ngl a lot of you have to unlearn some serious classist rural hatred

Letters of Thanks

Fandoms: MCU / Avengers

Pairings: Slight / Referenced Thor X Bruce

Warnings: - References to Violence

Words: 2954

Please don’t expect this to be perfect writing. I tried, but as much as I do love the MCU, I am not great at writing their characters.

Enjoy!

Fan mail.

 Care packages.

 Letters of gratitude.

 The penthouse floors of Stark Tower were overrun with them. After the Battle for New York, everyone and their uncle seemed keen to say their piece and write something special to the Avengers.

 Since Bruce, Thor and Steve had nowhere else to go, the general populace had come to the correct conclusion that they could send their letters to Tony Stark’s letterbox. Since his address was public knowledge and since the defeat of the Chitauri, his home had been flooded with paper and cardboard boxes.

 Sorting through it all had been a hassle.

 With Thor off-world, the secret agents off on their respective missions and Rogers having left for his tour of America, it was left up to Tony and Bruce to sort through it all. It was a momentous task, but it was a welcome distraction.

 Over time, the piles continued to grow.

 Seven piles in total.

 Tony had, by far, the largest amount of letters written to him. They created an unsteady mountain range across his personal study, threatening to topple and fall if it weren’t for Tony’s effort to read them all.

 As quickly as they grew, they shrank. Tony read through his mail quickly and with fervour. Some nights, Bruce, Pepper and Happy had been unable to convince him to sleep. Some nights, he would spend researching the person behind the letter, and send care packages of his own to those who had written him.

 Unlike the majority of the other Avengers, Tony managed himself well. Even though most of it was kind or complimentary, there were those that expressed their disdain or their upset. When it got particularly bad, Bruce could see how it all weighed down on the man. He would wave away Pepper’s worry, and Bruce’s own concerns, with his usual snarky attitude, but it was obvious to all of them that he was most affected by those he couldn’t help.

 Steve’s pile was mostly complimentary. The younger authors tended to keep their letters short, with questions about him and where he had been. How was he alive after so long? Did he know about the moon landing? Had he seen Blade Runner? Most of the letters went from serious to curious in the span of a paragraph, but Steve had been no less flattered.

 Some letters were from older veterans or soldiers who cited him as their inspiration for joining the military. There were those that mentioned how their parents or grandparents had met him those seventy years ago, and how it was a piece of family history they loved to share.

 Steve handled them well for the most part, but he rarely went out of his way to answer them all. With his new career path at SHIELD, Steve only narrowed down his responses to those he felt were ‘genuine’. Specifically, those that asked less questions about what he did or did not know about the future, and those that seemed to take the Battle for New York as a serious, potential threat.

 Much like Tony, Thor’s pile was one of the larger ones, and it grew at a rapid pace from the start. A lot of the mail he received were care packages, cardboard boxes filled with everything from chocolates to alcohol, and other tokens of affection. Thor had been astounded when he first returned to Earth; his room, as large and royal as Tony could make it, housed a mountain of parcels and parchment awaiting his notice.

 He had spent overnight opening as many as possible and reading as much as he could. Some of the language and plenty of the references used caused him a great deal of confusion, and he would seek out Bruce for help. Too many of the letters, though very sweet and thankful, contained phone numbers or an Instagram link. Bruce had caught on quickly; a good portion of these were men, women and others of all types, were hopeless romantics, seeking the God of Thunder’s attention.

 No matter the intention or the person who had written the letter, Thor tasked himself with responding to each and every one. However, at the rate the pile was growing, and with Thor’s admittance that he wasn’t much a scholar, Bruce and Tony were roped into helping him in his quest. He wrote back, and had Tony show him how Facebook, Twitter and Instagram worked so he could publish quick responses online.

 Bruce helped him with those that didn’t leave behind online addresses or phone numbers, and wrote back what Thor asked him to write. Though, before each parchment was shipped off, Thor would be sure to sign it himself.

 The fourth and fifth piles were small by comparison; the both of them for Clint and Natasha. Without any idea where else to send them, the majority of these letters were quick and to the point. Short and simple. The writers would express their gratitude, perhaps explain their reasons for sending the letter, and then end the short paragraph.

 To Clint and Natasha, these were perfect. They couldn’t easily respond to them, as much as they wished to, so they kept them close instead. Natasha filed hers away in her room at Stark Tower, and Clint had sent his away. He didn’t mention where, just that they would be safe.

 It was fair that the master assassin wanted to keep it secret.

 Then, there was the general pile for all of the Avengers team. Most of these were sent by families and young children, from crayon sketches to some baked goods. The team, especially Thor and Clint were ecstatic with these ones in particular.

 They came together to read them, as difficult as that was. They would read out a single letter to the rest; they might have a slight chuckle and smiles would light up all their faces as they heard the praise. None of the mail addressed to the Avengers was negative, as it seemed any criticism was left to the specific ‘hero’.

 The smallest pile by far, belonged to Bruce Banner. Only a few letters had been delivered that were addressed specifically to him, and unlike the others, Bruce had avoided opening them. When Natasha asked him about his letters, he would say he would ‘get around to it’, and she would leave it alone for a while, disbelieving his statement.

 Thor asked him about it the most, always curious and always keen to hear what people had to say about the ‘second strongest’ Avenger. Bruce would just smile, already a little bashful under the other’s excitable gaze and warm touches.

 ‘I haven’t read them yet.’

 ‘You should!’ Large hands would take hold of Bruce’s own and he would be spun around so the other could look at him face-to-face. ‘There is much they have to say to you, and I am sure much of it is kind.’

 Bruce would just shrug his words away, very aware that the other would only try to see the best in him. He hadn’t been around when Hulk had first destroyed New York, and what the God had witnessed on the helicarrier had been next to nothing in the amount of damage the Hulk had caused. They had been lucky.

 Unlike the rest, Tony, though encouraging, didn’t pressure him to read the letters. He knew of Bruce’s fear, and though he found a way to bring it up subtly in conversation, he never demanded the meek scientist open his mail.

 Finally, they came up with an idea.

 ‘Big mean and green.’ Where Bruce had been hovering over the coffee pot, he clicked his jaw in annoyance, and turned his tired eyes over to the lounge. His teammates were all sat on the half-circle sofa, with a small pile of recognisable letters in the middle. He swallowed thickly around the nervous lump in his throat, and tried to laugh away his worry.

 ‘What is this? An intervention?’

 ‘Sort of.’ Clint said, offering him a polite smile. It seemed Clint and Steve, in particular, were both nervous about this. Then why participate?

 ‘We just wanna help try and release some tension here.’ Tony stated, gesturing to the pile. ‘It is no surprise to us, Bruce, you can’t stand to look at this. But you don’t have the heart to throw it all away.’

 Bruce’s eyes fell to the coffee he now nursed in his hands.

 ‘We don’t want to make you uncomfortable.’ Steve chimed in. ‘But… Well, we don’t want you to run yourself into the ground because you’re scared of what people have to say.’

 ‘I’m not scared. I just know what I would see, and I do not need more confirmation that I am a monster.’

 ‘No!’ Thor’s voice bellowed, and he was standing in an instant. He was by Bruce’s side in a mere moment and gently nudging him (as gentle as Thor could manage) towards the lounge. ‘You do not understand, Banner! We believe that these are all letters of gratitude towards you, and rather than you think the worst, we want to disprove your claim.’

 ‘Yes… Well…’ Bruce’s eyes landed on the pile in front of him. He didn’t find SHIELD as frightening as he had expected when he had first met Natasha. He had not been as overcome with fear when he had first seen the Chitauri. But this small, seemingly trivial pile of notes… The words of an everyday person that he had hurt scared him more than anything.

 ‘If you don’t mind it, we came up with a simple system. Nothing too bad, we hope, but just so we might ease your fears a little.’ Tony said, reaching and digging around in the pile for a moment.

 After a bit of shuffling about, he pulled out a small, pastel pink card, showing it to Bruce.

 ‘We just want you to know that you don’t have to be worried about this. We came up with this plan-’

 ‘Tony came up with a plan.’ Natasha interrupted.

 ‘- That we will each read out one letter to you. One random letter. And we’ll all be here in case you want to take a break or if you need to just…’

 ‘Talk.’ Steve finished.

 And just like that, Clint, Steve, Natasha and Thor reached into the pile.

 Clint pulled one, exceptionally thick, envelope from the top; perfectly pristine, well-kept, with ‘Bruce Banner’ written in fine, royal blue cursive.

 Natasha dug her hand deep into the pile until she pulled her hand away with a large, but thin, green folder. On the front, it read Bruce’s name in a collage of cut-out, magazine letters.

 Steve removed a small parcel from the pile, wrapped in dirty brown paper with a green ribbon around it. There was the sound of something gently rattling against the inside as Steve moved.

 Thor pulled one letter from the pile which had a large, child’s drawing on the back. Evidently, it was of a large, green figure holding what looked like a yellow car in his hands and roaring. Bruce did not look too keen.

 It was Clint that opened his letter first and had begun to read.

 “Dear Doctor Banner,

 You may not recall me well, but my name is Lucille Davidson. We studied together for a period in college, and I would like to consider us friends, or at the very least, acquaintances.

 You’re work in nuclear physics is astounding, and I have, for years now, have wanted to address your papers and reports of your studies.  I have never had the chance, as I had thought you dead after your disappearance.

 Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw you on the news. Well, not you exactly, but to then have it confirmed to be you in the interview following the events, I was not only relieved but I was over the moon. Hearing you would be staying with Mister Stark for the time being, I wrote to you immediately, and I do hope this has found its way.

 I wanted to just say how I am not only inspired by your work, but I wish that we could sit together for coffee and go over our theories on anti-electron collisions…”

 By this point, Clint started to look a little lost. He raised his eyes from the paper, with an apologetic expression and a half smile.

 ‘Sorry, but I can’t understand this kind of science jargon. I am not an expert on thermonuclear… anything… Whatever this person is attempting to say, it seems…’ He turned the paper over, and glanced at the other papers. ‘Yeah… They appear to have sent you a full thesis on whatever this is…’

 He passed it across to Bruce, who seemed shocked still. The coffee cup was retrieved from his hands by Tony, in case he should drop it, and placed on the coffee table. Bruce took the papers with shaking hands and read over that first part again and again, almost in disbelief. The worry in his face had lessened slightly, as he placed the essay down and looked up when Steve cleared his throat.

 ‘There isn’t, uh… There’s only a small card here, apart from the parcel. And it reads ‘to Bruce Banner and to Hulk. Thank you!” He passed the card and parcel over, so Bruce could open it.

 He did so slowly, hesitantly, with the movements of a man disarming a bomb. Once the ribbon was undone and the tape removed, the brown paper fell apart in his hands, revealing a plastic container. Through the clear plastic there was a small pile of about eight cookies, all of them, though a little smudged, decorated to look like the Hulk’s face.

 There was a chortle from Tony, and a guffaw from Thor as the God landed a hard smack to Bruce’s back. It hurt, but Bruce just smiled down at the strange but lovely gift. There was no return address or signature, which seemed a little disappointing.

 “To Mister Banner.” Tony started, a sly, cattish grin on his face. Bruce could already feel his own face going red. He raised his hands to his face in a terrible attempt to hide his embarrassment as Tony continued to read with some level of theatrical exaggeration.

 “I will admit, I’m a little embarrassed to write this, but I just needed to get my feelings down onto paper. I was working during the Battle for New York and we met very briefly. Well, you were Hulk at the time, but still… You saved my life. I was about to be killed by one of those weird, alien creatures when you crushed them beneath your fists. And I couldn’t help but salivate…” There was a muttered, embarrassed groan from Bruce as he snatched the letter out of Tony’s hand. The billionaire and the others shared a laugh as Bruce continued to read the letter.

 Indeed, it was just a little scandalous, and as flattering as it was… He quietly tucked it away in his pants pocket, not willing to discuss it at this time. That was fair, and none of the other’s held that against him.

 Natasha opened her own folder, her face brighter than Bruce had ever seen it. She showed it off like she was doing a presentation, opening the folder wide and reading it out. There were only two pages to it, the first with an image of a small building with a mural on one of its walls.

 The mural showcased the Hulk with his hands raised as if holding up the roof of the building. Beneath him, as if a shadow that stood before him, was a silhouette of Bruce doing the same pose. Beneath it, written in bright lettering with all kinds of little pictures, was the message:

 ‘To Doctor Banner and the Hulk, the heroes that saved our daycare and the children therein.’ The second page was a collage of parents and staff thanking him and the Hulk alike, with little signatures and drawings from the children.

 Natasha passed it over to him, and Bruce clutched it close, feeling himself near brought to tears.

 Thor didn’t read out the letter he had plucked out of the pile, but passed it to Bruce all the same. It was difficult to read, as it was a scribble of a child’s writing. Only the address was clearly stamped out, presumably by a parent.

 ‘Thank you Mister Hulk. You saved mommy and daddy from the monsters. I want to be a hero like you when I’m grown up. Could you teach me to be strong like you? From Markus’

 Turning the paper over to look over the image again, Bruce could now make out the scratchy faces of two people in the yellow car. At first, he thought they were screaming, but when he was able to make out the black line of a speech bubble amongst the dark blue crayon, he could read they were yelling ‘YAY!’

 ‘How cute.’ Natasha hummed.

 ‘That ought to go onto the fridge.’ Tony agreed.

 Bruce shifted in his seat, wiping beneath his glasses with his sleeve. A hand on his shoulder, warm and comforting, brought his eyes up to look at the Thor.

 ‘Would Banner like some time alone? To read and look through his gifts?’

 Despite what he had read, Bruce did not ask them to leave. In fact, he snuggled deeper into the lounge as he plucked one letter from the pile. The others didn’t mind being asked to stay. In fact, to them, it was a relief to see the doctor express anything other than worry or discomfort, and a joy to watch his face break into a smile.

monochromology

As I write this it is the last day in November, and I have to renew my TV license. You have to have a TV license if you live in the United Kingdom and you own a device for watching live broadcasts, either online or through an actual TV. The fee is mostly used to pay for the existence of the BBC, and it costs £154.50 per year. It is effectively a regressive hypothecated tax. 

Sometimes it seems like there must be a better way of paying for public-service broadcasting. But the BBC has to remain free and universal to access, and free from advertising. And most of the time, the license fee is not controversial. There is little in the way of serious political will to abolish it, in part because it feels like nobody can be trusted to think of a serious alternative. In this respect it is not dissimilar to council tax, which is even more egregiously regressive, more conducive to extremes in inequality, more dangerous to reform. 

Various exemptions and concessions for the TV license are available. At the moment those aged over 75 don't have to pay at all. (This may change soon.) Oddly, if you have a black and white TV, there is still the option of paying a reduced rate license fee of £52 per year. The logic for this is essentially indefensible; aside from the fact that it is impossible to buy a new monochrome television, it would be absurd to suggest that anyone owning one was only receiving a third of the value of a full subscription. 

There are two ideas which might be mustered in defense of the black and white TV license. (I call them ideas rather than arguments, since again, nobody is really arguing about this.) The first is half-economic, half-emotional. It says that the only people still owning these ancient sets are those almost incapacitated by age and poverty. They have few pleasures left in life; they cannot be expected to arrive one year at a bill almost three times the usual amount. 

The second idea is linked to the first. It is wholly emotional, and far more important. In the British imagination the idea of a black and white television represents a link to the past. It is families clustered around a single glowing screen in a darkened room. Someone is probably smoking and someone is definitely drinking. There is a child lying inches from the screen, propped up on their elbows, head in their palms. The food is dreadful, in a homely sort of way. But something momentous is probably about to happen.  

The second idea comes out of a feeling that began near the end of the Second World War and went on to aggregate over fifty years or more of the second half of the twentieth century. There is something in the notion of a black and white receiver that is emblematic of the BBC as a beloved institution. It says: we've been here with you for all those years, for your parents and for your grandparents; won't you stick with us a little longer, at least? 

Sometimes the BBC is referred to as 'Auntie' in other parts of the media. It is a very old nickname. It is gentle and knowing. It is authoritative, and vaguely authoritarian – but at least it isn't 'Uncle'. The idea that the BBC might be a 'state broadcaster' (the special name it uses for equivalent stations in Iran or Russia) seems superficially absurd. Why? Because BBC content doesn't look like what we were taught propaganda looks like.  

More often than not, the BBC will contort itself to maintain some notion of journalistic impartiality. But these contortions create more problems than they solve. It is possibly to be openly racist or homophobic or transphobic on BBC television or radio, as long as prejudice is couched behind suitable disclaimers and a veneer of civility. As long as these views can find a counterpoint elsewhere, our national broadcaster can claim it was only doing its duty in representing the views of a section of the populace who pays for its continued existence.  

We are less than two weeks away from a general election. It seems like every day the BBC is accused of bias, from all sides. But at times the nature of the bias seems less like a considered editorial stance, and more like the product of something inherent to the way the BBC thinks about itself. And so a piece of footage which showed an audience openly laughing at the Prime Minister is cut to remove the laughter. On Memorial Sunday, the BBC runs a clip of the PM from a previous year, in which he managed to both look presentable and place the wreath the correct way around (neither of which he did this year). The BBC Politics twitter feed runs a handful of tweets critical of Jeremy Corbyn in between a jolly thirty-second clip of the PM spreading cream and jam on a scone. 

It is hard to distinguish a conspiracy in all this. What is evident is a consistent attitude of deference to power. The BBC house style is expressed through a voice in love with its own history, its own authority. These clips are chosen because they make the men in power (and some women) look good. They are picked for the same reasons they would not show the PM picking his nose. It is an unsubtle way of establishing the BBC as a broadcaster of quality. The people who produce this work want to align themselves with power. 

There is a sort of inverse courtship happening here. Once it was thought that politicians ought to defer to the media, out of a sort of necessity. You had to play their game if you wanted to be taken seriously. But suddenly none of that seems to matter. Now our Prime Minister can say, during an election campaign – what if I didn't show up to the leader's debate? What if I chose not to do the half-hour interview with the BBC's most aggressive presenter? What if I openly lied at every opportunity?  

All of this is facilitated by a media which is essentially reverential. Individuals vary in their approach but this is the default state of most newspapers and most television programmes. The position of the government must be respected not because it is always wise or informed, or moral or ethical but because it belongs to the government. Other political positions may be taken into consideration but they lack the democratic legitimacy which (we are to assume) is the privilege of government. And so members of the Cabinet are treated with a level of reverence which is entirely unrelated to their actual capabilities or the results achieved by their departments.

The BBC has no idea how to handle the current Prime Minister. The journalist Peter Oborne caused something of a stir recently by quoting a senior BBC figure who told him that they were reluctant to openly accuse the PM of lying because it would undermine trust in politics. And so the corporation must twist itself into strange knots. Its presenters must nod and smile, and report faithfully the inane ramblings of a man who is utterly devoid of principles, because he happens to be the Prime Minister.

Is he lying? Certainly most of what he says is demonstrably untrue. But to accuse him of lying would be to doubt his motivation. This is another sin of which the BBC cannot bear to be accused. Perhaps he simply didn't know that he wrong? Perhaps he was ignorant? So it must suffice to report the lie, and then to tell the audience that there may be some debate about the nature of the facts. And so we are treated to headlines that accuse the Labour party of increasing spending by over a trillion pounds. This is a total fabrication. But even if this is accompanied by a disclaimer to say that Labour dispute these figures, which part of this will stick in the mind of the general reader? Perhaps there will be a talking head to explain that even if we were told we would be getting 40 new hospitals, some of those might only be refurbishments to existing hospitals. And the rest? We don't know. We move swiftly on to other things. 

In matters relating to the Royal Family, the BBC will always cleave closely to its special heritage. Its coverage is resolutely uncritical. Turn on during a royal wedding or some other state occasion and the tone is set to gaping admiration throughout. The recent interview with Prince Andrew could be considered an exception, but it wasn't astonishing because of a particularly penetrating line of questioning. The questions were direct, but the Prince still got to sit in the big chair, relatively speaking. What happened was so surprising because Andrew so effectively engineered his own public humiliation. It took only the gentlest of informed prompts for him to express some of the most extraordinary things heard on television in recent memory. 

I keep thinking back to the vast room in which Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew sat for that interview. It did him no good, of course. It was lit like a room from Dracula's castle. I wondered who had allowed it. But there is at times a sort of mutual deference that we receive from the Royals. I mean in terms of the way that the Queen might be said to enjoy a particular brand of biscuit, for example; it's like a particularly British form of the idea that Madonna drinks Coke and you can too. It's 'democratic' in the (entirely incorrect and inappropriate) sense of the word commonly used interchangeably with 'popular'. At heart we know the Royals are nothing like us. Somehow we live with this.

Black and white televisions were once a status symbol of a sort. Another British stereotype says that in the 1980s/1990s if you still had a monochrome set you were probably not poor – you were probably a sort of aesthete or aristocrat, and mostly likely you had neither the time or the inclination to replace it. Or you might be very rich (because you hadn't frittered away money on buying a new TV). Big colour screens were considered the preserve of the idle feckless poor; by contrast, there was something pleasingly authentic about the black and white set.  

And why should those owners be made to pay if they chose not to enter the modern world with the rest of us? We might not want it ourselves, but it was nice to think of them as being there, the owners of the black and white sets. They were keepers of the flame. Most likely they were shut up in their damp, draughty stately homes, with only a skeleton crew of servants, the old Bentley slumbering under a tarp in a crumbling garage. But they were holding on to our myths for us.

I paid the full amount for my TV license. The website for it is a primitive thing, but I suppose it's functional; it doesn't seem to have changed at all in over ten years. What would it mean if the black and white television license were taken away? I think of that lonely aristocrat, last of their line, selling their heritage to pay off some frivolous debt owed to the grasping hand of the state. (Countless versions of this trope, serious and comic, are available across a variety of media.) Would it feel like we were taking the Queen's TV away? Probably. Perhaps the BBC think it is worth keeping for that reason alone.

Fairy Tail Review — Far From The #1 Guild

July 31, 2020 9:00 AM EST

A mediocre JRPG, Fairy Tail does only the bare minimum with what it offers. It’s a game for dedicated fans, but fans deserve a better game.

Fairy Tail is a long-running manga and anime series. It was one of the bigger shonen series at the height of its popularity, running concurrently to the “Big Three” (Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece). It has since concluded a few years ago, but it made enough of a splash for Gust to develop an RPG based on it, so here we are.

I’ll preface this review by saying that my knowledge of the source material is very limited. I’ve only seen a few episodes of the Fairy Tail anime and have read none of the manga. This kind of game project is usually catered more to fans, so I am not the target demographic; this I freely admit. Much of the specifics of story arcs and character dynamics are lost on me here, relying entirely on the game and a little extra research to fill me in past the first half-dozen anime episodes.

Still, I am a fan of Gust’s Atelier series, having played through most of the English releases in the franchise. Between that and the trailers looking promising, I raised my hand for this review. Given that it’s possible to get enjoyment out of the Sword Art Online games without prior knowledge, for example, I’d been hoping for a similar feeling here.

Alas, that was not the sentiment I got out of the Fairy Tail game. This is a game for fans of the series, which is great! Unfortunately, it really didn’t do much to convince me to want to become a fan, either. What few glimpses of interesting concepts, characters, and stories the game has are largely undone by painfully mediocre gameplay and presentation. There’s nothing here that hasn’t been done by other JRPGs before, and usually much better.

“There’s nothing here that hasn’t been done by other JRPGs before, and usually much better.”

Fairy Tail opens at the end of the Tenrou Island arc, starting immediately with a tutorial boss fight against Hades. The events here play out quickly, offering both rapid-fire introductions to characters and gameplay mechanics. This arc ends with the titular Fairy Tail guild sealing themselves and Tenrou Island in a protective bubble, narrowly avoiding death from the dragon Acnologia.

When the bubble goes down, the reason for this rushed opening becomes apparent: while not much time passed inside the shield, seven years passed for the rest of the world. Fairy Tail had been the top-rated wizard guild prior to this moment, but now they’ve largely been forgotten and left destitute. Now, both the characters and the player have an excuse to build everything back up from the very bottom. Clever!

  The rushed tutorial now takes its time to establish a few things and get you into the rhythm of the game. Fairy Tail also includes an encyclopedia to refer to, with short page-long descriptions of the story thus far. It’ll be filled with background on characters, terminology, and systems to check back on as the game unfolds. A welcome inclusion, though it naturally cannot fill in all the details and nuance of the full manga/anime series thus far.

As a wizard guild, Fairy Tail is tasked with numerous requests by the populace. These become the quests that you’ll spend the bulk of your time doing. Some are just repeatable and generic “go to X region and kill/find Y” quests; others are more designed, require specific members to be present, and feature dialogue and cutscenes involving them.

Gameplay will fall into the rhythm of taking a task from the guild’s request board, seeing a brief scene talking about it, then going off to find an item or have a battle. See a brief wrap-up scene, return, cash in, and repeat. Doing so will increase your money and renown, which serves both as a currency to improve both your characters and guild facilities. Renown will also see your guild rank increase over time, with higher ranks granting access to new areas and more requests.

  Concurrently to this runs the main story. Having to restart from the bottom, the Fairy Tail guild decides that the best way to reclaim their notoriety is to win the upcoming Grand Magic Games. As such, the story quests will see you training and preparing for this, before taking part (and beyond). Almost all of these main story scenarios involve battles, so this leads me to the combat system.

Fairy Tail is a turn-based JRPG. You’ll have a decently sized ensemble of characters that you can bring into your team, each with unique abilities. The initial five from the tutorial consist of Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza and Wendy; after the tutorial, you’ll only be able to field up to three, expanding back up to five as it progresses. More characters like Juvia and Gajeel will join as story beats continue.

Since every character is a wizard, there are a few light twists on an otherwise standard JRPG formula. Both your health point and mana point bars become crucial, as running out of either sees your character knocked out. Basic Attacks are incredibly weak and still cost a single MP to use, so you’re encouraged to predominantly use your magic.

The most interesting aspect of the battle system is the enemy grid. Each enemy will be placed on a 3×3 grid. Your characters aren’t on the field, but their abilities each have specific ranges and areas that they can affect. Oft-times, your list of magic won’t do that much more damage than your basic one tile ability, but instead, have added effects and can hit additional tiles. A few abilities can reposition enemies on the grid to make subsequent AoE strikes hit harder, and enemies can also occasionally move themselves around. It ultimately becomes a case of judging whether to use MP to clear the field or just conserve it and focus fire. It’s not Radiant Historia levels of battlefield manipulation, but it’s something!

“You’ll have a decently sized ensemble of characters that you can bring into your team, each with unique abilities.”

You’ll also have a party gauge that allows you to trigger a Magic Chain when full. This lets you have your party members attack one after the other for less MP before ending on a massive finisher. These chains can get pretty ridiculous, and I knocked out whole boss phases in a single one on many occasions. Most of your upgrades serve to increase the power of these chains, and increasing character bonds by using them in requests together further increases their duration.

There are other considerations to the battles, such as characters being able to trigger Awakening after taking enough damage. This grants brief stat bonuses and potentially new forms and moves. You can also expend Awakening to avoid an incoming attack, or follow up an ally’s attack with another. There are definitely many options in the battles, and they’re probably the most well-developed part of Fairy Tail.

Here’s the problem, then: Fairy Tail is way too easy. Playing on normal difficulty, I was very quickly reaching points where I was breezing through even bosses without challenge. You have the tools and power to dispatch enemies so effortlessly that Fairy Tail just becomes trivial to play. This problem only gets worse if you decide to actually engage with more of the side content, as doing the extra requests or exploring zones fully will see you overleveled in no time.

Since this is where the bulk of unique character interactions and dialogue happens, fans will want to engage with it, thus turning the game into a cakewalk. Worse still, the main story will frequently set points where you have to reach a certain level or guild rank to advance. The option to power through it is removed, thus throwing the gameplay balance out the window. Any attempt to dig into the battle system or really utilise party strengths just becomes pointless when you can breeze through everything.

“You have the tools and power to dispatch enemies so effortlessly that Fairy Tail just becomes trivial to play.”

The ease of battles also has run off effects into other systems. In addition to your guild requests, you can upgrade Fairy Tail’s guild facilities through finding materials in the world. These give all sorts of bonuses, but it all amounts to making you stronger, so it’s easier once again. Mixing and matching your party members to increase their bonds for added dialogue? Also increases their power. Side quests and exploration will award equippable Lacrima gems, and you can even craft powerful character-specific ones. These are all the most generic stat increases you can imagine, and it makes the game easier still. Everything loops back into making my time with the game an exercise in patience as I steamroll all obstacles, rather than enjoying the systems.

Still, I’ve played through worse gameplay systems for the sake of a good story. So once again, I was disappointed to not really find that here. That isn’t even the fault of it being a Fairy Tail adaptation, either; there was honestly quite a lot to like, but the sheer breakneck pace of the game means everything happened super fast and then was gone a moment later.

Everything is rushed through, and usually not for any reason beyond budget. There will be multiple scenes in which interesting events are described in a couple of text boxes and a still image, only to thrust you back into mundane requests. Numerous characters and even major antagonists will be talking, but only have a portrait rather than a character model. So effectively, you’re left watching your party have dialogues with people off-screen.

Those limitations didn’t stop them from having a fully animated cutscene of the female Fairy Tail members at a swim party, though. Gust has its priorities, it would seem!

In fairness, those priorities carried over to the stylised character models and attack animations; those are very on-brand for the original designs. The rest of the presentation isn’t really better though, with most environments being incredibly bland. Fairy Tail‘s world consists of stock biomes, generic enemy creatures, and only a few series-specific inclusions. All the omissions and lack of polish seriously added up. No effort was put into the game’s performance, either. Despite the fairly bland visuals, the frame rate is absurdly low and dips into comical territories during flashier attacks and bigger zones.

“These good moments were very quickly hamstrung by more rushed scenes, easy battles, and cheap presentation.”

I did want to like Fairy Tail, and there were points where character and charm shone through. But these good moments were very quickly hamstrung by more rushed scenes, easy battles, and cheap presentation. The end result is a lot of fine ideas executed in cheap, mediocre ways that hamper their enjoyment. It’s a perfectly serviceable but completely uninspired JRPG. There’s nothing here that hasn’t been done so much better. I can’t help but feel that Gust made all the basics of an Atelier game, only to entirely remove the intricate crafting systems and presentation that typically carry the series. Slap a Fairy Tail skin on it, and here we are.

Fairy Tail was a game made for existing fans of the series, through and through. It offers very little to actually entice me to become a fan or learn more about the source material. I can absolutely respect that the game isn’t for me; even so, I couldn’t help but feel that dedicated fans of the series deserve a much better attempt than this. It checks all the boxes and reminds players of the highlights and character moments of the greater series, but only puts in the barest effort doing so.

That might be enough for you, but I think fans should have better. As for those who aren’t fans, it’s probably better to skip Fairy Tail. Even hardcore JRPG fans will find it not worth playing instead of something much better. This is just too mediocre to recommend for all but the most dedicated fan. Still, I hope you find what you’re looking for here if you do take the plunge.

July 31, 2020 9:00 AM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/07/fairy-tail-review-far-from-the-1-guild/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fairy-tail-review-far-from-the-1-guild

Disney Femslash Day 4

And now for day 4, I decided to go with Esmeralda and Belle for the theme “dancing”. (Fun fact: the song Esmeralda sings is taken from the Hunchback stage play. If you haven’t listen to the soundtrack online yet I highly suggest it! It’s wonderful!)

And another remind, I’m still taking requests for this fan week until the 12th! So if there’s any pairing you want to read my takes on, feel free to let me know!

You can read this story under the cut or over on my AO3!

Word count: 2325

Belle had always caught glimpses of her dancing in the streets. First on the corners in plain sight for all to see and marvel. A beautiful woman and a stellar dancer. Dressed in bright vibrant colors that drew in the eye and a plume of long thick raven hair, it swooped and bounced as the woman moved like her garments. Her family and friends would play the fiddle and flute while she’d rattle off her tambourine with foot work so swift it amazed Belle.

So much so Belle found she would stop for a moment, even setting down any books she might be reading to watch the woman dance. And when she had any money to spare she would place it in the woman’s tambourine after each performance. Sometimes she had been too crowded to notice Belle, but when she did catch sight of her, the woman would always go out of her way to give Belle a warm smile and “thanks”.

As time went on the police forces in Paris became stricter with their laws and crueler with their punishments. Yet even then the woman would still perform, her new venue being the places the police avoided like narrow alleyways and rancorous taverns. The sort of places neither her father nor she would ever willingly go. As the city could be a haven to arts, sciences and literature if you knew where to look, it could also be nesting place for crime and danger. Not to mention the ever tense presence of Judge Frollo, and his men in the church and military.

Belle began to worry. She almost never saw the dancer or her family around now. Was she doing ok in the dangerous parts of Paris? And worse worries of the police catching her made Belle feel sicker yet. Until finally one night, going against her own self-preservation, she couldn’t resist and went out of home after her father fell asleep. Into the city to try and find the woman.

The city was an entirely different animal at night time. Shadows cast down onto the streets warped everything from what it usually appeared. Most of the familiar sights Belle knew by day were hidden or muddled, making Belle feel lost even though she knew where she was. And most of those who milled about in the night, both citizens and law enforcement alike, seemed more sinister. Fall was ending soon and the air felt frigid, it made Belle pull her cloak tighter around herself. And whenever she passed strangers, she hid her face and tried to make herself seems as big as she could. If they assumed she were a man it would be less likely for anyone to try harassing her. At least that’s what Belle had read once, she hoped it was true.

When small flurries of snow began to fall, she passed by a well-lit tavern. Swarms of people milled around the place. The whole area was a humdrum of different sounds, musicians playing, people laughing, cheering, fighting.

But then she heard the song, the one the woman would always sing on the street side. The Rhythm of the Tambourine.

“Hey, soldier boy, I see how you stare!

Hey, butcher man, I see you admire!

Come gather 'round! Hey, Jacques and Pierre!

Come see me dance, to the rhythm of the tambourine!”

Weaving her way through the crowd as politely as she could, she entered the tavern. She felt grateful for the fact the area was so full with people even if it did give her trouble breathing. No one seemed to pay her any mind as she passed through. However the crowds did make it difficult to see. Belle pulled herself up as tall as she could go, even rising up onto her tiptoes, to try and look over the crowds. To try and catch a glimpse of raven hair or bright colors. It became more and more infuriating when she could hear her voice but couldn’t seem to find the woman.

“Come see me dance! Hey what can it hurt!

It’s just a dance, to the rhythm of the tambourine!”

Where on earth could she be? Belle looked in circles all around the tavern space. But no one seemed familiar. Faces upon faces of complete strangers. She hadn’t realized she’d barged into a more crowded area of the tavern right next to several barrels of ale. All she could focus on was that voice with a few instruments and the jingle of a tambourine all so infuriatingly close. All around her men and women were cheering and hollering at the performance.

Then all at once Belle stumbled through a weaker segment of the audience and she found herself face to face with the woman she was looking for. Or perhaps more accurately at the feet of the woman she was looking for, as she danced upon a raised platform a few steps off thro ground.

When the two made eye contact, the dancer seemed surprised. But then she winked down at Belle as she continued her routine. Several people in the crowd familiar with her dances began hooting in anticipation.

She held her tambourine directly out in front of her, her arm making a 90 degree angle with the ground. And then like it wasn’t even an effort she kicked her leg up till her foot hit the instrument. Then looking at her arm in mock surprise, she’d raise her arm, as if it were being pulled on a puppet string. But her leg would still kick up to the tambourine’s height. And as her arm raised higher and higher her leg was still able to gracefully kick up and tap the rattling tambourine. The crowd went berserk over her prowess. And finally when her arm was completely raised, the tambourine right over her head. Everyone looked on in excitement, wondering if she would still be able to reach.

She gave her audience a moment to breath and build up, all before smirking to them all a kicking her leg as effortless as she did every time, and letting the tambourine rattle. Cheers and applause rang out all around Belle and she realized she was doing the same.

Soon after that, the woman’s performance came to an end and she presented her tambourine for tips as several of her friends set forth some hats and baskets for their patron’s coins.

Belle herself gave a small fee and was preparing to leave when she caught the woman’s eye once more. She smiled towards her and signaled Belle to follow her over towards the bar.

Seeing no reason not to, Belle politely made her way through the crowd to where the woman was. She gave a smile to two men and immediately they stood up from their stools at the bar and offered them to her. Belle said a tiny thank you as she sat in the stool directly next to her’s.

“Uh, hello?”

“Hello to you too.” The woman said back. “I must say, I never thought I’d see the likes of you in a place like this. You’re usually my day crowd, aren’t you?”

“Oh, um it’s different here for sure, not somewhere I’d usually go.” Belle couldn’t help but shrink into herself where she heard a fight and several crashes behind her. “To be honest, I came here looking for you.”

The woman laughed. “Aw, you’re cute! Not with the police are you?” She joked.

“Oh no, definitely not! I was wondering what happened to you, I never see you dance near the library anymore.”

The woman signaled one of the maids handling drinks and a frown came on her face. “You can thank Frollo for that! The fiend… I can’t believe the man. He bares us from working jobs in the city, then he bares us from working on the street.”

“He’s awful.” Belle agreed. Even she had come to learn of Frollo’s cruelty to the immigrant populace, especially those of Romani heritage. But sadly it was something that was generally kept from the people of Paris, whether by purpose or out of willful ignorance. And those who did know about it often agreed with Frollo’s view points as Belle and her father had learned after several bad run-ins with the royal court that left an awful taste in her mouth. “And it’s awful that he holds so much power over the city. Not even the church or the state can stop him.”

“It’s not that, they don’t want to stop him.” The woman added. “The whole court is corrupt with greed, hatred. They’re all idiots that care for nothing and stand for nothing. And Frollo’s the worst of them yet!”

The woman’s nose would flare out some when she spoke was passion and anger. And Belle couldn’t help but feel such vindication seeing the fire in her eyes. Someone who didn’t want to let the madness and injustice continue.

The woman calmed down some, the showed her hand to Belle. “Name’s Esmeralda. And you are?”

“Belle.” Belle replied, taking the hand and shaking it firmly.

They continue talking for so long Belle loses track of time. It’s nice being able to talk so freely to someone. Someone who not only understands but is happy to talk about all the things she enjoys, that she hates. It felt like she could talk to Esmeralda about anything. As they spoke Belle realized just how vibrantly green her eyes were, and realized just how fitting her name meaning “Emerald” was. She couldn’t help but lean in closer the more they talked too. Some warmth had built up in between them, keeping the icy chill that permeated the bar at bay.

“But what if you couldn’t dance?”

“What!” Esmeralda said in mock horror. “Why? If I couldn’t dance I’d be out of house and home! You can only make it so far in this city on looks alone!”

Belle laughed and tried to find a way to reword her question. “Fine, what if you could still dance but didn’t have to? What would you want to do then? Anything at all. No rules or expectations to hold you back.”

Esmeralda hummed, stroking at her chin as if she had a beard. “Hmmmmm, What would I be? If I could be anything…” When an idea came to her, her eyes lit up and she turned to Belle smiling.

“I’d be a judge.”

“What?” Belle was confused. “But why? The royal court is corrupt and idiotic, you said so yourself. You hate Frollo and all he stands for.”

Esmeralda nodded. “Exactly! But if I were Judge, I wouldn’t allow people like Frollo and his cronies into power. I’d use my position to help Paris, defend everyone who’s mistreated by the so-called law. Stand for actual Justice!” She looked about ready to jump from her seat to stand up. But instead she turned towards Belle, smirking some. “Plus I could make those ridiculous hats and wigs look good.”

“Oh I bet.” Belle imagined what Esmeralda might look like as a Judge. Wearing plain grey robes in piety, but jeweled rings on every finger. Riding around in Frollo’s black carriage as grim as the gothic cathedral towering over the city. Sitting high up on a podium looking down upon those accused brought into her court. Being able to show mercy to those who deserved it as well as punishment to those who did wrong.

“Either that, or head of police. Something with power here in Paris I think.” Esmeralda continued. Until she nudged Belle’s side. “And what about you? What would you do, if you could do anything?”

“An explorer.” Belle said, not even having to think.

“An explorer?” Esmeralda asked. “No offence, but you don’t look like you would last five minutes outside this city on your own.”

Belle scoffed a little but didn’t take Esmeralda’s insults close to heart. “Well that’s what I’d do if I didn’t have anything to hold me back. Telling me what is and isn’t ‘woman’s work’ or that I can’t go out alone. I’d go see the world! Experience all the things I read about in person! Then I’d write my own books about all my adventures. And everyone could read them!”

“I’d read them all in between my court cases and public decrees.” Esmeralda added in wistfully.

They sat together quietly smiling towards one another. But a small bitterness grew between them. As they looked one another in the eye they shared a mutual understanding that neither of their dreams were very unlikely to ever become a reality. Here in the powerless, dangerous, broken reality that was their home in Paris.

Somewhere behind them, in the midst of the tavern, one of Esmeralda’s accompanists began playing the fiddle and a group of cheers rang out as people began getting up from their seats.

Esmeralda got up from her chair and extended her hand to Belle. “Until I’m Judge though, I guess I’ll have to do the one other thing I’m good at. Come on!”

There were still bittersweet thoughts of exploration going through her head as Belle took her hand unsure. “Ok. But I must warn you, I’m nothing compared to you and your dancing skills.”

“Oh don’t be too hard on yourself! You do fine! All you need is some real time to practice.” Esmeralda said as she pulled Belle towards the crowd beginning to dance. The last bit she added smugly. “And besides, your about to get the best teacher in France!”

Once they were in the midst on the dancers Esmeralda took both her hands and they faced one another. She smiled reassuringly at Belle who tried to swallow the nervousness she felt at being so close and dancing with someone so amazing as Esmeralda.

“We’ll start with the basics, just the feet. But try not to look down. Keep your eyes on me!”

Belle laughed, as if that would be hard.

Survey #53

“easy to be sleazy when you’ve got a filthy mind.”

what's the last movie you watched on your own?   i couldn't tell you.  i don't watch movies on my own, it's boring. what about the last movie you watched with another person?   chelsea and i had "gbf" on netflix, but we didn't really watch it. what about the last movie you saw at the cinema? was it good?   colleen, chelsea, and i saw "trolls" for a buck.  it was SOOOO cute. do you attend school, college, or uni?   an art university, yeah. what do you study, wherever you study?   digital photography. kisses on the cheek or the neck?   cheek if you wanna be casual, but neck kisses if you want me to rip your fucking clothes off lmao. how do you earn your keep?   i don't work.  i'm ashamed of it, but i don't and can't work like a "normal" human being.  i'm trying to find a job with my very limiting criteria, but it's not easy, at all.  i doubt i'll ever have a proper job until i can be a freelance photographer. if you could speak three different languages fluently, what would they be?   GERMAN, latin, and ummm... i mean i guess spanish, because it'd be most convenient to me. who do you usually text the most?   my mom or my best friend colleen. shaved legs or shaved arms?   legs.  i don't shave my arms. fried, poached, boiled or scrambled eggs?   i like scrambled and cheesy eggs. have you ever been surprised with breakfast in bed?   no.  it'd be nice at least once. have you always got good grades?   from elementary all the way through high school, yeah.  i'm struggling in college... list four things about your facial appearance:   i have blue eyes, glasses, no freckles, and a piercing on the right side of my nose. list four things about your general appearance:   i'm overweight because fuck heartbreak, i'm white, i have no ass, and i have large breasts. list four things you like about yourself:   i'm passionate as fuck, i honestly think i have good morals, i'm loyal, and very understanding. list four things you dislike about yourself:   i'd kill for one man, i'm jealous to the point of hatred, i overreact to literally everything, i can't socialize, you want me to go on? this quiz is pretty different to others, right?   lmao you ruined it cats or dogs?   while i personally find felines to be more interesting as animals, i prefer dogs as pets. are you hungry right now?   no.  my appetite pill is actually working. what do you think of couples who have entire albums just for them, with pictures of them just randomly at home, doing nothing that really requires a photo?   lmao i was one of those people, i love it!  document your story!  it's beautiful! can you work the washing machine?   ... no.  embarrassing, right.  idk what settings to put it on. do you like your photo being taken?   NO.  other people don't know how to flatter my face. do you like taking photos of yourself?   i mean, i'm a photographer, so every now and again. next gig you're going to?   who knows?  i'd like to go to the carolina rebellion this year, BADLY, but money is such an issue in my family. favorite color?   maroon, baby. when do you plan on moving out?   when i'm with a significant other.  i used to believe i could live on my own in an apartment or something, but no.  depression would consume me entirely. is there someone in your life you wish you never met?   of course there is.  jabari, who tried raping my sister right in front of me, for one.  dustin, ashley's ex, who did nothing but break her heart and abuse her.  there are more.  i personally don't believe everyone comes into one's life for a reason. who/what is your favorite cartoon character?   i don't really know.  i like garfield.  and courage the cowardly dog. what do you think of your mother?   she's very supportive, loving, funny, rational, and serves as my rock.  i'd be lost as fuck if i didn't have my mom.  just sometimes, she thinks she knows more than she does about me. your father?   i love him so much and i live in constant regret about hating him for so many years.  i wish i'd burned that letter i wrote him in opposition of actually sending that shit, because i wonder all the time if he still thinks about what i told him.  he'd do anything for me, and i hope i can repay him for that one day. your siblings (if there are any)?   tiffany: i don't know you, but i wish i did.  misty: you're great, and i miss you.  katie: you confuse me, but i still love you and hope you're okay.  bobby: hey now, you're an all-star.  seeing you with christian lights up my whole world.  i hope i'm half the parent you are some day.  ashley: we're too much alike in an odd way.  you've been through so much, yet you've come so far as a person.  i mean jesus christ, you're a radiologist!  and to know you were once suicidal, that's so inspirational to me.  you have a husband who loves you, even after, like me, believing you could never love another.  you have two beautiful children who love you so much, but i wonder if they can ever love you like i do.  nicole: i worry about you.  you need to leave that damn boy, he's not good enough for you, and he is going to drag you down.  you're too big and bold a person to be chained.  i worry about your happiness quotient as long as he's around, but regardless, i know you're going to go pretty damn far. how many hours do you spend online a day?   i don't really know, but i can't say i care too much.  i don't get why people treat the internet like it's so horrible.  like, let's think about it.  most people, when they have nothing better to do, what do they do?  they watch television.  i sit on the computer instead.  at least i'm engaging my brain. explain your current feelings for your last ex bf/gf:   i'm entirely aware i'm more than in love with him, i'm obsessed with him.  you ain't truly been in love until it gets that far, hunny. how do you feel about teen relationships?   they're fine?  they can lead to a forever relationship. who’s room of the opposite sex were you in last? when?   uhhh.  my dad's and his wife's when i was passing through to go take a shower. what are your views on homosexuals in general?   they're just as human as a heterosexual, if not more open-minded as half the heterosexual populace has issue with them. do you and any of your friends have a "song?"   ha ha ha, yeah.  colleen and i say our "song" is that country piece called "friends" by ummm... blake shelton, i think?  it's such a cutesy song, and when she first showed it to me, she said it made her think of us.  i hate country, yet i still jam out with her every time we hear it. (: which is more important to you - friends or family?   family.  who says some friends can't be family? which is worse - smoking, drinking, or drugs?   drugs.  easily.  allow me to also clarify, alcohol is a drug, so drinking is pretty equal?  nicotine is a drug too, right? is there one person you would seriously kill if you could get away with it?   um.  only if i wouldn't feel guilty.  which i would. what is the last scary movie that actually scared you?   the only scary movie to ever scare me is "the rite."  only because it played with an irrational fear of mine: being impregnated by satan or a demon in general.  i'm afraid of pregnancy period, but the idea of it being the devil's child and it ripping out of your fucking stomach like can you not what are you listening to?   "gospel" by panic! at the disco.  i love his voice in this song so fucking much.  them high notes in the chorus, tho. what is something you and your significant other do that may seem weird to others?   i'm single. how long have you liked the person you like right now?   five years how many shots can you take?   i've never taken a shot before, and truly, i don't really want to.  i mean i'm sure i will at some point, i just don't have the desire to because i hate the taste of alcohol, and shots are so concentrated. what's a fact about the last person you kissed?   he just turned 23. do you think you're old?   no, shame i feel it, though. are you a jealous person?   in general?  actually, no.  i only get jealous when it comes to jason. when is the next time you will kiss someone?   you tell me. has anybody ever accused you of doing drugs?   i don't think so. do you have a passion for anything?   meerkats!!  photography!!  silent hill and gaming in general!!  rhett and link/gmm!!  heavy metal!! are you a romantic person?   i honestly think i am. what do you think of when i say "lumberjack?"   lmao omg the first thing that came to mind was rhett singing and dancing to the song he made up on the high-heeled lumberjack challenge on gmm. how many children do you want?   one-three.  one if childbirth/pregnancy was way too much, two is most likely, three is a big maybe. do you like mexican food?   nope. do you have a favorite author?   not really. do you have an ex who still talks to you? do they want to be with you again?   if juan even counts, yeah, we talk like what, less than even once a month.  he's made it apparent he wants to be with me again, but pretty sure he's a player, so. do your legs get really itchy after shaving them?   christ, yeah.  my left leg got so itchy once after shaving that i have a large scar going up my shin from scratching it so badly.  even putting lotion on didn't help. do you wear a ring on your finger?   yeah, a ruby/garnet/whatever ring on my right ring finger.  i just put it on permanently the other day.  i got it for christmas. have you ever thought about getting your nose pierced?   it is pierced.  i've thought of taking it out in favor of getting the septum pierced though, but i changed my mind. have you kissed anyone with a tattoo before?   no, but a guy with a tattoo has kissed me. which berry is your favorite?   strawberries, definitely. have you ever tried to learn a foreign language?   i took four semesters of german. would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?   lake. do you love seeing frost hanging off leaves in the winter?   omg yaaass would you ever like to own a chandelier?   hell yeah.  i'm big on those creepy octopus chandeliers. when is the last time you went to a carnival?   oh fuck me.  last time i went to a carnival/festival one night was over a year ago with jason and dillon.  i went on a ride i was terrified of (jason was a bit iffy too; he doesn't like heights), and dillon made a self-mutilation joke that nearly ruined the whole night. how many notebooks do you own? are they all filled?   oh jeez.  LOADS.  i have a drawer filled with 'em... i wanna throw them out though.  really old, embarrassing writings. have you ever lived on a university campus?   no. what’s your favorite alcoholic beverage?   mike's hard, i guess.  not like i've tried many. when was the last time you saw a photo of your ex?   long-ish time ago.  i have a picture from our prom beside my bed, but it's buried beneath papers.  so probably the last time i checked his facebook months ago. do you “binge-watch” tv shows?   haven't done that since "sherlock" with jason. do you play any games on your phone?   not anymore.  i had pokemon go, but i had to get rid of it after i ran out of room on my phone, despite having deleted every other app but pinterest and my period tracker.  not like it's really a fun game for rural players, anyway.  you never have pokeballs because pokestops don't exist. have you ever shaved your face?   no.  i mean i've waxed my eyebrows and lip and plucked stray hairs on my chin, but never shaved it. what was the last vaccination you got?   no idea.  probably for an std, y'know, those shots you get as a teenager. how long does it usually take you to get over a break up?   lmao been a year and a handfull of months, still not over it. do you get motion sickness?   nope. do you often forget what you were just about to say?   always.  makes me feel stupid. how many blue-eyed people have you kissed?   none. do you have a friend named holly?   i knew a holly in elementary school, but she was never my friend. what are your parents' middle names?   marie and john. does frequent use of swear words offend or upset you?   not at all, because i don't believe in our definition of "profanity."  who honestly gives a valid fuck about whether a word is "bad" or not.  what makes a word "bad," anyway?  however, i do believe in harmful words that i don't like hearing.  like, calling someone a bitch, to me, is just as bad as calling someone a mean person.  because they mean the same thing.  what makes "bitch" worse?  also, i hate derogatory terms to certain groups, like "the 'n' word" for black people.  otherwise, "swear" all you want, i really don't care. when/where did you meet your first love?   well, to be technical, facebook.  i thought he was a jason i did know, so i accepted his friend request.  thank god i did.  he wanted to be my friend to begin with because he saw me in the hallway at school and, according to him, he thought immediately, "that girl's going to save me."  he remembers exactly what I was wearing, everything.  how he found my facebook, i guess i should probably wonder, lol.  it's so funny, how he claims i was going to save him.  and now i'm the one who needs him.  funny shit. how many facebook friends do you have?   uhhhh 126, i think? which one of your relatives are you most likely to argue/disagree with?   MY GRANDMA HOLY FUCK have your parents met the person you're currently interested in?   yes, they have. who was your first major crush?   i'm not entirely sure.  maybe this kid named dylan? do you still talk to that person?   haven't in well over a decade.  lmao wait, did i ever even talk to him?  i just thought he was super cute. is there anything you need to do, that you're trying to avoid doing?   yeah.  i hate late homework. do you have any drinking cups with disney characters on them?   we haven't for years.  well, wait.  we may still have some. will you be moving anytime soon?   probably.  we were supposed to get evicted because mom can't afford the rent, yet we're still here.  but our landlord won't be merciful forever; mom still can't pay for it. have you ever written a book? perhaps you are writing one right now?   never finished any... oh yeah!  but one from when i was younger. favorite flavored milk shake?   vanilla do you or your best friend play in a band?   nah. can two living souls become one?   figuratively, sure, literally, no. last song you listened to and what does it mean to you?   i'm listening to "ready to go" by panic! at the disco.  first time listening to it; i'm on a panic! streak.  it just started, so no opinion yet. have you seen the entire harry potter series?   no.  jason and i watched a couple of the movies, but i could never get into it. have you ever been put to sleep for surgery?   i actually don't know.  i had tubes put in my ears as a baby, but i don't remember it at all. have you ever had a pregnancy scare?   okay this is funny.  despite never having sex, my anxiety made me believe by some miracle dry-humping had gotten me pregnant because i missed my period.  like i was so panicked i was even talking about it with jason.  god bless that man, i can only IMAGINE what he must've thought. when was the last time you went bowling?   some months ago with colleen, bradley, and girt. are you expected to help fix thanksgiving dinner?   no. have you ever lost anyone close to cancer?   no, thank god. do you personally know anyone who is transgender?   i don't think so. what’s your favorite flavor of potato chip?   original is the shit. what’s your favorite type of juice?   i really like mango. what was the hardest language you’ve ever tried to learn?   dude, fuck latin. do you know anyone named amity?   no, but that's a cool name! what do you think of people who always wear make-up?   i really try not to have an opinion because that's really not my business at all, but i can't help but feel a bit sad.  like... i dunno, i just think you should be more comfortable with your own skin instead of always feeling like you've gotta cover it.  my older sister was like that for years, and it always made me sad, because she's so beautiful.  she wouldn't go out without it or take pictures if she didn't have some on. is there a smell that gives you headaches?   gasoline. what’s your least favorite thing about summer?   everything?  can i say everything??? have you ever wanted to vlog?   not really.  i lead a boring life and i am WAY too shy and awkward. do you have any of the guitar heroes/rock bands?   plenty.  original, ac/dc, metallica, green day, van halen, greatest hits, and i'm positive i'm missing some. have you ever worn flip flops in the snow?   lmao yes. do you ever wonder what your ex or most recent “thing” is up to?   of course i do. have you ever moved to a different state?   nope.  been in nc my whole life. have you ever been to germany?   no, but i'd REALLY like to go! what decade do you think is the best musically?   hm.  '80s. have you ever written poetry or fiction?   yup.  some cringy stuff lmao. have you ever lived with your girlfriend/boyfriend?   yes.  we lived with another couple, who were our friends. how do you feel about your relationship status?   it's boring and lonely. how many relationships have you been in?   one legitimate one.  one puppy-love.  one misunderstanding that lasted less than a day. what’s something you do that really frustrates people who are closest to you?   i can be VERY passive and submissive.  like, ask me what i wanna do?  "i don't care."  wanna do this, brittany?  "if you want to."  is this fine for dinner, brittany?  "sure, if you feel like making it."  colleen HATES this about me. do you care what people think?   sometimes.  sometimes not at all.  sometimes way too much. is there anyone in your life that knows right away something’s wrong with you?   not anymore.  jason was like that.  it was supernatural. do you like the color yellow?   no, actually. what was your favorite game when you were a child?   the spyro games. when was the last time you had blood drawn?   last time i was at the er for mental reasons.  they always take your blood to ensure you're not on drugs. have you ever hated someone but felt pity for them at the same time?   honestly?  no. what eyeshadow color suits you best?   black, baby. in regards to kissing, full on making-out or will a peck suffice?   depends on where we are and how passionate we're feeling. are you a ke$ha fan?   no. how short is too short for shorts/skirts?   please at least keep your full ass covered. have you even swam in a lake? did you freak out about the germs, afterwards?   i have, and not particularly. have you ever snuck-out to see a guy?   nope. does your cell-phone take decent pictures?   NO.  i actually still have my old phone just to take my selfies lmao. have you ever sexted?   it's my biggest regret. have you ever posed topless with a friend?   i have not. do you shed hair everywhere you go?   ha ha yeah. where do you part your hair?   to the far left do you talk with your hands?   absolutely.  jason used to make fun of me for it, then he started to do it. do guy's adams apple's gross you out?   no. lil' wayne, hopsin, kanye west, or kid cudi?   i don't particularly like any of them, but there is a song by hopsin that makes me laugh. have you ever questioned your mental health?   i'm not questioning it, i've accepted it. when you go to the beach, are you swimming, tanning, playing, or searching for shells?   swimming and looking for shells! do you wash your hair every day?   no, that's bad for you. do you have long eyelashes?   my old english teacher stopped class just to point out they were once lmao.

I'm a huge fan of your Black Rune fic, and Tomorrow was hilarious. You've mentioned having some original works; any chance you might be willing to share some? ^^

:OOOOOOO

OMG Nonnie! That is so sweet of you (ɲ˃ ˈ̫̮ ˂ɳ) ~ෆ I’m so glad you enjoy my little forays into self indulgent fics, but I’m even more honoured about the questions on my original works :;(∩´﹏`∩);:

As @foolish-identity can tell you, I have a looooot of them, and they are all relatively complex, so I’ll put this under a read more:

There are a few I have hidden away somewhere on my laptop, but there are five major ones I’ve been working on that are much more fleshed out then the others. And they are loooooong.

One I refer to as the “indulgence series”, as, should I ever finish it and get it published, I will separate it into seven separate books, all named after a sin—it follows the story of my boy Cadence, in a world where what are basically demons exist, and he gets taken in by a Nightwalker—what people who hunt them down are referred to as. Cadence himself doesn’t become a Nightwalker, but due to certain aspects of him, he finds himself in the centre of a huge conflict. I don’t want to go to into detail, because than I may as well write you an essay, but I’m excited about this for a couple of reasons—a) Cadence is autistic, but that is not the important part of his personality. I wanted to provide some more representation with autism, and it fits with his character; b) all the main “relationships” are inter-generational—the four main characters are each several years apart from one another, but are all close like brothers. (And by several years I mean; Cadence, who is the youngest, is 15—Breckinridge, who is the eldest, is 52); and c) Cadence is an unreliable narrator, which I adore—in fact, Noct in BR is practice for Cadence’s POV, low key revealing things the reader doesn’t even think to register ;D

The next is one I like to call Iconoclast, and is the opposite of Indulgence in that while all main characters in Indulgence are male; all main characters in Thief are female. This one is in a world where, thanks to a mutation generations ago, have people separated between the Marked and Unmarked. This one is full of superpowers and morally ambiguous choices—a Marked literally has a mark on their body (hence the very creative name), and have superpowers, though everyone has their own unique one. Due to this disparity in power, there is a huge rift between the Marked, who consider themselves “superior” and the Unmarked, who consider themselves “pure humans”. Needless to say; things get ugly. The main character is Jean—someone who is Marked but doesn’t have any powers, so she’s got the worst of both worlds (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ✧ Eventually, it’s discovered that SHE does have a power—and that is to siphon the powers of anyone she kills. It becomes a big moral debate for her, as she has the ability to save the world, but will have to kill others to do so, as some perverse form of sacrifice. I’m excited for this one for a) the socio-political exploration between the two factions; b) the all female who are each their own badass in their own way (girl power ftw!); and c) the moral ambiguity Jean will have to wade through.

Next we have one with no magic, but is more of a political intrigue; nature vs nurture type story, I like to call Tumbling Into Obscurity. It follows Nergui—who became Empire after the death of his best friend and beloved would-be Emperor; Eximius (Indie was given her name as a homage to my original works…and because I like it). Due to the way everything worked out (the emperor is chosen based on the old ottoman way—a competition until there’s only one left standing. Eximius was going to become the first emperor who got into power by convincing his opponents to drop out rather than kill anyone—Nergui was the last one in the competition, and Eximius died just before he dropped out), the general populace hates him, thinking he’s behind the death of Eximius (who was basically their messiah-like figure), he’s been distanced from his family, because he believes THEY killed him, and in general he’s just been isolated; but he still works towards fulfilling Eximius’ dreams of improving the living conditions of the regular folk and all that jazz. Then, it turns out Eximius DIDNT actually die—but what he went through in the few decades since he disappeared had completely changed him, and Nergui figures it out when he catches him attempting to assassinate him. He’s been so twisted, in fact, he doesn’t even remember BEING Eximius, and is adamant that he is Izel, an entirely different person. This one I’m looking forward to for a) political intrigue—I love that shit so much; b) the duality of Eximius and Izel—whether are not they are even the same person; and c) Nerguis own struggle over whether he is doing the right thing looking for the old Eximius in Izel, or whether it would be better to accept him as he is now. (Nergui and Eximius/Izel may or may not be a couple too—I haven’t yet decided ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

I call the next Temerarious, but it’s really just a placeholder name. This one is a sci-fi post apocalyptic story where a highly contagious, currently untreatable disease has infected the world, which basically turns people into wendigos. Unlike most “zombie apocalypses”, the world is not overrun by them—but the entire world is basically under martial law; and the “zombies” in question are conscious of everything they do—it’s just, they get hungrier the more they eat and eventually it becomes bad enough that they would eat ANYTHING, including loved ones, to try and sate it. On top of everything, the world’s environment has gone to shit—it is uninhabitable unless you live in the “domes” they’ve created around cities and designated agriculture area—and the only way between places is underground where everything is strictly monitored to catch the strain at the smallest level—even if it does have a 73% false positive rate, at least it hasn’t had a false negative. So, as you can imagine, should one area get infected, it can spread easily enough to forsake an entire city, so all districts are built to be put in a lockdown on any moment—and if you’re not infected but on the wrong side of the walls when they go up, you’re screwed xD. There’s a group of people who, for some reason (learning why is part of the plot), don’t get the negative side effects of the disease, but they’re still carriers, so, they’ve created a society known as the Underground, and those people work as Sweepers—it is their job to head into contaminated areas and wipe out any infected there, since they’re the only ones so can come into contact and not contract the disease. The entire plot is revolving these guys and their attempts to cure this disease ^^. Why am I excited for this one? While, a) the stigma and strain of being the good guy—Sweepers risk their lives for the rest of humanity, but are shunned because they’re carriers of this disease and they can spread it just as easily as the infected; b) the relationships between the characters!—due to them being carriers, they are basically isolated from all but a select few, and the complexity of the many different aspects between their relationships in a limited space; and c) the ambiguity of the enemy. The enemy is a disease and misinformation, so it will require a different approach to solving it.

And lastly, what will be my magnum opus, I refer to as Beyond the Gates. I just…I can’t even summarize this, it’s a blend of nearly everything I love, and while I loooooooove talking about BTG, it’ll take forever to even start explaining the concept of the plot, so I’ll just skip to what I’m excited about. A) THE WORLD!—I’ve been building the world for BTG for nearly a decade now, and OMG and am I excited to write in this world as it’s so complex~; b) THE CHARACTERS: I’ve spent just as long fleshing out these characters as I have the world—the cast is HUGE, but each character is distinct and plays their role in the over arching story; and c) just….the plot. It is full of twists, intrigue, betrayal, death, identity crises, choices….GAH! Just….everything I want in a book but haven’t been able to find; I want to MAKE it!

Anyways; these are my main ones—I don’t want to go too in detail either, because I aim to actually get these published one day, and if I do, I would like for them NOT to be easily accessed online prior to their release ␟␏(ɲ˃ ˈ̫̮ ˂ɳ)␟␏ෆ

Thank you sooooooo much for the ask; I looooooooove talking about my original works and original characters! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ✧