#I just need change before I explode. never satisfied blah blah | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ptergwen · 3 years

Note

hi I saw your requests were open if there not anymore you can completely ignore this :). but could you do a boyfriend!peter x reader where he loves it when reader gives him those little kisses on his nose and freckles with head scratches please. feel free to change or completely ignore this <3

thousands of tiny stars

pretend i haven’t used this

warnings: a couple suggestive jokes but the rest is just floofy fluff

a/n: i got carried away as per usual and i did end up changing it a tiny bit :/ emphasis on tiny tho lmfhsjfh you’ll see ! either way i hope you enjoy mwah

one thing about peter is that he absolutely can’t sit still under any given circumstances. he’s restless, like a burning ball of energy that’s brightness never dims.

because of this, he tries to and needs to keep himself occupied and be kept occupied every second of every day.

it’s sometimes playing with his fingers or your own, which peter prefers because he gets to hold your hand. other times, it’s tapping his favorite pink glitter pen relentlessly against the kitchen table while he conjures up homework answers.

aunt may isn’t very fond of that one.

this time, it’s constantly shuffling about the couch in the name of finding comfort.

peter starts off with an arm around your shoulders and a content grin on his face. you two agreed on mean girls for the first movie of your marathon, your head resting against peter’s chest as the tv steals your attention.

a few minutes in, peter decides he feels like being held rather than holding you. he sneaks his way down your body, lets himself nudge your thighs to wordlessly communicate what he wants. you of course oblige and switch positions accordingly.

peter lays his head in your lap, taking the opportunity to stare up at you instead of at the screen.

he finds himself shifting around again not too much later. now laying on the couch’s armrest on his side, he kicks his feet into your lap where his head just was.

you’re becoming slightly annoyed with his fidgeting. his explanations of sorry, just trying to get comfortable and innocent smiles are what stop you from complaining.

“that’s strike three, parker,” you joke, eyes leaving the movie to fix on him. peter crosses his arms over his chest. “i dunno what you’re talking about, y/l/n,” he insists. “i haven’t done anything remotely strike-worthy so far this evening.”

flicking his sock clad foot, you mutter your response. “debatable.” peter dismisses you with a huff. “whatever. c’mere… i miss you.” he makes grabby hands for you, like the big baby he is.

it’s quite endearing, though.

“i’m right here, pete,” you laugh out and return your gaze to mean girls. “and yet, you’re so far,” peter counters. “come gimme cuddles.”

you sigh lightheartedly, your ever so clingy boyfriend still reaching out for you. a smirk pulls at your lips.

“well, there’s an offer i can’t refuse.”

peter adjusts so he’s sitting criss cross, bouncing excitedly in his spot. his chocolate brown curls fall in all directions, form being swallowed by an oversized stark industries hoodie that he keeps having to roll up the sleeves of.

he looks so soft and snuggly in anticipation of your cuddle session. you can’t believe you were ever annoyed at him.

slightly annoyed.

he’s so eager that when you scoot the tiniest bit towards him, he literally pulls you into his lap. peter’s arms hug you around your lower back, you laughing quietly as he peppers a trail of kisses from your cheek to the side of your neck.

the movie long forgotten about, you wind your arms around his neck and tilt your chin up.

“pete?” you breathe out. peter pecks your cheek once more, then your other, beaming. “yeah, babe?” he wonders. with a half serious half teasing glare, you wonder, “are you comfy now?”

peter ponders your question, and from the skeptical furrowing of his eyebrows and biting of his lip, you have your answer. he’s about to make you regret asking.

it seems that as soon as you settle, peter gets antsy.

“uh, actually…” he strokes his thumb along the underside of your chin, smiling apologetically. “you mind if we lie down? ‘m kinda tired.” there it is. you roll your eyes. “how could you not be? you’ve been playing musical chairs all night.”

your words earn a chuckle from peter, though they’re at his expense. “this’ll be the last round, promise,” peter swears and seals the deal with a kiss to your chin, which is currently grasped between his fingers.

you know it won’t be. the game goes on forever with peter, unless you end it yourself.

“damn right, bug boy. move another inch after this and you can consider your cuddle privileges revoked,” you grumble, getting off of peter’s lap. he stares at you in pure horror, gasping. “you wouldn’t…” “i would,” you correct him.

not aiming to test that theory, peter quickly fumbles around and lays flat against the cushions. he wills himself to be stiff as a board. you seem satisfied with that, climbing on top of him with your face hovering above his.

peter sets his hands on your hips, grip strong. he closes the space between you both with a short kiss. you reciprocate and deepen it, turning short to long as your parted lips slot with his. his tongue darts out, already skimming over your bottom lip for more access.

you hum into his mouth and allow his tongue to slide in. peter kisses you so tenderly as he rubs circles on your hips, your fingers tangling in his locks simultaneously. you weave them up to his roots, using your nails to gently scratch at his scalp just the way he likes. he breaks the kiss to let out a noise close to a moan.

“that- that… oh, god yeah,” peter praises, his eyes fluttering closed. you’re amused at how easily pleased he is. “don’t cream your pants yet, pete. i’m just getting started,” you purr. peter squeezes your hips in response. “feels better than an orgasm, babe. i’m serious, too,” he murmurs.

you continue your handiwork in his hair and lean in for another kiss. peter merely pecks your lips before jerking away.

“wait, hold that thought,” he exhales a breathy laugh. “i gotta pee.”

he has to be kidding. again with this?

“oh no, you don’t,” you deadpan, pushing against his shoulders to hold him down. “oh yes, i do,” peter retorts. “let me go, y/n/n.”

peter could definitely slither out from underneath you if he truly wanted to. he has super strength, so the might of his teenage girlfriend doesn’t quite compare.

pinning him in place, you straddle his waist. “nope, you’re gonna stay. i’m not giving you a choice in the matter.” peter attempts to pry you off of him, but you won’t budge. “y/n, my bladder is gonna explode-“

he cuts himself off with a giggle when your lips begin to attack him. you kiss down the bridge of his nose lightly, peck each freckle dotting his skin, and the amount of them is infinite. peter’s fit of giggles continues as you smooch that pretty face of his, his cheeks dusted pink and hands coming up to support you by your sides.

he’s always been a little insecure about his freckles. they don’t suit him, there are too many of them, blah blah blah. you obviously couldn’t disagree more. you think they’re sick.

you’d once even told him they look like thousands of tiny stars, and peter does love stars. he also loves the kisses you tend to randomly surprise him with to remind him to appreciate his freckles the same way you do.

“okay, okay! i’ll stay!” peter concedes, you ruffling his hair and pressing a final kiss to the tip of his nose. he grins despite himself, and secretly wishes you wouldn’t stop. “but, if my kidneys fail… it’s on you.”

you pat his chest definitively.

“good thing you’re a fast healer.”

#peter parker #peter parker fluff #peter parker imagine #peter parker x reader #peter parker x you #peter parker x y/n #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker fic #peter parker smut #peter parker au #tom holland #tom holland fluff #tom holland x reader #tom holland x you #tom holland x y/n #tom holland imagine #tom holland fic #tom holland fanfiction

1K notes · View notes

mandivsman-blog · 3 years

Text

11/27/2020

Speaking of being stupid. Someone has been trying to inch there way back into my life recently in a sneaky, immature way.

I haven’t developed feelings for many men in the past few years. I wasn’t particularly interested in relationships. Plus, I have so many options I was just enjoying my life and experimenting with different things. I was hyper focused on growth and what I wanted. Also, I was traveling a lot and wasn’t ready to include another person in my decision making. I think it was..August, I met this man, I refer to him as airforce (obviously he was in the airforce). Now, I wouldn’t normally date a person in the service. There’s a group subconscious in service men that well don’t jive with my ethics, and the people who know me know ethics are extremely important to me. He seemed different. He was from Montana, relatively quiet, brilliant, read constantly, and smoking fucking hot. Top 3 most attractive men I’ve dated. I mean, he was/is like irresistible to me. Handsome, nice lips (big for me), dressed well, 10/10 body, tattoos, awesome haircut (also big for me), and the most perfect Cock I have ever seen. When I say perfect cock, I mean, I wanted to photograph it and hang it on the wall. Sometimes, I would just hold it in my hand and look at it...look HARD. Now, he was extremely meh at the sex. Nice dick doesn’t automatically mean good at sex. He went for waaaaaayyyyy too long and he was big so sometimes I just grit and beared it until he was finished. But, he was a great kisser and cuddler. People don’t understand that kissing and cuddling after sex is just as part of sex for some people as the actual acts are.

Anyway, he planned amazing dates, was affectionate, successful, and he was an independent politically. That’s important to be in this age because the political climate is extremely black and white at the moment and being an independent shows me he didn’t let the military sub culture affect his decision making skills. A real free thinker.

But, alas, this man lied to me and after that, I was done. No back and forth with him. This is the 3rd time he’s tried to reconnect with me. The time before this current time, he reswiped me on a dating app and I answered and said “why”. He said blah blah blah, yatta yatta yatta. I wasn’t reading. At the end, he wanted to exchange information again so we could take more and I told him he was out of his mother fucking mind of which he ignored and tried to ask me how I was doing. I left him on read and went about my business.

Fast forward, about a month on so ago, out of no where he likes a few of my pics on Facebook. Then, a week ago, asks to follow my personal Instagram. I accept because, why not. Then, heart eyes some of my stories of which I leave on read. Finally, asks me “How are you?”

First off, if you’re a man doing this, stop it. Fucking stop it. Grow a pair and ask me what you want. What do you want? I have zero patience for this even though I suppose I do it somewhat.

Do as I say, not as I do, AMIRIGHT?

I’m 30 and I’m over it. To me, this behavior says “I’m casting out lines and waiting for something to bite”

This is humiliating to me. A man thinking that he can just come and go when he needs companionship is just, a fucking disgrace.

A man trying to make me one of several is also humiliating.

Like, boi, go get some bitches that hate themselves and throw that dirty ass dick to them.

To me, that situation ruins the sanctity of any type of relationship, even primarily sexual ones. He doesn’t care about any of them as human beings. He doesn’t want to improve or add to their lives. He’s just making sure HIS needs are met. He tells them whatever they want to hear. All he’s got is dick and hope. Most of the time, these types of men lie or omit this for fear of losing. Again, this lack of information limits the informed decisions that the woman’s make.

If she would otherwise prefer to not be with a man who is entertaining multiple women then the person lying about that is securing the relationship by deception.

Sounds to me like a pathetic, weak way to secure a relationship. Sounds exhausting. Sounds like eventually when the masks come off, the relationship will explode.

Now, going on other dates and being honest about it makes sure that there’s no bad energy on either side. Both parties can make informed decisions to what they want. Without that honesty, one person begins to care for a person who never really existed.

Maybe there’s women who are okay with a man they’ve developed feelings for building relationships and sleeping with other people. There’s a name for this, polyamory. If a person wants polyamory then that’s what they should seek, polyamorous people. Instead, they hope to trap and trick mono women into caring for them, gaslight them if the women bring up fears or concerns all in the hopes they don’t get caught. Hoping if they do get caught, a women dislikes herself enough that she believes she doesn’t deserve better and sticks around.

This behavior is not fair. And, if you’re a person who perpetrates this behavior, it’s not fair to you too. ThisBehavior limits the connection and security you can feel from people. It numbs and dulls the senses. Quality of life a person receives from their relationships diminishes. They won’t be satisfied with anything simple, everything will have to be complicated for their attention to be held.

But anyway, Air Force is still like, deliciously hot but I do not forget what he did and I will not see him again. I accepted his follow request on insta and he keeps 😍 my stories and liking pictures. I only did that so he can take a look and realize, once again, he ain’t shit. Apparently, this is some type of language doing those things via social media.

Now, say, AF had messaged me and said something along the lines of “Hey, I’ve been thinking about you lately and wanted to know if you’d possibly want to reconnect? I’ve grown a lot this year and I think you’d like to get to know the new me.” Or some variation of “I’VE CHANGED AND I WANT TO SEE.” If that were the case I might bone a bone his way and grab brunch with him but he doesn’t have the plums to communicate directly OR he knows his intentions aren’t to reconnect but to fuck.

#dating #relationship #millennials #fuckbois #relationship advice #love #breakup

2 notes · View notes

keeroo92 · 5 years

Text

Nico In Trouble

Hi everyone! Here is my submission for @whumptober2019 for day 5 with the prompt “Gunpoint” featuring everyone’s favorite mechanic, Nico. This one starts a little slow, but I think it came out well. Enjoy!

Word count - 2,489

_____________________________

Nico would never forget the first time she held a gun. It was a Heckler and Koch HK45, not one of her grandmother’s custom builds but a basic and bland model. Nothing fancy, just what her uncle kept in his nightstand for protection.

A beautiful piece.

She hadn’t been looking for it. Before that day, she never imagined he owned a firearm. All she needed was a battery to replace the dead one in the tv remote. She’d checked every drawer in the kitchen, every nook and cranny of the living room and office. This was her last hope, or she’d have to change the channel manually.

Gross.

Yet the sight of the polished metal derailed her plans. It called to her, begging for her touch. Something about the weapon resonated with her very soul and she lacked the will power to ignore it. The battery could keep for a while.

Trembling fingertips slid over the device, feeling its weight and structure. It sent chills up her spine and she couldn’t help the soft smile from crossing her lips as she lifted it, angling the barrel to catch the dim light from above. It glinted and flashed, as if it were celebrating her presence.

She was eight years old.

Guns weren’t unfamiliar to her, not with her family. Papa Rock loved telling stories about Granny Nell and her smithing days, speaking with reverence and pride of her accomplishments. It made Nico jealous sometimes; she wanted Papa to talk about her that way, too. Not to say he didn’t already, not even close.

But it always rang with the tone of an adult talking to a child. Over-exaggerated, encouraging and supportive but not truly impressed. Not false, just… something.

Her hands shifted on the grip. It wasn’t too heavy, but she struggled to maintain a solid grasp even with the finger grooves. Someday, it would fit in her palms with ease.

She couldn’t wait.

That was four years ago.

Uncle Terry’s shouts of alarm when he found her with his loaded gun still made her roll her eyes. Punishment was harsh; she knew better than to play with guns, what was she thinking? Blah, blah, blah. Whatever, as long as she got to touch it again.

But Papa Rock was ruthless. Not once since that day had he allowed her to handle a weapon. It was killing her, especially when he tried to placate her misery with a damned air rifle.

Ridiculous.

He encouraged her other interests, but nothing could quench her thirst to tinker with whatever pistol was available. She begged and pleaded and promised, yet his resolve never wavered. Not until she was ready, he said. A few more years, he swore. How was he supposed to know when she was ready, anyway? Why did he get to make that call?

I’ve been ready for years!

Nico growled and spat out her toothpaste. She wasn’t doing herself any favors by dwelling on it; better to think about something else. As much as it sucked, it was out of her hands. Papa Rock wasn’t one to change his mind, especially not when she whined about it. Either he’d let her near a gun or she’d turn eighteen and no longer need permission.

She rinsed away the dregs and grinned at the mirror, checking for any glaring scuzz on her teeth in between her braces. Another thing she couldn’t wait to grow out of…

Satisfied, she headed to bed.

Well, it was more of a sofa, but that wasn’t the point.

“G’night, Uncle Terry!” she called as she passed his closed bedroom door. A grunted response was all she received, but that was normal.

Whenever Papa Rock left town for work, she stayed with him. He kept his bedroom locked now, probably on Papa’s orders otherwise she would’ve been in his nightstand faster than a knife fight in a phone booth. Besides that, he pretty much gave her free reign.

She moved the disemboweled toaster she’d been working on earlier to the floor and slid between the sheets with a yawn. It was black as pitch outside and insects chirped through the open window, the still-humid air only just starting to be bearable. A typical summer evening, all things considered.

Then the front door exploded.

Nico jumped, her eyes shooting wide as a figure strode through the void. She couldn’t see much in the dark, but the unmistakable clack of a shotgun being loaded echoed in the heavy air.

“TERRY!”

What in the hell is going on?

The figure stepped forward and Nico held her breath. Whoever it was seemed to know their way around the small home, easily avoiding the furniture as they approached her uncle’s bedroom. Terror flooded her mind as she watched the intruder level the gun.

“GIT YOUR SORRY ASS OUT HERE!”

The snarling sounded female. Who was this, and why did she wanna shoot her uncle? It made no sense; he’d never mentioned a pissed off lady. What the hell did he do?

His door cracked open to reveal the barrel of that same Heckler and Koch from so long ago. She recognized it easily as the slide drew back, bringing a round into the chamber. The regular grumble of his voice was replaced with resigned exhaustion as he spoke.

“What the hell d’you want, Tara?”

Now was her chance, while the woman was distracted. She swallowed her fear and forced her body to move, trying to minimize the noise she made but the sheets still betrayed her as she moved to the floor. She cursed internally and prayed, but it was too late. The woman turned.

“Who’s there!? Show yourself!”

A pair of barrels leveled at roughly her position. Her heart beat faster than a hummingbird’s wings, her palms as slick as a greased hog. What should she do? Stay hidden and hope nothing hit her? Reveal herself and risk this stranger’s wrath? Either way, it was a risk.

I might die tonight.

The column of her throat twitched at the realization. If only she had a gun of her own! She’d cut the stranger’s tail for sure! Damn Papa Rock, damn him and his stupid rules!

“Ya got till the count of three! One…”

Her lungs refused to inflate and her legs stubbornly locked tight. Was there anything in between her and the shotgun? Could she duck behind the couch in time? She’d never been the fastest, but maybe just this once…

“Two…”

A click. She was running out of time. Her head spun and her vision swam as she slowly inhaled.

“Thr-“

Her hands flew into the air, palms open and submissive. They trembled as she licked her lips. “Okay, okay! I’m comin’ out!”

The stranger hummed and lowered the shotgun, but not by much. Drops of sweat slid from Nico’s brow and under her arms. She closed her eyes and ordered her body to rise, bracing for the worst.

“Who the fuck are you? Hit the damned light, will ya?”

A moment later, she cringed as rays of illumination flooded the room. Her eyes flew to the floor to avoid the worst of it.

“I’m N- Nicoletta Goldstein, Terry’s niece.”

A sharp clatter. Nico’s eyes stole a peek at the woman to see the shotgun raised once more, pointed right at her face. The hands gripping the weapon were solid, not a shake to be seen as if to contrast her own trembling.

A warm puddle leaked from between her legs to stain her pajamas.

I’m gonna die! Oh my god, I’m actually gonna die!

Enraged eyes locked with her terrified gaze. Her vision blurred, the first tear spilling free as she choked on a sob.

“P- please! I’m just a kid!” she begged. The admission of her youth sent daggers into Nico’s belly.

Why doesn’t Terry stop her!? Aren’t grown ups supposed to do that kind of thing?

“Well, Nicoletta Goldstein, you better hope your pig of an uncle’s got some damn good explanations!”

A thin hand left the shotgun to push hair from the woman’s eyes. Her features weren’t unpleasant, even with rage twisting them. What could she possibly want to kill Uncle Terry for?

“Leave her outta this! Our shit’s between you and me, she’s got nothing to do with it!” his voice cried.

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do, shit brain! All I wanna hear from you is a damned apology!”

Blood pounded in Nico’s ears. She couldn’t hear the cicada’s anymore, only the sound of wind. Her chest heaved as she choked on dread, a metallic tang rising in her throat. What she wouldn’t give to have more time.

There’s still so much I haven’t done!

It wasn’t fair! She hadn’t done anything wrong, why did she have to pay the price for her uncle? If there was any justice in the world, their positions would be switched. She’d have the gun and he’d be out here soaked in his own piss and drowning in terror. By all rights, he deserved it!

“Here’s my apology, you skanky bitch.”

A sound like thunder split the air as Terry pulled the trigger. With a flash and a smell of gunpowder, his shot struck home in the woman’s shoulder. She grunted and angled her shotgun at the bedroom door, squeezing the trigger and staggering back from the recoil. Pellets blasted into the wood, ripping holes in some places on their path of death.

Shit, shit, shit! What the fuck! I gotta move!

Nico didn’t hesitate, ducking low and darting behind the massive bookcase against the wall. It was a deep one, enough so that she was mostly shielded if she pressed into the wall hard enough. Hopefully, it would be enough.

Another thunderous crack; the .45. Terry was still alive, still fighting.

She closed her eyes and let the tears flow as the shotgun fired, flinching at the impact of pellets on wood. If this went on much longer, she’d learn what it sounded like when they struck flesh.

A string of violent expletives came from the woman as she ducked behind the couch to reload. Nico had mere seconds to make her move and she growled, sending every ounce of pent up rage and frustration to her legs, but they refused to move. Her body was in open rebellion. It wouldn’t let her leave the safety of her nook, no matter how much she wanted to.

Damnit, come on! You coward, Nico!

It was too late. The woman stood tall and aimed once again at what remained of Terry’s bedroom door, cackling as she fired. A massive section of wood splintered away and she advanced, preparing her next shot to spray through the gap.

“DIE, YOU BASTA-“

The .45 fired. Gurgles replaced words and a heavy thud marked the woman falling to her knees, mere inches from the door. Her muddy eyes met Nico’s and blood leaked from the fresh hole in her neck, a steady river too powerful to overcome. She shifted her shotgun and aimed, determined to get what she came for.

Just die, won’t ya?! Haven’t you done enough!?

Her hand squeezed and another round of pellets sprayed forth to decorate the door. Several went straight through and lodged into whatever waited beyond.

The shotgun clattered to the floor, followed shortly by the woman. Her head landed sideways, and Nico watched in stupefied horror as the light in her eyes flickered out. The rage seeped away as her features went slack, a soft exhalation stirring the still pooling blood beneath her.

It’s over.

Nico’s knees struck the hardwood as she collapsed. She couldn’t look away from the woman’s face as she broke down, staring at death as her body recovered from the cocktail of terror and shifted to exhausted relief. Never had she been more thankful to breathe, to be able to sob and shake with sweet, sweet life.

“Nico…”

Shit, I forgot about Terry!

She scrambled to her feet and peered through the gap made from the shotgun blasts. All that met her gaze was the bedspread, dotted with splinters and torn to shreds.

“Is she… is she dead?”

She hiccupped and glanced back to check, just in case. “Yeah, I- I think so.”

A pained grunt and the door opened. There stood Terry, covered in small cuts and scraps of wood, a scarlet stain growing on his calf, but alive.

“You all right, string bean?”

She choked on a laugh. No, she was not all right. Some lady just died in front of her after pointing a gun at her face and shooting the shit out of her uncle’s house.

But she wasn’t injured, so instead she nodded.

A warm hand pulled her into a hug. “You did good.”

This time she couldn’t hold back her manic snort. “I didn’t do anything, I just stood there and hid!”

“Yeah, I know. You didn’t get yourself killed, so… you did good.”

She wiped away hysterical tears and sniffled. Her mind already whirled with questions, but she was too tired to ask a single one. It’d keep.

She helped Terry to the couch just as the first flashing lights lit the room in red and blue. He grimaced as a voice outside demanded he open the door and surrender, an apology in his familiar eyes as he hollered back the basics of what happened.

“Hands on the windowsill! Both of you!”

Are you kidding me? I just wanna sleep! Can’t it keep?

Apparently not. The questions didn’t stop for what felt like years. Nico stopped paying attention after a while, too dazed to care anymore. She stared at the body as someone checked her for wounds. Vacant eyes were all that remained of the woman who made her piss herself in terror. Was that really all that got left behind when you died?

“Nico! Nicoletta Goldstein!”

She snapped to attention. A young man in blue held out a phone with a kind smile; no danger.

“We got a hold of your daddy, he wants to talk to ya.”

Papa Rock… I wish he was here.

“Hello?”

“Nico! Are you all right? Tell me what happened.”

She shifted her weight and pulled at the edges of a blanket someone left over her shoulders. “I’m fine. Just tired. Can I tell ya later? I’m…”

“Sure, sure… later. I’m coming back, I’ll be there in a few hours.”

A long pause. She didn’t have the energy to break the silence.

“Once you’re feeling up to it, I think it’s time. You’re ready.”

She stifled a yawn. “For what?”

“To learn to shoot. When you feel up to it, that is.”

She almost laughed. If he’d said those words a few short hours ago, she would’ve screamed with joy and excitement. Now, she felt nothing. That probably wasn’t a good thing, but she didn’t care. For now, it was enough to be alive. The rest?

It’d keep.

#my writing #fanfic #whumptober2019 #no. 5 #gunpoint #dmc nico #home invasion #violence #cursing #dmc #devil may cry

14 notes · View notes

shipsnthenight · 5 years

Text

Thoughts on Ubisoft and DLC retcon, from an as objective POV as I can:

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m glad about Ubisoft’s decision to do something to fix the DLC ending, the whole thing is a complete mess on many levels and for many different reasons, mainly:

Level 1 - Not well set chronologically. At the end of Chapter 7 in the main story, there’s no way the character would just stop her/his quest to find her/his family (gonna go with “her” from now on) and just settle down.

Level 2 - Playing your character straight (or any other gender identity that includes heterosexual relationships) and not being able to refuse this outcome, being forced into a relationship with a character that Is absolutely not what you pictured your character falling for.

Level 3 - Playing your character gay/lesbian (or any other gender identity that doesn’t include heterosexual relationships) and not being able to refuse this outcome, being forced into a relationship that changes the desired character sexuality.

That said, I’m extremely worried about what’s going to happen, for the following reasons:

This is NOT the first time a retcon like this has happened. I’ve compared this situation to the Mass Effect debacle multiple times in the past week. For those of you that don’t know the story here’s a quick recap, if you already know this, skip the small text:

Bioware released the ending of Mass Effect 3 which essentially boiled down to having a different colored filter over the same cutscene and resulting in the same outcome no matter what of the original three (or were there just two? don’t remember if the synthesis was added after) choices you had for the ending. Outrage by the entire fandom, petitions, protests, all kinds of shit, Bioware decides to release the “Extended Cut” which “would add major context and satisfy player blah blah blah”. It didn’t. People were initially happy with Bioware’s decision but when the Extended Cut was released it only added like 30 seconds to the ending cutscenes and other unimportant stuff that left players even angrier, only with the Citadel DLC it looked like something in regards of “closure” was achieved, but it wasn’t enough and to this day I think it isn’t.

So, because of this reason, I am worried that right now everyone is happy and hopeful, but we’re going to get burned all over again. Ubisoft isn’t Bioware tho, they don’t have EA breathing on their necks to squeeze as much money as possible from their players (they're pretty good at that on their own honestly), and from how they handled this and all the PR on AC Odyssey in general, it genuinely looks like they really care about this, more than usual, like... looks like they really took an emotional blow when they saw the reactions from the fans, so it’s possible that they’ll genuinely try to fix this in the best possible way. What is the best possible way tho?

Here comes my dilemma: how will they handle this?

Here’s what I know: The “having a baby” part of the story was apparently pivotal in their view of Assassin’s Creed lore, many of us pointed out that there was no need for a bloodline since:

The Animus no longer needs blood relatives to work.

At the and of the game Kassandra/Alexios will be immortal.

Now, for the animus thing, I think (MY OPINION, NOT CONFIRMED) that since Ubisoft is known for giving AC games to their 2 different studios, and these studios don’t really communicate that much, I genuinely think that the studio that made Odyssey didn’t know about this Animus change that happened in Origins, so their view was correct, if based on “old” AC lore.

I honestly can’t say I blame them if this was actually the case... AC lore is probably one of the biggest narrative messes I’ve ever seen (still here waiting for you guys to tell me what the Observatory in Black Flag is for). But still, TALK TO EACH OTHER GUYS.

Anyway, I’m getting to the point guys I promise. How will they actually fix this?

The way I see it they have two options:

One would be perfect, but it would take a lot of effort and money.

Another would be easier but would solve ONLY TWO of the “levels” I wrote at the beginning of this post, leaving the people on level 3 (the majority, and the ones that are most mad about this) still angry. That would be game over for Ubisoft, they’d never recover from that.

OPTION 1:

The farewell option becomes an actual farewell, you don’t get together with Natakas/Neema, you don’t start a family, you don’t have a bloodline. Great, awesome, but how will this affect Episode 3? This would require A LOT of work in terms of reshoots of Ep 2 and actual rewriting of Ep 3 (if they hadn’t already shot something for that too).

I saw from instagram that Melissanthi is in Greece right now, so they’ll have to get her and Michael back to reshoot stuff from Ep 2 and most likely add scenes, dialogue, choices, pathways to Ep 3. That would take time and A LOT of money for Ubisoft, money that they certainly have, but as a video-game company I find it hard to believe that they’d go to this length to fix this. I am ready to be pleasantly surprised tho, as I said before it really looks like they care about this AC game for a change.

OPTION 2 (this is what scares me)

The farewell option becomes an actual farewell, but they find a way for the baby to be born anyway (one-night-stand intensifies). This would mean minor reshoots for the ending, next to no rewriting for Ep 3, and a lot of money saved for Ubisoft. So that’s why I’m worried that they decided to go with this option.

Now, you know that I don’t have an actual problem with Kassandra sleeping ONCE with Natakas just because they were fooling around in the “at least there’s wine” scene and ending up having the baby BY HERSELF. I, personally (talking about ME, JUST ME, don’t take this as an attack on your person), could get behind that, but I know for a fact that this would make most of this fandom explode, and that would really be something that Ubisoft would not recover from.

So here’s my word vomit, what do you guys think? This situation is so tricky and has the potential to either turn Ubisoft in one of the most “beloved” video-game companies out there or one of the most despised.

I didn’t touch on the fact that depending on how this goes, this creates a precedent for video-game companies that shows fans that they could get whatever they want if only they make enough noise... I’m not sure if this is a good thing in terms of the industry honestly, but that’s another matter.

#Assassin's Creed #assassin's creed odyssey #ubisoft #kassandra #alexios

75 notes · View notes

nextstepcoaching-blog · 6 years

Text

Do you love your job?

The way that you feel about your job depends a lot on how you answer the question. -What are you thinking about when you talk about your job? -Do you think of the work you do? -The people you work with? -The money you make, or don’t make? -The hours you work or have off? -The commute, the mundane, the fun and adventure? -Are you the first to post on Facebook the perfect meme about Mondays? “On the whole, American workers are generally satisfied with their jobs,” according to some research. So, congrats! Whether or not you knew it, you really DO love your job!

Job satisfaction also differs by household income, education and details of the job. So, depending on what study you read or what radio host you listen to or which philosophy you subscribe to… blah, blah, blah… it’s all relative, right?

When it comes down to it, you are the expert here. You know what your boss is like. You know all about the office politics and how the printer cartridge explodes when you change it, or who is actually stealing your peanut butter and banana sandwich from the ‘community fridge’. (Click here for an amusing video on what happens at work).

Bottom line is that we all want to be happy at work, even if it’s a stepping stone to get us to the next level. It’s easy to assume that you can’t change the way you feel about your job. We say to ourselves, ‘it is what it is.’ But, there is hope and a way to move forward.

So, here are 4 compelling ways to make more out of your work life and maybe add some happiness, too:

1. Give to Others

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ― Winston Churchill

To go deeper on this topic, click here for the blogpost on Give To Others.

Helping others fulfills your need to connect. We were created for connection, fellowship, relationships. When we give to others in the workplace, we are investing in the relationship. Find out what makes your co-workers tick. Discover their needs and meet them. They don’t have to be grandiose gestures, but little things. If Bob mentions that he likes bagels, bring him one. If Louise mentions that she likes …. If Jay mentions that his favorite drink at Starbucks is a long shot grande, half calf double cupped no sleeve salted caramel mocha latte with 2 pumps of vanilla, 2 pumps of hazelnut with no whipped cream and extra caramel drizzle with light ice well stirred, just roll your eyes and walk away. Slowly. Walk. Away.

Follow Dr. Luke’s advice when he writes, “Do to others as you would have them do to you. – (Luke 6:31)

Helping makes you live longer, promotes positive behaviors in others, strengthens relationships and gives us a sense of purpose and satisfaction, ie, Happiness 🙂

Helping makes you live longer. Studies have shown that helping others can decrease blood pressure, lower stress levels and are less-depressive. In general, those who help others live longer than those who don’t. Giving promotes positive behaviors in others, strengthens relationships and gives us a sense of purpose and satisfaction, ie, “Happiness” 🙂

Perhaps that is what Paul was alluding to when he quoted Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

2. Focus On Strengths

“If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.” – Tom Rath

To go deeper on this topic, click here for the blogpost on Focus On Strengths.

There is a debate about whether or not you should focus on your strengths and emphasize them over your weaknesses. Most of us have an easy enough time seeing our faults. We can’t walk past a mirror without fixing our hair or thinking about how I was planning on losing those 10 funds months ago. When thinking about ourselves, we are normally thinking about how to improve our personalities, spiritual life, bad habits, etc. That, in itself, is not a bad thing. Our weakness maybe our greatest NEED for improvement, but our greatest POTENTIAL comes in our strengths. This is where I at NextStepDanny help people get unstuck. Helping others see where they want to be and assist them in bringing clarity for their next step on the path of reaching their goals.

Focusing on your strengths does not ignore weaknesses or blind spots. In fact, strengths give us the energy we need to deal with our weaknesses. The strength that we have (God’s ours, others’) can be brought to bare in the current situation.

Strengths are often misidentified as weaknesses or problems. For instance, a person who is decisive can be seen as bossy. Or, someone who is thoughtful and methodical can be seen as slow and indecisive. Loyalty vs. Exclusive; Cautious vs. Hesitant; Inquisitive vs. motor-mouth… the list goes on.

The perspective of looking at your life by focusing on the strengths that you have been given is a powerful way to move forward. When you understand what strengths you have and are able to do more of what you love, you find purpose in what you do. It can energize you as you work in authentic modes that are ‘you’. People who operate from their strengths are happier and more fulfilled, feel as if they have more energy, and are more engaged, reaching their goals more efficiently. In other words, you unlock the best of what you have to offer, participating fully and encouraging those around you.

“…one cannot build on weakness. To achieve results, one has to use all the available strengths… These strengths are the true opportunities” – Peter Drucker

To discover your strengths and how to start using them, click here for the blogpost on Focus on Strengths.

3. Remember, It’s from the Inside-Out

Monetary rewards are not a substitute for intrinsic motivation. – W. Edwards Deming

To go deeper on this topic, click here for the blogpost on Remember, It’s Intrinsic.

Motivation – the reason someone does what they do – Most would like moving away from the extrinsic motivation of the carrot and the stick to a more intrinsic motivation.

There is a lot of research concerning motivation, but I draw our attention to Monkeys.

Way back in 1949 (George Orwell’s book “1984” was first published and the first Polaroid Camera was sold for $89.95), Harry Harlow tested puzzle-solving skills on monkeys[1] which led to the monkeys completing the task without a carrot/stick approach. They completed the task for no other reason than it felt satisfying; like finishing a level of Candy Crush on your phone.

Follow-up studies were done in 1969 and 2008 in connection with the Harlow-Monkey study that basically showed the same results. Money may not be the most important factor in job satisfaction. Really!

It would seem that engagement is key. We need to be challenged; neither under-challenged or over-challenged

“Job satisfaction is the result of a sense of autonomy, purpose and the desire to do things because they’re fun and interesting,” claims author Daniel Pink. “Money can actually cause someone to work less effectively.”

Find a purpose in what you do. Some jobs are more difficult to unearth purpose, so dig deep. And when you find it, make it a screen-saver on your desktop for a daily reminder.

Find the best way to fulfill that purpose through the work assigned to you and do it with skill and proficiency. And, make sure that you are making progress in achieving the purpose – celebrating as you go!

4. Laugh More, A LOT More

Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. – Lord Byron

To go deeper on this topic, click here for the blogpost on Laugh More, A LOT More.

Finally, laugh more. A recent Gallup poll found that people who smile and laugh at work are more engaged in their jobs. Find ways, or create ways to smile more! Get others involved and lighten the mood every once in a while.

Have you seen this video? The Fun Theory 1

In this Volkswagen experiment, they set out to prove that people’s behavior can be changed by adding ‘fun’ into the mix. 66% more people took the stairs than usual that day!

Laughter boosts your creativity, think Disney or Pixar; Laughter cuts tension and draws people together, think late-night TV ‘jokesters’; Laughter builds trust and helps you become more approachable, think Bill Murray vs. Willem Dafoe (Goblin in Spiderman) …Plus people enjoy working with you!

Take a bite out of your peanut butter and banana sandwich before putting it in the ‘community fridge’. For your Sci-Fi nerd friends, put a Storm trooper helmet on the trash can and make people say, “This is not the can you are looking for” when they use it. And for the junior high kid inside, make use (or several uses) of the classic whoopee cushion. Or, try one of these 101 Ways to Use Humor at Work.

Just think: you could make it so that Monday morning is something you look forward to…

I’d love to hear from you. Tell me how you make your workplace worth the commute. Comment Below.

Hate Mondays? Not Anymore: 4 Ideas to Making Monday Magnificent Do you love your job? The way that you feel about your job depends a lot on…

0 notes