Before The Strike, page 80

BTS updates Wednesdays? (when i am able, and i was able!)

ko-fi.com/wobblydev

Full comic so far

new shirt idea. is covid dev a genius????????

SATAN AND ARLE WERE IN YO-KAI WATCH?!

can we be moots btw i love ur work bye im wayy too public about the fangirling

biker boy beomgyu and giving him head as he leans against his bike ok bye [jumps out the window like a Parkour athlete]

hi dev !!! ofc we can be moots hehe 🫶🏼 dw i’m a fangirling fiend too 🫡 also i love your theme ooooo dark aesthetics unite 😵‍💫

YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND… this ask has my TOES CURLING unffff i’m crazy about biker/racer txt (esp biker) so this is just SO yummy skdksndksnfnj-

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beomgyu leaning both arms back on his bike leisurely, head tilting back as he sighs out a low, soft moan through parted lips.. gaze angled down towards you with lidded eyes as you lose yourself on his pretty cock~

“you love this shit, don’t you?” he’s murmuring, and all you can do is moan a shameless “mhm~” with your mouth stuffed full, unbelievable even to yourself as you fall apart on this guy who you just met that night, and he hasn’t even touched you. but you’re doing so well, taking him so deep, and with a groan he brings a hand down to your hair, guiding your head up and down on him as you eagerly let him take the lead with spit dribbling down from the corners of your lips 😩

your hands are gripping onto the front of his leather pants as you let him use your mouth.. he takes his time, easing your head back and forth, bottoming himself out intermittently with low groans and hums, edging himself with your tight little throat~ 🤧 when he decides it’s enough he releases your hair with a “use your hands, babygirl” and you eagerly obey, pumping him with both hands as his tip sits heavy on your tongue, and he watches with a quiet “fuck, baby” as his warm cum spurts into your open mouth before you swallow it all, keeping your eyes locked on his the entire time <3

biker boy beomgyu who sits you on his motorcycle with your legs propped open as he fingers you knuckle-deep into an orgasm before leaning you over the back of it and fucking your brains out until you’re a disheveled, wobbly-legged, messy-haired mess; by the time he hands you his helmet to drive you home you’ve cum 3 times and have to remind yourself of your own name.

“i’ll be seeing you, sweetheart.” with a smirk and a wink before he flips the visor of his helmet down and revs off - you stand outside your apartment building for a minute in a daze like did i seriously just get the best fuck of my life from a gorgeous stranger in a random alleyway against a motorcycle ??? yes. yes you did. 😌

hey steph!! would you happen to have any 'medium burn' (slow burn for the impatient) Johnlock fics? preferably minimal to no spice and a happy ending is a must! my weak heart can not bear an angsty ending :<

Thank you for all you do here <3

Hey Nonny!

HAHAHAH AHHHHH YES. The Medium Burn, huh. I never thought of calling my shorter "slow burn" fic lists Medium burn, but like... that's a good thing to call it! Because you don't have to wait too long to get it, hahha!

Ah, let me collect all the shorter fics on my Slow Burn Fics Lists and compile them here! I provide ratings for all of them, and chose to keep under.... 25K, let's say! If you're here on my blog, I'm guessing you can read through my lists like eating candy, so 25K is nothing hee hee.

I tag all my fics, so feel free to ignore the Ratings and Sad tags that you don't want to read <3

MEDIUM BURN FICS (Slow Burn Under 25K w.)

New Year, New Beginning by DaisyFairy (T, 810 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, New Year’s Eve, John POV, Friends to Lovers) – New Year at a crime scene and John makes a decision.

Ex by Itsallfine (T, 1,248 w., 1 Ch. || Angsty Fluff, Love Confessions, Coming Out, Exes, First Kiss, Fake Relationship, Getting Outed) – One night, in the midst of their post-case high and on the cusp of something more, John and Sherlock run into John’s ex. His ex-boyfriend.

In Dreams by Youarethelightoftheworld (T, 1,340 w., 1 Ch. || Falling in Love, Accidental Cuddling, Snuggling, Fluff, Romance, Domestic Fluff) – Every once in a while, the dark makes it easier to see.

There's Always Three of Us by Itsallfine (T, 1,765 w., 1 Ch. || S4 Fix It Fic/Post TFP, Parentlock / Rosie, Angelo’s, First Kiss, January 29, Love Declarations) – Sherlock takes John and Rosie out to Angelo's and gets a chance to correct the biggest mistake of his life.

Want by siennna (T, 1,806 w., 1 Ch. || Fluff, Pining, First Kiss Requited, Second Person POV Sherlock) – When John speaks, you hear more than words. You hear the rise and fall of his tone, the comfortable quake of his laughter, the warm pauses of silence in between. When John laughs, there are stars glittering on his tongue and galaxies resting just behind his teeth, and you wish you could press your lips there and burrow into the warm sound. Part 6 of sienna’s favorites

100 ways to say 'I love you' by Teatrolley (NR, 2,143 w., 1 Ch. || Slow Burn, Fluff, Domestics) – Sherlock sleeps with John’s body next to him, and wakes up to find him making them both toast in the kitchen with sleep still sitting in the corner of his eye, and he holds on tight to every little intimacy that John gives him; every little small moment, every little fond smile. It could be enough. Still, he’d like more. But Sherlock Holmes doesn’t know how to ask for things. Luckily, John does. In which there are a hundred phrases and none of them are “I love you.” Until they are.

The Marriage Proposal Negotiation by Goddess_of_the_Night (G, 2,161 w., 1 Ch. || Dev. Rel., Possessive Sherlock, Insecure Sherlock, Fluff, First Kiss, Post Mary) – Sherlock hasn't ever really done anything the traditional way, so of course it wouldn't bother him to propose to John even though they're not even dating. And the fact that John is already on a date with someone else when he decides to do it? Tedious. 

Rooftop Confession by Random_Nexus (T, 2,514 w., 1 Ch. || Ace Sherlock, Developing Relationship, Friendship / Love, Angsty Fluff) – Sherlock asks John to join him for a slightly unexpected discussion.

BBCSH 'How To Save A Life' by tigersilver (T, 2,784 w., 1 Ch. || First Kiss, Angsty Schmoop, Requited Love) – Pining, requited, and unabated spates of 'first kiss' fluff. Post Mary, AU, mildly cracky. John lays a smooch on Sherlock's nape in passing. The world does that thing it does when it wobbles and Sherlock practically falls off his own pins. Part 1 of 'How To...'

What He's Like by magikspell (E, 2,919 w., 1 Ch. || Love Confessions, Fluff, First Time, Inexperienced Sherlock) – Realistic first time. They love each other so much.

Once is Enough by Jominerva (T, 3,030 w., 1 Ch. || Love Confessions, Domestic Fluff, Whump) – Just as the earth rises to meet the sun at every mountain crest, John reaches out for Sherlock and takes his hand in his own."Tell me it won't end like this," he says, blue eyes holding grey while he laces their fingers together. Sherlock lets out a shaky laugh and shakes his head. "I wish I could."

A Bit of Indulgence by beltainefaerie (NR, 3,364 w. || Fake Relationship, Pride Parade, Declarations of Love, Fluff, Dev. Rel., Case Fic) – A case leads John and Sherlock to fake being boyfriends and John runs into an old acquaintance.

Hope Springs Eternal by QuinnAnderson (T, 4,054 w., 1 Ch. || Friends to Lovers, Pining Sherlock, Vacation, Anxious Sherlock, Love Confessions, Fluff, Requited Love) – John Watson and Sherlock Holmes go on holiday, and Sherlock has romance on the brain.

How Will I Know? by eragon19 (E, 4,895 w., 1 Ch. || Pining, Love Confessions, POV Sherlock, Fluff, Sherlock’s Imagination, Papa Lestrade, Masturbation) – Here was the problem: Sherlock Holmes was completely and irrevocably in love with John Watson, and he had absolutely no idea how to tell him.

changing tides by simplyclockwork (M, 5,983 w., 1 Ch. || Substance Use, Drug Relapse, High Sherlock, Sherlock Falls Down Stairs / Injury, Caring John, Drugs, Oblivious John, Hurt/Comfort, Angst With Happy Ending, Acceptance, Pre-Relationship, Addiction, Starting Over, Self-Destructive Behaviour, Drugged Hallucinations, Forehead Touching, Sherlock POV) – If Sherlock were to stop to think about it, he might wonder if he’s simply lonely. He doesn’t stop to think about it.

Closeted by sussexbound (T, 6,115 w., 1 Ch. || Love Confession, First Kiss, Games, Trapped in a Closet) – Sherlock and John get trapped in a closet while on a case. Some revelations are made while they play a game to pass the time. Part 1 of Intimacy

Full Disclosure by Itsallfine (E, 7,032 w., 1 Ch. || Bars & Pubs, Fake Relationship, First Kiss / Time, Love Confessions, John’s Army Mates, Three Continents Watson, Semi-Public Sex) – John’s army mates get together for the first time post-discharge and invite John “Three Continents” Watson to join them. If John shows up alone, he knows he’ll be the object of non-stop ridicule all night. Sherlock plays along. John tests the waters.

A Lifetime Together by LondonGypsy (M, 8,886 w., 1 Ch. || Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Falling in Love, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Pining Idiots, Alternating POVs, Domestics, Retirement) – John and Sherlock falling in love.

You fit me, Sherlock Holmes by orphan_account (G, 10,077 w., 1 Ch. || It’s An Experiment, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn, Fluff and Angst, Idiots in Love, Mutual Pining, Questionable Science) – An unfortunate series of events leads to John accepting being a part of Sherlock's study in physical intimacy. As the days pass by, John realizes he might be in for more than he bargained for. He doesn't entirely mind.

Their Great Reward by BeautifulFiction (T, 10,095 w., 1 Ch. || UST, First Kiss, Fluff) – Boxing day, in John's opinions, is the worst day of the year. Christmas is over, the tree is wilting and stripped of gifts, and there's a week of dead-time until the clean slate of the new year. However the combination of a blizzard, a power-cut and Sherlock might just make it a day to remember.

Down with this Ship by FrostedFlame (PinkOrchid) (M, 10,862 w., 10 Ch. || For a Case, Gay Bar, Pining, Coming Out, Slow Burn) – Sherlock drags John undercover to a gay bar - for a case, of course - looking forward to seeing John flustered by their surroundings (since you know, he's NOT GAY). John decides that he has hidden both his orientation and his feelings for his daft flatmate for far too long. He is done hiding, time to be honest with his bloody best friend in the world. He just hopes it won't change anything between them. And then it does.

Iris by slashscribe (E, 11,948 w., 1 Ch. || Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Post-S3) – Sherlock does his best to make John happy when John comes back to 221B with his new baby after the events of Season 3, but Sherlock has a track record of getting things wrong in this area. This story is an exploration of their gradual shift from friends to lovers, told from Sherlock's perspective, full of a lot of pining and lack of emotional awareness.

I See You Through by belovedmuerto (T, 12,078 w., 8 Ch. || Psychic AU || Empath John, Alternate TGG, Whump, Nightmares, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn, Pre-Slash) – John has never asked Sherlock about his past, his childhood, the reason he quails in lonely misery almost every time he sees his brother. He’s never needed to. Part 2 of An Experiment in Empathy

The Slow Burn by CaitlinFairchild (E, 12,097 w., 4 Ch. || Romance, Emotional Infidelity, Friends to Lovers, Sherlock POV, First Kiss/Time, Fix-It) – John smiles, something small and private and for him alone, and Sherlock just...he knows. With a heart-stopping certainty, Sherlock suddenly knows. It feels like falling off the edge of a cliff. It feels like falling off the edge of the world. It feels like flying.

holding steady by darcylindbergh (E, 12,724 w., 4 Ch. || Post S4, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Growing Old, Gone Fishing, Mood without Plot, Soft Sherlock, Caring Sherlock, POV John Third Person, Anxious Sherlock, First Kiss / Time, Touching, Feeling Old, Sherlock Worship, Crying Sherlock, Cuddles, Comforting, Introspection, Retirement, Hand Holding, Forehead Kisses, Caring John, Bed Sharing, Emotional Love Making) – Sitting on a thick wool blanket at the end of a rickety dock side-by-side, legs dangling over the edge, a styrofoam container of wet, dark dirt between them, they’re fishing. John knows what this is about. This is about finally figuring it out.

Speaker for the Bees by antietamfalls (M, 14,649 w., 3 Ch. || Deaf Sherlock, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss / Time, Fluff, Sign Language) – It isn't always easy assisting a deaf detective. Luckily for John, they make a pretty good team.

Merlot by Itsallfine (E, 14,844 w., 17 Ch. || Christmas, Pining Sherlock, Wine, Slow Burn, First Kiss / Time, Love Confessions, Wine, Holmes Family) – Sherlock and John work toward becoming something more as they prepare to host the Holmes parents at 221B for the holidays. Part of 25 Days of Fic-Mas 2015.

A Hooligans’ Game Played By Gentlemen by scullyseviltwin (E, 15,213 w., 1 Ch. || First Time, Rugby as Foreplay, Porn with Lots of Plot, John POV, Ogling, Body Appreciation, Cranky Sherlock, Slow Burn, Bed Sharing, Cuddling, Touching, Heavy Petting, Blow Job, Botttomlock) – In which John wants to get back in shape, does so, joins a rugby league and has sex with Sherlock Holmes. In that order.

Pleasure to Burn by scullyseviltwin (E, 17,863 w., 1 Ch. || Firefighter AU || Firefighter John / Arson Investigator Sherlock, Slow Burn, Pining, Case Fic-ish) – “If you’d kindly stop knocking about in there and destroying all of my evidence, it would be most appreciated!” John groaned and for a moment rested his head against the side of the truck. Of course he was the only captain left on the scene, which meant he would have to be the one to deal with the arson investigator.

Anytime by SilentAuror (E, 17,995 w., 1 Ch. || UST, Porn With Feels, POV Sherlock, Romance, UST/URT, Happy Ending, Drunken Endeavours) – Sherlock blinks and attempts to focus. There is a little too much vodka in his veins at the moment and it’s having an unfortunate effect on his brain and retinas both. There are two Johns sitting across from him, and both of them are frowning at him. “You’re drunk,” the Johns tell him. Sherlock blinks some more. “Says the man with Mrs Hudson’s doily on his head.”

Permanent Fixture by vitruvianwatson (E, 18,836 w., 9 Ch || Post-S4, Parentlock, Slow Build, Friends to Lovers, They’re Good Parents, Blushing Sherlock, First Kiss/Time, Explicit Consent, Sexual Content, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Mutual Pining, Big Feelings, Crying, Fluff, Anxious Sherlock, Inexperienced Sherlock, Emotional Communication, Love Confessions) – Now, as Rosie sat curled up against Sherlock’s side, John watched and wondered exactly how he had ended up here. Domesticity had never suited him before, not at any point in his life. His disastrous marriage had been proof of that. But somehow, here in the warmth and safety of 221B Baker Street, here with Sherlock Holmes reading medical jargon to his daughter, Sherlock’s bony feet nudging against his leg, John couldn’t imagine anyplace that would make him happier. 

The White Lotuses by SilentAuror (E, 20,340 w., 1 Ch. || Slow Burn, Domestic, Romance) – One day John realises that he just isn't where he belongs, which is back at Baker Street with Sherlock. So he goes back and Sherlock, in his own way, courts him. Romance.

Out of the Woods by SilentAuror (E, 20,471 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Romance, Slow Burn, Flirting, Drunk Sex, Practical Jokes, POV Sherlock, Bottomlock, Possessive John, Pining Sherlock, Frustrated Wanking, Frottage, Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, First Kiss/Time, Virgin Sherlock, Love Confessions, Soft Sherlock, Dancing, Bum Appreciation, Hanging out with the Yard) – Sherlock is fairly certain that John has taken to flirting with him of late, but can't be entirely certain of it. At least, not until a case takes them into a forest, along with Lestrade's team and something happens that will change everything about their lives...

whiskies neat by Ellipsical (E, 20,660 w., 15 Ch. || Alternate First Meeting, POV Second Person Sherlock, Slow Burn, One Night Stand, Rimming, Blow Jobs, Anal, Soldier John, Crying, Emotional Lovemaking, Switchlock) – Home and hearth and whiskies neat, or, alternatively, Sherlock Holmes falls in love.

Once More, With Feeling by cellard00rs (T, 21,178 w., 7 Ch. || John’s Family, Fake Relationship, Romance, Fluff, Humour) – To put off his meddlesome, matchmaking mother, John convinces Sherlock to play the role of his significant other. Unparalleled awkwardness ensues.

Ghost Stories by SwissMiss (M, 22,256 w., 1 Ch. || Pining, Holmes Family, Christmas, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Bed Sharing, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, First Time) – Sherlock's parents think he and John are a couple. They might be onto something.

You Can Imagine the Christmas Dinners by ardenteurophile (T, 23,584 w., 9 Ch. || Pre-Slash, Drama, Fluff & Angst, Humour, Romance) – Sherlock takes John along for Christmas dinner with Mycroft and Mummy (And "Anthea", too). Over the course of the evening, John realises that everyone in the room - apart from him - seems to think that he and Sherlock are a couple. Part 2 of Xmas Dinners Verse

Tomorrow's Song by agirlsname (M, 24,645 w., 5 Ch. || Post-TRF, POV Sherlock, Angst with a Happy Ending, Virgin / Repressed Sherlock, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Pining, Jealous Sherlock) – How can he think a relationship with me would be a good idea? I am the sort of person to take a break from my life and when I come back after two years, I expect to find it exactly as I left it. In reality I find it shattered to pieces. (I actually equate you with my life. When did I start doing that?)

State of Flux by Atiki (E, 24,655 w., 4 Ch. || S3 Fix It, Sherlock POV, Slow Burn, First Kiss/Time, Friends to Lovers, Frottage, Cuddles and Snuggles, Awkwardness, Insecure/Virgin Sherlock, Romance, Humour, Masturbation, Love Declarations, Bottomlock, Brief Suicidal Ideations) – John’s marriage is over and he is finally back home (i.e. at Baker Street, where he belongs). Sherlock is awfully insecure and John is awfully hesitant, and they’re both awkward idiots, of course, but they figure it out. Many First Times happen.

"Each piece of the body Bhaal sculpted is sacred. Waste it not. Cherish it. Savour it." [dev note: DU offscreen rips off a PIECE OF FLESH from their thigh and devours it]

Nice to see that the new feral ending has added some little bits of autocannibalism for flavour!

Also, working for Bhaal doesn't include dental; their teeth are rotting through and feral Durge apparently has mostly lost them (what isn't holes is cracked, it seems). *The last nerve of a wobbling block snaps. You don't need those molars, meat-thing that you are!*

Bhaal: "You don't need freedom, you don't need your own life or personality, you don't need friends, you don't need your lover, and you also don't need your teeth."

MONTRÉAL GP 2023 RACE RECAP IF YOU MISSED IT 🇨🇦

- Sargeant out - unclear what happened but something to do with the car - DNF 🇺🇸

- George hits the wall 😯

- A bunch of drivers pit; Mayhem in the pitlane 🚨

- HAM exits in front of ALO and ALO shakes his steering - Toto mocks it 🤡

- Max noted bird killer - says he may have hit one 🦅

- George re-joins?? 🤠

- Norris gets an unsportsmanlike behaviour penalty 👺

- Alonso and Hamilton battling at the front 🤺

- Norris x Piastri x KMag x Albon doing the switcharoo in the midfield 🏃🏃‍♂️

- Ferrari somehow surviving up the front with 30 laps old tyres 🧍🏻‍♀️

- Ferrari pits around lap 40 - their tyre gamble seems to have worked 🛞

- DEV and MAG touch and go park in the runoff area for a second 👹

- George finally retires the car 🪦

- ALL ABOARD THE ALBON DRS TRAIN 🚂

- Hamilton on the warpath to reach Nando 🏃‍♂️💨

- Kmag and Devries just chilling at the very end of the grid 🛌

- Esteban’s rear wing wobbling away 🫨

- ALBONO IN THE POINTS 💃

- STROLL IN THE POINTS AT HIS HOME GP 🇨🇦

- Podium goes VER - ALO - HAM 🏆

- Albon driver of the day ❤️‍🔥

Wow, everyone is super on the ball this Sunday! So happy to see so much excellent stuff in the works. Thanks for the tags today @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @whogaveyoupermission @j-nipper-95 @hushed-chorus @orange-peony @fatalfangirl @artsyunderstudy @shrekgogurt @valeffelees @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @confused-bi-queer @forabeatofadrum and @larkral, I will shortly be reading and no doubt loving all of your shares.

I've written a bit more from Ch 2 of my wedding fic. Struggling through a transitional POV section to get to some good stuff, but since I'm trying to get back in the swing of regular sharing as a way to hold myself accountable attempting ongoing progress, have some anyway. Baz POV:

A flicker of hurt briefly clouds his expression. His lower lip wobbles, ever so slightly, and I feel a pang of annoyance. Only I get to make him look that way. Only I get to go for the lowest possible blow.  (And Dev and Niall, when I tell them to.) (And Fiona, because fuck if I can stop her.)

Tags for: @creepyspice @ivelovedhimthroughworse @facewithoutheart @ileadacharmedlife @moodandmist @whatevertheweather @bookish-bogwitch @im-gettingby @aristocratic-otter @captain-aralias @technetiumai @onepintobean @raenestee @thewholelemon @chen-chen-chen-again-chen @blackberrysummerblog @theearlgreymage @nightimedreamersworld @martsonmars @stitchyqueer @ic3-que3n

Bleeding Leads

AI-less Whumptober Day 4: ALT 18: Misunderstanding

Masterlist

TWs: literally none except for Devin making very poor self-care choices, the whump will happen in the next part, I promise!

---

The truth of the matter was Devin Connally very often did not mean to end up where they ended up.

They just so happened to seem as if they had the ability to show up to the worst imaginable place at the worst imaginable time. And, while this was incredibly inconvenient in their day-to-day life, it did make them excel as an investigative journalist. 

Much to their coworkers’ annoyance, Devin always seemed to get the best scoop and the fastest story and the most intriguing leads. They were almost embarrassed to admit that the vast majority of their career’s accomplishments were little more than misunderstandings, blown out of proportion.

They had found themself in the midst of everything from the mayor’s infidelity scandal (with the neighboring city’s mayor, nonetheless) to one of the largest drug busts in Fallgate City history to in-depth interviews with both convicts and local high schoolers that revealed some of the massive power imbalances that were being taken advantage of. 

Needless to say, Devin had made quite a name for themself in the eight years since moving to Fallgate.

So, when they got the envelope in the mail, they really didn’t think much of it. They simply tossed it to the middle of their coffee table, where other unopened mail was laid, and headed towards their kitchen—kitchenette, really, and that was still being generous—where they opened their freezer and popped another frozen meal into their microwave.

Glancing at the packaging of the meal as they slid over to their coffee machine, they hummed to themself. Chicken and rice today, they thought. Well, at least whatever they’re claiming is chicken. They chuckled to themself. Now that would be one hell of an exposé. 

They were just stirring the creamer into their steaming mug when the microwave dinged. Carrying their rather sad dinner to the living room—one beat-up couch, one second-hand coffee table with plenty of mystery stains, and a TV perched precariously atop a wooden drawer chest that always seemed to be wobbly—they sat down, pulling a worn blanket over their lap. 

Taking a sip to test the temperature of their coffee, Devin absentmindedly turned the TV on, flipping to some food competition, a guilty pleasure of theirs, and began shoveling the food into their mouth. It had been a long day and they were ready to crawl into their small twin-sized bed and wait for their alarm to go off too early in the morning.

It was only after the food was gone and the last dredges of the coffee had gone cold that Devin bothered reaching for the stack of mail piled in front of them. Setting it on the couch beside them, they quickly flipped through everything to see if there was anything important.

Most if it was random catalogs, some of which were from companies they’d never even heard of, selling rather outlandish goods. There were a few bills thrown in, and Devin set those aside with a roll of their eyes. That left two things.

The first was a bent postcard, with a grainy photo of what looked like the Sydney Opera House. Flipping it over, Devin immediately recognized the slanted scrawl of their oldest brother, Kai’s handwriting.

Dev-

Just thought I’d send this to you, I know how much you used to want to travel when you were younger. I’m here for another month or so while Pippa finishes up… whatever she’s doing with the local marine life. When I get back stateside, we should totally try to meet up! You still living in Fallgate, right? Anyways, I think I heard Callum just wake up from his nap, so I better go.

Talk to you later!

Kai

Devin finished reading and slowly flipped the postcard back over. They would never tell anyone this, but they still longed to see the world. That was part of why they worked so hard; so, eventually, one day, they might be able to work their way up to a nation-wide newspaper and then possibly travel abroad for international pieces.

Still, it was nice knowing at least one person had thought of them, even if it was Kai, who was too busy with his wife and children to bother actually showing up. Breathing deeply, Devin set the letter aside, slowly letting go of the surge of anger that begged to course through them for just a moment-

Looking at the other piece of mail remaining, Devin frowned, brow creasing slightly. They didn’t recognize the elegant script that had written their address—no name, though—and the paper was heavy and creamy. Not cheap, as far as Devin was concerned. 

Carefully sliding a nail under the actual wax seal that closed the envelope, Devin slowly pulled out an equally fancy looking card.

Written on creamy white paper (that honestly might’ve been softer than their sheets) it appeared to be an invitation:

Your esteemed presence is requested 

Mr. Erik Wildre, CEO of Explority Voyages, Inc.

8pm on the 22 of September

105 Penrose Boulevard

Devin blinked, flipping the invitation over, half a mind waiting to see a “HA! GOTCHA!” jumping out at them. Nothing. 

Their brow creasing ever so slightly, Devin bit their lip, thinking hard. Today was Tuesday, and the date was for this Friday. That only gave them a few days to prepare. Still, they’d been trying to get in contact with Mr. Wildre for several months now—the official reason being an interview on his latest philanthropic efforts, but Devin had fully planned to then inquire about some of the nastier rumors going around—and it was like trying to sweet-talk a concrete wall. A concrete wall that was attached to Fort Knox.

So, Devin decided, it was totally worth it.

---

Taglist: @ailesswhumptober @panic-whump @cupcakes-and-pain @lonesome--hunter @latenightcupsofcoffee @badluck990

@youarenevertooold OMG HEY, YEAH, you may absoLUTELY see the potato frittata scene. 😄🖤 ok so, this comes from a zero draft of mine called The Malaise of Jealous Men and it is one of my absolute favourites, the writing is kind of rough 'cause again: zero draft, and the actual plot of this fic is a lot to explain, but the need-to-know leading up to this scene is just that at the beginning of eighth year Simon and Niall get assigned a project together and end up inadvertently becoming friends.

"Who was that?" "My sister." "You have a sister?" The corners of Niall's eyes crease—brown today, natural. Large and dark on his face, honeyed at the edges by the lights in the dining hall. "I have a twin, Simon." "You what?" "We're not close," he says, flapping his hand. Dismissive. Like Niall not being close to his sister explains how Simon could've missed the fact that this boy he's known for almost seven years has a twin he didn't know about. Simon asks, "Does she avoid you or something?” Then realises how shit that sounds and adds, “I mean, just. You know.” He shrugs. “I never see her in class with us." Niall pulls his wand from his sleeve and spells away the mess on the table. An ice-cold breeze bites through the room with it, the smell of salt and cold water, river weeds, ocean air. "We pick our schedules accordingly,” he says. “Signe was in all our first year classes with us but you were prob'ly too busy trying to tie Basil's shoelaces together to notice." Simon folds his arms. "We aren’t that bad." Niall quirks both of his eyebrows up. "I mean,” Simon says, “not first year." "You sure as shit were," he snorts, and his smile is back. Long and narrow, sharp enough to cut glass. "First year was the worst—no, wait. I take that back. Fifth was fucking awful. You’re a loon, by the way." "Oh fuck off, mate, Baz is the one who—" Dev slams his tray down on the table. An apple bounces off the corner. It rolls forward, slowly. Bumps up against the side of Simon’s teacup, then sits and wobbles there for what feels like an impossibly (and, frankly, unnecessarily) long time before Niall reaches over and sets his hand on it. His fingers curl a ghostly shade of pink around all that bright green skin. Simon lifts his gaze, moving joint by joint from Niall’s wrist to his elbow, from his elbow to his shoulder, from his shoulder to his face. He’s grinning at Dev like a cobra, that razor-blade mouth of his turned downright feral. “Oi,” he chirps. “Fuckin’ cat drag you in or what?” Dev doesn’t look like Baz much. They’re cousins—or, Simon’s pretty sure they’re cousins. Cousin-adjacent, maybe. Probably something stupid like fourth cousins twice removed with two sugar and chips on the side or however the fuck families work when you’re rich and posh. But where Baz is all sharp and tall and cold, Dev is... just, not. He looks like Baz with a tablespoon of honey and splash of milk stirred in. Short and bird-like, warm. His hair is a dark shock of feathery brown and his skin is the deep, blushless golden tone of a dry grassland. He’s glaring across the table at Simon from beneath heavy, black eyebrows like he wants to shove him down a flight of stairs. (That might be the one thing he and Baz do have in common.) "Hi," Simon says, awkwardly. Dev sneers. (Make that two things.) "Look," he hisses, pulling out his chair. He sits with his elbows spread to the sides of his tray, leaning forward on them, "this is weird and I hate it, but I'm not sitting across the dining hall alone while you two cunts cuddle up over fucking tea and biscuits or whatever the fuck this is, so let's just skip the part where we make a big deal out of it." Simon looks down at his plate with a confused frown. “This is potato frittata.” Dev’s face does something funny. Twists a bit, like he's in pain. Or smells something rotten. Or like he's in pain while smelling something rotten. He says, “Niall.” “Well,” Niall replies, and takes a loud, crisp bite of Dev’s apple, “he’s not wrong.” “Niall.” “Are there biscuits?” Simon asks, glancing over at the serving station. He stands up. “I didn’t see any biscuits.” Niall nudges his shin under the table. “Sit,” he says. “There ‘re no biscuits.” Simon does. “Niall!” “He does this sometimes,” Niall tells him. “Just give 'im a sec, he'll get over it.”

Doom has been ported to every platform under the sun.

These days I'm more interested in the non-direct Doom ports that exist. Such at Doom 64 on the Nintendo 64, which introduces new levels, artwork, music, sound effects... so a whole new game really

Another interesting port was the Playstation 1 version.

Fabien Sanglard has written a fantastic in-depth technical article on this very subject

Funny story on Playstation development: Aaron and I started out with a different engine architecture that rendered the world with triangles, since they were fully hardware accelerated. That worked great on the N64, which had subpixel accurate, perspective correct rendering (that SGI influence), but Playstation had integer coordinate, affine texture mapping, and the big wall and floor triangles looked HORRIBLE. John Carmack

This lead to the dev team taking quite a raw metal approach, rather than taking advantages of any higher level Playstation hardware features.

The end result is something that looks just like Doom on the PC, rather than most 3D PS1 games which have a distinctive warping and wobble of their textures.

One key difference in this version is the awesome new original sound track from Aubrey Hodges which gives the game more of a horror survival vibe.

69th Batch Of Fics: 1st Fill

Hanzo + Pokémon – CYOA interlude – Part 1/5 – Hanzo gives his Pokémon a day in a spa/amusement park.

My fwiend asked for a few comfort fics in the CYOA-verse. The CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure) is over on my patreon channel but I think it should be easy enough to understand without the context.

---

Hanzo thoughtfully looks at the large gate signaling the entrance for the Pokémon spa. The area behind it looks like pure wilderness but he figures there must be some kind of facility further in.

Kikuri, his Salandit, is squirming in his arms, obviously eager to get out and in there. Honestly, he is surprised she hasn’t started scratching him yet.

He turns around, looking at the rest of his team. His Gyarados, Zeus, is repeatedly flaring the small fins at his head and growling low which draws a few nervous gazes from the other Pokémon trainers.

King snorts and digs his hoofs at the ground, not happy that he isn’t the center of attention, and Goomy just looks… nervous. In general. With his life situation and everything, probably – Hanzo hasn’t quite figured him and his anxieties out yet.

Maddox, his freshly evolved Midnight Form Lycanroc, sits dangerously close to one of the spa’s trashcans and he figures they should get a move on if he doesn’t want him starting to rummage around in it for some snacks. His appetite had been through the roof since his evolution.

“Well,” he says finally, clearing his throat. “If you guys would like a spa day, I think we can arrange that. As long as you can behave.”

He has to lean out of the way of one of Kikuri’s claws swiping at him after all.

After his team enthusiastically makes it known that they indeed want to have a day in the spa, he makes his way over to the entrance.

.oOo.

“Wonderful, that would be all. If you would give each of your Pokémon these colored tags and keep this communication device at your person at all times, so our staff may contact you if there were any need?”

Hanzo nods, quietly murmuring a thanks as he awkwardly juggles all the items that the receptionist has shoved over the counter at him. The tags are mostly ribbons which he can stretch out to fit around the neck of each of his Pokémon so they would be easily recognizable as being a part of his team.

“That would be all. The park is yours for twenty-four hours. We will meet here again tomorrow at this time. Stay safe and… don’t do anything violent.” His eyes flick toward his Salandit as he says that, though she is already wobbling toward Goomy to assume her seat on his head and make him carry her around for the rest of the day probably.

Hanzo sighs softly, giving each of his Pokémon a gentle pat and watching them slither, run, and fly away.

Standing there all on his own, he feels rather… lonely. It’s been a long while since he last wasn’t accompanied by at least one Pokémon. He can’t even see King’s glittering gray fire any more, though he supposes he just needs to follow the throngs of people wanting to have a look at a Shiny to find him.

After a moment of gathering his bearings, Hanzo clips the communication device to his belt to make sure he wouldn’t miss it if he was being contacted, and starts to slowly make his way along the initial path of the spa. There are tons of trainers walking with him or coming from the direction they’re heading to, all alone after they had been pretty much abandoned by their Pokémon.

It’s a bit of a weird vibe as none of them seem to know what to do with themselves, empty Pokéballs sitting in their pockets, but Hanzo finds that it is certainly a bit comforting to know that he isn’t the only one. And his team is going to have fun today. He could have some, too.

Soon enough the huge main building comes into view. He is sure they have a wonderful cafeteria. It’s been a while since he last ate a nicely prepared, warm meal.

.oOo.

He is at the end of his coffee after his meal, thinking about finding himself a spot in the sun to doze a little, when the communication device he’s put on the table of the cafeteria softly beeps.

Hanzo eyes the device, seeing a light blinking steadily, and another beep. Figuring someone is trying to contact him, he sighs deeply and pushes the button.

“Hello?”

“Mister Shimada?”

His insides curl a little in on themselves. Oh, what did they do this time…?

“Yes?”

“Do not be alarmed, but if you would come to training facility F and take a look at your Salandit? We think it might be having a cold or somesuch.”

He frowns a little but does immediately get up. “Of course. I’ll be there in a moment.”

.oOo.

The staff is, in fact, correct. The warmth radiating off of Kikuri is different than usual; it feels more sickly and uneven as he picks her up from the corner she has sat herself into. Instead of swiping at him or immediately complaining that her play time has been cut short, she uses her sharp little claws to pull herself up his chest and around the back of his neck where she comes to lie with a little, exhausted huff like a dry, warm hand towel.

Hanzo sighs softly and touches her bald little head before leaving her be. He’s been around enough sick Pokémon during his time in Hanamura to know when to be worried and when not. He is suitably sure that a day or two of simply resting will get her back into shape sooner or later.

He had not anticipated having a companion today but he is grateful for it. Loneliness doesn’t sit well with him. It makes him get too much into his head; especially after he’s spent the past few months pretty much joined by the hip with his Ponyta-come-Rapidash and King’s larger than life personality has become such a constant in his personal space that suddenly not having him close anymore, be it in person or in a Pokéball at his hip has been rather… weird.

“So… where did you leave your trusted steed?” he mutters half to himself, not anticipating Kikuri to give him an answer one way or the other – and she doesn’t. She just tucks her snout against his neck and breathes uncomfortably hot fever breath down the front of his shirt.

He carefully puts his backpack back on and looks about the training facility. It’s a kind of jungle gym with a cacophony of Pokémon calls as all kinds of species play with one another. Still, it does not take long for him to spot Goomy; the Pokémon is an Alpha after all and his size means that he sticks out of every scenery like a sore thumb.

Hanzo is about to go to him to make sure he’s fine but pauses just after a couple of steps as he sees that he is, in fact, playing with other Pokémon. Baby Pokémon, to be exact.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, given how timid Goomy is, but it still has him pull his brows up in intrigue as he watches Togepi and Bonsly and Happiny dancing around him, crawling up his soft, slimy body and bouncing on top of his head or sliding down his back.

In fact, he’s never seen him look so happy and content. It’s enough to have Hanzo decide not to approach him after all. He should just enjoy his day off and not feel like his trainer is keeping tabs on him.

It’s also good to see that the training back with Reinhardt seems to have born fruit and sent him on his way toward being a more confident Pokémon.

He just needs time in that regard.

Did it really take me 5 months to make a character slide down a slope and have a bit of realistic wobble to it? If I didn't have that wobble, I could have finished it in a week. Game dev is unreal. (engine).

where: the living room when: day 1, post-arrival and picking rooms and... etc. 👻 ;-) who: open @phantasmhq​​​

Yana entered the living room sneezing. She felt a little off-kilter—wobbly in the way she always was when she’d hear a slammed door or a clap of thunder. Perpetually on edge, in a lot of inconvenient ways. Ready to jump right out of her socks in the face of sudden movement, or even a tap on her shoulder. It was a source of entertainment for a lot of people in her life, which was pretty fair sometimes. But she also liked to think that despite those initial, pearl-clutching physical reactions, that she was mostly levelheaded. She didn’t like when the jumpy feeling lingered. “I come bearing gifts,” she announced, sniffling a little in the wake of the sneeze. Her nose wrinkled up. “There is so much dust in that storage room. I should’ve gone in with a hazmat suit.”

Yana shifted the items in her arms, then made the decision to stack them one-by-one onto the coffee table. “So, there’s precious Burroughs family memories, which I’m gonna hand off to Dev,” she continued, half-preoccupied but working not to be, and let the photo album fall to the table with a dull thud. “And let’s see... coming in hot, we’ve got... drum roll, please.” She paused. “Monopoly.” The grubby box was placed down next. “And then? Well, would you look at that—” Yana continued with a small grin, a little tense around the corners, then put on a more serious face as she turned the box for inspection. “Clue! My all-time fave.” With raised brows, she put it down on top of Monopoly. She felt weird. She wanted to shake it off. “Tell me: which one are you more likely to play with me?”

Pulptober 14th: Gentleman Thief - Sly Cooper and the Cooper Gang

Since I’m largely responsible for the esteemed raccoon getting a spot in the pulp roster, it’s only fair that I pick him again. I don’t believe I introduced the other two members of the OG Cooper Gang last year, so the large pink fellow is THE MURRAY, who went from a fairly pathetic wobbly comic relief character whose only skillset seemed to be ‘can drive a van’ to the gang’s brawler, with an outfit that firmly draws from the pulps and a right hook that can lay out vampires, gangster dogs, and incongruously old-tech pirates alike. The wee turtle is Bentley, the Q to Sly’s Bond, gadgeteer extraordinaire and bundle of nerves. Managed to find some early concept art of a fairly different energy....

Which has a very old cartoon charm to it, but I can understand why it was ultimately discarded in favor of what we got. All art by Dev Madan.

(A little bit more than) Six Sentence Sunday

A snippet of a missing moment between Dev and Lucy in between the time skip in chapter 7 of go and luck go with you that I'm working on for @sandfordsmostwanted

‘You and Joycie. You saved us when we thought that we were saving you.’

For a moment he is quiet, a storm of emotions splashing in eyes that are shining with tears that are ready to spill.  

For a moment his lip wobbles and he looks like the terrified eleven year old who had cowered on the upstairs landing in a shadow of broken porcelain. The child who had begged Frank not to leave him and his sister alone.

‘You did save us.’

And then he is in her arms, his face buried in her breast, the tears that have been kept at bay for so long choked and fast and gulping.

She lets her fingers catch through his hair, stroking out the tangles, thinking of Constance.

Thinking of him as the little boy in the photograph that now sits on his bedside table. Of him all bundled up in coat and hat and boots clutching his Mam’s hand.

‘Then let me save you now, darling. Please? Please let me try?''