#thanks for playing and reading!!!!!!!!

[poll-ventures]

Perdition 1.1

Someone was gently shaking me awake. The room was lit with a soft, early morning sunlight, colored blue by the glass bead curtain that covered the open window.

My eyes fluttered open and closed. The plastered white ceiling of the apartment was unfamiliar. I wasn't in my bed. 

Of course not.

"Hey, Parker. Wake up." A woman's whisper.

"What?" I asked stupidly, smacking my mouth open and closed. God, my tongue was dry.

"It's time to wake up, buddy." A soft breeze drifted past me, bringing the smell of cold morning mist and spent gasoline into the small apartment. The glass beads of the curtain clacked gently.

"Mmph,” I groaned. My breath was horrible, and my ribs ached. I sat up on the couch, moving the scratchy wool blanket off of me. “What time is it?" Sam was crouched in front of me, looking out of the window politely. I replaced the blanket over my chest, shifting to sit up on the couch. 

"Five A.M.," she said, standing and turning to stare out of the window and into the street. A train passed above the road, and with the window open, its horn was near deafening. Sam walked to the window, closing it swiftly.

"Five? Jesus, why?" I exhaled slowly, hooking my binder back in place while she had her back turned to me. My ears rang in the comparative quiet.

A groggy, masculine voice spoke from behind me. "Because we both have work, and you can't just be in our apartment all day." Jack walked past the couch to the dining room table and placed two cups down. “Although, I wish you could.”

Sam turned around to face me, smiling tiredly. "So, sleepyhead. What's the plan?"

"Well, first, I'd like to freshen up,” I said. “Then, I guess, we can talk about a plan." 

"Sounds good," Jack said. Sam nodded, then sat down at the table with Jack.

I stood, half dressed in yesterday's wrinkled clothes. I folded and threw the blanket onto the back of the couch, then stretched, groaning. Walking to the bathroom, I could hear Sam and Jack start talking. When I closed the door, their voices became inaudible. 

The mirror greeted me. I looked like a mess, and felt like one too. I cleaned up quickly, splashing my face with cold water, the hand soap stinging at my eyes. I tamed my hair with a quick rinse of tap water, and washed my mouth out, which helped it taste a little less like the pits of hell. I left the bathroom feeling considerably more awake. Sam and Jack quieted, then turned to face me.

Jack was drinking a brown-green sludge from a glass, while Sam was sipping coffee while gripping Jack's hand on the wooden tabletop. The dice and character sheets of last night's D&D session had been messily cleared to one side while I was cleaning up, leaving a clear space for the three of us to discuss. One chair opposite the two was pulled out from the table, a clear invitation.

I held back, standing behind the couch, closer to the front door than to them. The blue sunlight flitted across the couch and the empty bottles on the coffee table just past it, illuminating particles of dust floating in the air. The silence hung heavy in the air. I took a breath in, and slowly blew it out, watching the dust fly in and out of the sun rays. 

"So," Sam said.

"Yeah," I said. "Sorry about last night."

"No!" Jack and Sam said at the same time. They looked at each other sheepishly, and Sam finished the thought. "It's okay. We've all been there. We were glad to help." Jack nodded.

"I really do appreciate it. I'll head out now, if that's okay."

Sam shook her head, standing and finishing her mug, which she held out to Jack. "No. How much do you remember from last night?"

I thought back. "Uh... We finished the session, did our shot... Danny went home, and then... Oh. I talked about my situation." I crossed my arms.

"That's putting it lightly. You were pretty much screaming, honey." She smiled ruefully.

Jack chimed in, taking Sam's mug. "What happened? If you don't mind me asking. I was asleep by then.” 

Sam looked towards me, questioningly. I nodded, still holding my arms to my stomach. "He lost his job and his home in the same day," she said.

"God," I moaned, bending over and into the back of the soft couch, face against the rough wool of the blanket. "It sounds so much worse when you say it like that." The couch muffled my words. I slumped down, knees on the ground with my arms over the back of the couch, chin up, so I could see Jack and Sam.

"That bites," Jack hissed. 

"More than bites,” Sam said. “Absolutely sucks. Did he even say why?" she asked, pushing her chair in.

"He who?" Jack asked, finishing his protein shake and heading to the kitchen to wash the cups. He put his hair into a quick ponytail. 

"My employer," I said, following him with my head and raising my voice, so he could hear over the running water of the sink. "I was a nanny slash tutor to a rich kid going to Somerset." 

His hair bobbed as he turned his head to the side, still focusing on the cups. "Sounds like good money then." He turned back to the sink, sighing. "Fucking Somerset kids. You know we beat them at every-"

"At every sport, yes dear. I'm sure Parker knows about your Ferret pride by now." Sam rolled her eyes, turning to me and sticking out her tongue in a 'isn't-this-guy-crazy' face. "Seriously though, they let you live in the house?" she asked. 

"Yeah," I nodded. "Emphasis on let. Apparently they found a better tutor. All my shit was on the front lawn when I came back from class."

“I bet they just got one of those new condo kids for a cheaper price,” Jack said. “Worst things that we’ve ever built, in terms of effect on the city. I’d rather work on another fucking ski lodge.”

“Probably. It’s all your fault, then,” I said, smiling slightly.

"They didn't even talk to you? No goodbye?" Sam asked.

"No, just a note. The girl I taught, Noel, was there though. She said I wasn't to blame, her parents were more mad at her than me.”

"What for?" Jack shouted.

"The usual reasons. I guess they thought I taught her more than just good ‘school knowledge’."

"Bullshit," Sam said. 

"Fuck that," Jack agreed.

"Yeah," I nodded, standing from the back of the couch, my back quietly cracking. "I just hope her parents come around to respect her as she is." 

Nobody spoke, the small cacophony of rushing water filling the room. Sam looked down, away from me.

"Well," I said awkwardly. "It's not like I get unemployment. All that work was under the table, and now I'm fucked, basically. Nowhere to go."

Jack turned off the water faucet, and disappeared into the kitchen, rooting around in a cupboard. Sam looked at me sheepishly.

"What?" I asked.

"Uh... That's not what you said last night," she said.

"Shit. How much did we drink?"

"A lot. You said that the liquids were the heaviest thing to carry, so you wanted to get rid of as much of it as you could before you left. I obliged." Her eyes flicked across the empty beer and wine bottles strewn across the love seat and coffee table. “Good stuff, too.”

"Sounds like me," I sighed. "Did I... What did I tell you?" 

Her lips made a line, and she blinked, then looked me in the eyes. "About your Dad."

Fuck. 

I crossed my arms again, gripping my elbows firmly. In the kitchen, Jack cracked ice cubes out of an ice tray and placed them in a cup, the clatter filling the silence.

"Ah. Sorry you had to hear all that," I managed.

“Nah,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. "It wasn't all that bad. I get it. You said he might be able to help, but that you'd rather-"

"Shove your hand in a box full of used syringes," Jack finished. "The imagery kinda stuck with us."

"Yeah, well..." I started, then faltered. I took a shuddering breath, looking out the window as I finally spoke. "He's an option. Not one I want to choose." 

"Okay, that’s our backup then," Jack said, quick on the rebound. He walked back into the living room, holding a glass of dark juice with ice in it. He held it out to me, and I took it, sipping it lightly. 

Cranberry juice. "Thank you," I said, grimacing slightly at the sour acidity. It was good. 

He nodded, returning to Sam's side. She sat as he approached, and he began to idly massage her back with his knuckles. "So, alternatives then. No vacancies in this building, sadly, but there's always a few on Main."

“Yeah, condos, condos, and more condos,” Sam said. “Pardon me saying so, but I don’t think our friend here has blue blood.”

I drank the juice carefully as they looked at me, then wiped my lips. "Actually, I have, uh... I don't have any money. No cash. Nothing in my bank account."

"Shit," Sam said. "Neither of our jobs are hiring, right hun?" She looked up and behind her at Jack, who shook his head solemnly.

"I used to work at the Trench. I think it’s hiring. A cafe down on Main Street," he explained, turning to me. 

"Oh, the one Lev works at? Shit, is it Lev?” Sam asked.

"Lena, last I heard," Jack said.

"It's a possibility," I said. "I have something lined up with one of my professors. Supposed to be really good pay, but I'm not sure I'll get it." 

"Wait," said Sam, cautiously holding out a finger. "Is this the same professor who's a vampire in disguise?"

"Huh? Wait, what?”

"That guy," Jack said, "You were saying he only holds office hours at night, classes only after the sun goes down. You've never got a good look at his face,” he said, moving his hands from Sam's back to make fangs with his fingers. “You know-"

"Vampire shit," Sam finished. She raised her arms, quickly replacing Jack's hands on her back without looking away from me.

"I... I guess that constitutes vampire shit," I said, taking another sip of juice and resting my other hand on the back of the couch. "Anyway, yes, that one. He's offering a job as a research assistant, and whoever writes the best historical essay of Old Hill gets the position."

Jack smiled. "I'm sure you'll get it, you big nerd. But if you need a back up, the Trench is always there for you. Not great pay, but Lena's good people."

"She used to be our roommate," Sam explained. "Jack met her working at the Trench." She was smiling too.

Jack's smile faded quickly. "There's a reason she's an ex-roommate, though."

Sam nodded. "She can be very quick to help, to make friends. Definitely a helper."

"Yes," Jack agreed, nodding morosely.

I finished the juice, then nodded once. "Noted. Well, sounds like a plan. Thank you guys, for everything." I stepped past the couch and placed the cup of lightly melted ice cubes down on a coaster, then went about cleaning off the coffee table. Sam stood, Jack and her both helping me collect the myriad bottles into a trash bag. A few moments later, we stood in a somewhat cleaner apartment.

"Okay," Sam said, moving past me to grab her coat and purse. "Let's hear the official game plan then. 'Cause you can't crash here again tonight." 

"Sorry," Jack said, smiling as he slid a heavy wool sweater over his head. 

I shook my head. "It's cool. I appreciate that you let me stay here at all. I know we've only known each other for a little bit, so-"

"Oh, hush," Sam said, shrugging into her pink down jacket. "It's been almost every week for over a year. You're our friend. Don't think we wouldn't let you stay if we could." Jack nodded, head popping out of his sweater.

"Thanks." I smiled. "Okay, plan. If I call my Father, I need quarters for the pay phone."

"Can't use your phone?" Jack asked.

"They've banned my number."

"Wow," Sam sighed.

"Yeah. So, I'd need a few quarters. Sorry," I said sheepishly.

They checked their pockets, jingling loose change. Both of their gloved hands deposited three quarters into mine. A dollar fifty. "Thanks again,” I smiled. “I'll pay you back."

Sam looked at me as if I were crazy. "And with interest," she mused. "I'll expect a whole dime extra!" Jack chuckled as he put earmuffs on, handing Sam her pair.

"Then, I'll talk to Lena. We'll see how it goes. Then later today... Maybe I get the assistant position, maybe I don't. I'll always have the cafe to fall back on."

"That's the attitude," Sam nodded, smiling, and wrapping me in a hug. "You've got this, Park. Just call if you need anything."

"Seriously, do call," Jack said with a smile and a wink. He patted my arm, his heavy glove on my coat sleeve, and stepped out into the hallway as Sam opened the door. 

I nodded, stepping out with them. Jack locked the door, and the two walked down to the nearest staircase entrance. 

“Same time next week?” I asked, still standing awkwardly in front of their door. 

“Always,” Sam said, smiling warmly with a wave. "Good luck!" she yelled, then disappeared behind the door into the staircase, leaving the hallway empty. 

I smiled, a soft warmth in my core as I headed for the elevators. I took a deep breath as I pressed the button for down. 

*****

The sun still hadn’t risen by the time I made it outside, and I was well on my way to Main Street downtown before it decided to peek above the horizon. The sky was fading from the light blue-black of a sunless morning to a bright pink of a full sunrise. It was beautiful, which helped me ignore the sharp wind slicing right through my too-thin parka.

The winter months had been kind to Old Hill so far, only blowing out three truly horrible snowstorms in December and January. Apparently, Father Frost felt it appropriate to fill the void with wind chills just above or just below zero degrees. I breathed deep, lungs swelling as I took in the beauty of the street, and the woods beyond it. Birds twittered on the electrical poles, and every minute or so, a car whizzed by.

Some folks, mostly commuters, felt the wind as a blessing. Others, like Noel, bemoaned the lack of snow days. I didn’t blame her, really. Who wanted to go to school when it was like this outside? It was much preferable to stay warm inside. I had to admit, though, there was a charm to the chill February wind, just as long as you have somewhere to go to leave it behind. 

After about fifteen minutes of walking, I could tell I’d made my way to downtown proper. The grain silos, woods, and strip malls of the cracked suburban roads had slowly been replaced by restaurants, condos, and coffee shops on the freshly paved Main Street of Old Hill. 

The light traffic rolled complacently through the two lane street, a wheel-on-cement hum accompanying the croon of an old man strumming a guitar just outside the White Picket Trench. He was right next to the pay phone I intended to use. A fresh coat of black paint adorned the payphone's metal shell, forgotten and painted over stickers adding a dappled texture to the metal.

Walking closer, I strained to listen to the old man’s song. I couldn’t make out the words he sang, but the harmony with the chords he strummed bled pleasantly into the air. He sat in a flaking white metal patio chair, his guitar case laying open in front of him.

Wrapped in a blanket with a coat and snow pants underneath, his eyes were closed as he leaned back, almost unknowing of the world around him. A slightly damaged cardboard sign was taped to the inside of the case, reading, ‘Homeless and Hungry. Every LITTLE Bit Helps, or Just Listen A LITTLE While.’ The case was empty. 

I stepped up to the payphone, and his eyes opened as I took the receiver off the hook with a metal clatter, the dial tone buzzing in a discordantly. He nodded to me, then closed his eyes again.

His muttering song turned into a hum, strong and throaty, carrying farther. He adjusted the guitar in his lap, playing just a little louder. I looked from the pay phone to the man, squeezing the six cold quarters in my gloved left hand.

[originalartblog]

@bsdfanweek's skk Valentine's week day 2: Camellias and Floral Troubles

Dazai's love life is so hard. This is in reference to my recent skk post!

[saltedsnailstudio]

linocut on lokta paper

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Danse Macabre

[Commission]

[visionsofmagic]

day 16: bruce wayne [power play]

࿓ synopsis • the game you play takes a different route in which you try to dominate him, but, he doesn’t allow you.

―❦ nsfw, dominance/submission, roughness, licking, marking, wrist holding, short, f!reader, brat!reader, riding, begging, pet names, ‘is all I guess? • 0.7k • he's my favorite dc character and the idea popped into my mind because he's looking so dom! enjoy! [kinktober m.]

“who’s in control now, love?” he asks as he pounds into you, hands holding yours above your head as your back arches onto his bare chest, filthy voices leaving you one by one since it’s too much to keep silent – he’s trying to gain it from you after all, wanting to make you scream his name louder with each of his deep, hungry thrusts that hit the exact spot that drives you crazy in every time.

the question is a reference to what you said before being in this situation; leaning down on the mattress, wrists inside his palms, breasts bouncing shamelessly and even hitting his chest from time to time, legs wide open, pussy soaking wet enough to make the white color of the sheets goes grey because of how much it is, legs shaking yet still having the strength to stay on his back, hugging him from there only to bring his body closer to yours as if it’s possible – as if he’s not already deep buried inside you, fucking you roughly because he has something to prove to you – to dig it into your pathetic mind as he said before.

he’s angry – a little bit, with the lust that flows inside his veins until it reaches the tip of his thick cock – using it to shove it into you mercilessly.

the feelings are there due to you – being a little brat and trying to take control while riding him a while ago, teasing about how his dick dripping, pale face is full of redness, breathtaking with a rapid way, and even sweating – only you can make the vigilante sweat like this – the reasons why he is rough now.

with the power you had at that moment, your body moved without your mind acknowledging it, making you look down at him, taking control, riding him so slowly to make him beg for you to move, to fuck him, yet, bruce who knows you better than anyone else, including you, understood what you were trying to do, especially when your hand tried to hold his neck – with sudden movement, he gripped your wrists, turning your body over, hovering above you as he mocked you – showing the dominance he has on you – not yours – his.

power play ended when he began to fuck you ruthlessly.

his question remains unanswered – he doesn’t seek one either, he just enjoys watching how messy you’re getting under him, ready to beg more when his hips slow down – and nearly stops as he fucks you leisurely, taking his time, and even having a ghost smirk on his face. 

and when you look at him, your vision is blurry yet witnessing his lustful expression, representing of the dominant side he has on you, you know he waits for you to beg – to cry. weren’t it for your aching pussy that is in need to be fucked by bruce, you would stay still, yet, you have no brain at all – only a greedy wet pussy and passion mixed with love.

“bruce –“ his name comes out of your parted lips on its own – pure instinct. “ohh – bruce!”

“yes, my pretty slut, what’s wrong?”

“move – aghh – please, move already! nee – ohh – need you to move!”

leaving your wrists free, his hands positioned on your hips, holding it strongly, ready to bounce into you with all his strength, his weight can be felt on you, sending a different sense of both pain and pleasure at the same time.

“look who’s begging now –“ he teases, kneeling down until his lips touch your neck, biting it – licking it so that he can leave marks on you- bigger and more efficient ones than yours that you left on his entire body before he took control. he enjoyed being under you, yet, the delight of having you under him is far greater than it. “tell me – that I am the one who is in control over you, not you over me,” he lowers down, licking and kissing your exposed body gladly, reaching until its tongue travels on your hardened breasts. 

pushing you against his hot tongue, you answer, feeling his cock leaving your pussy slowly, “you! bruce – ohh – you!” “good girl.” he says lastly, then, pushing his hip further, the cock fills your warm walls entirely with a powerful thrust and he doesn’t stop – he thrusts into you with a great pace and power that you no longer remember the power play – letting him do whatever he wants to do with you until he’s satisfied.

❦ tagging: @lilvampirina & @snowprincesa1 & @dookiemeshibear & @chloee0x0 *lots of kisses!*

[catabasis]

“Am I doing him right?”

[theswedishpajas]

Gay thoughts

[dotssu3]

i hc that cunoesse gets super into fashion as a way to set herself apart from cuno (they are NOT twins!!!). i feel like she would look up to cindy for fashion inspo…

[leupagus]

Guys I Might Have Three Nickels

I've been watching "Agatha Christie's Marple" for the past few days and it's pretty good! Marple adaptations all tend to have a better caliber of actors than a lot of bog-standard mystery shows (looking at you, "Madame Blanc"), and while Joan Hickson's Marple is right up there with David Suchet's Poirot and Jeremy Brett's Holmes as "literally can never be beaten, these are the best anyone's done it," both Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie do a fantastic job as Miss Marple.

Then I got to "The Secret of Chimneys," Season 5 episode 2

and guys

Guys

So there's a murder of a viscount, like there is, and this detective Finch rolls up and immediately spots Miss Marple (in her NIGHTIE! standing at the window like some kind of hussy, honestly Jane) and doffs his cap to her with that little smile that makes you go, "huh."

At this point I've watched a couple dozen Miss Marple episodes where she goes through detectives like wildfire and this guy's supposed to be a "*guru*" so I'm expecting some battle of the egos or something and like, Stephen Dillane is great! But bleh, I might have to skip this one.

Then my dude asks Miss Marple to SHOW HIM THE BODY, with a pleased little smile at her as she goes "uhhhhhhhh but my knitting?" (He even does that thing where you use someone's honorific and wait for them to give you their name, and that's when I was like "ohhh this bitch knows exactly who she is.") What follows is what I can only describe as a meet-cute in the secret passageway where the viscount was shot (and in fact the body is STILL THERE) and where Miss Marple literally asks the police equivalent of "is there a Mrs Finch" and he looks at her like this:

At which point I'm like "ohhh my dude not only knows who she is, he deliberately came here without a sergeant so he could draft her," and sure enough he just starts...handing her pieces of evidence like "hey babe can you decipher this note for me thanks love you" while Miss Marple is like, "this approval and camaraderie coming from a cop... not sure if want."

Next is a series of romantic strolls through the gardens while they discuss murder, during which Finch reveals his undying love I mean his research into Miss Marple and the "dozen case files" of her previous exploits that he's collected like some deranged fanboy. Miss Marple responds to this by BLUSHING LIKE A SCHOOLGIRL and stammering about how pish tosh it's nothing really, and I couldn't find a gif of it but he's staring at her like this:

Yeah I bet u r tempted

He also makes a half-hearted attempt at negging her "amateur sleuth" status, only to then immediately assure her that he makes like, so much money being a big fancy detective and can keep her in all the yarn and garden seed she could ever desire.

There's also a late-night tryst at the compost pile right after Finch has been (mildly) poisoned and Miss Marple is like "men are so weak" as she roots through the garbage for clues.

Not how he wanted their first date to go D:

The next morning there's another murder which: bummer, but also allows the two of them to read love letters together and for Finch to give Miss Marple the following look as she explains how secret assignations among lovers can "quicken the ardor":

Miss Marple then goes onto solve the murders and btw hands over the priceless diamond that's been literally missing for two literal decades that she found in her spare time. The entire scene features Finch looking at her like this:

After the dust settles, Finch and Miss Marple have a lovely moment where he calls himself "another one of your casualties," then super casually mentions that he's probably going to have to go on assignment to use the diamond in a daring international espionage case and I can't decide if he's asking Miss Marple to go with him or simply trying to show her that he is cool and smart and would make an excellent wife, but either way the episode ends with her turning him down and Jane, we need to talk about your priorities.

Anyway I've already written 2K about the subsequent 10-year epistolary romance these two have following this episode because I make poor choices.

[jadecantcreate]

i wanted to write a quick 3-chapter fic for day 4 of loa shiptober (how they met i think) and i (a fool) was like. yeah. i could totally write 3 chapters in a few hours. i was wrong. SO wrong. haven’t even finished kremy’s (the first one).

so instead have a maybe-past-kremy design that im conflicted about compared to his current design, as a peace offering

[mummer]

just saw asteroid city last night, pls explain the proposed significance of the kiss!!

answering this publicly hope thats ok! cant do a readmore im on mobile *****asteroid city spoilers below beware*****

i dont remember anyones names so this is gonna sound partly unhinged. okay so the edward norton playwright and jason schwartzman actor (not character, in the black and white parts) are lovers right. tbh i thought this was kind of a gag and forgot about it. but later we find out that the playwright died 6 months into the production. i didnt make the connection that THAT’s why the actor-jason has to suddenly leave the stage and freaks out backstage about how he’s not sure he’s Doing it right. hes not talking about acting!! because he himself is literally grieving his lover while he’s playing a character who’s grieving his wife written by his lover so obviously it’s too much!!! actor-jason is trying to find meaning in his death through his writing but there isnt any meaning in death [gerris drinkwater voice] which is what the play is trying to say anyway. he doesnt think he’s performing grief right even in his own life!!! (and tbh it’s the 50s so he wouldnt be able to perform grief publicly anyway!!!!) the play starts with a car accident… anyone would search for some hidden meaning there, some sign…. so when he talks to margot robbie outside it’s not really about finding the CHARACTER’s motivations it’s about the actor himself being able to process the playwright’s death! and adrien brody director was probably also dealing with that too (him and norton seemed to be good buddies) so the whole “sleeping backstage” thing gets a bit sadder maybe? maybe everyone else got this in the theatre and im just stupid lol but crazy making stuff to me!!! the whole story is about sublimated gay grief that cannot be expressed?!?!

the tweet that caught me onto this was here which posits that the playwright’s death was a suicide but i think that’s pretty stupid and unnecessary because the whole thing about the play asteroid city is that death is random and meaningless. im pretty sure that’s what the alien represents— a shocking and absurd event that isnt outright evil or menacing, not something anyone can predict or make sense of, it’s just a thing that happens to you out of nowhere, it doesnt mean anything. he’s a little black figure, he’s death! giving and taking! aagh

[hellspawnmotel]

🕰️

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Game night results (from this poll)

Character selection inspired from extraterezi's post!

[lizzybeeee]

DATV Spoilers - The Handling of Previous Story/Lore In DATV

Quick PSA: If you’ve read my post on the lore/story threads dropped – it’s not a list of what I expected or even wanted to see addressed/answered in DATV.

It’s pretty much a given that Kieran and the Architect were never going to come back in any meaningful way, I understand that. Questions about what happened to Anora, Anders, Cullen’s clinic etc...never expected to get an answer about them – at all. The line of succession in Ferelden and Orlais? I expected that sometime down the line it would have to be streamlined into one option for both nations, not a problem – there’s so many choices it’s impossible to account for, and I understand that.

This is just a list of plot threads left unanswered that will, most likely, remain unanswered.

There’s no DLC planned – the team is working on Mass Effect 5 now. There’s no conclusion to the fate of the south of Thedas outside of some codex entries and some dialogue. They can patch the Executors cutscene out, maybe - perhaps they could even do the same to anything relating to the south of Thedas. Yes, these areas were not completely destroyed by the Blight – they can rebuild – but it comes across as being so meaningless that I ever cared for these places in the first place. To learn that after ten years of waiting all we cared for get devastated and left in limbo...it’s hard to put into words the bitterness I felt at that realization, and seeing that final cut-scene drove the nail into the coffin of how foolish I felt for even caring in the first place.

A codex entry or letter would have been nice – but my expectations for DATV was solely for a good story that added to the lore and world of Thedas. Instead, it felt entirely reductive – glaringly so when you account for the ‘Executives’ twist.

The world of Thedas has been watered down and its worldbuilding/lore diminished - slavery in Tevinter is non-existent, the Crows being an organization that indoctrinated children is never touched upon, any mystery of ancient Tevinter and the elves is answered (badly!), the Dalish have effectively disappeared and become the Veil Jumpers...it all feels so hollow, so shallow, that I ever cared about these things in the first place.

The issue is that the dev’s gave us only three choices, told us that as the story was contained to the north of Thedas – that our other choices weren’t relevant to the rest of the game with their intent being to not effect anyone's head-canons...before doing so with ‘the blight has devastated most of everywhere you went previously’.

These were story/plot threads that were woven throughout the narrative of the first three games – the things that made me care and become invested in the world of Thedas to begin with. In a game that was set-up to be a direct sequel to Inquisition and Trespasser I hoped that, at least, what was brought up in Inquisition would be mentioned.

Perhaps my list is a little too detailed with plot threads and issues – if anything that can be attributed to the incredible world-building done in the first three games! I love those games, I love the world of Thedas...which is why this game utterly baffles me with its choices.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a good game but not a good Dragon Age game.

----------------------------------

Edit: DATV absolutely has a lot of problems outside of its handling of the lore and story of the previous games. I would not say its a good rpg in any sense, but as a weird 'action-adventure rpg lite' game I did have some fun moments and enjoy myself. Would I recommend it to anyone? Absolutely not.

I heard someone describe it as a 'junk food' game and I very much agree with that statement. I found enjoyment in it, but to do so I usually had to turn off my brain, which is not a compliment towards DATV.

The game released very well optimized (especially considering how most companies are content to release half-baked games and patch them later) and did create some really interesting visual set-pieces like the Battle of Weisshaupt. But those moments I enjoyed were few and far between, and far overwhelmed by the negatives of the game - such as story, lack of conversation/conflict/role-play options, bad character writing etc...

Calling the game 'good' is, perhaps, a stretch, and I totally get that. Calling it 'mediocre with some good parts' may be more accurate.

[smilesrobotlover]

Talon has never been afraid of things that people were typically afraid of. He never understood the fear surrounding spiders—he only found them to be pests that needed to be put outside where they belonged, and he even found some of them cute. Talon never found water frightening, the dark was no issue to him, and he found tighter spaces more cozy than anything. He was scared of monsters, but that felt more like a valid fear since they could actually kill him. But everything else he never understood the fear others had. That is, until he was swept into a different world surrounded by men looking for their respective heroes of Hyrule. Talon discovered that he was terrified of heights. He’s never had to climb anything high up—back then he would have his wife reach high places for him. Now either Malon or Ingo took care of those problems for him since they were both taller than him. But being on this adventure, he had to face heights more times than he’d like, and every time he faced them, his legs would turn into mush and he’d struggle to stand on his own. He always tried to hide it since he already felt like a burden to the other men, but he couldn’t. It was all getting worse when the men found themselves in the mountains, inching closer to cliff-sides that made Talon dizzy. Rusl picked up on Talon’s nervousness and he rested his hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t like heights?”

Talon gave him a look and let out a shaky breath. “Y-you could say that.”

Rusl smiled. “It’ll be ok, we’ll take care of you. And besides, we have Kass here in case we fall!”

The blacksmith gestured to their feathered friend who was chatting with Benji, but it didn’t make Talon feel any better. He didn’t want to put any responsibility on Kass, and he definitely didn’t want to fall in the first place. As the men walked, Talon couldn’t help but notice the cliffside getting closer to them, and he felt himself pressing up against the rocky wall more and more the closer it got. The path turned rocky and rough, and the edge was inches away from his feet. Talon turned away from the cliff, hugging the wall as he shuffled forward. This slowed him down, and the others were far ahead of him, not seeming to care that one wrong step could send them to their death. But Talon didn’t care; he didn’t bother to call for them. He was just focused on his breathing and shuffling along the wall.

“Talon.”

The farmer flinched and looked to his side where Leon was standing, watching him worriedly. “S-sorry,” Talon apologized, and Leon waved it away.

“It’s alright, we just don’t want to accidentally leave you behind. Here,” Leon offered his arm for Talon to grab onto, “you can hang onto me, but the sooner we’re off this path the better.”

Talon let out a breath and complied, not caring that it was childish to do so. Leon walked slowly, yet with confidence as Talon stumbled along. It wasn’t like the first knight to slow down for him, but Talon was grateful for it. He peeked over Leon’s shoulder to spot the others already on the other side, with Rusl watching them anxiously.

“We’re almost there,” Leon assured, and Talon nodded.

“I’m so sorry about this—“ Talon started, but Leon stopped him.

“We all have fears, it’s normal. But that’s why we have each other. We don’t have to face them alone.”

Talon smiled at Leon and they pressed onward. He didn’t know how long they were going for, but it felt like forever. But Leon still held onto him as they walked, so he continued. Sudden shouting from the others made him and Leon pause.

“What’s going on?” He heard Leon yell, but he wasn’t able to hear a response before the sound of crumbling rocks was heard. Leon gasped and he spun around, covering Talon as small rocks and dirt fell on their head. Talon felt his stomach lurch as the mountain shook, and a loud crash was heard in front of them. Leon let go of him and he cursed under his breath. Talon opened his eyes only to see the path in front of them destroyed, and the others hidden by boulders.

“Oh goddesses,” he mumbled, and Leon cupped both hands around his mouth.

“RUSL! AMMON!” He shouted, and it was silent until the two heard a faint shout back. Talon let out a sigh of relief, but was returned to his own predicament. “Well, they’re alive,” Leon muttered, turning to him.

“W-what are we gonna do? The way forward is-is broken!” Talon cried, gesturing to the broken path. Leon hummed and walked towards the edge, then he gave Talon an apologetic look.

“It’s not a far jump…”

Talon’s eyes widened.

“No.”

Leon walked towards him, his hands up defensively. “Talon, that's the only way we can reunite with the others.”

Talon shook his head, but the mountain began shaking again, and another loud crash came behind them. To his horror, the other side was destroyed, and there was shouting from his friends again, this time with the clang of metal. They were being attacked.

Leon grabbed his arm and started to pull him towards the edge. Talon pulled back, stopping him in his tracks.

“Talon, we need to go. Now!”

“B-but—but we—“

“I know you’re scared, but we must get to the others or else we’ll be crushed by rocks!” Leon turned to the gap and ran towards it, jumping towards the other side. It didn’t seem to take much effort for him, but it didn’t make Talon feel much better. “Talon please!” Leon tried again, his hand extended. “It’s going to be ok, we’re close to the end!”

Talon swallowed hard, his heart threatening to beat out of his chest. He had to be brave—just this once.

The farmer started to slowly move towards the edge, his legs shaking uncontrollably as he shuffled. Parts of the cliffside began to give way, and it nearly made Talon fall to his knees, but with Leon pleading for him to hurry, he continued to move forward. He reached the cliff edge and he felt himself grow nauseous as he glanced over the edge. That was a mistake.

“Come on, Talon!” Leon pressed, his hand extended. Talon paused for a moment before letting out a breath.

“J-just give me a moment—“

“You don’t have a moment! Don’t think about the cliff, just jump!”

Talon swallowed again, his whole body shaking now. He shuffled closer and closer to the edge, feeling weaker each step he took. Leon was clearly growing impatient, but he gave Talon a confident look. He could do this. He had to.

“Run and jump, Talon,” Leon said, waving his arm towards him, and the farmer nodded. He just had to trust himself. Talon took a small step back and took a deep breath, then ran to the cliffside. But as his foot hit the edge, the ground beneath him crumbled, and he yelped as he began to slide over the edge. Talon’s hands were waving wildly, and he miraculously was able to grab onto something, stopping his fall.

“TALON!” The farmer looked up to see Leon reaching out for him, a more desperate look in his eyes. “Grab on!”

Talon was growing hysterical as the only thing stopping him from plunging to his death was his grip on the rocks embedded into the rocky wall. He squeezed his eyes shut, not trusting his strength to grab onto Leon.

“Talon please!”

The farmer looked up at Leon.

“It’s going to be ok,” the first knight assured, inching closer to him. “I won’t let go, just trust yourself, and trust me.”

Talon swallowed again, and he nodded. Using all the strength he had, he began to reach for Leon. Their hands were inches away from each other, and with one last effort, Talon swung himself, and their hands clasped together. Talon smiled relieved, as did Leon.

“It’s going to be ok,” he said again, starting to pull. But Talon heard something, an arrow shooting through the air, and Leon let out a pained yell as it was buried into his back. A sudden electric shock went through both of them, and Talon yelped as he lost all strength in his grip, and he let go of Leon’s limp hand. He could do nothing but watch as Leon and the path grew smaller and smaller as he plunged to the world below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Talon awoke with a jolt. He instinctively started to feel himself, checking for injuries, but he found none. He let out a loud sigh of relief, rubbing his hand against his head as everything came back to him. Was it all a nightmare? He didn’t know what else it could’ve been—he fell. Not even a tough Hylian would’ve been able to survive a fall like that. Yet… it felt so real…

Talon rested his hand on his heart and attempted to slow down his breathing. Whatever it was, he was still worked up over it; beads of sweat were beginning to drip down his forehead, and his throat hurt as though he was about to cry. He glanced over to his left and found himself in a clearing surrounded by trees, but no one else was there. He frowned and turned his head to the other side and found a shallow spring with fairies gently floating around it. Yet no sign of anyone. He sat up and flinched at a sharp pain going through his ribs. He groaned and rubbed at the area, trying to breathe in a way to not make the pain worse. Why was he hurt? What happened? Where was everyone? Talon’s questioning thoughts were interrupted when he heard movement behind him, and he spun around only for his heart to stop at the sight.

A large man was watching him from the shadows of the trees. He had long white hair that sat on his shoulders, with strange markings decorating his cheeks and forehead. But what scared Talon the most were the bright, white eyes staring back at him. The man began to move towards Talon, and the farmer began to scramble away despite his aching side.

“N-no no no! Stay away! Please!” Talon begged as the man reached him in only a few strides, but he stopped in front him.

“Be at peace, Talon. I will not harm you,” the strange man said, his hand raised in a way to calm him. Talon’s mind went blank as he stared at the large man, his eyes feeling like they were popping out of his sockets.

“D-do I—do I know you?” He stammered, fearing to anger him. The man’s expression was blank as he stared back at him, but he shook his head.

“No. But I know you.”

That certainly didn’t tell Talon anything. He looked side to side again, hoping to find one of his friends, but he remained alone with the strange man who somehow knew him. He swallowed and sat up, once again cradling his side with a wince.

“Um… Who—who are you?” Talon tried again, and the man simply kneeled in front of him, his expression continuing to remain blank. He was silent for a moment, and Talon wondered if he even heard him, but he finally spoke up.

“I am called the Fierce Deity,” he answered.

“Oh.” Well that still didn’t answer anything for Talon. But he supposed it was better than nothing. “Well… Uh… nice to meet you then. Um… Can I just call you Fierce? Or… something?”

Fierce’s expression was making Talon grow uncomfortable. He couldn’t tell what he was thinking, or if he was thinking at all. Was he even a Hylian?

“You may call me whatever you like,” he said after a long moment of silence. Talon nodded, and he began to lean back, his whole body beginning to shake. He fell backwards and let out a sigh, staring at the sky. With this… Fierce Deity here… It was becoming harder and harder to explain the previous events as a dream. Fierce suddenly came into his view, and Talon’s eyes widened.

“Wh-what?”

“Are you alright?”

Talon let out another sigh, rubbing his ribs. “I–I don’t know. My ribs kinda hurt. And I’m confused. I don’t know where I am, I don’t know what happened to me, I don’t know how you know me or what you even are. I’m just—” Talon’s voice began to shake and he rested his hand on his eyes. “I’m so confused.”

Fierce’s eyes squinted slightly and he left Talon’s view. “I can explain everything to you Talon, but first—” A twinkling sound was heard, and Fierce entered his vision again, this time with a fairy. “Let’s heal your side.”

Talon frowned, but the fairy floated towards him before he could say anything. In a blink of an eye, the fairy swirled around him, and his side suddenly stopped aching. Talon sat up, staring at his side in surprise. He always knew about the fairies’ abilities to heal, but he never experienced such a thing himself. It was incredible. He looked around him but found that the fairy disappeared. He glanced up at Fierce confused, who picked up on his confusion.

“It’s alright, the fairy only needs to return to a great fairy to rejuvenate her power,” he explained.

Talon nodded and looked down at his side, still amazed by the missing injury. Goddesses, he almost wished he could do that as well.

“It is fortunate that you fell closeby to a fairy fountain,” Fierce continued to explain, and Talon froze. Fell. So Talon did fall, so he…?

“What happened?”

Fierce turned to him and once again kneeled down. “You died.”

Talon’s mind went blank. “What?”

“You died.” He repeated, hitting Talon harder the second time.

“I… died?” Talon repeated himself, feeling his stomach sink to the ground. He died. That fall killed him. How was he alive? Did the fairies save him? Did he die when he hit the ground? His friends…

Did they all think he was dead?

Talon began to grow nauseous, and he ran his hand through his hair. “I died…”

Fierce watched him silently as Talon continued to look down on himself. There was no evidence from the fall, save for his aching ribs, but the fairy healed that away.

“Is-is it true then?” Talon asked in a quiet tone, his voice shaking uncontrollably. Fierce tilted his head which was the first emotion he’s ever seen him express. “Is it true that fairies heal you, even after death?”

Fierce was silent for a moment. “Only immediately after you die. If you die long before you can get to a fairy, then you’ll need fairy’s blood.”

Talon felt the blood drain from his face. Fairy’s blood was extremely illegal in Hyrule. In order to use blood from a fairy, it would have to be killed. To kill a divine creature sent from the goddesses themselves was an act of blasphemy. Did Fierce… kill a fairy to save him?

“You… you didn’t…” Talon started, but he felt his stomach churn, and he covered his mouth, feeling like he was about to vomit. Fierce’s eyes squinted at him, once again showing his confusion. “You didn’t—you didn’t kill a fairy did you?” Talon was able to force out.

“No, you died as soon as I reached the fountain. The fairies wasted no time in helping you.”

Talon felt a heavy weight lift from his shoulders and he let out a loud sigh of relief. “Thank the goddesses. I couldn’t live with myself if I was responsible for a fairy’s death.”

The corner of Fierce’s mouth was curled up in a smile, but it went away so quickly Talon thought he imagined it. “I could never harm Hylia’s creatures.”

Talon frowned. Hylia? “Right, well… Thank you for saving my life,” Talon finally said, and Fierce nodded.

“Of course. It is my desire to help Link and those he cares about.”

Talon frowned again. “So you know Link… How—How do you know him? How do you know me?”

“You are Malon’s father.”

Talon nodded slightly. “How do you know my daughter?”

“She is Link’s wife.”

“Ok… And how do you know Link?”

Fierce’s empty eyes stared at him, and Talon swallowed, wishing he could read what he was thinking.

“Link saved me from an eternal fate in Termina,” he finally answered.

It was Talon’s turn to stare. Termina. He’s heard that name before…

“Before I ever saw Link, I always believed that mortals were all the same,” Fierce began, his eyes half-closed as if he were looking down. “They are selfish, greedy, and cruel. They’ll lie to you to benefit them, they’ll steal from you, they’ll hurt you. They use you and then give nothing in return. They imprison you when you have done nothing but help them.” Fierce’s voice had a hint of anger that sent a chill up Talon’s spine. “Link taught me otherwise. When Termina was threatened with destruction, he was the only one who set out and did something about it. I watched him help countless people when it didn’t benefit him; I watched him express compassion that was lacking from other mortals, and I watched him defeat evil, and save Termina.”

Realization hit Talon. Termina. He remembered Link telling him a story about a moon falling in a land and him going back in time over and over again. He always chalked it up as a child’s imagination, but now… was it all real? Did Talon brush his previous adventures away because he didn’t believe him? Guilt crept up on Talon. It was no wonder why he stopped telling Talon his stories. Fierce picked up on his guilt and tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing I just… I think I remember Link telling me about Termina… it’s… it’s real?”

Fierce nodded. “Link understands why you don’t believe him.”

Talon was taken aback. “Oh… well…”

“Do not feel guilty for not believing him.”

“… It probably felt like he had no one to talk to though…” Talon sighed. It was no wonder why Link was always so mature and jaded for a child. If everything he told him was true… poor Link.

“He has Malon.”

He supposed that was true, but regardless, he wasn’t there for Link like he should’ve been. He wondered if he would even want to see him again after this adventure…

“You have no idea how much you mean to him,” Fierce continued when Talon remained silent. “Everything you did for him, he cannot ignore it, nor can I.”

He didn’t feel like he deserved such talk. He didn’t even know why or how the deity knew about any of it. Fierce was large and stood out from the rest of the world like a sore thumb. How did he never notice him there, watching him and his family for the past fifteen years? The thought of it all was making him grow uncomfortable, so he decided to change the subject. “So… Termina… what happened after Link saved it?”

Fierce’s eyes went half closed again. “I’m not sure how he did it, but he left Termina, and he took me with him. I was doomed to remain in Termina forever, away from my Hylia. But because of him, I was able to return to her land.”

“You keep mentioning Hylia, is that a person?”

Despite having a blank expression, Fierce gave Talon a look as if he was stupid. “Hylia, the one who created your kind and Hyrule.”

Talon slowly nodded despite not understanding. He’s never heard of a Hylia who created Hyrule. He always thought it was three golden goddesses. If this Hylia created the land he called home, why hasn’t he ever heard of her?

“I could’ve left Link as soon as I was in Hyrule, but I instantly felt an emptiness where Hylia used to be. Judging by your lack of knowledge of her, I take it she no longer resides here?”

“Uh, no I guess not…”

Fierce stared long and hard at him before turning away. “I see. I was always curious since meeting Link, if Hylia’s influence on the world changed mortal’s nature. But, I suppose it makes sense that they were never influenced by the goddess herself. When Link returned to Hyrule he grew ill and didn’t have the strength to carry on. The mortals simply passed him by, which went against what Hylia believed in.”

Familiarity sparked in Talon. He remembered finding Link again in the middle of Hyrule field, burning up with a terrible fever. So Fierce was watching him the whole time. Where was he?

“You proved me wrong again, Talon. Not all mortals are selfish and greedy. Some are… good, and pure…”

“Wait, what? I proved you wrong? How?”

Fierce gave him another look. “You helped Link, and expected nothing in return.”

Talon frowned. “Is this about when I found him with a fever then? Trust me, I ain’t special for doin’ that.”

“You saved him, Talon. That’s not a small thing.”

“Oh come on! He was a sick kid in the middle of the field! Anyone would’ve helped him!”

“No. No one did.”

Talon froze. “What do ya mean no one helped him?”

“Like I said. The mortals passed him by. Link asked around Kakariko and Castle town for help, but he had no money. No one helped him.” Fierce’s voice grew angry again until his face turned to Talon fully. “You were the only one who reached out to him. He had given up at that point.”

Talon stared at him, shocked. It put everything from that time into perspective for him. Knowing Link, an eleven-year-old boy, tried to get help, but no one did? That didn’t seem possible, no one was that heartless.

“That’s how I know you. I saw the way you and Malon treated him. You may think you’re not a good person because you don’t believe him, but that does not erase all the good you’ve done for him. You restored my faith in mortals, and you saved Link. For that, I thank you.” Fierce bowed slightly. Talon felt his face flush and he turned away. He was starting to hate this praise. It almost felt wrong, especially from a deity.

“It… it really was nothin’. But… um… really I should be the one thankin’ you… for… you know… savin’ my life?”

Fierce squinted his eyes again. “You already thanked me.”

“Oh, well… It certainly doesn’t hurt to thank you again, now does it?”

Fierce stared blankly once again. “Why?”

“Well, like you said, it ain’t a small thing.”

Fierce stared for a moment, then turned away. “You mortals confuse me.”

Talon chuckled. “Well if it makes ya feel any better, mortals confuse me too.”

“But you’re a mortal.”

“Exactly.”

Though it was subtle, Talon could almost pick up an annoyed expression on Fierce’s face, and he couldn’t tell if he should laugh at it or not. They both remained silent for a while, until one more question went through Talon’s brain.

“What… are you?” He asked. Fierce looked contemplative as he looked down at his hand, and he glanced up at Talon.

“I’m not sure. I suppose I am what they call a deity. But I have no divine power unlike the others. A demon is a more appropriate thing to call me.”

Fear pricked at Talon’s chest and he turned away. “So you’re a servant to evil?”

For the first time, Fierce’s expression grew dark, and Talon leaned back. Oh no.

“I will never serve Demise,” he growled. Talon nodded, yet continuing to not understand anything he was saying.

“R-right! Well then… you’re no demon!”

“That’s what we were called in Termina.”

“Well, lucky you, this ain’t Termina.”

Fierce’s expression softened and he didn’t press any further. Talon supposed no one knew what Fierce was, but he began to feel less of a threat to him the more he talked to him. Sort of.

“You should get some rest,” Fierce finally said, standing up. “Fairies don’t rejuvenate energy.”

“Oh,” Talon looked down at himself, admittedly still feeling exhausted from before. But… “My friends will be out lookin’ for me. A-and the puppeteer too… I reckon he’s the reason I fell down the mountain.”

“I will keep watch. But you must restore your strength if you are to continue on.”

Talon sighed. The others could be in danger—Leon could be in danger, and he’d be none the wiser. But his heavy eyelids fought against him and he simply laid back, staring sadly at the sky. His mind began to run rampant over everything that happened to him, and he was struggling to calm himself down so he could rest. He died, he was resurrected, Leon was shot with an arrow, and his friends were either dead, fighting, or captured. How was he going to reunite with them? Will Kass fly down to search for him? Will they try to move down the mountain to find him? Or will they continue on, with Talon completely separated from them? Anxiety pricked at Talon; he couldn’t travel alone, even with a deity at his side. He was a farmer, not a traveler. He wouldn’t survive on his own and he wouldn’t know what to do if something happened. His heart already ached for his home and for his daughter, he didn’t feel like he could handle anymore stress. Tears pricked at his eyes and he rubbed his face, feeling a sob threatening to escape his throat. He was spiraling; no matter how much he tried to not think about his current situation, he couldn’t help but only think about it. It was all too much—this whole adventure was too much. Just as he felt himself go into panic, a soft melody suddenly filled the air. It was a gentle, rising melody that put Talon’s mind at ease. He felt his body relax and his eyes grow heavy, and a thought went through his head.

You’re going to be ok.

Talon took in a shaky breath, tears threatening to spill, but the gentle melody continued playing, and he was finally able to fall asleep.

[ruushes]

modern rpgs ‘let the playable character actually be their own character who is equally as grounded in the world as the other characters’ challenge honestly like. it seems like there’s this assumption that adding too much background to a pc limits ‘player agency’ but that’s not what i personally want player agency to mean? if i wanted to create my own oc whole-cloth i would do that. i want to be told a story about someone who feels like a real person who i then have the chance to make my own through playing. i know some people really enjoy having things be totally open-ended but i am simply NOT that creative okay i need to be thrown a bone here 😭