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#this game is short and fun and also free on steam
a-simple-imagine · 3 months
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That Warm Christmas Feeling
Synopsis: Your spending the holidays with Jordan but you wake up feeling hot…
Pairing: Jordan Li x fem!reader
Words: 1k+
A/N - Happy holidays my lovelies. I woke up feeling absolutely awful which sucks but here’s a little gift. It's short and messy but enjoy.
WARNINGS - swearing
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a blanket of white snow paved the way for joyful celebration and family festivities. the festive season had been deep in your bones since late November. the cheesy Christmas movies. the bright flashing lights. and jolly old men in beards. you never cared much for the festive season by any means, it almost seemed like too much but you were making a conscious effort to try and enjoy it. you want the first holiday season together to feel even just a little special. you had been dragging them along to all kinds of festive events. you had been ice skating and drank hot chocolate. Christmas shopping around the markets. it was all just fun and games. the main event was to take place at their home. your first time meeting their parents. it seemed like such a big step for a rather new relationship but you weren’t against the idea. it would be fun.
a loud groan forces its way past your lips as you roll onto your back. a dull ache settles deep in your bones. a thick fog invades your head as your brain throbs. a blocked, tickly nose. great. you’re sick. on Christmas day of all days. you pull the covers up over your head to escape the sun peaking through the windows. couldn’t have picked a worse day. “good morning,” whispered in your ear. there’s an edge of excitement to their voice. their hand comes up to remove the duvet and reveal your less-than-pleased expression. You move away from them, burying your fave deeper into the pillow. “You good? I thought you'd be more excited. My parents have a full day planned, you're gonna love it.”
A pit of guilt or nausea grows in your stomach. You really wanna get up and enjoy the day but you also just wanna go back to sleep. “Please don't be mad,” you mumble against the fabric of the pillow.
“Why would I be mad?”
“I feel like shit,” you admit. “I think I'm sick.”
“Oh,” there's a pause that almost allows you to drift off again. “That's shit.”
“I’m sorry,”
“no no don’t be,” they reassure you. “You should stay in bed if you're not feeling up to it.”
“is that okay?” you ask quietly.
“Sure, they’ll understand. go back to sleep and I’ll check on you in a little bit, okay?” your only answer is a slow nod that pushes the fabric of the pillow roughly across your cheek. The door clicks shut and you drift off into sweet, sweet unconsciousness.
The time is a mystery when your eyes flicker open next. The world doesn't feel real as your head hammers with an uncertain pain. You sniffle as you fall onto your back. That's when you spot Jordan approaching with a steaming hot beverage in their hand. “How you feeling?” you just groan extra loudly emphasising just how awful you felt about the entire situation. “so good then yeah,” the bed dips beside you and he reaches over with a free hand to check your head. you don’t feel particularly hot so it probably wasn’t a fever. “Mom made you some tea, said it’d fix you right up but don’t feel like you have to.”
pushing up into a seated position, Jordan hands over a mug decorated with little Christmas trees and snowflakes. a heavy sigh leaves your lips. it really did feel like more effort than it was worth just sitting up straight. you take a cautious sip and warmth spills through your veins. “I feel like I ruined today,” you mumble into your cup. staring down at the swirling liquid. “I should have mentioned earlier.”
“you didn’t ruin anything,” Jordan expresses, a calming hand placed on your leg over the covers. “it’s not your fault you got sick.”
“I haven’t really felt great the last couple days but I thought it’d just go away.” you shrug, taking a much larger sip. “I really wanted to do Christmasy things with you. your parents probably think I’m awful.”
“They don’t think that,” they chuckle softly. “just focus on getting better and we can do Christmasy things tomorrow. they won’t mind.”
“thank you for the tea,” you reply handing back the drink.
“and besides,” he takes the drink back. “you’re giving me an excuse to get away from them. I need a break every now and then.“are you hungry?” you shake your head slowly. falling back down against the bed.
“tired.”
they just chuckle. “I’m gonna sit here a moment longer before I brace my parents again. just ignore me.”
the room is shrouded in darkness when Jordan enters once more. a crack of light filtering through the door. you don’t bother acknowledging them; just pull the thick duvet closer to your chest. a heavy sigh fills the air but it doesn’t come from you. the bed dips beside you. “are you awake?” they ask but you don’t bother answering. a silence a silence falls over the room as they shuffle about doing god only knows what. “I’m sorry you got sick,” Jordan speaks aloud. “I wish you could have spent the day with us. my parents can be a lot but they do go all out for Christmas… and I was looking forward to giving you your present,” their voice is quiet and you’re not sure if you should admit to being awake now. “my parents would have loved it. they’re already obsessed with you and they’re so happy I finally brought someone home. and I was gonna tell you I love you” After a moment you know they’re climbing into bed with you. an arm around your waist. you roll over to face them. “maybe tomorrow.”
“you’re gonna get sick,” mumbled out.
“I don’t mind,”
“Are you sure?”
“mhmm,” hummed softly and you don’t bother arguing. you just snuggle closer to his chest. they feel safe and comforting. a welcomed addition to your cosy domain. “I’m glad you’re here,”
“I’m glad you’re here,” you repeat against their chest. “and for what it’s worth. I… love you too.”
“you heard all that,” you don’t respond just shuffle further into his embrace. falling asleep to the sound of their heartbeat as a gentle kiss is pressed against your head.
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prokopetz · 2 years
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It might still be too early for this kind of question, but what have been your favorite video games you've played in 2022? :3c
Given what the release schedule over the next three months looks like, yeah, it's probably jumping the gun, but what the hell. I'm going to arbitrarily restrict my consideration to games actually published in 2022, or else we'd be here all week, though.
(I make no apologies for the high concentration of sequels on this list. I know what I like!)
Amber City is a spiritual sequel to 2017's Flood of Light, and its gameplay is in much the same vein, being an atmospheric walking sim with light point-and-click puzzle elements. If you enjoyed the idea of The Witness but wish the puzzles didn't hate you personally, this might not be a bad one to check out.
Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince isn't going to break any new ground for those who’ve played its predecessor, though it's somewhat more adventurous in its dungeon design; if you enjoy casual 2D Zelda-likes, you'll probably enjoy this. Fans of 1980s fantasy media may also get a kick out of its pop culture pastiche elements – let’s just say the narrator is definitely taking advantage of the fact that his grandkids have never seen Labyrinth!
COGEN: Sword of Rewind is a Mega Man Zero style hack-and-slash platformer that does one of the first interesting things I've seen in years with the time manipulation formula, essentially merging your "mess with time" gauge with your health bar. The damage-boost routing in the speedrun is something you need to see to believe.
Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils is a retro platformer from the makers of 2020's Zelda-like dating sim Prodigal. Comparisons to Celeste are, perhaps, unwarranted, as the mechanics are very different, but I felt something familiar in the role of momentum in its flow of play. Visually, it's incredibly pink, which is something I always appreciate in a game.
Dungeons of Dreadrock is a short logic puzzler that one could be forgiven for mistaking for an old-school roguelike at first glance. Each level is a set-piece that borrows from the conventions of the grid-based roguelike genre to create situations where only one sequence of actions leads to survival, and challenges the player to find it..
FAR: Changing Tides swaps Lone Sails' landship for, well, an actual ship. The engineering sim gameplay remains largely unchanged in spite of that. Some of its elaborations on the previous game's formula don't work as well as they might have, being challenging more due to the limitations of the physics engine than anything else, but the frustration factor wasn't high enough to ruin my fun.
A Game with a Kitty 1 & Darkside Adventures is me flagrantly breaking my own rules, since everything in this anthology actually came out in 2005–2008 – it's just the anthology itself that's a 2022 release; I'm mostly throwing it in because this list was otherwise light on free-to-play titles. It all held up remarkably well on a replay earlier this year, though.
Gunborg: Dark Matters is a run-and-gun precision platformer that seems to have flown entirely under the radar, having just 11 reviews on Steam at the time of this posting. I'm not sure why – I mean, it's got a great soundtrack, and you play as a woman with a sword the size of a surfboard. What else do you want?
Jack Move is a JRPG-style title that blends self-consciously silly 1980s cyberpunk with contemporary anime aesthetics. I have to confess that I'm cheating a bit by including this one, as it's been out for all of three days at the time of this posting, and is the only game on this list I haven't played; I have, however, followed its development for some time, and I've had a lot of fun with the various demos the dev team has put out over the years, so I'm confident in plugging it here.
Recursive Ruin takes a page from 2019's Manifold Garden and basically asks "what if it was super fucked up?" The recursion here is fractal rather than directional, with progress "inward" eventually leading right back where you started. The story is naturally pretentious as hell; whether that's a criticism is a matter of taste.
RUN: The World In-Between wears it Celeste influence on its sleeve, but really takes more from classic endless runners like Canabalt. The "procedural generation" is just the same dozen or so puzzles for each zone being strung together in various orders, and the story is thinner than the trailer makes it look, but if you're a fan of the "running from left to right set to awesome music" genre, you could do a lot worse.
Submerged: Hidden Depths picks up where 2015's Submerged left off. The gameplay is substantially similar, though with a heavier focus on exploration puzzles and fewer linear set-pieces. Even so, it's not exactly what I'd call challenging – it's better approached as a pretty walking sim with light parkour-puzzler elements.
System Purge is about as basic as it gets for a precision platformer. No fancy moves here: you run; you jump; you get your face melted off by a laser. There's actually quite a bit of blood and gore, which is something I rarely have the stomach for, but the game is short enough that the lurid bits don't overstay their welcome. Fair warning!
Taiji is... well, remember when I said Amber City is a good one to check out if you like the idea of the Witness but wish the puzzles didn't hate you? This is one to check out if you do enjoy it when the puzzles hate you. There's a lot here that will be familiar to fans of the latter, though the puzzles are somewhat more varied owing to the fact that colouring grids is a more flexible game mechanic than drawing lines.
Vain Ascendance is a a roguelite precision platformer whose art style and mechanics put me strongly in mind of 2018's Overclocked, though the dev teams are unrelated. When I've plugged this game in the past I've been teased that my obsession with games about red haired women who can air dash is showing, but this I must protest: her hair is purple.
As for unreleased games available in demo or early access versions that I've tried out in 2022, I'll keep it brief, since these aren't proper recs, but you might have a look at any of Dormiveglia, Garbage Girl Louise, Gigasword, Keylocker, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara, Little Witch in the Woods, Rebel Transmute, Rose & Locket, Ruin Valley, Shards of Gravity, Star Hearts: Launch Point, Undergrave, Venus Looks for Jupiter, Vermillion Descent or War Girl.
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moonshine-nightlight · 3 months
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2024 Writing - Plans
similar to last year, i wanted to post a little look forward at my plans for writing this year are. the necessary disclaimer: this is 100% high level, optimistic, ideal situation and subject to change but i still like thinking about it and posting for anyone who's interested. see this post for last years!
so, i like separating things out it mini goals/sections so see below:
Nothing's Wrong with Dale: with DSM self-published under my belt, I'd like to focus on the NWWD publishing journey next! The main obstacles/costs are time and money. Hiring an editor and a cover artist are the pricey-est part of the process but my own edit (first to convert everything from 2nd POV to 3rd POV and then another high-level edit/revise once i've got it in the right POV) will take the most time and needs to be done before i hand it over to an editor. Then after the editor takes their time (and NWWD is much longer than DSM), and finally i need to process all of their edits as well. And i need to do all of this while i do my day job lol.
i've already converted the first 11 chapters to 3rd POV (i hav some IRL friends/betas who only read that version, so if u feel like the tumblr version took a lot of time lol). the timing of being able to publish this year will all end up depending on how quickly i can do all that and kick off the part of the process that depends on outside parties. Even if i manage to self-publish in this year, i don't expect it to come out until lik December and even that's ideal, super best case scenario.
Long Stories: I want to outline both A Perfectly Ordinary Research Position and Shadow Diplomacy and then pick one to be the new long story on here. I do what i call a chapter outline and a scene outline, which is confusing to not!me because the scene = a chapter on here. i should probably rename that process lol. (NWWD was 11 'chapters' and 35 'scenes' for reference).
once i pick a project, i just hope to post as many chapters as i can. Since this will be new, long, and likely just building steam, i actually think it'll be my lower priority after the Short Stories and NWWD publishing, but we'll see. i'd like to start putting that up in June, according to my tentative 2024 schedule.
Short Stories: Since i didn't get as many of these done in 2023 and they've been haunting my brain longer, i want to for sure get some of these shorter stories done. learning from last years overestimation lol, i plan to post 3 short stories: Courtship Confusion, Feral, and finish Free Piano: Haunted, in that order. i'm excited about all these stories and will let me cover 3 different types of pairings (although technically all are Reader) which is fun. All have been outlined and have parts and pieces written. I wish Feral and FPH could both happen in the fall but the timing just doesnt work out so summers gonna b a little spooky lol.
The schedule i worked out makes it so all this will be possible, but also basically has no breaks in sunday postings after my haitus which is beyond optimistic but i lik to start overly confident lol
Hiatus: this is also your reminder that my work has a specific Busy Season which honestly started already (lucky me) and i will b beyond busy Jan-March at a minimum. i hav more projects than ever with my promotion, a lot to learn, and a lot to juggle so minimum 6 day work weeks will be the name of the game - but hopefully all goes well and i'll get a nice bonus i can feed directly to my editors lol
anyway, that's where i'm at right now and I'm looking forward to all the exciting writing and publishing to come in 2024!
Feel free to send in any asks about upcoming/current stories!
Thanks again for all your support in 2023 and Happy New Year!
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laxmiree · 3 months
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[CN] MLQC Season 2 Chapter 54 Translation (Lucien's Route - Part 1)
⚠️  SPOILER ALERT  ⚠️
This post contains a VERY HEAVY SPOILER for the chapter that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~
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"Speaking of which, if there's a beautiful dream, would you like to stay in it with me?"
"A beautiful dream? Is it the kind where I don't have to go to work every day?"
"More beautiful than that—it's a dream where we can always be by each other's side."
Translation under the cut!
Previous Lucien’s chapter -> [Here]
[Background Info]
Please read Lucien's previous chapter first before this chapter jnsnjsdjd. Lucien might feel OOC if you don't.
Long story short, although the world already diverted from its original path of heading toward destruction caused by a comet, now the world is ascending to the fourth dimension and the rifts are the manifestation of it. The boys' each route is basically how they deal with it.
About me dividing it into parts- the S2 Chapter 54 is FULLY translated and released at once. Just for fun, I divided it like this so you can also choose and get bad endings just like in-game~
[Chapter 54-1]
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In the office, I occasionally hear birds chirping outside as if they are singing in celebration of the arrival of a new day.
I type the last Enter key in the document, click the save button in the top left corner, and take a deep breath.
A client I've been pursuing for a long time finally showed interest in collaboration yesterday. However, they also presented additional requirements, requesting a draft proposal by noon today.
I'm working overtime with my colleagues, and we've finally put together a decent draft.
I asked Anna to send the document to the client's contact person and I massaged my sore shoulder.
Beside me, Kiki suddenly leans over and shakes her phone.
Kiki: Boss, I just discovered a hidden gem of a beverage shop! I heard their best-selling hot chocolate is especially delicious. Do you want to order takeout together?
MC: Sure, send me the link to check it out~
I open the store page, and the cover features promotional image of their best-selling drink. However, the packaging looks a bit familiar.
=Flashback Start=
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Lucien: On the way to your company just now, I happened to come across a newly opened beverage shop.
Lucien: The staff recommended this "Orange Hot Chocolate", and I thought it might be to your liking. Do you want to give it a try?
He hands a steaming paper cup into my hand and passes on his warm scent with it.
MC: Wow- it's delicious! It has the refreshing fragrance of oranges and is quite sweet. But I can't keep something this good all to myself~
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I raise the paper cup and bring it to him, Lucien bends his eyes to a smile and lowers his head. His hair gently falls amidst the dense steam and----
=Flashback Ends=
The sweet warmth from the memory gradually surfaces at the corner of my lips, and I shake my phone at Kiki.
MC: I'll pass for now; I suddenly remembered I have something to do and need to step out for a bit. Go ahead and order; it's on me!
As I speak, I walk towards the exit and pick up my phone to send a message to that person in my heart.
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MC: "Professor Lucien, are you still in? I'll come over now to see you~"
Lucien quickly replied with two voice messages, accompanied by a sticker of a little fox looking dizzy while doing experiments.
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Lucien: I just finished a task, now I'm pondering on how to capture a photo of the scenery outside the window that hints I miss you a bit.
Lucien: But I'm happy because you'll get to see it in person soon.
I reply to him with a smile while briskly walking in the direction of the beverage shop. I can't help but feel that this year's winter isn't as cold as it seems.
MC: Hello, give me two cups of "Orange Hot Chocolate," please.
Clerk: I'm sorry, but we just ran out of the ingredients for that beverage this morning. Can I offer you a different flavor instead?
MC: ...Oh, okay.
Feeling a bit disappointed, I point to the "Rich Winter Hot Chocolate" on the side of the menu.
MC: I'll go with this one.
The clerk starts preparing the drinks and hands me the two cups after a moment.
Clerk: Please be mindful of the cup's rim, it's hot.
MC: Okay, thank you.
I instinctively reach out, my gaze still fixed on the phone screen. With a muffled sound and liquid splashing in my peripheral vision, I abruptly snap back to reality.
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MC: ...Oops!
I frantically try to catch the fallen cups, but it's too late.
The newly changed shirt takes the brunt of it, and the little mochi* beside me isn't spared either, now adorned with unsightly brown stains.
[T/N: The little mochi is a keychain that Lucien gave to MC in the last chapter]
MC: …..
Frustration and speechlessness well up within me. I impatiently grab tissues to wipe it, but the effect is minimal.
So, I quickly ran to the restroom, wetting the stained areas with water. Despite my persistent efforts, hot water successfully turned a few drops of chocolate stains into a large light brown patch.
Looking at my disheveled reflection in the mirror, I take a deep breath.
Forget it, who cares! Lucien won't mind anyway. Thinking so, I hastily walk out, only to be tripped suddenly—
I manage to grab onto the wall, preventing the third mishap of the day.
MC: ….
Why does it feel like I've been a bit unlucky since leaving the office...
Suppressing my dismay, I push open the shop door, and the cold wind hits me as the wet clothes turn stiff.
Without thinking, I quicken my pace. Let's just walk faster, get there a bit sooner, and see the person who can soothe all my irritations.
Fortunately, the way to the Bioscience Research Institute is smooth.
The elevator carries me up, and when the door opens, a somewhat familiar voice reaches my ears.
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??: ...So, you want to activate it again.
It's Cyril's voice... How could he be here? I freeze when I see Lucien standing in the corridor not far away from Cyril.
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Lucien: This is a necessary step to obtain the results.
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Cyril: May we both achieve the worlds we each desire.
Cyril says this as he walks past Lucien towards the direction of the elevator. When our eyes meet, his cold gaze blinks, seemingly surprised.
Cyril: Didn't expect to see you here.
MC: ...Shouldn't I be saying that?
I can't help but make a sarcastic remark, but Cyril doesn't answer my question. Instead, he takes another step in my direction and speaks calmly.
Cyril: Have you made a decision about the matter I asked you last time?
Our conversation in the jewelry store flashes through my mind. I look into his clear eyes and shake my head.
MC: I still need time to consider.
MC: After all, the world in the dream is false. If there's another solution, I don't want to choose this method.
Cyril nods, his expression as calm as ever.
Cyril: I understand.
Cyril: But if you delay further, you might fall behind.
Fall behind... what does he mean?
I'm slightly taken aback. Before I can ask, Cyril has naturally walked past me.
His slender figure, accompanied by unhurried footsteps, quickly disappears into the elevator.
MC: Why does he never make things clear...
I glance back from Cyril's departing figure, and when I look up, I see Lucien walking towards me.
His gaze inevitably falls on the large stain on my clothes, then slowly moves to my face.
I thought he might ask what happened or say something comforting, but he just smiles lightly and speaks.
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Lucien: I smell the scent of hot chocolate, but it's different from the previous one.
I blink in surprise. It’s as if the earlier worries have suddenly dissipated and I take a step closer to him.
MC: It's the Rich Winter Hot Chocolate~ from the same shop as the "Orange Hot Chocolate" you brought last time.
I open the bag, watching as Lucien takes out one cup and uses his other hand to push open the office door.
Meanwhile, a researcher comes out from behind the door. As they pass each other, Lucien's hand holding the cup inadvertently shakes a little.
The cup tilts ever so slightly, and a few drops of hot chocolate splash onto his cuff.
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Lucien: Hmm... This is troublesome.
He walks into the office and fixes the glasses on the bridge of his nose in a slightly distressed manner.
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Lucien: I'm not very good at dealing with these stains. Can you help me think of a solution?
He says it quite seriously as if facing a challenging problem. I can't help but laugh, feeling a softness in my heart.
The little thoughts I keep to myself never need to be explicitly stated; this person always understands them.
MC: Of course. But I just learned from personal experience that you shouldn't use hot water.
MC: Unexpectedly, both Professor Lucien and I are getting a bit of chocolate "favor" today.
Lucien: Hearing MC say that makes this small trouble seem kind of cute.
We exchange smiles, and he raises the cup, gently tapping it against the one in my hand.
Lucien: So, before dealing with it, let's toast to these cute little troubles today.
-
[Chapter 54-3]
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Following Lucien's footsteps, we enter the laboratory deep in the corridor. Unlike the usual laboratories filled with the smell of disinfectant, the air here is surprisingly fresh.
Lucien skillfully takes several bottles of reagents from the shelf and places them on the table.
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Lucien: If you want to deal with stubborn hot chocolate stains, there are actually many methods.
Lucien: The reagents in front of us can all address our current predicament at a molecular level.
MC: But using them to clean up little chocolate spills, wouldn't that be a bit wasteful?
Lucien: How about considering it as conducting a fun little chemistry experiment?
His words create a cascade of ripples in my heart, and I can't help but laugh, pretending to roll up my sleeves and stand up straight.
MC: Well then, Professor, please give me instructions~
The transparent bottles and jars in the laboratory reflect the cold light from the overhead lamp.
Under Lucien's guidance, I pour the reagents into the beaker, submerging the little mochi treated as the "experimental subject".
Its originally dull fluff becomes damp, and soon, a faint color begins to emerge.
MC: It works quickly!
Lucien: After all, it hasn't been stained for a long time. As long as we target the lipid-soluble pigments appropriately, solving it is not difficult.
After confirming the results, we also took care of the clothes stained with the hot chocolate spills.
I inadvertently turn my head and see a few scattered experiment documents on the nearby table.
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MC: "The possibility of transferring perception through neural links"... Is this your recent research direction?
Lucien's gaze sweeps over the proposal, placing the stirring rod on the dark rubber tabletop.
Lucien: It's... a kind of unexpected gain.
Lucien: In a recent neuroscience experiment, we discovered a similar phenomenon, but it has been temporarily set aside for now.
My gaze lingers on the obscure experiment documents for a moment, then turns to Lucien's composed face.
Thinking about my recent overwhelming matters, I can't help but let out a "sob".
MC: Darn it, how come I don't have a brain that can multitask problems like yours...
I mutter wearily, and Lucien immediately strokes my head.
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Lucien: (chuckle) It seems there is indeed a challenging problem troubling our Great Producer.
MC: Absolutely, a super-sized problem!
MC: I need to absorb some of Professor Lucien's intelligence energy to make my thoughts clearer too.
I rest my head on his shoulder, rubbing against it, and hear a soft laugh by my ear.
Lucien turns towards me, pulling me into his embrace.
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Lucien: If that's the case, then you can absorb a bit more.
I "hmm" in agreement, and after a moment, I lift my head, looking at Lucien with a feigned look of grievance.
MC: Professor Lucien is so cooperative; he doesn't think I'm silly, does he?
Lucien is slightly surprised. He places a hand on his lips, his voice carrying a clear sense of amusement.
Lucien: Miss Producer, if you think like that, you're unfairly judging me.
Lucien: What I meant is, there's still a troublesome future waiting for us.
I lock eyes with Lucien for a moment, only then realizing he's referring to the troubles we faced in the rift before.
Being captured in the glass chamber in NW, the chaotic escape during the pursuit... scenes after scenes flash before my eyes.
After a moment of silence, I let out a deep sigh.
MC: Oh no, let's just not talk about this for now. Let me be an ostrich a little longer...
MC: Dealing with the troubles at hand is already more than enough for me to handle.
I suddenly pause in my words, realizing something.
MC: Lucien, what if there are other troubles in the world at that time point? Would NW not have the time to deal with me?
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Lucien: For example?
MC: For example... I recently saw a terrifying vision.
MC: Our world will face countless disasters in the future, and everyone's lives will be in ruins.
Thinking about those devastating scenes, my voice unintentionally carries a hint of gravity.
Lucien: Is this what has been troubling you these days?
I nod with a hint of distress.
MC: I really want to find a solution, but I have no clue where to start.
MC: How could these disasters suddenly happen out of nowhere? I always feel like there's a missing key link in the middle.
The steady breath falls by my ears, Lucien seems to be thinking seriously, and after a moment, he speaks.
Lucien: Perhaps I can help you find that link.
I instinctively look up, inquiring with a hint of surprise.
MC: Do you already have an idea so quickly?
Lucien: Because the question you mentioned aligns perfectly with my previous hypothesis.
Lucien: Let's go, I'll take you to the laboratory.
The quiet corridor echoes with our footsteps. After turning several corners, we arrive at the entrance of a hidden laboratory.
Lucien raises his hand and enters something on the keyboard on the wall. Accompanied by a series of beeps, the massive door slowly opens before us.
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After passing through several rows of intricate instruments, a wall of glass comes into view, enclosing a white, sealed space.
A rift silently stretches across a corner, its edges faintly shimmering. I observe for a moment, then hesitantly speak.
MC: Why do I feel like the shape of this rift is somewhat familiar?
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Lucien: Because a few months ago*, we used it to enter NW.
[T/N: refer to what happened in the previous chapter]
MC: It's been so long, and it hasn't closed yet?
I murmur in surprise, but thinking about the recent influx of submissions regarding the prolonged duration of the rift, I decide not to inquire further.
Just out of curiosity, I turn my head and look at Lucien beside me.
MC: Is there a specific reason it was deliberately moved here?
Lucien: No, it just has an unusually long duration, no different from other regular rifts.
MC: So, do I need to do anything? Should I use CORE to close it like before?
With my previous experience, this doesn't seem like a challenging issue for me. However, Lucien shakes his head.
He then picks up a small glass orb-shaped device from the lab bench.
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Lucien: This time, our goal is not elimination but addition.
MC: Addition? It can't be as simple as figuring out 1 + 1 equals 2 to find the crucial link, can it?
I blink with a bit of confusion, but Lucien doesn't seem inclined to provide further explanation, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Seeing him deliberately keeping me in suspense, I clear my throat and pout, then take the device from his palm.
MC: Alright, I'll listen to your explanation later~
I exhale deeply, invoking that familiar power within me once again.
The device in my hand trembles slightly. I lift my head seemingly in response. I look expectantly at the rift behind the glass.
The next moment, it suddenly enlarges before my eyes.
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[Chapter 54-5]
The rift expands without any warning, like a wound suddenly torn open, stretching out before me and Lucien.
I pause for a moment, unable to help but softly exclaim, "Wow," swiftly turning my head to look at Lucien.
MC: Lucien, its area expanded so much in just an instant!
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Lucien: Well, it seems our "addition" has worked.
Lucien: With this, perhaps the link you're looking for will soon appear.
As Lucien speaks, his inky eyes slightly narrow, there's a hint of cunning in his voice.
I lock eyes with him for a moment, unrelentingly leaning closer to him.
MC: No more teasing! What's the connection between this experiment and the "critical link"?
Lucien takes the instrument from my hand and places it back on the lab table, looking at me with an unhurried look.
Lucien: This experiment shows that the impact of CORE on the rift is actually bidirectional.
Lucien: Apart from closing, it can also trigger the expansion of the rift.
I contemplate his words for a moment, then ask with a hint of confusion.
MC: But what happens after the rift expands?
Lucien: The change in area is just the most apparent manifestation. In reality, the energy within the rift is also expanding.
Lucien: Once it surpasses a certain critical point, it spontaneously seeks a more suitable "outlet", no longer manifesting catastrophically.
Lucien: This way, the situation you're concerned about won't occur.
[T/N: Not gonna lie, I'm not sure how to explain this one except that it's similar to how the stars turn into a supergiant and then white dwarf once it runs out of fuel lol. Or once the rift is big enough it'll let go of the energy less chaotically. Anyway, it's just sci-fi don't think about it too deeply]
The question that had troubled me for a long time was resolved so casually. I blink my eyes, feeling a bit surreal.
MC: ...Is it really that simple?
Lucien: The essence of this issue is not as complicated as it may seem.
Lucien: But if the lady wishes for a more convoluted approach, I can certainly give it a try.
MC: No need! I trust Professor Lucien's discovery, of course~
The heavy gloom that shrouded my heart finally reveals a glimmer of hope. My tone lightens involuntarily, and with a touch of anticipation, I speak.
MC: What do we need to do next? I'll do everything I can to help~
Lucien's gaze shifts to the window, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. He changes out of his research attire and opens his mouth with a light smile.
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Lucien: I do have an invitation.
Lucien: Next, let's go and see the snow.
After a simple drying process, I hold the small mochi keychain that has regained its fluffiness and whiteness. I follow Lucien down the stairs with light steps. As we step out of the Bioscience Research Institute, I blink in surprise.
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Countless delicate snowflakes silently dance in the air—this year's first snow has arrived so quietly.
The snowflakes gently blanket everything around in pristine white.
I can't help but raise my hand, catching a few falling snowflakes. Lucien looks at me, and his eyes seem to soften a bit.
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Lucien: You look particularly happy.
MC: Of course~ I've been looking forward to a scene like this for a very long time.
MC: This time last year, I was running around in a time loop, searching for dark matter...
MC: There was never enough time, and I never had the mood to stop and appreciate this scenery.
MC: Until spring arrived, we never had the chance to quietly watch the snow together.
He tightens his grip on my hand. Lucien seems to follow my lead, tilting his head upward, quietly gazing in the direction of the falling snow.
A few delicate snowflakes land on his eyelashes, softly melting away without a sound.
Through the warm night, I hear his gentle voice.
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Lucien: (softly) Perhaps… this belated snowfall is a gift for us now.
The fine snowflakes soften the features of the person before my eyes.
As the snow gradually intensifies, pure white flakes float down from the distant sky, quietly tinting the boundless night in serenity.
Reluctant to part with such fervent snowfall, we return to the car.
Lucien casually turns on the radio, and light music immediately fills the car. Accompanied by the swirling snow outside, it feels like a scene from a crystal ball.
I rest my head on Lucien's shoulder, gently rubbing against it, unable to help but murmur with emotion.
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MC: So beautiful... it's like a dream.
The sounds of the evening breeze wafting in through the window crack resembled a delicate and subtle white noise. The fatigue from staying up all night last night gradually surfaces.
The phone screen lights up for a moment, and the digital clock shows eight in the evening. I let out a gentle yawn.
MC: I can't believe I'm tired at this hour... blame it on the recent excessive overtime.
Lucien shifted, allowing me to lean more securely on him, and he spoke in a gentle tone.
Lucien: (in a very, very gentle tone) Have you been tired lately?
I nod and lazily begin counting with the fingers resting on my knee.
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MC: I'm exhausted... there's a ton of tasks at work to push through, and I also need to figure out how to save the world.
MC: It either keeps me tossing and turning in insomnia or gives me a night full of nightmares.
Lucien: (gently) What kind of nightmares are you having?
I vaguely recall for a moment and make an exaggerated gesture.
MC: I've been snatched away by a dinosaur this big—
MC: And I've been flattened by this many project proposals—
MC: But you know~ After waking up, as long as I see the messages you send me, all those dinosaurs, all those project proposals, seems like nothing!
Lucien: (chuckle) Mm... I've had that kind of dream too. I wonder if the dinosaur that snatched us is the same one.
Lucien gently squeezes my hand, a hint of uncontrollable laughter in his voice.
I imagine the scene and can't help but burst into laughter as well.
Lucien: (laughs softly) Silly, next time, come knock on my door before you get snatched away by a dinosaur.
The snow outside falls gently, and Lucien speaks amidst the delicate melody.
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Lucien: (murmur softly) Speaking of which, if there's a beautiful dream, would you like to stay in it with me?
MC: A beautiful dream? Is it the kind where I don't have to go to work every day?
Lucien: More beautiful than that—it's a dream where we can always be by each other's side.
MC: If there's such a thing I'm willing to dream it for eight lifetimes!
A low chuckle comes from above my head. His voice quietly melts into the night breeze, sounding like a casual sigh.
Lucien: What if I say, I hope never to wake up from this dream with you?
MC: That sounds good too. As long as I'm with you, anywhere is fine…
I blink my heavy eyelids and hear a soft laugh beside my ear. A warmth covers my eyes that I find a bit hard to open.
Lucien: (whispers gently) Get some sleep.
Lucien: I'll make sure to wake you up.
—--------------------------------------------------------
Winter seems to have truly arrived after that night's first snowfall.
With the dropping temperatures, a layer of frost forms on the branches along the river and roadsides. The news on the streets gradually shifts to reports about snow and cold prevention.
I pull my gaze away from the lengthy red light outside the car window and engage the handbrake.
The rift continues to quietly spread, casting shadows of various sizes throughout the city.
However, for some reason, the popularity of news related to the rift is steadily decreasing, and the submissions on this topic are dwindling.
Perhaps people have become completely accustomed to these rifts. Despite some lingering confusion, I do feel a sense of relief.
The green light in the middle of the road lights up, and I put away my phone. After turning a few corners, a spacious bridge suddenly appears before me.
...Strange, there were so many cars just a moment ago. How did it suddenly become so empty?
A hint of confusion creeps in as I carefully survey the surroundings, finding nothing unusual.
As I drive onto the bridge, I suddenly feel the wheels slipping. I instinctively hit the brakes, but the road in the rearview mirror shows no signs of anomalies.
Just as I fall into bewilderment, the throttle gauge on the dashboard spins violently.
The tires emit a harsh, squeaking sound as they uncontrollably move forward.
MC: What's happening...?
Before I can grasp the situation, there's a distinctly audible sound of shattering beneath the car. The next second, the car suddenly plummets.
MC: ....!
I struggle to push open the car door, but the resistance of the water turns my efforts into futility.
No matter how hard I pound and shove, the door remains steadfast. Only the icy water keeps pouring in through the window crack.
The air inside the car diminishes, and I strain to tilt my head upward, closing my eyes in a somewhat desperate attempt.
The world before me gradually fades into darkness.
Next Part-> [Here]
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wauzmons · 4 months
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We did it! Elysian Eclipse reached 20,000 wishlists on Steam today and to celebrate we're holding the third official community contest, giving you the opportunity to immortalize your ideas in EE!
In the last contest you could design your own biomes. This time it is the Adventure Art Contest, themed around quests and events!
How it works:
You have to create an artwork, showcasing an activity with an objective for cell stage or aquatic stage. You could for example draw a microbe attacking another microbe with the objective being "kill 10 microbes". However you would certainly lose with that submission.
Quests could for example spawn objects into the world or alter existing environments. This can be pretty much anything you want. For example hives of a parasitic species could spawn all over the ocean floor and you have to destroy them. Or let's take an existing artwork by Rookie Cookie as example:
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This would work fine as a submission, with the objective simply being "interact with x protein clumps". You can of course also come up with more complex mechanics. If you have an idea and you think it's too complicated, feel free to message me about it beforehand.
How to submit your art:
Discord: Post your artwork in the #ee-concept-art channel with a short description. Invite link
Tumblr: Post your artwork under the "#elysian eclipse contest" tag with a short description. You can also @ me in the post.
You have time until the 3rd December to submit your entries. A few days later I will choose 3 cell stage and 3 aquatic stage winners, who will get their quest / event implemented into the game.
NEW DEADLINE: 10th December
The rules:
Any type of visual media is allowed, including 3D models!
You are allowed to work together with other people!
You can submit as many entries as you like, but quality is more important than quantity!
No, you can't submit entries on Reddit. Honestly, fuck you, if you are still supporting that platform.
Everything has to be done by yourself. That means no AI art!
Have fun and good luck!
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amethystfairy1 · 4 months
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Hello and welcome to...
✨Amethyst's Scribbling Corner✨
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Also known as "I wanna practice writing short/get new ideas and this seems like fun, and I'm curious to see where it goes so let's give it a shot."
I've always wanted to try writing prompts/requests for the sake of trying new things and stretching my writing style a bit, it's always seemed like a ton of fun. I participated *cough* am participating almost done 😭 *cough* in Whumptober for the first time this year, and recently with TTSBC and Traveling Thieves, as well as this blog picking up steam, I figured it was a good time to give it a try!
SO HERE'S THE DEAL
Once a week(ish I promise nothing my brain is a pinball machine with a bunch of AUs and fandoms slamming into each other like demented bumper cars) I will make a poll tagged 'Amethysts Scribbling Corner' and I'll put in the poll a handful of requests/prompts that I've either dug up on my own or that I've received from anyone who would like to send one in! Whichever prompt wins the poll, I'll write it and post it! I'll probably make a new series on my A03 account just for fics that come out of this titled 'Amethysts Scribbling Corner' as well!
Use reblogs, replies, asks, messages, I'm not picky!
They can be as broad as a simple one-word prompt, or you can even give a brief description of a couple sentences!
Requests for certain ships or characters are encouraged for sure! Just know I'm more likely to use the ones that're for ships I already write for...but I mean...looks at TTSBC notes...there's plenty to choose from!
Also feel free to submit asks or requests for other fandoms, I'm currently living my best Hermit/Traffic/Empires fanfic gremlin life, but I've also written a ton for Haikyuu and Jojos, if those interest anyone! Pretty much any fandom that I've posted for on my A03 account is fair game!
Last thing: Feel free to request where you want the fic to take place! Especially when we're taking Hermit/Traffic/Empires stuff, if you want it to be within the Minecraft server world of that specific series, within a certain one of the Life Series, a modern AU, a fantasy AU, or even TTSBC or Traveling Thieves if you have ideas for them! Just know that if anything requested for TTSBC or Traveling Thieves contradicts or maybe overlaps with any future plans for those AUs, I might not be able to accept them 😓
As far as rules go...I do not write NSFW. I am happy to write romance and let things get a little spicy 🔥 but keep in mind I'll always end up fading to black...also no heavy gore, violence, body horror, things of that nature. I am very much a fan of writing whump and hurt/comfort though, so please send those ideas my way!
I think that's all...I hope for this to be something fun to give me a way to try out some new things in my writing and give everyone who has so kindly supported my stories so far something fun to engage with!
Requests are open now! Reply to this post, reblog, or send me asks or messages! I'm excited to see what we end up creating together!
💖💖💖
TL:DR: I'm opening prompt requests for short writing/short story practice! Rules in the post above!
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oxean-et-al · 6 months
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A "brief" review of Submachine: Legacy
So, Submachine: Legacy was released yesterday, and I beat it about an hour ago, after just over nine hours of playing.
Review in brief: I liked it. It was good. It feels like a fitting send-off to the Submachine series (or this first phase of it, at least), though I won't go quite so far as to call it a "definitive edition" of the games.
Of course, there's more to my thoughts than that, hence the rest of this post. This review will be spoiler-free, though given the nature of the games there's not much to spoil. I'll also be assuming you have no idea what I'm talking about, so first, a quick history lesson.
The Submachine series is a series of (initially) Flash-based puzzle games produced by the Polish game developer and artist Mateusz Skutnik, consisting of 10 games in the 'main' series, released between 2005 and 2015, as well as 3 'spin-off' games, and one 'non-game experience,' for lack of a better term; this last item was also the final Submachine-related work to be released (or, in this case, finalized), being declared finished in December of 2017.
The first game, retroactively titled Submachine 1: The Basement, was, at its core, one of many 'escape the room'-style flash games, which abounded on sites like ArmorGames, Newgrounds, and Kongregate at the time.
However, as the series went on, the barest breadcrumbs of lore in the first game grew into a great web of narrative, held together by notes from multiple different (and sometimes unreliable) authors, and the games transitioned from being mere escape rooms into a unique form of puzzle game, held aloft by Skutnik's masterful hand-drawn environments, which benefit from his training as an architect.
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I mean just look at that.
With the death of Flash, the availability of the games diminished greatly, available only through purchase on Skutnik's website, or via large collections such as Flashpoint Infinity. The 'non-game experience' I mentioned earlier, Submachine Universe, remained available through itch.io as well.
But now, nearly six years later, comes Submachine: Legacy, a remaster/re-release of all prior works in the Submachine series, available on Steam.
So, with all that preamble out of the way, my thoughts.
Submachine: Legacy is, ultimately, just the original Submachine games bundled together into one program, with some graphical updates here and there. But it's not merely the same games as before; there have been some changes and additions.
On the UI side, your cursor lights up when hovering over an interactable object, which makes looking for things much easier. The cursor also indicates where you can exit a room, and (in some cases) which item to use in a given context (hammer, karma water, etc.) That's a fairly simple change which I think makes the games much better, and more fun to play.
There are short sections linking the main games, or "chapters," which are quite nice. Also very nice are the detailed landscapes now viewable through some windows and telescopes.
There are a few changes I am slightly less enthused by, though. Submachine: Legacy, to my surprise, incorporates most (possibly all) of Submachine Universe; however, presumably due to reasons of copyright, the multiple user-submitted theories that festooned the walls of every room have been replaced by architectural sketches.
Likewise, some of the puzzles have been simplified. In some cases this is perhaps warranted, such as with the rotating wheels puzzle (I'm not really sure what to call it) near the end of Submachine 2: The Lighthouse. In other cases, however, I think it makes the series lose a small amount of its charm - I am specifically thinking of how the pieces of silverware that are used in some of the earlier games as makeshift wires, bridging broken electrical connections, have been replaced by new power relay items. These are both fairly minor changes, but they did disappoint me just the smallest amount.
The only changes that I had a distinctly negative impression of were in sound design. Specifically, both the 'item picked up' sound effect and (especially) the 'electrical connection made' sound effect went on for far too long, and, in the latter case, was rather overused.
It's for these reasons that I can't quite call Submachine: Legacy a 'definitive' edition of the games, though it does come close, and I would recommend it for newcomers to the series (the price, for reference, is $25)
Submachine: Legacy also has new content for the long-time Submachine player (which, let's face it, is likely to be most of the player base), involving over a dozen monoliths scattered throughout the games, and a genuinely brilliant new puzzle. For the sake of a spoiler free-review, I'll say no more, though do note that (I think) it is possible to accidentally reset the monoliths, so be cautious.
Submachine has been a major factor in my life, and this feels like a fitting send-off to (this part of) the series, and I eagerly await the next installment in the series.
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p0orbaby · 2 years
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Milk and Honey
Summary - After a long day, the Queen asks for your help to unwind.
Warnings - Allusions to sex, Brief nipple play
Authors notes - Something small to get my royal juices flowing. Original request here
Word count - 1.4k
Navigation | Natasha Romanoff Masterlist
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The sun was barely above the horizon. Golden and honey like as it poured through the solar windows with a laziness of the final mooring of a ship that spent its life at sea. It was that blissful time of day right before sleep when you let your body deflate and expel the tension of the waking hours. Unfurling the responsibilities that burden your soul and laying them to rest if only for the short hours of the night.
The height of which the room resides deafens you to the boisterous, unstrained heckles of the city folk below. Leaving the song of night owls’ wings to hail unceremoniously against the dusty pink sky. Accompanied by the layered chirp of crickets housed in the castle gardens and the tired sighs of the Queen and her knight settled together in the tub.
Steam rose from the hip bath in slender whisps, disappearing when the chilled air of the room grasped them without consequence. The fragrance from the rose and daisy petals bloomed throughout the space as they floated delicately in the milk coloured water.
“Sometimes I wish to leave this city and head to the harbour in search of a place aboard a ship set for the east”. It is, and always will be, a great pleasure of yours to know the desires of your Queen. Court was a testing place and the way she chooses you to lean in times of weakness is the most honourable thing you could dream to think of.
“That is very easily done, Your Grace. Leave your hand in charge of the realm whilst you tour the free cities without qualms”
“A notion that must remain a dream I’m afraid. We will have to do with the sand of the shores of the capital between our toes. Maybe I could convince the council of a trip to the south in the future. But my presence is needed here at present”
Natalia’s head lolled back against your shoulder in silent defeat. She was reigning through trying times. Her sister, Princess Yelena, caused strife during a war she did not permit. Questions regarding an heir have been frequent since the rumors of Queen Natalia's inability to bear children arose. Whispers of her having romantic relations with her sworn sword are fruitful around the castle. A frightful concept for the court, not only because you had a duty to serve, protect and a vow of chastity, but you were also a woman. The people she ruled over did not favour such accusations.
“Just milk baths and lemon cakes to quell your stresses then?”
“Amongst other things”
Her hands found yours under the translucent water and guided them so they sat flat against her lower abdomen. Her skin was feather soft under your touch as your fingers tickled the skin, causing her muscles to jump with each pass.
“What other things did you have in mind, my queen?”
“Oh, you know. Just the things a maid yearns for when in the private comfort of her bedchamber. The things that, as a monarch, are hard to come by without the expectation of obligation or tradition. Manners of which can occur with ridicule if partook by someone in my position”
“When did you learn the art of talking in riddles my love? I wish to help you with your requests but I cannot if I am unable to decipher what you allude to”
“Politics is all about riddles. I find it melts into my idiolect if I am exposed to it too long. But it makes a fun game of you trying to decrypt my implications”
“A game you say?” A humorous tone underplayed your response. “I’ll bite, if you tell me what I gain in return”
“Is a happy, sated lover not enough for you?”
“I suppose it is. Out with the rules then, or soon the water will be cold”
“It’s quite simple really. You move your hands up and down my body, and I will state warmer or colder the closer or further they get to where I want them”
“Quite simple indeed”
Your hands were already in the perfect spot in the middle of her body. So whichever way you move means the opposite direction if at first incorrect. The initial direction was downwards last her navel, to the top of her pupic area.
“Colder”
“I thought the queen wished to be relieved of tension?”
“I do, but you are cold. So I’d try a different direction if I were you”
If down was inaccurate, up was the only other option. So you made your way back up her stomach, back past her navel and pinched her sides in jest.
A high pitched squeal bounced off of the stone walls at your actions. And a quick involuntary jump almost made a wave of water spill over the sides of the tub.
“Warmer. But I’d avoid those acts if you want the night to end well for you, Y/N”
“I mean no ill will, Natalia. Just an innocent jape. Shall I keep going?”
A nod was all you received in answer to your question. So you placed your hand on her waist again, still this time, before you slid them slowly up her sides.
When your fingers grazed the underside of her breasts you stopped, waiting to gauge her reaction. You were met with a shiver, so even without being told, you knew you were closer to your destination than before.
The next move landed her breast directly into your palms. The soft, heavy orbs of flesh felt familiar in your hands. Massaging them became something which ridded you of your own pressures. For no other reason than you liked the way she rendered herself no more than a puddle from your endeavours.
As a test, you pinched her nipples between your fingers. She gave a hiss as you did but carried out nothing to try and remove your hands from her this time.
“Warmer” she said, now breathless in front of you. If you looked hard enough in the candlelight, you could almost see the shadow of a blush on her neck and chest.
“Only warmer? Looks as though you’re already being relieved of those nerves you speak of, my love. Are you sure you’re not spouting falsehoods?”. Your words were whispered into her ear, instantly sending shivers up her spine. Then providing you with a mewl when you gave a tug and a twist of her now hard buds. “Are you certain you want me to move on?”
“I’m certain”. Her intonation didn’t do much to solidify her wants, but you listened nonetheless.
Releasing her breasts, letting them fall with a gentle bounce, you carried on upwards. Tracing her collar bones once they met your fingertips, earned you more validation that you were headed in the right direction.
“Stop”. She said suddenly, causing your hands to stop where they were placed on her shoulders. “Right there”
“Here? On your shoulders? Forgive me my queen but how would one gain satisfaction from this part of the body” your confusion made her chuckle lightly.
“Grand Maester Banner informed me I hold my anxieties in my shoulders, and it would be beneficial to massage the stiffness out of my muscles”
“And a trained master of medicine wouldn’t be sufficient enough to knead them?”
“They would. But if you do it, we could get started on my more preferred way of stress relief. And I know you’ll be happy to take part in those methods too”
“And what if you’re mistaken? What if you’ve offended me so much to think I would accept the job of a servant? What would you do then?”
Your impede of her plans had her turning around in the water. The splash of water joining the crack of flames in the hearth as she stilled in your lap. Her eyes were as green as the emeralds in the royal jewels, reflecting the fire that mirrored the colour of her hair in the morning sun.
“Because, my knight. If you don’t do what I ever so kindly ask of you, then a punishment may be in order. And I’m not talking about a night or two in the cells. Oh no, for a seasoned fighter like you that would be far too easy. I’m talking about a night of frustration and displeasure. A night of getting so close to the edge yet being pulled back before you can fall. Would you want that instead?”
“Your proposition doesn’t sound much pleasing”
“I thought as much. So you’re going to use your fingers to loosen the muscles in my neck. And once I’m satisfied, you can use them to loosen something else. Agreed?”
“I don’t think I will ever agree to another proposition with such haste, my queen”
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Taglist
General Taglist: @xxxtwilightaxelxxx @jromanoff @diaryoflife @xxromanoffxx @marrymemcgrath @smileyromanoff @rice-wiife @homiesexyall @wanda-is-my-joker @wackymcstupid @when-wolves-howl @sayah13
N.R Taglist: @strangegardentaco @poptartpoppyy
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feraltuxedo · 1 year
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My favourite short-ish Good Omens fics of 2022
So far I've written about my favourite short and long fics of the year, which you can both find here, but what about those that fall in between? Well, here are some incredible stories I read that were completed in 2022 and are between 10k and 20k words. Buckle up, there are a lot in this category:
Truth or Dare by KannaOphelia E, 12411 words. Canon-compliant through the ages fic detailing the longest game of truth or dare, because why talk about feelings when one can just... you know... beautifully written pining and smut.
Smooth Operator by wyrmy M, 10071 words. Intriguing human AU set in the Cold War, in which Crowley is a spy with a honey trap mission, and Aziraphale is the target. A game of cat and mouse where two people are not quite in control of things.
borrowed trouble by waxing_crescent E, 12181 words. An intriguing urban fantasy setting in which assassin Crowley gets into a spot of trouble. A twisty, fun adventure with a charismatic first-person narration.
is there anybody out there? by theycallmeDernhelm E, 16213 words. Compelling zombie apocalypse AU with all the trimmings of the genre: survival, isolation, loneliness, but also hope and romance, with a good amount of action and two wonderful kid characters.
Easy by mozbee M, 18087 words. Part meet-cute, part character study, all set during one unintentional stay at a hotel, where a casual sexual encounter leads to all sorts of epiphanies and realisations.
Steamed by summerofspock E, 12701 words. Porn connoisseur Aziraphale meets his favourite porn star and they get it on. Simple premise, but very hot smut and I love how sexually confident Aziraphale is in this one.
I Will Choose Free Will by sapphose T, 14031 words. Human Crowley gets a visit from angel Aziraphale, setting in motion a series of events that leads to an existential exploration in one and a crisis of faith in the other. The prose is outstanding.
Search And Rescue by snae_b E, 18854 words. A thrilling tale of romance and adventure set in the stunning and deadly landscape of the Rocky Mountains. I adore how competent cameraman Aziraphale and mountain rescuer Crowley are.
When The Sun Goes Down by TawnyOwl95 E, 15978 words. An exquisite tale of longing and personal freedom, set in an Edwardian manor house. I love a good power imbalance when done right, and this romance between wayward heir Crowley and valet Aziraphale is perfect.
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doorrobloxstuff · 7 months
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Modifier..head..canons..?? But it starts as a ramble.
Feel free to use these notes in your own aus because this shit vexes me.
No, I’m not going to make modify a (currently living) entity. DONT DO THIS TO YOURSELF. I KNOW YOU WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU’D DO THIS. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
I can’t really find any way to implement modifiers into canon. Maybe it’s an entity like revive?? Maybe Revive gives blessings but the more magic it uses
I’d be funny if there’s blackouts sometimes or the electricity short circuits because of over usage of power and all the lightbulbs just collectively explode
- or Gobby gets greedy and takes everything, but I’m pretty sure TGL AND Jeff would be pretty mad if he took all the currency that can be used to aid someone’s survival. So all the stuff to do with that is NC.
More explanations for stuff:
“Gone fishing” and “Soundproofing” is absolutely not canon. TGL has committed literal crimes to save humans. LITERALLY KILLED ENTITIES TO SAVE THEM.
All the electrical stuff is canon and can be explained as power overusage from too many electrical devices being used at once.
Wet floor is canon. Entities and intruders alike slipping on their ass from wet floor wax is both funny and realistic considering the entities have to do upkeep. They probably have “wet floor” sticky notes on the wall to keep people from tripping and falling though-
Bad ventilation is canon, though the fog is heavier and it’s steam from whenever someone takes a REALLY long shower.
Rush *beating in the door*: “GODDAMN IT JACK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE FOR SO FUCKIN LONG! ITS A FUCKIN SAUNA IN HERE!”
Jack: “I AM WAXING MY LEGS DU SCHLAMPE!”
“Key key key” can be explained by Rueben getting extra locks that week- but.. I don’t know it sounds like a pain in the ass to open every. single. door. manually. To the point it’d probably even annoy the most paranoid of entities.
Like, everyone can just get smaller version a skeleton key. (No, not the ones ingame..) but that’d still be pretty annoying so- non-canon??
Few places to hide/nowhere to hide? Mmm..maybe in the future but I don’t think hide would like it if there was less dressers. But then again, destroying superfluous dressers could help the hotel save energy by reabsorbing inactive mass so maybe destroying them and allowing them to re-absorb would be beneficial if things got REALLY bad.
‘Jammin is NC. Don’t see the point of it unless Jeff somehow got his hands on the hotel intercom and started blasting music to confuse entities.
That’d probably start a confused fight between everyone though as everyone rushes to the intercom to have that stuff turned off.
Tripped, Tripped and fell, Last few breaths, last breath, can be explained as intruders with chronic illnesses or injuries they got prior to entering the hotel.
“Injuries” is just being realistic so no changes there.
Didn’t skip leg day, faster faster faster, Maximum overdrive can also be canon. It’s all fun and games until a crackhead breaks in and starts sprinting.
My legs are killing me, my knees are killing me can be explained off as older people.
Good time: *Shrugs.* The entities are busy.
Bad time: *Shrugs* The entities aren’t as busy.
Really bad time: They think you saw one of their children, which makes them collectively lose their minds.
Worse time ever: They know you saw or injured one of their children. They will collectively lose their shit.
Rush hour: Ambush has migraines so big daddy’s gotta catch the intruder.
I’m runnin’ here: Rush has something to prove or food is low.
I’m tip-toein here: same explanation as above..or the kids are trying to sleep when you broke in. ^
Battle of wits/Wrong number: Dupe’s getting older and its hunting more refined.
I’m everywhere: Screech is getting older and MUCH more confident about its hunting abilities.
Think fast/faster: same as above but to a lesser degree^
Bug spray: Timothy isn’t in the mood to hunt.
Itchy: Timothy is very hungry.
Nosey/Always watching: Eyes has something to prove or food is low.
Four eyes/Seeing double: Oooo! For all the writers out there you can use this one to say eyes has a twin or something. But my explanation is that it can split itself temporarily. Albeit this expends a lot of energy so it’ll take a lot.
Get back here: Figure is in a foul mood/triggered.
You can really run: Seek is in a much more foul mood.
Back for seconds: Ambush is feeling much more up to hunting then usual..
Again & again & again & again: You took something that’s Ambush’s/its starving or it has a personal vendetta.
Rent’s due: Hide has more anxious then usual.
Round about: Halt’s got something to prove/its standing in for someone/it just wants to kill something.
Watch your step: Snare escaped the greenhouse.
Are those pancakes!?!?!: Self explanatory OR Snare is being taught to hunt (and one of its parents are nearby.)
I love pancakes!! Self explanatory.
Stop right there: A-90’s come to visit.
Room for more: Rushlet family reunion. (Aka the rooms gang has come to visit) Curious will also visit as well, though not as frequently.
“Super hard mode” isn’t canon. No. Go away.
Uh oh/how unfortunate/chaos chaos: Circumstances get more fucked up.
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cryptile · 3 months
Note
ok tumblr user cryp tile how does one get into tf2. you have no idea how long i’ve been meaning to look at it and someone calling my mechs oc fem!medic just makes me want to even more. but you see. i’m scared. ok thanks
I am filled with immense joy im so happy you asked.
So!!! If you like viddy games, especially first person shooters- you can easily download the game off of steam for absolutely free. The matchmaking isn't entirely intuitive, and the game is full of destructive aim-bots making it hard to get new people into the game, but it's worth it :3. I'm more than happy to play the game with you if you'd like, i can show you around and tell you what servers to avoid etc etc.
If you don't like playing viddy games or shooters or simply aren't interested- there are tons of fun official content letting you get to know the characters and plot! A lot of tf2 fans dont even play the game lol.
There's a meet-the-team series that consists of short videos about every single playable character (and one extra) and they are so fun and also cinematic masterpieces. There's also a few fun promotional videos like Expiration Date that's a story driven short that everyone should watch because its just sooo much fun. And a few trailers that are great like the Mann vs Machine trailer that's just very badass and cool and has sick music.
There are official COMICS!!!! and they're DELIGHTFUL! There's a main comic series that unfortunately never got finished and ends on a cliffhanger, but i reccomend it with all my heart. Of course there are some side comics that are just as great and let you get to know the characters even better.
If you do get into tf2- tell me EVERYTHING!! tell me what you think and tell me your favourite characters pleasepleasepleaseplease it will make me so happy i will die. And i will forever talk to you about my blorbos because i actually cannot shut up ever.
Also pls show me your oc eyes emoji eyes emoji eyes emoji eyes emoji eyes emoji
Thank you for listening. Collapses.
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spacevixenmusic · 9 months
Text
Unfairly Maligned Games, Vol. 1
Games I loved that got low scores, review bombed, or have some other weird negative stigma attached to them that I think is unfairly earned.
NOTE: I don't believe in giving games a number score or a letter grade. Maybe I'm just bad at criticism or very easy to please, whatever.
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Battleborn [2016]
One of my personal favorite games of all time, Battleborn was advertised as a hero-based PVP shooter with MOBA mechanics that unfortunately came out right alongside one of the biggest games of the PVP shooter genre ever released (Overwatch). Thanks to this poor timing, Battleborn - along with several other similar but different games - was doomed to failure, choked to death by Blizzard's infinite marketing resources and predatory Free Play Weekends that just mysteriously happened to occur on the same weekends as its "competitors" major updates, DLC releases, promo events, etc. Battleborn is no longer available to play ANYWHERE as of January 2021; so few people played it after it was review bombed as "the game your mom bought you when you asked for Ovewatch for xmas" (yes Blizz fans used that fucking Simpsons meme TO DEATH, it's their one joke they have about Battleborn) that the game's servers had to be shuttered so the money could be funneled into Gearbox's much bigger cash cow release at the time, Borderlands 3.
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Sour grapes aside, Battleborn was in many ways the game that many people actually wish Overwatch was now. In addition to the PVP game, Battleborn had a co-op campaign mode - complete with a story, cutscenes, and unique character dialogue depending on who you brought to each mission - which could be played for character XP (ability tree unlocks), random gear loot (for use in either campaign mode or PVP), and character cosmetics. The 30 playable characters were wildly varied in terms of design and gameplay, and yes I have to point it out every time, Battleborn had both "cute tiny animal in a mech suit" and playable black women BEFORE Overwatch did. The game also featured a very impressive and highly slept-on visual aesthetic that felt like every Saturday Morning Cartoon I ever grew up with from the 80s/90s, featuring a wild blend of 3D and 2D animation that all the other hero PVP games WISH they could have matched.
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And damn, dude. If you like Lore in your video games, there was a TON of material written for this one. And I'm not just talking about supplemental media like a comic or a wiki or an interview about cut content or whatever. I mean there was a metric FUCK TON of additional world-building material right there in the game. Each character came with a set of challenges you could complete which would give you the usual XP and money, but also unlocked a fun little tidbit of Lore about the universe. These came in the form of short stories, recorded conversations, email logs, forum posts, shipping manifests, and even fully voiced segments explaining details about each character, who they were, why they were fighting this war, and some fun little ways of explaining how their weapons or abilities worked. For example, Reyna holds her laser pistol on its side, gangster-style, because she wanted to use a very specific gun model, had its internal parts stripped out so she could use an ammo clip of a much stronger caliber than that model was supposed to be capable of, but in order for the chamber to reload correctly, the gun had to sit a bit cockeyed. And that fun little nugget is just sitting there, right in the game, for you to discover! It's fucking cool as hell!
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Now I know you're itching to make a joke about there only being like 15 people who even played the game. Yes, I've seen the Active Player Steam charts meme. It's true, Battleborn had a very small, but also very dedicated, community. Despite that, there were so few people playing that we all ended up making friends with each other pretty quickly. It was one of the friendliest PVP communities I'd ever been a part of. We knew there weren't many people online, so we created an environment that felt comfortable for players new and veteran alike. Many of us are still friends today, outside of the game. Because there were so few people online, we also got to play regularly with Gearbox devs and game writers, and even one of the voice actors responsible for at least three of the game's characters (plus a few NPCs!). We organized and hosted our own events, got official backing from the devs for Double XP weekends, held art jams and hashtag celebrations. Hell, I even used my love of this game to jumpstart my serious foray into music by making an entire album of songs for its characters (complete with a bunch of commissioned fan art from the community)!
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(art by Leaddybum)
So yeah. Rest in peace, Battleborn. You were ahead of your time and the hate and harassment you got from The Gamers was completely undeserved. I will always keep hope alive that you'll come back to us some day. Maybe as a sequel, maybe in a new format. There was so much more left to explore in that universe.
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May our battle never end.
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bloodanddiscoballs · 1 year
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I have a somewhat embarrassing question. What is TF2.
It's not embarrassing at all! TF2 stands for Team Fortress 2, a game that was released on October 10th, 2007, by the game studio Valve. It is a first-person shooter where you pick to play as 1 of 9 mercenaries, each with their own unique skills that are separated into three separate classes:
Offense: Scout, Pyro, Soldier
Defense: Engieneer, Demoman, Heavy Weapons Guy
Support: Medic, Sniper, Spy
The game is set up so you are either on team RED or team BLU, each team holding 9 players, and you play through matches and game modes such capturing points by stealing the enemy intelligence (a physical briefcase you pick up and run with) or capturing control points and battling to defend those. There are variations of these as well as some other game modes you can choose from. It's free to play and on Steam for both Windows and Mac users. (though it was originally offered on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3).
If you ever played Overwatch, you already have an idea of how the game is set up for you, but in my opinion, TF2 is MUCH more fun.
If you want the "lore" behind the game and the characters, you should definitely check out their website. They have write ups on each character which also shows you who you might be interested in playing, as well as comics, the short films they've put out (including fan made ones for the Saxxy Awards), full descriptions of the major updates, music, and official art. You've got a beautiful 15yrs to look at that is just oozing love.
What has kept people coming back to this game for so long is in the art, the humor, and the Community Workshop - a place where you as a fan can upload your own creations for customization for the characters. TF2 is affectionately nicknamed The Hat Simulation Game/Hat Dress Up Game cause that's a secondary part of it. While you can earn and pick up different weapons for your characters, you can also unbox crates that have cosmetics inside to make your characters look fun. Things like a hot dog hat or a banana hat or reindeer antlers, all of which only serve to make your guys look goofy and fun. There's also chest pieces and the occasional shoes or little shoulder pets. A LOT of these are made by fans who then submit them to be voted on by all players, and if they get accepted into the game, you'll have a chance of unboxing them. There are taunts as well, such as conga dancing or high fives or rock paper scissors that allow you to interact with other players regardless of the team. There are even many of the maps that you play that have been made by people in the community, making TF2 something that feels like something to be interacted with as well as to be played.
While the ultimate goal of each game in TF2 is to kill the opponents and to win points, most of the games you'll end up playing include some air of messing around. There are lots of times when matches will take much longer than they need to because someone started dancing and now half the players are dancing with each other. The map 2Fort is notorious for this, and I'd say it's about 70/40 of screwing around to actually capturing intelligence. I can honestly say that TF2 is THE game to always have me laughing and enjoying myself, especially compared to other games with similar setups. It never takes itself too seriously, though if you'd like to play competitive, there is an option for that. More often than not, the palyers are fun people, and even if you run into the occasional asshole, you can just drop out of that match and find a new one pretty quickly.
TF2 has lasted as long as it has because it is, in its bones, all in good fun. It takes the whole 60s-70s era dangerous mercenaries and spies in a secret organization and cranks up the ridiculousness of that to an 11. Each of the characters are from different parts of the world, but they're all such over-the-top representations of their cultures that it becomes something a lot like a Mel Brooks-esque setup. Shakespearicles was the strongest writer who ever lived and invented the two-story building, but everyone had to use rocket launchers to get up to the second level until Abraham Lincoln invented stairs 100yrs later. Every Halloween, you have to battle Soldier's old roommate who is a powerful wizard because Soldier turned his old castle into a raccoon sanctuary. All Australians are ripped as shit, have amazing mustaches, and Australia-shaped chest hair.
PLAY TEAM FORTRESS 2
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cinnamonest · 1 year
Text
Spooky Season Game Recs 🎃
Since it is That Day, I put together a quick recommendation list for games that I thought might be appreciated for fun and for anyone who might want to use it.
Here is a generalized list of games you should play! I'm including some horror-themed, some that just have gratuitous violence, some just have creepy vibes, some that are mild but have Halloween themes, etc. A lot of these are very popular, and likely some of you will have already played/heard of them all, but this is just for anyone who hasn't. Feel free to add to this!
Quick note: unfortunately, I am in the small percentage of people who get severe migraines and nausea from playing first-person perspective games (but not third-person perspective ones). As such, there's a lot of horror games that I can't really play, and there's only one first person game I've played here. I'll include a section for some renowned games that I haven't played, but are well-received.
I’m giving one link, but for some of these it’s available on multiple platforms, I’m just linking steam if available since it’s what most people might have. I played most of these on PS4.
Also warnings for all of these. Some have heavy violence, a few have references to sexual assault, in one you murder a toddler. Etc. Be warned.
Happy Halloween 😊
Console/Professional/3D Games:
Until Dawn
This is one of my favorites, it is a choices-matter game with multiple endings, the endings being determined based on who lives and who dies. It's very suspenseful, they did a great job at crafting the right atmosphere for the game. Although in my opinion (and apparently the popular opinion) several characters were not very likeable. I did really like Josh, though. Best boy.
It's really neat in that your choices don't just effect the ending, but your choices can branch you off into a different path entirely, changing future events themselves, working more like a flowchart than a "Choice one gets ending A, choice two gets ending B" sort of thing.
It is a PS4 exclusive. 
(Link)
Inside
An eerie game with no dialogue and a really creepy atmosphere. I finished it in one Saturday. It's one of those games that's more of an "experience" than a game (kind of like Journey). This was one of those games where I kept seeing it for years and thinking like "huh, I should play that one day," then one day it was on sale on the PS Store so I finally did and I'm very very glad I did.
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(Link)
Friday the 13th
Basically you play in locations across the movie franchise. You can play as a victim and try to hide, or as Jason Voorhees and try to hunt down victims. There’s multiplayer and single player. It’s basically a hide and seek with someone trying to kill you.
(Link)
Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan/Little Hope
These are made by the same developers as Until Dawn. They're not sequels, as they have different stories and a new cast of characters (save for the overarching narrator-esque figure, think Igor from the Persona series).
Personally (and according to most reviews/professional critics), I think these fell a bit short of Until Dawn's legacy, but they're still pretty neat. They utilize the same mechanics, just with a new story. Also that intro rendition of O Death is a banger.
There’s also 2 more after these but I haven’t played them.
Unlike it’s predecessor, this one is available on multiple platforms. (Link)
Resident Evil Series
This is a horror game staple and I'm sure most people are familiar with it, but I'd like to note that it's extra appreciated for other people who have motion sickness/migraines, as several games are in third person (7 isn’t I think?)! There's a pretty expansive list to choose from, but (here is a comprehensive ranking list).
Silent Hill Series
Another staple for the horror genre and the origin of the iconic Pyramid Head, unfortunately if you don't have a gaming PC or a PS2 to dust off or pay for PS Now, right now it is unavailable -- however, that is set to change, as just recently a PS5 remake was announced, although unfortunately it looks like it might be PS5 only and not PS4. The first three games are generally regarded as the best, but I would not recommend Downpour, it feels very slow and kind of dull by comparison in my experience. 
(Announcement)
Zero Escape Series
This is iffy to include here, but it has a lot of very dark themes and atmosphere so I think it fits. It's basically "escape rooms: the game," wherein you have to solve a lot of puzzles to progress. This series was an inspiration for Danganronpa, but the critical difference is that while DR has a brightly-colored punkish aesthetic and over-the-top quirky, eccentric, often lighthearted elements/characters to offset the dark depressing nature of a game about murder, Zero Escape doesn't have that, so it's a lot more bleak and heavy.
 (Steam page for ZTD)
The Wolf Among Us
A Telltale game with a really nice art style and memorable characters. It's a murder mystery and a "choices matter" type of game. I'm including it here because it's very gritty and violent at times, and kind of has like film noir vibes. Also if you like older men you'll probably like the main character.
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(Link)
Bendy and the Ink Machine
I have no doubt you're all probably already aware of this one, but I tolerated feeling like someone was hammering my head with a marble chisel for this game (I played it in 10-minute intervals and took breaks between but nonetheless) so I'm mentioning it so my suffering is not in vain.
The stylized nature of the graphics gives it a very quirky, unique vibe. It's somewhat exploration-ish with a plot. The main monster is also a really unique choice.
(Link)
RPG Maker Games 
Unless otherwise noted, you can find these (here on VGPerson). The ones on VGPerson and most of the ones on this list in general are free.
Ib
A classic of the genre. You are a little girl at an art museum who falls into one of the paintings and enters another realm. You meet two friends (one is a "friend") who try to help you get back home (or not). 
The Witch's House
Also a classic of the genre. You are a girl looking to reach the top of the witch's mansion for... reasons. There's a really well-executed plot twist. A cat is there. What more can you want.
Yume Nikki
The final entry here of the iconic genre-defining trio. There is no real plot, I don't think there's even any dialogue if I recall correctly. It's largely just a matter of exploring the world around you. It's very trippy and relies on aesthetic, it's not everyone's thing, but I found it pretty calming actually. If you collect all the effects, you reach an ending. 
(Free on steam)
Pocket Mirror
This is one of those games where you play it and then are really surprised to learn it's not more popular than it is. I highly recommend it. It's somewhat Alice in Wonderland-esque, in the sense that you are a young girl traveling through an odd land trying to go home, and meet interesting (and sometimes dangerous) characters along the way. One of the biggest selling points for this is the music, which is (except for a few) original and not borrowed from free use websites. The art and game as a whole is GORGEOUS visually. Developer is Astral Shift.
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(Link)
End Roll
You are a 14-year-old boy who also happens to be a murderer. You are being put through a rehabilitation project that will cause you to have vivid dreams, which are very pleasant and welcoming... at first. The dreams are intended to eventually induce remorse in the subject, which, in this boy's case, means he has to relive some of the things he has done.
Corpse Party
Technically, the original was 1996, but pretty much any version you can get now is a remake with improved graphics. That being said, there are several different versions with different graphics.
Synopsis is a group of students become trapped in their school by supernatural means and have to find a way out. Gratuitous death and vengeful ghost hijinks ensues. This one is paid. You can purchase an old PSP copy as well. There's an anime based on the game that is significantly more graphic. There's also a lot of games after the original, but I've only played the original (or at least the remake of the original) so I can only speak for that.
I played (this version) a few years back, but to my knowledge (this version) is the most recent remake.
OFF
This is a personal favorite. You are a man on a mission to purify your (very bizarre) world, and defeat an evil queen. This is one of the best RPGMaker games in my opinion. The music is great, the characters are memorable, and the plot twist is very well-executed. It does a really good job of slowly becoming more and more unnerving to the point that by the time you reach the end, you know something isn't right regarding your understanding of things, but need to progress to find out exactly what. The way it utilizes unreliable narrator/limited perspective is very well-done. Also obligatory Zacharie my beloved.
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(Free official download)
Hello Charlotte
This is a series of several games about a girl named Charlotte. Some are paid and some are free. The art style is really neat, and it has that constantly mildly unnerving vibe that I really like. I believe the first one is free and the rest are paid.
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(Link)
Omori
Also really well-known already but I wanted to include it, this is more of a tear-jerker than a horror game, but there are some unsettling moments/imagery. The art style is really cute, and the characters are very lovable. It does a great job of setting up an atmosphere/story that leaves you just perfectly in the middle of your understanding, where you sort of know what's going on but makes you desperate to know more and fully understand what's happening.
(Link)
Pre-2000 
Don't expect much from these in terms of graphics/mechanics, but they're fun nonetheless. 
Monster Party
This is a 1989 game. It's Halloween themed (ish?) and really cute. Unless you have an NES on hand, you'll need an NES emulator and ROM to play it. Retroarch is a well-known emulator for all sorts of vintage games.
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(Retroarch)
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
This is a point-and-click from 1994. Personally I have to include this as it's one of my absolute favorite games/stories of all time. It is based on a renowned short story. Personally its selling point for me is that it has one of my favorite fictional antagonists of all time. The author of the original story voices AM in the game, too! I could ramble on about how much I love this work for literal hours but I'll spare you all that. I recommend reading the original story as well.
Synopsis: A supercomputer hellbent on satisfying his hatred for humanity has destroyed the world, leaving behind five humans who he spends eternity torturing. The five humans, each desperate to die and finally be rid of their tormentor, must go through stages designed to be personal hells for each of them to hope to achieve that.
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(Steam page) 
Short Indie Games 
These are basically short interactives meant to be unnerving and unsettling, which they do well. Time consumption ranges from anywhere from two minutes to maybe half an hour.  A lot of them are made by independent creators so it's good to support them! All of these can be found on itch.io’s  horror tag. In general, this whole page is full of good ones, so I’m just listing a few I found particularly neat.
Next Door
A short browser game based on a Junji Ito story. 
(Link)
(Don't) Open Your Eyes
A short Renpy game. It has voice acting, which is like 99% of what makes it so unnerving. Basically, the title is the summary.
(Link)
Please Answer Carefully
I LOVED this one, it's stalker-themed. Basically a short survey from someone who misses you and wants you to forgive them :)
(Link)
Discover My Body + Water Womb World
Body horror based, point and click narrative. Both are made by the same person. The graphics style is really unique. I like this creator's portrayal of the characters, there's a common theme of a sort of religious fervor that blinds them to reason and drives them to insanity. 
(Discover my Body)
(Water Womb World)
Assessment Examination
Very short, the images can be unnerving/uncanny if that bothers you.
(Link)
Honorable mentions: 
First-person gamesI haven't played these; they're pretty well-renowned, though, and while unfortunately I am not able to enjoy them, you very well may, so they are worth checking out if you can! 
Outlast
Layers of Fear
SOMA
Alien: Isolation
Amnesia: the Dark Descent
Blair Witch
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beegswaz · 9 months
Text
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The beegswaz/RAD1OSILENC3 @kingshovelbug Game Recs Post! Featuring my subpar image designing as seen Above!!
Everything will be Under the cut so I'm not blowing up someones dash with a Text post the length of that One colours of the sky post!!!
CWs will consist of anything that isnt Jumpscares or violence or blood beclaws those are Pretty standard in some of these Games
Hollow Knight
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Steam Link | No CWs I can think of? Though, flashing lights Warning for some attacks! I know it was initially suggested en-mass but it's SUCH A SILLY GAME!! GENUINELY SO FUN! I'm no good at most metrovanias and such but I have a blast every time I Play this game :D It's so pretty AND 4! FREE! DLCS!!! And A fanmade one that's Unironically so good! (Pale Court!! It's so good I love what it adds <3)
2. Phasmophobia
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Steam Link | No CWs outside of a General feeling of dread :3 And also some flashing lights! I suggested this on stream today when Everyone was discussing horror games but I genuinely have So much fun while playing this with Friends!! Solo runs are also fun but I am too scared to Do solos :( Could also be fun to do subscriber games if You wanna do more sub interactions!
3. ___ of the Killer
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Gamejolt Link | No CWs beclaws all of the games in the Series are light-hearted, but just to be Safe there is some mentions of Stalkers and Cults! I love the __ of the Killer series so much!! They're so fun and I played them a Ton on discord streams in the Past! I love the style of them All so much and they Aren't too long of games, so you Can always make a pseudo Marathon out of them! Good games :)
4. The Bunny Graveyard
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Steam Link | Flashing lights! Fun game! It's only a demo right Now but its enjoyable! I don't remember how Long the demo is, but you can always play it with Some other short games to make a decently length Stream! Also: very cute style :3
5. Escaped Chasm/Dwellers Empty Path
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Itch.io Link | Itch.io Link | First game warns of high-pitched Tones and flashing lights! Second game doesn't warn of Anything :] TEMMIE GAMES!! First one is only around 15-20 Minutes unless you try and Get all endings, second game is About 1-2 hours! They're in the Same universe and would best be played one after the Other :] Escaped Chasm reminds me a Lot of the opening of OneShot, and Dweller's Empty Path is just generally delightful to play! Cute games
6. Rain World
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Steam Link | I.... I think minor Flashing lights? Hollow Knight but if it was Harder and more miserable to complete!! Adorable protagonist and beautiful Scenery!! I've only played... a Little bit of Rain World actually, but it's fun! If not difficult!!
7. Inscryption
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Steam Link | Bright/Flashing Lights if I remember Correctly? And also it's listed As a psychological Horror Imagine if you had a Deck of pokemon cards but like maybe one of them is Alive and also you can make one Entirely unkillable and get its stats up to 1000+ attack for the vine! And then add a 2d game and Also bosses that are all kind of Assholes!! Excluding Grimora she's a delight :D It's such a fun game with so much lore and a robot whos entire thing is Insulting you at Every turn!
8. Hi-Fi RUSH
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Steam Link | Bright/Flashing lights! Only game to fill the void in my Heart that Jet Set Radio left </3 (Not really, I can just go play JSR whenever I want LOL) ITS SO FUN!!! This game is so silly like Actually, I adore the style and the Characters and the Music :heart: My friend has been streaming this game to me and I just Adoreeee it
9. Cry of Fear
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Steam Link | Flashing Lights, general disturbing enemy Design, I believe mentions of Suicide? This game actually made me really scared(? Uncomfortable?) both When I played it and When I was watching a Stream of it?? It's so good but god damn dude. I'm really only throwing this on here Beclaws I enjoy its atmosphere and the horror Aspect of it
10. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
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Steam Link | No CWs(?) Coming out August 18th, I lied when I said that Hi-Fi filled the hole that JSR/JSRF Left in me!! This game is the real void-filler! It's directly inspired by Jet Set in both design, music, and gameplay (WHICH IS DELIGHTFUL!!!! if sega wont do anything with jet set, then the Fans will!!) it just OOZES style and I think itd be fun to Play on stream when its out!!
END OF THE LIST!! BECLAWS IM TIRED ITS 12 AM HERE!!! Other games not listed but I think you should play: Ib, Pocket Mirror, A Hat in Time, Neon White, Slime Rancher, Subway Midnight, No Straight Roads, Angels of Death, The Witches House, Hello Charlotte, IMSCARED, Spookys Jumpscare Mansion, The Bluehills County Collection (Parsnip, The Testimony of Trixie Glimmer Smith, Three Lesbians in a Barrow)
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linuxgamenews · 1 month
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Introducing Please Touch The Artwork 2 A Free Hidden Object Adventure Game
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Please Touch The Artwork 2 releases the hidden object adventure game playable on Linux with Windows PC. Thomas Waterzooi's exceptional development skills have played a pivotal role in this achievement. Available now on Steam with 100% Positive reviews. So, today's a big day in the world of digital art and hidden object adventure! Please Touch The Artwork 2 has just hit the scene and this release is totally free. You can also play it on your smartphone or tablet from the Apple Appstore or Google Play. Or if you're more of a desktop fan, it's available on Linux via Windows / Mac through Steam. At least until the native release is available. And here's the best part – it's all about pure, unadulterated fun with zero ads, hidden fees, or paid DLC. This is all about enjoying at your own pace, without any pesky interruptions. Still due to receive a native build. The Please Touch The Artwork 2 release takes you deep into the world of James Ensor, a legend in Belgian Modern Art. The game is a playful stroll through his iconic works. It's not just about looking at art – it's about engaging with it in a unique way. You're there to help out some quirky characters by finding lost items and fixing up the paintings. It's a blend of art appreciation and a bit of detective work, all wrapped up in a fun, short trip. The thing about this release is that Please Touch The Artwork 2 is backed by the Flemish Government. Celebrating both the Belgian EU Presidency 2024 and the 75th anniversary of Ensor's passing. The idea is to make art accessible to everyone, and making this adventure free is a big step towards that.
Please Touch The Artwork 2 - Release Trailer
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The gameplay? It's like stepping into a hand-painted world where you assist a skeleton artist. Your task is to collect hidden items for the people and solve puzzles along the way. The artwork comes straight from Ensor's collection, giving you an authentic experience of his style. Here's what you can look forward to:
Exploring Five Unique Worlds: Each world is a gateway into Ensor's mesmerizing art, filled with mysteries and hidden treasures.
Hints for Tough Spots: If you ever get stuck, the Please Touch The Artwork 2 release offers hints to help you out, keeping the frustration at bay.
Simple and Intuitive Controls: The point-and-click style makes navigation a breeze, and the zoom function lets you get up close and personal with every detail.
Casual, Hand-Painted Art: The interactive elements and animations are straight out of Ensor's own works, bringing a unique life to the experience.
Relaxing Soundscapes: The audio is just as immersive as the visuals, creating a calm and captivating atmosphere.
Highly Accessible: It's light-hearted, playful, and suitable for pretty much anyone looking to dive into a cozy art adventure.
So, if you're into exploring new and creative worlds, the Please Touch The Artwork 2 release is worth checking out. The game is a fresh take on art, puzzles, and storytelling, and it's all just a download away on Steam. Available to play on Linux via Proton with Windows PC.
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