#so you can’t make a good story out of the concept of ‘healers suck’

[seeminglyseph]

I gotta say, these isekai anime where the premise is “healers are considered weak trash and so they are treated like shit and then they get revenge through OP non-healing healing magic” need to start experiencing MMO style healers and medics.

I mean, I’ve been a TTRPG and LARP healer before and like. “I’m not fixing that” became a catchphrase of one of my characters.

I don’t know where I saw the skit of “anime vs MMO healer” but I do desperately need one of those anime to experience one of those healers. Just like

“Your skill is so useless you’re going to be our slave now.”

“Okay I guess I won’t prioritize healing you in battle. Like. What’s your plan here? You want a functional healer or a dead party? Like what role do you play that’s so vital? DPS? If you aren’t the tank don’t fucking talk to me. If your speed or con can’t back up your damage don’t bother trying to pull aggro.”

[vacantgodling]

VIOLENCE ASK GAME 🔥 let's go, i'm going to shoot your ask right back at you and say: answer any and all questions you want/haven't already been asked about Overwatch. >:)

so i started answering this and my phone deleted my answers bc it’s opposed to violence but TOO BAD y’all will receive these steaming hot takes i mean cakes!

1. the character everyone gets wrong

already answered but HEAVILY AGREE with ur answer of genji. like it’s exhausting to see people look at him and go yes, he must be the playboy to hanzo’s stick in the mud that’s it :) nothing else :) like. if we’re talking about the it never happened or pre-slice and dice sure i can see that but ??? after the fact??? makes no sense. he’s a very humble and changed man. he is very aware of not only himself and his faults but he’s understanding to others. he also gets angry tho and i feel like a lot of people mistake his newfound patience for lack of anger and it’s like no i think he does get angry but i think he’s in better control of how he expresses it now. long story short even tho genji is not my Main Boy i will fight toe to toe over people’s shit interpretations of him because can y’all get ur heads out of ur asses for FIVE FUCKING MINUTES—

2. a compelling argument for why your fave would never top or bottom

i can’t even answer this bc hanzo is my fave and that man gives as good as he gets— *shot*

3. screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr + 4. what was the last straw that made you finally block that annoying person?

tldr around the time brig came out a very popular yeehan writer, in their annoyance about people disliking the fact that she was another white character, stated that it was blanket misogyny to dislike any overwatch female character for any reason at this point. i do agree that there can be a problem in fandom spaces where women and femme characters are hated for essentially the sin of being women but the way they were putting it and talking about literally any reason that you dislike a female character in overwatch or in general probably meant you were a misogynist. and just. it’s so stupid that people think that the Act Itself of disliking a female character means that person hates All Women. like that’s a wild take to me and i dislike this take in general. call out misogynistic behavior, yes, but people are allowed to dislike female characters lmao???? stop putting them on pedestals just bc they are women lmao. anyway i wanted to block this person anyway bc they acted like (to me) that they were the god of all yeehan takes and discourse etc etc and their condescending attitude and way people would suck their dick basically annoyed me so this was kind of the last straw.

5. worst discord server and why

yeehan main server bc it’s got too many people and so it falls into the usual fandom habit of if you don’t suck up to mods or aren’t friends with the Big Names (like the person i was talking about prev asks) you will fall by the wayside and no one will care about you and personally i hate that most of all :)

6. which ship fans are the most annoying?

phar////mercy & gen////cy are tied for me and the common denominator is i hate mercy and these fans are so up her fucking ass about how she can do no wrong that i just want to die. the weird white savior thing going on with gen////cy and the annoying knight in shining armor for delicate flower white woman going on in phar////mercy is exhausting.

i may be a mercy main bc i like her playstyle but every day i MOURN the black man mercy design we could’ve had but didn’t.

we could’ve had this fucking HUNK but NOOOOOO

and UGH another bad take i saw was when the ovw art book came out (which i have sigh) and everyone was like BRO THE CONCEPT MERCY THO— i saw so many people saying that ugh well we already have baptiste we don’t need ANOTHER black healer and i’m like…. but inchresting how y’all don’t say that about having 3 white healers 🤨 I DIGRESS THO.

7. what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

this is difficult bc most characters i dislike i already had a reason for disliking them, fandom just increased my rage 💀

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

gremlin dva my beloathed. stick in the mud hanzo my BELOATHED.

9. worst part of canon

already answered but the fact that we had to fight for so fucking long to get a black woman in overwatch. like bro y’all ain’t Shit. y’all added a fucking HAMSTER before a black woman and it SHOWS how little y’all care about black women im TIREDTTTT

10. worst part of fanon

already answered however u reminded me of how much dainty male wife hanzo that used to exist and i legitimately blocked that shit from my memory and now i’m retraumatized. so thanks. lmao. :)

11. number of fandom-related words you've filtered

i think just phar///mercy i can’t take it LMAO. but honestly not many only bc i do not engage with ovw fandom anymore

12. the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

dva’s boyfriend (to me) daehyun and jack’s ex vincent. idk how much they count bc they aren’t really involved as much as, say emily is, side character wise but i think daehyun and dva’s relationship is extremely sweet and i’m so normal about them (i’m not they’re literally my otp for dva and i swear i’m the only one who ships it LMAO) and idk i’m a sucker for bittersweet exes so vincent holds a special place in my heart and lowkey ship him with jack more than the only other 76 ship worth mentioning. i don’t really have a reason for why anyone should like these characters like they deadass have like no content but EYE care them.

13. worst blorboficiation

worst character to blorbo: it’s a tie between moira and junkrat i hate both of them. but huge unpopular opinion i dislike all the junkers (yes including the fucking hamster). just lore wise i feel like we glossed over the entire part where they hate omnics for just existing etc etc (same thing with zarya but i don’t see as many people simp over her which is unsurprising) and like sure i can be looking too into it but the entire omnic side of overwatch’s shit feels too close to racism to me and i’m lowkey protective over just the concept of omnics in general. that being said i just can’t in good faith like any of the junkers+zarya for their open hostility about them and tbh the game just glossed over the outright hostility junkrat used to have towards zen he had some gnarly fucking lines that made me real uncomfortable tbh. and like the casual omnic-ism in the game does bother me too. reaper had some shit lines as well, zarya obvs etc. and like idk i’m black and sensitive and it rubbed me in a type of way. but this could also just be poor handling of a topic they aren’t equipped to handle the ramifications thereof so yknow. not expecting much but it bothers me how we just decided not to address it at all. i mean hell, torb’s isms were addressed with the bastion comic and their friendship so… idk why we can’t do the same with the rest of them or why they’re acting like that part of their character didn’t exist? and like i don’t mind when characters like jack or mercy for instance have lines towards zenyatta that are more about him being a monk or whatnot but the lines towards him being an omnic and not addressing it is just… eugh. BUT i’ve rambled enough about this moving on.

worst case of character that has been massacred by being blorboified: dva. dear god. please be normal about asian women for ONE minute challenge (impossible)

14. that one thing you see in fics all the time

hanzo and cole bonding over being on random parts of base and drinking as a form of bonding and tbh y’all are so correct for this.

15. that one thing you see in fanart all the time

my favorite is the cole and hanzo clothes swap Or putting any of the characters in everyday wear it’s really nice.

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

kinda similar to what you said but cole being a bumbling himbo southern hick. like i’m sorry where the Fuck in his backstory did y’all get ANY of that are y’all okay.

17. there should be more of this type of fic/art

visual kei hanzo. i’m SO BITTER that they gave kiriko a visual kei skin i’m SO BITTER.

18. it's absolutely criminal that the fandom has been sleeping on...

bapweaver like they are literally perfect????? hello??????? did you miss the “us healing gentleman should stick together” line or?????? the mspec x mspec relationship??????? the fact that both of them are so goddamn handsome i’m frothing i Need to see them fuck or maybe be sandwiched between that ????? just me???? ok.

19. you're mad/ashamed/horrified you actually kind of like...

mei. hear me out: she has a lot of mannerisms that remind me of my ex so i hated her out of principle also people who main her along with rein mains make me want to eat glass. however she’s grown on me a little so idk if this is healing or if overwatch has infected my brain.

20. part of canon you found tedious or boring

the reaper / moira storyline sorry it bores me 😬 like i’d rather focus on rebuilding overwatch and the underground vigilantes part. moira turning reaps into a bunch of cells doesn’t really intrigue me sorry. and tbh all of talon in general bores me like i feel like aside from reaps they all are just the “evil bc we wanna be” shit. like evil scientist? been there done that. the world must evolve through conflict is a new angle but it’s just a repacked i want power trip. like idk. i feel like talon’s goals are vague at best and stupid at worst.

21. part of canon you think is overhyped

kiriko and whatever is going on with her shit like she is a boring fucking character and like ashe added unnecessary excess information that does not solve any of the problems into one of my fave characters backstories and i’m annoyed by it.

22. your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores

the propensity for hanzo to be the main character but i’m extremely biased 🤷🏽‍♂️

23. ship you've unwillingly come around to

symmpharah actually. i started claiming to ship it bc i disliked phar///mercy and wanted to be like LOOK THERE ARE OTHER GOOD SHIPS!!!! but then when i thought about it i was like no wait actually that’s such a good idea. pharah and symm strike me as both autizzy (i think pharah is lower support needs/audhd while symm is autistic) and i think they compliment each other really well. their desire for rules and order and their own ideas of justice which i think pharah can help symm shape like zen has as well. they can talk about their special interests to each other (pharah: basketball, symm: architecture) and actually appreciate it. they’re also, and most importantly to me, EQUALS. their relationship feels like both of them contributing to it instead of just a hopeless crush/white knight/i would do everything for you nonsense. and i’m partial to the melanin x melanin they’re both so fucking pretty like power couple vibes STRONG.

24. topic that brings up the most rancid discourse

diversity 💀💀 y’all mfs are so ANNOYING about it lmao. but this is not unusual for games 🙄

25. common fandom complaint that you're sick of hearing

anytime people ask for better from the devs you get hundreds of people jumping down your throat about how you’re a piece of shit for asking and it’s like ??? lmao??

[berena-cpr]

Unfinished Masterpieces - Fic Rec List

Remember the WIP on ao3 you can’t let go? The one that resonated with you? The one that you’d give anything to know how it ends?

While the Berena Creative Project Resuscitation event is all about starting to work again on projects sitting in our draft folders, life can get in the way of finishing a project for a hundred reasons.

These works, posted, but still a few chapters short of ending, are loved though and with this list we’d like to share the love for the unfinished masterpieces one can find in the Berena tag on ao3.

Given the high response we had when we asked to tell us about your favourite WIPs, you’ll find the list under the cut:

Anything Else to Declare? - LittleMissO

“I've personally had sleeping issues since I read LittleMissO's Anything Else to Declare because yeah, I'm still there, breath held and heart pounding like crazy after the most delicious slow burn, and pining, and that outrageously flirtatious conversation over a whiskey.”

that line between your heart and mine - ktlsyrtis

“it is just plain hot but also I love the idea of them writing letters to each other and I also love the exploration of what their relationship might be like with Bernie still being in the RAMC.”

you disappear like your cigarette smoke (now the taste of your kiss is all that remains) - bonnissance

“A wonderful, emotional angst filled fic, looking at how Bernie’s life might still have progressed after Serena left. I loved how it showed her testing her own boundaries to see if it was possible to find another relationship with someone else and when she found that wasn’t something she could do, she accepted it and found other ways to be happy without Serena. I reread it fairly often because although unfinished it doesn’t ever seem incomplete. But the last word “Serena” always leaves me full of a hope that I would dearly love to have fulfilled.”

Secrets in the Dark - Wonko

“I’d love to see this continued!”

For a Good Time Call - Regency

“Young Serena using that pure sex voice of hers to make a little extra as a phone sex operative, and young nervous Bernie taking the first tentative steps in exploring her sexuality. Who better than Serena to help her figure things out? The premise of the fic is ingenious, the writing amazing, the dialogue just outstanding. Hot, sexy, soft and full of compassion and feels. I would sell a kidney to read the next chapter to this – Bernie and Serena meeting years later and recognising each other’s voices.”

you're the only one I never looked for - gutsandglitter

“Never expected I'd enjoy a Baby Boom AU, but I love this fic. Serena hanging out in the country feeling extremely overwhelmed and constantly running into this weird tall, awkward woman named Bernie is a mood. I will forever hold out hope for an update so that I can someday read about them having lots of sex (after an appropriate amount of angst, miscommunication, and unexpected grocery store encounters, of course).”

Things Kayryn doesn't write - Kayryn

“So they’re not exactly unfinished, because they are complete, beautifully crafted, amazingly inventive, head canons, but they’re not completed fic’s so I’m counting them. I actually think that’s one of the lovely things about them, there’s a full story in there but enough space in them to bring your own imagination to the details. The fact that every head canon is spot on and you can completely image it happening is the icing on the cake, and the perfect characterisation is the cherry on top. Canon could have taken lessons from from Kayryn”

I Want to be Your Fantasy (Maybe You Could Be Mine) - Regency

“I just love the concept and the first chapter just pulled me in and I so very much want to know what happens next.”

Notting Hill - Bat_and_Breakfast

“All the “Rom Com idiots in love but they don’t know it miscommunication capers” re-envisaged for Berena you say? Sign me up! I love the way the plot of Notting Hill is absolutely recognisable, but never at the expense of Bernie and Serena’s characters. Everything they do, their responses, the dialogue, is so them. And the cleverly cast Holby regulars as supporting stars - genius. It’s an absolute triumph of transformative work. It’s wonderfully and engagingly written. If you’ve ever got sucked into watching “just a bit” of rom com and found you’ve just lost a couple of hours of your life - this fic does the same thing.”

Follow Me There - troiing

“Full disclosure: I’ve never watched Sanctuary and I know nothing about the characters. But this crossover fic is so good, that it doesn’t even matter.”

hold me closer (tiny dancer) - serenacampbell

“I don’t know why I’m so attached to that fic, but I am. I love the premise of a slow burn fic where the characters still get to do sexy things during the awkward slow burn oblivious period. It’s like the best of both worlds.”

Machu Pechinku - Jrnsaxa

“Forget France and Nepal, what if Serena spent her sabbatical in Peru? The setting in this is beautifully vivid, as is the the delicate ways in which Serena and Bernie start to reconnect after Elinor.”

Hello, Major - lesbianquill

“This is a near perfect Serena being fixated on Bernie in fatigues fic. The first chapter is very insightful, helping us to understand why Bernie might not be happy to accede to Serena’s small kink/obsession. That of course doesn’t last for too long because Bernie loves Serena and she loves having sex with Serena. It was offered as a smutty one shot, but then they rewarded us with an even smuttier second chapter and teased us with the news that a third chapter would be forthcoming. It never happened. Main reason for wishing it could be continued? I enjoy well-written smut.”

In the Spirit of Three Stars - alwayssomethingelse

“Bernie and Serena as Federation officers on Deep Space Nine. Oh, the potential!”

Anatomically Correct - phantomunmasked

“Bernie severely overcompensating for any possible awkwardness in their first time by ordering a mountain of sex toys is a premise that will always delight me. Every time I go back to this one, I ponder what their weekend away would bring with a big grin.”

The Clinic - RexWolfe

“Maybe it’s all the Bramwell we’ve been watching, but this one’s been on my mind lately. Can’t go wrong with a Victorian AU.”

a life in pictures - Regency

"I soooo want to see Serena maybe modelling for Bernie (or at least just how the date goes)”

working up a storm inside my head - sevtacular

“While this isn’t actually an unfinished fic in the sense of chapters missing, the prompt fic collection of Sev can always be added to as far as I’m concerned. Love what has been written so far, hope there will be new chapters with time.”

Body and Soul - ChalkHillBlue

“Possibly the weirdest AU idea ever, this body swap AU makes my brain go crazy with the possibilities every time I read it.”

When We Need One Another The Most - Whispersmummy

“I know this isn’t strictly Berena but it wouldn’t have been written if not for the Berena fandom who love most every conceivable way these two dorks might get together. Very well written (imo) and cleverly constructed fic. Lots and lots of angst and who doesn’t love angst? Only thing missing is a small amount of smut. (Yes I’m back there).”

Ring In The New - fiveroundsrapid

“Fics where Bernie comes to Holby before/during Adrienne’s illness are my kryptonite, and this one is so good!”

Holby One: A Star Wars AAU Story - elitryalittle

“Holby One is my favorite unfinished fic. It’s not just because I came to Berena via Star Wars (a bit of an unusual way, but here I am), but also because I can totally see Serena as a healer and Bernie as a Jedi knight. Kudos for their excellent knowledge of the SWU and this great idea of a crossover fic. I’d give them a limited edition “Looking for Leia” patch and a sticker if they’d finish it.”

to gaze at you, from afar (I sigh, I sigh, I sigh) - bonnissance

“The photographer/model AU you never knew you needed in your life, but you really, really do.”

Heroic Endeavor - Nicolaruth27

“I never would’ve thought I’d be down for a Greek god AU, but this fic has permanent residence in a corner of my brain. Bernie as Athena in mortal form is inspired, and the way the fic is interwoven with canon is a delight.”

what a lovely way to burn - ktlsyrtis

“I just love anything that's weaved into canon but with them being happy and dating and communicating."

Love, Unexpected - Igerna

“Bernie is still married to Marcus when she meets Serena during a conference. They immediately bond and keep in contact, sharing both professional advice and thoughts on their private lives. Love, for them, happens rather unexpectedly. I do love conference fics and slow burns - and this is a good one.”

a little less war torn - kitnkabootle

“The setup for this - in which Serena is the one who goes to help when Bernie is brought to Holby, instead of Raf - is one of my favorite ‘what ifs’ to ponder, and the writing is outstanding.”

[brazenautomaton]

Fixing Afterlives: Bastion, Pt. 1

As it is, Bastion doesn’t work. The Forsworn don’t just have a point, they are obviously, objectively correct. Kyrian discard all their memories and attachments in a way that is horrifying, in order to perform a job that a robot could do, in order to aspire to be something lame and boring. There is nothing cool about what they do and nothing good either; every single time they tell you about what they do it’s supposed to make you sad, not proud. A little of that is fine, it’s Death. But come on. The anima diverter daily for Bastion is a test where you judge if souls should pass on or not, and on WoWHead, the adequate summary of the right answers is “If one of the answers seems more evil or horrible, that’s the one you pick.”

In fact, Bastion can’t work as it is right now, because of Maldraxxus. The Maldraxxi are the defenders of the Shadowlands, right? So all the courage and martial prowess and avenging angel-ness Bastion wants to have cannot be what they are About, the presentation wants them to be glorious and valorous warriors but they don’t have to fight anyone. And the presentation wants them to be wise and impartial but their job requires no discretion, they’re ghost UPS. They can’t be About anything cool, and to be wise and impartial, they can’t be DOING anything at all!

So here’s the fix to their concept: Maldraxxus is the afterlife of warriors, the endless skeleton war, the unending conflict where there are always an infinite supply of fighters willing to leap to the defense of the Shadowlands. Maldraxxus is the Shadowlands’ defensive team. Bastion is the offense.

Bastion does not engage in army-against-army conflict, they have individual heroes. And they are out there in the mortal world, invisibly, serving as guardian angels, inspiring as muses, fighting invisible forces, tipping the scales of Fate to have the right outcomes. Fighting extra-dimensional beasts who prey on the mortal realm to invisibly protect them, fighting down incarnate ideas of malice and ruin, but also influencing things directly or by subconscious example. Every Spirit Healer is from Bastion and they are the ones who decided “your time is not yet up”. When we get really lucky to allow ourselves to triumph over the Legion or the Scourge, it’s because Bastion was ensuring it happened, fighting for us. Bastion is supposed to be affecting things out there, making things turn out Right, instead of being powerless observers. They are the muses of artists and the muses of battle. They inspire. They lead, invisibly.

That’s why they need to be wise and free of bias -- you cannot favor one side of mortals over the other. Mortal beings need to beat the Scourge, but the Horde does not need to triumph over the Alliance and vice versa. Your job is not to punish mortals for being bad, you damn well need to be boosting both sides when there are champions and the valorous in both. You cannot go out there and say “these Orcs up here in Redridge are all evil and shit and the Alliance deserves the win so I’m just gonna go all in on defending them,” that’s not how it works, you reward individual valorous efforts on both sides. How Fate Should Go does not include taking sides in purely mortal conflicts.

So obviously you cannot be biased. You are something Beyond the mortal realm which means you can’t take sides. You actually do have to discard these attachments, and while we’re here, we need to actually make that process empowering. Right now all it does is show you “hey, happy memories, well, fuck you, gotta get rid of them.” Make more than zero effort to make this make sense. Show the aspirant in pain and yearning because of those memories and the fact they can’t come back. Don’t make them forget who they were, make them become at peace and move on.

Now obviously that won’t be convincing to everyone. And that’s fine. It just means there’s some ambiguity instead of the Forsworn being obviously right about everything.

There are four races/types in Bastion: Kyrian, Forsworn Kyrian, Stewards, and Constructs. Only two are represented in Soulbinds: you have two Kyrian and a Steward. 

Kyrian are the expression of what Bastion IS, so we already covered their changes.

Constructs are anima robots. Why are there anima robots here? It’s really bad in the current version because the Kyrian job can be done by a robot so why not just make them do it? Instead, we take that idea and we make it About something: these machines aren’t Constructs, they are Principles. A Principle is a robot made of rules and ideals, the things that are thought by mortals but bigger than any mortal. Codes of honor and ideas that work beyond any of us as individuals. There, that’s it, that change of presentation is all you need to do to justify why robots are there. The changes to Bastion’s fundamentals are what makes them fit in.

Stewards are creepy. Really creepy. They serve the same role as dredgers, but the fact that dredgers bitch and moan and complain all the time lets us see them as individuals with goals and not creepy brainwashed victims. A dredger isn’t a slave, they are a worker; but work sucks and they wanna be at the pub. A steward, with one exception (Forgelite Prime Mikanikos who is busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest and also by far the best Bastion character) appears to have no personality and is a brainwashed slave. 

So, first off, make it clearer that they are helpful because they are The Desire To Aid, that’s the thing they’re About. With the way they speak and act, I think what they are supposed to be in story terms is lightly comic relief, also similar in role to Dredgers but with opposite implementation. The creepiness and one-dimensionality make this fail, all their hoots and hoos and silly talk isn’t funny. They need to be cheesier. They need to be 90’s Saturday morning cartoon sidekicks. They need to be a (much) less obnoxious version of Snarf.

They need to tell awful, awful dad jokes. Just the worst. The kind that are so bad they loop back around to funny again but you’re still groaning and they’re just there like “Eh? Eh? Geddit? Geddit?” By doing something that is helpful, that we recognize as an attempt to help and that some Steward characters can explicate to us really does help (it dampens anger and fear because all of your negative emotions are refocused to that HORRIBLE pun), but that clearly NOBODY would brainwash them into doing, now we can trust their helpful efforts are borne of sincere desire and carried out to the best of their ability by their own personal interpretation.

Forsworn Kyrian, right now, are only antagonists. The ideological change of giving up on the law of Bastion makes you turn a darker indigo color scheme (which is actually really good because these are creatures of Beyond, creatures who are on a fundamental physical level About something, their beliefs changing their physical makeup makes sense!) and then become a bad guy. Forsworn are all only antagonists. We’re going to change that. Kleia is going to become Forsworn. And still be a heroic character and your Soulbind, even though this isn’t a game balance thing and so Pelagos will still probably outclass her in every way seriously that Mastery buff is fucking bananas for anyone who cares about Mastery.

Not when you meet her, though. The existing storyline of Bastion is you go there because “hey what the fuck are these Kyrian doing in the Maw serving the Jailer” but in Bastion itself nothing much is happening other than kicking pebbles down the street. You get the intro from Kleia, you go see some very low-importance things, then the Forsworn attack for the first time, and you spend the rest of the zone quest on hold with the Archon’s hotline to tell her “hey there are Forsworn this is a problem”.

Now, when you get there to ask “hey what the fuck”, Kleia is still not doing much more than kicking pebbles down the street, bored off her ass, extremely enthusiastic about someone new so she can DO something. But the Forsworn conflict already exists: it’s just not relevant to her because she stays out of it, figures that it’s above her pay grade, and she hangs out at the Welcome Center which nobody gives a shit about because there’s nobody to get welcomed so it isn’t relevant. She just knows there’s been some discussions. 

We get the anima drought reinforced the first time we enter Bastion because we have to power down the other cores to get enough juice for the greeting machine, but then it isn’t really a good way to sell it because that’s the kind of thing we do all the time even when there’s no shortages of anything, that’s how WoW PCs interact with machines. So we have the player scrounge up anima from the other Principles to power up the greeting machine, and it’s not enough, it runs out of juice halfway through, and Kleia gets embarrassed and tries to finish the rest of the process by reciting it from memory (and not getting it all quite right, which is another chance to show us things about her).

Kleia is excited to have someone to run through the orientation process, and she explains that FIRST there was an anima drought, and then as if that wasn’t bad enough, THEN the Arbiter got conked out and the flow of souls to Bastion stopped. This is important, because in the story as is, the anima drought appears to be completely explained by the flow of souls all going to the Maw, since they are presented at the same time and the flow of souls is the flow of anima. When you find out the drought is because of ol’ Denny hoarding it, you go “wait how does he have any to hoard when it all goes to the Maw?”

So for right now you need to walk the Aspirant’s path to get an audience with the Archon because right now things don’t seem desperate and urgent. You go to Aspirant’s Rest and get the flight point, and you go to meet Kleia’s soulbind, Pelagos. Two things need to change right here.

One: something more needs to be happening here than “Pelagos was a dipshit and tried ascending alone despite that being not how it works at all, go in there and fight the monsters,” so do something instead of almost-nothing.

Two: Loath as I am to say something actually needs less representation compared to its original, Pelagos can’t be transgender. You find out later on, in the Kyrian covenant quest line maybe? That Pelagos’s mortal body was a woman, but his true spirit is a man. That’s great, that’s something that should come up. The problem is, Pelagos is also the fuck-up, the one we see fail all the time so he can (ostensibly) show resolve and get back up again. But Blizz didn’t show barely any details about Pelagos’s life for fear of backlash -- we don’t even know who played him -- and whether or not it is valid or invalid or that was a cover to avoid admitting this was to not offend China, Blizzard still won’t DO it. So we have this character who is battling this doubt and failure in his past but we’re not allowed to know what they are. Pelagos is cisgender so we can go into detail about what he fucked up. Kleia might be trans instead (why she is so gung-ho about Ascension), or we can have Kleia sell the Ascension process as good by mentioning that the Paragon of Wisdom, Thenios, was born a woman in life but Ascension made him into a true ideal. This can also justify a bit more screen time for Thenios and then something for Tim Russ to do. He was already Tuvok, he doesn’t need more humiliation. But whoever it is, their gender only comes up once and never again because now they’re the right way around and the former body doesn’t matter.

So what’s happening at Aspirant’s Rest? It’s a holding pen for souls. See, as it is now, you find out about the flow of souls into the Maw right away, but then all the way through the main quest and into the Kyrian campaign quest they apparently don’t know, and you don’t tell them, and then it’s a surprise when you finish the quest where you follow the guy in Redridge and have to take him to the Maw, and that’s dumb, they should know, you should have told them.

So now the Kyrian know that everyone is default-judged to the Maw. And they know this is what has to happen, this is the machinery of fate that drives the universe, but they are compassionate and know these souls do not deserve it. So they’re scamming as much as they can. Whenever possible (which they lament is not often enough, not nearly often enough), they find some loophole or corner case to count someone as not ready to be judged, and stick them somewhere in Bastion so they can wait until the Arbiter’s awake again to judge them. They can’t do much, but they can do a little, so they do that.

This guy, okay, you died, BUT, there’s a necromancer just two zones over, and your body is still intact since I dragged it to safety, and, I mean, he’s PROBABLY going to call back your soul and bind it to your body in service, so there’s no point in having you judged, you’re just coming back, right? And you, Night Elf! Okay, you got your head blown off, but, remember that angelic voice shouting “NIGHTELVESEVOLVEDFROMTROLLS!” a moment before your demise? And you know, Trolls who worship Bwonsamdi go straight to De Otha Side without being judged. Maybe you would have wanted to pledge yourself to older gods, but you never got the chance to make that decision, so, hey, you know, it would only be right to let you make that choice before you are given your judgment! And you, guy, did you know that all those patrons from the Slaughtered Lamb across the street who came into your business were warlocks? Yup, all of them, and they didn’t wash their hands either. Fel contamination. Can’t, ooh, you know, hey, might be a demonic stain on your soul, demons don’t have an afterlife like us, gotta be reborn in the Twisting Nether! Going to have to consult some demons to figure out where you go. Better wait here.

Aspirant’s Rest and the temple beneath are a soul refugee camp, and the souls within are scared and angry and don’t know what is going on and the Kyrian can’t explain it or they will all completely flip out. The Kyrian are trying as hard as they can in the limitations they have and this sells it. 

Pelagos is down there. The risk is not that he will be killed -- he is not mortal, he does not die -- the risk is that his well-meaning attempts to keep things calm might ignite the powder keg down there. And those souls can’t die but they WILL go directly to the Maw if fatally injured, which is why they have to be kept penned where Larion won’t eat them and Principles won’t drag them off. Pelagos fucks up here and you have to fix it but it’s not a suicidally stupid error while doing something that has no relevance to the player, it’s an understandable mistake biting off more than he can chew while doing something the player understands. Player, Kleia, and Pelagos go down to Aspirant’s Crucible to get certified as an Aspirant and get in line to talk to the Archon. 

In the existing story, you go and peer into a memory flame thing and have echoes of your heroic battles drawn forth, and you fight them while a character narrates your heroic deeds. They might be based on what expansions you played in, or might be random? Anyway, in this case, you gaze into the flame of memory, she starts to narrate your heroism, and… nothing. “Ah, there are supposed to be visions conjured here, so you can display your valor against them once again. It… it doesn’t… hang on, I might know what the problem is…”

A voice comes. “Then how about you display your valor against me, champion? A little sparring wouldn’t hurt, and I’m eager to see what you can do.”

It’s Uther, hell yes it’s Uther.

[wirewitchviolet]

The Workification of Games

I like games. Quite a bit. Play them constantly. Used to review them for a living. I make them. I’m perpetually tempted to maybe stream them for a new living. But there’s so many times where I look at the stack of new games I haven’t started in on, or ones I’m presently in the middle of, and I just start groaning, because there’s this whole sense of obligation and drudgery and that’s not actually fun, so I avoid playing them. And we kinda need to talk about that.

We’ve had games that are secretly jobs for as long as we’ve had games that aren’t designed to be played in a single sitting, really. At the dawn of time, there was just arcade games. Classic arcade games had no real sense of progress to them. There’s a sense of ADVANCEMENT. You can get better at playing Centipede, and clear more boards, and see more palette swaps, but there’s no real end goal to it, and when you step away from the machine, you know you’re starting over from the beginning the next time you play. The only way there can be any sort of obligation is if you have some personal challenge you set for yourself, like getting to the top of the high score chart at your local arcade maybe. And that’s not something that takes constant effort, that’s just having one really good game one day.

Then later, we got relatively long-form console games. Super Mario Bros. has 32 levels. There’s an implicit goal that you need to plow through all 32 of those levels and save the princess. But still, like the personal high score challenge, any given time you sit down, either you complete the game, or you don’t. Next time you’re starting fresh. You’re taking that challenge on your own terms, whenever you want to, and while learning the game is kind of a thing, there’s no sense that you’re falling behind if you take a break for a while.

Later still, we got the first wave of games that are meant to take more than a sitting. Dragon Quest, Zelda, Metroid, Ultima. There’s still some end goal you’re working towards, but now the expectation is you aren’t just going to sit down and make it or not. You’re going to play the game a while, have some sense you’ve made some progress by gathering stuff or leveling up or whatever, get your password/save the game, and come back to keep chipping away. And hey, at the time, that was novel and cool and kinda made you feel good that you’re always advancing instead of starting from scratch.

RPGs then became kind of a thing. They got longer and more involved. There was a stretch where basically, every 5 years, the amount of time you had to sink into a single RPG to see the ending doubled, until they turned into these 80+ hour Commitments. It isn’t “today I think I’m going to sit down and play Xenogears before dinner.” It’s “this month I’m going to spend like 4 hours between getting home and making dinner playing Xenogears, should be finished by the 30th or so.” And hey, whoops! That’s a job now! In my own personal experience, that was literally a job. I spent some time reviewing games professionally. I was being paid by the article, and seeing the game through before reviewing it was a policy at that outlet, so, yeah. I had to sit down with these big 80 hour epics and slog through them, getting in as many hours as I could each day, just like some people had to go stand behind a counter flipping hamburgers or sit at a desk making phone calls. A full on job.

Now granted, at the time, it was mainly just RPGs that did that, and most people didn’t literally play them for a living. So OK you have your one big PROJECT of a game to slowly chip through and then everything else you’re playing is relatively light. Only relatively though, because hey, RPGs were the first genre to really get LONG, and took it to the greatest extremes, but damn near ALL games in the mid-90s could be counted on to have some main story-progression mode too long to be played in a single sitting, with save files to maintain your progress. And that PROGRESSION creep never went away. Super Mario Odyssey has somewhere around 1000 moons for you to go find before you can say you’re done. That’s a pretty sizeable commitment to plug away at.

And really, even around the late 90s, things were getting pretty bad. Game production started really picking up steam, so it went from “hey like 5 really great games came out this year” to “wow, there are 5 games coming out this month alone I want to play” and all of them are some sort of time commitment. So if that’s how you spend your time, not only is this game you’re playing making the demand that you sink 20-100 hours into it, there’s a stack of games piling up behind it and more on the way. You need to stay on the daily grind or you’ll fall behind and the unplayed stack is going to start getting taller. Gotta keep your head down and work towards that ending if you want to stay on top of new releases and not skip anything.

And then MMOs happened. WOW are those ever obligating! You’re not just buying a game, you’re paying for a subscription. And that means, really, any time you’re NOT spending playing the game, well that’s just throwing your money away. And the games want you to stay subscribed, so they have every incentive to keep you from ever feeling like you’re done, but still want you to feel like you’re getting somewhere. So we’ve got the slow slow grind of leveling up, like once every couple hours you sit there. And the long long quest chains. And the random loot drop based stuff to stall you out and buy more time to add more long quest chains. And oh, the SOCIAL obligations! You’ll have more fun and make more progress if you have a group! But everyone has other obligations in life, so this six hour block from 8 to 2 AM every night, you simply have to be logged in. Can’t do this raid without our best healer. It’s literally a job, but you pay for the privilege!

And that mindset spread. And people started actually researching howto take advantage of human psychology to make everyone feel even more obligated. Gotta have that PLAYER RETENTION. If you aren’t being incentivized to log in every day (here’s your daily log-in bonus!) you might drift away and start something else. You’re not going to stick around for any DLC or in-game purchases or whatever, where people make the real money. Better make it feel like you’re punished if you don’t maintain some minimum daily commitment, really.

And again. This started with RPGs, but it’s just everywhere now. Even games that should be light breezy things, where you just sit down for an hour, play a match, and you’re done, those come with daily log-in rewards and experience bars and stuff you need to unlock just as a matter of course. Can’t just sit down and shoot robots for an hour to relax, you have to be MAKING PROGRESS and working towards unlocking stuff. Gotta be a job. Gotta make it a commitment.

It’s awful. It’s draining. It keeps you from ever really relaxing and having fun, and developers have no real incentive at all to stop doing it, so it’s on us to start identifying it and saying no, and highlighting the games that don’t suck you in like that and you can just have fun.

The one game lately that devours the most of my time right now is Risk of Rain 2. Risk of Rain 2 is pretty damn great. There’s SOME sense of “there is progress still to be made here!” in the form of achievements/challenges left for me to tick off. A LITTLE of that is good, arguably. It rationalizes me playing it still if I can’t fully shake that weird urge to be “productive” with my leisure time, rather than “wasting it” on a game where I’m not advancing or unlocking anything, but the fundamental structure of it is this very arcade-y, somewhat rogue-adjacent game.

If I sit down and play Risk of Rain 2 for an hour, I’m not pushing any sort of progress bar up one damn bit. I’m just in the moment, playing me a quick run. I might have some goal I’m trying to hit with that run. Some little side challenge for an achievement, but whether I actually pull that off is really just going to come down to luck, and I know this probably isn’t going to be the run where I do it. If I do, cool. If I don’t, I’m still having this really intense frenetic little hour here where there’s the excitement of whether I’m going to do great or die quick and start from the beginning again. It’s like the old arcade experience. All I’m working towards is mastery so I can have some bragging rights, but really, I’m going to be as “far into finishing the game” after today’s little session as I was yesterday. Or a week ago. I’d say “or a month before that” but nah there was a big recent patch and I unlocked Acrid that day. Still, it’s just a fun, for its own sake, non-obligatory time. And I can play it with friends if I want to. But nobody falls behind if I play without them in any sense, just, hey, I have company to talk to tonight while I run around shooting space lizards.

And maybe Risk of Rain 2 is not your thing. You like slower paced games, maybe an old school feel? Well then might I suggest you look into the wide wonderful world of randomizers? Whatever your favorite game was 20-30 years ago, odds are surprisingly good that some entrepreneuring hacker in the last 3 years or so has gone and made either a quick little downloadable program, or a website, where you can take that old game, scramble it around, and get a fresh little remixed experience out of it. And this is all an offshoot from the speedrunning community too, so even i that game of yours used to be a big 20+ hour commitment the first time around, NOW there’s randomizer settings to trim out the fat and turn it into something where you’re basically guaranteed to be able to finish the whole thing in like 2-4 hours tops. If this is your first introduction to the concept, here, have a random let’s play to give you an idea how these things go. You get this nice mix of the comfortable and familiar, while still doing something new and exciting for the first time. There’s really no sense of long term obligation since it’s a single sitting thing. And if you finish or you feel stuck, cool, flush that ROM, generate a new one, and you can do it again.

There’s also something just very freeing about just going back to some old game that at one point DID have a big ol’ progress bar to fill up, but you did it and now you can play it without any real goal anymore. The Saints Row games are particularly great for this, because they have a little option to go replay old missions you’ve already done, and a lot of customizability options. So just, hey, load your old save up, give your character a fancy new makeover, switch to a wackier voice, and replay whatever part of the game you remember most fondly. Or crank the radio and drive around exploring the city. Whatever. Relax and enjoy it, it’s a game. It’s fun and relaxing.

As for everything else? All those JOBS you’ve accidentally installed on your hard drive or on your phone or on a shelf in a nice little row of cases? You need to think, really think. “Is this something I’m really enthused about the idea of PLAYING, or is this something I’m looking forward to being DONE WITH?” I mean, not all games that are jobs are miserable and unrewarding. I will crack open an Etrian Odyssey or something like a lobster and suck the meat out of every leg, drawing those maps and finishing those floors in such rough shape I barely make it back to town and have a good time doing it, and that’s fine. But I am SURE right this minute there’s at least one game that you’re playing because you want the closure of saying”hey, I played all the way through Metal Zone 6. Credits rolled.” Or there’s that one where you’re just logging in every day to “do your dailies.” Or some awful thing on your phone where you’re waiting for your action points to fill back up because there’s an Event going this weekend and it’s your only chance for that gacha pull that’ll give you the big boobed princess in her winter vacation alt costume or whatever.

And those are all terrible reasons to be playing a game! Screw it! Quit that soul sucking job! Uninstall it, take it off your mind, enjoy all the extra free time you just opened by doing something you actually enjoy! Real life doesn’t have some completion percentage and if it did, 100%ing every damn game in the world wouldn’t count towards 100%. Those things are just randomly generated side content that don’t count for progression. Which.... OK this is honestly the worst metaphor I could possibly be using, but the point is, games should be fun, not jobs. Don’t work jobs for no reason. That’s just an awful thing to do.

[petersshirts]

Fic Recommendations Pt. III

Hey guys, so I haven’t posted any fic recommendations in a long time so here I have a lot of fics and one-shots that make me feel all giddy inside!! I hope you enjoy reading them just as much as I did and still do.. (i read them all like 4 or 5 times whew) I’ve also added some comments this time!!

Also there are a lot of Bucky fics cause damn he’s just all I want...

1. Beneath The Reef by @tommybaholland

When you thought you were dead, you get a second chance as a siren // Merman!Tom and Siren! Reader, this is so well written and I love the story so much! 

2. A Harmless Crush by @omg-foreverfilledwithweird-posts

Assigned to the Winter Soldier by S.H.I.E.L.D to help him to accommodate to society, staying in the Avenger’s tower, and occasionally doing paperwork for STARK industries, you’ve grown close to James Buchanan Barnes, developing a crush on him in the process. So when you, reluctantly, tag along to a baseball game with the Avengers, and the kiss cam lands on you and Bucky, things get interesting. // ok i love this concept so so much and that it takes it slow at the start and there is just so so much fluff, i’m dead

3. Before You Died by @mybearyarmy

When people die, it’s usually permanent. So how will Bucky react when it turns out you never really stopped living to begin with? // this is full of angst and talking about death, so if you’re triggered with these kinds of things, please be careful! but me personally, i love love the emotions in this and the raw character that is Bucky Barnes

4. Be Here by @frecklesholland

Tom meets her while he’s out on press, and then he falls in love // such a romantic and fluffy one-shot that i get lost in every time i read it!!

5. Touch Starved by @irndad

bucky has a crush on an avenger, who is a healer. he doesn’t go to her for things because he is bad at talking to her and think she deserves better. this was written for the quote “Tony said you could fix my arm?” feelings ensue! // oh my god i’m so soft for this, about buckys’ slow attempts and just the writing is so so good!!

6. Wonder and just the whole masterlist of @barnesrogersvstheworld

Wonder: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar or inexplicable. // all her writings are really really good and it was really hard to pick one, so I recommend you everything!!

7. Masterlist from @sweetboybucky

And again, everything @sweetboybucky writes is truly amazing!!!

8. October Morning by @evanstarff

The Iconic Duo discover Steve’s weekend hideout. // 2100 words full of fluff and a dog, just complete happiness x

9. Silence & Peace (Two Part) by @jaamesbbarnes

In the peace of your home, Bucky doesn’t want you to leave the bed to go to work. // a really happy atmosphere where your heart seems to beat out of your chest, this gave me so much peace and happiness x

10. You by @marvelous-avengers

facing your feelings about your friend steve once your friend and roommate thinks she might have feelings for him as well. // i’ve already read this like 6 times because it just makes me feel loved and like there is someone out there that loves you x

11. Soft and Sleepy by @borkingbarnes

I think that the title say it all, just a soft little thing.. you may have noticed that i just love fluff :)

12. Deception by @revengingbarnes

When the FBI needs a young, bright officer to go undercover, James Barnes is the perfect choice. Ambitious, intelligent and well-trained, James is the most suitable candidate to pose as a young, clueless addition to the crew operating under the biggest mob boss in NYC. And James will do his best to take his empire down.

Y/N Y/L/N got sucked into the life of drugs, guns and money a long time ago. And she knows she might never be able to leave. But then along comes a sharp but caring man with soft, blue eyes who makes her heart stop, and maybe her impossible desire might come true. // guys go read this it’s currently in chapter 2 and it’s already going down!!

13. Bloom by @twilightparker

In a universe where you see in shades of black and white before meeting your soulmate, Peter Parker is the one to make your life burst into colour, and cause the love inside your chest to bloom. // i’m a sucker for soulmate aus! and this one is so so good, please read it, it’s still in the making and I just can’t wait!!

[mama-m1na]

Journey of the Chaos Trio: Chapter 5

                                                    ~~~V~~~

When the group reached the village Rhamina immediately pulled up her hood but could still feel the stares on her when the baby dragon decided to lay down on her as she was being carried.

“Mina, this is for your benefit,” Tijarah laughed as the ravenette continued to mutter profanities under her breath as she was carried.

In response the female only pulled her hood down further as an attempt to hide herself from the world.

“Benefit my ass,” she muttered causing the male holding her to sigh, “I’m fucking fine.”

“Are you absolutely sure you’re human and not a fox?” Runaan asked ignoring the whispers of the elves around him, “Because you’re acting like an animal with the way you insist you’re fine even though you’re obviously not.”

“Well, she certainly doesn’t act like a normal human,” Rayla commented with a slight chuckle at the sulking teen.

“No shit she doesn’t act normal,” Sam said with a laugh as she ignored the gasps from around her, “She’s been living with us for all her life!”

“Eat my dick, Sam,” the ravenette snapped from her burrito as they approached the home of the healer.

“Now, there is no need for that,” Runaan scolded lightly as Rayla opened the door for him.

Upon entering the home the girls and Callum were told to wait outside as the healer gestured Runaan to set the ravenette down on one of the beds.

“Hoot Hoot, Mina!” Chloe called as she tried to fly over the assistants only to be pulled back by Tijarah.

“Calm down and let the woman do her thing in peace,” Tijarah said holding the female down by her shoulders.

“Why does the untrustworthy man get to go in?!”

“Chloe, shut the fuck up,” Sam interjected as she sat down in front of the building.

“But, Father Sam!”

Rhamina sat on the bed with the cloak covering everything but her leg which the healer was looking at.

“You’ve sprained it pretty badly,” she said once the wrap was gone and she could see the specific places which were swollen, “I have a salve that’ll help the healing process but you better stay off the foot.”

“Okay,” the ravenette muttered with her hood down.

“I mean it,” the woman said as she stood after removing the ankle from her lap, “I’ve heard from Runaan and Rayla of how stubborn you are.”

As the woman went deeper into her house Rhamina looked up to the one-horned elf and said, “It looks like your arm has gotten better, that’s good.”

“Yes, it has but I’m surprised you still have yours considering you’ve had the binding for over a week,” Runaan stated remorsefully, “May I see it?”

“Wait, shit you’re right!” Rhamina gasped moving the cloak over her left shoulder to reveal her perfectly fine arm, “This hasn’t gotten any tighter at all! I completely forgot it was even there!”

“What?” he asked rising from his seat before taking her arm gently and inspecting it, “How is this possible?”

“Was it the spell you used?” he asked while looking at the confused expression on the female’s face.

“No, that spell only transfers injuries or magical effects,” Rhamina explained poking her arm which felt no different at all, “It doesn’t alter or cancel the effects of a spell.”

“See?!” she exclaimed trying to rip off the piece of fabric, “I still can’t take it off but it doesn’t get tighter! What changed the conditions?”

“Alright- What in the world?!” the healer exclaimed upon seeing the band around the ravenette’s arm before looking to Runaan, “Runaan?!”

“I told you before that the human took the binding from me, didn’t I, Beldroth?” Runaan asked as the woman immediately took hold of the ravenette’s left forearm where the binding was wound.

“Yes but that was almost two weeks ago and- oh my goodness you’re the girl who brought Runaan back,” the woman said gazing into the confused eyes of the seventeen-year-old.

“Um, yeah?”

The woman let out an excited squeal as she looked back and forth between the two with a smile before she began to treat and re-wrap the ravenette’s ankle.

“And what do you think you’re doing?” the healer asked as she saw Rhamina put her boots back on.

“I’m gonna go back to my sisters and the kids I’m looking after?” she asked slowly standing under the glare of the woman.

“If you’re moving then you better be limping straight back to a chair or bed to rest!”

“...No?” the ravenette smiled as she began to limp towards the door only to be scooped up by the male, “No, not again! Please put me down! I’m fine!”

“I’ll make sure she won’t strain her injury any further,” Runaan said as the ravenette groaned dramatically.

“So where are you taking me?” Rhamina asked with her eyes crossed.

“I understand it would be boring to just stay indoors so for now you can watch us train,” Runaan said as he walked out the door for Rhamina to see her friends were gone.

She said nothing as she was carried to the obvious training area sighing in relief to see Kerstin, Sam, Tijarah, and Chloe sparring instead of probably setting things on fire.

Runaan set Rhamina down gently on the ground where she huffed in annoyance that she would most likely not be allowed to participate.

“Even Callum gets to train?!” Rhamina whined as she saw the human male holding a sword next to Rayla, “This isn’t fair!”

“Mina, you’re fucking injured suck it up,” Kerstin exclaimed as she tried to attack Tijarah who dodged with a shriek, “Stay in one spot you whore!”

“Kerstin, there are kids here!”  Rhamina scolded upon looking literally ten feet to her right where young elves were being trained by Runaan and a few others.

“Oh!” Kerstin exclaimed stopping for a moment, “I said ‘fudging’!”

“Also, I won’t get a break in a fight just because I’m injured you know,” the ravenette commented as she began to draw in the dirt.

“Mina,” Chloe said with sadness, “We don’t live like that anymore- oof!”

She was interrupted by Sam knocking her with the back of her katana.

“Don’t get distracted, Chloe,” Sam stated as she backed up into a defensive position.

“But, Father Sam!”

“Mina’s right. We’re doing something risky and if someone’s trying to kill you they won’t stop and give you a time out if you’re injured,” Sam said as the female got up before turning to her sister, “Even if she’s being an emo bitch right now!”

“There are children here!”

“Then you better hide them from Kerstin,” Tijarah snickered earning a string of curses from the dragon.

“Kerstin, I swear to god if you burn anything down!”

At around three in the afternoon the groups got a break and the girls gathered with Rhamina who was still sitting in her spot on the ground.

As they talked Rhamina turned her head upon hearing small footsteps and looked to see a small, elven child looking at her.

“Hi,” she smiled with a small wave to the nervous looking little boy.

“A-are you the one who saved Runaan?” he asked.

“Um, yes?” the ravenette said, “But I didn’t really-” “Thank you so much!”

The ravenette blinked as the boy launched himself at her, too stunned to react.

“I knew not all humans were evil!” he yelled as various other of the elves looked at the display warily.

“No,” she said slowly wrapping her arms around the child, “No one is really evil you know? They just make bad decisions.”

Rhamina could feel the boy’s arms waver as negative whispers began to buzz from the other elves around them.

Runaan made his way over to the group from the other trainers upon hearing a commotion and his eyes widened at what he saw.

“En dašebu nobe šundu tje̞ šutwu kewenu swa lei, en dašebu nobe šundu

tje̞ šutwu kewenu swa lei,” Rhamina began to sing in order to block out the harsh whispers and a light began to glow from her pendant.

In the moment the female appeared to be surrounded by a soft purple glow as she continued to sing.

Zym got closer and chirped along as the female continued her song.

“En dašebu nobe šundu tje̞ šutwu kewenu swa lei en dašebu nobe šundu, tje̞ šutwu kewenu swa lei,” as the pair pulled away Rhamina took the boy’s hands with a smile as small figures of ice began to freeze in front of them before animating and move around.

Kerstin and Sam’s eyes widened as they watched the ravenette even risk to do such a thing in front of people and then looked to the boy whose face was full of wonder.

“En dašebu nobe šundu tje̞ šutwu kewenu swa lei, en dašebu nobe šundu tje̞ šutwu kewenu swa lei,” once the ravenette finished her song the ice melted and the water fell to the ground around them.

“You should probably get back to training now,” she chuckled as she ruffled the boy’s hair, “You don’t want to disappoint your teachers right?”

“Yeah!” the boy cheered as he ran back to the group of kids.

“Mina!” Kerstin whispered as she and Sam got closer to the ravenette, “Why did you do that?!”

“That kid was being ridiculed for his belief and probably bullied,” Rhamina whispered back, “Like hell I’m letting him feel like he’s alone.”

“Rhamina, you have a lovely voice,” Runaan said as he walked over, “Better than any minstrel that I’ve heard.”

“Shut your face,” she scoffed, “I sound like crap.”

“No, you don’t you fucking bitch,” Sam said shoving the ravenette slightly.

“If you can use magic by singing then why don’t you use it to heal yourself like you did for me?” the male elf asked remembering his two nights in the dungeons of Katolis.

“Oh, well I can’t,” the teen shrugged, “It’s one of the conditions of the spell. I can heal everything but myself with it.”

“That’s stupid,” Tijarah scoffed, “It’s useless unless you’re fighting in a group.”

“Think about it though,” Rhamina replied, “If someone with bad intentions knew about it and could just keep healing themselves then they would basically be immortal.”

“It’s still an interesting concept that you use your singing to use magic though,” Rayla commented as she remembered their journey to the village and the nights where the ravenette would be lulling everyone to sleep.

“Yeah, I got the idea to cast spells with music from sirens actually,” Rhamina chuckled as she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, “The stories I heard of creatures enchanting sailors with their voices intrigued me so I experimented and came up with something similar.”

“You know that’s pretty scary how you can do that without even encountering one of them,” Callum commented, “Impressive but scary.”

“You have no fucking idea, Callum,” Sam said, “Imagine coming back home to see your fucking sister standing on wind that she summoned by singing. We just left her alone for the day and as soon as we get back she’s all like ‘I have ascended, Fuckers!’”

“Hey, I cackled but I did not say that!”

“Mina, can you fly too?” Chloe asked from her left side.

“If I wanted to yes,” the ravenette responded as she pet the owl’s head, “It wouldn’t be that efficient though and it uses up a lot of energy.”

“Hey, Rhamina, you and Runaan should spar when you heal!” Ralya suggested with eyes sparkling.

“I don’t- No!” the ravenette sputtered, “I’m all for beating someone up but I would get my ass handed to me! Plus we have to take Zym home as soon as possible!”

The girls and Callum suddenly burst out laughing earning strange looks from Rhamina, Rayla, and Runaan.

“With all due respect,” Calluma started still laughing in between words, “I’m pretty sure Rhamina could beat Runaan pretty quickly.”

“Oh?” Runaan asked with a slight smirk as the ravenette began to panic slightly.

“Callum, Hun, we’re friends please stop talking,” Rhamina sung with a nervous giggle, “We all know I suck at fighting.”

“Yeah, because you don’t fight you fucking murder,” Tijarah said, “If you fought him seriously he wouldn’t have his head.”

“No!”

“Rhamina, you literally vaulted Soren into a second story window because he took one of your cookies,” Callum stated.

“Who can’t throw him?!” the teen tried to reason.

“Mina, Soren was wearing full armor, hoot!” Chloe commented.

“So?”

“His chest plate alone is like twenty pounds,” Sam said.

It was silent for a few moments before Rhamina launched herself at the brunette with her hands around the younger female’s throat.

“Mina, you’re ankle!” Chloe hooted frantically flying about a foot above her.

“Oh, yes, Daddy!” Sam coughed earning a disgusted look from the ravenette.

Immediately, Rhamina stood and placed all of her weight on her left leg as she said, “I fucking hate you.”

“I love you too, Mina, now sit the fuck down,” Sam said.

“Rhamina, sit down,” Runaan sighed as he placed a hand on the female’s shoulder.

“No, I don’t want to,” Rhamina said with her arms crossed, “I’m fine.”

“Then walk normally,” the elf challenged only to be met with a defiant look from the human girl.

“Bet.”

“Mina, no!” Chloe called as she and the other girls forced her to sit down.

The rest of the day passed with the group from Katolis training with the elves while Rhamina sat with Zym, simply observing.

By request of the healer Rhamina and one other of the girls were to be basically taken care of by Runaan during their stay.

“Are you kidding me?!” Rhamina exclaimed as she limped behind Runaan while holding Chloe’s hand, “I don’t need a babysitter!... But thank you for letting me stay.”

“It’s the least I could do for you,” Runaan said as he opened the door and stood to the side to let the girls in, “You’ve done so much for me in those two nights.”

“Hoot?” Chloe asked as she looked up at the ravenette before glaring at the male.

“You don’t need to do anything for me,” Rhamina stated as she once again followed Runaan around the small home, “Trust me I really don’t deserve it.”

“You really are strange aren’t you?” he asked before stopping in front of a door, “You both can use this room and mine is right next to it.”

“Thank you so much,” the ravenette chirped before bowing slightly and limping into the room with Chloe, “Good night.”

“Good night.”

“How do you know him, Mina?” Chloe asked as soon as the door was closed.

“He’s the elf I freed from the dungeons,” she replied as she sat on the bed and began to take off her boots.

“So he’s the reason who were so injured?!”

“Chloe, hush!” Rhamina whispered praying the male did not hear that, “He doesn’t need to know about it.”

“Why is he acting so familiar with you anyway?” Chloe huffed, “He only knew you for two days.”

“Um…”

“Mina?”

“No…”

“What do you mean no?!”

“You don’t need to know how we know each other…”

“B-but, Mina!”

“Night, Chloe, love you.”

“Fine,” Chloe huffed from her side of the bed before whispering, “Owl, will find out, hoot!”

The next morning Runaan woke up to the familiar sight of his room, and despite the fact the sun was blocked took that as his cue to get ready.

Once he was dressed and his hair was tied back in a ponytail he quietly made his way down to the guest room.

He knocked softly on the door before opening it to see only Chloe still snuggled in the blankets.

With a raised brow he went around his home without seeing the ravenette anywhere before he went back to the guest room.

Walking over to the female who had changed positions, Runaan gently shook her taking care to avoid getting smacked with her wings.

“Chloe, where is Rhamina?” he asked softly.

“Mina? I don’t know,” she muttered while sitting up and feeling around the bed only to feel nothing.

“Hoot?! Where did she go?!” Chloe asked suddenly awake, “She probably went to walk around, that idiot!”

Immediately the pair walked out of the house to search for the ravenette which didn’t take long considering that the female was sitting on the roof with her eyes closed.

“Mina!” Chloe called causing Rhamina to slowly open her eyes.

“Morning, Chloe! Morning, Runaan!” she chirped with a bright smile, “It’s so nice this morning!”

The sky was covered in dark clouds as it threatened to rain and it was quite windy with the smell of rain riding on it.

“Rhamina, how did you even get up there?” Runaan asked mainly concerned about the female’s injury.

“Magic,” she replied, “I propelled myself up with wind. It was the perfect day to to it!”

She proved her claim by standing and letting herself fall off the building causing panic in the two on the ground only for it to shift to shock as wind gathered under her to carry her safely to them.

“Mina, oh my god!” Chloe exclaimed as she clung onto the ravenette’s arm, “No!”

“Rhamina,” sighed Runaan as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I told you I would be too much for you handle,” Rhamina sung as she lifted her right foot off of the ground.

“I suggest you sit back down before Beldroth sees you,” he spoke with a smirk.

“You see her don’t you?”

Runaan nodded as he could see the older elf’s expression chance into pure rage.

“Fuck! Chloe help me hobble back into the house!”

“Young Lady, what do you think you’re doing?!” the healer screamed as she rushed up to the teenager.

“I wanted some air,” Rhamia replied with a nervous smile as she avoided looking into her eyes.

“Young Lady, unless you want to have problems with your ankle for the rest of your life then sit down!”

Rhamina’s expression when she heard the healer’s words.

‘Rest of my life… That’s right, I’m seventeen now so this cycle will be ending soon,’ she thought while biting her lip, ‘How am I supposed to explain this to Tijarah and Chloe?’

“Rhamina, are you alright?” Runaan asked placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah I’m fine just got a bit distracted,” she chuckled as her stomach growled, “I hunger…”

At around noon the groups were continuing their training until the sharp sound of a flute entered the ravenette’s ears.

Her head snapped up at the noise and by the second note her expression changed to that of utter horror before she turned to the groups.

“Chloe, Tijarah, Kerstin, cover your ears!” she called but it was already too late.

She along with the other three immediately fell to the ground in pain.

“Fuck, Mina!” Kerstin growled steam coming from her nostrils and mouth, wings twitching and tail flailing.

“I know!” Rhamina called as her pendant began to glow black and hazy while red chains solidified around her form.

Tijarah began to struggle as well as her eyes began to glow bright yellow and her canines became sharper.

“Mina!” Chloe called as feathers began to sprout from her arms.

“What’s happening?!” Rayla asked as she and others tried to get closer.

“Don’t get near them!” Sam called with a slight growl as she looked in the direction of Katolis, “Someone found where we hid that bitch.”

After about two minutes Chloe had fully turned into a dwarf owl, Tijarah had transformed into a black panther, and Kerstin stood tall as a red and black dragon; however, Rhamina was left screaming in pain on the ground as the chains began to constrict tighter.

“Rhamina!” called Callum as he turned to the elf in green markings, “What do we do?”

“I don’t fucking know!” she replied as she brushed her hair back, “You touch those chains and you get burned so we can only wait until that fucking song stops and hope she survived it.”

The next two minutes were painful for everyone to watch.

Rayla, Runaan, Sam and Callum could only watch as the female writhed in pain and as tears streamed down her face. They could see the chains digging into her skin and Sam was sure she heard a snap from something breaking. At some point Rhamina started to cough up blood and struggle to breathe but they couldn’t do anything.

The three shifters couldn’t turn back until the song was over so they did what they would normally do in a situation like this.

Chloe was just flying in circles above the ravenette as she hooted frantically.

Tijarah’s tail was flicking back and forth as she sat next to Kerstin who could only look down at her sister.

Finally, the song was over and the chains disappeared but the female was still shaking and curled up.

“D-don’t touch me!” she shrieked as she felt the presence of Runaan behind her.

Doing his best to ignore the cries of the ravenette, Runaan gently picked her up and rushed her over to the healer again.

A few hours later Beldroth came out of the room the female was in and looked to the group, including the shifters who had changed back to their half forms.

“That girl is lucky to have survived,” she started, “I’m surprised she stayed conscious through all of it.”

“And how is she now?” Sam asked, “Can we see her?”

“Well-” “Come hither!” a quiet voice called from behind the curtain.

Ignoring the healer the four other girls pushed past the curtain to see their comrade sitting up; however, she didn’t look good at all.

There were already bruises forming from where the chains dug into her and her skin was a bit pale.

She looked up at them with sad eyes and said, “We need to talk about this now.”

“Mina, are you sure?” Kerstin asked looking to everyone but Sam and the ravenette.

“If this continues then it’ll be their problem as well,” Rhamina replied, “They might as well know right now and stay informed.”

“Mina, we can trust Chloe and Tijarah but we don’t really know the others as long as them,” Sam said earning suspicious looks from the others.

“What do you guys mean?” Tijarah asked, “What’s going on?”

“If that nutcase manages to wake her up then we’ll need more than just us to stop her you know,” the ravenette argued, mustering a glare despite her tired state, “And it’ll be harder to keep this a secret once she’s awake.”

“Who are you guys talking about?!” Callum asked.

Before Sam or Kerstin could say anything Rhamina replied, “Marianna Verum Salvator Ibadora, or you might know her better as Marianna the Monster Carver.”

“What?” the group gasped collectively as Kerstin’s and Sam’s eyes widened at the fact she revealed it.

“That’s impossible!” Callum exclaimed, “She was one of the princesses from before the human kingdom split up! She died almost 1,000 years ago!”

“She didn’t die,” Kerstin stated as she crossed her arms.

“She was sealed away in what now exists as Katolis,” Sam added only earning more astonished looks from the group.

“And how would you know that?” Rayla asked still in shock.

“Of course we would know about it, we were there after all,” Rhamina chuckled softly, “I was the one who sealed her away after all.”

“You couldn’t have been there,” Runaan stated, “You’re a human. They can’t live that long.”

“You’re right but let’s not forget about the third member of the Chaos Trio and how she threw away her humanity for the truth of this world,” the ravenette sighed looking up with the golden flecks in her brown irises seemingly glowing with mischief, “A greedy little fox who transcended death.”

“No way,” Callum whispered looking down at the maid who he’d known for five years, “You’re…”

“Yes, the second princess of the original human kingdom who abandoned it to be with her true sisters,” Rhamina stated, “My real name is Kitsami Verum Princeps Ibadora.”

“A thousand years ago I was basically immortal with the power I discovered but I gave that up and was forced to live in a human body in order to seal away my twin who had come too close to discovering a power which would have destroyed all of Xadia,” she continued, “My soul and beast is bound by unbreakable chains which you saw earlier.”

“The song that triggered Kerstin’s, Tijarah’s, and Chloe’s beast forms to come forward and tried to call out Mina’s beast as well,” Sam explained, “But those chains were holding it back and forcing it to stay in her human body.”

“I still can’t believe this,” Callum said turning to Rhamina, “If this really did happen then how are you still alive?”

“As I quickly relearned how fragile the human body was, I learned that once this heart stopped beating then it would basically be reverted to that of my ten-year-old self and I would just age from there until I died again,” the ravenette shrugged, “And that cycle would continue and has been continuing for the past millennium.”

“Don’t forget to mention that each time, your body can’t last a year after you turn seventeen again,” Kerstin scoffed earning worried looks from the others.

“Returning back to the topic of the song, it is called the Song of Beasts and like Sam explained it draws out the beasts that are hiding under a disguise of magic,” Rhamina said changing the topic to get focus off of her, “I hid it along with other spells where I sealed away Marianna and since it was played I can only guess someone is trying to wake her up in order to get help in winning the war for the humans.”

“So, we have to stop them!” Rayla exclaimed.

“That will not be necessary,” Sam said, “The only one who can release her is Mina.”

“Yes, but the human mages could find a way to break that seal,” Rhamina hissed, “I mean they found a way to twist the magic I brought back for them. Or if the need arises I need my full power again then I’ll be forced to undo the seal.”

It was silent after that before Runaan said, “Thank you for telling us this. Now we know what we could be possibly going up against but for now let’s all get some rest and let this sink in.”

Back in Katolis the people were panicking as many of the citizens had suddenly turned into strange creatures of dangerous animals.

“I wasn’t able to awaken the Queen but I was able to expose all of the shifters hiding among us,” Viren chuckled as she looked at the masses of creatures being brought to the dungeons.

In the absence of the ravenette he had become acquainted with the being in the mirror and had it brought back up to his study.

“I must thank you for revealing the location of the True Queen, Aaravos,” he chuckled with a purple caterpillar sitting on his ear.

“Marianna is not the True Queen, only her protector,” the Startouch elf corrected, “You must remember the awakening Marianna is only to draw Kitsami back to her rightful throne.”

“Ah, yes, where is Kitsami anyway?”

“Hiding,” the elf replied with a slight smirk on his face as back in Xadia Rhamina felt a slight warmth come from the binding around her left arm.

~~~Fin. Chapter 5~~~

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Songs Used: “Ballad of the Goddess” - Adriana Figueroa

Picture: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436497388883255799/

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[sanjuno]

NRT+SW: That We Answer To Our Stars

Just remember that you people asked for this and if I end up posting a story concept that you love and want to see as a fic? Be well aware that all of these outlines only have one thing in common:

I HAVEN’T WRITTEN A SINGLE SCENE FOR THEM.

Which means I won’t be turning them into fic for a year at least so... *handwaves* Encourage me IRT your favourite WIP of mine, because finishing one of those will clear up space in the docket for a new story to get some attention.

Now, these outlines can get kinda disjointed but at least you’ll get to see a bit of how my brain works when I plot out stories.

THE SCENE!

>Kaguya’s multiverse trip goes wonky b/c best crossover fodder scene

>Uchiha Clan dumped wholesale on Rim World/Wild Space World in SW’verse. All the Uchiha Clan. All the Uchiha since ever.

->World is XL planetoid version of TG44, with added biome options b/c YOLO (unless you’re in the Uchiha Clan I guess b/c then you get to Live All The Times?)

>Indra, Madara, and Sasuke separate ppl w/ wiggy chakra resonance. V disorienting.

->Ninshu gets Dialled Up To Eleven = Force Bonds! Force Bonds everywhere!

-->Entire Clan gets Highlights Reel of Historically Important Memories (also so much purposely induced trauma wow WTF.)

--->Mass Meditation required to untangle/unfuck heads

>Entire Clan now Force Sensitive BTW

->WTF w/ crazy Nature Chakra infesting everyone? Uchiha are Not Pleased.

-->Upside: Force Bonds/Ninshu Super Connection can be used to awaken Sharingan w/out Psyche Destroying Trauma so yay for that

>All Uchiha now have Kaguya’s est. life span. Also nubbin horns and forehead sensory organ b/c aliens are a SW thing I can do this now (don't know if want full-on third eye or just funky Clan Marking thing? Hm...)

THE PLOT THICKENS/ACTUALLY STARTS BEING A THING!

>Sep. forces land on new Uchiha Homeworld b/c shenanigans and The Force Likes To Meddle

->Sasuke introduces said forces to Kirin b/c is reminded of T7 mission to Land of Iron? Or Snow? Dunno which but Naruto’verse says machines = bad juju so Sasuke is 100% justified ok thanks.

>212th follows. Obi-wan is v concerned by the Uchiha

->Entire Pop. of Planet is FS WTF is this nonsense?

-->Clones v impressed at least. Free-range jedi are badass why were they not informed of this being an option? (Clones made for jedi = have a hard time leaving GAR b/c existential dissonance when no jedi for retired soldiers? Also Kamino sucks and slavery sucks more but now the Clones who don’t want to be soldiers or recycled can Take A Third Option! So much Clone chatter about the Uchiha thing wow.)

>Madara is sent to be Senator b/c Jedi are Very Insistent that this Planet be part of the Republic.

->Madara terrifies all the politicians b/c Uchiha Hate Politics (they're too blunt and the see too much) but Madara is best at it v good at lying without saying anything untrue.

-->Madara knows Palpatine is skeevy b/c Uchiha See All The Things and You Can’t Fool Me With Such A Weak Illusion, Foolish Human and now there are clashing manipulators and Your Attachments Make You Weak and this is going to get out of hand so quickly I just know it. 

>Sasuke is apparently still best Prophecy Child Bait and Anakin is Conflicted b/c how can he be attracted to someone not Padme?

->501st would like to adopt b/c last time Anakin fucked off without backup Sasuke came back 5 minutes later with Anakin hogtied over his shoulder and the Seppie base on fire. Sasuke is so unimpressed b/c That’s Not How You Infiltrate Enemy Lines, You Moron

-->Sasuke is still 100% going to seduce Anakin and Padme b/c his life is Not Complete without an Idiot to yell at and a Crazy Berserker who likes to pretend she’s The Sane One to ride herd on.

--->Obi-wan is Done With All Of Them b/c Sasuke isn’t even pretending to try and hide his intentions b/c if they get fired Sasuke can just take them back home for a proper marriage. Mikoto is So Proud of her boy. 

>Madara and Mace have ‘sip and bitch’ IRT Palpatine being an evil fucker

->At some point Madara will wonder out loud what Palpatine is grooming Anakin for? Mace is Concerned by this revelation. Madera is not.

-->Sasuke had Issues IRT not sharing well with other children. BTW Mace Sasuke is planning to steal away Anakin and marry him. Don’t worry he will be returned eventually and so will his wife.

--->Mace thinks Anakin had it coming. WTF was the boy thinking? Did he really think he could hide anything from a temple containing several thousand telempaths? Jedi can get married, it’s just considered polite to ask first and go through the counselling with the Mind Healers beforehand. (Idea! Coruscaunti Jedi treat marriage the same way the Japanese treat Gun Control. Lots of paperwork and regular mandatory psyche evaluations and pervasive low-key terror at the idea of having one.)

->Madara will hear the “too much fear in him” story and cackles

-->Slaves have to please their Masters to survive. Anakin was freed to be a Jedi so if not a Jedi then he’s a slave again? No Fear = Be A Jedi (Not A Slave) and now Anakin is The Hero With No Fear

--->Therefore everything the Council dislikes about how Anakin acts was initialized by the Council. Mace hates Irony so much. Madara is still cackling in his face.

->Madara wants the aged out Initiates who still want to fight (or even just the Initiates who don’t suit the Jedi lifestyle)

-->He has a Clan to maintain! About 25% of the Uchiha never fell in love or fell in love with non-Uchiha so they need Marriage Options. (Uchiha don’t fall out of love easily either so new potential spouses need to be Impressive As Fuck and the jedi know how to be Impressive.)

--->Species doesn’t actually matter Uchiha’s Forest of Death planet has lots of different options despite being mostly Giant Fuck-Off Trees and the higher your Force Sensitivity the higher your chances are for successful cross-species hybrids. (Madara is planning to keep Obito and Itachi away from the aquatic species for a while b/c they have a concerning fondness for fishes.) Hybrids are viable though b/c The Force loves grand babies.

>Izuna is there as Madara’s Security Chief and he’s having Far Too Much Fun getting to be paranoid for a living. Plus all sorts of time to spend with his wife! (Need to pick name and develop Izuna’s wife beyond terrifying DFAB genderfluid interrogation specialist but at least they’re happy together.)

->Izunami (Izuna’s daughter) and Kagami are tiny children again b/c weird cross-dimensional space-time fuckery is like that

-->Shisui is super amused to be ‘older’ than his grandfather.

->Kagami approves mightily of Madara-shishou’s friendship with Mace (reminds him of Tobirama-sensei!)

->Izunami is 100% in favour of actually getting to ‘grow up’ with her Mom and Dad around this time (although she only really listens to Madara b/c he was her Parental Authority Figure and old habits don’t break) Jedi actually find this comforting b/c even if Uchiha crazy about attachments there are familiar bits there in how they arrange instruction even if the three students at a time thing is weird.

-->Both Izunami and Kagami are So Relieved that their Spouse is the same age as them b/c while they would be willing to wait until the other grew up this is much less creepy.

>Speaking of age fuckery Itachi is smol now and just about permanently leashed to Mikoto’s side.

->Sasuke is v amused b/c Aniki deserves this.

-->Mikoto and Fugaku are the first Uchiha couple to make a new baby and it’s Sarada b/c she’s the only good thing about the Next Gen (Except for Snake Fam but they aren’t a part of this fic boo)

>Obito is Madara’s primary assistant b/c some of the Uchiha are Not Over the whole Killing Us All Off thing.

->Obito runs into Quinlan Vos. Results are hilarious.

-->Brainwashing to the Dark Side ep. goes v differently. (Need to re-watch this ep for details but yes) Obito will rampage over everything b/c dude has No Chill

>Shisui is v jealous of his relatives b/c Itachi is too smol to play with and also has been hijacked by Isami (who will hold her death over Itachi for the rest of forever but again Uchiha don’t really fall out of love so she’s also learning Itachi wrangling skills from Mikoto now.)

->Everyone else is finding Jedi favourites and Shisui misses his ANBU team b/c it’s not like he really had time to make any other friends

-->Sulking Shisui trips over Feemor while waiting for Madara. Apparently Uchiha and Yoda’s Lineage have A Type. 

>BIG PLOT POINT: Uchiha Remember

->’Curse of Hatred’ spun by Madara as ‘plague’ caused by ‘non-native invasive plants’ (Blames it all on Zetsu and says plant was toxic to non-Uchiha) Says is why there are no non-Uchiha in TG44′s population despite stories otherwise.

>Uchiha think the Jedi Code is silly but the Clones are the Best Thing. All Clones look different to FS/Sharingan

>Uchiha have a habit of “stealing” spouses.

->BTW Shisui has No Patience

-->Upside: Feemor is v flattered by the attention and TG44 has a v interesting ecosystem. TF is in everything on this planet like WTF how does this work?

->Kagami is So Proud. Look at his Grandson, so proactive.

-->Starts to ‘hint’ that maybe Madara-shishou should think about settling down.

-->Mace has been meditating and consulting with the other Masters of the Order.

--->War changes everyone. Plus certain contracts between the Jedi Order and the Senate have been voided by the drafting of Jedi Generals. (Look up the details of the Ruusan Reformation for more info on disbandment of Jedi Military Powers and what it means when Senate gives them back the right to raise levy forces.)

-->Jedi don’t need to look harmless anymore just need to look less dangerous than the Seppies and the Sith.

>Uchiha Clan FB keep any of them from Falling to the Dark Side.

->Sasuke finally gets his hooks in Anakin and Padme. Notices the ‘nightmare vision’ problem first time he sleeps over.

-->Kidnaps Obi-wan to ‘repair’ the stress fracture in Anakin’s only familial FB b/c having his partner be so alone in his head is creeping Sasuke out and it’d only get worse if the bond to Obi-wan breaks completely.

--->Obi-wan is too tired to even object and now Anakin is freaking out b/c he’d been so focused on Padme maybe-dying in childbirth that he hadn’t even noticed how sick his Master looks.

---->Oh and also there is a Sith Energy Parasite attached to Anakin’s FS and it’s been poisoning his bonds. Sasuke just facepalms while the Jedi have panic attacks and drags in the genjutsu expert hostile deprogramming specialists.

----->Upside: Uchiha now know what Sith Master’s chakra signature is and can hunt him properly. Also help Mind Healers check all Jedi for similar problems, starting with Active Duty Generals. My the Council Chambers look so much Lighter now. 

>Then some stuff happens where Palpatine is exposed as the Sith Master and there are explosions.

>Plot Twist is that Madara and Mace have been banging and rewriting the Jedi Code of conduct since like their third date and no one picked up on it.

->Mace: *stares Anakin in the eyes* And that’s how you hide an affair, Skywalker.

*jazz hands* And this is how my fics look before I start writing them.

[dlamp-dictator]

Allen Rambles About Fire Emblem (Allen’s Rambling XXIX)

I’ve reached my usual 30-hour mark with Fire Emblem Echoes, so I think it’s about time I actually talked a bit about my experience with it and the Fire Emblem series in general. For the last few weeks I’ve been saying I was going to dig deep into this game and more or less tear it apart while discussing why I like Fire Emblem Fates a lot more, but... I’m not. I thought about it while trying to finish the map against Jedah, and as frustrating a time I have with that map and the game as a whole, I’m not going to start whining about it. Well, not in a petty sense anyway. There are still a few issues I have with Echoes, but I won’t be a baby about them.. I hope.

Ah, but before I get onto that...

My History

I feel it’s only fair to discuss my history with the Fire Emblem series in general before getting to talking about Echoes, just so people know where I’m coming from. I’m gonna’ be honest, it’s not much of a history. Much like Dangan Ronpa (another series I need to talk about at some point), fandom discourse got me interested in this series. I heard a bunch of complaints about Fire Emblem Awakening when it first came out. Complaints about how anime-esque it was, how it’s “waifu-baiting” was ruining a serious game known for itself dramatic story-telling, how making it was easier and more accessible for newcomers with Casual Mode would kill what the made the series great, how easy it was to break the game and created no challenge for what was suppose to be an intense strategy game. Honestly... I was getting flashbacks of the Guilty Gear and SMT fandom complaining about Blazblue and Persona, so I ignored it and the series in general while that was going on. 

That, and I didn’t have a 3DS at the time, so I honestly didn’t care. But then I eventually got a 3DS somewhere around the time Fire Emblem Fates came out. I originally got the 3DS to play Senran Kagura Burst and Burst 2, play a few of the Pokemon games I missed out on, as well as a few unnoticed JRPGs that I don’t feel like talking about. But anyway, Fates had came out at the time I finally started caring about my 3DS, and I heard much worse complaints about the newest entry at the time. I’m not going to go into detail on what the issues people had with Fates was, but I’ll just say from an outsider’s perspective it sounded like the Awakening complaints times ten. 

And that got me curious. Was the game really that bad? Was the game that pandering? I had to find out for myself, so I did a bit of research on how to play the game, and bought Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright. Now, when I say ‘research’, I mean I went deep into how Fire Emblem gameplay worked. I studied which characters had the best growth rates for tanking and attacking, I looked at skills and how they’d help make each unit’s job easier, I studied which characters were worth keeping around until endgame, which units should be reclassed at which times for getting the optimal skills, and so on. If I was going into a series who’s biggest feature was perma-death, I wasn’t going in blind. 

Anyway, Birthright had optional grinding in it, and as a newcomer I didn’t want to get destroyed my first time playing the series. I played it on Classic Mode at first like most of the fandom recommended, and I got use to the concept of perma-death. Since a lot of the fandom focused on optimizing party members and viewing most of the characters for there stats than their personalities I didn’t get too attached to many characters outside of Azura and Silas (who is best girl). 

I have the say, playing this game on Classic Mode was a trip. I honestly couldn’t stand Corrin’s pacifist personality in a game where enemies permanently killed your characters. To just see him/her refuse to kill others because of his/her soft heart after they killed so many of my own units made me rage. THESE SCUMBAGS KILLED HINOKA AND RINKA. MY DEFENSIVE CHOKE POINTS ARE RUINED. CORRIN YOU USELESS WHORE, STOP SHOWING MERCY AND KILL THEM! 

...

...

...

Ahem.

That aside, for a game that had perma-death being its most prominent feature, I was a little annoyed by seeing “dead” characters in cutscenes due to them being “vital” to the plot at points. Death didn’t seem to have much weight when characters were technically not dead and just unable to fight due to injury, and when the fandom kept saying how vital that aspect was when the game didn’t treat it that way, I felt cheated. I felt like my actions had no consequence outside of gameplay. No one berated Corrin for letting people die under his/her command, no one lamented in the base how certain characters were “critically injured” and couldn’t fight back. Hell, no one even brought attention to the fact that Corrin’s base was in basically the Hyperbolic Time Chamber between chapters. Things just... didn’t have emotional weight to it outside of gameplay. Still, I kept going while on Classic Mode, despite losing half my army. I didn’t know soft resetting was a thing so I just... dealt with it... by force. 

And then Sakura died, and I lost my (main) healer. 

So, like the filthy casual I am, I made a new file on casual mode and never looked back. Yeah... losing healers is kind of my sign for sucking the game so much I need a handicap for it. Around that time I figured out how to soft reset, but I still saw that as cheating, so I just stuck to casual mode. I found the game fun after that. Corrin’s pacifism made a bit more since when lost allies merely retreated at 0 HP instead of died. Every survives, no one was killed, and Corrin’s army didn’t kill in turn, so Corrin’s pacifism didn’t make me want strangle him/her, and I could tolerate the story a little better.

But moving onto the game itself, I liked all the strategies and crazy combination of skills you could have. I loved how you could break the game with the right skills and pairings around mid game. I loved the pair up system and how it could save you so many times in dire situations. I had a lot of fun with Fates, I even bought some of the DLC for it. 

It’s got its flaws though. Some of the support conversations were just terribly written, the story felt like it was trying to appeal more so to thirteen-year-olds that an older crowd with how one-note a lot of the characters felt, and how... obsessed with Corrin they were. I mean, the game was rated Teen, but I’m 23 and I expect a game that had a perma-death system to have a better story than... Birthright. And honestly, for a game that was hated to the point of being call “Waifu Emblem” because of the anime style and marriage system, very few of the girls were written well enough or even looked hot enough for me to attach myself to. Honestly, Azura, Elise, Kagero, and Charlotte were the only girls I liked out of all the girls, and only 2 of those 4 had decent supports. Like I said, the game is fun, but the story... not so much.

So with all that out of the way, let’s get onto what I really wanted to talk about.

Fire Emblem Echoes

So... my thoughts on Echoes can basically be summed up as Echoes being the better story, but Fates being the better game. I’m more invested in Alm and Celica’s situation than Corrin’s, and I find their story more believable. Well, not as cheesy anyway. A bit of explanation on the Brand would be nice, but I kind of get the point of it so I’m not gonna’ whine about that too much. The only thing I’ll say against it is that Alm doesn’t seem keen on becoming king at this point in the game, yet his army pushes him to that role and he... doesn’t really react to it much. I find that a bit strange, but I’m still on Act 4, so... maybe I’m just missing something. 

Something else I’m having trouble dealing with in Echoes, gameplay wise, is... well, how different it is from Fates gameplay-wise. It’s good gameplay overall, but it’s making me think in a way completely opposite of Fates. With how... well frankly, with how bland the maps are in Echoes gameplay can feel boring at times. Mountainous and swamp areas are especially annoying since it turns the map into a crawl. I’m down with a slower, more methodical approach to this game, but... eh, I’m not feeling these maps. Not to say Fates didn’t have its fair share of boring and uninteresting maps, but Echoes has it worse, and with spawning enemies and maps I have to cross through just to do things like upgrade weapons and class change, they feel less like optional grinding and more like unnecessary battles. 

There are a few other issues I have with them, but I’ll save them for a later segment.

Speaking of my issues...

The RNG

Look, I’m just gonna’ say this flat out. The defensive, slow, strategic way I feel this game wants me to play feels moot when the RNG comes into effect.

I’m sure everyone that’s played Fates knows that infuriating feeling when Kaze's 97% hit rate misses and he dies when an enemy’s 2% critical comes in. I feel like Echoes has this even worse than Fates. Few weapons have a 100% hit rate, and even 30% enemy hit rates feel risky at times. I really feel that this higher focus on strategy is downplayed by the fact that a lucky critical can utterly destroy a defensive line. Alm died on the first turn of enemy phase to a 2% crit when I was playing defensively, and it sucked. It feels like the gameplay contradicts itself. This was an issues in Fates too, but since you could more or less break the game around chapter 16-ish with the right skills and pair ups it didn’t sting as much. Here? With Echoes? With how they do skills and with the fatigue system? With how skills are tied to weapon experience? Yeah, you can’t really break the game, you have to play smart, so every instance of RNG nonsense that kills off a character with a single-digit chance of a critical just... sucks.

So... with that out of the way, I’ll move onto to talking about... 

The Good

The Story

Like I said, I find this story leagues better than Fates’ story. Alm wanting to save his country even if it means taking on a role he didn’t ask for, Celica wanting to be a devout servant of Mila to the point of near martyrdom. This is all good stuff, and the story highlights a little about war and what it can do to people, how politics can ruin friendships, how faith can be tested in unforseen ways. I like it a lot. Every character feels real and understandable. No one feels like an outright jerk without a good reason behind it. I read that Echoes was a remake of an older Fire Emblem game, and if this is the kind of quality of writing we missed out on in Fates then I am deeply disappointed in the writers of that game for not living up to the expectations of its predecessors.

The (Fully Voiced) Supports

In the words of TFS’s Vegeta: 

“Never in my life have I needed something so much and never known until I received it.”

I lost my mind when I saw how these supports were being done. Actually chatting on the battlefield in real time (as real time as turn based RPGs get anyway), hearing characters actually speak their lines. I... I legitimately screamed when I heard Alm and Faye chatting with each other. It... it made so much sense, of course it should be done this way. I wanted to buy five more copies of this game just to see it done again in the future. It actually reminds me of how Disgaea 5 and D2 had certain characters chat to each other when they stood next to each other. I only wish it was an automatic thing like in Disgaea 5. And the supports are well-written as well. Character development is done solely in the story, while the supports are little extra bits of character relations and how they grow and improve over time. My only regret is that certain characters didn’t get supports with each other like Clair and Clive, but... I suppose it’s fine.

The Waifus

For all the talk I hear about Echoes breaking the “Waifu Emblem” stigma, this game has sooooo many girls I like in them. Genny is precious, Clair is a lovable and cheesily haughty noblewoman, Faye... is my second Pegasus Knight with decent defense and high mobility, Mae’s bubbly, tomboyish personality is endearing, Sonya X Genny needs to be a thing, and do not get me started on the GODDESS that is Matilda and her 10 resistance. No, this is Waifu Emblem as far as I’m concerned, and all it took was a decent writer to make me care about these girls.

The Bonus EXP

This really helps me out when trying to grind the weaker units. Forsyth and Python are actually useful to the army now because of it. It’s nice to get an extra reward for completing the map, and it makes all the spawning enemies and replaying of maps a little more worth it, as much as I don’t like doing it.

Upgrading Weapons

I really like how upgrading weapons is paid for with money instead of praying you had the right gem type like in Fates. Makes it so much easier to upgrade weapons. Now if only Gold marks came by a little easier... but that’s what DLC is for. The upgrades feel more optional if anything, an Iron Sword is good enough of a boost on itself, and so on, the boosts help though.

Leon the Mage Killer

I love Leon. I love Leon almost as much as Leon loves Valbar. In an army full of Mages and Dread Fighters, this man and his Steel Bow activated criticals on just about every mage on the map. For at least 6 maps he was the mage killer until Saber became a Dread Fighter. I think he does it solely to protect Valbar and his non-existence resistance stat, and that’s okay. You do you Leon, you magnificent Mage destroyer you.

Dread Fighters

Well, Celica’s army is made up of dread fighters for a reason. They’re just soooo handy to have, especially with all the witches and arcanist I have to face on her route. The ninja aesthetic is real man. It clashes with Saber’s design, but it’s real, and it feels good.

Zeke

Zeke is voiced by Patrick Seitz and has decent stat growths, this can only lead to good things.

The Not So Good

Celica’s route and her finding optional party members is so annoying... I swear, I picked up Catria and Palla AFTER I rescued Est because I figured that automatically join after I saved her... three maps later and they didn’t, and now I’m stuck grinding them... it sucks.

Again, the RNG in this game makes the more strategic way I need to play feel unrewarding when it can boil down to a lucky critical on enemy phase.

As much as I like how you upgrade weapons, getting the money to do it is a pain. There’s DLC maps, yes, but... it doesn’t feel worth it to mean unless you’re trying to break the game. And this isn’t really a game that’s fun to break.

Speaking of weapons, gaining skills through weapons doesn’t feel good to me. I can’t switch out weapon without sacrificing utility, and on Terror maps, Conrad and the Pegasus Sisters are the only useful units. I’m not giving anyone a Blessed Sword when they have fulled upgraded Brave Swords, Silver Bows, and Ridersbanes.

The fatigue system, dear lord. This isn’t Dark Souls, why is there a stamina system in this game? I just... I just can’t even man. The climb of Duma Tower was NOT FUN.

 Arcanists with Death and Fortify. That’s... that’s just annoyingly unfair.

Witches and the fact they can teleport to my armored units without any cost on the first turn of enemy phase just destroys any strategy I can make against them, and it sucks.

Dracoshield enemies... Dracoshield enemies on maps where taking them out is optional and the game doesn’t tell you... Goddamn, need I say more?

So yeah, I still think I like Fates more to play, but Echoes is definitely the kind of challenge I need in my strategy RPGs, especially for my handhelds. I’ll probably try a Classic run of Echoes when I beat it on casual mode, but I’m having fun with it at the moment, so... yeah. I recommend you guys get it if you’ve got a 3DS and the cash. I might save up for Awakening too and see how that plays out since I love breaking video games.

[fictionplumis]

Alright, I want to talk about Ilvermorny houses today. 

I’ve been thinking about this for awhile, the differences between Hogwarts and Ilvermorny. For people who haven’t done much digging into it, Ilvermorny is like Hogwarts in the way that they have four houses, Horned Serpent, Wumpus, Thunderbird, and Pukwudgie. Their sorting ceremony, however, is a lot different. Students step onto the school crest in front of four statues representing the houses and the statues choose the students by reacting and moving. It’s apparently very rare for more than one statue to react but if it happens, the student gets to choose their house. 

Interesting concept but it takes a lot of the choice out of the matter that the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts gives, you know? People have argued with the Sorting Hat, convinced the Sorting Hat to put them in other houses, we don’t get any of that with Ilvermorny and that’s probably because it’s not as necessary. 

We all know the Hogwarts houses, but let’s look at Ilvermorny for a moment. They’re all more physical attributes, representing a physical “part” of the wizard. Horned Serpent is the mind, Wumpus is the body, Thunderbird is the soul, and Pukwudgie is the heart. So the houses tend to pick students with similar interests. Horned Serpent is more for scholars, Wumpus for warriors, Thunderbird for adventurers, and Pukwudgie for healers. 

So here’s the reason why I feel like arguing with the statues isn’t necessary. Ilvermorny houses are based on physical things, on actions. Hogwarts houses are based on values and concepts. 

Students argue with the Sorting Hat because the houses aren’t about how the student acts, it’s about what they value most. Harry can act very cunning to reach his end goal, a Slytherin trait, but he values bravery over everything else and wanted to be in Gryffindor. Herminone is incredibly smart and loves learning, but valued bravery over knowledge and was put into Gryffindor. Now both of them are obviously still very brave but then we have students like Neville, who started out meek and skittish. But he valued bravery and found it within himself throughout the books. And Peter Pettigrew, who you can’t deny is a complete coward that hid as a rat for fuck all ever because he was scared, he was in Gryffindor. Definitely not brave, but he valued it. 

Values are one of those hard things to judge because they’re constantly changing and even if you can see into someone’s head, what someone really values is still very complicated. Complicated enough that most people have to really think and defend their own values to themselves. 

But Ilvermorny is all about action. When confronted with a problem, what’s the first thing you do? Do you fight through it? Do you try to get to the root of the problem and fix it? Do you research about it so that you can help teach others how to deal with this problem? Or do you wing it and see where it takes you? 

That’s why it’s so rare for more than one statue to pick a person. Sure, every situation is unique and each are going to be approached slightly different, but for the most part everyone has an initial go-to response for a situation that doesn’t often change. 

So Horned Serpents, the mind of the wizard and a house for scholars would react to a situation by gathering more information about it first. An unknown situation comes up, how do they react? Maybe they go to the library and start researching about it. They go to friends and ask for advice to get different perspectives on it. This house would probably be known for the more manipulative students, not necessarily in the bad way. They’re just the students that mess with the variables of a situation to see what effects it has so that when they go to actually deal with it, they know the easiest or most effective method. They’re the ones you would want to go to for advice because if they’ve been through a similar situation, they know what to do and they’ll be more than happy to teach you because the spread of information is always important to scholars. It’s not all about research, it’s also about teaching. If someone comes to them with a problem, they’re the ones that instruct and tutor, they’re first suggestion would be to learn about the problem and find the root cause. They’re the ones that want details and facts and any little thing, even if it seems unimportant.

Seraphina Picquery is Horned Serpent. I’m going to assume she’s more a single-minded person in the way that if she’s being information about a situation that doesn’t pertain to the one she’s currently investigating, she doesn’t want to hear about it. That’s why she dismissed Tina in favor of talking to Percival about their current case and then suddenly what Tina had is related to that case and she’s upset the information wasn’t brought to her sooner despite it being her own fault. She doesn’t like not having all the variables and knowledge on a situation. 

Thunderbird, the soul of the wizard and a house for adventurers would react to a situation by shrugging, saying to hell with it, and doing whatever they wanted. These students would probably be more carefree and laid back. Everything going to hell around them? Cool, let’s see how this plays out, it might make an interesting story later. Situation is really stressful or is holding them back? Time to go out there and find something else to do. New things wouldn’t be as scary to a Thunderbird, it’s just a chance for a new adventure and they’ll find some way to make it work out. They probably get restless easily when they feel like something is holding them back. Probably brush off responsibility like it’s nothing because there’s something bigger and better out there for them to find. There’s always a new opportunity in their minds. They’re the ones that will suggest you break up with your boyfriend when you’re having a problem because there’s plenty of fish in the sea. Your job sucks? Quit and find a new one. Thunderbirds are probably more hands on so if they’re having trouble in class, they go out and do whatever it is they’re having problems with so they can learn it. Or that’s what they suggest when someone else is having a problem because Thunderbirds would probably be likely to just ignore the work and focus on what they’re passionate about instead. 

Tina is a Thunderbird and while she’s not laid back she definitely fits the bill. She acted in Credence’s defense without thinking of the consequences and when she wad demoted, she ignored her duties in the wand department and was instead roaming the streets, looking for trouble. She doesn’t think before she acts, she just does because one way or another, she’ll make it work out. She doesn’t come across as very bold but she has no problem arresting someone and marching them straight to the President when she knows she’s not supposed to be out around that area investigating, which is a pretty bold move on her part. It’s something she’s passionate about so she’ll damn well do it. 

Wumpus, the body of the wizard and a house for warriors would react to a situation by fighting it. They’re probably the more stubborn house. They’re the workaholics and also probably the ones that are the easiest to become victims or get taken advantage of just because they believe they can power through every terrible situation and see it through to the end. They’re the ones that think calling it quits means admitting defeat and defeat is not an option. Their fight or flight is permanently stuck on fight. So say they get into a terrible relationship with someone? They’re more likely to stay and work to make things better, even if in the end it’s worse on them. Shitty job? They’re going to work their hardest at it regardless because giving up isn’t an option and they’re stronger than this. They take challenges personally and they work to prove themselves in any situation. Like Thunderbirds, they probably don’t consider the consequences as much as they should and while they want to prove themselves, they’re too busy putting 200% of their energy into the things that challenge them that their priorities aren’t exactly in line and some things get ignored. Their study habits vary, it all depends on what’s going to get them the result that they want but if school is really important to them, you can bet they’ll have like three study groups lined up in a day, a shit ton of notes, and be surrounded by twelve different books on the subject with absolutely no free time and they’re dying inside because they’re exhausted but they’re gonna get that A, they will.

And finally Pukwudgie, the soul of the wizard and the house for healers. They would react to a problem by looking for a way to fix it or at least fix their part in it. What happened to cause the situation? Okay, now we repair that and everything is all good. I did something I wasn’t supposed to do and fucked things up? Okay, I’ll fix it. Relationship problems? They’re the ones looking at both sides and the motivations, then probably suggesting better communication to avoid misunderstandings in the future. Shitty job? Why is it shitty, what’s causing you so much stress? Maybe if you do things like this and maybe add a more competitive element on it, you can have more fun with it. They see someone that’s upset and they want to help, they want to make things better, they want to talk it out and find a solution for the problem. They’re study habits are probably more methodical. If they know they have a problem with something, they’ll study that harder to make up for it. If they’re bad at hands on magic but good with text, they’ll practice more with their hands on magic. If they’re bad with text, time to break out the highlighters to make this shit a bit easier to get through. They’re the problem solvers and the people always willing to listen and give you gentle advice on how to fix your problems. They’re the ones always trying to cheer people up. They’re the ones that probably sometimes make a situation worse because they’re completely consumed with fixing a problem they have no business getting involved in. They’re compassionate but sometimes in order to really fix a problem or repair a situation, you have to get a little rough with people and they’re not afraid to do that as long as they think it’s going to fix everything. 

Queenie is in Pukwudgie and you can see her do things like that all the time. She reads minds which probably makes it even harder for her because she’s constantly hearing other people’s problems and she has to comment on them, to at least try to make the person feel better even if it’s not her place. She’s very kind and caring but there is that one scene where she threatens that dude because there is a problem and in order to solve it, he has to go. She does what she has to in order to repair the situation.

Honestly, I kind of love this because I’ve seen so many people trying to relate Ilvermorny houses to Hogwarts houses and claiming that a character in Ravenclaw would be sorted into Horned Serpent because both of them deal with knowledge but you just can’t do that. Some of the themes may be the same but values are so much different than actions. You really can’t relate Ilvermorny to Hogwarts houses at all.

The concept of bravery and being a warrior go hand in hand but Herminone would have probably been picked by Horned Serpent at Ilvermorny, not Wumpus. When she’s confronted with a problem she automatically thinks of the knowledge she has on it, she’s educating Ron and Harry about why what she’s doing works and her first step with anything unknown is to research it as much as possible. Harry, as much as he would hate this, would probably be in Thunderbird. While he doesn’t go out and look for adventure and he probably craves peace, when a situation comes up he acts on it regardless of consequences. He sneaks out of bed all the time, jumps into these dangerous situations because he knows he needs to, because it’s the right thing to do. I don’t say Wumpus for him because Harry doesn’t do those things because they’re a challenge he has to fight through, he just kind of does them because they happen and he knows he has to act on it because no one else will. Neville would probably be in Wumpus, though. He’s constantly fighting through his fears, facing them every day and unwilling to back down from them. It’s that suck it up and power through it attitude that would get Neville in there.

In conclusion, I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

[lorewarlorddoctorsix]

The Ultimate Overwatch Questionnaire

1. Who is your defense main?

I started playing Junkrat because I got him in Mystery Heroes and thought he was kinda fun. Now he’s an auto-pick on Temple of Anubis and most Control maps.

2. Who is your support main?

I played Lucio more when I was new to the game, but he couldn’t keep up with the healing demands of the team (plus I sucked at wallriding). Mercy is my go-to girl for support.

3. Who is your offense main?

McCree is the reason I got this game.

4. Who is your tank main?

I don’t play tanks often - they just don’t suit my style of play. When I’m forced to pick a tank, I’ll pick Roadhog or D.Va.

5. Who is you MAIN main?

McCree is an auto-pick on most maps, and if someone else picks him before me you'd better be a damn good McCree or I’m judging the hell out of you.

6. Which character have you played the least?

There’s still 6 heroes I haven’t even touched in Quick Play (’Under a Minute’ means I accidentally picked Hanzo when switching characters). I’ve tried them out in Vs. AI, but they didn’t really appeal to me or fit with the group dynamic.

7. Which character do you want to learn how to play?

I want to be a better Sombra. I’ve been playing her a bit recently, and I think I’m getting used to her. I just need to remember to put down my translocator.

8. Which character do you dislike the most?

Mei.

9. Which character’s background story do you like the most?

I like Genji’s story. I want to learn more about his transformation from carefree playboy to ruthless cyborg ninja to being at peace with himself. He goes through quite a journey.

10. Which character’s background story do you like the least?

Hanzo’s. Not because it’s boring or terrible, but just because it’s built around what he did to Genji. I’m sure there’s more to Hanzo than ‘brother killer’.

11. Which map is your favorite?

Dorado (and payload maps in general) have so many sneaky routes and high vantage points that are great for Flanky McCree.

12. Which map is your least favorite?

Oasis Not enough open spaces or clear sightlines. Terrible for Deadeye.

13. What Arcade game type is your favorite?

I used to hate Capture the Flag, but it’s growing on me.

14. What Arcade game type is your least favorite?

Total Mayhem. It is an excercise in frustration.

15. Do you prefer quick play, competitive, arcade mode, or custom games?

I mostly play Quick Play, until we get salty and need to de-stress by killing bots.

16. Which map type is your favorite? Assault, escort, assault & escort, control, or arena?

Escort and Assault & Escort. Those tend to have the best spots for Deadeye, and are the ones I get Play of the Game on most often.

17. Which map type is your least favorite? Assault, escort, assault & escort, control, or arena?

Arena, because I hate 1v1s/3v3s.

18. Which event map was your favorite?

Aldersbrunn Castle (from the Junkenstein’s Revenge event) was pretty cool.

19. Which event map reskin was your favorite?

Winter Hanamura was pretty.

20. Which event was your favorite?

Uprising. I love lore-based events and PvE matches. I hope we get more of both.

21. Which event legendary skin was your favorite?

A Blackwatch skin for McCree was something I’ve wanted since the beginning.

22. Which event was your least favorite?

The Anniversary was pretty disappointing.

23. Which event legendary skin was your least favorite?

What the hell Blizzard. What even is this.

24. Which event non-legendary skin was your favorite?

I’m a sucker for blue glowy stuff.

25. Which event non-legendary skin was your least favorite?

I appreciate the concept, but they should have made it a recolour of his Riverboat/Gambler skin, not his classic skin.

26. Which event item do you most regret not getting?

If I don’t get another chance to get it this Hallowe’en, I will be very disappointed.

27. Did you beat the Uprising event on Normal, Hard, Expert, and Legendary?

Only on Normal and Hard. I think I tried it on Expert and died on the first objective.

28. Do you have Sombra’s “Power Outage” achievement trophy?

Got it a couple days ago by jumping into the enemy team and using my EMP (and immediately getting slaughtered because I was alone).

29. Do you have Widowmaker’s “Smooth as Silk” achievement trophy?

No. It’s one of the ones that sounds hard, but I’ll probably get it by accident once I start playing Widowmaker.

30. Do you have Lucio’s “The Floor is Lava” achievement trophy?

Nope, although now that I know how to do it, I might try for it.

31. Do you have Zenyatta’s “Rapid Discord” achievement trophy?

Nope. I got 3 Discord kills in 6 seconds and thought I had it, but then I found out you need 4.

32. What was the first achievement trophy you got?

Probably one of the easiet ones to get. I got it my first day of playing.

33. Did you get the “Not A Scratch,” achievement trophy on Junkenstein’s Revenge?

I didn’t get to play Junkenstein’s Revenge as much as I would have liked, since I only got the game in the last few days of the event, so no.

34. What has been the hardest achievement trophy to get for you?

I’ve been trying to get Zenyatta’s “Rapid Discord”, Sombra’s “Hack the Planet” and Reaper’s “Waste Not, Want Not” but so far no luck.

35. What’s your current SR score in Competitive Mode?

I haven’t placed yet for Season 5, so have my Season 4 Final SR instead.

36. What the highest you’ve been in Competitive?

My season final was also my career high.

37. What’s the most amount of placement matches you’ve won?

I haven’t finished them yet, but this season is looking really good for me.

38. How many gold guns do you have?

0

39. Which was the first gold gun you got?

40. Whose gold gun do you currently want?

The only one I want is McCree’s. Once I get it, I won’t care about playing competitive anymore.

41. What role do you usually play in Competitive?

Flanker or Healer.

42. If you don’t play Competitive, why not?

I don’t play a whole lot of competitive - I just don’t like the added stress. I only play to get competitive points so I can get McCree’s golden gun.

43. What kind of theme event would you like to see in the future?

More lore-based events. My ideal event would revolve around the Deadlock Gang getting busted by Overwatch and McCree getting recruited.

44. What type of character would you like to see in the future?

Can’t they fix the characters they have before adding new ones?

45. Who needs more (or better) skins in the future?

McCree. and Sombra.

46. What country would you like a new character to come from?

A human hero from Africa.

47. Favorite voice line?

McCree’s “You seem familiar, ain’t I killed you before?”

48. Favorite player icon?

The only one I like more than Badge.

49. Favorite emote?

Dud? always makes me giggle.

50. Favorite spray?

Every time I put it up, people rush to put their spray in the middle.

51.Favorite victory pose?

One of the many things from the Summer Games event I wish I had.

52. Favorite highlight intro?

Too bad I’ll probably never get to see it (with my name) after a match.

53. Characters you ship the most?

None.

54. Characters you ship the least?

All of them.

55. Characters you wish had more in-game interactions?

McCree and anyone he doesn’t have an interaction with (Bastion, Lucio, Mei, Mercy, Orisa, Reinhardt, Symmetra, Torbjorn, Tracer, Widowmaker, Winston, Zarya, Zenyatta).

56. Character you wish had a comic about?

Mercy or Hanzo.

57. Favorite comic released?

Uprising.

58. Favorite short released?

Infiltration.

59. Favorite new character released?

Sombra.

60. Overwatch, Blackwatch, or Talon?

Blackwatch.

61. Pro-Omnic or anti-Omnic?

Pro.

62. Favorite character that isn’t a playable one? (Ex: Emily, Brigitte, Gerard, Efi, etc.)

I want to know more abour Brigitte.

63. Character change (nerf, boost, work around) that you liked the most?

Removing the self-damage from Junkrat’s bombs.

64. Character change (nerf, boost, work around) you liked the least?

Making Symmetra’s beam longer.

65. Best ultimate?

You know what time it is.

66. Worst ultimate?

Sure wallhacks are cool and all, but it doesn’t really do anything.

67. Most kills in game?

Junkrat, during a competitive match on Volskaya in Season 4.

68. Most heals in game?

Mercy, during a competitive match in Season 4.

69. What character do you think needs a nerf?

Symmetra. She does way too much damage for a support.

70. What character do you think needs a buff?

McCree needs his damage at range buffed.

71. Have you ever rage quit in the middle of a game?

Once. Our Mei kept walling us into spawn. I wasn’t going to put up with that shit.

72. What’s the fastest you’ve won a game?

The enemy team left during setup and was never replaced. I didn’t think the game would let us play without an enemy team, but it did.

73. What’s the fastest you’ve lost a game?

I’ve been steamrolled plenty of times on Assault maps. Those usually end in less than 2 minutes.

74. Your best Overwatch-related story?

The time I F/FtH on an enemy McCree using his ult and he got so mad he ragequit, only to come back a few seconds later as D.Va and try to push me off the map.

75. Weirdest thing that happened to you on Overwatch?

See answer #72.

76. Platform you play on?

PS4.

77. Do you stream?

Occassionally (Doctor_Six on Twitch), but nobody ever watches.

78. Do you normally play solo or with friends?

Mostly with friends.

79. Have you made any friends because of Overwatch?

Like 90% of my PSN friends are people I met playing Overwatch.

80. Have you cosplayed a character from Overwatch?

I’m reworking it for this year, but I cosplayed McCree last year.

81. Have you ever wrote fan fiction about Overwatch?

Aside from short heacanons, no.

82. What’s the lowest you’ve been in Competitive?

Behold my Season 3 placement rank.

83. In “Charge!” do you play Reinhardt or do you pick the Lucio role?

I try to get Lucio, but I’m always forgetting to heal.

84. In “One Shot, One Kill,” do you play Ana, Hanzo, or Widowmaker?

Ana. I’m not a very good sniper.

85. In “This is Ilios,” do you pick Lucio or Roadhog?

Lucio.

86. Team Genji or Team Hanzo?

I like Genji way more than Hanzo.

87. Be honest! Do you usually get on the payload?

Nope. My career average objective time is 00:16.

88. Does your team?

Someone has to.

89. What’s the longest session of Overwatch you’ve played?

Pretty sure I’ve had a 12-hour session a few times. Usually it’s 4-5 hours per day.

90. No Limits, Mystery Heroes, or Total Mayhem?

No Limits. It’s the easiest way to earn arcade loot boxes.

91. Most cosmetics you have for one character?

McCree is understandable, but Bastion? I’m as surprised as you are.

92. Least cosmetics you have for one character?

Makes sense, since she only came out recently.

93. Have you ever made your own custom game?

A few times, but mostly I keep them private so only friends can join.

94. Best D.Va skin?

Was worth playing Heroes of the Storm for.

95. Best Mercy skin?

If I was going to choose a Mercy skin to cosplay . . .

96. Best Tracer skin?

For a recolour, Rose is a really nice skin.

97. Zarya’s Industrial and Cybergoth skins: yes, no, or HELL NO?

Eh, I’m pretty neutral about them.

98. Do you want more animal characters, robot characters, or human characters?

An omnic for the offense category would be nice. But please, no more talking animals. Winston has his own thing, let’s let him be.

99. Is there are character you’d get rid of completely?

Symmetra. She really doesn’t add much to the game, and she’s the only Support that can’t heal.

100. What do you think Sombra’s real name is?

I dunno, Abigail?