#the characterisations are a chef kiss

[mooncuress]

i am joining the side of canon vs fanon on the side of canon

[whys-nosense]

doodled some scenes of a fic i really like (all the bells say by @zellink :P)

[appleelevengreen]

excellent characterisation of ares in the pjo show btw. absolutely no notes 11/10

[kateis-cakeis]

You know, I loved how Merlin was such a lil bitch towards Mordred, and while talking about him in S5Ep11.

It's so perfect, we need more of this Merlin in fanfic, like he's so scary! He's so scary and powerful just with words alone! It's wonderful, it's so good. This is the Merlin we should all aspire to write :P

(For the record I'm very very very very very very very very biased here, so goddamn biased, because I genuinely find S5 Merlin to be the hottest version of him, and I'm aroace :P)

[hersweetrevenge]

“I’d love you no matter what.”  “No, you wouldn’t,” he insisted with tears in his eyes.

CLEAN AGAIN (2023) by @slutforstabbings

[image sources: X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X]

[raksh-writes]

damn it, I should be pouring all my energy and brainpower into studying, since it's exam season already and I have two tests on thursday alone, but of course, my brain suddenly decided to start thinking up Star Wars fic ideas, like--

ughhh, brain, it's not the time!!

[robobee]

every time I reread the Underground Basement Pit Scene TM I'm always afraid it'll be less crazy than I remember but instead it makes me psychotic about Henry every time . also if you get rid of the one (1) line about gansey being accurately pegged by a recent acquaintance it literally reads like exes trying to get back together

[waterandsilver]

Late to the party with this book but I just started The Bone Season and I'm obsessed with how Paige's last free action is refusing a meal from her father that's supposed to make her feel better, and as soon as she arrives at Oxford she adopts a role of feeding everyone and healing their injuries

[silversateen]

Oh hot DAMN this so so filthy and JUST ABSOLUTELY HOT AND DELICIOUS AND AHHHH!!!

17+ content, blank blogs dnf

just bsf!dick grayson making you squirt and calling you babe... as a friend of course

“you mean- never?” dick grayson inquires in a flat tone, almost in disbelief. you confirm with a simple and high pitched nope, speaking of all the times you’ve failed to cum using just your hand.

he’s ecstatic at the idea, even if he suspects it’s your attempt of getting him back in your bed. he’s subject to details like this, being your best friend. not to mention you’ve had conversations similar before; but this time is different. this time, you’re having a casual conversation about your bland sex life a week after dick got the chance to fuck the lights out of you; and the chance wasn’t missed, nor a regret. so yes, he sees the bait, and he’s more than happy to take it.

like the clever bastard he is, dick gets you to give him the green light rather than blatantly falling for it. I've slept with people like that, he boasts, you know me though. a few more sneaky remarks and you're sucking the inside of your cheek in defeat before you tell him to 'demonstrate'.

now he’s got a hand down your shorts, carefully situating you into his lap and keeping a steady hand pinching at the fat of your hips. "how's that?" dick asks, circling your clit with generous pressure before slipping right inside. his fingers hit you deep, way deeper than your own or anyone else's, and that little fact has him all the more eager.

calculated efforts nudge at that sweet spot and you gasp, thighs flinching and giving him more room to get a little deeper. you glance at him with an almost awkward expression but he’s already enthralled, lazily tugging your shorts down a bit further with a hungry glint in his eye.

“it’ll feel better when you calm down,” dick coos at you, a sly hand slipping under your shirt to brush over a hardened nipple. “relax for me.” he’s gentle with you despite his brewing impatience, scissoring and spreading your cunt open on his fingers to coax you out of your nervousness. you start rolling your hips and his fingers curl way deeper, eyes shooting open with a soft cry of his name.

“it feels…“ you start with a pleasurable hitch of breath, “feels-“

“good?” he finishes the thought for you with a particularly deep thrust, “I know, sweetheart, but it’ll get better.”

his thumb barely touches your clit and you tremble, arms clinging around his neck as you gasp and whine right into his ear. pretty little noises just for him as his free hand palms your breast, urging you closer and closer into him until you’re moaning into his mouth. from this angle his kisses are sloppy, swallowing up your keens as he finds the speed that has you writhing in his lap.

“yeah- keep doin’ that,” dick manages between kisses, spreading your legs wider as you twitch around him and you swear you hear him moan with you. “just like that, baby- fuck, you’re gorgeous.”

“dickie,” you whine, half outta your mind with pleasure, “‘m close- so close, please-“

“I know, sweets, give it to me-“ he pants with you, lips loosely catching yours just before he catches the perfect angle inside you, “cum for me, pretty girl, c’mon.“

your hips grind into his leg a few more times and you cry, holding dick close and practically crumbling in his grasp as you leak around his knuckles. dick talks you through what feels like a never ending orgasm and his hand fails to stop moving, mesmerized by what he’s pulled out of you, sticky fluids dripping into his palm as your pussy squelches around his fingers and you whine.

“dick, I- shit- I just-“

“I know, babe,” he confirms with a pleased grin, still holding you in his lap with the perfect view of your mess. “relax, remember? lemme try something.”

dick shuffles from beneath you until you’re sitting right on top of his cock, throbbing through flimsy pajamas while he works out a new angle. you’re dazed and a bit confused, still trembling in overstimulation until the coil swells into another rapidly approaching orgasm. he’s nudging at your g-spot over and over with more intensity, kissing at your shoulder while groping your tits and it has you damn near tears.

“you feel that, yeah?” he checks, “deep in your tummy? let it go, baby- let me see it.”

you can’t wrap your head around what he’s looking for, but you give it to him regardless- head hanging over his shoulder with a desperate whine and arching away from dick. distantly, you feel the fabric under you, soaked beyond what you thought normal as he trails off in praise over your moans. “goddamn, that was gorgeous- all for me, huh?” his fingers pump in and out a few more times as the high fades, then removing them to finally rest. “was I the first to see that?”

it takes a moment of recovery—deep and staggered breaths with a low whine before processing the mess. before processing that your best friend just made you fucking squirt.

“oh my god,“ you stumble over words, “i’m sorry, dick, I didn’t-“

“babe,” he cuts you off with the casual endearment again, “you’re telling me no one’s made you do that before?” his hand’s soiled with your slick and cum and he brings it to his mouth with no hesitation, letting you slide out of his lap as his tongue laps around his fingers.

“mm… no,” you mutter while ogling at the hard-on straining his ruined pajamas, “I didn’t… I didn’t even know I could do that,” and after a moment, the awkwardness finally seeps away when he laughs out of content with himself.

“y’think you could give me another?” he asks with no shame, kneeling between your legs with the intent of getting his proper fill. “it’ll be better with tongue, too- when you cum, I mean,” he corrects himself as if he gave away his shameful thirst, like you wouldn’t catch on. like you wouldn’t remember how your best friend’s so easily pussy whipped.

dick doesn’t even give you time to answer his question, though, pulling you to the edge of the couch and suckling on your clit as he locks your thighs around his head. you can tell from the groan that vibrates through you that he’s palming his cock through the fabric drenched in your fluids, and you can tell that he fully intends to pull another orgasm out of you all under the guise of ‘demonstrating’ for you.

“you’re shameless, dick grayson.”

“‘nd you taste good,” he mutters matter-of-factly, “I don’t see how you could blame me.” ❧

[thevelominati]

[lit-in-thy-heart]

two hundred pages of slow action was worth it for this chapter

[connoisseursdecomfort]

The characterisation in this scene is perfect.

A very normal family.

With Yor reading the papers.

Loid making tea for the family

Them having afternoon tea as breakfast

And the dog feeding itself

And the characterisation is chef kiss because guess who's looking out of the window last time

This time, both Yor and Loid noticed what's happening outside, and said we'll keep the light in then.

Loid went to close the curtain while Yor took a glance.

This is peak "We are so normal as a family TM".

[cococincau]

DRDT Fic Recs

As the month winds around to an end, and as I'm doing everything in my power not to write in my fic docs (read: sarcasm and a cry for help), I wanted to do something to share the wonderful works people have made for DRDT through writing.

This will be a long post so the fics and authors are all under read more. I decided to limit myself to sharing 2 fics maximum per author, otherwise I think I would hit word limit, but know that I absolutely encourage you to check their other works out too. I'll structure this post by starting with the fic title, the author, the blurb, and round it off with what I like about the fic/author overall. NSFW fics will be clearly labelled (please do not click on them if you're not of age), but for individual warnings, please check the tags and notes in the fic themselves. That responsibility falls on the reader's shoulders.

Finally, when you finish reading them, please do leave a kudo, some comments, bookmark the fic. I assure you: it'll absolutely make their day.

carnot cycle by rulanarinrush (G, Charwhit) Charles tries to talk to Whit about Whit's tendency to bury his feelings and not deal with them. post ch2 trial au.

Officer, this author right here is the reason I had to limit myself to 2 fics maximum. As I was scrolling through, trying to decide what fics to choose, I was in a dilemma. This Xanace fic is good, but so is this Areivid, and then there's the Verohus... Point being, rulanarinrush writes very, very good DRDT fics. If you want to find a specific ship in this fandom, they've probably written it. Their entire profile is full of high quality drabbles, fit for some fast reading while you admire just how much characterisation and analysis is stuffed into the fic.

Anyway, I ended up settling on carnot cycle as one to recommend. Charwhit is one of my favourite ships while I retain the opinion that Charles is so hard to write. This fic nails it, capturing that eerie atmosphere of wanting to help a friend but not knowing how to do so. You can see their mentalities incredibly well in this. This is the flavour of Charwhit that I love.

todestrieb by rulanarinrush (G, Creator Chose Not to Use Content Warnings, Verohu) Hu attempts to convince Veronika to stop egging people on. Negotiations break down.

Warning: while not NSFW, the fic does have a character be not-explicitly stated to have a boner near the ending.

Wow. If this fic isn't everything so appealing about Verohu. The veneer of civility, the very drastic ways their philosophies differ, the theming of the self. This is very much how I can see them interacting in canon, Hu trying to maintain peace in her own way, Veronika dismissing those attempts entirely. The way that the negotiations indeed break down. Simply put, that's so hot.

Still Traces by CopperPrawn (M, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Leviace + Xander) Ace knows he needs to die, but his body keeps acting on its own. He can’t control it. He can’t control anything. So he keeps on running, until the fog closes in.

While this is a fic that this is still in progress and I know that may put certain readers off, I cannot recommend this fic enough. A Silent Hill AU isn't something that comes to mind immediately to do for DRDT, but my god, I didn't know this is something I needed so intimately in my life until I read CopperPrawn's fic. The prose is so beautifully described, the characters are perfectly written, the tension is embedded so deep into the text. And the way the POVs are played with? Chef's kiss. Please check this fic out, literal dopamine.

[NSFW] Rail Runner by CopperPrawn (E, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Leviace) Life is a racetrack. It’s a never-ending circle where Ace repeats the same mistakes over and over and over again, unable to slow down, unable to stop. But at least there’s one person standing on the sidelines — and even though he isn’t cheering, the fact that he’s there is enough.

I was already a Leviace shipper when I read this fic, but if I wasn't, I think this fic would have converted me. By god, the dynamics between Levi and Ace here, absolutely entrancing. One thing CopperPrawn does so well is capturing the character voices. Dialogue instantly stands out, it feels both realistic and charming, but again, the prose is filled with characterisation. Third-person limited POV is the usual go-to by authors for fanfiction, but this author utilises it in a way that shows off every stylistic feature while giving us a very intimate look into Ace's psyche. And when it's used for NSFW? Honestly, some of the best sex scenes I've read in a good while.

i’m something very far removed and i keep going by 140 (T, Creator Chose Not to Use Content Warnings, Areden) It’s not going to be a pretty death. But it’s going to be hers. Or: Eden gets hanahaki over a girl long gone.

This is as much an Eden character study as it is an Areden relationship study. And it is so beautiful. Fitting for a hanahaki AU, the prose is flowery, but not anywhere close to that kind of purple prose criticism. No, it's compact and filled and brimming with this spot-on characterisation. Every word matters in this. It hits you with so much wham and tragicness that it makes you remember Eden's choice to be positive. The world is cruel, nothing is ever perfect, but even living in that reality, you can make your existence your own.

Exposure Therapy | DRDT AU by Tied_Ash (T, Creator Chose Not to Use Content Warnings, Verocharles) “Who was the one who comforted you during your panic attack?” Veronika asked softly. “Y… You were,” Charles answered. “...But-” “And who’s the one with more psychological experience?” “...You are.” "That's right." ——————— AKA: Veronika found out Charles has hemophobia instead of Whit.

Now this is a pairing that I've never really thought about before. And you know what? Tied_Ash has shown me the light. I've clearly been missing out. The bad end AU we didn't know we wanted but needed, oh my god please keep enabling Veronika as she enables everyone else, including making Charles process his phobia in increasingly worse ways! Also, the way this author writes dissociation, I love it.

from way up in the rafters by finestcigar (T, Creator Chose Not to Use Content Warnings, David & Teruko) David dreams of falling again that night. (In the wake of the second trial, two survivors have a talk.)

In my humble opinion as someone who's obsessed by David Chiem the man himself (/j), finestcigar has to be The David writer on AO3. I 110% recommend their other fics too, but this particular one stands out to me in the way that the two IDGAFs actually GAF, resulting in very disastrous ways of thinking for them. The author has a gift for prose. The final line of the fic? David's not the only one being haunted, I'm being haunted by the number of times I reread this fic on end.

[NSFW] Let Me Give Your Heart a Break by Pegasus143 (E, Huvid) After their icebreaker game, Hu invites David to her room.

Waiter, more Hu and David fics please! Huvid is a ship that I think really needs more recognition. The ambiguity between lies and truth, personas and the real self, genuine emotions and manipulation... the author bridges and blurs the lines between them perfectly. This applies for both Hu and David, they're getting something out of this interaction that they're not quite saying, how someone can say something that can mean something but be seen in a very different way. Voice kinks are not something I actively seek out often in fics, but you know what, I think after this I might just go look for them now.

i feel like, um, just leaving here by sEb_AsTiAn (T, Leviace + Arturo) Levi Fontana and the morning after. Is it even the morning? How long was he unconscious, recovering from near fatal injuries? How long has it been since… since he died?

There's currently a lot of room for speculation after Chapter 2's cliffhanger, and fics are such a great way to explore what could be. And really, it's fun to point out just how wrong Ace's mentality that no one will remember him is. Look no further than this fic, as Levi and Arturo grapple with the ways Ace have changed them, trying to sort out their emotions, with Levi struggling to understand his feelings about Ace while Arturo is forced to confront the possibility (and reality) of being able to save other people for once in his life. I loved their characterisation here, and until Chapter 3 releases, this is, in my mind, what happens between them.

Painting The Roses (Red) by yermie (Not Rated, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death) “Well, wasn’t that a thrill? Another murderer punished for their crimes!” MonoTV’s screen showed a winking emote with its tongue stuck out. “Anyway, enough crying over spilt— well, spilt blood. I thought I’d get in nice and early this time with your next motive.” — As the Second Class Trial concludes, a new motive is promptly offered to the students of Hope's Peak Academy - Blood Money.

I think most people have come across this fic already. Still, I need to recommend it. It's such a good case fic with what could possibly happen in Chapter 3 following the motive parallels with DR:THH. Blood money is honestly such an interesting concept and a creative execution of the motive, the entire fic had my eyes peeled for what would happen next. Given when it was written, I have to applaud the author for being able to discern characterisation so well that it still reads possible even after knowing what we do now after hiatus.

oscillating like the grandfather clock by Anonymous (T, Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings, Whit & Eden + many other relationships) Time has a way of losing its meaning while retaining significance. Inspired by art from @/shira_ceres.

So, the timeloop theory. Love it or hate it, it's still such an intriguing possibility. This fic takes the concept, incorporates it in such a playful and enjoyable way through formatting and POVs and non-linear narratives, and absolutely hits the nail on the head of what's so appealing about it. Whit's and Eden's characterisation here paints so well the journey of how they got here from their past and into the killing game, and as you're watching splices of their life in progress, you feel so well the inherent tragedy of their lives. I am so endeared to Mastermind!Eden and Traitor!Whit now, it just fits so well.

What it means to be a good person by Anonymous (Not Rated, Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings, Areivid) In this world, Eden is the one who takes the fall. Arei is left behind to figure out how to live without her only friend in the killing game.

I wouldn't be me if I didn't include at least one Areivid fic in here. My biases in ships and characters are very much showing throughout this entire list, but I tried my best to limit my Areivids because it would just be this ship otherwise. But, if I had to choose just one singular Areivid fic, it has to go to this one. Anonymous, whoever you are, I love this fic as much as I would my child. It's such a perfect exploration of what would happen if Eden was the one killed instead of Arei, how the world would move if the latter was still alive. The way she so keenly impacts the people around her, how she herself develops from this. It's a tragedy how Arei was killed little moments after she decided to change, it's a tragedy how Eden, so nice and soft and dedicated to seeing the good in the world around her, was snuffed out so easily. Life's a series of tragedies, and it's up to us to decide how we go on from there. This author's writing is so beautiful, I am drawn into the universe that they create.

[xwingsandohs]

this was so beautiful i truly i am a hotch softie

I need a 'you came' - 'you called' moment with our beloved Aaron. Either if he shows up for the reader or the reader shows up for him.

aftershocks

cw; bau!reader, takes place after 4x1 mayhem, descriptions of violence

you couldn't sleep.

you've been tossing and turning for hours, frustrations growing inside you as the clock hit one, two, three am.

you had returned to quantico from new york yesterday, and the adrenaline that had been racing through you the past few days had still yet to lessen. as if your mind and body still believed something horrible was about to happen; you felt as if you were buzzing- with anticipation, uneasiness, fear.

every time you closed your eyes, it replayed. so vividly as if it were happening right before you again.

the franticness the city had fallen into, trying to get ahold of your team and failing, finding out that one of your government issued vehicles had exploded. aaron and kate's vehicle. aaron.

kate hadn't made it. but aaron had.

your mind kept coming back to the what ifs; the idea of sam waiting a few more seconds before initiating the explosion. if they had been any closer...

or, what if aaron and kate had entered the car? they would've been right above where the device had been planted. on the driver's side.

aaron always drove.

you currently choked back a sob at that one.

however, you had managed to keep it together through the case's entirety. how you did so, you still had no idea. and as much as you wished you could've been by aaron's side, at the scene of the explosion, you were selfishly grateful it had been derek, and not you. seeing aaron in that state, covered in blood in a scenario where he could've easily not made it, it would ruin you.

and now, in the comfort of your apartment, alone with your thoughts, it was too much. too much to handle alone.

and only one person could ease your mind. he may not know it, but he meant everything to you.

"hotchner."

just the sound of his sleep-filled voice through the phone brought you to tears. he's alive.

he's alive.

"hi, it's me." you held back another sob, hoping your voice maintained some normalcy.

it hadn't, and within less than a second aaron was wide awake. "what's wr-"

"i just needed to hear your voice." you interrupted, clutching onto your phone with a shaky hand. "i know it's late, i'm so sorry, but-"

"no, please don't apologize." he cut you off this time. his voice was soft- comforting. "what is it?"

"i just wanted to make sure you were okay." your voice cracked in the middle of your sentence, and you exhaled a breath in attempt to calm your nerves.

"i'm okay." he whispered softly, repeating again to give you the confirmation he knew you needed. "i'm okay."

"i was... am, so scared." you admitted, biting down onto your lip hard. "i'm so scared to lose you. in new york, you were so close, too close. you could've..." you couldn't finish your statement, as if it would your somehow change the outcome. make it real.

"i'm here." aaron insisted, his tone firm but exceedingly gentle. "i'm right here."

"i know. i just..."

"do you want me to come over?"

you immediately froze at his question. yes. "no, you don't have to. it's late, and you have jack. so it's fine. don't worry about m- it, please."

"but he's at-"

"i'll just see you at the bau. only in a few hours, right?" you forced a laugh, a single tear falling from your eye. "goodnight."

he started to say something else, but you had already hung up.

after hearing his voice, you felt somewhat better. your heart rate had slowed, but an empty feeling in your chest was still present- as if some unknown force was still going to take aaron from you unannounced. you simply stared at the ceiling, accepting your inevitable fate of doing so until the sun came up, until there was a soft knock on your door.

your heart did a leap as you pushed back your comforter, quickly heading to your front door. as it was nearly four in the morning, the most logical thing to do was check through the peephole to see who the culprit was.

but you didn't. you knew in your heart who it was.

you opened your door to reveal aaron. his hair was still disheveled from sleep, he was still in his pajamas. it was strange seeing him in such casual attire- flannel pants and a grey crewneck- rather that his usual suit, or even just a simple button-up or sweater. it was more personal, vulnerable even.

"you came?" your words left you in a breath as you looked at him in disbelief, your bottom lip already trembling.

there was something in aaron's eyes you couldn't quite place, and you could've sworn you've never heard his voice so gentle. "you called."

just as the other way around, he would do anything for you.

the sob you had been holding in for nearly two days finally broke through your chest, and aaron didn't hesitate to gather you into his arms.

"i'm here." he mumbled into your hair, cries shaking through you. "i'll always be here."

[journey-to-the-attic]

rating all of the om songs (so far) to pass time on the train LET'S GO

i was going to split these into separate posts but Ah who CARES they're all here now. for the intents and purposes of this post i am leaning more positive to the romance aspects (usually i'm more ambivalent). looong post ahead!

(i'm considering the lyrics based on the direct unofficial translations credited to Maon_ObeyMe on twitter, rather than the official english versions)

CHARACTER SONGS

Arcadia (Lucifer) -> Sonically: 7/10 I'm oddly into that one synth that comes in after the chorus. The violin stings are cool. Fun to vibe to! Points knocked off because he kind of doesn't sound like Lucifer, though. -> Lyrically: 5/10 Points removed (derogatory) for "lady", other points removed (affectionate) for the hilarity of "I'm fall in love u baby". You can tell it was written when they were still clinging somewhat to the dominant diet Christian Grey thing, but a lot of the lines are still genuinely romantic (while also being very Lucifer.) -> Overall: 7/10 I scrunch my face when I get to That One Line but otherwise I do pick this to listen to semi-regularly.

Are You Ready? (Mammon) -> Sonically: 6/10 Banger, but repetitive. Good rhythm to walk to. Hirotaka Kobayashi's delivery makes it. -> Lyrically: 6/10 Points docked for repetitiveness, but it's cute to see this side of him verbalised. Gender neutral high heels are a serve. -> Overall: 6/10 I don't relisten to this one quite as much as Arcadia, but I think that's just a genre preference.

My Chance! (Levi) -> Sonically: 8/10 The mixing on his voice is a bit weird, but it fits in with the chiptune sound, which I adore. Really catchy chorus. I also really like that soft bell insturment that's playing along with the main melody. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Really cute! Levi's characterised really well here. I love his little spoken interjections - Satoshi Kada is one of my favourite VAs in terms of delivery. (Levi's lines are some of the best in either of the voiced pop quizzes.) -> Overall: 8/10 Cute and fun to listen to. It's really easy to imagine a music video for this one.

Read My Heart (Satan) -> Sonically: 8/10 Really pretty piano instrumental, but I feel like there could've been a bit of variation. On the one hand, layering in some strings could've sounded really nice, but on the other, it does feel more personal as a solo piano ballad. Shinya Sumi has a really nice voice. -> Lyrically: 9/10 Very sweet, almost poetic, very Satan. The reference to cats doesn't feel heavy-handed. It feels like he wrote it. -> Overall: 9/10 I really like the bridge. It has a sort of lullaby quality as well, so it's nice to fall asleep to, or listen to when you need to calm down.

Pomade (Asmo) -> Sonically: 7/10 It's better-produced than some of the songs I've given a higher sonic rating, but this is more a matter of preference - this song isn't super my style. -> Lyrically: 10/10 EXCELLENT. The journey Asmo goes on? Starting out singing about himself and tempting you, then shifting to singing about you (You are my captive -> I am your captive) - the way it basically reflects his arc in OM S1? Chef's kiss. Beautiful. -> Overall: 7/10 I don't listen to it that often but I do think about those lyrics. They're so good. This is how you write a character song.

Hungry Six-Pack (Beel) Sonically: 8/10 I'm a sucker for that 'wah' effect on the guitar. I really like the rock sound, but I think it was done better in Barbatos's song. (Sorry, Beel.) Kyohei Yaguchi also does a really good job on the performance - you really get the feeling that this is how Beel himself would perform in a band. The interval in "darou" in the chorus is to die for, as is the "forever, forever-ah-ah-ah" in the last chorus. Lyrically: 6/10 Even in songs Beel cannot escape the "they only know how to write him with one character trait" allegations (/hj). To be fair, it'd be hard to get into his deeper character without dipping into lyrics about survivor's guilt, which I feel wasn't what they were going for. Overall: 7/10 I like to imagine him performing this at a bar. Also, total aside, but I really don't like that title.

Dreamscape (Belphie) -> Sonically: 9/10 I'm not usually a lo-fi person, but the vibes are perfect for Belphie and I really like this composition. -> Lyrically: 7/10 Really cute, but pretty basic - then again any of the songs' lyrics seem so when you compare them to the Queen Pomade. I do like how much Belphie's needy little-brother nature comes through here. "Hey, come see me, please?" Makes me want to pinch his cheek. -> Overall: 9/10 The sound alone carries it. I listen to it pretty regularly.

No.1 (Diavolo) -> Sonically: 9/10 Takuhei Yamamoto is giving it so much oomph and it's fantastic and also very in-character for Diavolo himself. He would be that enthusiastic. He would throw his head back and belt like that mic was made for him. (I find the "Sā, hora!" before the chorus really cute.) -> Lyrically: 6/10 It feels a little weird that he's doing the dominant thing in the lyrics here, but his sin attribute is apparently pride, and it's interesting that they chose this characterisation for him given he's usually so affable. (It's not like it came out of nowhere, to be fair - Diavolo basically admits to it on occasion, he seems to just hold it back, usually.) -> Overall: 7/10 Solid song that I don't listen to all that often for some reason.

Crazy About You (Barbatos) -> Sonically: 10/10 Absolute banger. The guitar solo makes me want to run through walls. Masayuki Harada's performance as Barbatos is also both spot-on and pitch perfect. That "Ahh-" leading into the chorus is gorgeous. I'm not the biggest fan of the spoken lines, but I appreciate that they're there for those truly starved stans who don't get nearly enough of him in the main story. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Perhaps oddly I really like his mix of servitude and sternness here. Feels playful in a way that I think really works for his dynamic with MC. (If only they'd utilise it in the game.) -> Overall: 10/10 It's just that much of a banger. Barbatos I'm so sorry for what the NB remix did to you. You were too powerful.

My Wish (Luke) -> Sonically: 6/10 Gonna be honest I completely forgot how this song sounded after I finished listening to it for the first time. I'm not the biggest fan of Luke's voice direction and there are parts in this where I just fully see a full grown man doing the voice. I do really like the chorus (the part that mentions sweets and cream) though. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Just very cute. Pretty much exactly what you'd expect from Luke - another one of those where you can easily imagine that the character wrote it themselves. -> Overall: 6/10 I don't think I've listened to it more than five times, to be honest. I actually quite like the NB remix for this one.

Question Love (Simeon) -> Sonically: 4/10 Simeon what the hell did they do to you. The production is fine, it's just... the autotune? It isn't like Yu Hirata can't sing. Why did they do that? Presumably it's a stylistic thing, which I'm not against, it's just not executed well. (Though it's cute to imagine Simeon himself being responsible, as tech-illiterate as he is.) It's a weird genre for a character like him, too. I was expecting another ballad, maybe with a harp... -> Lyrically: 6/10 Feels quite generic - I feel like Simeon of all characters would have had a more poetically written song, and his relationship with MC could have been particularly interesting to write about. (Though I'm not sure how long ago this was released.) -> Overall: 5/10 He deserved better. I do like the instrumental on his NB remix, though. That deep bass synth in the back is great

Our Destiny (Solomon) -> Sonically: 7/10 Really like those violins on the chorus. The blend of the strings with the more lo-fi adjacent sound is actually really fitting for a character like Solomon. Kazuki Kawata has this really nice smooth voice, and his ad-libbing at the end is pretty charming. The "hey!" on the chorus sometimes veers into youtube_kids_going_yay.mp3 territory for me, though. -> Lyrically: 7/10 I really like that he calls back to one of his in-game phone calls. It's kind of funny that he sounds so sure of himself when there's an almost insecure nature to his affections in NB especially. -> Overall: 7/10 All around good song. Another one who got done dirty by his remix.

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UNIT SONGS

Choose Me (Mammon, Levi, Asmo) -> Sonically: 6/10 I like the big brass sound, but... eh. Feels like something's missing. I like Hirotaka Kobayashi's delivery on Mammon's rap lines, but the chorus in particular feels kind of lacking. -> Lyrically: 7/10 I don't know what this 'love game' is but I don't think I want to participate. I also fully hear "gay" every single time. That aside, the verses are pretty good. -> Overall: 5/10 Not really for me, but I'll listen to it on shuffle sometimes. This one's remix was criminally bad.

Telepathy (Beel, Belphie) -> Sonically: 10/10 Such a pretty instrumental. Is that "ooooooo" in the background Belphie? It does sound like Satoshi Onishi's voice. The twins both sound perfectly in character and in sync with each other (though I would've liked for them to have a verse together.) Their spoken bridge is adorable. -> Lyrically: 7/10 It's hard to gauge the vibes from the lyrics. They're definitely singing to/about each other (they say so in the bridge), and that's clear in the chorus, but there are a few parts where it's like. Is that something you say to a brother?? Did a songwriter miss a memo? Also what does "your muscles are mood" mean. -> Overall: 9/10 It's such a comforting song to listen to. I just get a bit distracted by "your muscles are mood" every time. Belphie. What does that mean. Please

Passion (Lucifer, Satan) -> Sonically: 8/10 Really big fan of the piano. The breathing sounds caught me off-guard at first, but I know to expect them now. I really like both VA's performances. Lucifer sounds like Lucifer again! -> Lyrically: 7/10 I find Lucifer's line "I said that I’d listen with patience and silence, but you've got some nerve to actually continue" kind of out-of-place - it's more consistent with his characterisation in early NB than anywhere in OM when this was released, which is interesting - but the rest is pretty good. I really couldn't imagine singing this alongside your own sibling though. -> Overall: 8/10 I don't tend to choose this one a lot, but I don't skip it if it comes on in shuffle.

Take It Easy (Satan, Belphie) -> Sonically: 8/10 Really fun bouncy instrumental. I really like the rapport between these two here. (Would you say Belphie's in falsetto? Either way, I love how he and Satan take the higher and lower registers respectively.) -> Lyrically: 10/10 God I love these lyrics. They're so funny. The brief moment of sincerity before they go right back to singing about how much they love pranking Lucifer. "Makes me happy" makes me so happy. It's so sweet. These little rascals. These absolute rapscallions. -> Overall: 9/10 I like the sound of Rock On better, but the LYRICS. They're so great.

Rock On!! (Lucifer, Mammon) -> Sonically: 9/10 This one's another banger. The VAs do a great job with the back-and-forth delivery in the spoken bridge (I especially love how Lucifer and Mammon both sound like they're pretending really hard that they don't give a shit on "Yoroshiku douzo negawakuba" together". Lucifer also sounds like he ran out of air on "...omae wa" a little earlier. Lol -> Lyrically: 8/10 It's really funny to listen to them both strut their stuff singing about themselves in the verses and then suddenly get sincere to each other on the bridge. Though I think this song could've really benefited from the "feels like it was written by the characters" approach. -> Overall: 9/10 I just really like it!

Trigger (Levi, Asmo, Beel) -> Sonically: 8/10 This used to be my favourite of these three unit songs sonically, but solely the delivery of "Trigger!" bothers me a little bit. It could use more force, is all. That aside, everyone did a fantastic job and Satoshi Kada in particular served on Levi's verse. -> Lyrically: 7/10 I'm not even entirely sure what's going on in this song, but I like it. I didn't like Asmo addressing you as "kitten", but I did really like Miura Ayme adding a sort of cutesy whining tone to "I'm the cutest demon in the world, right?" - Ayme in general does a great job with Asmo's character in songs. -> Overall: 8/10 Still good! I think my tastes have just shifted since I first listened to it.

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OPENING SONGS

Sinful Indulgence (OM!:SWD) -> Sonically: 9/10 It really is a bop. Miura Ayme's performance is great. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Pretty strong! "Oh baby, obey me!" is clever and very catchy. I only ever use the word sexy as a joke so it catches me off guard when Asmo says it, but that's not really a complaint. The dark-and-sinful nature of the lyrics is really funny when you compare it to the stuff these guys actually get up to in-story. -> Overall: 8/10 It's a good listen and a good opening to the game, even if the lyrics don't really reflect the content all that well.

Devil's Way (OM!:NB) -> Sonically: 9/10 Ohhh whatever that metallic bell sound in the intro+outro instrumental is, it is a tasty sound. Shinya Sumi is performing his heart out and he's doing fantastic. I still can't fully tell if that's Belphie or Levi on the start of the second verse, but whoever it is did a really good job of making it sound subtly unsettling. The bridge starts shifting into edgy territory, but the whole song is teetering, to be honest. Also, I've mentioned this before, but the "sekai de-eeee" just before the bridge is still so good. -> Lyrically: 8/10 I adore the use of "sweetiepie" in the chorus but it does detract a little from the dark vibe they've got going on. Lucifer using 'boku' in this song of all places is bewildering and hilarious. The darker tone definitely fits in with S1 and S2. -> Overall: 8/10 Something about that bridge bothers me. Other than that, banger.

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BROTHER ENSEMBLE SONGS

It's My Party -> Sonically: 9/10 It's a bop. -> Lyrically: 6/10 Relatively basic. From a cynical perspective, the brothers basically each tell you their One Assigned Trait that the writers fall back on when they can't be bothered to do deep characterisation, but that's not the fault of the songwriter. I take psychic damage every time I hear "haters gonna hate." -> Overall: 9/10 I've listened to this quite regularly since I had my friend edit me the version with "haters gonna hate" cut out. (It's a 7/10 with the hater line left in.)

Eternal -> Sonically: 9/10 So nice. I can't unhear the first few notes as See You Again, but the rest of the track is definitely a credit to itself. I feel like there could've been more orchestral build-up, but that might also make it feel too dramatic... as is, it feels more candid and personal. Like you could imagine this being performed to you in a small local theater. -> Lyrically: 10/10 There is definitely bias at play, but hearing this as OM's first sincere ensemble love song made a pretty big impression. The lyrics are so sweet. "My love" is one of those terms of affection that I love so much I don't even mind when it's used on me. -> Overall: 10/10 Again, biased, but this song just has a special place in my heart.

On Your Way -> Sonically: 6/10 It's.... fine? I like the instrumental, but the chorus feels a little empty. Shinya Sumi hitting that high note on "Let's get you on your way" each time is kind of inspiring, though. Belt it, girl! -> Lyrically: 7/10 The "eeny-meeny-miny-mo" is so silly but I love it. -> Overall: 6/10 Pretty standard stuff.

With You -> Sonically: 9/10 Gosh, another really pretty instrumental! I think the seven VAs are definitely more comfortable singing as an ensemble here, though it would've been nice to get some more harmonies... -> Lyrically: 10/10 They're so sappy but that's what makes it work, especially delivered in all sincerity like this. Something about that last line (and its delivery) feels so earnest. -> Overall: 9/10 I'm just a sucker for whatever genre you call this and Eternal. Also, I really like title callback to S2's play (I don't think it was necessarily intentional, but still).

Spooky Night Parade -> Sonically: 7/10 It's a really fun instrumental. I love the little "hehehee....... trick or treat?" in between choruses and verses. They're just little guys. -> Lyrically: 6/10 Just sort of standard Halloween-y lyrics that don't mean too much. -> Overall: 7/10 it feels more like a novelty song than something I'd listen to regularly.

Magic Moment -> Sonically: 9/10 Oooooh that's a nice instrumental. The swelling dynamics are so satisfying, the vocal performances are all lovely. I love that glockenspiel in the back. (At least I think that's what it is.) (I've imagined IK playing it while the brothers perform this before.) -> Lyrically: 9/10 Another "it's so sappy I love it" moment. "I'm so happy I could cry" Like GUYS!! Aw man I love you. They drop three I love yous and they're all great. -> Overall: 10/10 I know the maths doesn't add up but I just really like this song.

Anniversary -> Sonically: 8/10 Strong instrumental, but I feel like the delivery on the raps in the first verse are a little lacking? Asmo and Belphie's verses feel incredibly satisfying for whatever reason. Though Belphie(?)'s little "come on baby" at the end just makes me laugh. I feel like the chorus could've benefited from splitting the brothers up a little (at least for the first two) rather than having them all sing at once. I love hearing them all talk to each other at the beginning, like a behind-the-curtain moment. -> Lyrically: 9/10 "We can't live without you" AWWWWWWWW -> Overall: 9/10 Feels nostalgic even though it came out this year. Another one where the overall rating is based on pure vibes and feeling

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TRIWORLDS

All the Feels -> Sonically: 10/10 Certified banger. Is it something about Barbatos? (His "one more time" in the final chorus is kinda hype.) Feel like there could've been more variety in the instrumental, though. -> Lyrically: 8/10 The verses feel more personal to the characters than in e.g. It's My Party, but the chorus is still pretty basic. It's a little upsetting that one of Barbatos's lines here has more depth to it than most of his characterisation thus far. I find it really funny that they call the listener "buddy." Probably would've been too weird for Luke to say "honey". Also, the "We are dancing, we are dancing (uh, uh)" bridge is so dumb (in a cute and funny way) -> Overall: 10/10 Just a great song to listen to (and imagine choreography to.)

[st-hedge]

I did a speedrun of the ganlink ao3 tag and gathered up as many fics as I could find that I had read and enjoyed (some are missing). U can click on the titles for the hyperlinks, I have made note of the ratings, but to keep the list concise I haven't copied in the summaries and haven't included my thoughts at length. But I've enjoyed them all so here u go :)

Signs of radiance by tciddaemina (E) 20k+ words

I uhh…. The plot goes hard but the… the… is. Is hot AHEM

Come the eclipse by tciddaemina (E) 1.5k+ words

Sequel to ‘signs of radiance’, i’m sending chef kisses to this one

Reckon the stars by ziskeyt (M) (BotW) 60k+ words -work in progress 

Ever read something that is so rich in world building that u feel like u are getting taken by the hand and pulled through a scene

One way or another by wouldyouknowmore (E) (BotW) 4.5k+ words

Yes this one is very hot but what got me hooked is how hard the exchanges made me laugh

To know you by prompoms (E) (BotW) 9k+ words

FILTH FILTH FILTH *breathes heavily into a paper bag*

Overtime by degradedpsychotic (E)  9k+ words

*claws up walls and hangs off the ceiling fan* SO FILTHY AND FUNNY YES

Sweet dreams by tirsynni (G) (OoT) 995 words

This fic is just so sad and pretty 

Touch of forbidden by tirsynni (G) (OoT) 1.5k+ words

Ever see a concept and just go yooooooo

The crown jewel by nicxan (G) 3k+ words

Still one of the cutest fucking fics i’ve read

Hiraeth by acris_kerd (nsfw) (OoT) 30k+ words - work in progress

I will never ever recover from the characterisation in this fic. Absolutely do carefully read the tags if u want to give this fic a shot. The angst is just so satisfying, Link and Ganon are such flawed people who are terrible to each other, and then the gradual development that makes me want to throw myself at a wall. I’ve re-read the available chapters so many times