#always preferred a good puzzle or story based game

[foldingfittedsheets]

Not to be self congratulatory but a classmate was doing a study for one of his game design classes and asked if I’d be one of his participants. I like him so I said yes and he had me do a questionnaire and then set me up in front of Street Fighter.

He had me with set parameters and told me to just fight it out so I did. I watched his eyebrows go up when I finished but he couldn’t comment until the end.

He asked if I played Street Fighter regularly and I said no. I told him I played stuff like Bloody Roar, Guilty Gear, Mortal Kombat and Smash Bros growing up socially, but it’s never been my genre.

He asked if I would be more interested to play Street Fighter after this test and I said no.

He started quietly laughing when I finished all the questions and I said, “What? Did I do poorly?”

“No. You finished the fastest out of anyone I’ve tested. You’re also the oldest and have the least interest in this genre of game, it’s just really funny.”

I told him my best friend growing up had consoles but I didn’t. He got to play and practice regularly so he tended to be better than me as a baseline. But. If I won he’d get so furious that he’d turn the console off and we could do what I wanted instead, so I developed an aggressive button mashing technique that has served me well.

#ramblies #funny #story #funny story #fighting games #always preferred a good puzzle or story based game

[beatboxing-puppy]

saw some posts on this website discussing what sort of videogames the dunmeshi characters would play and i think everyone is wrong. everyone is wrong except for me so im going to spell out exactly who plays what. putting it under a read more because im going on a damn tangent.

Laios: He's not a gamer he does not play games on purpose he will only ever play video games when his friends ask him to join them in their multiplayer things. One day tho Falin told him about Monster Hunter and now thats the only thing he plays aside from Spore and he has sunk countless hours into that damn game. Also he probably has played Some pokemon but he doesnt like PLAYING it he just likes it in concept he knows the name of all the pokemon

marcille: people keep saying she would be a cosy gamer playing animal crossing and stardew and other cute games ^-^ its so lalalaaaa NO!!!!!!! no she does not. Marcille plays games that stress her out on purpose marcille plays overwhelming micromanagey games like lobotomy corporation and rimworld and etc. She also likes games with deep lore and mysteries to discover. The only thing that doesn't fit in this category that she plays is Minecraft shes always in there CREATIVE MODE building virtual dungeons and other crazy shit. Also she plays on her work laptop with trackpad ok

Chilchuck: This one is for me. This one im just basing off my own dad ok. Chilchuck used to be a hardcore gamer in his youth but specifically he was playing stuff like world of warcraft and old school runescape he had really big setups so he could run several instances of the game at once on all his alt accounts so he could beat a boss by himself and he was really good at it. But then he had kids and didnt have time for this sort of thing so he stopped playing videogames aside from occasionally helping his daughters beat a super hard mario level. Later in life he probably discovered some shitty little low-commitment phone game like pokemon go or pikmin bloom or some daily sudoku puzzle thing and he plays it every day but its not that big a deal. He has been pressured by his friends and daughters to make a roblox account but he hasnt played it at all.

Senshi: THIS guy is the one that plays animal crossing. He logs in when he can but hes not on that every day grind. Also he doesnt play the newest one he doesnt play horizons he plays one of the DS ones. Wild world probably. He either doesn't like or doesn't know about the nintendo switch. Whenever one of his villagers say that they want to leave he'll nod solemnly and say smth like "Well... I suppose it'd be selfish to ask ye to stay, friend... Just promise me you'll stay safe and never forget me... Go and explore the world. Wish ye the best." Plus his island would be covered in weeds. He also has some mobile games he enjoys angry birds and candy crush and crosswords (gotta keep the brain in shape!) but other than that he doesn't videogame much because he prefers board games and tabletop stuff he isnt too jazzed about all this modern technology plus a console or a laptop and all that gaming equipment is a lot to lug around and hes a nomad he would NOT have that shit

Falin: Now FALIN is the cosy gamer. kind of. Falin plays animal crossing new horizons sometimes and has fun making a bad island on purpose. Very mildly "bad" tho the worst she'll do is use the drawing feature to hide a giant penis on the beach or whatever. Or she'll give her villagers silly outfits. She also plays minecraft (either skyblock or she makes a new world and explores and builds a couple houses and then forgets about it and makes another new world) and roblox (likes 'trolling' strangers by dressing up funny and acting kind of strange in roleplay servers but she's never actually mean or anything.) But the big thing she likes is story-driven indie rpgmaker games. She's the person who will say shit like "Yeah I played Blums Booglies the quest for Big Dinners and it was so good I cried for 9 hours" completely unironically.

kabru: social gamer like laios but the games he plays on purpose are the sims (he likes to cause them problems) and online multiplayer games (he likes to peoplewatch). I can also see him doing absurd and tortrous challenge runs of games like No items no pokecenter one type hardcore nuzlockes. im correct

izutsumi: ACTUALLY trolls people on roblox. And she plays needlessly gory flash games. Maybe she calls people dumbfucks over valorant voice chat sometimes

#dungeon meshi #dunmeshi #dunmesh #dunmeshi headcanons

[active-mind-15]

Just thought of some Akashi videogame headcanons

So first of all because of all the extra studies and activities he was made to do throughout his childhood, he originally did not play video games at all. He just never had the time and his father considered them to be unproductive, anyway. So, he never grew up with any video game console in his house.

The only exposure he had to video games came from other people, more specifically the Teiko gang. Kise, Aomine, and Murasakibara specifically played a lot of video games in their free time, and if Akashi was around, he'd lean over them to get a peek at their screens (I would imagine they'd be bringing their PSPs or DSs to school or something). Sometimes, Akashi would ask questions about the games that they were playing, because he would just be so curious as to how fun it is to play them, and if they sense that Akashi is really interested they'd give him a turn with their console.

And, of course, Akashi, being the out-of-touch person that he is (bless his precious little heart), ends up getting taught by the other miracles how to play the games. He listens very intently and is a quick learner, though, so once he understands the rules he's really good.

And since he met Midorima and was friends with someone who finally shared his interest in shogi, Akashi started playing online games with him when they weren't at school. I vaguely remember from like an interview or something with Fujimaki that Akashi's online handle is Red Emperor, which is just... very fitting. Either way, even though Akashi did not play console games, he would always do online shogi matches with Midorima which would then expand into other games like chess and Othello. And those kept up all the way until high school. But since he wasn't hanging out with the other former Teiko members like he used to, his video game exposure went right back down to zero.

Eventually, post-Winter Cup, when the former Teiko members start hanging out together again, he starts getting exposed to video games again through the others, and the miracles finally just tell him he should get some games of his own to try out. At first, he wasn't sure about getting a console, but they told him that he could just get PC games to start and if he's comfortable with the PC format then he can just stick with it.

Case in point, Aomine sends him the link for Steam via text with the message "Go crazy".

Lemme tell you, this boy clicks on that link and SCROLLS. Again, as someone who was never familiar with the video game realm, this feels like stepping into a new world. With all the options for games, it's almost overwhelming, but eventually, he starts picking game categories that stick out to him and combing through different game trailers and synopses with a mindset of "I'll pick three games to test out and see how I feel after that."

^^^ Famous last words

Fast-forward to some time after that, and Akashi has very much found an appreciation for video games and regularly tries new ones that interest him.

Since he's a very intelligent person, I would like to think that rather than playing video games to relax and not use his brain for a while, he's the type to play video games that are intellectually stimulating. He likes to be challenged and use his wits to complete the games he plays.

Because of that, I would say his video game preferences probably fall into strategy (specifically turn-based and tabletop strategy) and puzzle games (which include puzzle platformers). He's also a big fan of story-rich games and will play through the occasional visual novel as well.

When he tells the former Teiko members he started getting into video games, they make it a point at every subsequent meetup to ask about any current ones he's playing and what he thinks of them. Sometimes, they'll keep an eye out for upcoming games within his favorite genres and show him trailers of games they think he'd like.

Whenever he's invested in a trailer he'll get this sparkle in his eye that the others pretend they don't notice but secretly look out for to know whether or not they're on the right track.

Also, after successfully getting Akashi into video games, the rest of the former Teiko members (mainly Aomine and Kise) convince him to download a few co-op games that they all can play together.

So whenever all of them have free time, Aomine or Kise will send some bat signal message to their group chat to assemble and they all get on their computers to play.

As time goes on, the co-op gaming sessions eventually become a bi-weekly event, and Akashi tries his best to shift his schedule around so he doesn't miss them.

His current teammates at Rakuzan notice him disappearing or being unavailable on certain days and ask Akashi what's been occupying his time so much, thinking that it would be something school-related. When he tells them he's actually just playing co-op games with his former teammates, they think it's the cutest fucking thing ever (especially Mibuchi).

Eventually, video games become more than just a way to pass the time, they become another outlet for Akashi to just... be a regular teen and not have to worry about being perfect at what he's doing? They help relieve his stress and give him something to take his mind off school. And the Uncrowned Kings notice he's happier because of it. Most importantly of all, he gets to connect more with his Teiko friends like he always wanted.

[BONUS]

Sometime in the distant future, after graduating high school, he convinces his father to let him have a one-bedroom apartment close to his campus with the excuse that it'll make commuting easier. After moving in and unpacking his stuff, the former Teiko members get a text in their group chat from Akashi with a picture of a Nintendo Switch and seven controllers with the message "Anyone up for a game?"

#jesus this ended up being longer than i thought #i basically just wrote a one-shot #idk i just like the idea of akashi being into video games and wanted to explore it #so i gave into my chronic akashi brainrot to type all this out #i am not sorry in the slightest #kuroko no basket #knb headcanons #akashi seijuro

[wist0ragic]

#☆ sonic headcanons but video games!!

(a little simple and silly but they were fun to brain storm)

⋆｡˚ ︶︶✩︶︶‌ ⋆｡˚

Sonic!

- personally i think sonic would really like rhythm games, his favourites are project diva x and mega mix, as well as muse dash

- for rhythm games he of course enjoys playing the faster paced songs and starts off with hard, completely skipping normal

- but for party games he really likes to play splatoon with all of his friends

- he definitely gets competitive and likes to push straight through to the other teams base to ink

- but for two player games his favourite is for sure cuphead and he saves that game for whenever him and tails hang out

- sonic always plays as cuphead and tails always plays as mugman

- now taking a bit of a leap here, i think sonic would also really have fun playing fromsoft games, like elden ring and bloodborne (more so elden ring)

- for these games he likes to play them with shadow but they never get anything done because sonic is always messing with him and tricking him

————

Amy!

- she LOVES animal crossing and put lots of time and effort into making her island cute and pretty with her main theme being something along the lines of coquette for sure

- amy of course tries to convince everyone to play animal crossing as well so they can all see each others islands and decorate together

- she also likes to play rhythm games but is less worried about her score unlike sonic, and she actually enjoys the slow songs

- but if amy had the whole day to herself she could easily spend every hour of it playing the sims which seems to confuse everyone but she’s just having a blast

- she also really loves the legend of zelda games and adores zelda

————

Shadow!

- okay now i know that amy and sonic already like rhythm games but i think shadow would also really enjoy them

- he definitely challenges sonic to the harder songs and secretly enjoys playing with him, even if he might be a little bitter since his score was only 1% away from beating him

- but circling back to elden ring and bloodborne, he’s actually pretty damn good at those games. in elden ring he prefers a bleed build and in bloodborne he usually just sticks with the saw cleaver

- aaaand despite his gruff attitude he actually likes animal crossing so him and amy like to visit each others islands

- i also think he might enjoy a good story game like omori, dredge, night in the woods, far lone sails etc

————

Knuckles!

- he’s for sure someone who mainly plays fighter games like street fighters and constantly gets his friends to try and play with him in a 1v1

- same goes with smash bros of course, he really enjoys it and likes to play against sonic

- knuckles also has loads of fun playing any justdance game with his friends. he gets competitive for sure but somehow always manages to get 2nd or 3rd

- and much like amy if he had the whole day to himself he could easily play hours and hours of his favourite game, fallout 4

- he usually likes to join the brotherhood of steal for their power armour and such

————

Tails!

- tails loves the portal games and especially loves to play portal two with sonic and explain the puzzles

- he also likes to play legend of zelda of games but his favourite is for sure tears of the kingdom because he can invent all kinds of stuff

- once in a while he’ll replay undertale because he enjoys the jokes and story but he can only ever do the pacifist run, he’s very emotionally invested

- and on the days where he simply just wants to sit back and relax he’ll unwind with games like unpacking, a little to the left, some animal crossing and so on

————

Rouge!

- now she doesn’t play many games but one of her favourites i feel like would be resident evil 4, both the original and the remake (a big part of it is because she really loves ada)

- she’ll play animal crossing for amy but doesn’t invest too much time in decorating and what not, though she does love how cute the game is

- and meanwhile thanks to knuckles she’s gotten pretty good at smash bros and street fighter since she plays with him the most

- and last but not least she also likes to play fromsoft games with shadow but she’s definitely more chill while playing

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic headcanons #rouge the bat #knuckles the echidna #tails the fox #amy rose #shadow the hedgehog

[zz-chikorita]

While I know that videogames might not be everyone's cup of tea, let's just pretend that ALL your characters actually do like playing certain videogames. What kind of games do each of them like the most, and are they any good at it?

This one had me do some real thinkin'... 🤔💭

Guzma:

I think Guzma actually really enjoys playing any kind of co-op game with the grunts, even if he's not really good at them. But the grunts think it's funny when he starts raging at a game and he knows it. As far as games he plays alone in his freetime, I feel he prefers adventure/rpg type of game. He doesn't play a whole lot, but when he does find a game he likes, he plays it obsessively and tries to find every little bit of lore and secrets it has. He also always ends up becoming obsessed with games barely anyone's ever heard of and often he pesters Plumeria to play whatever game that is so he can discuss it with someone. (He also likes chill games and farming simulators like stardew Valley and animal crossing, but he's embarrassed about it and will deny it if asked)

Plumeria:

Plums likes rhythm games and strategy/puzzle based games mainly. It's definitely worth noting that she's, like, INSANELY good at them, too. Long story short, all the grunts know to never to take her bet if it invloves beating her high score. She also really enjoys any kind of game that implements any kind of branching path mechanic, so she's definitely played games like Zero Escape, Hades, and any of the telltale games multiple times.

Leon:

Definitely any kind of resource management game. So stuff like slime rancher, oxygen not included, factorio, terraria, et cetera. He's actually had to self ban himself from playing certain games because he missed too many league meetings literally playing for hours without realizing it. It bums him out because they were super fun, but he knows he can't trust himself.

(Other characters under cut)

Hop:

He likes minecraft and other sandbox games. He likes playing co-op with friends, but when he's at home, he doesn't have a great internet connection.

Moon:

Like the little gremlin she is, she likes horror games. She especially likes making Gladion and Hau play horror games with her. Or rather, not telling them it's a horror game until it's too late

A & B:

B is stellar at platformers. A is the best at fighting games of all the grunts. They are both equally trash at racing games.

Kalani (oc):

When he was much younger, he spent a LOT of time playing FPS. By the end of high school, he kind of got bored with them and played more MMO RPGs.

Molayne:

Mo also like MMO RPGs. He also likes games like Elden Ring and Bloodborn. He has, very discreetly, played a variety of dating sims and, no, no one knows about this but him.

Kukui:

The professor plays a lot of battle royale games. He's also very bad about getting sucked into gotcha games.

#ask zz c #what with the hcs and such #guzma #pokemon leon #plumeria #jolly rogers #example of a game guzma became obsessed with and annoyed plums to play: Eastward #yes this is because my own older brother did exactly that to me #(and guz's character is heavily based on him if yoy weren't aware) #but for real it ended up being a really good game go play eastward #ty for the prompt anon i enjoyed it <3

[aliceindaisychains999]

FIRST OF ALL- YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE GIFT💖

SECOND- perhaps your ‘a night in’ post, but featuring Ultimis?💖💖💖

YOU ARE AN EVEN GREATER GIFT FOR BEING SO SWEET! You can always count on me to be your cheerleader as well💖💖💖💖

A Night In With Ultimis

Edward Richtofen

*Compared to his younger self, he’s way more relaxed when it comes to work. He may meddle with schemes every now and then, but not until his sweet schmoopy falls asleep first. So in the meantime, he’ll probably be very curious to see what you’re up to and do anything in his power to get your attention. Grabby hands included.

*He did say he wanted to take up a new hobby that isn’t opening up a morgue (although I headcanon that in a modern au he’d either be an alchemist or mortician). Believe it or not, he often enjoys doing puzzles sometimes to keep his mind going. He would love to have you help him out with a written puzzle (he’s not keen on jigsaw but he’ll do one if it makes you happy). Edward also loves sweets so maybe you two could bake in the kitchen! I can see the two of you working together with him methodically planning out the measurements for a Swiss roll cake and you stealing the batter and getting scolded… until he gives up and joins in too

*When he isn’t being a horny bastard and banging around the house like a maniac, he’s demanding that you pay attention to him and loves to be a koala to your arm when you both lay down. It’s oddly adorable to see him gazing up to you with such happiness radiating from his smile. The voices eased up so much better with you around, but sometimes he needs to stick closer to you in hopes the nasty thoughts don’t come back. Other times, he will be the big spoon/sit up straight with confidence and have you lean on his shoulder. He’s very charming when the time calls for it. “Oh, darling. I could just stay here with you in my arms forever. You are my one und only.” And then you’re peppered with kisses all over your face.

Tank Dempsey

*Dempsey’s a hardcore gamer and you can’t deny that fact. So that means it’s gaming night again! Oorah! FPS shooters are obvious but he also loves stuff like Mario Kart too. It isn’t always multiplayer games though. If it’s a first player or story-based, you both take turns and enjoy the journey together.

*Depending on the night, he’ll either crack open a nice, cold beer with you or whip up some hot cocoa. He prefers coffee and isn’t a fan of tea at all. But it’s a bad idea to drink any before bed to begin with. Then you both think up of a list for what to do on the weekend. Places to go, seeing if any movies came out, etc. You guys are always up to some sort of adventure together.

*If you’re the cuddly type (like me), then you’ve gotten into Tank’s soft side. He does this little this where he rests his chin on the top of your head and hugs you tightly. You swear it almost sounds like he’s purring. If you’re not, then it’s literally the most shameless make-out session on the planet. But if one thing’s certain, you got him hooked to you. “Night, babe. Get some rest ‘cause we’ve got ass to kick tomorrow.”

Nikolai Belinski

*Nikolai used to go out to bars as late as closing time. There’s a good chance that sometimes it still happens unfortunately. But over time, he knew he had to shape up eventually. Nikolai decided to stay homebound to get out of trouble. He would never forgive himself if he let the fantasies of his 8 wives come true. So he may need vodka to prevent a headache like no other. But he at least makes sure to do it enough to where he won’t get super drunk.

*At the very least, he’s the same as his younger counterpart in that he will watch any movie or TV show with you. He shares the same taste of genres (action, comedies, dramas). But unlike Primis Nikolai, he actually likes crass humor comedies. Yes I’m referring to something like Borat or Jackass because neither are taken seriously. It’s not uncommon for him to fall asleep during a movie. The night usually ends with you curled up on his lap, both of you snoozing in an armchair.

*Russian teddy bear is his full-time job. He will always be the big spoon and he is a very tender lover. Despite his drinking habits, you can at least count on him remaining affectionate and concerned about your needs no matter what. “Is okay, Y/N. Nikolai will keep you save in his strong Soviet arms.”

Takeo Masaki

*Takeo is a grumpy old man who wants to enjoy his peace and quiet. He’s extremely introverted and the only person welcome in his presence is you. He enjoys a hot cup of tea with you. You both essentially have a evening tea party for two.

*He does a lot of healing work, however. Every evening is the chance to meditate. You both started it in silence to clear your thoughts. But through your suggestion, you added soothing ambience. It helps you guys stay grounded from the bustling stress of the outside world. Aside from meditation, you guys started a small scrapbook of the places you’ve traveled. You hope to preserve all of your memories to share with future generations of your family.

*Takeo quietly snuggles up to you but he will be easily flustered from all the affection you give him! He’s hiding under the covers and chuckles when you join him to kiss him again.

#tank dempsey #ultimis dempsey #cod zombies #edward richtofen #ultimis richtofen #ultimis nikolai #nikolai belinski #ultimis takeo #takeo masaki #writing

[notajinn]

Top Games Played in 2023 - Number 8: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

8. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Switch)

It's so weird that this game even exists. It's a crossover of Mario and Rabbids, but the gameplay for some reason is XCOM?

I think this was an attempt to make their own weird Kingdom Hearts style crossover. And all things considered, they did pretty well!

What I Like

The combat gameplay is weirdly really good? Essentially it's a turn-based strategy game on a grid, but every character is a shooter. And making use of the environment for cover is very important.

What really makes the game shine is the weird abilities. First of all, you can dash into enemies to deal damage, so the game encourages getting close to enemies despite having ranged options. Many characters also have melee attacks that deal big damage to further encourage this.

Another big mechanic is the ability to jump off a teammates head to get increased movement distance and height, so this encourages keeping everyone relatively close.

Simply put, the game encourages aggressive play in a genre I typically play defensively.

There's also the fun of seeing things like Peach using a cartoonish shotgun. Presentation is overall done well with bright colours and different environments. Since navigating objects in the environments is critical for gameplay, you also pay more attention to the presentation.

The Rabbids do not talk and are instead Tom and Jerry characters, which makes them less annoying than I feared. And honestly occasionally funny.

What I Didn't Like

The Rabbids are tolerable but still generally a negative. I'd prefer just the Mario cast and some OCs. The story in general is unremarkable apart from Bowser Jr serving as the main villain instead of Bowser.

There are exploration segments and puzzle segments between battles that are incredibly average. They are rarely frustrating, but also rarely fun. Honestly they capture the same "mid" vibe that I find most Mario platformers do. I'd prefer this to play like classic Fire Emblem where you just go from battle to story scene to battle.

The Donkey Kong DLC is completely separate from the main game, so you don't get to use them in the main campaign. Also the only DK character is DK himself (though he's super-fun to play and essentially a playable boss).

The music is unmemorable, and that's always a disappointment.

Final Thoughts

This is an unusual fun game to play during battle, but outside of that its unremarkable. The battle system could have pushed this higher on my list if not for everything else.

#top games of 2023 #mario + rabbids

[lowpolyshadow]

sonic frontiers review go!!!! (non spoilers then MASSIVE spoilers under the cut) TLDR overall score: i would say it's an objective solid 8/10, but for me personally i just. i just had so much fun. 10/10

gameplay (combat/bosses) 9/10 gameplay (cybers) 6.5/10 gameplay (shmovement) 8/10

i fucking Love. Comboing Shit For Video Game Combat. it's Fun. it's Exciting. I Love That Shit. excellent combat system, i just wish either skills were harder to unlock or there were just more to unlock (preferably the latter i guess, but i can't think of anything i want ... added ... it's just that skill points are so easy to come by and i maxed out the tree pretty fast, so i have a bunch of excess points for nothing. tbf i have a LOT of excess EVERYTHING but)

bosses were fucking excellent. THE highlights imo. mob fights and stuff are fine, everything manages to be its own puzzle which i adore but mini bosses and bosses are the shit. the cyberlevels are fun genuinely but either too short to get into, have some jank physics in a couple of them, or . well some of them aren't that fun GJKLASDF but i didn't hate them! ive only played sa2 so i only recognized those ones + the Super iconic ones (chemical plant and all that) and that probably affects judgement since blind reacting to a sonic stage is the fun part imo

they're ridiculously easy (to... me at least) though. besides 1-2's s rank which i finally got, i was able to get all four missions done for every cyber level within one sitting ... on average like . 3 tries per i'd say (blind first, going back for any red rings or ring reqs, and then speed) with some taking a few more for speed but never more than like. 10-20 min tbh. in general i almost want a very hard mode bc the game overall was a very chill time, which is fine but sometimes i want my shit rocked

parries being Not timing based both threw me off (bc i would try to let go at the exact time when in fact you just hold it) and made them feel a little less ultra cool since sonic will just hold the parry for as long as ... you do, essentially (though there is heavy end lag on it so if you don't parry anything that's at least punished) it's a minor tryhard gripe where i wish there was like a PARRY parry i could toggle or smth

i like being sonic in a big environment it's just fun. the amount of fucked up shit you can do is great, he truly is a prime candidate for bigass open areas (and he controls pretty nicely, just got a couple weird moments and things like he goes into 'trick' mode too easily or some platforming things don't work the way they're supposed to bc you go too fast lol)

story…… 8.5/10 characters 10/10 i like them :)

character writing was absolutely the highlight for me this game, good banter, many quips, overall just characterization i adore and love to see i was well fed this game with my beloved little scrimblos it was a good time

the story itself went pretty hard ngl, a lot more lore than i expected and generally it was sonic taking its ridiculous plot seriously again which is all i wanted !!!! it's like somehow ridiculous but probably the most straightforward story they've done in a while, but that's not a bad thing. good story i pogged a few times

music 11/10 straight bangers they just don't fucking miss

i don't think i have much spoiler stuff i'd wanna say other than i genuinely think they hyped themselves too much at the start. like the gameplay was fun learning how it works, how movement goes, the setup and everything etc. etc. i always 100% the map first thing as soon as i can then go through for anything i need/pick stuff up along the way and then i do the boss fight

and that first boss fight. is so fucking sick. oh my god. i felt like. if i was 12 and played this and got to experience that boss fight the way i did now it would've literally changed the trajectory of my life. it DID change the trajectory of my life right now at 23 it was just pure hype, i was so giddy, i had the biggest fucking grin i was literally ready to physically pop off yelling LETS GOOOOO i just let the little tutorial popup chill while i head banged to the song like dear fucking god dude. INSANE intro they set the bar way too high off the bat

wyvern/second boss was perhaps my favorite mechanically just bc it really goes at you the most, you gotta react a lot and parry a lot to get through the fight which is Fun .... giganto/first boss tho. easily the most memorable experience in gaming that i've had in years. it was just so phenomenally done, probably biased bc it's the first one but shadow of the colossus-ing your way up to his fucking head to get the emerald, turn into super sonic, hear that FUCKING SONG

but this game has sonic be so fucking anime and that means knight/boss 3 easily has the best fucking finisher when sonic picks up a sword the size of the island itself and does the most anime cut in half shot he possibly can god it was so fucking SICK THIS GAME IS SICK SONIC IS THE COOLEST

the story weakness imo is the ending where they had so much build up but not a Ton of payoff, not even talking about sonic like essentially dying in soul/mind and then being revived with friendship (based tbh) but like the last boss fight and last islands just weren't nearly as cool as the others imo .... supreme was a lil similar to giganto and went by a lot faster than expected, probably bc by that point sonic's probably juiced up from upgrades (i went all in on attack no defense too lol sooo) ... i love a good bullet hell but i wanted a super cool super sonic fight, a hyper sonic fight, something that lets me go to town and see a fucking Spectacle

fun bullet hell but that wasn't what i'm HERE for (also finally hearing im here was sick but the fight itself really was so short/not quite as hard or anything innovative that it.... ehhh .... plus it was oddly quiet compared to the other songs i think, like, the sound mixing)

the ending feels a liiiittle rushed? The End is cool as a concept especially with how fucked up we know it is but i dunno, it really does feel like it blew the load a little too early and the ending just didn't live up to earlier hype/expectations

but it was still fun it just. it just didn't make me Feel the way giganto did, the way wyvern did, knight was where the hype started dropping off a liiiittle but knight was still a fucking SHOW where sonic beats a mf with his own shield AND THEN BLOCKS A SWORD BIGGER THAN MOUNTAINS WITH HIS OWN FUCKING HANDS THEN USES IT AGAINST HIM ITS' SIK IT'S SICK the final boss didn't have any truly THIS IS FUCKING AWESOME bits that really let you walk away going YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH and that's the part they need to fix

also no boss rush :/ brings the score down tbh i want to relive these things so fucking bad

the character relationships were soooo good though i just. gughugh. i don't want to get emo again but GOD they're such good friends they love and care about each other, i'm obsessed with amy saying how sonic loves the world and he has so much love to show because it's true sonic just LOVES living he loves life he loves getting to just Be and

tails is growing up on him faster than he expected .... uuu ....

and the fucking SONIC AND KNUCKLES BAYBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHYEAHYEAHYEAHYEAHYEAHYEAHYEAH BUTTING HEADS SNARLING AT EACH OTHER LAUGHING AND GIVING FIST BUMPS AND TALKING SHIT THEY WERE SO GOOD YEAHYEAHYHEAY MOTEHRFUCKING KNUCKLES SWEEP BABY LETS GOOOO

god. so good. so fucking good. this is a game about love (sonic and his friends, eggman and sage of all people, the koco and their. selves? their history?, even chaos technically ....) and who am i if not a fucking Sucker for that shit. lets show that creep the real super power of team work

i did not actually hear vandalize in game yet because that is apparently only if you go into the final fight on easy or normal (i played to completion on hard exclusively) but the "true" ending song by nate goddamn wants to battle is INCREDIBLY sonic. one way dream is soooo reach for the stars/endless possibilities. it just makes me Feel happy. it's a little melancholic the way all of frontiers sort of is, but it's still hopeful and all about like. going forward. overcoming anything in your path and getting better for it and seeing the start of another new adventure and that sure is sonic the hedgehog

#none of this was coherent i just rambled a lot bc i really like this game #so good. soooo good. oh god man i'm going through it #im emo im so emo i'm never normal again #sonic frontiers #speaking

[aria0fgold]

I thiiink I processed a bit of my thoughts bout OFF but like, my mind was blown so there isn't much in it. One thing bout it though is that I really love the music in this game, like I be jamming to the battle music it sound so cool and catchy and it's actually stuck in my head. I also love the puzzles in the game, it's not too hard and it's also so nice to do! (I say that but I brute forced at least 2 puzzles. The puzzles right before Zone 1 and Zone 2's bosses... Trial and error even though the key to the puzzle was Right in the area but lazy in I don't wanna go back to look).

Also I love how, even if the game doesn't seem like much, it was hella enjoyable for me, must be cuz of the music. Like, I'd walk around so much finding a bunch of stuff and then battles happen with some banger music and it honestly felt like I just played that game for like a hour even though it was way more than that. Like, I really really enjoyed it.

For the story of the game... I have no idea what story is supposed to be there. But throughout it, whenever the Batter purifies a zone I start doubting if it's the right thing cuz everything looks so... lifeless... Like yeah sure, the spectres are also pretty bad and killing the poor Elsens, also doesn't help how Dedan makes the poor guys so stressed too but I was thinking if there was at least another way than just purifying everything but I'm stuck with the Batter. By the end the Judge saying that I'm the puppeteer but honestly I felt like more of the puppet for some reason.

I'm stuck with the Batter my guy, I won't proceed at all unless I do things that aligns with the Batter's mission. And in either endings, it's all bad in a way that, what's done is done. Choosing the Judge doesn't reverse anything, the world is completely lifeless and "purified," so in the end it's better to just keep being with the Batter and finish what we started. Which is pretty cool cuz I kept wondering Why was the game called OFF and then seeing the Batter ending and I'm like: OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH (it was the first thing that blew my mind).

Like, I feel like this game's story got A Lot of stuff for me to know (Time to read through what everyone's theories are. I'm not really good with those so I always enjoy reading everyone else's). Like, the thing that I kiiinda get is that there's a lonely child who doesn't like his dad and prefers his mom but the mom doesn't even visit him much. He made 3 friends which he turned into guardians of the zones, and a mom regarded as the Queen. And then there's Batter which I feel like was based off of Boxxer in that comic that the kid was given to by his dad. And like, gestures vaguely, yeah, it's neat :D (my train of thought broke I don't remember what I was going with that).

#ariaplays #ariaplays: OFF #wai do i still use those tags for the final thoughts posts or no????? welp im using em in this post now #like this game is hella good its like reaaaally good but i cant say How good cuz im speechless #like i actually really like how the characters know theres a player #but at the same time it feels like that part is crucial in knowing the full story #also zacharie constantly breaking the fourth wall. like thanks dude. glad to be reminded that im playing a video game #but also thats crazy to be reminded im playing a video game through a video game character #also so funny how i went to the wiki and saw mention of a character called Sugar but i never got to meet her #which im kinda glad cuz ion wanna make zacharie sad cuz the batter killed her. im no completionist thank goodness #also like thats another thing. the batter decides when and where i can flee from a fight. which is fair. a common mechanic but #really makes it seem like hes more in control of everything than i am despite literally controlling his body #oh and the designs in this game are sooo horrifying yet soo cool #the most distressed ive been is during the bird boss fight cuz can you PLEASE let go of valerie's body alrdy hes dead #yet hes still hanging onto the birds head please shake his body off and let him rest #seeing and hearing the judge meowing loudly in the rooftop after that boss fight for his brother like maaaaannnn... pain... #anyway id like to say that i literally get attached to anything easily and i very much so like the add-on alpha. its my buddy now. #its been with me since the start of the journey. my favourite add-on...

[finniestoncrane]

Hey Finnie!! I've been a little nervous and hesitant to do this bc I always scream a little when you reply to my asks but I wanted to be a part of your 1k celebration too!! I'm super curious which rogue you'd pair me with, even if you already know my preference for Riddler, haha

I'm English (I hope you can forgive me), 5'0 and quite chubby. I almost always dye my hair, either hot pink or icy blonde usually, and have a mix of a punk and goth clothing style. When it comes to.music, I listen to a mix of things, but I especially like jumping between Doja Cat, Elton John, Green Day and Slipknot. As you know, I really enjoy drawing and painting and creating in any way I can.

As for hobbies, I really enjoy playing story-based and puzzle solving video games over FPS games, however I love combat in games. I'm also a bit of a horror fanatic, primarily I love horror painters but also greatly enjoy horror video games and movies. Because of this I quite enjoy reading about the occult and pagan beliefs or traditions, especially about mythical creatures or local folklore.

Something I love the most and will drop almost anything to do is listen to my friends and partner talk about their special interests. I'm much more of a listener than a talker, if I can help it, and I love seeing other be passionate and excited. I love to cook for my friends and I'd like to think I'm a rather decent cook. I worry that I've already written too much so I'll stop there!!

Congrats on 1k Finnie!! You deserve it so fucking much and I'm super excited to see even more love for your fics in the future!! 💕

🎀 No.9: Ever Fallen In Love With Someone 🎀

tell me a little bit about yourself and i'll give you a rogue pairing a/n: thank you!! ;-; 💚 yeah i was picking a riddler, because you've got riddler vibes! but the riddler i picked is maybe unexpected... 1k milestone info! 🔞minors dni🔞 • kofi • tag: finnie1k

(i forgive you, truly lmao) ok so body wise, being thick is a plus for him 100%, and same with the fun hair. he's not boring, he might look it, but someone colourful and bright on his side would help other people realise that he's fun too

also look at him and tell me he isn't suppressing his true goth side, pasty ass

he probably doesn't have a favourite genre of music, he'd be happy to listen to anything, as long as it wasn't too loud or distracting, but hey, anything can be good background music at the right volume, so you could probably introduce him to new bands

ok the egomaniac in him would be so 100% down to be your ~muse~ and pose for your drawings, like life modelling, nude or otherwise, his body looks great either way and he'd be so supportive of you making him look even better in your art

puzzle solving games would be his favourite thing to do with you i bet! maybe other games too, just to spend time with you, but allowing himself to do what he loves, riddles and puzzles, in a sort of relaxing and fun manner would be so good for him

he looks like the kind of boring guy who would be very secretly into the occult and pagan practices. and you could teach him everything you know, because his riddles would be a lot more effective in striking fear in the idiots around him if they could mistake them for ooky-spooky satanic doom mongering

dropping everything to listen to him? that's the key here. he's pretty needy and self-involved, but he'd try and not be so bad with you. but he'd definitely enjoy having someone forget everyone else in the world just to sit and listen to everything he had to say. he's a talker, a rambler actually, so a listener is perfect for him

and food would definitely be one of his love languages, especially receiving it! sitting down to a nice meal (i am just picturing that frame of him looking exceptionally delicious and pointing the fork) and being able to flirt over something delicious is his ideal date

#finnie writes #finnie1k

[msawesomehalffinishedfics]

Heart and liver  – Ming (falling into your smile)

A/N: So yeah, this is random, but if you followed me for the Sean fanfic and wonder what the fuck this is. I did it completely procrastinating writing my masters, based on falling in love with a background character in a show I haven't finished yet, and now that this is done, probs never will, because ADHD. Anyways, I really love this story actually so give it a read if you want.

Warnings: None

Words: 13.500

Tong Yao’s P.O.V.

I walked down the road towards the base deep in thought. About what to do about Cheng, about what it all meant. Did he like me or not? I was puzzled as I walked to our guardsstation, and I saw a girl standing there. Worse, it was a very pretty girl.

I looked her up and down shocked, before noticing her arms being crossed as she was talking to the security guard, phone in hand. I walked over there and greeted him, and they both turned to me. She was angry at first but then turned to smile and a sigh.

“Oh thank god, you’re the new midsolo, Tong Yuo? Right?” The woman in front of her said, I looked at her a little annoyed, but the look on the strange girls face did indicate that she did not mean any harm by not being able to remember her name.

“Tong Yao.” I simply said and her eyes widened and she put up her hands.

“I’m so sorry, Tong Yao! I’m just terrible with names. Xin Gan always says: The only thing I’m worse at than remembering names is cooking.” She rambled and I smiled a little at that seeing as the girl clearly had meant no harm.

“Anyway, I’m rambling. Could you let me in? We can walk to the base together. I promise I am not some stalker fan, I’m just trying to surprise Xin Gan in there, and well, won’t be much of a surprise if he comes to let me in is it?” She said looking at me a little pleadingly, Tong Yao looked her over, she did not look like the type of crazy fan she had seen before, and the fact that she couldn’t remember her name was an indicator that she wasn’t a fan. But she was still sceptical, not wanting to be responsible for trouble she bit her lip in doubt, the woman clearly noticed.

“Look, I have Chengs number, you can compare it to the one you have, would that be good proof?” She asked and Tong Yao smiled a little and nodded taking out her phone, the woman read out the number and it matched the number she had on her own phone. Clearly this woman knew him, Tong Yao began to wonder if she was here to see Cheng, was he the Xin gan she was talking about? The green monster inside of her stirred a little but she could not exactly explain why she should keep her out. And so Tong Yao put on a brave face with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and nodded to the security guard to let them in.

The woman sighed and smiled at her. 

“Thank you. I’m Huang Min by the way. I have heard a lot about you.” She said extending her hand, Tong Yao took it hesitantly not liking the woman who was probably here to see Cheng, but she tried to keep that feeling down.

“Only good, I promise.” She followed up as Min let go of Tong Yaos hand and both girls started walking towards the house. They talked on the way there, mostly Min commenting about how she had heard about her great gaming skills. Normally this would have flattered Tong Yao immensely, heck, if this praise was actually coming from Cheng it was a fantastic compliment, but something about her being so close to the boy she liked did not sit right with her.

They reached the base quickly, and Tong Yao tried to keep her feelings in check by instead studying the girl. She was only a little taller than herself, dressed in a t-shirt and suit jacket over some normal pants. Her hair was dark brown and long, but clearly she was not someone who seemed to care too much about her appearance. Sensible shoes indicated that she preferred practicality over style, and her little to no make up said the same thing. Yet she could not help but wonder how she was still very pretty? And worse, was this the kind of girl Cheng liked? Was she simply wearing too much make up and wearing too many skirts for his liking? Tong Yao let them into the base, a little reluctantly, Min put a finger to her lips indicating for her to keep her presence quiet. Tong Yao put on a smile and nodded, taking off her own shoes, Min doing the same quietly. 

“I’m back.” Tong Yao said trying to avoid suspicion, it would most likely give Min away if Tong Yao didn’t announce herself like normal. Min smiled and nodded following Tong Yao into the gaming room, she went over to her normal place and sat down, everyone was there except Rui and Ming, who were probably reviewing upstairs. Tong Yao turned and looked back at Min who just shrugged. 

“Hey guys, did you miss me?” She said not too loud, the men around Tong Yao turned surprised, before taking off their headsets. Cat and Chubby was instantly up and smiling walking over to Min giving her a hug, she looked uncomfortable during it and they quickly let go. Tong Yao turned to K to see him smirk ever so slightly, which was as close as he ever got to smiling.

“Give me some air would you guys? So I can say hello to the brothers.” She said and Cat and Chubby gave her some space. She walked over and first hugged Lu, before walking over and Cheng also gave her a hug with a smile.

“Min, what brings you here?” He said before letting go, Tong Yao noticed how stange it was that the girl, while they all seemingly knew each other, seemed to not hug any of the boys back, as if she was incomfortable being touched. Something about this calmed Tong Yao a little, Cheng also seemed to quickly sit back down and while he smiled slightly at the present, it didn’t seem like she was there to surprise any of the men currently in the room. 

“Well, I missed you guys, and I am writing a show about E-sports at the moment. I figured it would be the perfect time to visit.” She said with a wide grin, Tong Yaos eyes widened.

“You’re not a reporter are you?” She said shocked not wanting anymore bad press around her, luckily she could breathe a little easier as Min laughed lightly.

“God no. No. I write television shows. C-drama at the moment to be exact.” She said and Tong Yao smiled and nodded feeling calm once again.

“No other reason you wanted to visit. You just missed us?” Cheng said a little sarcastically, raising an eye brow as if daring her to answer, as he seemed to ignore their small conversation, she looked at him before rolling her eyes, but then smiled.

“Aw, of course I’m here because I miss you guys. How could I not miss that wonderful smile and charm Hu Zi?” She said and he shrugged with a knowing smile. 

Moreover, while it confused Tong Yao, she did calm a little hearing Min call Cheng Hu Zi, she was clearly not talking about him earlier. But that did make her wonder who she was actually here to see, who Cheng has referred to as the person she missed besides them?

“Besides, I had to meet your new Midsolo and–“ She seemed to want to say more, but just then Rui and Ming could be heard talking as they walked down the stairs, the boys attention seemed to be focused between the men coming downstairs and the girl in front of them.

Min stopped herself, before grinning wider once again, lighting up it seemed, as she turned around. Everything around them seemed to stop, as they got downstairs Rui stopped talking as he noticed her in the room, but more importantly Ming continued before looking at Rui weirdly and finally checking for himself what was making the manager act so strangely. Ming paused his own sentence and turned to see what he was looking at, before seemingly freezing as well, but in a different way. Like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. While Rui looked surprised and Ming did as well, it seemed like Mings world seemed to completely stop as he laid eyes on the girl. Suddenly Min seemed to leap forward and she ran a little towards them, which seemed to break Mings trance ever so slightly, he grinned widely, as she hugged him tightly, he reacted as a few seconds doing the same and seemed like he couldn’t help but laugh a little. Tong Yao was watching this in awe wondering what this was and seeing the other boys around them smile slightly at the sight, she knew that Min had to be someone very special in the otherwise reserved retired Midsolos life. Ming seemed to lift her slightly and they held on each other tightly, for a good while, before finally letting go, but not completely like he couldn’t really believe that she was there if he was not touching her. 

“You’er here.” He said and she nodded excitedly.

“I’m here.” She said.

“What are you? How are you here?” He said and she laughed lightly, before hitting his shoulder playfully.

“Well you didn’t tell me you were gonna retire! Had to come confront you about that didn’t I?” She said playfully and he laughed a little and looked down seemingly embarressed.

“Sorry. You know I never keep anything from you.” He said and she nodded with a shrug before turning to quickly greet Rui.

“I know. Still, I can’t believe I had to read about that on Weibo!” She said and he shrugged, he looked up, before seemingly also being drawn out of their little trance bubble noticing the eyes on them.

“Why don’t we take a walk and talk yeah? Clearly we are distracting everyone.” He said seemingly embarrassed but also glared lightly at the players in front of him that should be practicing not watching the two of them. She seemed to blush lightly as she noticed as well, and the boys seemed to look away feigning innocence.

“Can you talk them through what we discussed while I go out for a little while Rui?” He asked turning to the manager who nodded widely.

“Of course, go ahead Ming.” He said, Ming nodded and smiled before putting his hand on her arm and they walked quickly to put on shoes and go outside.

______________________

They went outside and not too far into the garder they found some furniture to sit on.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” Ming said and Min just laughed a little and shrugged.

“Of course I am. I mean I read you retired and knew I had to hurry over here, but not come right away while you and the boys were still adjusting.” She said and he laughed a little and shook his head.

“Always three steps ahead.” he said and she shrugged with a smile. 

“How are you?” She asked in a serious tone and he put his hands in his jeans pockets looking down slightly.

“I’m good.” He said before pausing, looking at her she gave him an expecting look and he smiled a little.

“Fine. I’m fine. It’s been a big adjustment, and it has been weird as hell, coaching boys who used to be my teammates. But I don’t hate it as much as I thought it would. I get to stay with them and still seeing them improve, while not worrying about disappointing them. And I don’t hate the dataanalysis as much as I thought I would.” He said honestly and she nodded with a smile, putting her hand on his arm giving it a light squeeze.

“That is good to hear. I always thought you would be good at this kind of stuff. You could always read other people plays so easily, even when you started out. And I know, as well as you and as well as they do, that you could never disappoint those boys in there.” She said and he smiled at her grateful, it seemed like after just looking at each other for a moment, she realised how intimate what she was doing was, and she pulled back looking down, fidgeting with the hand that was just touching him.

“How are you?” He said and she shrugged.

“Pretty good.” She started as well, before looking at him he had the exact same expression as she had had before and she smiled a little and shook her head at how easily he could read her as well.

“Good and bad. Good as in, I’m the writer for a TV-show about e-sports. I think it could be amazing, and it was actually inspired by the girl on your team.” She said with a smile and he nodded proud of her as always, but also nudging her lightly with his elbow.

“And bad as in?” He said and she sighed putting her head into her hands.

“I fucked up.” She said and he chuckled slightly.

“Tell me.” He said calmly and she sighed before looking back to him with a pained expression.

“I fucked up. I signed on to do the show, and gave up my apartment since they wanted me to turn in the episodes weekly in person here in town.” She started and he nodded.

“That’s not bad, I have been begging you to move closer to me for years. Unless you’re implying me visiting more often is a fuck up?” He said with a small grin, and she rolled her eyes at him knowing he was kidding.

“Never.” She said before continuing, glad he still managed to cheer her up a little in the middle of all of her misery.

“But I figured I could just pay for a new place with the money from the show. But I didn’t read the contract close enough, and now I am not allowed to get other work, and they don’t pay me until after the show is finished. I should have read it more closely, I have been in this business long enough to know that people are always trying to screw you over.” She said putting her head in her hands again. He lightly put his hand on the top of her head as a means to comfort her.

“So you can’t afford a new place if you want to cover your living expenses?” He said and she nodded, he had figured it out.

“And I will not accept your money, and well, my parents are, you know. What do I do Xin Gan?” She said turning to look at him, feeling and looking lost. 

He mulled it over, he knew she would not accept his money. She did not want money to come between them and therefore they had always promised to help each other out in other ways no matter how much the other person was struggling. Like when she lowered his rent to almost nothing while he was training to go pro and she had a good steady job. He wanted more than anything to repay her from back then. Hell he had promised he would, even if she refused him. He thought it over, thought about what he could do, and he had an idea, a bad one, but an idea non the less. She would also refuse it if he used his earnings to buy her a small apartment till she got paid, knowing it would be the same as borrowing money from him. Sadly he lived at the base and did not have a place outside of there, so there was only one option for him.

“You could move in with me, for the time being.” He said with a small smile, she turned to him with an annoyed expression.

“We both know I can’t do that, unless you got an apartment in the last hour.” She said feeling a little hopeless. He just shrugged.

“I didn’t. But I mean it. Move in here, I am sure none of the boys would mind.” He said and she rolled her eyes once again. 

“Ming, I know the rules, only staff and players are allowed at the base and last time I checked I was neither. Besides, there are no more spare rooms.” She said a little frustrated about how calmly he was about this, she had come to him for advice and comfort, not to hear bad ideas. He grinned and shook his head at her.

“First off, we can bribe Rui not to tell on you, and the boys won’t either, so the club doesn’t have to know. Besides you mostly just need somewhere to write, and I have an officespace in my room that I never use. As for the lack of rooms, we can share. There are meant to be two people in my room and I have it all to myself. We both know we don’t mind living together, and besides it is only temporary until you finish writing. The club can’t exactly fault me for that, and even if they do, we will just tell them you’re my girlfriend, and technically there are no rules against spouses living at the base, for players yes, but I am no longer a player.” He said with a grin. She looked at him biting her lip a little nervous as she thought over his words.

“I don’t wanna be an inconvenience, and I especially don’t wanna risk you getting in trouble with the club.” She said and he shrugged putting his arm around her shoulders in a comforting manner.

“You’re my Xin Gan, you can never be an inconvenience for me. And I will not get into trouble, even so, I will risk it for you. Besides I have missed living with you after all these years.” He said and she chuckled lightly.

“Okay. I imagine it is my famous cooking you’ve been missing all of these years.” She said making him laugh. He hugged her close and they sat like this for a moment, this time his spell seemed to break and he realised how intimate what he was doing was and he pulled away. 

____________________________

*Meanwhile back at the base*

After some grueling training with Rui, the team sorely missed their normal coach. Since Rui didn’t understand the game the same way his explanations seemed to drag on and on. After a good training game they all got a little break before the next one. Tong Yao took of her headphones and turned to Cheng.

“Cheng-a, what is up with Ming and the girl, Min?” She said innocently, she was simply curious, seeing how strange this all seemed if you didn’t know them. He turned to her and shrugged, but he could not help but smirk a little while doing so, wanting to tease her a little. Her eyes widened.

“Is that Mings girlfriend?” She said and he could not help but smile a little at that comment, plus seeing her reaction was priceless.

“He wished.” Cat interrupted, earning himself a small slap on the arm from K who did not look up from his computer. Tong Yao looked at him confused but Cheng cleared his throat wanting the girls attention back on him.

“She is, well she is hard to explain. She and Ming grew up together, best friends, even shared an apartment when they went to uni.” He started and Tong Yao looked at him a little surprised, knowing how uncommon it was for unmarried people of the opposite sex living together was.

“Then Ming went pro, and was disowned by his family. And well, she stayed so she became the only family he had left.” Cheng continued looking down slightly knowing how many games and support that girl had been to, knowing she was trying to fill a hole that shouldn’t have been left. Tong Yao looked down, in the beginning it had comforted her to know that everyones family was against their decisions to play e-sports, but hearing this, she really felt how she had been let off easy with her own parents. 

“When he got comfortable here as an e-sports player she decided to drop out of university as well to pursue her dream of writing TV. She succeeded, and well, she has been just out of town doing just that ever since. She visits as often as she can, and he visits whenever the rest of us go home to see our family for holidays.” He continued and she smiled a little thinking about how wonderful it was to have a relationship like that. Cheng seemed content with his explanation and turned back to his computer. Tong Yao however was not content and had one burning question about their coach whom she thought she knew everything about.

“So does he really wish she was his girlfriend?” She said and Cheng just shook his head indicating how he did not want to answer, she turned to Chubby who just shrugged, but Tong Yao knew she could always get an answer out of Chubby.

“Come on, tell me. Please.” She said pleading and looking over at the boy whose will seemed to be crumpling easily.

“He loves her, obviously, and she loves him.” Chubby said with a smile, but earning a glare from Cheng which shut him up slightly but he did want to continue.

“But neither of them think the other one feels the same way, blind fools if you’re asking me.” He said and Tong Yao nodded with a small smile seeing how they both seemed to look down and away, while desperately wanting to look up and the other one to do the same. But once again the captain piped up, he glared at Chubby and then Tong Yao.

“But, it is not our business and we should therefore not get involved or invested.” He said sternly. She nodded for once understanding exactly what he meant by what he said. 

Thankfully that had shut them all up, and not a moment too soon, a minute or two later the two walked back into the gaming room smiling and laughing as they talked lightly walking in. They stood at the end of the room before waving Rui over to talk to him. After seemingly clearing it with him, they turned and Ming cleared his throat getting everyones attention. 

“Listen guys, if non of you object to it, and please remember you really can at any time you being comfortable is the top priority. So if non of you object to it, I want Min to move into my room until she can find her own place to stay. Any objections?” He asked looking at them all kindly, she smiled a little also but also looked a little nervous. He looked around at all the players and Tong Yao looked around as well trying to gaze the others reactions. Seeing no objections she was going to pipe up.

“You’re more than welcome Min, at least speaking for me.” Cheng said calmly and she nodded with a smile. Soon the rest of the team followed suit declaring their welcomes for her. 

“I don’t object either, but will the club allow it?” Tong Yao said slightly concerned Ming just smiled and shrugged.

“Don’t worry about that. Besides what the club doesn’t know won’t hurt them.” Ming said with a small smile and Tong Yao nodded.

“Thank you guys. I promise to repay you for this some time.” Min said with a wide smile looking at them all. 

___________________________

And so there was another girl living at the base, she didn’t seem to bring much, and she was put up in Ming’s room. Tong Yao noted how it would have been much more appropriate for her to move into her room, but she did not complain about still having the room all to herself while she mulled over what to do about Cheng.

It was almost no adjustment to having another girl at the base, she clearly tried to be as little in the way as possible and mostly seemed to stay in the room while she was working. Only occasionally sitting in the dining area to write.

It was a little uncomfortable for the two friends at first, that much was obvious. It had been years since Ming had moved to the base leaving Min in their old apartment, before she had moved out of the city to work for a network. Their habits had changed a little, Min seemed a little startled as Ming woke her up gently in the morning, he smiled at her before walking off to get ready.

“It’s been a while since you woke me up like that.” She commented as she sat up in her bed checking her e-mails on her phone. He just smiled to himself as he got out his clothes for the day.

“I’m still surprised that you’re less of a morning person than I am.” He said remembering how he had to almost pull her out of bed for university. She rolled her eyes but smiled a little at the memory as well.

“You used to also set the clocks back an hour so I thought I was late. I still hate you for that.” She said and he laughed as she pointed at him feigning annoyance.

The conversation died down, and she continued to check her e-mails as he got dressed. Finally she got up as well and picked out her clothes as well. She bumped into him on the way to the bathroom and both of them seemed to blush and look down but said nothing as they walked around each other. Brushing their teeth in zync seemed both very familiar to them both, as well as a little weird. He did his hair, she brushed hers. They seemed to compliment each other, but clearly had gotten comfortable doing their own rutines, having do adjust back to how it was when they developed their rutines.

They walked out together smiling at each other lightly. They talked with the boys and Tong Yao during breakfast, and as they walked off to work out, they put away the dishes together.

“You don’t have to help, you got work to do.” Min said as Ming started helping her, he just tisked lightly.

“You don’t have to help either. And you also have work to do. Otherwise you’ll have to live with me forever.” He said and she shrugged.

“You thought I was leaving when I’m finished?” She said with a smirk indicating that she was kidding. 

They joked around as they put away the dishes and then walked to the room to get their respective work supplies.

He decided to stay in the room and sat down at the desk as she stood up pulling out a marker and started writing on the whiteboard behind him. She always put on headphones and walked around as she thought up her stories. He had read her stories since they went to school and they were just short stories she loved to make up. He felt himself focusing less and less on the game he was supposed to be reviewing and more on watching her walking around thinking and writing. He noted how much he had missed this. He had always loved watching her work, whether it was studying for school or writing, or anything else. Something about the complete concentration on her face was mesmerising for him. He knew he should not feel this way, after all this was his childhood friend, his best friend, the only family he had left. But he could not help but want to ruin it all. Some part of him hoped and prayed that one day he would have the guts to grab her arm and kiss her. And he dared whenever he allowed the thought to happen, to imagine her kissing him back. But he also reminded himself that this was all a fantasy, and while they loved each other and deeply so, even going as far as calling each other Xin Gan, he also knew it was not a love like that. He knew she loved him as family. And Ming reminded himself that he was contend, or had to be content, with that. 

He had of course tried dating other girls, but something about them was not exactly right, and he kept looking at them wishing that they were her. And so, he had always ended up breaking it off, it never seemed fair to be with someone if you were only trying to replace someone else. 

His stare was broken when she waved her hand in front of his face. She gave him a smile and a knowing look. He composed himself, feeling kind of embarrassed that he had been caught starring at her. 

“Oi, aren’t you supposed to be watching that? If my pacing and stuff is distracting you I can always work somewhere else.” She said and he just smiled and shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. I just, I guess I just missed seeing you work.” He said and she smiled and looked down before shaking her head. She felt butterflies in her stomach when he said that, but she knew he never felt the same way about her, so she suppressed it as always and tried to change into a playful, friendly, safe, tone. 

“Well you can watch when you’re done with your work.” She said and he smiled a little and shook his head, but did turn back to the laptop knowing she was right, and knowing she would hate if she was the cause of him not doing a good job. 

She had always pushed him to work hard, practically feeding him when he was working on becoming a pro-gamer. She shook her head with a small smile, and after watching him refocus, she turned back, but this time she was distracted. Thinking about all the nights she had spent admiring him play games when she was supposed to work or study. She always admired his ambition and skill, and she knew he would be great as a pro player, she had promised herself as soon as he started getting serious about gaming that she would support him no matter what. He was like family to her yes, but also something more, she noticed years ago how when he complimented her or said something sweet how she got butterflies in her stomach. And while that never passed completely like she had hoped it would. But there was more to it than that. She had also noted that while she dated other boys she always seemed to compare them to him, and then they never quite stacked up. More importantly she noted that even if her dates were able to give her butterflies in her stomach, she never got as comfortable around them as she could around him. She never felt as safe and like she could be herself, like she could with him. She also knew she was never comfortable with others touching her, always having a weird feeling when it happened – and yet she always felt herself not having a problem hugging him back like she did everyone else. The worst was when she was writing love stories like this, she always felt herself imagining what it would be like if Ming were to do those things with her. If he would finally wake up and realise how much she really loved him. If at some point he would stop her from walking away by grabbing her wrist like they always did in the dramas. 

She even imagined doing it herself whenever he had visited her and had to go, but she always stopped herself from doing it. She hated it but she was scared and no matter how much she sometimes wished that she could just get herself together and get up the courage to ruin their friendship. She also knew that they were all both of them had left. They were each others family. And she knew he didn’t feel the same way as her, so the risk of ruining what support net and family they both had left, seemed selfish to her. And so she stayed quiet and sometimes watched him as he worked, and she would be happy to watch from that small distance. 

_____________________

She worked hard knowing how much needed to get done quickly, she had already planned out the gist of all the episodes, which was what got her hired int the first place and now she just planned them out scene by scene before writing it. 

When she was just writing she had taken to write at the dining table, it was nice to have background noise, but more importantly whenever she felt herself lacking inspiration she could look up and watch the people around her. Watch Ming as he instructed them all. 

Some evenings while they were still playing but more having leisure time, she was still writing in the same spot, Ming would sit beside her reviewing his notes from that day. Whenever she got frustrated with the story she would lean over and put her head on his shoulder and sigh almost wimp in frustration. He could not help but laugh a little as she seemed to only need some comfort and contact with him for a few moments, before looking up annoyed but lifting her head and getting back to work. Eventually all the players went to bed and it was just the two of them. Ming had finished reviewing his notes, but she was not finished, and so he kept his eyes on the notebook not wanting to leave her while she was writing, taking to watching her more and more as she did so with a small smile. He had really missed having her around like this.

Eventually she seemed to pause after putting a period on a line, she then sighed and save the document before turning to him.

“You should be in bed.” She said and he smiled a little and shook his head at her.

“So should you. And since when do I have a bedtime?” He said and she laughed a little at his comment hitting his arm lightly.

“Since you were my alarmclock. Now, if you behave maybe I’ll tell you a bedtime story.” She said grinning and he got up quickly as a gesture making her laugh. 

She folded her laptop and took it in one hand, before taking his extended hand as he helped her up. They let go shortly after and looked down and away from the other, not wanting to show how much they wanted to continue to hold the others hand. As they walked towards their room. They chatted lightly about their day as they both changed into sleeping clothes and brushed their teeth. It made his heart skip a beat when he noticed that her sleeping t-shirt was once of his old ones, but he knew he had probably just left it in their apartment when he had moved out and it had naturally gotten into her clothes. Even as he reminded himself of that and that it meant nothing he could not help but love seeing her wearing his old t-shirt, slightly imagining her walking around in a newer one. But he pushed that thought and feeling down and walked instead to take off his watch and get in bed. She walked into the room with a small smile, before turning off the lights, and walking to her bed, turning on the reading light.

“So, what kind of story do you want?” She said smiling a little and got comfortable under the covers before turning to lie and look at him, he could not help but turn as well but just shrugged.

“Something with a happy ending?” He said and she chuckled lightly.

“I will see what I can do.” She said and she started telling a story, making it up as she went on, and she lied there looking at him, and he looked at her as she talked, seemingly neither of them wanted to look away, and he was mesmerised, he wished he could always fall asleep this way, looking at her, hearing her talk quietly. He stopped himself from thinking further than that, knowing the only thing that would be better would be if he was allowed to hold her as well. But that thought was only comforting for a second, before it made him feel bad knowing he would never have that. 

______________________

She wanted to come see them at their next tournament, but knowing she would have to take time off to do so, she started spending day and night writing in order to make time for it and still meet her weekly deadline. 

One night she had asked Ming to go to bed, promising to be in in an hour, he lied awake waiting to hear the door open, but as he checked his watch seeing it had been more than an hour, he went up to get her. He smiled a little as he walked out seeing her having fallen asleep sitting up, laptop still open. He walked over to her quietly and saved her document, before closing down the laptop. He shoved her lightly but she only seemed to stir, he didn’t wanna wake her. Both knowing how exhausted she was having written until early morning to late in the night these past few days. But he also knew she could not sleep out there, and he thought over how to move her without disturbing her too much. He decided to lean over and putting her arms around his neck, before carefully lifting her up and begun carrying her the short distance towards the room. He could not help but smile as she seemed to intuitively lean her head against his chest, feeling both comfortable and like he lost some breath when he felt her breathing on his neck. He walked to their door and shut it with his foot before carrying her over to her bed. He put her down and tugged her. She continued sleeping but he did not want to get up and go to his own bed, not yet. He sat at the edge of her bed for a moment admiring her before getting up knowing it was time for him to go sleep in his own bed. He sighed and looked her over one last time before going over to his side, he sat on his bed then turned off the reading light and got into his own bed. 

__________________

Tong Yao quite liked having another girl in the house. She talked with Min whenever she had the time and she had so far appreciated the woman's advice, seeing as she was older than herself she did have more experience even than her good friend. Tong Yao had yet not dared to ask Min about Ming, her slight scolding from Cheng still sitting In her. One afternoon they were sitting outside, her taking a break from writing and seeming to enjoy the weather as a means to clear her head. Tong Yao joined her outside and min gave her a smile as a greeting. 

“Min-a, I have been a little scared to ask and please do not take offence, but whats the deal with you and Ming?” Tong Yao gathered the courage to ask, she looked down but continued to smile clearly wondering if she should tell the young woman just how complicated their relationship was, at least when you considered her feelings. 

“No worries. I can’t imagine my answer will differ much from whatever the boys already told you. We grew up together, shared an apartment in university, then he moved out to well, here, and I stayed and supported him as he went pro. His courage inspired me to pursue my writing. Neither of our parents liked our dream careers, and so even if we became successful, we haven’t really seen or talked to them in years.” She said looking down seemingly feeling her feelings stir inside as remembered just why she depended that much on the man in there. 

“That is terrible.” Tong Yao said, not knowing how else to respond and Min just shrugged. 

“Yes. But on the other hand I am a little grateful. Ming might be my only family, but I chose my family, and choosing to love someone, and continuing to choose to love them throughout the years. I think that that bond is just as great as any love we could have received from our real family.” She said with a smile looking at the boys who were fooling around inside fondly. 

“If you love each other, why aren’t you together?” Tong Yao blurted out, after having acknowledged how beautiful the older woman’s sentiment was. Min snorted a little startled at question but just smiled afterwards mulling over how to explain this to her. She always had a hard time explaining it to herself. Thankfully Cheng walked out and interrupted before Min could explain and she was grateful for not having to explain that she was in love with her best friend and that he would never love her back in that way. 

__________________

She went with them to the arena, but stayed quiet most of the time, letting them all focus on getting ready for the game. She stayed in the player lounge with Lu, Rui and later Ming as well as they watched the game on the screen there. 

She sat next to Ming during and nudged him lightly and grinning whenever the team did something well as if to silently praise him, he smiled back at her as she did so. 

She only started piping up and talking again once they went out to dinner, and she seemed to beam about how great they had all played. 

“You don’t have to come out to dinner with us, you know?” Ming said as they were sat on the bus and she just smiled and shook her head at him. 

“Of course I wanna come celebrate your guys success. But you don’t have to stay. You know you should go out some time, there is a whole world out there and you’ve missed most of it playing pro all these years. You’re retired. You should go out and experience all those things you couldn’t before!” She said and he just shook his head laughing a little. 

“Are you calling me boring?” He said playfully but she just rolled her eyes at him.

“Not the point. I’m just saying, you're more cooped up in that base now that you’re retired than you were when you were playing. Why don’t you go out some time? Live a little?” She said encouraging and he just shrugged and looked out the window, knowing exactly what she was implying. 

She wanted him to experience more from this world than he could from inside the base, she had always been the adventurous one, always dragging him to try new restaurants, and stuff, always had. He paused also to stop himself from saying his first thought which was: but I only wanna go out and experience the world if it’s with you. 

A part of him wanted to say it, wanted to tell her that he had gone out every once in a while, but now that she was constantly at the base, working, that was the only place he wanted to be. 

“Maybe another time?” He settled on saying still wanting to make her happy, but knowing he could not say what he really wanted to. She shook her head lightly at him. 

“Fine. But I am holding you to that. I want you to go out and experience life!” She said and he nodded knowing fully well that she would pester him until he went out. 

__________________

As the weeks went on pester him she did. He knew she had his best interests at heart. But he felt like his heart was breaking every time she asked him to go outside off the base. He used the work as an excuse, but that got hard as well when the players had days off they both knew fully well there was nothing stopping him from going out as well. Except for the fact that he just wanted to be with her. 

“Just go out. Just go out.” She was following him around saying one day where everyone had the day off. 

“No.” He insistere they both knew she was getting on his nerves and she was counting on that breaking him so that he would finally accept her advice. 

“Why not?” She said they seemed to have had this conversation a million times over the course of these last few weeks. He seemed to finally have had enough, something inside him just cracked and he couldn’t take it anymore so he turned around almost angry that she had pushed him to this point.

“Because I love you, and you're the only person I would go out to see!” He yelled, it felt like his whole world stopped as the words just leapt out of him. 

Like he had had no control over what happened. And he knew as soon as he said them that he could never take them back. He felt like he had just ruined his life all over again. Even if it did feel somewhat good to say. It felt good to get out. To finally admit what he had been feeling for years. The weight may have been lifted, but that lightness was immediately cancelled out by his brain, his logic, his reasoning. The part of him that reminded him that he had said the one thing he had promised himself to never say. He had uttered words worse than a curseword. He had said something and he could never take it back. He had ruined their friendship. He had ruined his last hope, his family. He would lose everything, all at once. He had ruined everything.

He stood there frozen and felt all of these things, but then he looked at her. 

He dared.

She stood there, having stopped in her tracks and she looked at him completely frozen as well.

It was almost like they both unconsciously thought that if they just stayed completely still then this would have never happened. He felt his heart break into a million pieces as she stayed there seeming completely shocked, and he knew what it meant. He knew what she was going to say. 

He had fucked it up. 

“Ming, I…” She started, but paused not knowing how to say anything right now. 

She was shocked, everything up until now had been playful, normal. Then he yelled that out of the blue, and it was like he had knocked all the air out of her. She stood there frozen trying to regain her breath. No idea how to react. 

This was amazing, it should have made her the happiest person in the world. The man she loved just confessed that he loved her. Her heart seemed to skip as well, and she felt like she could hear it beating just like in those old western cartoons. 

But she was pulled back to reality by her brain. Her logic, her reasoning. The part of her that reminded herself why she had never acted on this. She panicked as she dared to meet Mings eyes, and his heart seemed to break. She knew she was doing so, and she hated it. She never wanted to see him hurt. And so she did the only thing she knew how to do. She turned around and walked away. She took her shoes and left the base, she walked away not know where she was going just that she needed to get away, it felt like the further away from Ming she got the more she seemed to be able to breathe. As she was finally at a good enough distance the emotions that built up inside of her boiled over and she started crying, but she continued on needing to get away. Not wanting him to see her cry. Not wanting to him to think he was the cause of this.

She cried for a good while and the emotional release felt good, but she knew that her problems would definitely still be there when she stopped crying. Some part of her hoped if she just cried long enough it would all disappear. 

Someone cleared their throat behind her. She had completely gotten wrapped up in everything and forgotten that people lived around here. She quickly wiped her eyes and stood up to face whoever had caught her. She smiled at the girl in front of her, the girl looked at her seemingly kindly but also in a curious manner.

“Are you okay?” She asked and Min just chuckled a little.

“No.” Min said thinking about the absurdity of it all. The girl smiled a little at that response.

“What are you doing here, crying?” She asked curiously, and she took a deep breath calming myself down.

“I live with ZGDX, or lived, I might have fucked it up. I’m Huang Min, you?” Min said and the girl nodded, and made an oh face.

“I’ve heard of you. I’m Tong Yao’s friend, Cheng Jin Yang.” She said greeting her back, Min nodded having heard Tong Yao talk to her on the phone. 

“Tong Yao told me you’re Ming’s best friend. What happened?” Jin Yang asked and Min just looked up into the sky and sighed not knowing how to explain this all to her. The worst part about all of this was the fact that the person she really wanted to talk to about this, was Ming.

“Long story.” Min simply said not having the energy after her long cry to actually explain it all.

“The short story is I am broke and need a place to sleep for the night while I figure out how to deal with my fuck up.” Min said thinking logically, she knew herself well enough to know that she could not go back to the base, she needed to calm herself, figure out what this all meant before she faced him. She needed a plan before she just ran to him. To this Jin Yang grinned.

“Lucky for you, I have a couch, some wine and plenty of time to listen to relationship drama.” She said and Min laughed a little and shook her head lightly.

“I don’t wanna be an inconvenience.” Min said and Jin Yang waved her off.

“I have a spare room for Tong Yao. And besides, I love relationship drama. Think of you telling me about it as payment for me.” Jin Yang said and Min laughed a little and shook her head at the girl who seemed almost silly to her, she did think it through though, knowing she needed the place and time to cool off, and she was currently out of most options.

“Fine.” She said and Jin Yang grinned and led her to her car.

____________________

At her place they got some food and Jin Yang sat across from her on the couch, Min wanted to hide but she knew there was no way to escape the curious girl. They had talked about more trivial things on the way there. She told her about her boyfriend and how her and Tong Yao had become friends. Min only felt comfortable talking about her job, everything else seemed to lead back to Ming which led to all of those emotions.

“So what happened?” Jin Yang said not letting Min escape it anymore. She sighed and put down her food knowing it would be a long explanation.

“Me and Ming, the coach, we have been best friends since we were kids. We went to uni together and even shared an apartment. He went pro. I got my job. Our families didn’t approve. And he just told me that he loves me. I knew, sort of, but a different kind of love than he meant just then.” Min started and Jin Yangs eyes widened.

“What are you waiting for then? From what I heard from Tong Yao you two have been head over heels for each other!” Jin Yang said and I sighed knowing it was not as simple as that.

“I didn’t think it was possible that he felt the same way until today. But there is more to it than that.” Min started letting her worries completely consume her.

“We have known each for so long, what if there is no more left to learn? And we just gradually get bored of each other?” Min said and Jin Yang just gave her a glare but Min continued.

“And more importantly, yes we love each other, but this would completely change everything. And I have no idea how to be in a relationship with him. I haven’t dated too much since I always just wanted him.” Min said and Jin Yang looked at her confused.

“You have always wanted him, and you have known each other forever. You want him, have had for a while, what is stopping you? And if you have been friends for this long, clearly the both of you can’t get enough of each other.” Jin Yang said and Min nodded mulling over the words. They calmed her slightly but not enough.

“But more importantly, for almost 10 years, he has been my only family and I have been his. We don’t have anyone else. I can’t risk losing him because we start dating and have a stupid fight.” Min said wanting to cry, that was her biggest worry, having to give him up because couples fight and when they did he would leave and never come back. Maybe being his best friend she didn’t get everything she wanted but at least she knew he would stay.

“You won’t. But I see why you’re worried.” Jin Yang said clearly having no good response to this one. Min leaned back her head feeling like she had just validated all of her worries.

“But wouldn’t it be worth it?” Jin Yang said and Min looked at her confused.

“You will actually both get to have what you want. You will both get to be happy. Maybe that happiness is fleeting, but at least you don’t have to live waiting for him anymore. You won’t have to settle for anyone else.” Jin Yang said and Min nodded understanding her reasoning completely. She simply felt that all her worries had a stronger emotional pull on her at the moment.

“Besides, your relationship has already changed right now. So in my opinion you have the choice between losing him now or maybe losing him later.” She said and Min nodded feeling horrible. The girl put her hand on her arm in a comforting manner.

“I have to go to bed, stay up as long as you’d like.” She said and Min nodded thanking the girl who got up and got ready for bed. Min continued sitting on the couch enjoying the view of the skyline, but mostly she was lost in thought.

___________________

*Meanwhile back at the base*

Ming watched as her eyes met his finally and he felt his heart break, like it could stop and he wouldn’t care. Then he stood there and watched her walk away. Take her shoes and leave. 

She left him.

She had promised back when his family did that she would never do that and here she was leaving him. And he felt his heart somehow break once again.

She was gone and he was not only worried about where she would go, but also what he would do. He had ruined it. He had ruined his chance at happiness. He had said what he promised he never would. 

And now all he could do was stand there looking at the door where she had just left, praying that somehow she would come back. Somehow she would forget everything and maybe she would come back to him.

But he knew that that was all a fantasy. The reality was that he would most likely never see her again. That he had just watched his Xin Gan walk out the door for the last time. And he thought almost wanted to laugh about how much it now fit that they had called each other than for so many years. Because truly he had no idea how he was going to continue living without his Xin Gan.

Finally he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder. He was pulled out of his gaze and he looked up at Cheng-a giving him a sad look. Ming tried to contain himself and just put on a small smile to try to convey that he appreciated what the young boy was doing. They both knew that there was nothing either of them could do to rectify this. He turned around and looked at the players in front of him, who had also seemed to stop in their place to watch them. 

“I’m sorry you guys had to see that and therefore feel involved.” Ming simply said trying his best to focus on them and not how much he wanted to break down. He wanted to still seem professional, no matter how much these people were also his friends.

“That’s absurd. You shouldn’t be apologising to us Ming.” Tong Yao finally piped up the rest of them piped up saying the same and it made him smile a little and look down.

“But what are you going to do Ming? Go after her?” The young girl asked and he sighed trying to think. What was he going to do? He thought about his best friend and how she reacted to things, what he could possibly do. The annoying thing was mostly that the only person he wanted to talk about this with, the only person whose advice he wanted, well it was her.

“I will stay here, continue to coach you guys. Don’t worry about me.” Ming said hoping they would all just let him off, deal with this on his own and not let this steal focus from their training.

“Forget about us. Why don’t you go after her?” Chubby said and Cheng gave him a stern look as if to once again say not to get involved. Ming sighed and shook his head.

“I can’t go after her.” He admitted looking down not wanting to explain how much he had really just royally screwed up his life. He looked back at them and gave them the best smile he could muster at the moment and then walked towards the sofa area to sit down to try and process all of it. Sadly they all seemed to follow him and sat down opposite him, even if he could hear Cheng protest.

“I’m gonna be fine guys. No need to be worried about me like this.” Ming said not wanting them to spare too much of their focus on his stupid mistake. That would just add to his already mile high pile of guilt. 

“But I don’t understand. It was so clear how much you two loved each other. How could she just leave like that?” Tong Yao protested earning herself a small smack from Cheng who was clearly trying to control the group around him.

“That is non of our business.” Cheng said sternly looking at the far too invested Chubby, Kat and Tong Yao in front of him. Ming looked at Cheng a little grateful, but figuring he might as well explain it to them, knowing he would have to do so eventually. Maybe ripping the bandaid off earlier could help him get over it quickly. He knew that was a lie. But maybe he would be able to not think of it as much or at least not have them bring it up.

“I shouldn’t have said anything. And I am not going after her. Not because I don’t want to, but because I know there is no point. She is either off dealing with it and then she will come back and reject me. Or she will never come back and leave me a note rejecting me. Either way I lose her. No point in hurrying the process more than necessary.” Ming said looking down certain that this was it. He had ruined his entire life. He would no longer have anyone to spend the holidays with. 

He was truly alone now. 

No longer on a team. 

No longer any family. 

Alone.

“How are you so sure she is rejecting you? Maybe she just had to deal with the shock.” Tong Yao said clearly just trying to cheer him up, Ming just shook his head.

“It’s fine Tong Yao. Let’s not talk about it anymore. It’s getting late, you guys should go to bed.” He said looking at his watch, wanting to continue being the responsible adult they needed in their lives. 

He ushered them all off to bed, and then walked to his own bedroom, but paused a the doorknob knowing what awaited him. 

Her things. 

Their room. 

He stood there for a good while, not ready to go inside, terrified to go inside. Because once he did he knew he would truly have to accept the reality of the situation. After a while he knew he would have to. And so he took a deep breath and opened the door. 

He walked inside and looked at it all. Her unmade bed. The notes on the whiteboard in her handwriting. Her clothes hanging beside his in the closet. He sighed and simply went to bed without changing clothes, too tired to do anything else. Everything was weighing so heavily on his he felt like he would never get up again. He knew he would, but more importantly he felt like he would never be happy again.

_________________________

*The next day*

Ming tried to go about his day as perusal, but somehow he had already gotten so used to his rutine involving her, and without her there the space all felt empty. Everything just seemed to quiet. Too empty. Lonely.

He tried to keep focus on work and working with the guys but he knew he wasn’t making the best decision at the moment. He was making them based on logic alone, feeling like if he locked up all of his emotions he could make it to bed at night. The hours passed and in the evening he watched them play the practice match but knew he wasn’t really there.

They won and he congratulated them all, and they were happy, but none if it reached him. He didn’t feel like himself, and he didn’t feel like he had earned their victory.

They were all just sitting around some of them playing games for fun. And he looked at his notes, trying to get an overview of his future strategy. But he felt like his brain was in a fog. Suddenly the door opened and Min walked in with Jin Yang who greeted them. He could feel his breath get stuck in his throat as he felt like he might be seeing things. But after blinking a few times he knew it was true. She was there. She was back. She had come back to him.

And then it all sank in all over again. She was back, she was there to break his heart all over again. And then she would leave again, this time forever. Leaving him to live this miserable existence.

“Ming, can we talk?” Min said.

Her eyes had barely left his as she had entered, she had had a plan in her head all day thinking of what she was going to do, what she was going to say when she finally saw him again.

And then there he was, right in front of her. And she felt like she couldn’t breathe all over again. She could feel all of her nerves build up. She felt how much she had broke his heart by leaving and she felt terrible knowing she had caused him to feel this way. She neared him and finally he nodded looking around to notice everyone once again looking at them. He didn’t want them involved in this. He did not want them to worry about him, he nodded once to indicated that they would go to his room, their room, he almost cringed as he thought so, thinking of how painful it was going to be once she left him there all alone.

They went inside in silence. Both of them not knowing what to say. Not yet.

Min felt like fidgeting but fought the urge to, trying her best to think of how to tell him everything she felt. She had practiced it in her head all day and now that she was here it was like the words all faded away. She was never good with words like this. She knew she was a good writer, there she had control and could perfectly communicate what she wanted. But out here in the real world, there were stakes, there were people she loved, true emotions attached. Out here she could fail by saying the wrong thing. Out here she could ruin her life and relationship with her only family by saying the wrong thing. And so, she was nervous. 

Even if Jin Yang was right, she would lose him either way, it was better to give it a chance and at least be happy for a while. Part of her couldn’t leave the past behind. Part of her couldn’t help but not want to risk it all, and simply go back to where they would both be safe. Even if it meant neither of them really got what they wanted. At least then they wouldn’t have to risk it. She cleared her throat trying to get the words out, but as she looked up at him she froze and she felt like the words were stuck in her throat like a lump. He looked at her sadly, wanting desperately to say anything that would keep her from leaving him again.

“I’m sorry.” He started looking up at her in a pleading manner, she didn’t want him to say that, and she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out still. She wanted to protest. Tell him that she was the one that should be sorry.

“I’m so sorry Xin Gan. I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have felt that. I will stop. I just. Please if I could take it all back I promise I would.” He said pleading with her feeling desperate inside and he reached out but stopped himself from touching her, feeling like it would somehow make it all worse.

She looked back at him and she felt frozen all over again. She hated seeing him like this, hating seeing him looking so heartbroken all because of her. She wanted to reach out and tell him that all he clearly thought was a lie. She hadn’t left because he had ruined everything. She had left because she was scared of how much she wanted to as well. She wanted to tell him that. Tell him that she loved him just as much as he hopefully loved her. She wanted to tell him that a small part of her was grateful that he had ruined everything, because now they had a chance to actually both be happy. Get what they want. She wanted to tell him how she had decided to be brave, once again because he had done it first. And that she would risk it all for him. 

Yet she didn’t seem to be able to express any of it. She couldn’t get any words out. She looked at him desperate to tell him it all, to actually be brave. 

She wanted to, but something inside of was stopping her. Holding her back from telling him how she felt. 

Finally she thought: Fuck it. If I can’t say a word then.

She paused mid thought and quickly decided that maybe what was stopping her from speaking would stop her from doing anything if she thought too hard about. And so she just did.

She reached out, put her hand on Mings cheek gently. Before walking closer and pulling him closer, so that she in one swift motion could lean over and kiss him.

She kissed him. 

She tried to tell him everything she had wanted to say, hoping somehow he understood her. 

He was frozen, shocked. He had stood there knowing the signs of her being nervous but he was convinced it was because she had no idea how to tell him the bad news. 

Then she did this. 

She kissed him. 

She was kissing him.

He cheered this mentally and then finally seemed to break his own trance. Realising she not only didn’t seem to be leaving him. On the contrary he might finally be able to hold her like he had day dreamed about. Kiss her. Express how much he had loved her for so many years. And if he was as lucky as he felt at the moment – she would love him back.

After she managed to begin panicking, thinking she might have made a mistake doing this, that he wasn’t going to respond. That her actions weren’t louder than the words she couldn’t get out. She started to panic. Thinking about how this time she had ruined it all.

Then it happened, he reacted, after what felt like an eternity. He kissed her back. 

Not only that but she could feel his arms wrap around his waist pulling her closer. Lips moving perfectly against each other. She couldn’t help but smile a little into the kiss and he did as well, but neither wanted to let go. She wrapped her hands around his neck, and even when they pulled away for air, he leaned his forehead against hers. She could feel his hot breath on her face, and part of her didn’t dare open her eyes again, almost scared he would disappear if she did. 

“I love you too.” She muttered, and almost let out a sigh of relief knowing she could talk again. 

He seemed to relax even more and she opened her eyes to see him pulling away to look at her with a big smile on his face. The biggest she had seen probably since he got contacted for his contract. He was stunned and felt almost confused that this was happening. He understood or at least hoped he understood what this all meant. He had never before dared to dream that she actually felt the same way. That she would reciprocate his feelings. And yet here she was, her hands around his neck, having just kissed him. He kissed her cheek not knowing what else to do how else to express how happy he was. 

Suddenly there was a loud sound from their door and it seemed to pull them both out of their little trance. The reality of their situation dawned on them. Ming just smiled at her and kissed her forehead quickly.

“One second.” He said quietly, he hated to but he let go of her and walked over to the door, overjoyed over everything else but annoyed that he even had to do this. He swung the door open and looked at the team, Rui and Jin Yang, was stood there trying to not look suspiciously like they had been listening in. He crossed his arms looking at them all sternly. 

“Go away.” He said as calmly as he could, but seeing frustration on some of their faces.

“But what happened? You went all quiet and–“ Chubby protested and Ming just put up his hand.

“This is non of your business. Now, go away and train or I will make you play till your hands ache. Capice?” He said looking at the players sternly, they seemed disappointed but clearly non of them wanted to mess with their coach in his current mood. He was usually very fair, hardworking but fair. And seeing this side of him felt like getting scolded as a child all over again.

As Ming was satisfied that they had all gotten that message, he grinned not being able to hide how happy he was any longer.

“Now. Rui, I’m taking the rest of the day off, okay?” He said looking at the team manager, who seemed to now understand what was going on and he grinned and nodded widely. Ming just gave one nod to show he took that as a yes, and so he turned on his heel closing the door sternly behind him.

He walked back to Min grinning and pulled her closer immediately.

“Now. Where were we?” He said and she chuckled lightly wrapping her arms around him as well, smiling widely as well.

“About to ruin our friendship?” She said and he chuckled a little leaning closer. 

“Don’t mind if I do.” He said before leaning back once again to meet her lips again. 

This kiss started out as the other one did, sweet and where they could really feel all the emotions in it. But while they continued to kiss something inside them seemed to stir as well. This time he took initiative and moved his hands from her waist further onto her stomach, clearly testing the waters. While they had known each other for many years this was definitely unfamiliar terrortory. She responded by deepening the kiss and they naturally started making out more, exploring each other with their hands while. Trying to saviour every touch and kiss like it was the last. This had been many years in the making. And Min was definitely no longer scared that there was no more left for them to learn about each other. This was definitely new.

______________________

Later they laid on his bed. She was lying on him, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, slowly playing with her hair, as she caressed his chest. He never wanted to leave that spot again.

“I’m sorry I scared you.” She said and he just hummed, he had almost forgotten how horrible he had felt all day in all of this bliss. 

“I forgive you.” He simply said not wanting to overcomplicate it. He mostly just wanted to put it all behind them. She smiled and hugged him tighter for a moment.

“How long have you known?” She said after they laid there in comfortable silence for a while. He sighed feeling anxious admitting just how long he had kept this to himself. It almost felt silly in retrospect. It did now knowing he could have been truly with up until now, if he had only yelled that he loved her sooner. He sighed knowing nothing good would come of not telling her the whole truth.

“I noticed when we entered high school. But I chalked it up to hormones. I knew that I completely loved you back in our old apartment. We had just watched a movie, you had made me take a break from gaming. And while the credits rolled you ranted about how the story was unrealistic. How you would have written this differently and fixed that plothole. I know it’s silly, but watching you talk so passionately about that I just realised.” He admitted she smiled thinking back to all of the times she had done tha while they lived together. He hugged her tighter for a moment before relaxing again.

“What about you?” He asked and she sighed, her nervous side wanted to lie, tell him it wasn’t until recently. But knowing he had loved her since back when they were living together she felt comfortable saying so as well.

“I kind of noticed but didn’t really know what it was during high school. I realised back home, I was watching you play the game for like the fifth hour in a row. Seeing you so happy, so passionate about something. I couldn’t help it.” She admitted and he smiled thinking back to all of the times he had tried to not get caught watching her write.

_______________________

They stayed in their room all day and night. Falling asleep in his bed. Ming woke up first and admired her for a moment before waking her up as well. She just snuggled into his bare chest more and he chuckled lightly.

“As much as I would love to stay with you here all day. You have a deadline to meet, and the team has a game coming up this weekend.” He said and she just sighed, but still didn’t let go.

“I don’t wanna face the outside world yet.” She said and he kissed the top of her head knowing exactly what that meant. Once they left this little bubble they would have to face questions, and maybe a small part of him, was terrified that if they went outside, she would realise that she had made a mistake. But here she was holding on to him tightly, and he smiled a little at that. 

“I know. But we have to eventually.” He said and she sighed knowing he was right. She slowly sat up slightly untangling herself from him. She kissed his cheek once before getting up putting out her hand to help him up, but he stopped and just admired her. She looked at him expectingly, but he just smiled and took her outstretched hand pulling her back to kiss her back on the bed. She kissed him back immediately, but as they pulled away she chuckled at him and shook his head.

“You were the one pestering me to get up.” She protested and he just sighed and nodded with a big dumb smile on his face.

“Yeah. But I forgot that that meant seeing you like that, and then I just had to kiss you. Had to remind myself you haven’t left me.” He said looking at her seriously and she just sighed and nodded.

“I won’t leave. I will never completely leave you. But you are right we should get up and face it all.” She said looking at him also a little sadly and he kissed her once again, savouring it, before pulling away and getting up. She did the same.

They got dressed almost like they had just two days before. Brushed their teeth, got ready. Grabbing the others hand to hold whenever there was a chance to was new. Touching each other, even if it was just to brush past the other person was done everything chance they got. 

She was walking around gathering her things, and he stopped her pulling her into him and he smiled as he leaned in to kiss her. They pulled back and he sighed.

“You ready to leave the room?” He asked and she sighed this time she was the one pulling him back for another kiss. He pulled away and she chuckled lightly.

“For good luck.” She said and he nodded. He put his hand in hers and she opened letting their fingers interlock. With a small squeeze from each other he walked over and grabbed the doorhandle, he opened the door and they stepped out – seemingly completely different people than the two broken ones who had entered the room. 

__________________

They quickly got used to being a couple, finding most of it more natural than breathing. And they both seemed to notice how much they had held back doing most of the things they did now that they were dating. They held hands every chance they could. Touched the other every chance they could. Everyone around them seemed happy for them. The team (except for K and Cheng who hid it much better) were way too excited to hear what had happened between the two of them. Thankfully they quickly got out of it and everyone around them seemed to accept their relationship quickly. They had yet to ask each other to be girlfriend and boyfriend, but it seemed natural to them both that that was what they were. After talking more in bed they both confessed how they had tried but figured out that they didn’t want anyone else. 

___________________

“Omg! Who is that girl in the back ground!?!” 

“Holy shit, why is she hugging and kissing Ming?!” 

“Are they dating?”

“Who is she?” 

The comments flooded Chengs earphones, he cringed and then he looked behind him, seeing the streaming camera was accidentally angled in a way that Min and Ming could be seen in the background behind him. He wanted to roll his eyes at them, but just turned behind him to get the newly lovebirds attention. He was truly happy for his friends, seeing how truly happy they had both become as they got together. Plus he figured that Ming deserved this, having to retire early because of his hand.

“Hey guys, you’re on stream. Wanna say hi to the fans?” He said getting their attention and Mins eyes widened as she felt embarrassed and hid her face in Mings shoulder. He however moved them a little closer and put his arm around her, clearly wanting to read the comments.

“Okay, so most of the comments are the fans concluding that I have a girlfriend and the other half wants to know who she is.” Ming said chuckling lightly seeing the livestream freak out, he was a little glad he no longer had to deal with that pressure. He was still a coach and had to do some things in the public eye, but he was not at all as exposed as he had used to be. 

Cheng who was now half wearing his headset looking at them amused.

“Wanna tell the fans who she is?” Cheng said in an almost daring manner. Ming leaned a little closer as if he was about to, and Cheng even took off his headset offering him the microphone that way. Then Mings serious expression changed into a grin.

“No.” He said laughing a little as he saw the comment section explode.

“Why not?” Cheng said pulling back the mic when he said it, and then held it in front of him amused at this all.

“Because I am retired, and therefore you guys are no longer entitled to know the details of my private life.” He said with a grin. 

Cheng smiled slightly before he took back the headset knowing that his old friend was done. He put it on and continued streaming as the couple walked away. As much as Ming had almost regretted that he hadn’t told her sooner, thinking of how stupid it was that they could have been together for so long. He now remembered why he was grateful that he hadn’t. He would have hated for the distance and the constant snooping and pressure from the fans to get in the way.

#c-drama #falling into your smile #falling into your smile one shot #falling into your smile fanfic #falling into your smile imagine #falling into your smile Ming #God Ming #Midsolo

[residentevil-4]

fixating on puzzle games rn so here are some recommendations from me thanks. play store games

hexio - very fun connect the dots game. good tutorial. ads only come every few levels and typically you can X out of them without waiting a few seconds. you can also watch 30 second ads to get 3 hints. you can also pay for hints & theres a one-time $10 ad-free version that gives you a lot of hints too, but i wouldnt since the ads arent very invasive. i usually just stock up on hints before a play session, that takes about 3 minutes.

2048++ - literally my favorite game right now. swipe to make bigger numbers. NO ads at all, best part. the base modes are already very fun. you can pay $2 to get a few other modes, but you dont get bored with just the base game so its not necessary at all. huge fan. i paid the money lol

escape games collection & escape games basic (nicolet.jp) - forever my favorite i will always recommend. cute art style, cute stories, MANY levels. you watch an ad to see the hints/video tutorial and theres one ad between levels, but the levels last so long that you dont have to worry about feeling bombarded. only complaints is that the basic version is old and buggy and the newest update made the Cafe level unplayable because a texture is missing and every detail matters in this game!! there are like 20 levels though and i think the rest of them are not affected by the bug.

i love hue & i love hue too - color blend puzzle. its simple and calming but you need a good eye for it! i prefer hue too. i genuinely dont remember if there are ads. i think i paid for an ad-free version? if i did, it was a one-time payment.

i also like that one "spot the difference" / "find the object" game seeker's notes. they have a few ads on mobile tumblr, usually two near identical detailed drawings that says only smart people notice the differences. it has a lot of good game modes and energy (used to play levels) is pretty easy to come by, but ive stopped playing because you get BOMBARDED with prompts to make in-game purchases. literally you have to go through like 5 pop up windows when you open the game. you dont have to pay for them to advance in the game, so its more obnoxious than anything. -_-

this has been garos puzzle games on his phone 👍

#original content #long post

[tmarshconnors]

Traits Through Your Preferred Drink Choices! 

As a non-drinker navigating the world of socialising, I've found myself in a unique position to observe the fascinating interplay between individuals and their drink choices. In this exploration of the psychology behind preferred alcoholic beverages.

I bring a teetotaler's perspective to the table. While I may not partake in the libations, I've keenly observed the distinct personalities that emerge based on what people choose to sip on.

Oh who am I kidding? I can’t lie I have had a drink before. If I had to drink it would be a Baileys Irish Cream with ice. It’s a form of Whiskey in case you didn’t know.  No lie though I do enjoy my tea and coffee to much. I digress let's get on with this blog..

Brandy - The Social Sage 🥃

If you're calmly sipping brandy, cognac, or Armagnac, you don't mind being noticed. You may not seek attention actively, but there's something captivating about you. You're the social sage, preferring to stay quietly seated in the corner, speaking only when necessary.

Whiskey - The Confident Storyteller 🥃

Confidence is your middle name if whiskey is your drink of choice. You enjoy entertaining others with stories from your life, valuing lasting happiness over temporary highs. Just be cautious not to cross the thin line between confidence and overconfidence, especially after a few personalized drinks.

Tequila - The Life of the Party 🍹

Living in the moment is your motto. Success or failure calls for a celebration, and nothing says party like a tray of tequila shots. You're at ease being the 

center of attention on the dance floor, interpreting "You can dance" as a direct order from your drink.

Scotch - The Discerning Drinker 🥃

Distinguishing between scotch and whiskey, you're a slow drinker who appreciates life's finer aspects. Criticisms about arrogance for knowing the difference roll off you, as you prefer saying one wise word over talking all night.

Absinthe - The Naturally Creative 🍸

Always seeking your next muse, you keep to yourself and surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Your creativity knows no bounds, and you carry instruments, sketchbooks, or notebooks wherever you go, aiming to inspire without seeking fame.

Margarita - The Conversationalist 🍹

Margarita drinkers fall into two categories: frozen or on the rocks. If you enjoy frozen margaritas, love dancing, and embrace garish party decorations, you're a social butterfly. On-the-rocks drinkers start conversations with anyone and love making new friends outside their group.

Champagne - The Ravishing Life Lover 🍾

Your life is simply ravishing. Champagne is your everyday celebratory drink, reflecting your grand perspective on life. You have a magnificent taste, giving precise answers and expressing opinions eloquently.

Vodka - The Life of the Party 2.0 🍸

Vodka drinkers dive into the action, turning up the music and buying rounds of shots. It's about tracking progress more than savoring the flavor. Vodka cranberry enthusiasts simply want to see how much is left in the glass.

Wine - The Super Social 🍷

Wine drinkers spill secrets, whether their own or others'. With a glass of Pinot, their daring levels rise, making even the most personal questions fair game. They adore a good story and are super social.

Gin Martini - The Traditionalist 🍸

Classic gin martini drinkers are traditionalists who appreciate the art of holding their liquor. Known for their enigmatic and intelligent nature, they grab attention effortlessly at parties. According to some, they aren't particularly fond of those who order filthy martinis.

Always remember: psychology is my playground, and people are my puzzle. Investigating the intricacies of the human mind is my passion.

#PsychologyInvestigation #MindfulObservation #PersonalityTraits #PsychologyPlayground #CuriousMind #HumanBehavior #MindUnveiled #IntriguingInsights #MentalMaze #PuzzleOfPersonality #DiscoverTheMind #PsychologyJourney #BehavioralPatterns #CognitiveExploration #AnalyzingMinds #PsycheRevealed #MindfulInteractions #SoulfulPsychology #MindMysteries #InsightfulInquiries #today on tumblr #deep thinking #new blog

[fullerfoged65]

Where Fun Begins: Dive into the Most Entertaining Minecraft Servers

Minecraft, the iconic sandbox game, has captured the hearts of millions with its limitless possibilities and endless creativity. While the single-player experience is undeniably captivating, Minecraft truly shines when played on multiplayer servers. These servers provide a dynamic and social environment where players can interact, collaborate, and engage in a wide range of exciting activities. In this article, we will explore some of the most entertaining Minecraft servers that offer a wealth of fun and immersive gameplay experiences. - Hypixel Hypixel is a name that resonates with Minecraft players worldwide. It is one of the largest and most popular Minecraft servers, known for its diverse range of game modes and exceptional gameplay. From intense PvP battles in games like Bedwars and Skywars to cooperative adventures in games like Skyblock and Dungeons, Hypixel offers something for everyone. The server's attention to detail, regular updates, and thriving community make it a top choice for those seeking hours of non-stop fun. - Mineplex Mineplex is another well-established Minecraft server that has earned its reputation as a hub of entertainment. With a plethora of unique and engaging game modes, including Block Hunt, Super Paintball, and Survival Games, Mineplex caters to players of all preferences. The server's focus on fun, competitive gameplay and its commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment make it an excellent choice for players seeking a lively and entertaining experience. - The Hive The Hive is a server that excels in creating an enjoyable and vibrant atmosphere. With its selection of innovative and addictive game modes, such as Hide and Seek, DeathRun, and Murder Mystery, The Hive offers a refreshing twist on classic Minecraft gameplay. The server's user-friendly interface, regular updates, and active community ensure that players are always entertained and engaged. - CubeCraft Games CubeCraft Games is renowned for its wide array of fast-paced and action-packed game modes. Whether you're looking for thrilling PvP battles in games like EggWars and Tower Defense or seeking a challenge in games like Parkour and Splegg, CubeCraft Games has it all. The server's seamless gameplay mechanics, stunning maps, and extensive leaderboard system create a competitive and entertaining environment for players of all skill levels. - Wynncraft For those seeking an immersive and story-driven Minecraft experience, Wynncraft is a server worth exploring. Wynncraft is a unique Minecraft MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) server that offers a vast and beautifully crafted world to explore. With a deep lore, engaging quests, challenging dungeons, and a dedicated community, Wynncraft provides a rich and captivating experience for players looking for an adventure beyond the traditional Minecraft realm. Minecraft Install - Diversity Diversity is a server that delivers a truly unique and mind-bending experience. It features a series of challenging and puzzle-based game modes that test players' problem-solving skills and creativity. From parkour challenges and maze puzzles to trivia quizzes and escape rooms, Diversity offers a refreshing break from the standard Minecraft gameplay. The server's meticulously designed puzzles, stunning aesthetics, and innovative gameplay mechanics make it a must-try for players seeking intellectual stimulation and a good dose of fun. - Herobrine.org Herobrine.org is a server that embraces the supernatural side of Minecraft. It offers a range of game modes centered around mythical creatures, magical abilities, and intense battles. Whether you're fighting vampires in VampireZ, surviving against werewolves in Survival Games, or testing your skills in the custom game mode Herobrine's Mansion, Herobrine.org delivers an exciting and otherworldly experience for players seeking a touch of mystery and adventure. The world of Minecraft servers is teeming with entertaining experiences that cater to players of all tastes and preferences. From competitive PvP battles and immersive RPG adventures to mind-bending puzzles and unique gameplay twists, these servers provide endless fun and excitement. So, gather your friends, explore the vast multiplayer landscape, and dive into the most entertaining Minecraft servers where the true essence of fun begins.

#Minecraft mods #6minecraftmods.net #minecraft server software #Ggservers #how to make a server in minecraft #Fun servers for minecraft #minecraft launcher download

[sullina]

As someone who has a switch... there are a handful of games that make ot worth it. Totk, the og BOTW, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (altho base rise is on console too), and Splatoon 3. Some ppl probly like Smash Bros and Animal Crossing and Mario Kart too but those are the main ones I was interested in. Oh and Pokemon Scarlet/Violet and Legends Arceus

I already have botw on the wiiu (don't judge me), that monster hunter sounds interesting, and i did like the smash game for the wii, mainly the story mode.

I got the first splatoon a few years ago and didn't reay like it at all, mario kart isn't really fun unless you play with friends (which i don't have a lot of irl), I'm really a fan of animal crossing and with the pokemon games in recent years, i feel like they're just getting worse and worse :/

I like the older zelda games, because of the puzzles throughout the worlds and because of the unique items you got in each temple that would unlock new secrets and places, and of course the big temples. Botw had pretty much none of these things, and no, 900 korok seeds don't count, because they don't do anything once you maxed out your bag space.

One of the first zelda games i played was twilight princess, which i loved. That reminds me, one of the things that botw also lacked was a companion character, which for me is a pretty big part of the game actually. And there's usually always some kind of central mechanic that the games are more or less built around. In twilight princess, it was the fact that you could turn into a wolf at will (though admittedly a bit later in the game i think), in skyward sword it was the flying and (admittedly very limited) interaction between the surface and sky.

But the central mechanic in botw was just... climbing. Which gets old really fast. Like, sure, you have an open world game, but getting around isn't really fun since you can only climb, walk/ride and glide. And the gliding is kinda fun, but eventually it just gets old, same with climbing. I would've preferred it if instead of giving us 100 outfits, there were items instead to enhance the basic abilities, because items can be taken on and off at will with a single button press without having to go into the menu for every single thing.

I also wasn't a fan of the shrines tbh. I felt the puzzles were too obvious and short most of the time and the reward was always the same, and trading the orbs in for heart or stamina containers was a bit annoying.

Also, this one's just a personl pet peeve, but i don't really like how links typical/default outfit color was changed from green to blue. Don't get me wrong, he looks good in blue, but like... nothing was wrong with green, you know?

One thing i also REALLY didn't like was the fact that you got all your runes at the start of the game and then that was it, there were no new mechanics throughout the entirety of the game. Which may appeal to some people, but for me that just made the whole game feel really same-y, like there were no new things. And I'm including the weapons, because sure there's tons of different weapons, but only three movesets, and the weapons were way too fragile, though i know I'm not alone in this point.

I could keep talking, but it's 3am, so I'll sum up what i wanted to say, which is that while botw wasn't a bad game, it wasn't really much of a zelda game and i didn't like it all that much, not enough to shell out more than 300€ for the sequel that seems to have all the same problems from what I've seen so far. But maybe I'll change my opinion, idk. If you want more of my ramblings on botw, you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

#sullina asks #zelda botw #zelda totk

[tokoyamisstuff]

Tender Ch. 1 - Loki x Mute! Reader

Summary: Even though Loki doesn’t understand why the new member of the Avengers should be kind to him of all people, he doesn’t want you to stop either.

Warnings: Loki being depressed, the Avengers being kinda mean, mentions of Torture and Death

Words: ~2100

[Story Masterlist] [All of my Works]

All eyes were on him again.

As soon as Loki would step inside, the previously lively room would fall completely silent. Well, it’s not like he wasn’t used to being the involuntary kill-joy...

Usually, the God of Mischief craved attention, may it be positive or negative - most of the time being the latter. But lately, after months of having all those distrustful and hostile glares piercing holes into him, he’d rather wish for the ground to swallow him whole.

“Umm, so...I gotta go.” Natasha was the first one to flee the unpleasant atmosphere, not even putting the energy into mutter anything else than a cheap excuse on her way out. Clint wordlessly followed her close after, but not without shooting the Odinson one last, spiteful look.

Loki on the other hand was picking on his hands, a nervous habit he had inherited from his mother. As much as he tried to avoid meeting their eyes, the tensioned aura they were emitting making him feel close to breaking down completely - but he would never give them the satisfaction to witness this, he swore to himself.

And yet: Maybe he should just leave. Disappear, forever.

Although he’d never admit, Loki had grown very tired of his life following this stirr path, unable to diverge into a new direction. Everything he did would ultimately bring death and destruction upon mankind, inflicting fear in the hearts of all people.

His whole existence was based on being condemned to fail - just for others to reach their ‘glorius purpose’.

“Great” Tony scoffed. “Now they’re gone. Well done, prince of nothing.” Steve cut his friend off, clearing his throat very exaggeratedly.

The god still hadn’t moved from the doorframe of the conference room, while all others were already sitting on the oval-shaped table. He didn’t got what all that fuss was about. If Steve didn’t insist him to attend this emergency meeting, he’d just have gone about his usual business and avoided everyone as good as he could.

“C’mon, brother” Thor sighed, well knowing that if his brother was to stay in the team, it would ultimatively drive a wedge between them. All that pressure in the air was straining for everyone, including himself. 

Tony on the other hand was pretty chill about everything, aside of being passive-aggressive. This was probably due to their similar coping styles.

Even though his near-death-experience back when he stopped the Chitauri was still eating on his mental health, he’d prefer glossing over it with stupid jokes and overly confident behaviour. “No sassy remark today, Reindeer Games?”

Stark was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed as he rose an eyebrow on the god, who only muttered a hoarse “No...not today.”

Yeah, it was kind of his style to break the unsettling silence through puny comments or self-glorifying speeches, to distract from his own insecurity.

But right now, he was just so damn tired.

Of this planet and it’s people, as well as the humiliating circumstances he had to dwell in. The fact that he was a prisoner at the Stark Tower, amongst his worst enemies. Being forced by his brother to keep up this meaningless act, as if he’d ever be seen as a team member or ally - when in reality, he was but a slave to the people he once ought to reign.

Just like back on Asgard: Never one of them, never belonging. No way to break free - for his true self was something to be loathed.

However, first and foremost the one thing he was especially tired of was himself, for he couldn’t get out of his own skin. Not only could he never be considered a hero, let alone be redeemed.

After all the atrocities he had commited due to Thanos’ torture and the tesseract’s influence,  now that he woke up from that naive dream of power stilling the emptiness in his dark heart, there was nothing left for him - other than to be haunted by his crimes until the mercy of death would overcome him.

“Well” Steve began, slamming his palms on the desk to attract everyone’s attention. “As you all know, we are welcoming a new team member today.”

“They all know?” Of course they wouldn’t let him in on such sensitive information. Not that he minded either way - one Avenger more or less, it didn’t matter how many people hated him in here.

“Please, come on in.”

Loki cleared the entrance when he heared Tony’s words, turning around in anticipation of another dull creature like the Hulk to torment him - but his calm demeanour dropped completely at this unusual sight:

“Y-You?!”

That was simply not possible! The last time he had seen you was almost a year ago, and you were on the brink of death at that!

“For everyone that doesn’t know yet: Her name is Y/N Y/L/N. She is one of the victims HYDRA experimented on, and they succeeded in forming an artificial mutant.”

Steve went on and on explaining about your powers, but Loki’s head had already turned on autopilot, the only thing he could concentrate on being how the hell you of all people ended up here.

All these months, he was desperately trying to get any information about you, all of his hints ultimately leading him to dead ends - and in the end, tragically believing in your imminent death.

The memories were still painfully vivid in his mind: It was his first mission together with the Avengers, at a HYDRA hideout with most likely no civil survivors.

Actually, he had planned to make his escape right when the others engaged in a fight, wandering the hallways of what resembled a torture chamber rather than a laboratory.

On the walls were several instructions, about a serum that might cause a human to mutate if they were exposed to unbearable stress - pain being the most effective method, apparently.

Yet instead of finding anything useful for his personal gain, he found you: A  beautiful woman, yet emaciated and lying in a puddle of her own blood. At first he thought you to be dead just like the others - but as soon as your faint whimpers drang to his ears, he burst the cell you were trapped in open, rushing to your side immediately.

“Shh...” the god scooped you up from the cold stone floor, wrapping his cloak around your broken body. “Everything is alright now. Your savior is here.”

Loki gasped as he felt your hand stroking his cheekbone, even through all your pain and weakness wanting to bid your hero this due respect.

“Hel...you humans are such fragile creatures...” Loki muttered under his breath, cursing his own lack of talent when it came to casting healing spells. “Hang in there, look at me!”

Your eyes were teary and bloodshot, yet not less fit to bring across a message no words ever could: Incredible gratitude, and admiration.

He could tell you were close to passing out when your hand left his face, falling limp to the side. But he held you firmly in his arms, not once stopping to utter sweet words of encouragement as he made his way to the ship, leading you into safety.

“Your world in the balance, and you bargain for one man?”

Those were the words he once directed at Black Widow - but only now he understood her attempts.

Saving one person could never make up for all the lives he had destroyed - and yet he knew that for you, it would mean the world none the less.

In one way or another, with your life at his mercy, he began to finally grasp the preciousness of life, and doing everything in one’s might to protect it.

“Reindeer Games” Tony tapped on his shoulders, making Loki wake from his pondering. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t scare her away on the first day already.”

Oh.

Just now he was noticing his own grim expression, having towered over your much smaller form this whole time with furrowed brows.

“My apologies” was his firm response, but you only shook your head, trying to tell him it was not a big deal.

So this was what you looked like when you’re not imprisoned, he realized when he took in your physique.

Much to his pleasure, all of your wounds had seemingly healed, and you finally gained some much needed weight. Like this, you looked so much more healthier - and most definetly even more bewitching than he remembered you.

If people had let him know, would he have visited your sickbed, aiding you towards health again? Who knows...

Yet somehow, he dwelled in the thought of you being able to lead a happy life now that you were free - which made your decision to seek out the Avengers in wish for more battles even harder for him to accept.

“You are incredibly strong, Lady Y/N” Loki spoke firmly, everyone else rolling their eyes at his usual exaggeration - but you knew he meant every word. “Be sure of my eternal respect.” 

The God of Lies’ eyes widened in excitement when you directed a warm smile at him, knowing for sure that this one was genuine. It wasn’t like those fake smirks the other Avengers gave him out of politeness, or the mocking laughs when they were making fun of or excluding him.

No - that one was just pure affection. And it left him in awe.

“Thank you for saving me back then” you signed, just for Loki shooting you a puzzled look.

“What, I thought the all-tongue knows every language?” Tony yelled, as inconsiderate as always. Thor was quick to explain on his brother’s stead, him still being deeply invested with you. “Every spoken one, yes. ASL is not one of our fortes.”

Usually, Loki had always been a quick thinker. But right now he was to bewildered by your appearance that thinking straight was out of the question.  

What language were they speaking of? And why have you not been saying anything up until now? Maybe his presence was making you uncomfortable, after all? Should he leave on your behalf?

To make it easier for him to understand, you rolled down your turtleneck, revealing the unsighty scar that covered your whole throat.

There were not many people bold enough to come close to the God of Mischief without warning, yet suddenly you simply took his hand and slowly led it to your neck.

How could you be so naive and offer someone like him such a vital spot?! He’ll never get the human philosophy...

And yet, the flabbergasted god hesistantly let his hand run over the scar, while you opened your mouth to no avail - for 11 months already, no tone would leave your vocal cords.

“I’m incredibly sorry...” Loki whispered with a sorrowful tone, while the others just stared in disbelief. “If only I was able to heal this wound back then...”

What a puny god he was...and an even more pathetic wanna-be-hero at that...

He would try to take a few steps back, but you took a hold of his hand, squeezing it with both of yours, that cheerful smile not faltering in the slightest.

“Please, don’t be sad. I’m only alive thanks to you!” Bucky, whose cousin was mute as well, translated what you were signing for Loki. His tone sounded quite irritated, not fitting those meaningful words. “I only wanted to join the Avengers because I want to be just like you. You’re my idol!”

Those words touched him deeply, igniting a flame inside of him he thought long to be defunct. Was it hope?

Of course it was not nearly enough to pull him out of that deep, dark hole he felt trapped in for as long as he could remember - yet somehow, he now felt that it was not impossible to escape.

While the others were cringing at your declaration, making jokes about ‘choosing wrong idols’ or would plainly not believe Loki to have a positive effect on anyone, the two of you would just stare at each other in silent admiration.

Shyly, you signed yet another word for him - and this time, Loki would know what you mean from pure intuition. 

He smiled.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Loki was able to smile again, just thanks to your heartwarming welcome. And he was still blissfully unaware about what effect you could have on him, if he was brave enough to let you close.

One thing was sure: You literally had him wrapped around his finger from the very start.

#Loki #Loki x Reader #Loki x You #Loki Odinson #Loki Laufeyson #Loki Friggason #Oneshot #Self Insert #Marvel #Disney #Fluff #Fem! Reader #God of Mischief #Loki / Reader