#which is very interesting to imagine and I’d love to listen to someone give a nuanced variant on it

[rust-bearer]

Another zombie au writing exercise, feat: a bookstore

First Aid imagined, before, that places after the end of the world would be much more… dilapidated. Weed-filled and destroyed by both weather and time. But, surprisingly, these places were often just… fine. Speaking from that perspective, at least. The area wasn’t prone to flooding, so there was no water damage, barring extreme circumstances. There were no tornadoes, no hurricanes. There were some earthquakes, occasionally, but nothing major. So maybe some downed power lines, maybe some toppled trees. Old car crashes, some that had crashed into storefronts, some into each other. Destroyed windows… and maybe, rarely, a few adventurous plants trying to creep inside.

But mostly? They were all fine. When he entered the bookstore, the only ravages of time that he beheld were dried blood, slumped corpses melting into the floors, and layers of dust over the store that no one had any reason to scavenge. Some of the bookshelves were toppled over; many of the books were on the floors. Expensive things, like television shows and electronic reading devices- they were mostly smashed up and stolen, by those early days of chaos and looting. Maybe, if First Aid had been trying to scavenge from the old coffee shop in the corner, he would have had more trouble- but he wasn’t here to try and take moldering bags of coffee.

Instead, he was here to take their board games.

There was a lot of board games left, actually. A lot of card games undamaged, tossed onto the floor- old style games, simplistic ones, mixed in with the kinds based off of television shows and movies. First Aid fingered the plastic covering on a board game version of Halloween, checking out the price tag on some idle instinct- 60$, it said, and he smiled sadly at the knee-jerk reaction to put it back because of the price. He set it down anyway, not really interested in it. Instead, he picked up some variant on monopoly, stuffing it into his bag. The store had fidget toys that the kids would enjoy, and he grabbed a few of those too, letting them mix with the classic card game packs he’d picked up off the floor. He was pleased to find a normal version of Uno, too.

How do you pass the time without normal activities? It was like this. First Aid imagined he wasn’t the only one thinking of scavenging these games, because many were missing from the shelves- but he knew that, most of those missing were before ‘now’. When people thought this would blow over soon, and they jumped to take things they’d wanted, things they suddenly craved to have. Still, after a beat, First Aid grabbed one of those television board games and put it into the bag. This one was… based on the Thing, yeah. He’d actually wanted to play it before all of this. Maybe it be good?…

As First Aid got up to leave, he cast a wistful, wary glance to the darker sections of the store, the parts where the sunlit, shattered windows didn’t reach; textbooks, informational guides. Not this time, no.

But he did, on his way out, manage to stuff a few stray candy bars into his bag. He hoped they wouldn’t melt like the last time.

@mr-miss-anonymous for youuu

[annymation]

Reimagining the characters in Wish

(Part 3- Star/Aster)

ITS THE MOMENT WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!

HERE COMES THE BOYYYYY!!!

Ahem… so yeah welcome to part 3

If you haven’t seen them yet, here’s the links for part 1 and part 2 where I talk about how I’d rewrite Asha and the villains respectively.

Star may be the most challenging character to reimagine since… All I have is the personality displayed on the Star we DID get, a song we all collectively headcanon as Asha x Star love song (At All Cost Demo), and my imagination… In a way that just makes things more fun too.

Now remember there’s no definitive version of this character, he never came true so there’s limitless ways we can interpret him.

Some may imagine him mute, some may imagine him as a wacky character like the genie, others may imagine him more soft spoken like the blue fairy, some may imagine him as Asha’s love interest while others may prefer them as just friends, or even have him look like her grandfather, there are no wrong answers.

So here’s how I imagine him to be like:

The Star 💫

What’s a Wishing Star?

- Before we start talking about our star boy, I think it’s important we establish what a wishing star even is, so let’s begin.

-Star is an entity from another plane of existence, a wishing star, a being whose only purpose is to listen to the wishes from mortals that can see him and other wishing stars through their night skies. They listen to the wishes from mortals and provide some guidance in subtle ways.

- A wishing star is born, or rather, gains consciousness, once someone looks to them and makes a wish from the bottom of their hearts, once the star receives their first ever wish they are no longer just a celestial body of gas, they become a new wishing star, they gain a purpose, and develop their minds just like how a human would.

- As the years pass the star becomes more wise, more equipped to help the person who wished upon them for the first time.

- For a wishing star to grow up it may take a while, that’s why most people wish upon bigger ones who are already fully developed and clever enough to know exactly how to help.

- It’s not a wishing star’s job to GRANT a wish immediately, in fact, they’re incapable of doing that, their magic can only go as far as the hope and perseverance that resides in their wishmaker’s heart.

- Things that the mortal would consider just luck could actually be the works of a wishing star putting them in the right path.

- If the person loses hope in their dream then there isn’t anything the star can do, but if they remain determined then the star can help them go far.

- So a wishing star job is to just… stay in the sky, look down upon their wishmakers, give some subtle magic intervention here and there…

-That is, when they’re wished upon at all, otherwise they just stay there doing nothing.

- However… In some rare occasions, wishing stars can do a lot more than just give a subtle magic intervention from the distance. Sometimes, when someone truly well intentioned makes a wish with all their heart… The wishing star gets the power to do some extraordinary things.

Personality

- Star, or Aster as I’ll be calling him in this rewrite, which is a non-binary name meaning “star”. I’ll be referring to them with (He/they) pronouns.

- Aster is a very young and inexperienced wishing star, in fact, counting with Asha’s wish, Star only got TWO wishes in their whole life. And he’s still working on granting that first wish he ever got 18 years ago.

(Haha I’m sure that’s not foreshadowing for something really sad)

- Because of that he’s often treated by the other stars as sort of a younger sibling or a little kid.

- I think I should just get this info out now: Aster is NOT the north star, that big, bright and iconic star we know from the Disney movies, nope, Aster is actually a small itty bitty little star that you can barely see, that kind of star you probably wouldn’t pick to wish upon, most choose the brightests and bigger ones.

- So who’s that big, bright and iconic star? Well, in the beginning of our story… That star doesn’t exist, like, it’s literally absent from the sky… After all, we're seeing that star's origin story :)

- We’ll get to that when we get to that, back to Aster tho.

- Aster is a lot different from the other wishing stars, while they’re these benevolent and wise entities, Aster is more of a naive and curious teen who’s fascinated with the world below them.

- No one wishes upon him EVER so he gets a lot of free time to just watch humans do human things and animals do animal things, and he loves it.

(He’s like Ariel and Quasimodo lmao)

- When he gets to earth he’s very excited to help Asha, showing appreciation for her wishing upon him through a lot of physical contact, often hugging her and holding her hand without him even noticing. (Asha at first is confused but she gets used to this behavior pretty quick)

- Although Aster is naive and overly excited they’re no fool, he can be very clever and creative when it’s necessary.

- He’s also not a fish out of water like Ariel when he’s on earth, they understands human customs and how things work, since he watched everything from the sky… Although nevertheless they’re delighted to see everything up close.

- He may be smart, but at first, they don’t really know how to guide Asha in the right path to make her wish come true, after all he’s a very inexperienced wishing star, and freeing a kingdom from an evil sorcerer king and queen is no easy task.

- But regardless he doesn’t let his own insecurities get to him, and remains optimistic they’ll figure it out, together.

His personality is reminiscent to Disney guys such as: Quasimodo, Peter Pan, Prince Philip (yes really, rewatch Sleeping Beauty, that boy has a lot of personality), Alladin and Hercules.

Main Traits:

- Optimistic and kind

- Naïve

- Protective

- Curious

- Energetic

- Secretly very insecure

Powers

I think it’s important to establish his abilities before we get to his backstory and all that jazz.

What he CAN’T do

Just like how Movie Asha did in her job interview, let’s get his weaknesses out of the way first.

- Sooo… don’t get mad but… Star won’t be a shapeshifter in my version. I don’t want him to feel too much like Maui or the genie. So he’ll stay in the shape of a princely looking boy the whole way through.

- He can’t teleport, would make things too easy, also there’s a plot reason I’ll explain later.

- Can’t materialize real things out of thin air, only things made of star dust so they don’t really have any utility other than to create fun visuals during music numbers or when he’s explaining stuff.

- Can’t hurt anyone, this one is VERY IMPORTANT for plot reasons I’ll talk about later on.

- Can’t make a wish come true with the snap of his fingers, he’s a star, not a genie.

Weakness: Dark Magic, hopelessness and Asha getting hurt.

What he CAN do

- Stretch and re-shape his body. He may not turn into animals but his body can regenerate and squash and stretch around (haha get it? Like the animation term), like he’s made of star dust. Have this piece of concept art as an example:

- He can Fly and make other people and objects fly too

- Unlock doors, may seem random now but I’ll explain in a minute.

- Bring plants to life, and make them grow bigger, and I mean like “make a flower the size of a house” bigger.

- Make animals talk, but the animals only keep talking IF they so desire, if that’s not something they wish for then the magic fades away with time.

- Tho he naturally understands animals and any other living thing in their own languages.

- He can feel other people’s wishes, not all the time tho, he has to make a conscious effort to see what’s that person’s deepest desire.

- His body is warm like a small sun, so he can give warm hugs… that’s a power, yes.

- Aster may not teleport, but they can move really REALLY fast

- Uncorrupt wish bubbles, I mentioned in part 2 that Magnifico twisted most the people's wishes, those wishes that are changed are called “Corrupted wishes”, Aster can change those wishes back to what they originally were.

- Create dreams, is that too much like the sandman from rise of the guardians?… Im still keeping it.

-Get inside drawings, This is just for a scene I imagine Aster shrinking and walking around inside Asha's sketch book, I think that's cute.

- Make a human disguise, I'll elaborate more on this when we get to talk about his design.

- He can grant wishes “but Anny you just said earlier he can’t—“ yes yes I know… he just grants them in his own unique way.

What gives him strength: Hopes and dreams

(Undertale reference? More likely than you think)

A wishing star purpose is to serve as a guide, that provides some magic intervention so that the wishmaker has the means to get to their goal.

As such, the stronger Asha’s hope, perseverance and passions are, the stronger and more limitless Star’s magic becomes. Like his magic abilities are charged up by Asha’s beliefs, the more she wants something, the more he can do for her.

Now, let’s talk about how Aster and other wishing stars that come to earth function, and to do that, we gotta go waaaaay back to another wish granting character in the Disney catalog.

The Blue Fairy- What can we learn from her?

- We all know the blue fairy from Pinocchio, she is in a way the closest thing we have in the Disney canon that resembles the concept of Star, so I’m considering them as both the same kind of entity, they’re both wishing stars.

(not the same character tho, and I’ll get to that soon don’t you worry)

- You would think a character we see so little about doesn’t provide a lot of context, but she actually gives us a pretty good idea about what wishing stars can and can’t do.

- First thing she says when arriving is:

“Good Geppetto, you have given so much happiness to others. You deserve to have your wish come true.”

- From that, we can interpret that wishing stars only assume a human form and help those who are truly pure of heart and have spread kindness to others. Like Asha.

- Geppetto wished for Pinocchio to be a real boy, a human boy, but the blue fairy couldn’t grant that wish, because the only one who could make himself a real boy was Pinocchio himself.

“To make Geppetto’s wish come true will be enterely up to you. Prove yourself brave, truthful and unselfish, and someday you will be a real boy"

- So, am I saying that Aster will just fly up to Asha and say “it’s all up to you to save your people… GOOD LUCK! 😊” sparkle some magic on her and leave?

- Well no although that would be funny, he’s not gonna do that, in fact, Aster will act way differently compared to the Blue Fairy.

- Although Aster can’t immediately make the people of Rosas “Have something more than this” he will do everything in his power to help Asha with anything she needs, and stay by her side the whole way through… Not at all what the Blue Fairy did.

- Lets say the Blue Fairy did exactly what a wishing star is supposed to do.

-She didn’t let herself be seen by anyone except Pinocchio and Jimminy Cricket, she only gave Pinocchio a few instructions and then left it all up to him, and even then when she went a bit beyond that to inform him that Geppetto was inside a whale she did so by sending a note… Almost like she couldn’t go back again to tell him personally… Interesting huh?

(I know the reason is because the animators would lose their minds if they had to draw that sparkly effect on her dress a third time but let’s pretend there’s more to it okay?)

- So we have her being the best role model of a wishing star… and then we have Aster...

-Doesn’t even know where to begin with helping Asha, chooses to stay on earth more than a day instead of just giving cryptic advice and leaving, was seen by multiple people aside from just Asha and Valentino, and worse of all, falls in love with his wish maker… yeah dude broke several rule… And the other stars ain’t happy about that.

- You could say the scale of Geppetto’s wish and Asha’s wish are way different, one just wants a son and the other wants to defeat two evil monarchs.

-But the stars don’t see it that way, to them every wish should be treated equally and it’s not their purpose to mingle with humans and change the course of their history.

- So you see, while the Blue Fairy could go back to the sky and then reappear anywhere she wanted… Aster won’t have that privilege.

-If he goes back to the sky he’s not coming back down, because the other stars won’t allow it, not after he broke their rules.

- Aster knows all that, because he can hear them talking to him, warning him to stop and go back to the sky… Aster keeps that information a secret from Asha for as long as they can…

- He knows after he’s done helping Asha they’ll never see each other again, but that’s fine, he’s willing to break every rule to help her…

- Oh also there’s a scene in Pinocchio where the Blue Fairy opens a lock to free Pinocchio from a cage… that’s why I said Aster can unlock doors… okay moving on to our boy backstory.

Backstory

Yup, Aster has a backstory. And it all started in one fateful night:

An elderly man was taking a walk, carrying his granddaughter in his arms, she was just a few weeks old, but he couldn’t wait to show her how beautiful the stars looked that night.

He sat with her on a thick tree branch, and even though she couldn’t understand him, he was so happy telling her the names of each constellation.

In that moment, it seemed like everything was perfect.

But then that moment ended… He heard screams, and smelled smoke.

The elderly man ran back to his home, only to find it completely engulfed in a fire.

His granddaughter was now crying in his arms as he watched some neighbors trying to put down the fire, but to no avail.

His son and daughter-in-law were in there, he lost them both in an instant, the pain he felt in that moment was immeasurable.

In that moment of sorrow all he could do was look up, between the thick smoke he saw it… a small star.

With all his heart, Sabino wished upon it

“I wish my dear granddaughter, Asha, never feel such pain and sadness as I’m feeling in this moment”

A new wishing star was born.

Those words were the first thing Aster ever heard, it took a few years for him to even know what they meant, but as Asha and him grew older, he started to understand them.

He tried his best to make Asha as happy as she could be with the little that he was allowed to do.

Sometimes giving her inspiration for her drawings, other times sending her nice dreams after a bad day.

But he felt like he was failing her, no matter what he did, Asha would still go through sad times… Specially after her grandfather passed away.

Aster treasured every happy moment that he saw Asha experience, her making new friends, getting better with her drawings, dancing during wish ceremonies. Aster would shine brighter every time she was happy.

Point is: They were connected the whole time, and Aster already knew Asha even way before she wished upon him.

To be clear he wouldn’t just stay up there looking at Asha all day, he was also interested on everything else on earth in general.

But then, we have Asha’s 18th birthday, the day she had to give away her wish.

Aster knew what was really going on in Rosas, about what happened to most of the people’s wishes, and although that also saddened the other stars they all agreed they couldn't intervene unless someone from Rosas wished for their help.

So you can imagine how happy Aster was when Asha wished upon HIM, of all the stars, she looked at him and asked for his help! What are the chances?

If you could listen to them, you’d hear all the stars collectively whisper “oh…this might not end well…” as Aster flies down to earth going "YYYYYPIIIEEEEEEE!!!"

A Star Who Wishes To Be Human

- I’ve made it very clear that Aster is different from the other stars, for the reason that he’s so young and so fascinated with life on earth.

- But there’s more than that, see, I mentioned before Aster can’t hurt anyone, and that’s not because he’s some holier-than-thou pacifist, it’s because his magic literally CAN’T hurt living beings.

- Because his magic is made of ✨hopes✨ and ✨kindness✨ and ✨everything nice✨, so even if they literally make a sword with his star dust, all it’ll do is give Magnifico some tickles.

- And Aster hates that.

- He wishes he could be more useful to Asha… wait, “wishes”?

- That’s silly, a star is not supposed to “wish” for anything, to have wants, that’s a human thing... And yet here he is wanting to protect Asha in any way possible.

- This drive to protect Asha runs even deeper than just the wish he received from her grandfather or the wish she made, Aster feels as if it's a wish that comes within him.

- Aster would question why they feels this way, is it love? Can’t be that right? A star can’t fall in love…

- The same way a star can’t taste food, or smell the flowers, or feel temperature…

- But Aster wishes they could, Aster wishes he knew what food tasted like, what was the smell of the flowers and the morning dew, but most of all… Aster wished he could feel Asha’s warmth, the same way she feels when they embraced.

- This would be Aster internal conflict for most of the movie. They’d realize that they can’t be with Asha forever, but Aster wanted to at least confess his feelings before they went to enact their plan to defeat the king and queen, that’s when we’d get “At All Cost”.

- Soooo a bit of a spoiler to this rewrite, I’m basically telling a story all out of order at this point, but here goes, Aster does become human by the end, after the king and queen are defeated, the stars realize that punishing Aster for breaking their rules wouldn’t be fair after he did so much good, and also because some of them can’t stand him so they decide “hey, let’s leave him there” and just ask him to return his magic back to the sky.

- Once Aster accepts, his magic would be turned into a brand new star, that shines brighter than all the others, because it carries all the magic that Aster accumulated by helping Asha and all of Rosas. And thus we’d get an origin story for THE wishing star.

Design

Aster has brown skin, sparkly freckles and blond hair that shines and moves almost like a candle.

He dresses up as a prince, with the classic cape we see in classic princes like in Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.

They choose that form because he recalls that Asha used to read a lot about princes that would help princesses in need, so he thinks it's fitting to at least looks like one to help Asha

"But I'm not a princess"

"I know, you're just pretty like one!"

A itty bitty detail I didn't mention until now: Aster would be hand drawn animated, while everything else would be 3D, and his animation would change as the movie progressed.

By change I mean he'd start in a very sketchy looking animation, like it's being drawn very frantically to reflect how excited he is to help Asha, but as the movie progresses he'd be drawn with more detail and with more fluid movements.

This would serve to both represent his character development, showing him becoming more mature and learning what it means to be human, and also a reference to how Disney's animation evolved over the years.

He can make a human disguise, as I mentioned earlier, but that would require him to keep his magic hidden somewhere, in this case, a round stone that holds his cape together on his chest.

Once his magic was all kept inside this stone he'd turn into a 3D animated character, however his movements wouldn't feel... quite right, like he'd be animated in a different frame-rate compared to everyone else, so you could tell he was struggling to make himself move like a human, and people would be able to tell there was something off about him.

In the end when he turned into a human for real he'd become 3D animated with the right frame-rate, and his hair would no longer be blonde, but rather brown, like his eyebrows (Tangled reference? yup)

Final Thoughts

This was DEFINITELY the hardest one to translate my thoughts into words! My gosh this took so long to write.

Don't know if you could tell but I'm very passionate about this scrapped idea of a human looking star falling in love with our protagonist, and no it's not just for the ✨aesthetic✨.

I don't think it's wise to throw a romance when writing a story just because you feel like it, a romance needs to progress both the story and the characters involved, think of it like how Naveen learned with Tiana the importance of working hard, while in turn showing her that life can also be fun. They complete each other, and I want the same for Asha and Aster.

Asha needs to learn that she shouldn't feel guilty for wishing more for herself, she worries too much about others and what others may think of her that she forgets her own self worth, and Aster shows her that she not only can wish for things for herself, but she can also accomplish anything she sets her mind to. From becoming an amazing artist that can give movement to her drawings to the leader of a rebellion against two evil monarchs, she can do it all.

Meanwhile, Aster needs to learn that what Asha's grandfather wished upon him is an impossible task, for Asha to always be happy, that's impossible, because sadness is a part of life, its a part of being human, and that's what he learns, what it means to be human, to fail, get up and try again. As a wishing star Aster always knew that humans had to fail a bunch of times before having their wishes granted but he could never imagine how hard that actually was, and Asha's perseverance even with all odds against her is what makes him love her even more.

I talked a lot about why Aster loves Asha, so I should probably mention what Asha sees in him too. Asha get's a lot of laughs from Aster's innocent reactions to natural things on earth, like how dazzled he is seeing the sun rise for the first time, how he just stops and starts chatting with animals and plants like a damn disney princess, or how he randomly starts rambling about how some constellations don't look at all like the animals they're named after "Like, seriously, why did they name that one a lynx? That's obviously a snake hehehe"

But most importantly she loves how caring he is, how he's supportive and passionate about her interests just as much as she is, and how he makes her feel safe, and in turn she wants to protect him too.

I'm honestly debating with myself how I want Aster to go about the information he has known Asha all his life, like, I imagine he'd probably want to hide the fact because he didn't want to talk about the sad tragedy that led to her grandfather wishing upon him, yes Asha knows about the fire but he doesn't want to remind her and make her sad, because remember, at first he doesn't understand that sadness is just part of life.

But then like, would he pretend to not know her? Or would he be like a ghibli character and just nonchalantly say "Oh yeah, I’ve always known you" and never elaborate on that until the story demands it?

… Great, now I just had the idea of Aster functioning like Haku from Spirited Away, like they don't remember where he knows Asha from because he forgot what their previous wish was now that he’s granting a new one, let's say stars can only remember one wish at a time, then as he gets to know her better he starts to remember what his first wish was, and things start to make more sense.

I don’t know, like that’s cute but might be a bit too complicated, y’all tell me, I’m throwing ideas and seeing what makes sense, this whole thing is me asking for feedback after all.

Honestly I think the idea of Aster knowing Asha the whole time works because it not only gives a better explanation to why a star came down from the sky to help her, but also gives more sense to the lyrics “you still amaze me after all this time” in At All Cost.

Welp, I think that's all I got, thank you so much for following along with this series, and don't worry I'm not over yet, there are a few characters to talk about before I start sharing the actual script of this rewrite.

Thank You For Reading!

[vendetta-if]

Someone disguises as MC to dig out information from the ROs *gasp* Can they figure it out before it's too late?

I’m just going to picture that the impersonator has doppelgänger ability like Cara’s or illusion one like Yvette’s, so they look almost or even indistinguishable from MC physically 🤔

I’d like to think, of course, that all of them once they actually get together with MC or know them good enough (namely Santana and Skylar), would be able to figure out that it’s not the real MC they’re talking to. But the speed of which they notice and find out would differ 😆

Ash

Might be the one who knows MC the best out of all the ROs, and thus, might be the first one to notice first hints of irregularities. But also at the same time, they would probably be the one who gives the fake MC the benefit of the doubt a bit.

They might ask the fake MC what’s wrong or whether they’re feeling okay. But with more weird behaviour, they will quickly become suspicious and wary, and then they will finally figure it out—could’ve been faster if not for their complete trust in MC, but they will figure it out just in time.

Rin

At the very first hint of weird behaviour or attitude from MC, no matter how minor, they’re immediately suspicious. They’ll then proceed to subtly test and talk with the fake MC about memories or things that only real MC would know, putting the fake one’s ass on the grill.

Would totally be the first one among the ROs to figure out because of this.

Santana

Probably would take them more time than Ash and Rin to start noticing something weird, especially when they’re tired, but once they do, they’ll immediately be suspicious and on guard just like Rin.

At first, if the inconsistency is minor enough, they might chalk it up to them or MC just simply being tired or running on low sleep. But if it happens again or a more major inconsistency happens, they would immediately become alert, but also wouldn’t let the potential fake MC know that they’re onto them.

They’d prod around subtly, trying to gauge the fake MC’s reactions to some things they know MC has strong feelings about. Or, if they want to be 100% sure, they’d probably try to activate their power on MC.

Would probably take a bit longer than Rin, but would be able to figure it out pretty quick (depending on how exhausted they are at the time). What kind of detective would they be if they failed 😭

Skylar

Probably would be the last to find out among the ROs, not because they’re not familiar with MC or anything, but they love to gush to MC everything about their day or something they find interesting 😭

Hence, the impostor can kinda go under the radar a bit just by listening to their stories and commenting on it every once in a while. But actually, depending on the type of person your MC is, that can be the impostor’s downfall as well.

And also, Skylar’s talkativeness might also end up revealing the impostor because imagine if the impostor didn’t have a pretty strong reaction to Yvette while the real MC hates her or something 🤔

I feel like that’s how they would end up figuring out the impostor. It is definitely slower than the others, but they would know. Once they become suspicious, they’d still act as if they don’t know, just all smiles and lulls the impostor into a false sense of security before cornering and confronting them later on.

[marengogo]

UGH!-10: It's Too Early For This Shit

Nuts - by RM  [Right Place, Wrong Person]

[Music is a very big part of my life and I’m MOSTLY INCAPABLE of writing without music, so I just thought I’d share what I am listening to while writing this]

–���–🐺–🐺–

⚠️ super angry post ahead ⚠️

I've just opened the blue bird App and I'm already done for the day.

"the travel show should've been these two. I'm very fond of their dynamic", "so true. It would've been more interesting more fun and less drama", "Heavy on the less drama. We'd also be having discussions too, the way we are massively ignoring the current one is sending me-", "ikrrr😭😭 also actual and long conversations between them" ...

Is it so fucking hard to just not give into the people you swear on your life you are "protecting your fave" from? Is it so hard respecting your faves decisions? Is it so hard to ... I dunno ... express your frustration without having to shit on someone else who has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

So you are frustrated that 🐰solos, 🐻solos, and 🐰🐻ers are in 🐥's business as always? Okay. AND? That should never stop you from watching the show your fave worked so hard on! You support your fave, you show him that his will, wishes and opinions do matter and YOU REPORT THE MOTHERFUCKERS, YOU IGNORE THE MOTHERFUCKERS, AND YOU MOVE THE FUCK ON, FFS!

It is really as simple as that.

KPOPPIES and their mamas have been against 875 since time immemorial, yet here we are, supporting them because supposedly we think they are worth our support and them pursing their dreams. Imagine going "I wish 875 disbanded because we have to report antis everyday" ... in 2024? on the Blue Bird App? Really now?? Where've you been Fam?! On Blue Bird Dot Com IT BE LIKE THAT. In K-MEDIA it be like that. In The Streets of the World with ignorant people It be Like THAT!!

Being AMI is not easy. It is frustrating many a time, it is angering many a time, it is downright aggravating many a time, but you'll never see me disrespect ANY of the members because other people in the world are dickheads. NO BRO.

You sad? Stay off SM for a day or two. You mad? Bitch with your friends offline, rant on a post, and/or start boxing, I dunno! But whatever it is ALWAYS 👏🏾 AIM 👏🏾 YOUR 👏🏾 RAGE 👏🏾 AT 👏🏾 THE 👏🏾 RIGHT 👏🏾 TARGET 👏🏾 .

Certain people resorting to hate 🐥 and viceversa IS NEVER going to be 🐰's fault and viceversa .

🐥 loves all his hyungs, and arguably 🐿️ is the one he is closest to. But he also loves all "his" maknaes, and you don't have to believe he is even close to 🐰 but YOU WILL RESPECT the fact that for a good 7 years at the very least ever since GCF Tokyo came to be, both 🐥 and 🐰 seem to really not give TWO FLYING FUCKS about what any of us have to say about the time they choose to spend together. So much so that, not only did they do a whole show together, but where and with whom are they now? 🦻🏾 ...

Yes. I thought so.

Also more interesting more fun ... actual and long conversations you are just a hating hoe for that. Two people not being chatterboxes doesn't mean there is anything wrong with tem. Not your cup of tea? Move on alone, no need to shit on it. Sure 🐥🐿️ may have a more "marketable" dynamic from 🐥🐰 but maybe, just maybe, 🐥 wasn't completely aiming at entertaining, in fact on multiple occasions they even said they weren't sure if this would air at all, but they weren't bothered.

In fact, if you ask me, this particular show aired because it wasn't like every other show so hellbent on trying to entertain. It aired because this were two people who actually ended up entertaining while constantly reminding themselves that they had to, and mainly failing to do so. So fuck you wholeheartedly.

If any of the other members want to have their show I'll be up for any pairing, any trio, etc and it will be just as special and interesting in its own way. If it ends up being shit ... I can assure you it will probably not air which would be a shame because i would watch anything my boys want to show us.

Just, it would be great if for once, some people could stop the hate-comparison and try the appreciation-despite, it goes a long way, and for the looks of it, 🐥 & 🐰 are not going to stop until their 50 so ... yeah.

I'm so fucking angry obviously,

Marengo.

PS - If anyone tries to come at me saying that I hate 🐥🐿️ I'LL END YOU.

[scarletnakazato]

Aaaah I love your initial d stuff so much! I haven’t seen a lot of angst hcs, so I was wondering, what would the boys do if you were to flinch during an argument? I know a lot of them are quick to anger because of their egos and pride so I’m pretty curious! Again, love your work, and would be interested to see how you think it would play out!

Initial D Headcanons: Flinching During an Argument

• All Initial D Male Characters • Word Count: 3,690. • Synopsis: In which the boys cause you to flinch during an argument, getting their reactions to said movement. • Note: As promised, I have returned! My hyperfixation for this god-blessed anime has sparked me in the dark once again! This was a fun one to think out Anon, thank you! Would also like to thank @skeleton-beneath-this-skin for helping me ponder some ideas for Takeshi! :)

Keisuke: Gets heated in arguments fairly quickly as we’ve all seen. One scene that comes to mind for this prompt is when Keisuke confronts Takumi on Akina and gives him that angry speech about Takumi definitely being a racer and getting angry when he’s told he’s wrong. I see Keisuke being a very animated talker when angry and argumentative, using his hands a lot, waving them around, pointing, etc. In terms of arguing with you, he’d have the same habit of using his hands to accentuate his words and being in close proximity to him during the time of the argument, he might raise his hand just to express exasperation or some such, but when he catches a glimpse of you flinching when he does shuts him up real quick. The first thing that comes to mind is, why would you even consider, even subconsciously, that he’d hit you, argument or no? His utter surprise and racing thoughts makes him forget about the argument altogether and he calms down pretty quickly.

He’d say something like: “No, no. Don’t even think for a minute I’d do anything like that.” His voice softening to his usual tone immediately as he gently brings you into his chest, arms wrapping softly around you, a hand petting your hair slowly. His brows furrowed, eyes almost getting glassy at the impossible scenario of him laying a hand on you with any ill intent.

Ryosuke: I’d imagine it would take A LOT to get this man truly angry to the point of yelling, similar to the scene where he gets pissed at Keisuke when the Evo guys make him wreck in Project D. I see Ryosuke being more of a debate man over argumentative. He’ll explain his side of things and how he understands the situation, then vice versa, will listen to your explanation and ultimately you both would come to a solution for the presenting issue. Now say, for the sake of the prompt he does crack a bit like he did to Keisuke, but to you. I see it as he’s particularly stressed about balancing university work, the Project, and a relationship with you all at the same time. Something you said, or done, somewhere, somehow even if it was unintentional makes him crack and that stress comes pouring out in the form of an argument. He’d turn to you with pointed brows, an intense look in his deep blue eyes and with the intention of getting you stop what you’re doing and/or saying raise his hand in a way that means ‘stop’ or ‘be quiet’. When he catches you flinching and your words stuttering to a stop, he’d hold his breath for a few seconds, processing what happened. His brows now creasing in both confusion and worry that your first reaction was preparing to be hit. He’d quickly wonder if you’d dealt with this before from someone else, before attending his focus to you.

“Darling, that’s the last thing I’d ever do…” He’d say with a regretful tone, almost ashamed that he got that reaction from you. For one of the few times in his life he’d hesitantly and gently reach out for you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, while his other hand gently brushes your cheek and wipes any tears as he places soft kisses on your forehead and hair.

Takumi: Seeing as how he’s calm 98% of the time, even when racing, I’d imagine it’s VERY difficult to truly piss him off to the extent that he was when he euroBEAT™ the shit out of Miki in high school, and when Shingo hit him in their race and Tak spun out. Other than that, he’s pretty easy to talk to with most things, seeing as he deals with Itsuki’s complaining and arguing over simple things all day. If the argument got to the point, he’d start reaching that real pissed off area, I’d see him doing the animated hand movements like Keisuke to show more emotion and nothing more. So, when he sees that any kind of hand movement topped with anger makes you flinch, he’d stop in his tracks. He’d practically wear puppy eyes at the thought of hurting you purposefully or not. If you’re both at a mountain pass, he’d softly lead you to the 8-6, muttering small “no, no, no’s” and quiet “I’m sorry’s” before leaving to find somewhere more private to park and hold your hands in his, rubbing them gently as he apologizes with, “Seeing you upset like this hurts me enough, and I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you anymore than this.”

Takeshi: (#TedTalk Incoming) Buckle up besties, this is gonna be a long one. Seeing as how Takeshi is an emotional man, as seen in his races where he cracks under pressure, stresses out, and expresses his emotions verbally and with volume on top of it, he’d obviously express it the same in an argument. HOWEVER!! Being an emotional man, means not only is he quick to get frustrated, worked up, and angry, he’s also easy to make laugh, flustered, melt with affection, and cry (normally only in places he’s away from people and extremely comfortable such as his house, car, you, etc, bro refuses to cry in front of other people thinking it’s a display of weakness). Though, he can also hold his emotions pretty cooly, as seen when he confronts Shingo at the restaurant when he hears the EG driver wants to euroBEAT™ the shit out of Takumi in a race. He easily displayed a cool, calm, and collected outside as well as stable wording, even after Shingo insulted him and bailed. He was also quick to cool off after his race with Keisuke on Myogi, and losing on your own course obviously sucks ass. Considering he was quickly distracted with another race between Takumi and Kenta, this brings me to the main point of this prompt. Seeing as you can easily distract him with something to avert his attention from the argument, I see his reactions to arguments going one of several ways depending on the situation.

You both are in an argument that isn’t too serious, could be considered just a regular disagreement couples have, and you decide you’re tired of it so you either flash him your boobs if you’re both at home, or make a dirty comment about what you’re gonna do to him later when you both get home if you’re out in public. Either option will shut him up quick and he’s basically gawking at you, mouth open and hardly blinking as his precious brain tries to process what’s happening.

The argument is more serious, perhaps he lost a race and you were with him at the event and when it came time to drive back home, he’d be fuming silently on the drive back. If you decide to try and lighten him up during the ride, he’d probably crack and vent out all those pent up emotions loudly like he’s arguing as to why you’re even trying to say anything. Sort of like a “what’s done is done, whatever you’re saying doesn’t matter, it’s not helping anything” sort of tone. Since he’s gotta use both hands to drive and it’s in the city, he’s definitely shifting frequently, so his harsher tone would be enough to quiet you down. He’d notice after a few moments that he was the cause of it, and it would take him a few minutes more to calm down mentally before he apologizes to you and explains he’s not mad at you and understands you were trying to help, he just gets worked up easily when things go wrong.

This is a really bad argument, I’d imagine it happens at home where he doesn’t have to hold back in words and tone of voice since others aren’t there to witness it. His physical expressions are just as strong as his internal emotions. Heavy use of hand gestures, facial expressions, if he’s got the habit of needing to hold something or absentmindedly do something with his hands during an argument he’d probably set things down on a hard surface harder than normal and it’d be loud to where you jolt at the sudden harshness of the sound, or his gestures keep going to where a sudden hand movement causes the same jolt from you.

When he notices you jolt, he’d take a strained deep breath, forcing himself to calm down before doing or saying anything else, and the next words he says are at a normal tone. He’d apologize for the behaviour but also add a short, “let’s just not do this again, okay?” as a way of ending the argument and moving on. I see him waiting for you to actually make the first move to approach him, seeing as he might’ve scared you and how you put a distance between the two of you to ensure you were out of range for any physical contact. He’d wait till you come to him and touch him first, with a hand on his arm, or a hug, etc. to show that you’re still okay with being near him, and only then would he allow himself to return the contact, apologizing in your hair that he went too far, he could’ve handled his attitude better, he didn’t mean to scare you and it could’ve been talked out.

Shingo: Since he’s best friends with Sayuki, I see him having an understanding of girl behaviour. He’d know the difference between girls wanting to vent to get it off their chest, and venting/complaining about something and actually wanting advice or a solution. He’s come to know it’s best to just agree with the lady if she’s venting since he’s had one too many close calls of getting heels thrown at him when he’d give solutions to Sayuki when she didn’t want it. In all seriousness however, I see his understanding of women behaviour make arguments easier to deal with, so they tend not to be severe or even last more than a few minutes with you in general. The only times I see him causing you to flinch if he’s angry is something race or life related. Perhaps he had a shitty loss, or Takeshi got on his nerves big time and his form of venting is a little more physical. He’d probably do what Keisuke did to the poor guardrails after Takumi raced him in Stage 1 and kicks the metal. If you’re next to Shin when it happens, it’s more of the sudden loud noise that causes you to jump or flinch, also on how close he is to you when he does it. If he puts a good couple of feet away, it’s just the noise that’ll get you, but if he’s mere inches, it could be taken as a near miss of a hit whether it was intentional or not. If he notices you jump at the impact, I see his reaction being immediate. He’d give a quick, “Sorry baby…” before letting out a raspy sigh, running a hand through your hair lightly and pulling out his pack of cigarettes and walking off a distance away to cool off as he has a smoke, knowing the smell might bother you. He’d come back a few minutes later, standing or sitting next to you silently as he pulls you into his side, your mere presence and warmth calming him down further.

Iketani: Is more verbal than physical in most ways. It’d have to be his tone of voice that gets you to flinch, or he probably goes to grab his hair with both hands and the upward movement gets you to react in such a way. He’d be quick to calm down when he sees that and sighs guiltily that he was the reason for that. Would apologize quickly and tries to explain things better while watching his hand movements next time.

Kenji: First thing that comes to mind is when he bangs his hand on the roof of his 180 during one of Takumi’s races. I see him as a slightly more dramatic kinda guy, so I see any kind of hand movement like that in a display of frustration to be something like that. I really don’t see him getting angry easily, as seen through the show when sudden races are sprung up without knowing prior, he wasn’t truly angry just surprised. It’d have to be the noise of whatever he’d be banging his hand on that might spook you for a moment and he’d give a light, “Sorry…” before lightening up on argument.

Itsuki: As we all know he’s loud, emotional, and very dramatic. Likes to complain and argue with his friends a lot, even in light hearted terms, but his sporadic nature and loud volume can elicit some unintended reactions out of you if he has one of those moments. As we’ve also seen he’s quick to deflate and apologize, so he’d quiet down after doing so and have a guilty look on his face afterwards. Kinda like the scene with Saori when he tried to kiss her on the boat and failed big time.

Kenta: Physically similar to Keisuke, but verbally loud like Itsuki, just not as dramatic. If this took place during the time of Stage 1, I see him kind of holding his point even after you flinch, determined to “win” the argument and get his side out no matter what and apologize later after you most likely are the one to just end the dispute. If this takes place during Project D where he’s humbled up quite a bit, he’d be more respectful and try to talk it out with you calmly, or you both just agree to disagree and have a moment to yourselves to mend a bit and move on.

Kyoichi: Kneels in apology for disrespecting his Empress. Kidding, hehe. (That first line is for you @angelspn15 <3). In reality, he’s not one to take shit from anyone, seeing as he slapped the fuck outta Seiji lol. Now taking into account that exact scene, the flinch reaction could go two ways.

You were there to witness Kyoichi slap Seiji, meaning you consciously and subconsciously take in the fact that he can get physical for a dispute if he deems it so. If an argument takes place after Seiji’s bitch slap, I’d imagine you’d react more strongly in the flinch when Kyoichi uses any kind of hand movement that’s above stomach height. If he notices, he’d stop mid-sentence and sigh, telling you, “Hitting the guys for dumbass decisions is one thing, but on you? Out of the question. It’s not even a possibility.” He may act cold-hearted on the outside, but deep down, just the idea that you thought he’d hit you sends a shot through his heart. He’s still prideful enough to not admit it out loud, but he’d apologize in other ways, through actions such as doing things for you, buying you little things he knows make you happy even if its just a simple coffee and a snack or something that reminds you of him when he’s out with the guys so you know he’s always there.

If the argument was before Seiji’s bitch slap, the reaction would be noticeable but not as intense. Even before Seiji’s incident, Kyoichi has always been a cold, rough kinda guy, so his behaviour is still very similar, there’s just not as strong of a correlation between getting physical in an argument at that time. I feel like he’d have the same reaction as scenario one where he apologizes in his subtle ways, but I also see that at the end of the day, you’re the one he goes home to after all the racing and traveling across the area, so he wants to have that peace with you at all times. I see that mindset is what gets him to apologize verbally and straight up, not sugar coating it and simply pulling you in for a forehead kiss before letting out a soft sigh and picking you up to carry you to bed with him to relish in the peace of the night you always bring him.

Rin: Pre-Kaori, he’d probably pull the same stunt he did with her where he’d threaten to ruin your family’s reputation. I’m not 100% sure if he actually got physical with her once? I think I remember a manga panel where he slapped her, but I could be wrong. If it is true, I’d say he’d do the same to you. Basically you’re Kaori in this instance. Since he did love her, seeing how much he fought Ryosuke for her, I see it as a desperate attempt to scare you into staying or just dropping the argument and getting on with it, but he’s doing it in all the wrong ways. I don’t see him apologizing much if at all, either.

Post-Kaori, I’d imagine him being softer, perhaps realizing through her where he went wrong and why, in the end, she technically chose Ryosuke over him before ending it. He’d make a harder attempt at doing better and handling the situation better. Choosing to talk it out and explain first over jumping to conclusions, cutting the other person off, etc. He’d probably go to rub his temple or something similar during the argument and if you’re sitting or standing next to him and give a small flinch, you’d see his brows crease in confusion, then into something similar to disappointment. He wouldn’t necessarily be disappointed in you for having that reaction, rather he’d be disappointed in the reaction itself, giving him the impression he’s done something before that caused you to react that way and having small flashbacks to how he treated Kaori and wondering to himself if he was unconsciously doing it to you and not realizing.

Go: I see him being damn near exact to Keisuke in this instance. He gets kinda animated when emotional, both in positive and negative emotions. So, if he happened to use hand gestures or kick/slam an inanimate object with a bit too much force to elicit a flinch from you, he’d stop pretty quickly. Shaking his head once he’s fully processed what you did, he’d open his arms and tell you, “Come here baby,” pulling you into a comfortably firm hug, his cheek pressed to your hair and giving a soft, “Sorry I get worked up too easy…”

Wataru: More verbal than physical. I see him getting pissed and jumping to conclusions quickly, such as when he was looking at Takumi’s new engine in the 8-6 and was getting livid that he thought Takumi was messing with him when he had no fuckin’ clue, and just dipped cause he had enough, leaving his sister with Takumi and Itsuki. With you, I feel it’s a very similar scenario. You’re both most likely in public, or even at home and the argument escalates fairly quickly since he’s jumping to conclusions and assuming too quickly. Before you even get half the chance to explain what he’s clearly not taking the time to understand, he dips. He simply leaves you to stand there, getting in his Trueno and bailing for a venting drive. The slam of the door from his car makes you jolt, and he barely processes it being as pissed as he is, but he doesn’t take it into realization until he’s well into his venting drive. If you were at home, the slam of the door would cause the same reaction, and he either wouldn’t notice that if he’s faced away or he decides to give you a last look/glare and catches you flinching before the door even slams shut cause you’re already expecting the loud noise. Depending on the location of the scenario, it’ll have two slightly different endings, but basically the same.

He comes back to your/his place, seeing you sitting silently on the couch or bed. He’ll approach you quietly, but you know he’s there, just remaining silent. Will sit next to you without a word for a minute, before looking down at your hands as he gently takes it in his, whispering apologies about his temper and reaction, and nodding wordlessly when you tell him he needs to just sit and listen to your side of the story before doing something like that again.

He’ll call you to check if you’re still at the spot he left you at. I you say yes, he’s immediately telling you to stay there, he’s on his way back to get you. When he arrives, he sees you sitting sadly by yourself before getting out of the Trueno and heading over to you. He’ll apologize then and there, not really caring who’s around. He’s squatting in front of you, looking up at your tear-stained face, your hands in his one as his other wipes your tears. When you ask him why he even bothered to come back after that, he’d reply, “Argument or not, you’re still my girl. I’ll be damned if something happened to you if you tried going home on your own in a state like this. Come on, let’s get you warmed up in the car, it’s cold out here.” He’d lead you back to the Trueno, opening and shutting the door for you and covering you with his jacket before heading to the driver side. “I’m taking you back to my place. I’ll make you anything you want, do or watch whatever you want, too, alright?” he'd offer lightly, his thumb rubbing your arm gently as he drives.

Nobuhiko: Very similar to Ryosuke. Would rather sit and debate it. Patiently tells and listens to each side of the story before suggesting any kind of solutions or compromises, or even just agreeing to disagree depending on the argument. I honestly can’t see him getting to the point of accidently getting a flinching reaction out of you. As far as I remember he even handled racing pressure well and didn’t act out in frustration.

[lovebirdgames]

Hi everyone!

Here comes the long post that I alluded to recently: What's Next for Lovebird Game Studios. Buckle in!

You all know that I like to be very transparent when it comes to our game development. Sharing the journey with all of you has always helped me keep taking steps. So I’d like to share the decision we came to regarding which game to work on next, and I’d like to explain the thinking behind it as well. It may not be the news you were hoping to hear, but I hope you will also leave here with a sense of excitement and anticipation for what’s to come.

At this time, we have decided to not move forward with a sequel/fandisk of Band Camp Boyfriend.

This is a decision that does not come easy, especially since I know a lot of you were hoping for an Aaron route. We had a lot of fun ideas for the sequel we were excited for and it’s a bit of a heartbreaker to think they won’t come to fruition. I also adore our cast of characters and loved writing them, and will miss doing so. There are many different factors at play that went into making this decision.

Time. The reality is we both work full-time jobs and we have to choose our battles when it comes to this hobby. While the fandisk would be about half the size of the base game, we feel it would still take around approximately 3 years to release (I’d like to say 2, but let's face it: we are slow at game development). 

Money. We are incredibly grateful and proud to say that we made back the money we spent making Band Camp Boyfriend. We consider BCB a modest success. However, we don’t feel that the current player base is large enough to justify a sequel, especially since sequels do not typically perform as well as the base game. We have a feeling we would dig ourselves right back into the financial hole and not make it out the second time around.

Art. Particularly the backgrounds. Keep in mind that we commission the art for our games. Most otome games are easily able to pull off a fandisk because they have all of their assets from the base game. Since Band Camp Boyfriend took place in a bottle setting that the characters have now left behind, we would need a ton of new backgrounds for the school setting we had imagined for the sequel. Our background artist is no longer available, so we would have to shop around for someone with a similar style and buy a whole new host of backgrounds. And of course we would need new CGs, new outfits, new everything to really make it exciting.

Inspiration. During our “break,” the creative juices began to flow and we found ourselves gravitating to our next idea. I told myself I wouldn’t write or work on anything until making this choice, but I couldn’t stop myself. And I found myself writing the prologue for our next game and drawing concept art of the characters. Even while listening to music, the music videos that would play in my head shifted away from Band Camp Boyfriend and towards the next game. I guess after 8 years, deep down, I am ready to move onto a new story with new faces. My love for Band Camp Boyfriend runs deeper than the Marian’s Trench, but my heart is leading me into uncharted waters full of hammerhead sharks!

I’m happy to answer questions if you have them. Here are a couple that might be on your mind.

Q: Can’t you just make an Aaron DLC that takes place at band camp? Please, I will give you my left kidney!

A: I want you to keep your kidney, and I’m sorry, but the answer is no. I feel we have conquered band camp and there is no need to return to it. (We actually cut a route--the Leon route--and merged most of the ideas for it into the final route, because it was getting to be too much!) I’m totally burnt out on new ideas in that setting, plus it was wrapped up so wonderfully in that final route. I have no interest in doing another story there.

Another point - even though it would be easier in terms of art assets, we wouldn’t want to phone it in and do an Aaron Band Camp route, in case we were to change our minds about doing a sequel down the road. We would want to do his route as we envisioned it, so it’s best to keep that avenue open.

Q: Can you make a smaller game or just write new scenarios with what you have?

A: As we have learned about ourselves…we are not capable of making small games. Our ideas just keep getting bigger and bigger. We want to release substantial games with hours of playtime. So I guess the answer is no.

Q: If money is an issue, can you run a Kickstarter for the sequel so I can throw money at you?

A: We are probably not ever going to do another Kickstarter. It was a lot of work. It felt really bad when our first one failed and our motivation took a hit. However, I am glad it failed because we wound up releasing 3 years later than we had hoped for, but we didn’t have any pressure weighing on us from Kickstarter. We’ve seen a lot of successfully funded games get abandoned or delayed, and a lot of unhappy fans voice their displeasure and sour on a game completely. You never know what curveballs life will throw at you and these projects can easily face delays. We would hate to let you all down like that. We agree we would rather work at our own pace without that immense pressure. Also, I am kinda old fashioned when it comes to the trading of goods…you give money, me give you game! Unga bunga.

Q: So…that’s it? We’re never getting a sequel?

A: Ehh…all of this aside, never say never. If Band Camp Boyfriend unexpectedly blew up in popularity and had a mind-blowing amount of sales, then I would absolutely reconsider a return to Blue Mountain High School. But I don't really see that happening.

I really hope this news hasn’t made you too sad and I hope you’ll join us for the next game! Saying I am extremely excited for it is an understatement. I’d like to share a little bit of what we have planned and I hope it will get you excited as well, and you won’t leave here feeling too down.

If you loved Band Camp Boyfriend, you will certainly love our next otome game. It will carry the same elements of humor, romance, darkness, and drama you can expect from us—and this time, the stakes are even higher. (I know--what stakes could be higher than high school marching band?!)

The structure of this game will be a bit different. We’re dropping the crazy long common route because we feel like we’ve been there and done that, and it’s a huge headache. I love long common routes but now...I get it, I get why a lot of games have a short one or just have you pick a route, hahaha. This game’s common route will be much shorter (one whole day haha), but each romance route will be a beast in length with larger branches into various endings. The plot is so heavy that it would be best experienced in a specific order so a couple routes will be locked when you start up the game.

There will be heartwarming good endings, tragic bad endings, and somewhat bittersweet endings. And we shall once again have an original soundtrack and partial voice acting, so keep an eye out for that casting call! We plan to cast later in the process so we don’t keep our voice actors waiting around for light years on end.

There will be four main love interests to fall in love with this time around, though I’m certain you will fall in love with even more. This cast will be older, as well, with a 25-year old MC and LIs ranging from 24 to 30. I’m looking forward to writing a more adult story (not 18+, just in tone and perspective). I can’t wait to someday introduce you to them along with the rest of this memorable cast. Or maybe you’ve already heard of them…?

All of this means my social media activity is going to be eclipsed by writing and planning this next game for a while. Our platforms may be a bit quieter, but I will continue to check them of course, so don’t ever hesitate to reach out!

I’ll eagerly be anticipating the day we can start revealing the game and its amazing characters once we have something to show you. It was conceptualized way back in 2019 and been patiently awaiting its turn to shine. There will also be a free demo for you to meet the cast and dip your toes into the plot. For now, we gotta focus on the grind! But I know we have the perseverance to see this through because we’ve already done it once before!

Thank you so much for reading all of this. You deserve a yummy heart-shaped cookie with pink icing for doing so. We really appreciate you all so much! Please look forward to our next game.

♥ Lovebird Games

[felonytaxevasion]

Arc 1 - Bonds

My assorted commentary on the first chapter of Pact for my mutuals who were interested in my thoughts. Testing out formatting this might be mess thank you for your patience.

As always no spoilers please thank you <333

This is technically my second time reading this but I wasn't paying attention the first time so I wanted to start over

1.1

“My children are useless,” she said. She was so dismissive and casual about it.

First of all. Icon. I absolutely love wretched old women and I love having the foresight of knowing practitioners cant lie meaning that this is presumably an objective evaluation of her children's capabilities. I'm also gonna watch out for Blake's mom and Aunt Stephanie though. They aren't included in that statement so maybe we can have an evil magic milf era. Like in Umineko. I love Umineko.

If anything I’d said had an impact, it was that. I could see the faint amusement drop away from her. “Are you accusing me of being a liar, Master Blake?”

aHA BECAUSE PRACTITIONER RULES

It was well after dark when someone stepped outside to talk to me. I closed out of the puzzle game I was playing on my phone. The brightness of the screen made for a dark patch that lingered in my vision as I looked up. Eleven-fifty at night.

This is an interesting writing choice because it's clear that a lot of time has passed but not exactly how much. Which adds mystery to the question of "was Rose planned all along or did Rose Sr. make an impulse choice after talking with Blake.

Also I really wanna know. When Rose met Ivy did her parents bring her in and talk or did they just set the baby on the bed and leave.

“Molly! Don’t be rash!” Aunt Irene admonished her. “I don’t want it,” Molly said, again. She grabbed the footboard of the bed. “No.“ “Molly, don’t be silly.”

Molly is one of the biggest reasons I don't want spoilers. Everything about her is so interesting. She was the first choice but she died very quickly. But not THAT quickly. Was Rose 2 always the plan and Molly was the sacrificial lamb to pave the way or was Molly just genuinely the best choice to become heiress. She survived for four months which is, if Pact is paced similarly to Worm, long enough to survive Leviathan, The Slaughterhouse Nine, Coil, and Echidna or whatever their equivalent in Pact land is. And that is no small feat. Like obviously I'm assuming here but I can't imagine the combined forces of Jacobs Bell were just letting her chill. I have so many questions about her and I want answers to none of them.

The blonde woman opposite him folded her hands in front of her. “That was… noteworthy in scale. Kind of her to point the way, but she was never crude. We’ll need to know what she did before we move on.”

THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE. Noteworthy in scale. Rose is not a small feat. Why are she and Blake positioned as the backup plan. Thinking so hard

“Funny thing, Maggie,” Padraic said, and when he smiled, the expression extended further than it should have. The smile too wide, the eyes too long and narrow. “When something momentous occurs, it can be the equivalent of lighting up the night sky, scattering fog and clouds to the horizons. You can see more clearly��� but when you look, they can look back, too.”

Maggie and Padraic are some of my favorite characters based on vibes alone. I just know they're going to die so horribly so early on. At least Maggie.

“Mm,” the man in the throne said. “‘Lo, stranger. Listen, I don’t think you should believe what any of them say about me. If you need help, I can offer it.” “For a price,” the dog added.

Now see Johannes I would love to give you the benefit of the doubt however I know for a fact (a pact fact!) I have not seen any fanart of you making out sloppy style with Blake Thorburn and as such I find it hard to believe you are his ally. The wildbow ecosystem is too yaoi deprived to not jump on that pairing unless you're some type of fucked up.

“Run,” she said. “Get to the house, now.” “Which house? Who-” “Molly’s dead,” she said. “You’re next.”

HAI ROSE

1.2

I actually don't have much commentary on this chapter other than RIP to BlakeRose but I would happily take the deal to become a creepy bird monster. That's the ideal living situation actually.

1.3

The first sheet had only a simple message, penned in a curling script I almost envied. ‘Birth date’. I tried the year I’d been born. It didn’t work. Day, month? One-eight-oh-one.

...

“Molly!” I hollered, loud enough I should have been audible throughout the house. “Anyone!?” No response. Somewhere, in my general confusion and the mess of stuff I didn’t know or understand, I’d hoped that Molly being alive would be one of those things that caught me off guard.

Not to needle at his grieving process but I'm pretty sure the fact that it was His Birthday Not Molly's that opened the door was a pretty clear sign

I shook my head. “No clue. Something to keep in mind. After stipulations, there’s a section on stipend, with a regular allowance, notes on how often the lawyers can be called without incurring a debt. Oh, right here. A mention of the bird-skull monsters.” “What?” I could see Rose move, standing from her seat. “I’m joking,” I said, with zero humor in my voice.

I think Wildbow should do what visual novels franchises do and make a non canon crossover beach themed spinoff episode with all his characters. I want to see Blake and Lisa be cunty together

My friends were artists and artistic types. I had the unfortunate distinction of being a less than stellar artist. But I’d owed them for the help and support they’d given me, and in helping them with their jobs, I’d stumbled onto a bit of work. Setting up their work, installations, as well as all the other grunt jobs. Sure, they could go to a carpenter to get something put together in the way of a display stand, but that carpenter wouldn’t necessarily know what was at play with the art. Along the way, I’d settled into being a go-to handyman and delivery guy in the local art community. I knew the gallery owners, I knew who was who, and if I couldn’t do a job myself, I knew who to call. Not so glamorous or fancy, not exactly stellar pay, but I had stupid little skills that I could use here. In a pinch, I could use my stride or my arm length to help me figure out measurements, thirty three and a half and thirty-two and a half inches, respectively.

So fun fact I was a gallery tech assistant for about three or four years in high school and I would just like the record to state. A. Wildbow you captured the gallery tech mentality exactly. Tired, sassy, and overall filled with peculiar useful skills. 100% accuracy rate.

Also Blake please call your friends sooner rather than later. The blond gallery tech who works for cheap going suddenly missing is going to DEVASTATE that community. Blake you are a protected species under the wildlife conservation act and the human equivalent of catnip for bisexuals with an art history degree you are the foundation of that community and they are going to be CONCERNED

1.4

She looked a little agitated, nervous. “I think we can go this route. Avoid getting into the ugliest stuff, the books on demons and whatever else. If witch hunters and inquisitors can survive this sort of thing, maybe we can too.” “Borrowing power instead of using it?”

I'm trying to figure out if Rose II is in on it. Because like. She should be right? But then she says things like this that make it sound like she really is just as lost as Blake

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of attached to you, metaphysically. You die, I’m going to be a goner too.” “You think. Either way, I’m the one who got injured,” I said. “I’m the one who has stitches in my hand and a cut on my face.” “At least you’re alive,” she retorted.

They've so immediately become siblings.

Which by the way. If Blake and Rose are fucked up twins of a sort. I have questions about Paige and Peter. Especially seeing as Paige is considered a non starter for Rose Senior

“In this scenario, we’ve got a situation involving a number of countries. If you will, there’s America. I’m rather interested in America for the purpose of this discussion, but that’s just me. Powerful, perhaps overly proud, large, keepers of the peace.” I glanced at his uniform. “Sure.”

Close enough. Welcome Back Victoria Dallon!!

1.5

“It smells like a rose,” a man announced, “It’s as beautiful as a rose. I dare say it’s as fragile as a rose, once you get past the thorns. But is it really our Rose?” I turned. Three twenty-somethings, if I went by appearances, were approaching me from behind. I might have been off. Each had alcohol in brown bags.

I want to be one of them so bad. I want to join the fucked up Fairie gang.

“No,” I said. I grabbed one of the books from the coffee table. “Anger is good.” “Good?” “It keeps us moving. You read the book on implements, I’ll read up on familiars when I’m done Essentials.”

True gallery tech mindset <3

1.6

“Blake!” Rose’s voice, from the living room. “You have to help him!”

This is one of those passages that makes me think Rosie is in on it. You've read more than Blake how has this being an other trap not occurred to you

1.7

Should another practitioner need to bait him again, know that this author used: a pile of festering boar carcasses, six feet high, each carved with his name when well into their state of decay, the decay timed using refrigeration to be roughly parallel; seven jars of burning hair, resupplied keep the flames perpetually alight

Yea who hasn't been here at one point

“To everyone and everything that’s listening,” I said. I heard Rose start speaking behind me, but my words drowned hers out. “To me, and to nobody in particular, I’ve gotta say, I didn’t choose this. I’m doing this for family, to respect them as they were in the past, when my cousins were also my friends, so the others don’t face what Molly did. I’m doing it to respect stuff in the present, because even if I dislike my cousins, I don’t want them to have to face this situation and get killed off. I’m doing this for the family that comes in the future, so my kids and all our descendants don’t have this debt hanging over our heads. Above all, I think I’m doing this for my real family. For the friends I made who gave me support when I needed it most, so I can demonstrate what they taught me. Past, present, future, and… more abstract.”

Guy who can only hate his family this much because of how much he loves them Augh Augh

I could hear Rose behind me, still talking, as if she were very distant. “-than a vestige.”

SUSPICIOUS

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, quiet, “because it’s not blood. I’m not offering anything worth taking, and there aren’t any spirits here to listen and obey, are there?” “There are other options, maybe?” “It doesn’t matter,” she said, again. “I don’t care anymore.”

But then this is the opposite of suspicious because she can't lie but she's saying it didn't work and she wants to give up hhhhhhh Rose you are so slippery to understand

Gathered Pages

I didn't highlight any particular passages but Rose Senior I love youuuuuuuu

[rubbathetum]

hey so uhhhh

I made a weirdo freaky script and I don't know if anyone will ever voice it. But I thought I minus well post it here for all my freaks to enjoy. POV: you are demon sex club host and an angel boi comes in to eat too much, fuck and puke. Stuffing and emeto abound, enjoy!

"..." implies demon is talking, its a one sided script.

[reader standing outside club, muffled music]

(whispering, nervous) Ok, this has to be the right place... right?

Oh lord, what am I even doing here... I should just-

No! No, not now, we went all the way to Hell for this.

We- I, can’t waste this chance.

[reader enters club, music gets louder and there’s people chatting, door swinging open and closing]

(sharp inhale) Here goes nothing...

[listener walks to the front desk, bell ring sfx]

Excuse me, m’am!

I-I’m here for an appointment, its under-

...

Ah... It probably wasn’t, too hard to guess it was me, was it?

Was it my name?

Or wait, it’s the wings, isn’t it? Yeah, probably aren’t a lot of angels down here, huh?

...

W-Well y’know, what isn’t an angel doing down here, right?

I just... heard of your establishment from a few friends and the services here caught my interest.

...

Well of course I can’t find anything like this in heaven, I can’t imagine anything like it would be permitted up there. It’s far too-

...

Well, sinful is surely one word most would use.

Now then... uhm, will I have to wait for my match to get here? Is there somewhere I should go?

...

Oh, I uh- you’re my match?

...

No no no, that’s not a problem at all!

Quite the opposite in fact! You’re a v-very gorgeous woman, I-I’m honored to spend this night with you.

...

Y-Yes, I’m ready. Please,lead the way.

[reader is lead to to a room, insert footsteps if you want or just skip to being there]

Oh my, what a beautiful room! You have quite a knack for ambiance, miss. These candles really tie it all together!

Do you mind if I take a seat?

...

Thank you.

[reader takes a seat on the bed]

Ooo, comfy! You know it is quite difficult to get a good bed in Heaven. Not to say it’s impossible mind you, but we tend to only ‘take what we need’ so to speak.

A place to sleep is a need, but a bed so nice as this is a luxury!

I’ve never... oh! Forgive me, miss! I have a tendency to ramble, I do hope I don’t bore you tonight.

It’d be inconsiderate of me.

...

Oh you are too kind, miss. But I know I shouldn’t be spending my time here lecturing you about bedding.

We have other activities to get to tonight, do we not?

But before we get into things...

I saw on the poster my friend gave me, you succubi have quite powerful magic, yes?

Especially when it comes to... fulfilling fantasies.

...

Well its uh- it’s just a bit hard for me to explain exactly. I’ve never had the opportunity to be so... open.

...

I-I suppose this probably wouldn’t be the most bizarre thing you’ve ever heard, no.

I’m sure you’ve had plenty of odd requests, so I’m not sure why exactly I’m so nervous.

...

(chuckles) Well, if you’re really sure you’d have no qualms hearing me out.

So, you probably already know that I don’t usually get the chance to indulge myself in much of anything at all.

It’s not befitting of an angel to give into worldly pleasures.

But despite that there’s this very... hedonistic fantasy that I keep coming back to, it’s always lingering in the back of my head.

...

Sometimes... sometimes I wish I could be treated like gods of old. Which I guess isn’t very befitting of someone like myself either.

I am nowhere near worthy of such decadence, but I can’t help but yearn for it.

I-I want to feast and drink far beyond my heart's content, until I can't hold down another bite! And to make love with whoever I wish, for as long as I wish!

I just think it’d be nice to let go, to give into a mindless pursuit of pleasure, just for a day.

Do you think that we could do something like that? I-It’s fine if no, I’d be happy just-

[sfx: magic sfx insert a poof or something. Reader has been magic-d into a new (skimpier) outfit. That, and now there’s a bunch of food n shit.]

Oh, that was a lot faster than I was expecting. I didn’t know dark magic was so... instantaneous!

...

I think the clothes you picked out for me are lovely, miss! A-A bit more see-through than I was expecting, but still lovely!

And all this food- Are we sharing this meal?

...

Well I don’t know if I could finish all of it, I think this is more food than I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

...

Oh really now? I suppose if such a gorgeous woman would be willing to help me in my pursuits, it’d be foolish of me to refuse her~

Now where to begin...

...

You bring up a fine point, miss, cake does sound quite good.

I think I’ll have a few pieces before the main course, in fact.

...

Oooo~ And hand fed to me by a beautiful acolyte no less, how kind of you.

Ahhhh~

[fast forward to later in the night, reader has eaten a lot, has also drank a shit ton of wine. Everything is just now starting to hit him, and it’s just as arousing as it is nauseating.]

(drunk, kinda slurred speech, can lessen over time) Miiiiss- (hic) Miss, can we take a break really quick?

...

Mmmm no, I‘m having lots of fun, miss, food’s really good. Its just like... ‘m kinda- (reader audibly heaves, but manages to swallow it back) I’m really full, miss...

...

Nooo, I’m fine I promise, I can keep goin! Innn fact, I feel better than fine, f-feel really good actually.

...

Mmm, I feel all hot now. It's kinda strange, cause I feel like I‘m gonna be sick... but I’m also really fuckin horny.

Miss, will you help me out a lil, please~?

[sfx: kissing noises, clothes ruffling. Listener n Reader makeout sesh while listener rubs at reader’s cock through his clothes. This goes on for a few secs before they pull back]

(panting, breathless and whiny) Nghh, please don’t tease me miss... c’mon, I’ve been really good.

‘M so- (burp) I feel so fuckin sick, please help me. Please make it better, please~

[listener begins to trail kisses alll the way down from his neck to his cock, he’s moaning and squirming around the entire time.]

Misss, you’re going too slow! I want- I need your lips on my cock.

I can’t keep going on like this, go lower, go faster-

[sfx: blowjob sounds]

(whimpering, moaning, y’know what it is) Oh yes~

Thank you, m-my faithful follower, you’re s-so good to me.

God- shit your mouth feels amazing.

[blowjob continues, keep going for however long you want. Feel free to adlib a little or include some more queasy sounds if you’re based ;) ]

I-I can’t- if you keep wrapping your tongue around me like that, I won’t last much longer.

Keep going keep going, I want- mmmm- want you take it all. I want all of me inside you when I cum.

Yes, just like that.

I can feel your throat clenching around me, I...

I’m close, almost there, almost-

[listener suddenly pulls herself off reader’s cock]

Huh wha- why’d you stop?

...

Cum inside? But I was already gonna- oh, I see what you mean. I’d love to~

...

Hm, what now?

...

Another piece of cake? I dunno about that, I don’t even know if I’ll be able to keep everything else down...

...

Well, maybe I could... if you’ll help distract me while I eat.

...

Of course, Miss, I’ll eat every bite. Just please let me inside you, I need to cum so bad, please.

[listener stradles reader’s lap, starts rubbing against his cock]

(whimpers) you won’t even put it in till I start eating, you’re so (hic) mean...

...

Nooo, I’ll do it I’ll do it, just- (deep breath in and out) be patient with me, ok?

[reader takes the first bite, swallow sfx if you’d like, its a challenge to get it down. Luckily though, listener takes the plunge on his cock]

Oh god, your pussy’s so warm...

Mm, you’re really wet too... I didn’t know you’d like seeing me in this state so much~

...

I’m getting back to eating, don’t worry.

Just, if you don’t stop I won’t stop, ok?

...

Ok, then lets get back to it.

[back to fuckin and eating, this goes on for a while. Reader takes bite after bite, slowly going farther and farther beyond capacity, until finally his stomach’s finally had enough. He launches upwards and puts a hand over his mouth as he heaves, the last bite he tried to swallow being sent right back up between the two of them. Splatter sfx.]

S-shit, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to! I- (swallow) I don’t think I’m done yet...

...

No, I... I don’t wanna stop. But if you do, I-

...

Mmm but I’ll make a m-mess...

...

Then... then put your hands to good use n’ help me

Can’t eat anymore, can’t keep it down either…

Help me get it up, miss.

[reader puts listener’s hands on his stomach]

I’m way too full… you can feel it, right?

…

Mmph, be careful miss, it hurts…

Press down on it, but be gentle.

…

Trust me, it’s not gonna take a lot of pressure to get me to puke right now.

Now then, will you keep riding me, please~

[back into action, fuckin and moaning and whining, now with added heaving! Once again, goes on for a bit, with reader slowly getting further and further to the edge. But now also on the verge of climax.]

Ugh- I’m gonna be sick, I-I’m gonna cum.

I- (gag) sorry-

[orgasm and also puking kind of a lot. More vom sfx, or just like liquid sfx]

(exhausted, shaky) I’m… I’m done now.

…

Feels lots better.

Thank you for your services, miss.

…

Yeah, a bath sounds really nice.

[flash forward to bath scene, reader and listener enjoying a good bath together, running water sfx]

Hey uh, thanks for everything tonight, I had a lot of fun.

Do you think maybe… we could do this again sometime?

Only if you’d like to, of course.

…

Oh, well I’m glad I could show you a good time, miss.

Maybe I could be a regular customer, given I get enough free time to come and visit.

…

(chuckle) well consider me excited, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of fun ideas for next time.

…

Oh yeah, I can get your back, just a moment.

[tigreblvnc]

BLUE LOCK MATCHUP — @emmaitoshi

Your match is...

— Itoshi Sae

✦ (I promise I didn’t look at your username when choosing your match.)

✦ (Seriously, I didn’t check.)

✦ I won’t lie, I was wondering when I’d finally match this little guy with someone!

✦ Actually, my first choice was a completely different person, but as always, when a bio makes me think for a long time, something wasn’t convincing me 100%—even 200%.

✦ I need that moment of clarity, you know, the "Yes, that’s it!"

✦ So gradually, reading between the lines, a magenta-haired character came to mind…

✦ There are a lot of small things in your bio that led me to Sae, but not directly, and I think that represents the nature of your ship well: all about subtlety.

✦ I find that you have many little passions and details that would appeal to Sae’s very ambitious mindset. Or at least, in which he would find himself.

✦ I’ve always believed that it’s easier to open up to someone who shares common interests.

✦ First off, there’s the fact that you’ve been immersed in sports for a long time—especially soccer, which you seem to have a particular attachment to.

✦ Sae also started playing soccer at a very young age. To quote the egoist bible:

Starts playing football: At age 1. “Before I knew it, I was playing soccer.”

✦ … The more I do these matchups, the more I tend to believe that people are drawn to characters who resemble them.

✦ In the fun little details that I always like to point out: "I’m a Sagittarius sun" Sae is a Libra, and you know, when you check online, it’s a great match. In fact, the air element of Libra stimulates the fire of Sagittarius. Basically, it’s a constantly challenging relationship, and that’s what contributes to the strength of your bond, no matter the distance. Sagittarius is also the ultimate traveler, and I think that’s significant with someone like Sae, who frequently moves from one place to another in the world.

✦ "I’m really into cars and it’s been a massive part of my life, especially the motorsport aspect" This is the kind of uncommon hobby that makes me think Sae would find it interesting.

✦ He’s very focused on the real world, on his goals, and always achieving more. Remember? 100 million yen wasn’t enough for him.

✦ One could criticize him for being too materialistic and arrogant, but I think it also reflects someone who is never satisfied with himself, who always needs to do better, to do more. Moreover, this ultra-competitive temperament is also what excites him: finding someone who is more talented than he is.

✦ Let me quote again because we can never get enough:

What makes him happy: “A play beyond my imagination.”

✦ We already see it when he recognizes Isagi’s talent as a striker. He acknowledges it.

✦ "I’ve been considered an academically gifted student since before I attended primary school" Sae will only consider someone at least as talented as he is. That’s the bare minimum if you want to keep him interested.

✦ "I have two very different sets of friends, but I love them all so much" In Sae’s case, I don’t think he has many friends, but I can see him compartmentalizing all his relationships very strictly. In other words, different people might know different aspects of him. Like Rin, who knew him as closer and more human, while everyone else sees Sae as an arrogant and overly confident guy.

✦ But this gives you a common point in that you both identify groups within your own relationships. It’s as if you’re always mindful of how you present yourself and to whom.

✦ It’s a bit of social strategy, really.

✦ Speaking of which, I’ve come to think that Sae’s love languages are probably what you’d least expect from him, like acts of service and giving gifts. I don’t think he’s very good at listening to others talk about their problems (let’s be clear, he doesn’t care, it doesn’t serve his interests). But for someone important to him, I can easily imagine him pulling out his wallet to offer all sorts of things. To me, he’s not someone comfortable with words; he prefers a more material expression of affection, as we see with Rin when, as children, he always gave him ice cream. It’s not overly demonstrative, but to me, it’s a sincere sign of interest in Rin. When Rin wasn’t feeling well, Sae always offered him ice cream.

✦ "I grew up watching it with my brother" Why do I keep seeing the Rin-Sae dynamic aaaaah

✦ "I can speak English and Irish fluently" This detail, along with the one about your school in Dublin, made me think that your encounter happened there. Probably at the soccer club, a match between Real Madrid and the Irish national team, after Sae had left Japan.

✦ A girl playing in the middle of a boys’ team is something that stands out.

✦ But there’s another thing, too.

✦ "I also love playing the sport too, I’ve played for my local team as a midfielder since I was a child" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

✦ "MIDFIELDER"

✦ ??????????????

✦ HELLO

✦ ARE YOU THE REASON WHY SAE LEFT HIS DREAM TO BECOME THE BEST STRIKER IN THE WORLD?

✦ Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeez

✦ But I really want to see this movie!!!!

✦ (Rin might not be so thrilled though)

✦ But…

✦ Damn, you did this on purpose, didn’t you? You knew Sae would come eventually?

✦ The worst part is that it’s not over, you nailed it even more with the quote that comes right after:

✦ "It’s my ultimate dream to attend a Grand Prix decked out in Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, or McLaren gear." Gooooosh! That’s it!! That’s also why it clicked so well between you two!!! Someone who aims for the Grand Prix, the top spot! I can’t see Sae with anyone else.

✦ In fact, he likes that you specialize in several areas. I can’t help but imagine conversations in the stadium stands, very relaxed, where he simply asks you what your ambitions are. Why are you here, what are you going to do later? And once you’ve snatched that first prize? What will your new goal be?

✦ It’s only through goals and skills that you can have long conversations with Sae.

✦ He’s not a guy who likes to dream, in my opinion, he wants something concrete, something solid.

✦ "I would also love to become a strategist in Formula 1, devising how to win the race and being able to make quick and urgent decisions in seconds." Why did I imagine you becoming his manager?

✦ "The ones I prefer to be on the receiving end of are words of affirmation and quality time." I’m starting to realize that listening to someone talk and asking questions is not at all in Sae’s usual attitude. Which makes me think that if he starts doing that, it’s clearly a sign of interest—and so… You know where I’m going with this. Something’s definitely happening there!

✦ For me, there’s a trope that works really well with Sae, and it’s anything that involves rivalry. He’ll watch you thrive throughout your career, always reminding you, "We’ll meet at the top of the podium." Because in the end, what Sae will want is to win against you. I think that would eventually become his goal.

✦ It will be an ascent together, even if it has to be done from a distance—especially if it has to be done from a distance. Sae travels a lot, all the time for his career, so there will be times when he’s not around. Moments when he won’t respond to messages. But that doesn’t mean he’s lost interest. I think he prefers to address the other person directly on the field, simply put.

✦ "I’m very insecure about my large thighs I’ve got from football." Okay, let me end on a high note with one last quote:

Fixation: Buttocks. “You’ll know an athlete’s ability by the shape of their buttocks.”

A word about your match: As I said, I initially thought of someone else, and it was Barou. I think the fact that you started sports very early could have been a major connection with him, but I think he would have been too intense, taking up too much space in the relationship. There’s a sense of independence in you that I read through your descriptions, which suits Sae much better.

© TIGREBLVNC 2024 | AUGUST '24 MATCHUPS EDITION.

[maskedpeach]

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Rant

Warning. This article contains spoilers. Alas, this post is an enormous wall of text and consists purely from me complaining. Get the children away from the screen.

Okay, I’ll probably regret this later, but I’ll post this anyway. Years ago I used to be pretty vocal about my opinion, but these days I prefer to keep most of the negative opinions to myself. But I believe if I’d keep everything bottled up on this one particular matter I’ll simply explode.

I’m currently enthusiastically playing Like a Dragon/Yakuza series, which is now one of my favorite game series. Back at high school used to play first two games on PS2, and later there was Kurohyo on PSP, but didn’t get too far in any of them, decided save it for later, and this “later” has finally happened several months ago after listening to one pretty entertaining podcast about JPRGs. One of the hosts has totally sold me Yakuza: Like a Dragon (I’ve literally ran and bought it after listening the podcast). I’ve played it, loved it and almost cried my eyes out on the ending (seriously, if someone asks me how my ideal JRPG should look like, I’d say that’s the one).

After that I’ve beaten Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. I’ve really enjoyed this game in general, but comparing to its predecessor, while most of the gameplay issues were fixed, some story issues did arise. Story itself is far more simple and lacks memorable antagonists (Ebina was okay and Bryce was outright lame). Still, there were a plenty of interesting moments to keep me going, and I really liked the ending, which was extremely moving, the part before the ending credits I mean. And then this stupid love confession scene happened and completely ruined the mood for me. Seriously, it wasn’t funny, it was tasteless like in the worst romcoms.

And, well, here lies the main issue with Infinite Wealth for me - this poorly-written romance subplot between Ichi and Saeko, and how Saeko character is handled in this game in general. So, if you are the fan of her I suggest you to stop reading right here, right now.

First, I would like to point that, when Saeko was just an optional romantic interest in LaD it was perfectly fine, but in IW, where she became the designated love interest, the whole romance plotline became very forced and uncalled-for. In LaD they were simply on friendly terms with no indication of evident romantic interest, and in IW the whole “Ichi falling for Saeko” thing looks extremely out of nowhere. All interactions between them look artificial without real chemistry between characters. Seriously, every time Ichi says, that he loves her or have feelings for her, it sounds hardly believable, like he is trying to convince himself and the players. At moments like this I could almost imagine something like this:

RGG Studio staff: *gives Ichi the script* Start reading.

Ichi: But that’s a bunch of bullshit!

RGG Studio staff: *points a gun on Ichi* Start reading. Now.

To be honest, I’m not the fan of romance genre at all and I mostly view romance sublots in various media as a nuisance. Still I won’t deny that there are some romantic storylines I genuinely enjoyed and was rooting for the characters till the very end (like Alphen and Shionne from Tales of Arise or Oswald and Gwendolyn from Odin Sphere for example), but there are still very few of the quality romantic stories to my liking comparing to those, which are either okay or boring at the best, and unbelievably stupid or outright unhealthy (and stupid) at the worst.

Worst of all, that RGG Studio actually can write a decent romance subplot. And I believe that Yakuza 0  is a good example of this. There we have Goro Majima (who is my second most favorite character in the series, after Ichi) and Makoto Makimura (who belongs to one of my least favorite character archetypes-“damsel-in-distress”, but considering her condition and the fact that everyone is after her, she really does need help and protection). In their story there wouldn’t be a single “I love you” or “I have feelings for you” or any other needless words, they just go through many shit together and slowly develop feeling for each other, which is shown very subtly through finely directed cutscenes. They don’t get together in the end (which is pretty logical, considering everything, that’s happened), but this plotline gets pretty heartwarming conclusion in Kiwami 2. But if they actually did get together I wouldn’t mind at all, even though Makoto isn’t one of my favorites, simply because their story is well-written and makes sense.

Alright, back to Ichi and Saeko. Let’s start with the infamous “proposal-on-the-first-date” scene, I won’t deny that it was awkward as hell (I was like: “Ichi, please, just shut up.”), but Saeko’s reaction wasn’t one of the mature woman either. I would’ve understood her reaction if they’d barely knew each other, in that case it would’ve been perfectly natural. But they know each other pretty well by this point (three years, no less) and she knows that he tends to speak his mind and has zero experience with women. I believe, she could’ve always say something like:”Hold on, let’s not rush things.”, I’m sure he would’ve understand. But no, she just runs away and leaves him hanging. And when, thanks to Adachi and Nanba, Ichi realizes, what he did wrong, he goes and apologizes. Saeko seemingly accepts the apology, says that they are still friends, and that as a friend she will support him no matter what. And what Saeko does next? She ignores Ichi for a whole year. And when he loses his job and becomes pariah thanks to Tatara Channel, only Adachi and Nanba go and check up on him. When she finds out, she doesn’t even bother to send something like: “Are you okay?” or whatever. And that’s after all the crap they’ve went through in LaD. A “true friend”, nuff said.

Oh, and you know what’s rich? In her Drink Link (I did it only for the achievement and to see whether she actually expresses any remorse at all, spoiler-no) it is revealed that, the whole year she was ghosting Ichi, she was dating some obvious bastard, who was manipulating her into marrying him to get her money and business. Funny, how she didn’t see that until he went and said it himself. Another fun fact, that in some random dialogues she actually asks Kiryu and Nanba how Ichi is doing, only to add something like: “Not that I care.”. Seriously, her whole attitude towards Ichi is so fucked up and can easily be described as emotional abuse. If I were him I would’ve dismissed her after that year of ghosting and just forgot about her. And the last, but not the least, everyone either criticizes or mocks Ichi because of this stupid proposal, but no one criticizes Saeko for her craptastic treatment of him.

Also putting romance aside, I believe Saeko has nothing to offer as a character. In LaD she was an okay character, albeit with the little to zero relevance to the main plot. I believe RGG Studio has added her only for the sake of adding at least one playable girl in the party full of dudes to expand the audience, since Eri is an optional character and you can beat the game without even getting her in the team. Speaking of Eri, while she is totally unimportant to the main storyline, she is still much more likeable and fleshed out character than Saeko, and more useful in battles too.

In IW Saeko became much worse. As I see it, her portrayal is something of a strong and independent woman. And it does not withstand any criticism. Even in LaD there were some optional dialogues, were she is mocking other party members in a form of a joke. In IW she is even more immature. For example, remember how in LaD she refused to go with you in cabaret club ( I mean, where you can order a hostesses)? In IW Seonhee tags along with the guys in the same club (because, why not?), and Saeko decides that she is going too, even though she is not interested in the stuff. And there is more instances (all optional dialogues though), where someone does something, she clearly disapproves, but everyone else in party does, and she decides to do it too. I believe, that being strong and independent actually means having an opinion of your own and not caring about what others would think about you. While both Seonhee and Chitose really can be described as strong women, Saeko only seems like one, but in reality she is just pathetic. When it comes to main story in IW-she can be easily removed from all cutscenes, because most of the time she either all bark no bite (strong and independent woman, uh-huh) or just stands there. Looks like RGG Studio simply didn’t know what to do with her after LaD and wrote all this pseudo-romantic crap simply to justify her presence in IW. For me it sure didn’t work, I felt utterly disgusted with her the whole game. I wish they would just wrote her out entirely from the story. While in LaD she was only one non-optional girl in the party, in IW we have two more well-developed female characters, who, unlike Saeko, are actually important to the plot.

I’ve read somewhere that RGG Studio is currently working on the next installment in the series. I have no idea, what it’ll be about, but I really wish that they’d just drop the idea of getting Ichi and Saeko together for the sake of it. It seriously looks like the cupid on drugs is garroting the poor guy with the red string. To be honest, I’m not exactly excited about new installment at all. Saeko stuff aside, for me IW is the fitting conclusion to the series. I seriously don’t see what else could be added to the main story, since all the major storylines got a closure by that point. I only wish for Kiryu to heal his cancer and for Ichi to get his job back (and the same goes for Majima, Saejima and Dojima, since I don’t remember anything said about it in the ending), and for both of them to live in peace for the rest of the days. They’ve had enough shit in their lives already.

[lil-melody-moon]

Hello Mel! I hope you’re doing well 🥰 I’ve seen that you reblogged the album ask thingy. I’m not sure if I have to give you the name of the album and a number or just the album and you answer all of the questions. So, If it’s not too much to ask, can you answer all of the 10 questions about Quadrophenia? I know how much you love that album and I’d like to know your thoughts on that one❤️ Also, you know how much I love to see your posts talking about the music you love hehe. Love ya <3

Hello, I've been doing so so but thank you for asking <3

The thing for it is to give a name for the album and some numbers, but what you ask for is perfect! I was hoping for someone to asking about "Quadrophenia", thank you that it was you! So without further ado.

1. Favourite and least favourite track?

Oh Gosh this will be difficult.

"5:15" is my favorite track of the whole album because of a few things. First being the fact that this was the first song I heard from this album. Funny story, mom wrote down a Depeche Mode song called "Little 15" and she wrote that it is a The Who song so I typed it in and "5:15" came up so we've listened. Mom didn't like it very much, but I fucking vibed - you can imagine my sheer surprise when I've found the album where this song was. Also, The Who's compilation CD I have has three tracks from "Quadrophenia" and "5:15" is one of them. Those three are never played quietly on dad's stereo system, never.

Now to the least favorite I actually don't know if I have one like that. I literally love every track on this album, but maybe I'll go with "I Am The Sea" because it's only an ambient of waves - which is very nice as an opening, considering how the story on album opens with "The Real Me", but ya know. Almost no music.

2. Side A or B? (for later releases: first half or second half; for doubles: A, B, C or D?)

This is a double so I have to choose between C and D - A and B are good too, but the rest of the tracks after "5:15" my beloved <3

And I think I'll go with C so that would include: "5:15", "Sea and Sand", "Drowned" and "Bell Boy". There's just something in those tracks that makes me get lost in music each time I hear them. I'm always missing the point where "Sea and Sand" ends and "Drowned" starts. Either it's so smoothly going from one to the other or I'm just so lost between notes. Plus there's "Bell Boy" come on, how could I not pick this side? XD

3. Thoughts on the cover art/packaging?

Just look at this beauty! Washed from colors, depressing with only Jimmy on the cover while the rest of the band is seen in the side mirrors. The cover speaks for itself. The first time I saw it I just felt I was up to listen to something good and damn, I wasn't wrong. I love the cover so much that I would be glad to have it as a poster in my room. I'm not joking, I even saw a similar big flag to buy and if I had money and space in my room for it, I would buy it - this album is my religion <3

4. Are any of the tracks important/meaningful to you? Why?

Oh God, the whole album is important, but if I have to narrow it to a few songs... I will talk about very personal stuff here.

"Cut My Hair" Now this is like an opening track to the beginning of the story, to see how Jimmy feels emotionally, but the tone and the entire setting of how his life looked, now that is what brought my attention right from the beginning. The guy just doesn't fit in, feels like an outcast and this verse right there:

Why do I have to be different to them? Just to earn the respect of a dance hall friend Have the same old row again and again Why do I have to move with a crowd Of kids that hardly notice I'm around? I work myself to death just to fit in

It reminds me of my days when i tried to fit in the society I live in. Now, I literally don't care how other see me, but I can see that with my clothing, interests, way of thinking I just don't fit in and I probably never will. But I gave up on "moving with a crowd" long time ago. And from here, my dear friend, things started rolling.

"I'm One"

This one is a simple matter, first verse bringing this in:

Every year is the same And I feel it again I'm a loser - no chance to win Leaves start falling Come down is calling Loneliness starts sinking in

Describing the loneliness Jimmy feels is very personal. I might not show it, but I'm a really lonely person, not being able to find the second half, searching for some understanding on that matter. I have the luck to have my mom who understands me because she was going through the same, but ya know. It ain't the same as having a boyfriend. Plus I just love how the last three lines of lyrics in this verse creates that autumn vibe <3

"Drowned"

Just because of the general tone and a call for freedom. The only ones truly free in this world are birds, we as humans are not. This chorus:

Let me flow into the ocean Let me get back to the sea Let me be stormy, let me be calm Let the tide in and set me free

Speaks exactly about it. Just to be free as the ocean's waves, it just sounds so nice <3

"Love Reign O'er Me"

I see this song as a call/prayer for love, for some understanding and affection. On top of that, it's also the emotional conclusion of the whole story, chaotic one, but so good to listen to every time. I think the most beautiful verse in this song is this one:

Only love can bring the rain That makes you yearn to the sky Only love can bring the rain That falls like tears from on high

I had the luck to discover this album and get first stage obsessed with it after watching a documentary talking about Keith Moon's death. I had the luck to fall in love with this song at that time and this verse which I quote here is exactly how I felt back then about it. Doesn't mean I feel differently about this song now, oh no, actually this song is the most meaningful to me from the few I've mentioned. I will sound insane now, but lonely heart searches for replacements and mine found such a one in this lunatic. Yep, I'm in love with Keith Moon. Can't help it, just like I can't help it but connect this song somehow to this weird situation.

5. When did you first hear the album?

UMN... September last year, I'm sure of it. Second The Who album I've listened to, wait a bit. ...23rd of September actually (month after Keith's birthday, can my discovering of The Who and him somehow become even more weird?). I had this album wrote down to listen to later after discovering "5:15" by accident as I've described above. I remember this day clearly.

I was fresh after lunch, excited actually just by seeing the cover. Listened to it once and then it went on repeat. I had to listen to it three times to have enough for one day. And it played for the entire week without breaks. This was just the beginning of my obsession with it tho XD

6. Have your thoughts on the album changed since you first heard it?

Yep they did. From first: "This is great" to the now "Favorite album of the 70s" I had like three stages with this one.

First stage obsession was the first week that it played each day.

Then came the second stage at the beginning of this year, just after I've watched the movie.

To then come to the third stage when I'm playing this album whenever I feel bad or songs from it are stuck in my head. A religion, you should understand XD

7. Are you a fan of other works by the artist/in the genre?

Of course! I will not rank The Who's albums here, but every single one of them has something good in it. Every single one is somehow different. I don't know how did they pull this off, but they did and OH am I so glad for that!

Also, I can kind of call myself a fan of Pete Townshend, especially if it comes to lyrics, I fucking adore how he writes and honestly I can't wait to have free time to get to his solo albums <3

8. A lyric you like from the album

I actually talked about this one in The Who ask, but here, a fragment from "Bell Boy":

Some nights I still sleep on the beach Remember when stars were in reach Then I wander in early to work Spend my day licking boots for my perks

Love Keith's soft voice in this one, I adore it. There are no words that could describe what I feel when I hear him there.

9. How did you discover the album?

Like I've said, through my mom's mistake, but it was a day after I've listened to "Who's Next" that I went to see other songs by The Who and "5:15" started playing randomly. I recognized it immediately and I wrote down the name of the album, just to give it a listen a few days later.

10. Do you own/would you like to own a physical copy of the album?

I don't own a physical copy of it, but I want it, I really want it at home. It's as important to me as getting "Help!" and "Abbey Road" by The Beatles and those two were a must at home. Same with "Waiting for the Sun" by The Doors. All three mentioned are at home already, "Quadrophenia" has to be here as well.

But I will say this. I will feel sorry for my neighbors once I get it. I can't play the three tracks quietly, let alone the entire album XD

[livlepretre]

Kol! I am so excited for him and whatever is going to happen. The way Kol went from dismissive of her interest in his journals—despite this catching his own attention and briefly distracting him from whatever made him seek Elena out initially and that he’s no more of a witch now than she is—to answering her questions and even semi-confiding in her by the end of the chapter. And holy shit, Kol’s POV at the very end must have been insane, because he sees Elena spilling her heart out and saying she loves “them,” meaning Rebekah and at least one of the other vampires with them, all while a massacre is going on that Elena is not paying attention to. She’s human and not only is she not flinching at the death raining down around them, she either doesn’t register it or she flat out doesn’t care (as readers, we know she’s so focused on the convo with Kol that she doesn’t pay attention to everything else going on, but Kol wouldn’t know this, all he knows is that during this conversation, Elena gives no real reaction to the deaths happening just feet away). And he knows she used his journals to help incapacitate Klaus, something that works, yet Elena was unable to permanently do that to him because of love. Oh, and the other vampires might be listening in, something Elena doesn’t consider but Kol might; I know that it’s likely vampires don’t focus on everything at once, because there’s literally no way they’d be able to function if they have their superhearing on at all times*, but considering Kol’s unpredictability and his homicidal tendencies, I’d think that Klaus and Rebekah are both keeping an ear on what’s going on there to make sure Elena doesn’t anger him too badly. And if so, they hear her confession to Kol and his subsequent remark, with all this occurring right after they find out that Elena is apparently a big fan of their brother, despite having never met him. Kol must be thrilled with everything going on, there’s the Beklena relationship with all its current power plays and manipulations, there’s Klena where Kol learned Elena shoved that gold dagger in Klaus’s heart, this human girl loves vampires and accepts their monstrosity, her blood is having interesting effects on magical objects and can create hybrids so one must wonder what else that blood can do, she’s very interested in Kol but specifically his knowledge (which would surely appeal to him, we know he valued his magic and hung out with witches, so it’s not just attention to Kol, it’s attention about something Kol himself deeply cares about and is something Kol is the only Original who can help with, so Elena coming to him further serves to piss off Klaus and possibly Rebekah while making Kol unique), and there’s everything going on in the background. This is probably like a full-course meal for Kol really

*Imagine chilling in your room and reading a book, but you hear water in the pipes as someone washes the dishes, you hear the silverware being put away, you hear the wind outside, you hear buzzing from electricity, you hear your sibling listening to music with headphones, you hear the animals outside, you hear the show someone is watching downstairs, you hear someone else tapping away on their phone as they text a friend, you hear your neighbors in their houses, etc. You would not be able to get anything done, not without the best pair of noise-cancelling headphones on the planet and even then, maybe not if superhearing would still catch outside noises

I think Kol very much had one way he was determined to think about Elena, and she got him very sidetracked and distracted-- as they say, flattery will get you everything. and she flattered the vainest part of him with considerable charm and sincerity. he's not at all immune to that

your comment about Kol's pov while he processes just how... unhinged Elena is really had me hollering. you're so right! and I'm so glad you said it haha

"a full course meal for Kol" IS IT EVER

as for the bit about who heard what-- I am totally on your page about how vampires can just hear too much-- they have to be hyper-competent at tuning out whatever they're not actively participating in, because otherwise, the hyper-stimulation would drive them mad. like, I bet they can hear the worms in the earth outside. so they tune almost everything out-- they have to be hyper competent at this, and this is probably one of the first hurdles a new vampire has-- learning to focus and how to get a grip on their new abilities, like, not just their speed and strength and hunger, but just managing their five senses in a way that keeps them sane and able to stay grounded in the moment. so I imagine that while vampires are super able to eavesdrop at will unless someone takes measures, like, say, playing a record loudly to drown out the sounds of a conversation, they tend not to just overhear everything everyone is saying all the time because that's just too much. so Elena can have a private conversation with Kol while the others are busy "defusing" a situation, because they others are distracted by their own conversations and interacting with their own surroundings-- unless, of course, they specifically choose to eavesdrop. which. klaus and rebekah might have.

[whatacaitastrophe]

Gale x Taph - For Rim-Draws

Do You See What I See?

Song Inspiration: "The Lotto" by Ingrid Michaelson ft. AJR

A One Shot For @rim-draws <3 Thanks for requesting this! I had a great time writing it, and thank you for your donation to my Ko-fi!

Would you like me to write a BG3 one shot for you? Check out this post and send me a message <3

Of all the things that Gale expected to happen when he asked Taph to play with him in The Weave, he certainly hadn’t expected the sorceress to imagine the two of them sharing a romantic moment. Granted the moment Taph pictured in her mind was simply the two of them holding hands as they walked along the Chionthar, but how else was he supposed to interpret the vision, if not romantic? Gale certainly couldn’t remember the last time he walked alongside someone hand-in-hand in a platonic manner, and he couldn’t imagine doing so now. It wasn’t so much the vision itself that startled him, but the person who had it. In the tenday or so he’d known Taph, his relationship with the sorceress thus far was friendly enough, but their differences on how they viewed and wielded magic often ended in the two of them bickering, albeit playfully, with their companions rolling their eyes. Taph hadn’t really expressed any romantic interest in him at all before their moment in The Weave, and had even snuck off with Lae’zel one night to engage in what Gale could only assume to be some sort of Githyanki mating ritual (whatever they were doing, it sounded a mite painful), so the vision she shared with him? It caught him off guard and left him blundering like a schoolboy who’d never talked to a girl before. 

The fact that Taph’s vision flustered Gale so easily, when he’d shared a bed with a goddess for nearly a decade without any sort of trepidation? That annoyed him. What annoyed him more was Taph’s determination to not be alone with Gale since the moment it happened, as though she were avoiding giving him an opportunity to address the situation. Only, Gale needed to talk about it. He needed to understand if that was a fleeting thought, or if there was the possibility of Taph feeling the same way that Gale had begun to feel. Moreover, he needed to redeem himself after how awkwardly he reacted to her vision in the moment. Thus, a decision was made.

That evening, as they all sat around the campfire listening to Taph’s brother, Taf (which was not confusing at all), and Astarion as they regaled them all with the story of a Gur monster hunter they’d encountered earlier that day. A truly horrifying tale, and Gale was grateful they’d acted so quickly. Despite himself, Gale had begun to grow fond of the vampire’s antics, and their camp would probably be a bit more boring without him. Gale looked over to Taph, who appeared to be watching the pair from where she sat, and he moved to sit next to her, hoping that the presence of the others would not immediately send Taph rushing away.

“Could I speak with you, please?” Gale requested, his voice above a whisper, but certainly not loud enough that the whole group heard him asking Taph for a private conversation. 

The drow female was wearing her usual black mask that covered nearly half her face. While the mask was very pretty, and looked lovely on her, Gale hated the damn thing because it meant he could not see Taph’s eyes. The eyes were a window to the soul, he once read, and the fact that he could never see Taph’s, that he could only rely on her words and what little of her facial expressions he could see to interpret how she felt? It was maddening. Gale briefly wondered if Taph had taken off her mask during her tryst with Lae’zel, and a pang of jealousy shot through the wizard’s body that the githyanki warrior had perhaps seen a piece of Taph that she otherwise heavily guarded. 

“Looking for another magic lesson?” Taph teased, a slight smirk blooming on her face. “I’d be happy to give you an opportunity to learn from the master.”

Gale sighed. “I’m fairly certain it was I that gave you a lesson in magic that night, not the other way around, seeing as The Weave is my domain.”

“You mean your ex-girlfriend’s.” Taph pointed out, and Gale winced. Taph’s smirk grew, as though she sensed Gale’s agitation. 

“If you’d like to be technical about it, yes, I suppose you are correct, but I didn’t seek you out to discuss technicalities, Taph. You’ve been avoiding me.” 

The drow frowned, immediately deflecting. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. We’ve just been busy.”

“Not so busy that you couldn’t find the time to speak with literally everyone in camp but me every night since our magic lesson,” Gale huffed. He wasn’t stupid, and the fact that Taph was trying to treat him as though he were to avoid this conversation only agitated him further. Gale let out an exasperated sigh and a pleading look spread on his face. “Please, Taph?”

The sorceress turned her head to observe him (at least, he assumed she was observing him), and she was quiet for a moment as she considered Gale’s request. Eventually, Taph let out a resigned noise and stood. “Fine.” She agreed, and turned on her heel to walk towards Gale’s tent. Gale jumped to his feet, trailing after her like a lovesick puppy (Shadowheart’s words, after she saw him pining from afar one day, not Gale’s). Once Taph reached Gale’s tent, she stopped walking, only to stand in the exact spot she’d been in when she allowed Gale into her mind long enough to see her romantic vision of the two of them. Were he not a mite nervous about the conversation at hand, he probably would have thought something of it, but alas. Nerves won the day. 

“You wanted to talk?” Taph asked, gesturing to Gale expectantly, and Gale saw the faint raise of her eyebrow as it peeked out from the top edge of her mask. 

“Yes, I–well, I’d like to discuss what happened during our moment in The Weave the other evening.” Gale clarified, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. 

“You mean the moment when I showed you how easy doing magic is?” Taph retorted sassily, grinning. At least Gale could see her smile, if he couldn’t see the rest of her face. Her smile was truly lovely. Gale rolled his eyes, grinning. 

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m referring to, not the other thing that happened,” He replied drily, stepping closer to her. Gale scanned what he could see of her face, desperately trying to peer through the semi-opaque mask to try and read her facial expression. “No, I’d like to discuss– oh hells, fuck it. Would you be so kind as to remove your mask, Taph? I’d like to be able to look at you properly while we engage in this conversation.” 

Taph immediately stiffened and stepped backward, negating the closeness Gale created by stepping towards her, as though they were stuck in a dance. Though, perhaps, Gale supposed, they kind of were? “Why?” She bristled. 

Gale stared at her for a moment, his jaw slack. “...because I want to be able to look you into your eyes?” He answered incredulously. What the hells did she mean “why?” 

Taph took another step back from him, and Gale did not need to be able to see her whole face to know that the sorceress was looking around frantically for an exit strategy, the movements of her head were enough to know that. “What, so you can tease me about them while also reminding me of the wildly embarrassing moment I forgot myself and let you peer into my mind?”

She was defensive, and Gale honestly had no idea why. He knew most people didn’t particularly care for the drow as a whole, but he didn’t think he’d ever done anything to give Taph the impression that he was one of those people? If anything, Gale was grateful she was a drow– it made getting in and out of that Goblin camp so much easier, because the goblins simply bowed and let her through, no undue violence necessary. “I’m– I’m not going to make fun of you, Taph,” Gale reassured her, his tone gentler than before. “And for the record, I don’t know why you’re embarrassed. I’m embarrassed.” He admitted. 

Taph’s shoulders relaxed, and she took a step closer to Gale. “What do you have to be embarrassed about?” She asked, and he took another step towards her in return. Once Gale was certain that she was not liable to flee, he reached for her mask with both of his hands. “May I? Please?”

Taph chewed on her lip hesitantly, but eventually, she nodded. Gale reached for the black fabric, delicately taking hold of the edges with his fingers as he pushed it upwards to reveal Taph’s entire face. Her eyes were closed, but even so, she was even more beautiful without the mask than Gale already found her to be. “Open your eyes, Taph.” He requested softly, and the drow did as she was told. 

Immediately, Gale was taken aback by how pretty her eyes were. Taph had been the only one of them to be brave enough to let Volo dig around in her head, and her reward had been a new, magical eyeball that gave her the ability to see through invisibility spells (something that quickly became the most helpful spell any of them knew). The color of her new eye from Volo suited her, and the heterochromic effect it made with her natural eye complimented her face so well. Then there was the color of the eye she was born with. It was ice-blue, almost white, and it was radiant. “Forgive me if this is too forward, but I don’t quite understand why you hide your face from the world. It’s quite beautiful,” Gale confessed adoringly, a soft smile appearing on his face. “Especially your eyes. A man would be lucky to someday have children with eyes as beautiful as yours.”

The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and heat bloomed on his face in the firelight. “I–well, you know what I mean. You shouldn’t hide them away.”  Though he could picture it: a little girl running around with his chestnut hair and her ice-blue eyes. She’d be the loveliest person to ever exist, after her mother.

Taph’s eyes softened, and Gods, what a difference being able to see them made to reading her body language. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but most people don’t exactly look upon the drow kindly,” She said sarcastically, because of course Gale had noticed. He’d witnessed random strangers treat her with blatant racism just for existing. Even told off a few of them for doing so. “Hiding them makes it easier for people to just assume I’m an elf. Which makes…everything else easier.” 

Gale reached forward and tucked a piece of stray hair that had fallen from her long braid behind Taph’s ear. “You should never hide who you are. Not when you’re hiding some of the very best parts of you. The opinions of others will matter very little, in the end.”

Taph blushed, and Gale’s heart did a backflip, but it did give him the courage to say what he needed to say next. “I wanted to apologize for how I reacted to the vision you showed me in The Weave. I realize that it may have left you thinking that the idea of sharing a romantic gesture with you is not something I reciprocate, when in truth, it’s quite the opposite. That…that is something I would like very much.”

Taph stared at him in surprise, almost as if she could not believe this was not some sort of elaborate joke. “You– you would?” 

“I would, and I look forward to the day we get to have that moment,” He smiled, nodding at Taph, his hands falling back to his sides. “If you’ll have me, of course.” 

An easy silence filled the air as the two of them stared at each other. Then, without any sort of ceremony, Taph reached forward and slipped her hand into Gale's, lacing their fingers together. The sorceress offered his hand a light squeeze. “I’d like that.”

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

I've just finished reading 'Unwary'.

This was amazing - thank you for writing and sharing, and thank you for tagging me!

I can certainly sympathize with Theodwyn's view on Eomund. The things that make a man exciting at 20 quite often make him childish and irritating at 40 if he doesn't grow up and move beyond him.

Then we discover, Theodwyn is just as flawed that way herself. Also incapable of heeding the advice of others, not accepting she needs to change and behave more sensibly until it's too late.

I loved the add-on stuff about Thengel. I headcanon Thengel as being a hard, authoritarian father who set high standards and expected obedience (hence why Theoden is so worried about being worthy of his ancestors), and struggled to show love, especially to his kids. I also headcanon that one of the daughters was completely overlooked because she was quieter and plainer than her more glamorous and outgoing siblings. The 'second daughter' name in your story is a great but painful touch.

Would be interesting to see a follow-up from Eomer's perspective. The son who loves his parents unconditionally as a child realizes as an adult how flawed they both were. And perhaps it gives him some painful moments of self-reflection, sitting in vigil over Eowyn in the Halls of Healing after the Battle of Pelennor Fields, accepting that he himself suffers from the same rash stubbornness, and it almost got him killed as well. He tells himself he needs to do better and be better going forward, if he is to be a good King.

Beautifully done. Thank you again, for your lovely work :)

Thank you so very much! What a lovely message!

I think you and I are in a very similar place about Thengel! As someone who’s own father was a damn mess, he never had a good role model for fatherhood and so prioritized easily quantifiable things like discipline and obedience over squishier stuff like feelings, which he would never have imagined talking about with his dad. And since he was essentially forced back to Rohan against his will, I think that would also have made him very particular about wanting to have everything his own way once he was there. (Like an “I’m compensating for my lack of control in being here by overly controlling everything else” kind of deal.)

What you say about the lingering effect of the deaths of Éomund and Théodwyn on Éomer (and Éowyn) is really interesting. I sort of walked up to the edge of that in an earlier story, but I’d like to re-look at that now that I have a clearer sense in my own mind of how things went down with the parents. I wonder how much of the true circumstances of their deaths the kids would have ever been told. Éomund’s death was a matter of military tactics gone bad, so they probably would have learned that over time just from a description of the bare facts. But beyond knowing that their mother became inexplicably ill and died, did they know any more about the context?

It’s really interesting to think about and something I’d love to read more about, too, if anyone else has written (or will write) on that same overall theme!

(Also, have I ever told you that your Éomer “listen up fives, a ten is speaking” gifs are one of my ALL TIME favorite LOTR memes??? ♥️)

[thepigeonblue]

(Matchup for Lulu🌸)

Hi baby!! I was hoping to get either overwatch or arcane matchup (either or is lovely!)

-for the basics run down, I'm looking for a romantic matchup but platonic is just as fun. Im AFAB (she/her), lesbian :)

-personality wise I easily cater my humor and demeanor for whoever im talking it (a bit of a ppl pleaser tbh) but overall I'm a bit introverted but warm up very easily. I joke a lot and my mind goes faster than my mouth sometimes, before I trust people I'm more on the calmer quiet side (still like making people laugh though). I am a little blunt but never in an insuilting way- (I tend to rat myself out a lot lmao) typically the wine aunt of friend groups.

-looks wise I'm a bit on the shorter side (5'1") and I have a good mix of lean muscle and some subtle curves (lost a lot of weight so I just have my legs and ass left-) I have a round face, im pretty pale and have medium length curly dark brown hair, I have glasses (dont wear then as much as i should) and I dress in a very 2000s-2010s way (heels, skinny/flare jeans, zip ups, camis, hoop earrings etc-) I love thrifting my clothes. Also I love makeup but if I could stick to one thing it would be my fluffy false lashes :)

-hobbies and overall interests, I really like knitting (ive tried crochet but knitting is more calming), I working on becoming a tattoo artist soon, I draw a bit, I like thrifting and going to garage sales, I did sparring/boxing for a bit, I'm a pothead (ive cut down a bit though!) And I like listening to music (Kali uchis, tommy February, Jinjer [metal band from 🇺🇦] and mitski) I also know ASL as *technicly a first language, and still use it today

That felt like a lot but I hope it was enough to mgroups.make something cool- have a great day/night!! TYSMM

Thanks so much for requesting, I love doing these!

Overwatch

Kiriko!

As soon as you meet she picks up on your people-pleasing habit and decides she needs to know more about you. 

Like your real sense of humour, which is definitely a core foundation in the relationship.

You’re always making each other laugh, even after a (rare) argument.

Kiriko is an easy person to warm up to, I can’t imagine it takes very long at all. Not if she has anything to do with it anyway.

She finds your ‘wine aunt’ tendencies hilarious. If you both need to complain about someone, she’ll casually open up a conversation with something along the lines of

‘__  seems… well.’ 

to test the waters. 99% of the time you both like/dislike the same people though, so that can give way to a recreational bitching session.

Much like two sassy wine aunts.

You both know ASL which is handy.

It makes for a form of personal communication between just the two of you that, I’d imagine, most people you surround yourself with don’t understand.

It’s intimate, in a way. If you’re out with a group together and one of you wants to leave, you can communicate that and slip away without anyone else knowing.

Also linking back to complaining about people, WELL. That’s just a whole new world.

You have similar styles when it comes to clothes, but not in a way that makes you look boring, just coordinated.

I feel like Kiriko would have pretty basic music taste, but she’s an open minded person and would give you the aux when driving without complaint. You’d at least have some Mitski in common

(Even if the occasional ‘oh I’ve heard this song on TikTok’ drives you mental sometimes)

Actually I take that back I can see you converting her into a Kali Uchis fan

Oh thrifting and garage sales are a MUST. She loves that as well, although she lingers for so long.

But with Kiriko, the time passes easily and you’ve had such a good time you don’t even realise you’ve spent an hour looking at some dude’s car boot.

She’ll call them dates, even if it’s just going out to get something for the house. Or if it’s basically just hanging out.

But she goes ‘Cool, it’s a date!’ In a way that’s far too self-assured for you to object in any way.

Runner up: Mercy

Arcane

Jinx!

It’s another relationship based on humour with her (sorry, I realise there’s a slight pattern here)

But it’s much less serious, even when it maybe should be.

This girl INSTANTLY took a liking to you. And she wasn’t even sure why. But she made no secret of her opinion, always bugging you to get you to stay and talk to her, making up excuses to get your input on something, making little trinkets and giving them to you.

‘Hey, hey!! I made this, isn’t it cool??’

‘Oh, yeah it’s pretty cool’

‘Well you can have it if you want it so bad, here, take it, don’t mention it.’

And just like that the conversation has moved on.

Once you’re actually close enough that she can just verbally request your presence for the sake of having you around, she does that a lot.

Dates/hangouts could range from just hanging around listening to music to pulling shenanigans and pranks together.

She’d approve of your music taste, you definitely have a blend playlist that she puts on when you’re just hanging out.

Her working on her gadgets, you knitting, with your playlist on, the silence between you interrupted with a

‘Is this mine or yours?’ As a Jinger song comes on, to which she shrugs.

She’d encourage you to practice tattooing on her

Whether you accept or not- she’s pretty reckless with her body.

‘I trust you to not do a penis on my face or something, just like- you need REAL practice, right???’

You’re both around the same height, Jinx having maybe an inch over you and never letting you forget it.

But to everyone else you’re just two gremlins joined at the hip

Well, she’s much more gremlin than you. Obviously. 

You regulate her though. Shes not very consistent, so this doesn’t apply all the time, but she’s generally calmer around you.

It’s either she’s that loud, obnoxious way teenage boys get around their crushes (she wants to impress you) or she’s totally subdued, still very strange- she can be herself with you at least- but calmer. Like she’s afraid of scaring you off.

There’s a lot of that fear of losing with her, which can be a headache to deal with in itself, but if you have the patience and gentle hand she’ll be okay. 

[2000sangel]

Hello! Saw you were doing matchups. Can I get a romantic one?

I'm bisexual and I use she/her. I'm an ambivert. For those who don't know me very well, I may appear calm, collected and polite, but when I get close with someone, that's when my true personality comes out; I'm very sarcastic and sassy, especially if someone gets on my nerves. When I'm with my friends, I like to joke around, engage in playful banter with them, even often affectionately insult them (if that makes sense). I also love to tease and I don't mind being teased back. Even though I'm a bit goofy, I'm usually the rational, maybe even mom friend of the group; the type of friend who tries to stop the rest from doing dumb shit if I think it's too dumb or dangerous. I also tend to curse like a sailor lol. But my friends say that I'm also thoughtful, open and understanding. I can be very patient and gentle as well if I want too.As for my style, I usually dress in all black (fun fact: I never wear skirts though, I despise them) and I love silver jewelry. I always have a silver ring on each finger or both hands (without them I feel almost naked) and usually snake or dragon-themed silver earrings.

My main hobbies and interests are: listening to music (I can't live without it), lately I've been listening mostly to any rock or metal type of music or similar (for example I love bands such as Ghost and Nickelback). Besides that, I also love to draw, read, and travel. Sometimes I also like to play or do some sports (I've been a horse rider since I was seven and I love swimming). But I also like to just sit on the couch and watch movies (preferably with friends).

Also, my main love languages are: psychical affection, quality time and gift giving.

As for my type, when it comes to men I love it when they have a sense of humour that's for sure, but other than that it's hard to describe my type. I either usually simp for kind-hearted goofballs or arrogant jerks, there's no in between XD. My taste in women is kinda simpler, I usually simp for confident bad bitches (like Lute for example).

I think that's it, thank you in advance!

Hello, and congrats on being the first requester for my matchups! First and foremost, I got very excited over this because you said you listen to Ghost – they’re my favorite group! But with that out all the way, I sincerely hope you’re up to date with technology, because I match you with...

Vox!

Vox is the charismatic, if not somewhat self-centered,  owner and CEO of VoxTek as we all surely know here. The first thing that I’d like to note here is that he loves any kind of attention, and that you seem to be quite the attention-giver, given that two of your main love languages are physical touch and gift-giving. He likes to show off your relationship by casually draping an arm over your shoulder each time you lean into him, and by keeping all of your little gifts on his desk as he works.

I find that your personalities are a good match for each other, because you sound like you could stand your ground very well to his snarky remarks. He obviously can hold his own as well, which often results in the playful banter that you know and love.

Your more patient and gentle side is also important here, because it takes a very patient person to stand him and how egotistical he is sometimes; he’ll see no problem with it at first, but you need to give him time while also standing your ground as I said earlier. He’ll quickly realize that you’re truly one of a kind for sticking around, and that is how I imagine that you two would decide on starting a romantic relationship with each other.

You mentioned that you like watching movies with your friends; how about watching them with your boyfriend, as he plays them on his TV-screen head? He plays movies, videos, music videos, anything that you’d like to watch! There might be a downside to this, which is that he likes to comment on anything and everything – if he doesn’t like what you’re watching, he will let you know with a groan and will even speak over whatever you’re watching to point out how boring it is for him. But, in the end, he loves you, so he will play it all either way.

He slowly takes interest in your other hobbies as well; since you like drawing, it will basically inflate his ego if once in a while you make a little portrait of him! And he’d surely enjoy a good vacation once in a while (well, whatever that means in Hell), so as long as it’s something relaxing and not at all chaotic he will follow you along in your travels, too.

I feel like you and Vox would be the aesthetically pleasing to look at couple; imagine him, dressed in one of his dark blue suits, and you, wearing something black and elegant. He doesn’t mind that you don’t like wearing skirts, I feel like he doesn’t really have a preference for how his partner would need to dress, in fact he’ll accept anything that comes with dating you as long as you can stand the more difficult sides of his personality, he’s grateful for that already even if he might not admit it.

And lastly, I have a question for you: do you by chance like to call your partner pet names, anon? Because you might want to do that here. It will get Vox all flustered, it’s the one thing that will make him almost short-circuit!