#the dialogue from option 1 isn’t anything specific

[lenathesingingcat]

You know what I would love to see more of? Reincarnation AUs where the original piece of media is acknowledged. Like, “we were the characters in [whatever] in a past life” reincarnation AUs.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this done, and that’s a shame. Depending on what direction you choose to take it in, this has untapped humour potential AND untapped angst potential!

“So you’re telling me that movie - ”

“BOOK! IT WAS A BOOK FIRST!”

“Right… that was our past life?”

“Yes! And I can’t believe I’m in love with someone who watched the film before reading the book!”

“…That’s… not too crazy, I guess… Wait, you’re in love with me?”

OR

“I remember everything and my boyfriend doesn’t, I’m so happy we found each other, but… what if he reads the book? What if he finds out what kind of person I was? How will he still be able to love me if he reads about what I did to him, about how much I hurt him and others, when he did nothing wrong and loved me unconditionally? What if he can’t? I love him so much, I wish I’d realised that in our past life…”

Why isn’t this more of a thing??

[buffinbonkers]

I’m so sick of veil guard defenders main rebuke to any critique being “tHeY dIdn’T eVeN pLaY tHe gAmE”.

Let’s say that’s true, and???? Let’s say they quit 8 hours in, 10 hours, 15, like how long do you require someone to not have a good time before they can say “yeah it was bad imo”. Like your main defense is honestly that they didn’t play long enough? As if it’s their fault? As if it’s the gamers responsibility to force themselves to play a game they’re not liking and not the producers to make an enjoyable game? Idk maybe apply that thinking to any other game and maybe you’ll realize the crazy and break free?

I wrote my review of not recommended at 8 hours in, and most of the reasons why I still agree at 60 hours.

Some of my reasons:

1. I played as a mage and I can only have three attacks, three spells at any given time. And the list of spells i can select from is pathetic it’s like 9 maybe? CONSOLE exclusive games give you more options with R2 and L2. It’s just bewilders me that this is the level of decision making I get.

2. You don’t really make decisions, not like in the past three games. I’m 60 hours in and I recall making two decisions, killing some guy - who to my knowledge doesn’t pop back up, and saving 1 of two cities. Which again to my knowledge hasn’t TRULEY affected anything really besides a grumpy companion and a missing faction. (I know the city was destroyed what I mean is either way - a city was destroyed)

3. Speaking of factions (which I hate but I’ll concede that’s maybe a more me thing) you have to run around to every shop to upgrade specific gear, like found gear, gear, which you can’t craft or dye, you just level it up, hope you find the obscure shop that sells the upgrade (there’s so many fucking shops) or google it I guess.

4. Companions (which you only have two of at a time now - again a personal thing prob) don’t have health, so every fight could hypothetically be cheesed by just running around (which is actually more effective then the terrible dodging system) while they kill the enemy.

THESE THINGS ARE BIZARRE? I think that’s what irks me the most, is that the things that are bad are unique, like they took a perfectly good way of doing things, and just threw it out the window for some reason. I’ve played so many games and I’ve just never seen a degradation from a prior game to a new one like this. And y’all can dislike inquisition all you want, but it won game of the year, and it won it for a reason, even if you personally didn’t like it.

The one thing that I was like okay it’s improved, is the dialogue, but even then there’s some problems:

1. Someone else pointed out that while there may be multiple options there’s too many instances where they all are nice placating. Not ACTUAL options in difference responses.

2. Personal but I hate that they went away with the like pick and choose what you talk about with this person. Like I’ve mentioned OPTIONS?

Another point someone made was that some backgrounds should be limited to race, no historical instance of quanari warden/non-mage dwarf in all mage mourn watch which I think is valid af.

Misc REALLY PERSONAL complaint that isn’t that important:

Most of the adamant defenders I see mention the improved like life like quality of the companions, but I would like to point out that, you can romance them right up to “do you commit” and then when you don’t it’s never mentioned again, they move on to whoever is matched with them. If you’re in the middle of romancing one and then commit to another it also just completely disappears. Doesn’t seem very life like to me - they had dialogue about it since origins. Even in inquisition at least if you decided last minute not to go with Dorian at least he wouldn’t ask you for gift advice for bull??? Again I know this is petty, but like I don’t want to help Lucanis woo neve just cus Emmerich wooed me. WHICH I COULD AVOID IF I COULD CHOOSE. IN A DRAGON AGE GAME?

Ofc I still will be finishing the game and reading the fanfics but that because I’m obsessed with the series it self. But I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who’s not a diehard fan, I’d just steer them toward inq, and then just watch the what happened after on YouTube.

[aydaptic]

Hope this isn’t a weird ask but I read one of your analysis’ recently and also a post (from someone else) about how that if Connor acted like Nines does in fics (not taking Gavin’s orders, being a smartass etc) that Gavin still wouldn’t like him, so I was wondering if you would make an analysis on why Gavin x Nines works but Gavin and Connor doesn’t.

Short answer: Psychology.

Long answer: Con's overall canon personality -- traits that we have literally no control over even as players picking dialogue options -- is incompatible and undesirable to Gav/Gav's personality type.

1.) Whether ppl like admitting it or not, Con has canon set personality traits that we as players can't decide. He's awkward, a people-pleaser, and a doormat (unless someone is directly in the way of his mission.) The way he talks, allows ppl to metaphorically step on him -- hence the "doormat" metaphor -- sits in chairs, etc.

Someone: "...but he's not a deviant yet!" Nothing in his programming is telling him to be a pushover. That's a choice he's making. We know this bc he can stand up to Hank. Gav's personality type has no respect for ppl who are pushovers in any way, shape, or form. You can literally choose Con to spill Hank's drink. When Gav shoulder-decks/punches him, however, you can't do anything. Con lets Gav specifically push him around. That mindset, with a guy like Gav, is outright abusive. A relationship won't be satisfying for either of them.

2.) "Opposites attract" is BS. Ppl only believe this bc they think they're more accepting than they actually are. They have no actual experience with it. It's an idealized view. Ppl can be drawn to differences -- usually to traits they wish they had -- but both parties are miserable in the long run. If you're a diplomatic person, and your partner wants to throw hands, you're incompatible. Full stop. It's logic and common sense. For any relationship to work happily, your core values have to be the same, or you're living a lie. You're being unfair to both yourself and your partner.

3.) How Gav's personality type works psychologically...

Gav wants to be challenged = Con won't challenge him.

Gav doesn't respect pushovers = Con is a pushover.

Gav doesn't like people-pleasers = Con is a people-pleaser.

They won't even work as friends.

Someone: "Gavin is just like me and I love Connor!" No. You're not like Gav. You wish you were like Gav. If you were like Gav, you wouldn't like Con among many other things, so stop bullsh*tting yourself. The ones unironically saying this don't understand character nuance/psychology.

For anyone saying Gav is, "just like them..."

) Would you take stabs at Hank's alcoholism to his face?

) Would you take stabs at Con to his face?

) Would you physically attack Con?

) Would you pull a gun on Con?

) Would you try to kill Con?

) Would you see androids as nothing but machines?

) Would you laugh at a homicide victim?

If you can't truthfully say "yes" to all of this, no, you're not even similar.

So to repeat myself to tie everything together... why Reed900 works, and the other ship doesn't, is psychology. I won't mention the other ship name bc I don't bring negativity into other ship tags.

[pricemarshfield]

ahh ahh ah general 1, 6; story specific 2, 12; romance 1 for tav!!! <3

this got. unimaginably long. i am so sorry. two of these questions have answers longer than three paragraphs. i’m sooo normal about bg3 why do you ask?

1. Where can your Tav be recruited?  Are they first encountered on the Nautiloid, or in the Nautiloid crash region?  Or are they not recruitable until a later act?

the crash site! you can find her interrogating that trapped mind flayer to no avail, until she realizes it’s no use and uses lightning to fry the thing alive. at that point the player can interject (either complimenting her magic, condemning her brutality, or just sitting silently and watching). she startles no matter what, and then BAM tadpole moment. once that passes and she ascertains you’re not responsible for the tadpole, she offers to join you, saying she’s as much a healer as she is a fighter and could be great help, implying she’s a cleric of a deity of nature. besides, best to stick together in such times, no? and there’s a passive insight check that, if passed, will have the narrator reveal she is being fully genuine in her offer, but that she isn’t being honest about what she is. which leads nicely into:

6. Do they have any secrets that can be revealed?  What are the prerequisites for this secret coming to light?

a few, actually! one can be talked out of her in your first non-recruitment conversation with a high enough persuasion check, which is what deity she worships: talos. that guy wants the world destroyed! what the hell tav! regardless of if the player expresses disgust or approval, she talks with great reverence about the beauty of a storm, about how talos may be one of the tempest’s deities and she may be loyally his but the storm bends for no one and neither does she. (you can also flirt with her here with an “really? for no one? that’s disappointing”, and if you have high enough approval she’ll flirt back. with low approval she’ll scoff and say she’s had better offers from drunken sailors.)

the second is that she’s not NEAR as altruistic as she fronts. the player will find this out if they pay attention to her approvals: for all she’ll verbally condemn cruelty or aggressive acts, she often has no approval change whatsoever or even approves, and always disapproves at refusing money for heroic deeds. you can also ask her about this, but she won’t say anything with low approval UNLESS:

you side with the goblins. she will participate, though she doesn’t approve, and will question your motivations at the party. if you try to threaten her into staying or appeal to your friendship, she’ll laugh and say she really doesn’t care. with high approval, she’ll say she’s surprised that you didn’t realize that already. with low approval, she’ll sigh and say that it’s hardly like she was even trying to hide it, and it’s disappointing that you’re really as stupid as you seem.

no matter what, she’ll drop the righteous holy knight façade by act 2, because at that point she trusts you’ll not kill her for being kinda evil, if only because you need each other.

2. How do they advise the player character on Raphael?

immediate disapproval for taking any of his deals, even if you later tell her you’re not planning on following through. if you’ve managed to get her to drop the holy knight shtick, she’ll add that it’s not that she’s opposed to him on the basis of him being fiendish so much as failing to outline the terms (or the terms being horrid if you say you’ll give up your soul. i actually haven’t clicked that dialogue option does the game just end??)

HOWEVER. in act 3 if you break into the house of hope with her in the party she’ll complain and say that this is stupid. with high approval, she’s just whining and will continue the whole quest without issue. with low approval, there’ll be a roll to convince her to come with UNLESS you have lae’zel, shadowheart, or unascended astarion in the party, in which case they’ll be able to talk her into it with no roll necessary (lae’zel entreating her help on the orphic hammer to free her from/endear her to vlaakith, shadowheart jokingly sighing and saying it’s no surprise a cleric of shar/selûne is braver than a cleric of talos, astarion just egging her on with “you literally cannot stand that man, you’re going to let us ruin his day while you stay behind?”).

if you go to the house of hope and click on “a tour of tempest”, she’ll react to it, and will just “hm. interesting.” you can roll insight to see what she’s thinking. if you fail, it’s a good book! if you pass, she’s Genuinely taken aback that this is something raphael has.

if you have low approval + clicked the book, then when raphael starts singing, tav will be like okay. you know what. i cannot fucking stand [the player character]’s ass and while i DO not trust you, if you help with my tadpole i’ll help you kill them. HIGH dc persuasion or intimidation check to keep her in the party at this point; if failed, she’ll fight alongside raphael and Bam. no more tav 😔 if you bring her back vis withers after this she will scream at the top of her lungs and just try and kill you about it

12. Is it possible for your Tav to be kidnapped and replaced by Orin?  How is Orin's deception revealed?  How do they react to the PC rescuing them in the Temple of Bhaal?

HMMM. yeah sure. i think orin-pretending-to-be-tav threatens yenna like orin-as-lae’zel does (very unlike her, she approves of helping yenna and is generally protective when it comes to children). if you save her, it preempts the above leaving the party for raphael thing even with low approval.

1. Is your Tav a romanceable character?  Are there any specific requirements to romancing them?

YEAH ♥️ i honestly don’t think there’d be any specific requirements beyond a general approval cap. beyond what i’ve talked about before, approval is generally netted by being curious about the world and its magic, respecting her softer side/love of art and adventure (player character!tav is a bard multiclass ♥️ ), and not trying to push her either towards blind faith in or completely breaking from her god, respecting the weird tightrope she’s chosen to walk. if she flirts with you at the tiefling party and you turn her down, she and lae’zel will hook up (and she’ll be very annoyed the next morning if you sleep with lae’zel, muttering something about everyone else in camp having too much baggage for what she’s looking for atm).

[naomitess]

Dear Yuletide Writer 2023

Dear Yuletide Author,

First of all, thank you so much for writing a story for me. I really love Yuletide. I love writing stories for people; I love reading stories written for other people in fandoms I didn’t know enough about to properly request; and I love waking up on Christmas morning with a story written just for me waiting. It’s magical. I have loved every story that was written for me, and I am sure I will love whatever you write.

Things I love, in general: witty dialogue. Fic that gets the voices right. Everyday moments that mean more than they seem to on the surface. Enemies-to-friends or enemies-to-lovers. Female friendships. I like crossovers and AUs.

Things I’m not wild about, in general: Female characters being catty for no reason other than "girls are just awful." Mpreg stories are also a really hard sell for me. (Not completely out of the question, just a hard sell.) Rape, torture, dismemberment are generally not what I’m looking for in a Yuletide story. I really don’t like stories about moms dying. I prefer gen to smut. (If you do want to write smut, please nothing smutty about high schoolers although fic where they’ve grown up a bit is OK and anything PG-13 is fine.)

Specifics for the fandoms (and all optional details are optional; as a Yuletide writer, I love getting fairly specific requests for prompts, but don’t feel like you have to stick with mine):

1. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (character requested: Calpurnia Tate)

I want what I think everyone wants on reading The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate: I want Calpurnia to go to college. (A real college, where she could study science.) I’d love a story about that – Calpurnia fighting to go, going, being there, graduating, any element of it. Any historically plausible college -- Or, if you’d prefer, any story where she takes an important step toward getting a real education will make me happy. Or any story where she does science with her Grandfather, because those are my favorite parts of the books. Or you could use any item on that bucket list she writes at the end of the first book as a prompt. I would prefer not to get a story where Calpurnia’s grandfather dies in the story. If he’s died before the story starts (even quite recently) that’s OK. One of the things I really appreciate about these books is that Calpurnia never surrenders to the demands of femininity. She learns to cook and knit and do various other mandatory tasks because her mother forces her, but never says to herself, “oh, this isn’t so bad,” and the book never presents “becoming a LADY” as the inevitable response to maturity.

I love all the side characters and their relationships with Calpurnia, so feel free to use your favorites or make up some OCs for her to hang out with in college or whatever.

2. Chalion series, Lois McMaster Bujold (characters requested: Tanar Xarre and Surakos Bosha)

I love Tanar and Bosha -- their complicated, intimate, not-exactly-romantic, not-exactly-not-romantic relationship -- and would love to see more of it, within canon or not. Some possibilities:

* Tanar does, as Bosha has suggested, run off and become a pirate queen. Or a bandit queen, a saint, a self-appointed ambassador to some country, anything cool and worthy of her.

* A story set when Tanar is younger, about some danger she gets into and how Bosha gets her out.

* A story in which Bosha is in danger and Tanar gets him out.

* A story about how Tanar, Adelis, and Bosha navigate Tanar and Adelis’s marriage.

* Curtainfic. (I mean, I have to figure that Bosha would spend the whole shopping trip waiting for someone to show up who he gets to has to kill.)

Please feel free to use any of the other characters from the series as well -- if you want to include Adelis, Penric, Nikys, Hekat, or anyone else, by all means feel free.

 3. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (character requested: worldbuilding)

I loved this movie -- it was delightful. I think a story that goes through part of the story from the perspective of the people playing this RPG would be really interesting. (Was Forge previously a PC? Did he drop out of the gaming group and move away? Did the GM make him a villain because they were mad at the player, or did the player say, "feel free to have me come back as a villain, that would be GREAT!") I would particularly like it if any of the characters are being played by someone of a different gender from the character (or someone who initially thought they were playing a different gender, then realized they weren't), if Kira is someone's actual kid who gets to pop in and role-play until bedtime, if someone is playing TTRPGs for the very first time…

4. The Saint of Steel series (characters requested: Zale, Worldbuilding -- either/or)

I love Zale so much. SO much. I also just love the whole concept of the Temple of the White Rat. I would be happy with anything related to either Zale or the Temple of the White Rat. I realize "I love all this stuff so much" is not much of a prompt, so here are some ideas:

Zale has to handle some profoundly petty legal problem (along the lines of someone demanding a small personal item back from a former roommate) that escalates.

The Temple gets wind of one of the other swords (like from Swordheart), and sends Zale out to handle it.

Zale has to handle a child custody dispute.

Something in which the Temple of the White Rat exists in some version of the modern world.

A story in which the White Rat called a paladin and decided they were a lot of trouble and the Rat could stick with lawyers henceforth.

A story about how the White Rat calls devotees (does the Rat call people? Or do people just find their way to the Temple and get adopted?)

Seriously, anything sounds great. I also love all the other characters: feel free to include as many as you want (or to invent OCs).

Thank you, and happy Yuletide!

[verumyn]

I wrote this for my English class but I thought tumblr might like it

Recently I’ve been playing the Witcher 3. After watching my boyfriend play through God of War 4 and God of War: Ragnarok, it’s been interesting to notice the subtle differences between Geralt of Rivia and Kratos. Both are stern, quiet, guilt-ridden men with children. Geralt didn’t quite willingly become Ciri’s father figure, she is much older and independent than Atreus, and she isn’t traveling with Geralt (where I am in the game, at least.) As a result of these differences, Kratos is much more focused on passing on lessons to his son, and his morals come to the forefront of the game often in that way. He hides parts of himself, trying to protect Atreus and spare him any influence from Krato’s past. I see Geralt’s moral perspective come through mostly through his own choices. You can somewhat change Geralt’s moral disposition yourself in the games. I most often try to pick the most honorable/kind/moral moral option, and even at that level of dialogue, Geralt comes across to me as more morally gray than Kratos.

(Spoilers for Wild at Heart side quest in the Witcher 3)

I was considering Geralt’s sense of morality (and my own) during a specific side quest. A man, Niellan, said his wife had gone missing. His sister-in-law, Margrit, urged us not to look for her (suspicious, right?) We find his wife, Hanna, dead in the woods - killed by a werewolf. A short investigation reveals that Niellan is the werewolf. He would lock himself up in a cave under his hunting lodge and hope he didn’t hurt anything. The only choice given to us by the game is to wait for night to fall and attack the werewolf. Once Niellan is defeated, Margrit appears and begs us not to kill him, for she loves him, confessing to luring Margrit into the woods to be killed by Niellan during his transformed frenzy so they could be together. Niellan responds, saying, “I will kill you willingly. First time for that. You showed no mercy for your sister, and so I will show no mercy to you.” We then have the choice of killing Niellan to save Margrit, or to let Niellan kill her. If we let him kill Margrit, we encourage Niellan to stay out of our way, so he may continue living his life in peace, but he begs for us to kill him - and so we do.

I thought to myself - I would have much preferred if there was a third option to try and deescalate the situation, and let both parties live. Geralt seemed to have two options for werewolves in his mind. 1) Cause trouble and I’ll kill you, or 2) I’ll pretend I didn’t see you, stay out of my way. Having lived a life of violence himself and often being compared to a monster without empathy, I would think that Geralt could offer a werewolf mercy and, perhaps, options on how to mitigate the damage of their curse. Niellan already was managing his lycanthropy the best he could - and it was only Margrit’s manipulation of the situation that led to Hanna’s death. So why did Geralt see his only option as staking out in the werewolf’s lair and killing it? I suppose he saw the danger of letting Niellan live to be too much - but his later decisions speak to him being willing to bend that - he offered mercy to Niellan, but only AFTER he murdered Margrit for what she did. Perhaps it’s a weakness of the writing, but to me it also signifies a character trait of Geralt - that he does what he thinks is necessary, but that seems to change and bend with context, maybe without the most forethought and wisdom.

(Spoilers for the end of God of War 4)

Kratos, contrastingly, I think showcases his morals very clearly in his final fight with Baldur. He only fights to defend Freya (Baldur’s mother) - and several times over gives Baldur the chance to walk away. He only enacted the final blow when Baldur was seconds away from murdering his mother. Kratos shows consistency, which I think only comes from the deep reflection he has done on his past and the value of his life moving forward.

[shitposts927383828]

!!Fanfiction read flags!!

This is my option not facts. Just what I think are red flags or stuff I read once and dip bc I don’t like it. Blah blah blah, if your feelings get hurt cry about! Love y’all tho <3

This applies to wattpad and Quotev bc I frequent those ones the most. Others may apply but I don’t really know.

I read and enjoy X Readers! So some will be X Reader specific rules!

Section 1: Judging a book by its cover (and its description):

1. When it has no cover. Like I get it, I make my own and they suuuckk but come on. Try? If ya didn’t try for the cover you probably didn’t try with the book so I’m moving on. Sorry.

2. When their is no description. Negative points if it says “read to find out” or “too lazy for a description.” I DONT KNOW WHAT IM READING BC THEIRS NO DESC SO WHY WOULD I READ IT!?

2. Emojis in Description. That’s when you know it’s written on a phone and I don’t care. A bunch of great ffs were written on phone. But that screams younger person to me and no offense but only y’all would use emojis. PLUSH I HATE HOW THEY TAKE AWAY FROM THE STORY?! I’ll be reading and then I’ll be a

3. When the title and desc have nothing to do with the story. Shit will be titled “ghost of you </3” or “broken promises” and have nothing to do with ghost or dead people or anything of the sort. AND have nothing to do with broken promises. Like why is it titled that way when it has nothing to do with the story??

(^ This one isn’t serious but a nitpick)

_____

Section 2: RED FLAGS! Lets go:

1. When the author uses an OC instead of Y/N. I’ve written for Y/N! Almost exclusively! It isn’t hard! And y’all will sit their and say it is. ALL WHILE TAGGING YOUR SHIT WITH Y/N? OR READER? READER INSERT, X READER? Then her name is Luna or some shit.

1.5. When the author uses an OC instead of Y/N. Back at it again but this time your SO close. Then you give her blue hair or green eyes and pale skin. YOU USE Y/N BUT YOU GIVE HER AN APPEARANCE! And your so close to being right it hurts.

3. More notes the story. I get it. You want to talk with ppl reading your books, you know it’s fun to see comments and stuff! But I didn’t come here for your life updates and stuff. Sorry but I came to read my SpongeBob x Reader not for 7 A/Ns in a row! If it isn’t related to the book, don’t add it to the book. If it is, don’t make the Authors note SEVEN DIFFERENT CHAPTERS!

4. Sigh. When the character dialogue looks like this:

(Joe: Omg! We can’t do this!

Anna: yes we can! Don’t give up!

Anna said as she jumped off the building. Joe closed his eyes and took a leap of faith after her.)

I don’t Care if it’s the best written story in the world. It could have the most moving chapters but. No. I just can’t. It’s diifrent if the characters are texting or doing something else but this isn’t it. Pls stop.

5. Emojis. Again. Okay, I just hate emojis on fanfictions. Like cool! Awesome. But come on! Even if the characters are texting it takes me out of the story.

6. Stories that haven’t been updated in FOREVER. Look at the last updated thing BEFORE YOU READ. It’s always the best fanfictions so I’d advise to not get into it if your not prepared for heartbreak when you get to the not really last chapter but last chapter.PLEASE UPDATE!

7. When the author is arguing with people on the comments. You could be right. But if leaves a bad taste in my mouth that your entertaining the trolls and didn’t just delete the comment. And if your wrong and fight with me or someone I’m on the side of? Haha I’m out, dipped.

8. I hate it when people will tag stuff just to complain about something. Like stfu I came here for bnha Not your complaint about how the omegavere is sexist and “how can anyone read this??”. Firstly, Don’t like it don’t read it. It’s simple but secound of all HOW COME ITS TAGES BHNA? LEAVE ME ALONE IM JUST TRYING TO READ MIDORYA ANGST!!

8. When someone gets pressed OVER FANFICTION LMAO! Like it’ll be a fanfiction about suicide. I get it. It’s a hard topic, I myself have struggled with it in the past. Trying to commit 5 separate times. I clicked on the fanfiction myself bc it helps sometimes. BUT THEN SOME DUMBASS WITH BE IN THE COMMENTS “this is romanticizing suicide HOW COULD YOU?”

LIKE STFU it isn’t for you! Again! Don’t like it don’t read it! It HELPS some people cope with it. Like myself!stuff like that CAN help people cope with stuff! You don’t know who’s writing it, you don’t know who’s reading it. If you can’t read it, don’t. But leave it alone. It helps, even if you don’t think so it does.

Fanfiction shit I don’t mind. (This is mostly me making fun of you now)

1. I’ve grown past spelling errors. My mind autocorrects them for me. Their apart of fanfiction! Deal with it! I’m so tired of seeing ppl complaining about it. Like if it’s really bad (like can’t understand the word bad) then fine, sure. But if it’s just something like “the vhair moved forward scratching the wooden floor below it” then move on! ONE OF YALL can call it out. But if it’s the whole comment section just know your a bit annoying.

2. Op main characters. Ima be really honest here. Y’all will hate so fast on a op main character. Screaming “Mary Sue! Mary Sue!” When the character genuinely has flaws and is interesting beyond their powers and shit. Can’t a main character just start off strong? I swear sometimes the main character is weak asf and their are still comments being like “she’s kinda op can we make her weaker?” Or some dif way of saying it. The my hero ff commenters are the worst with this. OC/Y/n could actually have “heart attack” as a weakness and the comments will still be on about how she’s too strong.

Personally I like really strong main characters, Sue me.

Okay! So that’s all for today! Obviously some things might be missing or certain pet peeves I just forgot. I tried to keep it as stuff I’ve seen other ppl complain about too and just… I don’t know. \_0_/

______END NOTES.

At the end of the day fanfiction writers are providing FREE entertainment for us. Unpaid, unappreciated, hours sat at the computer… writing… and writing… then your friend gets hit by a bus and you still have to post an update…! Anyway! Theirs doing US a favor by writing. So no hate. Thank you for providing me a source of joy! (read: JJK X READER FICS)

Thank you for writing these stories, and don’t mind my nitpicks and such. This is just here for me to get out of my system as I’ve been holding it all in for as long as I’ve been reading fan fictions. (8 years)

Expect you Fake X Reader Folks. Fuck you for tagging it that way and blocked. (Not the Y/Ns with appearances I still love you but my hair isn’t red)

THANK YOU! For coming to my Ted talk! <3

[satelliteaccident]

Writing Elytically: This Time, It's Details

(Last time, it was big-picture stuff!)

So you want to format your fic like the game

I'll start with two words: collect screenshots. The more in-game references you have for those "but how does the game do X?" moments, the easier it will be to find answers.

In addition to screenshots, try FAYDE, which is a searchable database of in-game text (including variables!) and a load-bearing part of my DE ficwriting process. I cannot say enough nice things about it and about @morgue-xiiv, who made and hosts it.

Next up: keep a style sheet, and update it like Kim will be *disappointed* if you don't.

What goes in a style sheet? All the zillion formatting guidelines and decisions you make when you put word to keyboard.

For example, while there are exceptions, the game's skillset dialogues usually follow this case-sensitive template:

SKILLNAME [Difficulty: Outcome] – What the skill says goes here, and it doesn't take quotation marks.

When you plug in the specifics, the result looks like this:

RHETORIC [Trivial: Success] – Words can be exchanged for goods and services.

Note the square brackets and the space-en dash-space that follows them. An en dash is this guy – not a hyphen (that's shorter -) or an em dash (that's longer —).

Also, the body text/content of dialogue uses different dashes again: two hyphens in a row. Here's what that looks like:

I took a screenshot because on Tumblr, some browsers will automatically convert two consecutive hyphens to an em dash, which is a great way to make copy editors very sad.

Exceptions

We actually just saw one! That's because Perception follows:

PERCEPTION (SENSE) [Difficulty: Outcome] – What the skill says goes here, and it doesn't take quotation marks.

. . . except sometimes, when the game does it like:

PERCEPTION (Sense) [Difficulty: Outcome] – What the skill says goes here, and it doesn't take quotation marks.

I'll never know why they're different, but I would guess the team didn't have a "final reads are FINAL, stop re-writing after them you hooligans" policy, which intellectually I recognise is unlikely to end in apocalypse and emotionally I experience with the editorial equivalent of the meat sweats.

Another exception: Coach Physical Instrument just yells at you without following the template, which seems on brand:

COACH PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT – Bracing yet homophobic encouraging-slash-berating goes here!

Weirdly(?), Limbic System and Ancient Reptilian Brain do the same.

Other skills follow the template first, *then* just chime in the second-plus time they appear in a single dialogue event, like this trio from The Whole Sorry Way Down:

VOLITION [Challenging: Success] – Hey. Loser! This isn’t your bed. Get up. PAIN THRESHOLD [Medium: Success] – Oh, *god*.  PERCEPTION (HEARING) [Easy: Success] – Was that springs? And footsteps? They were moving away from you. VOLITION – What? Who cares? Get up, and cut the dramatics. PAIN THRESHOLD – They’re not dramatics. You’re in pain.  PERCEPTION (HEARING) – That’s… definitely footsteps. Getting closer, this time.

Oh my god, what else?!

SO MUCH ELSE. Let's see . . .

Active skill checks

Can I find a screenshot of one at the moment? No, because that would be easy. *facepalm* But here's how I formatted them in M+P when I was still obsessively checking the game to see how these things worked:

1. [Skill Level#: Difficulty] [Thing you're going to do.] "Thing you're going to say, if anything!"

And a concrete example:

YOU – 1. [Strike a Sam Bo pose.] “If you can best me in HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT.” 2. [Move aside.] “Sure, c’mon in.” 3. [Composure 15: Heroic] [Move aside.] “Of course. I’ve missed you.” Composure: Failure YOU – You move aside and get as far as “Of” before some involuntary emotion-muscle spasms. Your throat feels small, your face hot. Fat, guileless tears vanish into your beard.

Note that the dialogue option you "select" is bold, as is the outcome line. Also note that [Action you'll take] ends up in square brackets, but if you're going to lie, then you do it like so: (Lie.)

Miscellanea

Place names: Spelling and hyphenation can be a pain. If not using your own notes, I suggest FAYDE and screenshots; or, for variety, screenshots and FAYDE. Google is okay, but sometimes, it lies.

If you can't find evidence of how the game does it, make a decision and slap it in your style sheet. You're the captain now!

Tricky fish:

The place is Sur-la-Clef; the language is Suresne.

The place is Vesper; the language is Vespertine.

The place is Revachol; the demonym is Vacholière (Suresne) or Revacholian (Vespertine).

LA REVACHOLIÈRE – IF SHE IS SPEAKING, SHE SPEAKS LIKE THIS. Shivers doesn't, though, unless La Rev speaks "through" it.

Hjelmdallermann (bless you)

Satellite Officer X or Satellite-Officer X: The game does both, so pick the one you prefer -- or go full homage and switch it up.

Sam Bo

Wirrâl (I fucked up the accent in M+P and it still bothers me tbh)

There are always more, so keep adding to that style sheet. Kim's depending on you. <3

[leejungchans]

hi !! this blog hit 1k a while ago, and i just wanted to let you all know that your support and love really do mean the world to me and i hope you’re all doing well ☹️❤️

as a thank you, i’m opening up requests again (which is very long overdue ;;;;) !! please read the rules under the cut carefully before requesting <33

have fun !!

groups i write for: stray kids, seventeen, ateez

genres i write: fluff, angst (i usually sprinkle in some humour wherever i can hehe)

what i write: drabbles, headcanons/reactions

requests: closed

requests will close on june 1, 12am kst (subject to change depending on how many requests i get lmao) so any requests sent after this time won’t be written! thank you for your kind understanding!

I. GENERAL RULES

please be respectful <3 if you’re being entitled/rude, i have the right not to write your request

please be patient!! while i’m on break i still have an online course to take, so if you want your request done super quickly i’m probably not the best writer to go to :( i’ll try my best to finish your request as soon as i can but there is no set schedule for when it will be posted. i want it to be as best quality as possible so i hope you can understand <3

i’ll include a list of all the requests i’ve received below as well, so you can check the list to see if i’ve gotten your request. if you don’t see yours after a day or two it might be bc tumblr ate your ask so feel free to send another!!

i take member x female/gn reader requests: if the reader is not specified as female in the request i’ll write them as gn with they/them pronouns!!

nothing nsfw, suggestive, or contains gore, violence etc.

please specify if you’re requesting a drabble or headcanon

you are more than welcome to request a few times, but please don’t spam my inbox as i’d like to write for as many people possible <3

if any details (eg. drabble or headcanon/reaction, genre) are not specified in your ask, i’ll write what inspires me/works better for me with the info given!!

i have the right not to write anything that makes me uncomfortable, so feel free to ask if i’m comfy with writing something that isn’t mentioned in this post!! chances are if i’m not (and you’re not being a jerk about it hwjsjaj), you are more than welcome to send in another request <3

requests are open to everyone!! you don’t have to be my moot/be following me to request 💗 feel free to request on anon as well if that’s what you’re comfier with!!

II. FOR DRABBLES

→ send me an ask with:

1️⃣ 1-2 aus from the list below

2️⃣ the genre(s)

3️⃣ one member from the groups i write about

4️⃣ the reader (f/gn)

5️⃣ optional: anything else you want me to include—plot point, prompt, a certain line of dialogue, etc. i’ll do my best to incorporate it into your request!! it’s also completely okay if you want to skip this part, it just means i have a little more creative liberty with what happens in the drabble!!

example 1: hi sol! can i request a royal au drabble (fluff) with minho (skz) and female reader [optional: where he’s a prince who develops a crush on a seamstress after helping her find her cat]? thank you!!

example: hey! can i request a lovers-to-exes drabble (angst) with hongjoong (ateez) and gn reader [optional: with the prompt “if you leave, don’t come back”]? thank you!!

III. FOR HEADCANONS/REACTIONS

→ send me an ask with:

1️⃣ the member or group

2️⃣ the reader (f/gn)

3️⃣ what you’d like it to be about (feel free to be more specific as long as it’s within my guidelines!!)

→ i can either write for 1) a single member or 2) the whole group

you don’t have to use the au list below for requesting headcanons/reactions, but you can reference it to get an idea of what i write about!!

example 1: hey!! can i request a headcanon about chan (svt) and gn reader where he’s a barista and starts liking them after they order a weird drink? thank you!!

example 2: hi! can i request a headcanon about how ateez would react to their s/o getting shy after giving them a kiss? i’d like the reader to be gn please!!

IV. LIST OF AUS FOR DRABBLES

this list by @/ficscafe includes a lot more aus to choose from but there are some on it that i don’t write for, so feel free to reference the list and ask if you’re unsure :’) i don’t bite i promise <33

please choose 1-2 aus per drabble request!!

established relationship au

newlyweds/marriage au

parents au

enemies/friends/idiots to lovers au

lovers to exes/friends/strangers au

meet-cute au

fantasy au (eg. witch, shapeshifter, mermaid, fairy…)

high school au

university/college au

roommates au

neighbours au

coffee shop/barista au

florist au

royal au

tattooist au

badboy/girl au

actor/singer/celebrity au

bakery au

blind date/first date au

fake-dating au

soulmates au

V. LIST OF RECEIVED REQUESTS

crossed out = completed

you’re more than welcome to ask ab the status of your request (eg. if i’ve received/started to work on it), but please don’t rush me :( i have a life outside writing and as stated in the rules i’d really appreciate it if you could be patient 🤧 ty for bearing with me

drabbles.

joshua (svt) + newlywed au [f]

jeonghan (svt) + f2l/blind date au [f]

mingi (ateez) + i2l au [f]

hoshi (svt) + parents au [f]

jongho (ateez) + established relationship au [f]

seungcheol (svt) + bakery/florist au [f]

jeonghan (svt) + bakery/tattooist au [f]

joshua (svt) + idol/parents au [f]

joshua (svt) + parents au [f]

mark (nct) + airport reunion au [f]

mingyu (svt) + newlywed au [f]

chan (svt) + university au [f]

wonwoo (svt) + cafe au [f]

jeonghan (svt) + e2l/neighbours au [f]

seokmin (svt) + i2l/theatre au [f]

wonwoo (svt) + parents au [f]

jaehyun (nct) + meet-cute au [f]

wonwoo (svt) + royal au [f]

minho (skz) + royal au [f]

vernon (svt) + florist/college au [f]

san (ateez) + royal au [f] [a]

wooyoung (ateez) + e2l au [f]

wooyoung (ateez) + coworkers au [f]

hongjoong (ateez) + pirate/soulmate au [f]

mingyu (svt) + fantasy/domestic au [f]

minghao (svt) + badboy au [f]

san (ateez) + soulmate au [f]

wonwoo (svt) + biker au [f]

wonwoo (svt) + domestic au [f]

minghao (svt) + model au [f]

woozi (svt) + music teacher au [f]

joshua (svt) + fantasy au [f]

joshua (svt) + parents au [f]

joshua (svt) + neighbours au [f]

chan (svt) + honeymoon au [f]

seokmin (svt) + knight au [f] [a]

chan (svt) + established relationship au [f]

jun (svt) + established relationship au [f]

soonyoung (svt) + mutual pining au [f]

chan (svt) + high school au [f]

(please note that i won’t be writing for groups outside ateez, skz, svt for this event with some exceptions for friends, so if we’re not close please stick to these three groups! thank you for understanding 💗)

headcanons/reactions.

svt as new parents [f]

seungkwan (svt) + uni au [f]

fake dating svt [f]

ateez as baristas [f]

ateez pirate au [f]

jisung (skz) + e2l au [f]

meet-cutes with svt [f]

svt’s reaction to you clinging onto their shirt while asleep [f]

svt’s reaction to the camera panning to them when idol!s/o is on stage [f]

chan (svt) + barista au [f]

svt’s reaction to you being a witch [f]

svt as streamer bfs [f]

playing horror games with svt [f]

svt as your uni boyfriends [f]

svt’s reaction to collabing with your group [f]

perf unit (svt) falling for their dance partner [f]

VI. OPTIONAL

this is totally optional, but i’d love to raise interactions on this blog since at the end of the day, the connections and friendships i made here are what brings me an indescribable amount of joy aside from writing 💗 so if you want feel free to stop by my inbox, anon or not!

you can ask for recs! ask me about biases! tell me about yours! rant about things! share about your day! confess something! ask me to confess something (lol)! ask for advice (though i’m not sure if you want to come to me for any advice wgshhw)! there’s really no limit hehe all i ask is that you be kind and avoid any nsfw topics ^^ i hope you’ll send something in and we can get to know eo 😽

thank you once again for all the support and love, and i hope you’ll send in a request/ask!! take care 💗💗

[overthinkingfandom]

Cards on the Table - Breaking down the tactics in L'manburg Independence

/rp /dsmp

Much has been said in the fandom about L'manburg's independence. It is, after all, arguably the most important moment in DSMP's history, as the rest of the story wouldn't have existed without it. 

In light of the recent anniversary of it, yes I know I’m late, I wanted to throw my hat in the ring and add something to the discussion surrounding it. However, as the morality of the situation has been discussed to death I'll be taking a slightly different approach to it. 

Due to the nature of the DSMP's medium, the story has many unique quirks. One of those quirks is how realistic the tactics used in the story's portrayal of politics are. The independence conflict is a great example of it. While on the surface things seem to be rather simplistic in nature, there's a lot more going on that’s less obvious.

Both Wilbur and Dream are brilliant politicians who get to show both their strengths and weaknesses in dealing with an equally skilled opponent in this encounter. There’s actually quite a bit to go into, despite their interactions being so short.

When most people think about the L'manburg's independence, they think about the moment the declaration has been written up and the subsequent declaration of war. While this moment is certainly iconic, it's not really all that impactful in the grand scheme of things. Both declarations are the culmination of decisions that have been made beforehand. It's the moment when those decisions were made that really influenced things.

Conveniently, Wilbur and Dream only hold a single conversation about L'manburg before the declarations are drawn up, so we don’t need to look far in order to figure out where those decisions were formed. 

Wilbur has been working on L’manburg, collecting materials and building the wall surrounding it, for almost an hour when he spots Dream lurking. “Get [Dream] into the VC, I need to talk with him. He’s the leader of the other nation, I think we need to have a congress.” (52:44)

Dream: “Hello?”

Wilbur: “Hello Dream. Welcome to our great nation of L’manburg.”

Dream: “L’manburg?”

Wilbur: “Yes. We are seceding from Dream SMP. This is our own server now. This area, just this part [between the walls of L’manburg], is our server.”

Wilbur doesn’t waste any time before getting right down to business and talking about the matter at hand. However, the way he speaks about it here and in the rest of the conversation is fairly interesting. Wilbur is talking about L’manburg as if it’s something which already exists. They are seceding. This is their land. This conversation is merely a courtesy to give Dream a formal notice of their separation.

Yet, a bit later Wilbur shows he knows they need Dream’s acknowledgement in order for L’manburg to be its own entity. Independence is not a concrete thing that can just be taken or created on one person’s whim, after all. It only exists when the people with power agree it exists. 

Wilbur: “Dream, basically all we want from you is just acknowledgement that we are an independent nation now. That’s all we need.” (56:20)

So if Wilbur knows they aren’t independent yet, why is he talking like that? 

It’s because he’s using a salesman technique called an Assumptive Close. Instead of posing it as a question and putting the choice of agreeing or disagreeing in Dream’s hands, Wilbur acts as if it’s already true and leaves the burden of challenging his claims on Dream’s shoulders. He even moves on to ask secondary questions on how Dream feels about having embassies in his land (and notably he frames it as a question, unlike how he frames the topic of L’manburg’s independence) as if L’manburg is already a political entity. 

Wilbur: “Dream, I’ve got a proposition for you. How do you feel about having Tommy’s land being an embassy? Like it’s an enclave in your own land.” (59:01)

Wilbur’s use of this technique has an interesting side effect in that it signals to Dream Wilbur is taking a non-compromising position in this negotiation. In essence saying “L’manburg is independent, take it or leave it.” 

A non-compromising position is the game theory term for when someone goes, "I'm going to do that, this is going to happen and nothing can dissuade me from this course of action." It's a strong tactic which forces everyone to react to that person's position, reducing the others' options into a binary of either accepting that position or rejecting it. 

This is a very common tactic and various manifestations of it can be seen all over history and media. From Martin Luther who refused to recant or compromise with his famous words of “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise” to groups who cultivate a "with us or against us" mentality to heroic characters who say they would die before giving in to whatever Evil the story focuses on.

This is the situation Dream is facing here. He can either accept Wilbur's assertion that L'manburg is an independent entity by either encouraging them or even doing nothing, or he can reject Wilbur's assertion by acting against it.

As we all know, he ended up choosing the second option but what were his considerations for doing so?

For that we would need to know what his goal was here, something we don't really get a sense of from his conversation with Wilbur. However, he ends up stating what it was in a later conversation with Skeppy. 

(Emphasis added by me and wasn’t part of the original dialogue.)

“Everyone can build wherever they want. [L’manburg] just decided to say that they get to determine where they can build and we can’t and we said well no, you can’t do that. And that’s what the whole war was over.” (31:44)

“[L’manburg] can’t tell us that we can’t go in their land. That’s all we wanted to say. That they’re not independent, they are a part of the Dream Team SMP. They’re just a delusional, small part." (34:26)

Dream lies a lot, so just because he says something doesn't mean it's necessarily true. However, this seems to be genuine. Dream has no problem telling Skeppy “we burned down their houses and blew up the whole land.” (32:36) later on in the conversation, so we can rule out that he's trying to paint himself in a better light, and there aren't really any other reasons for him to lie to Skeppy here about this. 

When looking at Dream's options with his goal we can see the choice is pretty much a no-brainer. 

Accepting is a total lose scenario for him. Not only will it fail to fulfill his goals, it would actively encourage the sort of behavior he doesn't want to happen, as Wilbur would set a precedent that so long as someone insisted hard enough and implied Dream is a bad person he would fold in negotiations and give them what they want.

Rejecting gets him far closer to his goal of railing against L’manburg’s exclusion. Going to war means he has to invest much more effort and resources into his reaction than if he just accepted as well as deal with the risks any war has, however the sheer difference in ability between Dream's side and Wilbur's side make the risk minimal. 

Going to a war he’s pretty sure he can win VS encouraging the sort of thing he disapproves of, isn’t really a hard choice.

This is actually the result of a mistake on Wilbur's part. CC!Wilbur called his character naive (37:49) and he's not wrong. Wilbur has a tendency to act as he wishes and not take into account that people might disagree or retaliate. We see it with him saying they could just ignore the Americans (1:51:17) or during the elections when he told Quackity his scheme and got blindsided by Quackity deciding to run against him. 

Historically, non-compromising positions worked best when the person who used it made sure rejection would be more costly than acceptance in one way or the other. In essence, narrowing down the options for others even more and leaving them only with acceptance. 

Wilbur may have managed to wipe off the table all other options and put pressure on Dream to accept with his use of Assumptive Close, but he didn't do anything to prevent Dream from rejecting. In fact, it seems like Wilbur didn't even consider it as a valid possibility as he outright dismissed it when Dream brought it up as an option.

Dream: “What happens if the rest of the server decides to take over your land?”

Wilbur: “They can’t. It’s literally not how servers- Dream you’re supposed to be smart man, that’s not how servers work. You can’t just take over another person’s server.” (54:33)

But, you may be asking, if it was better for Dream to go to war against L'manburg rather than grant them independence, why did he end up giving into their desire for independence in the war? Wouldn't it have been better if he just saved everyone the trouble and gave it to them when they asked for it the first time? Or maybe Dream’s obsession with Tommy and his discs is just that strong?

We can find the answer to all those questions at Punz’ video where he shows the behind the scenes of the independence war, including some of the planning which went into it from the Dream Team’s side of the war. Specifically, this quote:

Dream: “[The L’manburgians] are never gonna give up. So then in the end the resolution will probably just be, we won but they can think whatever they want, we’re just going to ignore them because they’re essentially like- You want to think you’re independent? You’re not, you’re still part of the SMP, but if you want to think you’re independent, you can.” (9:04)

“They’re never gonna give up.”

Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter, as this is what Dream thinks and so this is what dictates his actions. Perhaps he’s overestimating his opponents here, or maybe he’s talking about how even if L’manburg is defeated this time they would try again for independence in the future. In either case, it’s clear Dream thinks the best case scenario for him - completely preventing people from fighting for L'manburg's independence - is impossible. 

So, he tries for the second best case. If he can’t prevent L’manburg, he’s going to allow it but only under Dream’s terms. That’s what his “they can think whatever they want” line is all about. He intends on giving them token independence here, something which would satisfy them but wouldn't pose a real threat. Which is exactly what he ends up offering them during the bow duel.

Dream: “Let me just clarify: if you win, we grant L’Manburg independence.”

Tommy: “Alright.”

Dream: “But we recognize it still as a part of the Dream Team SMP.”

Wilbur: “That’s fine, that’s a fine condition.” (40:54)

The token independence thing didn’t work out so well for him. L'manburg quickly grew to be seen as an entity separate from Greater Dream SMP by everyone, and so Dream was forced to concede and treat it as one as well. 

However, despite this part of his plan failing, overall the independence war was a glowing success for Dream. 

By giving L'manburg independence after winning the war, Dream sent a very clear message. L'manburg only gets to be independent so long as they stay on Dream's good side. If they don't adhere to the terms Dream sets out for them? He can and will kick their asses, as the war so aptly demonstrated.

This message is received loud and clear. During his entire presidency Wilbur went out of his way to treat Dream with respect and try not to piss him off. Something he clearly demonstrates a number of times, like when he asked if he should call Dream “king Dream” (59:08) or during the railway skirmish (24:16).

In fact, it can be argued that this message lasted all the way up to Tubbo's presidency. Unlike Quackity, who was perfectly fine with starting a fight with Dream, Tubbo knew first hand what a war against Dream looks like. He knew that they could not win a war against him, especially in their weakened state at the time, and that influenced his decision. 

As Dream once said: "L'manburg can be independent but it can't be free."

[userdjarin]

omg?? omg!!! this blog isn’t even a year old yet and i’ve already reached my first big milestone!! i’m so! amazed!! thank u so much!!! most of all i am so grateful to have found a community where i feel safe and have so much fun in :’) i’ve made so many friends and learned so many new content creating things along the way so pls accept this as a celebration and an expression of my joy and appreciation!! 💞

RULES: - as this is a celebration for my followers, pls follow me to participate! - reblog this post - send me an ask with your emoji and request (options below) - anonymous requests are a-ok but only one request per person pls! - all requests and related asks will be tagged with #djarsdin1k, pls blacklist this if u don’t want the spam

GIFSET REQUEST - any fandom! send ur request anyway and i’ll let u know if it’s not my fandom or i’m not familiar enough 🎲 - this or that (make me choose between movies, shows, scenes, characters, tropes, ships, actors, anything!) ❤️ - favourite (ask me my favourite movie, show, scene, character, trope, ship, actor, anything! u can be as specific or as general as u want) 🃏 - wildcard (request a gifset of anything of your choice and i’ll do my best even if i haven’t watched it or i’m not a part of the fandom, as long as i can find it in good quality and it’s within my comfort zone!)

DRABBLE REQUEST - for reader x any of pedro’s characters, pls specify if u want sfw/nsfw! ✒️ + choose a character + sfw/nsfw + 1-3 prompt(s) from (feel free to mix+match and add a few of your own details!): things you said..., kissing prompts, dialogue prompts, protective prompts, hurt/comfort prompts, romantic prompts

pls understand i might not be able to accept ur request depending on familiarity, quality, or comfort. feel free to ask/clarify or send me your request anyway and i’ll let u know if it isn’t possible and to try again! u can also send a couple options for me to choose one from if you’re not sure! also pls be patient as it may take me a while to fulfil your request!!

OTHER 💌 - send me any kind of asks! share any of ur watch/listen/read recommendations, headcanons, un/popular opinions, or ask me for mine, tell me about ur day, tell me a story, shout out a favourite blog/creator, ask me questions, anon or not! my askbox is always open to this (as long as we remain respectful and kind) but this is just a reminder!!

tagging some mutuals below:

i’d like to especially thank everyone below for making the last year so beautiful for me by providing content that has amazed and inspired me, and by warming my heart with your kindness, support, and friendship! everyone here makes me so happy and i wouldn’t unfollow any of u even at knifepoint ❤️‍🔥

@theredviper @silksaddle @skyshipper @buckybarnesj @phantomviola @michaelcorleones @kenoobiwan @300mirrors @leonardbetts @mattbellamy @zzizzigom @din-djarn @sith-maul @thernandalorian @sirtadcooper @trashcora @mandalores @ivypoiison @pankratzjulian @bobasbook @pascal-djarin @darksber @pascalsky @lordsmaxwell @dindiarin @pedrorascal @steveroger @javierian @wexlers @hoeberynmartell @javierpcna @javier-pena @di-n @bestintheparsec @emcgregor @joel-millerr @keanurevees

[adviceformefromme]

I have a big problem with messaging. I often get so stressed after sending a text (especially with a message that’s important to our relationship or important to me) that I can’t function or be present until the person replies. This problem is magnified if they just “seen” me. It’s only a problem with my ex girlfriend and some close friends. I know it just happens with them but I don’t think it’s got anything to do with them at all and wish that it didn’t happen with them. I think our relationships would be better if it didn’t. I know people have lives and I don’t want to expect them to reply straight away or even reply at all. People have their own stuff going on and that’s great. Yet, I just can’t function when I send a message and really can’t if it gets “seened.” I feel incredibly toxic to myself. It kind of feels like it’s tied to my self worth, that my worth is dependent upon them replying. Any tips?

This a great question, and something I have personally overcome in the past. But I promise you it’s something you can totally overcome with time, effort, and dedication. If you’re committed to your healing and stepping out of this energy you can overcome anything. Practical steps for overcoming text/whatsapp/ left on read anxiety: 1. Stop chasing people. If you're chasing an ex, a guy, a friend, a job. The recipient can feel that energy, even if the message is playing it cool, even if you take your time to respond, people can literally feel whats going on on a subconscious level. Chasing, seeking, needing is a repelling energy. It’s important to get your energy right so you’re not expecting anything in return when you communicate. Focus on raising your vibration so you’re not sending out the wrong frequency when you send a message. This could look like going for a run, to a yoga class, dancing it out. Journalling, doing what you need to do to get your energy right. If you don’t know how to raise your vibration that is the first thing you need to figure out. Communicating from anything less than a good place will only lead to anxiety and neediness. 2. Start seeing those triggering moments of anxiety and panic when you don’t get a reply as blessing. Make the hurt and pain you feel about you. Not about the person who is ignoring you. You are literally being shown where you need to heal. Next time you get triggered, write down what emotions are coming up for you. Rejection, abandonment, insecure, unsafe etc. Once you notice your emotions, you can use these for your healing work later on. You can reverse these emotions daily by using affirmations to write a new story. “I am safe, I am loved, I am cherished, I am wanted, I love me, I am enough”. If you can get some prayer beads you can use these to help run through the affirmations which will start to re-programme your subconscious mind. 3. Start journaling with your inner child. There is a wounded little you inside that is feeling unsafe and unwanted. You have to learn to re-parent your inner child. Whatever happened to you in your past is unhealed and that’s why you're feeling so triggered. Use a journal or your phone to open dialogue with your inner child, it sounds crazy, but in those moments of deep pain and hurt this works like magic. Your inner child wants to be seen, it wants to know they are safe, protected. Ask questions like “how are you feeling, what do you need from me, how can i support you” you will get the answers. Your inner child will respond. Close the dialogue by telling your inner child you love them and are here for them. This was the first book I read on inner child and it really helped me alot. 4. Start showing yourself love. What would your life look like if you really loved you? If you truly loved your body, would you eat the food you do? If you loved and respected your time, would you spend your day how you do? If you really loved your life would you be living it how you live? You can write a new story, make this next chapter of your life truly special. Get clear on how you sabotage your life on a daily basis, and start injecting things you love and showing yourself love and your life will change. The universe will respond to your energy. This might seem disconnected to your whatsapp pain but its all connected. When you feel good and love yourself, you send out a different energy, you move out of the old energy and into a new space. You respond differently, you feel different. 5. Seek therapy, I know this isn’t possible for everyone as it can be expensive, but if you can get therapy I recommend it. A therapist can work through your past traumas and help you heal (specifically cognitive behavioural therapy). Other healing options, energy healers (reiki), meditation, guided mediations on youtube, reading, journaling, finding a mentor. I hope this helps, DM me if you need more support. 💕

[renegadewangs]

Van Zieks - the Examination, part 12

Warnings: SPOILERS for The Great Ace Attorney: Chronicles. Additional warning for racist sentiments uttered by fictional characters (and screencaps to show these sentiments).

Disclaimer: (see Part 1 for the more detailed disclaimer.) - These posts are not meant to be taken as fact. Everything I’m outlining stems from my own views and experiences. If you believe that I’ve missed or misinterpreted something, please let me know so I can edit the post accordingly. -The purpose of these posts is an analysis, nothing more. Please do not come into these posts expecting me to either defend Barok van Zieks from haters, nor expecting me to encourage the hatred. - I’m using the Western release of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles for these posts, but may refer to the original Japanese dialogue of Dai Gyakuten Saiban if needed to compare what’s said. This also means I’m using the localized names and localized romanization of the names to stay consistent. -It doesn’t matter one bit to me whether you like Barok van Zieks or dislike him. However, I will ask that everyone who comments refrains from attacking real, actual people.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11

Let's bring this thing home! It's time for the conclusion of the essay series!

Conclusion With a stupidly long essay series behind us, it's time to look at what we've learned! Let's go back to Part 1 and review what we needed from Van Zieks's character development for a fully rounded redemption arc, shall we?

1) Present an antagonistic (possibly immoral) force who personifies Ryunosuke’s biggest personal obstacle/weakness, in this case racial prejudice. 2) Humanizing traits begin to show. OPTIONAL: A backstory to justify any immorality he has. 3) Over time, Barok has his realization and sees the error of his ways. 4) Barok atones for his immorality, not simply through apology but by taking decisive steps. 5) The cast around him acknowledges his efforts and forgives him.

And looking at the main game (plus additional dialogue), we have...

1) Antagonistic force:

Etc. etc. I have many of these. We can all agree that as an antagonistic force, he does his job quite well. CEO of Racism and White Privilege in the flesh. It works, since we as the audience get very frustrated and want to see him defeated.

2) Humanization:

Giving him an old friend to be a defendant was a brilliant move, really. Albert's reflection on the friendship and the person Van Zieks used to be really helped flesh him out and make him appear more like a human being with, y'know, emotions and weaknesses. The little snippets of dialogue in his office really help too. Presenting evidence can also lead to fun tidbits. All in all, considering how gruff and distant Van Zieks is, they really did their very best to humanize him. The writers were given very little to work with but they exploited every opportunity to come their way.

OPTIONAL backstory:

Again, I don't think we needed a tragic backstory to have a well-rounded, redeemable character. Still, it ties in very expertly to the game's plot and the motivations of quite a few other characters. The story of Klint van Zieks and his death isn't necessarily Barok van Zieks's backstory, it's the center of an intricate web which also holds Kazuma, Stronghart, Gregson, Jigoku, (S)Holmes, Mikotoba, Sithe, Drebber- I could go on. A LOT. So because of how very integrated it is into the main narrative's recurring themes and characters, I'll give it props for being relevant and well thought out. The bigger question is: Does it justify his immorality? Not entirely. I think the game could have gotten more out of this if they'd involved the other two exchange students in this tale just a bit more. They could have given more attention to how Jigoku's aggressive behavior in the trial impacted Van Zieks, and explained whether he might've suspected Mikotoba of sabotaging (S)Holmes's investigation. If the narrative had done that, all three Japanese people to come to London would have been ‘the bad guy’ in Van Zieks's eyes and it would have given more credence to his racial generalization. They could have also given more attention to how the people around him reacted to Genshin being the Professor, because I'm sure Stronghart and Gregson stoked the fire in terms of xenophobia. As it stands, there isn't really enough there to justify hatred of an entire race as opposed to just one person.

3) Realization/Redemption

We see him already start to realize the error of his ways around the end of 1-5, which is technically only about halfway into the full narrative. Unfortunately, thanks to 2-2 being played afterwards (but chronologically set before 1-5), any progress made in 1-5 can become invalidated in the player's eyes. Growth works best when it's done linear. Don't get me wrong, flashbacking to earlier times when a character is still more morally tainted can work well, but it needs to be executed properly. Barok's behavior in 2-2 is downright insulting towards the audience itself and therefore, it causes emotional friction when relaying the narrative endgoal of redemption. It also makes it extra jarring when we hit 2-3, and suddenly Van Zieks is meant to be relying on the protagonist's desire to expose the truth. How on earth can we as the audience trust that Van Zieks believes in Ryu's abilities when we just came fresh out of a case where this man actively sabotages Ryu's efforts?

Still, the line of redemption continues from 2-3 into 2-4 well enough. He admits that he was wrong- that his hatred was illogical and that he needs to change. This is the very definition of redemption. I need to stress once more this is not to be confused with atonement, which comes next.

4) Atonement

Here it is. It's not enough to simply acknowledge mistakes; one needs to work hard to fix them. Since Van Zieks is the defendant for two whole episodes, equaling roughly 20% of the full narrative and 67% of the time following his first true realization (chronologically), there isn't much that he can actively do to atone. Because remember, not only do these actions need to fit the situation he's currently in, they need to fit his personality. These two limitations ensure the atonement mostly takes the form of dialogue. Of apologies.

One might want to point out that he never apologizes specifically for his racism, but there's a reason for that. If you pay close attention, you'll notice that there isn't a single character who ever uses a word like “racism”, “xenophobia” or even “racial prejudice” in this game. It's for the same reason you'll never see an Ace Attorney character utter words like “alcoholism”, “drug abuse” or “depression”. These things may be implied very strongly, to the point where you'll know for certain a character is suffering from it, but it's never given these exact labels. It has to do with the tone of the game. In Great Ace Attorney's dialogue, Barok van Zieks is only ever described as holding “a deep hatred for Japanese”, which is then the only thing he could apologize for. And he does, so long as you aren't looking for a literal phrasing of “I apologize for my deep hatred of your people”.

Regardless, he can't take more active, decisive action until he's freed from prison and two scenes with Van Zieks later, the game has ended. He still manages to take two actions, though! The first is to publicize the truth of the Professor, taking the blame of the mass murders off Genshin's shoulders (and losing his own privilege in the process). The second is to take Kazuma under his wing as his disciple. I'm not certain there's anything else the narrative could have had him do. What is decisively missing, however, is the following:

5) Acknowledgment

The above aren't good examples of cast acknowledgment that Van Zieks is taking part in a redemption arc, rather, they're the best I could find. Characters are acknowledging that he's changing- that he's being kinder to them and they can get along with him now, but they're not acknowledging that he caused hurt in the first place. This, in my opinion, is the Great Ace Attorney's biggest narrative flaw. I've talked before about how Ryu's reaction to Van Zieks's racism is 'indirect communication', a typically Japanese manner of dealing with negativity. I've also talked about how Ryu is not in a position to speak up, as he's a literal minority who is there to represent his country in an official capacity and can’t afford to make enemies. However, characters like Susato and Kazuma are far more outspoken in their opinions, as is Soseki. The only one who ever calls Van Zieks out on his racism is the British judge, and even that is done very meekly. When an old crusty white guy is the one who condemns white privilege in a cast full of minorities, you've got a problem. The Japanese cast's refusal to acknowledge that Van Zieks's words were harmful is like Team Avatar telling Zuko that sure, he can join since he's a good guy now, but never once acknowledging that he burned down villages or betrayed everyone's trust in Ba Sing Se. There's something very vital missing, see? If indeed the cast had called Van Zieks out more actively on his harmful ways and how necessary it was for him to change, he in turn could have taken more atonement steps in response.

So, for the conclusion: Does Barok van Zieks tick all the necessary boxes for a complete redemption arc? Yes. In a very technical sense, all the requirements are there. But does that mean it's a successful arc? Not necessarily. The game has a few slip-ups, a few things not executed as well as they could have been. For that reason, whether the audience is satisfied with the arc is entirely up to them. Taking into consideration that they had to cram a whole lot of story into just two games- the second game in particular, I can acknowledge they did their very best with the limitations that were there.

And there we have it! That’s all I could think to say on the matter. I hope everyone who read this till the very end enjoyed it, maybe even learned a thing or two. I’m always open to questions, input and constructive criticism!

[90363462]

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Early Reactions From Critics, Fans Praise Film’s Emotional Balance

The highly-anticipated sequel has movie audiences talking about grief, loss and family.

By

Stephanie Holland

PublishedYesterday 1:59PM

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After years of waiting, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally arrived and the first reactions are mostly positive. It’s a truly beautiful, moving film that’s also a fun, action packed spectacle. Initial critics reviews are great, with the film currently holding an 85 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Watch

Lupita Nyong'o On Making Wakanda Forever and the Loss of Chadwick Boseman 

00:57

Danai Gurira's Favorite Aspect of Filming Wakanda Forever

Thursday 11:40AM

01:34

Wakanda Forever's Letitia Wright & Tenoch Huerta On Their Characters' Parallel Struggles

Thursday 3:47PM

A common thread for those who’ve seen the film is the strength of its cast, with The Root Senior Editor Jay Connor writing, “While there isn’t an instruction manual on how to follow up a $1.3 billion juggernaut in the absence of its lead character…Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverprovides the blueprint on how to excel in doing exactly that, thanks to a masterfully-constructed ensemble cast and an underlying theme brimming with emotion and relatability.”

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Proves Grief Is Not Our Enemy

As brilliant as the cast is, Chadwick Boseman’s absence is felt throughout the movie. But it’s in the same way that you remember a loved one, with Moira Macdonald of the Seattle Timeswriting, “Boseman’s T’Challa is a spirit that lovingly haunts the film.”

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Even with all the emotional weight involved in the project, no visit to Wakanda would be complete without highlighting the extraordinary work of Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter and production designer Hannah Beachler. This time around, we get a completely different look at Wakanda’s capital and its people, with the duo once again effortlessly blending the grounded traditions of the country with its technological advances. 

“Their shared vision of Afro-futurism feels lush and joyful and beautifully specific set against the usual white noise of Marvel fanfare, even (or almost especially) in darker moments, like the pristine rituals of a funeral scene,” Entertainment Weekly’s Leah Greenblatt writes.

Freddie Gibbs Says For Rappers It's Either "Embarrassment or Death" In a New Interview

CANDACE MCDUFFIE

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Following the film’s Thursday night previews, fans flocked to social media to praise the cast and crew, share their thoughts and process their feelings as a community.

The emotional impact of the movie led to unexpected audience reactions, with one person tweeting, “there was a moment when the crowd of 300 fell completely silent. No music, dialogue, popcorn bags, drinks, talking...Never experienced anything like that before in a theater where everyone was 100 [percent] respecting the moment. Chills..”

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Another moviegoer appreciated the film’s special place in the franchise, writing, “I don’t know I can rank #BlackPantherWakandaForever in a hierarchy. But this movie is definitely a top tier movie, standing on its own legs.”

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One fan celebrated how surprising the movie’s plot is and how well done the story beats are, tweeting, “#BlackPantherWakandaForever is truly one of marvels best movies, I came into the movie not really knowing what to expect and it threw me into a emotional rollercoaster, the plot line was definitely something I was not expecting at all in the best way possible, you can see all. Very well done!”

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Meanwhile, another movie fan noted that the film works on every level, writing, “#BlackPantherWakandaForever... Slow and steadily building storyline with a few surprises and a satisfying ending. For fellow sentimental fans of Chadwick Boseman, be prepared to feel all the feels and take some Kleenex. Excited for what this sets up! #MCU”

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever not only lives up to its extremely high expectations, it exceeds them with how it meets an impossible, unprecedented moment.

Sent from my iPhone

[thethirdamell]

In all your works and especially in AO you write all the characters really well, like you nail their dialogue, personality, speech patterns and etc. Do you have any advice for writing specific characters such as Justice, Oghren or Velanna? It can be hard at times to write them complex without accidentally resorting to flanderization; Justice being angry and bragging about justice, Oghren a drunk or Velanna a cold hearted bitch, but you manage to avoid all that I feel.

That's very nice of you to say. I would argue that you probably do just fine in your characterizations though. It helps to remember we are our own worst critics. Here's some thoughts for you. Please keep in mind that I am not an expert, and that my versions of these characters aren't necessarily true to canon, it's just what I do for my own writing, which is just for fun and it is perfectly fine for other people to portray characters in other ways.

1. Cheat! Go through the character's existing dialogue and revamp it to suit your scene.

2. Cheat 2 - Electric Boogaloo! Go through what you've already written for the character and revamp it to suit your new scene.

3. No Cheating! - Mirror pre-existing speech patterns to the best of your ability to suit your scene.

I try to write every character as having two dialogue options. What they mean to say and what they actually say. Anders is probably the best example of this because you can see his internal monologue, but all of my side characters have their own.

Justice Example

"I know what happened at Amaranthine. I know the city would have fallen without you. I know Anders would have fallen without you. Thank you, for saving him." Amell said sincerely, "For saving all of them."

… curious. "Justice is its own reward."

"You wanted to be more than that once," Amell reminded him.

Long ago. "There is too little Justice in this world already for me to be anything else."

"That was poetic."

"I enjoy poetry."

"I'll have to find you another book," Amell offered.

… curiouser. "I would like that."

My version of Justice is how I interpret his character in Awakening. Passionate about the concept of justice, but always willing to re-evaluate and re-frame it. What constitutes justice for one person may constitute injustice for another, so I feel he can be written to be against or in favor of almost anything. I honestly see justice as just one facet of his personality, as he spends a lot of time in Awakening discussing the beauty of the mortal world, enjoying the company of mortals, yearning for love, and just generally being peaceful if left to his own devices. He loses a lot of that in AO and doesn't trust as readily after everything he's been through with Anders, but he's still the most honest of the three you referenced, so what he means to say and what he actually says usually align to an extent. I consider him to be fascinated by communication and all the things that can be lost and layered in it, considering how different things are in the Fade when you can feel the intent of other spirits and concepts are broken down to their bare essentials. His conversations with Amell are fairly fun for me because I imagine they talk the same and they're always saying 50 different things at all times. So for an above breakdown, with Amell expressing his gratitude for what Justice did in Amaranthine, it's one of the few instances of someone not just acknowledging him, but actively appreciating him, respecting him, and admiring him. It's overwhelming just how much it means to him, but it may not mean as much to Amell, and given that at this point in the story Justice doesn't know him well and is still navigating his relationship with Anders and Hawke, so it's safest not to trust him completely. So all of that boils down to: curious. It's curious Amell wants to speak to him specifically, it's curious he feels so strongly about Amell wanting to speak to him, it's curious he doesn't quite know how to respond. "Justice is its own reward," is layered with a lot of things. It shuts down that thanks a little bit, reinforces that Amell wasn't part of that part of his life, affirms his identity and his reasons for his decisions, and distances him a bit from Amell and arguably from everyone by falling back on the fact that he's a spirit and not a mortal. Amell rejects all of that with, "You wanted to be more than that once," but it's a gentle rejection with the addition of "once." If Justice is just Justice, a singular pursuit of purpose and nothing more, that's fine, because 'once' reinforces that it's okay for people to change. Alternatively, 'You wanted to be more than that' serves as a reminder that Justice is still his own person. Having someone affirm that he can be more than just his purpose and more than just a source of strength for Anders is, as before, incredibly meaningful, but there isn't necessarily space for that in his life anymore. So all of that boils down to: Long ago. A wistful sort of longing expressed in "There is too little Justice in this world already for me to be anything else." AKA: I've been through a lot. "That was poetic." AKA: You're still you. There's still poetry in you. There's still beauty in you. There's still more in you. "I enjoy poetry." AKA: I want to believe that. I want to remember that. Thank you for seeing this side of me. It's still there. I still see it. "I'll have to find you another book." AKA: I want to get to know you again and I want you to get to know yourself again. Hence: "I would like that." Woops! I kind of just used this as an excuse to talk about Justice/Amell as a pairing, but if it was helpful, I can follow-up with Velanna and Oghren eventually.

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

The Wright Anything Agency play “The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes”. Reasoning behind each members’ character selections:

1) Phoenix Wright, being the “old guy” of the group, isn’t really interested in playing video games. So, he has Maya Fey choose his character for him. Maya picks Nick Kay just so that Phoenix will play as someone named Nick.

2) Apollo Justice, being the more cynical/rational thinker of the group, specifically looks for someone who is dressed to survive a horror movie. Apollo settles on Salim Othman due to the character wearing a helmet.

3) Athena Cykes doesn’t think through her choice. She immediately selects Rachel King because she wanted to play as Ashley Tisdale. 

4) Maya Fey, with only two characters left to choose from, ends up choosing Eric King. When the group asks her why, Maya says, “He kinda looks like Miles if you squint hard enough”.

5) Trucy Wright, being last to pick, is stuck with Jason Kolchek. Trucy is unhappy with her character mainly because she also wanted to play as Ashley Tisdale. (That being said, Trucy ends up being happy that she got Jason since Jason’s character is mainly paired up with Salim, Apollo’s character. “Polly, we’re best friends in the game!” Trucy says to Apollo, which makes him laugh)

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

Body count of this playthrough:

1) Nick Kay: Dies because of Phoenix messing up on the QTEs. He was doing well with the dialogue options but his terrible gaming skills/reflexes ended up being his downfall.

2) Salim Othman: Survives because of Apollo choosing the best dialogue options and having reasonably good reaction time with the QTEs. 

3) Rachel King: Dies because of Athena panicking during the parasite sequence

4) Eric King: Survives because of Maya choosing the best dialogue options and having reasonably good reaction time with the QTEs (Maya credits playing Steel Samurai video games with her reaction time)

5) Jason Kolchek: Survives because of Trucy choosing the best dialogue options (she really wanted Apollo to be friends with her character) and having good reaction time with the QTEs (she’s a professional magician who needs good reaction time in order to pull off her tricks)

Overall: 3 alive, 2 dead