she's trembling with worry. "your father told me not to let you leave—"

amidst the chaos, you let out a chuckle.

"he's not my father," you reply, yanking your jacket from her grip and composing yourself. the sentence would've had you cackling in a better situation. you can't wait to tell young-il about it. you can understand why she'd think so, even though you and young-il look literally nothing alike. the opposite, really. he's like a father in spirit.

your face hardens and you address the crowd. "they need help. is anyone gonna come with me?”

nobody moves. you scoff bitterly. predictable.

149 looks at you helplessly, pushes her son to grab you. when he advances towards you, you pull out the gun and hold it to his head, eyes crazed as you pull the safety. you warn him dangerously, "step back."

he raises his hands and steps back, lowering his gaze. holding the bundle to your chest, you walk backwards, aiming the gun to both sides of the room and ensuring no one grabs you. you look at 149, meet her crushed gaze and mouth an 'im sorry' to her before running out as fast as you can.

you're quite sure you got lost. you're running as fast as you can, trying to follow the sounds of the gunshots, and looking for any bullet holes or signs of struggle. you look up and see broken cameras, and recall 120 shooting them back in the hall. you follow them until one of the red guards encounters you, immediately raising his gun. he's slow, infuriatingly so— but it doesn't matter because in your panicked haze, you shoot him in the stomach, then rush forward and kick his gun away before running off.

you can see your team. you let out a breath of relief, and as soon as 120 meets your gaze, she gasps. you shake your head and quickly slide over to her, giving her the rest of the ammunition. she quickly reloads, and you toss the rest to the other players, before looking around frantically, flinching at the gunshots. "where's 001 and 456?" you ask her.

"control room!" she points towards the end of the hallway, and you nod before advancing. she tries to protest but you're quicker, and she's preoccupied with firing. luckily, the guards never seem to fire at you.

there are two sides. you hesitate, before finally taking the left one where you just heard two gunshots. you quickly rush forward, pistol held protectively. the whole area looks like some sort of purple maze, and you're wary as you walk, scared that a guard might jump out and shoot you.

finally, you see your young-il's back. he's crouching on the floor, looking at a dying player. the relief you feel is baffling. your eyes widen, and you call out his name. "young-il sir!"

he tenses, turning back so fast that you worry he'd get a whiplash. visibly stressed, he rushes towards you, shaking his head, "no— no, no, no, no, no, what are you doing here!”

you run towards him, almost tripping on the stairs. he grabs your shoulders, shakes you aggressively, "i told you not to fucking leave!"

you almost flinch at his tone. it's strange to see him swear. you answer him shakily, panting, "they— they ran out of ammo, i couldn't leave you!"

he looks upset and shaken up, clenching his jaw as he pinches the bridge of his nose, mumbling incoherently to himself. you turn towards the dying player, your expression pained. he tries to point at something, but you don't understand what. you kneel towards him, and his hand falls down. his croaking stops.

suddenly, you hear the footsteps of guards heading towards you. before you can move, you're surrounded. you hold onto your gun, shaking as you quickly stand up. you swallow hard, unblinking as they aim their guns at you.

that’s when you notice it.

they're aiming at only you, and not young-il. it makes you feel strange.

you look at him, and he's taking sharp breaths, as if trying to compose himself. or trying not to scream with rage. it's odd, how relaxed he looks. tense in the face, but relaxed in the way that he didn't take an offensive stance, or feel surprised at the sight of the guards. you frown in confusion, before he flicks his hand. the guards lower their guns.

you blink a few times, swallowing the lump in your throat, dread settling in your stomach. you look at the guards, then at young-il, who refuses to meet your gaze. you repeat the action.

guards. young-il. guards. young-il. then the players on the floor. then back at young-il's face. and it takes you a moment, but the realization sets in.

the guard letting you go to the restroom when young-il was by your side, him conveniently appearing to save you when you went exploring, him walking with that air of authority. how the guards never seemed to look at him too long. how easily he killed the man during mingle without a second thought. how one look from him had the guard lowering his gun during voting. how he was sure he wouldn't die. things that you never should've looked over.

you step back, your breathing getting ragged as you slowly raise your gun towards young-il. the guards point their guns at you again, ready to shoot. he stops them by raising his hand in warning. he clenches his jaw, his eyes unreadable and guarded.

"who are you." you demand tightly. your voice shakes pathetically, it makes you wince. you've never been this scared of anything in your life. not even the games.

"it doesn't have to be this way." he says quietly. his voice seems different, deeper. gravely. he holds his hand out to you in what he hopes is a comforting fashion. "put the gun down."

you step back, putting your finger on the trigger, just the way he taught you. ‘i want you to be safe,’ he'd said.

"i asked you a fucking question!" you yell, voice cracking. your gun feels slippery in your hands. it almost falls. you fumble trying to keep a tight grip on it. all this time, the prospect of death felt a little comforting with the idea that you'd have young-il by your side if it happened. but now, it just terrifies you. it looks bleak.

you sniffle, lips wobbling as fresh tears roll down your cheeks. you were always fucking unlucky. the first time you like a man this much, he turns out to be the bad guy. you feel utterly pathetic and terrified.

his eyes dart all over your panicked face before he gestures towards one of the guards, who raises his gun. there's a flash of guilt in his eyes that you can't miss. it makes your blood freeze. you refuse to die alone.

you straighten your aim towards young-il and pull the trigger. two gunshots ring out, and you don't get the time to react before something stings your chest, and you fall to the ground.

your vision goes black.

there are no dreams, no last memories. no flashes of your life. there's this heaviness in your chest, like someone is suffocating you.

you wake up with a startled gasp, sitting up immediately. your vision looks blurry, but with a few blinks you can make out a room. a lavish room with a closed window on the side. you frown in confusion, before putting your hand to your chest. there's no bleeding, no pain except the one in your muscles.

you swallow hard, your throat feeling dry. for a moment you wonder if it was all a dream, but when you try to move, you realize your right hand is chained to the side of the bed— with those strong black straps with locks that they used in the second game. you pull at it a few times, breathing getting heavy as you look down on yourself. your bloodied green jersey has been replaced by a comfortable pair of pink pyjamas that cover your arms and legs. you raise your hand to your head, and there's a small bandage on the right side of your face that you remember previously scratching in the bathroom.

you struggle a little, try to look for a way to unlock the straps, but it's like the room is purposely empty. absolutely no sharp or heavy objects to help you escape. like a prison cell.

you think of young-il. is he dead? you remember pulling the trigger. you knew the risk that came with aiming the gun at him when you were surrounded by guards— you just had this thought that if you were going to die, you would drag him with you. he won't get to live after what he'd done.

you don't get to brood about your thoughts for long, because the door opens and he steps inside— a man dressed in black, with a creepy mask. it makes you feel uneasy. you touch your chest again, look at him with a questioning gaze.

“it was just a tranquilizer.” he answers your silent question, voice distorted through the mask.

“is this really necessary?” you ask dryly, rattling the chain on your right hand.

“do you feel comfortable?” the man asks, gesturing towards your clothes.

you grit your teeth, “cut the bullshit. who are you?”

the man sighs, looking down, as if disappointed. he looks at you again before taking off the mask, and you feel like throwing up.

his hair looks different — slicked back with gel. his eyes look tired, even more so than back at the games. he looks more intimidating this way. you feel a strong urge to leap across the bed and ruffle his hair so he can look familiar again.

you have so much to say.

why did you do this? who the fuck are you? how are you still here, when i so clearly remember shooting you?

“you're alive,” you instead remark dryly. young-il gives you a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

“your aim needs more practice,” he says quietly, patting his right shoulder. “barely grazed me.”

the idea of having hurt him almost makes your chest ache, but you remind yourself of who he is.

you sniffle, lips wobbling as you look at him. your dear young-il. who comforted you, protected you, held you and kissed you so dearly. he really made a fucking fool out of you.

“and what's all that for?” you tilt your head towards his hand. trying to put on a mask, just like him. a brave face.

he places the mask on the table, walks over to sit on the side of the bed. you flinch, moving away from him slightly.

he notices, and it hurts more than getting shot. he doesn't dare reveal that on his face.

“is your name even young-il?” you ask quietly, voice strained.

he shakes his head. you snort bitterly.

“i'm guessing you're the big boss then.” you remark flatly, looking around the room. forcing yourself to appear nonchalant. he wants to tell you to drop the act, because he can still hear your voice faltering.

he nods, “something like that. i design the games.”

you bite down on your lower lip to stop it from wobbling. nobody knows the strength it takes trying not to cry. you lower your gaze to your lap.

your next question is pathetic. you would expect yourself to scream and threaten him to let you go, but there's only one thing on your mind.

“was i a game to you too?” you ask quietly. you don't want to know the answer. perhaps you would've preferred it if he killed you.

he sighs, averting his gaze. he utters your name softly, and you feel like a weak woman because you still like the way he says it.

your voice almost waivers when you ask, “are you going to hurt me?”

he looks at you, blinks a few times before answering honestly. “don't make me.”

you hold back the urge to sob. your left hand comes up to clap over your mouth, and he looks away as you cower in on yourself. how can he say that, after covering your eyes and pulling you into him to ensure you didn't get scared by people getting killed? you wish there was atleast a lamp on the side table, maybe you could've cracked his skull to free yourself from this fear. and to take revenge for playing with your heart.

“you ruined everything.” he admits, voice growing tight. solemn. he clenches his jaw, mouth twitching with barely disguised anger. “i went into the games because of gi-hun, to make sure he doesn't stop the game. and then ended up paying more attention to you than him.”

you release a shaky breath, pulling your knees to your chest. your mouth twists with emotion. gi-hun. player 456. your eyes widen, heart leaping out of your throat.

“is he okay?” you ask, voice cracking with concern, “is he alive?”

his head snaps up— gaze hardening almost dramatically. his eye twitches, and he gives you a tight smile. it doesn't suit him because it's not the one you're familiar with. “are you worried about him?”

you glare at him, eyes narrowing.

“he’ll be fine.” he adds nonchalantly. his voice sounds different— cold in a way that makes goosebumps rise on your skin. “would you rather be with him than me?”

you snort bitterly, looking away with a roll of your eyes. he can't be fucking serious. he has the audacity to be jealous after what he's done to you. he is so unbelievably ridiculous.

“put me back in the game.” you hiss through gritted teeth.

“i can't do that.” he shakes his head, “you will die in there. you won't survive the next games. i made sure they get increasingly difficult—”

“i'll win!” you argue, “i’ll beat them all and win, stop treating me like a fucking child—”

“you are a fucking child compared to me!” he bellows, making you flinch. your gaze never falters as you grit your teeth, looking at him with all the rage you can muster. he grabs your jaw, squishing your cheeks so hard that your lips pucker. he would've kissed you if he wasn't so fucking angry. his voice is harsh as he continues, shaking your head. “you! are quite literally a baby compared to me and the others in there. they're ruthless animals who won't hesitate to rip you apart to win. you're going to die in there and i wouldn't be there to save you!”

his words have your stomach churning, because he's right. but that doesn't matter to you.

“since when do you care?!” you snap challengingly. your words come out muffled.

he glares back at you, his nostrils flaring with anger, “i wish i didn't care.” he hisses, voice low. hoarse. he leans towards you. “oh how desperately i wish i didn't care about you.”

your heart begins to race as you stare at him, dumbfounded, unable to speak. he looks into your eyes, then glances down at your lips, before making eye contact again. he lets go of your face and straightens up, composing himself.

“you almost ruined my entire plan.” his voice is collected, almost guarded. “you consume my every waking thought ever since i felt your head against my chest. do you know how many times i had to warn my guards not to shoot you? especially with how many times you kept crossing the line?”

your breath hitches, and you open your mouth to argue. he doesn't give you a moment to speak.

“i'm not sending you back in the games where you can die.” he continues darkly. he brings his hand to tuck your hair behind your ear. the action is gentle— a stark contrast against what he previously did. the situation you're in, the kind of man he is. you blink at him, eyes teary. his gaze softens just slightly. “you made me promise not to abandon you. I don't plan to.”

“you're a sick man,” you whisper. you can't believe he's holding that against you— your promises from when he was deceiving you, “you designed those fucking games. you can stop them anytime you wanted. i got stuck here because of you, you killed all those innocent people. you're a sadistic, psychotic asshole—”

he shoots you a warning glare, pressing his hand against your mouth. “don’t test me, brat. ”

you sniffle, letting out a pained whimper. you push his hand off your mouth, “let me go.”

he looks unamused, “i can't do that.”

“were you not planning to leave me?” you try to reason with him, desperate. “when you left with the rest of the team? you wouldn't have come back after that—”

“i would've found a way to get you home.” he admits quietly. “i had a plan. but then you came running after me like the brat you are. you never listen.”

“then let me go now!” you protest heatedly. his words have your heart hurting. if that's true, then you're the one who sealed your fate. another impulsive decision ruined your life. “i told you about me. i told you about my mom! i miss her. she and my sister—" you almost choke on a sob as you croak the words out, the mere thought of them driving you to insanity, "they need me."

“i've settled your father's debt,” he mentions after a moment of silence, looking deeply into your eyes. he hopes it gives you some comfort, stops you from wanting to leave him. “you don't have to go back. they'll live a life of ease.”

your blood runs cold. that means he knows where they are.

“do you expect me to fucking thank you?” you can't hold back the tears rolling down your cheeks, shaking your head, “i wanna go home.” you sniffle, “you ruined our lives. you played with my feelings and my life. people are dead because of you. how can you say you'd have let me go home one moment, and then refuse it the next?”

"don't hurt them," you speak again, leaning forward almost pleadingly. perhaps you shouldn't piss him off. you're not the kind to beg for your life. but your family? now that's another thing. "please keep them out of this. dont hurt them, please."

"i won't," he says airily, his dark eyes deeply boring into yours, "not if you don't give me a reason to. just be good."

you sniffle, violently trembling. be good. you'll be good. for your family's sake.

his hands cup your face and you flinch. his thumbs brush the tears away. you avert your gaze. you can't meet his eyes— you resent him.

you resent yourself because his touch still makes you feel an odd sense of comfort.

"this is torture," you choke out, "why are you doing this to me?"

he says your name softly, guides your face up to look at him, “i’m selfish.” he admits. “the moments i spent with you.. was the happiest i've been in a… long, long time. i'm not ready to let go of that. ever. ”

he has lost everything. his wife, his baby. his brother. his humanity. only now he has control over his life, enough resources. he can change fate with a flick of his finger. he's not going to lose you, not after you've made him feel human again, for the first time in years. you've ripped open his ribcage and climbed inside, sealed it shut with your touch. he hasn't been needed by anyone like this— it gives him a sense of purpose. he doesn't trust himself to not lose his mind if you're ever out of his sight. he'll make sure you're by his side, where he can hold you and comfort you. whatever it takes.

you shake your head, lips wobbling. you try to pull away, your free hand coming up to hold onto his, to pry it off your face. he doesn't let up, instead climbing towards you and invading your personal space as he presses your foreheads together.

“i don't know about you kids, but in my time, pinky promises were a big deal,” he says lowly, the side of his mouth quirking up. he's trying to joke, he wants to see you smile again. the way you did when you looked at him— with stars in your eyes. like he's your hero. nothing else has ever made him feel more alive. “i’m afraid i can't let you go.”

you let out a shudder, squeezing your eyes shut as he pushes you till your back collides with the bed. you shake your head, voice tired. “just kill me.”

his face drops, and he looks at you coldly, “you think i'd have you here like this if i planned to kill you?”

you don't respond to that, your chest heaving. everything hurts. your head is pounding, and you feel faint.

his thumb brushes across your cheekbone. he looks at you tenderly, analyzing every feature of your face.

“you know, i really expected you to struggle harder against me.” he observes. the words make you feel embarrassed. your skin heats up with shame, and you clear your throat, looking anywhere but him.

he might be right, you think. you've struggled a little, yes, but he can tell you have the ability to be so much more insufferable. but you're not, not yet. it's fucked up. because even after everything, for some reason you can't seem to brush him off you. you can't seem to let go of the comfort and hope he provided you in one of the most terrifying moments of your life.

you convince yourself it's because your family's life is on the line. not because of your personal feelings.

you don't answer him. you don't have to either, because judging by the small smirk creeping on his face, he knows.

“i'll take care of you,” his face softens. he's trying to convince you. there's a desperate edge to his voice. you look so utterly beautiful to him— your complexion glowing even more because of the pink pyjamas he got for you. in that moment he makes a mental note of what color clothes he'd shower you in the most. “those people down there that you're so desperate to save? they would've thrown you under the bus to win. they don't care about you. i'll make sure you're safe. the life you were living before was worthless. let me look after you.”

“i hate you,” you whisper, voice cracking. another tear rolls down your cheek, and he wipes it away. you don't mean it. he presses a soft kiss to your forehead.

“i know.”

you don't get to speak again, because he tilts your head up and crashes his mouth onto yours in a bruising, punishing kiss. it makes you wince, and you choke on a soft sob. against your better judgement, you kiss him back.

the moment your mouth parts under his, he takes the chance to deepen the kiss, his tongue sliding in. he moans into your mouth, holding your face as he climbs over you completely. you contemplate biting his tongue off, but you don't. as if reading your mind, his hand comes down to gently squeeze your throat— just enough to make you feel a little lightheaded. you gasp softly, eyes blinking dazedly at him. he pulls his mouth away, then places a soft peck upon your lips. then another. and another. you take greedy breaths as you squirm under him. his hand leaves your throat and slips under your top and you jolt at the feeling of his warm hands against your tummy. his mouth trails down, leaving soft kisses across the smooth skin of your neck.

“you’re sick.” you gasp shakily, throwing your head back, giving him more room to place his wet kisses upon you.

“you're the one letting a man like me touch you,” he whispers hoarsely against your neck, voice slightly teasing. “maybe you're just as sick as i am.”

his words make you shiver. you consider them, and you force yourself to think of all the people back there in the hall, ready to march to their deaths tomorrow. your eyes open and you snap out of your trance.

you use your free hand to push slightly at his chest, gaze pleading, “don't kill them,” you whisper. “let them go. atleast our team. they're good people—”

“are you really doing this?” the switch in his voice has you quivering slightly. his hand comes up, grabs your hair. it stings just slightly. a warning. "do you think they would've been this desperate to save you?"

you let out a noise of protest, looking at him helplessly. trying to touch a string of empathy within him. he has none, not anymore.

“they knew what they were getting themselves into. there's no favoritism. you either win, or die.”

your ears ring, heart pounding against your chest. “then what am i?”

he smirks, his thumb brushing across your bottom lip.

“you're my little girl.” he noses the side of your neck. goosebumps rise on your skin, “don't bring that up again.”

you grit your teeth, feeling even more remorseful. is there no way to change his mind? even being responsive to his affection doesn't help.

but you're not being docile to change his mind.

you realize you're pliant because you like being under him.

your logical side forces you to speak. your guilty conscience doesn't allow you to get too comfortable under a killer. "this feels wrong."

he stops, clenches his jaw with restrained anger. he squeezes his eyes shut, mentally counts from 1-10 to avoid doing anything he might regret later.

"let me make you an offer," he pulls back, cocking his head to the side. his eyes are unreadable, voice flat, "i'll let them go on one condition."

your eyes widen with hope, and you nod enthusiastically, eager for him to speak.

"with every player i leave alive—" a small smirk appears on his face, despite his best efforts to hide it. "i'll kill someone you love."

the way terror seized you was suffocating. your throat immediately felt dry, eyes widening with shock. you stared at him, motionless, images of your family, your friends, flashing through your head. his hand gently splayed across your stomach, pressing down a little.

"a life for a life." he announced again, giving you a tight lipped smile, "how does that sound?"

"no." you warned, clasping his wrist desperately with your free hand, breathing rapidly. "no— no. please don't. i'll— i'll stay with you. i'll do anything you say, just—" you held back a sob, "please don't hurt them."

in life threatening situations— people only look out for two types of people. themselves, and the ones dearest to them.

he smiled fully then, amused. predictable, he thinks, before leaning back down, "then conversation's over."

"you made the right choice," he whispered. you didn't bother struggling, squeezing your eyes shut. his hand pulls down your top just enough. his mouth quite literally waters as he bites down on your exposed skin, leaving cherry red bruises across your collarbones.

you have no choice, you tell yourself. it's okay to get comfortable now. you couldn't have done anything.

you mewl, and he slips two of his fingers in your mouth, watching intently with a hungry gaze as you suck on them enthusiastically— just like back in the hall. your eyes flutter, and you mumble incoherently as his fingers gently thrust in and out of your mouth, pressing down on your tongue. it’s messy and sloppy, and the sight of your saliva slipping down your chin makes him moan softly, “my pretty baby.”

you whimper as his hand slides down to your bottoms. you wait with bated breath as you look at him with hazy eyes. his hand slips down into your panties, and a desperate moan escapes your bruised lips.

“i just want to ruin you,” he chuckles breathlessly, teasing your entrance. he hovers over you, looks at you like a starving man as he pinches your clit. you yelp slightly. he taunts you, gaze full of faux innocence as he raises his eyebrows. “does it hurt, huh, sweetheart? do you want daddy to make you feel good?”

“oh fuck—” the moment that word comes out of his mouth, in his soft, breathy voice— you moan. you're pathetic. it's whiney and high pitched and so utterly desperate, it makes him proud to get a reaction like that out of you. and suddenly he understands a little more why you got so attached to him. he pecks your lips again, and smirks against your mouth. he teases your entrance with a single finger.

you whine, “please.”

“what did you say, hm?” he pretends not to hear you, pushing two fingers in. you've never been brave enough to use two even while masturbating— and his are long and thick. the stretch makes you wince. “come on, baby, tell your old man what you said.”

you try to capture his lips with yours again in hopes that he would stop teasing you. he chuckles breathlessly, then lets out a soft moan at the way your walls clench around him.

“i’m a sadistic, psychotic asshole, right?” he throws your words back at you, and you wince. you squeeze your eyes shut, bite down on your lips to hold back a needy whine. his fingers pull back and then thrust again, curling slightly. his thumb goes to your clit, rubbing it. you take a sharp breath, squirming on the bed as you moan again. he doesn't let up, “is that not what you called me? and now you want me to make you feel good?”

his voice grows serious again, face hardening. his motions stop. “apologize.”

your eyes snap open, and you look at him, surprised. “huh?”

“apologize,” he repeats, “for everything you said earlier. and i'll consider making you cum.”

that gets you to clench your jaw. you glare at him with narrowed eyes, chest heaving with frustration. but you won't do it. if anyone should be apologizing— it's him. he was the one who deceived you and ruined your life. and he hasn't apologized even once. he must think you're stupid. hell would freeze over before you apologize.

you almost reconsider your decision— but then again, his threat only stands if he leaves the players alive. he didn't say anything about language. you shake your head, your previous stubbornness taking over. “not a chance in hell.”

he snorts, looking at you, unamused. his facial expressions don't change, but you can see it in his eyes. little things like a twitch give him away. your heart drops as he pulls his hand out completely, his fingers glistening and wet. he brings them to his mouth, sucks the juices off so casually that it leaves you dumbfounded and flustered.

“i have no patience for brats.” he nods, standing up. you stutter over your words, mouth opening and closing like a fish. much like it did when you first met.

“b-but—”

“i have some work to do.” he announces coldly. you wonder if he's going to do something bad. he's having the time of his life, sexually and emotionally tormenting you. “i'll be back in a bit. i asked the guards to bring you some chocolate milk. feel free to tell them your favourite food for dinner.”

the sudden change in events has you so unbelievably baffled that you can't say a thing as he begins to leave. it's brutal, and it almost makes you want to cry.

“sir?” you call out softly, almost timidly. unsure of how to address him. you're not going to take a risk.

he stops midway, before sighing to himself. he turns to you, looks at the desperation in your eyes.

“inho is fine.” he remarks flatly, swallowing hard. he doesn't know why he decided to reveal his name to you.

perhaps because it would give him another excuse to not let go of you.

you keep looking at him, a devastated expression on your face. like you're dying inside. and maybe you are.

your only source of comfort is gone. you'd gotten too used to it in the past few days. now you wish you'd never met him.

the emotion on his face is unreadable as he walks back to you. he places a soft kiss to your forehead and turns to leave. you grab his hand. the prospect of being alone leaves you terrified. maybe if you can convince him to stay, be good for him, he wouldn't hurt your loved ones. you'll behave.

you start to miss how things used to be.

if things were different, he would have come back to you. he would smile as he walked through the door, and you would finally feel your heart pumping blood as you run to him. he'd drop his gun and hold you, and you'd cry into his chest. he'd ask you if you caused any trouble, and you would take him to your bed and tell him everything. you would tell him that 149 called him your father, and he would laugh— his old man laugh which sounds so sweet and makes his eyes crinkle. he would ruffle your hair and say something along the lines of, ‘with how many times i've saved your ass, i might as well be.’

from a younger age, all you've ever desired is comfort, something you never received. someone to hold you when you cry, to take care of you. protect you. you're sick of being the tough one. the mere idea of it was so far away for you, that the first show of affection and reassurance had you getting this terribly attached. perhaps, inho's biggest crime was taking that away from you.

“inho.” you whisper, visibly crushed. you don't even feel horny anymore. you just miss his comfort, his soft words of reassurance. his laugh. your eyes grow teary. “please don't leave me.”

he looks at you, contemplating. he sighs defeatedly, before grasping your hand properly. it's so warm, and you choke on a soft sob as the reality of your situation sinks in again. you're done for. there's no escape. you're alone, and there's no one to save you. your young-il will not come swooping in to protect you, because he was never there in the first place. you don't even realize when you break down into heartbreaking sobs, breathing ragged.

he isn't used to showing much physical affection. not after what he went through, not until you. and now with you like this, something softens within him. he sits back down on the bed, wordlessly leaning into you, his arms open. you feel utterly pathetic at how quickly you crawl into his lap, burying your face in his chest. you feel like you're betraying your team, but do you have a choice? perhaps you did. you could've chosen to be tough and refuse his affection. but the stakes are different now. your family's life is on the line.

you never stood a chance, not after you met him.

and you don't want to think of a single instance where you don't get to experience being held by him.

your morals are more fucked than you thought. even after all the threats, after him practically forcing you to stay, you can't help but desire his affection. you'll be selfish for once. what could you have done anyway? you would've died in there, and your family would be alone. if what he said is true, atleast now they can live a life of ease without any debts.

as for your team, 456 will look out for them. he's alive, afterall.

you force your mind to be silent.

“i miss you,” you wail painfully, your free hand clutching the fabric of his shirt.

he holds you like a child, a hand pressing your head close, the other wrapping around your waist. he shushes you gently, pressing a soft kiss to your temple. he doesn't regret anything he did. you'd made him promise to come back for you, afterall. he always keeps his word. “i'm right here.”

you lean into his neck, and breathe in the smell of him. you squeeze your eyes shut till your sobs die down into the occasional hiccup. the stretch of your right hand and the rattling of the chains is another reminder of where you are.

perhaps if you stay hidden against his chest, you can try to convince yourself it's still your young-il holding you like this.

A/N: so! that's the end of dusk till dawn. this story truly was my joker. i tend to add a lot of psychological elements and character interactions so the fic feels more immersive and realistic, like you're really part of the game. i hope you liked it. can y'all tell who my favourite characters are? lol. also, i'm very horrible with smut so i really tried but i just can't write too much 💔 I'm mostly an angst girl as you can tell. anyways, this was a little self indulgent. thank you so much for the support you guys showed me, it truly means everything! i might write blurbs related to this specific couple from time to time, but no promises! maybe if i get good ideas or requests. anyways i rambled a lot. thank you for reading. feedback is always motivating.

tags: @bonelessghoul @cowuies @auspicious-lilana @politicstanner @verouys @gloriousjellyfisharcade @carolinevoight @shadowmoonlight0604 @ancrygurl @sunoon @jessgentleman @colorwastaken @loversroq @clown-around-and-find-out @popcorm @xcinnamonmalfoyx @robertthehoover @iloveoldermen0204 @kpopsmutty69 @iamkali

[thefrontmanscockwarmer]

Enough

Player 001 x reader [SMUT]📸

Masterlist <- Comment on this post to be added to the tag list

Brat reader, brat tamer Young il

“I fucking hate it here” you declared to the group of guys you hung with. Gi Hun looked at you, while Jung Bae voiced his agreement, Dae Ho… well, Dae Ho stuffed his face.

(Y/n), it’s honestly not as bad as it -“ young il began.

“Are you fucking stupid?” You looked at him in disbelief. His eyes widened as you spoke to him in such a disrespectful manner, “seriously, Young il? “Not as bad”?! We could’ve fucking died, last game… don’t you remember?” You tapped your temple.

“Well, we didn’t die” he said, his voice small. He didn’t know what to do; scold you for how you spoke, or kiss you for it.

“No maybe not. But seriously? What about next game, huh? What about the game after that?” You questioned him. You stood, getting in his face as he sat. “Are you dense?”

“That’s enough, (y/n)” he said calmly. He loved seeing you riled up, it excited him. You were a hot head, could be a problem, but he could handle problems quite well.

“Obviously not. Because your moronic ass thinks it’s “not as bad”” you mocked him. The other men had excused themselves, you were in the midst of an explosion and they didn’t want to get hit by the shrapnel.

“(Y/n)” he said again. “I said that’s enough.”

“You don’t understand what enough is” you replied, your voice escalating. “You seem to think that just because they feed up, and give us beds, and clothes, I’m wearing a 3 day old blood stained shirt” you tensed thinking about it.

“Enough!” he said, standing he got in your face. “You think I like being here? No. But I’m trying to make them beat of it. You think I don’t have something to go back to? I do. I have parents and a fucking brother. You think I don’t know how you fucking feel? I do. I don’t want to be in here either” he said. “But if you think for a single second I’ll sit down and let you talk to me like I’m a fucking idiot, you’re so fucking out of your mind.”

You were backed against the wall. Your lips just barely touching his. The air between you too was thick with sexual tension, as the air around you always was. You took a breath, gearing yourself up for more argument.

“Shut up” he said. “I don’t want to hear talk of it anymore” you obeyed quietly. You shrunk, the weight of his presence was heavy. You pouted and walked away, knocking his shoulder with yours. The PA system warned that you had 5 minutes before bed time. You chose to lay down as far from Young il as you could.

He looked at you, you were so mad at him. Yeah, everything was going according to plan but you were so fucking angry it turned him on.

He awaited the dead of night, when he was sure every player was asleep. He found his way to you.

“(Y/n)” he said quietly .

“Don’t fucking talk to me” you said. He smiled, his cock jumped. God how he loved a fucking challenge.

“Don’t give me attitude” he replied, moving your body to be in bed with you.

“Get out of my bed” you say. “Before I pummel your fucking face in”

“Wow, such fighting words for a princess” he answers, wrapping his arms around you.

“Young il”

“Yes, princess?”

“Get your dick off my ass” you spit. “I can feel it.”

“My god, you’re so sharp. What will make you feel better hm?” He pondered.

“Getting the fuck out of here” you answer curtly. You weren’t going to lie to yourself, the way he was diffusing you right now was intoxicating. Young il was intoxicating, he was like a drug. You loved fighting with him, always pushing buttons to get him to tower over you, just so you could weasel your way out. You knew exactly where this was going to go.

“No, you’re tense. I can feel it.” He remarked. “You’re so frustrated, aren’t you?” He coaxed. He knew he found your sweet spot as you leaned your body against him.

“Maybe.” You say, not willing to admit that you wanted him. His hand snaked down your pants, your breath getting caught in your throat. His fingers brushed your clit. “Please” you pleaded breathlessly.

“Oh? Do you want something from me?” He asked. You hummed your response. “Well, just as well, I need to know what you want, angel. I can’t read your mind”

“Touch me… please” you asked quietly. Arousal coating your voice.

“Aw, you said “please”” he chuckled. “I guess I have to give in since you’re being so sweet” he circled your clit softly with his fingers. “Such a sweet little girl” he whispered tauntingly in your ear.

“Shut up” you said. He motions stopped.

“I’m sorry, you said stop?” He asked, you groan in frustration, bucking your hips against his hand.

“No, i said “shut up”” you repeated, his hand stayed frozen in place as you moved against it, seeking friction. A wicked grin spread across his face.

“Oh, i see” he roughly inserted 2 fingers in side of you. You whimper quietly. “Is this what you wanted angel? To be wrapped around my fingers and whimpering like the little depraved girl i know you are?” You bit your tongue, any wrong words could stop this in an instance.

“Yes daddy” you breathe out heavily. He looked down on you, his cock straining in his pants.

“Can I use your pussy, please?” He asked, not really a question but more of a warning on what he’s going to do. You nodded feebly.

“I can’t hear you” he responded patiently.

“Yes. Please” With a swift, almost violent motion, he pulled out his cock and spun you around to face the wall, pressing your front against the railing surrounding your bed.

“Wait we have to be quiet” you exclaim

“Shh, no one will care. Now, bend over and present yourself to me like a good little slut." Young il replied. His hands roughly palmed your ass, spreading your cheeks wide as he aligned his rigid member with your dripping entrance once more. With a harsh thrust, he buried himself balls-deep inside you, his pubic bone grinding against your clit. “That's it, take my cock like you were made for it,"

A sinful moan slips from your lips as you take his cock gratefully

“Please Young il, use me” you begged. Young il's grip on your hips tightened as he began to piston in and out of you with brutal force, each savage thrust jolting you forward against the railing.

"You want it rough, huh? You want to be used like a cheap whore?" His words were punctuated by the lewd slap of skin on skin, the sound echoing through the quiet room. Young il reached around to fondle your breasts, pinching and tugging at your nipples as he drove into you relentlessly.

"Yeah, that's it, moan for me," he snarled, his pace increasing until the stairs creaked under the force of his thrusts.* "Let them hear what a filthy slut you are for me. Begging to be fucked, screaming my name..."

He brought his palm crashing down across your ass, the sharp sting making you yelp and arch your back into him. He repeated the blow again and again, each slap marking your ass with his possession.

“You like that, you dirty little cumslut?” He spat, he breathing ragged with lust. “You want Dady to claim every inch of you?” His fingers delved down between your thighs roughly circling your clit furiously at your clit as he continued to pound into you. The combined sensations sent shockwaves of pleasure coursing through your body, pushing you closer to the edge.

“Come on, (y/n), I can feel you tightening around me” Young il growled, his thrusts growing erratic. “Give it to me, let go and soak my cock with your juices” he begged.

“Oh, Young il, I’m going to cum.” I say as i try my best to keep quiet. My feeble attempt at not possibly drawing anymore attention to your bed. His grip on your hips tightened, his fingers digging into your soft skin as he felt your inner muscle start to spasm around his cock. “That’s it, cum for Mr, (y/n). Milk my dick dry with that sweet little cunt”

His own release was imminent, the pressure building at the base of his spine. With a final and brutal thrust. Young il buried himself to the hilt inside you, his cock pulsating as he spilled his cum deep within your quivering depths.

“Fuuuck, (y/n)” he groaned. “Take it all” As the tremors of your orgasm subsided, Young il slowly withdrew from your spent body, his softening cock slipp`I``no free with a wet pop.

“Holy shit” you gasped as he collapsed beside you.

“Yeah?” He chuckled, cradling you in his arms. “I hope your attitude is gone now”

“Well, i think it’s subsided for now” i agree curling into him. Sighing with contentment. A big yawn left your tiny body.

Taglist

@christinamadsen @sebbymybaby21 @nakiio5775 @xcinnamonmalfoyx @watasinekoru @player279achlys @galaxygurlll @angelofthorr

[qafi]

Yamaguchi Tadashi & Baby Elephant Syndrome

Baby Elephant Syndrome is a term that coined a phenomenon among animal-tamers in circuses. It is where a baby elephant is tied to a strong rope or chain at a young age and is unable to break free of the constraint. When the elephant matures, the elephant has grown strong enough to uproot trees and surely break the rope, but the elephant has been conditioned to accept this constraint. (1) Thus, the circus members are able to control a creature much stronger than them.

This concept can be further used to explain human psychology. As children, we often grow up being powerless and therefor accept our inability to change the things around us. So, when we become adults, we still think of ourselves as powerless and don’t even try.

No one better exemplifies Baby Elephant Syndrome to me than Yamaguchi. He grew up bullied by older, stronger kids, and clung to Tsukishima for safety. In high school Yamaguchi became incredibly tall and moderately athletic, and yet he still behaves like a nervous bullied child. He follows and obsesses over Tsukishima despite being about the same as him, and apologizes profusely. When he’s without his Tsukki-safety-blanket he acts nervous, shy, scared, overly-polite and often expresses internalized doubt and self-hatred.

It seems like Yamaguchi has no idea how big he is, literally.

It makes a lot of sense that his character arc culminates in him realizing his own potential and becoming an offensive player, and at the same time standing up to the person who he admires (Tsukki) by being more assertive. It’s like the elephant realizing the little chain can’t hold them down anymore.

[catt-nuevenor]

Changes to the Main Character - Myrk Mire

Brace yourselves kids, this is going to be a fair amount to go through. While I don't think I'm giving away any big story spoilers, do treat reading more with some caution if you want to experience the story completely blind. And do also bear in mind that none of these changes are implemented yet and won't be for some time. If you like the story as is, by all means go and enjoy it. I'll be uploading a new demo, not replacing the old one, when it's ready.

All that out the way, let's talk choice fiction MC's and their difficulties in fixed narrative cannon.

Let's get this out the way first and foremost. You will still be able to customise your Main Character and their offspring in all the ways you can currently. I'm not removing any of that choice from you. You'll also be able to pick who your Main Character becomes attached to. However, this is where things will need to change a bit.

Previously our romantic options were all single and ready to mingle and remained so until the player directed their Main Character into a relationship with them. Open season, so to speak. What will now (future demo) take place is the Main Character will begin early to favour one of the eight relationship (romantic or platonic) options, and as said relationship grows, the remaining seven will begin their own journeys with other characters.

Which other characters? Well, here's where the real fun begins.

---

Old narrative:

A lone wanderer, with their offspring/dependent, stumbles into Aldmirham in pursuit of work and lodging for the winter.

New narrative:

A small group of wanderers, with their offspring/dependents, stumble into Aldmirham in pursuit of work and lodging for the winter.

---

Our RO's aren't the only ones gaining 'siblings'.

There'll be five adult characters trundling their way into Aldmirham in the hafest of 822 DT, and the beginning of the story will take place at the very start of winter, through to blostma (spring).

The Main Character will be one of these five adults, and their dependent will be one of the three children with them.

Some of you may have noticed a slight mathematical flaw in this. I have eight relationship options and five new folks. Well, you don't need to form romantic relationships to live a happy and fulfilling life, and neither do the RO's.

Let's get a run-down on our travelling group, shall we?

Ænidym Bécencnol (NB) - An old friend of Marrin/Marryn/Marren and Sumara (previously Zephora), they joined shortly after the events that led to the MC first travelling with the group (what ever those events may be), in the town of Þeófcrecca on the western shore of Crawshire. They're a carpenter by trade, apprenticing with a shipwright in the town. They're supportive, grounded, and often the voice of reason when their companions need a reminder of common sense.

Ehwan Bécencnol (M) - Ænidym's young cousin, orphaned after his mother drowned in an accident out at sea while fishing. He's quiet, distrustful of strangers, and has a deep and abiding fear of deep water. He's a year or so older than the MC's child and is obsessively protective of them.

Azgoá Ménastaþs (F) - Orignally from the realm of Þinda, she took apprenticeship with the iron smiths of Crawburh before meeting up with the others, and deciding to travel east with them, hoping to learn from the smithing guilds in the rest of the realm. Others often think she has a funny accent, and she delights in teaching the children foul comebacks in her native tongue.

Ielfetu Wischam (M) - A basket weaver by trade, Ielfetu joined the group with his daughter, Basjá, after Basjá's mother became violent towards them both. He's good at what he does, but struggles to see that, relying on his new friends and confidants to pick him up and set him on his feet. Originally from the smaller, tamer marshes of Wýscanwisc, he's comfortable in the Mire, and hopes the group will stay after the winter is through.

Basjá Wischam (F) - Ielfetu's daughter, she's the youngest of the group's children, though only by a few months. Tall for her age, and bold, she's often chosen as the leader among the children, though her overconfidence often leads them all into trouble. She's anxious about her father, often feeling like she has to protect him from those who might bully him or push him around, this well-meaning support rarely ends well.

Aranor Halshlinc (M) - The newest member of the group, he first joined them when he was still legally a child, seeking to escape a bad situation he'd found himself in, with muddy legal ramifications. He's spent every day since this incident trying to make it up to them, taking on far more dog's body work than he should, often exhausting himself. He has a good heart, but a limited appreciation for long term consequences, and his past is never far behind him.

Main Character (?) -

Main Character's Child (?) -

Now, I'm not telling you who ends up connecting with who, that'd be spoilers.

So this is our crew of travelling misfits, here's to the shenanigans when they meet our resident band of misfits in Aldmirham! The town won't know what's hit it.

Why do this? Well, it means when the story of Myrk Mire touches the fixed narrative story, I have more points to weave connections with, more people to mention or name-drop, and tbh more people to hide the MC behind without having to strongly define who they are. I'm not going to be able to keep the MC ambiguous forever, but I hope I can create a strong enough sense of community within the story that readers still feeling comfortable when the MC of Myrk Mire does make their eventual appearance because the family around them remains the same.

Anywho, let me know what you think about our new travelling companions, and feel free to ask questions about them. Spoiler limiting, I'll answer as best I can.

[falling-in-the-void-with-ronan]

If I see someone else asking for a route with Luke and Kieran-

"But I'm their same age/younger" the game has heavy sexual undertones. Either they get a special, more pg-safe route and tamer cards, or just don't. Sexualising kids isn't okay even as a kid yourself, if someone is telling you otherwise please get away from them and seek a safe space.

"It's all fictional anyway" one thing is a fictional enviroment that shapes the characters and the situations and acts as a "shock" factor for the player; a different thing is projecting attraction towards someone who is presented as a kid, with a childish personality as well.

"But they're 18" yeah, and that's barely legal age. If it wouldn't be okay at 17, one year doesn't make that much of a difference.

Also, I'm adding an anedoctal experience that makes me skeptical over the "18 years old" label whenever I see it: in another game, a character had been released as a 14 years old; however, after people had started being creepy about her, her age changed to 18, even though her appearance stayed the same (and yes, there are screenshots around proving this age change). On top of that, all characters released later have been labeled as 18 at least, even though they appeared MUCH younger. (Look up Dislyte, and the character Chang Pu, if you're unfamiliar with the case and want to know more. Don't believe me on the "young characters were labeled 18 ever since then" bit? Look up the Fatum Sisters, same game, and tell me they don't look 12, 14 at best.)

So, seeing that, after months of people thirsting over the twins since their introduction, they have now been conveniently confirmed to be 18... a little suspicious, in my opinion. Everything about them feels like they were supposed to be 16-17 in the current story, but the devs didn't want their fanbase to get a bad reputation (which would have also tainted the game reputation) and aged the boys up.

[scarletthedeadhand]

So, i have an idea for my player character in doodle world,Pupsicle, seeing as she’s an ice demon, and apparently there was a version of her in Zavier’s timeline.

What if she’s actually a literal demon, that took the body of a young doodle tamer when said tamer was a baby in this timeline. Would explain how her mother had birthed a demon.

And in zavier’s timeline, the body snatch never happened, so the child was just a weak mortal human.

[peaches-and-pity-points]

Tangled AU

I've never liked the isekai angle of Twisted wonderland much. I've deqveloped an alternative way of looking at things to suit my fancy.

Per the name; the player is in a tangled situation. The sole heir to a kingdom, stolen away in the dead of night as a baby and raised by the man (because twst) who took them. Maybe he was in love with the queen, spurned by her rejection and took the only child she'd ever have as penance. Maybe its closer to form and the queen took a plant he needed to keep himself young and alive indefinitely, and the child simply being around had that same effect. Something no one would notice if they weren't looking for it.

Your father home schooled you; taught you everything you know. He restricted your interactions with the outside world and any online activity. But he knew best. He loved you after all, he just wanted to keep you safe. He told you your mother died giving birth to you, that's why he's so protective. You grew up in a cottage, far away from society. The world was dangerous, he warned. You shouldn't trust anyone but him, especially other men! Anyone else might want to hurt you or steal you away.

Magic existed in fairy tails and nothing more, that's what he told you as you did all the cooking and all the chores. Then, one day, you woke up in a coffin to a cat weasel trying to strip you.

The place you come from? These people have never heard of it. Are you sure its real? Of course! Your father wouldn't have lied to you about that. You must have come from another world. You don't have any magic inherent to you, but my! You're a beast-master/tamer! Fear not, this fruity headmage will probably look for a way to send you home! Maybe! After all, the mirror said there's no where you belong!

And its right. You were stolen away from your actual family as an infant. You don't belong there anymore. You don't know them, and they don't know you're even alive. Your father kidnapped you as a baby for his own selfish purposes. You don't belong there. Its not a home or a place of love. Its a prison.

Thus the game's events unfold. Perhaps there's an epilouge of sorts, where you're seen on TV by your birth parents and your "father". You look so much like the queen, there's no doubt you're their child. The headmage is in for such a surprise when this royal couple appear in his office, demanding to see the prefect. They must be mistaken! The prefect isn't even from this world! But, ah... Their child was kidnapped as a baby, weren't they? W- Well, they don't even have magic? What's this? The queen too, is a beast-master/tamer? Oh, w- well... Oh. They-- They know the prefect's blood type, of any and all birth marks and that they may or may not be a girl (depending on the player)? That's disconcerning! Time to meet with them!

I can't imagine it goes smoothly... "You're our kid, actually and the man who raised you is really a monster and kidnapped you as a baby." Yikes. Tough break, prefect. You don't leave with them like they want you to, but they give you space to process this shit. Sharing this development with your friends is mostly fruitless. They offer you support and comfort, but there's not much they can really do for you.

A few nights later, and as Grim is getting snuggly in bed with his hench-human, they suddenly get up. They don't respond to anything he says and they nearly run him over when he gets in front of them! Then, they even go outside barefoot/in just their socks and sleep clothes! Really, its a good thing the school grounds are crawling with your stalkers-- Er, I mean, your friends! One of them catches you on your apparent way to the gates, and carry your ass back to their dorm for safe keeping.

When you wake up, you're wrapped snuggly in bed with Grim. Its just that its a housewarden's bed. After explaining to you what happened, everyone is wracking their brains on who would want to potentially kidnap you. Its strange. You don't remember anything out of the ordinary happening before going to bed. Just that... Well, you could have sworn you'd heard the lullaby your dad used to sing to you as a kid as you fell asleep. But that couldn't be related... Right?

[acquired-stardust]

Gaming Spotlight #11: Digimon Rumble Arena (2001)

Hello this is Larsa here with another spotlight feature on a game you may have missed from the Playstation era. Stand up to the fight!

Before we get to our featured title let's review some history shall we? Super Smash Bros 64 came out in the year 1999 developed by HAL Laboratory, INC. This revolutionary game was inspired by the dream match concept of SNK Corporation's own popular "King of Fighters" series where a bunch of a existing characters are thrown together to duke it out. Many in the industry took notice as the success of the new Nintendo crossover fighting game which created many fans of a whole new genre, platform fighting games.

"Digimon Rumble Arena" or "Digimon Tamers: Battle Evolution" as it is known as in Japan would become one of the first early platform fighting games following in the giant shadow of "Super Smash Bros 64" to stand out as a game worth playing. Right away a fighting game based on one of the most popular anime series of the late 90s and early 00s just seems like a perfect pairing. By the time this game was released Digimon had firmly became a massively popular series already having a theatrical movie release worldwide and currently airing its very popular third season titled "Digimon Tamers". Right away the opening would blow the minds of any young Digimon fans at the time because it was essentially a Digimon dream match title starring the Digimon and tamers of the first three seasons slugging it out for digital supremacy.

Is Guilmon really stronger than Agumon? How about Gatomon versus Renamon? Or how about a mega level battle of Beelzemon versus Omnimon? These were and still are important questions worth asking for any Digimon fan. And these sorts of playground questions are why this game was created.

The gameplay features two opposing Digimon battling it out on one of the several different stages in a 2D plane. These stages are typically filled with unique stage hazards and ring out zones with randomly spawning items in the form cards which have a myriad of effects on the battle. These cards mirror the "Digi-Modify" or "Card Slash!" mechanics from the Digimon Tamers series . The roster is filled with Digimon supported by their appropriate tamers from the show with the same familiar voices for each character featuring over 20 playable Digimon. Unlike "Super Smash Bros" this game features a more traditional health bar system and draining your opponent's life bar to zero means victory. Each Digimon has two special moves and a myriad of normal attack strings you would expect in a fighting game. Right away in a way one would expect from this beloved franchise, Rookie level Digimon are capable of transforming into a stronger even more capable form in the middle of battle through Digivolution. Digivolving improves your stats and gives you a completely new different move-set than before meaning you as a player are often switching dynamically between different gameplay experiences. There are few things that feel better than securing a comeback victory with your favorite mascot Digimon because of a well timed Digivolution. Oh and wiping the floor with your opponent using Wargreymon's mighty signature technique, Terra Force.

The main modes of the game are arcade mode and versus modes. In the Arcade Mode you take your selected Digimon through an arcade style ladder of bouts plus a few mini-games along the way with the goal of unlocking more characters. That is until you reach the new big bad of the game at the top of the ladder. Reapermon (Also known originally as Gokumon or ゴクモン) is a very difficult opponent to overcome and even now he still manages to give me trouble. I and along with anybody else who has ever played this game know of the horrors of his most powerful technique "Burning Cyclone". He is a cheap old school style boss who will test your skill at the game as one would expect from an older fighting game eating your quarters though in this case you thankfully probably own the game and you have as long as necessary to defeat him. Thankfully if you are struggling you can use some in-game cheat codes to fast unlock some Mega level Digimon along with other goodies to help even the odds. As far as versus modes go you can battle a friend locally or even play the mini-games against them. I spent many sessions having tons of fun fighting friends in this game. For an early platform fighting game the controls and mechanics are quite responsive which makes for amusing competitive bouts.

The graphics and soundtrack of the game of the game are very impressive for the platform. The Japanese version of the game features many arrangements of songs from the anime series. However the game does have one big problem: the framerate slowdown is a persistent problem throughout the experience with this game. Unfortunately they are the game's immediate faults but the game has so much excellent fanservice content and a surprisingly responsive solid fighting game underneath that it is easy to forgive the shortcoming. This game is still pretty awesome and loaded with nostalgia for me having grown up with Digimon. This title gets my recommendation for any fans of Digimon to experience especially the Japanese version of the soundtrack if you are ever in need of a quick nostalgia-fueled adrenaline rush.

A gem hidden among the stones, Digimon Rumble Arena is unquestionably stardust.

– Larsa

[haveyouseenthis-childhoodshow]

Have you seen this childhood show: This is Emily Yeung. (2006), Canada (English)

Commentary/Context/Memories: No user commentary.

[Mod A: It is a shame this one did not last as long as the Daniel Cook one. It was basically the same concept, just a different kid (Emily Yueng, six year old) with her unique perspective and set in different locations (Alberta and Quebec as well as Toronto) and careers (such as snake tamers and skiing which didn’t get covered in the original). Emily Yueng was also on a couple episodes of Daniel Cook (which felt like an avengers assemble moment haha). Like Daniel Cook, This is Emily Yueng was released to eighty-eight countries and dubbed in fourteen languages! I didn’t watch as much of this one as Daniel Cook (bc I would’ve stopped watching him in 2005ish) but I do remember that she got to meet Hayley Wickenheiser (THE iconic Canadian women’s hockey player!). There was another spin-off to these shows called This is Scarlett and Isaiah. (2013)

[the photo of all four hosts meeting up is crazy bc I’ve never seen Emily Yeung or Daniel Cook when they were older!]

[wernher-von-brawny]

Winter 2023 Faves

So, this was a season.

Nothing wrinkled my brain – No Bocci or Do It Yourself!! – but these were enjoyable company with my morning muffin. No ranking this time, but here’s my top four:

Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi

(Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill) AKA A Boy and His Dog: The Isekai

An isekai’d salaryman whose superpower is an Amazon account – I kinda think this is what The Shield Hero should have been.

I’m a sucker for great animal sidekicks, and Veldora, I mean Fenrir the super-wolf is absolutely adorable, no matter how obnoxious. And who can forget rat boy, I mean baby slime? If you’re gonna Rimiru, then female child soldier/swiss army knife is an another adorable merchandising opportunity.

And extra points for the cooking tips, but all your wyvern stew and orc-burgers made my chicken nuggets and buttered noodles feel even more like peasant food.

They handled the repeating gags well, and all the characters from goddesses to butchers are well written. But Ash Ketchum (or whatever he’s called in this show) needs to grow a damn pair.

Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu 2nd Season

(The Vampire Dies in No Time 2nd Season) AKA Stupid, Stupid Vampire

In a stronger season, this would have been a Returning Champion, but in Winter 2023, being such a solid player bumped it into the leaderboard.

Always amusing and queer and weird and I like everybody in it. I think it had already found its groove in season 1, but the S2 opening titles were WAY better. Like, I would sometimes actually watch them instead of skipping.

It always left me smiling, and I hope we get a season 3.

Rougo ni Sonaete Isekai de 8-manmai no Kinka wo Tamemasu

(Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement) AKA Isekai Lesbian Capitalist

More like Little Orphan Anime, am I right? 😃 Or maybe The Legend of Tanya The Merchant.

I sometimes got too busy to keep up with all the shows, but this one kept me coming back week after week.

On the one hand, I can see where they painted over what'sername from Bookworm, but on the other, I don’t care.

I was amused by how the world would bend implausibly to conform to our Mary Sue’s ambitions. The king just shows up unannounced at a restaurant to foil the machinations of an evil merchant? Sure, babe. I think I saw that same thing in an old episode of Three’s Company.

IDK if we’ll see more of her, but she’s my imaginary friend, and I’m glad she her dukedom got.

Benriya Saitou-san, Isekai ni Iku

(Handyman Saitou in Another World) AKA I Had To Die and Be Reincarnated In Another World To Finally Get Some Fucking Appreciation

I was surprised by how quickly I fell for this. I think I needed something to take the place of Picking Up Girls In Dungeons, and this satisfied. Plus, dick jokes!

I also liked how it would mix it up between short four panel gags and longer arcs. Fave found family show of the season.

The rest of my watch list:

Isekai Will Never Die:

Isekai Nonbiri Nouka (Farming life in another world) AKA What If Superman Was A Farmer?: Harem Isekai AKA Indolence Is Sin: Part 2

Isekai Ojisan (Isekai Uncle) AKA I’m You But Better, You Fucking Neet

Kami-tachi ni Hirowareta Otoko 2nd Season (By the Grace of the Gods 2nd Season) AKA Isekai Slime Tamer AKA Indolence Is Sin: Part 1

Shin Shinka no Mi: Shiranai Uchi ni Kachigumi Jinsei (The Fruit of Evolution: Before I Knew It, My Life Had It Made 2nd Season) AKA My Kawaii Gorilla Wife: The Isekai

Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei (The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady) AKA Isekai Lesbian Princess and Her Harem

Wholesome and Adorable:

Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu 2nd Season (I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense 2nd Season) AKA VR Is Life

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale AKA A Girl and Her Hot Elf Tsundere AKA Medieval Fruits Baskets

Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko! (Tomo Chan is a Girl!) AKA My Dude, Just Make Your Fucking Move Already!!!

Tsundere Akuyaku Reijou Liselotte to Jikkyou no Endou-kun to Kaisetsu no (Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte) AKA My Dude, She’s Sitting Right Next To You, Make Your Fucking Move Already!!!

Edgelords Assemble!:

Hyouken no Majutsushi ga Sekai wo Suberu (The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World) AKA Dorm Room Workout Bros: No Homo

Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (The Eminence in Shadow) AKA Isekai Edgelord: Utlimate

Ningen Fushin no Boukensha-tachi ga Sekai wo Sukuu you desu (Adventurers Who Don’t Believe in Humanity Will Save The World) AKA The Emo Quartet and Their Talking Sword

Returning Champions:

Several second seasons, but nothing that qualifies as a “Returning Champion”. Picking Up Girls In Dungeons or Hero Academia might have been included, but for the fact I’ve lost interest in them and stopped watching.

Pour One Out For Interspecies Reviewers:

Oniichan wa Oshimai! (Onimai: I’m Now Your Sister!) AKA Eromanga Sensei 2nd Season - This was animated with so much love – of boobies!!! (hehehe) But seriously, mad love to all my eroanime senseis out there. Your commitment to never half-assing the job of making beautifully drawn sex farces is greatly appreciated. You are doing God’s work.

And one for my “Definitely Eventually Watch” list:

Lupin Zero AKA Lupin: Year One

[legendheroes]

Ok we know that OG Taichi and Daisuke actually do in the epilogue, so I’m deciding for myself what the others might do as adults.

※ I have my own reasons to ignore any recent Tamers material (2018 & 2021), so i prefer to not go into details.

Takato → Does freelance design/art, you can say he likes to embrace his passionate hobby and go beyond. Possibly works for the Digimon franchise in-universe.

Takuya → As said before, moved to Italy to play professional soccer. He’s also teaching young players how to play it. Might play in Japan’s national team in World Cups.

Masaru → Went on a route like his dad and is a researcher, exploring the Digital World and helping the digimon with his expertise. He has no ties to any government or deity.

Taiki → Oblivious into this question when asked, but he kinda likes to help everyone so he keeps doing it, except he tries to not exaggerate (if he does, Akari calls him out, as his wife).

(LXW AU) Tagiru → Just decided to keep working on digimon cases around the world, to the point he’s now the current active legend hero and passing the story of his predecessor and other world’s heroes to children and digimon.

Haru → Becomes a researcher involved in studying technology, hopes one day being able to bring Yuujin back.

reboot!Taichi → He just likes to go with the flow and becomes part of the summer camp staff. Likes to explore the environment and teach others the basics, and most importantly, to tell the young generation about his adventure in the Digital World.

Hiro → Becomes an inventor like his dad, and uses his skills in order to help human and digimon communities in their daily lives. Still Gammamon’s best and big bro.

[theloniousbach]

BUT LOOK WHO’S IN THE BAND

CHRIS BECK with Ben Solomon, Caelan Cardello*, and Jayla Chee, SMALLS JAZZ CLUB, 9 pm set

CORY WEED with James Dando, Steve Davis*, Atley King, Miki Yamanaka*, Tyrone Allen*, and Kush Abadey*, SMALLS JAZZ CLUB, 7:30 pm set

I’ve seen CHRIS BECK as a sideman, maybe even with Cyrus Chestnut, but not often, if at all, at Smalls. Certainly he has not been a leader. But, as he asserted, drummers can lead, compose, read music, etc. He was solid, particularly his tunes. But I was there for Caelan Cardello who was very strong indeed. The presence of Steve Davis and the stellar younger rhythm section of Miki Yamanaka, Tyrone Allen, and Kush Abadey was why I wanted to see the CORY WEED/James Dando set.

Not to knock his drumming which was solid and tasty, it was his leadership, including his tunes, that stood out. He did keep the drummer on a short leash and had him serve the music and he gave others ample solo space. The covers were a bright Freddie Hubbard tune, Happy Time, to open and John Hick’s After the Morning with a nice figure shared between Jayla Chee’s bass and Cardello’s left hand. It was on this tune and Beck’s My Inner Circle which followed where Cardello really shone with lyrical driving solos, including a Herbie Hancock/Butterfly quote. On both he started gently before opening things up while keeping that probing expansiveness. He was back to himself after following Sarah Hanahan into power territory. Ben Solomon has a pleasant tone and approach to his solos; Chee was solid but too understated except on the Impressions closer where she could step out.

It would appear that CORY WEED was the front for what was probably a James Dando gig. Dando, like Weed and vibraphonist Atley King too, is from Canada. They played his tunes, he took most of the first solos on clarinet and bass clarinet, and yet he was not listed as a member of the band on the website or YouTube. It was a septet with six identified musicians. Curious. But the tunes were smart appealing puzzles for the band to work through. Steve Davis was lowkey and very much a team player, but he could have blown the Canadians out of the water. They were fine players able to serve Dando’s clever straightahead tunes. Davis too is tasty and straightahead, but he could have roared and might have enjoyed the young zippy rhythm section. They didn’t pull their punches one bit but they were each tamer than I’ve generally seen them. Dando’s tunes gave them more than enough to chew on, so they weren’t slumming and they couldn’t mail it in. And, similarly, Wood, King, and Dando played very well. Further, having vibes and both clarinets gave the tunes an interesting flavor

The relentless shuffle of musicians creates just these kind of illuminating juxtapositions. I’m glad I’m a regular of this scene.

[holyfunnyhistoryherring]

[Image 1: tweet by Ramy Abdul @RamAbdu "Tamer Mahmoud Hassani Al-Umssi, aged one year and one month, was killed by Israel with a gunshot to the head during its incursion into northern Gaza." Plus an attached photo of a laughing young boy in striped t-shirt and dark blue shorts, being held up in the air, sitting on someone's hand. The boy is so young, he doesn't even have milk teeth yet.

A reply by Rob @robrousseau "There's an entire multi billion dollar media machine working day and night to convince that if you think this is evil & reprehensible, you are a bad person"

Image 2: another reply, this time by Lamis Deek @Lamis_Deek "'gunshot to the head'" in quotation marks.

Image 3: another tweet by Ramy Abdul @RamAbdu "9-year-old Myar Nidal Hamida and 6-year-old Bilal Nidal Hamida were cold-bloodedly killed by Israel while seeking shelter in their mother's bed. # Gaza Genocide" with a photo of a girl in a pink unicorn shirt with an even younger boy, both smiling at the camera.

Image 4: another tweet by Ramy Abdul @RamAbdu "8-year-old Omar Hasan Halaseh was killed by Israel along with his mother, sister Marah, sister Besan, and 7 other family members. He dreamed of becoming a famous soccer player." A photo of a curly-haired boy in a soccer uniform, giving a thumbs up to the camera. The background is blurred but it's still obviously other children playing soccer behind him.

Image 5: another tweet by Ramy Abdul @RamAbdu "Alaa Ahmed Abu Khousa, 3 years old, was killed by Israel along with her sister while they were playing together. # Gaza Genocide". A photo of a little girl in a pastel dress in the middle of talking and counting on her fingers.

/End description.]

[appsworldforever]

Bulu Monster 

Exploring the World of Creature Capture and Adventure

In the realm of mobile gaming, where creativity and strategy intertwine, Bulu Monster emerges as a captivating title that combines elements of creature collection, exploration, and RPG adventure. Developed by Sigma Game Limited, Bulu Monster Apk invites players into a vibrant world inhabited by colorful creatures known as "Bulus."

Since its inception, the game has garnered a dedicated following of players eager to embark on quests, capture monsters, and engage in thrilling battles. Let's delve into what makes Bulu Monster a unique and compelling experience in the mobile gaming landscape.

Embarking on a Monster-Collecting Journey

Bulu Monster introduces players to the island of Bulu, where they assume the role of a young monster trainer tasked with capturing and training Bulus. The game's storyline unfolds through quests and interactions with characters who guide players on their journey to become a skilled Monster Tamer. As players explore various regions of the island, they encounter wild Bulus with unique abilities and characteristics, adding depth and diversity to their monster collection.

Key Features That Define Bulu Monster

1. Creature Collection and Training:

Central to Bulu Monster's gameplay is the collection and training of a diverse array of creatures. Players embark on expeditions across different environments, from lush forests to icy mountains, to encounter and capture Bulus. Each monster boasts its own set of skills and attributes, which players can develop through training and evolution to create formidable teams for battles.

2. Strategic Turn-Based Battles:

Battles in Bulu Monster are conducted in a turn-based format, where players strategically deploy their teams of monsters against AI opponents or other players in PvP mode. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each monster type, as well as mastering tactical maneuvers and special abilities, is essential for achieving victory in challenging battles.

3. Quests and Exploration:

The game offers a richly detailed world for players to explore, complete with towns, dungeons, and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Quests and side missions propel the storyline forward while providing opportunities to earn rewards, uncover secrets, and encounter powerful adversaries.

4. Multiplayer and Social Interaction:

Bulu Monster encourages social interaction through its multiplayer features, allowing players to engage in cooperative gameplay and competitive battles with friends and other trainers worldwide. Joining guilds, participating in tournaments, and trading monsters foster a sense of community among players, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

The Artistry and Atmosphere of Bulu Monster

Beyond its gameplay mechanics, Bulu Monster captivates players with its charming visuals and immersive atmosphere. The game's colorful and meticulously designed environments, coupled with animated battle sequences and expressive character designs, bring the world of Bulu to life. Vibrant sound effects and a captivating soundtrack further enhance the sense of adventure and discovery as players traverse the island and engage in epic monster battles.

Bulu Monster: A Blend of Adventure and Strategy

Bulu Monster strikes a balance between adventure and strategy, appealing to players who enjoy collecting, training, and battling creatures in a fantasy setting. The game's progressive difficulty curve, coupled with frequent updates and events, ensures that players are continually challenged and rewarded as they progress through the game.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bulu Monster stands out as a compelling addition to the mobile gaming genre, offering an engaging mix of creature collection, strategic gameplay, and immersive storytelling. Whether you're captivated by the thrill of capturing rare monsters, mastering tactical battles, or exploring a richly detailed world, Bulu Monster invites players of all ages to embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery and adventure in the fantastical realm of Bulu.

[blastoisemonster]

Shaman King Chou Senjiryakketsu: Funbari Version

I'm back from the Novegro Comics Festival, May edition! It's the first time we work at that location in spring and it was kinda odd to see it all sunny and warm instead of the usual foggy cold we get in winter. Anyway, I also scored a bunch of games and chitchatted with the fellow booth owners to the point that now I'm known by one of the retrogame sellers as "that Game Boy girl". Nothing to say here, best con ever whooooo <3

Today's game is based on Shaman King, a late 90s manga by Hiroyuki Takei that later got adapted in anime form and arrived on italian TVs as well, in 2005. By that time I was completely out of the loop for what it concerns animation and instead focused on other interests, so I can't say I know the series; however, I do remember the bit of hype it had while the episodes lasted, with merchandise going strong as always; also, as always, all this merchandise was cheap and easy to produce, so as you can imagine we never got around to experience the games dedicated to the series. Yay, it's yet another japanese exclusive of a videogame whose subject matter would have been enough to justify successfull production in Italy. But nope!

The story revolves around Yoh Asakura, a young descendant of a family of spirit tamers measuring himself against other shamans in a tournament that sees the winner getting invested with the title of Shaman King. It gets complicated, of course, but for the most part it's what you'd expect from a fighting shonen.

The Game Boy Color has the honour of hosting the first gaming chapters of the series: Chou Senjiryakketsu, getting published by King Records in 2001 in two versions, Funbari shown above and Meramera, which of course now I'll have to get as soon as possible since I like to complete series. Yes, apparently Shaman King wanted to pull off a Pokèmon Red and Blue move! Unfortunately I'm not a fan of the gameplay which turned out to be a card-based turn strategy, but oh the graphics are spectacular! Character dialogues and cutscenes are shown with so much impressive detail that they might have been directly lifted from either the original manga or the anime studies. Even the colour palette are impressive, and we're still talking about an 8-bit console!

Funbari and Meramera have very little differences between them, but the most striking change is the playable characters, with Funbari version allowing the players to take control of Kaita, Mitsuru and Maria. Wait, where's Yoh?

[starwarsultimateseriesproject]

star wars the star blooded outcast

star wars the star blooded outcast, the set in the pre galactic civil wars, the four younger main heroes from the different planets can join the rebel rebellion, that the group were stand against the galactic empire to free the planet from them, they will test the combat skill as the heroes, art style: pogiformers & pokemon & yugioh & transformers art style, rated: the teen rated.

name: karave. race: normal human. based: kai jent & clark jent & stave roter from pogiformers. personality: he is a good & fighting & fearless soldier.

name: asedhan. race: animal human. based: ash ketchum & red ketchum & ethan gold from pokemon. personality: he is a animal lover & rider & tamer.

name: yuemutork. race: meta human. based: yugi muto & dark yugi muto & pharaoh atem yami yugi muto from yugioh. personality: he is a mastermind & game changer & player.

name: spistegan. race: robot human. bases: spike witwicky & buster witwicky & jan minakaze from transformers. personality: he is a robot helper & builder & cooker.

Star Wars: The Star-Blooded Outcast

In the era preceding the Galactic Civil Wars, "Star Wars: The Star-Blooded Outcast" follows the adventures of four young heroes from different planets who join the Rebel Rebellion in their fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. Each possessing unique skills and backgrounds, they come together to test their combat prowess and fight for freedom.

Art Style: Drawing inspiration from "Pogiformers," "Pokemon," "Yu-Gi-Oh," and "Transformers," the series combines elements of these beloved franchises into a visually stunning and dynamic art style.

Rating: With a rating of Teen, the series explores themes of courage, friendship, and rebellion in the face of tyranny.

Meet the heroes:

Karave: A courageous and fearless soldier, Karave draws inspiration from Kai Jent, Clark Jent, and Stave Roter. With his unwavering determination, he leads the charge against the Empire.

Asedhan: An animal lover and skilled rider, Asedhan's connection to creatures is reminiscent of Ash Ketchum, Red Ketchum, and Ethan Gold. He uses his bond with animals to outmaneuver and outwit the enemy.

Yuemutork: A mastermind and strategist, Yuemutork takes cues from Yugi Muto, Dark Yugi Muto, and Pharaoh Atem Yami Yugi Muto. His cunning and intellect are invaluable assets to the Rebel cause.

Spistegan: A helpful robot builder and inventor, Spistegan's abilities are akin to Spike Witwicky, Buster Witwicky, and Jan Minakaze. With his mechanical expertise, he provides crucial support to the team both on and off the battlefield.

Join Karave, Asedhan, Yuemutork, and Spistegan as they embark on their journey to defy the Galactic Empire and carve out their place in the stars.