6 Fictional Places I Want to Explore In Real Life

(Even Though I Would Probably Die Within Minutes)

For some reason, my brain has a weird curiosity about fictional places. I want to know how big the streets are. How are the buildings made? Are the streets paved? I need to know! I would absolutely adore a thing like Google Earth Street View but for fictional places. Like, seriously. Someone make that. But until then, here are six fictional places that I would love to explore in real life. Though... because most of these are hellish places with wildlife and supervillains, I would probably die within minutes. But, those minutes would be fun!

Gotham

Batman comics, movies, and video games 

I never really wanted to explore Gotham much until I played Arkham Knight. I spent waaaaay too much time just wandering around the city and checking out shit. Now I really wanna explore the whole city. 

Harvel

Mass Effect: Andromeda 

Harvel is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Some animal would probably kill me five minutes after I start exploring, but damn… The place is beautiful. 

Hinterlands

Dragon Age

Oh gods I loved the Hinterlands. I know there are a few people out there that complain about how it takes forever to get through, but I was sad to leave. I was super into finding all the landmarks and learning the lore. 

The Hidden Leaf Village

Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, Boruto

Okay, this one is just for fan-fiction writing purposes. Seriously. I need to know the layout of that village. Maps just aren’t good enough!

The Finch House

What Remains of Edith Finch

So, that house is a little… dangerous looking. But fuck… I could spend days just looking at all the books without even taking them off the shelves. Find all the secrets. Just exploring the house over and over.

Springfield

The Simpsons

I am just insanely curious about the ins and outs of Springfield. Where exactly is the Tire Fire? Is it close to the school? Because… breathing in the fumes of a tire fire would explain some things about that school… Or the whole town really.

That's all for this time. I'll probably come up with more of these. But for now, that's it. See y'all next Wednesday 👋🏻

6 More of My Most Hated Parts in My Favorite Video Games

Spoilers for Mass Effect 3, Arkham Knight, and Dragon Age 2.

To see this post with some nifty gifs, check out my Tumblr

 Using the Apple of Eden in any of the Assassin’s Creed games.

I came here to stab things, not use some magic object that even after all this time I still can’t fucking figure out.

Okay. It's pretty easy to figure out. Push a button and watch as things happen. But, again, I came here to stab things...

Mordin’s death in Mass Effect 3.

There are a lot of sad deaths in my favorite video games. But for some reason, Mordin’s death still hits me as hard as it did the first time I played the game. And even though his death is heartbreaking to me, I always cure the genophage. It’s what he would want. 

Tank battle in Arkham Knight.

I love you Jason. I do. But I am going to shove that fucking tank up your ass piece by fucking piece. 

I think this whole thing is actually called "Destroy the Cloudburst". But... In my head, it's the tank battle. And I hated every minute of it. Especially that moment when I got respawned and got killed before I could even fucking move.

The Murder Trial on Manaan in Knights of the Old Republic.

It was just all-around fucked up and I hated every second of it.  I think I got executed a few times trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. It was hell and I hated it. Can I go back to Dantooine and solve that murder? It was way less annoying.

All That Remains in Dragon Age 2.

I’m not a huge fan of Leandra Hawke, she was cool, but not one of my favorite video game

mothers (yes, I have a list of those). But I haaaated this quest. The first time I thought if I just went fast enough, solved it quick enough, it would be okay. But it wasn’t. It never was. And no matter how many times I play this game, my brain always seems to think if we just go fast enough we can save our video game mom. And every time we fail. And we’re sad.

Anytime I have to drive/pilot/be an eagle/ride a horse.

Oh gods. There is a reason I do not play racing games. It just ends badly for all involved. Mostly me. 

Remember that bit in Assassin's Creed III when you were an eagle and had to just simply fly and not hit too many trees? Guess who hit too many trees? Me.

I got three canoes stuck in Assassin's Creed: Liberation the first time I played that game. Three. Within in an hour of learning I could use a canoe.

I loved the MAKO in Mass Effect just because I could blame my bad driving on the clunky controls. But really, it was me.

I think I used the mounts in Dragon Age: Inquisition twice. Mostly cause I couldn't fucking ride a horse. Or any of those other cool-looking mounts that were offered. I did get all of them. They just... hung out at Skyhold...

Fan-Fiction Recommendations: Random Good Fics

Infinity (and Beyond) by Lissadiane

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Clint Barton/Bucky Barnes

Clint and Bucky are in the Spirit World together. Kissing happens. 

Wrong Number by Deenerann

Schitt’s Creek

David Rose/Patrick Brewer

An alternate version of Schitt’s Creek, in a way. What if in the beginning, David texts a wrong number, and that wrong number ends up being Patrick?

As Seen By by taelynhawker

Schitt’s Creek

David Rose/Patrick Brewer

Just some little shorts from the viewpoints of others about David and Patrick.

Through the Streets of Long Gone Dreams by Rivulet027

Marvel

Clint Barton/Bucky Barnes

Bucky can’t sleep. Lucky decides to help. Clint and Lucky are a package deal.

What Do You Mean We Left Clint on Mars? by sara_holmes

Marvel

Bucky Barnes/Clint Barton

The Avengers were on Mars. They left. Clint was in the bathroom. He has to stay on Mars and wait for them to come back for him. While he’s waiting, him and Bucky chat and fall in loooooooove. 

Super cute story. Loved it.

I Could Be the Sun That Lights Your Dark by ghostinthelibrary

Witcher

Eskel/Jaskier

Jaskier is cursed and the only way to break it is True Love’s Kiss (it’s totally a thing!) so Eskel makes it his goal to find Geralt, who he thinks Jaskier loves. But… It’s not? Maybe?

6 Random Bits I Love in Video Games

 Note: Go here for a version of this post with gifs.

In case it hasn’t become obvious, I love video games. They’re fun and relaxing and let me live out a fantasy world where I actually do shit instead of staring at a wall thinking about doing shit. This is a list of random bits in video games that make me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Slight spoiler for Mass Effect 3. 

The end. I get such a feeling of accomplishment when I finish a game. I am easily distracted. I lose focus on games a lot. So when I get all the way through and those end credits start rolling, I’m so proud of myself. And usually sad that it’s over. But mostly proud.

Petting Toby in Crimes and Punishments: Sherlock Holmes. If you put an animal in a video game and I’m gonna try to pet it. And petting Toby was even better because you got an achievement/trophy for it!

Meeting any historical figure in the Assassin’s Creed games. I’m a history nerd so I squeal like a fan-girl any time a historical figure strolls onto my screen while playing the Assassin’s Creed games. My favorite is probably Leonardo da Vinci. Though I sadly have only played up until Assassin’s Creed 3 and I’m probably missing out on a lot of historical figures. But I doubt Leo will ever get too low on my list of favorite real people in an Assassin’s Creed game. Even with all those pirates in Black Flag. Oh gods, I need to focus and get to that game. Need me some pirates in my life.

Getting anything accomplished in any Elder Scrolls game. Seriously. I get so distracted by everything in those games. I get lost when I can’t fast-travel to where I need to go. There’s always skulls and books I need to collect for my house. Random people are just standing around ready to send me on some random fetch quest. Children to adopt. It’s shocking that I get anything done. 

Using the Renegade Option to kill Kai Leng in Mass Effect 3. Fuck that guy. I hate him. I tend to play video games as a “Nice Guy”. Wait. No. I’m not a Nice Guy. I play as a good person. I avoid the mean dialogue options. I help every annoying little NPC that happens to mention needing help within my hearing range. I do the nice thing. All the time (well, most of the time). But the second that renegade option popped up I was on it. Fuck you, Kai Leng. Have fun in hell.

Getting an achievement/trophy. I’m not that focused on achievements. I spend pretty much no time trying to collect them. I think the only one I went out of my way to get was that Calendar Man one in Arkham City. Which was creepy as fuck, by the way. Loved it. But yeah. Achievements/trophies are not my goal when I play a video game. But gods if I don’t get all excited and make embarrassing noises when I get one.

6 of My Most Hated Parts of My Favorite Video Games

(also posted on my Tumblr - with gifs!)

Video games are great. I love video games. Love a day of just relaxing and playing a nice video game. Until I get to these parts. Then there is screaming and tears and just an overwhelming sense of dread. 

Okay, that’s not entirely true. I’m being dramatic. But fuck, do I hate these parts in some of my favorite video games.

There be spoilers ahead for Dragon Age: Origins mostly.

The Broken Circle in Dragon Age: Origins 

This part has become less hated by me the more often I play it. The first time I spent days stuck in the Fade. Screaming mostly. Now I can bust it out in a few hours with only the occasional scream. But even going in knowing I can easily make my way through it, and deal with the enemies thrown at me, every time I step into the Circle Tower my brain just starts screaming. 

Orzammar in Dragon Age: Origins 

Unlike the Fade, Orzammar still takes me days to get through. There’s all the actual Orzammar bullshit, plus the Deep Roads. Dear gods… The Broodmother. And that boss fight against Branka. Every time I think about playing Origins I just remember that part and start screaming. And then, after all that you get to help decide on a new king. Because of course you do. Bhelen is kind of a dick (and if you’re playing as a dwarf noble, even more of a dick). Harrowmont seems like a good dude. Ah, but you find out at the end of the game that Bhelen is probably the best option for the good of Orzammar. Fuck Orzammar. May the darkspawn take you. 

Night Terrors in Dragon Age 2 

And we’re back in the Fade. This time the Fade part takes an hour or so of gameplay. Fairly straightforward and almost easy. At least until all your companions start betraying you and you have to fight them. Except for Anders, which is shocking to anyone who has played this game to the end. So the best option is to just ditch everyone before heading into the Fade. Take Anders if you are feeling lonely, but Justice takes over and is kind of a dick. And make sure you say the right things to that sleeping guy or he’ll go a little crazy and beg for death. Besides all that, super fun times in the Fade.

Arrival DLC for Mass Effect 2 

As this is DLC, it is completely optional. And if you do complete it, the payoff is pretty decent in the third game. Not decent enough for me to have played this more than once. Fuck the Batarians. Not really, sorry guys. But ugh, this mission. And for reference on how much I hate this mission, I play all the other DLC (but the multiplayer stuff… Stephy no play multiplayer…). I get traumatized by Overlord every time, and cry every time. I play the fucking Hammerhead missions, guys! The Hammerhead! But Arrival? I look at that entry in my journal and just nope right out of there. 

Any timed mission in all the Assassin’s Creed games 

I am not good with timed missions. I turn into a complete moron if there is a timer onscreen. I forget how to play the game completely and can’t remember what button is what. Even though I was kicking ass right before the timer appeared. But for some reason, they seem worse in the Assassin’s Creed games. Races and such never get done if I don’t have to do them. They’re just constant little reminders on my map about how I am a failure at running. And if a main mission has a timed portion, you better believe it is going to take me at least five times to get past it. 

The vaults in Mass Effect: Andromeda 

I fucking hate these things. I start panicking the second I step into one and it just gets worse the longer I am in one. The worst part is the fucking death clouds. I think I have been killed by those maybe twice. And each time it was something silly. You know, shit like getting stuck behind a barricade because I didn’t see it for whatever reason. But as soon as I hit that button for the death cloud I start screaming and don’t stop until I am on the planet’s surface again. A close second to the worst part of these things is some of the puzzles I have to go through just to get to the death cloud. There are a couple that I cannot do without looking up a walkthrough. Though, in the game’s defense, sometimes I just get frustrated trying to do puzzles and give up earlier than I should. Then the next time I play I’m like “Oh yeah! Now I get it!” But still, I hate them. Fuck the vaults. May the darkspawn take them. Wait. Wrong Bioware game. 

That’s it from me on this subject. For now. I mean, there are more bits in games I hate. I just hate so much…

Six More Things That Are Overdone (Give me more)

 Hidely-Ho, Neighborinos.

That was weird... I'll... I will not do that again... 

Yes, I will.

Okay, little update first, then onto the actual post.

The writing challenge is going well. Haven't missed a day, even on days when I had shit going on, I still pulled a post out and got it done. A lot of the stories are kind of shit, but I still got the goal done, and it's giving me lots of ideas for longer things later. If you want to read the story things go here.

Now, onto the actual post! Told you it was a little update...

That Is So Overdone… Give Me More (Part 2)

1. “I’m okay, I’m okay” then promptly falls over. You lose points if they’re dead. I’m not here for death.

2. Snarky Butlers. If your butler is not snarky, I don’t care about them. Simple as that.

3. Mutual Pining. This is only a good thing for so long. If you drag out the mutual pining and never let the characters get together, it’s just going to annoy me. 

4. Unusual Friendships. Things like the neat freak and the slob. The ray of sunshine and the grumpy grump (this friendship trope is the exact reason I started reading Witcher fan-fiction). The jock and the nerd. Cheerleader and goth girl. Now, this only works if the friendship is also one where you can tell they love each other with no question. I also dislike this trope if they end up in a situation where, for example, the cheerleader goes off with the other cheerleaders and starts making fun of the goth girl, but in the end learns the meaning of true friendship. No. Give me the cheerleader that stands up against the other cheerleaders because that goth girl is her friend.

5. Unusual Terms of Endearment. Dear, darling, sweetheart, babe, and all of those are fine and dandy. But give me significant others that call each other weird things. 

6. Breaking stereotypes. My favorite example of this is Elle Woods. She is the stereotypical pretty, blonde girl that loves fashion and other “girly” things but then she is hella smart. And an absolute sweetheart. Give me a goth girl that giggles and squeals over cute animals. The jock who is friendly and smart. The nerd that can talk to girls... 

That's all for this go. Gotta go get something written up for that writing challenge. 

6 Things That Are So Overdone in Fiction

Somethings are overdone in fiction. Sometimes, it's not that bad and I even enjoy it. This is not about those things, though. This is about the things that are overdone and people need to stop it. Stop it now.





Building a female’s character with rape and/or abuse. 

I know that shit happens and it is horrible, but I’m tired of damn near every female in fiction being either raped, abused, or both.



Strong Female Character refuses to even listen to a man because she is a strong independent woman and don’t need no man. 

It is awesome that you are a strong female. Great. But refusing to even listen to a man (who, in a lot of things I’ve read or seen, is their friend or lover) because you think they’re trying to control you (which most of the time they aren’t, and their plan would have worked out a lot better) makes you look like a stupid bitch. So stop. You don’t have to agree with them or use their plan or whatever, but at least give it a listen.

Miscommunication for drama. 

Miscommunication should be used for comedic purposes only. Not communicating falls under miscommunication for me. I am so tired of people just not communicating and all sorts of angst happens. Just fucking talk to each other, okay?

Tragic gay. 

Non-straight characters deserve happy endings just as much as straight people.

Families that hate each other. 

I can deal with teenage rebellion in fiction. I can deal with families arguing and fighting on occasion, but families that just seem to fucking hate each other is annoying.

Broody superheroes. 

New rule, you can have one broody superhero per group of five. And only if the brood is done well. But also, they can’t all be sassy and funny. There are other personality types. Use them.