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#he is a+ protag material
monieggz · 4 months
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The new scott pilgrim basically did the Metal Gear Solid 2 twist
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no1ryomafan · 5 months
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Forgot to mention awhile ago I started Big O-ITS GOOD-and this is something that hasn’t been touched on yet but is that the robot is sentient, which got me thinking about why this aspect is appealing to me in mecha context pasts “already preferring robots with sentience to begin with”.
There is something both intriguing and horrifying about the idea this giant man made machine your piloting that cannot speak at all is still technically aware. It doesn’t have a free will per-say as it needs you, its pilot, to operate it, to make it move and fight, but it still has its own thoughts and feelings. And whether or not this sentience means anything to humanity-if it freaks out other people, if it means anything for the general scale of evolution and the future as technology continues to grow-you still have the duty to pilot this robot because there’s no other way to eliminate the enemies, and only you can do it. Even if you didn’t choose to, the robot needs you as much as you need it.
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linagram · 1 year
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[𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚜𝚊𝚔𝚒 𝚊𝚒𝚖𝚒'𝚜 𝚝𝟷 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊] 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛
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writing her vd was kinda hard tbh.. i'm still trying to figure out what i want her character to be like, at first she was supposed to be, like, a cute and cheerful girl who is also kinda creepy, but here she's more.. quiet, i guess? i like her vd a lot though! i actually got chills while writing the last sentence and one thing she says to eiji
also, after this vd i will post akio and aimi's interrogation! so again, you can send them questions if you want!
(divider link)
Aimi: ♪~
(door opens)
Miki: S-sorry for being late!.. We, um.. had some problems to deal with..
Aimi: Ah, it's okay, don't worry about it! I haven't even noticed that you're late actually.
Aimi: May I ask what happened though?
Miki: Um, I'm not sure that I'm allowed-
Eiji: Akio passed out right after we extracted his song.
Miki: Eiji-san, you're gonna scare her!
Aimi: Oh, really? Is he okay?
Miki: Y-yeah, it just turned out that he was, um.. m-more "fragile" than we thought.
Eiji: He's just weak, that's all.
Eiji: I don't think it happened because of the machine, he most likely just had some health problems before he even came here.
Eiji: Or he just knew that we will vote him guilty and got too scared, haha.
Aimi: I see..
Miki: But don't worry, I'm sure you're gonna be fine after we extract your song!
Miki: At least I hope so..
Eiji: Anyway, enough about that guy.
Eiji: So, Prisoner 002, Hanasaki Aimi. 16 years old, first year of high school, just like Prisoner 001.
Eiji: By the way, what do you think about him? Prisoner 009 is also still in high school, if I'm not wrong.
Aimi: Hm.. Akio-kun is a good guy! I can tell that he's.. well, not the most friendly person, but I'm sure that he just needs some time to get used to this place and other prisoners!
Aimi: And Kuroki-san is so nice to me! He treats me well and he always listens to me no matter what I say..
Aimi: Overall, I like this place a lot! I'm having so much fun with everyone!
Miki: You're surprisingly relaxed for a situation like this..
Aimi: Well, this is just some kind of game, isn't it? Oh, maybe this is a theme park or something like that? I've never been in a prison-themed park though..
Eiji: *sighs* When will you all accept that this is a real thing and you can actually die if we vote you guilty?
Miki: D-DIE?? Eiji-san, they won't actually get executed, right? RIGHT??
Aimi: Die, huh..
Aimi: Well, it's not like I mind.
Miki: .. What?
Aimi: If it means that I won't be executed alone and other prisoners will be with me too..
Aimi: I would be happy to die with my best friends by my side.
Eiji: ...
Miki: ...
Aimi: Ah, sorry for scaring you like this! Please, ask me anything you want. I will answer as honestly as I can.
Eiji: .. Right. So, about your crime.
Eiji: I'm looking at you right now and I'm trying to figure out what you did.
Eiji: .. You sure have a lot of injuries.
Aimi: Haha, yes, I do.
Aimi: I'm just a little bit clumsy, that's all.
Eiji: We just started and you're already lying.
Aimi: Huh?
Eiji: You got these injuries because of someone else and not because of your own clumsiness, didn't you?
Aimi: ...
Aimi: Haha.. Speaking from experience, Guard-san?
Eiji: !
Eiji: You-
Aimi: Sorry, sorry. It's just that you also look like you had to go through a lot.
Eiji: How.. HOW DARE YOU?!
Miki: Eiji-san, stop! She's already hurt, don't make it worse for her!
Eiji: .. Fine.
Eiji: (to Aimi) Give me your hairclip. The candy-shaped one.
Aimi: W-why do you need it?
Eiji: If I can't punish you physically, I'll just do it this way.
Eiji: And something is telling me this hairclip is important to you.
Aimi: .. W-well, if Guard-san says so..
Aimi: I would be okay with getting beaten though.
Miki: Eiji-san, please, leave her alone!
Eiji: SHE CAN'T JUST GO "OH, I WONDER WHY YOU HAVE TO WEAR ALL THESE BANDAGES"!
Miki: .. P-please, just give him the hairclip, Aimi-chan. You don't deserve to get hurt even more.
Aimi: !..
Aimi: "Aimi-chan"..
Aimi: I've never been called that before..
Aimi: Okay! Here, have my hairclip, Guard-san!
Eiji: ...
Eiji: You gave it to the wrong guard.
Miki: Why did you-
Aimi: Because you wouldn't look good with it, Guard 001-san!
Eiji: You did it just because she was nicer to you, didn't you?
Aimi: So, about my crime.
Eiji: Hey, don't ignore me!
Aimi: I.. can't tell you much about it. Sorry.
Miki: Why? Are you scared?
Aimi: Not really. I'm not scared at all actually.
Aimi: It's just that I'm not even sure if you can call it a crime.
Eiji: You're in Milgram and that means it is definitely a crime.
Eiji: And not just any crime, but murder.
Aimi: Murder..
Aimi: You're right. I did commit murder.
Eiji: I wonder who you killed though.
Eiji: .. Did you kill someone to get revenge on them?
Aimi: .. Haha, who knows.
Eiji: Was it one of your classmates?
Aimi: NO!
Miki: Aimi-chan??
Eiji: Finally, I was worried this interrogation will be boring.
Aimi: I was friends with all of my classmates! They loved me! We always had so much fun together!
Aimi: I.. I loved them.. I really did.. And they loved me..
Aimi: It.. It wasn't one of my classmates..
Eiji: .. Weird.
Aimi: What's weird?
Eiji: You see, sure, I can just say you killed someone because you were bullied and you wanted to get revenge on that person.
Eiji: Reminds me of that last prisoner.. But I doubt that he really was bullied, he was just mad that people loved someone more than him.
Eiji: But you just.. don't seem like that type of person.
Aimi: What do you mean by that?
Eiji: I can imagine you snapping and finally showing your bullies how angry you are at them, but something just doesn't add up.
Eiji: Did you notice it too, Guard 002?
Miki: No, I didn't.
Eiji: ...
Eiji: *sighs* Fine.
Eiji: In short, you're too weak to actually kill someone yourself.
Eiji: I can't think of anyone who could be your victim except your bullies, but again, you say that your classmates loved you.
Eiji: So that means you either killed someone from a different class or a different school..
Eiji: .. or someone helped you realize how bad your situation really is.
Eiji: Hey, Aimi..
Eiji: Did you also have an accomplice, just like Prisoner 001?
(bell rings, machinery sounds)
Eiji: I'm waiting for your answer.
Aimi: ...
Eiji: Aimi!
Miki: Eiji-san, she needs a minute-
Eiji: Prisoner 002, Aimi, sing your sins!
Aimi: I was told that it would be nice if they all just died.
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lorillee · 2 years
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cant wait for op's 2nd gen sequel, following hancock and luffys child, buffy, in two piece: buffy the vampire slayer
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saimotass · 2 years
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not to be contrarian and showing my whole anti-ouma ass here but i think a lot of ppl misinterpret ouma as a character in favor of making him their uwu soft boy seme that did nothing wrong.
ouma is not uncomfortable with lying to the group. ouma does not lie in order to help everyone around him (at least, not until around the end of chapter 4 going into chapter 5). ouma's lying is not meant to be a benefit to anyone else. ouma does not lie for noble reasons.
ouma is lying in order to stay alive. he is lying so that he can always have a leg up on everybody else. he lies so that he can win the game. he tells lies specifically for his own benefit, even if it costs everyone else their lives. and sometimes, he lies simply because he sees it as a fun distraction and a way to confuse everyone.
there is no nobler strategy for ouma when he lies to people. he's not lying so that he can save everyone else. he's not lying because he's scared for the others.
kokichi ouma lies because he's scared for himself and himself alone.
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realboutfatalfury · 9 months
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i love eternal punishment it sure was a game to go through (😭) although if they made jun the protag instead of maya i think i would explode one billion times.
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runemyth0 · 1 year
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Poor Guel. He was only in two scenes in episode 6, one of which had him getting evicted and the other was just a reaction shot of the fight between Elan and Suletta. I hope he’s having fun camping. It’s only a matter of time until Earth House adopts him.
On a unrelated/related note: interesting that Guel’s brother doesn’t have the Jeturk surname. I don’t usually go all in on surnames (take whatever name you want), but in this series’ system of corpo-feudalism I feel like it’s notable.
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dreadblades · 4 months
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In regards to the thing I just rb'd I will also note that the MK95 and MK22 movies were both pretty good
Though I will also note that it's no accident that the victors so far in terms of "vg movies everyone agrees are good", are so far classic nostalgic game properties and an indie game
Properties that are more adult-oriented, even slightly, kiiind of have a bit more of an uphill battle since they have to balance lore that may or may not be very goofy with an adult tone in a context where said adults may not be very receptive to goofiness
#again mk pulled it off but warcraft fell flat on its face#rampage and uncharted had I think? basically nothing to do with their respective source materials#rampage completely changed its backstory but to be fair I don't think anyone actually cares that much about its lore#though admittedly its original explanation for its american kaiju is more interesting and less cliché than what we got#uncharted I've never played a single game but from vibes alone it seems like a very in-name-only adaptation considering they got#'notice me sempai' mcu spidey to play a protag whom I assume originally was more dad-aged#going off the box art for the games#and he does not pull off the character he's supposed to be going for honestly#warcraft has a lot of good stuff about it (good enough that it got me to get into the mmo)#but the first 20 minutes are a mess#and everything with the alliance is boring as balls#except for garona#paula patton kills it as garona#the drama around her and her loyalties and her desires absolutely fuckin steal the show#at least when it finally pays off#but ultimately the warcraft movie was way too serious and that's why it didn't work#but that's a common problem for a lot of warcraft's adaptations/supplementary media#I know the RE movies are ... questionable as adaptations#from what I know about RE in general really#I had fun with apocalypse but I also get the feeling that the OC original character do not steal is not supposed to take as much screentime#as she does#Street Fighter I'm told was actually a good adaptation as well#Definitely That One Scene is very good#kinda goofy as it is#I defend the original SMB movie but it's definitely very flawed and its reputation isn't wholly undeserved#and in fact I think it's now swung around to being *too* forgiven for its flaws after the new one came out#I have a lot of Thots abt video game movies
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2dami2furious · 4 months
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I never got ppl complaining about comic Miguel being ugly
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87foxeninaboxen · 1 year
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my sole interest in p5x was seeing if Goro would be included with the Phantom Thieves and he is not so
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sleepinghypnos · 1 month
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Female Idol/s x Named Character
(You can insert yourself as the Protag…)
Tags: Smut
Genre: Threesome (Kinda?), Rough Sex, Dirty Talk, Female Idol x Named Character (Reader), Cum swallowing, Facial.
Red Velvet Joy & Wendy x Han Jin-woo (Protagonist.)
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3rd Person’s POV
Han Jin-woo is a mixed, his mother was pure Korean while his father is Italian-American, His parents decided to live in Korea. He was just 12 years old when his whole world came crashing down. His parents, who were his only family, died in a tragic car accident. Suddenly, he found himself alone and without anyone to turn to.
As an orphan, Han Jin-woo was living with their family’s butler in his house. The butler gave Han Jin-woo knowledge he has to know about his parent’s inheritance. Despite the difficult circumstances, he refused to let his past define him. He was determined to become successful and create a better life for himself.
At the age of 18, Jin-woo received a large inheritance from his parents' estate. Most people would have squandered the money on material possessions and luxuries, but Jin-woo had bigger plans. He used the money to start his own business.
With his sharp business acumen and natural leadership skills, Jin-woo's company quickly became one of the most successful in South Korea. By the age of 26, he was the CEO of a powerful company.
Due to his interest in the Entertainment Industry. He had a vision to merge two of the biggest entertainment companies in South Korea, JYP and SM, under one umbrella company. Many thought it was an impossible task, but Jin-woo was determined to make it happen. JYP and SM Entertainment are both facing a huge crisis due to staff negligence, improper management, and backlashes about the songs they produce for their idols. This is the key for Han Jin-woo to devour the entertainment giants.
Through months of intense negotiations and strategic planning, Jin-woo managed to bring JYP and SM together under one company called Deicide Entertainment. The newly formed company became an overnight success, dominating the entertainment industry with its wide range of talents and production capabilities. Jin-woo's name became synonymous with success and his company became a force to be reckoned with.
Not only did Han Jin-woo successfully merge the two companies, but he also revitalized the dying image of idols in JYP and SM, then turn Deicide Entertainment into a multi-faceted media conglomerate that now produces music, dramas, films, and manages some of the biggest names in the industry.
Apart from his business acumen, Han Jin-woo's towering height, chiseled features, and fit physique have also made him a heartthrob in the entertainment industry. His striking looks coupled with his success have made him a desirable figure, and it is no secret that he has had his fair share of romantic encounters. In a society where the personal lives of public figures are heavily scrutinized, Han Jin-woo's sexual activities have sparked controversy and gained him a reputation among his colleagues. However, he remains unapologetic and believes that his personal life has no bearing on his professional capabilities.
2nd Person’s POV (Named Character)
You step into the dimly lit dance practice room, the scent of sweat and determination filling your senses. As the CEO of Deicide Entertainment, you had often visited this place to check in on your artists and make sure everything was running smoothly. Today, you were specifically here to see Red Velvet and their upcoming comeback.
At 28 years old, you had already achieved great success in the entertainment industry. Your company was known for its innovative ideas and with the merging of JYP and SM Entertainment had taken the industry by storm. You were a force to be reckoned with, both in the boardroom and the bedroom.
As you enter the room, you spot the girls of Red Velvet practicing their choreography. They were your top girls, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and excitement at the sight of them. But your focus quickly shifted to two members in particular, Son Seung-wan, or as the world knows her as Wendy and Park Sooyoung also known as Joy.
Wendy was known for her powerful vocals and graceful dancing, but in that moment, all you could see was her glistening with sweat as she moved to the music. Joy on the other hand has seductive voice and charismatic aura. They stopped dancing and took a break. And as if sensing your gaze on them, they greeted you together with the other members.
You couldn't resist any longer, your desire for her taking over. You walk towards to the two people that caught your attention, ignoring the startled looks of the other members.
“Follow me, both of you.” You said and greeted the other members of Red Velvet, the two girls followed you to your office.
“Lock the door.” You calmly said and Joy immediately locked it, you wrap your hands on Wendy.
Wendy doesn't resist, her hands instinctively finding their way to your neck, pulling you down for a passionate kiss. The smell of her sweat and the sound of her breathless moans only fueling your desire. You press her up against the glass window wall in your office, your hands roaming over her body hungrily.
With a smirk, you lean down and whisper in Wendy's ear, “Why don't you suck my cock, Wendy?”
Without any hesitation, Wendy kneels down in front of you, unzipping your pants and pulling out your throbbing shaft. Her eyes widen at the sight of it, “the rumors about you really is true.” Wendy said and she bites her lip in excitement. She wraps her soft lips around your girthy 12 inch cock, sucking and licking it with expert skill.
You groan in pleasure as Wendy's hot mouth engulfs you, her tongue swirling around your head while Joy watches from behind her. When Wendy pulls back for air, Joy takes her place, eagerly taking your cock in her mouth and deep-throating it. They take turns pleasing you, choking and gagging on your massive cock as they moan in ecstasy.
As you reach your peak, Wendy and Joy playfully fight over who gets to swallow your load. In the end, they both get a taste, as you have obscene amount of load, their faces are half-covered and mouths are full, you can't help but chuckle at their competitive nature. As they clean you up.
“Joy, lie on the couch and spread your legs.” And before she knew it, she was lying on the couch with her legs spread, while you knelt in front of her. Joy felt her face flush with embarrassment, but also a sense of excitement.
You wasted no time, as you eagerly began to perform oral pleasure on Joy. Joy couldn't help but let out a loud moan as your skilled tongue worked its magic on her. She had never experienced anything like this before, and it was driving her wild.
As Joy moaned and writhed on the couch, Wendy could only watch in arousal. She wanted to join but she couldn't deny the intense desire that was building up inside her as she watch her group member enjoys herself.
After a few minutes, you pulled away from Joy, leaving her gasping for air, she reached her peak and now quivering. You set your eyes on Wendy, she aroused and horny, since you are generous, she also get the oral pleasure she deserves. Now both of the idols were wasted just by your tongue alone.
But before Joy could even catch her breath for a little longer, you positioned Joy in all fours, she wasn’t ready to take you inside of her. Being considerate, you slowly entered her, and Joy couldn't help but cry out in ecstasy. Wendy's eyes widened in shock as she watched how your cock entered Joy’s pussy.
Your thrusts became faster and more intense, and Joy couldn't contain her pleasure any longer. She was moaning loudly, screaming your name as she reached her peak. “Yes! F-fuck! Fill me, please fill me up! Breed me until I’m bloated.” You followed soon after, both of you collapsing onto the couch in a state of pure bliss. Filling Joy’s womb with your virile seeds.
Wendy is waiting for her turn patiently, you can’t let a woman wait and you lead her to the carpeted floor and she willingly lies down. You look at her, admiring how perfect she looks. You start to undress your top.
As soon as your bodies connect, you feel a shockwave of pleasure course through your entire body. You start to penetrate her slowly, taking your time to make her adjust to your size. Wendy's moans fill the room, and you can't get enough of her. You increase your pace, and she starts to become a wreck under your touch. She loses control, and all that is left is sheer ecstasy.
You are thrusting in and out, letting her feel your weight and muscular physique against her petite body.
The sounds of skin slapping against skin fill the air, along with Wendy's moans and gasps. You can feel her reaching her peak, and with one last powerful thrust, she squirts, making you both gasp in surprise.
“I didn't know you could squirt,” you say, while caressing her face.
“I didn't think I could do it either,” she replies, panting. “I'm filling you up just like what I did to Joy,” you say, referring to one of Red Velvet's other member lying on the couch just happily watching.
Wendy nods, surrendering to the pleasure you are giving her. You continue to pound into her, pushing her to the edge over and over again. As you feel your own release approaching, you thrust deeper and came inside of her filling her to the brim. You pull out and watch as your cum flows out of her.
Joy eagerly uses her mouth to catch it all, making you groan in satisfaction, she shared the cum she collected to Wendy by kissing one another.
“Relay my message to Irene after you met with your co-members later.” You said to the girls still kissing. But they nodded because they already knew what the massage was. It’s Irene’s turn…
A/N: I don't know what to write so here, sorry for ghosting those who wants the continuation of the Bodyguard Series.
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miramelindamusings · 11 months
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A bunch of sketches for the protag!kairi au! These are ideas and sketches that have been sitting on my computer that I’ve finally gotten an opportunity to clean up :) Tarzan is an interesting first world in KH and in terms of the AU I think perhaps Kairi could relate to Tarzan in someways. And I still like the idea that Kairi would still be working on the lucky charm or something happens to it that she needs to use materials from other worlds to fix/finish it. The others are more brainstorming for Riku and now Sora. I just can’t see Sora sitting doing nothing after he wakes up and so I think he would pester Leon into teaching him or, if he’s stuck in Traverse Town after the crew goes to Hollow Bastion, he’d take it upon himself to learn something about gummi ships and travel! He’d want to do as much as he can to help Kairi and save Riku! So, some sketches of him hanging out at the accessory shop and with Geppetto :)
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galedekarios · 5 months
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the netherese orb: consequences for gale and his connection to magic
i wrote a post a while ago focusing on the physical ailments that the orb was causing gale, and i had a really interesting exchange with another user on it:
@dark-videogamer: I just noticed it myself, which for me implies that as the orb is consuming his weave, his life essence, it's also refusing to allow that part of the body to properly heal, like he's always internally bleeding or it's infected. (at least in my opinion) which makes me wonder how irreparable the damage is there. @galedekarios: i actually do have a post coming up on that! i want to focus on what the orb does to his magical ability in that post because i focused more on the physical aspect here. of course, they sort of go hand in hand for a wizard to a certain degree, but there are a few hints in the game. anyhow, sorry for rambling! i very much agree with you! it's def either is still consuming gale's own gifts and i think that's a reality he has to face after it's removed.
so this further inspired because i actually wanted to use this opportunity to look at how the orb might be affecting gale's magic / casting ability.
general stuff & how the physical impairments affect the casting of spells
first off, i want to note that both of these are of course intrinsically linked, not least of all because the orb is affecting everything a caster class needs to cast spells:
-general biological deterioration -muscle spasms -ringing in the ears -disorientation -concentration issues -varying levels of physical discomfort / pain
aside from the obvious things that would impair a caster (deterioriation, disorientation, pain, discomfort), concentration is incredibly important to maintain a spell. muscle spasms, too, would absolutely interfere with the somatic component of a spell:
The somatic component was a basic part of spellcasting. Many spells required the caster to make a motion to cast the spell. If the caster was unable to make the correct motion, the spell could not be cast.
i could add more here, of course, but i think it's fairly obvious how all of these mix together into something that would leave a wizard defenseless, and again, gale admits as much, too:
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player: i fail to see why you need me to help you this. you’ve done fine without me so far. gale: A fair point - however, until recently I was able to rely on a supply of artefacts stored in my tower in Waterdeep. A supply that has now run dry. The reality of the matter is that a lone wizard with a chronic impairment such as my own is not in the most ideal of situations with regards to self-defence. The manner of artefacts I need are not often found waiting patiently on a shop-keep’s shelf. One usually has to lift them delicately from trap-filled tombs or prise them from the hands of violent ne'erdowells.
the orb
but what consequences did the orb itself have?
we have several lines in the game, where characters are surprised that the orb didn't outright kill gale. gale himself knows this and the imagery we get when gale opens his mind to the protag and shares his story is incredibly violent:
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the orb didn't kill him outright and it was a miracle that it didn't, both gale and mystra acknowledge this in-game.
but it left him incredibly weakened and with a condition that could still kill him if left untreated, as well as those around him.
what it did do instantly, however, is that it did consume his gifts.
again, both gale and mystra acknowledge this in-game:
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Gale: Is that why you lied to me about the Crown of Karsus? Self-preservation? Mystra: My concern was the preservation of everything. The Karsite Weave could tear apart the very fabric of the Material Plane. That it entered your body and consumed no more than your powers was a miracle. But we will not be granted another. The only reason the 'orb' sleeps is because I have allowed it to feed on the true Weave - a temporary measure, but one that will not be enough to save us.
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Gale: It sounds like the door to redemption is open at last. All I have to do is walk through it, carrying the Crown of Karsus. Player: Is that what you want? Gale: Perhaps. I see few other options open to me, if I ever want to reclaim those parts of myself the orb snatched away. If I ever want to be me again. Player: We're going to cure you Gale: Thank you. There aren't many I'd trust to stand beside me on such a journey. Fewer still who would do so because they believe I deserve such a chance.
so what are these gifts that were consumed exactly?
in early access, there used to be a scene with gale in act i that was commonly known as the loss scene, where he would be found in camp, cursing as he tries to cast a spell that he was once able to:
Gale: Khat-Tsjin Deth-Thra! Tav [Wizard]: That was a failed spell if ever I heard one.  Gale: Failure. You'd think I'd be used to it by now. It’s getting late. I think I’ll turn in. Perhaps some sleep will do me good. Tav: Is something wrong? Gale: Let’s just say not all is right. But that goes for all of us. Tav [Wizard]: I didn't recognize your hand gestures. What spell were you trying to cast? Gale: A bygone spell from a bygone age. It doesn't matter. Tav [weave romantic]: Come, you know I care about you. I showed you when we shared that spell [CHECK wizard] Gale: So you did. Very wel. Just now, I was trying to cast a spell I once cast with ease, but I failed. You see, this fire – there was a time that I could make it come alive. That it would take the shape of a dragon and roar in delight. There was a time I could silence a Beholder with a word, and lift a tower from its foundations with a flourish. There was a time I was all but one with the Weave. But no more – a mere shadow of the wizard I used to be. Why? Because I’ve lost. Tav: I don’t understand. What is it that you’ve lost? Gale: I’ve lost… Tav: [Insight] Go on. Every burden is easier to carry when shared. Gale: An apt enough observation.  I've... lost... Mystra. I sought to impress her personally. Tav: Another fool pays for his arrogance. A tale as old as time. Gale: Arrogance? Ambition, rather. And ambition is a fine thing – until suddenly it no longer is. Then again, if that is how you judge me, there’s little I can do to change your mind. But know that I have this ambition still. First to save myself, and after that, the licence to dream. (Gale Disapproval)
this insight in just how great the magnitude of his loss in power as a wizard and, intrinsically linked to that, his ability as a wizard is entirely absent in the full release of the game.
while we do know that he was an archmage and we also know that he was a chosen of mystra, with all the gifts that may have entailed, we only get a very vague mention of the lost gifts and gale being a former shadow of who he used to be.
abilities of the chosen of mystra include:
Chosen of Mystra gained many benefits from her blessing. They held a greater command over spell, being able to cast even the highest tiers repeatedly. Doing so, however, was not encouraged by Azuth and Mystra (Midnight), as it required repeatedly tapping upon the weave. They also became more familiar with magic and able to detect its presence. In addition, many also developed immunities to magic, and eventually even immunities to disease and poison. They become much more hardy, showing a toughness uncharacteristic of most mages. Mystra's Chosen were also immune to the deleterious effects from the casting and wearing of a mantle: they suffered no loss of health or the removal of spells from their minds upon the raising of a mantle or the cumulative daily requirement of the spell. The Chosen also wielded silver fire, a unique raw magic that conjured a silvery flame with a variety of functions.
[source]
other interesting bits and pieces:
Chosen age, albeit slowly, and as they age their power becomes closer to equivalent level mortal wizards. They can steal bodies to prolong their lifespan, but if they choose not to they eventually die and return to the Weave until Mystra makes them a new body. Chosen still have access to Silver Fire and can manipulate their hair freely. Mystra has imposed restrictions on magic in some cases, such as making it physically painful to read minds. This applies to using weave-work to communicate long distance with 'regular' humans. Chosen have the ability to communicate to the weave-ghosts of other Chosen as well as living Chosen, but rarely seek to interrupt the lives of each other. Laeral can speak across distance with Storm, Alustriel and even Halaster. Chosen still don't need to sleep, but do need to enter Reverie to replenish their energy.
[source]
again, this is all not really mentioned in the game and it's sad because again, it adds a lot of context to gale as a character. the most that is hinted at, i believe, is elminster's incredibly long lifespan of several hundreds of years.
conclusion / consequences of removing the orb
this is just speculation on my part, so feel free to ignore this completely.
apart from the chronic ailments, we know from the arcane hunger status that the orb feeds on gale's very soul and that both gale and mystra acknowledge that the orb has consumed already gale's greatest gifts as a wizard.
we also know that tara and gale were not able to figure out immediately how to treat the orb after gale was afflicted by it. it was tara, who in their combined research, figured it out and it took them some time to do so.
on top of that, we know that gale had to live without said treatment for a while since he no longer had any magical items to consume and, in fact, i speculated it's a part of the reason why he may have left waterdeep behind and was captured on the nautiloid.
all this time, the orb was left with nothing to consume, with nothing to feed on, except what was within gale to give and the orb is ever-hungry.
i feel like this surely would have consequences even after the orb is rendered inert and then, later, implied to be removed by mystra:
one of the sadder outcomes could very well be that his ability to cast spells is permanently diminished or entirely cut off.
Thus comes the question: what is the Weave? It is an essential element of the universe. It runs through everything in unseen threads. It is what makes magic possible. — Excerpt from Magic of the Weave - An Introduction.
with the orb inside of him, left untreated for long intervals, it may have consumed a lot of gale's own weave, something that runs through all living souls, his ability to cast magic might be even smaller and weaker than now.
at best, it will take him some time after the game to recover, back home in waterdeep, with tara, with morena and a romanced protag and new friends.
at worst, and, with the knowledge that the orb consumed so much upon first entering his body, it may also be a possibility that gale could be stripped of magic entirely, but that's quite a cruel fate for him, someone who says that magic is their life.
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olderthannetfic · 4 months
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anon, I see your "making things in fic american due to lack of research" and I raise you:
writing a modern!AU for a source material with no connection whatsoever to the US, that inexplicably fully takes place in the us, except the author failed to mention this in any of the tags because apparently modern au means America 🤪
I had to find out mid fic when the protag said he had to drive to the next state over to visit his family for thanksgiving
*eye twitch*
--
The college AUs are especially hilarious because half the authors don't realize.
They're setting it in Generic Setting Land, but you can tell in an instant that this is the US and the millions of obvious tells just never occurred to them, from exactly how weed is talked about to whether there are fraternities to how degree programs are structured.
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lakesbian · 1 month
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this post ewingstan linked is actually a rare alec analysis post i hadnt actually seen before...i'm not super familiar with YA novel formulas but it got me thinking. i do think you could probably argue that he's a subversion of certain tropes re YA romance in the sense of..
he's a mysterious prettyboy who meets the main character girl & is immediately affectionately teasing of her
he has general proclivity for sarcasm and Clever Wit
he has a tragic Dark Past that explains his Questionable Decisionmaking...
...the most notable of which is done in the name of getting revenge for the girl main character because he cares about her
(also, there are multiple points during the part where she's new to the team where he's the only one willing to Be Real with her about explaining a topic all of the other undersiders want to avoid discussing)
like, that's all fairly tropey, right? that's a common type of love interest for a ya protag girl to become obsessed with. and yet:
taylor explicitly notes that he's not her type
taylor finds the teasing and sarcasm annoying and frankly doesnt think hes funny
they do not ever become close because they're incompatible types of people
taylor is not particularly swayed by his Tragic Dark Past and actually is actively fairly ungenerous to him about it in a way that lends her genuine personality
his Questionable Decisionmaking and bullshittery isn't portrayed as attractive, nor is it portrayed as endearing when he hurts someone else in her name against her explicit wishes--it's portrayed as horrifying, unprecedented, and dangerously maladjusted. the sadness of it is conveyed in more of a "god, the cycle of abuse is awful" way than in a "woah....his deep tortured misunderstood soul" way
like it's kind of a win how all of these things that would make him love interest material in most YA lit don't change that he is just sort of Irrelevant to taylor. or actively cause his irrelevancy. actually. it's not the most blatant subversion in worm but i think there is something there
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analviel · 6 months
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I see a lot of examination and discussion of how Shen Jiu had the setting/backstory of a protagonist, could've been a protagonist if not for a twist of fate, and in a way his shape is still a protagonist when SY literally piloted his body- but not. (I think we all get hung up a lot bcs he didn't become protag like he deserves but he also didn't become a full on villain, who's still a protag of his own story, but just a scum villain because of the misunderstanding, somewhere along the way something happened and held him back in that in-between place, unable to tip over completely one way or another.)
It's often brought up that he's undergone his own blackening into a scum villain and I think about that a lot, but you know, his settings never actually trailed off too far from the protagonist setting, with the 'from the lowest to the highest' template- idk if that makes sense, but anyways, I of course have read more than my fair share of fix-its, but often, if not always, it's a time travel scenario.
But WHAT IF:
But what if Shen Jiu, rather than swallowing the shards of Xuan Su, uses it to cut himself free of the immortal binding ropes or whatever is stopping his qi. Which is not LBH's parasite blood I don't think they have that ability but whatever. I mean, you'd ask how would he, without arms and legs, escape? A nifty thing we're all familiar with called author's will.
A time when LBH is away to deal with one thing or another, and SJ, after years of lifeless staring, and even more lifeless staring in the aftermath of YQY's death, moves. The thing about not attempting to escape for a long, long time, is that people lower their guards and grows complacent, and it's not as if there's anyone checking up on him to see if he's eating meals or whatever, LBH is more than happy to get suggestions from his wives for torture ideas but was very controlling of who gets to inflict it (Xuan Su was just left there and he did manage to swallow it). So Shen Jiu, with only Xuan Su's blade and it's inherent property as a spirit sword, not even an active one which means on one hand there's no active qi in it but the latent one from its materials, and on the other hand it's not bound to anyone and was more malleable, whatever. ANYWAYS. Skip.
Shen Jiu knowing of one thing or another, or several things that's a combination of common healing theory, rarer healing practices, less than righteous surgery techniques, equals bastardized body repair and ends with him frankensteining himself with some shaky qi threads. The needle is a piece of Xuan Su. He doesn't blink bcs his pain receptors are no more.
Scenario A.) I want SJ to play the 'mysterious wandering protag with a mysterious dark past and a mission for vengeance', only wanting to kill LBH before planning to retire from existance himself and he goes with his cool and angsty scarred body that he'd DIY'ed. The blood parasites are solved by something ruthlessly self-destructive only someone with SJ's coldness and lack of actual desire to continue breathing would do without even some initial testing. This would be done quick and dirty to keep LBH from teacking him. OR/AND
Scenario B.) I say or-slash-and because the scenario A could be cut off or maybe they could be combined. The handy dandy sun and moon dew!!! Plant it, grow it, kill himself, and recover his full potential all those years ago! Of course this would take quite a while, so he might need scenario A anyways. And conveniently enough, it puts him in the path of....... dun dun dun ZUZHI-LANG!!! And TLJ by proxy. Allies get! Maybe! Because TLJ wants to kill the sects, right? But his son did it here for him, so maybe he wouldn't bother anymore. Or maybe it's not enough bcs he hadn't killed all of everyone, so let daddy fix that right up. Or/and, LBH feels threatened and threatens in proper blackened protg manner and TLJ threatens back and flat out stomps him.
So. Maybe!
To expand on the rest of the Jianghu, the other 4 Peak Lords we know are alive, SQH, QQQ, WQW, and MQF. Bcs we don't have definite details on the timeline of PIDW, we can conveniently fill in space, put a lot of cause and effect, the cultivator world is in an uproar by the reveal that LBH is a demon (it's not as if they were okay with that, duh, if they'd known he was a demon, SJ's actions would've been treated as the only logical thing to do) and YQY is dead, AND SQH is a traitor, so that's down two - or rather three with SQQ- influential people, two of which were heavily involved in how everything is run (SQQ, while not actually lazy in his cultivation, was indeed lazy and unmotivated in most tasks that involved coordinating with others).
I really don't think SJ would feel even a little bit betrayed by SQH. To be betrayed you have to trust first, and his whole thing was that he never trusted anyone from CQMS. For SJ, SQH didn't betray them so much as his loyalty just belonged to another. Still would kill the rat next time he sees him tho (spoiler alert, he doesn't, kill him that is, but he does see him eventually).
So, I'm of the belief that Airplane's drafts included the Peak Lords as big boss too, where TLJ is the big boss of the demonic realm, they're the ones for the cultivation world, and my headcanon is that they were purposely met with sudden deaths one way or another in PIDW, and none actually died in a straight up fight, which is on brand with LQG's deviation, SQQ's trial, and YQY's thousand arrows (that I say are one of those bullshit golden finger artifacts of PIDW, maybe something like 'heavenly damned arrows of a thousand rays' that always flies true to it's target and could seal rare level pokemon rip-offs beasts for every single one. No reason that they would be normal p arrows, really). SQH might have fought or just been completely taken off guard by his lord killing him out of the blue with no chance to wriggle out. But Like QQQ was backstabbed. WQW was poisoned. MQF sacrificed himself for a beloved disciple (and that's why WQW died because he set out to find his martial brother but didn't know he'd already died. Awww).
(connected to another headcanon, the other five unnamed Peak Lords died long ago in the first battle against TLJ when he was sealed)
These people were meant to be a team. Or at least a set.
So SJ goes on an epic quest of getting power to kill his Qi-ge's killer via sun and moon dew possibly while he gets his tactician brain creating up something to kill LBH (OP characters are not killed in straight up fights, as we've learned, they're tricked or betrayed) and accidentally finding and gathering his siblings who, at that point, happen to have become guardians of havens and refuge communities in pockets of the world that holds the remnants of cultivator and human realm, where the demonic forces have spread far and wide in every realm. It's initially written to later, eventually be conquered by LBH. For example there's a hidden cave passage that leads you to Mu Qingfang's hidey hole, a pocket dimension with much rural fantasy aesthetic, housing parients and normal mortals with farms and houses woven to giant trees. Wei Qingwei is found underground creating weapons and defenses day in and day out to source to QQQ and MQF. Qi Qingqi with her armies always on the move, squads spread out in the realms, resisting against the demonic forces, helping Mu Qingfang rescue stragglers, from her old fairycore ensemble shifting to dragoncore, rarely resting with her inedia in the hollow of a mountain.
(xianxia aesthetic, whimsical aesthetic, aesthetic aesthetic aesthetic!!!!!!!!).
They..... Well. It's an awkward reunion.
SJ was shocked to meet the first lord sibling he'd seen since his imprisonment, shown only by a slight widened eyes, but emotions quickly gone. His first words is, "Do you wnat to kill the beast?"
He didn't care about the answer, if they said yes, then alright, if they said no, then he'd just walk away.
They say yes. Every one.
So, the rest really depends on how you interpret his relationship with them before the trial.
A). Was it a case of it's exactly what it looked like and they oh so very righteously hated him and he hated them back, a bunch of misunderstandings and not-so misunderstandings building up?
B). Did they have mutual respect and mutual awareness that everyone in the room they hold their PL meetings in were assholes of different flavors? Did they expect Shen Jiu to save himself in the trials, was dissapointed when he didn't but since he didn't give any indication of wanting to be saved, shrugged their shoulders and left him to his life, as they have always poked and snided at each other but always kept away from actually interfering with their lives (no matter how evil they thought the others were, because they may be evil, but they were still siblings and that just meant they had evil martial siblings. Love morally dubious group of PL but still ride and die)?
C). Or maybe they actually had a good relationship consisting of a lot of sharp teasing and reckless verbal and physical lashing and tantrums that you can really only get away with to your siblings, but was twisted by outside perpective?
And, on the way, maybe he learns to form relationships properly, with people that he loved nothing like the all-consuming soul twisting and mutually hurtful and destructive way he dedicated everything to Yue Qingyuan (from his loyalty to his shrivelled love and every hurtful words).
Just. Friends. Family. Siblings.
Imagine SJ eventually wandering off, with a burnt down Peak that would never again beholden him to promises, broken and otherwise. Grieving, yes, but somehow at peace than he'd ever been in. A very long time?
Ming Fan, who'd perhaps been in Qi Qingqi's Fairy Haven (of course that's the name, we've got a theme people) that was the group that consisted of people that bayed for the Emperor's blood or just the more active cultivators (with GYX mayhaps), a loyal disciple reunited with his Shizun. Or mayne he'd been the one to have found SJ as a human stick and helped him get spare body parts.
I imagine in this world, once Luo Binghe is... out of the picture, one way or another, busy dying or busy having an appropriately dramatic amnesia arc for him to develop character development, NYY takes over as the Empress, with her court of demoness and humans, and Harems becomes synonymous to Council. LMY her right hand helping keep everyone in line, who are also partially managed by SHL, who weighted her options and pros and cons and found establishing her position as left hand pretty good for now. The rest can come later. Imagine NYY growing up, not in brute strength bcs that wasn't how she was taught, nor is it her strength, but perhaps in a way that SJ would idly wonder if perhaps he should've endorsed her to Qiong Ding. Not all harem members stay of course, and some had to die. Ning YingYing becomes the First Empress of the age of peace in the unified two realms and first order of business is secure her influence. Second is ban slaves. Third is to encourage a tentative cooperation between humans and demons.
(Additional note: LBH having a protagonist halo doesn't make him unkillable, the death just has to meet several requirements, like being suitably glorious and impactful, and also maybe tragic- ehem killed by his own father or shizun, and seeing his washerwoman mother at his last moments. The protagonist is just another tool to set up the story and evidently, genre change is not impossible.)
(I imagine a confrontation between SJ and LMY early on that goes along the lines of SJ saying, "Wouldn't you know better than most, the thirst for vengeance for a brother's death?)
What if SJ's fix-it comes after PIDW, you know. PIDW being his tragic backstory. A slave who climbed so high despite the past clinging heavy on his shoulders, and then falling down lower than he'd ever been and resolving his issues and then climbing back even higher with more stable footing.
Qiu Haitang, Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge, their Five Unnamed Martial Siblings, Luo Binghe- regrets, and triumphs, all part of his story to mull over whenever he reaches the top of random hills and sets out his tea set. It's a bittersweet plot I like thinking about.
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