#they could’ve been really strong allies

[hibiscus-reign]

I want to see Tiffany Rousso play big brother again…

[starkdirewolflove]

OMITB

Holy hell that episode was mad. The documentary style filming was a bit jarring at times like when Howard had the camera upside down, but it was a really cool twist for the show. When the hidden cameras were used in Oliver’s apartment I thought it was the Brother’s sisters being creepy and spying on their subjects but it just turns out the trio didn’t fully read the contracts they signed their life rights to.

Whoever the sniper/killer is they are way more ruthless and dangerous than anyone Charles, Mabel and Oliver have encountered before and they are in serious danger. The trio are the main targets but they also seem to be targeting stunt people. Like Sazz knew something from monitoring her ham radio (that everyone in the west tower also uses) and Glenn was shot in the photo shoot, maybe he knows something too. Good to see detective Williams getting more screen time this season, she’s a great ally for the trio and she mentioned Jan has been spotted again so she must be trying to find Sazz’s killer to murder them herself.

I still think the Westies are connected to these murders. They have all been really weird about answering questions about Dudenoff and gave conflicting stories about him. And those files that were hidden in that wall alcove behind Mabel’s bed might have more information than they had let on.

Now we also know that Rudy and Vince were students in his film class and were jealous of his favouritism towards Tawny and Trina. So if Dudenoff has been dead for 3 years who have the Westie’s been sending their “rent” money to and receiving ham from? If the Westies conspired to murder Sazz the night of the after party maybe Alfonso was the sniper and Rudy could’ve been the one to dispose of the body since he’s so fit and strong.

Going back to season 1 I thought it was Jan who sent the threatening note “end the podcast or I end you” to Oliver and poisoned Winnie.

I wonder if the mystery woman on the radio who was also possibly Rudy’s ex girlfriend will make an appearance in person even if it’s only to reclaim her pig Hammy Fey. She might be able to reveal some info about Dudenoff and who might’ve killed him.

[littlemut]

my main grief with LGTS 👠👠 (huge spoilers ahead)

i finally finished the game yesterday and although i all in all liked it a lot i really don’t get why it is so punitive. till. the. very. end(s).

after restarting it TWO times (one time because i couldn’t possibly know beforehand how niggardly they would be with money/food/resources, and the other time because i couldn’t get the windmill key from Eugen😒💢🗝️) and going through all those witch hour trials i am left with the feeling that you never really get to win.

YES you do get the sweet lesbian good ending with your sweetheart of choice, but that basically nullifies — in terms of reward for the player — all your hard effort during those sleepless nights going around getting pecked by birds, chased by phantoms and carriage-goat demons. with the lesbian endings, you never get to the bottom of any of the mysteries and you mostly live in an ignorant lovey-dovey bliss 🕊️���

the apostasy ending — where you get to the bottom of the cave notes mystery and all the priest attempts at summoning Walpurga — still doesn’t feel rewarding, as the witch kills you just when you were almost about to bring Father Hans’ misdeeds to light — so despite getting SUPER CLOSE to uncovering the truth behind Kiefeberg’s mysteries, you still lose.

both the kiss ending and the motherly cocoon ending are yet another win for Walpurga — in the kiss you become one with her (accompanied by crazy-unmei-talk Rozenmarine) in the woods, while in the other she essentially takes your place, embodying an Elise that’s no longer the player. so again. you lose.

the auto da fe ending doesn’t need more explaining than “you just get burned at the stake” like the witch you are. and again it makes sense as a bad ending (also because you get that if you didn’t succeed in getting and placing the token of love from your sweetheart, thus punishing your inability to create at least one true strong bond 💖)

what im trying to say is that — although all these endings make sense and are totally fine endings by themselves — you finish the game multiple times and you never get to defeat Walpurga, nor Him. and honestly i wouldn’t have minded so much not getting to defeat the witch. but what i would’ve loved to see — something that would really reward the player for all the (sometimes very annoying and frustrating) trials you go through — is an ending where you defeat Ozzy, where you get to somehow outwit the devil himself. because — as Elise — you are different from the golden girls who have gone through this path in the past. as Elise, you are a not-entirely-human girl generated through Holle’s wish with the help of the devil himself on the soil and with a doe of Walpurga’s land (and in this instance, Walpurga could have even chosen to become an ally of yours, forming some sort of contract with Elise so as to get closer to her again and also banish Him out of the woodlands with Elise’s help! — all things she said she wanted for so long). so you’re really not just another human girl making a deal with the devil. and even if you don’t get to win because “you’re born special”, you still should get to have at least one (1) ending where (as the player) you can triumph after all the hard work you put in to see this through the very very end. it could’ve been the hardest ending to get. but it would have been an absolute triumph of the MC. 🏆 a triumph i still think she deserved. (yes, Elise can be very selfish and self-entitled, but she has shown multiple times that she also has a big heart 🫀)

don’t get me wrong, i still love this game ❤️ (despite the very MANY frustrating bits and the unskippable cutscenes & dialogues right before the annoying part you just tried 7 times to get right 💢💢💢) — i just feel like Elise really deserved an ending where she gets to the bottom of the Walpurga mystery (à la Pentiment, where yet again it’s a priest who’s found out to be the one behind it all lmao) AND gets to defeat Strange Boy thanks to the strength of her character (and maybe the peculiarity of her birth circumstances too) — a quality that the game itself so often kept reminding the player of.

TL;DL Lebkuchen best girl ⛪️💙

[my-pjo-stuff]

So I was telling my friends about you and pointing out why I like Luke and also reading out a few of your points about Luke and him not being a “pedo” because you’re a really good defender. One of them asked the question:

“Why didn’t Luke get Nyx instead of Kronos? Zeus is scared of Nyx.”

Can you tell us why he could’ve or couldn’t?

So first off, thanks so much for the compliment 🥺💖 I think the easiest way to defend Luke against that argument is asking, how? How could Luke realistically have even gotten to Nyx in the first place? I think this fandom has a nasty habit of forgetting that most demigods simply don't have that many options of rebellion. Going to the underworld, getting more points of contact with the gods, going on semi-regular quests and advetures- that's all not the norm. You may think that it is due to it being what happens to the main characters and us seeing the books through their POV, but it simply isn't. Most demigods never meet any god to begin with, or get much cordial contact with any mythical being if any. You average demigod get's one quest in their entire lives at most. The average demigod simply isn't as strong as Percy or the Seven either. Luke was, for the most part, completely alone. He didn't have any other people with him on his quest as far as we know, he didn't have any support of the gods on his side and he didn't have any major power. Due to "only" being a child of Hermes he wasn't of particular interest to any mythical being either. From what I understand Nyx was in the underworld, yes? How could Luke have gone there? When Percy and co. went there they had help from Chiron pointing them into the right direction. And even if Luke got down there, how should he have gotten out? The only reason Percy and co. managed to return was because of the pearls Poseidon gave them. Not to mention the fact that there would be no reason for things like minor gods, titans, mythical beings, monsters ect. would have no reason to go along with Luke if he proposed joining him. There is a major risk factor in this entire plan. If they fail to overthrow the gods they very well may all be condemned to fates worse than death.

Luke in this would have been alone. No backing from Kronos or anyone else for that matter. Why should people take the risk of joining him? Some normal demigod child that isn't even especially powerful or special? Why should they risk horrid fates for a plan made by this random kid? Luke was in a wildly different situation when he had Kronos behind him to back him up. Kronos has many more powerful allies than Luke had and was much more well known, which allowed better and more avenues of alliances. Fact is that Luke had a lot of important backers in terms of demigods and titans he simply couldn't have even gotten to just based on their location all on his own. Which is also why I believe Kronos to have been the only viable option Luke had.

[the-writer-mao]

The Royals and Aids are exhausted :(

The ending of episode 29 was quite bittersweet.

|| Spoilers up ahead ⚠️ || + mid-way season analysis

From my understanding since subs are not out yet, Jeramie acted as an evil king, then faked defeat to save the aids and for the people of Chikyu to regain their trust in their rulers once more.

The kings are heavily affected by Jeramie’s selfless gesture as they’re aware of how hard he’s worked for peace from between humans and Bugnarok, and all that was shattered from 1 international broadcast.

For kings who are notoriously known to be devious, selfish, reckless, untrustworthy, and ruthless, it was really satisfying to see them come together because of their empathy for Jeramie.

despite their exhaustion, shit got personal.

Out of many seasons I’ve watched, I’m very fond of this plot driven season. Especially in terms of character dynamics and relationships.

In every Sentai, there’s usually an overall theme for every season, and the virtues that compliment the theme se as the season progresses;

Family, Imagination, Bravery, Hope, Adventure, being that I could’ve majored in literature, I would love to delve deep into major themes of past Sentais. And as for Kingohger, the many themes they come across is impressive, especially since it’s very plot driven.

Acceptance is a major theme in Kingohger and I think it’s so special. When you go over each of the King’s ‘hateful’ traits, acceptance overcomes each of them and it shows exactly why each of these Royals are true rulers:

To be truly good you must know and accept evil- instead of completely wiping out everything that would be deemed bad, he still looks for heart in everyone, he is compassionate, and forgiving.

To be reckless you must accept consequence- to take full control of chaos, take risks, to never look back- he knows what failure is, and wouldn’t hesitate to face it again if means the safety of his people.

To be selfish you must accept expectations- there’s a reputation that’s been made, and all eyes on her expect her be perfect- with no room for error, this will reassure her country. It is the most selfless act.

To be ruthless you must accept responsibility- the toll might be unbearable, but responsibility goes beyond justice; they have seen every type of guilt, to not waver in bias and their own guilt is powerful.

To be deceitful you must accept faith- to play a role, hiding your true intentions to expose what’s truly rotten- no matter how many enemies he may make, he trusts that they'll eventually have faith in him as a trustworthy ally.

I really feel for Jeramie because I feel like he’s observed this from all of the kings, and that’s why I think he didn’t hesitate on helping them reassure their people- he’s seen and accidentally caused the worst division across Chikyu- he’s seen unruly kings over the 100s of years, but he’s so fond of the strong will of each ruler, enough to overcome their major flaws that he truly feels that he owes them :(

[choicesmc]

Chiamaka x Fiona: The Analysis

okay, self indulgent post here <3 

I just find chiamaka + fiona’s relationship so fascinating. because they could’ve been happy, they could’ve lived a nice, long, stable life + fiona really did trust and love her. So part of this is post is to explain why fiona trusted her + illuminate a little of how their relationship developed and worked <3 <- ive put too many hours of thought into this 😭

it is also incredibly long so under the cut it goes ♠️

The Beginnings 

Fiona + Chiamaka are, essentially, high school sweethearts. While they didn’t date during high school, they hung out a lot and worked on various things together. It helped that they had pretty similar interests + even at the beginning of their friendship, their respective families were already teasing them for their relationship. (You know the: ‘Is she your girlfriend?’, ‘His in love with you, obviously!’ <- that sort of thing)  

One thing to get out of the way is that Fiona was very different in high school. He was not the flamboyant team player he is now. High school Fiona was quiet, intimidating, and stern. He took control of most group projects and almost always sought leadership roles <- he wasn’t really liked because he often crossed the line between ‘strong leader’ to straight up ‘domineering’. None of that was on purpose though and I doubt Fiona was even aware of the majority opinion on him. 

Meanwhile, Chiamaka was sunshine personified. She was nice + persistent + kind + caring + helpful + supportive. And, from the outside looking in, it was a grouch x sunshine romance story. You know, the ray of sunshine slowly worming its way into the grouch’s heart. They looked made for each other with complementing personalities + appearances. It wasn’t that hard to imagine their dynamic stretching into the future with a wedding + children. They really did fill their stereotypical roles well with Chiamaka being the kind mother, the warm half, of Fiona’s masculine domination. <- Caricatures of the ideal marriage, in a sense. 

But their relationship didn’t really start to pick up till college. 

College

Chiamaka + Fiona went to the same college. It was a private college a decent drive away from their hometown and it was very much a blossoming period for Fiona + Chiamaka + their relationship. For them, it was the first time he was really away from his upbringing + family + the first time he’s meeting a really wide variety of opinions. For their relationship, this is the period they begin to really know each other. 

Fiona learns more about queer struggles + identities and, while not identifying himself with anything (<- he really tries not to think too hard about it), he does shift closer to an ally. He’ll defend his gay friends to Chiamaka + sign petitions + attend protests. Chiamaka, for the most part, doesn’t comment much on it but importantly doesn’t say a word of this to his parents. It’s an unspoken thing between them <- fiona gets to explore this new world without fear of repercussion for the first time in his life + what he considered support. (sidenote: this is the period where Fiona adopts the name Fiona. <- prior to this, his given English name was Peter.) 

On Chiamaka’s side, college was a test run for marriage. I’m not entirely too sure how ‘in love’ she was with Fiona but I do know that she’d spent her high school years surrounded by the idea that she was in love with Fiona + marriage was the best possibility for the two of them. Now that they were in the same college + away from external pressure, this was the chance for her to figure out if marriage was really in the cards for the both of them. 

So, she kept his secrets, she cooked for him, they made time to spend with each other + what they discovered surprised and enchanted them. Fiona started to become a little more flamboyant, started wearing a wider range of colors, took interest in her make-up, and took more of a backseat role in their relationship. To be clear, Fiona wasn’t tossing on skirts and wearing lipstick <- but he was branching into blues + greens + oranges (and in general taking better pride in his appearance) rather than the dark blacks + greys + whites he’d grown up with  and he could tell brands apart and knew Chiamaka’s favorites. Chiamaka found that she liked being able to pamper Fiona, liked seeing him dressed up + liked the more natural confidence he had when he was <- this was still heavily policed, though. None of them stepped too far out of their roles. 

For example: Chiamaka pampered him with food. She’d make his favorites, take him out to places and order for him (even if Fiona would pay at the end of the night), and cook with him –leading him around the kitchen in an area of life where she was allowed to dominate. Fiona learned that he really really liked giving gifts + as he came more in touch with different interests, he very much set his eye on buying the best he could for her. They were stereotypically ‘feminine’ gifts (ie necklaces, rings, dresses, makeup kits) but he’d developed quite an eye at picking them out.  

That’s how they fell in love. By being more than their roles, by finding the different shades, by plugging shades and gaps between boundaries where there were none. They both knew, instinctively, that this was something they’d have to keep to themselves. The nuances of their relationship –the truth that traditionally lines were more blurred and fluid than they appeared– was something that they knew wasn’t acceptable in public. 

For Fiona, this was the best he could hope for. Was it everything? No. Absolutely not. But it was a way to live an honorable, respectable life within the constraints of society + family pressures. It was having his cake + eating it too. It was something. 

Chiamaka saw it a bit differently. (Not that Fiona realized that at the time.) For Chiamaka, college was a time to explore. It was four years to get weird deviations out of her system without repercussions. When college was over, she had to settle back down + be ready for weddings + motherhood. And she planned ahead too. Fiona + her could have their fun, inverting + playing around with social roles –but not forever. In the end, they’d have to go back to their respective roles.  

(sidenote: Chiamaka originally came for a biomedical degree before switching to education. Stated reason? To give fiona the choice of a demanding career since she’d be available for their future kids.) 

Of course, the four years came and went + she realized this wasn’t something she could get ‘out of her system’ so the both of them decided, in public, they’d fulfill their social roles + in private they’d continue as they currently did. <- Again, this was not something they actively sat down and talked about, this was mutual understanding of what they were doing. They were on the same page, just different lines. (<- I’d attribute this to their long friendship prior to their romantic relationship) 

It wouldn’t be wrong to call them soulmates at this time. What changed this was their engagement. 

Engagement Period

They were engaged the day they graduated (sidenote: <- this is a retcon, i initially imagined them getting engaged later down the line but i like this better). Literally. Fiona sang the national anthem at the beginning of the ceremony + then got down on one knee + proposed to Chiamaka much to her delight. 

But this also marked the end of their idyllic life. Now, they were back under the social rules that had governed much of their life + this time with a detailed discomfort with it. Needless to say, it was a struggle to re-adjust. Fiona found escape in academia; first working in research and then as a professor. Chiamaka found it easier to adjust. She’d already internalized that college would be a phase and, yes, it turned out to be a little more permanent than she’d wanted but, ultimately, she spent her four years ready to return while Fiona had not. 

And she helped him edge back into the stoicism he grew up in, y’know? When things were too hard, there was always the knowledge that once the both of them were alone, they could slip back into the fluid, real relationship they’d developed together. It’s not really a surprise that Fiona trusted Chiamaka in addition to loving her. There was real and genuine joy in seeing her wearing an engagement ring. There was real adoration during the wedding planning period. For the record, the same could be said for Chiamaka. With Fiona was a side of her that only existed around him, Fiona was a safe place for her. <- The difference was: this is her limit. 

She was still very much raised in a traditional Nigerian household with traditional beliefs. Where Fiona was gallivanting and flirting with queer ideas, Chiamaka was still bound to her family and community. Yes, there was still freedom, but it was a leashed one. She was expected to keep her family in the know, to continue familial bonds and be their eyes and ears in what Fiona was up to. As I said earlier, she took advantage of this position to cover for Fiona. <- She fed just enough info that things were realistic without telling the full extent nor truth of what Fiona was up to. This was a protection but it also meant she was never really free in the same way Fiona was. 

While she had grown, she hadn’t grown as much as Fiona had assumed. <- Notice how much of their relationship was assumed. They don’t talk much about their problems but they tend to be on the same page but “different lines” (<- heh quote from earlier that now makes more sense, i think im very clever). This is where it came to bite them in the ass. 

Fiona assumed Chiamaka was like him: constrained by social pressures and fighting for a haven of respite [in him]. Chiamaka assumed Fiona had simply grown and stretched his beliefs without true change: he was an ally, fine. But in the end, Chiamaka assumed that was something he could drop as easily as he’d ‘picked’ up.  

That was a problem.  

The End <3 

Now you get why Fiona told Chiamaka about his bisexuality. Why he came clean about his gender nonconformity. Why he was so shaken and blinded sided in [worse than heartbreak], <- fic, and somehow mistaken about the limits of his fiancée’s acceptance. 

Hopefully, you’ll also see Chiamaka in a more sympathetic light. <- I tried to do that in the fic as well but y’know…. kinda hard to do that in that fic. D: 

Even more, i get to dump all these thoughts about fiona x chiamaka out of my head finally!! 

As always asks are greatly appreciated!! <- I really hope y’all liked this despite its length :) 

[rainwingmarvel7]

also Sarra Mormont lore dump?

Thanks so much for the second ask! So, I actually already did a lore dump for her here, but I’ve been thinking about her a lot so I still have a lot of Sarra lore to talk about! Specifically, I’ll talk about her romantic relationships this time!

Sarra x Larys

Sarra’s marriage to Larys is first and foremost one of political advantage. Her mother is a Mallister, thus allying the two Riverlands houses, and her father has both Mormont and Lannister (albeit Lannisport Lannister) blood as well, both of which are advantageous houses to ally yourself with.

When Sarra first meets Larys, he expects her to be intimidated and disgusted. She is neither of those things. She treats him like an actual person, which is more than he can say for most. Their personalities match, both quiet and reserved but cunning, and they admired each other for their intelligence and wits.

Sarra and Larys were married at Harrenhal when she was about 15-16 years old. Given Larys’ obligations in King’s Landing, Sarra was quickly whisked away from everything she knew to accompany her husband back to the Red Keep.

It takes some time for Sarra to adjust to her new life. It was nothing like the upbringing in the North that she had known, nor the Riverlands she had thought to call her new home. Larys pulls some strings to have her placed as one of Alicent’s ladies. Although she began to settle into her new place, Sarra was never truly happy.

It was during this time that Sarra and Larys also began trying to have children. Sarra had three miscarriages, all of them sons, before she was able to bring a child to term. That child would be a girl, Elyana Strong, her only living child with Larys.

During their time in King’s Landing, and especially after the losses of their sons, Sarra’s relationship with Larys began to grow strained. However, things truly came to a head at the start of the Dance.

Given that Sarra’s own flesh and blood has declared for the Blacks, Larys was not sure how much he could trust his wife. In turn, Sarra became mistrustful of him and increasingly unhappy amongst the Greens.

When she began her affair with Gwayne, she did so in secret, although she knew that Larys would eventually find out. She didn’t really care though. And when Rhaenyra and the Blacks storm King’s Landing, it is Gwayne who she seeks, not Larys.

Sarra x Gwayne

Ah my sweet doomed lovers. Sarra had met Gwayne not long after arriving in King’s Landing, when Otto was Viserys’ Hand the first time around. He was everything that she had ever wanted in a husband - handsome, charming, brave, and valiant. He was everything that Larys was not. Sarra was instantly smitten and sought him out.

Although Gwayne was aware of her affections, and even held some towards her himself, he left her behind to return to Oldtown. He gave her the parting gift of a kiss on the hand, and she rewarded him with her favor (it’s giving Alicent and Criston).

The two would not see each other again until Gwayne returned after the start of the Dance. By then, Sarra was increasingly dissatisfied with her marriage and was filled with desire upon once more laying eyes on Gwayne. It was not difficult for her to charm him, for his heart was already open towards her, even after so many years since their last meeting.

Shortly after his arrival in King’s Landing, the two began their affair. It was fierce and passionate and full of true love, unlike her marriage to Larys. If she could’ve run away with him, she would’ve.

At some point in time (perhaps after they first meet or sometime during the Dance, depending on how long the show draws it out for), Sarra does give birth to two bastard children by Gwayne, Arra and Rodrick. Gwayne knows he is the father and Larys knows he is not.

Alas, the romance of Sarra and Gwayne is cut short when Gwayne is slain during the Sack of King’s Landing, and Sarra is slaughtered as she runs to his corpse, screaming his name on her lips.

[bluebirbo]

I know I’ve talked about beelzebub a lot before but I just keep thinking about all the missed potential with her character!

and yes I’m aware she’s old news but I wanted to share a quick little thing

I think bee being a fly would’ve worked for so many cool narrative reasons!

she could’ve been a looked down upon sin who is judged by the others for her actions, way of interacting with her people, or personality!

she could’ve been some sort of protecter or refuge leader of the hellhounds, connecting her a tiny little bit better to the animal trainer idea

that would make her a potentially good strong ally for I.M.P or maybe just loona, lord knows that girl could use some friends (and therapy but that’s another post)

her pop song could be her singing about her enemies/bullies (the sins) and her calling them spiders who starve themselves until the right time but she’s a fly who indulges all the time (bad rhyme and reference but I hope you get what I’m saying here!)

I have so many ideas flooding my brain about this character! she really could’ve worked so well but she didn’t (I mean she wasn’t 100% the worst but I didn’t even know she was supposed to be a sin until three days after watching)

anyway I’ll shut up now, gotta get myself caught up on all the newest helluva/hazbin details, just wanted my first post back in this tag to be a more lighthearted one!

[mixing-bowl-of-stories]

Thinking about how Lazarus could’ve actually been a really good emperor had Avantee not been there and he’d been found by The Crux/Ran away with his siblings.

I think he & Victor could’ve been very good friends (not that they aren’t already after Lazarus begins healing and making up for what he did) and allies due to their shared expectation of ruling over a kingdom.

Could’ve had a strong allyship between the two kingdoms had things been different.

Hell, I’m sure Victor would’ve stayed had he become friends with Lazarus

If only things were different

[destinygoldenstar]

I feel like Priya might quit instead of being eliminated.

I’m surprised she made it this far. I mean, considering she WON last season. You’d think everyone would be after her, but NOPE.

I can’t say I’m too mad about that though. She’s definitely one of the more interesting characters to me, and Im glad they actually explore that instead of ditching her. It’s just not talked about a lot from what I’ve seen because she’s linked to Caleb.

I actually don’t think this is a bad thing. Heck, I’d argue she has one of the most normal crushing habits of TD characters. Priya spent her whole life being a great player and reality TV, and parents have proved they won’t stop putting her in these things. She wants to make her own choices but lacks the self righteousness to, to the point where she can’t tolerate her feelings being insulted. AKA, the Millie incident in Season 1. (Though anyone would react the way she did, so fair)

This is why I think her romance with Caleb actually kinda works in the season. Aside from the aesthetic of the first boot and the first place of the first season. They grow as people from each other. They actually talk, they bond, they get to open up about stuff. It doesn’t feel rushed like it does with Ripper and Axel.

I also grew to actually like Caleb. I had no strong feelings for him in the first season. For obvious reasons. But I just love that they didn’t do a repeat.

I love that he isn’t a malicious person like Alejandro or Justin, or heck, even Julia. He’s not using his looks for malice. Yes he wants to ally with Priya to get ahead in the game, but he never planned to hurt her or get her booted or crush her spirit in any way. Was it wrong to use her? Yes. But considering what we’ve seen from the show, he could’ve been a whole lot worse.

He’s actually a nice guy who is just holding an image and wanting to get ahead in a competitive environment. Which makes the heartbreak in Episode 8 actually really sad?? In an environment like this, of course he’d use her at the start. It was an honest mistake. And he feels bad about it because he actually grew to like her back.

Considering I HIGHLY DOUBT Priya would be finale again, I can definitely see this at least changing Priya’s POV. Whether or not she and Caleb get together, I’d be fine with either, it’s clear this season has changed them both.

This is why I think Priya is going to quit the game. Because right now, no one’s really targeting her. (Which is odd, but whatever)

And I don’t think she’d walk away out of a depression. Rather, out of a self-righteous‘I’m standing up for myself’ moment.

Not at Caleb. At the game. The game made Caleb try to use her, and she might realize that. She does not need her parents or anyone to tell her what to do with her life, especially when she has friends, goals of her own, a (maybe) boyfriend, and dignity. She’s allowed to go to med school. She’s allowed to have a crush. She’s allowed to just be a teen darn it!

Caleb and Millie would definitely help her out. Caleb especially since Millie isn’t here anymore.

I honestly really hope Priya walks out of the game on her own accord, paying Chris with the million she won, and going off to live her own life where reality TV can not dictate it ever again.

LET THEM BE HAPPY

[sarahnotjmaas]

Kingdom of Ash

Struggling to get into this one

Awww Rowan and aelins babies

This book feels like all my sweet babies are grown up 😭

Omfg is Yrene pregnant?? Is this the book they all have babies? Idk if I’m gonna like that

Dorian is gonna learn how to shift!! Wait last fall? This all happened so fast! 8 books of drama in like two years?? Jesus

I’m 100 pages in and needing more!! The last two books ended with so much action to be had it feels like nothing is happening!

Okay Manon is looking for a way to connect with the Cochran and her great grandma literally told her ‘we got our fire cuz Brannon GALATHYNIYS gave it to our queen your great great great great great grandma’ and you’re literally allied with Aelin Galathynius….. I read that and said ‘whoop there it is’

Yay Aelin is back!! Taking her scars is FUCCKKKED

I have been slacking on note taking but I’m like 400 pages in now and Aelin and Yrene finally met!!!!! I’m so ready for Aelin to start kicking ass again!

Oh and I hope Lysandra is okay….

So many story lines finally coming together!

Queen of witches🥹

Okay I’m getting sick of Aelin not using her power!! People are DYING Aelin! Get it together miss ma’am

When is it gonna be revealed that Elide had dope powers? I know it’s gonna happen

Okay Elide your man just got cut down, now would be the time to be a powerful badass

What a stupid reason for Aelin to not be using her powers. You’re literally at war lol

Manon and Dorian always get me!!! Ugh she loves him and just wants him to stay and not sacrifice himself!! Me toooooo!!

Forget any bad thing I’ve ever said about Elide and Lorcan, they’re precious 😭😭😭

Why doesn’t Yrene use the tower to cure all the valg

Don’t ask me why I go over huge plot points and don’t feel the need to document my emotions but Lorcan gives Elide a foot rub and I’m 😯🤭📝✍️ But seriously me too girl, a man giving you a foot rub is sensual as hell iykyk lol

The way that could’ve been so hot and SJM just blue balls the shit out of the reader. It’s fine I’m fine. She just got my heart racing just to go into one of Aelin’s fucked up nightmares 👍🏻 cool cool cool

Aelin and Dorian have all 3 word keys…

No one has died yet and I don’t want anyone to!!! I’m so scared I have 250 pages left, I know what feelings are coming for me I just don’t know why yet wait did Dorian learn how to use portals from Maeve!?!? Could he transport the army. My boy is the most powerful mf in the books

Not Abraxos. Bitch I’ll throw this book out the window. PETRAH!!!!! Bitch that was So badass fuck Iskra

Wtf!!!!! The entire 13!?!? No I fucking can’t wtf!!! Seriously what the fuck

Waaaahh😭Dorian and Chaol

They’re not wasting time on a vote… really?

I’m hyperventilating reading this unfold. Please don’t kill Dorian or Aelin for this stupid gate

‘My name is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius and I will not be afraid’ WAAAAAAHH 😭

The king saving Dorian and telling Aelin her parents are proud 🥲 I’m not ok

Snow capped mountains under shining stars. Where A winged Fae male stood beside a heavily pregnant female, gazing at those very stars. 👀👀👀👀

Wow Rhys saved her

Chapter 100 wow I’m so proud of myself

So quick recap: Stones are gone no longer in play and gate is shut meaning erawan can’t ever return to his brothers of bring them to him. BUT he and maeve are still strong scary muthafuckas who have like 100k soldiers a bunch of witches and 6 spider fuckers cool 👍🏻

Oh no Murtaugh

It’s about time Lysandra and Aedion! You’ve literally lived eachother for like 4 books now

Aelin has missed her entire war. It’s literally her war on her land and she’s been absent for like all of it.. I’m glad she saved Anielle but her own home needed her weeks ago

Darrow naming Evangeline his heir got me all teary eyed and shit

Omfg Gavriel!!!! No no no why do I even read SJM books they just hurt me

All the battle scenes are so bleak, they’re getting smeared in this war!! I don’t see how they’re going to pull through tbh I’m waiting for a big Aelin scheme but idk if I can take another 100+ pages of them getting they butts whooped

Ugh ‘And she will not be afraid’ that’s gonna stick with me forever

I’m so close! They did it! Chaols reading a letter from his mom and his wife literally saved the world 😭

I’m unwell.

[damien-wolfram-art]

Getting Over it

** Writer's note: If you want to set the mood, I have a song for you to listen to before reading! Here it is! I'll also link a time stamp for the climax later on! **

**Extra Credit! I made a playlist! Rock on with Menma!**

“Uggh!” Groaned Menma, rolling from one side to his other on his messy bed. His mind was rife with thoughts of his recent break-up and the events leading up to it. His relationship hadn’t been particularly rough. He thought it had been going well actually.

Sakura Haruno was the child of heroes. She was extremely well known and well liked in The Hidden Leaf Village, Menma’s home village. When he was placed on her team, it felt like a blessing. Sure, he had to share her with, Mr. Useless, Sasuke, but he could ignore him. As payment, he would get to see Sakura’s inherited strength up close. Little did he know though, that his admiration would blossom into something much more.

The two started dating after a very informative training session. Sakura felled many trees that morning. Menma quietly watched over her as usual until she targeted the tree he was in. Observant as he was, he noticed right away and instead of fleeing, jumped down to catch her glowing blue fist.

Her big pretty green eyes opened wide, and he grit his teeth, meeting her gaze with his own tired deep blue ones. His deep purple chakra emerged and overtook hers, stopping her dead in her tracks before his back could even hit the tree.

“Men-ma?” Sakura whispered in surprise. Usually, people stayed far away from her fists if they could avoid it. Her monster strength struck fear into both her enemies and allies. “W-what are you doing? You could’ve gotten hurt!”

Menma’s chakra dissipated and he loosed Sakura’s fist. He let out an exhausted chuckle before speaking, “I’ve been gauging your strength for a while now, y’know? I needed to test it for myself.” He slumped against the tree and Sakura followed him, crouching in front of him.

“Menma!”

“I’m fine,” he dismissed. “Just took a lot more chakra than I was expecting. You really are strong.”

“I-I’ve never met someone so reckless!” Sakura chastised and Menma just laughed some more– weakly.

“You weren't worried about me, were you?”

“I-I,” she didn’t answer.

“Heh, we should train together more. I get the feeling that we’d both get better for it y’know?”

“Why don’t we go grab a meal? We can talk about training over lunch.”

The rest was history. The two would train until near exhaustion and then date in what remained of their off hours. It all changed after one fateful mission though.

Menma still couldn’t totally remember what happened. He remembered the difficulty of his mission escalating dramatically– far beyond the range for a team of genin like his. He also remembered waking in the hospital. It was Sasuke who told him that Sakura too had been injured. He rushed to see her, but she refused him entry.

Now, all Menma felt he could do was feel sorry for himself for losing such a catch. He rolled over again and changed the music track on his phone from a somber rock song to something much more intense. Inside him, something terrible stirred. He winced as the wave of gut-wrenching hatred resonated within him– Kurama, The Nine Tailed Fox. “Not now,” he moaned.

“You’re pitiful!” Snarled a deep guttural internal voice.

“Shut up…”

“Brat, you dare address me with disrespect!?!”

“I don’t really feel like talking,” Menma explained, curling up.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…I can’t believe I’m actually bonded to you.”

“Leave then,” Menma ordered weakly.

Kurama growled, “You really are annoying.” A ninth of the beast’s chakra jumped out of Menma, manifesting as a small, masked fox.

Menma peered over his bed at the beast curiously. “What are you doing?” He asked.

“You need to get over yourself! She was just one mate!”

“Mate?”

“Girlfriend, wife, who cares what you Humans call it!”

Menma blushed at the idea of Sakura being his wife, but returning to the conversation with Kurama, shook his head. “Whaddaya mean get over myself?” He snapped back.

“She’s just one mate! You can find another.”

“She’s The Child of Heroes! -”

“And I am the Nine Tails!” Screamed Kurama loud enough to shake Menma down to his very core. The small fox shifted into the form of a masked large white tiger and pounced upon him. “She is not the only grand achievement you have attained, nor will she be the last!”

“Kurama, what are you doing?”

“Showing you just how stupid you are being!” Kurama answered and with a clawed paw flipped his Human partner. “So, what if she left you?!?” He ripped off his bottoms, so that he was exposed. “You have other accomplishments and will certainly have more! See!”

Menma grunted, feeling the large beast invade him. “Kurama!” He squealed–face hot from angry embarrassment.

“How many can claim to have mated with a tailed beast, hm?” Asked the beast.

“Not many,” said Menma, now understanding that Kurama was trying to cheer him up.

“Yet another of your accomplishments!” Exclaimed Kurama. He was extremely rough.

Menma bit his lip and took his barbed thrusts painfully. “You bastard,” he grunted breathlessly. “Can’t you go a little easier?” Despite his whining, Menma was feeling a little better.

“Don’t act like you don’t like it. I’ve seen what you do behind closed doors!” Kurama scolded, slamming deeply into Menma and crashing into something that made his Human partner yelp with delight.

Kurama was right. Menma often allowed himself to get plowed and was as fond, if not more, of playing with his own holes as he was touching himself elsewhere. The more Kurama railed him in that spot, the more Menma got closer to his climax.

“Ah fuck, Kurama!” Menma groaned lustily, moving his hips with his beast. Their final thrusts were perfectly timed to the beat of the music.  A strikingly impressive guitar solo from his still blaring phone stole his mind and he spilled out onto the sheets he was humping. It was one of his favorite artists too.

Inside of their mind palace, Kurama sneered. Inside of Menma, he came. The two rode out the rest of the song breathing in sync with Kurama laying heavily on his partner.

@narutokinktober

@bitchbot3000

[violethowler]

So 3 years ago when I was in the peak of my excitement over the final season of The Clone Wars, @darrowsrising DM’ed me with a question about the potential ways that the writing of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel era could have influenced Pierce’s writing of Darrow in the Red Rising saga given how Pierce is a Star Wars fan

I started writing out my thoughts and then promptly forgot about it and never got around to finishing my draft.

3 years later I was going through my computer and had a burst of inspiration so I’m finally getting around to posting this. Sorry it took so long @darrowsrising!

The original question:

'Lo! Sorry to disturb you, but I saw that the clone wars is back and I was reminded of that discussion we had about Anakin being manipulated...I was thinking, because Pierce is a SW fan - is Darrow what Anakin should/would have been if he had a strong will?

Well, just in terms of chosen ones, so to speak...maybe pierce wanted a strong willed individual that is empathetic, but won't fall into the deep end, no matter the tragedy  (at least not that deep of an end), because it suited his story more, compared to the way Anakin Skywalker was built as a chosen one...

My thoughts:

I personally feel that it’s not so much a question of Darrow having a stronger will than Anakin so much as it is a question of environment and choices. Remember that scene in Golden Son where Darrow leaves Ragnar to decided how to respond to the revelation of Darrow’s true mission, saying that if the Sons hadn’t given him a choice in the whole carving and Institute plan, he would have broken?

Based on my own observations and other analyses I’ve read over the years, Anakin is what Darrow would have been if the Sons hadn’t given him that choice, mixed with the whole “my family comes first, fuck everyone else” attitude that Sevro had early on in Dark Age when Anakin finally breaks.

He’s also a lot like Darrow at the beginning of Golden Son: not sure what his allies want from him and scrambling to hold onto what he can in an environment where he has no one to support him.

While the Sons of Ares sought out Darrow because he had something that made him stand out as a potential candidate for the whole carving plan, the Jedi didn’t even want Anakin to begin with and only took him in because they figured “there’s a Sith running around so if you really are the chosen one I guess we’d better keep an eye on you”. Where Darrow’s allies nurtured his talents as they trained him for the Institute, Anakin had to hide away parts of himself in order to try and fit the Jedi council’s expectations.

Before the war started he was timid and shy because he was trying to be what the Jedi wanted to be, and as a result of growing up in slavery he feared being thrown out if he wasn’t good enough. Once The Clone Wars began, he became more confident and assertive because being a military leader gave him enough authority and fame that he couldn’t be kicked out of the order, but he never felt secure enough that he could feel comfortable leaving when he got fed up with the council.

(I think there may also be a degree of learned helplessness involved, as well as a desire to have it both ways when it comes to his desire to be a Jedi and his illicit marriage)

There are a few other ways that I feel like Darrow could’ve been potentially written as a response to Anakin’s arc in the prequels. But for this specific element, I feel the best way to sum it up is that if the writing of Darrow was influenced by that of Anakin, then it would be in the sense of exploring what someone like Anakin could’ve become if he’d had been allowed more autonomy and agency over what to do with his life after being freed, instead of going from one bad environment to another.

[lilyblackdrawside]

Predictions for the remaining module effects. Long post.

Vanguard

Agent

They’re still pretty new, but are already proving to be quite effective. At first I didn’t even want to make any predictions here, but two decent ideas popped up just like that.

Deployment cost doesn’t increase. - They like to be redeployed. Keeps dp efficiency high.

Gain increased atk/aspd for each unused deployment slot. - A bit gimmicky and effectivity varies by map. Improves combat ability at the start of a mission.

Tactician

I’m not terribly confident in my ideas here in terms of what they may need, but I like the flavour.

Summons recover % hp per second. - Simple sustainability increase.

Gain increased stats for each time a summon is defeated. - Plays into the theme of the class. Fight fiercer when your pets get agressed upon.

Standard Bearer

These don’t need a module, but they’re getting some anyway.

Gain 8 SP on first deployment. - Yes, I know exactly what I’m suggesting here.

Inspire allies in a 1-tile radius for 10% atk/def while skill is active. Gain immunity to Inspire. - Range and values are up to debate, but it shouldn’t be too high. SBs have something like 50% higher stats than Bards with similar atk/def distribution. The flavour is good here.

Guard

Lord

I have no informed opinion on these guys. They’re one of the strongest subclasses across the board and I don’t know what they want, need or what would break them.

Fighter

People say they need help. They probably do, but honestly, Flint and Mountain are doing fine and in general this subclass works great with support (atk buffs, def debuffs, frailty, etc.). They’re AA-Snipers on the ground in that way. Their damage ceiling is really high, but they can’t get there without a ladder (helpers).

Attacks ignore 30 def per hit on the same target. - Flat def penetration is essentially flat attack buffs. Beehunter would love this, but it works for all of them except Indra. She can get the other module.

Gain increased stats for each Fighter Guard in the squad, higher effect per deployed Fighter Guard. - They gang up on the enemy. It’s about the flavour. Is it good? No. Nobody will put all of them into the same squad.

Liberator

I have no informed opinion on these guys. I could’ve written up something uninspired like “trait effect increased”, but I’ll leave my uninspired ideas for subclasses I’m more knowledgeable on.

Centurion

They’re another really strong subclass, though I haven’t heard much of them lately. Gavialter seems to perform well, but not to the extend of rocking the boat, Blaze seems to have been pushed out a bit and Specter has been replaced by her Alter (at least for me).

Target cap removed. - This sounds really strong on first read, but it’s not that outrageous. Reapers already have infinite targets, but there are so few situations where you need more than 3 anyway. Popukar will get the most out of this one (lol).

Take reduced damage for 5 seconds after deployment. - I’ve made this one based on how I use the two Centurions I have raised (Blaze and Specter), which is that I toss them into danger. 5 seconds is exactly how long it takes Specter to get her S2 ready, but it could be a strong effect in general anyway.

Arts Fighter

“How to design modules that do nothing for S3 Surtr.”

Take reduced damage while skill is not ready or active. - Surtr aside, all Arts Fighters have some sort of defensive angle going. This helps their sustain and is useful for Surtr too as long as she isn’t using S3.

Gain stacking aspd each time skill is activated, up to X times. - A bit uninspired after that first one, but same kinda deal. Amiya, Astesia and Sideroca can get the first one, Mousse gets this one, Surtr gets both of course. Astesia could also get good use out of the second module, but she already stacks aspd via her talent. Personally I’d give her both because I’m biased but we can’t do that.

Musha

These guys already have a module and it leans into defense, so I thought of one for offense. Took me a good while to come up with something here.

Atk gradually increases while not attacking. Resets 5 seconds after attacking. - They’re all samurai, so they get to charge their slash while afk. Noirlter would probably like this one, but all of the existing Musha already have the real module (or will already have the real module once it exists), so the only one who gets it will be Hellagur. His use of it would be questionable, since he regens back to full while afk, but it’d work well with S1 and S2 anyway.

Crusher

We don’t even have these yet, but from what I hear they’ll need something really good and well thought-out. I have no experience with them, so nothing here.

Reaper

Currently there’s only La Pluma, but I field her all the time so I have a pretty good grasp on what they could use.

+1 Block. - Sounds dumb and boring, but increases their ability to hold tons of trash by just blocking more and also increases their potential healing. It is boring though.

Deal increased damage to low % health targets. - This one leans more into handling stronger enemies and is a product of flavour. They’re reapers, they execute enemies. La Pluma already has this. She gets both modules anyway the first one.

Specialist

Trapmaster

I’m not excited about Frost getting the 20% trap crits. She deals damage through the extra attack from S2, not the trap itself. My personal gripes aside, here’s the second module:

Trap cooldown reduced, trap-deploy-limit increased, gain sp recovery per deployed trap. - Trap spam. No more room for ground operators.

Merchant

I immediately had the idea to give them increased Taunt level, because that’s fitting, but it’s not useful and Mr. Lee already has it. While you like to let them get attacked (because of their high stats and defensive profile, not for any other reasons), this is already easy to achieve with their low redeploy cooldown.

Gain 1% max hp barrier per dp consumed. - This would also count deployment cost, so they deploy with a little shield. It’s self-healing in disguise. It’s not great, but it’s what came to mind.

Hookmaster

Highest Pull force is 2, highest Push force is 4.

+1 Pull force. - Straight up, no gimmicks. Just give it to them. Or put some condition on it, whatever. “When pulling a single target”, there.

Geek

There’s only one. The first module is predicated upon the assumption that future Geeks will retain Aak’s ability to murder.

Fully recover health when killing an ally and gain % of their stats. - It would be funny. That’s all.

HP-loss from trait doubled, no longer dies from trait effect, gain increased aspd at lower health. - Not as funny, similarly unpractical. Put Aak in a corner, let him hang out on death’s door and watch him perma stun enemies I guess. His dps is actually quite good, you know?

Caster

Phalanx

I have no informed opinion on these guys and if I give a bad module to Carnelian, all of her fans will lynch me.

Mech-Accord

I do have a crush on Kjera an informed opinion on these guys, so I can make some really nice modules for them.

Damage cap of drone increased to 130%. - This gives the drone(s) two more hits to stack up and presents a considerable damage increase. Should probably cap at 120% instead.

When defeated, doesn’t retreat for 10 seconds, gain +1 drone during that time. - This one’s busted. That’s fine.

Blast

I’ve never used one of these.

Deal increased damage to enemies afflicted by a status condition. - Corroserum gets 100% uptime on this while S2 is active, Ifrit does with both S2 and S3. It’s honestly just better than their actual module and plays into the exact same area for them.

Medic

Incantation

There’s only two of these and I have no informed opinion on either. I could make something up, but I won’t.

Chain

There’s only one of these and we don’t even have her yet, but watch me copypaste the Chain Caster modules for her:

Attacks deal Arts damage and jump between 4 enemies. Each jump deals 10% less damage and inflicts a short Slow

Attacks deal Arts damage and jump between 4 enemies. Each jump no longer deals less damage and inflicts a brief Slow 

Wandering

Increased healing at higher distances. - They’re long range medics who come without falloff by default, so this is fine.

Restore 1 sp to target when recovering elemental damage. - Might be too good. SP support is pretty dicey, but it’s not like there’s all that much elemental damage, right?

Defender

Juggernaut

Not gonna lie, I have no idea what to give them. What I really want, is to give Vulcan the same range as the 6-star ones, but it’s not like I can give the 6-stars 2 range.

+1 Range. - This gives Vulcan the same range that Mudrock and Penance have. It makes her less clunky to use.

Increase %-based talent effects by X% [while not blocking]. - If you paid the cleave cost, ignore the words in brackets. This is iffy and weird, but I like the idea. All three of them have talents that are based on % stuff, so just increase that, right? Don’t like it much, personally. It would also necessitate future Juggernauts to have % talents and I don’t think they’d want to limit design space like that.

Fortress

“What can I design that works really well for Ashlock and Firewhistle and just okay for Horn.” Not hating on Horn, but she’s got it good enough already compared to Ashlock.

Deal increased damage to high % health targets. - This is the boring one that’s pretty good. Nothing much to it.

Gain increased atk for 6 seconds after skill use. - Integrated Strategy is knocking, they want their food back. Works great for Ashlock S2, Firewhistle S1 and Horn S1, also works alright for Firewhistle S2. Horn has the Overdrive mechanic, but you’d need to pump some crazy aspd into her to get this to work for the S2 full-burst. Ashlock and Firewhistle get this one, ofc.

Can be deployed on ranged tiles. - Zzzz. Boring, but not unrealistic. Let’s not get this, please. It’d be really practical, but come on.

Arts Protector

Buncha funky guys.

Normal attacks deal Physical damage while the skill is active. - Did I just remove their trait effect? Yes, I did. Because it’s stupid. It’s been stupid the entire time. You have a defender class that has pretty decent attack, mediocre aspd and is designed to tank and defeat enemy casters who across the board have good res and subpar def. Let them deal physical damage. (This one has a 0% chance of happening.)

Inflict a stacking Res debuff when dealing damage. - More realistic way to have them deal actual damage to the targets they’re designed to tank. (Okay, Dur-nar isn’t actually designed to tank casters and Shalem only tangentially.) Shalem already kinda does this, but wouldn’t be the first time an operator has two res-debuffs.

I have a third one for these. Be careful. Inflict Pure damage equal to 80% of the max hp of the attacker when defeated by Arts damage. Reduced vs Elite/Leader. - Dur-nar does not get this, but the other three have to get it. Give them a second module if you must. There’s a good reason for this. Asbestos and Shalem are total edgelords who would totally do something like this and Czerny already does this sort of so he’s down for it too.

Supporter

Artificer

I have no informed opinion on these guys.

Hexer

I use these a lot actually, between Pramanix and Gnosis. Pramanix is a mainstay in my bosskiller setups, so I want her to work even better for me in that way.

Inflict Physical Fragility on hit. - Just more damage amplification. I like physical damage, so that’s what they amplify.

Steal amount of enemy stats on hit. - More debuffs. What kinda stats is to be decided. It’d be cool.

Inflict silence on hit. - Kinda meh, but was the first thing that came to mind. Spreading silence effects around on more operators would probably only make more enemies immune to it anyway.

Bard

This is the subclass that prompted me to think about this. I thought it’d be difficult to design modules for them, but I got it done pretty quick.

Gain increased SP regen for a duration after deployment. - Pinecone-effect. Gets them online more quickly, not very exciting.

Gain increased atk/def per ally in range. - Plays into their flavour of being performers/divas/idols. Bigger audience, better performance.

No longer immune to Inspire. - lol, imagine.

Abjurer

I have no informed opinion on these guys. I only ever used Tsukinogi during Dossoles to reveal stealthed enemies and don’t like that she can’t attack with her skills active anymore, even though it’s definitely an overall improvement to the subclass. They probably need something really good and well thought-out too, but I’m not here to deliver.

Sniper

Spreadshooter

“How to design modules that to nothing for Ch’alter.” Spreadshooters are largely ignored, Ch’alter aside, due to their high deployment cost and awkward range-limitations. Ch’alter ignores the range-limitations by slapping “trait effect extended everywhere” onto all her skills, so that’s exactly what I didn’t do. Pinecone is really good though, guys. Bring Pinecone, I’ll be happy if you do.

Trait effect extends to 2nd tile in front. - Welcome to Heavyshooter TWO! Well, I did it anyway and it’s still a bit uninspired but I do think it’s what they need. Having at least one extra tile promotes them from “Might as well deploy Tomimi instead” to “Hey that’s pretty decent.”

Reduced deployment cost. - I didn’t intend to just lift the Splash Caster modules, but they’re pretty much the same class with the same issues. Simple, but effective, people will complain about it once they see the module effect in some leak, but once it’s live they’ll be appreciative of it. (except they won’t, because nobody uses any of these operators.)

Can be deployed on Ground tiles. - This would also work to mitigate their range issues. They’re pretty much melee units anyway. You still don’t want them to tank, even with their above-average hp (for snipers), but don’t tell me you don’t want to watch Executor go to town on some fool with his dual-wielded shotguns face to face.

Flinger

Flingers have issues.

Aftershocks deal Arts damage. - This is the easiest and most obvious way to fix these issues. Rosmontis already proves that mixed damage in this way is pretty alright with her S1, but this is the one module that I specifically don’t want for them. I’d rather have their Aftershocks work like Beehunter’s attacks, where defense only applies once. It’s not exactly the same thing, since Beehunter has it to match her attack animation (I should’ve tested if she actually hits twice when Dorothy’s Vision happened, but oh well). Basically the Aftershocks should just have 100% defense piercing, but we can’t do that. We also can’t make them deal Pure damage because that comes with excess baggage. (bypassing dodge and most damage reductions). I would like that, but we can’t have that either. Having the aftershocks deal Arts damage is the most likely case, but I don’t think they’ll do this. I know this goes counter to the premise of this post, since I framed it as “predictions”, but I had to write this one out and I have three ideas for Flingers anyway.

Aftershocks inflict a brief slow. (0.4s). - Greyy doesn’t get this one, he already does it. Same slow as Chain casters. Might be too strong for a base module effect. It’d be useful and neat to watch. Still won’t help Rosmontis hit dogs with her S2 and doesn’t do much for her as a whole, outside of S1.

+1 Aftershock. - yeah.

Besieger

I don’t use these much. I don’t find their minimum range to be at all limiting, possibly because I’m used to Ashlock’s higher minimum range, but I feel like that’s something some people could like to see adressed.

Can be deployed on Ground tiles. - Makes less sense for them than for Spreadshooters, but you can mount a ballista on the ground too, right? I feel like the devs won’t want to make ranged units regularly deployable on ground tiles. Putting melee units onto the high ground is different, because it’s less interactable, but having rangers on the floor opens them up to some other interactions or something. There are probably thoughts like that, that one could think.

And that’s all of them. I chickened out on some subclasses due to lack of experience with them, but that’s fine.

[ecargmura]

Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective Episode 4 Review - Spitz-ing Out The Culprit

Alright, so I got the culprit wrong, but the motive partially correct. I need to amp up my sleuthing skills starting today so that I can think better for the next case. I do admit that this was rather elaborate in terms of execution and it was really fun trying to theorize the culprit, the method and the motive.

(No, he's not the culprit)

Last week, I theorized that the blond lady, Michiyo, was the culprit due to her knowledge about the folktale. It turns out that everyone except Amamiya was aware of it. She’s not the culprit, but she’s partially a motive behind the wife’s murder. It turns out that the husband is the culprit and that he was having an affair with Michiyo. The husband is a scumbag for bringing his wife and his mistress on the same trip. It’s also horrible of him to use his wife’s heart condition and poor vision as ways to kill her. He could’ve just gotten a divorce and not resort to killing her. Also, the husband is very weird. His wife was a gorgeous bespectacled babe, yet he chose to cheat on her. At least Michiyo wasn’t in on the murder and even condemned him for going too far.

The murder method was pretty creative, if I’m going to be honest. The way it was set up so that the water flowed in and out of the gutters was pretty elaborate. When the cold river water flowed into the hot springs, the hot springs flowed into the river. It also turned out that Amamiya wasn’t in the wrong on purpose when it came to the baths. The husband switched them around during the time Ron and Toto were out playing ping-pong before they got a second bath. She’s not at fault and RonToto aren’t either; like I said, it’s all the husband’s fault.

Fortunately, Ron didn’t use his weird power on the murderer this time around, which is unusual. It turns out that Spitz "kidnapping" Ron and tying him up was probably that reason. Speaking of Spitz, he’s fine as heck. Why is Akira Amano so good at making such attractive characters? Ron’s fine. Spitz’s fine. Toto’s an adorable bean. Amamiya is hot. They never miss. Spitz was trying to catch Ron on sleuthing duties, but it turns out it’s not because he wants to turn him in, it’s because he wants his help to find a missing family member of his. Though, with the way Spitz is behaving, I’m not sure if he could be trusted. However, Toto is a nice guy, so I’ll take his word for it.

Spitz as a character seems really interesting. He’s actually willing to backstab BLUE and its teachings just to be friends with Ron and Toto. It makes me wonder if other BLUE instructors lack strong loyalty or if they just joined for ulterior motives like him. Regardless, Spitz is so hilarious. I love him. He reminds me a lot of Gokudera from Katekyo Hitman Reborn with the way he became a friendly ally and even quickly befriended the Tsuna-expy Toto by giving him the nickname Tototo. I agree with Toto with how his exit is very intricate; he legit just runs off like Spiderman and swinging from tree to tree with his grappling hook.

Since Amamiya was the one who had entrusted the investigation to Toto (albeit begrudgingly), I hope that this is the start of Toto being respected by her and his other peers. I can’t wait to see the day Toto develops into a confident detective who can solve cases without his timidity. I can’t wait for what the next case will be about since there has been some teasing towards the end of the episode. What are your thoughts about this episode?

[amar-bell]

I always come back

Chapter 5

“Dude! It’s so obvious!” Allison was giving Gregory a wide smirk. “For the last time, I don't like her Ally!” 

Both of his friends gave him a deadpan expression. “Stop lying. It’s super obvious. Everyone knows.” Mason told him.

It had been a month since Cassie had joined the school, other than the adoption thing, Gregory hadn’t managed to get anything about her past out of her. It was disappointing, but it didn’t mean nothing had happened between them.

Quite the contrary.

~

“Mr. Ramirez, Ms. Nightingale, why don’t you both read the next part of this chapter?” They had been reading some 20th century play, it was mostly boring, but maybe that was how Gregory felt. “Okay ma’am.” Gregory said, getting up and moving to the front of the class, followed by Cassie. The teacher called up a few more people, and started to give them their roles. “Okay. Mr. Ramirez, you will be Dimitri, and Ms. Nightingale, you will be Adele.” Both Gregory and Cassie blushed furiously. Dimitri and Adele were in love. They were playing the role of lovers.

Everyone in the class was suddenly paying more attention, and with how the teacher was watching, Gregory was certain she had done this on purpose.

“Now go on, start. You two have the first few lines.” Gregory looked down into the textbook to see what the lines were.

Oh man. He is going to send their damn teacher to the pizza plex ruins.

It was a confession scene.

With how Cassie was giving the teacher a wide-eyed stare, he knew she wasn’t exactly pleased by this either. 

“Go on. We’re waiting.” Gregory took in a breath and moved over to Cassie, trying to use the textbook to cover his face. “My dearest beloved Adele, please I request you to listen to my words, for I am afraid that I may never be given yet another chance to say these after this moment.” He read out, trying his hardest not to look Cassie in the eyes. 

“Oh what is it you wish to tell me? Quick. Tell it quickly, before my mother finds us!” Cassie responded, and Gregory had to admit, she’d make for a good actress. “Ever since I laid eyes on you, that chance day two years ago, I have carried a feeling so strong J have not been able to ignore it, my dearest Adele. You have been the sun in my dark life, and I have cared for you very deeply. I just wish for you to hear this from my own lips, for I know that your mother will never approve of our relationship.” He looked up, and realized Cassie was staring at him, her bright brown eyes had an emotion that Gregory couldn’t understand.

“Oh Dimitri..” She whispered. “I.. I love you. I was afraid you wouldn’t care for me in such a way, so I never told you! Oh! Only if I had, we could’ve made a plan or something to get away from here. But now, it is too late for me. My mother will find me no matter where I go. I am not safe anywhere, my beloved.” The way she said it, made it seem to Gregory like she was actually feeling those emotions. ‘Dang. She is good.’ 

He placed his hand on her cheek. “My love! This whole time I thought you hated me! But you don’t. And that is enough for me! I do not care what comes our way now that I know. I will find us a way to be happy.”

They were really getting into the roles now, and everyone in class watched with bated breath. “What can we do? No matter where we go, my fiance and my mother will find us.”

Gregory leaned closer. “Do you not remember the promise we made to each other? I will always be by your side, my love. No matter what comes our way.” 

Cassie leaned closer as well. “But they’ll find us.. And when they do, they’ll kill you.” 

“Then I shall die for you.”

“But.. What if they use magic on me? Make me hurt you? They would do something like that.. My family..” Cassie asked.

“I will still love you till my last breath, my dearest Adele.. Nothing will ever change that.” The two of them stared at each other, not even noticing how close they were, just enjoying each other’s presence, before the teacher snapped them out of it. “Everyone! Clap for them! That was an amazing performance.” The whole class burst into applause for the two of them, and that was when Greg and Cassie realized that they had been embracing each other. The two of them pulled away, bright blushes on their cheeks.

“You did well.” “So did you.”

~

“That means nothing! We were just acting!” Gregory said defensively. “The way you two were looking at each other said it all, she was practically swooning at your words Greg.” Ally responded with a smirk. “And she had been admiring you when you were staring at the textbook, you could say she was giving you heart eyes man!” 

Greg simply shook his head. “She was simply acting!” 

“Well she gives you that look in class too.” Mason said. 

That made Gregory pause, and look up at him. “What?” “The other day, you were explaining something to her, and she was looking at you like you hung up the sun! She is so clearly crushing on you man!” 

The brunette blushed at that. Was that true?

“I can see her looking at you right now!~” Ally suddenly squealed, shaking Mason while gesturing to a table on the other side.

Gregory looked in that direction to see Cassie indeed sitting there, looking at him. When she saw him looking back at her, she waved, and the brunette swore he could see her blushing. He grinned like an idiot and waved back.

“Dude it is literally so painfully obvious. Why are you so clueless?!” Gregory groaned quietly. “I don’t like her! Goddamn you Ally.” “Wait guys, she's coming to our table!” Mason said, making Gregory’s heart leap. “Wait what?!” “Hey Gregory..” The brunette looked back to find Cassie standing there, her eyes shining excitedly. “H-Hey! Do you need something?” “Oh I was just wondering if you had a pen I could borrow? My pen ran out of ink and I'm not carrying a cartridge..” Gregory pulled out his pencil pouch and handed her a pen. “Here..” “Thanks.. I’ll return it at the end of the day.” Cassie said, before going back to her lunch table.

“She's lying man! I saw her pencil pouch, she does have a cartridge, it was just an excuse to talk to you!” Ally said, bouncing in her seat.

“She’s crushing on you!” “And you’re crushing on her too!” “Ugh! I’m not!” Were they ever going to let it go?

~

“Look kid, if you don’t admit it, I will go and confess to her for you.” Gregory groaned in response, looking over at the ex-nightguard. “Please don’t.” All he could imagine was the nightguard going up to Cassie and going on one knee with a ring, saying, ‘Will you be my daughter-in-law?’ That would be embarrassing, he would never live it down.

“We all would..” Roxy said with a shrug from the upstairs charging station. “PLEASE DON’T!” “Then admit you like her!” “I don’t! She’s just a friend!” Gregory tossed the nearest object at Vanessa, which happened to be his gel pen. It landed right on her head. “Ow! That’s not how you treat your adopted mom!” “Then stop bugging me about Cassie!” Vanessa’s face softened and she sat down next to the boy. “Sorry.. We were really just teasing you, did it upset you?” Greg looked away and nodded. “Yeah..” Vanessa hugged him. “I’m sorry baby.. We’ll stop bugging you about it. Promise.” Gregory hugged her back tighter with a smile. 

“Okay but seriously he does like her.” Freddy said from behind them, to which Gregory just groaned. “Spare me!”

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