Ahhhh you have no idea how happy I am to have come across your little corner of Tumblr! I really like your positivity for everything BotW/TotK, and loving the games as they are. I’m the same way, I just like to enjoy everything about them. It feels like all people want to do these days is dissect and criticize and find things wrong. And sure, I’ll admit they aren’t perfect. But when I play the games and write fanfic, I lose myself in the world of Hyrule and thinking about the characters I love - what they go through, how they develop, and how they react to the events they experience - just brings me so much joy! For me personally, I like for fandom to be a positive place where I can escape from the real world 😊

Hi!!! Thank you so much 🥹

I remember one of my FAVORITE things about the Zelda fandom here on tumblr was the fact that we were all pretty positive! And while I do love the debate and criticisms of totk because it invigorates a lot of conversations and spurs us to delve deeper into the game, I do LOVE just simply appreciating what we do get and loving it.

The games are never perfect in every sense but I don’t expect it— I had a mini bucket list of things i wanted totk to hit on and they checked off every single thing! I love that we can take advantage of the weaker parts and explore it in a fandom setting because there are so many brilliant creators in this fandom.

So welcome to my little place of appreciation for botw/totk 🥰 specifically Zelda and zelink for this era LOL but also for the game overall!!

Ao3 tag game!

THANKS @ragecndybars FOR THE TAG I APPRECIATE IT

*cracks knuckles* lets do this

How many works do you have on AO3?

24 works! I would have never expected to have that many 5 years ago, hahaha

What's your total AO3 word count?

186,291! oh wow, almost 200k!! (unsurprisingly PT minato takes up over a third of that LMAO)

How many fandoms have you written for, and what are they?

10 fandoms! I'm counting Persona 3, 4, and 5 and separate, but I'm grouping all the Zelda fandoms together since it's all Linked Universe fic.

Here's the breakdown!

The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms (6)

Persona 5 (5)

Persona 3 (5)

SPY x FAMILY (Anime) (3)

Wizard101 (Video Game) (3)

SPY x FAMILY (Manga) (3)

Runescape (Video Games) (3)

Pirate101 (Video Game) (3)

Persona 4 (2)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom (2)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga (1)

Star Wars - All Media Types (1)

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Warriors (1)

Top five fics by kudos:

The Ghost of Mementos/Stygian Ringlet (Persona3/5) - to the surprise of absolutely no one, since this is currently my longest fic. I'm very happy with Stygian Ringlet being the top because I love my boys :)

True Crime Special on the Midnight Channel (Persona 4/5) - my Ren has a TV Dungeon fic! also very proud of the dungeon concept for this one, I really need to finish the last two chapters

Dark Clouds on the Horizon (Linked Universe/TOTK) - I feel like this one got a lot of momentum partially because it was directly in the wake of TOTK's release, but I'm happy with how it turned out :)

Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven't Met (Persona 3/SPY x FAMILY) - this was a collab series with mewrose and a few others in the marigolds discord! we were throwing ideas at the wall to see what stuck and I really had a lot of fun with Shinjiro-related prompts, because I LOVE him and hitting him with the isekai baseball bat into a universe with Anya brings me great joy

Salt Tears and Raindrops (Linked Universe/TOTK) - directly related to Dark Clouds, and I'm glad people enjoyed good ol' fashioned angst >:) (I do need to post more of my wips, I do have a couple more roleswap AU wips that I want to post)

Do you respond to comments?

Yes! I almost always do because I really appreciate them and its my way of saying thanks for the comment! If I don't comment it's because I lost track of it or because I can't think of a response.

What's the fic with the angstiest ending you've ever written?

Probably Salt Tears and Raindrops. I was in a Mood and decided to go for the tried-and-true method of putting fictional characters I like through the emotional wringer. That's how I got the rough draft for this fic :)

Do you write crossovers?

*looks at my persona fics and recent LU fics*

...I think it's safe to say most of my fics these days fall under crossovers lmao

Have you ever gotten hate on a fic?

I wouldn't say I have? One or two comments that came off as rude, but no actual hate, thankfully. If I did, I forgot about it. I've been blessed by wonderfully nice readers <3

Do you write smut?

Nope. I don't read it, so I wouldn't know how to write it anyway.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of? I sure hope not.

I have seen a couple short fics slightly imitate Ghost of Mementos though, which I thought was really sweet that they liked it enough to inspire their own writing.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope, but I'd definitely be open to it!

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

RYOMINA. Hands down. I love them so much, I am so mentally unwell about these two

What’s a WIP that you want to finish, but don’t think you ever will?

My two Runescape fics, Whispers in the Temple and Welcome to the Jungle. I absolutely loved going hogwild with rewriting old quests in Runescape, but I psyched myself out of Welcome to the Jungle because I got overly anxious about accidentally doing bad representation.

(in hindsight, it probably wouldn't have been as big a deal as I thought; it's hard to make it worse considering how bad Legend's Quest was with the british-african stereotypes. that quest DID NOT age well.)

I also want to finish Snake in the Grass; that was my first attempt at a genuine mystery plot and I really liked playing with Warriors in that fic in the context of the gang trying to figure out who the heck is trying to murder him.

What are your writing strengths?

I feel like I'm pretty good at dialogue! I try to make sure it matches the character's speech patterns and personality. Really well-written dialogue can tell you who's speaking without actually telling who it is. (For example, the way I write them: Minato speaks as few words as possible and has very little filter with his observations when he does share them, and Shinjiro is pretty rough around the edges, with shortened words and the occasional swear. Warriors is good with words and wit, but he has a certain military-esque directness and doesn't dance around the topic.)

I do try hard to keep the plot clear and understandable over everything else, so probably that as well.

Also, now that I think about it, maybe fight sequences? I don't do them much, but I do enjoy the challenge of making a clear sequence of what happens in a fight and trying to make it understandable. Fight sequences are easy to skip or gloss over, but I think of them like their own miniature plot. What happens? What surprises are there? What are their movesets? How do they get the upper hand? (and of course, what looks cool as fuck)

What are your writing weaknesses?

Time management. I tend to over-proofread since I beta my own work, and often I'll go back to tweak stuff if I had additional thoughts to add to it, or extra insight. Lately, it takes longer to write chapters than I'd like.

Also, dialogue-heavy scenes often get very chaotic in my WIPs because of the way I rough out fics. I'll throw together a bunch of dialogue bits I think would be cool to include, and sometimes they'll clash or get really messy, especially if there's lots of characters (looking at the latest two chapters of Stygian Ringlet)

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fics?

I think it's cool! It adds flavor to fics. If it's more than one short phrase though, or if it's story important, then I do prefer that there is a translation in the author's notes. I haven't done any non-English dialogue in fics, save for one memorable adventure into trying to figure out how Latin grammar structure works for a character that didn't speak English.

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

Wizard101 and Pirate101. I was obsessed with those two for YEARS. I really, really liked pirate stories in high school, and having a cast of crewmates that accompany you throughout the game really inspired me to write my first fic featuring my OC. (I was also into One Piece at the time, but I never wrote for it.)

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written so far?

Stygian Ringlet. It's really dear to my heart. I have poured so much love and effort into that fic, and the reception on it has completely blown me away.

THANKS FOR THE TAG!! Uhhhmmm for tags I'm going to go with @skyward-floored, @catreginae and @breannasfluff (but only if you want to!! no obligation of course)

and of course any other writers that want to do it as well!! go forth

❖ Call me Syn, Syna, or Raina, or whatever comes to mind when you think of me~ ( be nice, there ain't none of that negativity here ! ) I'll also respond to Smut Santa / Saint Dickolaus! 😉

❖ I'm 29, about to be 30. I'm afab and use female pronouns. Happy mama of 2 beautiful babes~ They come first before anything else, so if I don't get back to you in a timely manner or like... at all... that's why. Or maybe I just don't like you. ( nahhh that's not it ... ? )

❖ Previously went by Taqsyq, but after YEARS of being out of the writing game and just off of tumblr in general, I've decided to start over fresh. I started Taqsyq when I was like sixteen or seventeen, still in my nerdy emo girl phase fuck I still am, and there is a shit ton of things that I just wanna run away from when it comes to that blog/username, including some very bad memories that I'm not going to discuss publicly. Plus, again: seventeen, nerdy emo girl phase. Everything I wrote on that blog was the highest form of OOC cringe like you just saw a stripper accidentally slam her hoo-ha on a pole bullshit for me. The only reason I'm not deleting it is because I'm a memory hoarder and despite all the bad, I want to keep it for all the good that happened there as well. Besides, it's the account that I ran imagine-reborn (an imagines blog for Katekyo Hitman Reborn) under and I figured, if nothing else, I could get a few laughs and maybe even learn a thing or two from how god-awful teenage me was at writing.

❖ My rules are simple. Be kind to all: this is a safe zone for EVERYONE. I would like to keep it that way. I don't have a list for what I will and will not write (yet), so all I can tell you is: ask. My inbox is always open. If I don't feel comfortable writing something, I'll let you know!

❖ Minors: as of right now, I don't think I'll be posting anything that is safe for your consumption, so I would very much appreciate it if you did not interact. If you are not a minor and do not have an age indicator, this rule applies to you as well. I check my follower list daily and I WILL block anyone that does not adhere to this rule.

❖ Requests: Closed ( not for long. I promise ;D )

❖ Currently, I only write for Hazbin Hotel. But I'm open for discussion on anything else on my list down below! I'm always looking for something new to watch/read, so if you have any recommendations, fire away!

❖ Series ; Current Hyperfixation: Hazbin Hotel

Anime : Naruto ; InuYasha ; Death Note ; Bleach ; Hellsing ; Soul Eater ; Fruits Basket ; D.Gray-Man [ Original / Hallow ] ; Kuroshitsuji ; Katekyo Hitman Reborn ; Ao No Exorcist ; Yu Yu Hakusho ; Full Metal Alchemist ; One Piece* ; Shingeki No Kyojin ; Kimetsu No Yaiba ; Jujutsu Kaisen**

* Still trying to catch up. This is a massive anime, and I've spent the better half of this past year trying to watch it all. I've made it to the Raid on Onigashima, the part where Yamato got his bracelets removed. Love him, by the way! <3

** Nanaminnnn~! I am not okay about anything with this man. <3

Manga / Manhwa : Everything mentioned above ; Noblesse ; Bloody Cross ; Area D

TV : Hazbin Hotel ; Game Of Thrones ; Vikings ; Avatar: The Last Airbender ; The Legend Of Korra ; Supernatural

Books : A Song Of Ice & Fire ; Twilight Saga why did teenage me think it was the greatest series ever shoot me now fucking christ

Video Games : Final Fantasy Series + Individual Prequels, Sequels, Movies, Remakes* [ 7 / 9 / 10 / 13 / 15** ] ; Tales Of Series [ Legendia / Zestiria / Berseria / Arise ] ; Devil May Cry Series ; Kingdom Hearts Series*** ; Star Ocean Series [ Till The End Of Time / The Divine Force ] ; The Legend Of Zelda [ A Link To The Past ] ; Sonic Series ; Spyro Series ; Shining Force Series [ 1 / 2 ] ; Lufia Series [ Fortress Of Doom / Rise Of The Sinistrals ] ; Diablo 3 ; Lunar [ Silver Star Story Complete ] ; Infinite Undiscovery ; to be updated as I remember / play.

* So far, I've only played the first installment of Final Fantasy 7 Remake because I currently do not own a PS5, but I'm working on it. The Compilation of Final Fantasy 7 is my absolute favorite series of all time. I could watch Advent Children ( original and complete ) on repeat, and I've played the original release so many times that I don't even need a guide to get a 100% on a brand new save ( Obsessed much? Yup ). I'm a completionist at heart, and this game is amazing and it provides a massive sense of nostalgia for me.

** SLIGHT SPOILER (maybe? You've been warned) Another amazing installment in the Final Fantasy series, this game is so well written in my opinion. It stays away from the bigger cliches you see in most RPGs ( eg : the guy gets the girl, friendship is the key to saving the world, etc. ), the characters are so individually complex, the villain technically wins and reminds you how easy it would be for you to become the same type of monster. Plus badass women that fix your car, lights up entire cities, wakes up the fucking Gods to fight on your side, takes the entire mercenary army they led and defects to your side? IN HEELS? YES PLEASE. It has one of the best enemy turned ally characters in the FF series; I'm just disappointed we didn't get to see much of Aranea after everything in Tenebrae. Also Ardyn has some serious daddy vibes, and I would literally give my left tit just to lick Aranea's boot ( oh, the things I would do to these two, phew~ ).

*** Let's be real here. The Kingdom Hearts Series makes zero sense if you didn't play all of them and you didn't pay attention to each and every detail, and I did neither. I played 2 and 3 when they originally came out, but in my defense: it doesn't look like a series that follows a singular story, something that I did not know at the time, and usually the series I play have an entirely different story per installment ( eg : Final Fantasy and Tales Of ). I tried to piece together the story from online synopses and second hand game play ( I watched someone else play ), and it just didn't work out. So, suffice to say, my knowledge of Kingdom Hearts goes about as far as basic facts regarding Organization XIII because they were my whole reason for trying the games in the first place. I'm still open to discussion about it, though! Just keep in mind my side will be very limited. Sorry!

To Be Read / Watched / Played : Helluva Boss ; Phantasy Star Series ; Final Fantasy Series [ 1-6 / 8 / 11-12 / 14 / 16 ] ; Diablo 4 ; Black Clover ; Hell's Paradise ; Fairy Tale ; The Seven Deadly Sins ; My Hero Academia

❖ Look out below for a face reveal!

Dividers used © anitalenia

Hiiiii, Star ♥️💖💓💗💘 Could I get 4, 9, 12, 13, 19 and 21 for the hater ask meme, please? <3 I hope you're thriving <33

hiiiiii <333 I am trying to, hope you are!

4. what was the last straw that made you finally block that annoying person?

it honestly doesn't tend to take much, I block with impunity if someone's being annoying/a jerk/both. this has happened with multiple z*link trolls, sigh. (and some of the irritating Mipha fans too, because not all of them appreciate her like I do. there are definitely some weird misogynist ones out there, and you should absolutely picture me yelling "YOU'RE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ME!" at them like Mr. Incredible.)

9. worst part of canon

Mipha being dead in the main timeline. TotK's entire fucking plot. Mipha not getting to fight in the cutscenes in AOC. just. everything to do with the Gerudo and Nintendo's racist handling of them. Valkyrie Profile 2's entire fucking plot. Star Ocean 3's entire fucking plot. WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL OF THAT??? whatever is going on with Chrono Cross' plot. shows getting prematurely cancelled.

12. the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

MIPHA IS SO UNDERRATED, SHE HAS TONS OF POTENTIAL THAT NINTENDO SET UP BUT DIDN'T FULFILL AND HAS MORE TO HER STORY THAN JUST HER ROMANCE WITH LINK AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE LESS DISMISSIVE OF HER JUST BECAUSE OF HER FEELINGS FOR HIM!!!

honestly there are so many under-loved female characters I love that should get more love ;~;

13. worst blorboficiation

again, gonna cheat and say any time an underwritten male character is prioritized over all others, and female characters are dismissed/ignored

19. you're mad/ashamed/horrified you actually kind of like...

nothing I can think of

21. part of canon you think is overhyped

whoo. bat, meet hornet's nest.

Zelda turning into a dragon. I did not shed a single tear, yo. only thing my eyes were doing was ROLLING.

(BOTW Zelda herself. I don't hate her, and I see potential in both her flaws and good points that canon didn't deliver on, but sorry fans, she is not the deepest most nuanced best written female character ever and being meh on her doesn't mean I hate female characters with personality. she's not even the best female character in the series, and the writing I've seen for ladies in other franchises blows her away. please play some games with better writing and get some higher standards. this is addressed not to people who merely like her, ftr, but the people who look at the crumbs Nintendo has given us and treat it like the feast of all feasts, top tier video game character development.)

fucking. Sephiroth. he's not a terrible villain, but I always liked Kefka and Kuja more for Final Fantasy villains.

(actually FF7 in general just doesn't do it for me the way other entries in the series do. like, it's good! but I don't ADORE it the way I do IX, VI, VIII, and V.)

*whispers* Ancient Cistern, a little? like, it was cool, but it's no Arbiter's Grounds or Snowpeak Ruins, for me. doesn't help that I put down the game in a fit of rage when the wack controls made me have a Very Bad Time with the boss and I haven't gone back to try and beat it.

so there's this book that got hyped up as being really good and I see people rave about it still and I tried it. and. I hated it??? I don't get it??? it was called The Eyre Affair and I do not see why people loved it. bleh.

I think in the end they could have made a better narrative, they had the resources to (or at least the money) but I'm the end they didn't, they did give us a really fun game and i appreciate that (I'm the narrative anon hi! i agreed with all your points about game design, but i think nintendo will always prioritize having a fun game before narrative and themes or continuity and while i know they could have done better it's here and done and sadly we can't do much about it) (it's also good to consider that nintendo has always leaned into conservatism and they wrote all of it with the acceptance that it is a good thing while we as a critical audience see the flaws inbetween the lines) i hope you at least have some fun playing despite all of this, the game is expensive after all and that you continue to enjoy this franchise despite it's glaring flaws

Hey, thanks for the follow-up anon!

Yeah, I mean you're right. There's no "use" trying to over-correct everything now given it's already done and couldn't have been done in any other way. I don't know exactly what's the limit between the use of being vocally disappointed as a way to build feedback data for Nintendo and start conversations within the community (you know the ever-infamous "you should speak up about what you don't like"), and when it's just... poking at something that ultimately was never meant for you.

I had fun! I genuinely did, even if I think it was a little superficial and lacked depth where I care for depth, me, personally. I am worried about my own capacity to invest in this series' future, as I do not want them to double-down on a lot of what I consider to be flaws in the current formulas --addictive gameloops taking over more thoughtful and cohesive proposals is not what I'm excited about when I think about the future of the series. But I'm also not the only Zelda player in the world. There are a ton of older fans who feel left out by where the series is going, basically since BotW, and it's very possible I might join them in a more definitive way depending on what the future holds for Zelda.

But! There are still the old games, the absolutely bogus influence the series has over everything, and I actually think fandom holds, in a strange roundabout way, a lot of countercultural power in this strange IP-dominated media landscape. I am personally not super interested in trying to produce fanwork that slots well into the IP and exists as a continuation, or as proof that you understand the original material and the way it might express itself; doing so was my dayjob for some big names, and I honestly hated it --how muted you must make yourself, the act of hushing your own humanity down as much as possible to let the anxious prospects of shareholders steer the story/gameplay in the least dangerous direction and more lucrative way it could be. I like fanwork for its potential for conversation that exists on the very specific and uncompromising terms of its audience. There are conversations about culture and revelatory details that I think fanwork is uniquely qualified to speak on, and that's what I love about it.

This aspect of the series, the fandom and the series' influence, I know I will always enjoy no matter what. And it's not nothing!

The way you created such a unique story from the perspective of a morally grey character, all in the package of masterful dialogue and word choices is probably one of my biggest inspirations for my own writing. I'd love to know what got you into writing Curiosities or at least was your own inspirations!

YOU SWEETHEART... I don't know about all this mastery business //.////.// Flattered though. What got me into writing Curiosities is maybe that I've always been opinionated, always really been into Zelda (first ever fandom I participated in, since I was a kid!), and always been sort of a thirsty weirdo. So the story was a place to channel all this energy I have about the series without really annoying my friends lmao... plus I was meaning to get back into creative writing. Until I started writing Curiosities, I'd been working two jobs for a few years, and I basically had stopped writing and drawing. I was fit to bursting with the feeling "I want to make something self indulgent!!" and that's exactly what the story is, haha. The main character is messy and morally grey because I suppose that's what I find most interesting in a protagonist. It's funny. When I play videogames, I pretty typically pick all the goody two-shoes options, just real Paladin mode all the way through. But in comics and novels, I generally am most engaged by oddballs and rascals. I wanted the main character of Curiosities to have values and a code of ethics, but ones that just don't really align with the wider population. I wanted there to be compelling reasons behind the protagonist's choices, both emotional and logical, so you could put yourself into Curio's shoes and thereby reap some of the consequences of their actions down the line... and all the feelings, good and bad, that might be stirred up. I think reader inserts are powerful for that reason, in the same way that taking control of a videogame character while playing a game makes to identify with them even if they're very different people from you. We play Silent Hill 2 partially to feel Jame's guilt as our own, right? Even if we're repulsed by him, we share in his experience. I hope readers of my story take ownership of Curio in that same way, if that makes sense. For the sake of the delicious schadenfreude. I'm glad people have been enjoying the story, even if the appeal is pretty niche! Honestly, it was a toss-up between Curiosities and a couple other ideas I had bouncing around! You could have easily ended up with a Bloodborne/Lord of the Rings crossover, or the Persona death game fic I still half want to write someday. As far as inspirations, most prominently there are all the wonderfully quirky Zelda vendors and merchants who I've tacked onto Curio's family tree. Curio is a descendant of them in more ways that just blood in-story, but also my attempt to sort of craft a character along those lines. The Happy Mask Salesmen, the Poe Collector, and Vaati have the strongest influence on Curio's character... though I admit Vaati mostly contributes his looks, haha, to my grey-skinned default Curio.

I couldn't find a screencap of it, but when you first meet the Poe Collector, he happily shares with you that people like him thrive when the world is at its darkest, and that contributed a lot to Curio's family philosophy. He's in the business of buying ghosts for who knows what purposes! This guy fascinated me as a child, and still does. HMS is also mysterious but to an unfathomable degree. He seems at once inhumanly powerful and vulnerable, seeing that the plot of his game is kickstarted by him being mugged by a child! The connective tissue between Curio and these two is very strong. Outside of Zelda games, it's hard to cite concrete influences, but broadly I've always had an appreciation for dark fantasy. If you can handle the grim subject matter, Berserk and Unsounded are two wonderful comics that I consider the peak of the craft. I know Berserk especially has a bad reputation, which it partially earns, but I don't hear people talking as much about that story's depiction of love, human fragility, and recovering from trauma. Unsounded has some of the best dialog in the business of writing, it gushes cleverness and humor. They're both definitely influences on me to some degree just because I love them so much, haha. I wouldn't compare my story to them directly, though! They're both pinnacles of like artist achievement :')

Welcome to my blog! ✨

Thanks for dropping by!

Here I will introduce a bit about myself and detail more about what you’ll see here and how you can interact! So please, take a look!

Introduction

Mana 🌸

18

She/Her 🚻

Bisexual 🌈

Artist (Mainly traditional, sometimes digital) 🎨

Main Blog: @manasmagicalmenagerie 💻

My Discord is ☆ Mana ☆#1927 📱

Things I Like

My current main interests:

Kirby ⭐️

Zelda ✨

Smash 💥

Tales of Series ⚔️🛡

My Favorite Kirby Characters

Meta Knight 💙🦇 (my beloved)

King Dedede 👑🐧

Kirby 🍭💫

Any Waddle Dee 🍞🍊

Daroach 🐀🎩

Dark Meta Knight 🖤🦇

Susie ⚙️🤖

Magolor 🥚✨

(I love all the Kirby characters but it would take too long to list them all 😭)

Fave Kirby Games

Kirby’s Dreamland 3 🖍

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards 🔮

Kirby Super Star Ultra 🎖

Kirby’s Epic Yarn 🧶

Kirby’s Return to Dreamland ✨

Kirby: Planet Robobot 🤖

I hope to play more in the future!

Content

All of my content is SFW

I mainly draw gijinka forms of the characters since I am not good at drawing borbs and penguins 💔

A mix of traditional and digital art! I am very new to digital art and trying to smoothly transition into it!

Expect to see lots of Meta Knight and Metadedede related drawings. 👉👈

May, very rarely make GIFs and animations once I feel really comfortable with Procrrate

May go on Kirby related tangents here or there

I don’t have a set schedule in place of how often I’ll be posting but I’ll be sure to update on that if I do decide on something!

Also reblogs over likes!

Interact

I think I should let you know beforehand that I’m a little shy, so if I take a little while to respond to you, it’s not because I’m ignoring you, just cause I’m trying to prepare myself for what to say, I hope that’s understandable!

I am:

Always willing to take asks

Always willing to hear CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM on my artwork

Always down to talk about headcanons or listen to your headcanons 👀

Always up for Kirby lore discussions 👁👁

Down to talk about the Kirby anime (either dub or dub) cause it’s really nostalgic for me

Totally okay if you wanna tag me in any Kirby art or content you’ll think I’ll enjoy! In fact it’s much appreciated!! 💖

I want this to be a safe place for Kirby fans to gather, so please DNI if you are the usual DNI criteria.

That About Sums It Up!

Thank you for taking time to read this! I plan to post art soon and I can’t wait to see your reactions and comments!

Till then! 💖

Call Them Brothers - Chpt 6 Preview

Since it’s taking me way longer than I thought to write the next chapter, here’s a preview of what’s to come! (Be warned that this is lightly edited only, which means there may be some typos and awkward phrasing).

--Chapter 6 Preview--

“Embarrassing is what it is.” The general paced the central tent, hands thrown around in large gestures. “We have not one, but two holders of the Hero’s Spirit on our side—and what does Hyrule have to show for it? We are cornered in Hyrule Field. We have lost thousands of men, and for what? A scant fifty-mile radius that we have not fully reconquered. You—” Here, he returned to the table, just long enough to smack his palms on it. The bang was loud, shaking the glasses set over unrolled maps, yet Link refused to flinch. He kept his shoulders squared and his face carefully neutral. He stood before the table, too low-ranking to earn a seat. Behind his back, his hands shook. “—should be ashamed to even call yourself a hero of Hyrule.”

“I ask that you reframe from slander, General Balder,” Impa said, red eyes turning sharp. “Our aim today is to determine the best course of action for our kingdom—not assign blame.”

A cough—another general, this one younger and green around the gills. If Link remembered correctly, he inherited his position from his father. “At the very least, the display you both put on the other day was an insult to the title of hero,” he said.

“Captain Walton was pivotal in ensuring our victory against the enemy,” Impa said.

“We still lost the northern front.”

“The burden of that blame does not fall onto him.”

The young general raised his hands. “I’m only stating my opinion. Am I not allowed to voice my thoughts, General Impa?”

Link could see the covert snarl on Impa’s mouth, but before she could explode, Zelda raised her hand. She sat calmly at the head at the table, having witnessed the argument with nothing more than the tight pressing of lips. Sweat gathered at her hairline. She turned her forced neutrality onto the rest of the tent. “Wisdom is cultivated through diverse perspectives,” she said.

Link wanted to scoff. What a pushover.

“The goddesses despise us.” General Balder lowered himself back in his seat, pensive. “Giving us an incompetent fool for a hero. And what of that other hero you keep around? He couldn’t even make it through one battle. Perhaps the goddesses want us to fail.”

Refusing to let his anger show, Link subtly looked at Zelda. She sipped her wine, refusing to make eye contact.

He fidgeted. He wanted to yell at her until she spoke in his defense. He wanted to remind her that about the roles she played in all the legends—the princess always supported the hero. Their dedication was mutual. They were supposed to be equals. Yet it was always him having to swallow the disappointment of her people.

But he did his job. He kept his face neutral, but his chin high. His body felt the echoes of a cane striking his back and shoulders until he held himself like a well-bred noble man—Impa’s regiment to take an average infantry man and turn him into a poster body of legend. “I have a series of suggestions for our next series of attacks, sir,” he said.

There was a pause—the vague hope from the older generals that this young brat would give them more of a reason to be mad. But Link held his ground, and they relented.

The army would split in three, each going in a different direction. Lana would take her men and some trusted generals southward to reclaim Faron. Impa would lead the forces west for Kakariko and Death Mountain. Zelda and Link would go north through Zora’s Domain until they reached the Gerudo Desert in the east. Link had intel on enemy movements mapped for the generals to observed. He had bore through a long series of letters with Lincoln to figure out where he should assign the Knights of Hyrule. He had calculated the costs of battle, plans for where to allocate supplies, and had written a draft for a proclamation to be sent to every village across Hyrule to reassure the people the crown had the war under control.

The generals grumbled and shot out objections to each idea, and Link politely countered them. When common sense failed to persuade, Link adjusted the finer details until it was palatable. Eventually, their hemming and hawing turned into a reluctant agreement. Zelda said a few more words of encouragement and dismissed the meeting. Just in time too—Link was ready to scratch his skin off.

“Stay, captain,” Impa ordered, rising from her seat. “I would like to exchange a few words with you.”

Link remained at attention as the generals mingled for a few minutes longer, chatting as they gathered their notes and bags. They didn’t even seem to see Link, not even when they walked by.

It wasn’t until they had left that Impa rounded the table, saying, “At ease, Link. You did some good work today.”

He loosened his shoulders, smiling when Impa clapped a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at Zelda, finding her slouched in her seat, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. Sweat gleamed on her skin and, for once, it made her look sickly. Seeing her without her royal façade felt like an invasion of privacy.

“Thanks, Impa,” he said. “Now my plan just has to work.”

“It will. Despite what they say, you have never led us astray.” Impa held out a slender package wrapped in simple brown paper, tied up with string. “I got this in the mail this morning. Arrived just in time, didn’t it?”

He grinned and took the package. “Thanks. Was there any problems with the money?”

“You were short about a hundred rupees.”

“A hundred! How?”

“Inflation has already hit the kingdom. Paper’s in high demand.” Impa smirked, teasing. “I took the difference out of your paycheck.”

Link pressed his lips together. Impa had made sure his pay improved when he was promoted to captain, but a career in the royal guard did not make a man rich. Even as the hero, his salary was an insult. Luckily, he didn’t have to worry about sending money back to a loving wife and three kids. His only expense was his monthly fee to store what few of his mother’s belongings he managed to hang on to after he had to give up her tiny store in Castle Town.

“What do you have there that is causing so much trouble?” Zelda had sat up, if only to uncork another bottle of wine. Here, her royal grace had returned to the grip of her gloved hands. Link wondered if her feathery touch and lofty hands were a genetic gift passed down through the lineage of Hylia.

Link held up the package, settling back into his professional persona. “A gift for the engineer, your highness,” he said. “Today is his birthday.”

“Oh.” Zelda poured another glass of wine. “How old is he now?”

“Sixteen, your highness.”

“Not much younger than us.”

“Yes, your highness.”

She scowled at her chalice. “If you had mentioned this to me sooner, I could have given him a proper celebration worthy of a hero of Hyrule’s past.”

“I appreciate your offer, your highness. But with all due respect, he’s not one for formal events. He’s as common born as I am, so we and a few of our fellows are going to the civilian camp to celebrate. If it pleases you, we would be honored if you would join us for the festivities.”

Zelda nodded. She chewed on her lip, a hunch forming in her shoulders. She seemed shrunken, her chair gaining height. A scant ten feet stretched between them, yet she seemed like she was far away on a stage. “You honor me with your invitation,” she said at last. “But unfortunately, prior engagements have already claimed my time. Please give Link the Royal Engineer my congratulations and well wishes.” She paused, considering. “If you would be receptive, I have a friend who may attend in my stead.”

Resisting the urge to smile, Link pressed his fist to his chest in a salute. “I will welcome him with opened arms.”

She smiled, a crinkle in her eyes. They were as blue as water and reflected light just the same. Link’s chest fluttered. He felt his heart pounding against his knuckles. Her passivity always made him frustrated, but that ugly emotion always passed through him like water in a sieve.  How could it stay when she could look at him like that?

The giddy feeling carried in from the central tent. Gift tucked under his arm, he felt like dancing with every step, and he could not rip the toothy grin from his mouth even if he wanted to. He felt like a fool, but in a good way. The last time he had felt so young was when he got his first kiss back during his training days. It was a lifetime ago— he, along with Uri, Toto, and Anders, had shucked off their duties to crash a party at a nobleman’s Castle Town residence. A girl, blue blooded as they came, let him press her against a window and kiss her. He didn’t remember her face or name, but he could still taste the wine that had graced her lips before him.

Memory brought the ghost of that taste to his tongue now, intoxicating him better than any whiskey.

I need to gush about Honor Bound for a bit, I apologize for how long this might get, but I figured it can’t be too wrong to show gratitude for something you hold dear! I found Honor Bound through the “Bleeding through the Bandages” chapter in book 4. I got into whump around that time, mainly as a coping mechanism for my own pain, and I saw that chapter pop up on my dashboard and I didn’t really consider it was part of a bigger story and I needed a distraction so I was like, might as well. And then it ended up being the best depiction of what I was feeling that I’ve ever read; not just the pain, but the frustration, and the exhaustion, and the mind-numbing boredom shown in other chapters too. I read the previous chapters of book 4 and then decided I wanted Context and also More Sam and then I read the first three books in two days. And then I reread them all in one day because I needed to reprocess the journey that was. And then I reread all of them again with book 4 when it finished, and then religiously followed book 5 through the worst time I’ve ever had, and reread the previous books multiple times as 5 was updating as well. Needless to say it quickly became my comfort series, and on multiple occasions waiting for a new chapters was one of those little joys that kept me going. I am so, so thankful I found it when I did. The Honor Bound family is like no other found family, at least to me. All of them are such complex individuals, but their interpersonal relationships are just so deep and meaningful and each is so incredibly unique, I could honestly write essays upon essays analyzing each one. And the way you connect everything and weave tropes into the overarching plot is just Insane, it’s truly like you’re… retelling a story that actually happened, you know? Like these are real people and real stories. Because I can’t com prehend how you come up with some of this stuff. And there are so, so many “cinematic” moments that are just. So raw and hard-hitting and just stay with you. Big and small moments alike. The Ryan reveal, Joseph Stormbeck’s death (best death scene ever by the way?? I’ve told everyone I know about it when I read it I was absolutely in Awe. Never recovering from that), every moment between Sam and Isaac (I also have a sibling who I’m not technically related to by blood but would like, probably die for, so I just really appreciated everything about them and we need more stories like theirs) (and also every time Sam called Isaac out. Good for them), Sam talking Gavin through his caning holy shit that was a religious moment, Gray’s slowburn adoption of Gavin and when Gavin decided he wanted to be a Uriah (and how his initial thought to getting asked what he wants to be called was “Moore”. And then he was like “Well fuck.” Love that dumbass), just every single thing Finn ever did for the family, Finn and Ellis and Gavin’s monologue about giving Finn a concussion (!! chills!!) and their reunion after Coleen, Vera and Tori and the Work Song scene??, Vera and Tori lowkey adopting Edrissa and Edrissa’s character development and her rants about pretty things and her and Sam and Zachariah’s adorable Young Love that made me so giddy right along with them and Sam and Zachariah’s meet-ugly (I mean it was kinda sweet), Gray being the parental figure we all needed, and Nata and Zelda and Nata helping Sam (and now Gavin!!) and Vera being so proud of her puppy. Also, Isaac and Gavin’s relationship…Insane. The most dramatic enemies to lovers and I love them for it. Invented love. It’s so crazy to read the beginning and see how far everyone’s come and think about everything that has happened from that one Whumptober prompt. It’s a lot but it also makes so, so much sense. I can’t imagine a version where Isaac and Gavin aren’t together in some way (and since I started out of order, when I realized it was a enemies to lovers I was really excited to see how all of that happened. Especially after reading the first book, because it (1/2)

(2/2) was like, how the hell are they gonna get from point A to point B. No way those are the same characters, how is this ever going to get justified? And then Gavin ended up having the best character development Ever, and I love that, I love that he had to work for it and that we as the readers have to work to love him too, because it pays off). And now the ending of book 5! Oh God. On that note, you’re so good at writing villains; making them human and also absolutely detestable and killing them off in the most satisfactory way tailored to them. There was never a point after a major arc where I thought “oh, I wish this had happened instead of x, I wish this had gone this way instead”. Also, to go back on the topic of pain (physical and mental both)! The way everyone copes with it differently, it’s the same thing but it’s unique to the person dealing with it and that’s so clear in your characters, and I also love, love how you made a point of showing how pain changes people because that’s something that I find so often gets ignored, whether voluntarily or not, even in whump. But, yeah, pain definitely changes people. And that’s not always bad, and it’s not always drastic, but it happens and it’s not a shameful thing. Everyone breaks. And HB made me believe that I was allowed to break, and that it’s still possible to live a life you think is worth it. And I won’t even get into how much it’d taught me about friendship and family and how it made me reflect on my own relationships with my loved ones (especially Isaac’s perspective, oh God). It’s just such a rewarding journey. That’s the best word to describe it, I think. And this latest chapter: “The sun shone brightly on the hood of the car, so bright Isaac almost had to close his eyes. The wind moved through the trees that swayed on either side of the lane. Isaac rolled his window down, and he could hear the birds calling to each other, and the sound of the wind rustling the long grasses that smelled so green. With each heartbeat, Gavin relaxed in his arms, his head falling against Isaac’s shoulder, his breaths becoming deep and slow again. A tear rolled down Isaac’s cheek, and he hid his smile against Gavin’s hair.” That image. It’s so vivid and visceral. It gives me the exact same feeling as spring after a long winter (which is…super fitting, actually). It’s that moment of pure contentedness when you realize it’d all been worth it. I don’t know, it just really, really struck me, and I’m so glad the book ended on that note. Despite knowing more hurt awaits, even that feels okay, because happiness will always find a way to seep through. And God, do they deserve that! It’s gonna be heartbreaking when their story ends, but I also know it’s gonna feel right. Like a peaceful retirement. Just, thank you for sharing this world with us, Athena. I hope you’re aware how meaningful this story is to so many of us. And being able to follow it in real-time and hear your inputs and chat about the characters and scream in the comments and reblogs is such a privilege (and being able to read it for free at all? Five books (six counting Vera)! For free! Though I will be getting books 1 and 2 soon hopefully actually). I cannot wait for book 6 and I Will be crying about book 5 until then (and long afterwards, most likely). And I wish you all the best in everything you take on next.<3

Wow, I... wow. I had to set down my phone and just sit in silence after I read this. I’m just... so humbled and amazed that you were able to connect so much with the story and the characters. I’m so glad that you saw something of yourself, and that you were able to find comfort in it. I find comfort in them, too, just knowing that the characters are there when I need to write them. 

It’s important to me for things to turn out ‘right.’ That’s part of why I write whump: the bad guys can be defeated, the good guys emerge safe, and love prevails. Writing Isaac and Gavin’s love story was absolutely the biggest surprise for me, it really did feel like I was the last to know. But I treasure them both so much and I love writing them. The family is so fun to explore, with each relationship being so different from the other. I’ve poured so much of myself into this story and into every single one of the characters. 

Book 6 is going to be such a challenge. It’s the last book in the series, and the one that’ll (hopefully) tie everything together. I’m giving myself a little break, but I’m also a little scared to start it because once I start it, then each chapter will be closer to the end, and then it’ll be over. I have a few more things in store for the family but at the end, I hope they’re safe, happy, and together. These characters mean more to me than I can say and I’m so happy I’ll have you with me along the way.

Hyrule

Hi all! Time for the Hero of Wild series update! I hope you enjoy!

I also remembered I haven’t been updating my Masterlist. Whoopsie. Sorry about that. it’s updated now. 

Wild was getting restless, Hyrule could tell. Wild had been with them for about a week now, and Hyrule could see it was starting to get to him. He knew the look, because he was the exact same way. Based on what little Wild told them about himself, Hyrule knew they were similar. Both travelers and wanderers, both far more comfortable away from cities, both loving to explore the world around them.

Not to say the other Links didn’t love exploring, Four and Wind would accompany him during dinner sometimes. Wild and Hyrule however always seemed to disappear by the time Twilight and and Warriors would turn around. It started with Hyrule when he first joined the Links, it was difficult to simply stay on the trail. Sometimes he would wander off without really realizing it. In one moment he would be looking at the local plant life that was absent in his own Hyrule. In the next moment he would be getting dragged by the scruff of his tunic by Legend. And Wild was the same way. 

Obviously they couldn’t drag him back by the scruff of his neck, Wild didn’t let anyone touch him in any way. But Hyrule and Wild always ended up wandering off, and Hyrule truly wanted to get closer to his fellow explorer, but he didn’t know how. 

Exploring seemed to be a common interest, but how did he ask the other to explore with him? Did he just… ask? He didn’t really know how to ‘properly’ interact with people. His Hyrule wasn’t exactly where someone would want to go for a vacation. He loved parts of it but it was lonely. Legend had found him deep in these thoughts a couple of weeks in, before Wild had joined.

“Am I a bad person?” Hyrule had asked quietly when he heard his fellow Link approach. He always knew who it was based on their footsteps. 

“Why would you say that?” Legend had responded. 

“What if I don’t miss my Hyrule as much as I should?”

“You’re not a bad person for not liking certain aspects of your Hyrule kid.”

“But… what if I don’t want to go back when the time comes? Not that I hate my Hyrule, but you guys are nice. I’m just… tired.” 

“If Hylia thinks she’s tearing us apart after sending us on this hellish cucco chase she has another thing coming.” Legend had finalized. And Hyrule knew he meant it. 

Hyrule glanced up at the sound of footsteps, stifling the urge to laugh as Twilight led a disgruntled Wild back to the traveling party. His humor disappeared when he saw the look on Wild’s face. It was restlessness, the desperate need to get away. Not in a way of anger, but exhaustion. The absolute bone tired feeling of being around too many people for far too long. Hyrule felt that many times, and would usually wander off when it got too bad, pleading with Legend to not bring up his absence. 

It wasn’t Twilight’s fault, he didn’t know. Besides, this was a Hyrule no one knew, it wasn’t the best idea for Wild and Hyrule to be wandering around while the others were moving. Perhaps once they made camp Hyrule could work up the courage to actually talk to the boy. 

~

Wild missed his Hyrule, and he missed traveling alone. Wild didn’t exactly have a home like the others apparently did, but he still missed his Hyrule. Sure he had a house in Hateno that he loved, and he was extremely grateful for when he needed a free place to sleep, but it wasn’t always home. The wilds were his home. The woods with secret birds nests, the oceans with rocky coats to jump from rock to rock, the different domains with different obstacles and different beauties. That was his home. He loved Hateno, but he felt out of place among the residents. He never felt out of place in nature. But he certainly felt out of place here. 

The other Links were nice and welcoming, but Wild never missed the long glances towards his scars, or the annoyed huffs when he came back from exploring off the path. But another boy, Hyrule, he explored too. Legend would always drag him back with a fond smirk and the rest of the group let him be. Was it because Wild was new that they seemed to walk on eggshells around him? Maybe. That didn’t change the fact he missed traveling alone. The thought made him feel slightly guilty, everyone had been doing their best to include him into their group. But still Wild just felt like a piece that didn’t fit.

He also felt guilty Zelda didn’t know. They rarely traveled together, Zelda was happy to work in labs for now while she grew accustomed to their new Hyrule a century later. But he missed exploring with her too. He liked seeing her happy, and his few memories proved she liked walking along beaten paths and open fields as well. He wanted more time to do that, but based on what Time had said, he would be on this quest for the foreseeable future. 

Oh well. He would deal with it. He had been in worse situations before. At least this time he remembered who he was when in a strange world. Still, something in him ached to be away from all of this, to simply shield surf down a mountain, or tame a wild stag, or create a giant fire and fly where no one could reach him. He doubted the others would appreciate that though. 

Hyrule seemed to have a similar mindset. He wished he could talk to the boy, but he didn’t seem interested. Wild was already new, he didn’t want to upset or annoy anyone with his lack of speech. He was painfully aware how exhausting it was to communicate with him, especially when the people trying to talk to him had to put up with his language that was completely different from theirs thanks to the different timelines. And yet they made name signs for him. They asked his opinions on things. They asked him how to sign things to better understand him. Four gave him a journal to help him share his thoughts. They were all so kind and Wild was so, so confused.

~

Hyrule needed to work up the courage to talk to Wild. Soon. After almost a week of traveling with a group, Wild seemed to be really stressed. He was pacing around near Epona, trying to find something to unpack around camp to distract himself. He appeared to be moving his lips, having a silent conversation with himself, his hands ringing and reaching up to scratch lightly at his neck. Hyrule had noticed Wild had a multitude of nervous habits, some of them similar to his own. Epona also seemed to be worried, if her quiet huffing and nosing at Wild’s hair was anything to go by. Hyrule worried that if he didn’t approach Wild first, Wild might run off on his own before the day was over. There wouldn’t be a better time anyway. The older boys were washing tunics and the younger ones were swimming in a nearby creek. Hyrule gulped down his nerves and got up. 

He slowly approached Wild, popping his fingers absentmindedly. Wild glanced up at him, eyes filled with suspicion and curiosity. 

“Hey Wild. Do you want to go exploring? You seem like you like to and I like to and it's been a while since I’ve gotten away and being around people for too long kinda makes me nervous and it seems like it does you too. Erm, I mean I obviously don’t know that for sure but we could leave a note and get away for awhile and go explore?” Hyrule rushed out and mentally face palmed at his own rambling. Good job Hyrule. Glancing up at Wild, the boy seemed slightly shocked, but thankfully didn’t look offended. Wild took out his journal and quickly scratched out a response. 

‘Sure. You’re right. I’m used to traveling alone.’ Scrawled out in neat, small letters. 

“Alright!” Hyrule smiled happily, which Wild hesitantly returned. “Would you mind if we used your journal to write a note? I don’t have anything to write on.” Hyrule asked. Wild looked sad for a moment at tearing out a page from his gift, but figured the sooner they left the better while the others were distracted. He carefully tore a page from the back and wrote out a quick note as Hyrule watched, adding in when he saw fit. 

‘Went exploring, we’ll be fine. Need a break. We won’t go far.

~Wild and Hyrule’

After adding a large smiley face he knew would piss off Legend, Hyrule led Wild away from the camp, being sure to leave the note in an obvious place. They decided to go the opposite way of the river to avoid any stray Links. The trees around them were a bit taller than Hyrule remembers Wild’s trees being, the sun peeking through the canopy above. A few flowers bloomed sparingly in the grass, Wild stopping to take pictures with his slate. Already Wild looked more relaxed, and Hyrule felt himself decompressing as well. 

Before they could stray far from camp however, they ran into the smallest Link. 

“What are you two doing?” Four asked, eyebrow raised, green eyes shining in the peeking sunlight. 

“We could ask you the same question.” Hyrule spoke for both of them, copying Four’s expression. 

“Very smooth Hyrule. Amazing distraction.” Four fired back, seeming far more amused than angry. 

“Please just pretend you didn’t see us. We both need a break we’ll be careful and we left a note.” Hyrule pleaded. Four had to admit, the pleading expression on both Hyrule and Wild’s faces were hard to deny. Not that he was planning to anyways, but he was definitely going to give them shit for it. 

“Fine.” Four sighed out dramatically. “But do me a favor and try to stick in the area. Maybe Northwest as much as you can. Just so we know where to look when you to inevitably find trouble.” Four teased. 

“We’ll do our best!” Hyrule promised happily, rushing forward. 

‘Thank you!’ Wild signed quickly, rushing forward to catch up to Hyule. Four chuckled lightly. He could already tell those two would be the definition of chaos. 

~

“Sooo. What do you do for fun in your Hyrule?” Hyrule asked, slightly desperate for conversation. Normally he would be content to sit in comfortable silence, but he wanted to get to know this new Link with no one else around, and who knew when he would next get the chance? Hopefully Wild didn’t hate him too much for trying to break the silence. Wild contemplated for a moment.

‘Cliff jump.’ Hyrule snorted.

“A little hard to do that here.” Hyrule laughed.

‘Shield surf.’ Wild signed, fingerspelling it slowly when Hyrule made a confused hum.

“Shield surf? What’s that?” Hyrule knew by Wild’s betrayed expression that he would learn soon.

~

“Where’s Wild?” Twilight asked soon after the boys returned. 

“And Hyrule?” Wind questioned. 

“Hyrule probably ran off again. Did Wild as well?” Sky asked the group. Just then, Warriors noticed a page of Wild’s journal resting on top of a tree stump. Warriors quickly approached the page, slightly concerned it would end up being a ransom note. Picking up the note and reading the short writing, Warriors had to stifle a laugh. 

“What is it?” Time asked.

“Went exploring, we’ll be fine. Need a break. We won’t go far.” Warriors read out loud,

turning the page around to show the large smiley face and the two bokoblins who signed it. 

“That little shit.” Legend growled, looking at the taunting smiley face drawn on the note. 

“Those little shits.” Twilight corrected. He had yet to talk to Time about his friendship with Wild. Was it a friendship? Twilight still needed to ask if this is how a mentor felt. He felt towards Wild like he did towards the kids in Ordon, but this was a little different in ways Twilight couldn’t explain, but wasn’t really mad at.

“You’re right, Twilight. I’ll kill ‘em both.”

~

“So, I just stand on this and ‘surf’ down the hill?” Hyrule questioned, slightly nervous about his certain tumble down the steep hill they managed to find. Wild nodded, eyes brighter than Hyrule had seen them in days.

‘Do you want me to go first?’ Wild signed. 

“Yes please. I guess I just don’t understand how to do it.” Hyrule rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed. Wild just smiled gently, and summoned a shield out of his slate, jumping on the back of it. Hyrule watched in fascination as Wild gracefully sped down the hill they had chosen, weaving around small obstacles. It only made Hyrule more nervous. Not for the surfing itself, no, that looked fun! He just didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of their newest member. Wild was up the hill in no time. The hill was steep, but not long and steep enough to make it hard to get back up. According to Wild, it was almost perfect. Hyrule wanted to know what Wild’s definition of ‘perfect’ was. 

‘Ready’ Wild signed with a large smile and carefree eyes. If Hyrule wasn’t going to surf before, he would have to now that he looked at Wild’s bright face. 

“Yeah, but don’t make fun of me when I eat grass and dirt for lunch.” Wild laughed silently, shoulders shaking. If Hyrule listened close enough, he could hear soft puffs of air escaping from the teen. 

 ‘You should have seen me when I first tried it, Hyrule’ Wild signed. Recently he had been trying to incorporate the other’s name signs more into his sentences, trying to get used to the signs they had given each other. Hyrule was quite fond of his sign, he loved the combination of wanderer and magic. 

“Yeah I’m sure that was interesting for everyone else to watch.” Hyrule snorted, laughing at Wild’s playful glare. This was nice. 

‘I’m ready, Wild.’ Hyrule signed to the best of his ability, trying to brush off Wild’s awe stricken face at the fact Hyrule had signed a simple statement in his language. Hyrule couldn’t sign much, but the look on Wild’s face was worth potentially embarrassing himself. 

‘Try to keep up.’ Wild signed, summoning another shield out of his slate for Hyrule to use. It was absolutely gorgeous. Gray metal with raised gold, creating the symbol of Hyrule with decorative accents surrounding it. 

“Erm, isn’t this a little too nice to use for shield surfing?” Hyrule questioned, not wanting to ruin a perfectly beautiful shield. By the look on Wild’s face, Hyrule knew that was a silly question. For all he knew, Wild could have ten more in that slate of his. 

“Okay so I just get on the back and try to balance as I ride down?” Hyrule clarified, not admitting to himself he was stalling. Wild nodded.

‘Maybe you could sit. Never tried it.’ Wild signed, fingerspelling words Hyrule couldn’t understand or couldn’t remember. 

“Nah I’ll stand. Together?” Hyrule confirmed, placing the shield on the ground before him, knowing the other boy was about to leave him in his dust. Wild was talented enough to not need to put the shield down before him, Hyrule had seen him flip onto it like it was second nature. Hyrule would need a bit more of a base. Wild nodded brightly, waiting for Hyrule to start in case the other needed help. The boy got on top of the shield, wobbling a bit at first before balancing out. Wild felt slightly guilty he couldn’t force himself to balance the other boy out, that would require contact and he couldn’t make himself do that, no matter how nice Hyrule seemed. 

When he found enough balance, Hyrule kicked off gently with one foot, not expecting how fast he would be going right as he did it. Hyrule let out a small yelp as he slid down the hill, arms flailing out in a desperate attempt to keep balance. Hyrule glanced over and saw Wild staying beside him, even though this was definitely much slower than he was used to. Pushing down the panic and desperation to stay balanced on the grassy hill, Hyrule let out a laugh. It really was fun! Hyrule could see why Wild liked it so much. Except he should have been paying more attention. 

In the blink of an eye, Hyrule’s shield launched out from under him, flinging itself into Wild’s legs. All Hyrule heard was a raspy sound coming from the other boy sounding like a yelp before both of them tumbled down the hill, rolling uncontrollably all the way to the bottom. Hyrule could feel scraps and bruises forming on the way down. Certainly not enough to maim or kill him, but enough that it stung and Legend would make him drink some potion later. Hyrule finally stopped rolling, taking mental count of how many injuries he had. No broken bones, no concussions, nothing serious. He sighed in relief, before he remembered his fellow escapee.  

“Wild I’m so sorry! Are you okay? Did I hit your legs hard?” Hyrule asked frantically, rushing over to where Wild landed. The other boy was flat on his back, and had probably gotten the air knocked out of him. Oh Hylia, nice job Hyrule! Now Wild would hate you forever! Hyrule got his healing magic ready as he approached Wild, ready to jump into action. Only stopping when he saw Wild… laughing?  

 Hyrule looked on in shock as Wild was laughing. Not completely silent this time either! It took him being close, but Hyrule could hear some soft and raspy giggles coming from Wild’s throat. That one threw Hyrule for a loop. The others had suspected that Wild could perhaps physically talk, but the scars on his neck left that question unanswered. No one knew why he couldn’t talk. If it was physical, mental, or emotional. Not that it really mattered, Wild was Wild. But still, Hyrule was happy he actually heard the boy laughing, if extremely softly. 

“Wild? Are you okay? I’m sorry I promise I didn’t mean to.” Hyrule knelt down next to Wild, but kept a few feet of distance. The last thing he wanted to do right now is freak him out. That’s also why he refused to bring up Wild’s laughter, desperately hoping he wouldn’t grow embarrassed and shut down again.

‘Nice landing.’ Wild signed up, eyes bright and carefree. 

“Pfft. You too.” Hyrule laughed, almost offering Wild a hand to help him up. It seemed polite to offer, but he decided to stay still until Wild got up himself.

‘Again?’ Wild asked, face the definition of excitement and mischief. 

“Obviously.”

~

The entire afternoon was spent with two boys surfing down a hill, bumping shields and laughing like little kids all the way down. Hyrule was slightly worried that bumping shields, and occasionally shoulders, would bother Wild. But it didn’t seem to affect him too much, it must have been different in a more adrenaline induced setting. 

The two of them surfed until the sun began to set. Challenging each other to odd ways of riding down once Hyrule was better. At one point, this led to Wild attempting to make it the whole way down on his shield in a handstand. He didn’t make it very far. 

Another challenge led to them racing down the hill once Hyrule was more confident in his skill. Hyrule still ended up tumbling down the last quarter of the hill. Wild claimed foul but Hyrule claimed they never said how they needed to make it down.

By the time the sun began its descent, Wild and Hyrule were absolute messes. Twigs, grass, and leaves were tangled in their hair. Grass stains and dirt covered their clothes, along with blood from the countless cuts and scrapes they had collected along the way. And large smiles adorned their scraped and slightly bleeding faces. 

“A couple more times and then we’ll go back?” Hyrule asked, looking at the distant sun. “I think the group is so spoiled by your cooking we’d have a hard time without it.” Hyrule teased, chuckling at Wild’s embarrassed face. 

‘A couple more times. Try the spin’ Wild confirmed. Hyrule was getting better at jumping onto the shield, not being able to flip like Wild, but progress was progress. Wild could even jump and spin while he was surfing! He told Hyrule how to do it, and showed him a few times. Wild told him it was easier if he used the momentum from a small bump in the hill to get enough speed to rotate. 

“Okay I’ll try!” Hyrule beamed. Wild and Hyrule could go at the same time now, Wild not needing to give Hyrule a head start as the evening progressed. “One. Two. Three!” Hyrule called out, jumping on the back of his shield. He balanced out and leaned forward as Wild taught him, keeping an eye on the quickly approaching small hill he planned to launch off of. Hyrule bent his legs a little more, then twisted his hips quickly as soon as he hit the hill. He bent his elbows to the side, making sure to keep his back as straight as he could. He managed to make a full rotation! Before landing and having the shield slip out from under him. Hyrule rolled the rest of the way, but his successful spin made it hard for him to care. When he got to the bottom, his eyes were closed, doing another mental check to see if he had any broken bones. When he opened his eyes, he was met with a very unamused pair of bright blue eyes belonging to a certain wolf.

“Uh oh.” Hyrule glanced over at Wild, who also looked like a deer in the torchlight. Wild signed something that Hyrule assumed the wolf couldn’t understand. He was intelligent, but Hyrule doubted the animal could understand sign .

“He says we left a note.” Hyrule translated. 

~

They must have been quite the sight. Two bruised and cut Hylians covered in grass pouting as they followed a hulking wolf. They would have escaped the wolf’s fury, but he absolutely would not let them out of his sight. If one of the two got an inch too far, the wolf grumbled in his throat and glared. A wolf glared at them. Wild at least, knew the wolf was not just an animal. But that only meant he would be the one to get lectured by an angry Twilight later tonight. Wild and Hyrule were pouting, but they still snickered whenever they thought about today. It had been fun. Really fun. Wild didn’t feel overwhelmed anymore, he felt more content. 

“Here we go.” Hyrule muttered, seeing a small fire in the distance. Wild glared down at Wolfie when he noticed the smug look in his eye. The wolf couldn’t wait to see them get scolded. Wild would get revenge later. 

“Where have you two idiots been?” Legend yelled as they got closer.

“What in Hylia’s name happened?” Sky asked, rushing over to check their cuts with Warriors, keeping their distance with Wild. 

“Wild taught me how to surf on a shield!” Hyrule told them the story happily, brushing off Sky’s and Warriors’ fussing. 

“Awesome! Wild teach me next!” Wind ran up to stand next to Hyrule. The two could see Four hanging back, being suspiciously quiet. Hopefully if they didn’t throw him to the wolves for knowing, he would cover for them later on as well. 

‘Where’s Twilight?’ Wild signed innocently, resisting the urge to smirk down at the wolf beside him. 

“He’s scouting the area for monsters.” Time lied easily. “Wolfie, go get him please?” Wolfie glared one last time at a smug Wild, before running off to ‘find Twilight’. 

“Now.” Time began, and Hyrule and Wild glanced at each other, silently communicating that they were indeed fucked. “What were you two thinking running off like that?” Time asked. He didn’t really sound mad, he sounded more curious. He knew those two wouldn’t purposefully cause issues, especially with how shy they tended to be. Hyrule and Wild glanced at each other before Hyrule spoke up. 

“We just needed a break. We left a note so that you guys knew we were okay, but we both just needed time to unwind in the woods.” Hyrule explained sheepishly. Wild nodded along, keeping his head down. He really hoped Hyrule didn’t get in trouble. Even after all the work they put into learning his sign, Wild thought the group would ditch him in a random Hyrule any minute. He didn’t want to see his new friend get in trouble because of something they both did. If he needed to Wild would take the blame. Better just he get in trouble than both of them.

Time sighed, looking at their guilty expressions. He should have expected this, both of these boys spent most of their lives completely alone. Time thought back to his adventures. He loved exploring Hyrule on the back of Epona. Could he really fault these boys for exploring away from a group? Hyrule was getting better with being in a group, but he still struggled. And Wild has only been in their group for a week, he certainly wasn’t used to traveling with others if his fear of touches were anything to go by. Most of the boys said he ‘didn’t like’ being touched to soften the words and not offend the new Link but they all knew the truth. Something had given Wild a deep rooted fear of even being around Hylians. How could they expect him and Hyrule to be happy when constantly surrounded by others. Time was just glad they had found solace with each other. 

“I understand.” The two teens perked up at that, surprised. They barely noticed Twilight coming from beyond the surrounding trees. “I know exploring away from the path is fun, but Hyrules we don’t know are dangerous. I know I’m not gonna be able to stop you from doing it, but be careful. And come back with less scrapes and bruises next time.” Time teased, not missing the way they both relaxed, Wild especially. Hopefully the boy’s wariness would ease as the journey continued. 

“That’s it? They ran away!” Twilight complained, but the others could tell it was mostly in good fun. Wild however could tell the man was trying to get back at him once again. 

“You’re right. Wild make dinner. Hyrule, fill the water jugs. There. Karma complete.” Time smirked at Twilight exasperated look towards Wild, knowing full well he would need to chase after him in the next few days. Good, hopefully Twilight will learn how Time feels.

~

That night was spent the way many of their peaceful nights did, casual chatter and plans for tomorrow. Wild participated a little more this time, which the group was all grateful for. Legend grumbled and made them booth drink a little potion, no matter how much Wild refused. The rest of the night was spent with the group milling around or all grouped around the campfire. Four however, were beckoned over by Hyrule to have a private conversation. 

“What’s wrong?” Four asked, looking at Hyrule’s troubled face.

“Thanks for covering for us. We needed that.” Hyrule thanked before he moved on. “I’m worried about Wild.” Hyrule bit his lip now that his thoughts were out in the open.

“Why?” Four’s eyebrows furrowed. “He looks better than he has in a while and you two seemed to have fun.”

“We did have fun, but Four he laughed. Like with his voice.” Hyrule glanced over to make sure the boy in question was still making dinner. “It was quiet but I heard it. I think he can talk, Four. I mean I think he could maybe physically talk if he practiced. But I think he’s embarrassed? Or scared? He doesn’t have to talk if he doesn’t want to and I don’t want him to feel forced, but what if he wants to talk and he’s scared?” Hyrule finished. Out of the many things Four had been expecting, it wasn’t that.

“I think… that that’s a very real possibility.” Four started, there was no reason to lie. “But you’re right, he might just not want to, or it could be mental. Or a combination. The truth is we don’t know. I’d say for now let’s worry about things we can control and feel out the situation with Wild.” Four reached up and patted Hyrule’s shoulder. Like all the Links, Hyrule put too much responsibility on himself.

“Okay Four. Thank you… that helps.” Hyrule smiled, looking much better.

“No problem buddy.”

~

That night Wild slept a tad bit closer to the group than he had been. It wasn’t much, but it was progress they were all silently grateful to Hyrule for. Time was on second watch, but Twilight had stayed up to talk to him.

‘Pup, did Wild talk to you that night he woke up with Wolfie?’ Time had overheard a small portion of Four and Hyrule’s conversation. He had been coming back from the stream and didn’t stay long, not wanting to eavesdrop, but he heard enough to connect the dots of what Twilight had been avoiding talking about the past few days.

‘He tried.’ Twilight signed back in their shared sign. It hadn't changed too much from Time’s Hyrule to Twilight’s Hyrule, and they didn’t want Wild to overhear their conversation. 

‘He tried?’ Time questioned silently.

‘It was rough, Time.’ Twilight signed, glancing back at the boy curled up in his thin bedroll. 

“We’ll figure it out.” Time whispered, placing a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. Wild was one of them now.

Slides a ⭐ for a star person :p

Holy shit it took over a year and I barely remember which fanfic ask this is about...I think it's like a director's cut one? REGARDLESS! I do remember the star was to like talk about whatever - and while looking for a WIP I came across an attempt to answer this WITHIN a wip? Past Nico what were you thinking?!

I do know this was written sometime before Ch15 of Terpsichore came out, because there were a few references? But I rephrased the wording a bit.

Forgive me for using this as an excuse to just babble on about how I choose the music titles for chapter sections in Terpsichore, but also, I'm not entirely sorry haha Without further Ado! Here’s hoping this rambling makes sense haha!!

⭐ AN ANSWER!（♥￫ｏ￩♥）

So it’s taken me a long time to figure out how I wanted to answer this. For a while I was going to ramble about M*A*S*H how it was a rather formative show for me growing up, especially in its anti-war message as well as how it feels like a comedy played in a minor key. There was even going to be a link to a video essay on the show, and then I was going to hint at a want to write a series following the changelings in a pre-show context in the sort of vibe M*A*S*H gave.

But it got lost, and weighty…and…idk, I can’t seem to stick to a lot of things these days? I don’t know.

But there’s always been in me the want to attempt to explain why I choose the music pieces I choose to title the sections in each chapter. Cause despite the little message at the bottom of the first chapter and the last chapter talking about motifs leitmotifs…writing prose is nothing like composing music.

And not only that I’m sure less than half of the people reading the fic will listen along with the playlist. Which is 100000% fine! I anticipate it even!

Because at best, those sectional pieces serve less as soundtrack more like a silent movie’s musical medley.

Because it’s the written word, and I’m not Andrew Hussie ldgj though the day I find out how to put a little ‘play button’ to listen to music during a fic, I might do that. But at this point in time Hell No haha.

Despite this, there is a process behind my music selections.

There is a difference between what I consider ‘corpse de ballet’/ ‘ensemble’ sections, and ‘leads’ / ‘duet’ sections.

Or what my poor readers go through as ‘a shit ton of prospective shifts’ and two prospectives at best, at the same time. I don’t know why I’m such a fan of bouncing between perspectives so much that you probably feel seasick. I always consider it a miracle anyone understands what the heck is going on dfjglk The answer is probably because I like third person omniscient writing, and am a sucker for situational/character irony. But I’m also a grammar school drop out haha and don’t actually know the rules of writing by heart? I’m just a fool with a bunch of vibes and a dictionary doing their best lol.

[ stressed coffee sip ] Fake it til you make it baby

But yeah! Enough borderline weird self deprecating! Let’s talk music!!

So! Usually when writing a section I try and think about who are the central characters in the section, and or what is the theme/emotion I’m trying to call on. Is there a motif, or a reference I can play on musically? An idea or concept I can echo or even enhance? Will it be a specific genera of music tied to a character because that character embodies and or is known for a specific genera (example: Nomura and Opera- more on that at during ACTII )

Once I answer those questions, I’m able to narrow down my music choices. Which, again, acts more like a book of suggested musical medley orchestras and musicians would purchase during the silent movie era as like a cheat sheet of what they could play during a specific scene.

So…for instance, for a character like Barbara Lake I wouldn’t use video game music -or maybe I could…but it would only be in terms of perhaps referencing her son.- who I would have a higher chance at choosing to select a video game music piece for (hang on to your butts ACT II Zelda soundtrack).

In the fic I’ve built the idea that in order to explain Barbara’s ability to paint, that she not only took classes but was part of the production team in putting on a play, mainly in set design painting props. Which opens me to a world of musical options when it comes to Barbara’s character. Especially when certain musicals hold songs that can be really fitting to her character later on. An example of this can be seen in ch3 “Aquarius”, and ch14 “Julia”.

Ch3 is Barbara’s big planned picnic date. The first date she and Walter go on after she ingested the binding spell. The two of them coming together, but also the magic of which awakening something magical inside.

And Ch14 in which the binding spell is broken, but also whatever was holding Barbara’s potential to reaching towards that magical something inside her is also broken. And in a sort of my own attempt at written diegesis between the narrative and the song selections in the sections, the lyrics to Aquarius is written out as Barbara depends into the water. In which it is no longer the dawning of Aquarius, Aquarius is starting to take center stage. Their cue is played.

That would be my example on a very character driven musical choice.

Not only that, but it is at Ch3 where Walter is influenced more and more to Barbara’s appreciation to musicals, so much so that it begins to influence his own array of music pieces. His dreams no longer dialogue from movies he fell asleep to, but sometimes full on reproductions of staged musicals and plays. An example of this can be seen in Ch11 On the Right Track from Pippin the Musical - which oof I could go into a full dissertation on in regards to changelings/Pippin and The Pale Lady/Leading Player.

Not only that, but due to influence from Barbara’s love we get the moment of Walter’s ‘I want’ section piece in the form of Ch9 “Corner of the Sky” (aka Pippin’s I want song as well). The moment before this happened there was the interaction with Angor AND Otto AND the repercussions of Angor attacking the school. It is clear to these characters that Strickler is not giving his all in killing Jim, and perhaps never tried to give his all. Something that Otto proclaims as Strickler making excuses, and Strickler insists is tact.

Then there is the situational character driven choice.

I’m going to continue to use Barbara as an example here, and say that THIS can be seen in Ch2 “No. 9 – Finale Andante” and ch12 “Le Lac Des Cygnes Introduction: Moderato Assai”

Both of these music pieces come from Swan Lake. The reasoning behind the choice is probably asinine in thought process (Barbara Lake, Swan Lake), but also thought out in the sense of the following:

In Season3 of Trollhunters Morgana, in order to attempt to reacquire her shadow staff from Strickler (“The Exorcism of Clair Nuñez), transforms herself to take Barbara Lake’s physical form.

IN THE BALLET SWAN LAKE The wizard Von Rothbart, in order to obtain what they want, transforms (granted someone else) Odile to look like the hero Odette in order to trick the prince into proclaiming this imposter Odile as their one true love. In which Odile is the mirror to Odette, and while looking similar (in fact typically the ballerina who performs as Oddette would also perform as Odile) are opposites in spirit.

And, at least in Terpsichore, what near primordial eldritch force can rival that of the Eldritch Queen that we know from cannon will inevitably impersonate Barbara Lake?

But wait, there’s more.

In chapter 2 the piece used in section 2 is the end of ACTI from Swan Lake. The music hints not only the arrival of Odette, but also her inevitable tragedy. What is written in this section, briefly at that cause we watched how the scene plays out in the show, you don’t need me writing that back at you, but I digress- What is WRITTEN in this section is Barbara sipping the enchanted tea that binds herself to Waltolomew Strickler. Something that you, the viewer and fan will know ends in tragedy, as do I the writer and also fan knows will end in tragedy. The only people out of the loop here are the poor poor characters.

And then the revolving door of bad situations that is ch12 happens, and we return to Swan Lake with “Le Lac Des Cygnes Introduction” In which Barbara is introduced to Jim Lake’s Trollhunting world, finally. But wait! There’s EVEN more.

Because not only is Barbara introduced to Jim’s Trollhunting world, Barbara begins to allow herself an introduction to that weird magical more that’s inside her via dream. And YOU/WE the reader/writer/audience, are introduced to the strange figure Giselle is talking to on the beach of Lake Superior…who…well, you’ve probably already have an idea as to who that figure is ;)c

There are also moments when I just select a song piece because I think it fits Thematially well - ch11’s “Powerhouse” section. Aka the music that plays in Looney Tunes whenever an assembly line montage occurs - to which in that section Jim Draal and Walter are putting together the booby-traps to thwart Angor Rot (as well as try to reassemble some sort of emotional connection between them). Or it could be a reference to a meme I really enjoyed, example Ch12’s “Roundabout” aka the music piece known vernacularly as “The Jojo Meme” but also like…meme aside it’s really good and fits and just lkfgjkgsdj I have a lot of feels about Roundabout and I won’t apologize for it haha

And yet, something I pride myself in, is that you don’t need to know all of this to enjoy the story. It isn’t necessary to listen to the Swan Lake pieces or even the Musicals, or even the Jojo Meme. Because, if I did my job right, those echoes ought to be in the writing. The pieces to the section have always been optional. Just little markings in a booklet to be given to you the reader/composer as a suggestion and you can choose to play those pieces along to the silent film, or boot up a ragtime. And that’s the power you have. And that’s equally as wonderful!

a friend asked me to give a shot at doing an entry in this tier list they linked me to, of the video games inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame since 2015, and I opted to give it a shot!

My rankings are generally biased towards games I personally enjoy playing, though I will give some commentary on their historic relevance:

S-Rank

Super Mario Bros: The game that repopularized video games in the US, that arguably began the entire platforming video game genre and all its imitators and spin-offs, that spawned a new generation of video games after the Atari Crash in the US, and still a DAMN FUN game in its own right! I simply had to put this at the top ranking. After the disillusionment caused by Atari’s failures, this game brought home consoles back in a big way to the US. 

World of Warcraft: Now, I’m not much for MMORPGs. Nevertheless, I’ve followed the lore and general information in the Warcraft setting for years now, and a couple years back, my brother asked me to play it with him. I had a ton of fun, honestly! Playing a goblin mage, I believe. WoW is notable for being THE MMORPG, and still going strong. Admittedly, nowadays many games do what it does better, and the time when it was dominant as THE single game to play is past, but it was still an enjoyable experience and I really have to like how sincere the game is about its aesthetics and campy vibe. Given that the entire setting is reputedly a reskin of a Warhammer Fantasy Battle video game that went south, it’s cheery and colorful, morally gray tone is... an interesting complication in its history. (Also, HORDE. I STAN THE HORDE VERY HARD.)

The Sims: A bit of history; I did not play this game as enthusiastically as a kid as my sister and mom did. We ALL spammed the hell out of the Rosebud cheat, though; not until recent times did I actually wind up playing the game properly, when the most recent iteration of the series was free for a while. My mom didn’t care to play the game, she just liked building houses. In any case, while my attention drifted from the game now and then, I always am fascinated by the actual gameplay of caring for your simulated humans, and the way you don’t actually control them directly. This sort of hands off experience is actually a bit similar to the ‘dungeon simulator’ genre, and while the game is notorious for enabling cruelty (something I never saw the appeal of!), it’s a surprisingly wholesome experience, and it can’t be understated how unique this gameplay was at the time.

Legend of Zelda: It’s actually rather interesting how different OG Zelda is from modern games. Not just the top down perspective (which DOES pop up, now and then); the game is non-linear and allows you to go to any dungeon at any point, completing the game at your leisure, and the story is extremely barebones compared to what we may be used to. It’s quite a far cry from the linear gameplay of gradually collecting tools and working through plots that the games are known for. Breath of the Wild is, in fact, a return to form rather than an upheaval of the formula. I’ll also admit that I have a lot of affection for the gameplay of this one, as well as Link To The Past.

Donkey Kong: When you’re talking old school, as far as what you might call the modern generation of games goes (which is to say, the games that resurged after the Atari Crash), it’s hard to go wrong with Donkey Kong. It’s certainly notable for being a weird stage in Mario’s character and something that is generally ignored; it’s just strange thinking that at one point he was supposed to be abusive towards a pet ape that went in an innocent, well-meaning rampage! Personally this one kind of breaks a mold for my S-class rankings because while I like this one fine, I don’t like it THAT much; i mostly played it in the DK 64 game, and found it very difficult and that’s stuck with me. Still, I place it here for its momentous position in placing Nintendo on the map, with the influence and revolutionary technologies and gaming mechanics they would introduce, to this very day.

Pokemon Red/Blue: Hoo boy. HOO BOY it is honestly something of an oversight that I didn't immediately shove this beauty straight to the front of the S-line because good god I love this game. It's been years and years, long since I was but a whee Johnny playing a strange new game for the first time just because there was a cool turtle creature on the cover (because I was super into turtles back then), and I still love this game. Even with the improvements made to the formula since then (getting rid of HMs, the fixes and new types introduced since) there's still something lovable about this game, even as something as basic as the official artwork that just tugs my heartstrings. This game is highly notable for being an RPG that popularized the monster collecting/befriending gameplay (so far as I know), and as an autistic person, i really appreciate knowing the whole thing grew out of an autistic man's bug collection hobby from when he was a child. Pokemon is an absolute juggernaut of a media influence, and THIS is where it all began. It's first stage evolution, you might say. And not like a Magikarp or anything. This one's more like one of the starters... appropriately enough. Final Fantasy 7: This is probably a bit of a controversial take, but FF7 was not actually one of my favorite Final Fantasy entries back in the day. I never played much more of it than the beginning missions, as my cousin owned the machine in question, and I moved out before i could play it much. Final Fantasy 3 (in the US; it's more generally referred to as 6 now) was my favorite for a long, long time, and that game pioneered many of the traits that would be associated with 7: the epic story, the complex ensemble cast, though 7 really expanded on that basic idea, and previous games were hardly shabby in that regard. 9 is my favorite of the pre-10 era, with its extreme shake ups to the mechanics of the game. No; what makes 7 stand out is that it was a shift towards making Final Fantasy a constantly shifting, unique franchise where every entry was its own thing; it introduced 3D graphics with a fun and cartoony style mixed with a story that wouldn't be out of place in a cyberpunk story, and heralds Squaresoft (as it was called at the time) splitting off from Nintendo, with its censorship policies, and doing its own thing with Sony, with a great deal more freedom to write as they pleased. The party design also stands out, which each character having their own unique function in the party while the Materia concept allows a degree of modular skills to be installed, customizing them in ways that, in my opinion, the best entries in the franchise (on a gameplay level) would revisit. Colossal Cave Adventure: I'll be honest; I never played this game, and I don't believe it's particularly familiar to me at all. However, I chose it for this vaunted spot in S-rank because games of this nature, of text-based prompt and responses, are some of the most interesting things imaginable! Games like AI Dungeon are similar in some respects, and its impressive to think just how dang old this game is, and yet it managed to pull off basically being it's own DM. It has an interesting history; created by a man who worked on the precursor to the Internet, the game was made to connect with his daughter and was inspired by recent entries into Dungeons And Dragons, and later expanded upon by other programmers. It's notable that while Zork is the sort of game that would probably involve more immediate recognition (I actually mistook it for Zork at first, from the screenshot), this game was the first of its kind, and that always deserve some recognition. Minecraft: I absolutely LOVE Minecraft, and it's rightfully one of the most popular games, if not THE most popular game, of the last couple of decades, and it's interesting to think just how unconventional it is; the game is, effectively, a LEGO simulator, and as someone who honestly always wanted tons of LEGO sets as a kid but could never afford them consistently, there's something genuinely very appealing about Minecraft's basic set up. It's open approach and lack of a goal, just gameplay mechanics that encourage you to build and do as you please, makes for a very relaxing and unusual mentality not often seen in games until this point; it doesn't even have a storyline, it simply gives you a world to play around in. Of note, Minecraft's entry seems to have relevance towards video games becoming a cultural touchstone; Minecraft's visual aesthetic leans towards both blocky LEGOs and retro graphics, and certainly proves that games don't need to strive for hyper realistic graphics to be appealing. ----- A RANK Doom: I genuinely like Doom, a lot! I still have memories of replaying this game frequently, long before Doom 2016 and Eternal were glimmers; it's just genuinely very fun to play. That said, I feel that there's other games that are a bit more historically notable and while i like this game, not quite as much as other entries. But it cant be understated that this was THE first person shooter, and more to the point, was fundamental towards game design as we know it. Of note, it pioneered the idea of a game engine, which has had tremendous impact down the road in terms of making a flexible baseline system that latergames were programmed around. Additionally, the first three episodes being free, with the additional ones being purchased as part of the full game, this was, I think, the first demonstration of a demo. Back then, we called this shareware; a game which was free but had full features locked off, but otherwise you could play it however much you wanted. There's a REASON Doom winds up on more systems than Skyrim! Ultimately, while it's not one of my favorite games, it's impact on the business of gaming and the functions of game design cannot be overstated. Pac-Man: This game, is THE game that made video games a phenomenon and its worth thinking about that and how video games as a modern institituion can be drawn, however broadly, from Pac-Man's commercial success. I should note that while I've played this game extensively, it's not something I'm particularly good at; there's a LOT going on here and its a bit much for me to handle. That's probably a strength; there's a reason people had to fake their accomplishments and falsified high scores. It's worth noting that Pac-Man is a unique thing in that it has been rereleased many times over, and every generation has found it enjoyable and fun, unlike other games that set trends only to be lost out in the end. (Goldeneye, for instance!) The Oregon Trail: Like many other people I assume, I first played this game as something available on school computers. Purportedly made as an educational game to teach students about history, this game may be notable for, among other things, being an entry point towards the idea of resource management in video games (as well as being hellishly difficult, by the standards then, but that DOES illustrate a point, does it not?). It's also the oldest, most continuously available game ever made, even now being ported to smartphones, or so I hear! It seems to be a very early example of edutainment games, and a genuinely great one at that. It probably helps that a selling point is that it doesn't really mince around with its subject matter; anyone who's played this game knows that total party kill is the default assumption, as it was in life. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat: I place these two together as I feel that they form a duo of sorts, and defined fighting games of my childhood and modern gaming experience; name a fighting game, from Injustice to something as deliberately different as Smash Bros, and it has SOME relation to these games, even if its in terms of doing something completely different. These games set a mold for fighting games! Among other things, both games feature iconic characters as a selling point, and to this day fighting games make their mark based on how signature their characters are. Mortal Kombat is of course an incredibly violent game (though very tame, by modern standards), and its fatalities and depicitons of violence sparked thought and arguments on what video games ought to be allowed to depict, for better or for worse. It's not implausible to suggest that the overly strict restrictions on what video games could depict go back to Mortal Kombat's fatalities, specifically (since there's far worse games predating it, though too graphically primitive to be obvious). Street Fighter, conversely, strikes me as having more characterization and depth, especially as far as fighting systems go; I find it hard to be interested in many fighting games now, if they don't offer as much depth as the likes of Street Fighter 2. Street Fighter stands out for innovating multiplayer play, initially in the arcade, and its not implausible to say that the likes of Smash Bros is a descendant of sorts of the specific mentality Street Fighter brought to the table. Consider also that it is STILL a mainstay in the remaining arcades and cabinets in service today! Tomb Raider: This is a game i legit liked back in the day, and there's some part of me that's sad that the platforming, puzzle solving and focus on exploration has not really made it back into the modern Tomb Raider series, last I checked. There's probably something interesting in that Lara Croft represents a bit of an intermediate period between platforming mascots and modern Edgy Protagonists; you know the ones. Balding white dudes with vague dad vibes, but this is not a slight on Lara; she definitely has a ton of personality, even just at a cover glance. This game had a strong focus on exploration, and that's honestly something I really like. Super Mario Kart: I'm going to be controversial here; complaints about the Blue Shell are kinda overrated. It's not that different from, say, a red shell hitting you from behind when you're close to the finish line. But, jokes and old 90s memes aside, this game has some interesting status in that it started the idea of making spin-off games in dramatically different contexts; Crash Team Racing and Sonic Drift, for example, are listened as similar games. On a franchise level, this began the trend of Mario becoming a truly flexible character who could do pretty much whatever was required of him, not just the original platforming games, and its possible his imitators never quite learned the same lesson. Though one wonders what Miyamoto might have thought if he'd known how many thinkpieces he would spawn with 'why does mario go-karting with Bowser when they're enemies?'. For my part, I favor the idea that the other games are in-universe fictions they're actors on and this is their actual dynamic, or that Mario is a relaxed dude who doesn't mind playing kart games with his foe. (I mean, he's not Ridley. Bowser's easy enough to get along with.) Animal Crossing: Again, I have to emphasize that I've never actually played this game, at least on a consistent basis (and by that, I mean I MIGHT have played it on the Gamecube, once, in the early 2000s), and have to speak from what I've seen of what it sparked. And I really do like the way it really codified the sub-genre of relaxed, open-ended games where the player is free to do as they like, without much stress or fear, which is something I think more games could stand to do. On my personal list of features that my ideal video game would have, Animal Crossing would definitely offer a few ideas. I am reminded of farming simulators, such as Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley; while they are different beasts entirely, there's a familiar sense of non-combat relaxation that's pleasant to see. Spacewar!: This machine is GODDAMN old, and like an old fogey predating modern humans, it deserves our respect. It's so old, it predates Pong. Supposedly created as part of predictative Cold War models, with an emphasis on emulating sci fi dogfights, producing a game that soon proved popular, for over a decade remainign the most popular game on computer systems, and a clumsy foray into arcade gaming (that didn't pan out, unfortunately) led to the creation of Pong by its creator, which is another story all its own! And Pong is directly responsible for the idea of the video game itself; this game launched the entire video game industry as we understand it! No small feat, indeed. ----

B RANKED Sonic The Hedgehog: I must state that I DO like this game, though not as much as later entires like Sonic 3 and Knuckles, or the Sonic Adventure series; the fast paced action seems a bit hobbled by the traps and need to be careful of surroundings, which would seem to run counter towards the whole idea of GOTTA GO FAST, y'know? But the game presents an interesting viewpoint on the nature of mascot gaming; created specifically, so it is said, as a rival to Mario, Sonic was designed as a mascot with attitude, and inspired a host of imitators; he's probably the only one to escape the 90s more or less intact, and this may have something to say about his flexibility, star power, and also the fact that he's a pretty mild character, all things considered. This game certainly has its place in gaming history, giving an important place in the console wars of yesteryear. Believe me, I was a kid in the 90s, Sonic was a HUGE deal. Space Invaders: This game is noted to have catapulted games into prominence by making them household, something outside of arcades, and it shows! An interesting detail of note is that supposedly, the Space Invaders were meant to all move at high speed, but this was either too hard to play against, or too costly on the processor; it was found that by making them speed up as they were defeated, it created an interesting set of challenge. You have to appreciate game history like that. In general, its success prompted Japanese companies to join the market, which would eventually produce what I imagine was a thriving, competitive market that would eventually get us Nintendo and it's own gamechangers down the road. Grant Theft Auto 3: I'm going to be honest with you. I don't much care for this sort of game. The Saints Row series, with its fundamental wackiness, is the kind of game I really DO like if I'm going for something like this, and GTA sort of leaning towards the 'cruel for fun and profit' gameplay is really unappealing for me. However, I'd be remiss if I didn't address this game, and what seems to come up is two things: the game's sheer freedom in its open world (which certainly pushed the bar for games of that nature, and has made it a byword for gamers screwing around in a game just to see what ridiculous things they could or couldn't do) and the infamous reputation from the mature aspects of the game. Personally, I'm not much for this game's take on maturity (if I wanted to discuss a game of that nature, I'd suggest, say, Spec Ops: The Line) but I really do appreciate what this game and its series did for the open world genre, and the sheer possibilities presented for letting you do what you wanted. King's Quest: I've never played this game, but I am a HUGE fan of the point and click genre (also known generally as the adventure game genre) that it spawned; without this game, there's no Monkey Island, no Sam and Max, no The Dig or Full Throttle, or Gabriel Knight. This game was similar to previous text-based games, with a text parser to input commands, but with the distinction of a graphical interface to move their character around, which would be the seed of later games such as the SCUMM engine of Monkey Island and other Lucasarts games (which, to me, ARE Adventure Gaming). The puzzles, comedic sensibilities, and interface innovations originated with this game, and codified those later adventure games i love so much. Starcraft: This is another one those list of 'games I should have already played by now'. I'm not much of an RTS person, barring forays with games such as Impossible Creatures, Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War, and more strange entries such as Brutal Legend, and I contend that the combat aspects of 4X games like Civilization DO count on some level; the specifics of troop movement and unit strengths/weaknesses are a bit beyond me, when you get to more complex stuff. Starcraft, reading between the lines, really introduced the idea of multiplayer culture especially for RTS, pioneered the Battle(dot)net system (which I mostly recall from Diablo, if I'm being honest!) as well as the idea of relative strengths and powers for individual factions so that they became characters in their own right. It's still a very popular online game, and that says SOMETHING. Also, I tend to use zerg rushes, so I would probably play Zerg. Probably. (There is much speculation on whether or not, like Warcraft being a failed Warhammer Fantasy game, if the same holds true for Starcraft and Warhammer 40k. I lean on the side of 'probably not'; the differences are too notable. The Zerg and Tyranids have some similarties, but that's probably because they're based on the same broad hive mind evil insect aggressor trope, and they have enough differences from there to be very distinct from one another. It's not like how OG Warcraft's orcs were very obviously warhammer orcs with less football hooliganism.) Bejeweled: This is a firm case of a game that I don't play, but I really have to respect its influence on gaming as a whole. Apparently it started as a match three-type game with a simplistic formula that proved wildly popular (perhaps making a point that simpler can be more effective, in game mechanics), with a truly explosive record of downloads; over 500 million, it seems. Thus its fair to say that this game set the precedent for casual games, which have become THE market. Regardless of your feelings on that genre, this one was a real game changer. (Pun intended, absolutely.) ----

C RANK Pong: "By most measures of popular impact, Pong launched the video game industry." This line alone saws it all, I think. It wasn't the first video game, but it was one of the more early ones, and its the one that really made video games and consoles successful, gaining widespread attention from the mainstream audience, as well as getting Atari recognition (for better or for worse, but perhaps that was just a development of being on top, so to speak; maye the console wars at least kept the big three honest). It also started the arcade revolution of games, and this humble game is essentially responsible for the entire state of video games as a concept, as we know it today. Halo: No disrespect to Halo, but it's just a game series I've never quite been able to get into. Those games are very hit and miss for me; games like Call of Duty, Battlefield, Gears of War and everything like that are just... hard for me to get into. It takes something specific like Borderlands or the Besthesda Fallout series, or something else, for me to get hooked, and Halo just doesn't do it for me! Nevertheless, I would be QUITE remiss if I simply dismissed it, and there's reasons for it to be inducted into the hall of fame barely three years into the hall of fame making inductees. Firstly, it was Microsoft's big entry into the console wars, and it must be said this was a MASSIVE upset and a completely unprecedented shift in the assumptions of the console wars back then; NO ONE expected microsoft to actually do this, let alone redefine gaming out of Sony and Nintendo's favor like that. At the time, PCs dominated FPS games, and Halo showed that consoles could do it just fine. It must also be said that it has a very intricate and complex system of lore, backstory and material that was quite distinctive for a new setting back in the day, and while I've seen people object to it's gameplay, I suspect that its with the benefit of hindsight; Halo offered an extremely unusual degree of freedom in achieving the goals set out for you. (Cortana also didn't deserve getting her name slapped onto that search assistant that eats up all your RAM.) Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego: Surprisignly enough, based on the article, this game was NOT an adaptation, but the source material of this character. This is where the fancy, mystery lady in the red coat started! Evidently this game was originally an edutainment game with a cops and robbers theme, and inspired by Colossal Cave Adventure from higher up on the list, and one must appreciate the effort that went into it. This one is ranked low, mostly because it didn't seem TOO notable to me. Honestly I'm surprised this is where Carmen Sandiego started. (And that she doesn't get enough credit as an iconic theatrical villain who won't go a step too far, but that's another rant.) -

D LIST

Here we are. The D LIST. The bottom of the sorting pile; the lowest of them all, the... well, the ones that I honestly don't necessarily dislike, but couldn't place higher for reasons of notability, personal interest, or perceived impact on the history of gaming. John Madden Football: Sports games, as a whole, really do NOT do it for me. I don't like real like sports at ALL (with, as a kid, a brief interest in boxing and that was just because they had gloves like Knuckles from Sonic the Hedgehog) so its hard for me to say that I find the history of this one all that compelling. Even so, there's some interesting elements in how this game was a sequel to a previous failed attempt, with a bold new attempt at a more arcade-style action game with a more dramatic take on the players, who would in turn be rated in different skill sets. The Madden series is STILL going so... it worked out pretty well, I'd say. (FUCKIN EA WAS BEHIND THIS ONE??? wow, EA is older than I thought.) Microsoft Flight Simulator: It's honestly a bit painful sorting this one so low, since I had many happy times as a wee Johnny playing this game back in the old days. I mean the OLD, old days. This was like, the days when Usenet was the preferred way for people to talk online. (Not me, though. I didn't talk to people, then. I was even less social than I am now, which is saying something!) All the same, I suppose that it was important to not crowd too many entries in a specific folder, and statistically, something had to keep getting knocked down, and in the end, I couldn't honestly say I still enjoyed this one enough to place it higher. Still, credit must be given where it is due; this game stands out for being an early foray into simulator gaming, showing a realistic depiction of actual flight. It has apparently been updated and rereleased many times since, which is impressive! Tetris: I like puzzles. So it might be surprising to hear this seminal game ranked so low; firstly, I like different KINDS of puzzles (like weird ones where you have to fling your sense of logic to the moon and back, or make use of gaming mechanics) and honestly this game is kind of stressful for me. You gotta keep an eye on a lot of different things flying around all at once, and constantly move things around, and that kind of attention and quick thinking does NOT come easily to me. All the same, I really have to admire how it was born from it's creator's pleasure in solving mathematical puzzles about sorting shapes into boxes, in a manner strangely remniscient of Satoshi's bug collecting that became Pokemon. Certainly the game's simplicity has proven a universally appealing thing, and may say something about the value of keeping it simple. Microsoft Solitaire: This game apparently became pay-to-get some time ago in recent computer generations, and let me tell, you, it was genuinely depressing to find that out. I remember younger decades, from the 90s and on, when this game was a regular and free feature in Windows computers fir MANY years. You got a computer, this game was on here. I was a kid, and i remember watching my mom play this game and makign the cards go WHOOP WHOPP all over the place and marveling, because I couldn't ever do the same thing. (A related note: I am terrible at this game. Go figure!) Of note, this game was massively widespread, and just EVERYWHERE, and I think everyone who ever played a computer back in those days instantly remembers it in some way. It was just... ubiquitous. Centipede: Oh, ol' Centipede. I don't mean to be mean to you. But between the likes of Pokemon and Super Mario Bros, even the arcade Donkey Kong, someone had to keep dropping down the leaderboard that is this tierlist, and unfortunately, there were other games that felt higher up than you. All the same, you're a very good game, and honestly, I like you more than some other games ranked higher for reasons of relevance to gaming history. Certainly more than anything else in D-listing. The colorful and appealing palette is noteworthy. That trackball controller! Amazing! (More games should use trackballs. They're fun and easy to use.) At the very least, Order of the Stick did a joke with you once, and that's better than anything I can do for you. All the same, you're a cool game.

writers tag game

got tagged by @noire-pandora and i was going to do this yesterday but SURPRISE SURPRISE I FORGOT LMAO

1.How many works do you have on AO3?

uh *mumbles* two hundred and thirty-seven ... (though seriously considering taking one of them down at least for a little while to sort out what i want to rewrite and also the tags)

2.What’s your total AO3 word count?

1,373,295 (eep!)

3.What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

groove is in the heart - 551

it's always been you - 373

wrong number (or "what happens when you accidentally send your boss a dick pic") - 327

angel, interrupted - 321

sudden realisations - 305

(it is no surprise to me that these are all in the supernatural fandom and all but one is destiel asdfghjkl)

4.Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

i always do! i don't always get back to them right away but i always want to let a commenter know that their comment is appreciated because it issssssssss <3

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

i would have said too heavy, a fic where anders mourns his lover hawke that was left in the fade, but i'm actually planning a sequel that will make it happier, so technically it won't really be ... i'd therefore say where fate led them, because two lovers breaking up is one thing, but breaking up by one person blowing up the other's airship and then ending up in a quickdraw duel with them where one kills the other is a whole other level.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

i don't really count my one-shots because the smutty ones naturally have a happy ending of sorts (hurr hurr hurr) but of my multi-chapter fics ... i'd probably say dark legacy. marane loses some of her brotherhood brethren but she exacts vengeance for them in the dread father's name, kills the emperor of cyrodiil (and gets all the fame and notoriety that goes along with that), gets a whole new sanctuary, and basically gets to rebuild the dark brotherhood from the ground up in the night mother's image. plus a new lover in the form of cicero. is there anything else a good listener needs?

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

do modern characters in fandom worlds count? lol if not then no, i don't think i have yet. yet being the operative word, because i do have things planned. but i have a lot of things planned, so.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

i did once, but it wasn't really bad and i'm not sure i would classify it as hate. basically someone read part two of a series and lamented certain things in that story that are also present in the first story and are just clearly a part of the series aesthetic. i get it, it's not for everyone. not sure why they felt the need to read 160k of posted work before saying so, but to each their own. i do think i circumvent hate comments by requiring folks to be signed in to leave one. i'm sure i probably miss out on comments by guests, but for my mental health's sake, i'd rather leave it to logged in users only. put your money where your mouth is ... or, in this case, your account.

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

oh yes, i write quite a lot of it, too, and in a good variety! from vanilla to kinky to even dangerous (and appropriately tagged).

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i'm aware of, thankfully

Have you ever had a fic translated?

not that i've been told, at least lol

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

no, though a friend of mine have gone back and forth with a dao canon divergence. both of us are just at different points in our writing right now, though, so who knows if/when it will see the light of day. i don't usually co-write, though, because my writing muse is so finicky, it's not really dependable.

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

i don't think i could choose, don't make me!

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

honestly, at this point, it's unfortunately one i felt very passionate about: angel, interrupted. i had started slowly writing it and building up this au when the poor quality of the show just began wearing on me and the fandom in general wore on me even further until i've ... kinda just fallen out of love with it. :/ i don't hate it, not at all, i guess i just need more time and separation from the bullshit. at least i hope that'll help. i truly do want to finish it, i just feel absolutely no drive to do so right now.

What are your writing strengths?

angst, definitely lol

What are your writing weaknesses?

dialogue and certain characters

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

i think it's cool and i like to incorporate it when i can. i am kinda leery and cautious when i don't actually know the language well, myself, tho. i don't wanna muck it up lol.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

in general? star wars. that i posted on ao3? harry potter.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

it feels like i keep harping on this one lol but the path we choose is just one i'm so, so proud of. the examination of guilt and regret in the form of a one-shot set against the mojave, with the courier discussing their issues and joshua graham offering support and comfort. one of my friends called joshua (in this fic) a shepard rather than a hand of vengeance, and i really do like writing him that way. plus zelda needs all the help she can get lol and really, we all do.

i tag @dreadfutures, @warpedlegacy, and @dumbassentity! if you were tagged before, sorry :P and no pressure if you don't wanna partake. and if anyone wants to do this, consider this your tag!

Principle Decisions [18/?]

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Zelda Spellman/Lilith

Summary: “I’m going to fuck you in front of all these people, Zelda. Every single person is going to watch you come harder than you ever have because of me.”

N.B.: Also posted on AO3. This is pure fantasy, please suspend your disbelief.

The drive over was fast, and Zelda spent the entire time feeling anticipation building as she thought about what would occur. Despite Lilith’s assurance that she did not have to participate and could remain a spectator, there was an excitement that was building underneath her skin since the mentioning of it.

Set-up had mostly taken place, and when Lilith entered, there was already someone in the apartment. “Zelda, this is Minion, Minion, this is Zelda,” she greeted briefly.

The man was skinny, dressed in goth regalia and had big eyes that followed Lilith as he bowed and shadowed behind her, referring to her only as “Mistress”. If Lilith hadn’t warned her previously that a few of her old long-term clients would be coming, it would have been a sharp slap in the face.

As it was, the sight of Minion only annoyed her as she watched him simpering around the house, fixing food and alcohol around. Ensuring pillows were fluffed, condoms were laid out, and lubricant was appropriately set.

And then guests were coming in one-by-one. They made their way through the front door and greeted Lilith with a familiarity of old friends, talking about work and career, and how the city had changed, and that so-and-so they knew had gone overseas but was doing really well.

Each time, Lilith introduced Zelda, her hand running down her back as if to soothe her. “My handmaiden,” she said, rather pleased with herself, and Zelda would look at her every time and feel the annoyance she had settle. They were friends of Lilith’s, and they all seemed rather excited by Zelda, making vague inquiries into how Zelda would be participating.

She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but the guests, while all dressed in different forms of kink-wear, seemed to all be college-educated or artists, or both.

“Ah, here’s someone I really want you to meet,” Lilith said, as she tugged her back from the garden into the kitchen. There, Zelda came face-to-face with the last person she expected to see.

“Mon Cherie,” Marie greeted. “Zelda, I should have suspected you were the goddess Lilith had been talking about.”

“You know each other?” Lilith enquired as she looked between them. There was a stiffness to her words thinly veiling her disappointment.

Zelda flushed, “She’s doing a talk at the university,” she explained.

“Oui. And when I set eyes on her I thought how lovely she would be to bring here––had I known she was already your star, I would have arrived earlier. I’m sure she will look quite beautiful in the moonlight.”

Zelda felt not only her whole face heat at the comment, but it spilt down her chest. At the comment, she felt Lilith’s hand trailed down her back, before settling low––Zelda couldn’t tell if it was possessive or if it was a way for her to imply something subtly.

She turned, looking to Lilith, but the woman’s face was passive, a smile on her lips that could lead to either meaning.

Zelda sipped at her water.

“Are you still working on your project?” Lilith asked.

“I am. Are you still interested in modelling for me?”

“Always. And maybe Zelda could post with me,” she said, angling her head to look at Zelda.

“‘Posing’?” she asked, glancing between them.

“The female orgasm,” Marie explained. “I want to do a series about women and sex and the enjoyment of it.”

Lilith’s arm slid around her waist and tugged her closer, as Lilith whispered in her ear, “and wouldn’t you look ravishing pinned to a wall? My fingers deep inside of you for all to see.”

Zelda shivered. “As tempting as it is, I have a career,” she pointed out gently to the women.

“I’m sure we can work out a pose to keep your anonymity,” Marie said. “Lilith’s right, you would look quite ravishing.”

Zelda felt herself grow warmer, between the two women flirting with her, making their intentions quite clear, Zelda felt as if she was a deer being stalked by two proficient hunters. How long would it be before one or both of them had her in some secluded corner?

“Are you playing with others tonight?” Marie asked.

“Come find us later to discuss,” Lilith said as she slid a hand around Zelda’s waisting, tugging her closer. “For now, we need to discuss a few things.”

Marie inclined her head, giving a short nod before she disappeared. And then Lilith was leading her deep into the garden, under a very familiar tree as people around them continued to talk and flirt, or in some cases, kiss deeply under the stars. The energy was building, anticipation growing amongst them as they waited for the Mistress of Ceremonies to begin.

“Now,” Lilith began, as she stepped back from Zelda, coming to stand before her. “You mentioned before that you were interested in the beginning. Is that still the case?”

“It is,” Zelda said, feeling the certainty warm through her. The people were friendly, and though their eyes wandered openly, there wasn’t anything about it that made her uncomfortable. Everyone had been open and honest, and although there were people who Zelda wouldn’t necessarily find herself speaking with outside of the orgy, she didn’t feel uncomfortable with them.

“Do you know what you’re comfortable with?”

Zelda smirked, and with that, she stepped forward. “I trust you,” she said, with no hesitation. “Nothing we haven’t done together, but otherwise, I trust you.”

Lilith smiled, and then she was leaning forward and kissing Zelda. It was soft and sweet, and then Zelda’s mouth parted, and with it, Zelda could feel the noise of the party sinking away. And then Lilith was pulling back, smiling at her. “I’ll get a few things, and then,” her hand lifted, finger touching under her chin, “we’ll give them a show––I’m going to tie you up, spank you and then fuck you in that order.”

“Promises,” Zelda teased.

“Wait and see,” Lilith said as she turned away. “You’re going to come harder than you ever have before.”

Zelda bit her lip, watching as Lilith walked away. Her chest warmed, a comfort sliding over her. There was still a nervousness twisting in her belly, similar to any time she had to speak in front of a group of people she was unfamiliar with, but Lilith’s eyes held hers, and the anxiety settled, leaving only the growing arousal and excitement to build in her.

In this section of the garden, the lights were low, fairy lights were slung through the tree, casting a warm, golden hue where they were, and Zelda steadied.

And then, she noticed that more and more people were coming outside. She watched as Minion settled in the back, leaning against the wall, but Marie came and stood front and centre, smirking. There were over two dozen spectators, and thankfully, Zelda didn’t recognise any of them as she drew in a breath and watched as Lilith returned, still dressed in her trench coat.

She held a small bag and set it down on the ground, from it, Zelda could see rope peaking out, though she suspected there was far more in there.

And then Lilith was stepping forward again, her hands coming up to cup her face and Zelda was sinking into the touch as she was kissed again. It was sweet, gentle and then Lilith’s mouth parted and Zelda found herself leaning into it, her hands coming up to curl in the sleeves of Lilith’s jacket, holding her steady until Lilith stepped back and smiled at her.

Her thumbs slid over Zelda’s face as she asked, “Do you remember your safe word?”

“I do,” Zelda promised.

“You can end it at any time. Your feelings and safety are more important than anyone else here. You’re the only person I care about here, do you understand?”

Zelda’s heart fluttered, and she felt words build in her chest before she swallowed them back. “I appreciate that,” she said instead.

Lilith smiled, and then she was stepping back, and Zelda was standing before her, hands at her side as she watched Lilith smirk. Zelda gave a small nod, permitting her to start and watched as the crowd softened, their chatter ceasing.

And then Lilith was beginning, her voice carrying as she revelled in the performance of it all, welcoming the guests, making a few kink jokes that had the crowd chuckling, and then she was stepping back to bring Zelda to the centre of attention. “Tonight I shall begin this evenings revelry with my dear, darling handmaiden. I hope you will make her feel welcome. I know I certainly will.”

The crowd clapped loud, and a few people whistled and then Zelda was looking to Lilith, watching as the woman smiled at her.

Lilith’s gloved hand reached out, and then Zelda was stepping forward, taking it in hand as Lilith’s face shifted into that of her queen. She didn’t need to ask, Zelda knew what her duty was. She unbuckled the trench coat belt, undoing it and slid it from Lilith’s shoulders, revealing the very outfit she’d dressed her queen in.

The crowd ‘oohed and ‘ahhed and then Lilith was tilting Zelda’s chin up. “Get undressed,” she ordered. The order spilt down her spine, and Zelda obeyed, not looking away from her eyes as she unzipped her pants, and then undid the silk blouse, gently throwing them onto the very same jacket she’d removed from Lilith.

Lilith’s eyes ran over the choice of clothes, and Zelda watched as she drew in a slow, deep breath, eyes running over every inch, and for a moment it looked at though she’d forgotten the context of where they were.

And then Lilith’s eyes flicked to hers. “On your knees.”

Zelda knelt.

Lilith moved behind her and then tugged at Zelda’s hands, pulling them behind her back. It was quick and fast. Her arms pulled into position, and then with a satisfying tug of the last knot, Lilith whispered low in her ear, so no one else heard. “I’m going to fuck you in front of all these people, Zelda. Every single person is going to watch you come harder than you ever have because of me.”

Zelda drew in a breath, feeling the excitement run over her, and then her eyes met Marie’s, watching the woman stare at them both with naked desire.

“And if you’re very good, we can play with Marie later.” She exhaled at that, already imaging what that would involve before she felt a hand on her back, pressing her forward. Zelda leant forward obediently, her face coming to pressing against the grass, ass up in the air as she felt the ropes tugged, and then Lilith was tying the rope from her arms down around her ankles. It was taught, giving her limited wriggling movement, and as she shifted her shoulders, Lilith’s hand slapped across her ass.

“Keep still on the next one will be worse.”

There was a crowd response, but Lilith felt it fade away, her eyes falling shut as the bindings to her ankles were finished. And then there was nothing, and Zelda was staring out at the garden, her face turned away from the audience, watching shadows flicker.

The crowd was quiet. Zelda drew in a deep breath and then exhaled as she felt the flat edge of a riding crop, dragging down her body, over her back and across her skin. It went down her thighs, slipping between them but not quite touching her sex. The touch disappeared, and before Zelda could wonder what would happen, the crop struck hard and firm.

She gasped, pushing in the rope bindings and felt her face press harder against the grass.

The riding crop shifted then, sliding gently over her skin until Zelda shivered, and then thwack, to the other cheek. Zelda moaned, eyes falling shut.

The hits were for show, each one stung, but they weren’t intended as punishment and Zelda felt her arousal wash over her as each one sliced across her. Lilith continued with the strikes, making a rhythm before breaking it and changing it up, and then they stopped, and Zelda felt the crop sliding over a thigh, dragging down as if measuring were to hit.

Zelda sensed what was coming, her back lengthening in anticipation. “Eager are we?”

“Yes, my queen,” Zelda said.

“You have been such a good girl,” Lilith said, her crop sliding between her thighs. “Is this what you want?”

Almost, Zelda thought, as she felt it touch over her sex, sliding over her vulva with the barest edge, and then it was stroking backwards, and Zelda whimpered, straining in the ropes.

The crop disappeared, and then Zelda felt as Lilith’s hands were wrapping in her hair, tugging her face up, off the ground. “Do you want more?” she asked.

Zelda nodded.

“Use your words, darling. Tell your Queen what you want.”

Zelda blinked, and she caught the anticipation of the crowd, their hungry looks staring. And then it faded away as Lilith moved into peripheral. “I want you to fuck me.”

The hand tugged harder, and Zelda felt her nerve endings flare at the touch, pain rushing down her spine and over her body until it melded into the arousal. “Ask nicely,” Lilith warned.

“Please, my Queen. Will you please fuck me?”

Lilith grinned at her, and there was a dangerous look to it. A deep desire pounding in Zelda as the woman laughed. “As you wish,” she said, and then she was pushing her head back to the ground, but Zelda felt her fingers twist in her hair, angling her, so she faced the ground.

Zelda blinked and then felt a latex glove run over her back, across the lingerie, down her spine and over the curve of her backside. She could hear Lilith cooing patronisingly about how wet she was, but Zelda didn’t care. There were all these people looking at her, watching and Zelda felt her heart race.

And then Lilith fingers were sliding over her and Zelda whimpered, feeling the slickness draw over her sex. Lilith drew over her clit, circling it and then down, across her vulva. It was a slow, languid tempo and Zelda whimpered as she felt an aching throb deep inside of her, feeling empty.

And then Lilith’s attention returned to her clit, circling it, stroking it and Zelda felt her knees spread as wide as they could on the ground, hips angling towards her. She was closer and closer, and just as she began to feel her self tense, Lilith’s touch disappeared.

Zelda drew in a deep breath, her eyes closing as she felt the growing orgasm slide away until all she could feel was the sexual frustration inside of her.

“Eyes open, dear. Or the next time will be the same.”

Zelda opened her eyes at the crowd and then felt Lilith’s fingers slide over her again. Across the labia, drawing over her entrance, and then she felt Lilith slide inside of her.

She bucked at the feeling of it before she felt Lilith’s other hand settled on her waist, coaxing her back onto the fingers. She guessed three of them, but it was hard to tell as they drew deeper insider of her.

And then Zelda felt the woman begin slowly, stroking deep inside of her, drawing an even pace before Zelda softened, feeling herself accustom to the size. She rocked hips over them and gasped as she felt the growing orgasm build in her.

Biting her lip, she met Lilith’s tempo and felt as, again, the spectators seemed to disappear from her awareness. All she could focus on was how well Lilith was filling her up, fucking her as she strained in the ropes and felt the orgasm tug closer, her moans and gasps becoming all the more obscene even to her own ears.

And then her eyes squeezed shut, her head bowing on the ground as she squeezed around Lilith’s fingers, feeling her clit throb with the lack of attention.

Lilith adjusted, and Zelda felt her press firmer against her, as she continued to fuck her with one hand, as the other slid over her belly and down to where its attention was needed on her clit as if she could read her mind.

“My Queen, please,” she keened, as she felt the fingers tentatively touch over her. “Please––“

“Please stop?” Lilith asked, and then her fingers were slowly sliding out.

“No!” Zelda yelped, and she heard snickering pass through the crowd. Embarrassment flashed through her, but Lilith’s fingers coaxed back inside of her, and she didn’t care what they thought any more. “Please let me come.”

“Beg for it.”

Zelda whimpered. “What do you want me to say?” she asked. “I’ll say anything, do anything.”

“I do love to hear that. Will you lick my boots?”

“Yes.”

“Will you let me put my entire fist inside of you?”

“Yes.”

“Will you show everyone here how beautifully you come?”

Zelda drew in a deep breath, “There’s nothing more that I want,” she admitted, and she heard Lilith laugh. “Well, then.” And then her fingers were pulling out of her, and both hands were on Zelda’s hips.

Zelda nearly sobbed at the feeling, and then she felt the woman untie her ankles, her arms remaining bound, and suddenly Zelda was being pulled up, into a kneeling position. “Let’s show them how good you are,” Lilith said. And then Zelda was manoeuvred to facing the crowd directly. Her knees parted until her muscles strained.

Lilith was behind her, and she felt the woman’s lips on her shoulders, soothing the anxiety of performing so opening in front of everyone, before Lilith’s mouth drew over her throat, kissing, sucking and then biting. Zelda was left moaning again, her eyes fluttering shut.

Her heart pounded, the world seemed to dim and brighten at once, and then all she could hear was Lilith’s voice in her ear. “I’m here. Tell me what you need.”

“You,” she whispered in an exhale.

Lilith’s hand was sliding up her waist, over ribs before she shoved the cups of the bra up, exposing her breasts to the cool air.

“You’re mine. No matter what happens, you’re going to remember this moment for the rest of your life,” Lilith said, low and hot in her ear as she began tweaking at a nipple. “You’re going to remember screaming my name in front of all these people, and nothing will ever compare to this moment,” Lilith said, and then she was nuzzling Zelda’s throat, her hand pinching at the nipple.

Zelda felt as she pressed firmer behind her, enough that Zelda could feel her own bound hands pressing against the latex underwear that Lilith wore. The woman rocked her hips over it, squeezing at the breast as she bit at Zelda’s throat and the sensation was enough for Zelda to give a small mewling cry.

She wanted to be fucked, she wanted that orgasm more than anything, and yet as she felt Lilith grinding on her hands, the desire to feel Lilith come grew more and more until both desires seemed inexplicably bound together.

With one hand on her breast, Lilith’s other slid down between her spread thighs, stroking there. Zelda’s body shook at the brief touch, and she felt her body pull. The latex fingers sliding inside her, her palm grinding against her clit and Zelda felt her eyes open up, looking up at the night sky.

She could see stars in pockets, where the clouds had parted, and she felt her vision shake as Lilith continued to fuck her, her mouth on her throat, hips rocking against her hands.

Zelda focused on her hands; she focused on rocking her hips in tempo to Lilith and didn’t notice anything else. And then she felt her body begin to squeeze, the rocking becoming jarred.

Lilith rubbed harder against her and Zelda felt the gasps and moans spill from her mouth as she tried to focus on that, not the way that Lilith’s fingers curled and stroked inside of her, or how her palm slid against her clit, or how her she squeezed at her nipple in just the right way as she bit at her throat.

She focused on the grinding pelvis and Lilith’s growing gasps in her ears. And then Lilith was murmuring, “Just like that,” and Zelda could feel herself clenching around the fingers, the sensation building higher and higher. “Be a good girl and come for me?” Lilith asked sweetly.

And it was enough. Zelda squeezed hard, her body tensing, “oh God, Lilith,” she said and then she felt the gush of wetness spilling from her as she came hard. Hard enough that Zelda felt the world dim for a brief moment, the rush spilling through her as she gasped, open mouth, feeling her body clench and tremble to the point it almost hurt as she doubled-over.

Her back was tense, and a cry summoned from her lungs as Lilith continued to fuck her until Zelda seemed held at the moment indefinitely.

And then it stopped, and she was left gasping.

She felt Lilith slide out of her, the gloves wet and hot as they brushed against her thighs, and then Zelda felt her pull away, standing up.

She gasped, staring down at the ground. Between her knees she could see the grass glistening, her thighs damp with the arousal, before a shadow passed over her and then she was tilting her head up to look at Lilith. One hand slid around the loop on her neck, and then she was slowly pulled to sitting up taller again, on shaking knees as the other hand was lifted before her.

She knew what was going to be asked before Lilith even said it. “Clean up your mess, like a good girl.”

Zelda opened her mouth, and then the gloved hands were sliding over her tongue as they had earlier that day.

Zelda sucked at the gloves, her eyes looking up at Lilith to ensure that she was doing it right, feeling the four fingers (had she really taken four?) slide down to the back of her throat as Lilith held onto the collar, ensuring Zelda remained tall.

Lilith’s eyes were bright in the half-light, and her lipstick was smudged, her lips swollen as they parted, and divine arousal spilt over her face as she exhaled, her hot breath spilling in the cool air.

Zelda’s tongue swiped around the gloves, feeling the haze of endorphins draw over her, and then the fingers were sliding out. And Lilith was bending down, her mouth drawing over hers. Zelda sighed, feeling the ropes unbind, her hands dropping away at her sides before she lifted them, tiredly up, until she was able to touch Lilith’s hand.

And then Lilith’s face was pulling away, as she touched Zelda’s chin, letting go of the collar. “You did really well,” she said. “I almost wish that I had been a spectator.”

Zelda drew in a breath, and then she was standing up on her feet, the cups of her bra moved back into place. She heard Lilith speak, and she heard more applause, but all she felt was a haze over her, before Lilith was tugging her back inside, hand around her waist as she settled her in the kitchen. “Carefully,” she said, and before Zelda could so much as say anything else, she was handed a bottle of water as Lilith moved into the seat beside her, the warmth of her body pressing against her side as she shooed anyone away who came over to speak to them.

“How do you feel?” Lilith asked

Zelda nodded, sipping at the water. “That was…” insane she wanted to say. But she felt the flush run over her. It wasn’t the right word. And then as she turned to look at Lilith’s intrigued expression, she smiled. “Divine,” she said.

“Divine?”

“Deific. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”

Lilith softened, a tension Zelda didn’t realise she had seemed to ease as she the woman reached out and took her hand. “Well, I can say with certainty that I’ve never had anyone like you. I’ve done a few opening ceremonies, but none have ever held attention like that.”

“As much as I would like to, I can hardly take the entirety of credit.”

“Ah, but you should,” Marie said as she came to sit on the other side of Zelda. She smiled between them, her eyes flicking from Lilith’s to Zelda’s. “You were divine, Zelda Spellman. Lilith was a queen in her own right, as always. But your connection, the trust and adoration you had. You’re fortunate to have found such a once-in-a-lifetime love.”

Zelda paused, feeling the words burn her ears. Love.

Had she been sipping on water at the time, Zelda was certain she might have choked at the implication. As it was, she found herself going still, eyes not looking to Lilith, fearful that if she did, she’d see something she didn’t want to see.

“Marie, always a pleasure when you make a conversation awkward,” Lilith said, “Are you trying to be a brat to see if I’ll tie you up?”

“Always, Madame,” Marie said with a smile.

“Don’t listen to her,” Lilith said lowly in her ear. “She’s trying to seduce you out from under me.”

“And could you blame me?” Marie asked before she switched to French, in an attempt to disguise her conversation. “She’s magnificent, if you think she’d be interested, I’d rather enjoy playing with you both.”

Lilith smirked looking at Zelda, and before Zelda could advise that she understood french, Lilith was leaning close, her hand settling on her thigh, “Marie has an enquiry,” she said. Zelda felt as Lilith’s fingers combed her hair over her shoulder, behind her ear. “But apparently she’s too shy to ask you directly.”

Marie scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I was only trying to be polite.”

“You just want your tongue inside of her.” Zelda swallowed, feeling Lilith’s fingers trace over thighs. Zelda shivered, feeling her desire grow again.

“I want to see how many times we can make her come.”

“Oh, I know, but she’s also the principle professor on language at Greendale,” Lilith advised in French. “So you can ask her yourself.”

Marie blinked, a soft stuttering voice in her throat before she laughed, “Well, the offer stands,” she said, turning to face Zelda. “Forgive my bluntness. I didn’t wish to make you uncomfortable with the request if you weren’t interested.”

Zelda swallowed, feeling a mixture of warmth and excitement flood through her. “I’m interested,” she admitted.

Lilith’s arm snaked around her waist, and then Zelda could feel the woman on her neck. “Do you have anything specific in mind?” she asked. “Or shall we go upstairs and see where it takes us?”

Zelda watched Marie’s eyes holding hers. She was reeling from the last orgasm, but with Lilith’s body pressed at her side, and watching Marie’s eyes hold hers with unabashed desire, Zelda couldn’t help but feel invigorated. They were two beautiful, fascinating women who wanted her.

“Upstairs,” she said. “Will anyone else be there?”

“Oh no, they’re all outside, but there are a few voyeurs around,” Lilith said, and Zelda turned and looked, she could see people in groups, writhing together, and while that could be enjoyable, she realised that she’d much rather prefer the bedroom, if not for her own comfort.

Zelda nodded, feeling her heart race and then they were standing, walking up to the bedroom.

As promised, the room was empty, though the bed remained a mess of twisted sheets.

Lilith shut the bedroom door behind them and then she was taking Zelda’s hands in hers. They stood together, and Zelda watched as the woman stepped closer, taller in her heels against Zelda’s bare feet as she slid her hands around Zelda’s waist, holding her steady.

And then she was kissing her and the anticipating faded from Zelda. A soothing sense drawing over her. Lilith was here, Lilith would keep her safe.

She felt Marie come up behind her, and then the woman was moving her hair over one shoulder before kissing down her neck, her hands settling high on her waist as Lilith settled low against her hips.

It was soft and warm, and when Zelda moaned, they both took it as encouragement.

And then she had hands sliding up, under the cups of her bras, as hands slid down over her ass, squeezing at them. She turned her head to kiss Marie as Lilith dragging her mouth down her neck, and then she could feel her lingerie being tugged from her.

Her own hands slid across the two women, clutching at them as she was turned between them, tugged and pulled and passed from one to the other, as Marie laughed and Lilith whispered what she planned to do her.

And then Zelda watched as Lilith knelt before her, tugging the lingerie down her calves before she was pressing her mouth over her belly, her hips, down her thighs as Marie stepped behind her, holding her steady.

“We’ll take good care of you,” Marie promised, and then Zelda watched as Lilith looked up at her as she parted Zelda’s thighs, sliding a leg over her shoulder.

Lilith’s tongue stroked long and firm, and Marie held her steady, stopping her from falling back on an unsteady stance.

It seemed the threesome wasn’t an equal opportunity, Zelda realised, as she was coaxed from one orgasm to the next. By Lilith and then Marie and then Lilith again, who was determined to leave her a mess, and when Zelda had shoved Lilith’s head away from her, panting that she couldn’t take another one, the two women had then conspired together.

In a moment’s respite, they had left her to recharge her energy on the sheepskin rug that Lilith adored. Its soft wool was warm against her skin and Zelda sipped at water as she watched Marie and Lilith flirt with each other, whispering in French, far enough away that she couldn’t make out what was being said.

And then, when she moved to sit up, Marie shifted to sit before her. “Mon Cherie, would you indulge us in one more act?” she asked. “There is something that Lilith and I have always wanted to do with someone, and I would be most in your debt if you would provide it.”

Zelda exhaled, feeling the dopamine wash over. “And what act is it?”

“Mm, how you say, DP?” Marie teased, her tongue caught between her teeth.

Zelda laughed. “I see.”

“You can refuse, of course. And I would not fault you. We can just hold each other if you prefer and fall asleep.”

“I don’t want to refuse,” Zelda admitted, and Marie’s smile went wide. “I’ve just never engaged in double-penetration with women.”

“It’s better,” she said with a wink. “I promise.”

Zelda didn’t doubt that.

Preparation for it involved Lilith cleaning two toys, “They’re from my locked box, so they’re not used, but it’s better to be safe,” she assured, before pulling out a box of condoms and lube. And then Zelda was sandwiched between the two women, kneeling on the ground with Lilith before her and Marie behind.

Zelda's expression softened as she looked at Lilith, feeling the woman’s hand stroke her cheek. “At any point, we can stop. We can leave. Whatever you need.”

Zelda nodded. “It’s not that scary.”

“I know, but you’ve had more sex tonight than I bet you’ve ever have had in an adventurous month.”

“There was that one night not so long ago,” she reminded, and Lilith laughed.

“Nonetheless, know that I’ve got you, always. We’ll stop if you say the word.”

Zelda’s heart softened. Never in her life did she imagine that someone could care for her comfort so sweetly as Lilith did. “I know.”

“Good. And you know that this might just be too awkward to work, and we might stop?”

“I do,” Zelda laughed. “I promise to entirely blame you if this is terrible sex.”

“How generous,” Lilith said. “Marie should at least take half the blame.”

“Oh no,” Marie said from behind them. “I’m quite certain that if this isn’t enjoyable, it’s entirely on your head. We’re just lowly subjects in your Queendom.”

Lilith made a huffing noise. “Perhaps you both need a spanking first.”

“After,” Zelda said. “I’m ready.”

And then Marie’s hands were settling on her hips, and Zelda’s fingers were laced in Lilith’s. Lilith leant forward, kissing her softly and Zelda felt as the toy pressed behind her. She was sure there was more lube between the three of them that the entire orgy was using, but Zelda drew in a breath and watched as Lilith pulled back to observe her––ensuring that she was comfortable.

The toy pressed against her ass, the other remaining pressed, steady against her vulva.

Marie moved slowly against her, pushing the toy in a little bit at a time before drawing back, ensuring her comfort. Zelda gasped as she felt it slide in deep, and then felt Lilith’s mouth pressed against hers as she rocked against it. “You’re doing well,” Lilith said.

And then, when Zelda began shifting deeper onto the strap, accommodating the size, she felt Lilith enter her from the front.

Her body was tense, and she felt Lilith withdraw the toy completely before sliding her fingers down across her sex and slipping into her gently. She stroked inside of her, until Zelda sighed, feeling herself relax. “That’s my girl,” Lilith whispered, and Zelda felt the words flush over her as Lilith’s fingers slid out and the strap pressed against her again. She slid onto it, easier this time and bit her lip, eyes squeezing shut as she felt the sensation of the two dildos inside of her.

The women held her steady, and Zelda felt her head bow as they worked in sync, rocking inside of her. It was tight, awkward at first, but as Lilith kissed her, she felt her muscles ease. Zelda moaned, feeling the hips rock. It was a slow pace as if she was a delicate virgin, but as she clutched at Lilith with one hand, reaching behind her to grab at Marie, she felt her body respond.

“How do you feel?” Lilith asked.

“Full,” Zelda responded as she opened her eyes, looking at Lilith. “I want more.”

“More?” Lilith said before she glanced over Zelda’s shoulders. “Hear that? Our girl wants more.”

“And who are we to deny her?” Marie asked, and then the rocking grew long and slow, and Zelda grabbed at the two women, her head bowing as she nodded, coaxing them. They began to thrust,  and Zelda was lost in their rhythm. They were a perfect team, familiar enough with each other to know how to work together. Had Zelda not been so deep in euphoria, she may have been jealous.

As it was, when the intensity reached, she felt Marie high on her neck, above her collar, and Lilith at her shoulder, biting and sucking and filling her until it was all she could feel as she tossed her head back and gasped up at the ceiling.

They held her steady, shifting her hips onto the strap-ons, and Zelda felt her body respond, allowing herself to be manipulated.

“Don’t stop,” she gasped, and she heard laughter between the two women.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” someone whispered, but Zelda could barely hear over her own heartbeat as she gasped, feeling carried into rapturous delight.

Zelda felt her muscles squeeze around them as she gasped in a deep breath, the mouths on either side of her throat were hot and sharp, and for a brief moment, she glimpsed her image in the full-length mirror and felt a rush of pride at the reflection. Caught between two beautiful women, her mouth parted, eyes half-lidded.

She almost wanted a photographic print, framed for her self to admire.

Her body squeezed again, and she clutched at the two women, nails digging into the skin before she felt Lilith’s mouth against hers, and then she was clutching at her, moaning against her as she felt the orgasm shake through her.

The room seemed to be swallowed, until there was Lilith, only ever Lilith.

And as she came, Lilith’s hands were warm on her waist, her thumbs drawing gently over her skin. Zelda’s mouth parted, her cry softened against Lilith’s lips, and it was there that she realised that Marie was right.

She loved Lilith.

Loved her ardently with every fibre of her being.

What a foolish mistake.

__________________________

Survey #335

“on my forehead, a birthmark  /  remove it with the kiss of a knife  /  even if it causes me to die”

Do you recover well from surgery? Judging by the two surgeries I've had, oh yeah. I was hyper as hell when I came home from getting tubes put in my ears as a little kid, even though the doctor said I'd be very sleepy. Then, after my cyst removal, I was put on very strong painkillers but was still warned it was going to be a painful recovery, when it totally wasn't. I literally only took painkillers the first day. What addictions have you had? Caffeine, technology. Would you change your name if you became famous? Nah. If Cupid were real, would you hire him to make someone love you? No. I don't want somebody forced to love me. Ever been to an auction? No. Which word(s) do you generally use to describe someone attractive? (e.g. “fit”, “sexy”) It kinda varies with gender. Women I tend to call "beautiful" or "gorgeous," sometimes "hot" or "cute," while men I usually refer to as "handsome" or "hot"/"sexy." The last person you kissed - are they older or younger than you? She's a bit younger. When was the last time someone wanted you to do something, and you refused? Hm. I dunno. I have a hard time saying "no," so. When was the last time you had Pop Tarts? What flavour were they? Many months ago; I kinda stopped eating them because they're truly not filling and just a load of sugar that veils itself as an actual breakfast choice. But anyway, I liked the chocolate sundae ones. Have you ever felt a temperature below 0? No. Did you ever play Spyro? I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!! SPYRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those games were my CHILDHOOD, and it's half the reason I'm dying for a PS4 to play the remastered trilogy. Speaking of which, it'd be awesome if they remade the The Legend of Spyro trilogy as well. I might just like those games more than the originals, but that's a bold statement I'm unsure about. Have you ever dated someone who was of a foreign origin? I dated a Hispanic guy for less than a day. Have you ever read any of your idols’ books/autobiographies? Ozzy Osbourne's, yes. I'm just fucking waiting for Mark to write one, but he's always said he has so little interest in writing about his life. DO IT, YOU FUCK. Do you own any succulents? No. I think they're pretty, though. Do you have a drone? No. What’s your favorite Netflix series? *shrug* What is something a lot of people like but you don’t? Summertime. The heat, the humidity (at least here), the sunburn from just standing outside for ten minutes... I hate all of it. The ONLY two things I enjoy about summer is swimming and then flowers, though spring is the more floral season here anyway. Do you have revenge fantasies that you never actually play out? They've... happened. Did your first real significant other change you at all? Pretty sure forever. Are you waiting to have sex until you’re married? Once upon a time, that was the plan. Now, nah. I'd just want to be in a healthy, stable, and long-term relationship. What do you think about divorce? It's sad, but necessary for some people in order to be happy, which everyone has the right to be. I used to be very firmly against divorce except in extreme cases like abuse, etc., and I'm still definitely no fan of it and think couples should do their best to work things out, but it's incredibly unfair to believe that someone should be stuck for the rest of their life with a person they just don't love anymore. Getting married can be a mistake; don't damn people forever to be chained to their bad decisions. Do you remember the first time your heart broke? What was the reason? It was probably when Dad just abandoned us. What's the worst prank someone has ever done to you? I don't think anyone's ever pulled a sick joke on me. Have you ever seen someone sleepwalk? Yes; my little sister deadass tried to walk outside late at night. Thank God I was on the computer in the living room and stopped her. What song are you listening to right now? I just turned "Mutter" by Rammstein on. When is the last time you cursed? I'm not re-reading, but I have probably cursed fifty times in this survey already. It's so deeply ingrained into my vocabulary. Are there any words on your shirt? No; it's just a plain gray tank top. Why do you forward forwards? I never do because they annoy the fuck out of me. How many people are you interested in at the moment? Just one in a healthy and logical way. I can't be truly interested in Jason because like come on I haven't spoken to him in four whole years. My PTSD just ensures I never forget the memory of who he was, who probably no longer even exists. I mean, look how much I'VE changed in four years. Do you know any mechanical stuff about cars? Nnnnope. Who was the last person (apart from family) that you spent time with? What did you get up to? Apart from family, I have no idea. If you have pets, when was the last time one of them got on your nerves? Venus never does, but Roman can get on my nerves sometimes when I don't let him lay on me when I'm on the laptop in bed. He's a large cat (not overweight, just a big male cat) and blocks the screen big time unless he lies down properly, which he doesn't always do. He still tends to win when he tries to come over, but sometimes I'll block him with my arm, and this spoiled brat will actually slap it a few times before walking away lmao. Would you rather live in a house with a swimming pool or an indoor cinema? Absolutely a pool. I want one badly. Do you own a credit card? If so, do you currently owe any money on it? Could you afford to pay it off tomorrow if necessary? No. How many hours of sleep do you typically get each night? Is that enough to function or would you rather have more? Especially lately, I don't get nearly enough. Like at the time I'm answering this question, it's 4 AM, and I've been up for almost a couple hours. I struggle with falling asleep, I will ALWAYS wake up at least once in the night, and I jerk awake from nightmares regularly still. It's a big reason why I pretty much require naps. Does your house have a loft/basement? Are they functional or do you just use them for storage? We only have an attic. Do you suffer from road rage? What kind of thing tends to set you off or wind you up while driving? No. I'm way too timid of a driver to get that outwardly pissy about stupid people. I'd just judge them in silence, haha. What kind of animal did you last see in the wild? Is that a common sight where you live? Because of just how common they are, I'm going to assume this excludes birds, in which case it was probably a squirrel? Yeah, the normal brown ones are common. Do you post a lot on social media? If so, what kind of thing do you tend to post on there? Since I was fucking stupid enough to post a suicide note on Facebook (I don't want to hear a goddamn thing about "attention seeking," I genuinely wanted to say goodbye), I almost never, ever, share things about my personal life. Even before, it was rare for me to actually share what's going on with me. All I really do now is share relatable, wholesome, or funny shit I find, as well as political things I'm in firm agreement with. What are some habits you have in common with your parents? I pace like my dad, and it drives people crazy because it apparently makes them anxious? I can't think of an obvious one I have with Mom, but I'm sure one exists. Where's your favourite place to swim - the ocean, a pool, river, lake etc? I feel safest and most clean in a pool, but c'mon, swimming in the ocean is so much fun. When you're saving your place in a book, do you use a bookmark or fold your pages down? Or something else? It depends on the book, it seems. Especially if someone else owns it, like in school or something. Is any part of your body hurting at the moment? Is there a specific incident that caused the pain? My legs always hurt. I've shared enough as to why; it wasn't an actual, singular "incident." What was the last thing to make you laugh out loud? OH MY FUCKING GOD. So in group therapy the other day, one of the girls had her bearded dragon out, and he was being aggressive. I think he tried to bite her aND SHE SAID WITHOUT REALIZING HER MIC WAS ON, "fucking dickhead," and everyone d i e d. She's a really cool chick, I'll miss her when I'm finished with PHP. Who was the last person you heard sing? Myself, surprisingly enough. I barely ever sing. Do you bite your lips a lot? Yes, especially when they're dry. .-. What part of your body would you never get pierced? Anyone who gets a piercing "down there" has a greater pain tolerance than this bitch right here. Have you ever dated someone with tattoos? Juan had quite a few. I don't remember if Tyler did... but I think maybe a The Legend of Zelda-related one? Have you ever failed gym in school? No. Are you scared of dogs? No; I love dogs. What is the saddest movie you’ve ever seen? Man, idk, I'm a little bitch when it comes to emotional movies. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is high up there, as is of course Johnny Got His Gun. Old Yeller, too. Which one of your friends is most likely to be famous one day? Why? Sara's gonna write a fuckin book series ok you can't convince me otherwise. What is the worst present you have ever gotten? Damn dude, what an ungrateful question. I'm just appreciative someone even thought TO give me something. Do you shave your arms? My armpits, yes, but not my arms themselves. How many people have you dated? I only count three as even remotely serious: Jason, Sara, and Girt. Have you ever performed in a play? I remember back in Sunday school as a tiny kid I played Mother Mary in one we did in class. Do you chew gum? I have been more lately since my doc upped the dosage of one of my mood stabilizers (which I think is actually helping); I mention that because apparently a side effect is dry mouth, and it's the fucking Sahara in there. He advises those who deal with it to always carry around hard candy or something like that for the sake of forcing salivation, so gum works for me. How old were you when you first started dating? I was in the 7th grade when I had my first "boyfriend," but it was total puppydog love. I started dating my first "real" bf when I was just shy of 16. Are/were your parents strict? Dad, no. Mom, only to a degree that I feel was pretty reasonable. She only ever wanted to prepare us to be functional, independent adults. Didn't work so well on me though, ha... Do you wear glasses? Yes. God, I need new ones. I'm blind as hell. What do you miss most about your childhood? Being so outgoing and happy to just be weird lil me. Do you write “To-Do” lists? Not really, no, but I do have notes on my phone about a couple things, like a bulleted list of planned monetary investments by importance, as well as a list of drawing ideas. Do you have a favorite quote? What is it? I don't, really. There's loads I like, but no one favorite. Could you survive as a vegetarian? I pretty desperately want to, but I don't know if it's realistic. I am so, SO picky, and without meat, it's very questionable as to where I'd get an adequate source of protein. I still want to try again though once I'm at my goal weight. Has anyone ever asked you for your autograph? Lol no. Has someone of the opposite sex ever told you that you were sexy? Yeah, but that was a looong time ago when I was actually some semblance of pretty. Do you prefer to take your showers at night or in the morning? I used to be someone who firmly stood by nighttime showers, but now I'm all about them in the morning. It's a nice way to wake up and start the day with productivity. Could you handle living with a male roommate? I mean, I lived with my then-boyfriend once, but I'm going to assume you'd consider him more than a "roommate." We lived with our two other friends, though, also a couple, and I was totally fine with living with them. Has anyone taken their shirt off in front of you? Yes. Do you like Freddy Krueger? His concept is very scary, but all the movies I've seen bits of have always been super cheesy. Which do you prefer, Naruto or One Piece? I haven't seen either and really aren't interested. What do you think of Rob Zombie? I've never really watched his movies, but I'm a fan of his music. What’s you fetish? I don't have one. Have you ever been in the “friend zone?" Well, what I'd call a "fake" one with Jason after the breakup until I was blocked on Facebook. I know now he absolutely did not want to be friends; he was trying to appease me. Is the area you live in more liberal or conservative? Definitely conservative. Do you know anyone who had to have tubes put in their ears as a baby? Yeah, me. Were either of your parents baptized? I'm certain Mom was, but idk about Dad. I think so. The last concert that you were at, was there a mosh pit? No. What was the last computer game that you played? World of Warcraft. Does your bathroom have a theme to it? No. Are any rooms in your house themed? No. What was the last thing that you recorded? I think Mom and I singing "happy birthday" to my late dog Teddy; we knew it would be his last. Do you like the show Futurama? Not really. Have you ever been in a choir class? I was in the elementary school chorus, as well as the choir at my childhood church. Are you ashamed of any of your family members? No, only myself. Were you a chubby child? No. Did you ever have senior photos done? No, even though I wanted them. Who is the person you dislike the most? God, this is so petty... but it's the girl Jason dated after me. I know it's childish as hell to feel like she "took" him from me, and I just feel this horrible hatred towards her that is entirely uncalled for. I just can't get myself to move past it. Do you take part in paying the bills for your household? No, as I'm unemployed and also don't have disability, so I literally can't. How do you usually celebrate New Years? I really don't do much. Sometimes Mom will grab a pack of daiquiris, but that's pretty much the extent of it. Does the place you work have music playing? What sort? N/A What was the last job interview you went to? At a local grocery store to work in the deli. Got the job, lasted there for not even two hours. :^) Do you know anyone with autism, mood disorders or learning disabilities? Autism and mood disorders, yes. I myself may have high-functioning Asperger's (yes, I know that term doesn't technically exist anymore, it's just the umbrella term of "autism," but w/e). Have you ever had an immediate relative pass away of cancer? My grandmother died of pancreatic cancer, and it's pretty much guaranteed that, unless there's some sudden accident, my mom will die of cancer, too. Hers got too bad to entirely eliminate every trace of cancer cells, so it will inevitably re-emerge at some point, just obviously some place else given that she had a total hysterectomy. Would you rather work in an office, warehouse or on a retail shop floor? Office. Are you a fan of sweet, sour, salty, or savory snacks? I enjoy all of those, but sour I think tops the list.

NAME: Uh.. I don’t really go around saying it too often, but it’s Devonni. NICKNAME/S: Opo, Opi, Opopaxal, Ghost, Paxal-- I have a lot of nicknames really. HEIGHT: I’m not telling you. No. Nah-uh. I’m smol. Move on. NATIONALITY: Hispanic. SEXUALITY: Asexual. PRONOUNS: He / Him / His GUYS OR GIRLS: Doesn’t matter? LAST TIME I CRIED: Don’t like admitting this but, yesterday. HAIR COLOR: Chocolate brown. WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING: Sleeping or getting another drink since I’m thirsty, but LAZY.

FAVORITE FRUIT: Raspberries and oranges. FAVORITE SEASON: Winter, always. I love the cold and the snow. FAVORITE SCENTS: Gasoline, burnt matches, puppy’s breath, rain. FAVORITE COLOUR/S: Orange, pink, aqua, brown and various others really. FAVORITE ANIMALS: Foxes, tigers, rabbits, crows, octopus-- I like animals, alright? FAVORITE FOOD: Uh.. hmm. Rice? TV SHOWS:  I haven’t really sat down and watched TV in a while, but Transformers, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, and various other cartoons since they hold my attention better. FAVORITE MOVIE: Nightmare Before Christmas, Robin Hood, Fox and the Hound-- Again, various animated ones for the same reason. FAVORITE VINE: ...The hell is a vine? FAVORITE VIDEOGAMES/S: The Legend of Zelda series, Hyper Light Drifter, Rain World, Watch Dogs 1, 2 and newest one that came out, Final Fantasy series, Animal Crossing and shit-- A hell of a lot more. FAVORITE SUBJECT: Art, English or History even though I was shit at rembering stuff. TEA, COFFEE, OR HOT CHOCOLATE: Tea or Hot Chocolate. Don’t like the taste of coffee and considering how sensitive I am with caffeine, probably for the best. AVERAGE HOURS OF SLEEP: 1-3 hours or 4-6 if I’m lucky / really tired. WHEN MY BLOG WAS CREATED:  Uh.. This blog was created in July 2020, but I had others. NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS: Currently 296 and I’m very grateful for you all. RANDOM FACT: I’m double-jointed. FAVORITE FANDOMS: I don’t really consider myself part of any fandom really even though there’s stuff I like? I just.. don’t get too deep into things, but appreciate none the less. Either way, Transformers for sure, Hazbin Hotel / Helluva Boss, and gaming? Not sure.

TAGGED BY: Miss @nghread was kind enough to tag me, so thanks! TAGGING: Er.. @bunni-hub, @dxeviete ( or any of your blogs ), @hannah-the-small, @hellish-tremcrs, @heartidol, and eurm anyone else that’s wants to? Feel free to yoink it from me if you want.