#very use specific use of players me thinks

[blazingblorbos]

Honkai: Star Rail is becoming more like Honkai Impact 3rd everyday

And no, I don't just mean Phainon or the other character variants, no I don't just mean the parallel Elysian Realm & Amphoreus storylines,

I mean the way these mfers released a MAIN STORY, IN-GAME ANIMATED SHORT WITHIN 3 HOURS OF SAID VERSION UPDATE GOING LIVE 😭

[annebardot-sl]

🏥 Interview with Yim (Code Blue)

Good day! Thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. How are you feeling today?

I'm doing quite well today. It feels like life is slowing down enough that I have a bit more time and space to recharge.

Let’s begin!

1. Could you tell us how you came up with the idea to write a story in the medical genre? Why did you choose to set the plot specifically in an emergency department?

I pitched several ideas for stories that didn't move forward, and I was encouraged to work on a medical story focusing on an EMS team. I proposed emergency medicine as an alternative because the scope of the medicine practiced there can be shallow or broad: it offers a lot of flexibility for writing. Patients often come and go from the department quickly, and their cases can be simple or very complicated, humorous or heartbreaking. The structure of work in the emergency department also seems well suited to work for a Romance Club story.

2. What inspired the storyline? Were there any particular films, series, or books that influenced you?

The storyline is the product of sitting with the subject matter for a while and considering what would be interesting and well-suited for an RC story. For inspiration, I primarily turned to television series, documentaries, and doctors’ memoirs, and also to the city of Seattle itself, where I lived for many years. I wanted to achieve a balance between the medical and romance aspects while keeping the visuals interesting. In terms of particular films, series, and books, as unlikely a pairing as it is, I think this story falls somewhere between Scrubs (which I enjoyed watching as a teenager) and The Pitt. Adam Kay's This is Going to Hurt and numerous other sources have influenced me.

3. Why did you choose this specific title for the story? Were there any alternative options?

For this story, I proposed the title "Vitals," which I liked because it applied to more than just the medical aspect, but it was decided that it was not interesting enough, so it was given the title that it has now.

4. How much time did it take you to develop the plot?

The very basic premise and plot were developed over the course of a month. There are many minor plotlines that will develop organically over the course of the story to support the higher-level plot, though.

5. Is it possible to combine two stat paths in the story, or is it better to focus on just one?

No, it's best to focus on just one.

6. How many seasons are planned for the story?

3

7. Let’s talk about the characters! What made you decide to give players the option to choose the protagonist’s gender?

I was offered the opportunity to do so, and I jumped on it, much like including diverse body types in Hell and High Water. I think it fits very well with a story like this, where it's an aspirational story (many people are curious about what it would be like to be a doctor) and the story's plotline is not heavily influenced by the choice of gender (while sexism certainly affects modern medicine in Seattle, it has much less of an impact than it might on a historical drama about a monarch, for example).

8. How challenging is it to write branching storylines from both male and female perspectives? Do you find it difficult or rather easy?

It's somewhat challenging and rather fun. As a non-binary person, I "played" the female perspective (poorly and miserably) for more than 20 years and often wondered what it would be like to "play" the male perspective, though that didn't suit me either. So, it's certainly something I've spent a lot of time thinking about and talking to people about. And there isn't any one way to be male or female in terms of how one experiences the world, but I hope to write something that is relatable to many people.

9. What key qualities do your main characters possess as professionals in the medical field?

I think that dedication is a vital quality that they all possess, even if they show it in different ways. Medicine is a very difficult field in the USA, even for those who have ample opportunity, and it is an enormous commitment. Along with this, they possess patience in all areas: with themselves, others, situations, and systems. Not all of the characters are equally patient, but they are all probably more patient on average than most people. Also, the ability to work well under pressure and focus.

10. How did you choose their names? Why did you settle on the ones featured in the story?

This is a good opportunity to talk about Tobias and Trinh's names. I've seen a lot of comments about these in particular because these names also appear in Open Heart, which I enjoyed playing the first season and a half or so of many, many years ago.

When I originally designed Tobias, he had a distinctive nose. I thought it gave him some more personality, but it was determined that this wasn't conventionally attractive enough, and it was ultimately changed. However, when I was young, one of my favorite characters was Tobias from Animorphs, whose form is a hawk. I have always had a soft spot for the name, and when I learned it suited Tobias's origins, I decided to call him that. I felt that he was a hawk-like character, keeping an eye on the department and having his distinctive nose.

Trinh is a very common last name in Seattle. I actually chose the name because I had a wonderful doctor with that surname, and it seemed like a nice way to honor them, though the nurse in the story and the actual doctor have nothing else in common.

In general, though, the names mostly depend on the character's origin. In some cases, they are names the characters chose for themselves

11. What was most important to you when visualizing the appearance of the main characters? Did they turn out the way you had envisioned?

For me, the most important thing about a character's visual design is that it reinforces their life experience and personality. (Sometimes, this means that they don't look anything like one would expect, because people have a way of surprising us). I have learned that my idea of what is attractive doesn't match with what most people want, so for the LIs, I try to adhere to conventions for the most part, or what is seen as conventionally attractive for a given archetype. I'm very glad that Flint and Kenedi seem to be well received, because these are characters where there was less pressure to make them look a specific way and I was able to invest more in their designs (though I obviously made them very conventionally attractive within their own domains due to the extensive negative feedback I received on HHW's character designs). And with Jules, I'm also very glad that the many variations are being positively received. I was going for a very specific look with them, which will probably make more sense as the story progresses.

Given the circumstances, I'm very happy with how the characters turned out.

12. How long did it take you to create their character briefs? How old are they?

I could not easily tell you how long it took to create the briefs because it's spread out throughout the creation process. When the story is first pitched, the main cast starts to take form and their design starts, but it's not until after outlining and, in some cases, writing begins that they are fully developed and ready to be brought to life by the artists.

For ages, in order of appearance, here are a few:

Jules: 30

Flint: 26

Nahome: 33

Kenedi: 30

Tobias: 44

Gutierrez: 27

Malinowski: 28

Gail: 37

Eugen: 29

Dakota: 27

13. Will players have the chance to change the characters’ uniforms again, or will the current ones remain as final?

There will be more work clothing options as the story progresses (and some seasonal accessories), but these won't be very common.

14. We’re curious to know more about the romance options in your story! How many love interests are planned?

There are 6 full romantic routes planned. There will also be some romantic interactions with other characters, such as Gutierrez, Malinowski, and characters we haven't met yet. I have already seen many comments on Gutierrez and Malinowski, and they are intended to be developed further, but they are not "main" LIs.

15. If you could describe each love interest in one word, what would it be?

I would describe all of them as "complicated."

More seriously, though:

Flint: Chaotic

Nahome: Healing

Kenedi: Uplifting

Tobias: Harrowing

Gail: Bittersweet

Eugen and Dakota: Playful

16. Why did you choose marine creatures as pets in the story? Would you like to have one of them yourself? Or maybe you already do?

I had a pet fish, Ruvi, who was very near and dear to my heart. I've kept a few bettas over the years, so I wanted to include one. And I hope that I might keep another in the future. This happens in the story is mostly because Annette doesn't really see fish as much different from plants, which unfortunately seems to be a pretty common view. To her, they're more of an aesthetic element. Jules definitely doesn't have the motivation to care for anything demanding at this point, and I didn't want to leave players with something like a cat or dog that would suffer much more while Jules is working hard.

17. Does your workspace mean a lot to you? What items are a must-have there? We'd love to see a photo!

My workspace is incredibly important to me, but right now it is very much a work in progress, so I won't be sharing it right now. My absolute must-haves are an ergonomic keyboard and active sitting chair.

18. Do you have any rituals before you start working (if any)? Maybe you need to grab a cup of coffee or spend a few minutes in silence?

Yes! I almost always start by grinding some beans and making a cup of coffee in my French press, and I usually finish my coffee before I actually start working. Often, I'll also play focus music while I'm working: it's usually just white noise pomodoros.

19. What lessons did you take away from your previous story, “Through Storm and Fire”?

I think if I wrote them all out, it would be a few thousand words, so I'll simplify my answer: I learned a lot about the expectations of players, what works well on the platform, what I can control and what I can't, and what resonates with who and what doesn't.

20. Describe your new story in one quote or phrase (maybe from a famous person?).

I think Hippocrates has a very relevant quote for this story:

"Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity."

Thank you so much for your thoughtful answers! We're really excited to learn more about the new story and about you! Wishing you continued success

Thank you for the interview, it was fun to share a bit about the behind the scenes of the story!

[wizards-and-tea]

its time. lets classpect some of the deltarune characters.

disclaimer: I do not have the best grasp/understanding of classpecting so YMMV in regards to accurate this seems, and im sure canon will blow me out of the water later but as of chapter 4 these are my reads (also big thanks to @birdhand-arts-extra-chaos for helping with this I would've gotten so stuck otherwise)

Susie: Maid of Rage

Rage is an obvious choice for Susie's aspect, as its all about breaking down rules, walls, and bullshit. Susies not afraid to challenge authority or irrationality which highlights the very best of the rage aspect. Her class was harder but I wanted to make sure she had an active one, and as maid is an active class about creating with/through a persons aspect I figured it fit pretty well. She's quite literally creating new ways of thinking and being for herself and the people around her. I don't believe maids exactly the class the prophecy wouldve given her but it dovetails nicely into the already present friction between Susie and the feminine role given to her. (Plus I think the "made of" pun fits well here)

Ralsei: Heir of Light

Light was another obvious choice, especially after the reveal of Ralsei's burden of knowledge. I like how encompassing it is for him though, as his own knowledge of the prophecy and his nature as a darkner has to be for him. This is where his class helps to show more of his personality, as heir is a passive class focused on changing with/through an aspect. Ralsei isn't seeking to destroy the prophecy, but instead to change it, through action and sheer force of will. Using his knowledge to change the ending.

Kris: Page of Breath

Kris was quite difficult to classpect, as we still don't know much about them or their own inclinations. However, from the little moments we see them without their soul, we see Kris is very much a free spirit or strives toward that ideal. They chafe under other peoples wants and expectations. Kris is so heavily restricted, but I think the best interpretation for them is that they literally cannot use/follow their classpect right now because of what is imposed on them, rather than as someone who is inherently doomed or is a rule follower. I'm still not completely sure on page, but I like it for highlighting Kris' weird connection with the knight, and for it's growth factor, as Kris slowly starts to exercise more agency as they get stronger (weird route not withstanding)

Berdly: Thief of Heart

I thought about giving Berdly mind, but it seemed far too easy. Besides, his problem isn't being concerned with his own intelligence so much as proving his intelligence to other people and wanting the perception that comes with that. Which is much more fitting for a heart player struggling with identity, in my opinion. His concerns with romance also fit nicely with this aspect, as they are a major factor in the heart aspect and in how Berdly shapes himself in relation to other people. His class, thief comes from how he is inclined to 'steal' his personality and the way he presents himself from how other people see him or how he thinks he should act.

Noelle: Knight of Void

I had a very hard time classpecting Noelle. It's easy to jump to aspects like space or life for her, since those tend to be the lonely girl aspects in homestuck proper and call it a day. But I wanted to make sure that Noelle's classpect fit her specifically and wasn't just following impressions based on characters similar to her. I thought about giving her time, because of her nostalgia and connection to the past but Noelle is more inclined to move on from the past than many other characters in deltarune (cough cough her mother) and she doesn't possess the same apathy or pessimism that is often associated with time. However she is still very heavily associated with the past, with things abandonded or forgotten, that we the player are still very ignorant of. All of this I believe makes her a prime candidate for the void aspect. She's so important to the story but is absent for so much of it, and she's one of the only characters to understand these spots that are still dark for us (being one of the only characters thats noticed kris' weird behavior, being involved with dess' disapperance, her whole creepypasta adventure in the sweepstakes and even in snowgrave being associated with things that are uncomfortable and repressed like dragon blazers weird route) I'm still not very confident on her class but I didn't feel that the other passive ones fit (note that I'm using the interpretation that puts page as active and knight as passive) but I like how it contrasts her with Kris as her class' inverse, and puts in conversation with the roaring knight. I'd say this also works with the interpretation that knights exploit their given aspect which is what she is made to do in snowgrave.

[ikram1909]

What does Laliga know 🤨

[snzydarling]

Primrose

link, zelda, implied ze/link ( BOTW / TOTK )

cw: snz kink !! brief mentions of mess, implied chara with kink

notes: hi!!! this one was a lot of fun to write(^_^) im in my totk era again let's see if i finally finish the game. this takes place pre-totk, but a few years after botw. this was inspired by this post when I saw it and went ok reverse that and also by the flower sanctuary in totk I found a few days ago doing the Penn quests !!! I hope u enjoy ( ´∀`) rbs and any tips very welcome!!

It was beautiful. 

Endless rows of flowers. Buds she had only seen in ancient texts, species’ even the royal labs couldn’t get to thrive, all displayed in a stunning show of color. Some, more adapted to the moonlight, were hiding away in their leaves, but they still stood tall. Others, newly discovered, were just beginning to peak through the soil. Zelda was speechless.

Magda didn’t hesitate to fill in the gap, rushing towards her the moment she spotted the princess. “Aren’t they so beautiful?” She asks, flitting about. She stops only to give Link an out-of-place glare. “Be careful with them.” She warns, before flipping back to Zelda, who’s yet to actually register any of it. 

”While the two of you are here, I need some muscle. There’s been such little help.” It’s, sadly, true. Most farmers are focusing their efforts on returning the agriculture to its former state, so there have been so few hands for something like this. As important to the ecosystem as these flowers are, food takes priority. Zelda remembers enough of her lectures to know that much. 

She would love to. This project is hers. But both she and Link had taken the day off from major projects. They’ve spent the day on a relaxing horse ride along quiet roads when Zelda remembered Magda’s gardens about an hour previous, and realized she hadn’t visited in months. She really ought to help, just as an apology for forgetting. 

On the other hand, Link had been seeming a bit tired. He was placed front and center at the monster clearing effort, and it was definitely taking a toll. When she looks over at him, at her right side as always, he’s looking right back with a neutral expression. 

“Would you like to?” Zelda dares to ask, trying her very best not to let any emotion seep into it. They’ve been running into a roadblock where Link struggles with individualistic things. A lot of minor details are still fuzzy for him, but Zelda suspects he hasn't had much time to think about himself anyway. They’re working through it together. 

But to her immense relief, Link nods. And again, before Zelda can say anything, maybe praise for the choice or just simple acknowledgment, she’s cut off. Magda grabs Link’s arm and drags him off in a whirlwind of argumentative noises and a “you just relax, princess!”

There’s not much else to do, so she stays. Maybe not relaxes, because she feels a bit too bad when Link is being put to work, but she finds a nearby stool and sits. Rehabilitation efforts have been successful but slow, and the princess (Queen? The line is still a bit blurred, and she’s not in any rush to clarify it, despite Impa’s nagging.) She’s in charge of everything. Zelda can’t really remember the last time she slept in a bed or house that belonged to her, and the warmth on her back here feels delightful. It looks like a dream. The whole area feels like the royal gardens, with its stone pathways and well-trimmed bushes. If Zelda unfocuses her eyes, watching Link as he hauls bags of soil, it feels like simpler times. Like the Calamity never happened. 

Halfway across the island, Link jerks forward. Does it again. What’s wrong with him- could it be a monster attack? Is he grabbing for a weapon?  Magda, who’s directing him animatedly, pauses and says something Zelda isn’t able to hear. Link waves her off with his free hand and piles another bag onto his shoulders. Stray dirt tumbles down his back, dirtying royal blues. 

Zelda’s hands are shaking. It’s a shock when Link appears near her, still hauling the bags. He looks annoyed and focused. It’s the kind of look he gets in a battle, brow furrowed and shoulders tense. Something must be wrong. It’s a monster attack just like she thought. 

Zelda can’t hide the worry on her face when the expression deepens. They must be closer. His hearing is better than hers- he’s surely listening to the thundering footsteps, war chants in the distance. When he takes in a breath, Zelda’s ready to jump from her seat. He’s about to yell, she’s sure of it. Tell them to run, or duck, or something. Then he jerks forward. Once. Twice. 

Oh. That makes more sense. Her heart’s pounding in her chest. Link straightens up, flipping hair out of his face, and sniffles, looking a little sheepish, but still slightly bothered. They lock eyes, and he smiles, but it doesn’t look genuine when his brows are creased. His face falls a little into a concern she’s too familiar with when she doesn’t move, but her heartbeat is still thundering. She has to swallow past a lump in her throat to talk. 

“Goddess, bless you.” Is what she manages, and it's a relief when his smile comes back. Despite her and many others’ pestering, she’s never been able to get him to sneeze properly. She’s adjusted to his restraint, even though she wishes he would let himself relax. 

Link sets the bags down with a thud a few feet away from her, wiping beads of sweat from his brow. Before she's able to offer him her stool, he sits down right in the grass, smiling at her again. She recently discovered that he has dimples. She observes as he takes a bottle from his belt and drinks. There’s a small scar on his neck, the edge of it just peeking out from his hair. His throat bobs as he drinks. After so long apart, she’s always trying to drink in any detail she can of him. His nose is a little pink, and when he scrunches it again she can’t help but giggle a little bit, because he looks like a wild fox like that. But then he does it again, and his breath gets pitchy, and he wretches away from her in a flurry of motion. 

“h’nGT-! e’nDT-! hi’nGKT-!” She can only watch his back tense with each release, but she’s certain that it can’t feel good. Something must be wrong if he’s sneezing so much. He can’t be sick- they’ve been together for the whole morning, and he’d been fine. He'd slept in as late as he could, eaten his usual heaping for breakfast, gotten the horses ready with his usual care, and hadn’t so much as sniffled for their entire ride. Link isn't sensitive to anything, either, and has never had a reaction to pollen. Could he have been hiding an illness this whole time? How could she-

“nKT - e’NGT-hh! ” Suddenly, Link jerks forward into his lap. He looks up, blinking at the sky as his shoulders tremble, lips parted. His expression crumples again and he jerks back down. “eH’TZCHh-iewh!”

Zelda’s face explodes with heat. 

Hearing something so - natural. So raw, out of Link, put an odd feeling in her stomach. He rights himself, sniffling, and Zelda can’t miss the wetness dripping down his lip before he wipes it off with his sleeve. It must’ve made it worse, because his nose starts twitching and twitching again. Like everything before wasn’t enough to cleanse whatever tickle he has. Zelda’s enamoured watching this silent battle- his breaths are uneven, his eyes squinty, brow furrowed. He looks up at her through his eyelashes and tears his eyes away with a new pink on his cheeks. Even his ears are twitching. He gasps again, finally, because Zelda can’t take this anticipation anymore. 

“ ‘tTZCHh-!   hiA'CHht- i'TZCHhih-!” Seeing his princess’s face must have brought back some kind of etiquette, because these ones are muffled into his elbow. They’re itchy. Needy. Strong enough that he can’t fight them. Zelda feels all tingly. Something must be wrong with both of them. 

“May Hylia bless you.” She says, and prays that he’s too indisposed to recognize whatever emotion is coating her words. “What’s wrong?”

Once again, he waves the concern off, this time with an expression so tickly it makes her own nose itch in sympathy. She wants him to sneeze again. She wants to study every reaction, every twitch in his face, and understand whatever is making her knight unravel like this. What she needs is to get a grip. 

“You’re certain you aren’t sick?” Why is the idea of that enough to make her feel too hot all of a sudden? Would he look just like this? Face flushed, hints of his voice peaking through raspy and low? Zelda must be the sick one. Link shakes his head a little wildly, like he might be able to get rid of the itch with it. Thankfully he doesn’t. Instead, he whines.

“ hI‘iISHHihh-yU! hI’TSCHh -e’TCHhih-! hiH’tZCHh-iew!” Four times, Five. Zelda’s dizzy. Warm in all the wrong places. She’s never seen anything like this from Link. He looks so desperate. He tilts his head back with stray tears tracking down his cheeks, chest heaving, before he sneezes again. Mist sprays down his front, glimmering in the springtime sun, his hands raised but not close enough. There’s warmth between her legs. Every release makes her spine tingle. This isn’t the usual thrill that experiments bring her. Watching him sniffle desperately, pawing at his face, red with irritation and maybe embarrassment, is unraveling something within her. It also allows her to see flecks of yellow covering his hands and tunic. 

“Link, stop!” She yelps, ignoring the part of her that doesn't really want him to stop at all. He freezes, looking at her through red-rimmed eyes. Now is the part where she has to explain herself and seem normal. Get it together. She’s done things much harder- she can say the words sneeze and allergy when referring to Link. 

“You’re, um” She's so, so warm. She clears her throat. “You’re allergic to something here, I think. There are several rare flowers here that you wouldn’t be used to.” Link gives her an owlish blink and she thinks, oh, she’s been caught. He’s too perceptive. But then his facial expression crumbles again and he buries himself in his elbow with a gasp that’s so unrestrained that she can’t think.

“ hyIHT'SHHhih-! ‘iISZHh-! hih - hE'ISHh-iewh!” They’ve taken on a wet quality. His nose is streaming when he comes back up. Hair unkempt and in his eyes. He looks tired. Undone. Natural. Sexy, Purah might say. She’s struck with these sudden, conflicting desires to wash him off and feed him tea, and to watch him unravel with sneeze after sneeze while her hands disappear under her skirt. She’s been away from civilization too long. Thank Hylia she doesn’t need to be much of a princess right now. The royal court would be in shambles. 

The first idea sounds a little more plausible. So she finds Mgda quickly, where she’s kneeling over a tiled bed of soil with her sleeves rolled up. She looks determined. Zelda, not for the first time, is overwhelmingly thankful that somebody so passionate gets to do this work, even if she can’t. 

Magda sends them off with well-wishes for Zelda and a promise to call for more help soon for Link, and the horses are already prepared once she comes back. He’s adjusting the reins and his hair is soaked, plastered to his forehead and dripping wet. He looks over when she comes closer and blinks at her, and he looks so pathetic like that that she just bursts into giggles. It gets worse when he shakes himself off like a dog, probably to make her laugh, and sends droplets splattering around that make the horses whinny with irritation. 

They’re both quiet for a few minutes, until they’re trotting down the path to the stables. Zelda tries to distract herself with the scenery and the rhythmic clack of horseshoes, and it works until Link comes up to her, rubbing his nose on his shoulder. While she’s trying not to think about the implications of that he brings up his right first and rubs a circle around his chest. Sorry. 

Zelda’s not quick enough to hide her frown. She really needs to get back into etiquette lessons. This has been another struggle in this uncharted time of peace. He’s guilty about so many things. Big things, like not being fast enough and remembering her enough, and little things, too. Tearing the champion's tunic in battle and having nightmares and being tired. It hurts her heart. “You can’t help it, link. It isn’t your fault.” She wisely elects not to mention that seeing him like that had awoken new feelings in her. “If it will make you feel better, you could cook me something?” He lights up at that. With a small smile on his face, Zelda can see how his under-eyes crinkle, like he has a headache. Even though he was looking better, his nose is a bit red again, too. It may just be sunburn. Her stomach does not get any sort of feeling of the possibility that he's still itchy. 

She can't hide the noise she makes a few moments later, when a “e'tSZHHhi-!” from behind catches her off guard. Her horse jerks to the side, caught off guard, and it takes a second too long to get her bearings back and fix their course. She tries to cover it up with an only slightly shaky “Goddess, bless you!”A moment later, when the click of horseshoes behind her stops, she tugs the reins of her own mare and chances a glance behind her. 

He's quivering silently, nose pinched in his hand. The sight of it does not bring back that warm and tingly feeling in her stomach. She's very collected when she says “Just let them out, Link. I don't mind,” and prays and prays that he can't sense any ulterior motives. To continue, she does not nearly fall from her horse when he obeys instantly. There must be some knightly manners still left in him. They're lying in wait, Link caught in a desperate, hitchy buildup and Zelda trying to suppress this too sensitive, wanting feeling in her body. His breath finally catches in his throat, whiny and needy, and Zelda nearly shudders. Finally, his body gives in. 

“e’EITZCHh-et’TZCHh’yu-!! hI'tSCHHh! hiA'tTZCHh-ieww!! hi’IDTCHHiew-!” They're back to that itchy and needy quality that makes her head spin. He washed off and should be alright now, but he sounds so allergic. So at mercy to his own body. He aims another needy release towards the grass, almost doubled over. Zelda does not feel any need to close her legs. 

She fumbles for a handkerchief, something to busy her hands and eyes. When she looks back up at him, his face is wet again, stray strands of golden-blond plastered to his cheeks. She hops off the horse and quickly presses whatever fabric she'd managed to come up with into his palm. If he doesn't get himself under control now Zelda doesn't know what will happen to her. 

This close, she can see pollen on his horse's chestnut brown coat. She clicks her tongue. The horses must have been rolling around in the fields. She tells as much to Link, watching him dab at the moisture on his face. She can't help but think about how sensitive he is, especially not when he rubs his nose a little too much and trembles into the fabric with a rapid “ ‘dschh-‘tszhhiew!” Warmth spreads across her stomach, even though she's too hot already. She needs to take off some layers, but she's already in a simple dress. Link will get suspicious if she dunks herself in some nearby water, too. She's trapped. “You both can wash off once we get to the stables.” Link nods and tucks the fabric, now useless and covered in wet spots, into his pocket and takes up the reins with more needy sniffles. 

Zelda has to wipe the sweat from her palms before getting on her own horse. It flicks its ears and throws her a look like it can see right through her, and that's how she knows that she's truly lost it. 

She’s infinitely lucky that a knight traditionally rides and walks behind his princess, because just the sound of another prickly sneeze leaves her white-knuckling the leather reins. If she'd seen it, that jolt of want would've run through her even worse and overwhelmed every too-sensitive nerve ending she had. 

When they make it to the stables, after both too much and not enough sniffling and stray one-off releases, Zelda orders her knight to the lake to bathe and seats herself near the fire. The sun, already setting, lights Link's hair aflame in gold as he leads his mare away. When his shoulders twitch once, twice, and he jerks forward, Zelda most certainly does not feel anything about it.  

[huidol]

What a deceptive use of the word "you."

uncovered version under the cut

[day-mark]

god i fucking love competitive play, i love watching high level, skilled gameplay from passionate players, i love learning the statistics for each player and the game as a whole, i love hearing everyone and especially the casters glaze the fuck out of my favorite players. mc summit/mojang and mc.c you will be fucking dealt with .

[yellllowstar]

slowly I'm recovering the beauty of discovery

(creature by half•alive)

(textless + timelapse below cut)

[rolandkaros]

by farrrr my most toxic trait is that the more popular something is the more i start to hate it even if i used to like it

[drewlypso]

i was thinking too hard about utdr and started thinking about how the difference between player and character being highlighted can also be commentary on how children (queer children in this case) are often mistreated and not seen as their own person

[gibbearish]

am finally back home and can say without a doubt that i am just fundamentally not built for long distance travel however the train was much nicer than planes

[rainbowangel110]

OH MY GOSH GEEK YOU ARE AMAZING

A Deal With The Devil

So lately I’ve been thinking that maybe this is how it all went down on Kris’s end!

Happy Halloween and Happy Anniversary, Deltarune! 

EDIT: There’s also a short follow-up comic: Some Self Reflection

[moodr1ng]

did a dnd oneshot today kinda on a whim (signed up yesterday) and it was fun dgmw but also kinda made it clearer to me the kinda dnd im just not that into. we did very very little roleplay and most places we visited were quite summarily described and only there to get what we needed done and leave, and then after wrapping up our characters meeting, getting a quest, getting ready and going to the quest area in like 2 hours the rest was only combat. i got into it and all but ultimately not rly what i wanna do in dnd yknow... i love roleplaying and talking to npcs and exploring some worldbuilding and especially getting to do creative stuff and strategies, and i reckon this doesnt rly mesh well w the type of dnd that appeals more to people who most enjoy long and challenging fights against evil. i still had fun and enjoyed myself and the people were cool but also this is not something id wanna do a whole campaign of and its nice to get more experience to figure that out basically

[koimethehorizon]

Deltarune: The Image of Divinity and The Angel

(MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR CH 4 of DELTARUNE and UNDERTALE)

If you haven't found this scene, go back to the room where you have to avoid a bunch of Shadow Blobs shortly after reaching the Third Sanctuary. Find a way into the hidden room on the bottom right-side of the room (follow the broken path) and you'll see this at the right side of the hall.

This string of dialogue, especially Susie's uneasy reaction, creeps the hell out of me.

Whatever the Angel's identity is, its physical form is something so terrifying and beyond comprehension that even in the minimalistic style the Prophecy normally uses, Susie is stunned by the implications of just looking at it.

One brilliant theory that I've heard a couple of people mention already is that the empty space is meant to reflect our screens like a black mirror. We are The Angel in this interpretation.

That's just crazy, and I'm very into it.

I'd like to delve a little further into this train of thought that may or may not confirm this theory further.

Remember what the Titan looks like right before we fight it?

BALD

It's a human skull. Maybe even what the Titan's skeleton looks like underneath its divine angelic flesh.

When I first got to this section, I almost thought that the Titan would just be a full on human JPEG like Photoshop Flowey was in Undertale.

Speaking of which...

What... is this even supposed to be?

This is one facet of Undertale that's always been neglected because we've never found any concrete answers for what it could be.

For all we're concerned, it's just part of the absurd horror imagery that Toby is trying to invoke during this section, and we're not meant to think too hard on it.

Except...

Toby used this face as his pfp on Twitter until the release of Deltarune Ch 1. So either he's really proud of the damn face or there's something more to it.

I don't really have an answer for this, but what I will guess right now is:

I think this is what the Angel looks like.

Not the Omega Flowey face specifically, but it's likely a pixelated human face.

Consider the similarities between these examples. This distorted human imagery has been used twice to depict divine beings.

One showing Flowey ascending to a higher state of existence.

The other shows a nigh-unstoppable world-ending monster only depicted in legend.

And The Angel is something akin to Deltarune's Abrahamic God or The Savior. Churches and an entire religion are dedicated to The Angel, yet we only see it depicted as the symbol of the Deltarune.

Let's take a few steps back and return to the "The Angel is The Player" theory.

There's actually one big piece of evidence for this theory in Undertale:

Ominous how early Toby planted these seeds huh?

In Undertale, The Angel is 100% meant to be You on each of the 3 playable routes. Now "You" is a bit subjective because that noun could be applied to 3 candidates:

You "The Player"

Frisk the MC you control

Chara, the true identity of the red SOUL

Regardless of who The Angel refers to in this messed-up trio, one very bold statement is conveyed.

The Angel decides the ending of the story.

And we, as The Player, get to decide how this ending plays out.

To the characters of Undertale and Deltarune, yeah, that's divine power alright. A power that Spamton considered his ticket to [Heaven].

If this theory holds true, then that means a person behind the screen is the image of divine power. In Undertale/Deltarune The image of God is...

A REAL human.

[podsprout]

I

networking night

[sachinteng]

Syntax Error

After years of being asked about it, I thought I'd tell the story of my peculiar name, and explain what this little logogram I started using is about.

I don't look like my name should be Sachin. South Asian folks point it out to me all the time. If you don't know, Sachin is a Sanskrit name, and I am visibly not Desi, so people are often confused. People usually ask if I'm named after Sachin Tendulkar, the famous cricket player. And for a period of time my local Indian restaurant thought I was Indian and would give me free rice! Until they found out I wasn't and stopped. Very sad day.

So why am I named Sachin if I'm not Desi?

The name my parents gave me is 十晴. Specifically my dad. My father insisted on naming me. Spent months obsessing over it. But he never gave me an English name. And on the day I was born my dad was…asleep, didn't answer the phone which rang all day, and missed the entire birth. To this day my mother tells this story whenever I miss a phone call. So, when I was born they had no idea what to put on my birth certificate.

The pinyin translation for 十晴 is Shí Qíng. But my mom didn't know pinyin. The lawyer who drew up the paperwork for my birth certificate was Indian, and when he heard 十晴, he said, 'that sounds like Sachin. I'll just put that!' And my mother, tired and alone in the hospital, in a foreign land called Flushing, Queens, said okay. And who can blame her.

And that's how I got my name. In the most arbitrary, accidental way possible. My dad, after months and months of hyper-focusing on a name, fumbled it all right at the end. I wish I could say my name was meaningful in Hànyǔ at least but, my name is very strange to Hànyǔ speakers as well.

The character 十 means 'ten' as in the number 10. And 晴 means 'clear sunny skies.' It's the kind of word a weather reporter will commonly use in the forecast. Honestly, Ten Sunny Skies sounds like a Wǔxiá character. Like Eight Flying Lotuses or Five Poison Fists, or something. Not gunna lie, I prefer this explanation.

So my dad loves to tell this joke…about how his name is too hard to write. It has so many strokes in it that when he was in school taking tests it took him so long to write his name that when he was finished writing it the other students already finished taking the whole test. So, when he has a child he's going to make sure to give them the easiest name with the fewest strokes possible.

And that's where it comes from. Some dinner party joke he liked to tell friends. Thanks dad.

My name has a different meaning to me now as an adult. Over the years many people have heard my name and said, 'Do you know the story of Hòu Yì 后羿?'

An old folktale says there used to be 10 Suns. They would cycle one at a time, because there can never be more than one sun in the sky at the same time. But, one day the suns got lonely, they wanted to see each other and broke the rules. All 10 suns burned at the same time. To stop the suns from burning the entire world down Hòu Yì, the legendary archer, shot the suns out of the sky and left just one, the sun we have today.

It's a fable about doing too much, not thinking about the consequences, and literally burning out. Something I relate to more than I'd like. I burned out hard a few years ago and recovering was a long, painful journey that I never want to repeat.

In the end, the last Sun loses all their siblings and has to carry the burden alone. But, if they'd just had patience and paced themselves, there would still be 10 suns across 'Ten Sunny Skies 十晴.'