bedtimegiraffe

[bedtimegiraffe]

Book 2 Healing Items

The archiving of non-optimal play continues!

Chapter 2 (Can't use until Chapter 4 at the earliest)

Chapter 7

Chapter 12

Chapter 18

#In my head the healing potion tastes like strawberries #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #blades of light and shadow 2 #blades mc #tyril starfury #nia ellarious #aerin valleros #screenshots

[bedtimegiraffe]

AAAAAA I'm so happy to hear more about this! Thoughtful, interesting character ideas and fic sustains me.

I love the way you described their story. Nia continuing to be put on a pedestal and infantilized as this precious thing that needs protecting even though we know (and she's starting to realize) she is incredibly powerful! The push and pull of 'I want to good and believe Aerin can be better' and 'If he touches Dorian with his greedy hands I'll kill that bastard myself.'

And Aerin! Those amazing stuttering pauses (A traitor. He was—Kissing Dorian back). He's already feeling so guilt about what he did, probably realizing he's hurting Nia even further by allowing this, but what's he gonna do? Say no to the incredible person who somehow wants him?

I love an MC who comes back wrong (as far as the party sees anyway). With all that trauma in so little time, then no space to process it, how could Dorian possibly be the person everyone still wants him to be?

And thank you for giving me a glimpse of a world where the bedroom trashing scene is an ugly cry, knock down drag out fight! I love angst and you've given us a gift.

I'm so curious about how this throuple comes together. Does Aerin nudge Dorian about Nia not being fragile ("I understand your concern for her, but you do realize she's one of the most powerful magic users who's ever lived.")? Does Nia get past some of her anger and realize there's something kind of sexy in how she wants to pin Aerin to the ground and make him beg? Does Dorian process things a little and realize he wants Nia as she is now, but he wants Aerin too (kind of a thing for people who have been corrupted?)? I feel like there's definitely something to how all three of them cling to trying to be perfect and inevitably fail.

I'd love to hear more about this (especially the getting together) if energy/inspiration strike!

You’d mentioned in a reblog once that Dorian and Nia broke up- care to spare some angst and share that story?! How did Shadow!Nia take it as he got closer to Aerin?

Oh my god I pray for the spoons to write more Blades one day!!! I'm sitting on like 6 different fics of theirs lol (or, chapters, I suppose, in their larger story?). I want to fill in all the bits in-between what Blades 1 and 2 gave us!

THEY BROKE UP. OOH. OOF. YES. AERIN. AAHH. MESSY.

Dorian was so taken with Nia when they first met. She was so sweet and naive and precious, and he loved to tease her, loved to show her the world, loved to make her smile. He really had her on a pedestal as this innocent, defenseless little thing that needed to be kept safe.

And then he shoved a sword through her chest.

The guilt he carries is burying him. He broke her, he tainted her, he ruined her, her life would have been so much better if he'd never been in it.

There was a moment, after he'd escaped the Ash Empire, and he first saw Nia again in Whitetower where he smiled at her and it was genuine. The relief at seeing her safe and unharmed was staggering. He almost let those walls drop. He almost ran to her and took her into his arms again.

But he doesn't deserve to touch her.

It wasn't a breakup in words, as much as it was in a complete and silent pulling away. Nia was moorless in the aftermath. She was already dealing with shadow corruption, and now Dorian was just freezing her out?

But the worst part? His smile.

See, she'd been enamoured with his smile from the beginning. Thrust out into the harsh world, she'd been delighted to meet this person who was so optimistic. He was charming and witty and he encouraged everyone around him. No matter how difficult the situation, Dorian found a way to smile about it. That was a little bit magical, she'd thought. His smile was like the Light itself.

Only then, when he came back, when they finally found their way back to one another, he was still smiling and it was all wrong. It didn't reach his eyes anymore, and no one knew how to talk to him, and he was in so much pain and there was nothing she could do to take it away.

But her own pain was festering. Because not only had he shoved her out of his life, now he was letting Aerin in? The man who had done this to them in the first place? She'd never felt so isolated and betrayed.

But there was so much conflict there, because a part of her wanted so desperately to believe that anyone could be redeemed. A part of her wanted to believe that anyone tainted by Shadow could find their way back to the light, and who better than a Priestess of the Light to offer him that hand in the darkness? Who better than her to offer him clemency and compassion?

But it became easier to and easier to just let the Shadow have its way. And Shadow!Nia wants to wring that bastards neck. Shadow!Nia wants Dorian to know she isn't this pathetic thing that needs protecting. Shadow!Nia wants to rip that fake fucking smile off of Dorian's face and force him to face things.

I'm still working on all the lil fics from time to time, but oh god I hope it gets ugly between them all haha (and then better! Bc I like a good dose of comfort with my hurt 😊)

(something something have some snippets 🖤)

‘You feel it too, don’t you? This pull between us?’

His fear was oil-slick and serpentine. It snaked ghostly tendrils down his spine, coiling around his trembling body, pinning his arms to his sides. He should step away. He should raise a hand and push him away!

He was—

He—

Aerin’s hands tangled in the front of Dorian’s shirt tails as he bowed his head towards him. The soft press of Dorian’s lips against his own was the sweetness of guilt and temptation.

Aerin was a coward. A traitor. He was—

Kissing Dorian back before he could stop himself. He was gulping down venom before it could spill from his lips and hoping Dorian couldn’t taste his deceit.

‘You won’t look at me but you’ll fuck him?’

‘I care about him, Nia.’

‘You don’t see how that’s so much worse?’

‘I can’t help how I feel!’

‘Except when it comes to me! You had no problem extinguishing everything that burned between us.’

‘I killed you, Nia!’

‘I’m not dead, Dorian! And yet every day, you insist on burying me.’

‘Be mad! I want your anger, and your ugliness, I want you to hate what happened to us! Be mad with me! Be with me, Dorian. I need… I need you on my side.’

‘I am mad! You think I’m not mad?’

[This one is going to be a re-write of the scene where they trash that noble's bedroom -- only it won't be fun and thrilling, it'll be ugly sobbing and screaming and breaking things bc Dorian can't keep the mask up any more]

omg i have so many thoughts on them and not enough juice to write all the things lmao. I'm gonna do it one day though!!!! Ty for the ask my darling 💖💖💖

#choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #aerin valleros #blades of light and shadow 2 #nia ellarious #blades mc

[bedtimegiraffe]

Book 1 Healing Items

If you're like me and refuse to proceed with anything but perfect performance, you probably haven't seen these! Including an early glimpse at King Arlan being kind of a self-important ass.

Chapter 2

Chapter 6

Chapter 15

(Not gonna lie, I really though we were going to get an option to take a drop of the potion or chug it. And you know my awful MC wanted to chug it.)

#Love that Mal is inexplicably featured in all of these healing scenes #And funny about it- of course #I'm sorry King Arlan- did you not just see your 'useless' son kick our asses?? #Do you want to help us save the world or not?! Give Mal whatever he wants! #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #blades mc #imtura tal kaelen #mal volari #king arlan #screenshots

[bedtimegiraffe]

If You Refuse Nia's Request

Ever wondered what happens if you refuse to stab Nia with the Blade of Light? Or which of your friends is hardest to kill? Weird, but I do have an answer for you...

#I miss the brutality of Book 1 #bad choices #screenshots #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #nia ellarious #tyril starfury #blades mc #imtura tal kaelen #mal volari

[bedtimegiraffe]

I'm slowly getting into Immortal Desires 2 and I forgot how much a Cas-leaning romance reminds me of the boppy little number Pink Slips by Jenna Doe. I feel like the game really wants you to be torn between the two LIs, but sometimes you just want the bad girl(/boy, depending).

You blew me a kiss in the class that she skips And you hold my hand, but she bites my lips I'll wear your sweater, for her I unzip You write me love letters, while she gets pink slips

It might sound a little twisted But she's living like she's already dead And I'm a sucker for the wicked

#choices id #immortal desires #cas harlow #gabe adalhard #cas harlow x mc #Song recs

[bedtimegiraffe]

Thank you for your thorough thoughts!

The goblins to feel kind of literally made for him (writing-wise), and I agree that he's probably happiest there. I can absolutely see Aerin becoming an elder! He would be great and he would benefit from some validation that he's doing a good job.

I would worry about Aerin back in the palace given all the trauma, but I think he could get through it and do good work with MC's support. And also the explicit support of the daughter of Queen Ventra, the most prominent Priestess of Light, former heir of House Starfury, and the ruler of the Ash Empire. The party is absolutely full of people who could be political heavyweights if they wanted to.

I looove alchemist healer Aerin who finds community and acceptance that way (I've said it before), regardless of the ending. If he could be persuaded to live in society again (which, who can blame him for not wanting to), it would probably be Riverbend. If MC defends him at the festival, everyone is delightfully quick to go, "Yeah, okay." The idea of him accidentally teaching a bunch of kids is adorable!

Aerin as trophy husband hadn't occurred to me, but I love it. I think we all want King Arlan to have a dawning realization that he fucked up sooo bad. There have been other Choices games where you can pay for a diamond scene to just chew someone out, and I would take that for MC to yell at King Arlan. Or to encourage Aerin to do it!

Well now that you've said there are multiple outcomes you'd like for Aerin in Blades... wanna share what those are?

😅 Ah, well, you asked for it. Disclaimer: they are absolutely just personal wish fulfillment for me (post I will be referencing)

The ending where I see him being the happiest is, as I mentioned, with the goblins. To reiterate what I said about that, he'd probably be better off "[living] a simple life with the goblins—who actually appreciate him and don't judge him for his past—while still getting to be intellectually stimulated by the processes of designing their village and helping people". It's possible if he's completely struck from the line of succession and Arlan either doesn't know about him or is content to pretend he doesn't exist to avoid being associated with him. Anyway, I think in this ending Aerin might be well on his way to becoming the second-ever non-goblin to serve as an elder. He clearly enjoys their company and works to improve their community, so yeah, best case scenario for him.

Another ending is the royal ending. Maybe Arlan realizes that he has no one else to carry on the Valleros line and has to suck it up and reinstate Aerin. Maybe MC ends up in charge and Aerin rules as their prince consort (I prefer this second one mostly just because it's funnier, like I said in the other post). Either way, I think this is a good chance for a full circle moment for Aerin. Moreover, it's the only way he can achieve some sort of wider-scale redemption in the eyes of his kingdom. They all know him as the traitor prince who tried to murder his way to the top, but if he gets to be king now and actually does good in his role, then he can redefine his legacy. If he ends up married to MC, they'd even make a good team, because he brings the insider expertise when it comes to ruling a kingdom and MC brings the popularity and good reputation he can sort of piggyback off of.

The following endings are not necessarily the endings I think are the most in-character and much less the most likely, they're just endings based on the relationship between Aerin and my MC:

3. Since I feel like my MC will always be a Riverbender at heart, I imagine she would want to go back at some point, and so I sometimes picture Aerin going with her. The issue is that, unlike the goblins, the townies do very much remember what he did and are not initially as welcoming. I could see him doing several things there:

For one, I like the idea of him opening up an apothecary shop and sort of becoming the village healer, because 1) it would use his alchemy expertise, 2) it would use the healing expertise he's shown to have, and 3) it would be a job helping people, which not only would make him feel useful and like he's doing a good thing, but it could eventually improve the townies' perception of him.

Another I thought of later that I'm also quite fond of now is him becoming a sort of schoolteacher. I can imagine that one happening completely by accident, like he's just reading a book by himself somewhere some day and a little kid (who doesn't know who he is) goes up to him and starts asking him questions, and a while later he's got a whole bunch of kids he's telling stories to. It would let him put his expensive and very exclusive education to good use and also greatly benefit the people of Riverbend, whose kids could now have a much better education than they might've otherwise had (and hey, he might even take the time to tutor some adults too, if they're not assholes to him—overall this man could have literacy rates soaring in Riverbend for all ages). And if the adults are slow to warm up to Aerin, their kids aren't, which helps their parents like him better in the long run. Just the idea of Aerin working with kids because they have the same traits he values in goblins and that make him protective of them makes me happy.

The last thing isn't anything solid or at all likely, but just if MC goes back home and takes over tending to the farm she grew up on, Aerin helping out with that, because there's something about a lot of time passing and people who either were too young when the whole Baldur/Dreadlord shit went down or aren't as familiar with who Aerin is hearing gossip about how that guy over there used to be a fancy prince, but they look over and it's Aerin doing manual labor or some shit and they're like "that one??? 🤨"

4. Absolutely not likely, not in the slightest, but because I like to imagine that my elf MC at some point takes it upon herself to return to Undermount to restore her house as a way to keep her family's legacy alive, sometimes I think about Aerin going with her. As someone raised in the royal court, he'd have a lot of expertise that would be very helpful, and although I think living a simpler life is what's best for him, there's something deeply amusing about the prospect of King Arlan someday visiting Undermount for whatever reason and attending a grand ball and getting hit with the shock that the loser son he thought was either dead or destitute is the hostess's trophy husband who's actually been doing pretty well for himself the whole time.

So that's about it! Again, I'm not necessarily basing these on what I think is most likely to happen or even what I think is best, I'm just going off of vibes and, like I said, personal wish fulfillment to try to make his and my MC's relationship with the ideas I have for her. Also, sorry for taking so long to answer, I just didn't wanna forget anything :)

#choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #aerin valleros #aerin valleros x mc

[bedtimegiraffe]

I was absolutely waiting for some body horror! Valax said people would collide and you know I wanted to see that.

The initial little epilogue text described it as "an almost unimaginable amount of destruction," but it definitely doesn't feel that way! Wren's home is still there. You get some Port Parnassus friends being mad most of the city was destroyed, but like, Riverbend seems fine.

I wish it hadn't left so much up to the imagination. I wanted "My whole family died when our home was crushed!" and "Undermount is uninhabitable!"

Ngl I kinda hate how the Combine The Realms ending was so much more uneventful than what the Watcher hyped itnup to he

I thought it was gonna be this bad ending where reality would start distorting because objects from different planes of existence were being forced to exist in the same one and people would be getting fused into the same bodies and shit but no it’s just the Portals ending with extra steps

#But I'm always that freak who wants worse consequences and things to hurt #blades of light and shadow #choices bolas #Merge realms ending

[bedtimegiraffe]

At the end of Book 2, Chapter 17, there's some version of 'goodbye' with all the LIs. For the most part, it's 'You're everything to me,' and 'There is nothing in the world that could keep me away from you.'

But with Aerin, MC is STONE COLD.

I am delighted, baffled, and upset by this all at once.

#Somehow it's MC's sickest burn. And probably an accident. #I know I'm projecting but if I were Aerin I'd be up all night thinking about it #“Was that them trying to let me down gently?! Did we just have 'the world is ending' sex? Where exactly did I ruin everything?" #Poor guy is already anxious- don't do this to him! #I hope the LIs never compare notes because this is rough #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #aerin valleros #blades of light and shadow 2 #aerin x mc

[bedtimegiraffe]

Oh hell yeah! Looove this banter. You don't get into the adventuring business because you had a good childhood!

You've inflicted me (affectionate) with a desire to see the whole squad having a drinking game, trying to one-up each other with their tragic backstories.

MC: “I’ve had to do manual labor since childhood.” Imtura and Mal clink mugs with a smile, then drink.

Mal: “I was forced to work for a powerful institution to further their own ends, at the expense of my own safety." Nia raises her mug in a toast, then drinks.

Valax: “My mother ordered her general to try and destroy me as training because she knew I could not die.” MC: “…Maybe be a little less specific.” Valax: “I had a… family member who… tried to physically destroy me?” Aerin smirks. “I believe that counts.” Then takes a drink.

And Tyril in the corner increasingly uncomfortable at how sober he is.

ha im looking through my Blades fic notes to answer an ask and I just found this mess:

Dorian (scoffing): OKAY Mr I grew up blessed with such luxuries as “parents” and “shoes”

Tyril: Oh, please. I’m not th—

Mal: No, he’s right.

Nia: *shrugs in agreement* I imagine having parents must have been nice

Mal: Way to rub it in by having three, elf boy. Gods. Excessive, much?

Tyril (desperately): Some of you have parents.

Aerin: I mean... I have a political figurehead who is alive and technically I am related to?

Imtura: *pointing excitedly at Aerin* yeah! That one! Same. Me too.

Aerin: Mine hates me!

Imtura: Yoooo its like we're twins!

Valax: My mother crafted me for a singular purpose and has never shown me an ounce of affection in my life

Dorian: Eyyyy! *high fives her*

Tyril (losing it): everything suddenly makes so much sense??

#choices bolas #blades of light and shadow

[bedtimegiraffe]

Pre-Battle (Book 2, Chapter 17) Makeout Options

These diamond scene, non-sex options feel... better than the festival? They're all pretty sweet and have some personality. Still a step down from Book 1 though.

Aerin

Imtura

Mal

Nia

Tyril

Valax

#choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #blades of light and shadow 2 #aerin valleros #nia ellarious #tyril starfury #imtura tal kaelen #mal volari #valax #princess valax #screenshots

[bedtimegiraffe]

Out of everything, by far the meanest thing Blades has ever done to me is give me an awkward ass number of experience points for ALL OF BOOK 2

#Is it so hard not to have a '1' at the end? #I can't be the only person this happens to #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #blades of light and shadow 2

[bedtimegiraffe]

My secret mission in every video game is to manipulate my way into being queen, but sadly I think it would be bad for Aerin to be in the palace again. Still, I'd love to see everyone be very much against the idea, questioning MC, until they go, "Did I fucking stutter? Aerin is great, we're gonna rule Morella, you wanna fight me about it?"

We all know the gossip in Morella is already incredible. You know that sweet red-haired priestess from the Temple? My friend says that during the battle, she was corrupted and turned an ogre to stone! And I know everyone says Prince Aerin is dead, but my cousin's wife swears she saw him with his tongue down the Hero of Morella's throat last week.

And "I don't know how, but you used the wrong formula and got the correct answer" pretty much sums up Aerin's life. A lot of the LIs lives now that I'm thinking about it...

I really hope in BOLAS 3 MC ends up taking Arlan's place as king/queen & the LI of our choice rules with us for the sole purpose that I wanna see everyones reactions when they find out the former prince who corrupted people & murdered the heir to the throne will also be taking over alongside the hero of Morella lmfao

#choices bolas #blades of light and shadow

[bedtimegiraffe]

I adore your analysis of Blades. Thanks for sharing them with us! <33

Oh my gosh, thank you so much for saying so! You're welcome- I love to share all the thoughts I've already drafted in my head anyway! It's so fun to inflict my years of academic literature analysis papers and studying human behavior on these characters.

[bedtimegiraffe]

Riverbend Festival (Book 2, Chapter 8) Snuggle Options

The non-sex options during diamond scenes in Book 2 are a real step down from Book 1, but I am nothing if not thorough.

Now I want these scenes to have platonic options even more! Just move the heart choice up a little! There's no reason I can't check out fireworks with Tyril, have a heart-to-heart, then decide if I want to kiss him or just have a friend hug. I don't have to want Imtura carnally to be into a pie eating contest. I'd pay 30 diamonds for more friend time, I don't care.

Aerin

Imtura

Mal

Nia

Tyril

#Squidward's (Aerin's) father never hugged him #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #screenshots #aerin valleros #nia ellarious #tyril starfury #imtura tal kaelen #mal volari #blades of light and shadow book 2

[bedtimegiraffe]

I WISH I could give you that kind of news! Mal has chemistry with everyone, but he and Tyril have something special. Sadly, just the way I labeled it due to tumblr picture limits that required 2 posts.

End of Book 1 Make Out Sessions- Mal and Tyril

If you choose the diamond scene at the end of Book 1, but opt for the kissing options, you get some very sweet dialogue.

I always have trouble finding things like this, so here it is- for me and anyone else interested!

Mal

Tyril

[bedtimegiraffe]

I think Aerin willingly pissed off these heavily armed adventurers who previously kicked his ass for 3 reasons.

He knows Nia is too nice to let him really get hurt and she could absolutely stop any of the others if she decided to.

After being imprisoned and mostly alone for a year, he's probably out of fucks. Pissing the party off is the only fun he can imagine having for the foreseeable future. He thinks he has no chance of getting on their good side, anyway.

He feels left out.

Right before this, MC asks if everyone is onboard. And they are! Except Aerin. Who was not asked. Presumably, a guard just walked into his cell, bound his hands, and walked him into the woods with no explanation. Then MC made sure everyone was willing to go on this adventure but didn't care enough about Aerin to ask (as far as he's concerned). He's not part of the team- he's an advantage they're reluctantly leveraging.

And then, everyone else gets a pep talk! Tyril, you won't let Shadow hurt people! Nia and Mal, you look out for people society forgets! Imtura, you fight so hard to protect everyone!

Aerin... conspicuously absent.

#This interaction has been living in my head more than I could explain #I guess I expected Aerin to try and win them over like last time- but that probably felt like a lost cause #Aerin you're so funny but you are NOT helping #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #aerin valleros #blades of light and shadow 2

[bedtimegiraffe]

End of Book 1 Make Out Sessions- Imtura and Nia

If you choose the diamond scene at the end of Book 1, but opt for the kissing options, you get some very sweet dialogue.

I always have trouble finding things like this, so here it is- for me and anyone else interested!

Imtura

Nia

#Apparent Nia and Aerin both have a student praise kink/teacher thing #Troubling possibility- does the Dreadlord have moves? Is that where Nia got this? #We love an Imtura who forgets how strong she is- then is soft #choices bolas #blades of light and shadow #nia ellarious #imtura tal kaelen #nia x mc #imtura x mc