#the va work the setting the.... etc

[ronearoundblindly]

Lease

best-friend!roommate!reader x Steve Rogers

*This was a totally random and spontaneous idea. Not edited. Light language (so we can get *the joke*), pining, light angst, hurt/comfort, and fluff. This work is for all ages! WC ~2k

Sam Wilson introduces you. Both your parents were veterans and active at the VA, so you practically grew up there.

At first, you’re reserved, a little formal, but very nice. Oddly enough, Steve just likes that you don’t hound him with questions about his military service and how it was different based on the decade, etc. You are just…around to listen.

He finds himself filling any (comfortable) silence between you with stories. Stupid things. Things that don’t have to do with the VA or his past or even his present, which is entirely work as Captain America.

Steve gets to a point where he is itching to live off of Avengers Campus, but he doesn’t want to live alone.

One day he finds you hunched over a laptop and grumbling, “why is everything so fucking expensive?”

A sentiment which, of course, he frowns at.

“Sorry,” you shrug, a look of sincere apology on your distraught face. “I didn’t realize it, but apparently, I’m poor with my measly three-thousand-dollar-a-month budget for an apartment. Now I have to find a roommate, and—“ you start wagging a finger at him sarcastically “—I don’t know if you’ve noticed there’re some real weirdos out there. It’ll take me longer to find a safe, stable roomie than it takes to—“

“I can move in with you.”

Steve almost gasps at how fast the words fly out of his mouth.

“Well, not ‘move in’ to your current place. I mean. I can—I would be willing to live with you. Sorry! That sounds bad. You’re not bad. I meant…you know, anytime you want to chime in and stop me would be helpful.”

You remain silent and smirking.

“Right. Okay. So…think about it? Or not, that’s fine.”

“Let’s talk figures, Rogers. The square-footage just doubled, and I need to rework the budget.”

Moving in is shockingly uneventful. You’re easy to get along with, when not suddenly up on your high horse about something, and Steve is easy to get along with under the same circumstances. You push his militant rigidity to the brink on purpose, but never too far.

Things sit out in the wrong place, but it’s never dirty. Stuff doesn’t always get returned promptly, but if he asks, you’re on it.

There are two bathrooms, thank mercy.

He has random and odd hours. You work nine to five, mostly. It’s the perfect level of independence without loneliness for Steve.

Sam and Natasha stop by regularly or ask you both out for drinks or to fun, new places.

One time, when Nat is ribbing Steve to go talk to a cute girl ordering at the bar, he panics and takes your hand in his on the tabletop.

“How can I do that when my date is right here?” he grits playfully through his pearly white teeth. “Leave it alone.”

Each word is punctuated by a shift forward and a slight tilt of his head.

Natasha is unamused and instantly grabs your other hand (which was holding your drink) to pull you toward the dance floor.

It’s awkward for multiple reasons. You’d pay a whole month’s rent to know what Sam and Steve talked about after you left.

Sam takes a different approach, luring—or attempting to lure—Steve into setting up just one dating profile online.

“You don’t have to put photos,” Sam assures, “and you can stick with your first name only. I swear to you, man, this’ll be good for you. Get you out there more. Help me out here, Tagalong!”

He turns to you for support. To be fair, you did quite literally tag along with your parents for years to the VA, and it stuck. Why it sticks as a grown-ass adult? You’ll never know. You just don’t mind Sam Wilson saying it because he means well and never uses it in public.

“Uh, nooooo.”

Sam’s face falls. “What?”

You look at Steve and grimace, clicking your tongue. “He’s not ready for that,” you conclude.

Steve jumps out of the chair, arms wide with victory.

“THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING!”

“I know you told her to say that,” Sam shouts back.

“Did not,” Steve barks.

“He did not.” You lean against your bedroom doorframe. “I just think it’s obvious.”

That makes Steve deflate a little. “Wait, but…I’m not that bad.”

“Oh gosh,” you fake with a huge smile, “look at the time! Gotta be off to bed…”

The men keep fighting albeit muffled from your side of the wall. The only part you can make out before giving them privacy is Sam, whining, “but you actually like bubble baths and walks on the beach, dude. You’re gonna be money on there.”

“Hey, why do you not, ya know, date?”

You look up from your breakfast, stunned because that came out of nowhere. You’ve lived together over six months now, and Steve hasn’t asked for one iota of personal—well, romantically personal—information.

Twiddling your fork around, you think.

“I always imagine what my parents would think of him, any guy I’ve ever considered being with longterm, and…I was just never proud to say ‘here, here’s the one,’ I guess.”

Your parents have been gone for years. You value their opinion anyway.

“Mhm,” Steve hums, “the one?”

You take a bite of food, straightening your back, tossing a dismissive hand in the air. “Yeah, if you believe in that sort of thing.”

He’s quiet for a while.

“So you’re waiting for the right partner?” Steve finally mutters, and he watches your noncommittal gesturing intently.

That was a ‘yes.’

Natasha knows. Sam knows. Steve suspects but won’t admit to anything. You are kind and unreadable.

You’ve always been kind, so there’s no discernible difference to signal you have feelings for him in return. He can’t bring himself to be anything less than a gentleman at home and makes absolutely no moves to find out.

He stays out in the living room a lot more, all hours, hoping you’ll mention staying in for a movie, praying you’ll be tired enough to fall asleep on his lap on the couch.

He’s in way too deep.

What Steve suspects is that it would be too awkward to start anything while living together, but he doesn’t want to leave you in the lurch for rent or a roommate. He also desperately doesn’t want to move out. The status quo is comfortable.

He loves being comfortable with you.

The stress of not telling you, while needing to make some sort of arrangements should telling you blow up in his face, starts to wear on him.

Steve is a pro at compartmentalizing his life, so it’s when he’s stuck at the apartment without any missions, a handful of meetings, and a team that all have lives for two long months that he cracks…in the least attractive way.

He’s messed up his sleep schedule with worry and playing innocent, and out of the not-so-blue, a horrible, vivid nightmare hits him. Steve isn’t even on the mattress anymore by the time he figures out there wasn’t carpet like this in Germany and the desk chair he grips is not a motorcycle.

“Rogers,” he hears. “Rogers, can you look at me?”

The dark room is somehow hollow and stifling all at once. His head turns slower than his brain tells it to.

Steve blinks.

“Do you know where you are?”

“Hey, sweets,” he husks from a dry throat. “What…”

“Can you tell me where this is?” You step closer and pry one of his hands off the mesh to cradle in yours. “Where are we, Rogers?”

“Home.” He swallows. “Our home.”

Your smile doesn’t reach your eyes, but you nod like he’s done well.

“Okay, Steve, I’m going to get you some water. If you want—“ your fingers smooth over the back of his hand, nudging the other to release the chair “—you can sit on the bed.”

You don’t leave. You don’t even get up from the floor.

He doesn’t notice he’s clutching your hands, shaking slightly until long seconds go by.

“Yeah. Okay.” Steve lets go, otherwise unmoving, contemplating how he ever thought the semi-rough industrial carpet felt the same as mud.

You carefully hand him the water and rub his back, using your nails to trace invisible patterns. He can’t remember what he was so scared of a minute ago. He only knows he’s sweating that empty kind of confused.

“What’s that supposed to do?” he asks absently.

You shrug. “Eh. Back scratches just feel good.”

Steve’s mind remains blank as he sips his water.

: We need to renew the lease soon. Like this week.

Steve has stalled as long as humanly possible; he is officially not being a gentleman now. He is a coward.

: Talk about it when I get home?

: Could you at least tell me if this is a hard NO on staying here or just some concerns/questions? : I don’t get why you’re being like this.

Steve gets it, but he hates it.

: I’ll be back tonight. Should I pick up food?

: ffs : Fine. Whatever you want.

Steve also hates when you’re mad at him…which has been happening more and more.

He’s been distant, he refuses to let Sam or Nat come around for fear they’ll play match-maker and ruin the whole thing, and he is about to ruin the whole thing anyway.

Because he is not smooth. Because he is not prepared. Because he’s built up this perfect and amazing, sweep-you-off-your-feet moment.

And he bungles it.

“Out with it,” you command, haughtily yanking your portion of food from the countertop beside him, heading for the dinette.

“I want to be with you,” he blurts.

“Thank god,” you sigh, settling in your spot. “So we’ll go down to the office and sign in the morning. I don’t want there to be an issue if you’re off to wherever for who-the-hell-knows how long on the date the thing expires.”

“No, I…” but Steve’s voice is too quiet.

“There’s only a tiny window where they’re open before I have to head to work, so let me physically sign first, right? Then I gotta go.”

“Sure,” he slurs.

“Steve?” You turn to see him staring down at his food. He’s still across the room. “Are you okay?”

“I said I—I meant that—“ he huffs out his breath and taps his fist on the counter “—I meant that I’m an idiot,” he finishes softly.

Approaching with that beautiful, open-hearted kindness that haunts his days and soothes his night, you cross to him, scratching his back just the way he’s grown to crave.

“Think you might be hangry,” you chuckle.

He cannot do this. Steve is hanging on by a thread until the graze of your hand slides down his forearm to take his plate, and he spins.

He’s thought about kissing you so many times, he mapped out the angles he’d have to hold himself at, how far he needs to lean to get to you, the care to take wrangling in his strength and sheer excitement.

Steve Rogers is good at planning, at least, this part.

Gentle pecks of his plush lips to yours leave gaps in contact that let you whimper, and he fears you stopping him. He presses, wrapping his arms around you and molding your bodies together. The linoleum of the kitchen floor makes sticky sounds beneath your shuffling feet, squeaking once you hit the adjacent wall.

The force of that knocks your frozen arms into his chest, and painfully, Steve relents to step away, but not far. He bites his bottom lip and tastes the balm from yours, his head tilted in shame but fiery eyes watching you from beneath long lashes.

“Oh,” you breathe out. “Oh…you meant…”

Steve’s tongue darts out hungrily.

“Yeah.”

[Main Masterlist; Light Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

They're soooo cute!!!!!!

[ravenstargames]

✦ Lost in Limbo Masterpost (12/09/2024)

Lost in Limbo is a dark fantasy romance visual novel taking place in the mysterious realm of Limbo. Take the role of River Winchester, a human dealing with common-life problems, as you find yourself trapped in a foreign world.

✦ Lost in Limbo explores themes such as the duality of immortality, family bonds, healing from trauma, forgiveness, acceptance, letting go of guilt, and love. 

✦ The full game will be rated +17 and will include flashing lights, disturbing imagery, mild horror, mild jumpscares, body horror, suggestive sexual scenes and discussions, sensitive topics such as toxic family relationships, anxiety, depression, mentions of suicide, depictions of alcohol / drug use, etc. Each route will have individual content warnings available for the player.

✦ LOST IN LIMBO FAQ + TUMBLR ASKS

Face the nightmares of your childhood and uncover the mysteries behind your summoning to the realm of Limbo. Tie your fate to one of seven deities sworn to be your protectors and survive a world facing its demise.

Will love be the key to your freedom, or the first chapter of your downfall?

Our first demo features over 42k words (around three hours of gameplay), partial voice acting, seven CGs, over 25 different choices...and one bad ending?!

To obtain every CG, we reccommend playing the demo twice and testing different options! 

✦ PLAY OUR DEMO NOW ON:

🔮 STEAM (MAC, LINUX, WINDOWS)

🔮 ITCH.IO (MAC, LINUX, WINDOWS)

🔮 GOOGLE PLAY

When you finally quit your dead-end job and move back to your mother's house in the ever-peaceful town of Faybourne, you think things could only get better. However, the moment you set foot in your childhood home, a harrowing nightmare long forgotten appears to haunt you once more. 

A tower that crumbles in the vastness of a bleeding sky. A voice that mourns and yearns for something.

Torn away from your peaceful life and thrown into a world of danger and deceit, you are at the mercy of the Seven Sovereigns of Limbo. Navigate the Realm Between as it faces an impending cataclysm that threatens to swallow you and those you love whole.

Whether you fall in love or in disgrace... is up to you. 

 Lost in Limbo features seven love interests and a wide cast of secondary characters.

VA: Patrick 'Pat' Langner

God and creator of Limbo, Father Pride has witnessed eons of change in both his world and yours. Aware of the delicate barrier that keeps each world separate and whole, it is his duty to both protect his people and safeguard the endless knowledge his immortality has granted him. 

The Father of All is beloved by his family and worshiped as an invincible leader by the inhabitants of Limbo, but he ultimately remains removed from others; a mysterious, unreachable idol. The life of a deity of unfathomable power is solitary, and you can't help but wonder if there's any trace of humanity in him.

Can you truly trust a being whose power is beyond human comprehension, or are you just another tool for him? 

VA: Brian Vaughn

His father's promises of glory, and legends of a destiny full of wonders awaiting him, drove Amon to build Dagalis, his city, as a mirror image of himself. Flamboyant, free, and absolutely magnificent—Amon lives his immortal life to the very fullest, often ignoring the consequences.

When you fall into his care, you become the Dragon’s newest toy; he is determined to dazzle you, and the temptation to surrender to him is overwhelming. However, Amon can only look away from the ticking bombs within Dagalis for so long, and you will inevitably be dragged down with him if the worst comes to pass. 

Can you rely on each other to save yourselves, or is your love destined to burn you and Dagalis down?

VA: Silvairre Devereaux

Raeya earned her title of Praefectus, leader of Limbo’s military forces and safekeeper of the realm, after centuries of hard work and devotion. Her oath to protect the people of Limbo is an extension of herself, one she wields in the battlefield against the voidbound and against anyone who dares to defile what she believes is just.

However, the truth behind the realm's darkest times will soon put Raeya's loyalty to the test, and with it, her ability to keep you out of harm's way.

When the inevitable cruelty of the Realm Between unfolds before you, what will you be willing to sacrifice to save what you love the most?

VA: Abi Kumar

As ominous as his alias may sound, there has never been a kinder person in all of Limbo than Master Gael. However, rumors tainting the Master's image have begun to spread, and the streets murmur of a plot to overthrow him. Master Gael is facing a crisis in his mandate, and with your unexpected arrival, strategy is more important than ever.

You are met with an offer that's hard to refuse; if you play your part as Gael’s fiancée and help him secure his win in the upcoming Master elections once more, a ritual to return you to your world may be within reach. 

But with powerful individuals keeping an eye on every movement of the Master and his lover, what are the chances of obtaining a victory for you both?

VA: Aaron Moy

Stripped of their name and shunned after commiting treason, the Sovereign now known as Lord Envy resides alone in the Black Citadel, forgotten by those who fled the city and hated by the ones who refused to leave. 

It doesn't take you too long to realize you two have nothing in common besides the fact that you hate each other to death. Envy is harsh, impertinent and unmoved by your plight. However, behind that mask of hatred lies a being that has been hurt almost beyond repair, and their call for help is too painful to ignore.

Can you break the walls they have built around themselves for centuries, or will you remain a prisoner in his castle for all eternity?

VA: Zaria Weems

Ara seems ready to be your ally from the very beginning. Her desire to help you get back to your family seems genuine, and her fervent will to act as your protector impresses you. She believes you are the key to summoning her childhood hero, The Wanderer of Worlds, a mythical figure that is able to walk in every world to bring forth peace.

Ara's passionate personality is incredibly charming, but it hides an ambition that seems almost insatiable...and that may come with problems that are too big for you two. 

What will you do when you find out how far she's willing to go?

VA: Francfil Pontañeles

Seen as an ‘afterthought’ by the people of Limbo, no one has ever expected anything from Xal, not even himself. When you end up in his care, you fear you're going to spend the rest of your life watching him tinker with gadgets, but Xal swiftly proves you wrong when he discovers a ritual that could send you back home in no time.

However, a crucial mistake turns the tables, and you're not the only one to reappear in Faybourne. With no fearless gods with incredible powers around to aid you, you'll have to face the consequences your disappearance left behind...and somehow help Xal go back to his siblings.

But what if Xal doesn't want to leave—and you don't want him to go?

Lázaro and Cécile's routes are Side Routes that will be produced after the Main Love Interests'. As they were not unlocked via Kickstarter, they'll take time to become available!

VA: Callum Sanders

After your encounter in Master Lysander's occult shop, you hoped you would never see those golden eyes again. Destiny, as always, is a capricious thing.

Your rocky return to Faybourne not only brings more questions to the table; it also gives you the opportunity to cross paths with the person who started it all. However, as you confront Lázaro—as they graciously introduce themself— they pretend they don't know anything about what happened in that suffocating room that summer morning.

You refuse to let them go that easily after what they did to you, and soon enough you're dragged into Lázaro's personal hell.

When your world quickly proves to be as dangerous as the realm of Limbo, will you trust the person who started it all?

VA: TBA

When you first meet Cécile, Gael's bodyguard, you can't stop from shivering under the gaze of his bloodthirsty eyes. The Master's Dog, as everyone whispers behind his back, smells of death and despair; it is all he has known since he was born. Revenge on those who snatched his soul away from him is the only thing in his mind—only after serving his Master, who he so greatly worships.

He has no interest in you. In fact, he openly dislikes you. You can tell by the way he looks at you; if it were his choice, his hands would already be around your neck. And yet, you can't deny the attraction pulling you towards him, oblivious of how dangerous it would be if he were to worship you instead of his Master.

Can you survive the love of an obsessed killer, or will you meet your end at the raw passion of his hands?

✦ The MC is written as a young adult who is at least 21 years old. The player can headcanon their character as any age they desire, but every route is written so the MC is of an age similar to that of their chosen love interest, except for Father Pride who is older than the MC.

✦ The MC is a strong-willed individual who isn't afraid to jump into action. In the game, you'll be able to channel these characteristics in different ways. River is funny, kind and a bit too stubborn—but you choose how to manage those traits and whether to let them shine or not. The game will remember, so if you are not too athletic, maybe hitting that monster with a chair isn't a very good idea.

✦ The MC also has some default tastes, hobbies and memories. During the game, you'll be able to personalize how the Main Character feels about their interests, add new ones, or reflect about how the past affected them. The characters will remember this.

✦ The MC doesn't have an established appearance, therefore, you won't see them in game.

The beautifully deadly world of Limbo, The Realm Between. Woven in the eternal canvas that is the Great Void, it is a breathing world that lives in constant symbiosis with those who dwell therein. It rests in the custody of the Seven Sovereigns of Limbo, immortal guardians of unbelievable strength.

Few are those who venture past the Beyond; none have ever returned However, Limbo’s land is deteriorating fast. The balance that holds the threads of life are at the cusp of being consumed by the Midnight Tower, an entity beyond sense and reason that has grown dangerously close to the barrier between worlds. The voidbound, creatures made from the essence of nightmares, are stalking the cities closer to the Tower’s domain, leaving behind nothing but chaos and decay.

Explore the Seven Circles of Limbo and its seven capital cities, and get to know its people, their customs and their culture, inspired by Spanish provinces and cities such as the Valencian Community, Andalucía, Galicia and Aragón. Enjoy the unique animated backgrounds, whether you're lost in a harrowing swamp or just wandering through a boisterous main street.

✦ Seven love interests with independent routes and different kinds of romance. Live a passionate, mature and erotic experience with Amon, or a first love romance with Xal.

✦ Around 80+ hours of gameplay total. Each route will be around 15+ hours. 

✦ Customizable Main Character (full name and pronouns changeable between he/him, she/her or they/them).

✦ Approximately 6 endings per character. Escape from the claws of despair with your loved one or succumb to the pressure of a world breaking to pieces...or perhaps something in the middle.

✦ A mature, sex-positive narrative point of view. Lost in Limbo treats consensual sex as a natural, integral and fun part of the game. The game therefore includes textually and slightly explicit love scenes, and the player has the option not to engage, stop or skip these scenes anytime.*

✦ Player choices can shape the Main Character's personality, traits, likes & dislikes, etc.

✦ A wide cast of side characters to make the world feel alive, each one of them with their opinion and relationship with the Main Character.

✦ A compendium to keep track of events, important information, etc. 

*An exception of this is Amon's route, centered in the sexual tension between him and the MC. His sexual scenes with the Main Character are core to the story and therefore, happen no matter what. The player can still skip these scenes.

In Lost in Limbo, not everything is as it seems. Every route offers pieces of a much bigger puzzle ready to be solved, but small details mattter. Characters will remember how you treat them, what you tell them, and what you don't. Keeping your cards close to your chest may be wise, but in a world where you don't have the upper hand, choosing who to trust is key to survive.

✦ There will be four different choice systems that will give shape to your playthrough:

Trust Points centered around your love interest and the side characters; a low level of trust can translate into bad endings*.

Plot-driving choices that will shape the story and its possible endings, as well as the final fate of the characters.

Personality choices that will determine the nature of the Main Character's relationship with their love interest, as well as how the MC reacts to certain events, their abilities, hobbies, etc.

Flavor choices! These don't impact the game directly, but are there for the main objective of the game: having fun! Do you want ice cream, or perhaps a caramelized apple?

*In Lost in Limbo, there's not only one correct answer and one wrong answer. There's different ways of earning trust points without having to stick for the "one and only right answer", and mistakes can be redeemed...sometimes.

Please note that this may be subjected to changes in the future, but always keeping in mind player's opinions and always in favor of improving the game experience.

We'll first start working on an extended demo / prologue that will be offered for free. This will include an overhaul of sprites, several secondary characters mentioned in our first demo, etc. After that, we'll move to the character routes, and the first episode of each one of them will be offered for free to the public.

Two routes will always be worked on at the same time to make sure they complement each other well. The order in which we'll work on the routes is as follows.

✦ Amon / Gael > Ara / Xal > Envy / Raeya > Father Pride

We estimate that with our current team, development for the seven routes will take  three years. Therefore, our first release plan aims for a full release in 2027.

Please remember there's only four of us; our writer is also our programmer, our artists are in charge of all the art departments, etc.

As stated above, outsourcing would speed up this process, but we want to be cautious with our release plan. If everything goes faster than expected, all the better!

✦ OUR SOCIALS ✦

For more info about our team etc., feel free to visit our official webpage, ravenstar.games!

🔮 TWITTER / X

🔮 OFFICIAL DISCORD SERVER

🔮 TIKTOK

YOU CAN CONTACT US AT INFO@RAVENSTAR.GAMES FOR ANY INQUIRIES!

[maddragon15]

Finalized design for my version of Etho for hermitcraft s10!

Warning long infodump ahead about the decisions made and general lore

So I've had this idea that redstone is like uranium. Powerful, can be used for energy + various machinery and scientific discoveries, used to increase the value of the everyday lives (uranium girls ref) but with the major cause of life deletion/life altering affects. I believe that it would cause more mutations within redstoners over the course of time they are exposed to it and the varying degree that they're covered in it. But redstone is a fairly new resource that has been discovered in the world of minecraft/hermitcraft. So the research behind it isn't as strong nor as known as it should be. Therefore every effect that happens to the pioneers of redstone is completely new and unheard of. Which might be the reason why some builders like Grian, Scar, Ren, Gem, etc are hesitant to fully learn redstone mechanics due to the unknown nature of it but still aren't fully opposed because of the benefits it has.

In my world of hermitcraft for season 10 it's built off of the fact that there's quite a few people leaning into that cybery, technological, sci-fi theme. Like the Punks, then Ren's Gigaverse and of course the nature of Doc in general. So the main story is that this world of hc2410 is that it's a world that was much similar to earth. It went through the usual set of technological feats bit by bit, culture by culture.

For a long time their main power source which fueled everything was glowstone, a semi renewable material exported from the Nether and harvested from blazes and the blaze rods. Blaze rods were grinded down then compressed into glass like bilets which were then heated, strained, and forged into various forms that were needed. For a while it was small 2x2 inch cubes mainly used in lamps and later 6x6 foot cubes for lighthouses. But as the age of the iron wore on, technology looked much like the era of the vacuum tubes.

Thus began the swap of simplified forms of glowstone into the complexities of tubes and the requirement of more materials and longer time to create these specialized parts. Though that didn't stop what pioneers were part of that era, these guys being Etho, Tango, Doc, and Mumbo. Now these guys were very basic hybrids, Etho an arctic fox, Tango a nether born blaze, Doc whom was a rare specices of creeper, and Mumbo who was actually just a human. It took long and multiple days worth of work to even produce what would be a 4 part machine in modern redstone technology with glowstone. Though these guys were at this point young and determined to optimize their creations.

Glowstone in itself was a relatively safe material to work with unless of course consumed, if consumed it would wear down the lining of the stomach, cause holes in the intestines, and heat the user to an unbearable degree akin to the infamous iron bull method of torture except it was your insides and only your insides being subjected to it. To the person that found this out would never be credited and largely forgotten in most history records. Mainly because he died such a painful death and most didn't want to remember it. So when Etho was working on the mines with his crew and discovered redstone there was a guess and perhaps a hope that it would be as safe as glowstone. Therefore safety percautions that were used with materials like obsidian and diamond were thrown out the window. Instead it was instantly collected into glass cylinders and brought back to the workshop to be played around with.

Thus the reason why for most parts of hc2410 many will be seen with previous and malfunctioning innovations or straight up tech from the glowstone era. One of these people is Mumbo who still uses comms from the glowstone era as a way to keep his small hometown economy running because any way to help Big Ron was a win in his book. Pearl is also another example user of older innovations or at least less redstone heavy variations. Rather going into the world of solar, and botany side of technology dubbed leafstone. Other variations of older innovations would also have to be old port towns who used wind and small hydroplants to keep their town running and connected with the rest of the world such as Gem's & Grian's hometown.

With Etho being the main guy who really played around with it and pretty much like at it like ate it like it was sugar was thee very first to experience the mutational effect of redstone. At first his left eye would begin to flicker with rapid involuntary movement, then followed a set of what would be dubbed "chromatic abberation" (etho would be the only one to experience this and no one can confirm what he saw was accurate due to the mental state he was in), and the onset of vision loss. But this wasn't the first and last effect, he would begin to develop a second tail and unusual pelt coloring akin to the color of the newfound material. Much like the later steps of his changes the second tail development was not a pain free one. As the months continued his mental state worsened, this was due to the psychoactive effects of redstone and already altered vision. He would begin to see things that weren't there in a translucent red glow often accompanied by intense localized migraines behind the left eye. It would get so intense and unbearable that in the middle of developing the infamous etho hopper clock he began to claw at his left eye but the fingernails weren't enough and instead used a screwdriver to try to get it out. However Doc and Tango would find Etho moments before a prosthetic eye would take the permanent place of a redstone scarred eye.

Although Etho did wear a mask during the initial stages of redstone development and technology it wouldn't be enough against the sheer intake the 4 went through. Therefore under the careful guise of Xisumavoid, who'd later become the main caretaker/medic and manager, and Doc they would make several changes to how redstone was regulated. Making a mandate that all personnel, consumer, mechanic, and who ever else would have to wear a respirator and gloves during the usage of redstone. You'd think this would be easy to get the crew to swap into using respirators at the very least but it was met with much hesitation and backlash due to the blukiness that came with them. It was already tough to pack around the canisters of redstone, glowstone tubes, and iron baseplates and now they also had to squeeze into tight spaces with a clunky mess? But again Doc and Xisuma found ways to make sure that each member found a way to have their own variation of resperation based upon needs. It wasn't too hard to make one for Etho because he already had a mask but his stubbornness rivaled Doc, and took a near fatal pass out due to lack of blood production, aka just more extreme anemia, and bloody nose to convince Etho to finally add that respirator onto his mask.

Despite however the apparent dangers of redstone it sent the world of hc2410 into a new world of technology seemingly overnight, from clunky 60s-70s style tan and heavy clunk switches into an age more similar to thin touch panels and streamlined designs of now but with the flair of the iconic synthwave/cyberpunk style deemed by the 80s-90s. Yet it was met with strife due to how time consuming redstone was even with several engineers helping out on one project and most innovations were only available to the richest before being thrown out for the latest and greatest.

Also you may recall, if you've made it to this point, that I mentioned that the 4 were basic hybrids. Well much like Etho the effects on the rest weren't simple nor painless, and varied quite differently from each other. But those will be covered once their designs are finished.

I thank you if you've made it this far and I'll see you on the next hermitaday posts! :3

Edit: I also want to include that one of the main design inspos is actually Snakeyes from Gi Joe because that man is absolute gender to me. So why not combine my two favorite guys into one character.

Edit #2: Added more text breaks bc I no longer have 5 am involuntary eye movement. Which is odd because you'd think I'd need more text breaks but it's the opposite.

[sparks-and-smoke]

I saw your boredom post and thoughts I'd send in a lil request where you can go ham 😌

How do you think Steve and Reader spend their days off? Is it a couch day, baking day, spa day etc.

Love your work by the way, their en route to reblog whilst I make my bookshelf though

Characters/Pairings: Steve Rogers/Female Reader

Content/Warnings: none its fluff again

Author Note: HI! Sorry it's short but sweet

Steve so rarely gets a day off. Between Avengers missions, training, media obligations, and his work with the VA it was a miracle he even had time for you. But he always found time, because he had priorities. and you were at the top of them.

Steve plopped down on the couch next to you with a sigh as you read your latest book. Judging by the cover he didn't even wanna know what it was about. But he couldn't help but rest on your shoulder as he slumped and glanced at the page.

Filth, absolute filth is what it was about. “The sheer girth of him split me in two as I gasped for air. My hands searching for some kind of purchase…” he began to read out loud before you slammed the book shut, turning beet red. “You know Doll if you need to be…split in two... you could have just said so.” 

She smacks him with the novel. “I’m good right now thanks!” 

“I mean, I might need to finish the chapter so I know exactly what you're expecting but, I’m sure with a little research into proper source material.” he snatches the book from your hands. “I’ll be ready to go by lunch.”  

“Steven Grant give that back!” 

Steve hops to his feet. “Oh, I don't think so doll, I think I have some research to conduct.”

~~~~

You had thought he was joking, but when Steve Rogers sets his mind to something there is nothing that can stop him. He made it through the chapter in an hour and while he did find the smut to be rather inspiring. He found something else in the book that he want to try, maybe not more per say, but for you. 

He goes upstairs and raids your skin care basket. Sheet masks, lotion, that silly rose quarts rolly thing he watches you use everynight before bed. He tucks them all under his arm and pops down to the kitchen. 

He makes you your favorite hot drink and a bowl of the safe food you were obsessed with 

at the moment, and heads down to where you were crocheting on the couch. 

“Are you terribly busy?” You look up from counting stitches to see your boyfriend, arms full of self care, practically glowing with excitement. “Will you let me spoil you?” 

You sent your task aside, a rush of butterflies filling your stomach. “Are you gonna do it with me?”

“Of course, I'll even let you pick which one I should use.” You beam, and it fills Steve with a deep sense of contentment as he settles down onto the couch with you. He lets you lean back on him as he clumsily attempts to put on the face mask, using the facial roller to work it into your skin. Talking about anything, everything. Realizing that, good lord, he had really missed you. 

He applies lotion to your arms, messaging it into your hands as he kisses your palms. The room is filled with the scent of almond and orange as he giggles with you over Peter’s latest exploit and whatever drama is happening at your work. The moment is filled with sighs and chuckles as you apply the cold tacky mud mask to Steve's nose and cheekbones. 

“Hold still, you're gonna get it in your hair!” 

“Well it's already all over my face, might as well share the wealth.” Steve chuckles, taking time to admire your focused expression. The way your brows furrow and your tongue peaks out when you concentrate. The way your eyes sparkle in the reflection of the city skyline. You are so beautiful, almost tragically so to Steve as he realizes he needs to make more room for nights like this. Just him and his love taking care of eachother. Being human. Not super heroes, or volunteers, or public figures. Just him and his doll, laughing and talking and not worrying about what is around the bend. 

“What?” you ask, wiping the cosmetic mud off your fingers. 

“Nothing, just looking at you. I wanna do this more often.”

“Face masks?” you giggle. 

Steve huffs out a laugh, “No, as lovely as they are, I just wanna spend more time with you like this. Little resets. Where we can just be us.” 

You feel your heart melt. Steve is always trying, always doing what he can to be the best partner he can manage to be on top of all his other responsibilities. It kills you a little that he thinks he still needs to do more. But you wont turn it away. Not when it means more time with the man you love. “I’d love that, maybe next time we can paint. Or we could go sketch pigeons in the park?”

“Whatever you want, baby…”

[issdisgrace]

I haven't seen anyone write this yet and I'm low-key surprised :0 but can you write how Price , Ghost , Soap , Konig , Alejandro and Rudy react to seeing their bf wearing like one of those sexy army uniforms ? Like those slutty Halloween costumes that are really just camo lingerie and a hat

Maybe where the men just got back to base after a exhausting mission and go to their room after showering only to see reader waiting for them all dressed up for them and the reader says something like "That must've been an exhausting mission soldier , let me reward you for all your hard work"

Reader is teasing them so much all while feigning innocence and acting like he's oblivious to how worked up they are and then yk fucking ensues

Bonus if reader wears like something of theirs , like Prices hat , one of Ghost and Konigs masks , etc.

SEXY ARMY UNIFORM

WARNINGS: sexual other than that, nothing

A/N: This is what imagined when I was writing this

ALEJANDRO

“Vas a ser mi muerte, amor.” (You're going to be the death of me, love.)

He’s all over you, so if you had any other plans for that evening, you can go ahead and call those off. Alejandro literally spends hours worshiping you from head to toe. He loves the outfit; it makes him go crazy. When he takes the outfit off of you, he makes sure to not rip anything because he definitely wants you to wear it again.

GHOST

"FUCK."

That's all he says before he ponces on you. The outfit drives him wild and if you're also wearing one of his masks; you are a goner. He is going to eat you up. As much as he loves the outfit, he is going to ripping it off of you. Later Ghost will apologize about ripping up the outfit like a heathen by buying you a nice lingerie set.

KÖNIG

"OH MY GOD."

Konig is shocked. When you said you had something to show him, he was not expecting this. He warms up to it but it takes a hot minute. He shyly asks you to ride him while wearing the outfit. When you give the poor man what he wants, he becomes a red hot blushing mess. 10/10. Recommend riding the man while forcing him to keep eye contact. It's a sight to see.

PRICE

"Sweatheart, you look amazing."

He thinks you look drop dead gorgeous. But at first he is shocked because he didn't expect to return to your guys' barracks to see you in such a scandalous outfit. If you're wearing one of his hats, you got his heart skipping beats. He responds to the outfit very well and makes a couple of lude comments.

RUDY

"Pareces un dios." (You look like a god.)

Rudy is shocked but quickly warms up to it. He will worship you from head to toe, much like Alejandro. He will literally pray at your feet like your a god. He just thinks you're so goddamn hot.

SOAP

“Where’s mine?”

After Soap's question, he will start to get a little handsy all while asking if you're going to fuck him while wearing it or if you're going to let him fuck you while wearing it. Soap doesn’t really care if he’s bottom or top. As long as you're wearing the outfit while everything is going down, he’s a happy man.

[merrinla]

Halsin and Minthara weren't always mutually exclusive

Even though you can recruit both of them, in the game it looks like a funny bug. I guess this is what's left of the original idea. It was previously planned not only letting you have them at the same time, but also that they would interact in the party like other companions.

In the audio files, you can find lines of their reactions to each other's deaths. I don't know if these are triggered or not. They are both so bugged that sometimes I can hardly tell which is the cut content and which is the bug.

It's kind of funny that Halsin would be so sad.

I recently completed Halsin's quest with Mintara in my party. In the scene by the lake, when Halsin entered the portal, Minthara said "He made it. Now let's just hope he survives what's on the other side"

Actually this is exactly the same line as Tav's.

Halsin also share many lines with Tav and other origins. Most of them are unused. But in this case the line is not only voiced by Emma Gregory (Minthara's VA), it's triggered.

There is another interesting line. In Moonrise Towers, when Ketheric punishes Mintara for a failure in the grove and sends her to the dungeon, the player can choose not to interfere and leave the location without helping her. In this case one of the characters in your party will remind you that she can be saved as a potential companion. I was wondering if Halsin would say anything. And he did. "Minthara may prove useful to us, should we wish to save her…"

This isn't cut content. This isn't new content added with patches. It's in the game since the release. And this line works. Moreover, this is his personal line.

If they implement the dialogue with an ultimatum it will be nonsense. I mean, first he suggests to save her from the Absolute as a useful ally, and then in the camp he will say that it's the right choice to kick her back under the Absolute control. It's even hard to blame the character for such contradiction. Rather, it's just a stupid limit set by the script.

Next. In Act 3 if you make one of them to go up on the clown stage, the other one will approve.

There is also an unused flag for Act 3 in the game files with the description "Orin pretended to kill Halsin during the Minthara abduction campnight." Which means in Act 3 they were both in the party.

You can see what the abduction of Mintara looks like in this video. Only instead of Halsin, Jaheira is mentioned here.

Maybe there are other confirmations that I do not know about, that they were not mutually exclusive before. But that's enough for me.

They were both not originally planned as companions. Their roles were expanded much later. Most likely, Larian didn't have time to polish their content, so scissors were used. This is why their content seems so unfinished compared to others. Except for Wyll, probably. That's why they are so buggy.

I suppose the reason they are both mutually exclusive is because it is the easiest solution when you have a deadline on the horizon. Just easiest as "it's fine for a companion to just hang out at the camp". Otherwise, you need dialogs, animations, scripts, etc. And you also need to make sure that it will work with everything else. This is time and resources. But this doesn't mean that it's impossible to fix anything later.

I faintly hope that the defenetive edition will have the option to recruit them both.

And I really hope that in the future Larian will look at the games of their colleagues from BioWare (who made the original BG). I mean games from better times than now. The companions below will show you how much they "loved" each other. Not all of them became friends in the end. But nevertheless, we saved the world. Together.

[thatgaiagirl]

A Vaguely Unhinged Diatribe About Runeterra’s Countries and where the FUCK the Slavs are coming from

For the record; Accents in this fantasy universe should not be read into with as much meaning as I am about to read into them. Piltover and Zaun has not only Americans and the British, but also a few inexplicable Aussies and a Scot who may or may not be secretly Noxian? Not to mention how the only other person we know with a Scottish accent in this universe from memory is Lillia, who is a spirit from Ionia. Ionia being essentially Fantasy East Asia in this setting. It means nothing, and yet I am about to make an entire conspiracy theory about Viktor’s fucking accent so take alllll of this with a grain of salt (I mean for all we know that’s just what a strong Zaunite accent sounds like so)

ANYWAY

I have noticed a trend (AKA literally only 2 pieces of evidence) of potentially Slavic things being connected to Camavor of all places.

First: Vladimir. Now, it is obvious to literally anyone that he is only named that because of the Vampire connection (people connecting Dracula to Vlad the Impaler, Vlad becomes Vladimir etc etc). The fact that the name is Slavic is incidental. HOWEVER - it was revealed that the ‘lost kingdom’ Vladimir was a prince of was Camavor. A member of the Camavoran royal family has a Slavic name, despite Camavor being mostly coded Spanish?

The second piece of evidence is actually kind of funny - it’s Necrit. Basically for those not in the know Necrit is a YouTuber and is seen as the main ‘Lore Guy’ in the League community. Back when Riot Forge still existed they worked with Airship Syndicate to make an RPG set in the universe called The Ruined King. Necrit was added in as an NPC whose role in the plot is to literally lore dump at you. It’s great.

HOWEVER.

Necrit IRL is Czech. The in-game, lore canon version of him… IS CAMAVORAN. He is part of Viego’s court. Granted, the VA in the game sounds like he’s attempting to emulate a more Spanish sounding accent akin to Viego than copying Necrit’s accent (which does make sense) BUT THE POINT STILL STANDS.

I have come to two conclusions here.

The sensible conclusion is that Fantasy Eastern Europe is on the same hidden mystery Continent as Camavor and Kathkan. It IS an Eastern Continent so it does kind of make sense.

The infinitely funnier option is that there is no Fantasy Eastern Europe. It’s just Camavor. It was always Camavor. In the wake of the Ruination and the kingdom’s fall its people spread all over and their accents just sound like that now. Viktor was secretly Fantasy Spanish the whole time.

Though actually Viktor being a distant descendant of Camavoran refugees opens him up to some interesting parallels with Viego and obsession and accidentally causing an apocalypse when you were so sure you were doing the noble and heroic and correct thing-

NOPE WE’RE NOT GOING THERE THIS IS ALL WILD SPECULATION AND I SHOULD NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AT ALL.

Anyway. Camavoran Viktor is theoretically possible now. Just wanted to curse you with that knowledge.

[osadiafromheaven]

✧˖°. MINI READING-PICK A PILE [+ a special song]

[english & spanish] Choose the image you are most drawn to or resonate most with...

Pile 1

Pile 2

Pile 3

CHANNELED MESSAGES FROM YOUR GUIDES

♥Pile 1: winds of change and confusion regarding material matters (i.e. money, work, physical stability, etc.) are coming. You are invited to get ride of everything that limits you. You must learn to adapt yourself to adversity and to keep confident and emotionally stable. It's a call to put yourself as a priority: "first my well-being and then I think of others". Recommended song: You're On Your Own Kid, Taylor Swift. https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/track/4D7BCuvgdJlYvlX5WlN54t?si=7a928baaa7e54953

♥Pile 2: the universe require moderation in your life. This is not the time to make big changes, expenses or investments. It may be possible that you aren't organizing yourself correctly or, in the face of recommendations from someone, you don't allow advice or suggestions. You're living such a big confusion that doesn't allow you to be realistic about the several options that are presented to you in life. Thanks to your effort and sacrifice, you'll get what you're looking for, but you must take the reins of the situation and connect your heart and mind with action (all at the same time). Recommended song: Everything I wanted, Billie Eilish https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/track/3ZCTVFBt2Brf31RLEnCkWJ?si=efbe1032468b4ca0

♥Pile 3: you must set goals and take the lead with a responsible and determined attitude. You have many opportunities coming to you in the sentimental and material plane that must be taken advantage of; but you must focus on the present and not be aware of your past. You're on the right path, and your positivity will lead you to achieve what you long for. Recommended song: Successful, Ariana Grande https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/track/5YeHLHDdQ4nKHk81XFWhCU?si=2ac2795021a64765

✧˖°. MINI LECTURA-ELIGE UNA IMAGEN [+ una canción especial]

MENSAJES CANALIZADOS DE TUS GUÍAS. (Elige una imagen con la que te sientas más identificadx o resuene más contigo).

♥Grupo 1 (Pile 1): etapas de cambios y confusiones en lo que respecta a lo material (es decir, dinero, trabajo, estabilidad física, etc). Te invitan a depurar todo aquello que te limita. Debes aprender a adaptarte a las adversidades y mantenerte con seguridad y estabilidad. Es un llamado para ponerte como prioridad: "primero mi bienestar y después pienso en los demás". Canción recomendada: You're on your own kid, Taylor Swift. https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/track/4D7BCuvgdJlYvlX5WlN54t?si=7a928baaa7e54953

♥Grupo 2 (Pile 2): tus guías te piden moderación en tu vida. No es momento para hacer grandes cambios ni gastos o inversiones en tu vida. Puede ser posible que no te estés organizando correctamente o, ante recomendaciones de alguien externo, no des lugar a consejos o sugerencias. Estás viviendo una gran confusión que no permite que seas realista ante las diversas opciones que se te presentan en la vida. A través de tu esfuerzo conseguirás lo que estás buscando, pero debes tomar las riendas y conectar corazón y mente con acción. Canción recomendada: Everything I wanted, Billie Eilish https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/track/3ZCTVFBt2Brf31RLEnCkWJ?si=efbe1032468b4ca0

♥Grupo 3 (Pile 3): debes establecer objetivos y tomar el liderazgo con una actitud responsable y decidida. Vienen hacia tí muchas oportunidades en el plano sentimental y material que deben ser aprovechadas; pero debes enfocarte en el presente y no estar pendiente de tu pasado. Vas por el camino correcto, y tu positividad te encamina a conseguir lo que tanto anhelas. Canción recomendada: Successful, Ariana Grande https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/track/5YeHLHDdQ4nKHk81XFWhCU?si=2ac2795021a64765

[cute-girls-from-vns-anime-manga]

Ooh your display case is really cool! Can you give us a rundown of what stuff is/where you got it etc?

HELL YEAH ID LOVE TO SPEND MY TIME DETAILING ALL MY COOL SHIT!!!

I don't want to overload everyone's dashboards with a ton of HQ pics of ALL of this individually so we are gonna go shelf by shelf left to right! I will try and use bullets to group certain things if they are apart of a set of some sort! (though I'm still working on these display cabinets and organizing things into their sets)

Starting with the Eushully shelf!

Kami no Rhapsody (RPG/VN), Source: Ebay

Kami no Rhapsody guide/art book, Source: Ebay

Madou Koukaku (RPG/VN), Source: Ebay

Ikusa Megami Zero guide/art book. Source: Ebay

Kamidori Alchemy Meister Special Alchemy disk (content pack), Source: Mandarake

Kamidori Alchemy Meister Perfect guide/art book + content pack disc, Source: Ebay

Kamidori Alchemy Meister Hannah's Pilgrimage (content pack), Source: Ebay

Kamidori Alchemy Meister (RPG/VN) Source: Ebay

Ikusa Megami (RPG) Source: Ebay <- STUPIDLY RARE I STILL CANT BELIEVE I FOUND EUSHULLY'S FIRST GAME THEY EVER PUT OUT BACK IN 1999 EVEN A SEARCH FOR IT ON SOME OF MY MORE ESOTERIC VISUAL NOVEL HUNTING GROUNDS TURNS UP A SINGLE LISTING THATS BEEN SOLD OUT FOR YEARS NOW!

Amayui Labyrinth Meister guide/art book + content pack disc Source: Ebay

Amayui Castle Meister guide/art book Source: Ebay

Fuukan no Grasesta (RPG/VN) Source: Ebay

Eushully branded mug printed with MC's of their various games Source: Ebay <- just showed up on my ebay alert for Eushully for dirt cheep probably the most absurd Eushully branded thing I own!

Emilita phone strap (she one of the main three heroines of Kamidori Alchemy Meister) Source: Ebay

Amayui Labyrinth Meister (RPG/VN) Source: Ebay

NEXT IS MY FIGURE SHELF!!!!

Tenryuu (Kancolle) Source: PLAMOYA

Saber Lilly (Fate Series) Source: PLAMOYA

Bendy OL-chan (pixiv artist OC) Source: amiami

Jill Stingray Nendroid (VA-11 Hall-A) Source: GOODSMILE

Yumiko Sakaki Bunny Suit (Grisaia no Meikyuu) Source: Solaris Japan

Marin Kitagawa Swimsuit ver. (My dress up darling) Source: amiami

Konata Cat Lingerie (pixiv artist OC) Source: amiami

NOW FOR MY VISUAL NOVEL COLLECTION (That isnt an Eushully or Minato Soft title)

Tsukihime remake (Switch Limited Edition) Source: Amazon

Witch on the Holy Night (Switch Limited Edition) Source: Amazon

Side note here THANK YOU TYPE MOON FOR MAKING THE LIMITED EDITIONS OF THESE TWO SUCH BIG BEAUTIFUL BOXES!!!!

Grisaia Complete Box (Japanese edition) Source: Jlist <- I genuinely believe this is the RAREST thing I own did a quick search and found only ONE seller on Mandarake selling this and its a used and incomplete copy MINE IS STILL PRISTINE AND COMPLETE!

Rewrite limited edition Source: Ebay <- Rewrite has my favorite limited/special edition extras of any visual novel in additon to the beautiful artwork and some interviews and stuff they included SHEET MUSIC FOR TWO OF THE BG MUSIC TRACKS

Clannad Limited Edition Source: Ebay <- This was the first physical visual novel I ever bought and Imported so obviously it holds a special place in my heart, AND OF COURSE CLANNAD WAS THE FIRST VN I GOT A PHYSICAL EDITION OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR VISUAL NOVELS OF ALL TIME AND CERTAINLY EARNS ITS STATUS AS A CLASSIC!

Little Busters Limited Edition Source: Ebay <- Not much to say about this one like I did the other two Key VN's ive got just another solid Limited edition of a great classic Visual Novel!

Subarashiki Hibi Source: Ebay <- Honestly with this one I am kind of disappointed in the quality of the box feels REAL flimsy but sadly box build quality isnt what it used to be back in the 90's

LASTLY THE PLUSHY SHELF ONLY THREE AND THEY ARE ALL FROM MAKESHIP!

Glow in the dark goblin: by Jocat <- glad Jocat has recently returned to twitch as his content is really amazing and I loved the little gobo animations he made with these guy's designs!

The absolutely adorable Cardiegon: by Ceroro <- whom is just an absolutely incredible artist whom yall should already be following here on tumblr by now!!!!

Finally the most recent plushie Sky (2.0 WITH BORGOR) the MC of Endless Monday Dreams and Deadlines: both the amazing game and sky herself are by hcnone <- GO PLAY ENDLESSS MONDAY RIGHT NOW GIVE HCNONE YOUR MONEY THEY ARE AN INCREDIBLE ARTIST AND MADE A WONDERFULLY AMAZING LITTLE GAME!!!!

THIS WAS SUCH A FUN TRIP BACK THROUGH THE MEMORIES OF FINDING ALL THIS STUFF AND REMEMBERING BEING SO EXCITED FOR EACH AND EVERY THING!!!!!

[dinkbear]

camp camp s5 e1 review (MAJOR SPOILERS!)

yea i thought it sucked

i just watched the new cc episode and i thought it was....not great

the pacing was very off, i feel like they had the potential to tell an emotionally complex story regarding max's feelings to returning to camp and seeing so much different, but that's difficult to do in 15 minutes, i feel like it could've worked better if it were even just 20 minutes. also, in "With Friends Like These" i thought max's new VA sounded practically the same as his old one, but in this episode he just sounds...off. again, a lot of the lines felt forced, when i hear this new guy i don't hear the little shit-stain max i just hear Some Guy™. i understand WHY they changed the va, but as a poc myself i genuinely could not care less if a white actor voices a poc character esp in an adult cartoon. it actually really brought me out of it when max was snapping at the obstacle course because it just felt like nothing, like i didn't care.

i. hate. CJ. i think he's unfunny, i don't like his design, i just...don't like him. hoping and praying that gwen stays and he LEAVES or there's some crazy twist or SOMETHING i just do NOT like him. also, why does he have the authority to deny the campers food??? is david not his boss??? DO SOMETHING BRO

david also felt off, i know that now he knows the campers better and he's had character development but he just seemed disingenuous

the bit with nikki freaking out over max possibly being mad had so much potential to be built on and have something done with it but it just...didn't. it was just that one line and that was it, i was excited for some crazy conflict that didn't happen.

i thought the thing with neil's clip on earring was hilarious and im sad that it'll probably only be in that one episode </3

UGGGGH they CAN tell heart-wrenching stories, they CAN expand on these characters emotionally, they CAN DO SO MUCH and they HAVE....but, for me, a big part of what made episodes like "The Order of the Sparrow" and "Parents' Day" so moving was that it was out of the formula. i LOVE LOVE LOVE shows that set themselves up as being episodic/formulaic/sitcom-y and then slowly introduce lore and show that the characters are 3-dimensional and have conflict, etc, etc. but in this episode and in "With Friends Like These," the emotional story-telling feels forced. it's not set up like its a regular camp camp episode where something unexpectedly emotional happens, its set up to be the unexpected thing...which makes it expected and lose its value. especially because, back when i was SUPER hyperfixated on this show like 4 years ago, post watching "Parents' Day" or "The Order of the Sparrow" or whatever, when i rewatched other episodes i saw more to these characters hidden in little aspects of their behavior or their reactions or their dialogue that was there the WHOLE TIME, but seemed like it was just a regular old episode where regular old things happen, but now it seems as though they are straying away from that and instead having the emotional development and storytelling be completely unsubtle and on the nose. i suppose it is the writers' choice and they have every right to do that even if i don't like it.

speaking of on-the-nose, i wasn't a fan of how they just flat out said "max is upset that things are different," in the episode he said how he didn't like that everything was changing over and over and over again. and like.....take "Parents' Day" for example, max was being an extra asshole to everyone subconsciously before realizing and admitting the real reason, which was great and how kids work (because remember, max is 11) but in this episode it was pretty much "GRRRRR EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND IM MAD ABOUT IT!!!!!" and i know it was supposed to be like 'well WHY is he so mad about it :o" which could've been good and interesting if there were...buildup...or anything...and not "This camp sucks, but you know what else sucks? Life out there. Family, school, a crumbling society?" and "You're just as lame as before, which is why you didn't have any friends back home to begin with." its just like....come on. was that REALLY the best way to get that across??? THEY CAN WRITE SUBTLY SO WHY DON'T THEY!?!?!?!?

i feel like there is SO MUCH potential to exploring max's emotions but they just seem to keep being unsubtle and on-the-nose about it, which an emotionally neglected kid would NOT be. we have to remember, they're kids. i feel like the earlier seasons did a great job of making that obvious- making them little rascals, oblivious to things, mischievous, full-of-energy, little devils, the line "I saw it on TV!" from s1 e4- but in these newer episodes its treated as though that aspect is not important (note: i have never rewatched s4 because i didn't like it, so i am not going off it for reference bc i barely remember anything that happened) max wouldn't know that he's upset with them changing because of how lonely it is, and i know he was supposed to be projecting but the dialogue felt so forced it didn't even feel like projecting it just felt like admitting. i don't expect the writers to have a phd in child psychology or something, but if they want max's emotional reactions to have power and be meaningful, i feel like they should be a CHILD'S emotions.

granted, this is all my opinion. i'm sure for the reasons i disliked the episode, someone really loved it for the same ones. i would give it a 3/10, but there was no jasper, so it gets a 0/10. very excited for the next episode, the post-credits trailer made it seem like it'll be good.

[raviolirash]

That post you had made about VAs made me think of this person who commented on a video wrt to meeting Neil saying that if you were not a "skinny, skimpily dressed pretty girl" then he "wasn't interested" and that he's "too expensive" and "not worth the money to meet him." And I'm sitting there like ok first of all that's the exact opposite of what I've ever heard and seen of him as a person and at cons. Second, uh entitlement much? Like, if you didn't pay anything to go see him and just tried to butt in while he was talking to someone else, then of course he's gonna ignore you. It's like people forget VAs are people, and it really rubs me the wrong way because of how they're treated in the industry and by fans thinking they have this right to just like...take up their whole time.

I just don't get what happened to the concept of being polite. Has that been killed by twitter or something? I once flew a long time to get an autograph from one of my favorite people, had to dip out of the M&G line because a thing came up, and never got to talk to them because I didn't want to bother them when they were "off work" at a bar at the end of the day. And I was raised by wolves.

Dipshits are completely feral nowadays. You open twitter, see a lot of creepy messages said at you, and then get flack when you set boundaries? The fuck? Wasn't there an instance where Neil had to stop mid-Cameo to tell someone to get professional help? Just because the person was a part of something you love doesn't mean you are owed their time. That they go out of their way to stream, go to cons, do cameos etc is a bonus. It shouldn't be a requirement.

[celestialcrownsvn]

October Update

Hi guys! Thanks again for all the support regarding my last update. Stopping the marketing has been great for my mental health and I've finally been able to make progress on the game. 

Backgrounds

All the backgrounds are... done 😰I feel like that can't be right. But, I've got them all, and barring any issues where I need to commission a couple more, we should be all set.

Programming

I have programmed 1750/7255 lines of Aalam's route so far (Scene 5 of 30)! This includes voice, music, animations, etc. Once I get through this round of programming, it'll be ready for testing. Last time I asked for volunteers for beta testers, but due to mixed results as far as people keeping deadlines, I don't think I'll be doing that again. I might ask a select group of people and see if there's anything left in the budget I can offer as payment.

Writing

Most of the new writing for Aalam's route is in later chapters, so I didn't do much this month aside from some editing of typos, etc., as I started from the beginning to program/polish all at once.

CGs

Good news and bad news on this front. The good news is that my CG artist is okay and isn't in any danger as far as we know. The bad news is that she has decided to leave the project. I am going to reach out to another artist once I finish taking in all the sketches/finished pieces she's done and seeing how much work is actually left.

Voice Acting

I hit a snag when someone asked me about the VA strike. I wasn't aware of it, as I haven't been keeping up with current events due to life stuff. But we came to an arrangement, and I'll be sending the VA scripts out soon, hopefully today. Essentially, I'm making a commitment not to use any of the voice lines received for AI training, now or in the future. Which I think is a very simple thing to promise and I can't believe people are having to strike for what seems like common sense. Anyway.

Conclusion and Timeline

That's it for me folks! Your support has been so uplifting, so thank you again.

I've been very busy with IRL work lately so I haven't had as much time to work on CC as I wanted, but I'm hoping to finish Aalam's route and send it to testing by the end of November. Slow and steady wins the race. 💪🏾

As a side note... my birthday is Friday, a great present would be to wishlist the game!

[kaidanworkshop]

I had been using the other Kaidan and extended edition etc for ages but, after looking at your plans, the work, bug fixes and hearing the new VA.....I think I will be switching to your Kaidan version. I am gonna be following your amazing progress and tidying my my load order in due tome for release. I think I read you plan to have him released on xbox also? Thanks for the amazing work on Kaidan and I do appreciate the new Scottish accent he has! While I do enjoy Dan....I feel that some of the new dialogue written for him is very......out of character.

Yes we do plan on releasing Kaidan Revoiced: Community Expansion for Xbox! One of our primary design goals when rebuilding his follower framework was to ensure compatibility between our PC and Xbox releases. While this means our mod will use Kaidan's dialogue menu to change his settings (rather than an MCM), it also means that Xbox users will get to use KR:CE with all of its features intact. We're pretty much done with the rebuild and have just been testing a few quests here and there, as well as checking different popular mods for incompatibilities. Our budget surplus Fun(ds) initiative is wrapping up in about five days -- go vote if you haven't! -- & then it's a race to the finish line to create, review, commission & implement the last 600 or so lines. Thank you so much for your interest in our project! We're super excited to get it into everyone's hands this upcoming May!

[33max]

Bean, I just read your fic "nobody wins a war" a couple days ago. It is so unique and well written. Could you tell us more about it? What happened after they move to San Francisco? Thank you.

It’s almost a year old now, and it’s still the fic I am most proud of to be honest! (x)

Max and Daniel move into a tiny one bedroom flat in San Francisco, but it’s all they need. They spend a while just… settling in. They have to do things like scout out a new busking spot for Daniel (very important!), find a new physiotherapist for Max (as the VA doesn’t exist yet), make friends in the community etc etc.

Not too long after they move Carlos gets injured in Vietnam, he’s discharged from the United States Army, leaving Charles alone out there. Max worries himself sick, he’s not there, Pierre isn’t there, Carlos isn’t there to keep Charles safe. He knows Charles won’t be coping, and he’s proven right when Charles appears on his doorstep late one evening.

Charles has been discharged on psychiatric grounds, and he’s in active addiction, which Max half expected. He’s seen what people do to cope. He doesn’t blame Charles at all.

For a while it’s really hard, Charles inhabits their sofa, screams at night, argues with Max during the day, and then cries. And cries. And cries.

Daniel and Max help him get involved in local rehab centres, there’s one that a member of the community has set up specifically for young gay men. It’s a good thing for Charles, a real turning point, and it is where things start to improve for him.

Over the years Daniel gets involved in lots of different types of activism. Max is more of a quiet supporter, but it works for the two of them.

When the war officially ends, Max cries deep heaving sobs of relief into Daniel’s shoulder. They take a walk out to the Golden Gate that evening, and Daniel encourages Max to climb up, hold the railings and scream out into the bay. He does, and then he kisses Daniel out there in the open.

Years later, Daniel is involved heavily in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and Max worries for him, worries about the names Daniel gets called, worries for their community. There’s not a huge amount of understanding and at the time so they also worry for their own health (they only sleep with each other and they are clean so it’s okay, but they don’t know that).

But one thing is for sure: they grow old together and their home is filled with song and laughter, and eventually Max’s nephews will visit from Eugene. They grow up knowing that love is love and Uncle Max loves Uncle Daniel and that sometimes people are mean but kindness is the future 🥺♥️

[theliterarywolf]

I know it’s been a few days since you posted about Dungeon Flippers, but I just wanna say I’m absolutely thrilled and excited to see this trend of creators utilizing Youtube to upload their shows. We’re witness to an entirely new rising phenomena of people taking to Youtube to broadcast their show ideas and having total control of the reigns without corporate meddling a la Gravity Falls or Owl House. I thank Vivziepop and HB, and Glitch and Digital Circus to some degree for opening the way (1)

(2) So I hope this means Dungeon Flippers will do well, and if they ever get merch I will ABSOLUTELY buy a Maulie pin. I just hope this trend continues and gains steam.

And, see, that's where YouTube is supposed to shine as a platform: being a venue for creators, be they artists, VAs, musicians, designers, etc, to have some matter of platform that can easily accessed for both audiences and creators.

Because, let's admit it: not everyone can afford their own web-domain, not everyone can set up a full-fledged studio, let alone have the connections to get their animations/short films played on a network.

So I wish that YouTube didn't veer off into the weird, pseudo-draconian conglomerate it is now because, for every success story like Spindlehorse and GLITCH, there are several dozen instances of people having to jump through ten-thousand hoops just to show off their hard work.

I mean, look at what happened to the small studio SaberSpark started and all the hell he had to go through when he kept trying to upload their first video: a Reanimated Collab for the "Sleepytime" episode of Bluey

[watermelonsugacry]

more zayn and y/n moments?? i feel like they have the most adorable friendship everrr ❤️❤️❤️

love your work ❤️🔥

oh there's so many!

So you all know when the band first started, all Zayn would say is Vas Happening?! Well, YN's thing was always saying Aye Oh!

So whenever the cameras would point to them during their fetus era, he would throw an arm over her shoulder and they'd just yell their sayings super duper loudly while making a funny face.

...

During the band's third tour, the two of them would spend some time with their vocal coach in one of the smaller green rooms to go over their harmonies together.

The song they loved to perform together was Right Now because they shared the chorus.

So when they would hit those harmonies perfectly (like they always did), they would give each other a nod of approval, a smug look on their faces before giving each other a high five.

...

YN knew that while he usually presented himself with a hard exterior, she knew that he was a soft teddy bear once you got to know him. One of the activities that she would partake in with him was art. She knew she was shit at it, but she also knew that he loved it.

So during the long rides on the tour bus crossing from one city to another, sitting next to each other during an album signing/meet & greet, or stuck in their hotel rooms, she'd be there with a piece of paper and some type of writing utensil for them to draw whatever came to mind.

There was even an interview in 2014 when they were doing for their new book "Who We Are" where Zayn spent the majority of the time drawing on YN's arm. With a ball point pen, the beautiful mandalas he drew on her skin left her beaming and utterly speechless.

...

There's no denying the fact that those two were the most fashionable members of the band. With Zayn's cool, suave, bad boy style and YN's good girl aesthetic, photoshoots with them were easy and right on the money.

...

For the Night Changes music video, YN was the stand-in for basically all of the boys (except Liam who actually had his girlfriend on set). With each date, she took on the role with some seriousness, acting as if the boys were really taking her on a date.

For Zayn's part, YN actually dressed in a formal black dress to really get into character.

Needless to say, she really got a kick out of making her usually quiet band member laugh throughout the shoot. Like when Ben Winston directed him to offer her some of his spaghetti, she let out a playful sigh of relief, "Yes please. Do you see the sad fookin' excuse of a salad they gave meh?"

Or when her "ex-boyfriend" interrupted her date with Zayn, she actually played along and had an argument with him with a fake backstory she made up: "Johnathan?! What are yeh doing here? I told you to leave me alone. No, I'm over you. No. I'm sorry but I just can't listen to you rant about your Barbie doll collection any longer!"

And when the ex-boyfriend dumps the food on Zayn, as soon as the director yelled cut!, YN quickly got up from her seat and got all up in the building of a man's face (really his chest from how tall the actor was) and says with a deep voice, "the fook man!" But her facade lasted all but 2 seconds before her and everyone just burst out laughing.

...

Since the band's formation, Zayn always had and continues to have a soft spot for YN.

He still views her as a little sister and while they don't talk as much as they used to during their time in 1D, there's not a single birthday, holiday, anniversary, etc. that hasn't gone by without a text between the former band members.