#talking about a previous poor state btw. my current poor state was caused by a malfunctioning kitchen sink

[binoculares]

I know correlation does not imply causation but my life and mental health went down several notches after I heard and liked mirroball by taylor swift

[metalheads-trash-bin]

Hi, I'd like to say that your "VCR's are all still images now" complaint doesn't actually make any sense because here's the stats for moving tapes in the chapters:

Chapter 1: 1/5 (GrabPack training) (obligatory "wow, this chapter is low on stuff" comment here)

Chapter 2: 2/10 (GrabPack training, Marcus Brickley)

Chapter 3: 2/12 (GrabPack training, HOJ) (I'm adding the HOJ here because its technically not a cutscene, but its dubious as all hell)

Chapter 4: 1/~13 (GrabPack training) (sorry, no wiki list yet, and I'm no good at horror games)

The problem we're seeing here is proportional instead of quantative, but you're using a quantative argument, which is a problem.

I do agree that a bioshock-style tape system would work better than the system that's currently being used, not only because the still images on the tapes kinda suck but because the "there's a VCR player so there must be a tape around here somewhere" style of it all kills some of the fun of genuinely exploring for the tapes, and I, personally, want to be able to listen to the tapes without having to interrupt the gameplay for it (the Harley Sawyer tape in the middle of a puzzle pissed me off, can't you tell?)

This would be fixed by having a system where its easier to listen to character tapes without interrupting things, which is, from what I understand, the style used in Bioshock.

Also, more of the tapes should be used for similar things as the journal entries were, because, honest to god, I don't care about Stella Greyber's emotional conflicts over how the BBI is great, but Riley's journals got me really attached to her really quickly.

Also, the only tapes that really need VCR players are Leith Pierre's at the beginning of the first chapter and the end of this one, the GrabPack trainings, and the HOJ. (Sorry Jacksepticeye fans, Bendy people only ever heard his voice and we loved it. Marcus Brickley's tape is not nearly as important as the ones listed, and it only had live video because Mob wanted to prove they had JSE play a role)

Anyways, if you like me talking about your issues with Chapter 4 and analysing (from a game design and writing perspective) what went wrong and how I'd fix it, I can keep doing this, cause I agree with a lot of your complaints but think it could still have gone really well.

Also, it is so obvious which parts of the plot were written by the old writing team and which were written by the new, because the old team's writing is significantly more consistent thematically and the new team doesn't seem to understand the themes as well, if that makes sense.

I agree with all that, i think moreso my quantity complaint is because generally almost every single room you went in in chapter 4 had at least two tapes, and the audio for said tapes was a lot longer than typical. Instead of using it to help aid the story they practically had it be a crutch for poor lore placement.

A majority of the VCRs in the game are still images, yes, but usually it actually has something to do with the lore. For instance Catnaps paw being shown during one of the cave conversations in chapter three and the warped Huggy that comes out of the TV (an insanely good concept btw), instead of having the images be something to analyze and appeal (like for instance “what the fuck is that purple claw oh god”) it was “oh thats doeys container, cool i guess.” The previous chapters appeared to have less VCRs not only because of the length of the audio, but also the content and visuals. You were searching for the VCRs with intent and genuine curiosity, this chapter seemed moreso to use them as extras and, as stated, ways to drop lore in a lazy context. Which made it much more boring to listen to.

I really liked what they did with Riley, i agree, but i do wish that they spaced out the notes a little more and let it be more curious instead of it being an almost immediate gratification. Have more notes around, let it be kind of an egg hunt for the key and whatnot. To be honest Rileys story was probably the most emotional thing about this chapter.

The bioshock concept is a good idea and shouldve been used, i wish they did more research when it came to different ways to produce lore and audio.

Its just agitating, because the third chapter had an INSANE amount of progress when it came to the horror aspect all for it to get tossed.

[yelenasdog]

winter’s delights (the winter soldier x fem. hydra agent!reader) ch. 1/?

words: 1,384 (yes ik it’s short don’t bully me it’ll make sense later LMFAO)

warnings: death in future chapters, choking, blood, bruises, mentions of men being disrespectful to girls, r*pe implications in future chapters, smut in future chapters, and the obvious foul langauge lmfao. 

☆☆☆☆☆✰✰✰✰☆☆☆✰✰✰✰ 

 Experiment Day 1

The Soldier

click clack, click clack

The sound of heels clicking became louder and louder as it came towards me, causing me to become all too aware of my surroundings. Two small hands made their way to either of my shoulders. They shortly after moved to the railing next to where mine were placed. The situation seemed familiar. I wasn’t sure as to why.

“Good morning Soldier.”

Her voice was like a flute, surprisingly cheery and light despite our current dreary atmosphere. I turned to face the woman.

“Ready to comply.” I responded as I had learned to, or rather been programmed to.

She laughed. I was immensely confused by this action. The small Voice in my head that told me what to do and every response I needed to have all the time was seemingly absent.

“None of that, Soldier. I’m your friend, not your Tyrant.” She told me her name, but I didn’t pay much mind.

My instincts told me not to trust the girl.

She tutted.

“Soldier, if we’re going to be friends we need trust, yes?”

Her question was followed by silence.

“I won’t ask again, Soldier. Yes?”

I turned away from her towards the landscape view in front of me. Mountains could be seen if you squinted, everything covered in a blanket of snow, glistening in the rare sunlight of Siberia. I wasn’t sure why I was here rather than in cryo. It wasn’t for a mission, not an assassination of any sort, so why? I wasn’t sure of anything, my mind without the Voice was blank.

Suddenly, the woman’s seemingly gentle hands from before roughly grabbed my stubble ridden face, turning me towards her. Her grip tightened and her hand moved down to my throat, her cherry red nails digging into my skin, being sure to draw blood.

My breath was being cut off, and I assumed my skin was beginning to take a purple hue. Darkness began to cloud my vision as I started to slip into unconsciousness. I used my last ounce of strength and nodded.

She released me, tucking a stray strand of hair back into her bun. I fell down with a loud thud, supporting myself using the railing as I struggled to catch my breath. I looked up through hooded eyes and watched as the woman turned, speaking simultaneously as she did so.

“Very well. I’ll find us to be good friends, Soldier.”

She walked away, her heels clicking against the cold tile yet again. The guards came from either side of me, taking my arms and putting me into restraints, pushing me around like a ragdoll in the process. The cold metal stung on my pale and bruised skin, leaving a red ring to match the star on my left arm. 

The men surrounding me smelled like cigarette smoke and what could only be described as pure filth. The scent matched the words coming out of their mouths, talking loudly about the different women they had encountered in the past days and the things they wanted to do to them. 

The walk to my concrete chamber was treacherous, but nothing I wasn’t used to. I blinked, coming to attention at the sound of a key opening the small hole in the wall I called home when I wasn’t “on ice”.

My eyes turned from their glazed over state as they slammed the door shut, leaving me to wonder about what was to come.

 --------------------------------

The Tyrant

I released the man, tucking a strand of hair back into my too-tight bun. I viewed in horror the mark I had created on his neck, taking in the view that was a disgusting sum of purples, blues, and yellows that were complementing the red trickles of blood on his pale skin. The very sight of it and the fact I had done it gave me the overwhelming urge to throw up. But nonetheless I persisted. I had to.

I spoke, my voice coming across emotionless yet somehow bold, bouncing off the walls.

“Very well. I’ll find us to be good friends, Soldier.” I walked away, shallow breaths leaving my dry mouth. I brought up my hand, smoothing down my hair in an attempt to look put together despite feeling extremely distraught.

The head mental evaluator approached me, clipboard in hand. He squinted at my appearance for a moment, but then continued with his survey of sorts.

“How was he?” His Russian accent was thick and hard to understand. It had startled me in my dazed state. The man looked up, pushing his round, thickly rimmed glasses up his pudgy nose, waiting for a response, similarly to how I was in the minutes previous.

“Subject was unresponsive to exercise.” My voice remained quiet and without any sign of feeling.

He scribbled on a piece of paper attached to the wooden slab, the pen in his right hand scratching against the parchment. His foot was tapping, only adding to the tedious sounds filling the room.

“Was any physical force required for the subject to comply?” He seemed to be bored and tired, as any man would be after asking the same questions to different women every so often. I was not the first to be chosen for this experiment, but I was hoping I would be the last.

I stayed silent, replaying my crimes in my head, the feeling of the Soldier’s grimy skin ingrained in my brain, the coolness of it, the way it was so terribly slick.

“Was any force required?” He repeated, beady little black eyes meeting mine with a judgmental glance.

I blinked, crossing my hands in front of me.

“Yes. Slight physical force required.”

His eyes never left his page once they returned.

“Specify.”

“I grabbed the subject by the jaw, turned the subject’s face towards my own, and then restricted the subject’s breathing until they answered my question.”

“Does the subject require medical attention?”

I internally scoffed, as obviously even if he did, they weren’t going to give it to the poor man.

“No, the subject will be fine on his own.”

He sighed, flipping the page and looking it’s contents up and down.

“Very well,” he motioned to the guards on either side of the entrance.

“Your presence is no longer required at the moment. Return to your quarters. Hail HYDRA.”

I muttered a rushed, “Hail HYDRA” as I turned to exit.

“Also, Agent?” Behind me I heard the man speak up once more. I turned to face him.

“Don’t wear that lip color again, it makes you look like those Americans.”

I nodded, making a mental note to throw away the product.  Resuming my path of twisting corridors leading to my room, I was overly aware of the two guards who were on my tail, following me like a hunter stalking its prey.

“Thank you, I have it from here, gentlemen.” I smiled tightly through closed lips.

They nodded in unison, saluting with a brisk “Hail HYDRA.”

Early on in my time at the base I caught on to the goodbye ritual, and I hated it already.

I replied with the same nonchalantly before turning into my gloomy space and locking the doors.

I stripped down from my black uniform into a more comfortable slip, brushing out my hair and removing my makeup. I ran a cotton pad against my lips that were painted with the same color red that was on my nails. I watched in the mirror as the color smudged on my lips, running like the fresh blood that had streamed down the Soldier’s throat. I pulled away, looking down at my hands that I had only just noticed were trembling.

I let out a sudden sob, guilt taking its toll on me as I thought of what they had done, the victims that they had touched.

The things I had done, the victims I had touched.

I ran my hands through my hair, tugging. I stumbled over to my bed, pulling up the scratchy sheets. A terrible pain ripped through me, pressure building in the center of my head. 

I didn’t want to cry, I couldn’t cry. If my superiors heard, I’d be done for.

I didn’t want to hurt the man from earlier, but I had to. It was me or him.

☆☆☆☆☆✰✰✰✰☆☆☆✰✰✰✰

hello! this isn’t nearly as long as i would have liked but for development purposes i’m saving what chronologically would have come next for it’s own longer chapter rather than mushing a whole bunch of info into one mega chapter. tysm for reading, it means the world!!!! if u wanna be added to the taglist comment on this or the teaser or whatevs and i’ll add you! xx hj

btw my apologies for the extensive tags lolol 

taglist: 

@fangirls94​ 

[sunflowerheartwriting]

Dragonic: 4

ITS CHRISTMAS EVE GUYS!!! Well, where I am it is lol! It's also my nephew's 1st birthday!! So in celebration of the holidays and my favorite little man's birthday, here is an update!! :D Hope you guys like it!! You can read previous parts here on FF.net or AO3! 

BTW: Whenever anyone speaks in Dragonic, the text will be italicized! :)

In a room that was longer than it was wide, sat a long dark mahogany table with advisors sitting around it bickering. There were no windows just large chandeliers illuminating the intricate draperies decorating the walls with their colorful weaving displaying the events of the kingdoms past. Two large floor to ceiling doors was the only break in the meeting hall. The man at the head of the table was getting increasingly irritated as his advisors bickered on what he should do to improve his standing amongst his people.

“He must learn the common tongue in order to speak to his people and learn their needs and wants.” One of the advisors spoke, the man at the head of the table eye twitched in irritation.

His advisors knew he had a difficult time learning and understanding the common tongue and here they were speaking it in front of him as if he was invisible. He understood a few words but not many, so that made it easier for him to cling to his native language, Dragonic. It was familiar and his family spoke it, so he didn’t see what was wrong with using a translator for the rest of his life.

“Your Majesty, you cannot keep using translators to aid you,” One advisor spoke in Dragonic pointing his statement towards the King that was sitting in his large black chair that was perfect for the just as large man.

He wore his usual black and gold armor, his sword lain flat in front of him on the table and his head resting on one of his leather gloved hands with is his elbow resting on the arm of the chair. “I don’t see a problem in it,” the King spoke with a sigh, his boredom clearly visible.

“But, my King, you are the only Dragon Slayer that do not know common tongue,” another advisor spoke, causing the King’s eye to twitch in aggravation again.

The King knew he was the only one, but that didn’t make him any less angry whenever his advisors brought up. This was probably the thousandth time his advisors have thrown that in his face and he was getting tired of it. He was in the room for at least 5 hours listening to reports, news and right now, them bickering about his lack of language skills. He agreed to a tutor months ago, but soon retracted his statement, not liking any of the tutors he was introduced too.

Inhaling deeply and pushing it out with the same force he breathed in, he thought he would do anything if it will get him out of this room. He knew that if he didn’t say something now, he wouldn’t be out of this room until dinner time and that’s another six hours away.  So, with a sigh he spoke, “Fine! I’ll learn if you all will shut up and let me out of this damn room! I’m growing old sitting in here with you all.”

The advisors stopped talking, looking at their King with shocked gazes. They all thought, they would never get him to agree again so soon. “Great! We will start looking immediately for another tutor!” One of the advisors spoke with cheer.

Once that statement was released the doors of the room swung open with a rush, a man in red and gold armor stomping in with his usual boyish grin splitting his face.

“Well, that was exactly what I was hoping to hear.” Natsu said, his wife Lucy following close beside him. “May I have the room alone with my cousin, please?”

The advisors bowed to the Fire Dragon King and his wife as they exited hastily from the room.

The Iron Dragon King was clearly annoyed by the sudden interruption of his rambunctious pink haired cousin. “Natsu, what the hell do you think you’re doing storming in here?” Gajeel asked standing up from his seat. “Couldn’t you see we were in a meeting?”

“I’m trying to help you, iron head and clearly you don’t seem appreciative that I saved you from more hours of listening to your advisors.” Natsu, frowned crossing his arms over his armored chest. Gajeel stepped forward ready to throw a few insults for his cousin’s insolence, but Lucy quickly stepped in between them.

“I’m sorry, we both know that our entrance and timing wasn’t the best, but please listen to us.” She spoke, easing both of the men from their fighting positions.

Gajeel let out a ‘tch’ as he shook his head pointing towards the empty chairs motioning for them to sit. Once everyone was seated, Lucy began to talk. Explaining from the very beginning why they were there and who her friend was, how they met, what happened during The Great Dragon War, how she’s been looking for her since and what she found when she did find her. Gajeel could see the tears in her eyes, but knew Lucy was strong and wouldn’t dare cry in front of anyone. He took her words into consideration, knowing what he would be getting himself into if he went to this, ‘House of Purity’. Sounds like a lot of unnecessary emotion for him, to be honest.

“Even if I wanted to go, I need a translator to go with me and I’m not sure I can get one last minute.”

“Don’t worry about that, we brought one with us if you agreed, thanks to Capricorn. Please, Gajeel. Help my friend.” Lucy begged, making Gajeel think over his current situation.

“Why don’t you guys buy her? It’ll be a lot easier if you did.”

Lucy shook her head, “If Natsu bought her it would tarnish his name to buy a concubine, since he already have a wife and I know she would want to do something other than sit around our castle all day. If you bought her, she would at least do something she loves as well as you’re not married so no one would question you. No one would dare anyway.”

“I can’t buy a sex worker to be my professor.”

“She is not a sex worker!” Lucy yelled standing up abruptly from her seat nearly knocking it onto the floor. “She is my best friend who is in a poor situation! Yes, you will buying her but you can just say you’re buying a hand maid. It makes me sick just saying that but that’s the situation we see ourselves in. If you don’t want to help someone who clearly helped you in the past then you have lost all respect from me, sir.”

Gajeel, was stunned with the sternness of Lucy’s words nailing him to his chair as her voice increased in volume with each word. The queen was shaking with anger as she leaned forward her hands planted firmly on the table as she stood. Natsu sat in his seat, smiling proudly at his passionate wife, refusing to calm her down. Knowing it’s better to let her get it all out, instead of stopping her. Gajeel was still unsure of what to say until he thought back on the statement she said about someone helping him in his past.

“What did you mean by, someone who helped me?” Gajeel asked, earning a confused look from Lucy.

“Did you forget?” Lucy quirked a brow, looking at Gajeel who gave her a confused stare. She shook her head, saying, “Of course you did. Natsu told me years ago that Levy’s father, Professor McGarden helped you mourn your mother’s death. Said something about how he would postpone the lesson to help you or even spend his time to let you act out or talk.”

As she spoke, his eyes widen in shock as he remembered that time in his life. He tried his best to bury the grief of both his parent’s death, not wanting to remember anything from his childhood, but it seems he can’t leave the past alone. He remembered that the old man was quite the nagger and always made him listen to his lessons but he was there whenever he needed him. Sucking his teeth, Gajeel stood up running his fingers through his unruly black hair, releasing the thick cord that held his hair at the base of his neck. He paced back and forth, thinking of a way to get out of it. He had a feeling that he brought this girl into his home, the past would come with her and that is just something he isn’t ready for. But, he knew he owed a debt to his old professor and if taking his daughter in is the only way, then I guess he has no choice.

‘Your heart has gotten cold, Gajeel.’ He could nearly hear his father say, causing him to shake his head. Gajeel knew that as the years went on after his father’s death and other people he loved, the heartbreak was too much for him all at once. He thought it would better for him and everyone else to withdraw into himself and encrust his heart in a shield of cold iron. ‘The heartbreak will be less painful for everyone if no one got close to me, so I’ll have to keep this girl at a safe distance.’ He thought to himself, pondering a solution to his problem.

When he stopped pacing, he looked at an anxious Lucy and relaxed smirking Natsu. “Alright, but on one condition. If she’s going to be bought as my handmaid and tutor she will actually have to be that. I don’t want her wondering around getting into trouble.”

Lucy squealed in excitement, clapping her hands approaching Gajeel at a fast pace with her arms wide, causing the king to back up just as quickly. “Oh, yea. I forgot, you don’t like hugs. But thank you so much, Gajeel you will not regret this.” She smiled brightly accepting a handshake instead.

Now that that’s over with, all that’s left to do is tell his advisors and head out to retrieve his new maid and tutor.

“Alright! Now that that’s settled, let’s go spar!” Natsu roared, slamming his fists together eyeing Gajeel with an intense fire in his eyes.

Gajeel grunted, agreeing with his overenthusiastic cousin, leading the way to the sparring room. They changed out of their heavy armor for lightweight pants and shirts, with their weapons being their fists. As the two men fought to their hearts content, Lucy couldn’t contain her excitement as she rushed outside to go tell Capricorn the good news.

“I’m so relieved he agreed, even if he did seem reluctant.” Capricorn stated shaking his head. “Gajeel, was always a grumpy fellow, but knowing Levy, she’ll probably fix that. She always had a way of shining the light in even the darkest of places.”

Lucy placed an index finger against her chin as a small smile quirked up her lips. She knew that her best friend had a significant power of finding the holes in people’s heart and filling them with pieces of herself. Even now, she has that power with everything she’s been through.

“Let’s hope she does the same thing to Gajeel as she did to us.”

“Knowing her, it will definitely happen, it’s all a matter of when. Let’s just hope it happens sooner rather than later,” Capricorn smiled thoughtfully. “I guess I’ll go inform our translator that his services will indeed be required.”

Once the men were done sparring, introductions were made to the translator and Lucy gave Gajeel a piece of paper with the details on where to find Levy. She decided to punish Gajeel slightly for outright refusing the first time, so she didn’t say what her friend looked like, only gave him the idea to let the translator introduce him and for Gajeel to talk in order to see who responds to his language. He complained at first but Lucy assured him it was for the better. Once the woman who understand him responds, he will have a handmaid and a tutor. This will prevent the other girls from attempting to know what he’s saying.

“As clever as always Miss Lucy,” Capricorn beamed down at her.

“Thank you, Capricorn. I do try.” She winked, earning a soft chuckle from white haired man.