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choicesoutofcontext · 5 months

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the elementalists | book 2, ch 2

#playchoices #the elementalists #the elementalists book 2 #atlas ernhardt #choicesoutofcontext

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dalennaugw · 5 months

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Crunched out some new fashion for Procca last night so I got some screens to showcase it.

Never thought I'd use most of these pieces. It's amazing I found a place for them all.

(I WAS trying to find an excuse to use the Koda top for MONTHS. Apparently all I needed were those leggings. Who knew... )

Anyway, he's got an extra-shiny "I'm OBVIOUSLY a Wizard" look for SotO now. Let's goooo!

#guild wars 2 #gw2 #gw2 fan submission #asura #elementalist #screenshot #havoc savant procca #finally cracking open the particle effects safe for the king who can use them the best. just a little. just a bit.#i still have no stats on this oufit though. hahahahaha i have no idea which to pick for it.#also the uh. the books are not for his use. they're for bean's.#to make sure he's never caught without something to record what this crazy goof is doing.#this boy? does not believe in notes. alchemy help us

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a-cloud-for-dreams · 7 months

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Y’all…

Twins fr

#playchoices #blades of light and shadow II #the elementalists 2 #lady nyra #mir's musings 💬#the elementalists alma #choices book club

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coltkaneko · 4 months

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okay just found the te3 plot and why the FUCK did that not get released either??

#the elementalists #ellie chats #like mc vs atlas sounds so interesting??#and it would probably play more with the morality system they introduced in book 2 which i enjoyed #having recently reread te2 my theory is it got canceled pre release or something #bc the finale was rlly weird

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meltingangels · 1 year

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Look at this smug asshole:

Look at his stupid grin and his stupid jacket-

I'M GOING TO BONE HIM

#the elementalists #beckett harrington #personal #random #yes im re reading #because i never got around to book 2 #so back to the start #and my dumbass wizard boyfriend

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jenniferb19 · 10 months

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Theia

#playchoices #the elementalists #book 2

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bri1234 · 26 days

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What song(s) do you relate to a Choices book survey results!

Hello! So it's been about a week and there are a few responses from the Google form I sent out! The form is attached at the bottom of all this so if you want to take it, you still can!

I will continue to update this if there are any more responses.

Also if you see your song on here but not the additional comment (if you left one) and would like it on here, just let me know and I'll add it!

So without further ado, let's jump right in!

Songs that relate to a Choices book (chosen by you guys!):

Across the Void

Remember Me as A Time of Day by Explosions in the Sky

Blades of Light & Shadow

Two by Sleeping at Last

Comment was "MC's deeply unhealthy desire to put everyone else's wellbeing first (book 2)."

Degenerates by I the Mighty

In My Head by Jacob Ryan Smith, Daniel Mertzlufft, Andrew Barth Feldman, & Joe Serafini

Comment was "Aerin and MC on Deadwood lake date (book 1)."

Falling by Write Out Loud, Ciara Renee, and Kat Sicilian

A Courtesan of Rome

I Survived a War by Mariami

Crimes of Passion

In My Blood Song by Joel Smallbone and The Cast Of Journey To Bethlehem

Comment was "I relate this song the Trystan Thorne, specifically Book 2 of CoP, wanting to be the son his parents and country are proud of while being himself."

Arpeggio by Alexandro

Perfect World by Twice

The Cursed Heart

Dream A Little Dream of Me by The Mamas & The Papas

Comment was "It reminds me of how Kieran and MC often would visit each others dreams at night (book 1)."

Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy

Without You by Ursine Vulpine

Find You by Ruelle

Die For You by Postmodern Jukebox and Tatum Langley

Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey

Comment was “MC thinking about their mortality and how someday they won’t be young and beautiful.”

Dirty Little Secrets

"Slut!" by Taylor Swift

Suburban Legends by Taylor Swift

The Elementalists

Hedwig's Theme by John Williams

Guinevere

Queen of Heart by Twice

Only Girl by Stephen Sanchez

Hot Couture

Choose Your Fighter by Ava Max

Immortal Desires

Boys Will Be Bugs by Cavetown

End (The Other Side) by Fit For A King

Scars & Lifelines by I Prevail

Death Is All Around by The Amity Affliction

The Death We Seek by Currents

Kindred

Still Don't Know My Name by Labrinth

In Hell I'll Be Good Company by The Dead South

Murder at Homecoming

no body, no crime by Taylor Swift

Nightbound

Songs from the Shadowhunter series: Dynasty , Hurricane, Making a Monster out of Me (Katherine McNamara) , This is the Hunt (Ruelle), Storm (Ruelle) , Bad Dream , Love to Hate You, I am Ember from Katherine McNamara , Hold On (from Chord Oversee) , Glass Slipper (Katherine McNamara) , Paralyzed (NF), Angel with a Shotgun (instead shotgun imagine crossbow) , Brother (Kodaline), Shadowhunter series Finale Song by Ruelle

Open Heart

Symphony of Skin by I The Mighty

Comment was "Romancing Bryce vibes"

Platinum

3 Minutes by Alexi Blue

Red Carpet Diaries

Why Should I? by Alexi Blue

Roommates With Benefits

You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi

The Royal Romance

Not Your Barbie Girl by Ava Max

Barbie Girl by Aqua

Loves Me Not by Kate Grahn & Will Jay

i wanna be your girlfriend by girl in red

Rules of Engagement

Hair by Little Mix

Surrender

Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran

Here's the Google form if anyone wants to take it! Thank you so much to those of you who have taken the time to do this!!!

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choicesbookclub · 29 days

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The Elementalists 2 Mini Book Club

I kinda feel bad abandoning The Elementalists completely because I know there were a few people who were looking forward to it so I've come up with an idea for a mini book club.

Choices is currently hosting a binge reading event that will continue through April 4, so if you are looking to play TE2 and earn some rewards, the next 4 days are perfect for that.

I'm keeping the book club open a week through April 8 which is the day of the Total Solar Eclipse (of which, 🤞 I will be traveling to see the totality!) and that event kinda felt fitting to close this book club.

Basically read at your own pace over the next week. Tag @choicesbookclub and #choices book club in whatever content you want related to TE2 (screenshots, fics, art, songs, moodboards, etc) and I will reblog it!

I am not planning to do any chapter specific questions or polls however, should I have time to throw some random polls up throughout the week I will.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or concerns. This was a quick last minute thought and I hope that some people will enjoy this mini book club!

Meet our TE MCs:

If you have a profile page for your MC, feel free to send it to me so I can add it to our directory.

#Choices Book Club #choices book club #choices book club te #the elementalists #choices the elementalists #choices te2 #choices #playchoices #choices game #beckett harrington #aster d'yew #zeph hernandez #griffin langley #shreya mistry #pend pals

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pulpitude · 2 months

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i haven't yet gotten to book 2 but i read the wiki just in case and then i got to this part... WHAT. like literally what. i'm guessing what's happening here is one of two options

what they actually mean is "the third option depends on your character's pronouns, unless they use they/them pronouns, in that case it depends on their body type" but they didn't actually word it like that because it'd seem transphobic as fuck

they really do mean it depends strictly on mc's body type, not pronouns at all, meaning an mc that looks fem according to body type but uses he/him pronouns will still be called "queen" by the game and viceversa

long ass rant incoming lol

and it's not even specifically this fuck up in a supposedly "inclusive" book that makes me so mad but the fact that there's also the one MAH scene, the scene that discusses queer identities openly and maturely in a book that's supposed to be one of the most inclusive and queer friendly in the entire app, that when it's mc's turn to speak on what they've experienced, if they have a body type that doesn't match their pronouns and have romanced a li with the opposite pronouns (ie feminine body type, he/him pronouns and romanced stevie, or masculine body type, she/her pronouns and romanced a male li) the game treats mc like a cishet person by default and completely ignores body type. i don't know about y'all but i certainly find it ironic that, again, in one of the most queer friendly books, the only option to be considered queer "by default" by the game (and thus get the question of what you've experienced) if you're playing as a trans mc is to date someone of the same gender.

but let's go back to crimes of passion for a moment, eh? specifically the very first chapter. despite the dialogue here depending only on body type instead of pronouns, in the case of the first chapter (specifically the scene where trystan and mc first meet) it's a completely different situation, here it does depend strictly on pronouns even if it literally doesn't make sense. in my first ever play, i played as my usual mc, a nb!mc romancing m!trystan, and me being nb, trystan called me "a stranger". not particularly unusual, right? after all, "stranger" is gender neutral, and so i thought that was the dialogue in all cases. well... it's not. i decided to play differently, specifically with the masc body type, she/her pronouns, and f!trystan. she literally called me a "strange woman" despite not being able to guess that mc's pronouns are she/her just by looking at her, because obviously there's only two body types, fem and masc, and it's not like we ever get gnc clothing styles. that, and in all cases mc never tells trystan their pronouns, so even in the nb!mc play i got quite startled at "they're a private detective". yes, that can be interpreted as trystan simply not wanting to assume genders or it being a case of culture shock from drakovia, but then what about my masc f!mc?

and that's because pb never intended to add inclusivity in terms of binary trans mcs, or even just queer mcs beyond "gay, lesbian, bi, or non-binary BUT if they're nb they have to be either fem or masc" (see: option to pick specific sexuality for mc only appearing in the elementalists and then never again, except in the royal masquerade but they removed the option to be ace so that doesn't count for me). they never intended for players to play as a masculine looking mc that uses she/her or a feminine looking mc that uses he/him.

if they really cared about inclusivity, they would let mcs be androgynous. they would add skirts, dresses, stereotypically "fem" clothing - or just clothing that isn't just a plain t shirt or a suit in formal situations for amab or masc looking mcs. they would add more pants, baggy clothing, more stereotypically "masc" clothing - or just options that aren't always incredibly revealing slinky dresses or crop tops and short skirts meant to "emphasize your sexy feminine curves" for afab or fem looking mcs. THEY WOULD ADD NON BINARY LIS AND MORE TRANS LIS. they wouldn't have the only option to play as an explicitly trans mc (or, well, the closest thing to "explicitly trans" there can be given there's absolutely no dialogue or even implication about mc being trans in any pronoun of choice book, save for MAH but i already complained about my problems) be playing with an extremely feminine/masculine body type and having the pronouns as the only indication mc is trans, completely ignoring the dysphoria that'd give many actually trans players.

no, that's not their intention and it's never been that. their sole reason for adding the "body type separate from pronouns" is to categorize mcs that use they/them and tell them they have to be either feminine or masculine, no androgynous or gender non conforming options at all. basically the question "but are you a GIRL non binary or a BOY non binary?" they would've probably forced she/her or he/him mcs into their respective body types and only ask "but are you a pretty feminine afab enby or a handsome masculine amab enby" to they/them mcs but they knew they'd get the backlash of their lives for that so they just went "we'll just ask for body type regardless, it's not like players will actually pick he/him pronouns while playing as a WOMAN right???"

conclusion/tldr. if pb actually wanted inclusivity, they can actually put in the work and acknowledge that people do want to play as an explicitly queer mc beyond just same gender relationships and performatively adding they/them pronouns to only SOME goc books, or else just don't do anything and show they don't care at all. not pretend they care but only add the bare minimum and pat themselves on the back for it.

#calico rants #playchoices #play choices #choices stories you play #choices stories we play #choices game #choices #pixelberry #pb choices #crimes of passion #murder at homecoming #choices cop #choices mah

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nefertiti-fooling-fellow · 7 months

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This is completely unprompted but here are my top 5 Choices books:

1. Endless Summer:

I mean, this is just an absolute classic, I love mystery, I love fantasy, and every ending was so heart wrenching in its own way. And your choice actually matters (ironic that this is so rare for a book called Choices, but oh well) I never recovered from when I read this for the first time, unmatched.

2. Blades:

You don’t even know how much I went back and forth between these two for the number one spot. Honestly they’re both my favorite. The writing, the character, the plot, the music, the art, Blades has it all. I remember playing the final chapter with goosebumps all over my body. I’m a DnD player, what can I say.

3. Crimes of Passion:

Banger, banger, banger. Just so good, the romance between Trystan and the MC was amazing yet it didn’t feel like it was overtaking the plot at any point, I loved their dynamic and I love the intricacy of the overall mystery. Just the right amount of dark and lighthearted, I will never get tired of rereading this book.

4. The Elementalists:

I know there are valid criticisms of this book out there, but it’s just so fun. I love the worldbuilding, I love the magic system, I love how balanced the emphasis between romance and platonic relationships is. Also, academic rivals to friends/lovers, you can’t go wrong with that. And you get to play a super cool magic jock!!

5. Bloodbound:

Okay, so I will admit I didn’t really like the first book, but the second and third more than makes up for it. MC is just such a badass and the ANGST, the angst is god-tier in Bloodbound.

Honorable mentions:

A Courtesan of Rome (Every single romance route HIT in ACOR except Cassius)

Desire and Decorum (I’m a Jane Austen fan, what can I say)

Ride or Die (Cars. That’s it. Cars)

The Heist: Monaco (Sonia my love <333)

#can you tell that I’m a fantasy enjoyer?? I bet you can’t #endless summer #blades of light and shadow #crimes of passion #the elementalists #bloodbound #playchoices #playchoices bolas #playchoices es #playchoices te #playchoices bb #playchoices cop #playchoices acor #the heist: monaco #desire and decorum #ride or die

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makapatag · 1 year

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Forgive me a moment of kahilas, but let me tell you why you'd want to play Gubat Banwa for your next Tabletop RPG Fantasy campaign (or kandu, as we call it!) instead of the other prospects out there! Long post ahead~

1: You want a fantasy setting that doesn't have a foundation in modern and western paradigms. This one is the easiest one to pitch. This is not just for those that are tired of European Medieval Fantasy: this is for those that want to look at the fantasy genre through new lens

It's one that doesn't have "adventurers" as an inherent fact of the setting. It doesn't accept "defaults". It doesn't romanticize monarchism. It is built from the ground up for tactical fights and the complicated contexts that surrounds those fights. "Combat as storytelling"

It centers us, in the Southeast Asia. So there are some things that might not be as common as in the West:

- oversea and river travel is much more common (and let's be honest, easier) than pure overland travel.

- Honor and Debt are huge parts of the game's social systems (and if you do some reading on medieval societies, aren't even unique to Southeast Asia at all!)

- There's no single dominating culture or empire: it's very diverse, and we don't use any one culture as the default

- You can adapt any Fantasy style campaign you have really, though it is a paradigmatic shift! You'll have to let go of fantasy defaults and imagine a wilder and more vibrant world

- There are no elves or orcs or whatnot--for us those are chaining things, binding things. Gubat Banwa is the wind. In fact, the closest thing we have to "humans" are strange bamboo people - Anything in normal fantasy has a fresh take: Knights wear moonstone armor and ride upon omen bird steeds, "berserkers" are holy martyrs ready to die for Goddess, sorcerers are mantra and mudra masters and utterers who have an enlightened will sharpened into a blade, archers are zen-daoists who have suffused into their surroundings and achieved minor enlightenment

2: You want a game that's specifically built around war drama and martial arts combat and the kinds of stories that entails. There's a section in the book that covers "What kinds of stories you can tell" with the GB System

These genres are the kinds of stories i love to partake in and consume: stories of wandering martial heroes, or of complicated political warring, or of grand gods and sorceries a la Ramayana, or of small stories of warriors protecting their community

dungeon delving is not even inherently against the feel of this game, though of course sacking a grave is looked down upon by most religions in the isles. they are functionally replaced by "Raids" which is much more widely applicable! You can even Raid Heaven and Hell!

3: You like complex buildcrafting, tactical combat, and martial art fiction. Instead of the classic "Hey we're a bunch of scrappy mercenaries that wield a sword out of necessity", you play as Kadungganan who inflict violence by choice, philosophy and will

"Martial Arts" here is every kind of way of inflicting violence, or of perfecting one's self. Elementalist sorcery? Combat healing? Pugilism? Mantra utterances? All martial arts in Gubat Banwa's purview.

This feeds into the buildcrafting: you start with a "Discipline" (a martial art), and each Discipline has a number of Techniques within it. Whenever your Legend Grows (level up) you gain 2 Techniques from ANY DISCIPLINE, keeping in mind prerequisites

This has led to some genuinely flavorful builds: like a priest from beyond the dead crocodile rider, a sniper that launches stolen demon seeds, a folk healer who practices flower necromancy and swordmancy, and even a Knight-Monk that is constantly dancing between stances

All of this is built upon a tactical combat system that (similarly to PF2e!) has three actions as a base, and you can do anything with those three "Beats", lending to the martial arts fiction being invoked

And you start off with pretty limited options, so most of your build is pretty emergent: creating a Kadungganan is easy, since you can't choose from a huge pool of options, but advancement is exponential

It's all on a tactical grid too that has important considerations such as Elevation, Terrain, and even Weather! All to create slick wuxia-esque scenes!

4: You want an endlessly iterative setting. Gubat Banwa is a trichiliocosm, which means it has three-billion worlds. Each one might have your table's version of the Sword Isles. The Sword Isles is a gigantic archipelago, too many islands too count, too many kingdoms to track.

Everything you can think of will fit into the islands of the Sword Isles, just know that it centers Southeast Asian paradigms. A wandering adventurer from a far off land will be the exception, the norm. But endlessly interesting cultures and campaigns can arise from the Isles

And so much more. If you're already interested, take a gander at our itch page:

Also we have a discord where i run games back to back like a goblin: https://discord.gg/8h7ZrU6353

#gubat banwa #ttrpgs #rpg #dnd #d&d #tabletop #fantasy #ttrpg #please try our game out please we're facing big giants in this industry with this game

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choicesoutofcontext · 5 months

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the elementalists | book 2, ch 2

#playchoices #the elementalists #the elementalists book 2 #shreya mistry #choicesoutofcontext

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choicesficwriterscreations · 3 months

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CFWC F/AotW - Jan 14 - 20, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱= Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA | 🔹Submitted by creator

ACROSS THE VOID

Captain Pandrosion Elara 🎨🏳️‍🌈🔹 | Sol, Meridian, Kepler, Pedrosian by @/artbyainna (IG) (C: @lilyoffandoms)

BLADES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

Complete Blades List - January 14 - 20, 2023

BLOODBOUND

Bloodbound MC Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈🔹by @vampirkit

Kamilah Sayeed Fanart 🎨 by @artbyalz

CRIMES OF PASSION

Babysitting the Demonic Duo ✒️🔹| Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @thosehallowedhalls

Chosen Family ✒️| Trystan Thorne - @inlocusmads

In Her Arms ✒️🔹| Vasili Thorne, Juliana Georgescu - @stars-are-within-me

Of Cloudless Climes and Starry Skies (Series) ✒️| Sebastyan Thorne x F!MC - @thosehallowedhalls Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Progression ✒️🔹| Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @thosehallowedhalls

Trystan Thorne Fanart 🎨🔹by @fairymatchmaker

THE CURSED HEART

Kieran x F!MC Fanart 🎨 by @callmebeem (C: @leafkingofbirds)

Kieran x MC Fanart 🎨Ⓜ️🏳️‍🌈 by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd (C: @lilyoffandoms)

THE ELEMENTALISTS

Tuneless Wonders ✒️🎨🔹| Beckett Harrington x F!MC - art: @/artbyainna (IG) fic: @storyofmychoices

THE FRESHMAN SERIES

The Freshman Book 2 Cover 🎨by @cassiopeiacorvus

IMMORTAL DESIRES

Cas Harlow Fanart 🎨by @roseythorne

Cas Harlow Fanart 2🎨🏳️‍🌈🔹by @aallotarenunelma

Immortal Desires MC Fanart 🎨 🏳️‍🌈 by @lilyoffandoms for @aria-ashryver

IT LIVES SERIES

Abel Flint Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈🔹by @aallotarenunelma

The Rainbow Recipe Book ✒️🏳️‍🌈🔹 by @aallotarenunelma

LAWS OF ATTRACTION

Hold Me Close ✒️🏳️‍🌈🔹| Gabe Ricci x M!MC - @choicesmc

MOTHER OF THE YEAR

Thomas Mendez Fanart 🎨 by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

OPEN HEART

Complete Open Heart List - Jan 14-20, 2023

RED CARPET DIARIES

Happy Birthday Thomas Hunt! 🎨🔹| Thomas Hunt x F!OC - @weetlebeetle (C: @theartoflovingthomashunt)

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

Anything But Common (Series) ✒️🏳️‍🌈| Hana Lee & MC - @silvermillenniumqueenneptune Magical Misadventures in Miscellany

Liam Rys Fanart 🎨 by @bayleedraws-sometimesx

Marabelle (Series) ✒️Ⓜ️🔹| Liam Rys x MC - @tessa-liam Chapter 9: The Awakening

Midnights Like This ✒️🔹| Leo Rys x MC - @queenrileyrose Chapter 14: Falling Like Stars

Single Mom ✒️🔹| Liam Rys x MC - @dcbbw

You Can Tell Me Anything ✒️| Drake Walker x F!MC - @camillemontespan

VEIL OF SECRETS

Flynn O'Malley Fanart🎨by @lilyoffandoms

Grant Emerson🎨 by @lilyoffandoms

Naomi Silverhawk 🎨 by @lilyoffandoms

WAKE THE DEAD

Eli Sipes Fanart 🎨🔹by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd (for @jerzwriter)

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the-unconquered-queen · 3 months

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2 LI book poll

*So not including a book which has one or two LIs you love if you don't really care about the rest. When factoring all of the LIs in this book, which one has the strongest, best-written, most likable set?

#playchoices #unconquered queries

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playchoicesconfessions · 9 months

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Sent by @manlyviking

‘I think one of my favorite moment in a choices book was during the elementalists 2 when you find out all your freinds are captured idk why but I've always liked the moments when the mc/us the players is put the hopless situations where its all on us to save everyone I know its really clichéd but I think this is when the writing gets good as the mc and we are just so flooded with emotion and feelings and overcoming adversity’

POST/CONFESSIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE MOD’S PERSONAL OPINIONS!

#choices the elementalists #the elementalists #choices te #te #playchoices #choices stories you play #choices #confessions #mod bruffle

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storyofmychoices · 20 days

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Cloud Watching

[Beckett Harrington x Emma Carlyle Masterlist]

Pairing: Beckett Harrington x Emma Carlyle (F!MC) Book: The Elementalists 2 Word Count: ~1,000 Rating/Warnings: general, none Submitting to: @choicesaprilchallenge24: Clouds ; @choicesficwriterscreations FotW; @choicesbookclub TE2

Synopsis: Emma tries to teach Beckett to cloud watch.

"Despite the slight distraction-" His cheeks flushed red as his gaze drifted to her lips. He swallowed hard and continued. He took a step forward, following the path back to the dorms. "I think we can say this was quite a productive study session."

Emma's gaze softened as she watched him process the academic merit of successfully completing the cloud shape-shifting spell. And yet, she couldn't help but wonder if he was missing something more important entirely.

"Haven't you ever just lied back on the soft grass on a sunny day and just watched the clouds drift by?" Emma held her finger up, quieting his reply before continuing, "-without magick?"

"What would the value of such an activity be?" His brows knitted together as he questioned the notion.

"To enjoy the beauty of nature."

"I suppose we could discuss the types and classifications of clouds and how they form. Nevertheless, that's rather elementary knowledge." He adjusted his blazer. "Knowing how to manipulate them and bend the air and water vapor to your specifications and designs takes far more knowledge and control."

"You're such a nerd." She shook her head gently. "Not everything has to be about learning or gaining knowledge of information. Some things can be for fun or to relax."

"Did you not have fun shaping the clouds?" A frown fell on his features. To him, mastering a new spell was the perfect amount of fun. It was productive and efficient without any of the more frivolous aspects of fun that caused others to lose control.

"It was fun, but sometimes, just pausing to breathe and enjoy the moment without anything other than nature's own magic is something special." Her gaze shifted to the heavens, letting the sun warm her face. A soft smile spread across her features. "Do you trust me?" Her attention returned to him.

"You need not ask for you know the answer is always." The tips of his ears turned pink despite his attempts to compose himself in her presence.

She held her hand to him, lacing their fingers with his. "Follow me."

Emma guided him off the path and across the quad, finding a spot where the grass was just right, not too short where it would be scratchy and uncomfortable or too long where it might threaten to tickle their skin with the breeze. "Perfect."

She sat on the soft ground, patting the surface for him to sit beside her. Despite his hesitance in getting his khaki pants grass-stained, he complied with her request.

"Now, lay back on the grass and just look at the clouds." Emma led by example, reclining on the quad. Her eyes fluttered closed as she breathed in the fresh air and the scent of the wildflowers dancing in the breeze.

She opened her eyes to find Beckett very much in the same seated position. Her eyes narrowed at him, insisting he follow suit.

"But my blazer!" His eyes widened in horror.

"Take it off if you must, but you're not getting out of this, Harrington. If anyone needs to learn how to cloud-watch, it's you!"

He grumbled slightly, though his eyes betrayed the sentiment. He mirrored her pose. "Okay, now that I'm lying in the dirt, what is it that I am supposed to do?"

"Just watch the clouds."

"Watch them for what?"

"Just watch how they move. How slowly. How swiftly. Do they dance across the sky? What can you see in them? Can you make shapes? animals?—without magick!"

Beckett propped himself up on his elbow, looking over to her with great skepticism. "Is this some sort of tuneless prank?"

"Not a prank."

"So this is something tuneless people do for enjoyment?"

"Some. Others miss the point."

"I must admit that I might be one of them."

Emma sighed before breathing in again, refusing to give up so quickly. She shimmied closer to him, resting her head against his. "See, that one there—" Lifting her arm toward the sky, she pointed toward a fluffy cloud. "—that one's a bunny."

Beckett suppressed the urge to protest. Squinting at the cloud in question, he turned his head to the left, then to the right, trying to see what she saw. "I suppose... if you squint and tilt your head like this, it is uh—vaguely...resembling of a rabbit..." He couldn't stop his analytical mind. "But, from a scientific perspective, clouds are formed by the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere. Any thought that they form particular shapes is just the human mind searching for meaning. Cloud formation is dependent on temperature, humidity, and air currents." His voice trailed away as the potential of the air magick sparked at his fingertips. "Can't you feel the atmosphere all around us? The air currents pulling in the sky, forming the clouds, shaping them into what they are and could be?"

Emma laughed softly, brushing a kiss on his head. "I love your beautiful brain, but let's focus on trying to bring out your imagination." Her hands drew out a rainbow in front of her head. She knew he wouldn't understand the tuneless reference, but she had seen the meme too many times for her to say the word without the accompanying gesture.

His lips twitched up. "I admire your persistence." He pulled her closer.

Emma rested her head on his shoulder. "Try again." She searched the sky, pointing to the next one. "There. See. Right there, that one is a dragon."

His gaze flickered to her, watching as her face illuminated with wonder. He nodded, squinting as he followed where she gestured. He let the sun warm his face and nodded slowly. "If I squint and... turn my head...and—"

"It's okay." She snuggled into him, giggling at the steady concentration drawing almost painstakingly across his face. "You get an A for effort, Mr Harrington."

"OOo!" Her attention was captured again by the sky. "Now, it looks like it's breathing fire! ICE fire!"

"Ice fire?" His brow arched, amusement dancing on his lips. "I suppose that isn't entirely inaccurate. The clouds are made of ice crystals!"

"At least we can agree on something."

The pair relaxed on the quad, letting the sun caress their skin. With each gentle breeze, the clouds above shifted and danced, creating new shapes and designs for Emma to decipher, reminding Beckett of the magic that could be found in even the simplest moments of life.

A/N: Emma loves Spongebob. Once she learns a spell to make a rainbow, she'll be doing this all day and no one will get it but her and Atlas, because she introduced Atlas to Spongebob and she binged the first few seasons without pausing to sleep!

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