#would you like to play a game of chess?

[ainyan]

FFXIVWrite Day #13 - Check

check

verb (used without object)

to make an inquiry, investigation, etc., such as for verification (often followed by up, into, etc.)

to make a sudden stop; pause

Chess. to make a move that puts the opponent's king under direct attack.

“Check.”

The dark, amorphous cloud across the board paused in its seething, stilling for one brief moment before it began to churn once more. It studied the board to determine the threat to its obsidian king. There, sitting diagonal, was a single, battered white pawn. An easy kill - but it could see the threat from the pair of knights, each positioned to strike should it dare to take the offered sacrifice. And escape was not an option; their queen was stationed nearby, cutting off the last open space.

Emet-Selch stood straight and proud, golden eyes gleaming fierce as he held his staff threateningly before him. “It's over, Hermes. In the name of the Convocation, I hereby take Meteion into custody. And setting aside the matter of your nomination, you will come with us, too. We require your knowledge to assess and resolve the situation.” To either side, they stood - Hythlodaeus, their bow raised, their rose eyes sorrowing as they trained their drawn arrow upon Hermes’ breast. Venat’s sapphire gaze held no remorse, but instead great compassion, sword and shield in her hands held up in defense, not aggression. And behind them, the small, slim form of the familiar waited on tip-toe, lavender-edged eyes pained at the edges, chakrams held loosely within her hands, ready to fly at a moment’s notice. None of them were happy to be there in that moment, but all of them were ready to fight for the star below them.

So why check? Why not checkmate- ah. Of course. They had also seen its reserve gambit.

Muttering at having its hand forced, it slid its rook across the board, exchanging places with its king. It left the rook open to being taken - a sacrifice of the pawn, which would be swiftly overrun by one of its other minions, but worth the cost.

Hermes’ arm flung out as he forced himself to his feet, facing the four who would dare to stand against him in his own domain. “Go, Meteion. To the edge of the universe, where none can reach you.” Venat took a step forward, her eyes flashing. “This ends here!” Moving to intercept her, Hermes raised his voice in urgency. “Fly, Meteion!” Eyes bulging in outrage, Emet-Selch thrust forth his hand. “That is far enough, Hermes!”  As he distracted Hermes from Venat, the woman rushed towards the edge of the platform, calling, “Argos, to me!” As she leapt into the air, her golden familiar caught her and they sped after the fleeing bird.

A quick check of the board heartened it; unless its partner wildly altered their methods, it would still win within a few more moves, storming across the board and easily devouring those few white units that remained. “You will not win.”

They sighed as they surveyed the board. “Not this time,” they conceded, their voice a mingling of masculine and feminine tones, a two-toned bell that chimed with sorrow.

“Almost…” But her effort was not enough. “Very well, then. You may elude us this day, but not forever!” Flinging forth her hand, she cast a spell which struck the bird, merging with it. Then, heart heavy with regret, Venat turned Argos and urged him to return to her struggling comrades. Below, Hythlodaeus sighed. “Meteion's gotten away…” he warned his two remaining companions.

“Not this time, nor any time, as long as you continue to play with a soft heart,” it retorted. “You refuse to sacrifice the expendable, so you lose that which you can least afford to lose.”

They stroked a finger over the battered pawn before withdrawing their hand and gently laying their king upon its side, signaling the end of the match. “Perhaps, but what use is there in winning if you have lost everything?”

It grinned, a brief gaping of the swirls and eddies to reveal a mouth of pitch black and shimmering silver teeth, sharp and lethal. “If you win, you have not lost everything.”

They frowned, studying the board, then exhaled. “Again.”

“Again, again, again, no matter how many agains, you will lose. You will always lose. You are too soft.”

Their frown grew fiercer - then they snapped, and in that single crack of sound, the universe around them shivered. One board became fourteen. “A wager, then.” No longer was her voice two-toned, but proud and rich and quintessentially female.

They are my meaning and my purpose. My love. In spite of...or perhaps because of this, I choose to believe. In mankind's potential. In his ability to find a way forward. So let there be no way back. From that temptation I sunder us. No more shall man have wings to bear him to paradise. Henceforth, he shall walk.

It looked interested. “Since when have you engaged in wagers?” She waited in silence. “A wager, then,” it agreed.

She looked satisfied. “You have won this world, but now what was one is now fourteen. So we will play for each shattered shard. If you win, you win the board. If we draw, we play again. But if I win, it ends. The worlds remain as they are at that moment, and we move on. Leave them to live their lives, without interference from either of us.”

“And if I win all fourteen?”

She gazed upon that clouded form. “Then I will contest you no more for possession of this star; it shall be yours, whole, in perpetuity to with as you please. And I will move on.”

Again, that gape-maw grin, with those shining, sharp, silvery teeth glistening in the faint illumination that swirled around them. “A deal is struck, a bargain is made.”

She hid her anxiety behind a serene smile. “A deal is struck, a bargain is made.” She gazed down at the board between them, the last of the thirteen copies. Quietly, she stroked that single battered pawn, alone amidst a sea of white pieces that shone bright and new.

“Will you not replace that one?” it asked curiously.

“No,” she said, and withdrew her hand. “There is no need. As long as it remains, there is always hope.”

It shook its head. “Foolish to pin one’s hopes on a single piece. But if that is your desire.” Once more, that void-shriven grin. “Shall we play a game?”

FFXIVWrite2023 Day #13: Check

OCs: Kal'istae Miurani (Familiar)

NPCs: Hydaelyn, Zodiark, Venat, Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus, Hades, Meteion

AU: No AU

[ -- Master Post: FFXIVWrite2023 -- ]

#ffxiv #endwalker spoilers #kal'istae miurani #metaphorical situations #hydaelyn vs zodiark #would you like to play a game of chess? #ffxivwrite2023

[kizzer55555]

DP x DC: The Most Dangerous Card Game

Ok so Danny has essentially claimed earth as his. And he is fully aware that there are constant threats to the planet. Now he can’t stop a threat that originates on earth (that’s something he’ll leave to the Justice league) but he can do something about outside threats. Doing some research on ancient spells, rituals, and artifacts, he cast a world wide barrier on the planet to protect it from hostile threats so they cannot enter. This will prevent another Pariah Dark incident. However, barriers like this come at a price. You see, there are two ways to make a barrier. Either make one powered up by your own energy and power (which would be constantly draining) or set up a barrier with rules. The way magic works is that nothing can be absolutely indestructible. It must have a weakness. The most powerful barriers weren’t the ones reinforced with layer after layer of protective charms and buffed up with power. Those could eventually be destroyed either by being overpowered, wearing them down, or by cutting off the original power source. No, the most powerful barriers were the ones with a deliberate weakness. A barrier indestructible except for one spot. A cage that can only be opened from the outside. Or that can only be passed with a key or by solving a riddle. So Danny chooses this type of barrier and does the necessary ritual and pours in enough power to make it. And he adds his condition for anyone to enter. 

Now the Justice league? Find out about the barrier when Trigon attempts to attack, they were preparing after he threatened what he would do once he got to earth. How he would destroy them. The Justice league tried to take the fight to him first but were utterly destroyed, so they retreated home to tend to their injuries, and fortify earth for one. Last. Stand. Only when Trigon makes his big entrance…he’s stopped.

The Justice league watch in awe as this thin see-through barrier with beautiful green swirls and speckled white lights like stars apears blocking Trigon and his army’s advance. The barrier looks so thin and fragile yet no matter how hard the warlord hits, none of his attacks can get through and neither can he damage said barrier. That’s when Constantine and Zatanna recognizes what this barrier is. Something only a powerful entity could create. For a moment, the league is filled with hope that Trigon can’t get through yet Constantine also explains that it’s not impenetrable. And clearly Trigon knows this too for he calls out a challenge. 

And that’s when, in a flash of light, a tiny glowing teenager appears. He looked absolutly minuscule compared to Trigon and yet practically glowed with power (this isn’t a King Danny AU though).

And that is when the conditions for passing the barrier are revealed. And the Justice realize that the only thing stopping Trigon and his army from decimating earth. The only way he can get through….is by beating this glowing teenager in a card game. 

Not just any card game though. The most convoluted game Sam, Danny, and Tucker invented themselves. It’s like the infinite realms version of magic the gathering, combined with Pokémon, and chess. And Danny is the master. So sit down Trigon and let’s play.

(The most intense card game of the Justice league’s life).

After Danny wins, this happens a few more times with outer word beings and possibly even demons attempting to invade earth, yet none have been able to beat the mysterious teenager in a card game. Constantine might even take a crack at it and try to figure out how to play. He’s really bad though. Every time this happens, the Justice league worry that this might be the time the teenager looses. Yet every time, he wins (even if only barely). 

Meanwhile, Danny, Sam, and Tucker have gotten addicted to the game and play it almost daily. Some teachers might seem them playing the game are are like ‘awww how cute’ not realizing this game is literally saving the world. Jazz is just happy they aren’t spending as much time on their screens playing Doomed.

#DPxDC #dcxdp #Danny makes a card game to save the world. #Technically he worded the ritual so that they had to ‘beat’ him as those are the most powerful barriers and most reliable. #keys can just get lost or stolen (like the one to Pariah’s Coffin) #A riddle would be useless once someone figured out the answer. Like how no one takes the sphynx seriously anymore. #(Sorry Tuck. But it’s true). #And there is NO WAY Danny is just leaving a hole open for anyone to pass through. No thank you! #So…beating him. But it’s not like Danny wanted to fight so…he edited the ritual a TINY bit. Card games are good. Much less painful too. #Danny Tucker and Sam made the most complicated card game they could imagine. #It’s based on their strategies for fighting ghosts. Capturing them in thermoses. And MUCH based on a on field battle strategy. #It often requires spontaneous thinking on the spot. So Danny? In his ELEMNT. It doubles as practice for his actual ghost battles too. #They had SO much fun making this. #Sam added an entire series of plant cards that act as traps and healing ointments and duds that just take up the field. #Tucker added legitimate hyroglyphics combined with Latin as well as English and ghost speak. #Yes. You actually have to speak that language to play. With proper pronunciation. (Amity Parker’s think the three are talking gibberish.) #I headcanon Sam and Tucker are fluent in Ghost. #Constantine WILL figure this game out SO HELP HIM! #Some of the cards also have combinations related to constellations either in name or placement on the board. #By the way the board is based on a Hexagonal summoning circle with Rhunes along the edges #And the placement of the cards on the board and on what rhune MATTERS. #Also the cards move disintegrate and have certain abilities. Think of Harry Potter Wizard Chess. #But they are normal when Danny plays at school. This is just for ✨effect✨ Against invaders. #Danny faces multiple opponents. He also halts alien invasions. #While Danny COULD stop crime on earth he’s not sure how to fight a normal human and hold back so he sticks to ghosts. #The Justice league are going crazy trying to figure out who this entity is and after deep research are convinced this is some sort of #Ancient being who has protected earth for millenia. They have paintings on ruins and everything. #Danny is not aware they think this. #Raven starts praying to Danny as if he is a god and wrangles the other Teen Titans into doing so as well. Danny is still unaware of this. #Danny is not a King or an ancient. Just a very VERY strong ghost.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

always enjoyed the Chess Set In The Foreground perspective framing used here

now also noting like, huh, a chess set in a general store just visited by marigold competitors who killed one of their guys and are now on the way back from their rendezvous point w/suppliers

#and now to take a big sip of ''nothing suggests lackadaisy ft. people stuck / things repeating / death begetting death'' #not like i suppose we're going to be hit with ''& then mordecai and viktor sat down at the defiance field office for every passing gangster #played chess and then went and properly slaughtered the lackadaisy crew and arbogasts at the funeral home / barn w/car-sized holes'' #good reminder though that Viktor Is Now Active....left off with elsa managing to give him a phonecall; for good measure #lackadaisy #i have no lengthy Mitzi Mordecai Murder Mystery Musings posts for today (b/c not enough fresh musing insights) but no prommies #epiphanies are on their own schedule #quite the chess piece arrangement seen there too lol. can't tell if there's any Classic Configuration in the game b/w viktor & mordecai #not a chesshead and never was lol strategy games??? who's that #or i'll play them but not strategically. invented Flick Chess for indoor recess in elementary school #you flick a piece across the board and whatever you knock off the board = you took those pieces lmfao #though not like that has Zero strategy. thinking of my day enjoying tiddlywinks research #imagine my delight revisiting all this material like oh yeah the little pic of freckle tiddlywinking #let's squop; boys #i'm also supposing that chess sets? checkers sets? and etc. would be common general store features; like phone usage....real general.... #but like; what; are we expecting this Not to bring a response from marigold lol #got the nervous twitch but they're like ''ah it's fine. cost of doing business''

[childrenofthesun77]

I know mahiru is often seen as not smart (his official stats from the guidebook give him a 2 out of 10 for tactics and I think the mental stat is more about mental stability?) and sure he's not a tactical genius like mikuni or touma (both have 10/10 in tactics) but mahiru is extremely socially/emotionally intelligent, which is an intelligence often overlooked in favour of "classic" intelligence (like being good at math or things like chess).

But unlike other characters mahiru knows when to stand his ground and when to lay low and change a person's view slowly over time.

Misono wasn't on his side in the beginning, even saying mahiru could be his servant when mahiru agreed to work with him, but mahiru quickly picked up on the fact that misono was lonely and offered to be his friend. Now misono trusts him completely and recognizes that mahiru's strength lies in gaining allies.

Shuhei openly hated vampires and treated them as things and mahiru responded by humanizing them, listing examples of vampires acting just like normal people, laying the first stone for shuhei to stop wanting to kill all vampires.

He was the one who proposed the idea that tsubaki would come to rescue lilac because tsubaki sees his subclass as family and he was right.

Neither lawless nor licht were overly impressed by him when they first met him, but by the time he asks them to rescue tsurugi especially lawless is one of his biggest supporters.

In C3 he understood that he wasn't going to be able to move if he opposed them and joined them instead, allowing him and the other eves to meet. He also correctly concluded that getting tsurugi on their side was key because he was central to C3's/touma's plans and in the end it saved his life and allowed him to stop touma.

Mahiru consistently trying to protect tsubaki's subclass might also come in handy soon. They might not like C3, but both lilac and sakuya can vouch for mahiru as a person they can trust not to kill them and to aid them in stopping tsubaki from destroying himself.

And stopping tsubaki by convincing him to stop is perfectly logical. A servamp can't be killed as far as we know. Combat only gets you so far. If C3 want to create a lasting co-existence between vampires and humans getting both sides to stop killing each other and to learn to forgive is the only way.

Trying to solve this conflict through conversation and not violence is neither shortsighted nor childish, it's the only reasonable solution.

#servamp #mahiru shirota #mahiru doesn't have to be a genius at tactics as long as he has enough of “smart” people on his side and gets them to exchange information #touma was kind of screwed the second mahiru got tsurugi to turn against him within a week or so #and even with 13 mikunis it looks like mikuni might be screwed #it might turn into a simple numbers game at this point #all the eves sans mikuni and almost all servamps sans jeje and lily are on mahiru's side #add to that the enterity of C3 including some people believed to be dead and tsubaki's subclass against tsubaki lily and mikuni #(I'm excluding jeje because he's captured right now) #that's a lot of people against a small group that didn't bother to gather people loyal to their cause #this isn't chess where both sides start with the same amount of pieces and you can whittle down your opponent #while mikuni played chess mahiru played shogi even if he didn't know it #taking pieces mikuni discarded and adding them to his own side #I'm not sure if superior skill/power in a few single persons means that much if you have a huge number of also skilled/powerful people #working together to stop you #even without literary knowledge that tells me that the heroes are going to win I would bet on mahiru's side #even mikuni's arguments trying to stop tsubaki's subclass from intervening are weak

[cinnamonest]

He's considering it

#GUESS WHAT I FINALLY STARTED PLAYING #I had seen this boy so many times in my interests orbit and finally decided to sit down and look into it and #i love him SO much you dont even understand #like if i had to create the ideal boy that appealed to every kink and preference i have this would be it #manchild?? unstable? violent tendencies? occasionally says vaguely sexist things? stop i can only get so turned on #i would comfort him when he cries all the time but like i could never tell him no so like #he would get pavlov'ed so that every time hes sad he immediate chomps me like a bebe to its moms tiddy #emotional support bloodbank #im now doing everyone elses routes first tho and then going back to finish his saving the best for last #tbh this game does pull some of my biggest pet peeves in otomes and the mc/protag is INSUFFERABLE #but worth it for Him™ #and cries when you beat him at chess??? angel #cant wait to see how the bear gets incorporated when you fuck

[oveliagirlhaditright]

Things that sillily make me happy: the fact that in the official Buffy chess set they released, Buffy and Angel are queen and king chess pieces.

And, I mean, it just makes sense that they would do this, of course. As it looks like this set was based on early season two, as Spike and Drusilla are the king and queen pieces for black.

But Buffy and Angel being king and queen pieces works so well, since they're paired together, of course. And equal to each other... and a battle couple. And more than anything, this is great because the queen's the most powerful piece on the board and Buffy's the most powerful character in the series, of course. And her being more powerful than Angel just tracks. Because she canonically is. And this makes me think of the many times where she saved him and he was the damsel.

Anyway...

#buffy the vampire slayer #bangel #i was looking at this set on ebay again. in thinking about christmas gifts for people #also i found out that there are three buffy board games. four if you you want to count that the unmatched buffy set that doesn't fully coun #but meh #i had thought there were three when i was browsing lately but now i know for sure. there's also an ats one. so if you want to count that #and not see angel as its own thing there are actually four #still bummed. though. that the ats expansion of the one buffy game got canceled on account of covid:( it sounded so cool #i'm also not counting the buffy chess set as a game: i'm meaning board games here. if you want to count the buffy chess set then #there's even more #basically (not counting the chess set) it looks like there was this one buffy game and then that game did a spinoff angel game #then after that (i think) there was a legendary version of buffy (legendary is a game series oc) #then after that there was a new buffy game that got an expansion set and then was going to have one more expansion set in the form of ats #but covid sadly ruined that plan:( #and then there's a game called 'unmatched' and there's a set you can get of that that adds buffy characters to the game. but the game itsel #isn't a buffy game #though don't quote me on this... (because i have not played the game) if you only have the buffy unmatched set perhaps it would just be a #buffy game. but it's not set out to be a buffy game or anything like that #i do know two people who have played the buffy unmatched set and really enjoyed it #me myself i've played the third buffy game i listed here (the one with one expansion and was supposed to have an angel one) and it was fun:

[revvethasmythh]

actually the hottest thing gale has done in the entire game is gently and effectively explain to me how to solve a chess puzzle and then point to exactly where I need to move the pieces on the board to help

#I’m in love with my helpful king #he wasn’t even condescending about it he was just like ‘I love chess! let me help you with chess my love!’ #kissing him on the mouth I would not have ever solved that without him #rosie plays video games poorly #squad without the s

[fist-amidst-the-hands]

kinda want izzy to absolutely decimate stede at chess and I can't explain why

#ofmd #stizzy #izzy hands #stede bonnet #like... maybe stede is teaching ed because he wants to have someone to play against and ed is trying his best to learn #and brilliant tactician that he is ed of course can understand the game and the rules very well that's not even remotely the issue #it's just that... well the game is about strategy and planning and anticipating your opponent's moves and ultimately overpowering them #and that's quite like pirating now isn't it except these are tiny wooden pieces on the board and ed is just used to this kind of strategic #planning on a much larger and livelier level with higher stakes and with the added element of human unpredictability and never quite #knowing what rules someone else is playing by. so he does learn and he plays okay but tends to lose focus somewhere in the first ten turns #so one day they're trying to get through a full game and izzy is sitting off to the side watching them play and ed is kind of trying but his #mind is already wandering elsewhere and he makes frankly ridiculously bad move and izzy is just like 'wait' then sighs walks over to them #and puts the piece back and makes a different move instead saying 'do this instead' and ed's face is just like ??? confused betrayal because #why and how did he not know izzy could play chess?? and stede's eyes of course fill with excitement at the thrill of a new opponent and also #because he's been taking it easy on ed while he gets the hang of the game but is actually rather skilled at chess and would love to impress #with his skills even if the only person who would truly get the brilliance is izzy (and stede admits to himself that izzy does know what #he's doing given that the move he corrected for ed is exactly what he would have done) #so anyway stede does his whole big eyes hopeful voice *vague gestures* thing and is like 'oh you play? care for a game?' and izzy stares #him down for what feels like forever but is actually about 8 seconds before saying 'one. one game' so they reset the board and it's only #fair for stede to let izzy go first but for izzy's first turn instead of moving a piece he rotates the whole board so the white pieces are #in front of stede and says 'i don't think so. not letting you have the excuse to say i only won because i went first' and stede #is a little taken aback but you know what? challenge accepted. game on #it's about twenty turns in when stede starts getting nervous that izzy does in fact know his shit and another ten turns later when he #realizes he may be in over his head #and while it isn't a carelessly simple defeat izzy does end up beating stede #and isn't there just something so satisfying about being the cause of stede making the displeased but invigorated expression he's wearing #(do i have any clue how izzy became a chess genius? no but we can speculate. maybe he played regularly with someone on a ship growing up bc #it was a good way to pass the downtime in an entertaining way without having to talk much at all. or maybe he learned as a child and was #required to keep strict hours of practice so because really good but kind of resented it so maybe this is the most he's ever enjoyed playing #or maybe he was watching as stede taught ed to play and just picked up on some of stede's strategies and/or snuck one of his chess books out

[snickerdoodlles]

having a lot of thoughts right now at 4am about chay being ruthless

there’s a specific animorphs quote i’m thinking of:

"People don't understand the word ruthless. They think it means 'mean.' It's not about being mean. It's about seeing the bright, clear line that leads from A to B. The line that goes from motive to means. Beginning to end. It's about seeing that bright, clear line and not caring about anything but the beautiful fact that you can see the solution. Not caring about anything else but the perfection of it." — Marco, The Reunion by K.A. Applegate 

specifically the bit: It's about seeing the bright, clear line that leads from A to B. 

now, i dont think chay from season 1 is ruthless. but i very much see him as having the makings of it. chay has a very simple and direct approach to things; he sees something he wants, so he pursues it (he asks his idol for lessons their first meeting, he doesn’t let kim skip out on tutor lessons, he confesses twice because he had a homework goal and then a personal goal, he wants the truth so he confronts kim that same day, etc). and we see this theme of ‘chay has a goal, chay pursues goal’ most often with kim because they specifically foil each other in this. kim has a grand speech about making sacrifices to achieve your goals, but he’s stagnant between the world he was borne into and cant fully leave because of his brothers, vs the soft bright world he wants to be in but cant because he comes bearing blood. this directly contrasts with chay, who pursues his goals fullheartedly and recklessly

now, chay's not ruthless. not...yet. but there’s also these little...hints of a ruthlessly practical mindset to him. the most standout point for me in this regard was episode 1 when porsche is worried about his uncle. he’s sent arthee away, but he’s still planning “how do i get uncle out of trouble, and how do i maximize it?”

but chay? chay’s straight up like “uncle’s problems aren’t ours, lets just runaway to go live your dream of owning a bar on the beach”

i love this scene between porsche and chay so much. not only is really heartwarming, but i think it rly solidifies who they are as characters right off the bat. porsche is a caretaker. he takes care of everyone around him, whether he has an obligation to or not. but chay is fully ready to just leave their uncle behind. uncle interferes with brother’s and mine’s future plans? then no uncle in future plans. chay doesn’t even seem to mourn nor care that his uncle, one of his two caretakers left, is just gone from his life after ep1. like...that’s a really cold assessment for a teenager to make about one of his two living family members (that he knows of)

for me, what holds chay back from tipping into any sort of ruthless so far is mostly his naivety. not innocence (chay is not innocent yes i am still fighting on this hill), but he has certain expectations of the world that don’t necessarily match what the world is. to me, this shows most clearly when he sees warning flags (”...how do you know i have a brother?”) but is fully willing to ignore them in favor of pursuing his original goal(s) instead of taking the warning flags into account. and since he doesn’t plan for them, when some of those flags grow into actual problems, they really trip him up in ways he’s not prepared to handle. but he doesn’t have that any more at the end of season 1

if we do get a second season, i would be v curious to see where chay’s character develops. im apparently the outlier lol, but i actually really love where kim and chay ended in s1. they were on a trajectory to crash in the middle and instead they missed and landed where the other started. kim, the kid running away from the things he’s always wanted, puts himself out there with zero expectation or surety that chay will reach back. chay lingers over the video, unsure if he wants to respond to it or block it, so he throws his phone away to deal with it another time. and it’d just be really interesting to see how these two characters would react following the same trajectory the other one originally did, but coming at it with a very different background/development. and for chay specifically, i would just rly love to see how his ep1 “lets just abandon uncle to the debtors and go live our dreams on a beach” hints might come back/come into play in a mafia world setting

#this is v stream of conscious like. this isnt anything super serious. 5am is not a time for serious lol #anyways. i have. thoughts. #didnt want to expand in the post bc this is SO very much thumb tacks and strings and headcanons but. i also want to see chay's ruthlessness #and how it might mirror/follow namphueng's ruthlessness specifically #my read on namphueng is that she's playing her own game. and whatever game she's playing for her survival. she did it knowing that she'd hav #*have to abandon her sons and that she cant/wont reveal anything to them right away #there's some fun ideas to play with there between porsche's phoenix symbolism and korn's chess bs #so i would rly love to see like. porsche v much takes after his dad in his caretaker and big heart traits #where as chay is v much namphueng's son and they have a bright clear line between point a and point b they'll pursue without hesitation #there's a fun playground in there between chay and korn but that probably interests me exclusively bc it relates to talk shit get hit series #lol ANYWAYS i personally would love for namphueng backstory and a namphueng backstory that includes her selling out her original family #specifically (i mean the family the theerapanukuls killed and took her from). then namphueng tried to get away from them #that would be v fun for me its the top of my s2 bucket list #btes if ive misspelled anything shhhhhhh its 5am ive been up since before 7am spelling isnt real #this isnt rly meant to be anything lol just. been keeping me up all night. oof. #kinnporsche #mine: kinnporsche #pls stop saying chays this weeping willow or doe-eyed bambi or innocent bean or whatever i am so tired lol #chay did not abandon his uncle to the wolves for this kind of slander lol #he did not sell himself like he was living a y/n fanfic for you to box him into innocent maiden tropes #he didnt push every step of his and kims brief relationship for yall to make kim the dom lmao #.......promise im done. this isnt a tag whine lol. its just like. idk. did yall forget the shit chay's pulled in canon #he's the same wavelength of insane as kim thats why they work #tag rambles #tag rambles: kinnporsche

[cosmic-kaden]

WA.TCH DO.GS! THATS THE VIBE! NOT LIKE THE STORY BUT THE VIBE WHERE I'M WALKING DOWN THE STREET AS AI.D.EN, MAIN STORY IS OVER AND YOU'RE JUST LISTENING TO MUSIC AND LISTENING/WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE DO THEIR THINGS! THAT'S THE VIBE OF THIS MOVIE AND I COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT TILL NOW BUT I WAS GETTING THAT SAME FEELING I GOT WHEN PLAYING W.D!! HOLY SHIT!

#THATS WHY I LIKE THIS SO MUCH!!! #Because legit that's what I would do after the main story was over I would walk around and listen to the people or go to bar and listen to #the music and people or play a mini game there. I could walk FOREVER in that game just checking out places and everyone always has things #to say or they're talking amongst themselves or on the phone. I'd play chess too! :D IT WAS SO COMFORTING AND CALMING TO ME! #I'D JUST BE BIG CHILLIN AND THIS IS WHAT PATERSON DOES AND IT GIVES THE VIBE! #DID PATERSON JUST BECOME A COMFORT MOVIE!? I GET WHY PEOPLE WOULDN'T ENJOY THIS MOVIE ITS JUST PATERSON LIVING HIS LIFE DAY TO DAY ITS SLOW #AND MUNDANE AN YOU PEOPLE WATCH AND LISTEN AND I FUCKING LOVE IT!! [shakes ya'll by the shoulders] AHHHHHHHHHHH <33333 #SORRY FOR SCREAMING BUT \O/ #cosmic liveblogs

[sluttish-armchair]

Ok but thinking back to how I was in elementary and middle school: I had such disdain for other kids who broke the rules, that I irrationally hated a whole bunch of kids — kids I would have made good friends with — all because I couldn’t stand the fact that they engaged in conflicts with, and affronts to authority figures or standards.

It even went as far as internally mocking a kid my age — calling him “Mama’s Boy” in my head — over the fact that his mother whispered comments into his ear, which he mumbled unintelligibly into the mic, and then would fall asleep as if dead on her arm. I perceived his inability to give comments on his own, and his sleeping, as moral failings of both mother and child; because I wasn’t raised like that. And maybe, those feelings also came from jealousy. I was expected to fight off sleep all the time because I could read at a college level in third grade, and could theoretically understand the material presented at the meetings despite it still being inappropriate for my age group.

I was so far deep into the “bad associations spoil useful habits” mindset that it made me hate my fellow neurodivergents — kids I would have been friends with — who maybe couldn’t hide it as well as I could. That is beyond fucked up. Now, I work with those very kids I disliked so much as a child, and guess what? They are my absolute favorite people to be around; and many of them remind me of myself.

#exjw #ableism tw #I’m also just very uptight about rules anyway; so the whole cult thing did not help that part of me At All #I often find myself more concerned with doing things “correctly” than I am with doing the right thing in non-serious scenarios #and it’s kind of scary because like… how much of a sheep am I? #Would I torture someone if an authority figure I trusted ordered me to because it’s what I’m “supposed” to do? #Most of it comes from a desire for consistency: If [x] happens; then do [y]. So every time [x] happens; [y] is the correct response #and this — like the laws of physics — Cannot Change #Except of course the real world is vague and variable and there is a lot of grey area to work with in coming up with solutions #so doing [y] when [x] happens may make things worse than if you do [z] instead #This makes a lot more sense when you consider I was taught how to play chess at a very young age by my father #who bragged about being a “chess player” with regard to real world problems #Yes chess is strategy; but you’re also playing on a grid and your movements are entirely restricted by the rules of gameplay #My father can’t leave the cult that traumatized him because he loves Jehovah #he can’t go to the meetings to serve the god he loves because it triggers his trauma #he can’t talk to a therapist about his religious trauma to get over it because he would be defaming Jehovah #If life is a game of chess then he’s checkmated #But here’s the thing: the game is imaginary and the rules are made up #Viewing real life as a chess board is extremely unhealthy for your free will #Which is why in this essay about Nineteen Eighty Four I will—

[pocketramblr]

dad for one but with rei...

Could you like, imagine if Rei was his daughter he didn't know what to do with, she's strong and cold but doesn't particularly want to be a villain, and he doesn't much want her to be one either, not in any way that threatens his stuff or her life at least. But then he hears Endeavor's been looking around for a match and he thinks "oh, there's no way he's gonna fall for an ice match right, he knows that would end awful right" but uh he fell for the match and the fake family in need and Rei's beautiful but aloof air, so,,, why not stick with it and see where it goes? it'll be good blackmail material, right? and its not like his daughter has a life of her own, or anything. he can bring her back to the base after and no one is any wiser, and she'll hate heroes even more and- kid?? and a second kid so soon? does she just want to get it over with? well seems like it's working, his underling tells him Touya is having problems with his quirk, but now instead of divorce and setting himself up for blackmail, Endeavor just keeps trying?? now four grandkids?? and Rei, showing her nerves on the phonecall with him for the first time in years, tells him that Touya tried to kill his baby brother and this one actually had the quirk Endeavor wanted and AfO thought impossible?? AfO decides nows the time to collect his family back and gets Touya before he can completely burn up, but Rei realizes she'd rather have her kids stuck with Enji than AfO, so she chooses to burn Shoto's face so Enji keeps him close and sends her away and??? i dunno she just hopes everyone forgets about Fuyumi and Natsuo because they're safer ignored and neglected than anything else???

#i dunno might be fun to play with in a universe similar to blade's naive melody #which i havent read yet because i want to wait until its all up for my own mental wellness due to some heavy themes #but that i love already anyway #hm yeah Rei hit with the stick is interesting #definetely feels like afo playing a long game that he hasnt actually fully thought through himself right #he's both a chessmaster and building little towers of blocks to knock down #or heck maybe Rei told Enji the truth #and she was institutionalized to keep her from being too close to any secrets but not put her in jail?? or smth?? #and they just. never told the kids anything #thats if you want to play it close to canon anyway #if you DONT oh hoho #there are many options #perhaps Rei arranging the match on her own to try and get hero help and just telling her dad its a villain scheme #but then idk enji doesnt believe her? because afo is a boogyman story?and she was too convincing with her fake family actors? #or does believe her idk #maybe rei thought the perfect quirk would draw her father out to where enji would see and believe her??? #actually everyones playing chess and blocks now #just chaos #except the todo kids who seem all completely unaware #it'd be funny tho if afo tells dabi hes his grandpa and dabi's like 'i could not care less man' #afo: oh. i thought i could manipulate you that way #maybe he still thinks the irony of afo's grandson and nana's grandson on a villain team together #not that they're very good teammates but still kjhghjk #anon #pocket talks to people

[fragmentedblade]

I can't believe they apparently introduced Ratio by showing him playing chess alone and taunting himself. What a dork. I actually love him

#I used to do this all the time from the moment I learnt to play chess when I was seven or so to ehm nowadays from time to time #A lot less now than as a child and teen. I used to do it all the time. Nowadays I find it boring xD #I hope for my mental health he won't be as me-coded as he seems to be #Because that would be embarrassing in an almost humiliating way #What do you mean I am so plain and my tastes so typical and easy to cater to #that the gacha game has made at least two characters that fit perfectly my tastes? #And yet there they are. I won't even talk about Jingliu and Jing Yuan nor probably Luocha and even Sunday #Blade was hit after hit and Ratio is‚ while not as much of my taste fiction-wise for now‚ definitely clicking all my irl interests #I got into twitter and saw the chess piece in the video thumbnail and my first thought was 'goodness I sure hope that's not Ratio' #But it was #This is kind of humiliating. I feel like a NPC of a person. I hope you die. I hope we both die xD #I talk too much #I should probably delete this later #The only character that comes as close as Blade as being lab-made specifically to suit all my tastes is Jack and that's how it went #I don't even want to talk about what Blade has done to me this year (for good and bad)

[synonymroll648]

deep down in my soul, i know that if sophie ever introduced keefe and fitz to them, keefe would want to play uno immediately and fitz would want to play chess and sophie would look at their puppy eyes and just. relent. give in. and go screw it, i’ll play you both at the same time. and then she would either destroy them both, die of panic because brains aren’t designed to multitask well, or both. and then her boys would want to swap games over and over and she’d indulge them just for one night in a pillow fort with all their stuffed animals or something

#fitz would be super competitive and keefe would ask silly questions and distract her #and she loves them both but. jesus christ they're difficult on purpose sometimes #they back down when she's getting a little too stressed out but they like to tease #also i would like you guys to know that playing chess and uno at the same time is called chuno. hope that helps #i've had an anon talk to me about sokeefitz game night in the healing center once and. yeah man they deserved that #maybe i'll write a fic about it at some point. we'll see #rn my fic writing queue is loaded and taking its sweet sweet time to get through ;-; #kotlc #keeper of the lost cities #sokeefitz #sophie foster #keefe sencen #fitz vacker #this whole post is so self indulgement omg #i just. blorbos

[skylilac]

what games do adults play at dinner parties LMFAOOOOOO this is so dumb

#like first of all who plays games at dinner parties arent you supposed to like. eat dinner?????? #games are a POST dinner thing!!!!! #im gonna explode a table like. CHESS????? do you play chess at dinner parties #cards?? bingo?? pictionary???? is pictionary a third grade thing or do dignified adukts play it too #and how am i supposed to make it CHRISTMAS THEMED do i draw fucking santas everywhede jm losing my mind #who gave me responsibility GODDDDD I DONT KNOW WHAT DINNER GAMES ARE #and also why would my mom make ME in charge of this shit likw and by SATURDAY thats like THREE DAYS #WHO PLAYS GAMES AT DINNER PARTIES god just eat the food what happened to eating and chatting #also i rlly dont wanna do my chem hw #avery rambles

[castielmacleod]

Fics I will never write: KING’S GAMBIT

King’s Gambit is a short canon compliant fic following Crowley through his last few days leading up to his eventual suicide. Nearly eaten alive by loneliness and self-loathing, the king of hell reflects on the past and tries to envision a future. When he ends up sitting alone in the bunker bandaging his stabbed-through hand, he makes a decision—only to be surprised by a visit from the new Death, who brings with them a peculiar proposition: a simple game of chess to decide his fate. Dark character study with themes of suicide, depression, social isolation, and unrequited love. Gen with minor past Crowstiel and unrequited DrowIey.

#Sorry for obsessing over the miserable end they wrote for this character. As if it’s my fault #Crowley spn #Tw suicide #Fics I will never write #Billie and Crowley brotp agenda #My posts #This would not have a happy ending unfortunately #Because I really need to like. Channel my Crowley feelings into proper words #The chess game is inspired by The Seventh Seal which is an old movie where a guy plays chess against Death to see whether he lives or dies #Except in this fic it would be reversed—if Crowley loses to Billie he has to live. Or something. Honestly I’m still thinking it out #In any case I love the image of Billie and Crowley having a deep conversation about life and death over a chessboard #It’s interesting because I hc that Billie and Crowley were lifelong friends while she was a reaper #But as Death she now has a responsibility not to directly interfere. At the same time she doesn’t want her old friend to kill himself #She reaped his soul the first time he did that and that was literally how they met. It’s not how she’d want them to end too #And like if she can tell DW to keep living I’m sure it wouldn’t be ooc for her to encourage her friend to keep living too #And being like “ok you want to kill yourself but I’m not letting you do anything unless you beat me in chess” #And not only is she VERY good at chess but she can use the time spent in the game to try and talk him down #I just also really like the idea of the literal embodiment of death trying to save a life like. Oughh you know #It’s just that she would ultimately have to leave it up to Crowley. Especially since he is technically already dead #and not beholden to the soul reaping system anymore. #It would be difficult for her in a subtle way