#this is my favorite case :) just finished replaying it

[seagiri]

beginnings

[luvendiary]

when chaos ensues / s. reid

spencer reid x reader

a/n: so this was what the last one was supposed to be, but i got sidetracked. i rewatched the last episodes of season 9 where spencer gets shot and inspiration came to me as fast as that bullet went through him. also, i'm sorry if it's not that good, i need an outlet for my anxious energy since i am currently finishing my trimester. as always, let me know what you think. summary: the odds are not aligned in your favor today, lucky for you spencer will always be there for you warnings: usual cm level violence.

Your unconscious form laid in the sterile hospital room. Spencer had refused to leave your side. Although not much protest came from the team since they needed to make sure someone was keeping an eye on you while the rest of them focused on solving the case.

Garcia had insisted on staying as well. She could do her job anywhere and amongst all of them she was the one with the most ‘maternal instinct’. Always attentive to the other’s needs. Good thing she had stayed after all, since in taking care of you, Spencer had decided to stop taking care of himself.

“Here,” she said, setting a tray down. “You need to eat.”

Spencer looked up at her, a brief respite from staring at your heart monitor -making sure your cardiac rhythm was not a single beat out of the ordinary.

“I’m not hungry, thanks,” he said. His eyes sported bags under them, and his hair was sticking up in every way.

“I brought jell-o,” she insisted. “Your favorite.”

He glanced at you before returning to face Garcia with tight lips.

“It’s her favorite too,” he whispered.

Penelope tried to give him a reassuring smile, which just came out more sad than encouraging. “She’s going to make it out. You know she will. She’s stubborn like that.”

Spencer just nodded before reluctantly taking the clear cup of jell-o in his hand and eating a spoonful.

He kept replaying the moment it happened. How you were supposed to go in with Derek to negotiate with the unsub. You had a talent with words. Always so soothing and rational. You always knew what to say.

You had been putting on your bulletproof vest when the unsub started shooting.

It happened so quickly, yet everything after that could not have gone slower.

He saw as your body jolted and you fell to the ground immediately. His heart dropped. The thud you had made as your body collapsed first against the SUV and consequently to the floor was sickening. And even though he had been several feet away from you, he could hear it so clear.

He vaguely paid attention to Alex calling out his name as he sprinted toward you, sliding to the ground, and propping your head on his lap after he had moved your body behind the SUV to make sure you were safe.

The image of your eyes focusing in and out, was something he would not be able to forget for a long time. It was as if you were fighting against something trying to take you away into total darkness. He hung onto every mumble that escaped your lips, trying to shush them with soothing words of encouragement.

He was broken out of his trance by the ring of a cell phone.

Penelope rummaged through her purse, trying to find the device. Once she did, the voice of Derek Morgan could be heard from the other end. Spencer didn’t catch much besides their usual ‘hot stuff’ and ‘baby girl’ gameplay, too focused on staring at the steady rhythm of the rising and falling of your chest.

She’ll be fine. She has to.

Once Garcia hung up she seemed more agitated than she had been moments before.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, standing up. His eyes flicked to the IV drip, scrutinizing the clear tubing that snaked from the bag of medicine to the needle embedded in your arm. A faint frown creased his brow as he traced the line for any air bubbles or obstructions. He allowed his hand to linger a moment longer, softly tracing your knuckles.

“Corruption. The whole system’s wrong…” she breathed out as she immediately took out her computer and started tapping away at the keys. “The sheriff has a lot of explaining to do.”

Spencer’s eyes flickered to your unmoving figure. “The sheriff? But he was killed.”

“He was the acting sheriff. The real one had taken a ‘vacation’, conveniently the day before we arrived.”

Penelope could see the gears turning in his head. Trying to connect the dots, but his train of thought was interrupted by a nurse entering the room, a small vial of medicine in his hand and a clipboard under his arm.

“She had her meds an hour ago,” he said.

“Yeah,” he said calmly. “These are post-op antibiotics.”

“She had those too,” Garcia chimed in, her usual cheery tone now more somber.

Spencer, positioning himself between you and the nurse who had already made his way to the IV drip, peaked at the label on the vial.

“Carbenicillin? No, that’s not right. She has a severe reaction to beta-lactams. She can’t have that.”

The man checked the clipboard for a brief moment before setting it down. “It’s not in her chart,” he said nonchalantly before moving to administer the liquid to you.

With practiced smoothness, with a needle he extracted the medicine before quickly injecting it into the IV.

“What are you doing?” Spencer said, panic evident in his voice as he quickly put his hands to work in trying to remove the needle in your arm administering the medicine. “Stop! What are you doing?”

Not being quick enough, he slapped the medicine out of his hand. However, it had already been partly injected. He hurriedly ripped the needle out of your arm. As he looked for something to stop the bleeding, he saw a gun peering out of the nurse’s waistband.

“Garcia! He has a gun!” he called out as he positioned himself between you and him.

Not a second went by after the words left his mouth until a gunshot reverberated in the room.

The man fell to the ground.

Spencer’s muscles, still tense, worked on separating themselves from your body. “We have to get her out of here,” he mumbled as he made quick work to disconnect you from every device. The heart monitor’s constant beeping, now replaced with the sound of a flatline.

“Reid, wait! Where are we going to take her?” Penelope protested, but she was already gathering her things.

“Anywhere. Somewhere safe,” he replied frantically as he took your unconscious body in his arms, your head falling limply over the end.

“There’s no place that’s safe,” she reasoned. “The police are corrupt. They’re the ones that sent that man over to kill her. She must’ve seen the sheriff or something.”

Spencer remembered now. Her last words -if he could even call them that- before losing consciousness had been about the unsub. At the time he thought you were going over the profile you had already put together, but he now realized that you were trying to give him another one.

White male; a pregnant pause. Early thirties; your eyes fluttering close. Position of power; a cough. Uniform; a raspy breath.

You had been describing the sheriff all along. You had seen him.

Spencer barely had time to process Penelope’s words before the door burst open. Derek Morgan stepped in, gun raised, eyes scanning the room in an instant. His gaze fell on the lifeless body of the nurse on the floor before flicking to Spencer, who was cradling your unconscious form protectively.

“We need to move. Now,” he ordered as he softly kicked the nurse, checking for any signs of life. None.

No one protested. Garcia quickly gathered her things along with yours, which had been placed in a hospital bag. They both followed Derek, carefully checking every corner and every turn.

“Rossi and Alex were both attacked by the police,” he explained as he opened the SUV for Reid, who with his help climbed in along with you, setting your head on his lap.

“We’re gathering at a safe house. Those of us who can. Hotch and JJ are still at the station.”

Reid just nodded. Penelope, on the other hand, rambled on about corruption and the immorality of man.

It had not occurred to him that you not giving any sign of life amidst all this moving around was not exactly normal. He had grown so accustomed to your close eyelids that it was only when a thin layer of sweat and rose coloration started appearing on your skin that he realized something was gravely wrong.

The Carbenicillin had reached your system.

“She’s having a reaction to the antibiotic,” he mumbled in a panic to himself.

The SUV screeched to a halt outside a run-down safe house, hidden in the outskirts of the city. Morgan was out first, yanking the door open as Spencer scrambled to carry you inside. The moment they entered, Morgan took one sweeping glance at the cluttered dining table before gripping its edges and flipping it over with a forceful crash. Plates, glasses, and papers shattered on the floor, but there was no time to care.

“Lay her down here!” Morgan barked, already pulling off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.

Spencer gently but quickly placed you on the now-cleared table, his hands shaking as he brushed your sweat-drenched hair from your face. Your chest barely moved, and the color in your face was draining fast.

“She’s not breathing!” Garcia’s voice was high-pitched with panic as she tore through medical bags, flinging gauze and bandages aside. “Where the hell are the damn EpiPens?!”

Spencer didn’t wait. His training kicked in as he tilted your head back, pinched your nose shut, and sealed his lips over yours. He exhaled, trying to force air into your lungs. Your body remained unresponsive.

“Come on,” he pleaded between breaths. “Stay with me.”

Morgan’s hands hovered near your wrist, checking for a pulse. “She’s going into shock, Reid. We need that shot, now!”

Garcia let out a strangled sound of triumph as she ripped the cap off the EpiPen. “Got it!”

Morgan snatched it from her hands and, without hesitation, jammed it into your thigh. “Come on, sweetheart. Breathe.”

Spencer gave another desperate breath, and then—your body convulsed violently. Tremors wracked through you as your body fought for oxygen. Your fingers twitched, and your lips parted with a ragged, choked gasp.

Your eyelids fluttered weakly, a barely-there motion, but it was enough for Spencer’s breath to hitch. Your fingers trembled as if trying to grasp onto something solid, anchoring yourself to reality. A faint, raspy breath slipped from your lips, though your body was still struggling, your lungs desperate to catch up.

Morgan exhaled, nodding to Garcia, who was clutching her laptop like a lifeline. “She’s not out of the woods yet,” he said. “She needs medical attention. The EpiPen can only delay the inevitable.”

Spencer’s hand lingered on your cheek, his touch grounding, steady. His thumb traced slow circles, a silent reassurance. “Just hold on a little longer,” he murmured, voice low but firm.

Your eyes barely managed to open, glazed and unfocused, but for a split second, you looked right at him. A ghost of recognition passed over your features before exhaustion pulled you back under.

The rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor was the first thing you registered. Then, the stiffness in your limbs, the dull ache threading through every muscle in your body. Your throat felt like sandpaper, and every breath burned.

The room was dimly lit, casting shadows over familiar faces gathered around you. They were talking in hushed voices, tense and weary, their exhaustion evident in every line on their faces. No one had noticed you stirring yet.

You swallowed painfully before rasping, "Who died? You all look terrible."

Conversations halted instantly. Heads snapped in your direction, and in a matter of seconds, multiple voices overlapped—relief, exasperation, disbelief. Garcia let out a choked laugh, her hand flying to her chest, while Spencer leaned in closer, eyes scanning your face as if making sure he wasn’t imagining it.

Morgan huffed, shaking his head. "Damn, you really don’t know when to quit, do you?"

Spencer exhaled, the tension visibly leaving his shoulders. "You scared us," he admitted, his voice quieter and somehow softer than the others.

You tried to shift, but a sharp pain shot through your side, making you wince. Spencer’s hand was there in an instant, pressing gently against your arm to still you. "Hey, take it easy. You’ve been through a lot."

"What exactly happened?" you asked, everything coming back to you in flashes. And then a single face, of a strange man, wearing a badge.

"The police...did they?"

JJ nodded. "Yeah. It’s over now. Don't worry about it. You need to rest."

You sighed, "I'm really sorry. I wish I could've helped more."

Hotch, who had been standing silently at the foot of your bed, finally spoke. His voice was calm but firm. "The only thing you need to be worrying about right now is getting better." 

A brief pause, and then he cracked the smallest of smiles. "You can help with the paperwork later if you're so eager to work."

"On second thought, I think I'm good," you replied with a tired smile. 

You let out a weak breath of relief, letting your eyes slip shut for just a moment. When you opened them again, Spencer was still watching you, his expression softer now. You tried for a small smirk, though it barely held. "Thanks for talking to me. It helped a lot, in not...slipping away."

He smiled and rubbed your knuckles gently, a secret gesture in a room full of watching eyes. "Always. Although, next time, let's skip the almost-death sentence. Deal?"

You huffed a quiet laugh, squeezing his hand with as much force as you could -which wasn't a lot. "Deal."

[gublerryswift]

Passenger princess | Spencer Reid x Best friend!Fem!Reader

Just our good old fluff

I loooove friends to lovers and this is 100% how i would try to confess my feeling if i ever was in this situation. Hope you guys like it!! <3

You guys had just finished a case and, since it was really close to home, the team ended up going back driving (Damn those budget cuts). To your luck, you and Spencer are going back together. 

After a particularly intense match of rock, paper & scissor – the only game you were able to beat the genius at – Spencer ended up being the one who drives, and you would do your favorite job – be the road trip assigned DJ. 

"Hey Spence, would you rather listen to the whole harry styles discography or Taylor Swift's?" You say, with a grin on your face

"Oh god, this is going to be a long drive" Spencer says, laughing lightly and starting the car engine and, as if it was instinct, putting one of his hands on your lap. The action, although recurrent between you two, still sent shivers down your spine and the lingering "What are we?" question came back to your mind. You brush it away quickly, not wanting to go back to thinking about that now. 

"Come on, honey, I know you love them deep down. But I'm not in that vibe today anyway" You say, putting something else on. 

You don't really know why, but you decide to put on the little romantic playlist that you have – you would never directly confess your feeling for your best friend, but if he heard the lyrics and figured it out by himself, well a win is a win. Dark red by Steve lacy, starts playing, and you sing along to it while using your phone, trying not to look at Spencer's face. 

"I know that song, it's really good" 

You turn your face to him, surprised that he knew the song, since he generally goes for…  Well, old people music (which is something you love about him). 

"Yeah, I love this one. It has umm… beautiful lyrics too" You say, in hopes that he would pay attention to them and take the hint. 

"Really? Never really paid attention to them." He says, reaching for the car display and putting the song back to the start, "Let's see" He says, imitating the one nerd emoji meme – something that he started to do, ever since you showed it to him and said "that's literally you". 

You rolled your eyes and laughed, you would find that to be extremely embarrassing if it was someone else, but on him, it was so cute.

You two went silent as the song started to replay, looking over to Spencer to catch his reactions, seeing his brow frown signing that he's focused. After a while, a small smile shows up on his face, and he starts to blush a little. 

After a while, you two arrive at the BAU, before getting out of the car Spencer turns to you

"Hey, would you like to grab dinner with me after we're done here, just the two of us?" 

Turns out, your plan worked. 

You smile to him 

"I would love to Spence" 

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

I love the romances in datv (Neve my Beloved) but I can't get over all the talk about how it'd have the most romantic romances in the series. They aren't bad but most romantic? I wish I didnt go into it with that expectation lol

Oof. Yeah.

My opinion on Veilguard is complicated, but when it comes to the romances...? I feel that, anon. I feel that so damn hard.

The romances are one of my favorite things about a Dragon Age game because it's a choice that can, when done well, completely change your experience playthrough to playthrough, y'know?

And for me there are a handful of romances where if I don't choose them, if I do an alternate playthrough...? I miss them so goddamn much. I miss them enough that I actively struggle to even finish alternate playthroughs. That's how much they've impacted me.

I'll always hold Alistair up as like.... the romance for me. Honestly, I think DAO set the S-tier of romances with him, Leliana, Morrigan, and Zevran as far as writing goes and how interwoven their romances are with the HoF's arc and the plot... they're not just fluff that's tacked on, it's not just, "oh, if you romance them, you get one unique scene toward the end of the game, and some different dialogue!"

I could go on, and on, and on about Alistair and his romance with my Tabris. Hell, even outside of the romance, just their dynamic in the game. Their friendship! I could write essays about the little nuances and how beautiful and tragic his romance can be, and the branching paths, hhhhnnngggggg you can have so many different endings with him!

In DAO, you have many opportunities to flirt. You can give them gifts, and special gifts give you cutscenes where you actually talk about the gift you're giving them. You can set the pace of the relationship. You have different paths you can take and you can discover cute things, like okay.... for Alistair, there's the conversation where he gives you the rose. If you go out with only him in your party, and trigger that, you can get special extra dialogue because you two are alone.

Like... they thought about that. They thought about the player taking just Alistair around somewhere. Why would they? Why would you?

Unless you're roleplaying walking around Redcliffe together to gather supplies to bring back to camp and accidentally talk to him, triggering the scene on the docks.

It's little things like that, special things, that make every playthrough with a different romance feel unique. It feels like the writers put so much thought and care into every situation you'd be in, they thought about how the romance would not only affect your playthrough, but how it'd affect the character you're romancing beyond just... ending the game with a partner.

Hell, it makes you want to replay the game because if this romance was this good, what are the others like? Y'know?

Which is WHY when I heard them make the very bold claim that Veilguard would be the most romantic, I had doubts... because they're competing with Alistair. They're competing with Morrigan, Leliana, and Zevran. Not to mention literally everyone else in DA2 and DAI...... except maybe Sebastian.

If there's one thing I can say about Veilguard's romances, it's that at least they're better than Sebastian's... which is not a high bar because Sebastian's DLC, can only be romanced by a lady Hawke, and from what I've heard/seen of the romance, they don't even get a kiss...

Look, if Veilguard wasn't a Dragon Age game, I'd say the romances are fine, good even... for what they are. Because they do have good moments! They're just lacking, and in some cases, feel unfinished... like there are scenes missing.

I romanced Davrin on my first playthrough, Lucanis on my second. My third playthrough with Carver as Rook is undecided, though I'm thinking either Neve or Bellara.

With Davrin I played an elven Grey Warden, and that really enhanced his romance with me because 1. surprise, surprise, CJ really likes the Grey Wardens and when the opportunity for another Grey Wardens in love story to happen, she picked it, and 2. It felt like Nesryn and him had actual chemistry when talking about warden things, which led into feeling they had chemistry outside of that.

With Lucanis, I played a Lord of Fortune because I thought it'd be kind of funny for this himbo of a man, the literal embodiment of sunshine, to be a pirate who then falls in love with an Antivan Crow. And I have..... feelings. About Lucanis' romance. Especially as someone who also is an Andersmancer. It's good, but also not. It healed parts of me, only to then do more damage when I realized that Lucanis feels like the AO3 version of Anders who is chill and controlled and Justice is also in love with you, actually........ and that brings up conflicted feelings within me.

Looking back at these two now, I prefer Davrin's romance. But the problem with Veilguard's approach to romance, in my opinion, is not just the lack of content. It's not just the feeling that some of the companions have better chemistry with each other than they do with Rook. It's not just the weird pacing of it all.

God, how do I word this.... when I play Tabris, Alistair is crucial to her arc. Absolutely crucial. Remove the slow burn of their romance, or remove their friendship, and she's a completely different person.

When I play Ed Hawke, romancing Anders is interwoven into his arc. The playthrough wouldn't be the same if they remained friends. The impact of the ending would hit entirely different. Then, when I play Aris Hawke, romancing Isabela adds such a different flavor to the story. It's like night and day. And they're both great, that's the thing!

I think Cullen and Josephine are my favorite romances in DAI because they're not traveling companions, they're your advisors. It's different, and it adds layers to their romances. I'm in war table meetings with them. We're leading this operation together, and I find those dynamics so interesting.

In my opinion, the romances do not add anything crucial to Rook's story. At the end of my second playthrough, I wondered if I should bother trying the others out... which is not great!

Though, honestly, a criticism I have of Rook is in both playthroughs I did, they felt like the same character with different skins despite me picking different choices. Different faction, different dialogue.

Carver's run is going a little different but I think that's just my brain filling in those blanks, which.... yeah. I feel like any depth Rook and the romances had was concocted in my mind because the game didn't give me much to chew on.

So even though I did two romances that feel different, Rook remains the same in the end, and like.... that's not something I can say about HoF, Hawke, or the Inquisitor.

There's always going to be headcanon and personal writing when it comes to DA, that's how fandom works, y'know? But unlike the previous games, this actively feels unfinished, and like it expects me to finish it for them.

Yes, you get cute, flirty banter with them, and you get the scene where they go to your room... and from what I've heard Emmrich actually gets a bonus scene so like good for him.

I mean that genuinely, too. Seriously, good for him to be the standout of having an extra, romance specific scene. I haven't seen anyone mention any of the other companions getting one.

But do I feel like the romances impacted Rook to the same level of depth? No, unfortunately. And it sucks! Because I do enjoy the companions! And the bits we do get of the romances, I like!

But do not try to tell me they're the most romantic in the series because they're not, I'm so sorry. I want them to be! I want them to feel fleshed out and interwoven with Rook's arc within the actual game, and not through headcanon! I see the potential, I see the intrigue of certain Rooks with certain companions!

I could go on and on about this, and I will if anyone else asks, but yeah, anon.... I feel you.

Also, I'd like to hear other opinions on this since I've only done two of the romances, so maybe there is more depth to be found that I just don't know about. Maybe I haven't found my golden combo yet.

Plus, I just like reading about other people's experiences with DA romances, I find it super interesting.

[quinloki]

My apolocheese in advance for this, but all 50??? 😀 (Excluding any you may have answered already and/or don't feel up to answer)

Feel free to discard this ask entirely, or answer it in portions whenever you have energy. Whatever works for you. ^^ Just don't overwork yourself (ironic ik, coming from the guy who's asking for all 50, but I can't help it <3)

You know what - sure. XD

I'm going to put this below a cut though, cause whew!

who is/are your comfort character(s)? Marco definitely, but I find comfort in a lot of characters, so I should include Kid, Sabo, Crocodile, Doflamingo, Thatch, Penguin and Law in there too.

lighter or matches? Man I love a good zippo, but nothing beats the smell of a match, so I'll have to go with matches

do you leave the window open at night? Not unless I absolutely have to.

which cryptyd being do you believe in? Are ghosts as a general classification close enough? I've seen like three, but I haven't seen any other cryptids.

what color are your eyes? Brown ^_^

why did you do that? Sometimes I do not even know. I let go of a pot the other day for no good damned reason and was just glad it was empty.

hair-ties or scrunchies? Hair-ties. There's no scrunchie in this 'Verse that can contain my hair.

how many water bottles are in your room right now? In my room like my bedroom? Or as in the room I'm in right now? In either case it's zero. I have this spiffy mason jar monstrosity for water and it's down in the kitchen atm.

which do you prefer, hot coffee or cold coffee? Caffeine, honestly, is what I prefer XD Coffee's crap unless I make it myself so I don't even really register the flavor of it most of time.

would you slaughter the rich? Hm... ... no. I can't say I'd protect or defend them, but my sinful ass isn't going to go around casting judgements on others, no matter if I think they deserve it or not.

favorite extracurricular activity? >.> <.< I mean... I can't really say anything other than sex at this point.

what kind of day is it? A middling Sunday. The sun is pleasant, my cats are napping and look egregiously adorable, but there's still the weight of unemployment on the house, so it's middling.

when was the last time you ate? About 5 minutes or so ago. Rice and veggies.

do you love the smell of earth after it rains? Most certainly ^_^

are you a parent? (all answers qualify) lol not even a little.

can you drive? Better than most. My grandfather taught me with a bag of apples, but I don't really enjoy driving so I don't do it much.

are you farsighted or nearsighted? Whichever it is that needs glasses to see.

what hair products do you use? Cheap ones >.>

imagine we’re at a sleepover, would you paint my nails? If you wanted, certainly, but I have bit my nails since I was 8 so my skill at nail painting does not exist ^_^;

do you say soda or pop? Previously answered, but the short answer is soda.

something you’ve kept since childhood? My friend John. We became friends when we were 5 and 6 and I still play D&D with him on the weekends.

what type of person are you? A lucky one.

how do you feel about chilly weather? Previously answered, but I love winter and autumn

if we were together on a rooftop, what would we be doing? Probably stargazing. Which I stand by because you're not getting me on a roof when the sun's up.

perfume/body spray or lotion? I... uh... none?

a scenario that you’ve replayed multiple times? Like, in my mind? Ah, I licked a guy's nipples for so long he asked me if I was enjoying myself, and instead of saying yes like a boss, I got flustered and it killed the mood. Alas.

about how many hours of sleep did you get? ... 6? I think.

do you wear a mask? When I leave the house, yeah.

how do you like your shower water? Flesh-meltingly hot.

is there dishes in your room? Yes, but only because I just finished eating veggies and rice before I started answering this.

what type of music keeps you grounded? Previously answered, but I really do listen to all of it.

do you have a favorite towel? Nah. I have a favorite spatula though.

the last adventure you’ve been on? My spouse and I went on a 14 day road trip before the pandemic hit and I think between the states and Canada we traveled something like 5,490 miles or so.

is there a song you know every word to by heart? Don't Let It Bring You Down by Annie Lennox

what’s your timezone? East Coast

how many times have you changed your url? 0 - and I don't foresee it happening either.

someone in your life, other than a relative, you’ve known for 10+ years? My aforementioned bestie, but also my lil' "brother" who is not really technically my brother, but who has known me since he was 14 and I was 17, and my D&D group has been together for over 10 years now, so that's like 11 or so more people.

a soap bar that smells good? I use cheap liquid soap, sorry ^^;

do you use lip balm? Nope.

did you have any snacks today? Yes, a pear.

how do you take your coffee? Any way I can get it. Black is preferred though.

an app you frequently use besides this godforsaken site? Discord, maybe I imagine.

what’s your take on spicy foods? I am weak, my family is weak, my ancestors were weak, but I will sniffle and cry and sob the entire time because it's fucking delicious

you get a free pass to kill anyone, who is it? Sadly, they suffer more alive than dead, so >.>

can you remember what happened yesterday? Well enough I'm not worried about early on set dementia.

favorite holiday film? I was gonna say Die Hard, but then it made me think of The Last Unicorn and so I'mma go with that.

what was the last message you sent? Cheering on family who did early voting.

when did you first try an alcohol beverage? Supervised - 12 Because no one was there to stop me, 15.

can you skip rocks? I can trip over rocks, but that's about as skillful as I get. ^_^

can i tag you in random stuff? Certainly - I cannot promise I'll always know how to reply, but I actually really appreciate being tagged because I miss stuff easily.

[gatorbites-imagines]

I saw you do Marvel, by chance could I get a Peter Parker x male reader?

The reader is very cuddly with Peter, always holding him and burying his face into his neck.

Peter Parker x male reader

Headcanons

I just finished spiderman Miles Morales and started replaying the spiderman ps4 game again, so I’m crawling the walls for spiderman rn.

I feel Peter is a very touch starved person in general, so if you end up being super cuddly and touchy, he doesn’t mind at all.

In the beginning he has to teach himself its okay for you to touch and love on him though, since he isn’t used to anyone but aunt may and maybe Ned touching him, but when he gets used too it he loves it.

Did you know some male spiders purr? Yeah. Purring Peter, I will go down to my grave with this headcanon. Expect a tiny barely noticeable rumble from him when you guys cuddle up real close.

Sometimes he falls into his spider urges and will bundle you two up in blankets and other soft things to make a little cave of sorts, where you two can snuggle up and cuddle all you want, away from the bothers of the world. He will never admit it out loud but he does preen a bit when you compliment his “nest”

Did you also know some spiders hibernate? Expect a sleepy cuddly Peter when its real cold out, and if there’s a snowstorm, you’ll have to keep an eye on him, and maybe even herd him home into bed. He won’t go into hibernation but expect him to be even clingier than normal.

He’s also allergic to peppermint, cuz spider.

But outside of that Peter doesn’t mind your affection, he might even revel in it quite a bit. He will never admit it since it makes him feel a little selfish to love your attention so much, but you can tell.

He always looks forwards to coming home to you, especially after a long day or tough patrol. Sometimes the thoughts of your hugs and kisses are the only thing that gets him through the day, and when things get tough, he just has to remind himself he has you to get back too.

He also fights harder and doesn’t give up, because he has to return home to you, to your warm embrace and loving touches. He can’t bear the thought of losing you or leaving you behind.

Peter does make a habit out of returning home instead of getting medical treatment though, so he can cuddle up against you. He claims your love makes him heal faster, but in reality, he just wants you to coddle him a bit, and he hates hospitals.

So, you get really good at patching him up and have to punish him with no cuddles and kisses for a while because he won’t take care of himself. Peter always starts whining and begging you for kisses, and when you don’t give them to him, he will act like he’s dying.

I feel Peter struggles with words sometimes, so when you guys argue he’s more likely to bring you a bouquet of your favorite flowers and hug you. So, if you enjoy the physical contact, it only helps him even more.

You both expressing your love through physical contact is good, but it does mean you guys probably need to remember to communicate with words at times, just in case.

[velvees-archive]

save for the dual destinies dlc case, i’ve finished my first play through of the mainline ace attorney games. incredibly solid series. i have a draft with my thoughts on each case in the aj trilogy + game ratings. dunno if i’d wanna post it though, it’s kinda long.

so instead, i’ll post some misc thoughts about phoenix and edgeworth portrayals across mainline/aai + my personal favorite interpretations of them by the writing team!

spoilers for AA mainline and AAI duology

by far, my favorite phoenix portrayal is og trilogy phoenix. the way he interacts with his environment and the people around him is very authentic, albeit rude as hell (which, in hindsight, is even more authentic for phoenix, so…). saw someone’s tumblr post mention that phoenix is such a “straight guy” which…yeah LMAO. real to life accuracy, so much so it’s infuriating. i think what i’ve played of dd’s dlc case captures what i wanted to see from post-trilogy phoenix in that he’s still an asshole and comically stupid, but not actually stupid, if ykwim. something i disliked abt the rest of aa5 and aa6 is how the writing team watered his character down to the following two oversimplifications: “phoenix only wins cases bc he bluffs!” and “uhh...what evidence does phoenix present now?”

don’t mistake a silly man for a stupid man. mia calls phoenix a genius in the og trilogy. phoenix dives in head first but he’s meticulous when it comes to drawing out the truth. most of all, he doesn’t outwardly show how frazzled he is (see that one drew misham quote about phoenix quietly watching the court as he’s accused of forging evidence), even if he feels that way. i get the colorful usage of expressions is for comedic effect but it just makes him look like he doesn’t know wtf he’s doing, and that’s a disservice to his character. yes, he bluffs, but he isn’t clueless. anyway, i’m excited to replay the first trilogy now that i “know” second trilogy phoenix. that might also just be my way of saying “give me back MY phoenix”, bc the last time i’m (mostly) on board w his portrayal is in aa4, and even then i didn’t like the dialogue in his forged evidence trial.

*though, as of writing this, i’ve seen some good arguments abt his forged evidence trial dialogue that make me think ok maybe it was actually pretty accurate. let’s see wht i think on replay

on the other hand, my favorite edgeworth—at least in principle—is post-apollo justice edgeworth. in many ways, i think how he’s portrayed at 35 is how he would’ve been had dl-6 not occurred, barring his career choice. still a bit pompous, still fairly mean (at least on the surface, we all know he cares more than he lets on) and perhaps a bit uptight, but self-assured and just. the writing team makes a point to show that edgeworth doesn’t care about prestige or fancy titles. that feels like him in a way post-first trilogy edgeworth doesn’t. this particular point was fleshed out in aa1 and rfta, tho, so idk if i can give yamazaki credit for it.

there are some things that will always bother me abt post-first trilogy edgeworth (the problems are present in the aai duology as well) where the writing team shoves him into a box teeming with boring tropes for his character archetype.

an example:

creds for both these pictures: me

edgeworth is fine w pictures in the first trilogy, but comes to hate them in the aai duology.

ik it’s small but honestly what was the reason? what justification is there for this outside of wanting to fit edgeworth into a “cold character” stereotype?

bridge to the turnabout and turnabout ablaze are only about a month apart. i’m not buying into the sudden aversion to picture taking, regardless how minute a criticism it is. in any case, i feel like what i’m trying to say comes through w these screenshots: yamazaki’s edgeworth is always just a little off.

i am forgetting where i saw the post and i have too many liked posts to scroll thru to find it again but i saw a reblog?? tumblr post?? abt yamazaki and takumi’s diff approaches to edgeworth, where takumi says edgeworth listens to trot while yamazaki thinks he’d listen to classical music, and if that doesn’t drive the point home, idk wht will.

why then, did i enjoy post-aj edgeworth most? short answer is i’m taking liberties w his development and its implications. while i never completely buy into post-aa3 edgeworth, i can digest and get behind most of him when i’m not nitpicking, unlike w post-aj phoenix. does edgeworth feel a little uninspired and one- as opposed to three-dimensional? yeah, but his core is so strong i can overlook it. i’ll miss seeing a developed edgeworth when replaying the trilogy. him at 35 makes me feel warm inside.

anyway, i didn’t intend to start hating when i made this post bc i ultimately still believe the second trilogy was pretty good, if not overly ambitious with it's storytelling. maybe i'll post that AJ trilogy review.

overall, tho, t&t and aai2 were my favorite games to come out of the franchise. i’m going to do that slow replay of the first trilogy, aai duology, and aj:aa before making final judgments.

[rainfeathers]

Thoughts on the Mystery Labrinth

spoilers ahead for the game so don’t go further if you haven’t finished it.

I’ve seen mixed feelings about it all over (more so off tumblr than here) and that made me want to put my two cents in. Why not. Remember when I said Vivia was a yapper? Me too that’s why I fuck with him. I’m not proofreading this have fun with my typos.

Disclaimer: for the entire game I forgot you could get skills. Entirely. I didn’t get any of them nor upgrade anything. Do skills make the game too easy? Don’t know. I won’t go too much into difficulty for that reason.

Overall feelings

I like it! I’m a mystery labyrinth enjoyer. I dig the mechanics, my favorite being anything with the truth blade. Bobbing and weaving between trying to pick the right keys to answer questions was so fun.

One of my favorite parts is how each one changed to suit the case. The final labyrinth being Kanai ward?? Chapter four being the lab?? Good shit. Even how it framed questions and the mini games looked were different per case, which was a cool surprise. I thought they’d be more copy-paste, but every chapter felt distinct.

As such, it is very difficult for me to apply any blanket criticism to the mechanic. They all had different strengths and different weaknesses.

If any of this comes off as too negative, I don’t at all mean it that way. I’m just better at going in-depth on critique. I’m a certified ML liker. Give me more of that in the sequel.

Per chapter thoughts

Chapter 0: The chapter is good, but given this is the “tutorial” level, it drags a lot on replay. I feel like a lot of the explanation and exposition about it could have been condensed better. I know plot-wise it’s so Yuma stops freaking out, but the game could have taken more liberty with leaving things ambiguous and “it’s a game so there’s game mechanics” would have been a fine explanation. This is straying out of just chapter 0. Id much rather condense some of the exposition and put it towards real-life character development.

Otherwise I enjoyed it. Zilch was a great antagonist, and has some of the best designs. And he gets two?? As he should. There’s an interesting irony in him having two ML forms given he’s technically two people. (The Hitman himself and this other identity he’s taken on for the hit)

Chapter 1: not a ton to say honestly! Perfectly serviceable ML with nothing too stand out, which is ideal for chapter 1. It functioned great, and Seth was there AND Halara so it’s the best one. Jk that one is to come but also like-

Chapter 2: this is where what I said about the accompanying character affecting the chapter really did it a disservice. Sorry Desuhiko but you needed to can it once in a while. I’m not a hater of him, but he got pretty repetitive. Unlike the other chapters where the character either functioned perfectly fine (Halara) or actively made it better (Vivia), I started getting annoyed by him and replaying doesn’t make it better. I wish the game leaned into a few of his other traits other than just horny.

That aside the actual ML?? Stellar. The different hallways, the eerie music. The realization that they all come together into one path because the girls are working together, followed by the sickening realization that we’re going to kill three girls was a gut punch in the best way. This is my favorite ML for handling the consequences of reaping the culprits soul.

Chapter 3: another one that didn’t stand out to me. Granted this is because chapter 3 was the weakest one, but that’s more the fault of the chapter than the ML. That said, I loved Fubuki in it. I thought she was going to annoy me, but her small arc with Shinigami and working through her own insecurities was really nice to play through.

Chapter 4: OOOH you sly dog you’ve got me monologuing. What a great chapter. Props to the people who caught the twist coming because I didn’t until Vivia started getting weird about how we didn’t figure out the culprit. Granted I was drunk when I played this the first time, but it was so good. In such a painful way. This is a chapter where the accompanying character makes the fucking ML. Vivia’s arc, the fight he and Yuma had, the uncertainty if we were going to have to maybe kill him to escape, or if he would come to see our point of view?? Incredible. I’d say it’s my favorite chapter, but then we’ve got

Chapter 5: after 4, I didn’t think this one could hold a candle to it, but I was proved so delightfully wrong. The setting being kanai ward, the ambiguous antagonist, shinigami trying to steer us away from finding our identity as Number One all while we approach the final face off with Makoto, it was so so good. So fucking good. And the final battle? From the voice acting, the framing, the way it played out, it was just so fun. Slowly picking away at the truth both literally and figuratively while we shattered Makoto’s mask, it didn’t disappoint once. Makoto in general is a perfect antagonist to finish off the game. I could go on.

Overall I can’t wait to see how the ML is handled in the potential sequel. If we get anything akin to chapters 4 and 5 I’ll pass away because my heart can’t take it but it will be so good

[escapingrealtiylovinginsanity]

Rewind, Remix & Replay Jay & Kim (Bonus) Fire 6x14

You can find the rest of the series here

My favorite part of One Chicago is all the crossovers! So, there will be some chapters that go into fire and med. Not a ton, but a few that can add some backstory and some more cushion to the plot and relationship. This chapter is kind of random- but I loved the idea. I hope you enjoy it!

Jay was trying not to hover. The workload had been light in intelligence and everyone was using the slow time to catch up on overdue paperwork. Kim had been asked to help on another case and had been gone most of the day. She had just returned about an hour before the shift was over. The members of intelligence had been slowly trickling out.

They decided to go to a new Mexican place that had opened up after work when they realized they might leave on time. Jay was just going to wait for her, but the shift ended twenty minutes ago and Jay had finished the last of his paperwork. Kim was still sitting and staring at her computer. Jay knew something was wrong, but he didn’t want to ask her about it while Al was sitting across from her.

After another ten minutes, Al grabbed his coat, calling out a goodbye as he left. He was barely at the stairs when Jay was on his feet and heading to Kim’s desk. Jay noted that the computer screen was black from disuse. Kim was miles away in her own world. He set his hand lightly on her shoulder and she jolted. “Hey,” He soothes as Kim’s brown eyes dart to him, her hand shooting up reflexively to catch his. She squeezes it when she processes that it is him. “Talk to me.” His voice is low and no-nonsense. Kim could hear his worry. Her pause was too long. “Is it Zoey?”

“No, no, she okay. It’s not that.” Kim gave Jay a halfhearted smile as she watched some of the tension release from his stance. Kim didn’t know how it had happened but in a blink of an eye, the two had become close. She suspected it was because Jay treated her like a normal kid. He didn’t press her about the issues with her parents, school, or lack of interest in the things she used to like. Or maybe it had to do with the fact that he watched her shows and movies with no complaints no matter how girly they were, indulging her in sweets and introducing her to her new favorite movie snack- bacon popcorn.

“Then what is it?”

“It’s just… the case I helped with today. It just hit me in a way I didn’t expect. Brought up some memories.” Jay waits but she doesn’t continue. He reaches for the papers on her desk. When she doesn’t object, he takes the stack and starts flipping through the call report.

“A DV?” His eyes flashed to hers. “Kim,” His tone betrays his internal thoughts. She knows exactly where his mind has gone. She isn’t sure how to start, but the emotions and thoughts in her head bubble up to the surface. Jay's presence is warm and strong. A shelter for the storm brewing in her chest.

“I think I’ve told you, that Nicole practically raised me since I was ten.” Jay inclined his head, his blue eyes sharp. “My mom and dad’s divorce- it was ugly. He just… made a life with a new family. My mom started working more- traveling a lot for work- and drinking more. A lot more. I was practically alone searching for someone to care about me. I was almost a perfect target.” Kim sucked in a breath trying to settle her emotions as tears burned at the back of her eyes. “But my friend Shannon- she was a better one. Neither of us had parents really, but I had Nicole and she didn’t have anyone. She was bouncing between relatives' houses. When I met her, she was sleeping on a blowup mattress on her Great Aunt's living room floor.”

Kim swallowed hard as her voice broke. “She had nothing- and her life was hard but she was the sweetest girl you would ever meet. Do anything for anyone, give you her last dollar with a smile. Everyone called her Sugar.” Kim closed her eyes trying to push back the tears seeing the curly-haired blonde in her mind, all smiles', freckles covering her cheeks. “Josh was older than us. He was cute and charming. That's how it always starts though isn’t it? He flirted with me and made me feel like a hundred bucks. I thought he would ask me out but Nicole was always hovering. It used to make me so mad.” Kim shook her head playing with the blue pen on her desk, watching absently as ink smeared on her fingertips.

“It didn’t take long for him and Sugar to start dating. The two were thick as thieves. When he graduated the next year, he moved her in with him to an off-campus dorm room. Josh’s parents had money. She ended up transferring to a closer school. But I knew she would be better off because he was so good to her- gave her everything without her even asking. She was so lucky- I thought. I was fifteen- I didn’t realize how strange and- inappropriate it was for a girl that young to be living with an eighteen-year-old by themselves. I didn’t see the signs when she started to get more and more distant. We went from seeing each other every day to maybe three or four times a year. Then I turned eighteen and started working for the airport. I became a flight attendant maybe six months after.”

“Kim,” Jay tried to soothe but Kim can’t stop. Her emotions are pushing up through her throat in the form of an overflow of words she can’t stop.

“You know I was so busy with work- about to do a flight to Germany- that I made the first conversation I had with her in over a year less than two minutes. One minute and forty-seven seconds to be exact. Sugar wanted to meet up- I could tell she was upset but I was late and about to get on my plane. I told her I would call her back… She was dead before I even made it to Germany.” Tears rolled down her cheeks and she stood up as Jay tried to reach for her. “She was trying to leave him after almost eight years. Eight years of hell and abuse. Abuse that I had no idea about. Did you know that is when you are in the most danger of being killed? Not in an abusive relationship but when you try to leave it. Ironic right?” Kim breathed bitterly.

“Kim, this isn’t your fault.” He reached for her again. She put her hands up keeping space between them. She didn’t feel like she deserved the comfort. Jay’s hand wrapped around the nape of her neck and pulled her forward. Her hands get trapped between their bodies as he embraces her tightly. He tucks her head under his chin, kissing her forehead.

Her fingers curl around the soft material of his shirt, scrunching it into a fist. Her body melts into him, hungry for the comfort he is offering. “I could have helped her.” The anguish in her voice ripped through his heart.

“Baby, you didn’t know. This isn’t on you.” He rocked her, hot tears wetting his shirt. He didn’t rush her. The empty bullpen was the only other witness to her grief. She calmed down slowly, her grip on him loosening. He pressed another lingering kiss to her forehead. He pulled back far enough to see her face and brush away the tears that hadn’t been soaked up by his shirt. Then reached for her jacket. “Come on, let’s get you back to my apartment.”

Kim sniffed running a finger through her hair. “I’m sorry, I’m not really feeling up for sex tonight.” Kim tensed at her own blunt words; her filter appeared to be gone for the night. Jay’s lips twitch repressing a smile.

“Well as sexy as you look right now,” His thumb rubbed away some of her smeared mascara from beneath her eye, “I was thinking more along the lines of rocky road and you curled up in a blanket watching the sea hawk's game. But if you really push- I'll let you pick what we watch and might even let you wear the sweatshirt you stole and I just got back last week.” Kim laughed despite herself resting her forehead against Jay's chest, the tension successfully broken.

It ended up comprising. Kim had turned the hockey game and Jay had given her his-and her- favorite sweatshirt to wear. Kim sat on the couch bare except for the warm, soft cotton of the sweatshirt. Jay came over to her in his jersey and sweatpants holding a tub of rocky road and two spoons. Kim knew he wouldn’t eat much of it- Jay didn’t have a sweet tooth and preferred salty snacks. He was just indulging so she wouldn’t have to eat it alone. He sat down and they naturally slid together. Kim lifted the blanket for him to slip under, his arm wrapping around her.

Kim finished off the carton and fell asleep with her face buried in Jay’s chest before halftime. Jay noticed how much younger she looked when she slept. He hated to see how hard she was on herself. Always so strong for everyone else. There was a persistent tug in his chest to make sure she knew she could lean on him. To take the comfort she was so willing to give but not ask for.

He felt bad for waking her, but they had both spent enough days sore after sleeping on the couch. She practically slept walked to the bedroom with him leading her by the shoulder. By the time he used the bathroom and stripped down to his boxers, she was already fast asleep cocooned in the blankets cuddling his pillow.

[meatball-headache]

Our little sprout is doing well! Haven't found the Great Tree yet, but here he is with all his friends! It takes 3 seconds to move one square. Send help, my computer is on fire.

He's level 25—not in this screenshot, though—so he's tied with my highest-ever level, Urdru. I don't think he has as many turns, though, and I have no idea what his score is until it's game over. Urdru had about 117,000 turns and some 200k points. Urdru never went to Bethesda, though, so I'm ahead there. In fact, I think I've passed the Great Tree progress-wise—I haven't achieved anything in Bethesda, technically, but I think I've gone deeper. I got to I think 12 strata deep, then I wanted to take a break so I left. Presumably, the way will stay clear for me when I return, I've never seen anything respawn, so.

Needless to say, our little weed man is my favorite character so far. He's adorable, for one, but he's also been very successful and is suspiciously powerful. Everything I've done has been a combination of hiding in my Force Bubble, and spamming Burgeoning until everything dies. I picked up Domination in case I could use it for shenanigans, but I also had the choice of Flaming Ray... kinda think I should've grabbed that so I could carve a path through the jungle... but, oh well.

Speaking of jungle, I guess it's time I got out of the kiddie pool. So far, all I've done besides the main quests is explore ruins in the nice, "safe" salt dunes and marshes. Very low-level stuff, obviously dangerous when you're a bab, but at my level, largely trivial—yet nonetheless occasionally full of scrap, cells, and books! That's how I play games, I fiddle around at the beginning until it's completely trivial and pointless... then I hang around some more before getting bored and starting over. Meatball "Calm Lands" Headache, they call me. (They don't.)

That's just how I roll? And, really, it's an idiotic and bizarre way to play. You know aversion to ever doing the story in any game—XIV, as always, the exception. Take No Man's Sky. Big new update just came out, right? There's a new class of stars, and you have to do a new quest to get to them. The new quest depends on you having finished the regular story quests. Y'know, the quests they added like six years ago. The quests I... never even started? Hell, my character doesn't even have the hazmat gauntlet, I only play the expeditions, really. Or, GTA 6 is on the horizon, whereas I have a thousand hours in GTA 5... Online. Never touched the actual story in the actual game, which is wild, because even in the regular game, there's a zillion non-MSQ things to do to keep you occupied forever. The best example, though, is Greedfall. As soon as I got through the opening, I ran off to explore the open world and searched every zone top to bottom, visiting all these places where I couldn't do anything, empty villages—presumably it'll be populated by NPCs when I get the story this far—and places with too-high-level enemies that I tried to beat anyway. By the time I had completely explored the entire world, overleveled myself a bunch, and seen what the game had to offer... I was bored, and didn't bother to do the story.

My point being about Qud, of course. I've got over 300 hours in the game now—I remember seeing a review that said it took them 80 hours to beat the game, and their phrasing suggested this was a long time. I remember reading reviews for FF6 back in the day, where they gave it a perfect score, but docked it for replay value—because how many times can you replay a game that takes 60 hours? Meanwhile, I'm seeing that and thinking, oh man, a nice big thick juicy game! Xenogears and Bloodborne took me 90 hours; Dark Souls III took me 120; Elden Ring took 350. And that's to say nothing of FFXIV, LOTRO, Warframe, GTAO, and more, and more...

So... am I going to push forward in Bethesda and finally advance the game? Am I going to begin exploring the jungle and start finding out what kind of interesting, exotic things are out there? Or am I going to continue acting like the sprout that I am, and fiddle around in the lowest-level starting areas, and tell myself something like "I want to find all the ruins before moving on!" or something stupid like that?

What it is, is, I think, I want to find one game that will satisfy me permanently. Impossible, I know, but still—I want a game that I can play forever. When I find something I like, I want to just go in circles with it, keep it and hold it, I want everything to be the same forever. Moving forward would change things. If I beat the game, then I won't have it anymore. If I go to the next dungeon, then the myriad possibilities that represents, the wondering and fascination and curiosity at what lies ahead, that all evaporates and becomes known, and done. Then I'd need a new game.

...which is of course healthier. Just sitting in the dark and playing one game forever isn't going to benefit me any. But, I'm really liking this game. So why not indulge? If I like it, I'd like anything I do, whether puttering around at the beginning, or pressing onward and finding new things. And boredom happens on its own regardless of what I do. So, does it matter what I do, how I play? I don't know. Feelings are as complicated as it gets, and I've mulled over this nonsense since I was no years old.

Meh. I'm having fun.

[divorcedwife]

What rpgs have u liked/played and how did u like them? :) i saw that your fave is pillars 1 and i love the setting n story so much (i just loooooathe real time with pause combat unfortunately. This also has soured da origins to me a lot. Do action pls or even better turn based but not that) also u have a lot of amazing anders art <3

pillars 1 my beloved!! maybe you already know but i must mention it just in case - did you see that pillars 2 deadfire has turn by turn combat? i don't think it's as good as the first in terms of writing, but when they introduced turn by turn, it became one of my favorites just for that. it made me so violent because combat went from a necessary evil to my favorite part of the game, so i was just going around the world looking for people to fight. and it really has its moments, i loved serafen and the first quest with the pirates, and it is a game where you can actually roleplay and cause real harm without intending to if you just listen to your companions all the time. they're not all good people.......

and bg3 also has combat that i really loved :-) i played it as a bard and as a rogue and i really loved both. i loved playing a support character and not feeling like the main character so much, and as dark urge, i thought rogue combat played with the idea of the urge very beautifully because i was so good at killing that i tended to skip dialogues and just kill.... i just wish i could reverse the clock and talk the devs out of constantly rewriting it ship of theseus style. the companions to me already had an issue of being too friendly and too innocent in their sufferings in a way i didn't find compelling, so making them even more into fandom versions of themselves is just evil

but i think that's all for RPGs where i really like the combat, all my other favorite games have real-time strategy and i just do my best. kotor 1 & 2 have it, although i enjoy it more when i unlock fucked up evil force powers. i still do love dragon age origins & 2, and have some fondness for dai because i really like the characters. and dao was largely improved for me by playing a mage instead of an archer ; if i can say anything nice about datv, it's that they've made archery good for the first time ever in dragon age. being an archer in dai is especially sad, you have a range of like two meters

i also tried the first baldur's gate game but i got too scared and confused with the companions management and the way the story progresses - like i strayed from the main quest and that locked me out of meeting jaheira, so i had to restart and redo all of that and it was painful. i think i could play it if i had some guide to follow or something, i just don't have the 1990s gamer disposition. but i really liked xan, i made him leader of the party so i could hear him complain all the time

& i think that's kind of it...! im not a huge gamer in that i don't try tons of different games, i just mostly obsess and replay the same ones over and over again. there's some others i could mention - like i played outer worlds and i liked it ok, i played fallout new vegas but it wasn't really my style and i didn't finish, and oh wait i just remembered i played all three mass effect games! well, i liked the first game and hated 2 and 3, which may be my most controversial hill to die on but i must be true

[g0ldenboi333]

spicy take time: Ace Attorney 5 is not THAT bad

Dual Destinies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- An Opinionated Review (not spoiler free, hehe)

As I was progressing through the series, I noticed that fans really seemed to dislike Dual Destinies, so as I finished Apollo Justice, I was worried about what I was going to come across and, it wasn't terrible. I've begun to replay some of the game and compile some thoughts.

The Good

Characters

Whether it be the complicated, the quirky, or the downright enjoyable to be around, Dual Destinies has all sorts of new characters to fit this bill. Some of my favorites include:

Athena Cykes -- The newbie lawyer with a loud and colorful personality and a neat little game mechanic involving her being able to hear emotions Simon Blackquill -- The prosecutor on death row who's very… persuasive (why does he get to have a sword?) "Bobby Fulbright" -- The game's eccentric detective. While he's no Dick Gumshoe or Emma Skye, he actually managed to grow on me, making the twist that the final antagonist was disguised as him the entire time all the more impactful to me.

Some other characters that I really enjoyed: Juniper Woods Jinxie Tenma Aura Blackquill Orla Shipley (the orca)

And some of my favorite puns, for fun: Candice Arme Robin Newman Sasha Buckler

The Introductory Case

Case 5-1 is one of my favorite introductory cases after 2-1, AAI2-1, and TGAA1-1. Its twists and turns had me on edge the entire time. I've seen some crazy shit in Ace Attorney -- exorcisms, cross-examining animals, children that are victims of murder attempts -- but a terrorist bombing was not something I would expect, weirdly enough.

I also think it's fascinating how it's the only intro case to span over multiple days and the second to chronologically take place after the main filler cases (after AAI1-1).

And I really like how it ends by leaving these two questions in the back of my mind: "What's wrong with Apollo?" "Who exactly is Athena?"

Prosecutor Blackquill

Out of all of the prosecutors in the series, Blackquill has one of my favorite concepts. The idea of a prosecutor being able to continue his job while awaiting the death sentence for a crime he did not commit, but rather, took the fall for is just soooo… AAAAAAA. I love it. How he also utilizes psychological mind games opposite to Athena's own.

I was originally terrified of Blackquill and his unique "Silence!" callout, but as case 5 progressed, I actually almost cried learning Simon's true colors. How he willingly went to prison to protect a young Athena and Athena's mother, Metis', work, refusing to accept help despite Athena's and Aura, his older sister's, pleas. He was genuinely willing to be executed for the sake of protecting Athena.

Athena and Apollo's relationship, Apollo's Skepticism, and Athena's Trauma

Throughout the course of cases 2 and 3, it was demonstrated how Apollo and Athena grew to trust each other. To me, they gave off sibling energy, which was made even better by the fact that, in Greek mythology, Apollo and Athena are siblings (half-siblings, but siblings nonetheless).

So when Apollo started feeling skeptical towards Athena regarding the whole Clay situation, it kinda hurt, Apollo even willingly wearing a bandage over his eye to prevent himself from perceiving Athena's suspicious ticks. (I love this concept and wish more could have been done it.) And Athena had a past of her own that wasn't helping the situation that she herself wasn't even sure of, traumatized by the idea that she might have killed her own mother.

This is what I would say to be Dual Destinies' strongest feature.

The Phantom

Like I've mentioned before, the twist of "Fulbright" being the final antagonist really got to me. And his whole breakdown with him being in a mad panic, questioning who he really was before getting sniped, has to be one of my favorite breakdowns in the entire series (second to the exorcism)

Turnabout Reclaimed

The concept behind this DLC case is a fascinating one. The defendant being an… uhm… orca and the murder being an accident makes this case really unique.

3D Models

While the models take a bit to get used to, I think, ultimately, they weren't a terrible idea. I love the sprites but there are some things that the models did that the sprites couldn't -- and vice versa. And I believe it was a great gateway into what we got with The Great Ace Attorney and Spirit of Justice.

The Bad

Phoenix's Role

I have problems with Phoenix in this game in general. His model, his voice, but overall, I think the biggest downside about him in this game is his role. How him losing his badge was basically ctrl-z'ed and he's back to basically steal the spotlight. His role in Apollo Justice was great. He was there, but not on the front lines, helping Apollo from the side. I was hoping that, with the introduction of Athena, she'd get help from him like Apollo from Kristoph in his own game or Phoenix from Mia in the first game, rather than being essentially sidelined herself.

Yes. Dual Destinies is a Phoenix Wright game, but with how much focus it gives to Apollo and Athena and their… Dual Destinies… it's a bit frustrating with him in the picture as much as he is.

Turnabout Academy

I don't believe in the "3rd Case Syndrome" that goes around in the fanbase (4-3, 6-3, AAI2-3, and TGAA2-3 were pretty good). However… replaying Dual Destinies, I can't bring myself to replay this case. The concept was okay, but, that's all I can really say. The characters were… eh? I like Junie, Robin, and Mirriam, but Hugh is insufferable and what they did with Klavier was… (I don't wanna be harsh but)… ew. How Robin was treated before revealing she was a girl, was kind of gross (in the initial 2013 release). Overall, it was an… okay case. I don't really have much else to say about this case other than I didn't really enjoy it.

Turnabout Reclaimed

I love the concept, but that's about it. I had a bit of trouble staying awake while playing this one. It felt a little reminiscent of 1-5, which best sums up my feelings about it. The characters were okay and the idea is great, but this case is just… there.

The Ugly

Main Menu

That menu is boring. There's nothing... here. At least previous releases had the gall to put an image in the background, whether it be a courtroom or silhouettes of the main characters. I can't tell if that's supposed to be a bulletin board or a closeup of a basketball, but it's likely neither of those are right.

Voices

I understand replacing the older VA's because of cutscenes and all that, and I'm okay with Apollo's new voice, but when it comes to the other characters with NEW voices, they kind of miss the mark. Apollo and Phoenix sound virtually identical, Klavier sounds… wrong, and I don't think anyone told Edgeworth's VA that he's only 34 because he sounds twice that.

3D Models

When it comes to characters being translated into 3D, that's where the models miss. Apollo's, and Klavier's models are … not the best and Phoenix's is actually disgusting. They got a much-needed update with Spirit of Justice, but they don't compare to the beauty of their sprites.

-----

Overall, I personally think that Dual Destinies is one of the weakest in the series, but it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It's different and takes a bit to get used to, but it's fun :)

[jaws-has-eaten-cereal]

SPOILERS FOR ANTONBLAST:

My personal rankings of every levels (including bosses) in Antonblast, an indie game I finished about a week ago, and my personal favorite game of the year.

I know some takes here aren't gonna be very loved buuut I don't really give a fuck! Cuz it's my opinions, if you wanna fight me about 'em, comments are here, but you probably won't cuz let's be honest who's gonna see this post? Anyways just in case you can't read the level's name here they are with a ranking out of 10:

Meh...:

Vs. TallBuster. (5/10 very mediocre boss fight, not bad but not good either.)

Good:

Crimson Factory. (7/10, I often forget this one exists, loved the HAPPY HOUR and music for this one, but everything else was meh)

The Mysterious Glass House. (7.5/10 this would be an easy Great! Tier if it wasn't so damn long, the level is just really annoying to get through, the platforming though, absolute S tier some of the best in the game.)

Great!:

Boiler City. (very sorry for the shitty take lmao, I still love this level though the music is absolutly FANTASTIC, and the HAPPY HOUR with the BossBusters chasing you for half of it destroying the city was such an amazing introduction to the HAPPY HOUR concepte, 8/10)

The Big Beth. (The horror level, I love this one because instead of having something chasing you it's just very eerie and lonely, strikes the perfect balance between not taking itself seriously and uneasy, such a fun level with an amazing HAPPY HOUR, that fake out got my heart racing, 8/10)

Vs. BrawlBuster. (8/10 very fun to replay because of how traditional it is, it could be a Rayman Legend boss fight actually, I'd see it!)

Vs. The Jewel Ghoul. (8/10 if BrawlBuster is a Rayman Legend boss fight, this one is a Rayman 1 boss fight I love everything about this boss, the music is absolutly banging, the attacks are tricky but not unfair, and that last part where you just shoot Jewel Ghoul for no fucking reasons, so much personality in that fight, loved it.)

Hell's Manor (my biggest hot take, If I was ranking these based on first impression it would be S tier, but alas 100%'ing this level made me love it a lot less, 8/10)

Slowroast Sewers (8.5/10... Genuinely don't know why it's so high... It's just really fun I guess, with one of the best osts in the game, and one of the best HAPPY HOURs in the game, solid level.)

Vs. MaulBuster (8.5/10, the concepte of her not actually wanting to fight you, but just do a play, while you ruin everything and she gets angry is just so funny to me, not as replayable as the rest but very fun anyways and got a good laugh out of me.)

Vs. Freako Dragon (8.5/10 THAT'S IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BRAZIL.)

Vs. SmallBuster (8.5/10 Such an original boss fight, it's more of a show than a fight because it's by far the easiest part of the game to me, but my god everything about this fight is funny, and Small's design is adorable too, by far my favorite of the Busters in terms of design, personality, and fight, I would still give best gameplay to Brawl but eh whatever bias.)

Bomb Candy Mines (8.5/10 just fun, fun gimmick with the bomb transformation, one of my favorites in the game, fun escape sequence with acid coming out of the walls you gotta out run, fun music for both parts of the level, fun everything, me love this one way too much.)

The Mad Mall (yes, this level isn't that hard you just have to get good I 100%'ed it on my 2nd playthrough of it, 9/10)

S tier:

Cinnamon Springs. (9/10 just like Bomb Candy Mines, fun everything, excepte even more fun, with a bigger focus on platforming and spectacle like when you destroy a fucking temple cuz you just wanna be a Dick, or when you ruin Greg's vacation, this felt like a Crash Bandicoot level almost, so that can only mean I'll love it lmao.)

Vs. Satan (9.5/10 GOODNESS. One of the best finale I have ever had the honor to play, my 2nd favorite music in the game for sure, Satan's personality is incredible and so is it's Amazing voice acting, all phases were challenging but not unfair at all and very fun and creative, not to mention you feel like an absolute monster for most of the fight, yeah, banger.)

Devilled Garden (9.5/10 best music in the game, idle hands down, and the level delivers as well, helping a demon rebel agaisn't Satan, not cuz he wants to overtake hell or is sick of it, but because he wants to fucking throw a party is hilarious, everything he asks you to do is fun (the clock part may be a bit slow but I still enjoyed it) and the escape sequence gives you such a fucking boost of ego with the mech suit out of nowhere, absolute masterpiece of a level.)

Vs. Ring a Ding (10/10, best boss just for the sheer surprise of the third phase, what can I say it's a monkey brain reaction: me see biblicaly accurate angel, me happy, the music on the last phase is absolutly incredible that solo makes you feel things in places you didn't even know you could feel, and then you just pull a Mario and Luigi move by just countering the Moon of all things, yeah one of the best boss fights I'v played personaly.)

Pinball Mire (10/10 the music... THE MUSIC, the 2nd half of the level has the third best song in the game, my god and the pinball mechanic? I usually am not a fan of Pinball in general especially in a level that stops you and forces you to play Pinball that's just boring, you could make the argument that this one does the same but the Pinball Gimmick is also used in platforming to do a Spindash like in classic Sonic, and thé Pinball sections are very very fun and quick if you know what you're doing, even on my first playthrough I didn't spend more than 4 minutes on any (excepte the one before HAPPY HOUR, it's a bit long but not the end of the world, all and all, a magnificent level.)

Concrete Jungle (10/10 AAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAA, This... This... This Is everything, EVERYTHING I WANT IN A PLATEFORMER, fun, gimmicks are way too well fused together and never feel overwhelming when stacked on each others, the musics, all three of them, are bangers, with the third one being oddly nostalgic, actually the whole level has a nostalgic vibe to it, probably cuz I grew up in a city that actually really resembles this level so there's an strange feeling of comfort when I play it, it's strange, also you get to light the whole city on fire so 10/10 LMAOOOO, but yeah one of the best levels I have ever played in a platformer, masterpiece isn't good enough of a word to describe it, also these monke are some of my favorite charachters in the entire game, like third favorite charachter, they're cute and just have a cool Vibe)

Anyways there's something wrong with you if you read all of this, but, I apreciate it, thank you very much.

Stay safe.

[eye-of-the-phoenix]

I want to like CRY so much

I just finished replaying it and I have so many opinions, as always. This game is unique for me in that I WANT to like it so badly but it just doesn't quite work. However, I stubbornly replay it and ponder what it could have been because I wish I liked it more. I especially feel this way because I live in New Orleans and its just so CLOSE to being good!

More thoughts under the cut.

PROS:

I actually think they did a great job with the setting. It's raining so hard that the power goes out and the streets are too flooded for cabs? There are weird creatures and bugs around every corner, some of which are messing with your belongings? The best food is from some sketchy stand served by some random Shorty person? Accurate, welcome to New Orleans. I can even forgive Bess for eating crawfish with the shells on with a spoon.

The characters are also good. Lamont is completely underutilized to where I'd never believe he was the culprit, but I can imagine running into all of these people throughout my day and it makes sense that they would all also interact with each other off-screen.

The core mystery is really interesting. It's the classic Nancy-gets-sucked-in-to-a-case-on-vacation scenario, but she really does stumble into the situation by accident in this one and has a personal stake because she gets attacked by the skeleton man. The progression is believable as she starts to unravel the skull mystery and discovers that Bruno's death was actually kind of suspicious.

My favorite ND trope, secret room/hideout/study revealed midgame, with a lot of things to look at and click on, is present.

CONS

The music is kind of a miss. It's not bad, but it should have been so much better. It has this boring CLK old-timey feel and they kind of missed the mark in my opinion. I think a more upbeat track with some brass, maybe something bluesy, maybe something modern would have added more variety.

The puzzles. THE PUZZLES ARE SO TEDIOUS. I hate that we find this book Bruno wrote and it's just a walkthrough to getting a bunch of eyeballs through various boring puzzles for the sake of padding the game. I use a walkthrough for like half of this game every time because I don't find the puzzles fun. My least favorites are the sneeze contraption because there is ZERO confirmation as to whether you're on the right track when you do it, and the tombstone pun puzzle because walking back and forth around the cemetery is SO TEDIOUS and it has zero replay value.

Bruno's house doesn't make sense because it's fairly spacious and kept up on the bottom story and the top floor that we can access is just two horrible moldy rooms. Bruno, you dropped dead from breathing in black mold in your own house, not a heart attack. Trust me when I say I know it's humid and wet here, but there's just no reason for the upstairs to be that uninhabitable indoors.

On a related note, I wish there was more to explore, and no, the cemetery doesn't count. There should be more rooms for Nancy to snoop through (where is Henry sleeping?) and like one more place for Bess to go. Or more things to do and click on in Zeke's aside from just looking at that one box a million times. Or the option to poke around Renee's table when she's away. NOT nearly enough snooping for me.

It's so dark. It's too dark. It could have been like 10% lighter or had a partial daytime element so that I could actually see what I was doing even a tiny bit.

[strang3transluc3ntobj3ct]

hey everyone, this is my first ever “fic” post that i will also be posting to ao3 under the name "schittscreeker"; thank you for reading in advance it truly means a lot to me because it takes a lot for me to put myself out there like this but i'm doing it because of my best friend and inspiration, @hellish-hyperfixation, go check out their stuff as well! :3

anyway this is getting kind of long now but i just want to say i'm planning on expanding on this idea in the future and will most likely post more of it soon, thank you :D

here is the ao3 link

Sometimes Patrick would miss David. And so, he would lay on the bed and reminisce. And sometimes, he’d lay there and replay the voicemails David sent him the day they’d first met. The ones he’d never forget as long as he lived. The ones he saved, not knowing why at the time of course, but he saved them nonetheless. Because something inside of him wanted to. There was something about David that intrigued him that day. The tall man with the perfect skin… He smiles against his will. He remembers it like it was yesterday. He also remembers how playful he was towards David, even in a professional setting, their banter taking off without a hitch, which had left a permanent fixture-like smile on Patrick’s face for the rest of the day. He was grateful, his near photographic memory allowing him to relive all of his favorite moments with David.

David, on the other hand, was not happy when he found out about the “utterly regrettable,” as he called them, voicemails. But once David saw the look on Patrick’s face, he all but lost the fight within himself. There was nothing he could say or do to convince Patrick to delete the repulsive voicemails and he realized he didn’t want to. 

He always had a hard time inside of his own head but especially when it came to his relationships though it was of no true fault of his own. Every time he’d let his guard down in the past, he was hurt, or worse, used in some way, he never felt truly loved or cared about by anyone, sometimes not even his own family. He knew each and every time he got into a relationship, he would end up ran over like roadkill on the side of the road. It was only a matter of time before he would be abandoned, left to die on that road. But even so, he kept trying, never giving up hope that one day someone would actually want to stick around long enough to see past his faults, help him take down the walls he so meticulously put up to protect himself. 

So, when he found out about Patrick and the voicemails, he didn’t know what to think. His mind immediately went on the defensive, his desperation giving way to the act of self preservation. He figured this was one of those cases. I mean, why wouldn’t it be? It was always going to end up this way, he thought. It always does. In which something was going to be used against him, where he would have to fight a losing battle on his own. But something clicked when he looked at Patrick that day, saw the red on his cheeks and the embarrassed way he rubbed the back of his neck while he explained himself, he finally realized something had changed. He had changed. Because of Patrick. He didn’t have to be afraid anymore. He didn’t have to question his self worth or question whether or not he was enough for the person across from him. No more being scared of what might happen to him or his reputation. Because Patrick was different. He wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met and he was so grateful for it. Of course Patrick didn’t save the voicemails to hurt David, he saved them because he loved David. And so, after his epiphany and before Patrick could finish explaining himself, he kissed him with a smile on his face. Patrick grunted in surprise at the sudden action but almost instantly recovered and kissed David right back. 

“Thank you.” Was all David had said before standing up from where he was sitting on the bed and walking out of the room, leaving Patrick alone to ponder what on Earth had just happened.

[autistic-crypt1d]

It’s late where I am so I’m headed to bed as I’m sending this, but when you see it:

Talk 2 me about Darkside Detective

Favorite characters, cases, dialogue, least favorites, theories, headcanons, ocs. I wanna hear all of it. Hand it over.

Bideo game

Ok so it's been a few years since I played through the games, but from what I do remember, my favorite case from the first game is the disorient express with the haunted subway. The dialogue and everything about it was hilarious. My favorite line I can remember is also from that case, it's when McQueen is in the bathroom about to plunge the tentacle and he says "When I plunge you, Dave, remember that I plunge you with love.". Honorary mention is Class of The Titans and the Dick Brickman thing.

The only thing close to having a least favorite is the fact that my first case was bugged and I never got to actually get the completion screen because the last step wouldn't work.

Like I think everyone else in the fandom, I believe that Dooley and McQueen are deeply in love and I adore them with my entire soul.

I don't remember enough to give any big analysis atm, but I really wanna replay the game now. I got the first one for free from amazon prime gaming and I was streaming at the time so I just played everything and I was immediately obsessed with it. As soon as I finished I bought the second one and played through that as well. I am 1000% gonna do a live blogging when I play it again.

How about you??