Interactive Novel - Blog Posts
Got them to join that selfie after all :) When Twilight Strikes by @evertidings! <3
( I’ll come back to you, I promise )
( I know you will )
CHOSE THE ORPHAN BACKGROUND AND IT BROKE MY HEART ACTUALLY 😭 Spencer and my MC from @thesoulforgeorder <3
This was before Spencer was on the official RO list LOL
Road to Heaven is an 18+ Dystopian fic which takes inspiration from popular media like the “Shatter Me” series and “Hunger Games”. It may contain distressing content like major injury to the characters, character deaths, blood, gore, body horror, amnesia and optional sexual content. More specific warnings will be given at the beginning of each chapter.
You are inmate No. 1441, incarcerated in Tartarus, the most notorious prison on the continent. You find yourself imprisoned for a crime that you do not remember committing, leaving you in a state of uncertainty about your own identity and purpose. The first memory you have is awakening to the sensation of a gun being shoved into your mouth.
Within the grim confines of Tartarus, you have been branded as the most dangerous criminal, feared yet hated by both fellow inmates and prison authorities alike. It becomes clear to you that in order to survive and unravel the enigma of your past, escape from this formidable penitentiary is imperative. However, achieving freedom will not be an easy feat, as you must navigate treacherous encounters with some of the most malevolent criminals known to humanity. In your quest for freedom, you find yourself entangled in complex relationships with three significant individuals. Firstly, your cellmate, whose icy demeanor suggests a deep-seated disdain for your very existence. Secondly, your best friend within the prison walls, whose seemingly excessive friendliness may harbor ulterior motives. Lastly, there is the warden, whose overtly amicable nature masks a peculiar familiarity with your past. As you navigate the perilous labyrinth of Tartarus, your ultimate objective is twofold: to survive amidst the most notorious criminals and uncover the truth about your forgotten past. In a world where danger lurks at every corner, you must tread carefully, for the path to redemption and self-discovery is riddled with uncertainty and perilous choices.
Fully customize your MC. Choose your pronouns, sexuality, appearance and more. Take control of your interactions with the characters and experience the world of Elysium City through a personalized scope.
Romance one of the 7 RO’s, and if you are charming enough, fall in love with any two of them. The four possible poly routes available are: The Cellmate and The Friend, The Warden and The Master, The Protector and The Master, The Cellmate and The Rebel
Struggle against the evil that wants you dead and uncover secrets about yourself
Accept your identity as an Esper and rediscover your powers, or completely reject them
Master your ability of Conscious Manipulation and perhaps learn a few things about yourself unexpectedly
Choose to make allies within Tartarus or antagonize them. Your choices have consequences
Lead a dying rebellion against the Hightable or join them as an equal
There are a total 7 romance options, each with their own personality and a story along with dark secrets for you to uncover
Survive
1. The Cellmate [f/m] | Enemies to Lovers
Subject Name : Twenty
A palpable enigma surrounds the inexplicable disdain they harbor towards you, leaving you to ponder if your past misdeeds have sowed the seeds of their ire. Your questions remain unanswered, rarely do they grace you with a response, and when they do, it arrives veiled in hateful glares and a tapestry of venomous words. The origins of their animosity remain shrouded in silence, with fellow inmates mirroring their reticence. Only when they are complaining about the prison's wretched conditions and the Warden's despotic rule do they momentarily shed their icy facade, revealing hints of vulnerability and human emotion. When they do smile, albeit rarely, it is a fleeting moment of breathtaking beauty. If only you could find the courage to tell them that.
[ Number 1579 is an S rank Arcane Tendency Esper with the Cryokinesis ability. They are under Libra’s Jurisdiction, and thus only follow orders coming directly from them. ]
Other Tropes : Emotional Scars, Nobody thinks it’ll actually work, Hate Sex
2. The Warden? [m] | ???
Subject Name : Nikita
There is an uncanny familiarity surrounding him, leaving you torn between the unsettling grip of dread and the elusive allure of desire. He claims to know you personally. Apparently the two of you were close friends before The Incident. Yet, when you press for details, he skillfully redirects the conversation before your emotions can catch up. "The past is but a fleeting shadow," he says, "no need to talk about something that can't be changed. Besides, you wouldn't remember anything." Evidently your memories had been erased. The question of who hangs heavy in the air, but his response remains enigmatic, offering only a mirthless smile.
[ Nikita is the Warden of Tartarus, the Reformation Asylum in Sector 10, 8th District. He is under Scorpio's jurisdiction. ]
Other Tropes : Slowburn, Betrayal, Puppy play
3. The Friend [f/m] | Friends to Lovers
Subject Name : Victor (m.) | Vanessa (f.)
A compassionate and devoted companion, V. shines as a beacon of light in the desolate depths of this grim abyss that became your world. From the moment you opened your eyes, they extended a helping hand, guiding you through the labyrinthine complexities of Tartarus and easing your transition into this unfamiliar realm. Unfazed by the venomous whispers that tarnish your reputation, they remain steadfastly by your side, unwavering in their loyalty. Their warm smiles and whimsical wordplay serve as a balm, mending your wounded spirit after every bitter clash with Twenty. How fortunate you are to be blessed with such an illuminating presence, brightening the shadows that consume your existence.
[ Number 1339 is an A rank Catalyst Tendency Esper with the Illusion Manipulation ability. They are under Scorpio’s Jurisdiction. ]
Other Tropes : Partners in crime, First Love, Good people get good sex, Slight yandere
4. The Count/Countless [f/m] | Forbidden Romance (relationship history can be friends with benefits)
Subject Name : Emir (m.) | Evara(f.)
A remarkable visionary and an exceptional entrepreneur, E. stands as an unrivaled figure in the illustrious realm of Elysium City. Holding the distinction of being the youngest Grandmaster in history and amassing unparalleled wealth, they reign as the CEO of the renowned Quinn Industries. E. is adorned with numerous titles within the esteemed echelons of society, serving as an icon of inspiration and a beacon of hope, while simultaneously arousing envy in the hearts of many. An arrogant and proud individual, their ugliness is conveniently covered by their astonishing fortune, combined with innate brilliance, seems almost mystical, as if destined for greatness from their very birth. Within Elysium City's grand social tapestry, few possess the persuasive prowess to sway the decisions of the Hightable itself, yet E. stands tall even among this select few. As an eligible bachelor, their daily inundation of love letters and marriage proposals is a testament to their allure. And yet, amidst all this splendor, it is you who has found a place of interest in their extraordinary life.
[ E. is a part of The Senate and thus does not fall under any District's jurisdiction. ]
Other Tropes : Belated love epiphany, Billionaire, Power play, Daddy/Mommy kink
5. The Master [f] | Forbidden Romance
Subject Name : Leo
In her calculated pursuit, you find yourself ensnared. Your allure captivates her discerning gaze, for you possess what she desires most. You are the coveted object of her desires. In this strategic game, you are but a pawn, a possession within her calculated grasp. Yet, curiously she maintains a measured distance. Her reason? She eloquently articulates, “Witnessing the growth of one's possession is a fascinating phenomenon.”
[ Leo is the Master of {DATA REDACTED}. They are the Ruler of the 5th District. ]
Other Tropes : Secret Identity, Second Chance, Blood play, Begging
6. The Protector [m] | Bodyguard Romance
Subject Name : Caesar
A battle-hardened soldier, Caesar bears the scars of a lifetime spent serving the FAE and the city. With an intimacy unparalleled, he has danced with mortality on numerous occasions, making death a companion rather than an adversary. Yet, behind that facade of strength, Caesar is a fractured soul, haunted by insecurities and a self-destructive nature. His journey, filled with shattered dreams and the weight of his daughter's aspirations, has brought him to the edge of despair. The immortality he once embraced now feels like a curse, a harbinger of misfortune that has become synonymous with his presence. In his eyes, he sees himself as not a protector but a bearer of ill fate. However, the stars, in an unexpected alignment, have granted him a final purpose: to protect you. Beneath the intimidating exterior lies a gentle giant, yet one plagued by a profound sense of self-loathing. He grapples with the belief that his very existence is a catalyst for tragedy, a vortex that draws calamity toward him and those he holds dear. Intrigued by this complex guardian, you see the duality within Caesar — an attentive and understanding individual burdened by the weight of his own perceived malevolence. As you navigate through the intricate layers of his psyche, perhaps you could help him ease his suffering, even by a little.
[ Caesar is a registered S rank Endura Tendency Esper with the Regeneration ability. He comes under Leo’s jurisdiction. ]
Other Tropes : Beauty and the Beast, Single parent, Stop calling me daddy
7. The Rebel [f/m] | Enemies to Lovers
Subject Name : Gael (m.) | Gwendolyn (f.)
You betrayed them. Or perhaps it's the other way around? You do not remember. The trust you once held dear has been shattered, and now you must face the price for your misguided beliefs. Like a fool enchanted by deceit, you must bear the weight of your choices. Remember this lesson, for betrayal's toll is a heavy one to pay. Proceed with caution, lest you become ensnared in the web of your own treachery.
[ There is no known information on this individual. Extreme caution is recommended. ]
Other Tropes : Amnesia, Revenge, Redemption, Breathe play
Links
[ DEMO ]
[ PINTEREST ]
[ THE DISTRICTS ]
[ THE HIGHTABLE ]
All asks and reposts are welcome 😁!
wow can't wait!
Progress Report! Please check it out!
Hi guys, I recently asked people to vote on what they'd like as Free Folk on my Patreon, and they asked for public Progress Reports!
So, the progress report is available to all if you join for free on my patreon! It's free! There's content in there, even if you don't want to pay! Honestly, I'd love it if you joined!
Just uh, fyi; spoilers will be inside. Especially since ima just post the Progress Report as you've always been there.
Speaking of...
Some background information:
I rewrote everything.
There were glaring issues with the old demo, like not meeting any ROs, and it'd already be past 300k words.
Still being a lil shit, and it being past 300k words.
Having not killed a man, and it being past 300k words.
NOT EVEN GETTING KISSES OR HUGS, AND IT BEING PAST 300k WORDS!
Shame!
Shame on the author!
Puts best face on.
Puts on nice song.
Well, I listened.
The lack of interactivity, the exposition, the blah blah blah...
I tried addressing those issues, hard. I also tried addressing issues with the narrative itself. Issues with the ROs (a majority of which we never even met yet!)
Everything. This isn't a small rewrite, something that changes things here and there.
I'm even calling this the "Great Reset". Cause I reset everything. Changed almost everything.
Now?
I love this version. I love working on this version. I can see the road ahead, when previously I was unable to.
I'm so confident in this version that I put Todd Howard, and played Sweet Little Lies.
Cause I'll be hanged if I'm lying. And I'm not.
The changes I've put in, the effort I've put in, the progress I've made in these last two months.
Now, I ease you into KaE for the first 100k words. You choose whether to be raised as a Prince, Princess, or Squire and experience the politics, the characters, the living breathing world of KaE that sows the seeds of the issues that'll cause the chaos in the world you'll face later on. I've introduced new coding features that make it simpler for you and me, and it feels more immersive than before. I want us to reach the academy within 300k words. I just feel happy to be writing again. It's my real calling, and it feels good to do it.
Anyways, enough of that. Please, take some time out of your day to look at the latest of what's upcoming.
The progress for the public release is 83k words out of 100k. We're almost there for the public release!!!
Thank you for reading!!!
Can I ask for Sale Fisher x fem!reader that's popular? And could you PLS PLS PLS don't make her mean? Like, I want her to be popular becouse she's one of those poeple that just sthraight up go talk to anyone.
And maybe Sal's friend group thought that shes propably a bitch, but like.
'She sat at our table?.....and didn't make fun of us?.....in fact she gives compliments that don't feel backhandead?......wtf?'
⬆️just an example, you can do whatever with this.
Sorry for possibile grammer errors or speeling mistakes, english isn't my first lenguage. Thank you and I hope you'll have a nice day ♥️
Hey! I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE SO CUTE!! so Ive seen many fics on this and i wanted to take a different approach. I hope you enjoy it. I love Sal and I hope this isn’t too crazy. I wrote a version yesterday and made everyone a little too mean and I don’t believe any of them would be assholes. So! Hopefully this satiates y’all.
masterlist
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆ Your legs ache from practice, the soles of your sneakers sticking a little to the hallway tile with each step. You smell faintly of sweat and cherry body spray, the cheer uniform still clinging to your skin like it’s part of you now tight pleats, school colors, and all. You could’ve changed, sure, but exhaustion said no. So here you are, hair in a high ponytail, shoes untied, carrying a stack of junk mail and a single envelope that doesn’t belong to you.
You look at it again under the flickering hallway light, flipping it over in your fingers like it’ll magically reroute to the correct mailbox on its own.
SAL FISHER
UNIT 402
You know the name. Everyone at school does. The kid with the face cover. You’ve never spoken to him he doesn’t really hang around the same kind of people you do but he’s always there. At lunch, in the halls, sometimes sitting out near the tree line when no one else is around. You didn’t peg him as the chatty type.
You stare at the letter like it might bite you. Then sigh. “Why not be a good neighbor,” you mutter, dragging your legs toward the elevator.
The ride to the fourth floor feels longer than it should. It shudders a little on the way up. You keep your eyes on the numbers. Three… four. The doors open with a ding that sounds half hearted.
You’ve never actually been up here.
The fourth floor feels… worse. Everything smells faintly of dust and something like mothballs and metal. You don’t know why, but the lights here feel dimmer. You walk slower, steps echoing.
You find the unit: 402. You raise your hand to knock. There was a pause for a few seconds.
A man stands in front of you, tall, a little disheveled, and definitely not Sal. His presence is immediate, like he fills the space just by being in it. You blink.
“Oh hi! Sorry,” you start, holding the envelope out, “I was just dropping this off”
“He’s in his room,” the man says before you finish.
You freeze. “Oh, no, I wasn’t trying to bother him, I just thought I’d–”
“Just go on in. Down the hall, last door on the left.”
You blink again. You’re not even sure he’s looking at you. Just staring somewhere past your head, like he’s already decided this conversation is over.
“I mean, I could just leave it here”
“Last door on the left.”
He steps aside, just enough for you to enter. You do, but not on purpose. Your legs just move. You step into the apartment, and it’s… weird. Not gonna lie, being in any strangers apartment never really felt cool. You walk toward the hallway, clutching the letter, mind screaming at you to stop being so polite.
“Damn old people,” you think, jaw tightening. “I just wanted to drop something off, not go all this way”
The hallway feels longer than it is. The floor creaks behind you, or maybe above you. You don’t look back. You keep walking. Last door on the left.
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆ You knock lightly once, twice then pull your hand back like the door might burn you. A pause. Then the knob turns. The door creaks open slowly, revealing a familiar figure just behind it. Blue pigtails. The mask.
Sal Fisher.
He stares at you. You stare back. Neither of you says a word. And because silence is somehow gnawing at your neck, you blurt, “Hi! Um, I think our mail got mixed up I swear I didn’t just barge in.”
You thrust the letter forward like it’s a peace offering. “This was in my mailbox. For you. I thought I’d, y’know, be neighborly and return it. I didn’t open it or toss it or anything. Your dad sent me over this way”
He takes the envelope slowly, his fingers brushing yours for the briefest moment. His gaze flicks down to it.
“Thanks,” he says. His voice is quieter than you expected. Almost gentle.
You nod. Then freeze. Then nod again. You’re still standing there, very much in his doorway, very much uninvited. His room is in full view behind him. Posters of metal bands you’ve only heard mentioned in passing. Skulls, red and black ink themes. A guitar in the corner. Tiny, vaguely creepy figurines lined up on a shelf.
“Your room’s so cool,” you say before your brain can stop you. You lean forward just a little, peering past him. “Seriously. This is like… Sid and Nancy level. How do you even find posters like that anymore? Oh my god is that an actual cassette player? That’s so sick.”
You wince as the words leave your mouth. “God, sorry, I’m not trying to be weird. I mean that in a good way. Promise.”
Your voice is speeding up. You’re spiraling. And you know it.
Sal just keeps watching you like he’s trying to figure out if this is real or a very strange dream. A cheerleader. In his doorway. Talking about cassette players. You finally cringe so hard your whole body folds in on itself.
“I’m gonna go,” you say, backing toward the hallway. “Sorry for the whole… I don’t know what that was. I was just trying to be a good neighbor and it turned into, like, a monologue of whatever the fuck.”
You turn halfway around to leave when you hear
“You wanna take a look around?”
You glance over your shoulder.
Sal is still standing there, holding the envelope like it might vanish. His posture is stiff, like he’s surprised the words came out of his mouth, too.
You blink. “I mean… sure?”
He nods. “If you’re into the posters, Do you dig that kind of music?.”
Your eyebrows shoot up. “Well I wouldn’t say it’s exactly my style but I’m a all things can be redeemable if you give it a try”
He jerks his head toward the room. “why not give it a try then”
You’re already stepping inside before he finishes, smiling wide. “You had me at ‘cool’ and sealed the deal with ‘band.’ Show me.”
The second you cross the threshold, it’s like entering another world. The bland apartment hallway behind you disappears into a mess of amps, guitars, wires, dark posters, and the faint scent of incense and old vinyl.
Sal gestures toward a small desk setup with beat up speakers and a laptop. He grabs a pair of headphones well worn, slightly cracked along the band and offers them to you.
“You don’t have to pretend it’s good,” he mutters. “Honest opinion’s fine.”
You shoot him a thumbs up and take the headphones like they might unlock the secrets of the universe.
He clicks play.
The drums hit first loud, fast. Then comes the guitar: raw, rich, angry. A distorted voice cuts through the noise melodic under the layers of whatever was happening, but clawing to be heard. Your eyes go wide. You start bobbing your head slowly. Then more. A grin creeps up your face, shoulders bouncing slightly as the music crashes through your ears. You grip the headphones tighter, fully in it like you’ve been dropped into a private punk rock concert in a dream.
When the song fades, you pull the headphones off with a breathless laugh. “That was… so good,” you say, eyes lit up. “Like, very loud but in the best way. I felt like I could punch God in the face. I loved it.”
Sal’s ears what little you can see of them turn just slightly pink. He shifts, crossing his arms. “Yeah?”
You grin. “What, because I’m in a cheer uniform, you think cheerleaders don’t have rage?”
He laughs softly. It’s warm. Unexpected.
You glance at the clock and groan. “Ugh. I should probably head back and pretend I’m responsible or whatever. Homework calls.”
You hand the headphones back, your fingers lingering a second before letting go.
“Thanks for showing me that,” you say. “Seriously. its super sick.”
Sal shrugs, casual, but he still won’t quite meet your eyes. In his head, he’s screaming. Because what the hell. A cheerleader just walked into his room, complimented his taste in music, vibed to Sanity Falls, and then thanked him like he did her a favor.
Respectfully and he does mean that. you’re hot. this whole thing feels like a glitch in the matrix. Like someone else’s life. He clears his throat. “Yeah. Uh. Anytime.”
You flash one last smile before turning to leave. Sal Fisher stands frozen in his room, A pretty girl was in his room.
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆ the clatter of trays, bursts of laughter, the shriek of a chair scraping too hard against the linoleum. Sal sat across from Larry, Ash, and Todd, picking at the edges of his sandwich more than actually eating it. His thoughts weren’t really on food. Not when they kept drifting back to the night before.
Cheerleader. In his room. Pretty girl. She liked his music.
“Hey,” he said finally, pushing his tray forward and folding his arms on the table. “Do you guys know that new girl who lives on the third floor now?”
Larry paused mid bite, sandwich halfway to his mouth. “Third floor?”
Ash glanced between them, already suspicious. “Wait. Are we talking about that new girl? Y/N something?”
“Yeah,” Sal said, tone casual like he wasn’t rehearsing the question all morning. “she dropped something off last night. Just wondering if you knew her.”
Larry barked a laugh. “The cheerleader? Yeah, she’s definitely one of those girls.”
Sal blinked. “Those?”
“You know,” Ash chimed in, leaning her chin on her hand. “Perfect hair. Always smells like a mall. Probably part of one of those fake bestie cliques that post about how much they loveee each other but secretly hate one another’s guts.”
Larry nodded, already back into his food. “Plastic. The kind that calls everyone ‘babe’ but doesn’t know your actual name.”
Todd, sipping from a thermos, finally looked up. “You guys don’t even know her.”
Ash raised an eyebrow. “And you do?”
“I’ve had class with her. She’s… quiet,” Todd said thoughtfully. “Pays attention. Says thank you when someone passes her a worksheet. She helped a freshman with their locker on the second day.”
“That’s your bar for decency?” Larry said, skeptical.
“I’m just saying, you’re judging her and like Sal was new too once,” Todd said. “You don’t know anything real about her.”
Ash groaned. “You don’t need to know someone to know someone, Todd. Some people just radiate mean girl energy. Trust me.”
Todd narrowed his eyes. “That’s a shallow assumption and you know it.”
Ash muttered something about “cheerleaders being a plague” under her breath, and Larry snorted.
Sal, who had gone unusually quiet, finally spoke again. “She’s not like that.”
All three of them turned to look at him.
Larry’s mouth slowly curved into a smirk. “Wait. Hold up. Why are you asking about her, dude?”
Sal looked down, then up, tone clipped. “I told you. She dropped off mail. That’s it.”
Ash crossed her arms. “why did she just come all the way up to your place to give you a letter?”
Sal shrugged. “Her mailbox got mine by accident. then stayed for a bit”
Larry leaned forward, grinning. “What, did she get lost on the way out?”
Sal blinked. “She liked my music.”
Ash scoffed. “What, like out loud?”
Sal nodded. “Yeah. She tried my headphones. Even headbanged a little.”
Todd smiled slightly. “That’s kind of cool.”
Larry shook his head like he was witnessing a miracle. “Okay, wait a minute. A cheerleader, listened to screamo music, and didn’t run screaming for the suburbs?”
Sal shrugged again. “She said it made her want to punch God.”
Ash froze, lips parting in a mix of confusion and, for the first time, mild interest. “Okay… that’s actually kind of hardcore.”
“She said my room was cool,” Sal mumbled, mostly to his tray.
Larry threw his hands up. “Okay, what the hell, Sal. Are you telling me you Sal ‘I sit by myself and listen to death metal’ Fisher just casually had a cheerleader in your bedroom?”
Sal didn’t reply, but his fingers drummed on the table a little too fast to be casual. Larry leaned in. “Dude. You got a cheerleader in your room. Are you sure this wasn’t a dream? Like a fever dream after one too many gas station burritos?”
Todd tilted his head. “Or maybe… maybe she’s just a person. Like the rest of us. Who happens to like punk and be good at flips.”
Ash scowled. “God, Todd, you sound like a teacher.”
He shrugged. “Just saying.”
Larry still wasn’t over it. “Next thing you know she’s gonna show up in all black with eyeliner and join a band.”
Sal didn’t say it out loud, but a flicker of a smile played under the edge of his mask at the idea. He kinda liked that you were so different. the juxtaposition of your looks and what you seemed interested was very cool to look at.
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆ You strolled through the crowd with your cheer squad flanking both sides laughing, gossiping, spinning their hair around fingers like it was a competitive sport. You listened absently as one of them launched into a dramatic retelling of how her ex “accidentally” liked her finsta post at 2 a.m.
You weren’t really paying attention. Not because you didn’t care, though the first time she talked about it had you engaged. but because your eyes had already locked onto something else across the cafeteria. A short blue haired guy sitting at a table near the back with a group of kids you’d only ever heard about through whispered rumors and cruel nicknames.
There he was. Sal Fisher. without really thinking without asking yourself anything at all you broke away from your group mid laugh. Just veered straight toward him like your legs had made the decision before your brain did.
“Wait, where are you going?” one of your friends asked behind you.
“BRB,” you called over your shoulder. “I want to bother someone.”
Across the cafeteria, at a table meant for the misfits, Sal was in the middle of pushing peas around his tray when a sudden blur of cheer uniform and bounce came into view. He looked up.
You stopped right beside him and sat down immediately grabbing his arm, breathless and grinning. “Okay, so, I’ve been thinking about that song you showed me all night. Like, literally, I couldn’t sleep. I need more. You got a playlist? A mixtape? A USB drive from hell? Gimme.”
For one perfect, cinematic second, the entire table was silent. Larry dropped his fork. Ash’s eyes nearly bugged out of her skull. Todd blinked like you had just walked through a wall.
Sal just stared. “You… what?”
You nodded eagerly, lowering your voice like it was sacred. “You ruined all my playlists. I need more of that noise in my life.”
He blinked again. “You sure?”
“You say that like you thought I wouldn’t.”
“I–” Sal started, then stopped, looking absolutely stunned.
You turned to the rest of the table, realizing they were still staring at you like you’d just sprouted devil horns and declared yourself prom queen of hell. You raised a hand sheepishly. “Hi. Sorry for interrupting. I’m Y/N. just moved this year.”
Ash looked like she was physically holding herself back from combusting. Larry was still open mouthed, and Todd was watching with the kind of intrigue usually reserved for alien encounters.
“If you’re anything like Sal,” you added, offering them a genuine smile, “then I’m sure you’re all cool as hell.”
Larry looked to Sal, eyes wide. “Yeah, he’s crazy cool. Though he did learn from the best” Larry awkwardly replied while pointing himself
Ash leaned toward Todd. “I think i’m on drugs, what’s happening” Todd just smiled quietly.
You turned back to Sal, who was very much glitching out in real time. “I’ll give you my number later,” you said with a wink. “Text me a playlist. Or this time I’m breaking into your room.”
Sal opened his mouth. Closed it. Nodded once like he was in shock. “Okay.” And then you were gone, skipping back to your friends, who were whispering furiously and shooting glances like you’d just fraternized with the enemy.
“what was that?” one of them hissed.
You smiled, tugging your ponytail higher.“you’re the one who told me to make friends here, thats all i’m doing.”
Back at the table, Sal stared down at his tray like it might give him answers.
Larry leaned in, whispering, “Bro. Are you a witch? Did you hex a cheerleader?”
Sal just shook his head.
“I think,” he said slowly, still stunned, “i think its jover for me.”
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆ You weren’t quite sure how it happened. One second you were joking in the hallway with Sal about your shared hatred for lukewarm cafeteria pizza, and the next you were in his room, cross legged, spinning slowly on his desk chair while he nervously adjusted the volume on his old stereo system.
The room was quiet, save for the soft murmur of some obscure post punk band playing from the corner. You didn’t recognize the lyrics, but it felt like something you wanted to memorize.
“You know,” you said, glancing around, “I kinda expected more skulls. Or like… weird taxidermy?”
Sal laughed soft and surprised. “Yeah, you’re not the first to say that. I think Larry was disappointed when he first came over and didn’t find a Ouija board or something.”
You gave him a playful squint. “Wait, you don’t have one?”
Sal grinned slightly behind the mask. “Okay, I do. But it’s under my bed and mostly for decoration. Larry gets carried away.”
You hopped off the chair and crouched, peeking under the bed like you were on a mission. “You’re telling me there’s a haunted board game down here and you’re not showing me?”
“It’s not haunted,” he replied, clearly amused. “It’s just from a yard sale. Probably cursed with suburban angst at most.”
You laughed, brushing your fingers over a dusty shoebox. “Still cool. You’ve got good taste. I mean, look at this stuff.”
Posters of bands you’d never heard of were plastered across the walls, scribbled notebook pages taped in between like patchwork wallpaper. An old lava lamp flickered halfheartedly in the corner. There were stacks of CDs, cassette tapes, and one particularly weird clay sculpture that looked like it might’ve been made in a sleep deprived art class.
You plopped onto his bed and tilted your head. “This one’s my favorite,” you said, pointing at a crooked drawing of a girl with hollow eyes and messy hair. “She beautiful.”
Sal stepped closer, shoving his hands in his hoodie pocket. “That was… something I did when I was like, thirteen. Supposed to be a ghost from this dream I had. I kept seeing her for weeks after.”
You looked at him, expression soft. “You see ghosts a lot?”
He hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Sometimes. Not all the time. But yeah.”
“Damn. That’s metal.”
Sal let out another laugh, more comfortable now. “That’s what I told my therapist.”
You leaned back on your elbows, smiling at him from his own bed like you’d done it a hundred times. “So, what else are you hiding in here? Secret dungeon? Portal to hell?”
“Uh,” Sal said, eyes glinting with something playful. “Larry stole all the portals to hell. I’m more of a secret music archive guy.”
You shot up. “Prove it.”
He smirked and crossed the room to a cabinet by his desk, pulling open a drawer to reveal a mess of burned CDs, USBs, old MP3 players, and one tiny cassette player with a sticker that said “Play if you hate the world.”
You gasped like he’d opened the Holy Grail. “Sal. This is the coolest shit I’ve ever seen. You better send me everything.”
He knelt beside you, pulling out a CD with careful fingers. “This one’s the first mix I ever made. It’s super rough.”
You took it from him reverently. “I love rough.”
Sal’s ears went pink. “I, uh, that came out weird.”
“Yeah,” you teased. “but cant a girl say how she feels.”
You glanced at him, and he was already watching you, like he couldn’t believe you actually said that. Like you’d disappear if he blinked too long.
“Hey,” you said, quieter now. “You’re kinda talkative tonight.”
He shrugged, brushing some hair from his face. “You’re easy to talk to.”
That made something flicker warm in your chest.
“Same,” you murmured. Then you nudged him with your shoulder. “Do you like me here?”
Sal tilted his head, mock serious. “People probably that I’ve summoned a demon cheerleader to possess me.”
You grinned. “Yeah? Hope they’re right.”
And he laughed again. You liked that sound. You wanted to hear it more.
You and Sal stayed like that for a while, just talking. The kind of conversation that meandered and curved around strange facts and half finished thoughts. He told you about a ghost that used to knock on his closet door when he was little. You told him about the time you accidentally summoned a raccoon with a ritual you found on Tumblr. Somewhere between laughter and another CD recommendation, you spotted a small, beat up notebook tucked between the mattress and wall. It looked old, like something with secrets.
“Ooooh, what’s that?” you asked, already reclining across the bed to reach it.
Sal looked up, immediately alert. “Wait no, that’s!”
Too late. You stretched out, reaching over him as he sat back against the headboard. Your fingers brushed the edge of the notebook only for your balance to shift, the mattress dipping under your weight.
Thump.
You landed right on top of him. For a moment, neither of you moved. You were nose to nose, your chest pressed against his, hands awkwardly splayed on either side of his shoulders. His mask had tilted slightly, and you could see just a glimpse of the scar beneath it before he quickly adjusted it. His breath hitched so did yours.
Your eyes met.
Sal’s eyes were wide, pupils flicking between yours like he was scanning for some kind of signal. You suddenly became very aware of the warmth radiating off him. Of the way your knee was pressing slightly between his legs. The room, the music, the whole world had gone still.
“Uh,” he said softly, like he was trying not to spook you.
You blinked. “Sorry. Um. .”
“it’s okay,” he said, voice an octave higher than usual. “Totally. You’re all good trust. Yeah.”
You were about to say something maybe a joke, maybe not when the door slammed open with the force of someone who had never knocked in his entire life.
“Yo, Sal HOLY SHIT”
You scrambled off like you’d been hit with a taser, rolling off to the side and nearly falling off the bed. Sal sat bolt upright, stiff as a corpse.
Larry stood in the doorway, a soda can in one hand and a box of cookies in the other, blinking like he was trying to make sure what he was seeing wasn’t a hallucination.
“Dude,” he said, utterly stunned. “Did I interrupt something?”
Sal buried his face in both hands with a groan. “Larry.”
“No, because this is like… well im not going to say. You’re on the bed, she’s on top of you, the music’s playing do you guys want me to turn the lights down? Light a candle or something?”
You threw a pillow at him.
Larry dodged it “I can come back later. Like, waaay later.”
“You weren’t even supposed to come now,” Sal hissed, his voice muffled behind his hands.
Larry grinned. “I felt a disturbance in the force.”
You sat up and crossed your legs, trying to fix your hair and your dignity. “Hey Larry, how’s it going?.”
Larry raised his brows and backed toward the hallway with exaggerated steps. “I meet you once and you’re already over my man right here”
And then he was gone, disappearing down the hall with the sound of crinkling cookie packaging trailing behind him. Sal finally peeked up at you, his face still a little flushed. “…Im sorry about that.”
You smiled, brushing your hair back. “Im not too worried, He seems like a nice guy.”
Sal blinked, then laughed “I think I like having you around,” he murmured, almost too quiet to catch.
You grinned, nudging his knee with yours. “Then send me that damn playlist before I tackle you again.”
“…Not the worst threat I’ve heard,” he replied.
And the music played on.
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆You sat criss cross on the grass with your cheerleader friends, your lunch mostly forgotten as you braided strands of your best friend’s hair while another girl animatedly recounted some drama from first period.
“…and then he said, ‘It’s not cheating if we were on a break!’” she shrieked, clutching her phone like it was sacred.
Everyone groaned, gasped, or fake fainted in synchronized horror.
You laughed, tossing a piece of grass in her direction. “He used the Friends defense? God, we need to start handing out red flags on flashcards.”
You were comfortable here. It was loud, messy, dramatic but it was yours. And they loved you because you weren’t just part of the cheer squad, or the new girl, but because you talked to the theater kids, the band nerds, the weird guy in the dinosaur hoodie. You didn’t care about cliques. You liked people. People were weird and interesting.
Eventually the bell rang and everyone stood, gathering their things in a flurry of hair and perfume.
“I’ll see you after school!” someone called. You waved, backing away toward the building with your backpack swinging behind you.
And that’s when you heard it. “Pick it up, you little freak. Or do you need your mommy to do it for you?”
You rounded the corner and froze. A smaller kid, maybe a freshman, was scrambling to pick up their books, hands shaking as a taller guy stood over him. Shaggy hair,, fists clenched like he wanted someone to look. A few papers blew past your feet. You didn’t step in. You knew better. You weren’t built like that couldn’t throw a punch or bark louder than a threat. And you knew the look of someone who’d use that.
But still… once the kid grabbed his stuff and scurried off like a spooked rabbit, you found your voice.
“Hey.”
The guy turned to you, annoyance etched into every line of his face. “What?”
You took a slow breath and tilted your head. “What’s your problem?”
He blinked, like you’d just asked him the square root of an existential crisis. “You wanna go?” he said, stepping toward you with all the bravado of someone who’d been fighting shadows his whole life.
You didn’t flinch. Just crossed your arms and stared. “You seriously pick fights with kids who can’t fight back? What, did your cereal bully you this morning?”
That got him. Just a flicker but it was there. A crack in the tough guy mask. He scoffed. “Don’t act like you know me.”
“I don’t,” you said honestly. “But I know whatever that was back there? Thats fucked, stop being a dick and maybe your mommy would do something about it.” His jaw flexed like he was holding back a hundred things he didn’t know how to say. “I’m not scared of you,” you added softly. “But you being a dick is pointless.”
He stared at you for a long time. Long enough that it should’ve felt uncomfortable. But instead, it felt… tense. Not dangerous. Just tight. Like something holding its breath.
Then, just before turning, he muttered, “Tch. Whatever.”
You watched him go, the anger in his steps still there but dulled, somehow. Like your words had wedged into the gears of whatever rage machine he operated on. You found out later from someone in gym class that his name was Travis. Just Travis. No one knew his last name, just that he was trouble, had a rep, and probably didn’t have many people who called him anything else.
Ash had seen it.
She’d been leaning against the side of the vending machines, chewing on the straw of her empty smoothie cup, eyes darting around the quad like they always did. She wasn’t looking for drama, not really, but if it stumbled into her path, she sure as hell wasn’t going to ignore it.
She watched the whole thing Travis towering, spitting venom, and you standing there, not brave enough to throw hands, but bold enough to ask why. Not backing down. Not even flinching.
When he walked off, still pissed but quieter somehow, she tossed her smoothie into the bin and strolled over like she wasn’t deliberately inserting herself.
“What was that?” she asked, casually, like she’d just seen you pet a lion.
You turned, slinging your backpack higher on your shoulder. “What was what?”
Ash raised a brow. “With Travis. You said something. He didn’t hit you. That’s basically a miracle.”
You shrugged, still feeling the adrenaline buzz in your ribs. “I don’t know. Just… couldn’t walk past it.”
Ash snorted. “People walk past him all the time. He’s an ass. A racist, sexist, homophobic caveman with fists for brains. Trust me, most people are glad to stay out of his way.”
You chewed your lip. “Yeah. I guess. I just. I don’t know. People who are assholes need someone to speak up.”
She tilted her head, considering that for a beat. “You ever get into fights?”
“God, no,” you said quickly. “I’d die.”
Ash smirked. “That checks out. Still, you didn’t run. Didn’t go fake sweet or start crying to a teacher. You just… confronted him. That was kind of bold of you new girl.”
“Thanks?” you offered, unsure.
She walked with you now, matching your steps as you made your way down the hall. It was quiet, the rush between lunch and next period tapering off.
Ash glanced sideways at you. “Y’know, I pegged you as another one of them.”
You didn’t need to ask who them was. You’d seen the way she looked at your cheer friends. Glitter and high ponies didn’t mix with combat boots and smudged eyeliner.
You smiled softly, still looking ahead. “Yeah. I get that a lot.”
She didn’t say anything for a second. Then: “Turns out you’ve got more bite than you let on.”
You turned to her, surprised. “You saying that like it’s a good thing.”
Ash shrugged. “Might be.”
That was it. No over explanation. No emotional dive into friendship territory. Just the Ashley Campbell version of a peace offering. She didn’t invite you to hang out or trade numbers. She didn’t ask personal questions or gush. But the next time she saw you in the hall, she nodded at you instead of looking through you.
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆ The bell had just rung, and the hallways were alive people yelling across rows of lockers, someone dropping a textbook with a dramatic slam, and the smell of cafeteria pizza already creeping in. You scanned the crowd like a bloodhound on a mission.
Sal Fisher. Quietly standing near the usual corner with Larry, Todd, and Ash. He had his hands in his pockets, head tilted as Todd went off about some new theory, probably ghosts or government tech. Ash was chewing on a straw and nodding vaguely, while Larry interrupted every other word with “Nah, but listen what if?”
You didn’t even think twice.
“Hey!” you called, bounding over like a cartoon character with too much energy and absolutely no sense of personal space. “There you are, Blue.”
Sal looked up right as you reached him. “Blue?”
“You’re wearing blue,” you said, pointing at him. “And your hair’s blue. You’re very committed to the aesthetic.”
He tilted his head. “I wear black more than anything.”
“Technicalities,” you said, grabbing his sleeve. “Come on. We’re doing something.”
Larry raised a brow. “Is this a kidnapping?”
“Definitely,” Ash answered flatly.
“Wait, what are we doing?” Sal asked, laughing under his breath as you pulled him gently away from the group. “Do I get a say in this?”
“You get to walk or be dragged, your call.”
“That doesn’t feel like much of a choice,” he muttered, but he let you lead him anyway.
“Where are you taking him this time?” Todd called out with actual concern.
“To the moon,” you replied without turning around. “Or maybe just the vending machines. We’ll see.”
Ash cupped her hands around her mouth. “Bring him back in one piece!”
Larry shouted after, “AND IF HE COMES BACK MARRIED IM ATTACKING YOU FOR NOT LETTING ME BE BEST MAN!”
You groaned and shot them a look over your shoulder. “Y’all are so dramatic.”
“We’re dramatic?” Ash asked, gesturing wildly. “You swooped in like a caffeinated falcon and stole our boy mid convo!”
Sal laughed beside you, his eyes squinting just slightly with amusement behind the mask. “You kinda did.”
“Okay, but be honest,” you said, bumping your shoulder into his. “You weren’t even really paying attention to Larry’s alien rant.”
“…It was about space cats this time.”
“See? I’m rescuing you.”
He chuckled again, a little softer this time. “Then thanks, I guess. You know, I’ve started looking forward to these.”
You slowed your pace, peeking at him from the side. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, a bit bashful now. “You’re crazy and I am definitely living for it.”
Your smile tugged wider, warmth blooming in your chest. “That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“You need better friends,” he teased.
“I have you,” you shot back.
And that quiet moment hung between you both for just a second comfortable, kind of sweet, a little electric.
Back at the hallway corner, the trio watched you both disappear down the hall. Ash crossed her arms, a curious look on her face. “Im glad to have found out she’s not just some glitter clone.”
“Nope,” Larry agreed. “She’s cool. Like, actually so cool.”
Todd smiled faintly. “And Sal likes her. That much is obvious.”
Ash gave a small nod, the corner of her mouth twitching up. “Yeah. He really does.” for once, none of them said anything snarky.
Woahhhhhhh new Mordred just dropped let’s go
I may or may not redraw Malinda tho, havnt quite pinned down how I wanna approach dragons, anywho obligatory @llamagirl28 mention for Bastard of Camelot, thanks for the blorbo to torture <3
I MADE A PICTURE…. A proper one anyway, of my MC from The Golden Rose by @anathemafiction!!!!
Though it’s vaguely spoilery so I’ll put it under a read more just in case
Goofy jester of a man, would never take anything seriously ever, not religious in anyway, clearly only cares about booze and money
I mean why else would he carry around that coin like a cross?
Anyway Khals a good guy, just secretive, in a way u don’t realize he’s secretive.
As for the piece itself, I TRIED to make it vaguely look like the catacombs in the prologue, or at least feel like them, because I associate that area with him. But I’m bad at backgrounds soooooooo there ya go
SO I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO PLAYING THE SOUL STONE WAR, and I made this basic bitch and I love him, he is the only normal one besides Strassa maybe. At least as normal as a person trouble loves to follow anyway, but I digress.
The Soul Stone War is a lovely little game made by @intimidatingpuffinstudios, I’d probably play it sooner if I had… money, BUT I managed to get some and got both 1 and 2, they’ve been a blast even if 2 was a lot more, emotionally draining.
I’m gonna get into more deets about Isak here so, if ur not interested I’ll cover it up with a read more! Also it contains spoilers for books 1 and 2 so, if u wanna avoid that don’t look lol
Now seeing as the deets about the origins in game haven’t been revealed yet, I unfortunately cannot tell you exactly what happened to him, however I can give you how he reacted to all the shit that went on and how it affected him!
Isak grew up with his brother Jorgen and his mother, until she passed away probably around the time Isak was starting to reach maturity, he was heart broken of course, but Isak needed to be strong for Jorgen so he coped by looking on the brighter side of things. He tried to be a positive influence on his brother, and always did his best in taking care of him, either by working his absolute ass off in a toxic work environment for money or by telling Jorgen grand stories he made up based off of the tales in the scrolls in his village. He truly loved his brother and would do anything for him, including taking abuse by the locals that were particularly nasty to him and his brother.
He still tried to be friendly to the locals, even if they were cold, at the very least to try and make life easier for him and his brother. Of course the only person he considered a friend was his neighbor, who was the only person that was kind to him after his mother’s death, seeing as everyone would remain cold or even hostile to him despite his efforts.
Bain was his reoccurring tormentor, he tried many methods to placate him, appealing to him, letting him beat him, hell he even faught him once! But Isak lost, seeing as he avoided conflict where it would arise. Still none of these worked, and Bain continued to abuse him, but his brother especially
Which is probably what led to Jorgen’s subsequent death.
I cannot say what happened specifically, but regardless, Isak was completely crushed. For the first time in his life, he decided to give in to his rage as a way to placate the grief he would feel for the rest of his life, and he regretted doing so. Very much so.
After fleeing his village, he honestly considered just killing himself then and there, he couldn’t see a bright side his situation and the death of his brother was still fresh on his mind, but of course dear old lady Conch was there to remind him otherwise. With her help he regained his positive attitude, if not shaken now, and managed to pick himself up as much as he could from the depths and press on. To live a good life, one Jorgen likely would’ve wanted for him.
However Isak did develop a bad habit of spiraling if he doesn’t manage to convince himself that things will be ok, which usually leads to panic attacks, but of course he still tries despite this.
Hopefully this more or less sheds light on who he is a bit! He is an absolute peach and I love him, his design is probably a bit too bright for the setting but eh, it suits him, I’ll probably edit this to add his relationship dynamics so far if people r interested enough
(SO IT HAS OCCURRED TO ME THERE ARE TECHNICALLY SPOILERS HERE IM SO SORRY, so here's the disclaimer,,,)
Okay HERES THE THING I WANTED TO POST cuz I really like it, just moments with the soggy man and how he’s doing so far in @bodycountgame which I will summarize below
So far he drinks in social situations to help with nerves but this definitely bites him in the ass laterHas tiny little doodle tats on his left hand that he did himself, including the mushroom fly one on his inner wrist which u could see better in his concept art post, Now has pierced ears with one hello kitty earring because THIS LOSER LOVES SANRIO on an artistic level at least
His impressions on people are as follows: Florrie is super cool and he likes her a lot (also low key cute)
Charlie is also really cool and the messiah
Adegoke is nice and he likes hanging with him he just hasn’t figured him out yet,
Vinh seems cool and he understands why the need to be alone so he hopes to maybe get to know them better later,
and Griff managed to fucking get through at least half of his mental walls and trust issues in under 12 hours due to the sheer genuine want to be his friend and it hit Dakota HARD man, idk about romance yet but he definitely entered into a Bromance with Griff
Also he’s Demi so that’s poggers
Warming up for some big ol @bodycountgame, so here’s my take on Florrie! Dude I am so in love with her and for WAT
I wanted to go for a more subtle design but then I decided that maybe gaudy would fit her vibe more, like I considered making her eyeshadow a different color so it doesn’t blend in her hair, but this lady loves pink, and I just don’t think I can’t take that from her
Was a lil embarrassed by this old mood board thing with Mordred cuz my brother ripped me to shreds over the white tulips, BUT FUCK IT I worked my ass off of this thing and I’m gonna share it
It’s based off of the oc mood board trend thing going around (Idk if it’s still going around) BUT ANYWAY
Here he is again, my son, whom will suffer until further notice by @llamagirl28
Okay I went a lil overboard and drew the ROs for @lyragames thing, at least the versions of them I plan on having in my own playthrough
I don’t know if I did Odile any justice but I’m pretty confident with Leir’s fit, also sorry for Odile’s fucked up feet I hate drawing em
Also Otto towers over them like the fucking tree he is
Okay… so like, I found @lyragames to be released interactive novel, and uhh, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since, at all Bro I didn’t think I needed this till I saw it but I’m hyped as SHIT it looks so interesting right nowww Anyway I don’t have too much on this guy but his name is Otto, and he a pretty boy perfect beauty that kinda thing. Probably secretly insecure and it gets worse when he turns into a fucking goose lol the details however I will have to work on These are rough design notes but I like it so far :)