Unshackled-if - Unshackled

Castle in the Clouds by Zhang Shu

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TO THE BONE IS A 16+ THRILLER/SUPERNATURAL/ROMANCE IF WIP. IT IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE "HUNTING SEASON" DUOLOGY INSPIRED BY AND BASED ON THE SHOW "YELLOWJACKETS".

When a chartered plane taking you and your classmates along with your teachers to your senior year trip crashes deep in the Canadian wilderness, you and the other survivors find yourselves isolated and without any means of communication with the outside world. As the initial shock subsides, the group of students with vastly diverse personalities, some of which have never even talked with each other before, must band together to find food, water, and shelter while hoping they'll be rescued. Sooner rather than later.

But days turn into nights, and the boundaries between reality and nightmare blur. The isolation plays on all of your fears, desires, and insecurities. The strange symbols you find all around the woods and the weird noises you hear at night are making you all question if the woods are as abandoned as you thought. The passing weeks with no sign of rescue laced with constant dread and uncertainty make you wonder if any of you will even survive this ordeal. Or if there’s something else out there trying very hard to keep you in the woods.

Stranded in a remote and unforgiving landscape, the teens must confront not only the challenges of their surroundings but also the darker aspects of human nature that emerge as they struggle for survival. Unexplainable events start unfolding, and you quickly realize that your relationships and personal conflicts could be just as deadly as the ominous wilderness itself as winter leaves you cold and tired.

And hungry. So, so terribly hungry.

Play as a disturbed teenager who finds themself stranded in the middle of nowhere with their classmates and two teachers.

Fully customize your character including: pronouns, gender, physical appearance, personality, sexuality, and more.

Romance 1 out of 3 classmates turned love interests (1 female, 1 male and 1 genderfluid). Or not.

Will you try your best to co-operate with the rest of the group, or is only your survival the top priority for you?

Learn more about your forgotten past through flashbacks and blurry memories.

There is something in the woods. And it doesn’t want you to leave.

Gaslight. Gatekeep. Girlboss.

I̴͓͓̖͕͖̗̾̓̎̐̾̉̕T̶̢̞͚̼̎̀̃͂̈́̎̍̽̕ͅ ̴̛̳͚̰̪̆̉͊̐̐͊͊̓̌͜W̷̭̐̏̆̅͠Ở̸̰̹̝̜̰͉̇̏̒̔͛͂́̿͜Ǹ̷̢̧̙̫̦̠̣̔̀̏'̵̧̳̹̦̓̏̓͐͌Ţ̶͖̜͚͙̻̣̥͙͆͗͆̍̕͠͝ ̵̛͙͈͊̈́́L̸̢̺̪͉̠̍̉̇͗͒Ĕ̶͈̬͍̺̺͈̹̖̃̏̊̕T̸̨͔͚̗͚̐̅̕ ̵͍̼̝̜̗̳̅̄̂̐̊̿̅̔Ý̶̡͇̜͈̯̠̩̤̫̫̃́͑̌̈̃͒̿O̴̘̻͇̩̫͎̦͕͎͑̀̈̐ͅƯ̸̢̧̢̡̙̦̥̠̜̘̅̈͘͝ ̶̲̲͎̟͖͔̖͈͑̂̈͗̀̅̕͠͠ͅG̷̗̹̺̯̖̰͖̜̀͌̌̓̀̆̾̈́͝ͅÖ̵̫̳́̓̍

The Best Friend - Sage Romero has been by your side ever since freshmen year, taking you under their wing even though they were just starting highschool themselves. They're eccentric and artsy, running around the hallways in the most colourful and unconventional clothes you've ever seen, all sewn and patched up together. Their brown hair has dyed green tips, and if you didn't know any better you'd think they're splashes of paint like the ones their hands are constantly covered in. Sage has always had your back no matter what, even if they might not completely agree with you. That's what best friends do, right? Even when they get stuck isolated in the wilderness together. (RO, they/them)

The Mean Girl - Aurora Corrigan is popular for having straight A’s in all her subjects (including the AP ones) and for her typical mean girl attitude. She makes it obvious how much she dislikes you every time you pass by, her bossy attitude and scrunched up nose a constant whenever you're around. She's always focused on her academics, trying hard to make her parents proud while strutting around the school with her posse and donning perfectly-styled blonde hair falling perfectly on her back, covered from head to toe in perfectly fitting clothes. Everything about her screams “preppy” and “old Money”, and she'll do anything to make sure no one stains that reputation. (RO, she/her)

The Skater Boy - Laid-back and rebellious, River Rockwell is well known around the school for being joined at the hip with his skateboard and skipping classes as often as he can. The self-proclaimed ‘misunderstood loner’ was the only one bummed about the class trip, thinking he won't be able to sneak in all the booze and weed he wanted to bring. But he seemed to change his mind really quick after finding out you'd be going. Weird, right? But you're sure it's nothing to worry about even as you catch his brown eyes following you wherever you go, fists clenched and jaw tight. Yeah, absolutely nothing to worry about at all. (RO, he/him)

The Goth - In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty that envelops the group of survivors, Sabrina Dyer stands out as a figure of quiet strength and unyielding resolve. With her striking gothic appearance—dark makeup and clothing, and an air of mystery—Sabrina and her intense gaze might initially deter people, but those who get to know her discover a steadfast ally and a protector. Her friendship is unwavering, and she often demonstrates her affection through actions rather than words. But what lengths will she go to in order to ensure the safety of her newfound friends? (she/they)

The Jock - Finneas O'Connell, known affectionately as Finn, is a ray of sunshine even in the darkest of times. With his infectious smile and easygoing nature, he's the kind of person who can make friends with anyone he meets. Standing at a solid 6’3, Finn's build speaks of his athletic prowess; his strong shoulders and muscular build are a testament to his dedication to football. He's always the first to encourage others, whether it's on the football field or within the group’s makeshift camp in the Canadian wilderness. But one has to wonder when his boundless optimism and helpfulness encroach on the territory of naivety. There is a fine line between them after all. (he/him)

spotify || axel — @whatlovelybones-if , @thesecrimsonstrings-if , @songofvalhalla-if || venus — @acourtofserpents

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DEMO (tba) - FAQ - NAVIGATION

Dropout is an upcoming (and a side project!) +18 slice-of-life interactive fiction game. Loosely inspired by media such as In the Heights and Night in the Woods.

Tag(s): Slice of life, Drama, Romance, YA, LGBTQ+, Text-based.

You take the train home from college after nearly four years away, knowing you will be welcomed with open arms, bright smiles, and the sincerest congratulations from your friends and family, from the entire neighborhood. Their pride has not been misplaced, for better or for worse, you are the one: the only one who made it into college.

This is your first summer home since you began studying in Stanford. That is what everyone thinks.

This is your first summer home since you dropped out of college, thus becoming the biggest disappointment in your neighborhood. That is what only you know.

Trigger Warning(s): Crude humor, Strong language, optional sex scenes, Violence, Depression and depictions of other mental illnesses, Substance use, Unwanted pregnancy (a RO's, Wanda).

A short disclaimer

Features and Characters below!

Return to your home, the fictional neighborhood of Downtown Heights, where you're treated like a local hero because of your grand achievement.

Determine how you managed to make it into college and why you decided to call it quits.

Reunite with your high school friends and acquaintances, with whom you've barely spoken in the past few years.

Romance one (or more) of the six old faces waiting for you in Downtown Heights.

Customize your Main Character! From their teenage years to their young adulthood, from physicality to personality. Be it your traits, flaws, and vices: everything shapes your return home.

Navigate the very dramatic shenanigans of young adulthood.

ROs skin tone reference

Jean/Jade Gray (he/him or she/her): THE EX

J and you were good. Until you weren't, and then they broke up with you right before you left for college. The two of you promised to stay as friends, but, like most promises between you and J, that too was meant to be broken. Your ex is often considered to be ambitious, determined, and cutthroat. You honestly expected them to be well out of the neighborhood.

Exes to lovers. It's possible to start a poly relationship (v and triad) with J and Kai.

Uma Bharat (they/them): THE OLD FRIEND

It has always been you and Uma, and this has been something you covetously believed to be true. But then the distance settled in, and then the many years in which you lived abroad. You can't claim to know them as well as you once did. Uma once dreamed of being a successful painter, and they have never given up on art (though they sometimes feel like art has given up on them).

Childhood best friends to lovers. It's possible to start a poly relationship (triad) with Uma and Travis.

Statler Amani (he/him or she/her): THE HEARTTHROB

You knew Statler back in high school, though they can't claim to have known of you until you made it out of the neighborhood. Many years ago, they were every high schooler's dream partner: kind, polite, intelligent. Their current partner must be proud. Nowadays, Statler works as hard as they can to help their family.

Unrequited crush to lovers. Statler is already in a relationship, a (more-or-less) toxic one.

Wanda Pavon (she/her): THE MODEL

Wanda had a future in modeling, the two of you were in the same group of friends in high school, and you never doubted she would be capable of making it out of the neighborhood. Her self-assertive and spontaneous personality surely would have made Wanda's road a little easier. You only find out why Wanda stayed in Downtown Heights when you meet her daughter.

Friends to lovers. Wanda is a single mother, her daughter's name is Gabi.

Kai Alofa (he/him or she/her): THE ROOMMATE

Kai's glow-up is the reason some Downtown Heights grandmothers believe in magic. The high school nerd turned fuckboy/girl has spent the past few years traveling around the state. Like you, they are back for the summer, ready to disappoint their parents. Rooming together comes as a natural result of delaying said disappointment (or so Kai claimed).

Friends with benefits to lovers (mandatory to romance Kai). It's possible start a poly relationship (v and triad) with Kai and J.

Travis Camaro (he/him): THE RIVAL

Uma, Travis and you were considered to be inseparable: it was the three of you against the world. That is no longer the case. A massive argument completely shattered the friendship Travis and you had. You know he resents you, you know he's jealous you managed to make it out and that he was left behind. And that's all you know. Travis has always been... a private guy.

Enemies/Rivals to lovers. It's possible to start a poly relationship (triad) with Travis and Uma.

The list of flings!

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Aurelian on a normal day:

YES. 😭

Tsk tsk, the lies that come out of his mouth.

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Magici: Worldstar is a contemporary fantasy romantic drama, a first part to the Magici series.

A flyer falls at your feet.

Ever wanted to become the best magician in the world? Ever wanted to become famous while at it?

Well, according to this flyer, by applying for this magic academy-turned-talent show, you can.

A chance to develop your magical affinities, get a free higher education from a redeemed academy, meet people from all over the world, possibly win 300 000 kubos (not sure about the conversion rates but that's a lot of money), AND become mindblowingly famous while at it?

Sign-me-up.

Friends, mentors, rivals, lovers? In the end, the top only has space for one.

Will you be the one standing there?

But more importantly, what will you do to get there?

Find out in the next season of Magici: Worldstar, applications open starting NOW.

reblogs/asks are crazy appreciated

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𝐎𝐂 𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐉𝐈 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐒!

feel free to tweak questions + all emojis r listed in text form bc i can't see some of them aAAaaAA! sorry if any of these questions are too similar i tried to avoid that but .. there's a lot lol! categorized by emoji type.

i wanted to make one because i could not find one on tumblr already that had a ton of questions. this was created by combining ones under the #oc ask game tag + my own contributions. hi charmymemes nation i'm back.

people

👁️ EYE - what colour are their eyes? do people notice their eyes? is there anything special about them (shows emotion easily, literally magical...)?

🤥 LYING - are they good liars? do they have tells to show they're lying?

👻 GHOST - do they believe in ghosts? what are their "ghostly experiences", if any?

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

😭 CRYING - what makes them cry? do they cry easily?

👊 PUNCH - are they quick to violence?

💢 ANGER - what are some habits they have that will take some getting used to?

👪 FAMILY - what is their family like? what is your ocs relationship to them? does your oc have any siblings?

😨 FEARFUL - when scared, do they go into "flight" or "fight"?

💤 SLEEPING - do they fall asleep easily? what helps them sleep?

food & drinks

🥞 PANCAKE - what is their comfort breakfast?

🎂 BIRTHDAY CAKE - when is their birthday? do they like celebrating it?

🍩 DONUT - favourite sweet treat?

🍟 FRIES - do they order food often? or they prefer to cook their own food?

☕️ HOT BEVERAGE - do they prefer hot or cold drinks? what is their favourite drink?

🍓 STRAWBERRY - do they eat their fruit & veg? what is their favourite fruit or vegetable?

🍰 CAKE SLICE - favourite cake flavour? are they specific about types of cakes?

🍧 SHAVED ICE - do they still have any objects from their childhood? what significance does it have to them? what would their reaction be if they lost it?

plants & nature

💐 BOUQUET - create a bouqet for them! what do those flowers mean? are any of the flowers their particular favourite?

🌙 MOON - what is your oc's greatest wish? how far are they willing to go for it?

🌋 VOLCANO - how bad is their temper? is it a slow boil, or a instant explosion?

🌺 HIBISCUS - do they have any allergies?

🍁 MAPLE LEAF - what is their favourite season? why?

🍃 FALLING LEAF - do they enjoy being in nature? what is their favourite outdoor activity?

☀️ SUN - are they a morning person? what is the first thing they do in the morning?

🕷️ SPIDER - what is their biggest fear? do they have any irrational / mundane fears?

🌹 ROSE - do they like valentines day? have they been confessed to before? have they confessed to anyone before?

🙈 SEE-NO-EVIL - whats a side of your oc that they don't want to show other people?

🙊 SPEAK-NO-EVIL - what is something your oc will refuse to stay quiet about?

🙉 HEAR-NO-EVIL - what is the worse thing your oc could hear from someone?

🌱 SEEDLING - what is their most vivid memory from childhood?

🍀 CLOVER - do they believe in luck? are they lucky?

🌏 EARTH - will they give up the world for someone they love? is this decision easy for them?

🌌 MILKY WAY - what was the inspiration behind your oc? what was the first thing you decided about them?

activity

⚾ BASEBALL - can they play sports? what is their best position if they play a team sport? what's their strong suit (speed, power etc.)?

🏊 SWIMMING - can they swim? or are they afraid of water? how well do they swim? how do they feel about swimming in the ocean?

objects

📣 MEGAPHONE - how loud are they? what do they speak like? got a voice claim?

📖 OPEN BOOK - do they like reading? what's their favourite genre?

🪤 MOUSE TRAP - what will always lure them into certain danger? a loved one in danger? a promise of something they are always searching for?

📸 CAMERA - do they enjoy having their picture taken? what's their go-to pose? do they like taking photos? what do they take photos of?

🎭 MASKS - do they act differently around certain people? what's different between the way they act around friends, family, strangers, etc.?

✂️ SCISSORS - what is the "last straw" for them to cut someone out of their life? how easily do they let go of people?

💡 LIGHTBULB - is your oc a planner? do they write down every small detail or just wing it?

💎 DIAMOND - how rich are they? can they live the lifestyle they want to?

🎁 PRESENT - what types of presents would they be most happy to receive? are they good at gift giving?

🍼 BABY BOTTLE - what are their thoughts on children?

🔪 KNIFE - how do they react to injury / misfortune befalling their loved ones (significant other, family, friends)? do they put themselves at blame?

👑 CROWN - what does your oc want to be remembered as? why?

✏️ PENCIL - is there a particular quote / lyric that you associate with them?

🎵 MUSIC NOTE - what is their playlist like? their favourite artists? do you associate a particular song with them?

🎤 MICROPHONE - are they good at singing? what is their go-to karaoke song?

🎷 SAXOPHONE - do they play any instruments? are they any good at it?

📚 BOOKS - how were they at school? what is their best subject? what is their worst subject? do they have a favourite subject?

👖 JEANS - what is their go-to outfit?

🎨 PALETTE - can they draw? what do they like to draw?

🎡 FERRIS WHEEL - are they someone who wants to kiss at the top of the ferris wheel?

⏳ HOURGLASS - are they usually late or on-time?

🔫 PISTOL - do they trust people easily? how easily will they turn their back to someone? have they been backstabbed before? will they betray someone if given an ultimatum?

🎀 RIBBON - how would they fit into other worlds / aus? what aus would you like to try out? what fictional world would they fit / not fit into?

📎 PAPERCLIP - a random fact.

📦 PACKAGE - what are some "most likely to..." that can apply to them?

🖍️ CRAYON - what advice would you give to them?

⚙️ GEAR - what are your ocs thoughts on science & art? which do they give more importance to? how much value do they place on each?

🔧 WRENCH - are they good at fixing relationships? or do they tend to avoid doing so?

❇️ SPARKLE - what is their most prized possession? what do they value?

📏 RULER - is your oc well educated? where did they get their learning from?

transport

🚆 TRAIN - what is their answer to the trolley problem?

🚲 BICYCLE - can they ride a bike? what do they remember from learning to ride a bicycle?

weather

🌩️ LIGHTNING - are they scared of lightning?

💧 DROPLET - random angst headcanon

❄️ SNOWFLAKE - do people consider them cold? if so, what made them this way?

🌪️ TORNADO - what is the biggest change you've ever made to them? how have they changed from their original version?

🌈 RAINBOW - what advice would they give to their younger self?

🔥 FIRE - do they have any self destructive tendencies? what habits do they have that hinder them from becoming their best self?

☁️ CLOUD - a soft headcanon

🌟 GLOWING STAR - what do they think about when they look at the night sky? is there someone they want to star gaze with?

🌠 SHOOTING STAR - if they could make any wish with no repercussions, what wish would they make?

☄️ COMET - what do people assume about them? are they right?

hearts

💓 BEATING HEART - what gets their heart racing?

💘 HEART W/ ARROW - what traits do they look for in a relationship? do they believe in love at first sight?

💗 GROWING HEART - if they have a crush, is it noticable? what changes when they're in love?

❤️ RED HEART - their love language(s)?

💙 BLUE HEART - do they miss their s/o easily? how do they act when their s/o isn't around?

💚 GREEN HEART - what things make your oc feel comforted? hugs, kisses, food?

💖 SPARKLING HEART - are they a subtle or a showy lover?

💌 LOVE LETTER - do they like love letters? what kind of messages do they leave for their partner?

💔 BROKEN HEART - what could their partner do that would absolutely break their heart?

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IT IS UPDATE TIME! For those of you who missed the dirty draft in the discord, the original play link has now been updated with 35 thousand words and two chapters sizzling with exposition, and heated rivalry. I'm so excited!

Here's what's new:

Before we start, it took some honest critique for something to click for me, plot wise. I have been meandering with the plot, partly because I had no idea what I was even doing, and part because I really wanted to meander around in this new medium. But, the plot I have planned is very high octane and epic in scale so I don’t want to bore you to death before we get to the good stuff.

So, don’t hunt me for sport when I tell you that (for the time being) I have removed the entire section of RO 101’s. I was so stubborn with shoehorning them in for the better part of a year, leading to writer's block and utter despair since it just wouldn’t fit; it wasn’t how you were supposed to learn about the RO’s. I have put them aside for now and tweaked Lenas scene once more so that it flows better- I am hemming and hawing over Id’s 101 because that one actually makes sense to have there, plotwise. It might go back in where it was, but I am still thinking about it.

Ok, for real this time though:

The scenes where you scream and your RO busts down the door Kool-Aid man style are there now.

A meeting with Oma and a blast from your [origin] past!

A whole chapter of lies and deceit, but it could literally be anyone lying. Careful who to trust.

Is that… [REDACTED]?? Surely not.

Another chapter where you get to choose your weapons and the way the Surge manifests with your hunter.

On topic of the surge, the magic in Ouro, it is now a default for all players; you can choose from 4 different classes. The Battlefrenzied Zealot, The Beastmaster, The Etherweaver or The Vox Psion. I had a terrible time writing the codexes for these classes, so some are partial and others missing, but if you continue you will experience them in actual action-scenes instead, weaponized. Don't forget to save! For now, each class comes with its own weapon, but I will add more whenever extra time strikes, or when the draft is done.  I am going to remind you as I remind myself: This draft will get rougher around the edges, a little bit messy, as I am going to try to just draft the whole thing without even looking back. It will make my life so much easier when it comes to figuring out key scenes and motivations. While I wrote quite slowly as I treated OUROBOROS as a hobby, now I am working on it, which means skipping content I cannot think of on the spot just to keep the ball rolling. If you don't want to read the alpha draft, please wait with reading until the edited twine demo is out. Thank you!!

Now, ENJOY!

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Done! I updated the prologue and also fixed small errors.

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okay that's not an emoji ask but it's a classic. I couldn't find it with the search function but it might be bullying me so I'm sorry if this has been asked before

what would the ROs want, need and dread to hear from Mc? especially interested in SC and A answers if you don't feel like doing all the ROs 👀

Ooh this is a new one and very interesting! I hope you don’t mind me answering a bit vaguely. :)

Aiden/Ava:

Want: “Together, always. You're not alone.”

Need: any compliments or praises from MC make their day better instantly.

Dread: “You let me down.” 🙁

SC:

Want: “All I want is you, and only you.”

Need: “I trust you.”

Dread: “I trusted you.” ☹️

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