Extended Progress Update: 18 October 2024
Added 2024-10-18 12:30:02 +0000 UTCHi Returning Visitors,
Key highlights of this update and reminders:
Rosie's choice-dependent section is up next! πΉπ§π I'm eager to write scenes with her.
We'll be getting into why you and R, possibly J too, are just now pulling up to the mechanic shop; it's technically R's fault, smh. (Okay, it's mine for expanding the previous section. >.> I had fun!)
'Bloodletting' is three days away alongside more festive content for October! π©Έπ
Book Two Snippet: It seems Mal has an opinion. A limit?
As many of you know, the chapter I'm working on is composed of optional encounters that rely on your choices and dynamics all threading together to give it shapeβfrom where you go to whom you're with!
Honestly, I thought I'd be in the mechanic shop part of my outline. π However, I wanted October's content to be spooktacular (give me this one pun, please) for you all, which meant more time spent on its many posts and writings. Beyond that, once it was time to write the drive scene to said shop, I was struck with inspiration to expand the R. Verner bestie section. (JR-mancers and R-mancers will be treated to flirty, fun, soft, painful (if in denial about R), nostalgic, and more scenes. I wrapped those up though.) I wanted to give them a chance for bestie talk with your Returning Visitors to better deepen your friendship! Although that snowballed into maybe 25k words? I haven't coded it all just yet.
During the car ride to Rosie's, R might bring up your current romance route, so how things went at the Corvin Dinner because they've noticed you growing closer to a certain reserved Detective or that they're aware S invited you up to their room. π They might bring up shifts in your dynamic! We've seen the Verner perceptiveness in action, but now it's aimed at you. Expanding the original section was a lot of fun for me because you'll be learning about R's bonds with the other characters along with their unique view of your romance. How they address a S-mancer versus a B-mancer is intriguing, though I'm certain Mal-mancers might be surprised at how the conversation can unfold. π Every route gets its own unique choice set and variation set up, which is why the word count is relatively high for one (1) car scene. I can't wait for you to learn more! I'll tease some choices that may make you all curious:
#Shut this down. "R, go read a romance novel if you're craving some action." (ALL)
#Tease R, joking around. "'A bolt of jealousy'? Tell me more, Verner." (B)
#Seek reassurance. "Do you think S likes me? As in more than friends, you know." (S)
#Tease about what happened. "I kind of copped a feel by accidentβI slipped on rocks." (J)
#Tell R about Mal. "I've become close with Mal." (Mal)
This adds tailoring across your playthroughs! π₯° Each route has its own scenes and then around eight or so choices for you to gush, tease, stay neutral, seek reassurance, be a meanie, etc. R learning how to be a friend, especially to the MC given their childhood rivalry, gives me many feelings. Hopefully, R besties are looking forward to this bonding time! I'll be moving onto Rosie's scenes soon enough.
We are so close to 'Bloodletting' being released along with other content. I still need to finalize our fall quizβthe minor math involved in how your results will be determined. Similar to our summer quiz, I included lore hints, but this one might be less obvious about which answer relates/vibes with each character, which I'm excited for. Let's see where you'll end up on a dark, spooky night. ππ
[Spoilers Ahead!]
Here's an excerpt from Book Two:
The Waiter
There are two signs posted on the gates that read: 'No Trespassing⦠Or Else' and 'Keep Out!', except one has hastily sprayed graffiti on it that you examine during the wait. It's a skull with cavernous eye sockets and an exaggerated leering smile that's cartoonishly unsettling.
"Hopefully you never look at me quite like that."
Mal's voice causes you to startle back a step and into his chest before you're relaxing when his arms pull your bodies flush. "I can't leer at you then?" you complain. "Not fair."
"It looks like it wants to take a bite out of something," he observes, nosing along your neck before adopting a murmur. "From you, I only prefer a taste." He kisses a spot just beneath your ear that makes you press further into him, nibbling to prove a point before letting you go. "No devouring."
The Waitress
There are two signs posted on the gates that read: 'No Trespassing⦠Or Else' and 'Keep Out!', except one has hastily sprayed graffiti on it that you examine during the wait. It's a skull with cavernous eye sockets and an exaggerated leering smile that's cartoonishly unsettling.
"Hopefully you never look at me quite like that."
Mal's voice causes you to startle back a step and into her chest before you're relaxing when her arms pull your bodies flush. "I can't leer at you then?" you complain. "Not fair."
"It looks like it wants to take a bite out of something," she observes, nosing along your neck before adopting a murmur. "From you, I only prefer a taste." She kisses a spot just beneath your ear that makes you press further into her, nibbling to prove a point before letting you go. "No devouring."
Hmm, I wonder what the Returning Visitor did to earn this phrase ("From you, I only prefer a taste.") from Mal. (Yes, this scene is also choice-dependent. Mal can greet your MC a few different ways.)
Thank you for your support. Wishing you all a lovely and safe weekend! π₯°π
Comments
I recognize you as a fellow angst fiend, so my teasing leans into that; plus, it's fun (affectionately evil). π₯°ππ Oh, I love that you both are voting and pondering how R's opinions will play out! Many of the options will relate to a snarky/sweet both, though it depends somewhat on how your MC comes at R. Something I like is that each RO route section hints at R's view of the romance itself (i.e. how they're more careful about J, viewing it as something our Detective might /need/ (ah, there's a lot here) versus lowkey shipping with S and naturally hyping up their friend.) I'm looking closely at how you brought up 'A Slice of Humble Pie'. Perhaps, I will have to atone for something. The option I'm thinking you might pick for Alex inadvertently hurts R's feelings, though the one you and Kay will likely scream over is if you talk to R about how they were once willing to make B jealous for /you/, so aware of those ~feelings~. It's a lengthy fill! Before all of the choices, R is vulnerable about something that I know you'll be able to pick up on; it's subtle. (R can be tactful when they want to be for their bestie, but also they're going to be like: >.> (πͺ) for the MC. We'll see how it goes between them.) Yes, I do love knowing how you play! Thank you for sharing that insight with me along with spending your time in Fernweh to uncover more. π²I am so happy that the choice option I wrote for you resulted in a win for Alex/R. Yay! π₯° They get some sweetness as a treat. I like this for you as well because then it will make future angsty choices you select sting more because you know the potential is just there--just out of reach. I will say the staying the night with Mal results to the teaser in this Progress Update (if Mal is wiling to come). That's what replays are for! Anyway, 'Bloodletting' is soon *gently clinks my wine goblet of grape juice with yours* π©ΈThank you for what you said, especially about that choice for you. :D
Aelsa Trevelyan
2024-10-20 22:30:30 +0000 UTC....Aelsa why must you tease me in this manner.... π€£π€£π€£ Kay and I were both betting on Rs opinions and if they would be snarky or sweet (i also voted they would be both π) Why do I have a feeling that Bmance line will be similar to the "A Slice of Humble Pie" one? Ough Bmance with R bestie you will be the death of me...... AELSA PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES IF IM RIGHT IM GOING TO SCREAM (Deeply DEEPLY curious about Rs thoughts on Mal actually. Common sense king π) (also i need to know if that dislike is one sided or not, Mal is already a known hater lmao but what is Rs opinion? π« π« ) Aelsa Im so glad you like knowing how I play things π€£ sometimes i pick a choice with tears in my eyes and sometimes im cackling evilly while doing so (....i try not to think about the ??? being my answer on that one quiz while that happens) I WILL play it all 3 ways thats for sure lmao How far can I push the angst until it all breaks π€ Also fun fact but you are responsible for one singular Alex x Reese W in my playthrough π€£ I said I was between making Alex stay the night or not But reading that hand holding exchange you added for Alex convinced me π€©π₯° (even if the other option and R putting on their sunglasses made me ill.... it wouldve been perfectly angsty but i guess i can be nice to them once π)
alex
2024-10-19 22:02:05 +0000 UTCAnd who am I to disappoint our red blanket? Wouldn't dream of it. I'll add it to my ever growing list of things I am actively tracking in this story lmao. I am genuinely that red string board meme at this point I swear, Alesa. Ready for over analysing the latte art in a future drop too. Highlighters at the ready.
three of eight
2024-10-19 21:35:57 +0000 UTCIt falls into the 'both' category of how R can somehow be snarky and then turn sweet for certain Returning Visitors. You know them well! π (The S-mancer scenes are fun because they reinforce S&R's dynamic. Also, emotional/soft at times. >.> You can learn things about both of them.) It does! πI'm realizing now with the hints I've been giving that there's a location that is probably going to blindside many of you before we get to the Corvin dinner and then S's room. XD I'm dastardly excited about that. ππ¦π©Έ
Aelsa Trevelyan
2024-10-19 21:32:16 +0000 UTCI trust that you will, Three! It's what Mal would want. π I'll tease and say Morgan will be treated to a different scene and that your hunch about Mal's tone is likely right once we peer past the heat. Yours will be more molten, although they're all interesting sides of Mal that you (the reader) can draw out. π (Oh, one hint for future replays is: watch the graffiti.)
Aelsa Trevelyan
2024-10-19 21:25:23 +0000 UTCThat's the perfect emoji for how some of Mal's scenes leave me feeling. Thank you! The build up with Mal is central to their romance in addition to understanding more of their character motivations/what shaped them into who they are now. With time, you might get the chance to uncover more, not that Mal makes it easy. π I can't wait for you to spend more time with them.
Aelsa Trevelyan
2024-10-19 21:20:41 +0000 UTCMe π€ You, except this is also because I added a few sentences to it today while editing/looking over it. (A 'tasteful' piano analogy. π) R certainly has opinions about the romances. I enjoyed how this section allowed them to convey these opinions while listening to the MC's take on how things are going since you'll be able to confide in R. (I'm thinking about a very specific choice for Alex while romancing B that might take you out if you pick it. I'm sorry in advance.) The solo Mal-mancer convo is interesting! R tends favor the MC's feelings above all else even as a bff. (But they will also be honest about their /initial/ thoughts on Mal.) Oof, you're close with that guess! It links to a series of choices; however, Alex is better positioned than other Returning Visitors to get it /if/ they make an upcoming choice that's angsty by your design. (I adore knowing/learning about how you're playing to tease you with things.) I don't think they will though, but who knows. π I mean, if they do, I think they'll be floored once they get to [redacted], while you'll want to shake them more than usual. :D (You'll probably play this section 3 ways.)
Aelsa Trevelyan
2024-10-19 21:17:38 +0000 UTC"Do you think S likes me?" I need R's answer, it's going to be good π«΄(I can see them being sincere or snarky or somehow both). The day our MCs can visit S's room grows closer, pleas gibe π«΄π«΄π«΄ Also, Mal-vampire-truthers, where are you? ππ
ckl
2024-10-18 16:15:32 +0000 UTCBRB I need to over analyse that entire Mal snippet lmao. Much like Alex's comment in I also have a feeling about the scene but I think Morgan wouldn't get that scene naturally the way I play so I am intrigued.
three of eight
2024-10-18 14:11:45 +0000 UTCGod every single Mal romance scene, even minor, is just so π³ I really appreciate how well it's built up and her being possessive is still rather subtle compared to some other red flags ROs I seen.
starpendle
2024-10-18 13:14:10 +0000 UTCThere has not been a day where i didnt think about Bloodletting at least once π€£π€£ Bestie R scenes Bestie R scenes Bestie R sc- IM SO EXCITED They have OPINIONS!!!! π€π€π€ .....really curious about how the Solo Malmance scene might go.... oops (i dont blame R if he tells them to break up, i would say that too /j) ....why do i have a feeling Alex will get that scene with Mal in their R route? π (yes the skull was intentional)
alex
2024-10-18 12:45:32 +0000 UTC
