#spinning fishing lures

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[woso-dreamzzz]

Breakfast II

Ellie Carpenter x Daniëlle van de Donk x Child!Reader

Summary: Your pitch check is interrupted by someone familiar

You rub your eyes as your Mamma unwraps the sandwich she'd packed for you. Honestly, it's a bit too early for you to be fully awake because you and Ellie went out to the cinema last night while Mamma did media stuff for the club.

You didn't particularly want to join in on the pitch check (it was the same pitch as usual) but Mamma had lured you with the promise of food and a nap before the game started.

"Ellie, no," You whine when Mamma's girlfriend tries to take a piece," It's mine."

"What?" She jokes," You can't share?"

You wrinkle your nose at her. "No."

"Oh, come on!"

You stick your tongue out at her and she laughs, mushing your hat further down on your head so it almost covers your eyes.

"Ellie!"

"What, I didn't do anything!"

"Mamma! Ellie's eating my food again!"

"Daan, don't listen to her! I was only joking!"

Your Mamma made a point of ignoring you both and letting you squabble between yourselves. You had gotten better with Ellie as time went on and now all of your arguments were small and over little things rather than what the big battles they used to be.

"Alright! That's it!" Ellie grabs you suddenly, flipping you over her shoulder in a fireman's carry, making sure to bounce more than necessary as she runs to catch up with Daan.

You shriek at the movement and Mamma smiles fondly at you as you try to reach out for help. She just holds your hand in hers, swinging it between your bodies as Ellie munches on your sandwich, leaving half it for you.

"Ellie!" You laugh as she spins around quickly before dumping you on the floor, where you stumble around dizzily for several seconds before slumping to the ground.

"Mamma!" You say," Ellie's being mean again!"

"And what do you want me to do about that?" Mamma teases.

You pretend to think for a moment. "You should tell her off! Or...Or do the same to her!"

Both Mamma and Ellie laugh at you.

"I'm being serious!"

Mamma runs a hand through your head and offers you back your sandwich. "We'll see," She says finally," If Ellie's being mean later I'll definitely tell her off."

You stink your tongue out at Ellie in triumph, who just rolls her eyes at you.

"I'm bored," You declare not even five minutes later as you walk between your mother and her girlfriend," Can I get a snack?"

"Is the food I feed you not enough?" Mamma asks with a wry smile and you give her a deadpan look.

"Snacks? Please?"

She sighs like you've greatly inconvenienced her even though you all know that she's joking. She fishes some money out of her pocket and send you on your way.

"I want a chocolate!" She yells after you.

"And get me a drink!" Ellie yells too.

"Get your own, Ellie!" You answer her with your own joking smile as you scamper back inside to the nearest vending machine.

You have to stand on your very tiptoes to reach the higher numbers but you manage to get your snacks, Mamma's chocolate and Ellie's drink - although you know that you won't be letting her get it off you so easily.

"Well, well, well," A familiar voice says from behind you," If it isn't the littlest van de Donk. Fancy seeing you here!"

"Leah!" You exclaim, running into her arms.

"Hey, there!" Leah hugs you back tight and ruffles your hair. "Long time no see."

"You're playing Mamma soon!" You tell her and the other Arsenal girls who yell out their own greetings to you.

"We are," Leah agrees before nodding to the treats in your hands," Is that for me?"

"Actually, Leah, I'm pretty sure they must be for me," A very familiar voice joins you and you turn to look at Beth.

Mamma and Beth were together a long time before Mamma got with Ellie. Beth used to take you to school and help with your baths at night.

When you and Mamma left and they broke up, you didn't hear from Beth anymore.

You're not too sure how to react to her so you just smile politely and scamper off back onto the pitch. You break out into a sprint the moment you can't hear the Arsenal girls. You can't find Mamma anywhere.

It's like she's disappeared on you.

So, you run to the next best thing.

Ellie is talking with Lindsey and she almost loses her balance when you crash into her.

Lindsey laughs. "Alright there, roadrunner? Meep, meep!"

But Ellie just looks at you with a frown, taking in the way your shoulders are rising and falling and you send worried glances back at the tunnel.

"Whoa, whoa," Ellie says," What's going on?" She follows your gaze. "What happened?"

"Where's Mamma?" You answer with your own question," I...I want Mamma."

"Daan's doing an interview," Ellie answers," Why?"

You look up at Ellie with wide eyes. "Mamma and Beth used to date."

"Yes?"

"Beth's here," You continue," But I haven't talked to her in a while. Do I have to be friends with Beth because she and Mamma used to date?"

Ellie pulls you into her arms, squeezing you nice and tight against her. "You don't have to be friends with anyone you don't want to."

"Who isn't she friends with?" Mamma appears behind you, looking a little confused. The snacks you got are scattered on the floor and you're hugging Ellie just as tight as she's hugging you - something that never really happens and never in public like now.

"Beth's here," You say," Do I have to be friends with her?"

Mamma misunderstands you. "You can still be friends with Beth if you want."

You shake your head and try to explain more but Beth's approaching and you find yourself sliding behind Ellie.

"Hey, Daan," Beth says, hugging Mamma, who hugs her back," Ellie." She smiles at you. "It's good to see you, y/n."

You smile politely again and busy yourself with opening your packet of sweets. Your hands are shaking slightly and you can't think why.

You know Beth.

You like Beth.

But her presence and smiling face still makes you feel nervous.

You lean some of your weight against Ellie, whose hand immediately clamps onto your shoulder in comfort.

Mamma and Beth talk for a while but Ellie keeps you busy and distracted by letting you take long chugs of her drink - even though it's very sugary and Mamma would never let you have it if she hadn't been talking to Beth.

"She's gotten so big," Is what Beth's saying when you tune back into their conversation," I remember when she was tiny. Does she still like being carried on your hip?"

"She likes riding on shoulders," Ellie cuts in when she notices you tense at Beth reminiscing," Don't you?"

You nod. "I'm too big to sit on Mamma and Ellie's hips."

Beth looks at you a little strangely for a moment before nodding with a little laugh. "God, you used to follow me around all the time. I miss my little shadow sometimes."

For you ears early, Ellie mutters," But not enough to call every once in a while." She spoke a bit louder for Mamma and Beth to hear too," She doesn't really like following anyone around anymore." She pokes at your cheek teasingly. "She's too independent."

Mamma rolls her eyes. "Independent?" She gives you a toothy smile, leaning down to kiss your head. "You crawled into bed with us last night because Ellie took you to a scary movie."

"It wasn't a scary movie!" Ellie defends," It just had a few freaky parts! It was animated!"

"Ellie told me too!" You say quickly," She said that I could sleep with you!"

Mamma laughs, ruffling your hair. "So I have Ellie to blame, huh?"

"We're partners in crime," Ellie says and you burrow into her side with a silly grin," Me and her forever."

You catch Beth's eye. She looks a little misty-eyed and you can just tell that she's thinking of the little girl you used to be and not the you that's standing in front of her now.

But you're not that little girl anymore and you look away to face Ellie, who is happy to meet your eyes and take your head in hers.

You're very clearly still feeling awkward around Beth, especially as she reminisces about how little you used to be when she first met you, so Ellie pulls you into her side.

"Hey, Daan," She says," Me and my partner in crime are going to head back inside. My drink's done."

"Are you getting more snacks out the vending machine?" Daan teases and you look up at her with an innocent smile. "Oh, don't give me that look!"

"What look?" You tease.

Mamma pokes at your cheek. "That look. You want me to bankroll your snack spree."

You bat your eyelashes at her. "Is it working?"

Mamma laughs, slapping a small wad of cash into your hands. "Don't go crazy. You'll get a stomach ache." She points at Ellie. "I mean it."

Ellie winks and presses a kiss to Mamma's cheek before hoisting you up onto her shoulders. "Bye Daan!"

"Bye Mamma!" You say, waving as Ellie carts you away," Bye Beth!"

[lazorbeanz]

Wachowski Family Headcanons

💙 For Christmas, Tom and Maddie got Knuckles one of them..I forgot what u call em..music boxing machine thingys, that you attach to the wall and you punch different areas on board on time to the beat of a song.

Yeeeeah not only did he destroy that the moment his fists made contact, but he also left a little costly gift of his own for his parents on the same wall where it once was…

❤️ Sonic still has to check with Maddie to know whether a certain cup, bowl or container is microwave save.

Sonic: Hey Tails, can this go in the microwave?

Tails: ………*shrugs*

Sonic: Oh come on- *immediately calls Maddie waiting for her to pick up* Mommy ANSWER……MOMMY!!

Tails very well knows…he just wants to see his brother go into panic state

🧡 The brothers when bowling

Knuckles: Grabs the heaviest ball and chucks it with one arm, and somehow manages to get a couple strikes. However he has had a few warnings and even got his family suspended from the complex for what he claimed to be “minor damage” (he threw a ball up into the screen displaying the scores and another time, smashed a ball down too hard on a lane it went straight through the floor)

Tails: Still struggles to lift the ball properly so he uses two hands when holding/throwing it. Sometimes he will use the ramp that is available or he gets help with his stance from a family member (usually Maddie). Doesn’t make strikes often but his family is super encouraging and supportive towards him and he is determined not to give up, and when he makes one for the first time, they go absolutely wild. They’d fill the room with their screams and shouts and all ambush the fox with hugs and kisses and praises for his mini milestone. Tom would pick Tails up and sit him on his shoulder as they all chant his name…the smile on Tails’ face could not be any wider, he was the happiest boy in the world at that moment. But shortly after he bursts into tears because never had he experienced anything like this in his life. His tiny heart just couldn’t handle all this appreciation, support and love that came from a place he once least expected.

Sonic: IS the bowling ball. He’d often forms an alliance with Tom to become the undefeatable father/son duo, though Maddie just sees it as cheating, as wholesome and funny as it is. Sonic once got trapped behind the fence that comes down once you knock over the pins, and had to come out through the channel that returns the balls. They get a bit hesitant on this as they’re worried he might get stuck under there. When he’s not being the ball, he’s either helping Tails, dancing to the music, or begging his parents to do the mii spinning action from wii sports when he chucks the ball behind him.

💙 When Tom is out on his street patrols around town, the boys sneak out and follow him.

Cue to the part where he’s taking a break in a parking lot, looks out the window just to see his 3 sons in the distance sitting on the fence…with Sonic holding a fishing rod with a bag of donuts hooked on the end of the line, the trio snickering away as he made eye contact.

They were clearly tryna lure him in, The Donut Lord, with donuts! Some smart cookies they were…he shook his head, smiling to himself before muttering through the mic, “Tempting…”

He could hear the 3 cackling in the distance, Sonic almost having a Humpty Dumpty incident.

❤️ here’s a meme that screams Sonic and Tom lmao

🧡 another meme ahAaA

What if Tom’s secretly a gamer dad? 🤔🤣

[redwinterroses]

There’s a cherry tree in the middle of the redwood forest.

False isn’t sure what to make of that. She shifts her grip on the staff in her hand, its pale glow reflecting faintly off the fresh snow. She’s come out here for resources—the vault altar is demanding logs, and these giant trees are an easy source—but the incongruous sight of an enormous, blossoming cherry tree sending pink petals wafting on the frozen wind…

She wonders if this is what fish feel like, when they see a lure.

“Hello?” she calls, her voice echoing off the trees. The world stands in permanent semi-twilight here, and the deeper shadows hide the mobs that will venture out come nightfall. A sneak of creepers is bedded down in a sweetberry bramble just on the other side of the clearing, and False tenses when the lead boar lifts his head, but he apparently doesn’t deem her worth stalking so early in the day. 

There is no other reaction to her call.

False is of half a mind just to head back home and farm her own dang trees. It’s not like the vaultar is picky about the kinds of logs—she could just as easily grow up a bunch of birch and throw those in there. But that will take so much longer… not to mention she’s not sure if there are even enough saplings in her storage.

She unhooks her enchantment-glittered axe from her belt and pauses to mentally poke at her mana reserves. Plenty high. Whatever’s lingering near this tree, it can hardly be worse than what she deals with on the daily in the vaults. Overworld dangers are barely a challenge anymore.

The logic of that doesn’t change the uneasy feeling that buzzes over her skin though. 

Venturing further into the clearing. False’s gaze traces up the trunk of the cherry tree, following its branches to where they terminate in lush bursts of pink and white blooms. A sweet smell drifts on the wind. She wrinkles her nose, reminded of compost piles and fermented spiders’ eyes. 

The tree’s branches stretch long and low—a canopy of their own, heavy with flowers and dark, glossy leaves. The space underneath is filled with falling flowers and a fog of pollen, the air moisture-thick like a lush cave.

Lifting one hand, False catches a falling petal on her fingertip.

It sizzles as it touches her skin, stinging and buzzing like live redstone.

She hisses through her teeth, shaking her hand and letting the petal fall to the forest floor. “What the heck?”

Another petal tumbles past her face, and she watches it with narrowed eyes—right until it fizzles out of existence a few pixels above the forest floor.

“Glitch,” she mutters. “That’s… not good.”

Iskall needs to know about this—it could be a bug from one of the new updates, or it could be something deeper in the code, but either way: this glitched tree is a problem. She’s probably lucky it just stung her.

She reaches for her communicator, raising it to take a pic of the cherry tree.

“Oh, hi there, False!”

False yelps, spinning around with her axe ready to swing.

Gem is standing behind her, a wreath of cherry blossoms tangled in her hair and antlers, leaning casually on a tall staff of blooming cherry wood. Her smile is wide, and sap flows over her fingers, pale golden, dripping down her arms to leave dark spots on the faded denim of her overalls.

“Gem!” False lowers her axe. “Oh my gosh, you scared me. I didn’t know you were doing Vault Hunters.”

“Hm?” Gem raises one eyebrow, and for a moment her eyes flicker to red and then purple before settling back on green. “Oh—I’m not doing Vault Hunters, False.” Her voice is amused, almost chiding.

“Oh.” False feels unexpectedly small—which is impressive, considering she’s nearly half a block taller than Gem. 

More of the glitched petals fall, resting on Gem’s hair and slowly melting into it like snowflakes. The brief moment of relief when False had seen Gem’s familiar grin is fading into something like the sensation of freefall. 

“What’cha up to?” Gem asks, and her face blinks from one expression to the next like a bad video message. Her clothes are blue—no, green—no, bloodstained and grey—no, blue. They’ve always been blue.

False takes a step back.

“Uh, not much…” she glances up at the redwoods. “Just doing some… resource gathering. You know.”

“Cool!” Gem giggles, and stands up straight. False tenses, but Gem only spins around her staff and waves a hand at the glitched tree. “I didn’t realize this was an occupied server—are there many people here?”

There’s a buzzing in False’s skull, and she blinks rapidly. A muscle twitches under her eye. 

“Um…”

“I guess it doesn’t really matter.” Gem lifts one hand and grabs one of the lowest branches of the cherry tree. She really should not have been able to reach that.

Swinging herself up with the lithe, effortless strength of a cat, she perches on the limb and stares down at False. The grin is gone from her face now, and she looks down at False with bright eyes.

“Etho’s not here, is he?”

False opens her mouth to answer, the words yes, of course he is, I can take you to him heavy on her lips… And with effort, she swallows them back. 

They taste of sweet rot.

“Why... why doesn’t what matter?” she asks instead.

Gem stares at her for a long moment, expressionless. The flowers woven through her antlers are growing of their own accord, twining up to caress their brethren in the branches overhead. 

Then she smiles broadly, flashing teeth that nearly glow white in the dappled shadows. “Oh!” she exclaims. “No reason! I’m only passing through, is all.”

“You’re not… you’re not sticking around?” False tries—and mostly fails—to sound disappointed.

“Naaaaah…” Gem stands and walks along the branch, as secure and balanced as if it were a stone floor. The flowers in her hair flow along behind her, sliding from the branches and falling like a cape down her back. “Worldhopping is easy. Staying in one spot is way harder.” 

False watches the flowers move and swirl, their smooth, strange motion ensnaring her attention. The buzzing is back, too. Like bees, drunk on honey and sleepy in their hive.

“World hopping…?” she manages. “With admin commands?”

Gem’s laugh is as brilliant as a knife and as sharp as a spark. “False!” she crows. “You say the funniest things.”

False laughs. It seems appropriate. She isn’t sure why.

“Anyway,” Gem continues, fading into one patch of blossoms and reappearing on the other side of it. Her eyes are sprays of cherry flowers now. Her antlers are branches. “Anyway, cherry trees are all the same. They make it easy to get around.”

“That…” doesn’t make sense, False wants to say. But her lips are heavy, and coated in sticky sap. Maybe it doesn’t really matter.

“Oops! Behind you, False!” 

Gem’s chirped warning is flaked in glee, and False turns around, as slow as if her feet are buried in soul sand.

The creepers she had seen—the entire sneak—are standing behind her, pink flowers blooming from their eyes. 

“Oh no.”

The boar’s blinded head snaps toward her voice, hissing. He starts to aggro, bioluminescent streaks flashing from his snout to flanks in increasingly-swift pulses of light.

“See ya in season ten, False!” Gem cries out cheerfully.

The axe drops from False’s nerveless fingers, trailing strings of sap. She smells the inescapable stench of burning gunpowder, overlaid with rot.

“...Dangit.”

[FalseSymmetry was blown up by a creeper]

~*~

Jerking upright in her own bed, False swipes wildly at her face, trying to smear away tree sap that isn’t there. 

“What the heck, Gem?” she exclaims at her empty base. Her voice falls flat, swallowed up by the sky that surrounds her builds. The clock above her head ticks impatiently, and she huffs in frustration, pushing up out of her bed. All her tools, gone—her levels, gone... and after all that she still needs those logs for the vault. 

Grumbling, she starts pulling backup gear from various chests, trying to cobble together something that can get her back to the redwood grove before her items despawn—assuming they hadn’t all been obliterated by a second or third creeper explosion. She glances at the vaulter, and freezes.

It’s been completed. The crystal floats gently atop the stone pedestal, gleaming with an inner light. 

And, tumbled at the base of the vaulter—abandoned, more than was needed to fill the crystal’s requirements:

Half a stack of cherry logs.

[ataraxiaspainting]

pretending to be dead in front of hxh yans. because why the hell not?

Warnings: Yandere themes, kidnapping, and implied violence.

Word Count: 900. (this was only supposed to be 400 😭)

*~*~*~*

Chrollo

Chrollo will know right away. There is no doubt about that. Even if he was in another room and just happened to walk in through the doorway as you flopped on the floor like a fish.

He will probably hit you up with a "Darling, get up or we won't go to the museum tonight" or something like that. He likes using this carrot and stick technique quite a lot, but with his own spin on it using his manipulation tactics. He will lure you in with a reward for behaving yourself or take something away when you are bad.

If you continue this charade despite his threats, he will attempt to entertain you for a bit. Maybe he pokes you with the end of an umbrella or something, or mockingly weeps your supposed death. Eventually this will annoy you so much you will surrender.

His response is directly proportional to why you did this. Did you do it for attention? He will gladly give it to you, with reading to you and handfeeding you your favorite food, still warm from its takeout box, or maybe he even attempted to make it himself (though, if the dish doesn't come out as planned, as his perfectionism is a huge part of him, he will throw it out before you even find out he cooked something in the first place).

Did you do it so he would actually think you are dead so you could sneak off to freedom? Well, expect him to tease you about it from this point forward, but nothing serious happens. Unless you attempt to attack him and actually prevail, usually his punishments are bare to none.

Nobunaga

Nobunaga is many things. Being in touch with reality is definitely not one of them. He already sees you as a fragile little baby, so trying to play dead in front of him will cause him to have a panic attack of sorts.

He believes your entire act, as bad as you were doing it. He cries and caresses you in his arms. His crusty, dry lips, unholy body odor, and his utterly disgusting breath will be the only reasons you will ever reveal your cover.

He reacts to you being alive as horribly as you expect. He will start yelling at you, scolding you like a toddler who snuck into the cookie jar and not a captive trying to get back to society once more. If he was already in a somewhat bad mood, like you rejected his advances for the umpteenth time, and he got annoyed at you playing "hard to get" again, expect to even be sent to bed without dinner or dessert. Horrifying, right?

But, then again, dinner is always raw or burnt. You are sometimes convinced Nobunaga is trying to poison you to further immobile you, so you won't attempt to escape further. Maybe this whole playing dead thing was successful, in its own way? You would rather eat pebbles than the halfway cooked rice Nobunaga puts in your pink plastic plate.

Feitan

Feitan just stares at you, not blinking. He already knows what you are trying to do. He already has a staring problem, observing everything you do, from drawing to looking outside the small, barred window in your room, so his reaction, in all honesty, does not surprise you one bit.

He will just go about his day. Feitan is an expert on the human body, being the Troupe's lead torturer and all, so he knows the difference from when you are faking being sick (or in this case dead) from when you are actually sick (a possibility from both the escape attempts and the fact that Feitan's little cabin in the middle of the woods has no heat or air conditioner. He says he does not need it, so he does not recognize it as a problem).

As always, he says nothing. He only sees this as a little bit of a tantrum you're having, and lets you have your way for once. When you eventually give up or when he has had enough of watching you, he'll leave the room to do something else.

But nothing bad happens to you, shockingly. But there is major emphasis on to you. If you have refused to admit defeat, he'll torture yet another poor unfortunate soul in his basement, their screams much louder than usual, and you will break at one point or another, either asking Feitan to stop or going to your room to put your pillow (which can also be a weapon with how hard it is) over your ears.

Machi

Machi, similar to two of the three assfarts, knows exactly what you are doing. But, like Nobunaga, she still worries, although she does not show it, and she also scolds you.

But, unlike the rest of them, she tries to listen to you after she shakes you into revealing yourself. She wants to know why you did that. If you say to try to escape from her, her heart will be broken once again.

Machi may not be the most emotionally understanding, but she does in fact try, although what she does after this incident is largely the opposite of what you wanted to happen. Even though her intentions are good, in her opinion. She will become more present in your life, bringing home more gifts for you and trying to hug you whenever you ask, although she will never initiate it herself.

She hopes you won't do that again. She'll tell you as such. She was not trying to manipulate you with the increase in gifts and consensual touches, but you will feel so bad you won't attempt such a thing from that point forward.

[honeygrahambitch]

"Just so you know, I don't have a habit of doing this." He said as his gaze fell somewhere past Hannibal, on a certain point on the ceiling.

"And even if you did, you would have no reason to feel bad about it." Hannibal replied as he reached out to brush away some locks off Will's forehead. He didn't move his other hand which Will was still grasping tightly by the wrist.

Hannibal guessed he was not aware of that.

"I dread your answer but what exactly am I doing here?"

"You stormed in here, more overwhelmed than the usual. You were stressed about two cases and about Jack being angry and about one of your dogs being sick."

Will nodded, his head resting on Hannibal's lap.

"Then you started talking about your fishing lures."

Will frowned confused, realizing he had probably dissociated completely from that point onwards. He then shifted his eyes towards Hannibal, a bit surprised by the sudden pause. "And?"

"And then about your childhood. And Louisiana. And about your father."

"No."

"Yes. Then I realized you were in shock. I noticed the blood on your hands. So I presumed something terrible must have happened at work before you walked in here."

"I hoped you would have some answers for that as well. I must have dissociated completely." Will replied as he suddenly realized one of his hands was grasping Hannibal's for dear life. He let go, ashamed of himself and stared at the dried blood on his palms. "And how did I end up on the floor?"

"You had quite a meltdown."

"And you? I shouldn't have come in here."

"Will, I am only worried about you. I will have to ask you to be concerned about yourself for once."

Will heard his phone buzzing somewhere on the coffee table next to them.

"That must be Jack. I should-"

"You should ignore it." Hannibal cut him off.

Will didn't argue. Hannibal's stern voice indicated that no argument would change his mind. "Whenever you feel like getting up, we can leave and I will cook dinner for you."

"You don't have to, I will be okay."

"You are absolutely right. I don't have to and you will be okay. However, I want to."

They sat in silence for a few minutes more before Will used all his strength to get up, guided by Hannibal. His legs felt unsteady. The room was spinning.

"Can I have my phone? To switch it off for tonight? I suppose that if I had murdered someone, Jack would have tried harder than just a few calls. He will survive without me for the rest of the day."

Hannibal nodded to Will's statement and felt a bit of relief flooding his chest.

"And Will..."

"Yes?"

"While Jack can indeed do without you and easily replace you if you got too broken for him, I, on the other hand, would not manage so easily."

[ashensgrotto]

Weren't You Aware, Angelfish?

Characters: Yandere!Azul x GN! Reader

Summary: You think it's a game, but it's much more than that…

Word Count: 3k

Author's Notes: A little background on this one; I actually really got into the Octavinelle Trio when the Little Mermaid event (which ran during third week of May in 2023) was going on following the live action film being released in theaters. At the time, I was also about midway through the "Merchant of the Depths" and was laughing at myself for the irony of participating in an event that matched the story I was reading. And I even received Azul’s SSR dorm card in the mirror summoning as well. 

Either way, I had come across a few head cannons and short stories of if the characters were actually aware of themselves being in a game and thought I'd take my own spin on it with Azul (I know there's a lot of these ones for this character - but you have to admit, the guy's got style).

Warnings: Obsession/manipulative behaviors, some bullying elements, self-aware

***This one is a softer Yandere than what I've done recently***

***

"Oh, hey guys."

Azul blinked in surprise as a pair of (e/c) eyes peered out at him and the twins from under strands of (h/c).

It was the Ramshackle dorm prefect - and yet it wasn't.

Azul knew that he, among many others, were mere characters in a game called "Twisted Wonderland" - a battle simulation game that followed the stories of seven famous villains from a strange land called "Disney." The main character of the game was a character by the name of "Yuu," but each player had selected to choose a different name for their character depending upon their preferences and personalities - though Azul could never be certain if it was their real name or not.

This one just happened to go by the name (Y/C).

(Y/C) had appeared before them around a month ago, Azul had remembered a droning voice on speakers as the player before them shifted on a seat of metal, thier eyes looking towards the screen then away again before they closed the game. The other characters had been confused by it - usually a player would stay for a bit and work on the stories or do lessons when they first started. (Y/C), however, was shifty and nervous - they reminded Azul of a mouse that scuttled across the floors of the Ramshackle dorm, constantly stopping and looking around before continuing on its way. 

However, as things progressed, Azul quickly learned that (Y/C) was indeed a diligent player. 

He would hear them laugh at Ace and Deuce’s antics, mumble under their breath when they knew something was going to happen, and gap at each of the overblots as they happened. Azul quickly became interested in the player, moving to the front scenes as his turn to take the spotlight appeared. As they worked through his story, he found them to be… well, quite like him. They were crafty and cunning, all smiles and false confidence - a show they put on when they weren't alone. People fell for their charms like prey to an angular fish, their bright light luring them in until they snapped them up as per their job required. However, they struck good bargains with them - something that Azul had… never invested in.

Now, there was a special event that he and the tweels would be a part of - a special event for a revised film inspired by the life of the Great Sea Witch.

Azul looked on as (Y/C) shifted through the cards in thier possession, having selected Floyd first. They had received his dorm card about two weeks prior to the event, their excitement to raise its stats apparent in the forefront of thier mind. They filled the class, selecting Jade’s ceremonial robes card as well as Azul’s ceremonial robes card along with Cater and Rook's dorm uniform cards before heading into the class with Floyd with Azul watching on in curiosity.

"Something on your mind, Azul?" Jade asked him from his doorway, "You seemed to be watching our magicless prefect a bit more than normal."

Azul regarded his vicewarden with an arched brow, "Jade, I have no idea what you are talking about."

Jade smiled, his teeth peering out from behind his lips, “Azul, forgive me, but if I didn’t know any better… I’d say you were jealous.”

“Jealous?” Azul scoffed with a wave of his hand, “Who said anything of the sort?”

Jade crossed an arm around his middle as his other arm rested on top, his forefinger and thumb stroking his chin in thought, “Not that it makes any difference, but I’ve noticed you’ve been keeping quite a close eye on our player - quite the character, are they not?”

Azul shrugged, “I suppose so…”

“I bet you haven’t given a thought to knowing them outside of the game, though.”

Azul turned at the comment, his sea green eyes glowing with mischief as a tell-tale smile formed across his lips, “My dear Jade, have you and Floyd been up to something?”

Jade smiled in agreement, “Of course we have… would you like to hear?”

“I would indeed. Tell me what you know.”

Jade uncrossed his arms and folded his hands into his pockets, “Our player has only been playing for about a month, as you know well - and has obviously cleared three books of our game within that time frame. They like a good gamble here and there, but they understand when there’s a time for fun and a time for work - something you should learn in my opinion.”

“Yes, yes,” Azul waved his hand, “Whom is their current favorite?”

“It varies from day to day - though (Y/C)’s profile indicates that it is currently Malleus Draconia,” Jade answered, “However, based on their world… they do have a fascination for sea creatures.”

Azul frowned, “Their world?”

Jade nodded, “Every so often we’re given a glimpse of the player’s real world - their reality. (Y/C) currently lives with an ailing father and a mother that is trying to hold everything together. They’re a full time student in what they call ‘high school’ and works at a family restaurant part time as a waitress. They like spending time on social media, reading when not with us, and does a bit of sewing from my understanding.”

Azul rubbed his chin in thought, “Do they… play other games?”

“Several - (Y/C) has a very high social media presence and has been gaining followers over the course of several years, speciallizing in strategic battle games and, apparently, even romance games,” Jade answered, “However… (Y/C)’s very shy and keeps to themselves quite a bit. From my understanding, they’re not exactly… well-liked by the other students at the school they attend. (Y/C) often eats alone and prefers the company of fictional characters or those online to those in their world.”

“Not well-liked? (Y/C)’s well-liked here!” Azul answered in confusion.

“Perhaps, but we all eventually become attached to our player - they’re the star of their own story here, after all,” Jade agreed, “And (Y/C)’s practically the same in their world - kind, supporting, caring… but is an outcast.”

“Care to explain why?”

Jade shakes his head, “I wish I could tell you, Azul - but even I am not certain why that is.”

Azul squeezed his lips in thought before turning to Jade, “Is there a way we can dig into more about our player?”

“There might be something within the profile, but a chance at looking into the outside world? That is a one in a million chance of happening. I was given a glance when (Y/C) was using me for a battle - but it was very short. The rest of the information I gathered was from other characters - specifically Cater who has been with them the longest. You know how he will speak for a chance at gaining more followers.”

Azul chuckled with a smile, “Excellent work, Jade. For the time being, I’d like to find out as much as you can about our player - Floyd, if he’s in the mood, will probably want to know more about ‘shrimpy’ as well, get him in on the search too. Though, I suppose we can only do what we can for right now…”

***

In the days that followed, (Y/C) was consistently in the Octorio’s presence. As they met each requirement the Octavinelle Training Camp event gave them, (Y/C) beat every battle they were given and took in the rewards with vigor; their method was simple - they finished all of Floyd’s tasks before closing the game, reopening it the following day with fresh eyes and ready for the challenges that awaited them and selected Jade as their next partner. Azul watched from the sidelines as each task was completed and battle won; it was strange to hear how (Y/C) would always keep the trio together, Azul stuck in between the tweels as they switched spots. However - Azul couldn’t be completely disappointed in them; after all, (Y/C) did invite him to attend each lesson with them and the tweels. 

So why was it so hard for him to not feel this… jealous anger that was slowly rising with him? It wasn't like they were anything interesting - the only thing they had in common, maybe, was the fact that (Y/C) was business-minded - even for a high schooler. 

Azul pinched the bridge of his nose as cards of various characters floated across the screen; Floyd... Vil... Epel... Malleus... Trey... All of them appeared across the screen over and over like turbulant waves on the shorelines - yet none of them were of him. (Y/C) flipped through the cards again, their (e/c) eyes hard with determination.

"One last roll," Azul heard them say, "I have enough for a chance encounter - please let it be one I don't have."

The music played as the dark mirror appeared again, "Bearer of dark powers, I call thee forth!"

Azul could practically feel (Y/C) vibrating with anticipation as clacks echoed in the small area that was their bedroom. Jade... Floyd... Vil... Sebek... Idia... Malleus... Lilia... Rook...

"You're so lucky to have met a compassionate person like me..."

Azul's voice stuck in his throat as (Y/C) squealed in delight, "AZUL! Oh my GOD! I have your CARD!"

And indeed they had gotten it - Azul's SSR dorm card flashed across the screen with the octomer perched in a leather chair, Jade and Floyd just behind him with the sea witch's familiar mirror in the background. Azul was vibrating with excitement - at long last, he was now in the spotlight, appearing before (Y/C) in his finely dressed dorm uniform. The octomer was beside himself with excitement as (Y/C) clicked back on the homescreen, scrolling through their cards and smiling as they found the newest addition.

"Azul..." they whispered so softly, "I'm so excited... I wasn't expecting this... not in the slightest. I hope that I don't disappoint - I'll get this leveled up and we'll work together, you and me."

'You could never disappoint me, angelfish,' Azul wanted to say as he felt something pull him to the front of the screen. He now stood in Ramshackle Dorm, front and center as the eyes of (Y/C) looked upon him, thier features brightening.

"Thank you so much, Azul," they grinned, a look of sheer awe and excitement taking root across their face, "I'm so glad to add you to the team."

***

The event ended far too quickly for Azul's liking, meaning that he could no longer work with his player one-on-one - at least until the next training camp. For now, Azul was content to use his days watching his player as he peered into their normal everyday life. 

Jade had not been lying when he told Azul about (Y/C)’s busy schedule - they awoke every morning at six on the nose, dressed and readied themselves for school - helping their mom with a few simple chores before heading out the door. (Y/C) was an intriguing student, using common sense to answer their professors’ questions and asking more in return - though Azul could hear snickering in the background and soft insults that were directed at his player. (Y/C) sat alone at lunch, the game open in front of them as they nibbled on a sandwich - keeping thier promise to level up Azul's card as they doodled in the notebook beside them. A few times, they would have a set of headphones in and would hum along with the music that would come through the speakers - making Azul strain to hear them. After school, (Y/C) would head over to one of the local restaraunts, changing into their work uniform and began the grunging job of serving guests. Azul listened as the clientel would call them over - some pleasant, others not so much; though he was surprised by (Y/C) ways of handling them, giving their best award-winning smile and working their way into their hearts to the point that they couldn't take it or dropped the subject entirely.

Day in and day out, Azul was there and listened to everything everyone told them; week after week, he saw the light slowly begin to fade from their eyes...

And by the time summer had come, (Y/C) was struggling - mentally and emotionally. Gone was the happy-go-lucky teen that Azul had slowly become attatched to, in their place was a saddened and heavy-burdened individual that sought the comfort of loniness - fictional characters were their only friends now.

One night, (Y/C) perched on their bed after a particularly rough day at work. Azul had seen one of the customers - another student that was prone to bullying (Y/C) in class - trip them while they were carrying a pot of hot soup to bring to the salad bar; regardless if it was intentional or unintentional, (Y/C) could have been seriously injured - burned from how hot the liquid was. Then, (Y/C)’s boss degraded them - telling them that if they weren't so stupid and watched where they were going, none of this would've happened; even though it was clearly not (Y/C)’s fault. When they got home, (Y/C)’s mother had to rush their father off to the hospital - something about his ailment suddenly turning for the worse and making (Y/C) now worried sick about their father's health - no longer caring about the injury they sustained and the pain they felt within. 

(Y/C) tapped the screen of the game, opening up and laying their phone against a box that sat on the bedside table, watching as Azul greeted them in his normal fashion.

"Helping people is what I live for. As housewarden, I will do everything to support my students," Azul smiled in greeting.

"I wish the same could be said for me," (Y/C) sighed, laying their head against the pillow as the music of the Mostro Lounge filled the background of the bedroom.

"Hm? And why do you think I wouldn't support you, angelfish?"

(Y/C) turned to look at their phone as Azul smiled. They rubbed thier face for a moment before muttering, "I must be more tired than I thought. I thought you just said something."

"I did, angelfish," Azul's voice came loud and clear as (Y/C)s' eyes widened, "I said, 'Why do you think I wouldn't support you?'"

(Y/C) blinked, "Y-you... talked. You can talk?"

"Of course I can talk," Azul answered, resting his hands on his hips in disappointment, "What makes you think that I wouldn't? We've talked before, after all."

"Y-yes... but that was scripted," (Y/C) rubbed their face again, "I must be dreaming - just some fantastical thing because of the stress and anger I've been experiencing lately."

"(Y/N), come now, you know that's not true."

"H-how do... you know my name?"

"I've been keeping an eye on you for some time, (Y/N)," Azul answered, "I know all about you - what you like and dislike, what your biggest fears and regrets are and what you wish for most in the world. I can offer that, you know."

"Offer what?" (Y/N) rubbed their face then, "Wait a minute... why am I even discussing this with you? You're a character in a game and I live in the real world - there's no way this is happening either - this is just the rambling of a stressed out lonely teenager who gets enjoyment out of playing a game and reading fanfictions."

"I assure you, this is no dream," Azul answered, "And you're not going to get rid of me that easily either."

(Y/N) frowned, "What do you mean? What did you do?"

"Simply enough - I hacked this phone," Azul admitted, "It took a bit to figure out the workings of it, but now you won't be able to do anything unless I give you my permission to do so."

"You... what?!" (Y/N) glared at Azul, "This is my only form of communication! My only way to be someone! I use this for school! Work! Why would you do that?"

"I admire your ability and drive, angelfish, I really do," Azul smiled wickedly, "However - 'real life,' as you call it, is keeping you from me. You were hurt today and have been stepped on over and over like a piece of gum on your school's cemented sidewalks. What I am willing to offer you, in exchange for your undivided attention that is, will allow you complete freedom from the outside world. You will never have to experience that sort of degration and torement again."

"And what about my friends? My family?" (Y/N) askes, "You think I'll sign my name on a contract of yours so willingly?"

"You did the first time around."

"That was scripted!"

"Angelfish," Azul's tone turned dark, "You really have no say in this. I know your family is struggling so I'll modify the contract, only for your sake though. As for your 'friends,' you really have none in that world - I have been with you for the past two months, constantly watching you and, yes, protecting you. You might not see it now, but you will in due time - besides we're the same age, are we not?"

"Close... maybe," (Y/N) admits.

"Then, what's the problem?" Azul folded his arms across his chest, "Sign the contract - and I will give you everything your heart desires."

The screen shifted as a familiar golden hue appeared on the screen.

"Here's the deal, Angelfish," Azul's voice appeared in the background, "In exchange for your undivided attention, I will grant you - and your family - the funds needed to help you both financially and comfort.  You and family will want for nothing and I will provide support you your ailing father. You will belong to me completely, and when such a time arrives that the two of us are old enough, we will be married."

(Y/N) looked over the contract on the screen, biting her lip.

"And you promise I will be able to stay with my family? Still see them when I want to?"

"Yes - it would be improper for the two of us to live together as I will need time to prepare for that event. However, you will not be able to tell anyone about this arrangement - unless you wish to lose your voice in the process."

"N-no thank you."

(Y/N) could practically see Azul's grinning features, "Then, Angelfish mine... sign on the dotted line. Let's embark on this new adventure... together, just you and me."

[kit-williams]

The Equinox Song

Mer Anrir time! Yes I am going to milk this song again

Anrir's Fish vibe: angler fish

@bispecsual @egrets-not-regrets @moodymisty @bleedingichorhearts @liar-anubiass-blog

@thevoidscreams @barn-anon @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan

You could finally afford to go to a Night Lord Equinox song! Only happens twice a year and everything in the local area got expensive or overbooked to come and see them sing. You've wanted to do this for years as listening to the recordings online only could do so much to quell the craving you had to hear them sing live. You were bouncing with excited energy as your best friend had come with you finally having enough of your wanting to see them. Fences had been set up around the dock, the beach closed off for a good mile, and no boats to disturb them as Night Lords were notoriously Territorial and known to kill with little provocation... you could tell as a few of the early arrivers were wearing masks made of bone. You looked over the pamphlet as like with most mer-songs someone went missing at every event... you look over the warnings: stop listening if you feel compelled to get in the water, avoid prolonged eye contact with a mer, mer's while aquatic can 'sprint' in short distances so if you think you're far enough you probably aren't... and other warnings.

You were especially excited to hear, what was assumed to be the head of the shoal, the angler sing. Where you sat you could see the large rock that most of them would sit on... the smaller smoother rock for the singer, and other various less desirable spots. Younger Night Lords would swim right up to under your feet and sing as they spin in the water some with glowing red eyes just looking up with sharp toothed grins. But you watched as more and more Night Lords were appearing and hissing, barking, shoulder bumping, and other displays as you watched one smaller Night Lord get thrown from a spot on the rock. There was singing during all of this but it wasn't the main song... it wasn't their song. You had gotten so caught up in the antics that you jumped slightly as your friend touched your shoulder. "Look." She whispers.

You softly gasp as you can see on his rock you could see him pulling himself out of the water. The moon was bright enough that you could make out some details. Long black hair that covered his eyes but not his nose and mouth ended at his waist... both front and back, his torso pale and covered in scars, twisting patches of midnight blue scales covered his chest and arms, the tips of his long fingers were black and his hands webbed, like all night lords poking out of his hair were long red ear fins that reminded you of bat wings, and your eyes landed on why he was called the angler as there was a lure that let out a pulse of bioluminescent light... his face lit up for a moment and you swore he was grinning at you.

The shoal got into place, the wind was blowing but otherwise everything else was quiet. His voice was soft... it was like a lullaby... but was it powerful as it caried on the wind in such a way that recordings failed to do it justice. You couldn't help but hold your breath as his voice croons supernaturally as you could feel it in your bones as this was why people were scared to hear them sing. He sings and as he goes on he sounds louder... stronger... almost as if he is singing directly to you. How his whole body sways and his arms held out as he sings... its as if you're watching something tribal... something sacred and intimate... you shiver as it feels like you are there alone... the water doesn't look so cold.

You swallow as the rest of the shoal bursts out singing, their voices filling the moonlit night air. Those on the rock were flashing white bioluminescent streaks down their tails akin to bolts of lightning spidering over their tails. Just like the storms they were fond of singing during. Right below the viewing area, churning the water were others as they churned it with their dancing, spinning and bobbing in the water as they sing up to all the humans just out of reach. Unnatural eyes glittered and glowed in the moonlight as the water rushed down their pale skin and dark scales. However, their antics couldn't pull your eyes away from him... you were hyper focused on him and at this point there was no denying it when the lure lit up his face... he was looking right at you.

It was magical... so otherworldly... so... get in the water... something told you deep in your gut that if you let him finish the whole song to you that you weren't going home tonight! You were shaking as you got up and ran covering your ears. The song was almost over and you were certain that when you stopped it would have been over. Your hands are shaking and you're on the verge of hyperventilating as you want to throw up even. Your chest was pounding from how hard your heart is racing and you wiped the sweat off of your face as you notice the lonely drink machine. Coins are fed into the vending machine and your trembling hands struggle with opening up the can. You put your head between your knees to come down from the adrenaline high as you were now safe. The waves were loud but no longer calling you to get in.

You exhale in relief as you continue to stop feeling like trash. Something scrapes against the concrete next to you... but you didn't hear footsteps. You open your eyes and see there is a lot of water wetting the concrete turning it dark as it soaks up the liquid. Your throat tightens and you start to shake... your hair is blocking what is to your side and you start to turn your head. You nearly scream as a webbed hand grabs your chin and guides you up gently. Your grab his arm that holds your chin as tears gather in your eyes as the large merman looms over you as he cups your face like a lover would. His lure lights up and you see thin spines on his face near his eyes raise and push the hair over his eyes away.

You realize you're looking right into his eyes as you watch large bioluminescent patches under his black eyes glow. He leans in cooing to you... знішчыць... he croons to you... the last... знішчыць... verses... of his... song... знішчыць.... He leans in and you just melt into his kiss as your body goes limp... you don't hear people scream for you... his mouth on yours feels so good... your name being shrieked by your friend... you pull back to breathe... strong arms wrap around you as you are pulled into the water... it doesn't feel so cold as he sings to you. знішчыць... pulling you down... знішчыць... and down... знішчыць... and down... знішчыць... into the dark... знішчыць....

[acourtofthought]

I read that josh body language post. It’s like they’re living in a completely different universe! I mean, seriously, these are the same people who tried to redefine “skittered” and somehow thought it would be a great idea to dive into fly fishing. Because, you know, nothing screams “literary genius” quite like a detailed breakdown of a fishing term and thinking that's exactly what Sarah had in mind. 🙄

Like, do they think Sarah wrote skittered hoping her most dedicated fly fishing fanatics would understand. 😂 Because I can’t imagine a single person outside that niche who cares about how a word used for darting fish could possibly relate to body language IN a romance book.

This is what their post said:

Skitter (v) - to draw (bait) jerkily across the surface of the water as a technique in fishing

The fact that Azriel's shadows skittered back could imply that they actually wanted Elain; that they were trying to draw her in, for whatever reason.

You know, having opposite intent of recoiling.

Honestly, it’s impressive how they manage to spin these absurd narratives. Incorporating fishing lingo into their analysis of character relationships. “Oh, his shadows totally skittered away, just like a trout escaping a hook!". 😂😂😂😂

These folks are really grasping at straws, and it’s hilariously cringeworthy. Keep it coming, though—this level of delusion is pure entertainment!

If you ever watch any of Sarah's interviews where Josh is present you see he's a bit of a fidgety guy. Also both Sarah and Josh become evasive when they're tip-toeing around questions that they know Bloomsbury might want them to answer in a certain way so as not to give anything away. I would bet money on the fact that he has absolutely zero emotions towards the possibility of Gwyn and Az together, that he is 100% supportive of what Sarah chooses to do with her characters. It's wild that they'll believe reading the body language of Josh is somehow a major clue while completely ignoring Sarah's friend directly saying "I don't think E/riel is happening." That they'll ignore Sarah laughing at the theory they had of Gwyn being a child but Josh somehow has skin in the game over who Az ends up with.

To your point about skittering. My guess is that a seasoned author is going for the obvious definition of skittering in her writing and not the answer that only those with fly-fishing terminology awareness have. Not to mention Sarah made sure we understand the point Az was making when he followed it up with "they'd always been prone to vanish when she was around." How can anyone claim that in one breath he's suggesting they're trying to lure her in when the next sentence literally tells us they often disappear around her. You know, that's the same issue I have when they try to claim Elain's scent of Jasmine and Honey has anything to do with night blooming Jasmine. First off, Jasmine is first mentioned in the Spring Court (book 1). But also, Sarah followed up "jasmine" and "honey" with "like a promise of SPRING." Is that not the author nudging you in the direction of her meaning? Especially when later we have Nesta thinking how the SPRING COURT had been MADE for someone like Elain? I guess they'll keep seeing what the want to see but I don't think they're going to like what the end result looks like.

[cordeliaflyte]

The Monster in the Lake

By Martín Espada

A city boy, I always wanted to go fishing. The DiFilippo brothers brought me

to a secret lake where we cast our lines into the dark, the barbed lures

spinning. I snagged a monster in the lake. I fought the monster and my reel

jammed. One of the DiFilippo brothers said: That’s not a fish. We waded

into the water and dragged a rusty box spring onshore, festooned with

the lures of failed fishermen. We plucked them off the coils and dragged it

back. Whenever we went fishing, we would have more treasures to collect.

Late that night, I felt the monster swimming beneath my feet. I walked

down to the basement and saw my father hunched over a table in his white

T-shirt and boxers. He flinched as if I’d caught him whispering on the phone

to a woman who was not my mother. What are you doing? I asked. I saw

the pages of a Spanish dictionary and a legal pad where he had copied down

the meaning of the words in longhand. I’m learning Spanish, he confessed.

My father the rabble-rouser with the bullhorn, my father the Puerto Rican

who spoke for other Puerto Ricans in the papers, my father who left his island

at age eleven and kissed the runway when he flew home at age thirty-eight,

my father who had the Spanish slapped from his mouth like a dangling

cigarette by teachers and coaches in the city where I grew up, could feel

his Puerto Rican tongue shriveling, coated with gravel, drained of words.

I left him in the basement, riddled with the hooks no one else could see.

[senseandaccountability]

I'm sorry, I had to take a break from the game to write this little act 1 ficlet because I'm obsessed and wanted to try out this POV for a bit. Sorry/not sorry.

Build this ship to wreck pg-13, 900-ish words

*** It’s so simple, seducing her. Almost boring in all its pettiness. A little flattery here, a carefully worded promise there - their lives are dark and dreary and full of worms and Elnys Tavren is not even half as immune to vain delights as she’d like to pretend she is.  “You don’t have me yet,” she reminds him and all the freckles and scars of her skin seem visible in the moonlight at that moment. The darkness rising from the earth nearly disguises her but not to him. Never to him, he doesn’t miss a beat and that’s why he’ll win in the end.

There’s something wild about the way she moves. Something raw and unrefined that makes him think not of the endless line of perfect, willing bodies he’s lured and baited over the centuries, but of a before that he no longer knows ever truly existed outside of his imagination. Hundreds of years of make-believe take their toll, he assumes. Perhaps that’s why he - apart from the fact that she’s the least powerful fighter of the group - had chosen to bite her, not so long ago. Glaringly obvious reasons aside, she’s also someone the living man he used to be might have desired, once, before he made a deal with the devil and lost all traces of himself to cruelty and death. Cazador, at least, wouldn’t enjoy her, of this he’s absolutely certain. Look what the pets dragged in. He’d feed, soften the worst of his bottomless hunger and throw away her corpse; the notion rattles dangerously in Astarion’s chest for a fraction of a second. No.

The chasm of his pasts thunders and rages, but he can’t give in to it, can’t twist up this chance at turning the tables. Nothing matters but that freedom, the sheer might of it. Does it?  Mere hours ago Elnys had allowed him to deal with the filthy Gur monster hunter the way he saw fit and Astarion had cut the man down - sloppily, without much glee, but instead a sinking sensation at the pit of his stomach. Disappointment, surely, at the lack of grandeur. Surprise that the dreadfully dull woman holding the reins had loosened them like that when, normally, she’ll jump in between an arrow and a bystander for no good reason. On the way back to camp he had meant to ask her why, meant to prod further into the shades of what his power over her could be wielded from - lust, loyalty, naivety - but the words had got caught up in between their companions, then in a camp full of celebration and revolting wine. There’s so much to consider, wound tight around others like this. Obstacles, idiocies, downright doubts, but Astarion is nothing if not resourceful so here they are now. He tells her he’s been wanting to have her since he first saw it. It’s cheap, hells is it ever, but what is seduction other than a mutually signed pact to play certain parts? An animal and its prey. The consummate lover and their chosen one. There’s a glint in her eyes as he steps closer, a flicker of hesitation perhaps. He changes his tone, tilts his head, adjusts to her unspoken demands and just like that, it’s gone again. It’s so simple, seducing her.  And hells, it would be boring if it wasn’t for her rough edges, the unpolished lust and the memory of nights in camp, listening to her spin tales from the sordid places she grew up in, her glee after a successful battle, her sharp insights and filthy mouth. All those details of her, they fill up every empty space between them, flatten out the hollows. 

She tastes of cheap wine and smoky fish and her hands get lost in his hair, twisting themselves around his curls as he kisses her; he gets lost in his own well-rehearsed theatrics, then in her blood as she rolls her neck and allows him. No fear, no sense of obligation and he’ll remember this for at least a century, he thinks, the way her fingers trace the wretched scars along his back as he drinks her, the way her breath catches and her lips are on his, licking her own life from them. Afterwards, she’s flat on her back beside him on the ground like they’re some lost wood elves frolicking about; he plays along, thinking this woman's surely predictable enough to appreciate that sort of romantic delusion. She’s glancing at him with that particular gaze she has sometimes, letting it graze over his face. It makes her seem puzzled and determined at the same time, as though she’s measuring them quietly, holding them up against a scale of her own making. 

There’s that rattle again, the sound of bones in him as he realises he doesn’t want to know what she makes of this, let alone of him. Nothing to see in here, he thinks, pushing himself up on one elbow to meet her gaze. Nothing, nothing, nothing. “Are you alright?” “Am I… what?” Elnys shrugs; the corners of her mouth twitch. “Forget it,” she says, but he won’t. After Cazador, he doesn’t forget a single thing. “Darling, of course I am, as you so eloquently put it, alright,” he retorts instead, stifling a scoff with a smile and her possible further questions with a thumb rubbing over her nipple.  She growls, low in her throat, and pulls him down over her.

“’s not a strange question, you know, just common courtesy,” she mumbles later still, arms curled around herself, a few fingers vaguely brushing his arm. He doesn’t care for it, or wouldn’t under any other circumstances, but the sun will be up soon and he can’t find it in himself to spoil the wonder of seeing it by moving anywhere. Elnys’s crimson-dyed hair is spread out over the grass, over the place where his heart once could beat and Astarion lies there watching the stars fade into a bright sky as she begins to snore, her breaths tickling his shoulder. It’s so simple, seducing her. 

[katthyacinth]

Little Sailors Have No Chance

Vox x Celeb/Singer Reader <3 Pt 4. pt 3 ... pt 5

In the span of 12 hours you had committed murder suicide with your abusive spouse, landed in hell where you were now a pretty fish demon, walked up to the biggest most important people in hells entertainment industry and landed a job on the spot...

Its only going to get crazier.

The TV head man had vanished into thin air after looking you up and down again to go deal with whoever "tore up velvets best model" that you were now replacing.

She had wasted no time using some sort of demon magic to change your clothes a dozen times and have some other demons do you're makeup. "well love you have been making quite a splash no pun intended and Im starting to see what the buzz is for. Stunning and you killed your husband? Truely a siren the name is brilliant luring poor sailor men to their death that blindly follow your charm, maybe that's what your fans should be called well, we'll talk all about a deal after the show." she blabs on as she adorns you with accessories and motions for you to spin, stand etc.

"Ok darlings" she calls out to the room. "its showtime!"

You will admit you've never walked a runway but you were going to do everything in your power to not make a fool of yourself. The lights and cameras and audience at least you were accustomed to. When you walked you saw that same man from earlier in the front row, with the TV head. When you stopped to pose at the front you saw him whisper something to another man next to him with sunglasses and a red-looking coat. You saw him smirk before you walked back behind the curtain. In the time the interns got you ready you had learned that the Vs on the building stood for the three owners of the cooperation. Velvet, Valentino, and Vox. You assumed the two men up front were Valentino and Vox since you remember seeing an ad or two with their faces on your walk toward the building.

After the show had concluded Velvet had pulled you aside.

" So little Siren, you've only been here a day and yet you've made quite a splash. Thats good thats-"

"good television" Out of thin air you watch little sparks materialize into the TV head man you saw earlier, Vox. He grins down at you sinisterly cutting Velvet off.

"You haven't made any deals yet doll so I take it you're free, for the taking, I mean why else would you wander up here." he grabs your chin making you look at him, inspecting you.

"Quit it Vox this is my deal, she wouldn't be good in your department anyway." Velvet glares at him.

"Chil Velv I'm here just for the entertainment and also to give our new guest a little present clearly she's lost she needs something familiar to her." Vox pulls a phone with a V logo on the back and hands it to you which you nervously take from him.

"I'm sorry what do you mean deal?" you ask nervously

"See what I mean poor things clueless," he states, you sense a mischievous undertone in his voice that makes you uneasy but ignore it.

"for your soul, duh kinda how hell works, you give me your soul you can work here and I'll give you fame and riches and protection for the angels yadda yadda and of course, you'll take it because we're like the best overlords in the pentagram" Velvet states.

You pause "Wait my soul? Isn't that movie shit you not serious right like so funny and also what the fuck is an overlord?"

Velvet twitches "You think I'm a joke princess? you gotta learn how stuff works around here quickly, it's kill or be killed when extermination comes around and if you wanna live best bet is with us and I don't make these offers often." she snarls.

"I'm not giving you my soul. It's kinda... my soul? you know when people say they sold their soul for fame or whatever I didn't sign up to do it literally. And I don't know what this extermination is but uh I'm already in hell I ain't trying to make it worse." you state backing up slightly.

Velvet gets back in your face even angrier as the TV man looks at you in slight shock.

"You're rejecting the Vs. That's priceless you know I would ask if you were born yesterday but technically you were so I'll give you some slack and not kill you but you're making a huge mistake." she grits her teeth

"I'll sign a normal contract. I know this is hell but... I'll sign a contract like the one I had above for my music label which is basically selling my soul." you chuckle at your own awkward joke. "I came here because I knew you guys must be the best in the industry so you're right leaving would be a huge mistake but I'm not offering my soul." you pause. "I won't give anyone any power over me like he had" you mumble under your breath.

Velvet scoffs annoyed pausing a moment. "fine one nonbinding soul contract coming up. But this means you may not work with any other companies any releases must be V approved, and you only endorse us, and you get fortune and protection. You're lucky you're famous and pretty." She grits her teeth. Pink magic emerges from her hands as she holds it out.

"Is it a deal?"

The Deal Is A Deal

[sarcasticsciencefictionwriter]

Stargate SG-1 Fanfiction Rec List

for @jhxpper

On AO3

(including some tags provided by authors in lieu of all of them for the sake of space. My apologies if some of these authors have tumblrs I'm not aware of)

He Can Be Very Charming by Amphytrion (@amphytrionwrites) (T, Sam/Jack, semi canon compliant)

Diary of a Cat by samsg1 (T, Sam Carter/Jonas Hansen (not the focus, doesn't last) and Sam Carter & Schrodinger the cat, suprisingly canon compliant for a fic about a cat)

Offspring by TheLionessWrites (E, Sam/Jack, Medical Rape/Non-Con)

Stop the World from Spinning by lemonfluff (@itslemonfluff) (E, Sam/Jack, Twister AU)

Stimulating by Amphytrion (T, Sam/Jack, AU)

The Freshman by NewCrayons (T, Sam/Jack, so much trope, at least 90% fluff)

Knocked Up by Akamaimom (T, married Sam/Jack, humor, romance)

Scent by GWhite (G, Sam/Jack)

Dreamlike by captain_sassy_sock (@captain-sassy-socks) (M, Sam/Jack, fluff, cabin fic)

Coffee and a Snack by lemonfluff (T, Sam/Jack, inspired by He Can Be Very Charming)

Across the Galaxy by TheiraVShade (@theiravshade) (T, Sam/Jack, episode tags)

Flannel Nightgowns and Other Strategic Conundrums by Akamaimom (T, Sam/Jack, newlyweds, humor)

Under Pressure by samsg1 (M, Sam/Jack, heavy angst)

The Teddy Bear by Caladenia (G, Sam/Jack, established relaitonship, fluff)

Overheating by Koken (E, Sam/Jack)

The Fine Print by Nazmuko (T, Sam/Jack, tragedy, finding their way back to each other)

Proper Care and Feeding of Your Astrophysicist by CoraClavia (G, Sam/Jack)

The Hard One by XWingKC (T, Sam & Jack, PTSD)

Christmas at Jack's by GWhite (T, Sam/Jack, family, fluff)

Perfect Strangers by MWard01 (M, Sam/Jack, enemies to loves, PTSD, therapy)

Scar by JX27 (T, Sam/Jack, whump, slow burn, light angst)

Nothing Is Not An Option by captain_sassy_socks (T, Sam/Jack, tag to Threads)

Pete's Parts by GWhite, XWingKC (M, Sam/Pete, Sam/Jack, Whump) (I consider this humor, but it's not tagged as such)

See Them Aliens by outoftheseashesrising (G, Sam/Jack, humor)

Swing and a Miss by Mini_Goat (@jedimastergoat) (T, Sam/Jack, fluff)

Tease(r) or Lure by writingherhope (T, Sam/Jack, AU, sex shop, fishing)

Pretty much anything by Amphytrion, Akamaimom, GWhite, lemonfluff, and captain_sassy_socks and you're good to go.

I also have a collection of Stargate SG-1 (various Sam/Jack, AUs, and fluff) stories on AO3 under Sacastic_Science_Fiction_Writer

On FF.net

superposition of eigenstates by nostalgia (Sam/Jack, whumpy)

Hell Hath No Fury by Strixvaria25 (dark!Sam AU)

Homecomings by Evilgoddss (Fun team rescuing Sam fic)

[jellymeduza]

September, October and November updates

2nd of September 2023: scholarship for having a parent in Education - added two more versions to make this mod compatible with @picknmixsims’ Driving Licence: Meduza_CJ-djsbadgescholarships_Education_Driving and Meduza_CJ-djsbadgescholarships_Education_Driving_5Points. You can read more about the update here.

12th of September 2023: scholarship for having a parent in Education - fixed dialogs in “DrivingLicence” versions

24th of September 2023: swimmable boats - added boats that let your Sims catch @sunmoon-starfactory​ salt water fish. They require their Gone Fishin’ 2.0 set. They can be used with boats that let Sims catch EAxis fish. However, fishing system is different from Sun&Moon’s fishing system. Chances of catching fish are based on fishing badge instead of body skill. Additionally, Sims use EAxis lures instead of Sun&Moon’s ones.

1st of October 2023: medieval shopping racks - now shopping racks (both slaved and standalone versions) have got proper empty state

17th of October 2023: useable ghost grave, useable ghost urn - this update was supposed to get rid of ghosts appearing like a bats while in the grave. It turned out the person who reported the error, was missing Midge's fairyglowball file.

24th of October 2023: ask to WooHoo in Walk-In Closet, Sims can WooHoo in vampire coffin, flyable TS4 rocket, TS3 fairy houses with more options - updated to support public woohoo wants and memories. Social plug-in (Meduza_AskToWooHoo_social) also recognises new woohoo spot (on a pirate ship).

2nd of November 2023: witches can gain energy by meditating, witches can practise magic - now menus are gender-sensitive: women have these actions under Witch.../, while men have them under Wizard.../

5th of November 2023: scholarship for having a parent in Education - improved code to avoid more errors

22nd of November 2023: Doctor Strange’s rotating orb - now the orb rotates exactly around its axis, so it doesn’t spin in circles anymore

26th of November 2023: custom skinned werewolf fix - added 2 new versions of the custom overlay. These versions will let your custom skinned Sims’ skintone show on their palms, ears and feet. They won’t pick up defaults you have. CHOOSE ONE version of the overlay: 1) S3 werewolf skintone with transparent ears, palms and feet using EAxis eyes; 2) S3 werewolf skintone with transparent ears, palms and feet using Phobia’s eyes (based on my default); 3) S3 werewolf skintone (texture-referenced).

[alln64games]

Legend of the River King 64

JP release: 27th November 1998

PAL release: N/A

NA release: N/A

Developer: Pack-In-Video

Publisher: Victor Interactive

Original Name: Nushi Tsuri 64

N64 Magazine Score: 56%

Nushi Tsuri is a series of fishing RPGs that were released between 1990 and 2007. A few games have received western releases under the name Legend of the River King on the Game Boy and Game Boy Colour. Some of the later games were called River King in North America, but Harvest Fishing in Europe, to try and market it as a Harvest Moon spin-off (the mainline games of both franchises were made by Marvelous, but River King was first).

While the N64 version of Legend of the River King was marketed for a western release at some point, it ended up getting cancelled, so we’re left with a Japan-only game, which heavily relies on Japanese text. Google Lens is fine for rough translations, but is unfortunately not quite up to the task for specifics like translating fish names and other technical things like baits and lures. Still, I tried out what I could.

The game is presented as a top down 2D RPG and it looks lovely in motion, especially the water. Movement is surprisingly unrestrictive as it seems you can climb up any surface and swim through the water – there is one section where you’re blocked that’s part of a lengthy quest to reach the main objectives. The setting seems to be based on the British countryside (my girlfriend even commented on the look without seeing the red post box or football field), but with Japanese buildings.

The game stars a large family, and you get to choose which one to play as. While most of the game is the same for each, they have their own end goals. The girl I picked wanted to find a rare fish that uses a nest because it’s something her fiancé wanted to see. Along the way, you need to hone your skills by catching fish in order to get better equipment and win tournaments.

While the game is pretended in a cure and lovely 2D format, it changes completely once you get a bite on your rod. You are presented with a 3D view of the very nicely detailed fish. You need to use the analogue stick to make the fish think that the bait is real (it’s very difficult to figure out the tight motion) and use the a button to reel in. If the rod starts to strain, you’ll feel a rumble and you’ll need to let go until you see enough slack on the line to start reeling in again.

I found the fishing to be very difficult, even after reading tips online, and still struggled with the little indoor fishing that lets you fish as much as you want without using resources. You need to keep your eye on both your supplies and the quality of your rod.

Exploring the areas of the game (that I could access to – I never got the bridge repaired to access the blocked off areas), I did manage to find an old man that talked about the fish my character was after, as he laments that the species is now incredibly rare due to pollution. I did attempt to fish in this area on the off chance that I would find one, but I couldn’t even get bite, even trying lots of different bait.

I imagine that the information needed to figure out what kinds of rods, lures and baits you need to use in different locations is somewhere, but as Google isn’t great at translating those kinds of things, it’s lost on me, so this was kind of the end of my adventure. I did manage to catch a few fish, and you fill out an encyclopaedia with information – and you can make the model of the fish move its mouth by pressing A, so I had fun making it sing along to the tune of the music.

There is also more than just fishing. Wildlife will also attack you, either form you walking into them on the map or random encounters. Everything – seagulls, mice, eagles, cats, starfish – is out to get you, and you have three options: placate them with food, attack them or run away.

On top of catching fish, you also collect bugs and flowers. With bugs, you find them on the map and use your net to start the “battle” phase where you use a net or your bare hands to collect the bugs in a first person view. Cutting flowers is a bit more simple.

Legend of the River King seems like a nice and relaxing game, and it’s a shame that the language barrier makes it difficult to fully play and enjoy. I do really like this kind of RPG where the “combat” is something that isn’t a battle system, such as the handheld Mario Golf and Tennis games.

Even though I couldn’t get very far in the game, I enjoyed the time I spent with it.

It’s almost impossible to get a decent way into it if you’re not even slightly conversant in Japanese, such is the option-heavy nature of the text – but we did have a fair amount of fun once we discovered how to fish.

- Jes Bickham, N64 Magazine #26

Remake or remaster?

It would be nice to see an English translation of this game – and perhaps a Story of Seasons fishing game.

Official Ways to get the game

There is no official way to get Legend of the River King 64

[yourbestpalpercy]

Alright, first things first. I’m only writing this because I just got a great idea. High Tide and Low Tide. DeadZone is often depicted in my head with either yellow or red eyes. So, depending on what color her eyes are, that’s the tide. Also, depending on the tide, those are the kinds of attacks she can do. The important thing is the tide gimmick, I only added everything else because I was bored.

Another thing, DeadZone hates fighting and will actually use her ability to control water to throw your toon out of battle 3 times. If you’re persistent though, DeadZone will let you fight her (4th time reentering the battle). Now onto me making a Wiki style post about DeadZone.

The DeadZone is a Cashbot Manager Boss who will be introduced fully eventually in one of my stories. She can be fought at the Daffodil Gardens Lake after completing the task “Pollution Problem”.

DeadZone is a 6’7 tall cog dressed in an older diving outfit with the large helmet being replaced with a clear fish bowl. Inside this fish bowl are a few aquarium plants and black aquarium rocks. A foggy, black void that is DeadZone’s head floats inside in this fish bowl. Her deep green, seaweed like hair rests on her shoulders. Underneath the helmet, around where her neck would be, is a speaker of sorts that’s used to translate her underwater gurgles into a voice that’s understandable. Her deep red diver’s suit has gnashes around the knees and elbows. These gnashes look like they’ve been repaired multiple times.

Department: Cashbot

Position: Regional Manager

HP: 2700

Defense: 27

Level: 19.mgr

Lowest Damage: 10

Highest damage: 23

Real name: Ariel Cove

Honorifics: Ms./Mx.

Employee ID: 192017

Likes: Fish, swimming, playing with the water, bike horns, Rainmaker, Deep Diver, Gatekeeper, Duck Shuffler

Dislikes: Firestarter, Prethinker, math, drop gags, Brian, some toon named Mac, Witchhunter

Attacks (Low Tide)

Liquidate: 12 damage, 50% accuracy, 25 frequency

Guilt Trip: 10 damage, 30% accuracy, 25 frequency

Attacks (High Tide)

Evil Eye: 23 damage, 90% accuracy, 78 frequency

Flash Flood: 19 damage, 80% accuracy, 47 frequency

Special Attacks (Low Tide)

Algal Bloom: 17 damage, 30% accuracy, 20 frequency

Brackish Water: 15 damage, 40% accuracy, 35 frequency

Special Attacks (High Tide)

Whirlpool: 36 damage, 99% accuracy, 60 frequency

Backwash: 30 damage, 90% accuracy, 40 frequency

Cheats

Cog Capacity: DeadZone will only have Cogs helping her during High Tide. The max amount of Cogs she can have is 2 (making a total of 3 attackers). Typically, the Cogs she summons are Loan Sharks, Bean Counters and Money Bags.

Lure Resistance: DeadZone has a Lure Resistance of 2 rounds during Low Tide and has a Lure Immunity during High Tide (If you attempt to lure her during High Tide, a tendril of water will not only take the lure from your Toon but also deal 2 damage upon it exiting. Idk, I thought that would be funny to add.

Tides: Low Tide is the best time to attack as Gags have a guarantee to hit DeadZone no matter what. DeadZone’s eyes will be a calm yellow during this. The Low Tide also makes her attacks much weaker. Low Tide lasts for 3 turns.

High Tide is the best time to use Toon-Ups and heals in general because Gags have a much lower chance of hitting DeadZone (A small animation plays if your gag misses where a tendril of water will grab the gag and render it useless). Zap gags have a higher chance of hitting though. DeadZone’s eyes are glaring red during high tide. Her attacks are much, much more powerful. High Tide lasts for 5 turns.

Special Attacks (Low Tide)

Algal Bloom: DeadZone makes a rising motion and throws a clump of green “slime” at the most dangerous cog, giving them a lower accuracy.

Brackish Water: DeadZone makes a waving motion with her hands, causing a small wave of brown water to appear under a toon and deal damage.

Special Attacks (High Tide)

Whirlpool: DeadZone makes a spinning motion with her finger. A spiral of water engulfs a random toon and spins them roughly before the water sinks back under water.

Backwash: DeadZone makes a pushing motion. A large wave forms behind her and washes over the toons, dealing them all damage. There’s also a 1% chance of flooding a Toon out of the fight.

Strategy:

I wondered if I should actually put this in for a bit but decided to do so. I have WAY too many ideas. Why not make this as real as possible?

When fighting DeadZone, it’s best to attack depending on the tide. During Low Tide, attack DeadZone straight on, do not use Toon-Ups or non damaging Gags unless you have to because Low Tide only lasts for 3 turns and is the best time to lower her HP. During High Tide, use Toon-Ups and use it as an attempt to set up Lures (Not on DeadZone, do that during Low Tide). Also try to take out the Cogs fighting with her during High Tide as they will not have the ability to dodge or block the Gags like DeadZone can.

Loot:

DeadZone Sticker

Fish Bowl hat (Or Seaweed Hair hat)

In DeadZone’s sticker, she’s looking at a leaf with a saddened expression. Alt idea: DeadZone with a deadpan or concerned expression.

The Fish Bowl hat comes with yellow eyes sketched outside of the bowl.

20 gumballs

34 jelly beans

920 Toon Experience

Dialogue and Cutscenes

Opening Cutscene 1:

Toons approach DeadZone as the shoreline before her parts and allows her to grab a small fish to eat. One of them looks a little sick upon seeing it and fakes a gag, catching DeadZone’s attention. DeadZone turns to face them, her red eyes softening to yellow.

“...What? It’s my lunch break.”

“Normally, I’d cook the fish but I’m banned from using the microwaves. Last time I used them, I made the whole HQ reek of fish!”

The 2 Toons in front get angry while one in the back comforts the other. This leaves DeadZone looking a little concerned.

“...Not here for small talk or jokes, got it.”

DeadZone points a weak finger at the Toons

“You guys aren’t seriously here to fight, right? I really don’t like fighting.”

One of the front toons step forward, leaving DeadZone a little bit panicked now.

“I really, really don’t like fighting!”

A pillar of water begins to rise up behind DeadZone as the other front toon steps forward and gets angry too.

“I really, really, really don’t like fighting!!”

DeadZone makes a pushing motion. The water washes the entire group out of the area.

Opening Cutscene 2 (Return to the area and reenter the fight)

DeadZone is now turned towards the Toons, slightly uncomfortable.

“I really don’t want to fight you guys.”

“I mean, you guys are adorable!”

“Maybe we can just sit down and…talk? I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m not polluting the water or…anything. At least I don’t think so.”

The Toons get angry again, causing DeadZone to sigh, make a pushing motion again and flood them out. Again.

Opening Cutscene 3 (Enter the fight again)

“You guys are really persistent. I’m almost concerned.”

DeadZone just looks saddened by this and floods the Toons out again.

Opening Cutscene 4 (Enter the fight again)

The Toons get angry again causing DeadZone to spin back towards the water, slouching now.

DeadZone puts her hands together, takes a deep breath before spinning back towards the Toons.

“Okay, fine! But I really didn’t want to do this to y’all.”

Ending Cutscene:

“THAT’S IT! STOP!!”

DeadZone waves her arms and even makes a T with her hands.

“I-If I could have a few words right quick- please?”

One of the Toons stops the rest with a shushing motion.

“I really, really don’t know who’s polluting the water supply. I swear it’s not me. I live in the lake! I try to keep it clean! I live underwater!”

DeadZone turns away slightly, her eyes turning red with an annoyed expression as the tide begins to come in again

“No idea why you guys would attack me without evidence but oh well.”

DeadZone turns back to the Toons, her eyes still red

“I swear I just want to be a friend to the Toons. I’m not here to harm at all. I’m still a neutral.”

DeadZone’s eyes fade back to yellow as she slowly stands up and holds out a water damaged journal

“I found this journal. I figured it was neat and kept it around just in case. The few words I could read mentioned the Toons so I figured you guys must know about it. I tried to give it to any Toons I saw but they only tried to attack me…”

One of the Toons grab it and the scene cuts to the name of the journal which only has ‘L’ written on it with the rest of the name faded out from water damage.

DeadZone stares at the Toons a little longer and mentions,

“I liked their drawings from what I could see. Please tell them they have a lovely art style.”

DeadZone jumps into the water, disappearing.

The fight ends with you getting a new quest, “The Mysterious Journal”.

Special Attack Dialogue

Algal Bloom

“Green is a nice color when you’re not associating it with money.”

“What’s a lake without algae?”

“‘You’re getting into deep waters, Toon’. No, this ain’t the right attack for that…”

Brackish Water

“The water’s not polluted, it’s just a little dirty.”

“Hope you don’t mind getting soaked!”

“‘Water, water, everywhere!’ I should talk to her again.”

Whirlpool

“‘Thpin, thpin, thpin!’ Ha, a friend of mine used to say that often.”

“‘You’re thpinnin’ out of control!’ Sound familiar?”

“Y’know, whirlpools are my favorite!”

Backwash

“Don’t worry, it’s not the stuff in your mouth.”

“Why not surf a little? I hear the water’s great!”

“Thou shall be washedth awayth by mine wavesth! That’s not how the old language works…”

Misc. Dialogue

Face-off Taunts:

DeadZone sticks her tongue out and presses a finger to her helmet with a ‘bleh’ noise. “Huh? That doesn’t count as a taunt? Hmfp!”

“I’ve got my eyes on you!”

“Woah! I can do that?”

“Why not take a little dip? The water’s warm, I promise!”

“What do you mean you guys don’t recognize me?”

“Can we hurry this up? I just remembered I have a DnD game with Holly soon.”

“Listening to Prethinker tell me I’m the worst would be better than this…”

Death Taunts:

“Suits you right for randomly attacking me!”

“And pleathe don’t come back! …Pleathe…PLEASE! Oh my gosh, this is why I don’t do impressions!”

“Lifeguard! We need a lifeguard!”

“So many people have thalassophobia nowadays…”

Surrender Taunts:

“What? You need a breather?”

“Forgot to take your swimmer’s test, I see!”

“Need to grab your life jacket right quick?”

“Maybe this time you won’t come back…”

Friend Request Accepts:

“You seem fun, why not?”

“Keep this between you and I please.”

“I’m going to get in so much trouble for this…”

Friend Request Denials:

“You just kicked my butt for no reason! Heck no!”

“Go take an ip dip dip in the tides of changes and then we’ll see.”

“Go drink salt water!”

Attempt to Sue:

“Don’t you try to sue me! I’m barely hanging onto this job, you piece of ****!”

Attempt to Fire:

“You’re not my boss. Who’re you to try to fire me?”

Trivia:

A good chunk of DeadZone’s dialogue references other Cogs like Duck Shuffler and Rainmaker. In total, DeadZone references Duck Shuffler, Rainmaker, Prethinker, Deep Diver, and Gatekeeper. Almost sounds familiar to someone else we know.

I made DeadZone because of the lake you can see on the map in Daffodil Gardens (Or, if you’re looking at the TTR map, Daisy Gardens) and I thought ‘I can make something with that’.

DeadZone was partially inspired by the song Drown by AViVA.

DeadZone’s real name is Ariel which, naturally, comes from The Little Mermaid, Ariel. As for the Cove part? *Shrug* DeadZone needed a last name.

The dead zone, also known as the abyssal zone is a place underwater where there’s little to no life. It’s often completely dark and it’s right in between the midnight zone and the hadal zone.

DeadZone’s Employee ID (192017) is a date and it’s a reference to a terrible flood that happened in the US (If I remember correctly).