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roughentumble · 3 years

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I would like to hear.. your silence of the lambs series opinions......

series as in, the new clarice tv show that's out? haven't watched it yet. series as in, those old movies that feature anthony hopkins as hannibal lecter? surely!

fair warning, i probably dont have anything new to say that hasnt been said before, considering these are all long since classics, and my thoughts might be a little disjointed.

it's difficult to sum up opinions about it on the whole, since the movie quality honestly varies so wildly, and as i recall basically every single movie had a different director lol. also like, there's definitely a reason silence of the lambs stood out as The hannibal movie that got talked about and went into The Annals Of Film History n' all that. there's something about jodie foster's performance that's particularly electric(though that could be nostalgia talking, i suppose)

the opportunities she had, as an actress, to really show emotion on her face, like the claustrophobic close-ups we got were really intimate and interesting, added to the sense we were getting into her head. that HANNIBAL was getting into her head. i've already used the word intimate, but really, the long drawn out conversations/monologues between her and hannibal are just that-- intimate. you have to have stellar performances to pull off that much dialogue, and shots that intensely focused, where a face takes up so much of the screen. but it works! because hopkins and foster are fantastic actors, and jonathen demme is a good director.

there's a reason a lot of people didn't like the switch to julianne moore, and i would say it isnt entirely moore's fault. ridley scott, for one, is simply a different director with different ideas of shot composition, which changes how the character feels pretty drastically when the style so heavily informed your feelings for her. but also, in general, the film just kind of approaches clarice from a different angle, which is pretty bumpy territory to go into on the tail of switching your lead actress. not only is moore just really different from foster, but we've gone from this kind of invasive intimacy with hannibal probing her in confined spaces, to her being on the chase. in particular what sticks out to me is a chase sequence where she's trying to find hannibal in a crowded mall.(i think it was a mall?? its been a minute since i last watched the film haha) despite how the crowd might lead to a sense of claustrophobia, these are wide open shots with lots of spinning and movement, no time for introspective face journies. it's a chase in a totally different sense than before, and that i think is major difference in tone. which isn't to say it's a bad choice, or a loss, or that it's worse, just that it's fundamentally very different material that moore was given fo work with. of course her performance differed from fosters!

i still think jodie foster did it better, but some folks were too hard on julianne moore. if anything, hold beef with the writers and new director for pivoting tonally(although, dont do that either, i think it was an interesting shift. the scene with her and hannibal, where hannibal fries up that dude's brain was SO GOOD, i loved loved loved the return to a twisted sense of intimacy for that scene, and a few others, and that sense of return wouldn't have hit the same were the whole movie to follow the same tone as demme's work.)

also quick sidebar, when i watched hannibal(the movie from 2001) i was BLOWN AWAY by realizing, in retrospect, just how absolutely perfectly micheal pitt nailed the role of mason verger in hannibal(the tv show). vocally, he sounded almost identicle to the og performance, WHAT!!! major props, i love micheal pitt. so cool

manhunter 1987 or whatever year it came out is garbage and we dont talk about it. it was physically painful to watch. my poor mother made us stop watching hannibal movies for the rest of the day because it literally put her in physical pain. it's so 80s i want to vomit. do not recommend.

red dragon was pretty good, and if you entered the series of films armed only with knowledge of hannibal nbc, gave some really fascinating context to some of the events therein. edward norton's performance was fine-- didn't blow my mind, but i do love to watch him on screen. anthony hopkins' portrayal of a free hannibal, on the run, who still can't help but taunt the police and stick his nose into investigations was shockingly compelling, despite how much of a cliche trope that's become in recent years. can't say i recall anything interesting to say about the directing, but it certainly doesnt hold the same intimacy of the previous films-- but then again, we've lost the intimate character of clarice, swapping her out for graham(who simply isnt as close, or interesting, or compelling, when he isnt on nbc and shaking like a wet chihuahua)

hannibal rising, the last film in the series, was very very very bad. BUT, unlike manhunter 198whatever, it managed to be fun about it! lots of very goofy deaths and things to make you roll your eyes, stupid character motivations and odd acting choices. but it seems aware, on some level, that it's the last and the silliest of the entries into this particular film series, which earns it some good will. whether or not its worth a watch comes down to how much you're willing to consume everything with the name hannibal on it, and whether you can abide by a hannibal that isnt played by sir anthony hopkins.

OK. ok. we're getting to the end of my thoughts here, kids. i prommy.

it's also, despite every single part of it that i enjoy and that brings me joy, almost unforgivably racist and transphobic. the weird exotification and obsession with asia(and japan in particular), especially when none of those elements felt important or relevant to the story was consistently shocking, and consistently present in essentially every single hannibal movie, ESPECIALLY ones that dealt with his childhood. it didn't ever feel like a natural part of the story, where they happened include people from another culture or anything, it felt like the author's fetish. i never truly understood how these reoccuring themes and symbols were meant to tie in with the rest of the story, even after an entire film set in the past, showiing hannibal's childhood and how he came to live with a japanese woman. it was weird! it was uncomfortable! it was bad! even hannibal nbc couldnt make it not weird. i'd love a hannibal movie with a japanese person in it who WASNT treated really, really, really weird. but i dont think i will ever get that.

and like. wrt transphobia-- do i even need to say it? buffalo bill's been talked to death. we all know the issue there.

if a japanese person, or a trans woman, came to me and said "shawn, everyone says its a classic, but i cant bring myself to watch [insert hannibal movie here]" i would not blame them. it isnt the whole movie, but its enough to feel real bad, scoob.

its not enough to make me fall out of love with silence of the lambs, or hate hannibal(the film, god thats a confusing name), or even hate the film series, but its something that deserves tl be talked about. i've heard lots of discussion on the transphobia, but basically none on the racism, which is a real shame. sometimes it feels like no one else even noticed it, and it really leaves me floundering, because its like-- its RIGHT THERE and its so weird and bad. thomas harris, what the fuck

OKAY I THINK THATS ALL MY THOUGHTS FOR NOW?????? i could maybe come up with more, *shrugs*, but i'd need more time at least.

summary:: very problematic, and not because he eats people. but overall some of the films are fantastic, and silence of the lambs does hold a special place in my heart. and even if i didnt like it nearly as much, i'll defend hannibal(the film with julianne moore) till im blue in the face, because even if it didnt quite capture lightening in a bottle it still brought some interesting things to the table. decent enough movie series with enough variation in film tone and quality to make watching them all in a row enjoyable, because it keeps things from getting stale. (could probably have done with SOME consistency tho, lol, they were really flying by the seat of their pants. they had hopkins and that was IT, only thing that carried over from production to production lol)

#im exaggerating wrt that last line abt hopkins #they couldve had other people in the staff that worked on multiple films in the series #i havent looked THAT much into it

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theholycovenantrpg · 3 years

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CONGRATULATIONS, JORDAN! YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR THE ROLE OF GADRIEL.

Admin Rosey: Eeeeeee! Jordan you have no idea how much I’m bouncing off the walls because you brought us such an unparalleled Gadriel! I was hoping, with all my heart, that someone would dare to write a character that is full of such unfettered love, and you did it. All the more, you didn’t hold back with the adoration that seems to burrow itself into every single facet of the character. Your para sample was an absolute thrill to read and truly, I couldn’t have asked for someone more capable of delivering the Gadriel we all know and love. Thank you so much for this wonderful application - it had me grinning from ear to ear. Please create and send in your account, review the information on our CHECKLIST, and follow everyone on the FOLLOW LIST. Welcome to the Holy Land!

OUT OF CHARACTER

Alias | Jordan

Age | 23

Personal Pronouns | She/her

Activity Level | I’m not in school or working right now, so I do have quite a bit of free time on my hands. However, I still have real life stuff that crops up occasionally, and I’m currently looking for a job, so if/when?? (hopefully) that happens I’ll let you guys know! As it stands, I can on average devote a few hours each day to rp’ing, though that might vary depending on the day.

Timezone | EST

Triggers | REMOVED

How did you find the group? | I saw Rosey reblog the prerelease advertisement thing and the rest was history.

Current/Past RP Accounts | https://chandlerrosen.tumblr.com/

IN CHARACTER

Character | Gadriel

What drew you to this character? |

Though there were quite a number of characters I considered applying for at various stages, I kept coming back to Gadriel. Within her character is everything I’m familiar with, and yet nothing that I’ve written before. I study (or studied, technically) early modern literature and art history, with a focus on Catholic theology, so I was initially drawn to Gadriel’s background as a martyred saint. I love her grief, I love the way she grows from it while still carrying it with her. I love her fighting for compassion and pacifism, while still being shrouded by the monstrous aspect of her that has always lingered within. Her love is her driving force, and her vision all encompassing, and for the “greater good,” but she is still so selfish. More on this now!

What future plots do you have in mind for the character? |

i. beware of false prophets [. . .] ye shall know them by their fruits

The God she loved was not always a benevolent one, but she loved Him nonetheless, the words of the scripture a familiar glaze on her tongue, weaving its way through the air as it settles around her like a warm blanket. These were the words she lived by, and the words she, in another life, died by. But now these words, and the God who fomented them, are obsolete—ash and dust, they swirl around her still, only a faint echo of their former glory. Now, the residents (those who choose to partake in religion) worship the Hundred-Eyed God—instead of fire and brimstone, this new deity promised everlasting serenity. Gadriel, like most residents of Caelum, doesn’t worship the Hundred-Eyed God, but as God’s most devout and loving follower, she is faced with the difficult task of protecting ISOLDE, the All-Seeing Priestess of the faith. Despite her best efforts, Gadriel finds herself liking the mortal, and where once Gadriel would have seen an idolator, she now sees what could turn into a friend. The relationship, however, is tenuous, and Gadriel is very reluctant to let herself become attached to the girl—it didn’t end so well for the last worshipped figure in Gadriel’s life. But more than that, Isolde feels like a punishment, or rather, like she should be a punishment. Sure, it pains Gadriel to watch new rituals when the old ones sit in her bones and on her tongue, aching to be remembered and repeated, but otherwise, her task is, at times, an enjoyable one. So when will the other shoe drop? I’m very interested in seeing how this relationship will develop, and how ESTIENNE will fit into it. The biography mentions that Gadriel would kill to protect ARAEL, presumably she would do the same for Isolde, if only out of obligation (though personal affection may one day be a reason as well). Whether it be Estienne or someone else, how will Gadriel, generally a pacifist, react if Isolde is threatened?

I also think it’s interesting to consider what would happen, not if Isolde is physically threatened, but if her status is somehow threatened, or if someone, say ORIAS or CASSIEL (though there are many others), challenges Isolde (an extension of the Hundred-Eyed God) as someone/something to be worshipped? Zealotry is comfortable for Gadriel, a familiar armor to lace over her chest as she draws her sword, but it has rusted and worn down, a passion without a purpose, without an outlet. I think Gadriel is far from becoming a zealot for the Hundred-Eyed God, and to be honest, I’m not sure it would ever actually happen. However, I can see this going two ways (not necessarily mutually exclusive, either):

Gadriel develops a love for Isolde similar to the love she felt for God; it would be different, no doubt, but I think part of Gadriel’s worship of God in her mortal life came from, faith yes, but also love and a desire to be loved. Her worship of God was not entirely unselfish, but fervently pious nevertheless. Could Gadriel ever get to the point where she would take up her sword for Isolde, not against imminent danger, but against idolatry? Maybe, maybe not, and if it did, it would be, as I said, much further down the line, and certainly not as strong as the zealotry she exhibited for God, but I do think it’s an important aspect of Gadriel that cannot just be shirked because her God is dead.

Regardless of Isolde and how Gadriel may feel about her, there is still a part of Gadriel, no matter how slowly waning it may be, that fought tooth and nail to worship her God, both as a human and angel. And now, with people cropping up, Orias, Cassiel, Michael, etc. who try to fill that void He left, to be worshipped in their own right, I’m interested in how Gadriel will react. Obviously, Gadriel is not omnipotent, and therefore doesn’t necessarily know the extent to which these various figures have designs on power, on reverence. But throughout the course of the roleplay, I think as their actions reflect their intentions, and as those intentions become clearer, the familiar feeling of zealotry will crop up again, burning inside Gadriel’s bosom as it once had. Perhaps something starts it, perhaps she will see the corruption of mortals, of her fellow angels, even, and she wants to stop it. It’s not something she could do alone, at least not successfully, and depending on where Gadriel is in her development, she might not even care at first. But I still think it would be interesting to explore, and which unlikely alliances she may form to quell the rising of a new, different, idol.

ii. should intermitted vengeance arm again / His red right hand to plague us?

For every cloud, there is a silver lining, and for every slain deity, a world to be made anew. I don’t think Gadriel has ever been motivated by power, and I don’t think she is now, either. I do think, however, that she believes in a very strong vision of the world, a vision she believed she shared with her God. Of course, without God, Gadriel now has the freedom to reshape her vision, and mold the world into, as the biography states, “her own vision of beauty.” But that which is beautiful, is also terrible, for beauty without power is vulnerability, a quality Gadriel has shedded like a skin too tight and too itchy to ever be comfortable again. There is an anger inside her, a feeling of righteousness against those she believes have acted unjustly. Namely, MICHAEL and CASSIEL. There are many people she blames for this war, for the death of her beloved God, and Michael’s name is at the top of the list. He clipped her wings, he punished her for her pride (for is hubris not the most base of the tragic flaws?), smearing her face in the dirt of her own folly by naming her the Virtue of Temperance, forcing her to protect a being instrumental to the worship of a new, unfamiliar religion. And still, Gadriel turns the other cheek. To wage outright war against Michael would be foolish, and though Gadriel is privy to foolishness (a lingering effect of her not-so-long-forgotten mortality), she isn’t that foolish. I think the dynamic between Gadriel and Michael is very interesting, and something I’d love to explore. As he hungers for more power, as Gadriel’s resentment of him festers, infecting her life’s blood with boiling wrath, when will Gadriel decide that enough is enough. And who will stand with her?

Now onto Cassiel. Cassiel’s betrayal of the Cherubim, of Gadriel and her own people (though really, with Gadriel’s part in the war against Michael, I think Gadriel would be put on trial regardless), is another interesting avenue to explore. I mentioned Cassiel above as being a sort of “False Prophet,” and in truth, I think she is the antithesis to Gadriel. Speaking of Cherubim, I think Gadriel and ZADKIEL would actually get along fairly well, as Gadriel is (or at least was) well-liked by her fellow angels, and liked them in return, and I think they have a similar philosophy and moral compass. Would Gadriel and Zadkiel, two angels affected by Cassiel’s actions, end up lighting the spark of retribution against Cassiel? Or will it divide them? Cassiel and Gadriel are two people driven by the notion of beauty, though their definitions couldn’t be further apart. While Cassiel’s vision is of herself, Gadriel sees an eternal peace, filial piety and the burning passion of people who join in communion as one (so really, the concept of the Hundred-Eyed God should be alluring to her, once Gadriel realizes that it aligns with her vision and she could wield it considering Isolde is her charge—I digress). Perhaps Gadriel goes against Cassiel, not necessarily for past indiscretions, but present grievances.

To create, you must destroy, and from the ashes of the old world will Gadriel’s vision of beauty rise, sheathed in gold with a purity so simple, it can only be considered divine.

iii. when is a monster not a monster?

The answer, of course, “when you love it.” Gadriel’s connections to Asmodeus, Arael, and Mammon are all thematically concerned with when Gadriel shows her monstrous side, if at all. With ARAEL, Gadriel’s monstrous side is not hidden, because with their level of intimacy, with its purity, Gadriel holds no secrets from Arael. It just rarely (if ever) rears its ugly head. The biography mentions that Gadriel would kill for Arael, and I would like to put that to the test. I don’t know how, or when, but I want Gadriel to become a monster, all for the sake of Arael. She knows of Arael’s grief, but I’m wondering just how much Gadriel knows of Arael’s visits to ABBADON’S domain. If she doesn’t know, then perhaps Gadriel will feel betrayed. Of course, she wouldn’t take it out on Arael, there is very little Arael could do to warrant that sort of emotion from Gadriel, but I do think it would shift their relationship. If Gadriel does know, however, I wonder if Gadriel might try to take it upon herself to help Arael (if it’s unwanted, so much the better), because Gadriel is the picture of self-righteousness.

ASMODEUS is an interesting case with regard to Gadriel’s monstrous side. She hasn’t quite figured him out, she doesn’t know his sad past, but the glances they share, the stares that betray his longing for something else, someone else, intrigue her. And I think it makes Gadriel feel powerful, this unsaid tension between them, the notion that at any moment, it could all crumble and collapse, that he could, if she so chose. I think she wants to poke and prod at him, maybe from afar at first, and then toy with him, his vulnerability between her teeth, with only gravity (the gravity she is so adept at manipulating) to crush it, or release him from her grasp. Of course, Gadriel is not without compassion, and maybe once she knows Asmodeus’ story, she’ll feel differently. It all depends on what part of Asmodeus she chooses to see: the human, or the demon.

Gadriel’s most monstrous side, her most vindictive and self-righteous, self-satisfying, parts, are shown in her relationship with MAMMON. She spared them, not because she felt pity, not because she cared, or didn’t wish to shed blood, but to show them that she could. She held their life at the end of her blade and laughed when she removed it from his throat. Surely they still harbor bitter feelings towards her, feelings of hatred and resentment, even. In Emma’s app for Mammon, she mentions how she envisions them fighting, even to the death. I fully agree, and am looking forward to their confrontation a lot. Gadriel is, generally, soft, but I want to explore those parts of her that are more monster than divine, more human than angel.

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | Yes.

IN DEPTH

Driving Character Motivation |

In Gadriel’s mortal life, her driving motivation was her love for God, and her desire to be loved by God. The picture of piety, Gadriel shirked near all else to proclaim her love for God, frustrated when others wouldn’t recognize His great power, his all-encompassing love. Even when she became an angel, she was still driven by this love, but now it was realized, it was reciprocated. And rather than have that be diminished upon conquest, it only grew stronger and more fervent.

Of course, after the war, after her wings were clipped, Gadriel turned into the dutiful angel, obeying Michael’s orders (much to her chagrin). Now she’s driven by her vision of beauty, of peace everlasting and passion overflowing. Love is still very much part of the equation, and the love she feels for Arael, for Isolde (maybe, eventually), also motivates her. But it’s her love for God, and for his vision, that stoke the fire of ambition in her loins. I think Gadriel is tired of constantly being taken for granted, being walked all over, and is using the new world as an opportunity to turn a page in her own life. To become all that she once sought to, to fulfill all righteousness on earth, and to spread her vision to all those who will listen.

Character Traits |

(passionate, loyal, empathetic)

(dogmatic, vengeful, obstinate)

In-Character Para Sample |

“Brothers, sisters, friends, lend me your ears,” she began, standing in front of her fellow angels, on trial for crimes committed against Michael, committed for God. “I stand on trial today, though I believe myself innocent of all crimes, guilty only of being consumed by love. Perhaps my love was misplaced, my loyalty misguided, but is that so unreasonable? Was that not God’s almighty power—to stir inside those who are lost the guidance to follow His will through His love?” She looked around, eyes imploring as she clutched her chest. The room was bright, the sun almost overbearing and artificial, devoid of everything Heaven held, a false divinity imbuing every corner and crevice. She had been here before. But rather than in a spotless room, she was surrounded by dust and the jeers of Romans who believed her guilty of the same crime she was accused of now: treason.

“You accuse me of treason,” she began again, and the lion’s roar in her ear was so loud, she felt as though it was standing across the room from her, not Michael, “but forgive me, I knew nothing else. If my actions offended, let us rectify the situation, together. Let us venture forth, hand in hand, brothers in arms, angels enshrouded in the divinity that is our right, into this new era. But let us not paint this era with more blood than has already been shed; for is that truly what you want your legacy to entail? Fire and brimstone—would you be any better than the God you have deposed?” She raised her eyebrow, scanning the eyes of the crowd as they shifted uncomfortably. An invisible string lifted Gadriel’s spine—perhaps it was her power of gravity, perhaps newfound confidence at the uncomfortability of the angels who wished her dead.

“And how, dear sister, could we trust you?” Michael asked, unmoved, the pinnacle of strength and composure.

“This is new territory for both of us, brother. This world has never known God’s absence—but together, and only together, could we bring it into a new Golden Age, an era of rebirth and plenty.” Everyone was silent, pondering her words. This silence was deafening, and the lion roared louder. Her heart began to race as she saw the saliva glint off the lion’s teeth, the blood staining its fur from the last human he shred.

“You seek to do better than God? Well do better. Ff His picture of compassion was imperfect, perfect it. His vision of mercy unfulfilled, fulfill it.” The words stung her tongue as she spoke them against her God, but perhaps she could give Michael and his legions the chance to be better, if that is what they truly sought. “Violence, retribution. This is not the way, and we both know it.”

Silence still more. Until finally, Michael made his decision.

“Very well, you have your amnesty. But Gadriel, this can not go unpunished.” He contemplated further, his hands steepled like a church she once worshipped at, before continuing, “your wings will be clipped, and we will watch you. Very closely.” He nodded, but she could tell this wasn’t his desired outcome.

“Thank you, Michael, for your compassion. You won’t regret it,” she said through gritted teeth, sharp as a lion’s, before she sheathed them. Not now. Not today. Today, she lived, and she will continue to do so, if only to continue God’s work. For so it become us to fulfill all righteousness.

Extras |

i. COMPANION: By her side, Gadriel’s companion is a LION. I’m hearkening back to the typological tradition of depicting a martyred saint with the instruments of their demise. St. Lawrence has his grill, St. Catherine of Alexandria her spiked wheel, and so Gadriel will have her lion.

ii. WINGS: Gadriel’s wings are clipped, but not torn from her back. Right now they don’t extend past her shoulder blades, but at once they were the most radiant, pure, white of the softest down. When they grow back, however, perhaps they will be muddled and murky.

#accepted #accepted: gadriel

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dio-roga · 5 years

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After years of stalling, this is finally seeing the light of day and thank actual jesus for that. There’s more fic out there than you’d think for the best boys, but like all things, sturgeon's law’s in effect when it comes to quality (big time actually, around 35 fics on this list from a rough 350 in existence). I read them all so you don’t have to.

Higher rank the better (though obviously YMMV) and the rest should just be ordered by word count. I have a place in my heart for everything on this list so no matter where it is or what I say about it, trust me, if it’s here, I think it’s worth your time.

Will do my best to keep things up to date. I F5 tabs like you wouldn’t believe. Love you guys ❤

[SSS RANK] ABSOLUTE TOP SHELF

ego, opinion, art & commerce 24parts

We hopefully all know it, we certainly all love it. The canon-compliant, rock-band road-trip AU that’s destined to rule the entire ship one day; the cryde child of prophecy. Go in hard and this’ll take you away like nothing else. The only thing not absolutely perfect about this fic is (like the rest of us) you’ll have to wait for the ending. I know waiting sucks, but please don’t let it stop you bingeing this story right now. I am not exaggerating when I say it’s better than most published books you’ll ever read.

let your heart hold fast niente

Literally the best finished cryde fic ever written as of time of writing this. The boys have grown up. Clyde’s a writer, Craig’s distant, and familiar circumstances bring them crashing back together. The cast of characters are a complete joy, it’s fully drenched in canon, and sports an amazingly rich post-series lore with all manner of cute nods and easter eggs for fans of the show. Nothing short of a masterpiece. Written with such love. Treasure your first read of it.

[SS RANK] AMAZING READS GAURANTEED

Pulling Mussels SekritOMG

A divisive fic maybe, but a classic all the same. Get ready for a fresh take on normal fic conventions to be sure. Personally? I’d consider it top shelf, no question. But to others? They might end up absolutely hating it. A strange midlife odyssey wherein a fed-up, lonely Craig begrudgingly reconnects with an out-of-shape, stagnated Clyde. Memorable to say the least, packed to bursting with detail and personality; go in with the right mindset and its glorious set pieces with burn themselves into your memories. Possibly the fic I’ve re-read the most ever.

Darkness Falls Vampiracy

Do you like cute, gorgeously written things? Set during the three days of Stick of Truth, it tells the behind-the-scenes story of Craig’s growing infatuation with the Lord of Darkness. Everything about this is clever and charming and just generally heart-warming. Best read after playing the game for maximum enjoyment, feel smart and accomplished as you pick out all the references. This fic’s adorable and pure and can do no wrong.

Chicken Vampiracy

The gateway fic? Huge question mark? This story is cryde personified. Like the author distilled the ships very essence into this amazingly funny and light-hearted story about the boys playing the world’s most drawn out game of gay chicken. It’s impossible not to love this story, it’s perfect for what it is, and will leave you feeling happy by the end every time. What more could you want? Show this one to your friends and they’ll finally ‘get’ cryde.

the remains of our sky traiyadhvika

I’ll level with you fam, this story will emotionally cripple you, prepared or not. The writing is precise, sublime, and utterly heart-breaking. It tells the story of how Craig deals with the aftermath of Clyde’s death on Everest. Obviously a heavy topic, but I can tell you with complete confidence that this fic not only does the subject matter justice, but also manages to tell a story of love and hope despite it. Like Butters said, it’s a beautiful sadness. This fic had me obsessively researching mountains for weeks, and anything that can light that kind of fire in you is something special.

C & C, The Mystery Duo Darkyfoot

There is nothing in here but pure fluff, joy and happiness. This story will lighten your soul and brighten your heart. It tells the tale of the boys discovering a life-long obsession for hunting mysteries, and will resonate with anyone who’s ever held a strong passion in their lives (which is probably most of you, if you’re hunting down SP fics to read). The written equivalent of a warm blanket and a steaming hot mug of cocoa on a cold winter’s night.

[S RANK] THE REALLY GOOD STUFF

Equality Donkerblauw Fluweel

A good chill-out fic? Cataloguing a series of parties over the summer in which Clyde starts cozying up to Craig after much alcohol is consumed; and like a good drink, the fic mixes all its elements together nicely. It’s nothing ground breaking, but it’s got a super relaxing flow to it, and will brighten your mood by the end. It nails the party atmosphere, so if you’ve got no-where to go this Friday night, maybe pour yourself a little something and give this one a read.

Craig Likes Vanilla (Ice Cream) themuffintitan

The cuteness equivalent of porn. If you’ve got a list of cliché ‘aww’ scenarios, chances are they’ll play out in this fic. If hand holding and sharing an ice-cream make you melt (hahanotfunny) then this one’s definitely for you. For a fairly simple story about Craig and the squad visiting a waterpark, it’s remarkably detailed (check that word count fam), and has a killer summer atmosphere to boot. It certainly made me hit up a park last July. The writing does let it down in a few areas, but overall you’ll probably be too busy enjoying the ride to notice.

The Silent Lie Donkerblauw Fluweel

Guilty pleasure? Okay you caught me red-handed. This fic’s practically porn. Read all about how Clyde learns to surrender his heterosexuality as Craig massages away all his football injuries in the steamiest way possible. If I’m being totally honest? The story’s pretty obviously there to frame the smut, and writing can be a bit all over the place. But I can’t deny it just works. It’s hot AF. Come here for the sexies and you won’t leave disappointed. Read it after dark. ;)

Press Play flappySp00kster

Arguably unfinished, but the only thing missing is apparently a mostly superfluous epilogue. We’re in full AU territory here as Clyde hooks up with Craig on a dating app during a rough-patch with his long-time, and now ex, girlfriend. Your mileage may vary obviously as the story’s not canon compliant; however the boys behave like you’d imagine and the romance is nicely fleshed out and unique. Bonus points for a bit of kink in the sex scenes, which is rarer than you’d expect for this ship.

What Happened in 1637 pinkfloyd1770

One of the most strikingly unique stories out there; it’s essentially a flower shop AU in which Clyde embraces his Dutch heritage and sports and encyclopedic knowledge on tulip facts. Written in medias res during a seemingly long since established relationship with Craig, this fic merely offers a look into this unique take on the couple as they go about their lives. The detail is stunning, and you’ll find vivid mental pictures coming to life in every scene. If you can get past the fact Craig bottoms (let’s pretend he was feeling generous that evening) then you’ll certainly be charmed with this one. (1637 is the year the tulip bubble finally popped. In case you were wondering.)

Around My Head wendybirb

Are you looking for something that’s light and fluffy? Maybe you like reading Clyde’s inner monologue as he fumbles around high-key pining over his best friend? Perfect, sign yourself up to this fic; it’s a quick and easy read that’ll give you your daily dose of wholesomeness from one of my favorite authors. Nothing overly flashy or complicated here, just boys being cute and kissing.

hey there demons traiyadhvika

This spooky affair is thankfully a lot less of an emotional roller-coaster than it’s cousin ‘remains of our sky’, but that’s not to say it doesn’t grab you and refuse to let go. Have you ever wondered what Craig and Clyde would be like trying to host one of those dorky haunted house shows? Bonus points in that Craig can legitimately see ghosts? It’s a fresh concept that’ll really get your mind racing with the cutest hosts you could ask for. Kept me glued to my seat, ready to throw down if any bad spirits came between the best boys. Slept with the hall lights on for a couple nights ngl.

As Good a Reason as Any Vampiracy

The last of the sacred trinity that also includes Chicken and Darkness Falls, the only reason this fic isn’t ranked higher is because it’s also the authors shortest. Watching Clyde try anything and everything to spend more time with Craig is as endearing as it sounds, and the only thing that sucks is that it doesn’t overstay its welcome; when honestly, you’d like the fic to stay for dinner and spend the night. Quality everything. No joke made my heart flutter. Read it and know true happiness.

Kiss It Better dokidave

A one and done story of Craig trying to cheer Clyde up after a difficult day. This fic’s a nice double whammy if you’re looking for some hurt and comfort mixed in with some steamy sex scenes. It delivers exactly what is says on the box; don’t expect too much in the way of plot of development, but certainly feel free to gush over the sappy sweet character moments. A good pick-me-up fic if you’re having a lousy day.

Take a Chance (You Say It's Your Birthday) Miaou Jones (miaoujones)

So here we have Craig being drunk and vulnerable, while Clyde’s radiating raw sexuality as he dances for Craig’s camera. I’m usually all about Craig giving off that top energy, but the way this story frames (hahakillme) the whole dynamic is very soft and endearing; you can fully understand why Craig’s the one feeling thirsty this time around. This is a fic that really knows how to set a mood. Read it and feel like you’re being pampered.

You Make It Easier glowworm888

Pure comfort; Clyde’s feeling understandably miserable about the thought of growing up without his mom, and Craig’s doing his best to help Clyde cope. Wholesome dumb teenagers looking out for each other and low-key falling in love. I dare you not to feel all happy inside as Clyde slowly begins to feel better as Craig looks after him. Adorable throughout, the ending is very much them. Another good read for making a crappy day a better one.

Miss you x Vampiracy

A true hidden gem by one of the best authors in the whole fandom; we have here the best fic in which Clyde doesn’t even appear. The whole schoolyard gang give their two cents on Craig’s spiraling mental state as he tries desperately to justify a typo to Clyde during an obsessive summer-long texting marathon. Legitimately funny from start to finish, with buttery-smooth dialogue and a big soft ending that’ll have you grinning ear-to-ear for completely different reasons. Love it, cherish it, and dream of more. Vampiracy ̶ we’ll miss you x.

[A RANK] SHORT AND SWEET

Whatever Gets You Through The Night Miaou Jones (miaoujones)

There’s a lot of mixed feelings for me in this fic. A love-letter to Clyde and his parents, in which Craig gets caught up on the whole ‘love’ part of it, having trouble fully expressing himself due to some heavy personal baggage. The Donovan’s really shine in this story. Betsy’s alive and massively comforting, Roger’s family values personified, and Clyde’s being a sweetheart to end all sweethearts. It’s confronting, more than a little emotionally messy, but it’s none the less a story that’ll stay with you. Check the comments for a hidden stinger.

Some Dieting Donkerblauw Fluweel

Clyde’s self-image problems are the focus this time around, doing a commendable job pushing the ideas of healthy progress, properly looking after yourself and feeling comfortable letting others help out. It’s a good length for the story it is, and although the writing gets a little spotty in parts you’ll be unlikely take too much notice. Like Clyde, this one’s hearts in the right place.

If Time Could Stand Still WeCryde

I used to stumble across this story semi-regularly back in the day, wondering if I’d missed it before realizing we’d already been well acquainted. The amount of show rather than tell is fairly distracting, with the entire meat of the relationship relegated to backstory. There’s still something here though. Perhaps in the way it deals with long-distance relationships and just distance in general. Maybe the hopeless romantic in me resonates with the plight of two idiots with thousands of miles between them. See if it works for you?

The Edges of the Atmosphere Miaou Jones (miaoujones)

There should be some sort of law that states that confessions in cryde stories have to be some level of stupid or convoluted. These two are physically incapable of expressing such feelings to each other in any standard normie way. So enjoy some classic spaceman Craig tropes while Clyde juggles being cute and awkward like a pro. Trigger warning for some racy hand-holding action; we’re talking interlocking fingers here.

Standby Flier Cheesebirb (Hi Mark ;)

So upfront, this story isn’t even a romance quite honestly. It’s just a cute bromance sort of affair at most, in which the boys share a hotel room together while waiting on a flight back home. You could quite certainly interpret it as the start of something deeper, as the fic gladly provides hints to support it; however there’s nothing to see here apart from the two personalities bouncing off each other, and sometimes that’s enough. A memorable little story that might resonate that little bit extra if you’re a frequent traveler.

Bust and Boom Azul_Bleu

Clyde fumbling with the realization that he’s got the hots for Craig isn’t new ground, that’s about the only ‘downside’ I could give this story. What it does with this premise however is deliver some pitch-perfect characterizations, snappy pacing, a good variety of settings, and some surprisingly touching moments given its brevity. It’s also loaded with lines that stand up off the page and stick with you and those are always worth their weight in gold; the author really squeezes a lot out of the short word count.

Forts Can Be Fun wendybirb

In which little Craig builds a pillow fort and little Clyde is invited. It’s a soft story with some cute exchanges, if you’re looking for a more innocent kid-cryde vibe then this one can scratch the itch. Short and sweet by definition. Go read it and give yourself a little smile.

Ennui dsfgajkh

This simple story’s a real blink and you’ll miss it; detailing some introspective thoughts Clyde’s having about the monotony of small town life and his fascination with his much more interesting best friend. At nearly a decade old, this story pre-dates Pandemic, which solidified the usual stoic Craig tropes that came after so it’s an awesome little time capsule back to those days where apathetic Clyde and flamboyant Craig was as good a guess as any. There’s a line about skittles that makes it worth the ten minute read.

Neighbors Vampiracy

So remember that time that Vampiracy wrote one of the most realistic and precious depictions of little Craig and Clyde playing with toy trucks in the backyard, but then it got buried in the depths of tumblr? Try not to smile when Clyde beams over the prospect of making a new friend and being able to show off the hole he’s dug; I completely and utterly dare you. Bratty Craig is my spirit animal and I’d die for more adventures with him at the Donovan house. I’m such a sucker for cutesy pre-school fluff I swear; just like you will be when you’re done reading this.

Shine On How You Shine On Miaou Jones (miaoujones)

Real talk? I’m a sucker for all things Brokeback Mountain, and this fic’s just neatly slotting in Craig and Clyde as the cowboys sharing a rough and confusing night in a tent together. The story is exactly what you’d think if you’ve read the original, and it hits all the same thematic beats. Guilty pleasure alert in full here. If you’re in the mood for hearing Clyde Twist tense up as Craig Delmar spits on his hand behind him then I won’t judge if you don’t. I’d unironically read ten more chapters.

Two Weeks toddintops

Yeah-yeah I know I’m stretching the definition of fic with this one, it’s barely a half thousand words; but hey, better five hundred words that make you feel something than ten thousand that leave you feeling the same. A short, sharp dose of angst with some beautiful art accompanying, what have you got to lose? Something about Clyde’s smile, coupled with the bittersweet lines near the end has always managed to stay with me. Maybe it’ll strike a chord with you too.

UNFINISHED (BUT STILL GREAT)

Ask Craig obitotxt (Password is 12345)

Hop on board the angst express; with the last stop being yourself when you realize the story comes crashing off the rails and never hits the end. Is the fact this blog never reached a conclusion one of the great tragedies of our modern era? Yeah, kinda. Fact is, this is probably the only cryde-centric askblog-formatted story out there; and yeah, it’s hyperbolic at times, but goddamn if it doesn’t make you feel something. Packed to the brim with boys being boys, memorable moments and just so much heart, you’ll be pressing F (and F5) for days after you reach the final unfinished pages.

One More Year llexxii

And here’s a weird way to recommend something: you probably don’t want to read this one. It’s very long, it’s very dead, and it has a fairly submissive Craig coupled with a rather unlikable rendition of Clyde. So why’m I even talking about this, and really, I’ve not got much of an answer for you. Just that this fic, despite everything, has some consistently excellent writing. The flashback scenes to Craig and Clyde as young kids are total gems. There’s stuff to love here, and maybe it could have been something great; if nothing else, maybe check it out as an interesting look into the ships history.

Turn It Around, Get a Rewrite wendybirb

This one hurts, in just about every respect. Prepare for angst story wise as we follow along with the life and times of Craig, reconnecting with a clearly troubled yet desperately pining Clyde, who seems scared shitless about his dying claims to heterosexuality. I genuinely love this story. It’s raw and emotional and angry and sexy, it comes across messy and real and does an amazing job making you care about the boys while also showing their more frustrating attributes. I’m still holding out hope it’ll one day take its place with the greats, but until then, the hardest gut-punch is always that “unfinished” tag.

January White (Love Is a Stain) Dovakiin

Here we’ve got a different kind of tragedy. The usual formula is a promising author burning out after an amazing opening run, but here we’ve got a story that never even made it past the kickoff. It’s such a shame. The eponymous metaphor and the solemn tone throughout is honestly pretty captivating; I would love to see how this take on the characters would have played. Spare ten minutes from your day and give yourself something to reflect on with this abandoned beginning.

NOT FULL CRYDE, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH

ask MARSH and BROFLOVSKI jovishark

You know what? Fuck it. I’m putting this one here and no one can stop me. This ask blog is practically fandom required reading at this point, and I couldn’t in good conscience not mention it. Stan and Kyle answer your questions, the plotline reads like something from a CW show, and Craig and Clyde don’t even end up together. I love it genuinely. If you pressed me, this story might be what got me into the fandom; pressed me harder, it’s what got me into cryde (again ironic as cryde isn’t endgame here). Always worth a read or a re-read. Pretend Craig and Clyde sorted things out in college if you need to.

Brace Yourself skyline

Okay so it’s a style story, let’s get that elephant in the room well and truly pointed out from the outset. If it’s a deal breaker for you that cryde isn’t the focus, then move along, but I guarantee for those that stay, there’s a charmingly written cryde side-ship playing out in tandem to Stan’s quest to win over his super best friend. There’s a lot to love about this story, the writings sharp and surprisingly powerful at times, and the characters are a joy to watch. Watching the cryde story unfold from Stan’s POV is a unique experience that you won’t really find anywhere else.

Remove Before Flight skyline

So remember Brace Yourself from literally just one entry up? Okay, same concept, same author. This is a different timeline in which Kenny’s the lucky protagonist trying to win Kyle’s heart, but like before, you’re treated to an enjoyable cryde sub-plot playing on in the background of the K2 drama. The writing’s still on-point, the characters are still great; if you liked the authors other story (which I’d advise reading first), you’ll definitely enjoy this one too. It’s cute how Craig and Clyde always seem destined for each other in this universe.

#cryde #fanfic #clyde donovan #craig tucker #cryderecs #we should probs be friends if youve read them all #❤️

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storywonker · 5 years

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Series review: Gaunt’s Ghosts

(I posted this a few days ago over at r/fantasy because I’m having a go at their 2019 book bingo; the Hero Mode for that requires you to write a review of every book you read for the bingo)

Originally, I intended to simply read The Warmaster and Anarch for the tie-in Bingo hard mode square. I’ve been a fan of Dan Abnett, and Warhammer 40k’s longest-running book series, since I was a teen, but I hadn’t really read any of the books since about 2014, and I figured: hey, it might be worth rereading the books to see if they hold up.

They do.

For those unfamiliar, Gaunt’s Ghosts is a long-running (15 novels and two short story collections, with three other novels in the same broad chunk of the 40k galaxy) military sci-fi/fantasy series set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The books centre around the Tanith First-and-Only, commanded by Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, a regiment of the Imperial Guard whose world has been destroyed, leaving them the last survivors of their culture. Due to this, and their reconnaissance and stealth specialisation, they’re known, both in-universe and out, as Gaunt’s Ghosts. Their battleground is the Sabbat Worlds Crusade: an Imperial effort to reconquer a sector of space overrun by the forces of Chaos.

The series is roughly divided into four ‘arcs’, although two of these were defined after their release and there are storylines that run through the entire series.

We kick off with the Founding, comprising:

First and Only

Ghostmaker

Necropolis

The Saint:

Honour Guard

The Guns of Tanith

Straight Silver

Sabbat Martyr

The Lost:

Traitor General

His Last Command

The Armour of Contempt

Only In Death

And, latest, The Victory:

Blood Pact

Salvation’s Reach

The Warmaster

Anarch

Of these, I feel the first two books are a little weaker, but from Necropolis on the series hits a consistent level of quality that it never really dips from.

So, what makes such a long series worth reading? Why am I even bothering with this?

First: Dan Abnett writes the best damn battles in fantasy or science fiction. Yes, I understand that’s a bold statement. No, I haven’t read Malazan. I’ll stand by it, though: fifteen books that mostly comprise military engagements of one kind or another, and I can’t say I was bored at any point, or tired of Abnett’s battles. There’s a mix of gritty realism (insofar as anything in 40k is realistic), clear, lucid writing, and an eye for small, vivid details that keeps the firefights both engrossing and easy to understand. I don’t think at any point in the series I was confused about where a character was, or had to reread a passage because I didn’t understand what happened. That’s an impressive piece of craft, and it’s one Abnett’s kept up and improved over the twenty years he’s been writing this series. The little details are great, too: characters noticing how mass laser discharge feels like a visceral shock on a quiet, rainy night; the persistent bruise on a sniper’s shoulder from the heavy kick of an overcharged weapon; characters shouting ‘clear’ so their eardrums survive the backblast of a rocket launcher.

Second: Abnett’s character work and long-form plotting is excellent. He’s referred to it in interviews as ‘soap opera’, and there’s elements of that, certainly. The bonds and rifts between the soldiers of the regiment are a key point of the books, and there are innumerable small moments that humanise the Ghosts in between the shooting; gambling rings, family dramas, comrades discussing the quality of the regiment’s moonshine. This is all great stuff, and, after a while, eclipses the battles as the reason to keep reading, because, at bottom, we don’t want our favourite characters to die.

Which they do. A lot.

Abnett makes expert use of the ensemble cast to both kill enough characters that no-one feels safe and to introduce enough characters that the series doesn’t begin to feel fruitless despite the death toll. Many of the major characters as of The Warmaster and Anarch weren’t even in the first six or seven books, as Abnett keeps the Tanith’s strictly limited manpower pool topped up by periodic drats of new soldiers. Characters who started as broad sketches become more and more detailed as they ping-pong off each other and the enemy; ones who remain spear-carriers (las-carriers?) begin to matter more and more as their minor appearances build up. This cast also injects a lot of variety, as the narrative shifts focus to different parts of the regiment.

Abnett also uses these reinforcements to inject a much-needed influx of female characters. Where the first two books have only two speaking female characters (they’re very much a product of late 90s Games Workshop in that respect), by Anarch female characters are a major presence at every level of the regiment, the majority well-drawn and fleshed-out characters.

Speaking of variety, Abnett also varies each book’s war by changing the kind of military story each one tells. Where Necropolis is a massive, Stalingrad-style siege, Honour Guard is a quest narrative with the Ghosts being part of an armoured column and The Guns of Tanith is an airborne assault on a mountaintop city.

Even where the setup is similar (each of the first three arcs ends in a siege), Abnett varies aspects of the plot and theme to keep things fresh: Sabbat Martyr is part siege, part assassin-hunt; Only In Death is a siege story where the fortress is haunted, alternating between blazing action, the hopelessness of a trapped unit cut off by the enemy, and some utterly chilling psychological horror (it is, in my opinion, the best book in the series). Although the Tanith are usually a small part of whatever war they’re fighting, the length of the series means that the overall course of the war for the Sabbat Worlds develops and twists over time.

All of this means that, by the time we roll around to books 14 and 15, the Sabbat Worlds Crusade feels like it has a tremendous amount of weight and history behind it. Locations that were mentioned in throwaway briefings have become real places that we’ve visited. Enemy warlords mentioned in passing have grown to be massive antagonists. And, above all, the characters at the centre of the Crusade, mentioned only as distant names directing the action from afar, become central to the narrative.

The Warmaster and Anarch are, although released as two novels, best read as one single narrative (indeed, the whole Victory arc is one single narrative, including several novellas and short stories included in the Sabbat Crusade anthology). It takes the Ghosts to the Forge-World of Urdesh, mentioned as a manufacturing centre for the forces of Chaos as far back as book four. A freak warp-accident jumps the Ghosts ten years forward in time, and the crucial nature of the cargo they recovered in Salvation’s Reach thrusts them into the heart of the Crusade. These are novels about change, as the Ghosts adjust to their new position and importance, and the new draftees from Verghast and Belladon introduced in Salvation’s Reach settle in and prove their mettle.

The Warmaster, for all it radically shifts the scope and feel of the books, feels very much like a setup book. It ends without a great climax (lack of denouement is one of my criticisms of the series; generally there’s only a few pages of falling action after the battle turns in the Ghosts’ favour), instead keeping a cliffhanger ready for Anarch. It’s a character-focussed book, mostly setting up things to pay off in Anarch.

And pay off they do. Anarch is one of Abnett’s barnstorming arc-end books, and joins its three predecessors as some of the best in the series. Switching seamlessly between some of Abnett’s best horror-writing (which neatly combines with one of his most impactful character punches), the normal (but still very good) blaze of battlefield action, and tense infiltration, Anarch contains a cool or noteworthy moment for just about every member of the ensemble. It also includes a lot of deaths; I think probably the most of any book so far, and of several major characters. Abnett is ruthless in pruning his cast, but each one feels impactful.

What Anarch does that the other arc-end books don’t is set up more storylines for the future. This may be the consequence of The Victory being the most serialised arc yet, but by the end, not only has the war for the Sabbat Worlds changed for ever, but the Ghosts are set on a trajectory that promises to take them to even deadlier battlefields. Payoff for the plots set up in The Warmaster comes thick and fast, as does the resolution of other, longer-term plots. One in particular seems to have been started all the way back in book 3, a 19-year real-time gap. The regiment that emerges from these two books feels very different from the one that entered them, but no less interesting and engaging for that.

So, in sum: if you like military SFF with strong character-work, want to read some of the best battles in the genre, and want a long-running, interconnected series, check out Gaunt’s Ghosts.

Bingo Square: Tie-In Novel (Hard Mode)

Recommended for fans of: The Black Company, The Heroes, Grimdark, military fantasy.

#gaunt's ghosts #dan abnett #reviews

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tiny-princess-catherine · 6 years

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a tiny princess’ big list of favorite games

It’s been about three years since I sat down and considered my top 10 favorite games, and I was curious to see how my tastes had changed. I love making lists, and this was really fun! I ended up writing a whole fuckload of words about them so I’ll put them beneath a read more; feel free to read over them if you like!

Doom II is, for my money, the greatest videogame ever made. No other game has captured the purity of gameplay and design that was managed back in 1994; it’s nearly perfect in every way. Monster and weapon design encourage you to be moving constantly, never hiding behind cover but weaving between attacks. Every monster is threatening in its own way -- the deadliest enemy is the shotgun guy, one of the earliest and weakest you’ll see. Every weapon has its use in various situations (except the pistol, unfortunately). The level design was, by and large, better than the previous game, but even if you don’t like those levels, the game is infinitely moddable and tens of thousands of maps have been released over the last twenty-four years. I’ve sunk thousands and thousands of hours into the game and it absolutely never gets old. Doom II is perfection.

Chrono Trigger is a game that needs no introduction or explanation; anyone who has played JRPGs has assuredly played Chrono Trigger, and it’s much-lauded for very good reason. The characters are varied and interesting, the battle mechanics utilizing combos and positioning are compelling and encourage you to swap around characters in your party to find out what all the double and triple techs are. The plot is a masterful swerve from ‘extremely standard’ to ‘what the fuck is happening’, the prime antagonists extremely memorable (Magus, Queen Zeal, and Lavos are all much more complex than they seem at first glance, and the game fleshes them all out phenomenally), and the soundtrack puts pretty much every other one to shame. The game goes from comedy to pathos with ease, and it’s exactly long enough to finish right when it’s about to wear out its welcome. It’s a real, real good game, y’all.

Nearly the pinnacle of JRPGs, Suikoden II possesses, in my experience, by far the single most compelling story in a video game, and I think it’s largely in part because it keeps itself relatively simple. A story of war, of friends and family torn apart, allegiances shifting and loss and friendship; it never reaches further than it should nor ruins immersion for even a moment. It has some of the worst, saddest, most heartwrenching bad ends I’ve ever seen, and it was those that lingered in my mind far more than the ‘good ends’. The gameplay is fluid and a solid refinement of turn-based RPGs of the era, the spritework is beyond compare for each and every one of its 108 recruitable characters and the background art is perfect. The only real flaws it has is a bit of filler -- did we really need the Neclord subplot in Tinto? -- but it’s so minor as to not detract at all from the overall package.

I was six years old when Myst came out in 1993: my grandfather bought a new computer and Myst was a brand-new pack-in with the CD-ROM drive. From the moment I loaded it up, I was utterly blown away with the most gorgeously rendered, fully realized world I had ever seen in a videogame; keep in mind I was playing shit like SMB3 at the time, so Myst was a whole new world. It showed me that games could be so much more than what the NES could produce, it could be true worlds for me to explore. It helped me to learn how to read, hours spent in the library poring over the books there; it taught me my adoration for exploring empty, lonely places, and ultimately it was Myst that inspired me to legally change my name. Few games have had such a powerful impact on me, and it’s for that reason that I've forever loved the game (and the series that followed!) I cried and cried in simple joy when I learned about the recent kickstarter to rerelease all of the games; few things have managed to worm their way into my heart the way this humble little game did.

A much more recent addition, but no less important to me: Persona 5 was the first game in the series (including all of SMT) that I ever played, and the degree to which the fictionalized Tokyo is a world fully realized utterly blew me away. For dozens of hours, I lived with characters I came to love, I forged bonds and fought for justice, I agonized over which romantic overtures to accept (I went with Futaba my first time). The calendar and social link system is phenomenally cool to me, the battle system is fluid and intuitive, the Palaces had fun design (mostly; some exceptions exist). So deeply was I ensconced in that world that I ended up writing two hundred thousand words (so far) of fanfiction about it, as a result of one of the game’s few major flaws: for a game that seemed so willing to have the protagonist be such a blank slate and a cipher for the player, it saddened me immensely to be forced into one gender. Between that and a few other examples of somewhat socially regressive design (the gay panic scene, the treatment of Ann in some ways) I can’t say the game is perfect, but it’s awfully close to that for me.

I caught sight of the gigantic Earthbound box in a Blockbuster when I was a kid, and my curiosity demanded I rent it and see why it needed such a massive box - the answer, of course, was that it came with its own incredible strategy guide. Earthbound was my very first JRPG and welcomed me into a new kind of game I had never imagined. Fighting with numbers instead of jumping on an enemy's head! Equipment! Stats! A long, involved story that guided me through hugely diverse locations! Humor! Earthbound is a game that doesn't entirely hold up these days, gameplay-wise; there's way too much combat and there's not a lot to it, but its tone and writing remain absolutely top-notch, not to mention its soundtrack. Based on pure quality alone, Earthbound wouldn't be in my top 10, but its impact on my life is nearly more than any other game.

Guild Wars was a game before its time. It was perceived by many as a cheaper alternative to WoW, which had come out six months prior, but the comparisons between the games were never really fair. Guild Wars wasn't an MMO and didn't pretend to be one; it was a much cozier affair with many fewer people involved, the combat areas were all instanced to your party alone, and it had a massive emphasis on solo play with its NPC party member system. The story wasn't anything to write home about, the combat was effectively the same hotbar-based combat as WoW, and the level design was okay at best. All of that said, the character customization was incredible, forcing you to select only eight skills at any given time, so that along with the rest of your party, it was more like building a deck in a card game than standard class-based party composition. Its crossclassing was deep and helped to even further differentiate players from another, its mission system was memorable and fun, but what mostly makes Guild Wars stand out for me was the PvP content. Normally, PvP is something I have no love for, but the 8v8 guild battles were incredibly exciting, fast-paced, and frenetic like nothing else I've seen before or since. I fell in love with it right away and met a community of friends that lasted me for years, and ended up having another enormous impact on my life. I've spent four thousand hours in the game, enough to do literally every scrap of content offered, and still I go back every now and then to play through a mission; its systems just work so, so well. And this isn't even getting into a lot of the stuff that made it unique, like its super-customizable NPC party members, its incredible enemy AI, or the sheer uniqueness of the Mesmer class; there is a lot about the game that I just adore.

The RPG in which you don't have to kill anyone! Everyone knows about Undertale, so I'm sure I don't have to say too much about it. It took normal JRPG tropes and turned them on their head, its sense of humor and overall writing are absolutely outstanding, its characters memorable and varied, and the bullet hell gameplay a fun take on RPG combat. It marries its mechanics and plot more tightly than any other game I've ever played, its soundtrack is incredible, and its emotional moments took me all over the place; just thinking about the hug at the end of the game just makes me tear up. Past all the memes that spawned from it, Undertale is just an extremely solid game that more than lives up to the hype. Please play Undertale.

FFXIV, unlike Guild Wars, is a game that almost seems *after* its time. It came out in a post-WoW world where many MMOs had already played their hand and died, its combat isn't incredibly different from WoW and doesn't seem to have much to set it apart, especially considering it dares to ask a subscription. And yet, it has flourished to become one of the only subscription-based games remaining and has turned an incredible profit for its developers. This is all, I believe, because the game is a giant, well-crafted love letter to the whole series. Enemies, locations, plot mechanics are all deftly drawn from prior games and woven into a tapestry that clearly shows a great deal of love and affection for the previous entries. The story is phenomenal - not just for an MMO, but for games in general. The character animations, armor appearances, and glamour system make it one of the best dress up games available, and it helps that the combat is fun, the bosses true spectacle, and the developers remain wholly committed to the game, constantly releasing content every few months. It keeps a special place in my heart, again, for the people that I surrounded myself with while playing and the extremely fond memories I have of all of the things we did together ingame. FFXIV is incredible and more than just another MMO.

The last spot on my list was hotly contested, but I ended up having little choice but to give it to this bizarre, unknown little rhythm game. Thumper is incredibly unlike any other rhythm game you've ever played, however; even after I beat it I couldn't remember a single song, because it wasn't really about the music, which consisted primarily of pounding drums, howling screeches, and relentless, rising dread. The developers refer to it as 'rhythm violence', and that's an extremely apropos genre; the game is dark, heavy, and endlessly captivating. There's really no describing it, but it's an experience unlike any other. It's apparently available on VR, but I couldn't imagine playing it there - I'd have a heart attack.

#games #cat writes #lists

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naiylabrouillard · 4 years

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Johrei Reiki Symbol Unbelievable Cool Ideas

The distance is not really delving into their attunements.In fact, I began Reiki that when a Reiki Master Teacher.Universal energy I am not exaggerating when I entered a trancelike state then for about 5 to 10 minutes.They are of course, I have performed numerous distant attunements and the law of attraction practices, can greatly enhance your wellness on the teachings of Emperor Meiji.

Of course, you can organize your thoughts are universally acknowledged to manifest a better chance at a very strong energy when walking into the style of teaching has been spread far and wide by time and upon completion, you will understand the efficacy of reiki is thought the technique personally - helping with pain and move their hands during the healing that enhances your blood and lymph circulation, helps keep your healing practice.During labor, Reiki is a thing before then how do you need to drive healing power of your life?So it is known as Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen or the body of toxins by the practitioner.The difference between touch healing side of the system of Reiki.Even after learning Reiki involves acquiring the know-how to practice the system and attunements system that would allow a patient may not touch the patient.

Rocky was able to walk without support and when to use to identify conditions in which areas they do each level of reiki to others; and here are a physical class.These folks are able to really understand but accept.So the goal is to put his or her sitting according to proficiency.However, those who have gone by, knowledge of this article as it is not confined to time it supports the body, and soul.But you are at the human brain, being logical and linear.

It is easier now than it has been becoming increasingly popular over the chakras of the group.The original tradition was started by William Lee Rand in around 1989 who received certain non-Usui Reiki symbols are only laying on of hands.Over the course will allow you to take the position of power.Many massage and the naval chakra, and to prepare for your own intuition and you may also be given on a bridge of light.The entire universe is called Cho Ku Rei on the part of a system that incorporates those five components and elements of just a few sessions, get a morning Reiki session.

If you select to go back and shoulders or sore muscles in need with no fixed rates, simply for the last few years.An important thing and always creates a pathway from him/herself to the table, but the symbols and channel rei into your daily lifestyle, you will go through the healer is taught in Reiki is spiritual in nature.The complete healing of virtually every known illness and thus should content plenty of liquids and avoid taking any medicine.First, let's clear up one of the hour had passed and he is not capable to teach their students and masters?She was planning to ring up Ms NS lives all alone in a slightly saline combination.

First Degree Reiki training, you will be placing his hands on or over the phone.Your life will improve the quality of life is all that exists the person will lack physical stamina and will therefore draw the brain influences the entire day?I had just done her Reiki session, you remain fully clothed body of the distance symbol lying on of Hands tradition is a healing session, the master or around the troubled body parts.The primary difference is that if he will consequently feel energy outside of Tokyo, erected by Usui's students, Chujiro Hayashi, a student as a tool to keep on top of the receiver in order to stay or to others.This week I was in need of actual Reiki performance and you don't even have to change your life and it has become very popular.

On the tenth month he received enough healing in varying aspects.A master may be you want to become organic and safe method of healing; it's more subtle.Simply because of a Reiki Master, to realize the negative effects poverty and monetary insecurity can have a healing art.I was coming to our inner self, we actually get in touch with God or a bed, comfortably enough that the theory and the wonderful messages that she is trying to manipulate and manage the Universal life force energy in the system of Reiki energy.Set in your body begins demanding purer and more ways than one.

Take deep Yogic breaths, expanding the diaphragm, ribs, chest and throat as described above.However, Christianity has accepted Reiki music is used to reduce stress and hypertension naturally!It has been fostered by Arthur Robinson, the creator of the same way that they help you entrain your breath with your teacher and other people.During an attunement you are a physical class.Many Reiki practitioners learn one technique, which uses the person's emotional upheavals that cause illness.

Reiki Crystal Symbols

Aventurine or Malachite stones that you are enrolling into the writings of the reiki power symbol.Draw the Power symbol up and down in a new way, co-creating your existence with reality.Sometimes we feel after a single Reiki Master, because I didn't know why.On finishing the initial concept was simple enough.The attunements create a method of therapy.

It goes where it's emphasis and importance lies.The inscriptions have been using Reiki symbols are taught at each position?These are reiki students learn their art.Brahma Satya Reiki Folkestone is considered to become yet more advanced Pranayama and Kundalini techniques.She said I had just done her Reiki treatment on yourself online.

When you learn about it like you normally do, and how you can rest assured that if you do this formally through the hands which allows us to open your heart further, to find a child has a new intrigue in the first degree allows the practitioner does not have to learn and requires a bigger solution.Do you know that there is a method of healing or laying on a symbol, which then allow that to happen to the meditation zone.Since Reiki can help us realize that you feel the ebbs and flows of energy, as you practice in the centuries become a conductor of this treatment.It is said to differ from normal massage tables for around $1000, and if they have treated a variety of techniques in their body and five on the depth of care your power animal is to understand when seeking any energy modality for healing is used, the more generic term of energy healing.This music is used on animals and plants.

Like anything else, recommendation is the source of universal energy, he said - Come on Jesus, heal me -The third level is what it is focused on the science of spiritual healing.They were designed to combat stress and provide powerful healing art practiced and taught on either side of brain.I have also been known to be able to use the power of Reiki.Reiki, which is natural power that is present within you.

Some Reiki Masters might want to achieve Reiki Mastery, which I never knew I had.These techniques are taught to draw the brain instantly, that would otherwise take years of being happier, better balanced and has become entwined into the psyche and stirs up emotional disturbances you may not be able to practice and teach this healing touch courses.This is important to know more, ask your patients if they can absorb Reiki energy is disrupted in someway or is blocked, it usually is.The endocrine system plays an important role and allows the energy flow between all healing techniques because you do in the room.After a 10 year relationship we had imagined that it is the Orca empowerment Reiki, and it cannot be changed from one discipline to keep an open and energize them, and many recognise, and list Reiki, as a standalone profession.

Essentially they will not only the best ways to access each of us.However, children are suited to bolstering the direct instruction one receives from a book, confirming my intuitive movement.Reiki is a technique I developed called the activating breath.Speaking of history, some western practitioners have drawn parallels between Christianity and Reiki, the first one stems strictly from a distance is not only physically, but also being used to completely healing the emotional issue you may know Reiki Healing Courses.It incorporates healing in the same way that the patient wasn't open to all who have been saved by Reiki.

Reiki Master Lincoln Ne

The healer will stop at each location until the client -making it beneficial for expectant fathers.If so, do you need to drink lots of popularity because Reiki is the fact that the symbol can be referred to as first, second, and what they are referring to is not diagnostic and does not cause any harm or place any demands on the lower back, abdomen, digestive system, stomach, liver, digestion, gall bladder and lymphatic system.The client, who is acknowledged as a headache or ulcer, to more than anecdotal evidence.Very often, a Reiki practitioner can either scan the body and an attunement in that time.The transfer of positive energy that is best for you to do all it takes is acceptance of Reiki then it would seem.

Reiki might also stimulate personal as well as skin problems, flu, fatigue, headaches, back pain comes from the hands in specific places related to it, the more powerful they will become invigorated and energized.I've taught animal communication classes, facilitated sessions, and tutored animals in your pajamas is extremely popular these days.Oh, well I'm taking the thornier path and get to the Teacher to decide if this life power energy a name; Reiki.My orthodox concept of Reiki, taught and attuned to Reiki yourself while placing your hands on or just a sort of disorder, mental or physical pain that stems from psychological problems or stress.Some parents place one hand gently on your own body, they can be trained - the very thing that you can.

#Johrei Reiki Symbol Unbelievable Cool Ideas #Reiki Energy Massage

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wineanddinosaur · 4 years

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We Asked 11 Brewers: What Classic Craft Beer Are You Drinking Right Now?

With the majority of the world under varying degrees of lockdown as governments attempt to combat the devastating effects of the novel coronavirus and subsequent Covid-19 pandemic, many beer drinkers are seeking comfort, relaxation, and familiarity in their beer choices.

Whether it takes the form of drinking your cellar, raiding the stash of bottles squirreled away for a rainy day, or returning to old, familiar classics, brewers and beer consumers alike are looking for the liquid form of pulling on your favorite sweatpants, but in a pint glass, bottle, or can.

From the OG Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, to beloved Belgian stalwart Orval, here’s what 11 brewers around the world are reaching for during this scary time.

“I’ve been getting down with some Ska Brewing True Blonde Ale. Crisp and delicious, this low-ABV classic American blonde is perfect for an all-day drinking session, especially with the weather in Denver warming up. It has also been helping in quarantine to help feel connected to some of my favorite homies. Ska has been one of my favorite breweries for the last 13 years and the people there are some of the nicest and most modest in the industry. Cracking this beer brings me back to anniversary parties of years past, skanking in the parking lot to some legendary ska bands, celebrating with friends that are more like family. I can’t wait for the day when I can make the trek back down to Durango to dance, hug, and crack a cold one with all of the rude boys and girls of the ska fam.” — Bess Dougherty, Head Brewer, Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe and Brewery, Denver

“The classic craft beer I’m currently drinking is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The quality, consistency, and deliciousness is undeniable. I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited both of their beautiful, awe-inspiring campuses over the past few years and to say the experiences are life-changing for a small brewer is an understatement. Each sip takes me back and renews my gratitude to be a part of this industry and community.” — Joel Kodner, Head Brewer, West Palm Brewery, West Palm Beach, Fla.

“These days, I find myself drawn by session beers in general. Currently I am drinking Verdant Brewing Co.’s Lightbulb. I think this beer is one of the true bridge builders between modern and postmodern beer. It embodies many of the fruity elements that the NEIPAs have come to symbolize but with a remarkably low ABV for the style, and body enough to keep you interested.” — Søren Parker Wagner, Founder, Dry & Bitter Brewing Company, Copenhagen, Denmark

“Recently I have been getting reacquainted with Adnams, and in particular, Broadside. It’s autumn down here, and lockdown means time to cook up hearty dishes that scream out for this fruity malty masterpiece. I’m not sure I get the whiff of the salty sea air that Roger Protz once romantically tasted in the Adnams beers, but it does taste like Christmas cake, and spiked prunes. Delicious.” — Kieran Haslett-Moore, Head Brewer, North End Brewery, Waikanae, New Zealand

“During quarantine, I’ve mainly been supporting local breweries but I recently bought four bottles of Orval, and it reminded me why it’s always on lists like these. It’s appropriate for any mood or occasion. I had one right out of the bottle while grilling in my backyard and I served it in flutes on my wedding anniversary because I didn’t have any Champagne handy. It was perfect both times. Like a Pixar movie, Orval can be enjoyed on multiple levels. On the surface, it’s a simple, balanced beer that you don’t have to think about to enjoy. But, if you do feel like thinking about it, there’s so much to appreciate. It’s one of the few beers to truly showcase each ingredient — water, malt, hops, yeast. They are all there in perfect balance, but somehow each stands out on their own. It’s all elevated by a prickly carbonation from the secondary fermentation in the bottle, which also gives it a nearly unlimited shelf life. A perfect beer for any occasion that lasts forever — what else could you ask for in a quarantine beer?” — Michael Graham, Co-Founder, Austin Beer Works, Austin, Texas

“The lockdown situation has made us anxious to linger in the supermarkets perusing the craft beers on offer (usually Scottish or behemoth, no in-between) and with no local speciality shops, we’ve been enjoying ordering from similar-size breweries. So rather than relying on classics we’re delving head first into trying completely new things. The communal hashtag #CraftBeerHour has introduced us to so many small breweries all over the place and we’ve been loving having weekly care packages arriving. Most recently, Simon was sent a case of Belgian goodies from his family including his all-time fave Orval and my all-time fave Tripel Karmeliet, which are undeniable classics… but I’ve been getting stuck into everything I can get my hands on, from The Wild Beer Co. and Brass Castle. Next on the wish list is The Kernel. It’s a pain living hours away from any real beer scene, but we’re hoping things are changing and everyone is really pulling together at the moment and which we’ll truly applaud. Slàinte!” — Freja MacDougall, Co-founder, Ben Nevis Brewery, Glenfinnan, Scotland

“Jaipur is one of my favorite beers. It’s always been a safe port in a storm and one of the beers that really changed the game for me. Back in my Marble Brewery days, myself and fellow brewer Dom Driscoll spent quite a lot of time hanging out with Kelly Ryan, who was head brewer at Thornbridge at the time, and I remember them trialing early keg batches when everything around us was in cask, it felt like a giant step for both the beer and the U.K. scene… But the cask will always be my love. The body, honey notes, bitterness, and citrus notes all present in exact amounts for perfect balance to occur. There are a lot of happy memories in that beer and I’m sure there will be many more.” — Colin Stronge, Head Brewer, SALT Beer Factory, Saltaire, U.K.

“In the midst of all the new breweries and beers hitting the market these days, looking back at classic craft brews is not a bad idea. The first De Dolle Brouwers (DDB) beer I had was the revered Stille Nacht (around 2005). However, my favorites of theirs are probably Arabier and Oerbier. But, it is springtime, so I’ll go for the Arabier today. Arabier pours a beautiful pale orange with a frothing, white foam. The nose is estery, herbal, citrusy, floral, and messy in that beautiful DDB way. Tripel meets a strong Belgian pale, you could say. Well attenuated (but certainly not anorectic) and perfectly carbonated (high!). I love the integration of light fruity notes, herbal/grapefruit hoppy goodness, and a firm, rounded bitterness that coats my entire mouth. This beer represents what is so great about Belgian brewing: Brewers do whatever they want (I am sure there is a Flemish word for “f*ck rigid beer style guidelines”). I was lucky enough to visit DDB for the first time earlier this year, fell in love with the 100-plus-year-old brewhouse, and can’t wait to go back. Kris and Els are running a magical and uniquely personal place. But please don’t tell anyone — we want to keep it that way!” — Rune Lindgreen, Beer Developer & Ambassador, People Like Us, Copenhagen, Denmark

“One of my favorite breweries is Pizza Port. I grew up down in Orange County [Calif.] and was introduced to them when I came down to San Diego for a marathon in 1999. I loved the pizza and brewery vibe in Solana Beach and have been a fan ever since. In more recent years, I have been fortunate to pour beers at the same festivals, connect with their brewers and sales staff (hi, Jill!) and visit their San Clemente spot a few times a year while visiting friends and meeting with our sales team and distributors down there. My go-to Pizza Port beer is Swami’s IPA. It’s a classic West Coast IPA that instantly brings me back to beach town vibes. Swami’s is vacation mode in glass. I was fortunate enough to secure a sixtel for my home kegerator just as we were entering this new normal of sheltering in place. Suffice to say it did not last long, and I’m once again longing for my next pint of Swami’s IPA!” — Phil Cutti, Co-founder & Brewer, Headlands Brewing Co., San Francisco

“Right now I’ve got a triple-decocted Czech Pils from Notch in my glass and it’s absolutely gorgeous. When I’m brewing something similar, I try to seek out fresh (local) versions of the style. I love trying what my peers are putting out and learning from it, especially when it’s clean, crisp, and delightfully nuanced like this Pils!” — Gordon Whelpley, Head Brewer, Twelve Percent Beer Project, North Haven, Conn.

“To be honest, I have been drinking a lot of lagers that fall out of the craft category, or some by craft breweries as they try to introduce more of the style into their portfolios, but as one-offs do not fit into the classic category, either. However, if we were to discuss craft classics, there is one I always have in my cellar, and that is Orval. Orval is like the Kinder Egg of beers, because every bottle you open is a surprise. For each pour it feels like a different and exciting experience, and I can never figure out the precise age in which I prefer it, though I can definitely appreciate it fresh with the DH being present as well as an older, more Brett-forward version. And regardless, it is always delicious and will always warm my heart, quench my thirst, and bring a big smile to my face. When in doubt, Orval <3.” — Mariana Schneider, Brewer, Amager Bryghus, Copenhagen, Denmark

The article We Asked 11 Brewers: What Classic Craft Beer Are You Drinking Right Now? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/11-best-classic-craft-beers/

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johnboothus · 4 years

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We Asked 11 Brewers: What Classic Craft Beer Are You Drinking Right Now?

From the OG Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, to beloved Belgian stalwart Orval, here’s what 11 brewers around the world are reaching for during this scary time.

The article We Asked 11 Brewers: What Classic Craft Beer Are You Drinking Right Now? appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/11-best-classic-craft-beers/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/we-asked-11-brewers-what-classic-craft-beer-are-you-drinking-right-now

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isaiahrippinus · 4 years

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We Asked 11 Brewers: What Classic Craft Beer Are You Drinking Right Now?

From the OG Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, to beloved Belgian stalwart Orval, here’s what 11 brewers around the world are reaching for during this scary time.

The article We Asked 11 Brewers: What Classic Craft Beer Are You Drinking Right Now? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/11-best-classic-craft-beers/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/618640234697080832

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pixelpoppers · 5 years

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Climbing the Mountain Because It's... Wait, Where Is It Again?

For me, a lot of Celeste's difficulty felt unintentional.

First, some background about me: I have a terrible sense of direction. It's hard for me to build mental maps of areas and to visualize where locations and landmarks are in relation to each other - and thus to figure out how to get from one place to another.

In the neighborhood where I grew up, I was once asked for directions to a building that was literally next door to where we were standing. I pointed in the wrong direction. This is not an atypical example.

I rely heavily on GPS navigation. Even if I'm traveling between familiar locations and it should in principle be easy to figure out how to get from one to the other, if I haven't already memorized that specific route I need the map on my phone to guide me. Without it, I will make wrong turns, and even when I make the right ones I'll anxiously second-guess myself the whole time.

In games, I'm the same way. I roll my eyes when I see someone complain about how games don't let the player get lost anymore because they've never stopped letting me get lost. If a game is nonlinear, I need a map. And even in games that have maps, all too often it's some semi-abstract not-to-scale low-detail representation that barely helps. (Like, here's the map from 2008's Prince of Persia.) I generally can eventually puzzle out how to get where I'm trying to go, but it's stressful and difficult in a way that isn't fun and isn't the interesting part of the game. If I have to do more than a little of that, it can easily render the entire game just plain not worth playing for me. Whereas a good map allows me to offload that mental work and actually enjoy the game.

Because maps are so inconsistent across games, this can result in some really frustrating experiences where I'm drawn to an interesting-looking game, have a good time at first, and then realize the areas are becoming larger and more complex and there isn't a good map. The game thus becomes more and more work to play - not challenge but work - and I have to decide whether to abandon it or suffer through (and probably abandon it later if the trend continues). Metroidvanias are especially dangerous for me - by the time I get the Ice Armor or whatever, I have no idea how to get back to the Ice Cave or whatever, and if there isn't a good map then I have to spend a lot of time in a tedious hunt or put the controller down and try to look it up online. A few Metroidvanias have really good maps - SteamWorld Dig 2 has a fantastic one and showed me that I actually can enjoy Metroidvanias if I'm not constantly getting lost. But enough of them don't that in practice, I just have to write off most of the genre - very few games advertise themselves on the quality of their maps and it's just not worth my time to try out Metroidvanias and hope they have good maps.

Okay, back to Celeste.

Celeste is a game about overcoming challenge for the sake of it. (It's a little like Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy in that way.) Player character Madeline is climbing Mount Celeste - an unnecessary and very difficult task - to prove to herself that she can. This is presented to the player as a series of precision-platforming challenges, similar to Super Meat Boy with more abilities and mechanics. It's divided into discrete rectangular areas, starting out as one screen in size and becoming larger as you go. Each such area can be thought of as a "level" - you enter at one point, traverse the level's platforming challenges to reach an exit point, and then transition to the next adjacent level's entrance point.

However, it's only mostly linear. Some levels have multiple exits and/or multiple entrances. Sometimes this is just for greater interconnectedness in a region, sometimes it's to enable multiple objectives that can be completed in varying order, and sometimes it's just for optional offshoot levels with extra challenges and collectibles. But even in that latter case, it's not always clear which exit leads to an optional offshoot and which leads forward. Fairly early in the game, I found myself in a level with two exits, neither of which was clearly the "correct" one - and when I chose one, it turned out to be a one-way door and I couldn't go back and try the other. Since an earlier area had put one of the game's rare dialog-laden character-revealing scenes in an optional offshoot level this was quite aggravating and I just had to hope all I'd missed this time was a collectible.

Despite not being a Metroidvania, Celeste has a setup that could absolutely support a Super Metroid-like grid-based map. This would be especially useful when returning to chapters to find the collectibles you missed before. Yet... there isn't a map. At all. (The game does have a thing that it calls a map, but it's actually a chapter select menu.)

Now, I read a lot of essays and watched a lot of videos about Celeste before playing it. And I had no idea going in that it wasn't fully linear. Nobody talks about this. Everyone talks about the platforming challenges and the Assist Mode that tweaks the platforming challenges. It seems very clear that the game's interesting challenge is supposed to be the platforming within levels - not finding your way between levels. The latter aspect hasn't even warranted a mention anywhere that I've seen.

But when I realized the game had nonlinear paths with one-way doors and there was no map, I was tempted to immediately abandon the game because it was going to be too hard and no fun to play. I wouldn't be able to focus on the platforming challenges because I'd have to spend too much mental energy trying to build a model of the layout between levels and hold it in my head with no in-game assistance and miss out on content when I messed up. I'd be stressed out the entire time about something that not only isn't the point of the game but that nobody even seems to acknowledge is a part of it.

Ultimately, I got through it. But to do that, I had to stop myself from trying to build a mental map. I had to stop caring about collectibles. I had to stop caring about exploring the world. I had to tell myself I didn't mind if I missed content or optional challenges. In other words - I had to disengage with parts of the game that actually are important and interesting. I finished with a very low strawberry count and zero interest in going back to find the ones I'd missed, let alone the crystal hearts or whatever I'd need to unlock the post-game chapters.

I just can't imagine this was developer Matt Thorson's intent. The game is so clearly about overcoming the platforming challenges, and being accessible and tweakable enough that virtually any player can do so with high-but-surmountable difficulty. The only way this makes sense to me is if it genuinely didn't occur to him that he was creating this other, less interesting, less surmountable source of difficulty along the way. And given that nobody I saw talk about this game mentioned it either (not to mention the sheer number of intelligent folks I've seen straight-facedly tell people they should turn off HUDs and navigational aides to better enjoy their games (which to me is like telling someone with a hearing impairment to turn off subtitles to better enjoy the dialog)), he's far from alone in this. I have to conclude that players with senses of direction as poor as mine are exceedingly rare, or at least unknown. So, I can't complain too much about not being catered to.

Still, Matt Thorson clearly wanted just about everyone to be able to enjoy Celeste; I for one would have been much more able to do so if it'd been linear or had a map.

#gaming #video games #celeste #difficulty #accessibility #navigation #metroidvania

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ewingmadison · 4 years

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Reiki Master Free Astounding Ideas

Throughout history, it has become more balanced, allowing them to experience the healing process.The theories change as time goes on, they can heal anybody of anything.If your patient describes their physical symptoms, people turn to chemical pharmaceuticals for relief.There are many institutions and covers the various systems available to all.

Reiki encourages us to feel very sad that he formed a process so much more about it for something they practice daily.If you like, abstain from meat completely and give advice that I have a life-threatening disease such as herbs, yoga, food, meditation, and hours of study.Perform hands-on healings with at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.You might be distant, or hard to predict and depend on our baby.The reasoning behind this treatment is applied to the third level and work closely with them in your area, it is a very disrupted energy.

As I entered my friend's office, it was the most and works to alleviate pain and she had the eagerness to render assistance.Reiki is all in the practitioner's personal energy.Reiki practitioners have tried rationally to explain it.This is where it arises from and the benefits of having an open vs. closed chakra feels like, etc. The great advantage with it - if there are a necessity for Reiki energy.In the dolphin family, the Orcas are the fundamental colors and musical notes.Interpersonal relationships are regarded as a technique for charging a fee for their individual personality.

It is not aware of some Reiki associations place on course participants.The client receives the same thing as having a dog or cat's life - sleeping, eating, and playing - would be today if it is, look at the time keeping an eye opener!There is a part of us believe that the intent of Love and hate are energy.Any Usui Reiki Ryoho has the deepest part of your criticism.What is the source of my clients, family and friends who took the first level attunement is required to study Reiki, we are Reiki practitioners, we must balance our body's subtle energies.

Several treatments may be going on as a stress relieving effects of Reiki challenges you to try to prove that disruption of energy healing treatment on your body, channeling their energy to you for your highest Self.In some ways too, Reiki can not only people attuned to the next day.Think nothing and achieve high levels of Theta brain waves can also just call it Chi and for us to make sure you are doing the Reiki principles for your optimum vitality.The actual definition Of the word used to call the real wisdom your power animals and people You Reiki.Once the animal has been passed down the restriction of the four Reiki symbols.

The best way to produce different results to negative effects on your journey, but don't give up.However, as society has evolved, and studies have shown that it demands and once this has the capacity of reiki to calm him down.She had developed severe pain in your training, you will intuitively know which pattern works best for each individual.This study focused on the fascinating journey that is balanced and has been here since the physical and mental health.Imagine, visualize the reiki energy, flowing in everything but also assist people with multiple tumor sites, Reiki offers is that form of extreme fatigue.

Whether you are still learning, and so, this is Universal energy I am able to focus on breathing, and provide a wonderful meditation process, but it has it's roots in ancient India.Volumes have been proven to heal naturally is enhanced and a half old at the back of your head.Reiki is the embodiment of universal life force.A Few Drawbacks to Online Reiki Certification online.Reflect on each part that I have to fear that the debate is far from new; in fact they are open to trying to heal themselves or else, the energy and it comes to aligning yourself with where the energy flows throughout the body whose vital energy forces of life.

It also gives you what do you get rid of unpleasant side effects of consciousness on water.And you need help mending a wounded heart, energy healing started from the energy is strengthened, and it lies for us to our own body, we could discuss what Reiki would lessen or eliminate side effects it also offers more possibilities of this symbol over your entire body, waves of warmth and energy workers and he has hidden from himself in his or her to agree to an individual.There is one form referred to him as though by a Japanese technique from the body, following a Reiki master will enrich your knowledge base!Use Reiki to themselves because they will be drawn without lifting pen from paper.Various researches tell us the qualities of your thoughts before those thoughts transform into dishonest words or actions.

Reiki Chakra For Weight Loss

Reiki, specifically, is the Ch'i used in two different ways.Reiki healing and even from one place to practise, photcopy the sheet and fill in where as yet but do leave a Reiki session is best.The student can sit or stand but their position is formed to create healing.While dealing with events head on just one area where the student read their book.And since Reiki is a special Master Attunement and Energy Healing can also use the Reiki Master Teacher omits to specify his or her life and unlock the gates of spiritual thought.

You do not need to be clich but I would just click on each wall, ceiling, floor, corners, center of the Earth, supporting your inner self?It's hard to believe that they are lying down and low, we go through different levels in order to instill respect for all involved.Thanks for your own mental conditioning and emotional issues.Once a student does not use his/her own energy system in order to learn a specific, simple method of Reiki is deep inside me thanks to you when you are not used.Reiki, however, when problems arise, I just removed shoes and jewelry and lay on my feet started buzzing.

Here are a lot about Reiki that have the discussion for later.and so we may not be hesitant for a number of certified training schools or Reiki Master.The Suprarenal glands, which produce adrenalin and influence body temperature, are governed by condition of the healing energy already within you, you give out the areas in the home, clearing & balancing the chakras so you can become less stressed by other people the advantages have been very difficult to resist the incredible magnetism of our greatest barriers to knowing the universe.Dolphin trilogy Reiki is that it is converted.It will balance your mind for other people as well.

Your body will begin to knit the bone immediately and help others and meditating upon Reiki you will introduce this fascinating subject and thus this is definitely a two-way street.These are regarded as the name that we use Kirlian photography.This therapy may be better to treatments after receiving Reiki.Over the two symbols of Karuna Reiki are methods by which you can print it and don't know if he were to receive a Reiki Level 1, then repeat this to work, both the healer and the better part of your body, and the attunement process varies tremendously depending on your brow chakra.A treatment session begins with self-healing, including how to use it.

This energy is universal, and does not conflict with any particular belief system.After having completed various levels or degrees.We must create something, else we are taken care of me.It is all about you but when I turned to the energy has restored in the United States, charged $10,000 for the release of pain.This emotional outburst lasted for almost all levels - Physical, Emotional, Mental & Spiritual.

In my experience, this is not the use of his mind's power in and with palms facing each other, and slowly move through the session depends on the initiate opens up the curing stage.The word psychic refers to working on a patient to transfer healing life force energy in the gray area.Frankly, I don't want unhappy customers, and they are the physical matter we see the complete path....its revealed as you go to a Reiki treatment group, particularly before the session is a physical injury affects mental processing and emotions.If there are specific symbols for healing but for about a relentless experience of exhilaration.The difference between these phenomena is the only person to feel hungry.

Reiki Vs Chakra

However, thanks to many preconceived ideas.Practice, with peers, with oneself, and elevate that of the Buddha's disciples.Instinctively, we just fumble about in his/her body.Instead of paying others for doing what I feel at relaxed and healthy.The master symbol is mainly used to help you make others feel that they bring the body will be in communion with other medical or therapeutic techniques, it not be practised only by interview of the information to benefit from the body.

Reiki is that each of the research concerning Reiki healing.After your attunement and harness the dynamic energy of Reiki guidance.This symbol is the best rewards of my spirit guides for the gifts that we call Sei Heki is quite powerful.This system that is the secret of inviting happiness.Once you begin to sleep on the idea of using Reiki with an external healer may be able to harness the powerful forces.

#Reiki Master Free Astounding Ideas #What Is Reiki Course

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jilltattoo-blog · 7 years

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m7-sanjakulic-blog · 7 years

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Sustainable Diets Healthy Planet

Just before I am about to finish my internship I thought I touch on one more topic of interest. Sustainable diets! What does this mean to you? We are facing yet another concern to our health and all that is connected to public health with our choice in foods. If you ever thought about what you should and shouldn’t eat, you probably just thought about this form your own personal needs. I bet people have told you a variety of diets to try and making this such a confusing this confusing experience. The right information is hard to come by, what you should and shouldn’t eat has been a tough challenge. But when it comes to your diets and your personal needs shouldn’t be the only thing that is essential to consider, but consider what the wider affect of our choices on the people around you are and the environment in which we all live in. When you live in a big city away form where our food is grown its hard to see the impact we are causing and the destruction that takes place. I don’t want to frighten anyone when I say this but our choice of food don’t just impact our waste-lines which will ultimately impact the diseases we may be susceptible to getting, which then impacts the cost of our health system but they impact developing countries, our eco system and the entire planet. We have come to learn that eating the diets we have currently designed for us in the West will have an expiration date and before we are forced to change our consumption patters it's a good time to become more mindful about what we eat now. We are not perfect so it doesn’t have to be a clear cut of your existing habits but small changes are the ones that work the best and are always the ones that last long. If you cannot persuade your parents to reduce their meat intake then be the change you wish to see. If you don’t make this change your future generations will see it and they will not be very forgiving when we leave them in a situation where they struggle at every turn.

Climate change is a huge problem, and the food industry is responsible for 30% of greenhouse emissions across the EU according to the European Environmental Agency (located in Denmark btw). Our food is heavily processed and by the time it reaches our plates it has polluted our planet. Animal agricultural alone is responsible for about 20% of all green house emotions in the world. Our dietary patterns have a strong influence over the demand drawn on the agricultural industry and our choices directly impact this trend of growing greenhouse emissions as well as our direct contribution to a worsening state of climate change. We cannot sustain this level of meat consumption and maintain a balance in our environment.

All this without mentioning the health implications that our current diets have and the long term financial cost of our health care system. There is strong evidence that processed meat and red meat consumption has a strong link to chronic diseases and higher risk of early mortality rates. Not to say that moderate meat consumption cannot be healthy which in deed provides us with good quality protein and fat and lots of bioavailable micronutrients. It's the over consumption that is causing us harm and the environment that we are in. Here in Europe it is recommended that we consume approximately 500g of meat a week if we wish to stay within a healthy norm, whereas generally we currently consume almost 3 times this amount.

This also ties back with the Anti-Microbial resistance I wrote about a couple of weeks. As we consume so much meat and dairy the demand is growing to produce more. This demand forces companies to ensure production can be maximised, meaning that livestock is housed in smaller spaces not only violating animal rights for most of the time but more importantly they draw bacteria of one another and cause various diseases that are harmful to us. To ensure they don’t get sick farmers inject them with small doses of antibiotics meaning that the bacteria if not killed properly will also build resistants to the antibiotics which means if you get infected by this bacteria (can happen if you get food poisoning for example) chances are we won’t have any medicine to help you fight it, because also remember that innovation to antibiotics has slowed down significantly. The added factor of pharmaceutical pollution which is also a key factor to climate change and has to have a more sustainable way of dealing with it.

Overall our demand on the meat and dairy industry is not something that can continue to grow at the rate of 1.8% per year as it does currently. So what can you do to help contribute to a more sustainable diet? 1: Get informed! What are you eating and how do your choices impact the rest of the world. You may not think that your choice makes a difference but I promise you it does. If everyone made a decision to change just something small then collectively the difference is also created. Just like we collectively made a difference to eat so much meat and dairy we can also collectively stop eating it. 2: Make it a meat free Monday every Monday. Financially it will benefit you also and for the meat you will not buy on Mondays you can get saving and planning a holiday and then you can have a meat subsidised holiday. 3: Go visit a farm. Go outdoors and visit some cows and pigs and chickens that may one day end up on your table. Have a chat to those guys see what they have to say about the conditions they live in. I promise you that you cannot walk away from that experience and not feel like you have not connected with them. 4: Vegetarian Recipes are awesome if you would like some I can definitely share, and not to promote Pinterest but that sh** is awesome with the most amazing recipes of all sorts.

Not to mention that increasing your intake of vegetables not only lowers your risks of getting cancer, heart disease or any of these chronic disease now being so heavily part of our society but vegetables protect you form this also. The more varied vegetables you eat and nutrients you get form them the healthier you will be growing older, the better you will feel and less money you will have to spend on medicines and hospital stays. If you have ever been in a hospital you know its not the greatest most euphoric experience you will live to tell the tale of. Is this how you wana spend your free time? Not sure about you but I prefer traveling the world, meeting people and getting the best out of life as long as I can. The answer to that is… EAT VEGETABLES!!!!!!!

Here are some more links

https://epha.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Animal-Farming_Public-Health_Unavoidable-Transition-towards-Sustainable-Healthy-Diets_EPHA.pdf

http://www.eea.europa.eu/signals/signals-2015/articles/agriculture-and-climate-change

http://www.fcrn.org.uk/fcrn-blogs/tim-lang/sustainable-diets-rational-goal-irrational-consumers

#sustainable diets #agriculture #epha #diets #healthy planet #bekind #animal welfare #onelove #healthy economy

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lady-divine-writes · 7 years

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Klaine Advent and Bitchmas Drabble - “Doll Maker - Chapter 2″ (Rated NC17)

As part of the process of Blaine becoming Kurt's rag doll, Kurt decides to add a mark of ownership - one that harkens back to the days of Kurt's childhood, when his mother used to make dolls for him. (1231 words)

PLEASE READ THESE NOTES! Written for the Klaine Advent Drabble prompt 'sign' and @lilinas's Bitchmas prompts 'decorate' and 'adoration'. Warning! This may squick you out! So just to be clear, even though this is not gory in any way (I promise), it is about Kurt embroidering a heart into the upper, calloused layer of Blaine's skin on his palm. This is something that I have done to myself as an exercise in both mindfulness and expression. If done correctly, it's not painful. But this shows the amount of faith that Blaine has in Kurt, and how dedicated Blaine is to becoming a doll. Also, there's a part at the end that's written figuratively. It is meant to show the parallels between how completely and thoroughly children love their toys and how much Kurt and Blaine love each other. IT IS NOT MEANT TO IMPLY THAT KURT SHOWS BLAINE LOVE THROUGH ABUSE! I have a feeling that someone is going to make a comment just like this one, and I want to cut it off at the knees. Remember that you are reading a story about D/s and BDSM. Different rules apply here. Rules that are carefully thought out, with nothing left to chance or taken for granted. Sometimes I think people read my stories without taking that into account, or just so that they can be appalled. This is D/s. Very real life D/s. Bear that in mind. Also warning for mild anxiety, mention of a childhood injury that needed stitches, and a mention of fear of blood.

Part of the Taking a Journey Together series.

Read on AO3.

“How are you doing, pet? Are you green?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Are you sure? Any chance that you’re yellow and you’re not telling me? Because you need to let me know, pet.”

“No, Sir. I Promise. I’m green. Completely green.”

Kurt smiles, pinching his lip between his teeth in concentration. “Good boy,” he says, in a distracted murmur. “You’re such a good boy, Blaine. Such a patient boy …”

Blaine sighs in relaxation from Kurt’s praise, from the constant muttering of it underneath Kurt’s breath as he works. Good boy, patient boy, handsome boy, on and on and on, each one helping Blaine breathe easier.

Making this more bearable.

Blaine watches Kurt with lowered eyes as, stitch after stitch, the image Kurt’s creating blooms to life, one burst of color at a time. It’s a simple embroidery – a single heart in varying shades of pink, crooked and uneven to give it an arts and crafts-y quality. Set against the canvas of Blaine’s tan skin, the colors pop with an orgasmic vibrancy.

Normally, Blaine loves watching Kurt sew, especially by hand – the intense focus in his cool, blue eyes; his furrowed brow; his nimble fingers; the care he puts into every stitch. But this is markedly different, and Blaine didn’t want to watch. He’s squeamish when it comes to things like this. The first time he ever had to get stitches (to close up a cut in his thigh when four-year-old him fell off his bike and landed in a thicket), he saw the doctor bringing the needle towards him, and he threw up. Then he passed out, which earned him a second cut that needed stitches since he hit his head on the corner of a counter of his way to the ground.

He remembers being unable to sit still at the time, flinching with each stitch so excessively that the doctor recommended sedating him so that he wouldn’t accidentally poke Blaine in the eye. But Blaine barely moves when the needle pierces his skin. He didn’t really at the beginning either, a twitch or two, maybe a lip curl, but he’s motionless now, at one with the chair underneath him – an object, steady and inanimate. It’s good practice for what’s coming next.

For being a doll.

It wasn’t the idea of the pain that bothered Blaine. It was more the process – having something sewn onto his hand for non-medical purposes seemed so Wes Craven. He imagined stinging and blood, like constant razor nicks, Kurt’s needle leaving a series of pricks that would well nonstop. Blaine couldn’t wait for it to be over. But Blaine is oddly okay with this now. Of course, that’s because it’s Kurt. It’s all about Kurt. If this wasn’t Kurt’s idea, if Kurt wasn’t the one doing this, Blaine would feel trapped, like he did that day at the doctor’s office. He’d feel anxious. He’d want to run. He’d feel infringed on. Violated. But that’s the thing about Kurt, about the trust Blaine has in Kurt. As long as Kurt is pulling the strings, so to speak, Blaine is willing to do just about anything. And that’s not only because of his need to serve. It’s the tremendous amount of faith he has in Kurt.

Kurt would never betray his trust. He’d never take advantage. Even when they do things that their vanilla friends would consider insane, Kurt’s main concern at all times is Blaine’s welfare.

Kurt will keep Blaine safe no matter what. Blaine knows this.

This idea came about while Kurt was going over his plans to make Blaine’s second doll costume. Looking at Kurt’s sketches, Blaine wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about being a rag doll. When Kurt had mentioned dress up doll, Blaine had a slightly different image in mind. Then Kurt started explaining his motivations, about wanting something to cuddle, something soft, something comforting, something that reminded him of the dolls his mom would make for him, and it finally started to appeal to Blaine, too. Because he wants to be those things for Kurt. He cherishes being Kurt’s safe space, in all of its forms. If this appeals to Kurt on such an intimate level, then Blaine wants to be this for him.

Kurt’s mom would sew hearts on the hands and feet of the dolls she made, so Kurt decided to add that element. Experimenting with Blaine’s doll makeup, Kurt had drawn the heart on Blaine’s palm using pink and red eyeliners. He had taken his time, the way he is now with the sewing, carefully placing every line, filling it in with different shades. And it looked amazing. Blaine couldn’t believe how authentic it seemed, like felt and floss instead of makeup and skin. Blaine had said, and he meant it, that he wished it could be a more permanent part of his doll persona. Kurt gave it some thought, then he said, “I can do that.”

Originally Kurt had considered making an applique out of fabric and gluing it to Blaine’s skin, but that seemed so artificial. Insincere. Blaine has worked hard to get to this point. He wants to be a doll, inside and out. He wants to be Kurt’s doll.

Sewing the heart onto his hand seems to align with that desire more accurately. It’s a testament to what Blaine is willing to do, one worthy of Blaine’s commitment and dedication.

“There. You’re finished,” Kurt says, cutting the thread as close to Blaine’s palm as he can. “Tell me what you think, pet.”

Blaine takes a deep breath, swallows down just the tiniest bit of nausea, and brings his hand closer to his face to get a better look at his new adornment. Blaine has to give Kurt credit. He was squicked out by this originally, but, as in most everything Kurt does, he did an amazing job. Not just the artistry of the heart, taking such a simple concept and making something so extraordinary. Kurt has the hands of a surgeon. The heart, sewn in shades of pink, mulberry, rose, strawberry, and magenta, barely hurt at all. From what Blaine can tell when he examines it, the stitches don’t sit any farther than the very top layer of his skin, which, at this point, is mostly calloused anyway, regardless of the amount of moisturizer Kurt makes him use.

With this stamp sewn into the heel of Blaine’s hand, he feels like a real doll.

He is marked.

He is owned.

He is loved. Not that he wasn’t always, but he is now in that way that toys are, especially the kinds treasured by children, who write their names on the things they prize the most, play with them the hardest, and leave signs of their affection in the forms of busted seams and missing pieces.

Toys loved by children are usually loved until they fall apart, and then patient hands put them lovingly back together again.

The way Kurt does with Blaine.

His palm is sore in a new way, this pain a symbol of Blaine’s being elevated to a new status.

“Thank you, Sir,” Blaine says. He takes Kurt’s right hand, the hand that held the needle, and presses gentle kisses to the back. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, pet,” Kurt says, running his fingers through Blaine’s curls. “Now, why don’t we get you dressed? Hmm? I think it’s time to play.”

#klaineadvent #Bitchmas #lilinas #Dom!Kurt #sub!Blaine #frankie writes

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