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tongueinatree · 22 days ago

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Ritual (Sylus x Zayne x Reader Love and Deepspace Fic)

Pairing: Sylus x Zayne x Reader (polyamorous)

Fandom: Love and Deepspace, lnds, LADS, L&DS

Fic Series: starlight trio (Part 1)

Word Count: 1.5k

Warnings: fluff, angst, no NSFW material, night terrors. Profanity is used.

Description: After a gruelling week away from home, your nightly ritual is much welcomed. But only because you get to share it twice over.

Author's Note: Main character is gender neutral. No use of "Y/N" but the second person (“you”) is used. The reader/main character's appearance is not described. MC/reader is described as being shorter than Zayne and Sylus, though.

Zayne, Sylus and the reader are in an ethical throuple/polyamorous relationship.

I’m not sure if Sylus wakes at like 12 am exactly or actually begins his day as soon as it’s nighttime / dark enough outside? Night terrors are mentioned.

Not beta read.

I’m not caught up with the main story/playthrough, just drawing on everything up until Sylus’ myth.

Comments, likes and reblogs are welcome and appreciated!

All my work, including this fic, is copyright protected. You do not have permission to copy, repost or translate my work! You also do not have permission to submit this work into any AI model or software. Disregarding any one of these stipulations is illegal.

Ritual (Zayne x Sylus x Reader fic)

When you get home after a mission outside of the city, all you want is to see Sylus and Zayne.

You’ve got an ungodly ache in your bones that sees you stumble through the front door. Leaning into the door frame, you scrub at your eyes for an instant, trying to will the tiredness right out of your body. Can’t it leap up out of your bones and flee?

When this, pointedly, does not happen, you sigh and trudge on into your apartment.

You’ve stripped down to your undershirt and underwear before you even reach your bedroom; your Hunter’s uniform is bundled under your arms. Upon entering your room, you toss the uniform to the side. Maybe it hits the end of the bed, maybe it hits the laundry basket in the corner, maybe it just goes spilling onto the floor. You don’t know or care.

You’re not expecting the bed to be occupied by any means, and of course, it isn’t. It’s 10pm anyhow – both Zayne and Sylus will be up. Sylus because it’s essentially 6am for him, and Zanye because he never sleeps anyhow.

Hell, Zayne’s probably pouring over medical texts, or a research paper at his desk. And Sylus is… cleaning a gun? Well, no, given that his day’s only just starting, Sylus is probably doing something a lot more important than cleaning a gun. You’re too tired to really reason through that last one, though.

All this is one painfully long way of saying that as much as you expect to find the bedroom unoccupied, you also expect to find the en-suite bathroom unoccupied. Not that it really matters. Just knowing your partners’ are nearby eases some of the wrung-out feeling and soothes the itch in your eyes.

You’re intending to wash your face when you reach the bathroom door, but the sight you’re met with stops you in your tracks.

The counter’s to the left of the doorway; Zayne and Sylus are both there, brushing their teeth in unison. Sylus is dressed for the day, in pressed slacks and formal shoes; just his shirt is missing (presumably so that he doesn’t get any toothpaste on it). Zayne’s dressed similarly, though his shirtsleeves are rolled up to his elbows. Ironically, he and Sylus wear the same “uniforms” to work, albeit for very different purposes.

They look… relaxed. Zayne’s hand is lax on his toothbrush from what is a mix of being relaxed and exceptionally tired. You can see it in his eyes, which are more droopy than usual.

Sylus hums, dreadfully out of tune. He gets so into it that he closes his eyes and promptly hits the inside of his cheek with his toothbrush; when Sylus stops humming to hiss in pain, you stifle a laugh behind your hand. You don’t want to be caught out just yet. Zayne also chuckles, though, and shoots Sylus a fond look.

Then the pair resume brushing their teeth, sans humming. Sylus finishes first, puts his toothbrush aside and moves to wash his hands. He’s towelling off his hands when Zayne finishes. Zayne deposits his toothbrush, braces his elbows on the countertop, lets out an almighty yawn. Seriously, he sounds so tired that you suddenly feel more alert. Sylus shoots a look Zayne’s way; his expression’s neutral, but there’s a sudden tightness around his eyes and he doesn’t exhale for a second or two. When Sylus finally addresses Zayne, his tone is equally neutral, “Are you going to sleep anytime soon?”

You straighten up against the doorframe and go stiff, as if preparing for a blow. In a way, Zayne’s response will be a blow, even though you and Sylus both know what he’ll say.

True to form, Zayne shoots Sylus a look that is a mix of askant and resigned, “No. I’ve got an article to review.”

“You can barely stand.”

He’s right. Zayne’s arms have the slightest tremor to them; there’s a layer of ice coating his skin, from his fingertips to his forearms.

Zayne exhales shakily, “I’d rather not sleep.” Then his knees buckle. You lurch forwards, but Sylus is quicker, is there in a flash. He scoops Zayne up into his arms, and deposits him on the countertop. Then Sylus is massaging Zayne’s temples, “Love. I –”

Zayne interrupts him in a mumble, “Can’t sleep, Sy. Can’t.”

Something in Zayne’s tone – the strained undercurrent of fear – tells you that his night terrors have gotten worse while you’ve been away.

Sylus just sighs, “Okay.” He releases Zayne’s temples and takes a hold of his wrists, massages his pulse points, “This might hurt a little.”

Sylus’s power seeps from his fingertips in a swirl of red energy that encases Zayne’s lower arms. When the energy retreats, the ice on Zayne’s arms has cracked. No, actually, it’s melting off his arms, in a steady drip, drip, drip. It’s not as effective a remedy as your own Evol, but does the trick for now.

Zayne manages a grateful smile, “Thank you.” He leans forward to kiss Sylus’ cheeks, but Sylus turns his head and kisses him on the mouth instead. The kiss is chaste and languid, and Zayne’s shoulders go slack as he returns it. You avert your eyes; you’re all together, have been for over a year now, but sometimes you feel like a voyeur in moments like these.

When they break apart, you make your presence known by clearing your throat softly. Sylus raises his hand into mid air and crooks his finger at you. You go as if beckoned, with hurried steps. You kiss Sylus on the cheek, the same as Zayne had meant to, and ruffle Zayne’s hair. Then you hop onto the counter alongside Zayne, drape an arm around his shoulders.

He lets you and Sylus envelope him.

“I’ve been here for a while,” you admit quietly as you resume stroking Zayne’s hair. Sylus and Zayne chuckle simultaneously.

“We know,” Sylus says.

“We always know,” Zayne adds.

You’re too tired to reply in full, “Hmm. Okay.”

You look at Sylus, “You should go to work. I’ve got him.”

When Sylus raises an eyebrow in mild outrage, you chide gently, “Sylus. It’s…” You check your watch – you forgot to remove it earlier – “the 12th. Don’t you have a big meeting today? An acquisition?”

Sylus sighs; the sound is deeply regretful. He’s going to insist that his time is flexible. You know it in your bones. You cut him off, “Sy. Let me take care of Zayne. You have to be in that meeting.”

Sylus looks from you to Zayne, brow creased with concern. “Love. What do you think?”

Zayne assesses Sylus for a moment, gaze sharpening, his mind turning over an equation of some sort. Does his need outweigh Sylus’ responsibilities?

“Go.” Zayne says evenly.

When Sylus nods with a tinge of reluctance, Zayne adds sternly, “Don’t die.”

That teases a genuine laugh out of Sylus. He looks between you and Zayne and adds a warning of his own, “I’d best not find you two passed out on the floor when I return.”

“No promises,” Zayne murmurs as you cuddle closer to him.

“Go already, Sy. So that you can get back to us.”

Sylus nods again, “Alright. I’ll be off.” He presses a fingertip to your cheek, “Love you.” Then Sylus kisses you. You arch up into him and return the kiss with what can only be termed adolescent enthusiasm. Neither of you can see it in the moment, but Zayne watches you both, with his chest expanding.

When you and Sylus part, he kisses Zayne a final time, “Love you.”

You and Zayne murmur the sentiment back in tandem.

Then Sylus is sweeping out of the bathroom; he pauses in the doorway for a split second, but doesn’t look back. He can’t, you know, or he’ll never leave. Then he’s gone, and it’s just you and Zayne.

You lean into Zayne for a minute or two. A content silence fills the en-suite, until Zayne yawns yet again. You take that as your cue, and push yourself off of the counter, and lead Zayne to the bedroom, with an insistent tug. He’s a bit shaky as he follows, but his knees don’t give in this time.

You curl into the bed together; you’re too tired to lecture Zayne to get changed. Instead, you let him flop against you, let him press his head to your middle.

You rest your hand atop his head, “You don’t have to sleep. Just lie here.”

Zayne’s reply is quiet, but grateful, “Alright.”

You both settle in, and time begins to stretch and blur all at once, into a warm sort of in-betweenness. A sudden yawn, this time from you, interrupts the silence. Around the yawn you say, “We should have slept on the floor, just to piss Sy off.”

The last thing you hear is Zayne’s laughter.

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tenebraevesper · 21 days ago

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Secret of the Mimic and The Story of Henry, William and Edwin

After having finished watching Dawko's playthrough of Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic, my first impression was that the game is awesome - basically what Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach was supposed to be - but there is also a huge issue with it, that being the lore.

There is a lot that I can talk about, like the fact that at the beginning of the game, it is made clear that SotM partially retcons Five Nights at Freddy's: Tales from the Pizzaplex, specifically The Storyteller from #5: The Bobbiedots Conclusion and The Mimic from #6: Nexie. I did some research, and while the initial impression was that it is canon to the main games, there was no direct confirmation coming from Scott Cawthon that they are canon. Still, the books confirm and/or explain the lore presented in the games, specifically Security Breach, meaning that, at best, TftPP is loosely tied to the games, albeit more actively than The Silver Eyes trilogy or Fazbear Frights.

That said, while I was dumbfounded by that retcon, I'm fine with it. They took a part of the story and made something grand out of it, not unlike Five Nights at Freddy's: Into The Pit.

No, what I actually want to focus on is the supposed implication of SotM seemingly ''retconning'' some long-established lore. I am here to offer my personal thoughts on the topic and how I interpret what we see in the game, so don't take anything I say for set in stone. I can still change my mind.

The lore I am talking about appears around the second half to the very end of the game, where we follow Arnold not only discovering the springlock suits but also what appear to be the prototypes of not only the Classic Animatronics from Five Nights at Freddy's, but also Fredbear and Spring Bonnie. We also discover several e-mails which establish that Edwin Murray knew Henry Emily and William Afton, and was even friends with the former (going by the fact that he calls Henry ''Hen'').

I have actually speculated in a conversation with a friend that Edwin might've known or was at least familiar with the co-founders of Fredbear's Family Diner and Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria since in TftPP, it was established that he was working for Fazbear Entertainment, and I am happy to get a confirmation.

But what baffled me, and probably many other people, is the implication that Henry and William didn't build Fredbear and Spring Bonnie nor the springlock suits (or any of the other characters we have known since the first game), and that Edwin was the one responsible for them. I suppose it could be described as a knee-jerk reaction because we still need to properly interpret this information in context of the story of the game, and while understandable, it doesn't feel less jarring.

As a matter of fact, after thinking about it, I have come to a understanding that there was no retcon in regards to Fredbear & Spring Bonnie and the springlock suits because of one simple point - the fact that Edwin was contracted by Fazbear Entertainment to work on their projects.

We know that Henry and William were brilliant engineers (it is confirmed directly that Henry built Lefty while William built the Funtime Animatronics and had his own robotics company) and every story about their past reinforces that they were the ones who built Fredbear's and Freddy's from ground up, came up with the Fredbear and Spring Bonnie animatronic and were directly involved in the creation of the springlock suits. Five Nights at Freddy's: The Silver Eyes, while not canon to the main games but still gives us context for the story behind the first three games, drives the idea that it was always these two were responsible for the creation of the animatronics we know and love (or hate) and I sincerely doubt Scott Cawthon would tell Steel Wool Studios to retcon that. Even if he left it to them to develop a new game, that doesn't mean that he still isn't involved or has the final say in what is added to the game.

So, what is the deal with Edwin?

My personal interpretation is that, while Henry and William were the ones who created the Fredbear and Spring Bonnie we know and that they were also behind the springlock suits, they did also collaborate with Edwin, either directly (which I believe to be the case with Henry) or as a representative of Fazbear Entertaiment using their shady business practices (which would obviously be William). The fact that Edwin seemed to be close to Henry and was under contract with Fazbear Entertainment makes it possible that ideas were exchanged (or stolen, as Edwin puts it). We know that the Spring Bonnie suit William used was extremely unsafe, while Edwin's springlock suits seemed to be water-resistant, which leads me to the belief that while Henry and William came up with the springlock suits and built their own variants, they and/or Fazbear Entertainment possibly comissioned Edwin to perfect them and/or mass produce them. Same goes for the Classic Animatronics.

I am sure I am missing a lot of details, since this is information I got from watching Dawko's playthrough and that more information will eventually surface, so feel free to correct me. Nevertheless, it would be baffling to remove Henry and William's involvement in the creation of the animatronics/springlock suits since that is something fundamental to the story of FNaF.

If you guys want me to talk about my interpretation of the other lore pieces from SotM, just send me an ask about which topic you want me to cover next.

#Ten's Thoughts #five nights at freddy's #fnaf #william afton #henry emily #edwin murray #five nights at freddy's: secret of the mimic #fnaf secret of the mimic #fnaf sotm

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marielle555 · 3 months ago

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The UA path is my heaviest gaming experience.

I want to say right away, that I'm not trying to belittle anyone else's gaming experience or impose my point of view on anyone else about what's going on in the game. Neither am I trying to criticize the game BG3 as such (after all, in order to love the game, it is not necessary to use in your playthroughs all the opportunities provided by the game, and the fact that some variants of the playthrough may be hard for my perception and I do not want to use them in my main playthroughs, does not diminish my love for the game as long as other options are possible). In this post, I want to share my personal experience of passing on the so-called “good” route of Astarion and do my own analysis of what happens to him in this case.

I love to play RPG games with full immersion, imagining myself in the character's place, and the first playthrough should be blind, without spoilers, so as not to spoil the impression. In the case of BG3, unfortunately, it was not possible to completely protect myself from outside information, because even a banal search for screenshots with Astarion led to the fact that the eye somehow clung to arguments about how bad and scary it will be to help him Ascend and “you will lose him”. The specific torment with Astarion began with a phrase in the diary that appears after completing his personal quest (if you talk him out of the ritual): “Astarion's fate is sealed. He will be a vampire spawn for the rest of his days.” Astarion himself also talks about never seeing the sun again. The desire to play through the game without spoilers no longer mattered after that, and I found detailed descriptions with companions' lines and Tav's behavior, videos of Astarion's “good” ending (without the Ascension). It was during patch 4 and it was the ending, which just nullified the entire game for me, an ending I would never want to see in my playthrough. For me, as a player, who really loved Astarion, who had this character became the center of the entire game world, all the former sincere love and admiration for the world of Baldur at that moment simply changed to hatred for all the others that will enjoy life and see the sun. The rest of the plot was not important, it didn't matter what was going on around, other companions and all these side quests, what difference did it make, what happens next, if it all ends up like this.

And although before that I had accidentally learned about Astarion after reading one of the articles in a game magazine, that he turns down a lot of people at a party, I did not read any guides on principle, I wanted realistic roleplay without hints. And there were no problems with the romance, despite all the initial prickliness and regular disapproval, Astarion suddenly wowed me by asking me for a date even before any party, when I was even totally not expecting it. It was simply amazing. And the sea of tenderness and love that comes over me after the confession scene in the second act is hard to describe. It feels like you're holding his wounded heart in your hands, holding it as gently as you can, and there's nothing more precious in the whole world than that. And I'm going to go drinking with these idiots in a tavern in the finale, celebrating some sort of “victory,” while Astarion burns? Astarion in this ending looked like some kind of outcast, an object to be bullied, he's cheated, he's in pain, and he's forced to flee again, hiding from the sun. Is such a world even worth fighting for? Hardly. Well, of course, I also read all sorts of “horror stories” about Ascension: “Astarion becomes an abuser”, “Astarion will never respect you again” and similar nonsense. Just giving up on the game was hindered by the feeling that by doing so I was still betraying Astarion, leaving him a spawn. I decided, against all the “scaremongering” to Ascend Astarion, bring him to an adequate ending and call it a day. What a wonderful reward I received for that and what a wonderful happy playthrough I had is a separate story, a story that is still ongoing.

Of course, for the sake of understanding Astarion's character and compiling a complete picture, it's necessary to go through the game both ways, and I later decided to explore the UA path, without roleplay, but with attention to Astarion and his scenes, to understand what he's feeling along this route and how “good” it really is for him.

The scene of the abandonment of the ritual. It is not infrequently written that Astarion experiences “catharsis.” Where do we see catharsis? Yes, the very opportunity to take revenge on his tormentor, when Astarion stabs Cazador multiple times - this is catharsis, but after Astarion realizes that he has to give up the dream of becoming alive again, no purification or liberation occurs as a result. Next we see tears and cries of pain followed by a depressed state.

His tears in the scene of refusing the ritual are the most bitter, a grimace of real pain on his face.

Then there is doom and a kind of detachment, exhaustion…

It's the face of a doomed man. It is the face of a man who is depressed, a man who has resigned himself to the fact that he has nothing more to want and that nothing good awaits him, and he realizes it. There is no more hope. Astarion has cried his tears and now he humbles himself. Humbling himself and adjusting and this “new way” is not what he wanted. Astarion cries if he doesn't ascend, not only when the pain and grief of what has been taken from him hits him, but also the realization that there is nothing to get back, the realization of the future that awaits him. If you fail the persuasion check needed to get him to give up the ritual, Astarion will make it very clear why he doesn't want that life.

It is also interesting to note the moment when Astarion first met the Gur's after the death of Cazador.

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“It is noteworthy how Spawn seems to say compassionate things that "saved Ulma from having to kill her children themselves," and then when he realized that his trick had worked, he abruptly changes his face and smiles slyly and says with relief, "You will stop following me, right?" I interpret this as "I'll say anything as long as you stop hunting me."

To me, it's a clear demonstration that he continues to wear a mask and says things to protect himself, not because he really feels for Ulma. And we must not forget that Astarion hates the Gur's, because they almost killed him and because of them he ended up in slavery. Therefore, it is reasonable that he wants to destroy them when he gets the chance.” © channel author AlexKhodja

Depression (or pain, suffering, doom, in general, the morbidly depressive emotional spectrum) is also evident in the scenes that follow.

The scene after the ritual (responding to Tav's line “I'm proud of you…”).

Astarion: “I’m glad you think so, because I’m not so sure. I just feel numb.”

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And the voice and expression in which Astarion says: “I want to feel alive again.”

And how different that is from his “I feel alive, hahaha!”

Time 10.46

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Also Astarion's line in the dialogue after: "I should probably start getting used to the shadows again. Who knows how long I have left in the sun?"

I can't help but think of how Astarion meets the dawn in the Act 1 scene, after a first night with him.

In this interesting video (combining the Astarion Origin version with the Astarion companion version in the meeting scene with Dalyria and Petras in the flophouse)

Time 4.09.

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Response to Tav: "You did the right thing, stopping the Black Mass."

“I know. That doesn’t mean it stings any less”.

Tav: “And if it is? Can you live with what?”

"I'll have to. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

When Astarion says: “Someone who could break the cycle of power and terror…” he makes a gesture with his hand, as if trying to find the best words, to think of what to say next, before continuing: “… that started centuries ago.”

It's so artificial, and… When has Astarion ever expressed himself like that once throughout the game?

In response to Tav's line, "I wasn't sure if you'd stop the ritual or not, honestly." Astarion replies more sincerely, "I am - well, not 'happy' with how things turned out. But this does feel right."

The scene in the graveyard is sad, though it touches the heart. It was sad to hear him retort, “You were patient.” It sounds kind of self-deprecating, as if one had to “be patient” with Astarion, as if one couldn't love him unconditionally for what he is, as if one couldn't love all the manifestations of his lively and vivid character and be happy to have him around. And about the “objectively stupid thing to do” is also very sad to hear.

Also for Astarion, Tav has a pretty nasty line in this scene, “Then don't mess it up,” and the bitter part is that if you check it, Astarion will respond:

He accepts it. He accepts that attitude. He will endeavor to please. That kind of captures the whole essence of this “arch of redemption.”

And an even nastier line: “That sounds very sincere. Are you sure the parasite hasn’t chewed through your brain?”

And Astarion just lets him be treated that way:

Well, in this scene at least, not all lines for the player are bad. 1 adequate (“You won't. Whatever comes next. I've got you.”) to 2 bad lines. All-in-all, 1 is much better than 0, there's an opportunity for choice. But Astarion… Astarion thinks he deserves to be treated the way Tav treats him in the other 2, toxic lines. Where do we have “equal relationship” here? If the developers wanted to show AA “toxic” in such a way that the player would believe it, they should have just given him those two lines about “don't mess it up” and “parasite hasn't chewed through your brain” and not had to take away the player's agency, instead keep the agency, allow for the opportunity for loving roleplay and so that AA in that moment, when Tav opened their soul to him, would share an innermost, painful thing, like Astarion before in the graveyard scene, would tell them that or something similar. But that would require rewriting the whole character. But that's how you can treat him in a “healthy” and “equal” relationship.

“I'm still nothing, aren't I? Just an expandable frail spawn who will burn to a crisp soon enough.”

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Yes, that line refers to the moment, when Tav betrays him, betrays everything they promised before, Tav wants to use his body, forcing Astarion to take on an astral tadpole, to do what is against his will. But Astarion will never say or think that about himself, when he Ascended and stopped being a “frail spawn” forever. Astarion thinks of himself that way, feels that way, and it's not just in relation to the tadpole. And the “will burn to a crisp soon enough” part - that part has nothing to do with this particular moment, when Tav betrays him, it seems like something he's been thinking about, something that's been eating away at him, and just now, at this particular moment, it came out of his mouth, even if it came out because Tav betrayed him. And sure, Tav's betrayal hurts him, but he's clearly thought about it before this moment. If he hadn't thought about it before, his words would have sounded different, at least they wouldn't have hinted at the bitter ending that would await him.

Left as a frail spawn, Astarion is forever locked into his mask, adjusting and behaving as he is “supposed” to, he keeps on pretending, he doesn't try to show his real self, his insecurity is solidified and expressed by clinging to Tav, as the only person who has been kind to him, and showing himself as Tav wants him to be. “Astarion's spawn is theater (with all the masks, lies and deception still included)” Neil.

When I played with UA, I felt a deep love for him, but with a strong dash of pain. I can't call that kind of relationship “healthy”. “Patience”… It really takes patience to follow this story through to the end. If in reality my loved one suddenly changed behavior from Astarion's playful behavior in Act 2 to UA's behavior, where there is a distinct sense of depression, I would sound the alarm and clearly would not consider it “good” or “normal”. And the way Astarion himself defines this relationship, the only line is, “Nothing special, of course…” Yes, it's a joke, but in that joke you can sense some degree of passive aggression, maybe resentment and doom. And afterward, he only talks about “care,” not love. “Care” is certainly a part of love, but it is only one of the "bricks'" it is less than '“love”, especially eternal love. “How could I say no?” - Okay in Act 2, when Astarion is just starting to trust and open up, but when the relationship seems to be already serious? The hug in the epilogue looks like a friendly hug, not a romantic one, and nowhere near as deep and touching as the hug in the confession scene of Act 2. And overall, compared to Ascended Astarion, there is a certain sense of detachment. Not a fake “glass barrier”, as in the game with AA without mods, when you can see from one look at him how Astarion reaches out to you, but, alas, there are no appropriate lines or actions for Tav, and, unfortunately, there can be a certain annoyance, that you play a game, where there are 'threesomes', brothels, bestiality, different variants of cheating, but there is no opportunity to just hug or kiss normally, or at least say: “I love you” to the dearest person. It's a sense of distance of a different kind - coming from Astarion himself. He has closed himself off. And it's as if he's fading. His other lines and facial expressions are devoid of their former playfulness, and some have overly sweet, unnaturally sweet intonations.

And the kind of roleplay that is possible in this relationship, how do I even play that? Tav concretely doesn't care about Astarion's condition. Not a single attempt to find not that healing, not even some kind of artifact to protect him from the sun. Tav is calmly going about their other, “more important” business and “having fun”. The scene at the docks is the apotheosis and culmination of the epitome of the worst partner behavior example in a relationship. Tav doesn't give a damn about Astarion concretely. The truest neglect. Our character will act as if they're fine with everything. Of course this is not a rebuke to the players, the players have no choice outside of the scenario, I myself have a scene consisting of exclusively negative lines and I'm scripted to be a submissive, if played without mods, the problems with roleplay and violation of player agency are present to some degree in both routes. I just don't know how to play with the UA with roleplay, I can think of a “good ” Tav, who feels sorry for all the spawns and wants to talk him out of it, but I can't think of a character, who agrees to behave the way Tav behaves in the scenario, it's just beyond. Astarion expects Tav to abandon him, he doesn't believe them until the end, he says so in the epilogue. Tav shows complete indifference to Astarion (I don't mean the player, I mean the kind of roleplay the game allows). On Tav's part - neglect, manipulation, ignoring his needs and his pain. Going to “celebrate victory” while he, burned, sits curled up behind crates at the docks.

What happens to him at this point can be seen in more detail in the scene at the docks of Astarion Origins.

Hidden Astarion ending cutscene for origin

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In the epilogue without a relationship or after a breakup, he says that he now owns his own destiny, and when he finds a way to walk in the sun, he will not miss it now, nothing and no one will stop him. And these are important words, the ritual was really important to him.

«That being said, I haven't completely given up on returning to the sun. If the opportunity presented itself - well, I wouldn't say no...»

«Every day I yearned for the sun and mourned my curse to live in the shadows”.

«I've been exploring the world, looking for anything that will let me walk in the sun again”.

Also in the non-romantic epilogue we can see how Astarion was truly robbed at the moment of this “collective triumph”: “I felt… ashamed. Like I'd lost everything, just as you claimed your victory. I didn't want you to see me like that.”

And here's the look on his face after Astarion says:

“I did at first, but then I realised - these shadows, this darkness - it's all part of me.”

And just after this line, Astarion continues, “I spent too long defined by what other people did to me. The choices other people made for me - but that's over now.” Choices have been made for him, but now that he is free, he will no longer miss any opportunity, should one present itself to him. I think UA is even better off alone than with Tav, judging by the un-ascended epilogue. Even though it's much more bitter than romantic, in it Astarion says he won't miss his chance again if he ever gets one, and he finds a use for his abilities. And he won't have to endeavor or please anyone else.

This is of course my point of view, based largely on empathy, but I think real acting is precisely about conveying through facial expressions, voice, movements the feelings of the character and letting the viewer/player feel it. Where the authors managed to realistically and genuinely make me feel bad is in the UA route. But I don't see that as a minus - I appreciated the plot, and I can see my own sense in it, though in the future I won't ever choose it and would rather have a happy playthrough with the Ascended Astarion. But it's realistic, the game makes me think about what I'm doing, like in a good DnD with a harsh DM, when you can't just run around, do all the quests, help everyone, be “good” and get bonuses for it. It's necessary to act as one would act as a character, who lives in this world. Ascension is Astarion's path, it's what he wants, it's his only chance. If I didn't let him do it, if I left him as a spawn, didn't help him, why should I feel good about it afterwards? I have nothing against “good” roleplay, when some of ones moral principles are more important, it's just not definitely not my thing. I won't sacrifice a loved one for someone else's principles, “messages”, “narratives” or whatever. I don't play games for the sake of suffering, helplessness and pain. After all, if Tav and Astarion died somewhere along the way, Cazador would ascend and kill all those spawns. Astarion owed nothing to this world. The world has given him nothing but pain, contempt and rejection, why should he owe them all?

Humility - yes, that's how the UA path feels, and I can't imagine my character would give a loved one that rather than love, the joys of life and accepting them for who they are.

#Youtube #astarion bg3 #astarion #bg3 astarion #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #baldurs gate #baldurs gate 3 astarion #astarion ancunin #my analysis #ascended astarion #spawn astarion

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she-who-is-two-sizes-too-big · 6 days ago

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I don't think Toby Fox would spend so long building up the idea of a relationship between Noelle and Susie only to have it end with Susie pulling a "I'm not gay but we can be friends :)" thing (because he is actually a competent writer and not one that assumes subverting expectations is inherently quality writing on its own by virtue of existing) but if that was the resolution to the plotline that would be...bad writing, actually?

Part of what made Undyne's relationship with Alphys in Pacifist hit so hard is because it is incredibly rare for wlw relationships in fiction, especially video games, to have unambiguously happy endings. And most of the other examples we do have for games are in Mass Effect or Dragon Age style Player/NPC romances that are completely optional. But if you want to do the full Pacifist playthrough of Undertale, you have to make sure these two NPCs confess their feelings and get together. To go from that, to the 40 billionth "Oh the only queer woman in the main cast had unrequited feelings for her straight bestie" drama would be an objective downgrade, because that's been the only way mainstream media has been willing to represent our stories. It would be building up the hopes of a still underrepresented minority only to do a 180 at the last second and go "syke you only get cliche angst this time haha no homo :)", especially if the next chapter delivers on the threat of something bad happening to Undyne (who is, to my knowledge, the only textually explicitly confirmed to be lesbian character in either Undertale or Deltarune aside from maybe Noelle herself).

I know the fandom (rightfully) praises Toby Fox for writing his LGBT+ characters as people first identities second, and that he treats us the same as he does everyone else, but...there are limits. Good representation isn't just the writer doing whatever they want with a character regardless of the character's identity. When you're writing a character from an underrepresented marginalized minority group (especially if you yourself are not a member of the group) you have to make sure you don't play into narratives that are at best cliche and at worst active obstacles to positive representation. You have to remember how your work fits into a broader representational context in the wider media landscape.

#lgbt #representation #fandom #lesbian #utdr #undertale #deltarune #noelle holiday #susie deltarune #suselle

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scielson · 2 months ago

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i’m so tired of the argument "well, larian isn’t fixing wyll or adding content for him because he’s boring and not a fan favorite anyway." like, let’s actually use our brains for a second. why isn’t he a fan favorite? because he’s "boring"? and why’s he boring? because he’s missing a ton of content. i had him in my party the entire playthrough of my karlach romance (in my head they became besties, which is literally the only reason why him going to avernus with her even makes sense), and he’s from baldur’s gate, he’s the son of the duke. he’s directly tied to the main story more than any other companion and STILL he barely has anything to say about anything. on top of that, the game forces us as the player to make the most improbable, personal decisions for him. and before anyone comes for me with "well, it’s the same for other companions" — no, it’s not. with others, you can support their choices, but you don’t straight up decide their fate for them. why the hell are we the ones choosing whether wyll saves his own father or not? it makes no sense. that’s such a deeply personal decision that he should be making.

anyway, point is, he’s not a fan favorite because larian made him "boring". he has the least dialogue of anyone, and it’s 100% their fault. and the second we ask for even the tiniest wyll crumbs, hell, even just bug fixes, they act like he doesn’t exist. it’s honestly so frustrating.

#wyll ravengard #bg3 wyll #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #baldur's gate #baldur's gate 3

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coffinclownery · 2 months ago

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Things I Like about Clinical Trial and How it Differentiates itself from Other Indie Horror Games

This is an addition to my CT Impressions post, and there will be spoilers after the cut. After this any post I make will be tagged "clinical trial spoilers" so you can avoid spoiling yourself on a 3-4hr game. Before going under the cut here's less spoilery reasons I like this game.

Art: The artstyle of the sprites and CGs are nice and while soft carries a lot of impact. There's a ton of different sprites at play during dialogue that really gives life to the characters. If you decide to go for a second run it's interesting to notice what expressions (or lack thereof) are at play. The creator also had another person draw the art for Angel, making their artstyle more unique to the game artwork.

Dialogue Pacing: Something interesting about the dialogue that I can't recall being used to this effect before is the pacing of the lines. Lines aren't always displays at the same pace. There's pauses between words, there's points where the dialogue box is left empty, there's stuttering. It's makes it easy to imagine how the characters are talking in a really interesting way, and it makes watching playthroughs enjoyable. Even players who don't have a lot of experience reading out loud are able to capture the characters a lot easier thanks to how the dialogue works.

Characterization: To be as spoiler-free as I possibly can here, the two main characters are well-written. They have their own internal lives that's shown both on screen and by what's purposely not shown. By the end of the game you have a pretty clear understanding of who these characters are and what dynamics are at play between them. Some argued that the 11 o' clock plot twists were out of left field, but if you replay it you might notice a lot of hints to how it got to that point.

As I said in my impressions post I don't think this was a perfect game, but it's still an experience that's hard to dismiss. I've watched videos, played it multiple times, stepped away from it awhile to see if I'm just overthinking it, but no matter what I do the impact this game left me with remains the same.

But to really drive home why this game's so interesting and why it's so different from a lot of other indie horrors out there I'll need to get into spoilers, so going under the cut now.

Do you have ADHD?: I feel like this became a siren call to people with ADHD and undiagnosed ADHD. Everything from Angel's little quirks to how it effects their ability to live day-to-day is so familiar to anyone who likely has this condition, to the point that it's scary. And even with how much ADHD affects Angel they still have a solid personality and character. Whenever a character is written intentionally with a certain condition there's a risk of the character just becoming a checklist of symptoms, but this avoids that while still giving us the impact of the condition.

Mental Illness: This game is stunningly aware that the characters need therapy. That's kind of a meme with a lot of stories, that things would've resolved a lot easier if the characters had therapy, chuck this villain into a therapy clinic...but no in this case that's blatantly the answer here. Regardless of how you feel about the characters it is so abundantly clear that they need help...and the tragedy is that neither are able to receive it, either through lack of access or fear of repercussions. There's no one solution here that can save these characters.

Their name is Angel: Along with mental illness, what isolates Angel is their queerness, during a time when online queer spaces weren't as prevalent, and especially spaces for nonbinary people. I'm nonbinary myself (which is another thing that makes this game way too familiar to me) and during the era the game's placed in I didn't have the words to really understand what I was. It was lonely. Angel's connection to animals comes from not knowing how exactly to define themselves, only understanding that they can't fit the standards expected from them. And when the only person who accepts you as you are is your stalker and a murderer...I can understand why they would still accept him.

No Meta: Don't get me wrong, I'm cool with meta games, but I think what sets this game apart is the reason for a character's actions...okay it's Lee, I'm talking about Lee here. The reasons for Lee's actions have nothing to do with meta. I feel like there's a lot of characters who fit the same niche as Lee that don't have reasons for their horrible actions beyond meta. Prime example being Doki Doki Literature Club, which I think was a huge influence to latter games. The horror stems from it being a meta game, which has the risk of taking away from the character's actually personality outside of meta-influence. Here there's no risk that Lee's actions can be excused by meta.

Realism: In addition to there being no meta-narrative there's also nothing in the game that reaches parody or fantasy. The unfortunate thing is everything in this games setting is fairly accurate to both the time it's set in and today. The horror is in the mundane, in how systems fail people, which leads them to take drastic measures out of desperation and form unhealthy bonds because of loneliness. The reason this game resonates is probably in part because a lot of people have also been failed by these same systems, and I've seen a lot of accounts of people ended up in similar relationships as the main characters out of loneliness.

Regular-Ass Dude: With the game being set in the realm of the realistic, can we talk about Lee? I saw a post that was like "You wouldn't like him if he was hot," and I did a double take because like...what...? He's hot???? Like physically????? I feel like I'm out of the loop on who's conventionally attractive these days. Because to me an important part of how Lee works is that he's not conventionally attractive, nor is he conventionally ugly. He looks like just a regular-ass dude you'd meet at a doctor's office. His appearance and flat affect becomes a mask to make him appear "normal" on the surface, which throws Angel and the players off the scent of how much of a freak he actually is from Week 1. Because of his surface level normalcy we miss the signs, possibly even right up to the shrine discovery.

Lee's Actual Appeal: His attractiveness only shows when he opens up, sharing his little wallet schedule with terrible writing, complaining about the medical system that fails his patients, his shrimp talk. When he has Angel in his place he actively tries to make them happy and comfortable instead of taking advantage of the situation. It's what makes the discoveries such a gut-punch. There's genuine effort in making Lee so likable and making his and Angel's dynamic work, and then that dynamic gets challenged. The disappointment I felt from seeing the shrine really felt like the disappointment I'd feel when a friend or family member messes up. Because I like them and I wanted them to do better. And then the body's discovered and I'm like "C'mon Lee you you could have least buried him first before inviting guests!"

The Other Regular-Ass Dude: Brandon's also regular-ass dude, but unlike Lee who's only a regular dude on the surface, Brandon's a regular ass to his core. It's what makes him such a loser in the basement. He's not an ugly mustache-twirling villain, he's a decent-looking dude in his early twenties who never had to learn what "consent" truly meant. He genuinely cannot fathom that he's done anything wrong, which is both mortifying and kinda sad. There are thousands of dudes on the internet who still think like Brandon, who still think anything goes so long as the other person doesn't say no out loud. Brandon is not the exception, he is the standard. He's part of the horror of the mundane.

Clinical Murder: Speaking of Brandon I think my favorite scene has to be the basement, where Lee reveals what he believed the basement is for and what he did. Fun as it would be I'm very glad the creator didn't make Lee a typical slasher villain. He's not openly conniving or cruel, he's cynical and very detailed in his violence. His matter-of-fact attitude clashes well with the delusions and fears that brought him to that point. When describing what he was going to do he's cold, casual and uses the same flat affect as he did when describing the testing done to Angel. You could almost say he was...clinical about it. HAH! HAHA!!!

Okay I think I'm past the limit where anyone will tolerate my word vomit so I'll stop here for the day.

#clinical trial game #clinical trial

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reccyls · 3 months ago

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Victor's Main Route: Chapter 18

< Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Next Chapter >

His POV Story - spoiler warning

Like Chapter 9, the POV story for this chapter is unlocked on a second playthrough so it has spoilers for later chapters in it. Therefore I am posting it separately but it will be linked above.

-----

Kate: They’re done!

As I held up the completed schedules in triumph, Victor, who had been leaning against the back of the sofa, looked up.

Victor: Good work.

Kate: It’s thanks to your help, thank you so much.

He had stayed with me for the entire night. As I worked on the schedules, he quizzed me about the guards’ positions and the names of the guests that would be arriving. We’d spent pretty much the entire night like that, until he moved to lean against the sofa a little bit before dawn. He hadn’t been asleep, but I’d still felt bad since he was resting with his eyes closed. Our shoulders had been touching, and the warmth from that had spread all the way to my fingertips. His languid posture made him seem a dozen times more seductive than usual.

Victor: It’s thanks to your own diligence, Kate.

His soft, sultry voice was bad for my heart. Everything seemed to be hitting me harder than usual because I hadn’t gotten any sleep last night. Even the way he stood and looked at me made my heart skip a beat.

Victor: I’ll head back first. There’s still some time, so you should get some rest.

Kate: But you–

Victor: I’ve gotten some rest already. I’ll be fine. Victor: I can sneak in a nap while waiting for the parade to start.

As he was about to leave the common room, I hurriedly stood up too.

Victor: I’ll see you later, Kate.

He smiled gently in the doorway, as morning light streamed in from behind him.

…

A few hours later, I was in the foyer handing out the schedules to the others.

Kate: Here’s everyone’s schedules. Kate: I adjusted your locations so they won’t overlap with the regular guards, so if you need to use your abilities you don’t have to worry about them. Kate: As Victor stated, William, you’ll be placed at the rear of the parade so you can keep Her Majesty in view. Kate: Everyone else will be stationed—what’s the matter? Is something wrong?

As I was explaining the schedules and the map to everyone…

Liam & Harrison: …

Elbert & Alfons & Roger: …

Jude & Ellis: …

Everyone stared at me in surprise.

William: Haha.

I stared back at them, trying to figure out what was going on.

William: Excellent job. As expected of our robin.

I couldn’t stop my smile at William’s praise, and collected myself again.

William: We’ll act as per Kate’s schedule. William: Kate, you’re fine coming with me, right?

Kate: Yes, that’s fine.

After I nodded, William clapped once and began giving out instructions.

William: Well then, let’s be off.

And with that, everyone began moving to their positions, leaving just me and William behind.

Kate: Shouldn’t we be going too?

William: Of course, but before that, there’s somewhere we need to go first.

…

Though William didn’t elaborate further, I began to follow him. We made our way deep into the palace, eventually stopping in front of one particular door.

(What is this room?)

I looked around the unfamiliar area.

William: This room’s occupant has some business with you. William: I’ll wait out here, so make sure you have a nice chat.

Leaning against the wall, he turned to look at the door.

(I don’t know who’s waiting for me, but…)

There was no reply when I knocked on the door.

When I glanced back at William, he had nothing to say, and was looking out the window.

(...I guess I should just enter?)

Kate: Pardon me.

As I slowly swung open the door and stepped inside…

Victor: Hello again, Kate.

Victor stood inside the room.

Kate: Victor! So this room is…

An elaborate chandelier hung from the ceiling. The exquisite canopy bed was surrounded by equally luxurious furniture & decorations. And lying on the bed was a very familiar set of clothing. It was the outfit that I helped Victor finalize for the queen to wear during the parade.

Victor: This room is where all monarchs traditionally stay. Victor: Therefore, Queen Victoria also lives here.

Kate: Huh!?

I never thought that I’d step foot in a room like this. My legs began to tremble out of shock and sudden anxiety. But…

(‘Queen Victoria’ lives here?)

Something about the statement caught my attention.

Kate: Do you not normally stay here?

Victor: That’s right, I have a separate bedroom normally. Victor: I only use this room when I must attend official events as Queen Victoria.

As he slipped on a pair of gloves, he continued speaking.

Victor: Her Majesty dresses herself and eats alone, and keeps no servants with her. Victor: So nobody knows that this room goes unused more often than not.

I’d heard something back when I was still working at the post office.

Female Coworker: Did you know? Her Majesty apparently doesn’t have any attendants. Female Coworker: She can do everything herself, so she doesn’t keep any servants with her. Male Coworker: No way, she’s the queen. She must live all fancy, right? Female Coworker: But according to the rumors–

(At the time I had agreed with him.)

But now that I knew the queen’s true identity, it turned out that the rumors were true after all.

Victor: I’ve called for you because I would like to ask for your help with something.

He laid the outfit out and gave a slightly sheepish smile.

Victor: Would you help me get dressed?

…

Victor: Like this?

Kate: The sleeve is over here.

(I wasn’t sure what to do with myself when he asked me to help him dress.)

Helping the person I liked get dressed? I didn’t think my heart could handle it. But now that it was actually happening…

Victor: …I feel almost like a child.

He said exactly what I was thinking. I didn’t want to admit that I had the same thought, so I smiled awkwardly. The queen’s usual white robes were billowing enough that they disguised his figure entirely. But this outfit had been prepared specifically for the parade, and was so complicated that I felt like I deserved a medal for helping him to put it on properly.

Victor: I’d even requested that it be kept on the simple side, so that it would be easy to put on alone.

Kate: So the reason why the queen never wore any fancy outfits before is…

Victor: Is because I didn’t want to bother putting them on.

He looked so defeated I couldn’t help but laugh.

(Who would have thought that was the reason.)

The parade’s start was quickly approaching, so we hurried to put on all the finishing touches. After most of the accessories were in place, Victor reached for a jewelry box.

Victor: Which brooch do you think I should wear on my chest?

Kate: You’re letting me choose?

Victor: I want you to.

All of the brooches in the jewelry box were gorgeous.

(Which one…?)

In the end, I reached for–

The diamond brooch.

The opal brooch. (+4/+4)

The iolite brooch.

Kate: I think the opal brooch is best. Kate: …And, um, it’s just like the one you gave me before…

Victor: Now that I think about it, I may have chosen that brooch to give you because I subconsciously thought it would match this one. Victor: I’m sorry to keep asking you for favors, but might I ask for another one?

Kate: Of course.

Victor: Could you fasten this brooch for me?

He placed the brooch in my hand and gently wrapped his hand around mine, then shut his eyes. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was almost as though he was praying.

Victor: Will you do it?

Kate: …I will.

I pinned the brooch above his chest.

Kate: Done.

Smiling as the gem sparkled in the light, Victor picked up the veil.

Palace Guard: Your Majesty, it’s time.

At the voice calling from outside, Victor and I exchanged a look, and then hastily finished the last of the preparations.

Victor: Thank you for your help, Kate.

Kate: I’m glad I was helpful.

(So the parade is going to start now…)

I hoped I wouldn’t have to fulfil my role as messenger.

(I’d be in charge of communicating to the others if anything big happened.)

I don’t know why, but I had a bad feeling.

Victor: I’ll be going now.

He put on the veil and began to make his way to the door. But I found myself grabbing his sleeve.

Victor: Kate?

Kate: Oh, sorry. I…

Maybe it was something about the fact that I’d never seen him fully step into the queen’s role like this before. But I felt as though once he left, I’d never see him again. When I hesitated to speak, he gently placed his hand on my head and stroked my hair.

Victor: You’ve worked so hard, all the way until this morning, Kate. Victor: You still have the guard positions, the guest list, and Crown’s schedules memorized, don’t you?

Kate: Yes, but–

I looked away, but his hands cupped my cheeks and lifted my face. Beneath the veil, his eyes were the same as ever, filled with warmth and kindness, and focused entirely on me.

Victor: Everything will be okay, Kate.

Kate: Victor…

The warmth in his gaze equaled the warmth in his palms as he cradled my face.

Victor: You do your part, and I’ll do mine.

(His touch always makes my worries disappear.)

As if I had known him for a long time, the warmth of his hands put my heart at ease instantly.

Kate: …Okay.

(I have to do what I must.) (And what I have to do now, is to let him leave.)

I let go of his sleeve. The warmth of his palms against my face vanished. He stroked my hair once more, then turned around.

Victor: I’m off now.

Kate: …Good luck.

I watched him walk away, until he disappeared beyond the open door. Then I stepped outside myself. Joining up with William again, we began to move. But my fear never disappeared entirely.

-----

Flower petals were raining down on the streets of London. The sound of guards’ footsteps as they patrolled served as accompaniment to the music drifting through the air. From her carriage, the queen waved to the gathered masses. The streets were crowded as everyone surged forward to try and catch a glimpse of the queen. But the Yard were holding them back, and there were no major issues.

William: How does it feel to watch a parade from up close?

We were near the rear of the parade, stationed amongst the other guards.

Kate: It’s so amazing I don’t know how to describe it.

What expression did Victor have on his face, as he looked out over his people from within his carriage? I didn’t know.

(But I’m sure he’s smiling.)

He must have been looking out at everyone with the same kindness and affection in his eyes as he did when he looked at me. Everyone, whether adult or child, had joyous expressions as they enjoyed the parade.

(This peace is what Victor sacrificed his own happiness for.)

If he had never taken the throne, this bright future may never have happened.

(But I…)

Because I had fallen hopelessly in love with him, I wanted him to live and be happy as himself, instead of as the queen.

(...He’s so far away.)

Every time I saw and brushed up against the world Victor lived in, I was reminded of the fact that, no matter how close we were, I was just an ordinary person. And he was the queen. I would never be able to fully understand the burden and responsibility on his shoulders.

(If I’d been born as a noblewoman instead…) (I’ve thought about it a few times ever since I fell in love with Victor. But, I don’t think I’d ever have known him the way I do now if that was the case.)

If I was a noblewoman, maybe I would have encountered him at some social event or the other. But I would never have gotten the chance to know him as a person, or his secrets.

(When I think about it like that, I’m happier as I am now.)

I reached out my hand to try and catch a falling petal, but it slipped through my fingers as it drifted this way and that on a breeze it couldn't control. Just like my feelings.

-----

With our mission over, we returned to Crown’s castle.

(When the palace came into view again, it was time to leave it up to the palace guards.)

The banquet would be starting soon, and Victor would be attending as queen. I probably wouldn’t be able to see him again until tomorrow.

William: The banquet will begin in the palace, and meanwhile the people will rejoice and celebrate in the streets long into the night. William: I have to attend the banquet, but you should spend the night relaxing in the castle.

(I’ll write up everything that happened in my report, then I’ll go to sleep early.)

With a plan in mind, I began climbing the stairs to head towards my room, when–

Liam: Will, Kate!

Kate: Liam? What’s the matter?

Sweat ran down Liam’s brow as he and Harrison, pale-faced, raced in.

Harrison: The queen’s been kidnapped!

My mind went blank.

#ikemen villains #my translation #victor (ikevil)

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crimsonkat59 · 5 months ago

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The Infinights

The pixelated RPG game Infinights, developed by Tales From the Stinky Dragon, garnered many positive reviews from fans of the developer’s past works and soon brought in new fans, many of whom had never played a game of such style.

Infinights is a story-driven game where you play as four ‘Infinight Interns’ trying to find the Infinights (a group of notorious heroes), defeat a devious woman called Paralyte, and save the realm of Faeza. There are many loveable NPCs scattered throughout the five realms of Faeza, each unique to their homeland. And the music changes throughout the land, even during encounters!

What many have found interesting about the game is that the player does not control a specific character. The four Interns move as a group and the walking order of the players changes according to their environment (for example, Mudd leads the group through his home city of the BuhBayou while Kyborg will lead when they’re in Evirwinter). In combat, each Intern and their enemies are given a specific order to which they can take a turn. This is one of the many cases where Infinights uses luck and randomization to achieve unique playthroughs. Often, conversations will have dialogue options that will either succeed or fail based on the program’s virtual ‘coin flip’ and the amount of damage any attack will do it based on a ‘dice roll’ of sorts.

Infinights has been praised for its simple but beautiful graphics and its simple design. However, it has gained criticism as well.

One main flaw many players see is how rigid the story is. There are not many chances for exploration and though conversations can change due to luck, things end up the same in the end. After some time, the developers released an update containing a second playing mode. This mode, entitled ‘The Past’ (changing the main story mode to ‘The Present’), lets the player play in a more open-world concept. And as the original Infinights.

What’s loved about The Past is that it allows the player to see more into the life of the characters the game is entitled after. There were complaints that, for being titular characters and the game’s main quest, the Infinights did not have a strong role in the story, especially Grislee and Elleve. The Past changes this, giving each Infinight more lines and a more fleshed out character.

Of course, the open-world style is appreciated as well. There’s a fully interactable map to navigate through and many new locations within each city to explore. New shops, new NPCs, new quests. And while The Past has a few scripted adventures and quests, the easiest way to explore the world is to travel to one city and simply walk around. More quests become available as the Infinights become more renowned throughout Faeza, with more people also willing to aid their adventures.

The Past also created thought. As the main villain of the main story, Paralyte, is seen in this mode as just another Infinight. She is primarily called ‘Luce’, which is her real name, and is visually different. Many have joked that she looks ‘healthier’ in The Past as her skin is less pale. What many notice is that there’s no green infinity sign carved into her armor in The Past, but she instead wears an armband with the Infinight’s logo on it. (Just like Spectril!)

Throughout the story, Luce and the others get along very well. Her voice is still ‘honeyed yet haunting’, but her interactions with the Infinights are full of smiles and jokes. Luce cracks a few herself, leaving the threats to the enemies encountered in combat.

This mode, even when played to 100%, does not address exactly why Luce left the Infinights. Theories have been made through dialogue left throughout both modes of the game, but there has been no official response from the developers. Tales From the Stinky Dragon often prides itself on adding a bit of mystery to their games, with some questions getting answered while others are left up to the fans.

The newest mystery they’ve unveiled is Grotethe, another RPG game in the works. Through released screenshots, it’s clear that the game uses the same base as Infinights. The combat and dialogue systems are the same, along with the game’s basic premise. However, one question that has been raised is how the story modes work. Will Grotethe have only a story-driven mode, only open-world, or will it include both? None of the released content points to any of these options.

On a similar note, it is also clear that Grotethe takes is set in an entirely different place. The technology and locations (and even the appearance of one of the main characters!) that can be seen in different screenshots are causing speculation amongst fans. People wonder whether the two games are related or not and, if they are, how? No voice clips for any of the characters have been released yet, but fans hope that the voices of the main characters will aid them in this quest for answers.

Until then, everyone continues to enjoy the stunning game that is Infinights.

This project, with all visual details compiled on one Adobe Illustrator document entitled 'rot' because I failed to spell 'rpg' started on Tuesday, January 14th. Through various sessions of various lengths and occasional mouse usage, it has finally been completed. I now hate rectangles and squares.

Various parts of the artwork should be recognizable to other games of a similar style. When I went looking for sprite bases when this project first started, I landed on a base sprite for Omori. I have never played Omori. Along with that, the way the combat screen looks is taken from Deltarune (which I have played) and the shop screen has influences from it.

And it should be known that most things made in this work I had a trace (with pixels) from a random internet image. That dragon was NOT freehand, nor was that train, the map and pretty much everything from the shop screen (though, the shopkeeper whose name I cannot remember was drawn from a sketch I made). All text except title text (Infinights, Grotethe, Tales From the Stinky Dragon) is actual type, only the title text I drew (with a reference).

My school shouldn’t have allowed me to have an Adobe account or a teacher/class to teach me graphic design. I am using it for evil.

Sprite sheet:

The state my school computer's desktop was left in. Just because I think it's funny.

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theoncomingchaos · 8 months ago

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Who loves Rook: Spite or Lucanis

I've been seeing a lot of discourse about this, and I just want to add my thoughts.

I might be totally wrong about this, but here we go. When Spite was put into Lucanis, he was still Determination. The fact that he changed throughout the torture, forced insertion, and imprisonment suggests to me that they have been put into a speedrun of a similar situation to Anders and Justice/Vengeance where they have started to meld. (As Anders put it, you wouldn't know where one begins and the other ends). Just like Anders and Vengeance, Lucanis and Spite can have separate consciousnesses and even disagree about things, but their core values have started to influence one another and become a part of one another- heightening certain aspects.

I think this melding is why we see some dialogues where Rook tells Lucanis that he sounds like Spite and similarly it's also the reason for the shared attraction- which I fully believe is coming originally from Lucanis.

I'll be honest my first time through I romanced Lucanis and was very disappointed. I didn't even see him and Neve ever flirt (she only ever encouraged us!) But still, it seemed to go from 0 to 60 with him. Now, I am on my second playthrough and I only just met him, but I am starting to see some really subtle looks and dialogues that suggest that Lucanis wasn't lying later when he said he was attracted to Rook from the beginning, but was afraid to really pursue anything or even acknowledge the possibility of being with them. With his fear of trusting people, ptsd from the prison, failed history in romance, and his new situation with Spite that he still hadn't worked out yet, he never thought anything would or could ever come of his feelings. We know Lucanis loves romance stories and likely longs for one of his own, but in such a situation it must have seemed truly impossible and terrifying to let someone else in. Especially someone you really care for and are starting to trust. So, he pushed it all down. Rook flirts? Maybe a small smile, but then quickly lock it all up with everything else he can't handle. Focus on work. Don't think about Spite, or Rook, or anything difficult.

However, if the melding has already happened as I suspect, then the feelings Spite is expressing are shared with (and likely sourced from) Lucanis, he's just better at expressing it directly- which makes sense for a spirit that was once Determination. When you first talk to Lucanis after the rescue, the thing Spite says about Rook changes accordingly to your tone, but to me the responses still sound like they come from Lucanis and are then echoed in Spite: "He doesn't want to hurt us." Even the "He's more fun than you" is something Lucanis seems to think about himself as he is fully aware that much of his life has not been his own and believes "all he knows is death."

Leading back to the main point, Lucanis's trust and interest in Rook would be heightened by Spite the way Anders' anger towards the templars was heightened. Even though they are finally free from the prison, their is a sense of constant suffering from still feeling trapped by fear, regret, and pain- Spite feels that suffering too. The elements of determination are still within him the same way justice is another side to vengeance. Both spite and vengeance are the results of failing to achieve their goals of Justice and Determination. Spite sees Rook as a way to free them from pain and restraint, a glowing and beautiful key to the prison door, and he is determined to do what needs to be done to solve the problem. That's why he doesn't hesitate. He has no fear. He wants to talk to Rook. He wants Rook to come in and free them.

After Rook has freed them, they become a source of comfort and safety, once they encourage Lucanis and Spite to find a way to cohabit comfortably, the two continue to meld, and the need to protect Rook, to love Rook, to keep them, is very deeply shared. Now, IF Spite was somehow removed or even somehow restored (Both of which I think are impossible) that would likely change. Determination outside of Lucanis would likely become more like Compassion. He would likely forget the horrors he experienced to return to his original purpose.

So, that leaves some final questions, particularly one Hawke helpfully asked Anders- Is Spite an unwilling party in the threesome?

That's up to everyone's own morality. While both Spite and Lucanis didn't have a choice to become like this, it is the situation they are in and the way they have to find a way to accept and live with because there really doesn't seem to be any real way to change it. Through their time together, Lucanis and Spite have influenced each other and grown into something new. Part of that is Spite also loving Rook. In that way, for those who are feeling (rightfully) underwhelmed by Lucanis's romance, Spite can almost be seen as a symbolic expression of Lucanis's love.

All that being said, I think there were some small things they could have done to make the romance more satisfying over all...but I'll save that for another post.

#Dragon Age #DA:TV #dragon age the veilguard #DA4 #DA:V #lucanis dellamorte #spite dragon age #dragon age rook #lucanis x rook #lucanis romance #spoilers #Maybe I'm missing something but this currently where I'm at with trying to digest things and figure out what the goal was with this romance

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tongueinatree · 19 days ago

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Reckoning (Sylus x Zayne Love and Deepspace Fic / Sylus x Zayne x Reader Fic)

Pairing: Sylus x Zayne / Sylus x Zayne x Reader (polyamorous)

Fandom: Love and Deepspace, lnds, LADS, L&DS

Fic Series: starlight trio (Part 2)

Word Count: 3.4k

Warnings: fluff, angst, no NSFW material. Not canon compliant. Profanity is used. Canon-typical violence / Guns and gun violence are featured. Night terrors are mentioned.

Description: Zayne’s been in love with you for what feels like forever, and he doesn't intend on that changing. Zayne hadn’t realised that that love could expand to include Sylus, too. Until now.

Author's Note: Main character is gender neutral. No use of "Y/N" but the second person (“you”) is used and “__” in the place of a given name and they/them/their (by Sylus and Zayne). The reader/main character's appearance is not described.

POV is third person omniscient, addressing the reader and following Zayne.

Zayne, Sylus and the reader are in (the beginning) of an ethical throuple/polyamorous relationship. This fic focuses on Zayne x Sylus, with the MC being absent.

Not beta read.

I’m not caught up with the main story/playthrough, just drawing on everything up until Sylus’s myth. Count this an alternate universe of sorts, regardless. SPOILERS for everything up in the game up until this Sylus’s myth.

Comments, likes and reblogs are welcome and appreciated!

Reckoning (Zayne x Sylus fic / Zayne x Sylus x Reader fic)

Zayne’s never too selfish; Zayne never overplays his hand in hopes of meeting with a pliant and generous fortune. Ironically, this altruism is what pushes him straight into Sylus’s arms.

Furthermore, Zayne’s life is a tale of caution. Every decision he makes is born of several carefully undertaken equations, of several layers and layers of forethought. And above all, there has to be some sort of payoff. Though, in truth, this balance is usually skewed towards the greater good and against Zayne himself. If seven lives are saved in return for a week of agonizing night terrors, so be it.

Zayne’s got you, of course. He hadn’t expected that (see again: good fortune). But then came Sylus, too – albeit via you – and now… Now, Zayne’s confused. Now he wants so intensely.

All of this – it’s what leads him to the N109 Zone on a dull, ordinary Friday.

Getting into the N109 Zone at night is easy enough, but then again, Zayne’s not a renowned surgeon for no reason. Surgical skill doesn’t simply call for steady and precise hands. It also requires steely resolve and a mind given to problem solving. And if there’s one thing that Zayne Li is, it’s an overachiever. Not that Zayne isn’t careful, though. He wears nondescript, all black clothing that’s totally at odds with his work clothes – sweats and a peak cap – and keeps his head down. He’s got only your directions to go off of, so finding Sylus’s residence takes a while.

When he arrives at the threshold, he’s promptly intercepted by Luke and Kieran, though Zayne doesn’t know who’s who, especially with their crow masks. One of the twins releases a low cackle at the sight of him. The other tilts his head. Zayne knows he’s considering something.

They’re armed, because of course they are, but Zayne’s surprised to feel nothing beyond apathy at the sight of their weapons. Besides – his Evol’s enough.

Zayne clears his throat, tugs the cap lower over his brow, “I’m Z.” The alias feels strange on his tongue, like a too-sour sweet. Still, the alias was decided on by the three of you. At first, you’d suggested “Ice Man” but that’s too obvious a reference to Zayne’s Evol, whereas “Z” could be anyone.

When neither one of the twins moves, Zayne continues, “I’m not sure if Sylus… if your boss mentioned me.”

A beat of silence. Zayne adds, “I was here once before.”

One of the twins – the one to his left – responds coolly, “We remember you.”

The twin to his right reaches for his pistol; Zayne’s gaze skims over the weapon: semi-automatic, 9mm caliber, short-recoil. Zayne lets the twin cock the gun at him, click off the safety and pull the trigger.

The clap of the shot resounds, Zayne blinks and then… nothing. There’s a block of ice encasing the bullet. It hovers in mid-air for a second, then clatters to the ground. Granted, it was a mere centimetre clear of Zayne’s nose. The twin fires again, but there’s ice down the barrel too, and so all that happens is that the gun’s recoil worsens and the twin’s arm jerks to the side.

The one on the left says, with what sounds like grudging admiration, “That was quick.”

Zayne shrugs, “Reflexes. Now, are you going to let me in?”

The twin on the right turns his head towards his brother and grumbles, “He’s no fun.”

“Follow us,” says the collected one.

They turn and stride over the threshold. It’s so dark in the N109 Zone, Zayne can barely make out the shape and size of Sylus’s home. He can see that it’s all pitch coloured granite, though.

When he enters after Kieran and Luke, the monochrome, all-black colour scheme is as he remembers it. He doesn’t remember the floor having such a marble sheen though, nor the blood red accents. Zayne stifles a chuckle. It’s all so bold, so dramatic, but in a way that screams danger rather than eccentricity. Fitting for Sylus.

They go down a doorway, and stop at an intersection. There’s a passage to the left, one to the right and then the one they’re in, which is parallel to those two passages. The twins stop at a door at the end of the passage. The livelier one sticks his head through the door, murmurs something. Then the twin shuts the door and turns to face Zayne. He can’t see the twin’s expression through his crow mask, of course, but he goes oddly still, and Zayne knows he’s seriously contemplating Zayne’s presence and the implications of it.

Finally, the twin shrugs, says, “He’ll be out soon.”

Then he adds, “I’m Luke.”

The other echoes his brother’s greeting, “Kieran.”

Luke and Kieran look at each other for a moment; Luke laughs to himself, murmurs something too low for Zayne to hear and the pair head off down the hallway, away from Zayne.

Left to his own devices, Zayne finds himself frozen ahead of the door. Nerves erupt in his stomach and curdle there. What are you doing here, Doctor Li? Truly, this has to be one of his craziest – and stupidest – ideas.

He’s spared from any further agonizing by the click of the door, and by Sylus entering the hallway. Sylus doesn’t quite reel backwards at the sight of him, but he does go stiff, for a briefest of seconds.

Zayne speaks first, “They didn’t tell you it was me.”

Sylus’s mouth curls. He doesn’t quite meet Zayne’s eyes, “They specified that you were ‘my special visitor’.”

That comes as a blow, “You thought I was __”

Sylus’s eyes flicker towards him, assesses Zayne’s face. Sylus is as neutral as ever, but there’s something probing in his gaze, and it makes Zayne shrink back.

There’s something else, too. It’s something heated, something that tangles with the nerves in his stomach, and it intensifies the longer that he stares at Sylus.

Eventually, Sylus just says, “The twins will get a talking to.”

Zayne can’t help how chiding his response is, “Leave them be.”

Sylus raises an eyebrow. Once again, he doesn’t respond directly, “They’re not here, you know.”

Zayne nods, “I know.”

“Do they know that you’re here?”

Another shake of his head, “No. I… I wanted to work things out for myself before I told them.”

“I see.”

Zayne winces. I see. Not, “I understand.” Perfectly neutral.

He and Sylus lapse into silence. It’s not that you're a thorny topic for them. It’s not even that they’re competing for your affections. No, it’s so much more complicated than that. And while you’ve made no demands, issued no ultimatums, you have made it clear that, at least for you, there’s room for both of them.

The sentiment stings and thrills Zayne all at once.

As the silence grows suffocating, Zayne shifts from foot to foot. He opens his mouth, closes it.

Sylus breaks the silence, with a quiet murmur, “I suppose I owe you a proper tour of the house, this time.”

Zayne waves off the offer, “No need. I remember it well enough.”

Sylus’s mouth thins into a line, “Very well.” Then, a bit more gently, “You look tired.”

Zayne chuckles mirthlessly, “I’m always tired.” Lest another silence befall them, he adds, “I’m also hungry. Do you have any food on hand?”

Sylus is taken aback by the request, Zayne can tell from how his eyes widen a fraction. Still, this openness only lasts a second before he’s as composed as always. Sylus turns and goes sweeping down the passage to the right, “Follow me.”

Zayne follows and they enter a kitchen that is both gargantuan and state of the art.

Again, everything’s marble, though here the colour scheme is mostly scarlet. Sylus gestures lazily at the island’s countertop, “Sit.”

Zayne’s suddenly aware of how tired he really is, and an achiness overcomes him as he trudges towards the counter’s stools.

Sylus approaches the countertop from the other side; his gaze is still probing. “What do you want to eat?”

Zayne, now sitting, blinks in surprise, “What do you have on offer?”

Sylus’s mouth tilts up in one corner, into the ghost of a smirk. “Anything.”

“Uh,” Zayne thinks it over, “Chicken soup?”

“Do you want the clear one, or traditional?”

“Clear.”

Sylus goes deadpan, “That’s the plainest, most uneventful dish.” Sylus goes over to the sink, washes his hands and then starts collecting ingredients and utensils.

“I like plain.”

Sylus is back at the countertop depositing everything alongside the stovetop, when he chuckles, “When __ was last here, they begged for spicy tomato pasta.”

Zayne feels his hackles rise, “I’m not them.”

Sylus pauses in the middle of rolling up his sleeves, “I know.” His voice lowers, “Trust me, I know.”

Sylus resumes rolling up his one sleeve, and Zayne traces the movement with his eyes. It’s like something out of a romantic drama, but Zayne finds himself entranced by the firm sinew of Sylus’s arm. As Sylus pulls the sleeve higher, and more and more skin is revealed, the heat in Zayne’s stomach crackles.

As for Sylus, well, his eyes follow Zayne’s gaze; he leans forward, so that his arms are braced on the countertop, and the sleeves ride up further.

Zayne blinks again, slumps further into his stool. “You’re teasing.”

Sylus does that half-smirk, half-smile of his. All he says is, “I’m adding noodles to the soup.”

When Zayne opens his mouth to protest, Sylus adds, “Non negotiable.”

Zayne sighs, “Fine.”

The soup is cooked suspiciously fast, too fast for a simple gas stove to manage. Zayne peeks under the plates a few times, hoping to catch sight of the red-mauve tendrils of Sylus’s Evol, but has no such luck.

Zayne can’t see it, but as he lowers his head to ogle the plates, Sylus’s eyes are on him, and when he does look up, their eyes meet for the briefest of seconds. Zayne is first to look away, because of course he is.

When, a few moments later, Sylus turns off the gas and places a bowl of soup before him, Zayne freezes up. It’s a simple gesture, being handed a bowl of soup, being fed, and yet…

Zayne swallows, “Aren’t you going to eat, too?”

Sylus tilts his head, “Do you want me to?”

Zayne nods back, “It would be impolite otherwise.”

Sylus huffs, and there’s something frustrated about the sound. At last, Zayne thinks, a crack. Sylus complies and dishes himself a bowl. Neither one of them actually starts eating, though. Zayne can’t help but crack a smile at their shared hesitation.

Another ache racks him, suddenly, and this one’s more cold than tired. Between shivers, he asks, “Can I light a fire?”

Sylus stares at him for a whole three seconds before responding, “You’re a guest. I’ll light the fire.”

Zayne acquiesces with a resigned chuckle, “Lead the way.”

…

Sylus cheats, and lights the fire with his Evol. Well, more accurately, he uses his Evol to strike the matches. Zayne tuts at this, but doesn’t bother reprimanding him. He just sits as close to the fireplace as he can without singing his skin and practically inhales his soup.

He’s slurping up a noodle when he finally realises Sylus hasn’t sat down. Sylus is standing, taking sips of the soup. He’s also still watching Zayne. Zayne chews on his noodle, contemplating this whole situation. He came here of his own free will, without you. What for? A declaration? How can it be one, if he’s too afraid to say anything of consequence?

Zayne swallows down the last of the noodle, smiles weakly, “Sit down.”

Sylus moves towards the other side of the fireplace. Zayne frowns, “Next to me, I meant.”

Sylus changes course instantly, as if he’s been tugged by marionette strings. He sits so close to Zayne that their knees are almost touching.

Zayne takes a final sip of his soup; it’s light, but infused with a tangy chicken flavour, and the noodles are perfectly al dente. Zayne pops the bowl in front of him, “This is good.”

Zayne addresses the compliment to his bowl, but Sylus catches it anyway, “Thank you.”

“Do you like cooking?”

Sylus lifts his left shoulder, lets it drop unceremoniously, “Sometimes. It’s… calming. Methodical, but not in a way that exerts stress.”

Zayne responds without thinking, “No one really cooks for me.”

Sylus is non-committal at first, but then he replies in a tone that’s dangerously light, “Maybe because you seem to like the blandest dishes.”

Zayne snorts, “I don’t.”

Sylus raises his eyebrows, and the movement is more delicate – more pretty – than it has any right to be.

Zayne continues, “I usually try to combine the healthiest stuff with some sort of flavour.”

Sylus pulls a face, “Good lord. You’re the kale smoothie sort.”

Zayne laughs in spite of himself, “They’re good for you! Besides, I like sweets. I’ve had about three cavities just from eating macarons.”

When Sylus looks less than convinced, Zayne parts his lips and tilts his head back to show Sylus his latest filling. Sylus leans forward, looking intrigued, and inspects Zayne’s molar.

The action brings his face within a hair’s breadth of Zayne’s; something traitorous stutters in Zayne’s chest at the sudden closeness.

As he moves away, Sylus’s expression is softer than Zayne’s seen it all night, “Who’d have thought Linkon’s best doctor has a raging sweet tooth.”

He can feel his timidness receding as he snips back, “Life’s dreary enough. I don’t think I can get through any surgeries without dessert to look forward to.”

Sylus hums, and the sound is weirdly pitchy, “Noted.” Then Sylus seems to recall his bowl of soup, and resumes sipping it. Zayne wonders if Sylus is nervous.

What are you doing here, Doctor Li? The thought is unbidden, and Zayne swats it away as he moves along the conversation, “They tried to kill me, you know? Luke and Kieran. Well, Luke, mostly.”

Sylus actually laughs at that, between sips, and the sound is low and surprisingly warm, “They do that.”

Then Sylus asks, “What did you do to evade your impending murder?”

Zayne gazes into the flames; he feels shy and cocky all at once, “I froze the bullet. And the barrel.”

Another laugh. This one is proud, “Our ingenious Doctor Li.”

Zayne turns his head Sylus’s way, “Am I?”

Sylus plays dumb, “You’re plenty ingenious. Our misadventures have shown that.”

“No. Am I… Yours and theirs?”

This time it’s Sylus averting his gaze, Sylus dodging, “I’m meant to be on a patrol of sorts, tonight.”

“Oh?”

Sylus sets his bowl aside, clicks his teeth, “Just overseeing some, ah, elements. Some moving cogs. I chose not to go as soon as I saw you, of course.”

“You mean you cancelled it as soon as Luke told you I was here. Because you thought I was __.”

“No. I made up my mind as soon as I saw you.”

Zayne can feel his brow furrowing under the weight of his confusion, “But…”

“If you were __, I’d be able to go and come back, and they’d wait for me. Or maybe they’d ask me to stay. But you’re different, at least at this point in time. I told Luke that if I didn’t personally inform him and Kieran that I was going out, they were to go in my stead.”

“Why?” Zayne feels stupid asking, but he can’t bring himself to ignore what’s just been said, either.

“Does it need saying?”

Oh. So, Sylus wasn’t dodging at all.

Zayne can feel how his gaze has become more fierce; it practically drills a hole into Sylus’s head. He’s still aching, but this time it’s in an entirely different manner.

Sylus returns Zayne’s look, undaunted.

“Zayne.” Sylus’s tone is beseeching, “Why are you here?”

Zayne swallows, “I –”

Zayne wants to look away, to run, to scream, to hide.

Instead, he turns his body so that he’s facing Sylus and pushes himself closer to Sylus, until their knees knock together. This time, Sylus’s smile is full-blooded. He also doesn’t seem to mind the sudden intrusion into his personal space, given that he leans into Zayne and lets their noses touch.

The kiss that follows is chaste and sweeter than any one of Zayne’s macarons. Zayne’s breath is shaky when they part, and Sylus is caressing the swell of his cheek with his thumb.

A beat follows in which they simply gaze at one another. Then Sylus shifts his hand from the Zayne’s cheek to the nape of his neck, pulls him in, and kisses him again. There’s nothing delicate in this kiss, and Zayne matches Sylus’s ardour with the eagerness of someone who’s still new to this sort of enthusiasm. Still, even as Zayne slides onto his back and pulls Sylus down with him, it all feels unhurried. It all feels right.

…

Later, Zayne’s still on his back, with his head braced against Sylus’s thighs, and Sylus is reclining on his palms. The fireplace crackles pleasantly across from them, and Zayne’s body is a floaty mass. Before now, he’s only ever felt this happy with you.

He and Sylus haven’t spoken for a while now, but this silence isn’t as terse as the earlier ones were. It’s just new and a bit fragile, much like their sudden intimacy.

Zayne is the one to break the silence, with his eyes shut as he murmurs, “I didn’t know. Didn’t know that… I barely envisaged that I could love __ as much as I do. How could there be room for two, then?”

Sylus hums again, and the sound is still off-key. Zayne wonders if he can sing at all.

Sylus’s voice is softer than Zayne’s ever heard it, “We want each other, and we want __ and they want us in turn. This doesn’t need to be a conventional relationship.”

Zayne snorts, “I happen to have conventional taste.”

Sylus offers him a grin, frees his one hand to point at himself, “I doubt that.”

Zayne sighs, “It’s not about being conventional. It’s just…”

Zayne takes in Sylus, albeit upside down. The snowy hair, the red gaze. The sometimes eerie presence of his Evol. “I know that you’re more. More than you let on. And I know that your bond with them is more, too.”

Sylus seems unbothered by the admission as he traces a circle into Zayne’s forehead with his fingertip, “You’re not wrong. But it’s not as if my bond with __ overrules yours with them, either.”

Sylus’s hand falls away. Sylus lowers his voice, whispers to himself, “And I’ve some theories about you, too.”

Zayne tugs at the hem of his sweatshirt and fights the urge to fidget. Zayne yanks his sweatshirt down about ten times before giving up. He sits up and turns to face Sylus head on, “But then – how do I fit in?”

Sylus doesn’t reply to that. His gaze is distant and pained. For the first time this night, it occurs to Zayne that Sylus might be as afraid of all this as he is.

That Sylus might not have planned for anything beyond you, if even that.

Finally, Sylus makes an admission of his own, “Zayne. I have a voracious appetite. It’s just a part of my nature. Trust me when I say I’m not going to want to lose sight of you.”

Sylus cups Zayne’s chin in his palm, runs his fingertip over Zayne’s cupid’s bow, “Have you still got room?”

Zayne knows what the real question is. He and Sylus only met because of you; they’ve only bonded because of the misadventures that the three of you have had. He and Sylus are fundamentally incompatible. Sylus is a literal crime lord; Zayne’s sworn to defend and preserve life. So why does it never feel that way to Zayne, nor to Sylus?

Does it even matter, Doctor Li?

Zayne exhales, and this time the sound is steady and assured, “Yes.”

Sylus’s eyes are still widening in wonder when Zayne kisses him yet again. Sylus responds in full, the heat in Zayne’s stomach turns molten, and time slows to match their heartbeats.

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