#why is there no romance in this game

[nightowlmila]

Spoiler warning for Hogwarts Legacy's Sebastian Sallow & Natsai Onai quest lines!

So, I haven't seen anyone talking about the two crucio moments yet - I've decided to just do it myself. (English is not my first language.)

I've always felt like Sebastian was pretty much smitten with the MC from the moment they bested him in that duell in DADA on the first day. (As was the MC with him. Really, you can't tell me otherwise xD)

Which made it very weird for me that he so easily was able to use the cruciatus curse on the MC.

But, after witnessing crucio being cast on Natsai, it makes a whole of a lot more sense.

You see, when Natsai was hit with the curse by Harlow, she broke down spasming, apparently even loosing consciousness, ending up in the hospital wing in a wheelchair. She said it was mainly because her mother insisted, but when you compare that to how the MC was effected by the curse - she seems to be a whole of a lot more damaged by it.

Because MC, while obviously being hurt by it - considering the life bar dropped into the red area - took just one healing potion and was walking and talking like nothing happend. No spasms, no loosing consciousness. They just dropped to their knees in pain. Which means that Sebastian using that curse was not half as bad as Harlow using it.

It reminded me of when Harry used it on Bellatrix in Order of the Pheonix. While she too broke down from the pain, she was basically unharmed by it - because Harry, while furious because of Sirius's death, didn't mean it in a way that would cause unspeakable pain.

I see the same for Sebastian. He didn't want to hurt the MC in that way. That boy has by all means a lot of unresolved issues. Anger issues even. And he definitely is drawn to the dark arts. But he is also a loyal, reliable friend who cares deeply (maybe even a bit too much, considering how far he is willing to go for his sister) about those he loves.

My point being - Sebastian may have used the cruciatus curse on the MC to escape Slytherin's maze - but it was a really weak one compared to an actual dark wizard using it on someone they hate.

Therefore I don't see Sebastian actually wanting to hurt the MC but merely channeling his anger and frustration into the curse to escape a death trap.

He definitely meant to kill that goblin and his uncle, tho. Like I said. Lots of unresolved (anger) issues. Get him lots of hugs and a therapist, please. Why couldn't my MC give him more hugs and therapy sessions? I want more meaningful decisions in that game XD

(No, seriously. The way it most of the time doesn't even matter what you say because the characters answers will not differ is just plainly frustrating at times. No, douchbag Solomon, I did not defend Sebastian, I said he went the hell too far, you moron XD)

[kiss-my-asymptote]

I’m fucking dying Astarion’s early party banter is him just flirting with all the companions and striking out; none of them are having it. When he comes on to Tav at the party, not only is he manipulating them, but they are literally his last choice. Not even plan b or c, Tav was plan ‘fuck it, I guess we’re doing this!’ and that clown still fell into his own pit trap.

[gallusneve]

Coral Island - Rysy "Tattooing is more than ink on skin... it's a sacred bond between artist and canvas."

[callixspod]

Persona 4 Golden Update but... Something's off. (Read ID: Important)

Expect to see more soon!

[yabishrihere]

“Do you know how hard it’s been for me to contain myself?”

[girl-of-stupidology]

I LOVE PENTIMENT SO MUCH!!! WHERE WAS I WHEN THIS GAME HAD A COOL FANDOM BACK IN 2023 😭😢

As a person that never played a single video game besides Hades this year, never have I found a niche game that is legit made for me if not for Pentiment by Josh Sawyer. If you are an art historian lover, Illuminated manuscript lover, or love silly men and monks GO play it.

[fir-fireweed]

STORY UPDATE! CHAPTER 10 IS LIVE!

This chapter is not long, but it was the most difficult for me to write. This is the chapter I have been dreading since I first dusted off my novella and embarked on this project. I knew the chapter was coming, I knew why it had to happen, but I still struggled with it. I can assure you I disliked writing it more than you will dislike reading it. Maybe.

But it’s not all ominous news—those of you on Ferret’s route are in for a nice treat! She really gets her time to shine in this chapter.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has followed, read, rated, or commented on this IF! The reception to Viatica has been overwhelming and I love reading your asks and comments, thank you!

[vigilskeep]

the lucanis romance pacing is kind of objectively terrible, no idea what the writing thought process was, but it’s so funny in-world that it basically circles around to a win for me

[momochanners]

Yes, YES; This one gets it.

[jaysworlds]

hello mcr girlies. which mcr song is YOUR song i mean like 'this song gets me like no one else has ever got me this is the greatest piece of music ever to be created etc etc etc' the song no one understands like you understand.

i'll go first. mine is Summertime

[corseque]

“But the game is DA: Veilguard not DA: Solavellan” hey dipshit, was BG3 about Dame Aylin and Isobel because they have a resolved romance plot in it? Or were they somehow able to tell a story about both? Don’t be fucking stupid

[preciouslittle-bhaalbabe]

Durge and Astarion have the potential to be the BESTEST buddies or the most loyal lovers. Like almost immediately after Astarion threatened them Durge is like "OMG BESTIE SAME ID LOVE TO SEE YOUR ENTRAILS". Then once he joins the party Durge has clocked him as being undead basically right away. Maybe not fully realising it but the mind doesn't dance with thoughts of a perfect pretty corpse for any of the other companions.

Not to mention just how similar they both are. When Astarion pours his heart out to durge in act iii after they find out the truth??? It's such a sweet moment. He knows exactly what to say to them and nobody else even asks Durge how they're feeling after finding out the truth besides him.

He watches them sleep because he's worried ;w;

Everyone else is just like "oh wow. So maybe don't be a Bhaalspawn ok?". They're not exactly helpful lol

ALSO not to mention the "kill your darling" cutscene??? Astarion is fucking terrified but he's so sweet about it ;w;

Everyone else is like "ugh you're rabid this isn't good"

And Astarions like "you're cute! In another life we may have been friends. But this is MY SWEET and you need to get out >:c"

I love them your honour.

[houseswife]

I love how neferiously hugh laurie delivered his lines in that 5x1 scene where house is blackmailing wilson. because the dialogue could’ve been conveyed in a manner that was obviously facetious and unserious (like the way RSL was playing the scene: “You’d jeopardise a patient—? 😒🙄) but he literally chose to go “If it keeps you here😈👹” in the most deadass, diabolical tone. so the result is that we have house sounding like a genuine psychopath as he threatens to let a woman die and then wilson proving he’s an even BIGGER one by responding with, like, mild exasperation at best. 10/10 dynamic no notes

[askfordoodles]

felt so euphoric to be able to come out as nb/trans in Veilguard, loved the added dialogue they took the time to write and record just for such scenarios

now can we PLEASE make a game where u can explicitly, verbally come out as ace, and also without it automatically locking you out of the romance path

pls bioware (and other companies) some of us are STARVING

[annn-starrr]

they're all serving cunt. we've been known.

[afurtivecake]

I like that TSC, though written in the POVs of characters who experience physical attraction, still reads like an ace romance. It still relies on small tender gestures and moments to convey emotions like deepening feelings of trust. What it doesn't do is place characters together in big plot moments and just waving away the reason for the characters' sudden closeness as *it's sexual attraction*. Allo romance novels will tell you how they got together, but an ace romance is basically an entire thesis on WHY they got together. And I'd say TSC reads far more like the latter.