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#i've been really impressed so far with her character writing
spacecasehobbit · 1 month
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It makes me so happy that Emerald Fennell has said outright that Felix was doing something shitty in every scene. He's pretty, he's wealthy, he's charming; he's so spoiled with privilege that he can get away with casual cruelty underlying everything he does and still think of himself as a good person.
The fact that so many people can watch Saltburn and come away thinking that Felix is a nice person is both a testament to the quality of Emerald Fennell's writing, and it is a perfect example of how Oliver himself got drawn in by the facade of kindness that Felix presents.
I want her to write so many more things, and I want to watch all of them.
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slitherpunk · 1 month
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games i liked in 2023 (And Other)
I like games ! You know that ?! and I played a lot 2023! and I liked a lot :). They aren't in any specific order, it's just a little highlight of games that stood out to me this year. I've attempted to write a few thoughts on each so I hope take a look. I wrote playtimes for some also but that is very subjective.
-Ones that actually came out 2023-
Lunacid https://store.steampowered.com/app/1745510/Lunacid/ I think I mentioned enjoying this in 2022 but it officially released so I can say it was one of my favorite games in 2023 :3! I like to feel around this game's walls for secrets. I like the npcs that are full of hope and whimsy despite the bleakness of its world. Chill and occasionally spooky first person dungeon crawling around moody caverns and ruins varying from underground forests to vampire castles and blood lake. (Blood lake!!!! Lake of blood!!! Big creature there.) Lots of fun weapons and spells to find, I like the one that lets you turn blood into coffins.
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~20 hours
Orbo's Odyssey https://feverdreamjohnny.itch.io/orbos-odyssey If you played the massively popular demo for "Peeb Adventures" by feverdreamjohnny then you know that Johnny makes some fun and funny games and this is certainly one of them. speedy and satisfying platforming! funny dracula moments! short and sweet.
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~2 hours
A Walk in the Woods https://mooncaller.itch.io/a-walk-in-the-woods Quaint little GBStudio game :) Made by some friends of mine for a jam :) It's cute I like it. There's minigames where you catch bugs and birdwatch.
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~30 minutes long
Undertale Yellow https://gamejolt.com/games/UndertaleYellow/136925 I've only completed the pacifist run and checked out a neutral run so far. as the title somewhat implies, this is a prequel to Undertale where you play as the fallen human who had the yellow colored soul. This Undertale fangame has a lot of charm!!! A lot of battles really feel like they could have been in the original, with quite a bit of extra flair in some circumstances.
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~10 hours
vs really cool bird https://bobacupcake.itch.io/vs-really-cool-bird you know that really cool bird that rob bobacupcake made well you can fight it in undertale and it's really fun. yeah two undertale fangames. . . wat of it …
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~30 minutes
Misericorde: Volume One https://xeecee.itch.io/misericorde I wont lie the main draw for me into this was cute anime nuns I sure didn't know a whole lot else about it when I dug into it. But it's (the first part of) a VN murder mystery! And I enjoyed it a whole lot. All the characters are memorable and I really enjoy how all of them have differentiating designs. The protagonist is so failgirl. She sucks so much and I love her. I'm very intrigued by the mechanics of the game's world, it clues you in near the beginning to expect something a bit supernatural/fantastical, which gives you (and later the protagonist) a curiosity about what's real and what isn't. The music is all very impressive too, with the ost reaching past 100 tracks varying through post-rock, folk, drum & bass, and others. (Remembering when the track "Scandal" played and my friends and I took a moment to be like- okay hang on this track pwns.) Big fan of its haunting locals and how the aesthetic of the game fits them well. Also the humor is a lot of fun, and I love all the moments getting to know the different characters. Very excited to see the eventual continuation of this.
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~12 hours
Absolutely Perfect Specimen https://chambersoft.itch.io/absolutely-perfect-specimen It seems like a lot of people are craving toxic horror yuri lately. Here's a recommendation. It's a VN about the android maid "Pan" and the mad scientist girl who created her. Horrifying & gut wrenching & largely about having other people define you. The art and music is haunting & poignant and matches the ever increasing feeling of dread throughout. It's yuri with the chunks. Peak robotgirl horror for those who can stomach it.
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~90 minutes
Wordhopper https://kokoscript.itch.io/wordhopper Very quaint word search type puzzle game for ms dos! I think its style is very slick and that's pretty impressive to see. Chill game with nice vibes and eyecandy visuals. also it was so cool to have played this and then ended up seeing the dev's booth at Vintage Computer Festival Midwest. I was like omg woah I just played this.
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~bunny
Bossgame https://lilyv.itch.io/bossgame This game is yuriful as f*ck. Delightful humor and fun character dynamics! A simple-to-understand-difficult-to-master boss rush battle system that makes you satisfied to get it right, and enticing to get just a little farther if you get it wrong. There's a lot of detail and charm to this game's menus and dialogues and win screens, I remember noticing that once you beat a boss there would be some marquee text that would pass by with some prose on it. I love how it balances its silly moments with its heartfelt moments and its high octane moments. I like the character development and revelations had throughout the plot. & I like how good the protagonists are for each other :) It's very sweet. It's hype as hell. if you want some boss rush action paired well with that sweet sweet girl's love, you *will* play this game.
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~5 hours
Elly's Adventure https://bikwins.itch.io/ellys-adventure Very cute and witchy!! You are the little witch girl "Elly" on an adventure to get your toys back!! Feels like a pretty authentic gameboy type experience, it takes a lot of design cues from Kirby's adventure and the like. I am a big fan of how playful it feels.
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~1 hour
Nour https://store.steampowered.com/app/1141050/Nour_Play_with_Your_Food/ This was a treat for me, but I understand that not everybody is going to get it. It's a game where you play with food(and food accessories). And that's it. It knows what it was going for. I think a lot of people were expecting something else for some reason. It's a cute little toy game and I felt satisfied with my time with it.
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~food
Hi-Fi Rush https://store.steampowered.com/app/1817230/HiFi_RUSH/ Do I have to say this game is super fun? It's a big one everybody probably already knows it. This game's dopey humor made me laugh a lot and I'm not afraid to admit it.
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~12 hours
WHISKEY.ST2007S https://bonicle.itch.io/whiskey-st2007nes One of the last games I played in the year because it released super last minute. Does anybody else get a rush when running a shopping cart down the parking lot? This emulates that feeling. Short game where you collect whisky stones in the whisky stone dimension because you forgot to go christmas shopping until the very last minute. it rules. It's very short you can go play it right now & get a highscore.
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~5 minutes
re:curse https://devpalmer.itch.io/re-curse Discovered this one near the very end of the year also. Fun little rpg maker horror/humor game about a weird scientist lady, her butch, and an evil clown computer virus that figured out how to warp reality. I got a kick out of it. and also enjoyed digging through the game's files, which was actively encouraged by the dev, which I thought was very fun.
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~90 minutes
-Didn't technically get to until 2024 but released last year-
SWOLLEN TO BURSTING UNTIL I AM DISAPPEARING ON PURPOSE https://1207.itch.io/swollen-to-bursting-until-i-am-disappearing-on-purpose People love to dunk on a lot of indie rpgs for being "quirky Earthbound inspired and about depression" or whatever. Earthbound's great. If people can nail the kind of humor and absurdity it likes to pull off while also balancing difficult topics I think that deserves a high mark. SWOLLEN TO BURSTING was fun. Bizarre and charming places to explore & distressing secrets to find. I like how it blends meander-around-the-town gameplay with Yume Nikki sort of exploration and effects. Also I'm a big fan of the music. I like how it has the lofi sound which matches the early 3d look of the game.
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~6 hours
HalOPE https://starbage.itch.io/halope Another for the fans of sweet little rpg maker games that have a lot of heart. HalOPE is about an incomplete little angel wondering through worlds. Each has a theme, usually to do with an emotion or feeling, and they do well at evoking that feeling as well as its antithesis. a lot of the music is very homey and charming at moments and unnerving at others, sometimes lonely, all doing well in their corresponding chapters to further the feeling of its specified theme. There are so many delightful characters and designs in this & I found myself feeling really attached to their tiny little stories. The narrative at the core of it all hit me. If I may be vulnerable, I cried a whole lot at various moments in this game. It was really cathartic. I feel very excited for people to experience this game.
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~5 hours
-Favs I finally got around to that didn't come out 2023-
An Outcry https://quinnk.itch.io/an-outcry Kind of sad it took me so long to get to this one, but glad it meant I got to play the "definitive" updated version of it. Apartment wandering RPG maker horror. Bum smokes from your neighbors and use them to save the game. I wish I could unwrap a lot more of what I like about this game than I can without spoiling too much. But if I could, I'd probably go on for too long. Let me attempt to be succinct & not giving too much away. You can tell pretty early on that An Outcry is about taking action when necessary & not turning a blind eye. What it explores about player vs protagonist agency is very fascinating to me as well, and I enjoyed learning about the inspirations for why the game's narrative works the way it does. The character Anne is such a sweetie and I love her a whole lot. This game has a very tangible feeling, this apartment complex is dirty and crumby, it smells of smoke, and there's a surrounding desperation you can feel.
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~5 hours
Pigments https://punkcake.itch.io/pigments Honestly I had gotten this game in a bundle and while I was playing it I hadn't looked at the name and I just kept calling it FRUIT. On call with my friends I'd be like "hey im gonna play more FRUIT". I straight up didn't read the title screen. But it's called Pigments. You play as a fruit and you try to paint the whole floor and not get sliced by buzzsaws. Fun little arcade type game.
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~fruit
Bridge, October 3rd https://lowpolis.itch.io/bridge-october-3rd Very short vignette. I like it. It's what it says it is. I'm not going to overexplain.
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~like a minute
-Other Games I Want To Mention-
Pseudoregalia https://store.steampowered.com/app/2365810/Pseudoregalia/ I think a lot of people might have already known this one but I felt like it was a pretty fun 3d platformer. There were a few issues I had with it (boss fight at the beginning was frustrating, and I got lost a lot [but it looks like there's been a map patch by now, so, perhaps for some that is a fix]). I enjoyed it but sure felt weird that the only accessibility option was to give the protagonist pants. What kind of joke is that?
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~5 hours
Mushroom Musume https://mortallymoonstruckgames.itch.io/mushroom-musume (Disclaimer, this game is still early access, but I saw a lot of people talking about it last year. SO I will mention here?) Haven't played much of this yet, but I have enjoyed what I played so far!! As of writing I've gone through 6 playthroughs, I feel like I've hardly scratched the surface and I've been so impressed by its depth. It's very charming, you never know what sorts of fairytale shenanigans are going to happen, and it's very cool to see how your different stats will affect things. It very much plays out like a roguelike vn. Which is not the sort of thing you may expect to make much sense but it pulls this off well. Also all the mushroom girls are very cute and I love them very much. I hope the sad goopy one who had bugs in her skin rests in peace.
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~mushroom
Knuckle Sandwich https://andybrophy.itch.io/knuckle-sandwich -_- Hm. Where do I start with this one. I was pretty excited for this one since the demo and kickstarter in 2018. I felt like the demo was a hell of a hook that got me curious & horrified. As time went on, it seemed to be shaping up into something really cool. turn based combat with action commands and wario-ware-type microgames?? with a banging soundtrack?? like, count me in!! Then it released and well, the gameplay, art, music all delivered. It was very fun and engaging in those aspects. But the story… oh it just devolves into disappointing nonsensical randomness. The whole hook at the beginning seemed to be completely thrown away for the wild goose chase plot that ensues, leaving you to wonder if it was ever going to be relevant again. It felt like it had no idea what it was trying to say or do. It disappointed me that a game that has so much good in so much else about it gets brought down so much for me by this plot.
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~12 hours
Rhythm Doctor https://store.steampowered.com/app/774181/Rhythm_Doctor/ (Putting this one in mentions because it is early access.) I really enjoyed the act 5 release. When I first saw this game, I kind of shrugged it off, thinking "that base mechanic doesn't seem like it will last". I thought it was basically just that one ghost shooting game from Rhythm Heaven which I Hate. Well let's just say I am now seeking penitence for my previous transgressions. It's really fun. There's a lot more to it that I didn't know when I first took a look. Also, consistently amazed by people's custom levels, I had no idea that its level editor allows people to do so much in it, I look at some levels and think "This editor seems as complex as an industry standard video editor". I'm looking forward to what they're planning next, very curious how they could possibly one-up the last update.
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~rhythm
El Paso Elsewhere https://strangescaffold.itch.io/el-paso-elsewhere This was really fun & funny so far but unfortunately I had been encountering an issue with a certain level where the game would crash. I reported the issue, got a response, and there has been an update since then so I think there's a possibility that it got fixed but I have not tried yet. I would like to return to this sometime but having to relearn controls midway through is always daunting to me.
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~?
-Things that looked good but didn't get around to-
Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood https://store.steampowered.com/app/1340480/The_Cosmic_Wheel_Sisterhood/ Still don't know a whole lot about this. But there are witches, and I like witches.
Casette Beasts https://store.steampowered.com/app/1321440/Cassette_Beasts/ I haven't felt thrilled about Pokémon lately. I know a lot of people seemed to really enjoy this little monster-collecting-rpg. The style is appealing to me as a die-hard gen 5 fan. I started playing it but haven't set aside the dedicated time for it yet, but I'm excited to dig in more when I do.
Little Goody Two Shoes https://store.steampowered.com/app/1812370/Little_Goody_Two_Shoes/ Started watching a friend play this, and I'm certainly curious.. Some sort of horror fairytale but also there's yuri? Yum. Enjoyed the style and animation in the nightmare segments that I saw.
Venba https://store.steampowered.com/app/1491670/Venba/ I've picked this up a while ago but still haven't gotten around to it, but I'm eager to, I've heard nothing but good things.
Goodbye Volcano High https://store.steampowered.com/app/1310330/Goodbye_Volcano_High/ I think there are gay dinosaurs in a band and it's going to be the apocalypse? I have also heard nothing but good things about this.
-Things I watched friends play-
Signalis https://store.steampowered.com/app/1262350/SIGNALIS/ This was a pretty big one. You probably already know it, right? Watched a friend play this and I missed various parts but I understood a solid bit of it. hey. robotgirls are always getting put in these fucked up situations. have you noticed this? one time i got really high and cried about it. it isn't fair
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk https://store.steampowered.com/app/1353230/Bomb_Rush_Cyberfunk/ This one was also probably big enough you don't need me to sing its praises. but it looked really neat. swag.
-Various Thoughts-
Lately I've been thinking more about design and narrative. I feel like I haven't been doing as much analysis as I should be when it comes to games. I want to dissect more what games are saying and figure out meaning. Also attempt to see how the mechanics aid in that. I feel like most of my own work is pretty abstract & random. I simply make what I like. While that's fun and all, I still want to improve in a lot of ways, especially in having more of a theme or message. Figuring out how other games accomplish this is obviously a good step toward this.
If you saw games here that interest you I highly urge you to take a look, many are pretty short, and I pretty explicitly wanted to highlight some smaller titles. If you know me you know I like to uplift small games. (Save for the occasional big game, but that's rare these days) I think it's healthy for you to play and support independently developed & published works. I don't want to ramble too much this time about why that's important, but I hope that you might have found something you may enjoy here and if not then I encourage you to find small stuff that you would like. And I would like to encourage everybody to share their findings as well! Little games need our help to be seen and talked about! They don't have the budgets the big ones do for advertising, and advertising on your own is a whole ton of work. If you like something, spread the word! I'm sure the developers would very much appreciate that.
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lafox · 1 year
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Luis Sera Headcanon [Collab] SFW/NSFW
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Author note: hi everyone. I know it has been Ages but im back with a little gift for all of you and i collab with @sattiene my beloved <3 thank you so much for her input and help because it really helped me out get back in the mix of things. i really missed writing HC for characters soooooo ! My ask are now open! YEY!
anyways i'll let you enjoy this Hc!:
SFW HC: 
Meeting you for the first time in the events of the Las Plagas incident, the first thing he says to you is:
"I just have one important question. Do you have a smoke?"
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Manipulation through his puppy eyes. 
“Oye, Senorita. Mind a smoke?” *insta puppy eyes*
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Probably ‘almost’ fluent in French and would brag about it to you only (hmmm wonder why)
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Grows every so fond of you when you laugh off his flirting towards you.
But what made him fall in love even more was when you suddenly started to flirt back. 
He stutters, is flustered but quickly come back with another flirt (it's a war now)
One time, he was playing around with his lighter while walking, to which you added a remark:
“Hm.. Does this skill also apply in the bedroom?” You smirked. 
The man was shooken (idk this isn't a word) and closed his lighter shut.
He shook his head and chuckled,
“There is only one way to find out, ay?” He said looking back at you.
Oh boy…
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He tries to lighten up the mood as Leon isn’t much of a jokester. 
And when you laugh at his jokes and Leon doesn't, he points it out:
“Ay, see Y/N likes my jokes.” 
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If you are imprisoned, you bet your ass Luis is gonna be your knight in shining armor.
You’ll scream to whoever, to get you out when it’s Luis that peaks his head and saves you his only comment will be:
“Oh so that's what you sound like, hm?” 
Alternatively : You are captured and tied up unconscious. He is at your rescue once more and sees you tied up. He would whistle and look away for a minute, putting his fist close to his mouth before snapping out of it and helping you out.
When you wake you bet your ass he will hit you with the oldest pick up line to this day like:
"Oh chica. I've been told I look heavenly, but you're not in heaven yet."
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Is it raining? No problem Luis is to the rescue:
“Where are my manners?” He says as he takes off his jacket and hovers it on top of your head.
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Oh shit! A flight hatchet coming your way! But don't worry, again, Luis is at the  rescue,
Hugging you as he pushes both of you away and falls down.
Well now it's an awkward situation as you are now on top of him. You lift yourself to meet with Luis’ face closer than expected.
Of course he shots a flirtatious grin accompanied with his eyebrows raising up.
What he would do to get your attention or to be close to you i swear…
He is down bad for you that's for sure. 
-
It's impressive when you see Leon in action, a break at the shooting range is always a great pause for everyone, which helps make Luis and you grow closer.
But the music made your feet tap to the beat and that, Luis noticed. 
He gently grabbed your hand, waiting a few seconds to know if he was denied and when you didn’t reject his advance, dragged you to dance.
You giggled, you weren’t much of a dancer but the beat was so good and the moment was so right, it made you become one. 
That was when you were charmed by him.
-
When you get separated, Luis will call you on the radio any chance he gets.
“Hola. Aaah I'm glad you picked up princesa. I’m at the ballroom, come over. We can continue our little dance. Don’t be late to the party!”
When you are a bit more separate from Leon and Ashley, you call Luis and you guys chat
“How's your search? Are you okay so far?” you asked. “Always so worried for me, lindura~” “I miss you too don’t worry” He adds. 
-
He would scare you by hugging you from behind
Which ultimately ends in you pointing your gun at him
"Whoa whoa, cariño. chill. it's just me, your loverboy."
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Would take pictures of you on his flip phone but the pictures are some of the worst moments of you looking surprised, zoning out, or sweaty with dirt on your face cause you were almost killed by a villager. 
You ask him to delete it but nah this man puts it as his wallpaper and keeps it forever.
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If you are infected with las Plagas, he becomes serious
Will still be flirtatious to calm his own anxiety
At the operation table, will hold your hand while killing the plaga
Would turn his head away as it is agony for him to hear you scream in pain
"I know, I know bebe. I'm here. shhh, shh,"
Let a tear fall and wipes it after the operation finish
Man, he thought he lost you!
-
But enough heart breaks!
The man is clingy! He loves you so much he always want you close
For example; you want to make breakfast for the both of you in the morning but no no no you are not escaping with his arms wrapped around your waist
"Nooooo, mi amor, stay," He whines in his morning voice.
Will be hugging you from behind while you cook breakfast. 
You can feel his stubble tickling your neck
Everything is perfect.
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The embodiment of chivalry
Opens doors for you, pushes your seat for you allllll the time.
NSFW HC
He is loud and not scared to be
Moan, groans, whimpers, yeah you are getting the whole service.
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Service top/ dom
Mutters some Spanish when he is really really into it.
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His foreplay is insane the man is a teaser;
Hand on your thigh just slowly but surely making his way through your core as he kisses your neck and tells you sweet nothing. (how could it not melt to that!)
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You are always his top priority
Can go on for hour for your pleasure only (pls don’t make him pass out i beg you)
Cracks jokes if you are anxious, just to see you smile and relax, that’s already a win for him.
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Mf does the petal of roses on the bed thingy on the special occasion (with scented candles ofc!)
Nice dinners and dancing before a night of love.
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Sex isn't a shameful topic to him and will tease about it.
If you tease him back about his  performance he will backfire at you, its constant banter!
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Weakness for lace in lingerie: He would fall weak if he slowly discovered you are wearing a set of lingerie while he takes off your clothes
“You wore this for me cariño.” and also will have his puppy eyes activated.
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Would brag about you all the time and show that you are his girl as he marks you
He loves when you mark him, telling him you are his and that he is yours.
Covered with your lipstick is so hot to him, shows how much you love him.
Takes pictures of all the above
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His biggest turn on? When you ride him. 
Holy fuck does he love it so much, just digging his hands on your thighs and trusting at the same beat as your riding makes him melt.
You taste heavenly to him and he loves to eat you out
Face riding? Yes please!
Makes him so horny you bet that shit makes him precum.
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Type of guy to continue slowly thrusting in when done cause God Damn you feel good, he doesn’t want it to end!
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Not into the harcord stuff like BDSM and such but would be willing to try for you
“So you’re into that stuff ay..” 
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His favorite positions are any where he can see your beautiful face
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He will never call you names like ‘slut’ and stuff “that's not a gentlemen’s ways”
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You tried your best to please him first but Luis can’t hear any of that: “Ladies first” kinda treatment 
“Why don’t we switch it up tonight, let me start with you~” you said as you pressed your fingertips on his pecks, going ever so slowly down.
He shook his head as he chuckled. “You know my policy mi amor” He takes your hand to wrap in around his neck as he positions you on your back while kissing you
I mean, you can’t resist him. 
-
First time he makes you squirt, the man will be so proud of himself
Will use that fact against you in arguments: “didn’t you gush all over me last night?? yeah that’s what i thought.” 
With a smug ofc 
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Tell you how beautiful you are especially while making you cum
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Best aftercare, hugs, kisses, shower, and caresses.
The man Orders you to stay put when he cleans up, its “his mess not yours”
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hollowtones · 9 months
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first yiik impressions?
Hi. Thanks for your message. I've been thinking about this for days. I wrote paragraphs. Here you go!
Everyone talks up how the game is bad, but I've never looked into it much myself, so I went in with an expectation along the lines of "people whose opinions I often agree with think it was an awful mess, I'll likely think something similar". Expectations were low. Even then I wasn't really ready.
"YIIK" is a game of tedium. I don't think it's a game about tedium, that's something different (though it could be, if it was a different video game altogether; "what if the world was made of pudding" etc). To some degree I think the tedium is by design but I'm not really sure what it's in service of.
I don't think tedium in a video game is a bad thing. "Morrowind" and "Breath of the Wild" are two video games I like very much, and some of my favourite memories of those games are of slowly wandering through empty expanses, or having to suddenly deal with equipment degrading or supplies dwindling because I forgot to prepare. Moments like that feel thoughtful! They're interesting moments of reprieve or of tension that feel thoughtfully and intentionally designed! "YIIK" feels like trudging through chest-deep molasses so it can shout "hey did you know you're stuck in my molasses right now? that's weird, why are you stuck in my molasses right now? did you notice?" directly into your ear.
You'll notice this is a pattern.
Combat is turn-based and involves completing little minigames, timing button prompts or hitting targets or some such. It's a cute idea that wears out its welcome when you start realizing how long every single one takes to resolve, especially when you have multiple party members, and sometimes multiple enemies (I'm told this part specifically gets more egregious as the game goes on). I don't think it's awful or unsalvageable but I'm not super into it as of the point we're at.
This is a pattern.
Leveling up is a manual process that you have to unlock, and it involves going to a save point (any save point? we didn't check), to enter the Mind Dungeon, to enter the actual Mind Dungeon, to walk down a set of stairs and enter individual doors one-by-one, so that you can choose how you want to allocate stat increases, so that you can walk down a different set of stairs to commit your choices and spend your banked experience to level up. I think "you can only power up at specific points / times / locations" and the granularity of stat growth are interesting ideas, and the environment they made for it are a charming idea, and I don't think it needed to be a "Hotel Mario" level that you had to slowly walk through. It could have been a menu. They could have used the resources for a nice background or backdrop for a menu that accomplishes the same thing.
This is a pattern.
I haven't really mentioned anything about the story or writing yet. The protagonist's name is Alex and he's a very self-important nerdy misanthropic dickhead white man (a very specific kind of guy that I've definitely met at least once or twice) who is obsessed with a paranormal message board populated by people like him and desperate to find out more about the disappearance of a woman he witnessed. (The woman & her disappearance are based on the real life death of Elisa Lam & aren't handled with a whole lot of tact, IMO, but other people have put this into better words than I can right now. It sucks. It keeps coming up and it makes me bristle every time.) Alex is a bad person. I know he is. You know he is. The game knows he is. I've seen some reviews say a negative point of the game is "the main characters aren't likeable", which I don't really get, because that's the point of the characters, as far as I can tell. The issue, then, is how much time the game takes to exposit at you how bad the characters are. It's exhausting. Every time Alex has a monologue, it feels like it sums up to 10 minutes of "I am a bad person. I am a bad person. Alex is a bad person. This character is a bad person. Do you get it? He's a bad person. Alex is a bad person. Do you understand yet, player? Alex is a bad person. You should know that he's a bad person. Do you get it?"
This is a pattern.
(I don't know how interested I am in bringing up the game's lead writer right now, if at all, but there's a well-known anecdote where he talks about wanting to write a story about a bad person who is forced to grapple with himself and do better, and how the reason why his game wasn't well-received was because people who play video games didn't get it & weren't ready for a story like that. I dunno. I can understand being upset about negative reception to something you poured time and sweat into, and saying something hasty because of it. "Final Fantasy 4" is a beloved RPG classic, though, and "Disco Elysium" came out the same year to overwhelming praise. I haven't played either of these yet, though, so I'll admit maybe I'm off the mark here.)
The characters we've met so far (i.e. the ones that aren't unnamed NPCs) are… well. There's a smarmy younger kid who idolizes(?) Alex & also made the aforementioned paranormal website. So far it seems like he mostly exists to go "hey fuck you Alex, you dickhead" and immediately say something even more insensitive. There's the insensitive based-on-a-real=ass-dead-woman elevator woman, who immediately disappeared from the narrative while still being an essential part of the narrative. There was a dead(?) robot in a bedroom, who had a choir of ominous hooded people monologue about how weird and sad and strange and uncanny the scene is. What the!? There's a woman who works at the arcade and has Powers. Her design's cute. (I feel like, generally, the game's visuals are Fine. The audio, too. That all ranges from Just Fine to Surprisingly Neat. I don't really have much issue with those aspects of the game, but I don't have much to say about them either.) Alex and Kid Whose Name I Didn't Care To Remember are constantly very uncomfortable to her, because she's a woman and because she isn't white, in the 15 or so minutes we've seen her on-screen, and she gets to tell them off, but then immediately kind of goes "well whatever I can smile and put up with this and hang out with you". It feels misogynistic. I know to some degree Alex is misogynistic on purpose, because the game is bludgeoning your skull in and yelling "ALEX IS SHITTY TO WOMEN! AND PEOPLE OF COLOUR! DO YOU GET IT? HE'S SELF ABSORBED IN A SHITTY WAY! DO YOU GET IT, PLAYER? YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ALEX SUCKS ASS YET? MAYBE 10 MORE MINUTES OF THIS WILL MAKE IT CLICK?" But for a woman of colour (the only one we've seen so far who isn't Probably Just Dead) to finally tell him off for being a shithead, only to turn around and go "well it's ok, you're cool now, let's hang out now because it's narratively convenient and you're the protagonist" is pretty damn egregious!
This is a pattern.
Writing in general feels stilted and long-winded. Most of the main characters feel like they don't talk like people do. Alex gets to feel like a person but that's mostly because he gets to talk to himself so damn much. Most of his monologues feel like overly flowery prose, like someone padded it out with identical adjectives to meet a school essay word count. There's an interesting idea or premise or setpiece every now and then. There's a spark. A glint of something compelling. Every single time this has happened so far I find it immediately snuffed out by an over-blown "oh my god!!!!!!! how weird!!!!!!', or a very long plot dump, or a Joss Whedon-ass quip. There can be no small moment of joy. No story element or visual element can stand on its own legs. There can be no room for ideas to breathe. No space for the player to wonder, to dream, to play in the space. The narrative is compelled to suffocate iself on itself, to take up all space, to swallow itself whole in its making. One very minor (so far?) side character has some interesting dialogue in this one dream world, and I think "oh that's neat", and then I learn they're lines taken wholesale from a book (and I think that's fine, reference is fine, but I have a bit of a chuckle over the fact that this character is the reason why the game has a giant REFERENCES option in the main menu). The literal first minute of the game is a bird telling you "oh my god, the title of this game, right? why'd they spell it like that? so fucking dumb, am I right!" It feels insecure. It reads like the writing has no confidence in itself. It has to make a comment about how silly and video-gamey it is, roll its eyes at itself, mock itself for the thing it's doing while continuing to do it without addressing it or discussing it or doing anything with it.
This is a pattern.
There's a specific part of "YIIK", at this early point in the game (we're only around the start[?] of chapter 2), that feels emblematic of the thing as a whole up to this point. Alex is getting phone calls from a stranger. They're confusing and weird and sound a little like something you might hear in a dream. They make references to some shared past, some childhood, some understanding of Alex, or maybe of you, the player. They've come up a few times. Every single time, I'm left thinking about what it could mean, how it fits in with everything we've seen so far & what the game seems to be talking about, with regards to connecting to other people and to yourself. It's a neat little thing. It's a neat idea. I'm charmed by it. As much as my thoughts on this game are largely negative, I still try to look at it fairly, to understand it, to talk about it, to let myself be surprised by it. As soon as I find myself thinking about this, my thoughts are immediately drowned out by Alex telling me how weird the phone call is, how random and uncanny and dumb this is, and how he's rolling his proverbial eyes about it, in spite of all the other paranormal happenings around him, for another period of Just Too Long. And I am sapped of all strength and I crumble to dust.
I'm genuinely transfixed. I'm transfixed! Maybe the fact that I wrote Paragraphs about the 4-or-5 hours I've seen of the game can tell you as much, even if you skip everything I wrote in them.
I can't wait to see more.
This, too, is a pattern.
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grandline-fics · 4 months
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Ohhhh i really really really like your writing, it’s so very good!! Could i request some fluff with zoro? I was thinking about the reader being an artist, and he finds her sketchbook and is impressed by her art, and then he finds drawings of the crew and him. Or something like that, you can definitely change the idea. Thank you very much, i hope you have a good day/night!
DESCRIPTION: You’re an artist and he asks to see your sketchbook
WARNINGS:  none
CHARACTERS: Zoro
WORDS: 680
A/N: Thank you for the request! I've been feeling a bit of writer's block creeping up but hopefully you like what I came up with.
*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*
MASTERLIST
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“You’re going to hurt your back if you keep hunching over like that.” Zoro told you as he looked over his shoulder to fix you with a meaningful look, amused to see you snap out of your trance to look up in surprise. It didn’t matter how many times he reminded you to sit up properly, you still ended up in this kind of position when you were intensely set on drawing in the sketchbook that was rarely far from your reach. He didn’t miss how your hand instinctively curled over the pages currently being worked on, protecting them from view but also using practiced care to avoid smudging the drawings. 
Zoro couldn’t help but note you were more protective of your sketchbook around him than you would be with the rest of the crew. Yes, you still would shield it initially from view but if asked you would reveal what you were currently working on. With him? You never showed it unless it was finished products on a canvas. Silently he wondered why he was different. Though he supposed he wasn’t one to ask outright compared to the likes of Luffy who was impulsive and excitable, Sanji, who gushed over the slightest thing, and even Robin who was naturally curious about art and anything intellectual. Compared to them, Zoro never felt the need to ask even when he did want to see your talent. “Can I see?” he asked.
You tensed in surprise and quickly let your gaze flicker to the sketchbook and back to his face. It wasn’t that you didn’t want him to see, it was just you weren’t sure how he would react. Hesitantly you pulled your hand away and let the pages be revealed to him. Zoro stepped closer and lifted the book into his hands, he’d seen how you held it enough times to know the proper way to treat it without ruining any of your hard work. Slowly he started at the beginning, taking in scenes you’d drawn from previous adventures on different islands. 
Some pages held detailed studies of plants and landscapes, each bringing out a memory for him, whether it of a vague feeling of relaxation or a stronger emotion as he recalled the hard won fights they’d engaged on. Most of the pages however he knew had been taken from some place on the Sunny, the focus being some, if not all of the crew. It didn’t take him long to notice that he seemed to feature more heavily than the others. He would be lying if he didn’t feel some sort of satisfaction at that. 
For the first time since you’d let him look at the very thing you were most precious about he lifted his gaze to see you were purposely looking away from him. “It’s not like you to be insecure, you’re talented. Why are you so nervous?” He asked, pretending to be oblivious. Part of him hoped you’d give him an answer he’d been hoping on. Zoro watched you lightly chew on your bottom lip as you tried to form an answer. Finally you cleared your throat.
“I’m not insecure about my skill…” You began simply, slowly building the nerve to look at the swordsman while also trying to stop the growing blush on your face. “It’s just I don’t want you to think I’m stalking you or anything, I know I’ve drawn you a lot.”
“You have?” Zoro couldn’t help the teasing tone creeping into his voice as he looked down at one page in particular that was a study of him training with his swords. “Hadn’t noticed.”
”Oh shut up!” You grumbled lightly, taking the sketchbook back into your hold. “It’s not my fault I can only draw things that interest me. It’s just how I am.” Quickly you clamped your mouth shut, the blush burning on your skin stronger now as Zoro grinned down at you, looking even more pleased with himself. He only wished he’d asked to see your sketchbook sooner had he known this was what he was going to get.
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milliebobbyflay · 5 months
Text
Okay so I've spent a while thinking about how to word my actual problem with homestuck 2, and the works that make up post-canon homestuck more broadly. I think a lot of people resort to nitpicking bits of awkward writing or art in some attempt to pinpoint a source to an underlying sort of hollow uncanniness, which is funny because homestuck's supposed golden age of acts 1-5 are themselves FAR more of a tonally inconsistent mess of odd character beats, jokes that don't always land, and janky looking art.
Homestuck 2 has been written and drawn by very talented and passionate artists from the beginning, I think the actual issue comes down to a mix between the general pitfalls of hiring fans and the particulars of hussie's outsider background and unorthodox writing style.
First is the issue of hiring fans in general; while it can seem like an easy shortcut to finding talented writers already familiar with the voice and story of the original work, you have to be very aware of how fan culture operates. Beyond the obvious pitfalls that fans are unlikely to approach the story from a detached perspective, there is the larger issue that past a certain point fandom becomes essentially self sustaining. Once a fandom has existed for a long enough period, its most avid members have likely spent FAR more time engaging with other fan works than they have with the original art object. Fandom and the art it produces are, in this way, a sort of a folk tradition; artists are imitating and responding to other artists, characters become archetypes through which to explore certain ideas and dynamics, and the values and tastes of the most prolific and influential fan artists become as inseparable from a participants mental image of the character as the original work itself.
For an example, the affected theatrical mannerisms and cruelty Vriska adopts while in her Mindfang persona have become inseparable from the popular view of the character. Despite the fact that it's heavily signposted as a sort of role playing performance from the jump and she's more or less dropped it by the back half of the comic, it was nevertheless how she had acted in the bulk of her scenes around the time the ur-texts of homestuck fandom were being written, and as so an understandable misread of a character became inscribed into the fandom canon, and by extension her characterization in Homestuck 2.
All of this is extrapolated by the sort of unorthdox, building-the-plane-while-flying-it manner in which Hussie's writing style developed.
Based on his commentary, I get the sense that Andrew is an incredibly clever and thoughtful writer who lacks the theory and vocabulary to precisely describe his process. He tends to communicate in sort of abstract metaphors which aim to bridge the gap in explaining the actual conscious process he uses to plot his stories, but the way he talks about technical nuts and bolts writing craft stuff gives me the impression that his approach is largely intuitive, bordering on unconscious. He's a lot better at describing how he writes than what he writes or why.
You can of course piece a lot this together—his approach to art draws from the tradition of videogame spritework, where the visuals exist as a utilitarian vehicle for conveying information first and a work of illustration only inasmuch is needed to serve the greater story. His character writing draws more from a synthesis of literary fiction, sitcom writing, and "making up a guy" style posting humor, where characters are defined more by their life experiences and underlying psychology than by their goals and values, but also seem to have largely been constructed backwards from a starting point of a funny or interesting manner of speaking. Importantly though, I don't get the sense that these were conscious decisions, just that to Hussie they seemed like the logical way to approach these tasks, and I don't really think he could outline them in a way that would actually help a new team of creators grok how to draw and write in a way that feels like homestuck. I also don't think Hussie could actually explain the psychology that undergirds his character writing, I think he was mostly just drawing on his own life experience and imagining how this sort of character might logically speak and act.
As a novelist, and Hussie is one, both your thought processes and the sum total of your worldview and life experience are just as important to your work as the actual conscious decisions you're making, and I think that where there are gaps in understanding, the new writers are filling in the gaps with both a more conventional approach to the creative process and over a decade of accumulated fanon, and I think that's why homestuck 2 never really rises above feeling like a very well-made fanfic to me?
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eemamminy-art · 19 days
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not obligated to answer this but if you have anymore thoughts about alex sdv (or stardew valley at all) please share. i am obsessed with alex
Oh hell yeah anon you've activated my current hyperfixation 😁 I have a google doc where I'm dropping my headcanons and a bulleted timeline for a Alex/m!farmer longfic I've been writing in my head that's up to about 13 pages now ahaha so here's a few things!!
When he first moved to Pelican Town he was actually really quiet and reserved because he was still grieving heavily, so he never really got close to the other kids. He talks about how he played gridball with his mom so I think once he got the chance to play that in school (in another town no doubt) I think he came out of his shell then and made some friends, but all those friends lived far enough away that after graduating high school he's been pretty lonely and never could connect with the other people his own age in town.
He never goes into the saloon to my knowledge prior to the 10-heart event dinner scene, so I headcanon that it's because he doesn't drink alcohol and doesn't want the temptation to try it. I don't remember if it's said explicitly but I got the impression his dad's abuse stemmed from being drunk so I imagine Alex refuses to touch the stuff out of both principle and fear of becoming like his father one day.
I said it in another post but I headcanon him as gay and suffering comphet. He's built himself up as this cool popular guy, so he tries to emulate the sexist straight guys he's seen in movies but there's absolutely nothing behind it. He says something rude to a girl and then is like uhhh (shit what now) bye! 😅 I want to think that in getting to know the farmer he not only does away with that facade but also gets more comfortable in his sexuality!!
and on a sidenote to the above: I hc most of the town as gay or bi and I am toying with the idea of Abby being transfem! Sam/Seb is a given, and maaaybe they're in a poly relationship with Abby but I'm still undecided!! I like Maru/Penny as a concept but need to marinate on that a bit more, I see them always sitting together and it makes me happy but I need to think more on how they met and what their relationship would be like. I don't have anything solid yet in terms of other characters' gender or sexuality headcanons exactly, other than Caroline and Jodi being bi and desperately yearning to run away together 🥰
But back to Alex!! With how his storyline goes of trying to impress others with his jock persona, then trying to switch gears and be super booksmart, I headcanon that he gets close to the farmer via the farmer tutoring him so he can take a community college placement test. :3 My thought for why he's in the rut he's in is that he wanted to play college gridball but his grades in high school were so bad he has done nothing with himself since graduation and has just been stagnating and becoming more and more bitter (which only amps up his shitty attitude when the player first meets him). So trying to get educated is doubly good for him because he can work toward his sports dream (in a way) and try to impress the farmer. Though of course, the thing that brings them closer is Alex learning to be true to himself 😊
This is getting long, so last thing: he's actually a really well-rounded homemaker but does not even think about it really. George has been disabled for a long time, so all of the handy work around the house has to be handled by Alex, and he's so eager to help out his grands. :3 They put a roof over his head so of course he'll climb up onto it to fix the leaks when it rains! Evelyn is always cooking and baking and Alex is so soft for his granny he has been in the kitchen helping her for as long as he's lived with them, so he's actually got a real talent for cooking and baking too! One of the first things he learned after moving in with them was the proper way to set a table, and the best way to wash dishes efficiently. He's spent enough time at Haley's house having no chemistry with the poor girl, but found Emily's whole sewing setup really fascinating and she taught him to mend the holes in his letterman jacket when he asked so he knows how to hand sew! These are all skills that he has but doesn't recognize as skills, he just inherently has this desire to help the people in his life so he picks up this and that to make it easier!
Anyway! Thank you for letting me ramble 😄 Alex is really sweet and soft underneath the mask he wears, and he's been rotating in my head for the last few months hehe
I had bought sdv when it came out but barely touched it, and started it up again on a whim earlier this year and I'm so glad I did!! I really adore the game and it's bringing me a lot of joy currently 🥺
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yanderelionwrites · 9 months
Text
Just One Date (Yandere!Mirio Togata x Reader)
A/N: Yo this turned out way longer than I expected it to, but I've been working on this for awhile now and I'm mostly happy with how it turned out. Mirio's one of my favorite characters so I just had to write him lol
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Synopsis: You're convinced the Pro Hero Lemillion is just a little too invested with you, and it's starting to make you nervous. You want him to leave you be, but Mirio's offer is something you just can't refuse.
Content Warning: yandere, stalking, manipulation, coercion, drugging, kidnapping, non-consensual touching
Word Count: 4.2k
It all started with you just wanting to be friendly with the young Pro Hero who had decided to try the cafe you worked at. He was a popular and powerful hero, so it was only natural that you’d want to make a good impression. You treated him with kindness and delivered the best customer service you could possibly muster, and he left seeming satisfied with his visit. You thought that was the end of it.
However…
Maybe you had been too friendly with him, and he interpreted it as you being interested in him. Because he sure as hell was interested in you. It used to just be weekly visits during your shift, but now they’ve almost become daily. And you don’t see him just at the cafe anymore. Now, it feels like he’s everywhere. The grocery store, the bank, the mall, even at the movie theater! Whenever you inquire about these so-called “coincidental” encounters, he always passes it off as “being in the area” or “on patrol”, but those excuses aren’t cutting it anymore. There was something off about him, and it was making you feel uneasy. Which has led you to your current situation this afternoon.
“Hey, is (Name) here today?”
You furiously shook your head at your miffed coworker, pleading with her to say no. You were currently hiding in the back kitchen of the cafe you worked at, having found sanctuary there the minute you noticed a certain blond-haired hero approaching the establishment. You had begged your coworker, Unmei, to cover for you and tell him that you weren’t on shift today. Given her huffy and disgruntled ‘yes’, you could only hope she would follow through.
“Sorry…(Name) isn’t here right now…”
Yes! Thank you, Unmei!
“They’re out on their lunch break, but they’ll be back in half an hour or so.”
No! Why would you tell him that, Unmei?
The pro, Lemillion, lit up at this news and he gave her one of his award-winning smiles, saying, “I’ll be back in a bit then. Thanks for letting me know!”
He sashayed away after that, out the doors and down the street. Once he was nowhere in sight, you stormed out of your hiding spot and pulled your colleague to the side.
“What the heck, Unmei? You said you would cover for me!”
The girl shook her head, sighing. “Really, (Name), I don’t get why you’re trying to avoid him. It’s obvious he likes you! Are you really going to pass up the opportunity to date a top Pro Hero?”
“You don’t understand. I swear to God, he follows me wherever I go! No matter where I am, I end up running into him. Not to mention he’s constantly visiting me at work. It’s getting annoying,” You complain, massaging your forehead to quell the headache you’re getting just from thinking about Lemillion.
“Oh, you’re exaggerating,” Unmei chuckled at the thought. “There’s no way he’s everywhere you go. He’s got more important duties than to follow some civilian around. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.”
“It’s not a coincidence! I don’t know what it is about him, but he kind of gives me the creeps…”
“I think you’re the only person who would ever say Lemillion, of all heroes, is creepy,” Unmei shook her head, completely dismissing your concerns. She began to walk to the back kitchen with dishes in her hands. “I’m jealous, (Name). Not many are lucky enough to have a Pro Hero who’s got the hots for them. And one as popular as him, no less.”
“Lucky is not what I would call it…” You mumbled, but Unmei was too far away to hear. 
Thirty minutes came and went faster than you were ready for. You had just finished working through a rush, so you had no time to hide or prepare when Lemillion came through the doors, the biggest smile on his face when he saw you at the counter. You grimaced as he stalked up to you.
“Hey, (Name)! How are you today? Having a good time at work?” His grin was blinding; you couldn’t help but advert your gaze and back up a bit.
“Hi…Lemillion…I’m doing alright,” You muttered. Glancing to the side, you could see Unmei watching you with a smirk on her face. You tried to give her a pleading look to help you out of this situation, but she only gave you an encouraging thumbs-up before disappearing into the kitchen.
“You don’t have to keep calling me by my hero name, remember? We’re pretty close, so just Mirio is fine!”
We are most definitely not close. You thought, but nodded along with his suggestion anyway.
“Ri- Right…so, uh, what can I do for you today?” You said, trying to make this interaction as short as possible.
“Oh, I won’t be getting anything this time,” Mirio scratched the back of his neck. “Actually, I was hoping I could talk to you for a sec. Somewhere a bit more private.”
Uh oh. You hope that didn’t mean what you thought it meant. He wasn’t going to try and ask you out, was he? All of your encounters with him have been generally friendly so far, if you disregard the strange looks of longing and fleeting touches he’d sometimes give you. Despite the fact you’re convinced he’s been following you, you never thought he’d want to take your “relationship” a step further. It was dangerous for Pros to date after all; if any word got out that a hero had a partner, villains could easily snatch them up and use them for their nefarious schemes. This risk only increases tenfold when the hero is in Japan’s Top 10. All the more reason to shut his advances down.
“Um, I’m kind of busy right now. Besides, I just went on break, so I can’t-”
“Lemillion! It’s so good to see you again!” A booming voice resounded from behind you, making you flinch. Turning around, you see your boss approaching, a gleeful look on his face that rivaled the hero in front of you.
“Hey there, Mr. Kyōfu! Just thought I’d drop by and say hello to your lovely employee here!” You internally cringed at Mirio’s compliment and the wink he sent your way.
“Of course! You’re welcome here anytime! Can I get you anything? It’s on the house!” It was obvious how much your boss was sucking up to him, but Mirio didn’t seem to notice.
“Thanks, but I’m good!” The blond chuckled. “Though I was wondering if I could steal (Name) away for a bit? I know they’re busy, but I promise I won’t keep them for too long.”
“Sure, sure!” Mr. Kyōfu nodded, patting your back that you think was meant to be encouraging, but it only made you more uncomfortable. “Go ahead, (Name). We should be fine without you for now.”
“But, sir-” You tried to protest, but Mr. Kyōfu was already pushing you towards the swinging counter door, the only thing separating you from the beaming Pro Hero.
“Keep him company for as long as possible, alright? More customers will want to come in if they see him here,” He uttered lowly, so that only you could hear. “Sit by a window if you can, too.”
Of course all he cared about was the money. Your boss has been nothing but delighted with the fact that Lemillion chooses to make regular visits to his little cafe. Business has never been better here, as many people would do anything to see a big hero in person. So it was no surprise that Mr. Kyōfu would push you to entertain Mirio. Even if it made you super uncomfortable to do so.
You stumbled out the door right to where Mirio was patiently waiting. You wanted to argue with Mr. Kyōfu, tell him you wanted nothing more than to stay as far away from Lemillion as possible. If he wanted to keep the Pro around to be his moneymaker, he could find a way to do it himself. The look he was giving you, however, made any complaint die in your throat. There really was no getting out of this.
I need to find a new job.
Sighing, you reluctantly led Mirio away from the front counter and towards the back of the cafe, where it was more secluded. The both of you sat down in a booth, a nice big window next to you that gave you a view of the bustling city streets. Surprisingly, Mirio had the courtesy to sit across from you rather than next.
“Sooo,” You began awkwardly, hating the way he was staring straight into your eyes, a fond smile stretching across his features. “what did you want to talk about?”
“Well, it’s something that's been on my mind for awhile now, and there was no point in just having it bumble around in my head for so long,” He started, his smile turning almost sheepish. “We’ve known each other for a couple months now, and I just can’t wait any longer to ask you this.”
Here it comes. A grimace forms on your face, dreading his burning question. You were already thinking of ways to turn him down, envisioning his sad and disappointed face when you ultimately rejected him. You would feel slightly bad about the whole thing, but at least how you feel would get through to him, and you would finally be rid of the guy.
“Can I take you out on a date?” Mirio grinned, an oh so optimistic and hopeful look shining in his eyes.
Taking in a deep breath, you made direct eye contact with him, wanting to get your point across loud and clear.
“L-Look, Mirio…” Oh geez, you’re already stuttering. “You’re a real nice guy and I’m, like, super flattered that you’re asking me of all people out, but…my answer is no. I’m sorry.”
Mirio’s smile faltered, a confused expression on his face as he quirked his head to the side. He looked like a giant puppy who couldn’t understand what you were saying.
“Aw, why not? Did I do something wrong?” He asked, a pout forming on his lips. “Oh wait, you must have a boyfriend already, huh? I guess I should have asked beforehand.”
“No, it’s not that. I just…I guess I’m not really…comfortable…going on a date with you.”
“Oh, so I did do something wrong…” Mirio frowned, eyes downcast as he avoided your gaze.
“No! Well, yes, I mean,” You bit your lip, feeling nervous now that you have to confront him and explain the reason why. “The thing is…I know that you’ve been following me, Mirio… There’s just no way you’re always on patrol in the same area wherever I’m at. Granted, I don’t have any proof, but I know it’s not just a coincidence. It’s happened too often now.”
You glanced up to see Mirio staring at you. The unreadable expression he was giving you was slightly unnerving. You were so used to seeing him with a big, dopey grin, it was odd to see anything but on his countenance.
You waited for him to deny your claims, call you crazy to even think someone like him would stoop so low to stalk a civilian just because he liked them. Unmei was right; it sounded ridiculous. But you just couldn’t shake the feeling away. The more time that passed, the more silly you felt for even voicing your concerns. Mirio was probably thinking about how much of a paranoid weirdo you were and was having second thoughts on even suggesting a date. That is, until he started laughing.
“Oh, is that all? I was worried I had offended you or something!” Mirio scratched his cheek, his usual smile having now returned to his face. “I was only looking out for you, sunshine. Making sure you were okay and stuff. That’s kind of my job, you know?”
What? You stare at him, dumbfounded. You couldn’t believe he actually admitted to stalking you, and finds nothing wrong with it no less! Your suspicions were right after all, much to your horror. You weren’t even sure what to say to him next.
“Uh, no? You can’t be seriously trying to justify that by saying it’s part of being a hero! You’re supposed to be looking out for everyone, not just me.”
“I know that, sunshine. And I do! I just take extra special care to make sure you’re safe and sound,” Mirio reached his arm across the table and took a hold of your hand. “You’re important to me, (Name), and I would hate for something bad to happen to you.”
You quickly yanked your hand away and narrowed your eyes at him. How could he think all of this was okay to do? It was a major breach of privacy, and you shuddered at the possibility that he’s followed you home before.
“Nothing bad is going to happen to me. Something might, however, if I’m seen with you. You know just as well as I do the dangers of a Pro dating a civilian, and I don’t want to get involved with all that.”
“I would never let you get hurt, sunshine. We can keep our relationship on the down-low, if that would ease your worries,” Mirio winked, acting like there was a chance you would say yes after what he just confessed.
“The answer is no, end of story. I want you to stop following me and just leave me alone.” You stated firmly. Hopefully, Mirio would get the hint and you could finally go about your life in peace again.
It was never that easy though.
The blond sighed, before an uncharacteristic smirk appeared on his lips. A mischievous twinkle sparkled in his eyes, ready to share an idea that you were sure to dislike.
“How about this: if you go on just one date with me, I promise to leave you alone and never bother you again. Deal?” Mirio stuck out his hand, expecting you to shake it, but you only gave him a skeptical look.
“And what if I don’t?” You inquired, folding your arms across your chest in a challenging manner despite your anxious heart.
Mirio leaned in closer to you. “Then I guess I’ll just have to up my game and try even harder to get you to fall for me! Whatever that may call for.”
Goosebumps rose on the back of your neck and spread down to your arms as you thought about what that could mean. You didn’t want to know how far Mirio was willing to go with all this, but you knew he wasn’t bluffing and really wouldn’t stop his advances. As much as you have come to dislike the hero, you saw that there was no other choice than to accept the ultimatum he has presented to you. 
That’s what you hated most about this whole situation. Even if you tried to report him, no one would believe your word over his. He’s one of the best heroes this country has ever seen; his reputation is too good to be tarnished by the claims of one civilian.
It would just be one night with him…
And then he’d leave you alone.
“...Alright, it’s a deal. One date and nothing more.”
* * *
You peered up at the inconspicuous building where Mirio had told you to meet him. It was a restaurant you were unfamiliar with, but the blond vouched that the food there was to die for. He said that he was good friends with the owner, so it wouldn’t be hard for him to place a reservation on such short notice.
Must be nice having so many connections…
Entering the establishment, you breathed a sigh of relief when you saw that this place wasn’t super fancy like you feared. It was nice, sure, but not at the level of having multiple kinds of cutlery placed at your table. You were worried Mirio would take you out somewhere that would be fitting for an anniversary dinner and not a first date.
You fiddled with the bracelet wrapped around your wrist as you approached the host, ready for this night to be over already. Before you could even open your mouth to speak, however, your date himself appeared from around the corner, leaning over in a booth and waving at you.
“Hey, (Name)! Over here!” Mirio called. You had never seen him so happy.
You dragged your feet as you made your way over to him, sporting more of a grimace rather than a smile. Taking a quick look around, you noticed that the restaurant was fairly empty save for a few customers seated far away from where you were headed. You’re not sure if the place is always like this or Mirio had reserved this entire area.
“Wow! You’re looking lovely as ever, sunshine,” Mirio exclaimed when you finally reached his table. “Well, go on and take a seat!”
You sit down across from him, your leg starting to bounce once seated. Picking up the glass that had already been placed at your table, you take a sip of water to try and ease your nerves.
“Did you have any trouble finding this place? I chose somewhere less popular so you wouldn’t have to worry about anyone seeing us together. I hope it’s private enough for ya!” Mirio said, taking a sip of his own glass.
“It was no trouble. And thanks…for accommodating me,” You said.
“I’m beyond stoked that you changed your mind and decided to give me a chance,” Mirio said, flagging down the waiter who just came out of the kitchen. “I promise I’ll make it a memorable night for you. For the both of us.”
You forced me to change my mind. You thought bitterly, choosing not to say anything in favor of having the night go smoothly and quickly. After the both of you order, Mirio tries to engage in some idle chatter. With your short and vague responses, however, it was hard for the conversation to turn into something meaningful.
There was one question on your mind, though. One that you should have asked earlier but never had the chance to. When the waiter brought out your food and left you two to enjoy the meal, you decided that now would be more of a good time than anything to ask him.
“Why exactly do you like me?” You questioned slowly, rubbing your forehead to quell the sudden drowsiness that you felt coming in full force. This night must be taking a bigger toll out of you than you thought it would. “Surely there are plenty of better options out there, so why choose me?”
“Don’t sell yourself short, (Name). You’re an amazing person, you just don’t see it yet.” Mirio encouraged, shooting you a soft smile that was meant to comfort. “Though I do admire that humility of yours! Just like I love your kindness and compassion. The world needs more people like you, sunshine. That’s why I have to try so hard to protect you.”
You had trouble focusing on Mirio’s words, too preoccupied with the fact that you felt dizzy now, like you’ve had one too many to drink even though the only thing you drank tonight was the…water…
No…
“Did…did you do something…to my drink?” You slurred, leaning against the cool wooden table to keep yourself upright. Fear was starting to take over your body as it began to tremble.
“It’s just a little something that will help you see that we’re meant to be together, sunshine,” Through your blurring vision, you could see that Mirio’s smile never wavered. He knew exactly what he was doing. “Go to sleep, okay? And when you wake up, everything will be better. I promise.”
Tears spilled out and slid down your cheeks as you tried to fight off whatever drug he had used on you, but you knew there was no point. It was inevitable. It always was. Your fate had been sealed when Lemillion first came to the cafe and laid his eyes on you.
As you drifted off to sleep, the last thing you could see was Mirio standing up from his seat, getting ready to escort you to God knows where.
* * *
You wake up with the worst headache you could imagine, in the comfiest bed you’ve ever laid in. Confused and groggy, you sit up and assess your surroundings. You’re now in an unfamiliar bedroom, one that was much bigger than your own and seemed to be decorated with you in mind. It was covered in your favorite color scheme and filled with your interests, all things that were eerily similar to the stuff found in your home. You wanted to get up and look around, but the minute you moved your leg, you felt a heavy weight on your ankle. It had been cuffed, with a long chain that was attached to the bedpost.
It was all coming back to you now.
Mirio had drugged you.
And you must be in his home.
Anxiety was starting to settle as the situation was dawning on you. This couldn’t be real. How could Mirio, a Pro Hero, commit such a criminal act? You supposed it was because he knew he could get away with it, but you never thought he would stoop to kidnapping.
You needed to get out of there, but no matter how hard you tugged on the chain, it wouldn’t budge. The cuff looked to be high tech, and needed some kind of special key for it to unlock. You’re sure Mirio’s got it on him, so there was no hope of getting the cuff off yourself.
The door handle started to jiggle as it was unlocked.
Speak of the devil.
In comes the blond-haired man you’ve come to despise, a bright beam on his face despite everything he’s done. His hands hold a tray carrying a glass of water and a plate of apple slices.
“Hey, you’re awake! You’ve been out for a while now, I was starting to get worried,” Mirio said, placing the tray down on the nightstand. “I’m sure your head must hurt, so I brought you some water to help.”
You couldn’t believe he was acting so nonchalant after abducting you. The last thing you wanted to do was drink water that was prepared by him. Fear and anger stirred inside you as you clenched the bedsheets in your fists.
“Mirio, this is insane. You know this isn’t right,” You started, scooting farther up on the bed when your captor sat down right next to you.
“Of course this is right, sunshine. I know you must be scared and confused right now, but you’ll understand eventually,” Mirio reached a hand forward to try and cup your cheek, but you jerked your head away.
“Don’t fucking touch me. You can’t just pretend this is okay and then expect me to play along,” You narrowed your eyes at him, but that hardly deterred Mirio’s smile. “I want you to let me go.”
The man sighed and let his hand drop back to his side. “I can’t do that, (Name). I brought you here so I can keep you safe. You have everything you need here and more! Doesn’t that sound great?”
 “You can’t be serious! You can’t keep me locked up here forever!” You shouted, losing your temper. You wanted to stay calm in this situation, but it was growing increasingly difficult to do so. “I have a life to return to! Please, Mirio, let me go!”
The blond moved closer to your form, resting his hand on your knee. Nothing you said seemed to waver him; he just kept that same stupid grin on his face as he continued to lean towards your face. You tried to back up, but your body was already against the headboard. 
Mirio stopped just inches from your face, saying, “Your life will be better now, sunshine. I promise to take good care of you, so don’t worry, okay?” You flinched when he pressed a kiss to your cheek. “I love you so much, (Name). And you’ll realize someday that you need me as much as I need you.”
He patted your head then, before standing up and walking towards the door. “Rest up for a bit now, and then when you wake up, I’ll make us dinner. It can be whatever you want!”
When he left, you began to tug on the chain again out of panic and frustration, hot tears threatening to spill. Why did this have to happen to you of all people? You were just being nice and now look where it got you. Trapped in the home of some delusional hero who thought it was his job to personally protect you.
You glared daggers at the ankle cuff, hoping that if you stared hard enough, it would melt off. You wished you had never served Mirio when he came into the cafe that day. You wished people had listened to you when you told them that he was stalking you. You wished you had said no to his proposal and found another job. 
You were foolish to think all he wanted was one date.
Thanks for reading 💕💕 Comments and reblogs are always welcome! Hope ya'll have a good day or night
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seaweedrain · 3 months
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I wanna go off about Pentious and Cherri because I adore them
I saw a post in the cherrisnake tag explaining how the whole night club scene felt a little OOC, and I totally agreed! Until I thought... Is it? I agree with the person who wrote the post (here is link to post) that Pentious seems like the kind of dude who would be asking for her fathers permission to court her! I've honestly wanted to write fanfics just like this back when the pilot came out, he really does give off those types of vibes!
I feel like the first few gestures of buying her a drink was him being gentlemanly! But again, like the person who wrote that post said, the mans probably got a lil buzzed, lettin the drinks talk as he moved forward with his Rule Of 3 comedy moment! Again, I fully agree haha! However, I do think another side of his personality was showing during this moment!
Sir Pentious has a desire to be accepted by those he admires! He wants the V's to see him, he wants other Overlords to notice him and his work! He will act like them if necessary! He's hip and cool! Or at least he really thinks he is! That club was Cherris scene! He was invited out by her! He had to act like her! Right??? That would impress her, RIGHT?! Asking her to do things with him that didn't seem... like him? She'd like that, right? That's what she does! She brought him there, after all (only because Charlie told her to, but he never thought he'd make it this far!)
After talking with Charlie in those last few episodes (in the background), the girl probably gave him sound advice to be himself as he tried to confess to Cherri. Being like Cherri didn't work with flirting with her (altho I personally, think she thinks he's a cute silly), so he might as well be himself. Someone who isn't trying to fight with her and "enemies/arch rivals". As he fumbles and runs away, it does look like she's a little sad he didn't confess, although I've seen a few argue that she just looked confused. Even after Angel told her she could hit that, in my personal opinion there was a hint of sadness.
In the fun facts, it says Sir Pentious died in the 19th century. I know he's an inventor, but the fact that he wears a generals outfit makes me wonder if that was him just... Being a silly lil guy thinking back to his time where he could have been high up in the ranks for war, or if he actually was! How much has he been through in life? Was he unable to confess his love before dying? I went to the wiki and couldn't find any information, although even if there were, I'm not sure how much I'd trust from wiki or how much of the info might be considered outdated now that the show is actually out!
The idea that he knew he was risking his after life, about to double die, he didn't want regrets about confessing to Cherri, especially after failing to the night before. Whether he had a similar experience in the living life or not, I do adore that Sir Pentious was able to be himself at least somewhat. Cherri was clearly charmed.
I do see him as a character that would try to court her over time, something I could DEF write a slow burn about! But I do love that he was written as someone who WANTED to get these feelings off his chest! Maybe if he could have, then he could have woo'd her like a proper gentleman! Maybe if we had a longer season, we could have seen more of that. His different attempts, trying to act like others thinking that'd impress her. Not fully aware that being himself was actually the answer all along. Yes, being himself was in a 'life' or death situation and it PROBABLY wasn't exactly how he could have wanted it to go down, but he was nonetheless, able to confess. Not pretending to be someone he wasn't. Yes, he agreed he was out of his mind, but he was being crazy for sacrificing himself! There wasn't time to think, he just had to do. There wouldn't be regrets. He was doing this for his friends, for her, in hopes to keep them safe or buy time.
So I do wish he took his time with her. Was able to flirt, court, and awkwardly confess at his own rate (figuring out he didn't have to pretend he was just like her and could do everything she did, fumbling it lmao) I could see how someone could think this was a ship pushed too quickly and out of the blue- maybe if there was more time in the season it wouldn't have seemed that way! I'm biased, I've been shipping them since the pilot! However, with the screen time they did get, I think it was written well!
And who knows?! There are theories he will lose his memory now that he's in Heaven, he will have lost his memory (which would be VERY sad, but I also adore the drama). I've seen posts where Charlie goes up again or Emily reaches out and they find out Pentious is there! I wouldn't be surprised if Emily remembered The Rizz Master who failed to flirt with a girl 3 times in one night at a club. I do fear Sera is going to do something to him, prevent him from doing anything as the news sinners can come to Heaven shouldn't be known or smth idk... But, I like the opportunities for Cherri and Sir Pentious that they may have in the future!
For all Cherri knows, right now Sir Pentious is double dead! The shipping possibilities are endless with him now being in Heaven! I saw a cute post about them writing letters and sending them to each other via Charlie. I could see Pentious writing this long, elegant letter with a reply of "LMAO XD RAWR" and him LOVING IT!
I'd love to know others thoughts, I just wanted to ramble about them.
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Hi, this my first request since I found out about tumblr, and I am glad that you will have my first request!
What about hcs jealousy? Or as an alternative, how about writing about poly relationships? If nothing is clear, then I apologize, English is not my native language.
Male!Reader x Jealous Shenhe, Ei and Mona
A/N: Here you go! I've randomized some characters for this with the help of the almighty Wheel. As for poly relationships, I don't really like them. I'm a little traditional, yeah. Anyways, enjoy!
CW: Male!Reader
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Shenhe
It isn't surprising that Shenhe gets possessive at times. You're her first and only love, so she wishes to protect you from everyone and everything. Yet seeing you with other women gives her a feeling far different from the worry the monsters bring. It sends unpleasant current through her body, urging her to move forward and reclaim your attention for herself. She bottled it in, preferring to instead go ask Ganyu about it first. She isn't the best person to go to for relationship advice, but asking Cloud Retainer would turn a simple question into a three hour long lecture. Ganyu answered to the best of her ability, and told Shenhe to 'ask them about it'. So Shenhe acted. 
She sees you and Yelan in Wanmin Restaurant, enjoying some tea and fresh air. It's obvious she dressed to impress this day even for a person such as Shenhe. Her large cleavage is put right in your view, covering just enough to keep it decent. There is also a back window, which your girlfriend doesn't approve of. 
“Oh, hello my love. How are you doing?”
Before you can stop her, Shenhe materializes her spear and presses it against Yelan's throat. The woman moves her hands defensively up to the blade, attempting to gently push it away. To no avail, as Shenhe only pushes it back down. 
“Who is this woman and what does she want with you?”
“Uh… Shenhe? Calm down, please. We're in public space.”
“Why are you spending time with her instead of me?”
“This is Yelan. You see, we're working together. We had a lunch break, so I thought we'd get a drink.”
“That's a greeting I have never seen before. Nice to finally meet you, Shenhe.” Yelan nudges the spear tip away, and this time Shenhe relents. “Y/N has been talking a lot about you.”
“Hm. I see. Very well.” She nods repeatedly before pointing her weapon at Yelan again. “But don't forget yourself, else I may mistake you for a demon in the future.”
And just like that, Shenhe waddles off. You and Yelan watch as she disappears into the crowds. 
“Is she… always like this?”
“Yeah. And that's why I love her.” You say with a smile. 
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Raiden Ei
After millennia of relationship, Ei isn't particularly worried about your loyalty. You have been through thick and thin together, so the bond between your bodies and souls is inseparable. Why, in that case, does she feel jealous, maybe even threatened by Miko? There's just this… vibe about her. She flirts with you whenever she can, working hard to make you laugh or even just smile. Ei knows that she wouldn't contest you, but better safe than sorry. It doesn't help that she tends to be overtly serious or dramatic about it. 
Miko looks on as you descend the Grand Narukami Shrine. Behind her, Ei does so as well. She approaches Miko after a while. 
"You are getting bold, Lady Guuji. Trying to seduce him right before my eyes?" She says, voice low and intimidating.
"Oh. Am I now?" Miko smirks and turns to face her friend. 
Ei lifts up her ring finger, showing an ornament made of Electro-infused gold with intricate carvings.
"Do you know what this means? It means he is mine, and mine alone. So don't try my patience, Miko." 
Miko snickers as Ei's eyes turn pink.
"Of course, almighty Ogosho. I wouldn't want to displease my divine senior after all."
Annoyance doesn't leave the vessels oculars. Miko's getting a little worried when the cold expression on her face doesn't shift. 
"Cool off, Ei. I was merely teasing. No harm done, yes?" 
Ei pouts.
"I hope. For your own safety."
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Mona Megistus
"A proud astrologist never gets jealous" is one of the most obvious lies Mona tells you daily. And why does she do that? To clumsily attempt to mask that fact, of course. Whenever you talk with other girls, she makes it her job to keep even a little bit of your attention to herself, by holding your hand or waist. She never openly admits to being jealous, but she does act before thinking quite often. 
"F/N L/N, we need to talk." 
You look up from your lecture to find Mona standing right before you, hands on her hips. 
'Yes?' You ask, closing the book. 
 "Do have something to say to me?" 
Oh boy. Here we go again. 
"Can't you just tell me what's this about once?"
"Ugh, fine! But you better be grateful." She crosses her arms on her chest. "That woman from the church you talked to yesterday? What was that about?" 
You sigh. 
"Mona, listen. We… Oh screw it. Why don't you check what my intentions were in your magic puddle of wisdom, hm?" 
She draws the symbol in the air, and the constellations appear. She starts studying it. 
"Skin color…? Hmph! What a lame way to pick up a girl." 
You stay silent as your girlfriend goes through the reflection. Soon, her face is red from embarrassment.
"And?"
"You really only wanted to ask about her complexion…" She drops the scrygrass and it fades away. Her arms cross again, and she looks down. "I'm sorry, Y/N. I just… Sorry. I… I'm scared you're going to… leave me." 
You get up, and put your arms around Mona, whose cheeks are now running with small tears.
"I'm not going to. I wasn't going to leave you then, I'm not going to leave you now and I won't ever leave you. I love you, Mona." 
She's shuddering lightly. Her voice comes muffled from your shirt and her soft crying. 
"I love you t-too… "
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Thanks for reading!
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mondritter · 1 month
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You know, it's nice to see that I'm not the only one who felt... uneasy(?) about Buckynat getting back together after a decade 🙃
I mean I'm glad, the war is over (permanently I hope FGS), it's been so long but I DON'T LIKE THAT IT WAS WITH THOSE WRITERS and all the circumstances were... Weird and out of the blue? A bit sudden because in Cold War nothing relevant happened... And in Thunderbolts most of the same imo.
I mean why JUST NOW Nat finally decided to go back to him? I want to know her motivations, her thoughts, she's been through so much since The Widow Hunt and yet we don't really know what she thinks about it all.
And apparently those writers are going to write more stuff about them(?)
Look, I would love for an ongoing (I'm a bit tired of minis) for either Bucky or Nat or both separately, with recurring appearances of them in each other's run, appearing at crucial moments, as a cameo or a mention, so that they can be their own characters and not have to be tied to each other, and the reason I wouldn't want a run of the two of them together is because I think there are really very few writers who could handle them both well at the same time.
And I get the impression that if what it turns out those writers are hinting at is a Nat AND Bucky comic, they will end up using her as just a romantic interest and I don't like it at all.
I think I've already commented that I haven't liked how they've written Bucky since Devil's Reign, which happened 2 years ago and so far they haven't given me a reason to change my opinion, if they haven't been able to give a good writing to Bucky which is supposed to have been their main character, most likely they'll end up doing something worse with Nat 😭😭😭
It's as if we can never take a break 😂😭🫠
Well, I just wanted to get this off my chest to see if I could finally calm down a bit LMAO
I can only continue to pray for the miracle of Marjorie Liu writing them both because she is my personal favorite and one of the few I think can put them in a good place 🫡
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tetrakys · 2 months
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Hey Tetra, so how is the beta? What do you think of the game so far?
Sorry anon, I know I've been silent here, every time I think I want to make a post I never have enough time to make it as detailed as I used to, but never mind I'm going to give my quick opinion and then write something more in depth later.
So, first of all, I agree with everyone that the way the AP system is at the moment is too expensive. We pay 2AP for line of dialogue and many APs for choices. We get more free APs than in the past with the daily login, so that's a plus, but the choices are way too costly, especially the very basic ones (here called neutral choices), I shouldn't have to spend 40 APs to say I want a cup of tea! All that being said, I'm not too worried about it because I know that Chino has already reported this issue to management, and while these decisions are not up to her I know she sees the player's perspective and will do everything she can to make our voices heard.
Now, AP system aside, there are some things I really love!
Firstly, the website looks amazing, in the end it was worth the wait. It works super smoothly, and it's very pretty to look at.
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And the closet/shop part is really easy to navigate, it's pretty much like the Sims so I'm used to it.
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Also, the millennial in me who can't afford to buy her own home is really into the room decoration feature
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I also enjoy the minigames. One is just like the explorations in Eldarya, but with no pet to feed, so it's a win to me. The other is outfit contests, we receive a theme and we can dress up our Candy and enrol in it. I am TERRIBLE at it, but even if you don't make it top3 you still win some APs and diamonds just for participating. You can also win stuff just by voting in the contest.
Now, to the story. The first episode was mostly an introduction so nothing much really happens, we just meet 4 of the LIs. It was cute, the mechanic is a bit tricky because we can't see immediately if the LoM increases or not, we find out at the end of the episode, but it's not nearly as bad as in ML, so I can deal with it. It's also possible to understand if the LI liked the interaction from their reactions. I think I'm starting to understand their personalities so I hope I'll get the hang of it when the game releases. I'm going to make a separate post about my impressions on the LIs, but I'm quite happy so far.
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Something else I want to mention before ending this is a final pro and cons.
Cons, I don't like the "fairy". It's MC's godfather which is a cool character, apparently he is Agatha's cousin, that's nice. But he only brings gifts to Taki which I really don't care about, my duck will remain naked as nature intended. Or, anyway, I won't spend APs on it. I'm gonna try hard to avoid this guy, also because we have a choice to make with him and we can't skip it once we run into him.
The pro is instead the VIP system. From what I've seen, it looks very convenient. We get extra APs and diamonds every day, especially the diamonds it's a really good amount, which we can then exchange for more APs or cumulate to buy extra scenes (which are longer scenes with the LI). We also get some extra perks like an outfit, skip button for the replays, and extra jokers, which are little useful features that can be used in game. We don't know yet how much the VIP subscription costs, but if they stuck to the same prices as other game companies, it shouldn't be more than 10-15$.
And you anon, did you play the beta? Let me guys know what you think. People seem to be happy about most things except the AP system.
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terraco-07 · 2 months
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I find the posts claiming that Rose and Jade were in character for their current series of actions interesting to say the least. Personally I can't help but see them far and away out of their original characterization, but I'll focus primarily on Rose here. I think it's really easy for us to forget the original comic when looking at subsequent works and forget the foundational information that informs us of who a character is. I'm sorry but less than a thousand pages of Epilogues and HS2 isn't going to tell you as much as 8k and the writers SHOULD be looking at the original and plotting off of that even if they were teens in it. When writing a sequel (Whether canon or not) the original matters! That all said when I look back at Rose on the meteor I see someone who let her nerves and her fear of failure and being alone propel her forward at all times. This girl got so nervous about impressing Kanaya that she was wasted and missed their first date. She's insecure and fearful that Kanaya might break up with her on the meteor as well. The way that scene went down and Kanaya yelling no to me reads as this wasn't the first time Rose has asked that. Regardless you take all of that and you add the fact that candy Rose was talking to John about how happy she was and how much she loved her wife and kid and we go from that to well I knew you'd forgive me and honestly I just wanted to see what would happen while Kanaya is actively going "You do remember you said a kid between those three would be horrible and you didn't like Jade right?" We have no reason to believe that Kanaya is an unreliable narrator here, if anything Rose more than likely is. The idea that Rose just went oh man my good bestie Jade wants me to cheat on my loving wife of over 10 years and went yeah sure anything for my friend is laughably bad I'm sorry. If that's actually a course of action being taken by the writers I genuinely question if we're writing this for a 5th grade reading level. HS2 has at times been a series of flatting characters into their most basic forms and I'm so tired of seeing this parroted by fans who take the most surface level shit and run with it without thinking a little deeper. I feel like I've gone over this before but making Rose into this sort of cold emotionless villain type is so uninspired while we're at it. We're creating problems for her when she had ten other things she could have been shitty for. The knew you'd forgive me line is especially egregious for some shallow anime villain type. I will say Rose is bad at communication I agree with those points, but that ignores the main issue. She's bad at talking about her feelings but she isn't bad at caring about Kanaya's. The idea that she would throw away or risk her relationship EVEN with the visions is kind of insane to me. Her fear of losing Kanaya would overweigh the trust in her powers. I think that Rose like a handful of other characters is just chronically misread and people are excited about an evil plotline but this is so half baked and the idea that she was always like this or this makes sense with her previous characterization is just actually insane to me. Look HS2 fans you can have your new Rose, but that's a different person I think we can all play nice under that assumption.
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aifanfictions · 7 months
Note
Write a fanfic about (y/n) trying to cook jambalaya for Alastor from Hazbin Hotel for the first time, but the cooking goes wrong and (y/n) then feels bad, so Alastor comforts her and shows her how to cook jambalaya properly so they end up cooking together.
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A Spicy Love
(Y/N) had decided to surprise Alastor with a special homemade dinner. She'd heard that jambalaya was one of his favorite dishes, and she was determined to make it for him. With a cookbook in hand and an apron donned, she embarked on her culinary adventure.
As she chopped vegetables, (Y/N) couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Cooking for someone as charming and sophisticated as Alastor was intimidating. She followed the recipe meticulously, adding the spices, rice, and a medley of meats and vegetables to the pot. The aroma that filled the kitchen was heavenly, and (Y/N) was sure she was on the right track.
However, when she took her first bite, a look of utter disappointment crossed her face. The jambalaya was far too spicy, almost inedible. She had overdone the hot sauce, turning the dish into a fiery inferno.
Alastor, attracted by the aroma and curious about what (Y/N) had been cooking, entered the kitchen. He took one look at her expression and then at the smoking pot of jambalaya.
"My, my, (Y/N). What do we have here?" he chimed in his typical sing-song voice.
(Y/N) sighed, poking at the jambalaya with her fork. "I wanted to make you something special, Alastor, but I think I've ruined it. It's too spicy."
Alastor chuckled and approached her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "My dear, you have nothing to fret about. Cooking mishaps happen to the best of us."
"But I wanted it to be perfect for you," she lamented.
Alastor tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes with a warm smile. "Perfection isn't what makes a meal memorable, my dear. It's the effort, the intention, and the company. Now, why don't we try to salvage this dish together?"
With a renewed sense of determination, they set to work. Alastor showed (Y/N) how to balance the spiciness with other ingredients, adding more rice, vegetables, and broth to mellow out the fiery flavor. As they cooked together, they laughed and chatted, their banter filling the kitchen with a sense of warmth and camaraderie.
Alastor's skills in the kitchen were impressive, and (Y/N) couldn't help but be amazed by his culinary knowledge. He seemed to know the perfect ingredients and techniques to make the dish just right, and she was a willing and attentive student.
As the jambalaya simmered on the stove, Alastor stepped closer to (Y/N), their bodies brushing against each other. He looked deep into her eyes and said, "You know, my dear, the way you handle a kitchen mishap speaks volumes about your character."
(Y/N) raised an eyebrow, curious about what he meant.
Alastor continued, "It shows your resilience, your ability to adapt and learn from your mistakes, and your willingness to put in the effort for someone you care about. These are qualities I find quite charming."
A faint blush spread across (Y/N)'s cheeks. "You really think so?"
Alastor nodded with a mischievous grin. "Absolutely. I find your determination and passion rather... spicy."
Their playful banter continued, and as they finally sat down to eat, the jambalaya was perfect. The spiciness had been tamed, and the flavors were well-balanced. They enjoyed their meal, sharing stories and anecdotes, their connection growing stronger with every bite.
When they had finished eating, Alastor pushed back his chair and stood. He held out his hand to (Y/N), a silent invitation for a dance in the moonlit kitchen.
The soft melody of a jazz record filled the room as they swayed together, moving in rhythm to the music. Alastor's voice, which was usually boisterous and full of energy, had taken on a gentle tone as he sang along with the song. (Y/N) rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his embrace.
As the evening came to a close, Alastor leaned in, placing a soft kiss on (Y/N)'s cheek. "This jambalaya may have started as a kitchen disaster, but it turned into a beautiful memory, my dear. Thank you for the effort, and for sharing this wonderful evening with me."
(Y/N) smiled, feeling content and loved. "Thank you for teaching me, Alastor, and for being so understanding."
Their evening of culinary adventure had turned into a beautiful and heartwarming experience, reinforcing the bond between (Y/N) and Alastor. It was a reminder that it was the moments they shared and the love they felt for each other that truly mattered.
Days turned into weeks, and Alastor and (Y/N) continued to share their lives. They cooked together often, experimenting with various recipes and creating new, delightful dishes. Their connection grew stronger, and they cherished the special moments they spent in the kitchen.
In their relationship, they discovered that it was not just the grand gestures or the perfectly executed plans that made their love special; it was the little mishaps, the laughter, and the shared experiences that made their bond unique.
Their love story was a delightful blend of sweetness and spice, a recipe for a love that was both unforgettable and enduring. In the heart of Hell, amidst chaos and mayhem, Alastor and (Y/N) found a love that was as unpredictable and magical as any of Alastor's own tricks.
Their love was a symphony of laughter, spice, and affection, a testament to the fact that the most wonderful memories could arise from the simplest and sometimes, even the spiciest, of moments. As they danced in the moonlight, they knew that their love would continue to be the spice that added flavor to their lives, making every day together a delightful and unforgettable experience.
NOTE! This story was generated by OpenAI
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northoftheroad · 17 days
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I know I just gave you an ask and you must be super busy, but what do you think abt Dickory vs Dickbabs?? Personally, I think Dickory is way better but in Tom Taylor’s run and the current runs, Dickbabs is the main ship. Anyways, I just wanted your opinion on it :D
Also thoughts on Tom Taylor’s run? I thought about it and I kinda have mixed feelings. On one hand, it’s great for fanservice and has some super cute and funny moments. On the other hand, the characters and their relationships are kinda one dimensional. Thoughts?? Take your time and thanks if you answer! <3
Hi, As I've said before (and I'm going to quote myself from older posts here quite a lot, if you happen to come across them 😉 ), I'm fine with both pairings as long as it's well written. I guess a lot of fans lean towards preferring what they grew up with and such like. I'm old enough to have started reading Batman when the idea of another Robin than Dick Grayson was ludicrous, and read the NTT in my slightly older teens. So I definitely have a nostalgic feeling for Dick/Kory.
I think they worked well because they were so different; they each learned from the other and grew as people. Being with Kory helped Dick become more emotionally open after some ten years of growing up with Bruce and Alfred. In NTT # 26, he talks about how he is too introspective and that Batman taught him to be guided by his head, not his heart. And in turn, I'd say Kory learned not always to be ruled by her emotions, and Dick helped to ground her on Earth. They had their fair share of problems, one obstacle was their different approach to relationships and sex. While Starfire is fine with being married to another guy, for reasons of state, but live with Dick, it takes Dick quite some time to come to terms with that he loves Kory enough to get over that. Dick and Kory were one of the most stable and loving couples in DC for over ten years. Now, in superhero comics, writers and/or editoral make the rules. There were plans to let them get married, but as far as I remember a change of editorial led to that being scrapped. We got Dick being raped by Mirage instead, and eventually, the couple split up. Disregarding that, I think you could very well see them growing apart. They were young when they started dating. I guess they were a couple for two-three years? At that age, it's not unreasonable to think they developed in ways that made them decide to go their separate ways.
If Dick and Kory were good because they were poles apart, I'd say Dick and Barbara are more alike. They have both worked with Batman; they are originally street-level detectives and athletes; they are used to work in similar ways. I could see them as a slightly more mature couple than Dick and Kory, being more in sync and relaxed with each other because they have similar backgrounds and shared experiences. (Which, of course, could make them a more boring couple in fiction…) I'm not a fan of the retcon that they've been friends since school, but they did work occasionally together as youngsters, so it can still make sense to write them as really good friends, imo. I honestly think Dick and Kory have been written as a good couple more than Dick and Barbara. Maybe things had been different if Devin Grayson had got the chance to tie up her long arc with Dick in Nightwing vol 2. Not that I think her run was without its problems, but it would presumably have been better if she had got the opportunity to finish what she started. The ending (or rather the absence of a decent ending) of her run, and the fact that the first Nightwing stories after Infinite Crisis were downright cringeworthy, has soured my impression of her writing of Dick/Babs. So I guess editorial decisions have ruined both Dick's most important relationships…?
I don't know if you're new to the debate about Dick/Kory vs. Dick/Barbara? Because it's sometimes a heated discussion, with people claiming he doesn't deserve either of them, he mistreated one or the other etc.
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(Here's what Barbara herself had to say about Dick, by the way. In Birds of Prey # 71. By Gail Simone, art Ron Adrian and Rob Lea.)
I can definitely work myself up too much about fictional characters myself, but there are a few things I try to keep in mind… Fictional characters have no agency. Creators and editoral use them to tell stories (and sell stuff…). Don't get angry at fictional characters or, even worse, real people who love them. Also, reading comics is a lot about filling in the blanks between panels, and different readers can put a book down with very different pictures of what has happened. You can absolutely find examples where Dick has been written as behaving badly against both of them. Sometimes, it's a reasonable part of the writer's long game, sometimes it actually is bad and out-of-character writing. (And if you look, you can find examples where the women have been written as behaving badly against Dick too.)
Honestly, the most important thing for me when it comes to Dick and relationships is that he takes them very seriously indeed. Dick has not had a lot of one-night stands and is on record as saying he's not comfortable with casual sex. When he had one with Helena/Huntress, he wanted to talk about starting a relationship just because of that. When he (fake) married a girl to try to expose her as a murderer, he still avoided to sleep with her, and then he offered to stay with her when the case was closed, because he felt bad for deceiving her. Outside the blasted annual, I don't know of any time he was written as (knowingly) having sex with someone while he's in a relationship with another. Girls tend to break up with him, not the other way around. I'm sure other people have different ideas, and it can vary between writers and eras, but I think you can read Dick as someone who likes to be in a relationship, to be intimate with someone – but who's not into casual sex.
When it comes to Tom Taylor's run, I pretty much agree with you. I don't hate it, as some people seem to do, but I think the art has been the best part. It's mostly been pretty meh, TT has at several times spoken about how Nightwing is an A-lister among DC superheroes, but I don't think he shows it. And here and there he produces some really nice panels/pages (sometimes it's up to debate whether the characters are out of character or not). We're heading towards the end of his and Bruno Redondon's run and they've hinted he's going to stop being Nightwing. As if we need a third period of Dick not being Nightwing in three years… 🙄 The best writer of Nightwing vol 4 was Sam Humphries, in my opinion. Unfortunately, it was very short.
Ok, this post has definitely gone on long enough... but if you want to go deeper into the rabbit hole, here are some earlier posts.
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roonotrue · 26 days
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Cotl Fanfic - Thoughts & Opinions?
So, this is the first post on this new account and it's a question for my Cult of the Lamb fandom pookies. I just recently got the game and I'm obsessed with it and have been thinking about writing a BUNCH of fanfiction.
So I wanted notes and suggestions on some things, and I might even make polls on some of them, starting most importantly with the topic below:
Gender, Pronouns, and Sexuality that are so far, are solely based on vibes and what I've seen the rest of the fandom agreeing on (And canon of course):
- The Lamb's identity will probs change depending on the fic type, but for most of them they will be assigned male at birth, He/They & Pansexual. Simple and sweet because our lamb boi is just tryna SURVIVE out here in a cult of idiots that can't even cook their own food or clean up their own shit. (Is this just me wanting to write more he/they characters in my stories because I'm he/they? Yes. Yes, it is folks.)
- Narinder is transgender male He/Him. I'm making him transgender male because I said so. I want more trans rep guys, leave me alone. & Homosexual because if his whole vibe and personality doesn't scream gay angsty emo cat I don't know what else in this world does.
- Leshy is cisgender He/Him. I can imagine him experimenting with they/them though. I may include something on that... If anyone has any notes on that I'm all ears. Best Bi. His level of chaos just radiates ADHD bisexual with way too much energy and free time.
- Heket is cis-gender She/Her. The only girlie in the family, fates have mercy on her and her patience. A lesbian for sure. I think the whole fandom just sort of agrees on this, right? With like, lots of wives because she is a highkey baddie? At least that's the impression I've been given based on all of her fanart and simps.
- Calamari- Sorry, I mean Kallamar, is cis-gendered He/Him. I was thinking of making him a transgender man too? Idk, I've just been told the cis's need rep too, and it made me gag and now I want to wave my magic writer wand and make all the characters trans and nonbinary. Opinions on that are welcome. Anyway. A pansexual, and I hear he canonically had multiple spouses? Despite looking like he has zero rizz. I mean, damn. Good for him I guess. Go squid boy, go.
In this, he's gonna be single though, because I like the idea of him struggling to find new spouses and Heket laughing at his struggle.
- Shamura is absolutely nonbinary they/them. A friend has told me this is canon, and that people may gun for my fucking throat if I change it. Not that I really want to, it fits. Shamura is lowkey one of my favorites. I just like spiders. I'm also deeply afraid of them and cry if I see them irl. I also think they're bisexual in the exact opposite way as Leshy, in that they are a calm, mildly tired wine aunt of the family, mixed with the senile grandparent that snores loudly then stops and everyone pauses and looks at each other like 'Are... Are they fucking dead?'
Anyway, this is a long post, but I needed to get this out there before I started writing stuff for this fandom. Any opinions are welcome, but no bullying other people's thoughts, and be chill guys.
Fr. I'm like a skittish cat, you'll scare me away, and then no one gets fanfiction.
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