Insurrection: HAWKS is a character-driven work of interactive fiction by Rosa Sanchez (she / her) set in a world where superpowered beings must grapple with their purpose, persecution, and promise of godhood. A world where you, and your fellow agents, may be all that stands between it and fateās insurrection.
Insurrection: HAWKS is a character-driven work of interactive fiction set in a world where superpowered beings must grapple with their purpose, persecution, and promise of godhood. A world where you, and your fellow agents, may be all that stands between it and fateās insurrection.
You have inherited a soul-touching power through the Gifted bloodline: more specifically, the Gift that allows you to become a blood-eating copycat. Now, you must use the āGiftsā of othersāor your own skillāto save the world from a delusional man and the rebellion behind him . . . all while avoiding the pitfalls of losing your heart, mind, and soul.
Warnings (prone to change): Blood / BleedingĀ &Ā Minor CuttingĀ (Not Self-Harm Related), Minor Character Death, General Violence, Prejudice / Discrimination, Abuse / Abuse of a ChildĀ (Vague, Mentioned, NPC Backstories -Ā Not MC-related), Abduction, Sexual Content
ROs | CARDINALS | Characters of Note | Mechanics | Factions | Demo TBA | Forum TBA
These are the titles branded onto the CARDINALS. They are no strangers to the judgment of the masses. It is to be expected as a rising organization fighting for the rights, and perhaps even the supremacy, of the Gifted. They know that there is something tainted in their hearts, and something pure about their dreams. It is a common reality among their small sect of humanity: those who have been granted hereditary abilities once associated with fiction, from origins unknown. Self-possessed abilities that bear the strength to topple the world or rule it.
They are your brethren, these Gifted.
But you are not a CARDINAL.
Welcome, Agent Mockingbird, to the HAWKS!
In this sector of an international agency known as WINGS, you are to serve on the front lines of the worldās greatest threats of insurrection. Primarily, undermining and counteracting the CARDINALS at every turn.
At least, that is what your superiors (captors) hope you will do.
Are you ready to stand against the CARDINALS? You must prepare yourself to face against the personalities of the Inner Circle, as well as their own deadly Gifts. Led by a man losing his grip on humanity. Commanded by a Grim Reaper with a lost love for life. Guided by a healer with a savior complex. But the three central leaders of this rebel organization arenāt the only notable threats out there.
All eight of the Inner Circle, and an additional newcomer, stand between you and the stability of the world. And as you quickly unveil the nature of their latest plot, you may find yourself opposed to what will be humanityās saving grace or final tragedy. Fate has written you off as a withered pawn. But fate has little say when its ethereal order falls to a dreamās insurrection.
Are you ready to stand up toāor forāthe HAWKS? Will you push back against the organization, or pick fights against the agents within it? Will you embrace the WINGās cause as your own, or choose to embrace the people who serve that cause? Perhaps youāll find love with a fellow Specialist Agentā a love that will be condemned by those who stand against your kind. Or maybe you will fall for a Supervising Agent and suffer the burden of a forbidden romance.
Every Gifted has a Gift. Itās in the namesake. Yours concerns blood-eating. Gross, and slightly creepy on paper, but itās invaluable to your new team at Division-01. Consuming the blood of a fellow Gifted grants you a temporary possession of their own unique gift, with an added twist.
Whoeverās blood you consume connects you to their psyche, their soul. A consequence that may bring opportunity and harm depending on how you play it.
Be careful when deciding whose blood to use when in perilous danger. There may be a long-term impact from being too reliant on a specific personās soul.
Customize your protagonist: name, gender, personality, body type, facial appearance, region of origin, tattoos and marks, former career, and more!
Choose the core emotion of your psyche: sadness, anger, fear, joy, or apathy.
Nine ROs: a regretful romantic, a shy visionary, a stern leader, a conflicted protector, a dutiful soldier, a lively wildcard, a soft-hearted hot-head, a curious tinkerer, and a lost soul.
Minor Romances: Other characters who may have an attraction towards you but, for one reason or another, will not manifest into fully committed long-term partners. Their feelings, however, may persist alongside the development of your official relationship - a troublesome predicament for some and a challenge for others.
Determine your allegiance to the CARDINALS, the HAWKS, neither, or both.
Tailor your personality! Are you a stoic optimist thatās shy yet eager to protect your friends? Or are you an honest loner with a cruel streak thatās known for their humility? Whatever feels true to you!
Wield powers once thought to be unimaginableā with the unintended consequence of tapping into the psyche of your team! But remember, thereās a chance that the Gifts of the HAWKS will not be the only ones you taste. Exercise caution where you may. Or . . . donāt. The choice is ultimately yours.
Discover the motivations behind the CARDINALS Inner Circle. Extend to some your hand in friendship, earn the respect of a few, or make the personal hit list of others. Maybe even find everlasting love with one (at your own risk). Just know that some are more dangerous to provoke than their peers.
Live by your ambition, or sacrifice your deepest wants for a new purpose (or person).
Earn theĀ respect, friendship, contempt, or love of the HAWKS and CARDINALS - and choose whether to honor or betray these developing bonds.
Tame or Be Overcome by your Gift in accordance with its origin.
Play a hand in how Gifts are perceived and developed in those around you.
When the CARDINALS test the limits of reality and fate, you must take a stand. Be that through your friendship, your love, your desperation, your authority, your manipulation, or your bloodthirst.
View the full character profiles linked here to see Artbreeder images of an ROās likeness, background details, and more! Below will be descriptions about the main ROs and an explanation on minor romances.
Eight of the ten fellow HAWKS on the team are available for romance. From the CARDINALS, a certain bachelor is open to finding love. Yet two other CARDINALS may find themselves open for a brief tryst, if you manage to impress or endear yourself to them enough. And another prime adversary may feel her heart vulnerable to your affection but will find the courage to deny her wants. In other words, alongside the central and typical RO cast there will also be the function of minor romances.
Non-ROs may develop an attraction towards the MC but will not be available for an established long-term relationship. Their attractions may persist after the MC has been locked into an official romance route with varying consequences. Multiple minor romances may be activated at once as well, though some require more conditions than others. Additionally, if the conditions are met by a certain point, the player will then decide whether to approve / activate the minor romances or deny them. After the player has confirmed one (or more) they can determine as the story progresses how much they reciprocate that attraction - though if locked on an official RO this might lead to some unfortunate exchanges.
Minor Romances Include:
Curadora: The right-hand of CARDINALS leadership and self-considered healer. Known for her mercy and secrecy, Curadora finds herself falling further and further from the ideal she has struggled to project for her people.
Dearil: The left-hand of CARDINALS leadership and self-declared deity of Death. Known for his cruelty and vengeance, Dearil seeks to sow destruction and chaos through the vessel of the CARDINALSāif he must advance their agenda to do this, then so be it.
Lempo: The most successful recruiter and thus a high-ranking leader within the CARDINALS. Once infamous for her fallen cult, Lempo has devoted herself to delivering as much pleasure and joy as she can to the world.
Retriever: A fallen hero, or so he declares himself to be, and a current elite soldier within the CARDINALS. Retriever sees potential for haven to the helpless within the CARDINALS and, in addition to his sense of debt to Curadora and her peers, he has decided to assist the organization as a form of personal redemption.
Bones: If you decide to establish a crush-based relationship (mutual or one-sided) with him in childhood, Bones is deeply conflicted upon his reunion with you. You, a dreaded HAWK, and he as the protege to Dearil. Old feelings resurface, and he will try desperately to have them crushed.
MAIN RO CAST:
Akil Elmahdy | M | 32 | Supervising Agent | Longer Profile Here
Your Commander in Division-01 of the HAWKS. A high-born academic that became disillusioned with the diplomatic career his parents expected him to carry on. At a young age, Akil developed a strong ideal towards the potential of the Gifted as a force for global betterment. This ambition evolved into his drive to reform the HAWKS from within to act more as a nurturing guide to Gifted talents and moralsā a prime example of peaceful and cooperative Gifted-human relations. Brutal tragedy, however, cemented deep cracks in his vision. In the present, Akil is tormented between what he believes to be the reality of the Gifted and his past hopes that seem so brittle in his heart.
Akil is not the most sociable or charming personality to encounter. As a leader, he instead relies on his ability to rationalize his solutions to others and proves his trustworthiness through delivered success. Solitude is his haven, and most relationships tend to be tiresome for him. His entire life seems to be consumed by his work, leaving little room for his personal hobbies that have been uncomfortably abandoned for so long. Calculating and stern, Akil does not court popularity when it does not suit his ambitions.
Yet, come to know him more, and you will uncover a gentle reverence in his touch. A buried passion in his lectures. A shy aversion in his straying gaze. Come to love him, and Akil will fear all he has ever served. He will come to fear himself as his devotion wrangles free from his grasp until it finally breaks away to serve you above himself.
Takenaka Kamiko | F | 32 | Supervising Agent | Longer Profile Here
A renowned Supervising Agent that an unfortunate few underestimate due to her unconventional rise to the position. Kamiko has experienced first-hand the brutalities the Gifted may deliver upon the helpless. She bears the scars of her past cowardice, her ignorant hesitance, when faced with your kind. For years, she worked to ensure that her weakness could never again be exploited as it had been then. For years, she sought to defend the public from the potential horrors the organized Gifted in her nation threatened. It is unclear why she, then, transferred to the HAWKS at so late an age. While there may be no question about her capabilities, many find themselves suspicious as to her motivations for the change.
Stoic and reserved, Kamiko is a quiet mystery to most. Her presence lingers in the background, constant and vigilant as she remains watchful for the slightest threat. Those that earn her trust, perhaps even a sentiment of friendship, find themselves under her firm and undying protection. In her mind, she best serves others as an unbreakable tool to be used as long as, in the end, she can aid in creating some greater order in this dangerous world. Kamiko is prone to action before thought when lives are at stake, relying on educated assumptions to deduce the danger of a situation or person. Otherwise, in a more settled social environment, she finds herself to be overly analytical to every gesture and intonation, wary of anotherās true intentions.
Under her cold surface, Kamiko deeply buries her personal desires. Truly, she wants nothing more than for the people she loves to realize their full potential of happinessāwhether or not that vision of happiness includes her by their side. Self-sacrificial to a fault, she gives herself entirely without expectation for anything in return.
Sigmund R. Heinrich | M | 29 | Deadly Wind | Longer Profile Here
Born with a silver-spoon in his mouth, Sigmund deserted his groomed inheritance to pursue a freedom (or, in his words, escape) abroad. His new life would earn him a despised reputation among the Gifted as a relentless mercenary willing to do anything for a check, an accusation he would casually protest. Bathed in his ever-rising notoriety, to the point the mention of his alias alone could still a room, Sigmund startled the world with his sudden declaration of sole loyalty to Curadora. In the present, he would openly declare this to be his sole regret in life.
Betrayal scars his past and has shaped Sigmund into his current self. He is distrustful towards outsiders, overly protective of those under his guard, and masks the vulnerabilities he has. Sigmund has mellowed, or (more accurately) learned to suppress, his more cocky and aggressive tendencies since his early mercenary days. To those unfamiliar to him, he may be gruff or dismissive to avoid any close relationships. Yet, to those that have trudged their way closer to him, Sigmund reveals his more humored nature whose bluntness softens with conscious effort. Sigmund exhibits no virtue better than loyalty yet has come to be more sparing in who he gifts this to.
Recovering from a recent and disastrous engagement that imploded upon itself, Sigmund has asserted that he bears no interest in love. He has become conflicted between his yearning to free himself from all bonds that pin him beneath another's whims and his deep longing to find an attachment that is loyal and true. Others have used him, have proven their words to be brittle until broken. To withstand such a torture again . . . It would be much too soon.
Imka N. Altena | F | 23 | All-Seeing Eyes | Longer Profile Here
Imka's life prior to her capture had little to note upon with its idyllic comfort in the mundane. She filled her days with idle daydreams and vision of wondrous places always near but never to be reached. Her deepest desire for a love devoted and true with another was grand enough for her, and her trade as a seamstress was a satisfaction she would have never dared to lose. A shame it all unraveled so disastrously, dangerously, with her reported kidnapping once her fatherās true nature came to light. Abducted by him to the Netherlands, Imka would survive the frantic chase that followed the shocking upheaval of her life. Despite the grief she feels towards her father's actions, she has thus far refused to aid the HAWKS with his capture.
A moment in her presence would reveal the extent of her shyness. Imka finds herself awkward around strangers and bears a constant nervousness towards how others may perceive her. Keeping to the Golden Rule, she tries to extend generous amounts of kindness to everyone she encounters . . . even when she finds herself frightened or unsettled by their presence. Sweet and naive, Imka worries over the smallest things that may inconvenience another. Oddly enough, Imka is known possess a calm and serene presence when around her friends alone in contrast to her otherwise excitable emotions.
Imka has little to no experience with romantic relationships. Much too self-conscious and shy to approach any of her interests in the past, Imka never garnered many known admirers in her youth either. Once, or perhaps it was twice, in her adolescence had she been asked on a date only to learn it was a joke being played upon her. Still, Imka holds out an optimistic ideal towards the idea of love . . . even as she becomes more and more uncertain about finding it for herself in the future.
Elouan B Roux | M | 25 | Enchanting Light | Longer Profile Here
Largely unwanted and often left to fester, Elouan quickly learned to survive by whatever means he could. In time, he came to depend upon the exploitation of those around him with an effortless charm and easing grace. Once lowly and weak, Elouan accumulated admirers and connections alike to aid in his schemes for wealth and power throughout France. he was not one to idle by in the shadows, and so Elouan capitalized upon the small and deadly bit of fame he had acquired to satisfy his ego that had been beaten and bruised so callously throughout his boyhood. Quickly, horrifically, it would all crumble to his only true love. Elouan met his freedom's end with a tired acceptance and false smile.
Elouan veils the man he used to be beneath an air of charm and grace, exercising restraint in his words and expressions with familiar expertise. A subtle confidence radiates from his frame. He employs flattery to sweeten others and executes quick wit to dethrone some. Elouan likes to keep his ambitions quiet and feigns humility when he thinks it may earn him favor. Really, Elouan tries to remain adaptable to his audience at any given moment. Yet, surprisingly, he has also come to learn to be more genuine in the company of the HAWKS, and gradually all the sentiments and emotions he has long suppressed have threatened to slip out more often than he would prefer.
Elouan had quite the reputation as a casanova in the past. Sometimes his romances where little more than shallow plows, and most carried flimsy significance in his heart. People thought it a joke when his engagement came to be, but when the truth became undeniable it shocked any that knew him. It would be this engagement that would tear down all he had built himself up to be, poisoning him until he condemned all the past behind him. Elouan keeps wary of romance now as he foresees nothing but unworthiness and destruction to come.
JacintaĀ āJaeā Freitas Carvalho | F | 28 | Bloody Puppetry | Longer Profile Here
Jacinta knew her life would not be an easy game from an early age, but she found herself determined to be victorious by its end (. . . . though she has yet to decide what 'winning at life' truly means for her). Raised by her maternal grandparents, the only ones that truly felt like family to her, Jae would never fully recover from discovering their gruesome deaths. Vengeance and vices distracted her from the pain that grief brought to her, and soon Jae found herself adapting to a more dangerous lifestyle to meet her wants and ends. Mere survival did not suit her tastes, and she learned to balance revenge with whatever rewards she sought.
Jae tries to not let the little things bother her, often waving aside petty responsibilities in pursuit of her own fun-loving desires. Playful and teasing, she employs her fair share of sarcastic wit and nudging charm to toy with those around her. Most sacred to her would be her sense of pride, one deeply rooted in her fierce independence.
Jae does not believe in real-life fairytales or happy endings. She laughs at the thought of being swept off her feet and has a tendency to abandon her relationships when it proves to be too serious. Following her divorce, which she bears no heartbreak over, and her on-and-off relationship with NiccolĆ², Jae would be content to settle with a friend rather than a supposed soulmate.
NiccolĆ² | M | 120 | Automation Heart | Longer Profile Here
Over the years, NiccolĆ² has gradually taught himself withhold the fact that he isāin factāan artificial intelligence given a soul through the Gift of his inventor. A possibly immortal creation since he has yet to experience death after a century and beyond. Traveling aimlessly through the decades as a wayward vagabond had been an ideal existence for him, one made most rewarding by the characters he encountered and the lifestyles he adopted in their short-lived company. Even within his captivity among the HAWKS, NiccolĆ² finds joy in the globe-hopping missions and diverse Gifted he may encounter . . . even if these meetings often ended in either disappointing escapes or begrudging arrests.
Curiosity and a deep desire to develop his own sense of humanity drive NiccolĆ² to explore everything the world has to offer. In his time on the surface world, he had undertaken countless expeditions to better understand the complexities behind human temperaments. His inquisitive nature sometimes misguides him and his taste for adventure can cause unintended trouble. NiccolĆ² simply likes to keep busy, whether it be through conversation or tinkering, as he tries to enjoy every moment given to him.
NiccolĆ² has been told he experienced 'being in love', though he hasn't quite bought into those tales yet. To him, it is still as mysterious a notion as it had been upon his initial conception. It is one he longs to obtain, and it is one he can envision being ignited by you. You, a true fascination like none he has ever seen before.
Mutya I. Lumaban | F | 26 | Mind Projection | Longer Profile Here
Hot-headed and soft-hearted, Mutya faces the world with a set brow and vague frown. Since her earliest memories, she has remained intensely devoted to her adoptive family. She found her purpose in this world by their side as she and her elder siblings formed a rogue āpeacekeepingā unit with international patrols. Not quite comfortable with the title of hero, as she shirks at the thought of being a paragon or ideal for anyone, Mutya still knew in her heart that she was meant to make a difference with her life. Her induction into the HAWKS has taken a part of herself. Has taken her from all that had been familiar and safe: her family, her service, and her sense of contribution to the world.
Mutya refuses to reveal her softer side to others, one that is more sensitive than she would ever let on. Though her emotions may rise and sway with ease, she harshly guards them from those that may take advantage of them. It is with time that her compatriots learn her bark is far harsher than her bite, and that beneath her short-temper lies a heart frightened by its own empathy that may blind her from her one desire: to survive another day so she may be with her family once again. As much as she tries, a heart and soul as passionate as hers cannot always be quelled into silence. So deeply does she invest her heart into a cause, a person, or an ideal within another that Mutya sometimes finds herself blinded by a rigid single-mindedness. She is resilient, proud, and determined in all she does and accepts that she cannot cater to herself to the entire world if it means compromising what ideals and values she holds herself accountable towards.
Before her capture, Mutya afforded little time to the notion of settling down with another. Or, perhaps in truth, her reservations towards finding a romantic connection may have held roots in her fear towards opening herself up to someone that could so quickly turn around and us this to break her, to hurt her as no other could. So, she keeps her passion to herself, biding the days until she stumbles upon a miracle who makes her feel safe. Makes her feel like a human rather than a guardian or soldier.
Fyodor Kazimirovich Yahontov | M | 27 | ??? | Longer Profile Here
After confrontational dealings and questionable debate, Fyodor is happy to announce himself as the most recent (and potentially most dangerous) CARDINALS initiate. Misery and destruction stain his past, but beyond the occasional empty stare and sudden tears he will do everything he can to drown those memories with laughter and friends. Fyodor is frightened by his own mind, his own soul. He believes himself to be bestowed with a higher purpose, one he has thus far struggled to uphold. Eager for friends and a home, he hopes that the CARDINALS will appease the turmoil that has come to mark his fate.
Quick to attachment and eager to please, Fyodor proves to be a serious threat whenever he strays towards questionable company. Though he shrugs at comments on his gullible nature, he has a tendency to put his blind faith in complete strangers the same way he would with a lifelong friend. Almost childish in his easy wonder and admiration, there is a sort of innocence that contrasts harshly with the violence that has largely defined his life this far. Honest to a troublesome point, humored by the smallest things, and optimistic in dire circumstances, Fyodor has long struggled to withhold his smiles when he takes so much delight from his surroundings.
Fyodor believes deeply in the concept of soulmates. Forbidden from love by his dear friends, he has coped with his aching desire for someone to care for him in the way a soulmate does by insisting that he has yet to encounter āthe oneā. More than anything, Fyodor wants to be cherished. To have his heart entirely in anotherās grasp, and to receive the entirety of his loverās heart to cherish in return. A distant dream, yes, but it is one that comforts him greatly through the most dreadful nights.
Oh, I love this! That would basically be the POV for Simeon, Tolya, and Panya as youths, haha!
Or, at least, Simeon and Panya. Tolya would be frustrated with Fyodor blocking the TV and (half-playfully, half-genuinely) shouting for him to move whilst Panya wrestled to shut him up by covering his mouth, still loudly cheering for Fyodor as she did so. Simeon would just continue to silently nod in approval.
Fyodor adores ballet. He fell in love with the art form the moment he first laid eyes upon it.
There is a beauty in its control, in the discipline and tradition it bears. How gracefully one masks the brutal demand placed upon the body, how poetically one may weave a story through the body alone. The perfect precision, the weightless elegance, the accentuation of the human form and its boundless capabilitiesāFyodor looks upon the dance and believes it to be a glimpse of heaven.
As close to perfection as humanity may ever be. On the surface, at least.
But it is the contrast to this discipline Fyodor loves most. It is the vast breath of overwhelming emotion, the fragile delicacy, and the athletic showmanship within the strict confines of ballet that sets his heart racing. That a dance renowned for its technical rigidity can be so liberating, so gentle to the eye and harmonious within the body, light and violent and powerful and soft. So stoic, honest, fluid, and faultless.
It is what he desires for himself. To keep the truest parts of himāhis volatile emotion, his fragile delicacy, his human strengthāintact and under his absolute control. Fyodor has never grasped control over his life, over himself: used, overtaken, and subjugated beneath others, beneath his gift, aimless, helpless, and weak.
But through ballet, he grasps what it might feel like to have it. To be in control of his body, his heart, his grace. To bear his emotions not with destruction nor recklessness but, instead, a release that can be playful, or loud, or slow. Whatever he desires it to be; whatever he desires himself to be.
He finds relief in the exhaustion. Pride in the discipline. Enjoyment, and a rare appreciation of himself, when he sees the delight his dance sometimes brings to his friends. Even if Tolya masks his fondness, and Panya overdoes her cheer.
Aha, in other words, heās sort of like that moment in Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
Fyodor loves dancing, and he does possess appreciation for all the forms it takes. But itās ballet that truly speaks to him, and it is through ballet Fyodor feels most free . . . And, perhaps, most seen.
In another life, without a gift and without the presence of his father, he might have begged his mother to let him formally study ballet. He likely wouldnāt have been able to make a true profession out of it (with the extremity of his height and all), and he would have abandoned his dream of dancing if that were the case (to pursue work that would permit him to be a provider for his future, hypothetical, spouse and children), but he would have been happy during those years of learning.
Hello, remember the ask about: "MC always knows whenever they're in distress even without them telling the MC and always offers comfort." Could you please answer with the minor ro (because I really like them especially Curadora). I dont know if you already done this or not (if you did its okay to not answer this). Stay hydrated, bye.
Apologies for the lackluster quality! (;Ā“Šļ½)
Dearil
āNe faciasāWhat do you think you are doing!ā
He bites out every word, rough and cold to veil the panic underneath.
He will leave bruises on your wrist.
āNoli bene facere, ne tibi malum reddatur. Did you think yourself special? Wanted, by me?ā
How dare you.
How dare you reach for him. Think to comfort him like he were some pathetic, helpless little fool at your mercy.
As if he has not endured far more than you could ever dream to bear; alone, and living still.
Outlasting still.
But you think to have him tamed.
Under your command. Under your spell.
āYou know nothing. As if you could ever know meā!"
It sickens him. This needless doting that mocks all he has overcome. All he has made himself to be.
And he thinks to when he prayed for this. Begged for this, stupidly and desperately until his throat bled, until heād had his desires beaten out from him by the hands he once wished to be held by.
Where were you, then? Where was this?
Not even his first love . . . Even then, he had been a dreadful thing to touch.
He will not accept this pitiful act. This degradation of all he believes himself to be.
Curadora
This ease with which you read her has long riddled her with fear.
She should not allow you to see her like this.
Breathless. She feels her heart drumming in her chestāwith love, with dreadāand prays you do not feel it too.
Desirous. For you. This. For someone to hold, and have, and know. To be known.
To be seen. And wanted still.
Kept still. Even when she has nothing left to give, nothing left to bleed, nothing more than useless tears to shed.
She knows better than to give thought to her desires. She knows better than to indulge in what is not right for her to claim, much less to want.
āI canāt . . . I canāt let Uriel see . . .ā
I cannot let him see how much you mean to me.
It is only a matter of time until this is lost. Nothing good may last.
Nothing good shall ever come of this: her love, and her reliance upon your care.
Her returned touch strengthens with each broken breath she takes. Hesitantly, regretfully, she leans upon you and wishes not to let you go.
Her fingers curls into the cloth you wear and urge you ever closer still. Weak, and afraid.
ā . . . Please, help me to forget.ā
You have given her something else to miss.
Retriever
The moment he is in your arms, he clasps desperately onto your hold. His cheek presses against your own, his touch heated and mindless as he seems to want nothing more than to be closer.
Closer still.
God, he wishesālate at night, alone and far from youāhe wishes that he could melt right into you. Distinct beings forged together to make something so complete and new: better and stronger and never broken apart.
Itās just like this, isnāt it?
What he wants is this.
To be known, and seen, as broken and imperfect and ruined as he is. To unveil the truth of who he is, and be embraced still. To be held together by more than his hands alone.
The freedom to depend upon another, even if he knows it is wrong to share his chosen burdens with you.
He has chained himself to perfection. For the helpless, for the Gifted: for kin, and friends, and lovers, and strangers, and the world to which he must prove himself merely to live.
He doesnāt want to let you go.
He doesnāt want to lose this.
To give it up . . .
āYou shouldnāt do this.ā
He didnāt mean to say it. Couldnāt help it. As if this wasnāt clear enough without having to make it truer with words.
āHelp you?ā
āTease me.ā
The truth slips out from his false smile, strained and breathless. He buries his face in the crook of your neck. Why is he letting you see him like this?
Flushed. Embarrassed. Stumbling, wanting, and frightened.
Selfish. Itās selfish to accept this, isnāt it?
āYouāre here, then youāre gone.ā
And he cannot keep you.
Bits of you, maybe. Memories he will not offer to the curandera, though he knows what a mercy it would be to let this go.
āI canāt be depending on this. Needinā it like I do.ā
But his words falter beneath a lack of conviction. A lack of honor.
Still, he does not let you go.
Lempo
āI am not broken, dear.ā
This is not right. She is meant to soothe; to please, distract, and ease you from all your troubles. And, in exchange, you are the one who allows themself to be used by her.
Her little toy, her darling pet. A body to lose herself within, to repurpose for her personal gratification, entertainment, and relief.
She is not like you.
She does not need the comfort of others to endure. No shoulder to cry upon, no pretty words to lighten her heart.
Oh, yes, it is nice to role play the damsel in distress now and again, but she would not have found a place in Urielās Inner Circle if she truly allowed herself to be that weak.
Weak enough to not bear the brunt of her pains alone. Lempo knows instead to smile and keep quiet, to drown hurt and sorrows beneath pleasures she can reap from anyoneādetached all the whileāor from herself alone.
She does not need you.
Perhaps she has spoiled you too much. As fun as it is to feed your ego, she worries she might have led you to misunderstand just how necessary you are to her.
You are broken. And she loves you for it.
You need others. Want others. Want her, pretend to need her, trick yourself into thinking you really do.
And you may tease the thought of possessing her, fixing her, but Lempo will put her foot down the moment she suspects you of truly trying to possess what is not yours to claim and fix what was never broken to begin with.
So sheāll endure your doting hugs, your soothing hands, that carry too much pity and delicacy with a tight-lipped smile. Itās not as though your touch and affection itself displeases her.
But all the while, she will wait for the moment to pop whatever bubble you may have of thinking these moments mean something more than she wishes it to.
Lempo loves a good fantasy, but sheāll not let you be misled into thinking yourself entitled to the darker parts of her heart, mind, and soul.
Sheāll expose it all to you, through casual words or the blood you desire, but sheāll not be pleased if you think yourself the cure to all that ails her.
Aha, Lempo is a bit, uh, emotionally constipated(?) / in denial when it comes to her own vulnerability. She isnāt immune to emotional breakdowns and dependencies (blind to the odd and at times destructive dynamics sheās formed with Uriel and Boar already), but sheāll tell herself otherwise until her mask finally cracks.
Bones
He hates this.
Hates how easily you read him, assure him, without a thought or word. Without expecting anything from him in return.
He hates how natural this is. Even after all these years, after all thatās changedā!
He isnāt the same as he was then.
So why, when you already had so much and he had nothingāwhy were you allowed to stay just as he remembered?
Giving. Loving. Coddling and suffocating and comfortable and too achingly familiar.
Youād been there. You saw it too.
Why didnāt they break you, too?
For too long, he sinks into your arms. Clings to you, forces his cold skin against your warmth, his hands desperate with nails that bite and a strength that will bruise.
āYou donāt have the right. You donātāYou arenātā!ā
He did not cry before you as a boy, and he does not cry before you know. Yet his gaze cannot hide the pain his teeth bite back from his voice. The wistfulness strangled by his bitter tongue.
Misery. It is well-worn on him.
āYou. Itās you. Every fucking thing that haunts me, hurts me. You canāt fix what you are, HjƤrtat. You canāt ease my pain when youāre . . . !ā
Once, it was blame. Grief. Maybe that had been an easier burden to carry: to think you were dead, and to hate himself for having been too weak to save you. A dull and dreadful sorrow that could be silenced for a moment beneath the violent toil of doing everything he could to prevent another you.
Another Gifted lost to those fucking bastards who killed you.
But now his pain is sharper, constant, and manifest in your every touch. Your every word, your every glance, your every breathāthe truth of you as someone who chose to serve all he had sworn to tear down in your name.
The truth of you as someone he canāt help but love still.
āYouāre a HAWK. You betrayed our people. Me.ā
So why does he find himself in your arms yet again? Hands that promise the ruin of all his ambitions, and lips that drink the stolen blood of his people . . .
āThey killed me. And you let them, HjƤrtat.ā
It is this truth makes it easier to do what must be done.
To pull away from you.
From the lie that is you.
āYou canāt fix this with a fuckinā hug.ā
Mishka
Who might you have been?
Without the gift burrowed beneath your skin. Without the desire that burns through your blood.
Had you been humanāsimple, base, and pureāyou would not reach for them as you do. You would not dare to hold them as you do.
You would not care for this. For them.
Foolishly, they would not have cared for you.
For this.
It had taken time for them to allow you this close. To welcome, seek, and relish your soothing touch. The ease found in the firmness of your hold; your possession, Fyodor would say, and the thought of him layers a bitterness atop this affection they crave.
Destiny has casted you aside, and they know they should do the very same. Whilst they may promise you elevation, ascension, your soul begs for their ruin. To seek their comfort in you, poison to their purpose . . . How far they have fallen to place this fleeting indulgence above their vow.
Indulgence. A word fitting for you, more true than you may know. They know not if this bond you share truly strengthens or corrupts them. But still, they seek you, and accept you.
Desire you.
It is not right for them to desire.
It is not their place.
But ignorance to this truth is easy to feign beneath the satisfied haze brought by your doting touch.
Ah, yet how quickly their fondness for these moments fades into a bruise upon their pride! Mishka would prefer no others ever witness, or know, of, the comfort you provide them.
Ah, poor Mockingbird! Ī£(ć£ļ¾Šļ¾ļ¼)ć„ Honestly, I have yet to taste an alcoholic beverage I can tolerate, much less get drunk with, haha! The smell alone is always so repulsive, though Iāve been advised itās worth it once powered through . . . Yet my record for drinking remains half-a-seltzer (and it took a lot of willpower to get that far)!
Iāll stick to the Shirley Temples. (oĀ“ć°`o)ā” Cherry supremacy forever!
Moving back on track, their reactions would (more so for some than others) be influenced by the relationship status they have with Mockingbird. But Iāll say, uh . . .
Akil
He cannot temper the scowl that marks his lips, the dark color of his eyes cold as they study you closely.
Yet his touch is gentle as he guides you to a comfortable place to sit. Deceptively light, corralling you with little force, to a quiet space for you to gather what little sense you can while so recklessly inebriated.
A damp towelette, fresh water, a quiet peace between you and him alone. His care is practical, and he seems distant all throughout. He will not indulge your drunken rambles, your half-thought whims, as he urges you rest now.
By morning, you can expect to wake to a stern lecture as Akil struggles to reign in his anger towards your conduct the night before.
At least his scolding comes alongside a hearty breakfast in bed.
A violently drunk Mockingbird may permanently lose some of his respect.
Kamiko
Shameful.
Must you indulge in all vices with such abandon? Did you think to find peace from your thirst for blood by quenching it with this?
Liquor, spirits, or alcohol in such abundance renders you mindlessāit is poison to you, more so than the blood you crave above all.
And she . . . She does not like to see you like this.
Some say alcohol reveals oneās truest self. Their guilts, their desires, their truths as tongues loosen and thoughts spill.
But this is not you. You are your control as much as you are your base desires, are you not? She will not put weight on what you say and do in this state.
She urges you to find rest somewhere, and hopes you do not question her when she insists on accompanying you as you recollect yourself.
Few words are offered to you beyond simple instructions to help her ease your discomfort.
And again, she silently wishes you do not speak of the soothing circles she rubs into your back. The cold glide of her fingers as she pushes back your hair from your flushed face | reaches for your wrist and allows her hand to stray, to intertwine with yours, as she guides you.
She will keep a vigilant watch over you until you recover.
She will let her disappointment in you be known come morning.
Sigmund
āFuckingāto bed, now.ā
Before you do something youāll regret.
Heād dump out whatever was left in your bottle / glass, unconscious of the sneer he wears. If your friendship is true, or romance has blossomed between you, he wouldn't hesitate to pick you up | guide you by the hip away from all others right then and there: away from the noise, lights, and alcohol you apparently cannot seem to get enough of.
Too often, he had been in your shoes. Drunk, alone, and vulnerable. Reckless, short-sighted, perhaps eager for the night to spiral, to force himself to unravel, burying odd desires for punishment beneath the veil of merriment.
Too often he stumbled into nights best left forgotten. Nights he would undo if he could.
He does not wish the same for you.
His subtly is clumsy as he tries to inquire what you sought from this. To have fun, to forget, to distract or be true or simply for craving's sake.
He speaks to you far more than he means to as he tends to you; finds the words leaving him before he knows they've even been said.
Words he might not have spoken had you been of a sober mind.
A mind that would remember.
A mind that would give a second thought to how softly he speaks to you, how truthfully he speaks of his worries for you and your well-being.
Doting, you might have thought had your thoughts been clear.
Perhaps it is your unguardedness that compels the very same from him.
Regardless, come morning, Sigmund will wake with a headache and regret. He hopes you remember nothing of what he said.
Imka
āOh!ā
She is not used to . . . this. Drunkenness, from herself or others, has been a rare misfortune in her life thus far. She has seen some of the others in slightly tipsy states. Sheās overheard the damage caused by those who overindulge in their drink, physical and otherwise.
She doesnāt wish for you to be hurt . . .
Your name slips from her lipsāa thoughtless pleaāas her hands lightly guide you to the nearest place to sit.
āStay here, please! I, uhāWater! Iāll fetch you some water, okay? Wait here for just a little . . .ā
She winces at the sound of her voice, so small and pitched and riddled with the nervous discomfort that pinches every inch of her.
She hesitates, not wishing to leave you unattended for a moment, but forces herself to gather all she might need to care for you. Her sight switches from the environment around her and back to you. Always back to you.
If needed, she will ask another trusted person of greater strength or size to help move you to a safer space for recovery. Preferably Mutya, though her desperation to ensure your wellbeing would give her the courage the approach the likes of Sigmund or Akil as well.
She will not leave your side for the rest of the night. She knows the others could care for you just as well, if not better, and yet . . . She would not find a moment of peace anywhere but beside you. Not until she knows you are well again.
Not until she has done all she can to ensure you will wake up just fine tomorrow.
Elouan
āNo need to make a further fool of yourself. Weāve had plenty of fun for one night, no?ā
Elouan keeps a subtle watch on you throughout the night and would be quick to assure anyone with (bothersome) perceptiveness it is by mere coincidence he has remained near to your side without failure.
He intervenes when someone seems to be keeping too intent an eye on you or pesters you a little too insistently as you struggle to gather your bearings. He offers you his company but will not force himself by your immediate side if you do not accept him there. Nor will he force upon you his aid should you refuse it . . . to a point.
But once you reach that point where you fumble as you stand, navigate clumsily with hazy eyes and heavy tongue, he will be there to "sweetly" coax you to recover in private.
And he will guide you to there, without question, and keep his muttered frustrations towards your sickliness too quiet for your ears to catch.
He has done this too many times to count for those he did not care for. For those he perfomed care for.
Despite his complaints, and the frown he wears when your gaze is not fixed upon him, he finds himself not truly minding his fretting over you as much as he should.
The closer you become, the more comfortable he might be to truly let his (tense) worry and (tired) displeasure seep out into words a little more biting and exasperated.
Ah, but if times have been difficult, and Elouan had managed to slip out from the watch of his Supervisors . . . He might be too wasted himself to offer much help.
Jae
She eyes you with envy, hopeful still to soon match your drunken mindlessness . . . A mindlessness that might erase the vague worry that coils around her heart as she watches you unravel into a sorry mess.
While she doesn't cease her own drinking to keep a sober eye on you, she does find herself holding back. Veering no further than a warm, tipsy buzz just in case.
She isn't here to play as your nanny or warden. If you wish to indulge, to have fun, to be a little messy, she'll toast to your health and spirit with laughter. If things turn sour, or trouble does find its way, she'll be sure to get you out of it. But what good is it to damper the joy of this night, your night, over what-ifs and the thought of tomorrow's consequences?
If worse comes to worst, she'll see if offering her blood might help to sober you up. Blood, in the end, always seems to be the quick fix when it comes to you after all.
NiccolĆ²
āAha, so thatās your limit! Wonderful!ā
He delights in this. The collapse of your control, the fallout of your broken inhibitions. He doesnāt care if your rambles do not contain a single coherent, strung-together thought: he listens aptly still to whatever you mutter, grumble, or growl in this state. He minds not your fingers that grasp, your feet that stumble, desperate yet failing to assert some sense of control over yourself.
He watches closely for the truth of you. Unshackled, unburdened, under the haze of drunken stuporāthe core of your being spilling out in what might be tears, laughter, violence, anxiousness, or drowsiness.
He doesnāt know what itās like to be like you, like this. He wishes he did. Wishes he could be as true as you. As malleable to the influence of a mere drink, a taste, a drug that delivers so human a pleasure and pain. And itās a selfish thought in this moment, he knows, but it doesnāt make him wish for it any less.
Yes, he truly does delight in each moment of this. Messy moments spent with someone so exposed, indulgent, and true.
Mutya
āEvery. Single. Fuckinā. Time.ā
When did she become a babysitter for drunk idiots?
Thatās it. Youāre cut off, and she wonāt budge on this stance. She'll force you to drink nothing but water for the rest of the night, grumbling under her breath about 'how stupid can you be?' and 'I can't leave you alone for a minute'.
Youāre getting too comfortable.
Have you forgotten where you are? A slip of the tongue, loosened under alcohol, can be the death of you here.
The death of those you love.
She thinks of all she guards close to her chest. All she must stay vigilant for. The miserable truth that uttering a single name, an errant memory mistaken as harmless, could compromise those she protects from the eyes of WINGS.
The same eyes that watch you.
Always watching, and listening. For your every weakness, every fear, and every fault. For what can be used to tempt you, bribe you, control you.
Why make it easy for them? Why make yourself vulnerable when you donāt have that luxury beneath the thumb of WINGS?
So be it. If you do not keep guard of yourself, she will have to assume the role for you.
Fyodor
This is not an uncommon routine for him.
He has seen alcohol become a vessel of escape from troubles, a crutch sometimes abused. He has, at times, used it as such himselfāawaking some mornings with no recollection of the night before, sprawled out in a puzzle of broken mementos only Mishka could decipher. Recent events have compelled him to take up drinking again, but he hasāwith struggling successāabstained from the vice.
With grief such as this . . . He fears that, if he begins, he will not be able to stop.
He remembers how his mother tended to his father, dutiful in her care despite the tremble of her hand. He remembers Tolya, wild and desperate, flushed and violent, barely able to stand. He remembers how he was ordered to care for them then, and how he learned to care for them even when no others were near.
He is prepared for whatever you may throw at him. Your laughter, your tears, your violence; your defiant struggle against his helping hand or your limbless weight which stubbornly hopes to deter his care.
It is a simple matter to remove you from those who should not see you like this. Vulnerable.
By foot, or flight, or whatever it need be: he will take you somewhere quiet and tend to you as he has done countless times before. He will nurse you through your sick, oddly silent as the routine surfaces memories best buried. Delicate is his touch, hovering and soothing and determined to keep you close.
A cold haze ebbs and flows within his gaze, sometimes melting beneath panicked warmth whenever you groan in discomfort or stumble on your feet. Half-here with you, half-elsewhere with figments of others once dear to him.
Over time, as his love for you becomes more truth than dream, the past eases its grip upon him on nights like this. And you will see the fear he bears unmasked, the nerves that unsettle his hand just as they did his motherās.
He wishes you would not do this to yourself.
Bonus
As a super speedy, vague bonus.
Dearil
The man laughs at your misfortune. He takes pleasure in seeing you become a functionless mess, helpless and stripped bare from your usual inhibitions. Do not expect a helping hand from him.
Dearil does not waste his time by doting on fools and their consequences.
Though he would never admit it (when you're sober), he does take some satisfaction in witnessing your vulnerability in this state.
Curadora
She is horrified to see you so taken with your vices, and she recoils from the stench of alcohol that stains your breath. Though she will (sternly, and then gently) chastise your recklessness for indulging yourself so much, she will dutifully care for you throughout the night if need be.
She could never abandon someone in such a sorry state. Never could she abandon you . . . But such a declaration feels hollow when affirmed aloud.
Retriever
Ah, itās like looking in a mirror towards his younger self. He cringes at the memories your conduct invokes, though any humor he finds in the moment vanishes when he remembers how those drunken nights tended to end. Heāll hurry to coral you back to somewhere you can safely rest up for the night then, masking his firm insistence beneath heavy pampering and a (false) cheery disposition.
Lempo
Ah, youāre so much fun like this! She indulges heavily alongside you, careless for however this night may end when led with such wild abandon.
Hm, you wished for her to take care of you? She supposes she can chase away any ailments you might acquire by coupling your drinks with samples of her ambrosia. Lempo cares for her pleasure first and foremost, even if it must be taken with some consequence like that of lost memories, hangovers, or whatever fallout comes from drunken antics.
Bones (Former Friend / Crush)
Ah, there are numerous factors thatāll impact his reaction. As a general medium . . . (?)
Youāre a fuckinā mess.
If he finds you with a glass / bottle in hand while youāre in this state, expect it to be ripped out from your graspāperhaps even (dramatically) shattered on the ground if you insist on getting it back.
He'll drag you by the arm to the first quiet, dim, private space he can find, cursing under his breath as his gaze constantly flickers back to you.
His care is not gentle, nor patient. He will not entertain your rambles, your antics, your half-thought whims as he tries to help you either sober up or settle down as quickly as possible.
Ah, and the moment Mockingbird utters one protest against his careāa hurt complaint over him being too rough, a flinch when he reaches for your hairāitās a flip of the coin whether heāll abandon you then and there.
He shouldnāt let himself care like this.
Shouldnāt go out of his way to look after you.
Elov will try to forget the memory of you, vulnerable and alone, in other distractions he finds. Likely a bender of his own, or something a little more bloody.
Mishka
You find pleasure in this?
Ruining yourself, humiliating yourself, just to no longer be yourself.
They have seen their fair share of drunken fools. Those repulsive, those violent, those merry, and those pathetic.
But you . . . draw out from them what those others did not.
Their attention lingers upon you far longer than it should. Curious, uncertain, and you change so drastically before them whilst still remaining much the same.
A paradox. Here you are before them, possessing bare inhibitions and truths alongside a slipping sense of self.
And when your condition begins to falter, your sickness from indulgence arising in a fashion more base and ugly than it does in concern to the blood, they know they should call upon Fyodor.
He would know what to do.
How to serve you in ways they cannot.
And yet . . . They do not find themself permitting him this moment.
No, they do not relinquish you to him. They will stumble, and struggle, but still they persist in tending to you (mimicking what they have observed from Fyodor in the past). So long as you bear no memory of this come morning, they do not mind debasing themself to be your servile fool.
So long as they may be the one by your side, tedium like this is . . . tolerable.
Almost pleasantly so.
Ah, but if Mockingbird does not share a romantic bond with Mishka, theyāll simply step over your collapsed drunken form and continue about their night without a second thought or glance. Friendship, however, may compel them to permit Fyodorās care for you if the circumstances are suitable.
I am absolutely in love with the world you created. I have been reading through your lore posts and love how in depth they are. Itās interesting how WINGS have controlled the gifted population so intensely. As well as how the gifted are often considered inhuman or othered. Yet the concept of a super hero is also accepted to a certain degree. Are hero organizations separate from WINGS or still connected to it. Like how Coca-Cola also owns Fanta.
This also reminded me of the Nestle baby formula scandal. Has WINGS had any huge scandals that really affected their reputation?
Ah, thank you for these questions! Iāll try my best to provide sufficient(?) answers in sections below, though please let me know if anything should be further expanded upon or clarified! I tend to get a little aimless lost in all my wordiness and whatnot, haha!
Heroes
In truth, Gifted (super)heroes are not common nor widely accepted in the world of Insurrection.
The concept of heroes exists: the timeline for this world would have experienced things such as comic book or cartoon (superhuman) heroes in pop culture prior to (and following) the emergence of the Gifted. Canonically, the Gifted started to seep into the public eye largely within the 1920sāgradually rising in visibility, notoriety, and destruction henceforth as rumors blossomed into world shattering reality. When I apply that sort of rhetoric (āheroesā, ācaped crusadersā, etc.) around WINGS, that is to demonstrate the āPRā speak they might use around the Gifted by leaning on ideals or terms already propagated by pop culture.
Hero is a much more palatable term to the masses than conscript. Caped crusader seems a far more noble (forced) existence than militarized prisoner.
Amongst Gifted themselves, eh . . . For those inclined to see themselves as heroes, or who harbor an aspiration to become one, I would say the some may (knowingly or otherwise) have their sentiments rooted in a, uh, coping mechanism? Imagine living oneās whole life persecutedāhunted and hidden from the promise of conscription or deathāmerely for a hereditary trait placed upon you by no want nor will of your own. A trait glorified, idolized, and romanticized in the archetype of āHeroesā; figures like you, shown to be embraced, lauded by the world (or, at least, real-world fans even when their fictional universe is against them.)
Heroism, therefore, becomes a somewhat performative conformity for a good number of them. Akin to: āHavenāt I become what you wanted me to be? / āIs this what is takes to be accepted (loved) by the world? / āI will do what you demand, but let it be by my own terms.ā
Of course, there are those (also) guided by true altruistic intent. Others are keen towards the promise of fame, the power of reputation, or the thrill of danger. People are complicated, and unique, especially those whose sense of identity and being has been so greatly overshadowed (if not warped) by the ramifications of their gift.
Retriever was a trailblazer for Gifted heroes. There were attempts that preceded him, yes, but none who matched the scale of his fame, his adoration, or his success in acts of heroism. It is the adoration placed upon him, this air of celebrity, that kept him relatively safe compared to other Gifted heroes in the past. His early career, however, was fraught with a tense balance between the inherent publicity of his heroism (being out in the open, helping people, vulnerable in the midst of disaster) and evading attempts at capture from WINGS. Eventually, WINGS would have caused themselves more harm than good in reputation and reach (esp. within the US) if they were to imprison the icon Retriever had become. It was more fruitful to instead surveil Retriever as much as they could, lying in wait to discover his civilian identity who would be easier to detain and vanish without public outcry.
Many heroic hopefuls of the past did not prosper long enough (or successfully enough) to have the shield of public opinion Retriever possessed.
Honestly, he was perhaps lightning in a bottle. Just a perfect storm of traits. Handsome (from what people could see | in the way he carried himself), with easy charm and convincing humility. His Gift is powerful, flexible, capable of flashiness if he so desires whilst being well-controlled by his proficient hand (in other words, little to no ā known ā unintentional collateral damage came from him, unlike some other Gifted, which made humans feel safer under his care).
On top of all that, Retriever embraced his celebrity, playing into whatever the people wanted. No matter how messy, broken, or ugly his affairs became behind-the-scenes, he always kept his public faƧade intact.
Retriever makes his debut as a hero a few years before Mockingbird first meets Elov. (Heās notably older than the MC, by a little more or a little less than seven years, so youāre still in the midst of adolescence when his career begins.) Ā As you age, thereāll be snippets and moments that show the evolving attitudes towards his life as a hero: from condemnation, fear, and vitriol that slowly melts into wonder, reliance, and rocky acceptance. His popularity was strongest in America, though he took a temporary hit there when he began to expand his endeavors into Europe (since he therefore betrayed the vague sense of ownership Americans felt over him).
General attitudes towards his time as a hero will be reflected in Mockingbirdās household. Your fatherās hateful repulsion, Uncle Fletcherās pessimistic fondness, and your stepmotherās eager embracement sometimes clash whenever heās mentioned. (Bones, if asked then, would have considered Retriever a goody-two-shoes bootlicker desperate for attention. A joke at best, a harmful prop against the Gifted at worst.)
Hero MCs (who cooperate with law enforcement) had their way paved by Retriever. Los Angeles is a promising city to begin their career within since his repute still echoes and reflects against other potential Gifted heroes. The media, local law enforcement, and (the not-so-vocal majority of) the local population are less so vicious compared to, say, New York City which has been more so scarred by its history with the Gifted.
Hero MCs will also be acquainted with a few other Gifted seeking to inherit the mantle Retriever left behind, to varying degrees of success. One has begun to thrive beside law enforcement, another is somewhat bumbling through his rookie years (wary of law enforcement whilst wanting desperately to be seen as legitimate), and the last has abandoned any desire for recognition or love to embrace a purely vigilante lifestyle. All of them are descendants of former associates Mockingbird might have known depending on their region of origin (Central Africa, Southern Asia, or Southern Europe)āif you drink from their blood as a hero (for Telekinesis, Super Speed, or Regeneration) itāll be a real full circle moment! (Since, ah, your mother would have siphoned blood from their parents back in the day. Though some will be less pleased than others to share; honestly, Iām leaning towards Atlas not sharing his blood with a non-Southern European MC due to your gift reminding him of the Reznik and Avici clans. The man left Europe for a reason.)
Other examples that, perhaps, veer towards heroism might be those like Mutya or Kalyna. Yet, despite how they bled for a cause, for innocents (at times), neither would call themselves a hero (in either a symbolic or professional sense). Kalyna simply wished to safeguard her home, those she considered her people, in her days before the CARDINALS. Mutya simply sought to support the dreams of her siblings, to assign some reason for the torment of her Gift (purpose, meaning, in her suffering). Despite the general (though not constant) moral good (or grey) they undertook before the CARDINALS / HAWKS, they were not career āheroesā in any true sense.
Otherwise, numerous Gifted would sooner flock to the life of a mercenary than that of a hero. Some by intention (like Bacara), some by accident (like Sigmund), and some by force (Fyodor?). Profiting from their abilities beneath the protection (or simple discretion) of their employers. Their reputations, their use, became a makeshift shield against the claws of the WINGS (for a time, in Sigmundās case, before he bit the hand that fed him one too many times).
Criminality is also somewhat commonplace amongst the Gifted, though few (beyond perhaps the media or some online subcultures / groups) would title them ā(super)villainsā. Terrorists would sooner be applied than villains. A danger to society, humanity; a danger to themselves.
I would imagine such a term (āsupervillainsā) to be more conversational (colloquial, click-bait, etc.) than anything else.
WINGS does not want people to lose sight of how serious a threat the Gifted are when left to their own devices. Villainy might muddle the severity of harm these superhumans promise.
More simply put, there are no āprofessionalā āsuperheroā organizations / associations beyond WINGS and their sectors with Gifted agents (and, arguably???, the CARDINALS if one wishes to view them as heroes / vigilantes. Uriel would be amused if one were to consider them as such, but I cannot imagine him genuinely agreeing with that assessment, though he would parrot it if that ingratiated his audience to his cause).
The vast majority of (self-proclaimed) heroes found in this world are rogue agents unbound to greater orders or hierarchies. Unlike Uriel, few Gifted would wish to place such a large target on their lives (and the lives of their loved ones) merely for a āhigher causeā than oneself. I imagine even those of great conviction would take pause if their actions risked the imprisonment / eradication of their entire (Gifted) bloodline. (A grim possibility that hangs over the shoulders of CARDINALS who do still possess attachments beyond their organization, though their rationalizations and coping around this truth may differ from one another.)
Furthermore, the entire existence of WINGS aims to nullify the global crises that could arise from a biased entityās monopoly over superhumans. Such as if, say, Russia possessed professional Gifted superheroesā military trained and government-sponsoredāwhilst other countries (for example, the US or other NATO nations threatened by Russiaās military capacity) did not. Or if the US permitted corporate āownedā heroes available for freelance to the highest bidders (no better than legal mercenaries, a private militia, for those with the deepest pockets) whilst forbidding their freedom to aid foreign entities (or, alternatively, running undesired interference within foreign nations through the Gifted that local populations and militias would struggle to resistāa deadly strongarm they could, perhaps, not hope to counter without the luck of possessing their own native Gifted to retaliate).
So and so forth.
The apolitical, absence of allegiance WINGS possesses is the key to their existence. The Gifted are too volatile, too unknown, too powerful to be controlled by self-interested politicians, corporations, and personal ambitions. WINGS promises the utilization of the Gifted for all: no matter oneās homeland, wealth, need, or identity. A universal equilibrium for access to these superhumans and the miracles they (can be forced to) create.
Any attempt at an official organization of Gifted heroes independent from WINGS would be immediately shut-down for āharboring Giftedā. The Gifted heroes would be apprehended by WINGS and accordingly assigned within their own sectors. Any humans involved in the organizationās creation would face criminal repercussions in accordance to the laws of their native nation(s).
Fun Fact: In the original (non-interactive) canon I held for the world of Insurrection, the generation following Mockingbird would have heralded / been raised within the ārising ageā of heroes. An era defined by extreme āheroicsā and āvillainyā as miracles once world-changing bled out into mundanity.
Ah, a quick visual example might be the type of heroism displayed in the MCU (specifically, Phases 2-3)āincreasingly organizational, with a push to remove the anonymity and discrimination of Gifted individuals (to mixed success), struggling to evolve beyond grey zones in execution, legality, and oversight whilst facing intense public reaction of various extremes. Being a āprofessional heroā would have been a legitimate career in this age, with competitive and alternate avenues one could pursue within this realm. In the interactive edition, such a future is not guaranteed.
Stepka, one of Fyodorās sons, would have embodied the new age struggles the Gifted faced as a rather morally conflicted āheroā (alongside his civilian identity as an American celebrity)ātorn between love and envy, passion and perfection, selfishness and sacrifice.
Whereas his elder (half-)brother was the embodiment of the ideal for this new age, Stepka more so became a testament to the reality. A pretty face who preached what he did not truly believe, who slipped from grace and clawed his way back to it time and time again, veiling brokenness and the repercussions of violence beneath a false performance of security and contentment.
WINGS and Control
One must keep in mind that the worldwide Gifted population is, by all means and measures, miniscule. I do not wish to trap myself with a specific number of Gifted who currently roam the earth but, internally, I hold them firmly (if not incredibly far) beneath 1% of the global population (perhaps even 0.00001%, no greater than ~80k individuals). A population scattered across various nations, cultures, and languages which makes it difficult for them to unify as one people. One voice, one resistance, against the countless eyes and agents utilized by WINGS; some of whom are the fellow Gifted they would have once relied upon.
Additionally, the Gifted are individuals at the end of the day. Any sense of tribalism amongst them is greatly hindered by the intense differences found from one to another. Even within Insurrectionās cast alone, one may see how differences in ideals, pasts, desires, and circumstances can breed fracture and opposition between the Gifted despite a shared struggle and cause.
By comparison, Los Angeles bears a population of 3.88 million. So, with my rough and fluid (not strictly canon!) estimate towards Gifted around the world, even if all the Gifted from each speck of the globe were to gather in Los Angeles, they would only comprise around 2% of this singular cityās population. Granted Los Angeles is a rather cluttered city compared to some others, but itās still not within the top 10 populated cities around the world.
Some might then consider WINGS to be an overly drastic form of defense against the Gifted when these superhuman individuals are so scarce and fractured. Yet it only takes one Gifted to become the next Dollmaker (a self-made tyrant throughout all of Russia, with spreading influence across Eastern Europe), the next Dearil (whose atrocities piled countless human victims), or the next Lempo (whose carelessness over her gift decimated a minor population of peopleāa tragedy that may too easily repeat itself when her gift is still so recklessly managed).
And imagine the destruction Curadora could wreck if she were not so constrained by her morals: an ability to brainwash, to influence minds, to rewrite oneās very sense of reality through memories has endless potential for harm. And if she were to ever have a child, and this child inherited her gift, who could say with certainty that they would not turn their control over memories toward more nefarious deeds? It is best to have individuals like this accounted for, made obedient but purposeful still for a greater good (so says the philosophy of WINGS).
A visual comparison my mind oftentimes wanders towards would be a human versus an ant. One human may easily squash one ant without thought or hesitance, just as one Gifted may easily overcome an ordinary human with their power alone. But pit that human against an entire colony of antsāperhaps have those ants heighten in their threat as fire ants or even bulldog ants (trained WINGS agents, capable of true lethal action) who share your same level of intelligence and have somehow captured a handful of humans to join their fight against you . . . It is far easier to become overwhelmed despite a Giftedās natural strength against the one and the few.
And aside from this, the world still does not know what makes someone Gifted. The origin of their powers, the means by which it passes from parent to child. Left to run amok, unwatched and unaccounted for, who knows how quickly the Gifted may multiplyāthrough means natural or otherwiseāuntil they truly do reach a critical mass that could easily overrule, override, overtakeāeliminateāhumanity as we know it.
What is it that keeps the Gifted below 1%? What might occur, what might it take (by accident, by intention, right beneath our noses) for them to rise to 2%? To 10%? 50%? And what hope would the powerless have then? (Such is the fear-mongering some might be exposed to.)
Thus, a drastic counter to the Gifted is seen as necessitated. To limit their destructive potential, to observe and study them up close under safe conditions. Conditions that may simultaneously be used to aid humanity through the mandated service of these Gifted. A proper purpose.
Control is, therefore, a necessity.
WINGS is, thus, supported by international governments; given free access across borders, into the investigations of local law enforcement, able to directly reach most world leaders if the occasion demands it. They are given the manpower, the liberty, the discretion to do whatever is necessary to keep the Gifted under control. And if they must circumvent a few rules and regulations beyond the necessary to accomplish their tasks, then so be it.
Alas, oftentimes WINGS finds themselves searching for needles in a haystack when it comes to their hunt of the Gifted. This is a truth that must be accounted for.
Even if they cannot obtain each and every Gifted, especially if they continue to repopulate themselves sporadically around the world, they must establish control through other means.
Silence. Oppression. Isolation. Fear.
Deterrence.
A culture war in the media: clear, unobstructed evidence of the ruin caused by rogue Gifted. Supply outlets with photographs, video, the truth of the fallout from a Gifted who lost control of themself. The bloodāinnocent or otherwiseāleft in their wake. The loss, the chaos, the mystery and the unpredictability of their powers. Publicize the successes of the HAWKS, the answer to an inevitable future with the Gifted. Show what once was horrific as safe once in the hands of WINGS, once captured and corrected by its control.
Show the world the teeth of a Reznik. Theyāll call them a vampireāsomething known, something understood. Something to comprehend what they are seeing: a blood-drinker, a near undead. Fantastical, fanciful, closer to fiction than reality.
Show the world the victim the Reznik fed upon. Mutilated. Taken of their life, their face, their very name; taken helplessly for a feast, taken as easily as it could have taken you. Shredded skin at the neck, gouges from claws unveiled in the midst of starvationāa hunger it could not resist a moment longerāand it will be called a monster.
An animal.
An abomination.
A threat.
A thing that looks like us but is not. Just as a vampire is not, and āa Gifted is notā.
Show this Reznik at their worst, their lowest, and the world will see no āgiftā.
They will see what they must be protected from.
And, in turn, the Gifted shall see that they must be protected too.
From the humans who gaze upon their kind in repulsion, in hatred, in horror. Make humanity afraid of the Gifted, make the Gifted afraid of humanity, and make the Gifted afraid of themselves.
And such a tactic can be extended to other kinds of Gifted and their gifts. A man whose flesh has been enmeshed with the floor beneath him at the hands of SĆørensenāneeding to have his skin severed for the mere chance of being saved. The loved one whose corpse has been stolen, puppeteered, and damaged by the necromancy of Mendoza. Fire, ash, debris, and the dead left in the wake of the living bomb Tesni has become. So on and so forth. It is easy to paint the Gifted as disasters waiting to happen, as horrors that cannot be entrusted with their own free will.
WINGS is not omnipotent, nor ever-reaching (even if they portray themselves as such). But a rattled heart loosens the tongue, and makes it easier for a citizen to report their beloved neighbor as a suspected Gifted. Easier for mobs to frighten the Gifted, to chase them to the shadows and inaction down to the local level. Easier for the Gifted to questions themselves, distrust themselves, and find relief from their doubt beneath the command of WINGS.
WINGS does not let an opportunity go to waste.
Beyond their physical power and reach over the Gifted of the world (in the form of DOVES and their investigations, OWLS and their intelligence, HAWKS and their strength, etc.), so too do they ensure this psychological extension of their power. Feeding into the fears of the culture, feeding into the paranoia just enough to make the world vigilant against the Gifted, feeding into their own image as always watching, always knowing, always finding the Gifted in the end . . . In this sense, it all reminiscent of tactics oftentimes employed by authoritarian regimes of the past.
The projection of power from WINGS is crucial for keeping the Gifted in check.
Dehumanization
Iāve touched on this above but . . . Already marginalized within the greater nations or systems they occupy, the plight of the Gifted is worsened by the actions of the worst amongst them. The destruction caused by one Gifted is painted as the potential destruction at the hands of all Gifted, creating fertile grounds for fear, vitriol, and potentially preemptive violence against vulnerable Gifted individuals.
Such reactions can be seen in our real world. Blame for a disease, an attack, a national stagnation or loss or betrayal of some sort being blamed on one identity, one race or gender or culture or way of living that leads to someāeven if not all, or most, or merely a fewālashing out against any who fall beneath the umbrella of the scapegoated population. Through harshness, discrimination, segregation, or violence. And even when it is unlikely the fear that it is possible (that it is given the false pretense of reason by the majority, or given permittance by the silence of the majority) can do much to deter oneās openness about that aspect of their identity.
A situation pulled to the extreme for the Gifted: whilst other minorities may at least have the support of a community somewhere or another, even if numbered merely in the hundreds, the Gifted are oftentimes alone. Unknowing of where their breathren live, of who they may be. It is themselves alone or, for the fortunate few, their household alone who bear this hidden target.
Unveiling oneself as Gifted leaves them open to harm. Silence, concealment, become a means of self-preservation. After all, the identity of the Gifted is practically criminalized under the vast influence of WINGS.
To have oneās vary nature be aligned to something criminal (worthy of detainment, obligated to surrender) is greatly othering in and of itself.
Life in hiding leaves the reputation of the Gifted vulnerable to whatever the loudest voices make it to be. Voices with the reach, the backing (financial, political, ideological), the incentive to paint them as needing guidance, needing to be saved, needing to be controlled. The world therefore tells the Giftedāthrough media, through the dominant culture, through lawāthat they are wrong. Something other, something unnatural, something that cannot function in society like weāhumanityācan.
It is a narrative sold and adopted all across the world.
And it is so easy for the masses to see the Gifted as others, as non-human, when their Gifts transform them so radically from what we see ourselves to be. Historically, even traits as harmless as albinism or left-handedess have been seen as evidence of oneās othernessāat times wickedness too, merely on the grounds of a hereditary trait. Gifts take this phenomenonāthis horrible outcome where superstition, ignorance, and stereotypes collideāto an extreme as well.
But if one were to witness Anatoly as a man set ablaze, Kalyna as a half-woman and half-beast, Teitikai razor-toothed and gilled, Yeon-woo self-dividing his body and consciousness, or Yhlas retching acid that melts straight through muscle and bone . . . It would not take much for one to wonder if the Gifted truly may be considered human still. Humanity has considered others less than human for far less in the past.
Scandals
Yes, WINGS has come under fire now and again on different fronts, drawing the ire of different parties with differing motivations. (Thereās a lot of constant, shifting politics surrounding WINGS existence thatās on a need-to-know basisāMockingbird and the player will not be concerned much with it, but other characters are to varying extents. Discussion of it will arise as needed in relation to the cast.)
Largely, their scandals have concerned their apprehension of the Gifted. The times when violence could not be masked, when a target was beloved to some degree on the local level. Matters that could be soothed by shifting some blame, defaming oneās character, pulling the attention of others unto the greater harm they managed to neutralize by taking this Gifted into custody when they did.
The RAVENS, CROWS, and HAWKS have had their fair share of collateral as well, especially in the earliest days of their existence. Cover-ups are not unheard of amongst WINGS agents to bypass the fallout of scandals from the pastāa necessary measure to preserve their ability to operate freely, without greater oversight and interference from external entities.
WINGS does dedicate notable manpower towards identifying, delegitimizing, or simply silencing their opposition. Those who would seek to expose the darker truths within their organization, who would sow distrust and uncertainty towards their mission purpose. DOVES ensures publications of their errors are given a bit of a spin, OWLS ensures that the possibility of leaks are dealt with swiftly and harshly. Abuses in the HAWKS are addressed internally, unknown entirely to the world beyond.
Mockingbird knows more of the harsh, cruel truths of WINGS growing up since they have direct connection to the āgrapevineā of Gifted and their rumors. Stories of those known and lost to WINGS, half-reliable re-tellings of survived encounters with HAWKS or CROWS or whatever other tactics and tricks WINGS employs. In time, so too will they garner lived experiences in relation to WINGS and their questionable actions (even prior to their enlistment).
In childhood, those on good terms with Elov might hear from him the suspicions towards WINGS held on humanityās end (sourced from the conspiracies and drunken rambles regaled by his human father). Less founded in testimonies and more so a mixture of bad faith and leaps in logic, but even conspiracies might contain nuggets of truth (or so Elov thinks as a youth). Largely grassroot and fringe theories reflective of other grievances and accusations held against large institutions of (unchecked) power.
Scandal is inevitable. WINGS knows this and prepares itself for it. The captures of Jae, Imka, and Elouan are examples of this alone. (As you get to know them, youāll learn more details about the messes their pasts left for WINGS to clean up.)
Nothing has occurred that could truly threaten the legitimacy and agency of WINGS . . . Yet.
The public has a bit of a high tolerance for the shady practices and errors of WINGS since they are āhumanityās first and greatest defense against the Giftedā at the end of the day.
But scandal will be touched upon in the main narrative. ļ¼Ā“āļ½''ļ¼And Mockingbird could use what little power and freedom they possess still to influence the severity of the fallout . . . But itās a decision that will not be without consequence!
In Conclusion(?)
Ah . . . Apologies for rambling. I fear I lost the plot of this response a lot and tried to wander back as best as I could, haha! (įµ Ā“ ā Ė Ė¶) I think my brain is still a little muddled from my brotherās onslaught of The Boys discussion and content sharing and thatās got my head dizzy when it comes any superhuman talk. (įµāį“ā) I havenāt even seen the show in full, but I sure feel like I have after this past week or so, haha!
Uh . . . Circling back to heroics, the world of Insurrection simply isnāt in a stage where professional heroism for the Gifted is viable for most of them. Itās not impossible, per se, but not many Gifted would risk their entire lives to play hero for a world that largely condemns, fears, and dehumanizes them. ā(Ā“ļ½ļ½;)ā
WINGS, on their part, does have a long-term vision for the future of the Gifted. A future that lies in accordance with their mission of neutralizing the threat the Gifted present whilst making use of them. So, uh . . . If WINGS prevails over the resistance of rogue Gifted, the CARDINALS in particular, who knows what the future of superhumans (and their heroics) might look like in a few decades or so!
I mean, I know. Other characters know. Or think they know, limited in their assumptions because of what they (do not) know. (įµ,,Ā¬ļ¹Ā¬,,) People are complicated.
(āæĀ“ź³`)ļ¾ Regardless, thank you once again for this ask!
Demo/itch.io page - TBA | Working on prologue now!
Synopsis:
Dreams are easy, making them real feels impossible.
For as long as you can remember, music was just about the only thing that truly spoke to you. Melodies had a way of reaching deep down inside you and pulling a sense of love and safety from you that nothing else could. Which is exactly why musical theatre seemed to call to you so fervently, a live performance with an entourage of like-minded people as the stage oozed a manic sense of love for the craft? What other form of music could fulfill you? None, simple as.Ā
You started chasing your dreams from an early age; joined theatre, a choir, studied music in your free-time, went to local plays, auditioned for local plays, anything that would get you closer to your dream really. But now, in your mid-twenties, youāve little accolades to show for it. Background roles, followed by one or two supporting roles, thatās the most you have to your name. You have an amazing voice, your rhythm hardly falls out of sync, you work hard to study your lines and directionā¦ and youāre still never the first pick.Ā
But that all changes when you're approached by a woman after an audition. Moxine Solstice, a driven woman who believes you have a draw to you that will turn her original musical from just another great play to a masterpiece. The pay is lower than youād expect for a leading role and every song you have to sing has a plethora of demanding moments in every song, challenging notes and abrupt shifts in octaves clearly meant to show off range, but if sheās rightā¦ this show might just be your breakout role.
Itās time to make your dream a reality.
Features:
Decide your charcter's gender (Male, Female and Non-binary)
Customize your character's appearance (skin color, hair color and length, eye color, height)
Choose from three different singing voices (Soprano, Countertenor, and Baritone)
Establish your character's personality through two traits that will affect how they navigate the world around them and treat others (Outlook and Social)
To call Moxie ambitious would be a severe understatement. At 15, she was producing music and found a modicum amount of success online. At 16, she was the leading voice in her church choir and made her own band to play at parties, she also continued being a solo artist online, simply adding her voice to her music. Now 18, she has piled as much responsibility onto herself as one could take. She has founded her own production company for musicals: Solstice LLC. And now sheās a one-woman army to debut her newly written play; Speechless: The Musical. Will she go into generational debt if her show bombs? Yes! And a massive deciding factor of whether or not her dreams come true is her newly scouted talent she picked up on a whimā¦ you. No pressure!
A jaded, no-nonsense woman who only entertains Moxieās big-time dreams because sheās being paid far more than is normal for her job title. Did she manipulate the naive Moxie to squeeze more money from her? Maybe. But thatās just business. If the aspiring broadway star makes it further than the play, sheāll learn that lesson in no time. But perhaps Moxie isnāt the only one who has room to grow. Will you be the one to thaw her icy exterior?
Supporting Role; Lou Leonard, he/him (22)
In a few ways, he reminds you a bit of yourself. From a young age he knew singing was all heād ever want to do and pursued that dream with a dogged determination. And while he has landed a few roles that made an impression, he has yet to land a leading role. Now, if you were to ask him, he would likely tell a joke and say heās simply happy to pay the bills and meet like-minded people. But in moments where he believes nobody watchesā¦ his smile drops and the jokes stop coming. Can you be the one to show him his value?
One thing that is obvious soon after meeting him is his pride. Everything that he can flaunt about himself is self-taught; dancing, cooking, baking, drawing, hell, he even taught himself to swim by jumping into the deep end without floaters when he was six! The one hobby heās not very open about is singingā¦ It might just be the one thing he loves more than dancing, but when your work has you surrounded by people who were professionally taught and have years of experience? Yeah, best if he just doesnāt humiliate himself. Maybe youāll be the one to help him find his voice?
Speechless: The Musical is a character driven, drama/romance interactive fiction. Each RO is a unique route that will involve heavy and personal themes. Furthermore, the game will contain optional sexual content in the later part of the story.
CW: Depression, suicidal ideation, internalized homophobia, family related trauma including physical & emotional abuse.
Didn't know this was an option before so I'm adding it now lol @interact-if
My personal blog can be found here if you would like to take a peek now and then. Expect it to be largely unimportant tedium in my life. (įµ Ā“ ā Ė Ė¶)
I am, perhaps, making this post at the worst time possible. I have begun to undertake unpaid weekends at the office just to mitigate the extremity of the workload; desperate to deter the wrath of internal and external forces within my professional environment.
These next two months will not be smooth. Everything is crashing down, demanding, and taking what I cannot give. I am exhausted . . .
But, I am sick of this. Tired of this.
I do not care if itās only a few playable pages.
I do not care if itās so minuscule, so inconsequential, that its mere existence invites more outrage than its absence.
I care not if thereās countless greyed out choicesāblocked, a waste of spaceāor little length with too much depth.
I do not care if the plot has not yet unraveled to a satisfactory degree, the creation of oneself is not yet indulgent enough to satiate the appetites of those who read it.
I will be held accountable. Goodness, execute me on the streets if I fail this promise! (jk :p)
August 8th. I will upload something.
Call it a sample. Call it a teaser. Call it shit.
Mock the title of ādemoā if you must because I do not care anymoreāI am officially crashing out.
That is the deadline.
Please, expect little. In quality, in quantityālet your expectation match my skill and ability which is insufficient for anything of worth.
I believe I may post now and again to this blog in the meantime until then. I am somewhat undecided. In truth, this blog scares me.
I feel nauseous at the thought of it. To ease my worries, I have contemplated perhaps defecting to a personal blog for the things I wish to say but fear their saying will reap spite here. Off-topic, needless musings. Echoes into the void for the simple sake of having them said in some sense. Or, maybe, I am simply not made for social media.
Alas, the world wears me down. I hope it is kind to all of you.
I promise I will resume my silence on this blog until another (maybe monthly?) sign of life (to keep the cobwebs out of here)! Just one more post, please, I beg! (Ä«Ä« ^ Ä«Ä«)
I am usually so strong when it comes to keeping my mouth shut about random little tidbits, ideas, polls, or songs I wish to post on this blog, but I just cannot hold this one thing in. Please, no pitchforks! (āāøā)š§
My Spotify dropped In the Room Where You Sleep by Dead Manāa Bones onto my lap and it has such strong Mishka romance vibes (particularly, from an outsiderās perspective).
I am not kidding when I say that everyone will be warning Mockingbird to not involve themself with Mishka. Even in a purely platonic relationship, youāll have a lot of side-eyes thrown at you from all around.
To those around you there is something . . . ominous to Mishkaās affection. A danger in their desire, a ruin to their touch. Look at what has become of Fyodor; ask yourself if what they offer, what they speak, is truly love.
Their being alone is eerie. A presence which disturbs the peace, the soul, the very world around you. To have that presence fixated upon youāit is the equivalent to the mark of death, is it not? Or, if not death, the mark of something you might not be willing to bear. To give.
But Mishka does not demand you give. Only asks, only wishes; harshly and gently and persistently, with a desperation they bury and cannot face. The others refuse to understand this.
What might seem intimate between Mishka and you is damning in the eyes of others. Whoever, whatever, Mishka is . . . they say it is not right.
Like a ghost, Mishka lingers. Watches. Waits.
And for what do they wait? Bound by desire, what shall they take?
In other words, others see Mishka being permitted to your vulnerability (a nearness to you, a closeness to you, your familiarity and your heartāāthe room where you sleepā) and they are frightened by the reality. By what Mishka is, by they may do to you whilst you are peacefully blind (āasleepā) to the cruelty, the threat, they possess. Do you not know how easily a touch, a caress, may turn against you?
Honestly, I cannot help but laugh at the thought that the same scene can be a romance film in Mockingbirdās eyes and a horror film to everyone around them. Like, even in the most literal take for this song, I can imagine half the cast having a heart-attack upon finding Mishka beside your sleeping body, haha!
In this sense, it absolutely feels like a lens through how Gabriel specifically views the romance between Mockingbird and Mishka (especially if Mockingbird is only interested in Fyodor / is determined to stay loyal to Fyodor alone whilst Mishkaās romance has been activated).
Literally, this sums up Gabriel if you decide to romance Fyodorāeven more so if you romance Fyodor and Mishka:
Calm exterior feigning joy for his beloved brother-by-promise; internal horror and uncertainty as he questions the madness he has been forced to witness. He will masquerade as a wingman when the vessel and the mystic have an eye upon him, but once secrecy has been secured . . . Gabriel cannot sleep at night without ensuring you know exactly what you are stepping into. What you risk, and what he will do to minimize the damage your dalliance will promise this world.
Say the word, and he will grant you escape from this. All of this. Taken from the world, hidden but safe. Out of reach from them.
For Fyodorās sake. Even if Fyodor cannot recognize the good it will do him to safeguard his heart from you.
The good it will do to safeguard you from Mishka. That, above all, is the greatest mercy he could give.
Anyways, whilst Iām here . . .
Ah, I will try to make next monthsās sign of life more meaningful than a few inbox answers!
Itās a bit difficult since I do have travel plans to reunite with my brother in Oklahoma mid-December, alongside general holiday / work / school madness at this time of year. Even then, the holidays will be the only time my family has with my brother until he departs once again for months (at minimum, maybe), though at least heāll be in Northern California near other relatives. I do wish to prioritize family in those days we have him with us. Thankfully, I do have a somewhat generous holiday schedule for time off due to my workplace. Hopefully that will ease the burden of everything else that requires my time.
Iām not quite sure what would be satisfactory (other than the demo itself ą«®(Ė¶ā„ļøæā„)į please itās killing me) but I assume more actual story progress content would be preferred? ( ;Ā“ - `;) I do not wish to upset or disappoint more than I endlessly do, so Iāll evaluate what might be best closer to whatever internal deadline I set for a monthly update.
It seems far too ambitious for me to set an internal deadline for even a sliver of a demo drop (like, even only pre-Elov childhood content). I debate perhaps focusing on developing a highly limited demo sample to at least start gathering feedback on customization, pacing, and writing. For example, only writing one available set of continental regions for demo content.
In such a case, Oceania has the least number of regions (3) and would be the quickest to develop in its entirety (as in, pre-immigration scenes) since it has less variance. Asia and Africa have the most (5 each) whereas Europe and the Americas are middling (4 each).
Thus far, Iāve been slowly working on each continent one or two regions at a time just to flex the feel of different environments such as the miserable oppression of Eastern Europe under Dollmaker vs. the tension beneath vultures in Southern Europe, the false peace under Tshabalala in Southern Africa vs. the indulgent authority of Tanith in Northern Africa, the shadow of death in Central America vs. the active culling in South America, the rogue chaos pulling at its leash and the terror its stirs in East Asia, and then the idyllic estrangement from violence in Australia & New Zealand (sowed by the hand of Osvaldo, threatened by the antics of your mother).
My initial desire was to write all region scenes at once. As in, all versions of a scene in accordance to your region of origin (21 in total for all continents) would be complete before I moved on to write the next scene. So, in the eventual first demo, readers would have full availability to select whichever region of origin out of the 21 per their wishes.
However, if I were to try and expedite a potential demo slice as quickly as humanly possible (as a solo writer, coder, full-time employee with classes to complete) I could shift my focus onto one continent (or region) entirely (greying out the alternatives as incomplete and unselectable choices, just to show the visual of what will be available in the future).
Itās truly a question of depth vs. length. Either I can block off certain paths (temporarily) to reach future scenes sooner in a demo or focus on making everything available all at once upon the initial demo drop (and having it conclude earlier in the story to match a sooner release date).
So, it would be, as an example (hypothetically!):
Option A: All regions can be selected and played as an origin, but the demo concludes when Mockingbird says goodbye to their childhood home.
Option B: Only regions in Oceania can be chosen as an origin (for now) but the demo continues into Mockingbirdās life in America and their time with Elov.
And then, if I did pursue a tactic akin to Option B, I neednāt keep it as ādevelop all of Oceaniaā. I could, perhaps instead, focus one region per continent for availability to expedite a published demo (based upon which I have progressed further in this far per continentāoff the top of my head, that would be Eastern Europe, Central America, Southern Africa, Eastern Asia, Australia & New Zealand). Hm, something along those lines, perhaps?
Eh, Iām not sure what would be preferred: partial origins (for now) or everything at once. And, if partial, which to have available as the āpartialā.
I hope this rambling makes sense. Tį“T
On a similar note, a further measure might be only having a few out of the total careers available at the time of demo release (if the first one did reach that far). Maybe, uh . . . Author OR Hero, Thespian OR Artist, and Musician? One male (Bones) + one female (Lempo) lesser romance introduction, and a non-romance CARDINAL introduction.
Maybe all four of those (author and hero, thespian and artist) to show differences the same CARDINAL might have around your choice of profession. (Like how an author MC meets Elov in his civilian persona vs. a hero MC meets Elov as a vigilante-in-action and a thespian MC meets Lempo as she entertains her crowded admirers vs. an artist MC meets Lempo one-on-one in a more quiet, personable setting). All that bundled with the added Musician route for an early introduction to Uriel, maybe? Iām quite literally spitballing this as I type, as my current documents have dabbled a bit into each CARDINAL introduction (for each career) so far just to feel out the scenes. Please donāt hold any of this as a promise!
My main fear for all of this would be having to retroactively add code and flavor text for regions not yet completed. Like, as mentioned previously, a Northern or Eastern European MC having unique text alongside their childhood encounter with a CROW - if Oceania is the only selectable continent for origins upon release (for example), Iāll either 1.) still write and code such flavor text in the first edition of those scenes even though it will not be accessible to readers or 2.) hold off on drafting, writing, and coding such flavor text until I go back to add those European regions in the game throughout. The second tactic would be the more expedited option, but I fear it will also leave me more vulnerable to mistakes as Iāll have to later detangle walls of text and code to properly add these little tidbits.
No matter what, I will not progress beyond Chapter 0 until all origins and careers have been written and edited. For the sake of my sanity, I cannot.
Also, Iām not sure why this post has been automatically labeled as mature, apologies! I tried to undo it but the website wonāt allow me to and I havenāt the technical finesse to correct this odd labeling. (ā āøāø ā )
Best way to fluster the Ro's? I love all of them and want to give them kisses everyday š
Aw, how sweet of you! āø(ļ½”Ė įµ Ė )āøā”
Flustering some of these ROs might change depending on circumstance (whoās around them, recent events, their current relationship stage, etc.) but Iāll try to be a general.
Akil
Hm . . . Youād have a much better chance of flustering him with something spontaneous, an act unannounced and unexpected. I struggle to imagine what would fluster rather than pester, but Iām sure it can be done.
Perhaps public is the secret ingredient. Not so much PDA, but rather (maybe) a public declaration of love? Something too sappy would undermine the attempt, but just like a blabbermouth spiel about how much you care for him, admire him, or desire him would really throw him off-kilter. Enough to crack any chance he might have to fully conceal his reaction beneath a composed exterior.
Ugh, I accidentally imagined Mockingbird doing that in front of his parents and itās making me cringe. āāøāThough you might fluster him far better with them as an audience . . .)
Mm, otherwise, Iād say mix the unexpected with something that goes really out of your way for him. A surprise date that, whilst not extravagant nor complex, shows you really put everything you had in it. A scrapbook tirelessly assembled and maintained over years, acquiring an extremely rare edition of a novel he loves, recalling some off-hand comment he made weeks ago about some minor discomfort or interest he has.
If you ever do fluster Akil (in a pleasant fashion), heād probably be impressed more than anything else, haha! He tries extremely hard to be a tough nut to crack (on the surface) (įµāį“ā).
Kamiko
Displays of thoughtfulness, acts or gestures that require a degree of careful affection, are a reliable methodāespecially if such an act is a break from routine.
Ah, but for the best method . . . Biting her should do the trick. Playfully, absentmindedly, seductively, lightly or harshly - it doesnāt matter. So long as itās done beneath of veil of privacy. In the public eye, her guard up too much to allow herself any flustering.
In private, when the world is you and her alone, she can allow herself this vulnerability. A gasp, small and sharp, as her face blooms red from desire and embarrassment. That addictive balance of trust and fear, danger and security.
And the effect would repeat whenever she sees the marks you left behind on her skin, her gaze fixated on the remnants of your teeth to better avoid the flushed expression she wears in the mirror.
Sigmund
Hm, honestly, Iām leaning towards . . . maybe calling out certain fixations and behaviors he has in the relationship (more so if they do it with affection)?
Being teased for how touch-starved he is for them, his overprotectiveness in the littlest matters. Even calling out his jealousy (though perhaps not if it has any relation with Retriever, considering the bad blood between them (ā¢į“ā¢,, )).
Sigmund can, at times, be insecure over his neediness towards his loved ones. His clinginess that he tries (and fails) to mask behind duty and caution. Itās a weak spot for him.
I donāt think heās impossible to fluster otherwise, or difficult per se, but he doesnāt strike me as someone who would fluster commonly outside this sort of teasing. And even then, his flustering would more so consist of him biting his tongue, a feigned glare of unamusement accented by a deep blush across his features. That classic little āalright, alrightā muttered under his breath, through grit teeth, if you kept pushing, kept cooing or teasing or complimenting his flush. Sigmund knows better than to fully expose himself as tongue-tied in these situations. ĀÆ\_(ć)_/ĀÆ
Imka
Existing within a 5ft radius.
Aha, kidding! But, truth be told, Imka is horribly easy to fluster in the earlier stages of a romance. She adapts, slowly and surely, but her heart is still easily excitable compared to the others.
Sudden, public displays of affection, big or small, are an easy go-to. A hand on the small of her back to guide her, an unannounced kiss before saying goodbye. Calling her an overly cheesy pet name while in a group conversation, or resting your hand on her thigh. Just thoughtless, instinctual habits of affection in front of others are enough to make her trip over her own feet.
Sweetness, and cuteness, are also absolute kryptonite for her. Forwardness as well.
Elouan
Oh goodness, it would probably have to be something heartfelt. Iām thinking some sort of act or words that are really just super genuine and upfront; perhaps simply vulnerable.
Like, deep into the romance (whether or not thereās a pre-existing relationship) being told, near verbatim, a simple and real āI love youā for the first time. When the authenticity of the MCās affection for him cannot be denied or mistaken, and he can no longer blind himself to this truth.
Or, perhaps, heād fluster (ever so slightly) after a kiss thatās so brief and chaste but so clearly lights up Mockingbird as if it were truly something wondrousā a sentiment he too often fears is felt by him alone.
Elouan is overly familiar with grand gestures and wild passions. He's familiar with desire, desperation, and all the dramatics that can come with love.
It is the mundane that startles him. The routine, the small and simple gestures born from a selfless care.
Jae
Uh, hm. Similar to Elouan, youāll likely catch her off guard by professing a love or desire thatās far more serious than sheās used to.
Though I suspect she'd have to be rather emotionally raw to truly be taken off-guard. Like, really strike deep and close to the heart that she has layered beneath so much distraction and detachment.
Maybe gifting her some jewelry similar to what her grandmother used to wear, and not letting her quickly dismiss the sentimentality of the moment with a quip. Or taking her horseback riding, and overtly mentioning you hoped it would help her feel a little more connected with her grandfather. Gestures and gifts like that, perhaps, may do the trick.
Otherwise, Jae is considerably sure-footed, and is rather adept at going with the flow. Even if caught off-guard, sheās quick to regain her senses and go along with whatever Mockingbird has up their sleeve. She can soften and be taken aback by romantic or physical gestures, but not to a degree where I can easily pinpoint her as flustered.
NiccolĆ²
Oh, my first thought is a little bittersweet . . . but itās a scenario that can happen in the narrative. I donāt think it is the best way to fluster him, though it would have a high success rate.
My immediate thought was coming to his defense in an argument against others, particularly when defending his āhumanityā. NiccolĆ² is not used to others sticking their neck out for him. Jaeās willingness to fight or stand up to others on his behalf āfor better or worseāwas a core reason why NiccolĆ² struggled to accept the inevitable fallout of their romance.
Honestly, that may be the key to easily flustering him: highlighting his humanity. Asking if he's hurt (even if you know he does not bruise and break as you do). Offering him your warmth when the night is cold (even if you know he does not shiver as you do and will only worsen the cold for you with his touch.) But, really, snipping back at someone who thinks itās ridiculous of you to do these things at all is the real kryptonite for him.
Mutya
Though she would firmly deny the truth, Mutya is rather easy to fluster.
A soft breath against her ear, flaunting a bit too much skin just to tease her in front of an audience, an overly sweet nickname cooed affectionately from across the room . . . she breaks easily beneath your sweetness, nearness, and pestering.
Itāll be harder as years pass and your proximity, your teasing and touch, become familiar. But every now and then, sheāll falter still, forever weak for you.
Overall, teasing her is key to flustering her (easily).
Fyodor
Excessive compliments would be a quick and effective tactic for flustering him terribly. Especially when mixed in with small gestures of physical affection.
Fyodor is weak in the knees for any and all praise. Itās an absolute (and often unexpected) treat whenever someone validates or compliments some aspect of him. Whether it be a fond comment towards his looks or some expressed gratitude for a trait he possesses, heāll clumsily (and hungrily) soften and startle in the face of these affectionate words so easily given.
Seriously, a few well-placed words intermixed with a light kiss or two would be enough to steal his senses entirely. Even if he struggles to believe the truth of these words for himself, heāll gladly cling to the fantasy of Mockingbird genuinely adoring the little bits of him theyāve deemed worthy of praise.
Another tactic, though not necessarily the best way to fluster him, is to express some sense of possessiveness or jealousy over Fyodor. He wonāt like the potential conflict from such a traitāespecially if it ever causes tension between Mockingbird and Gabrielābut it would cause him to flush as he struggles to erase a smile from his face.
And the minor romances for a bonus . . .
Dearil
Any chances of flustering him might be a lot higher if the MC is a near-mirror copy of his first loveāin personality and looks. Oh goodness, if you were to see the kind of boy Dearil was back then as he drowned in that corruptible and unrequited love . . . Not even Fyodor could match that bad a case of infatuation!
Iāve been struggling to imagine a scenario where he would be genuinely flustered otherwise and, at this point, Iām caught between two. One is a little too dark for me at the moment (as it does not āflusterā him in a good way) so Iāll only share one.
An MC who has fully embraced their giftāwith lips painted in blood, a soul overtaken by their giftās desireāmight be enough of a sight to shock Dearilās broken affection.
Aha, especially if your bloodlust was targeted against some adversary or another who stood against your 'romance' with him. Honestly, I think he'd be horribly flattered (excited) to the point of being 'flustered' if you exhibited a violent jealousy over him. If you could manage to leave Uriel sleeping with one eye open . . . Ah, youād really be after his heart then. (įµāį“ā)
Curadora
Flustering her is far easier than most would expect. (Or, perhaps, itās as easy as they would expect? Depends on how well someone is allowed to know her.)
Beneath her composed exterior, Curadora cannot help her romanticism. She is vulnerable to being carried away by the sentiment of the moment; by sweet nothings she burdens with too much hope, too much promise.
Language is the best way to startle her heart. A vow, a praise, a truth only you could ever think to offer her. Words pulled out from the soul, spoken from the heart, not quite sappy but dipped in love all the same.
I need you. I want you. I love you.
The first time you says these things, she will lose herself. The composure she clings to, depends upon, will fall helplessly before you.
From then on, poetry can be quite effective as a shortcut to reproducing that effect upon her.
Retriever
Youāll have the best chances of flustering him around his family or, even more so, anyone he might deem his āsuperiorā within the CARDINALS (Curadora, Uriel, or Dearil). Push the boundaries of PDA around any of them and youāll eventually have him flustered beyond a coherent string of words.
Retriever is notably experienced when it comes to anything intimate. His time as a hero was coupled with some rather extensive experimentation and exploration of his sexuality. Heās had a long string of lover, partners, hook-ups, etc. of all sorts. So, usually, whilst he may still have moments where heās weak in the knees or has butterflies in his stomach, itāll usually be from the softer, genuine, and quiet moment of a deep romance (or the unfamiliar awkwardness of rejection).
The fast-track to flustering him, then, would be to compromise his image of āthe perfect sonā or āthe chivalrous CARDINALā in front of his kin or superiorsāeven if that ācompromiseā is little more than overt innuendos or discreet touches.
Otherwise, Retriever is rather quick on the uptake for whatever you might throw at his feet in an attempt to fluster him.
Lempo
I think itās near impossible to genuinely fluster Lempo in a (positive) romantic context. Sheās willing to act flustered in order to better please or appeal to someoneās fantasy, but itāll likely only ever be an act.
I think, maybe, flustering her (in a positive manner) would require some huge sentimental gesture. Like, something relatively āextremeā.
Imagine the flashiest, grandest, most elaborate proposal that teeters on the impossible (and remove any promise of marriage) . . . Youāll probably be close to flustering her with a gesture like that, haha!
Or, on a more ārealistic levelā, tie a showy gesture that mixes some deep sentimentality for her, and youāll have a chance to fluster her. (My mind keeps imagining the 'library reveal' scene from Beauty and the Beast but, rather than a library, presenting Lempo with a bee farm.)
Actually, after some thought . . . Lempo might find her kryptonite if one of her fathers were ever to tease her over her soft spot for Mockingbird. Her reaction might barely constitute as a fluster, but she'd be blushing red up to the tips of her ears, a rare type of smile both fond and shy pulling at her lips as struggles to meet your gaze. Her fathers are not the most overtly (traditionally?) romantic couple, so to have them coo and joke over Lempo's horribly sweet fixation on Mockingbird would cause her to lose a bit of her footing.
Bones
In his childhood years with Mockingbird, he was terribly easy to fluster. Elov, if he had a crush on the MC, would have been well-known around your household for his frequent and blatant habit of blushing around his crush.
Back then, any vaguely intimate touch would have flustered him. Taking hold of his hand, brushing a stray hair behind his ear, wiping a speck of dirt off his cheek . . . all this would have set his pale face aflame with unwanted yet undeniable affection.
Nowadays, youāll have to work through his modern anger and spite before heāll fluster like he did then.
Play on his nostalgia, remind him of the love he once felt, and youāll see him soften back into some old habits. Once heās more open to teasing and advancement from Mockingbird . . .
Physical forwardness is an easy tactic. Bones is not used to the genuine desire he feels for Mockingbird, and so his defenses against their nearness and touch is not as formidable as heād like (once heās lulled into a sense of security around them). His encounter with a hero MC, prior to their induction into the HAWKS, hints at his easy flustering towards even non-suggestive touches from them. The more forward or suggestive a touch is, the more visibly flustered heāll be.
For less touchy Mockingbirds, being openly genuine and sweet out-of-the-blue, especially when heās being openly hostile towards them, is an easy way to trip him up as well. It would more so be a mixture of shame and affection from him, but heād be flustered nonetheless. Or, other than āsweetnessā, just expressing a sort of conscious consideration for him when itās not necessaryāeven if such a consideration is bluntly or stoically delivered.
Mishka
I would say that Mishka and āflusteringā donāt mix, but if deeper in a romance, when their heart is a bit softer and more vulnerable . . . anything is possible!
As for the best way to fluster themā I keep circling back to affirmations on their individuality.
Like, after altering their appearance to better attract Mockingbird, being told the MC appreciates their company no matter how their body appears. Or, in one of their spiels about what is best for Fyodor, being asked what is best for them. Maybe even having someone be considerate of their presence even when it is not visibly seen, like greeting Fyodor and Mishka whenever you come across the vessel either oneā being known and felt without a thought on the MCās part.
To boil it down: any direct gesture or spoken affection that affirms you want them for them. Not as some ādouble-dealā with Fyodor, not for the power or protection they can provide, but a real desire for them. Their thoughts, their words, their quirks, and their faults.
A reminder from another that, despite their current state, they are whole. That they are complete, distinct, and seen. Not a fragment of who they once were, not a split aspect of Fyodor, and not someone destined to be lost.
That would leave Mishka a little flushed, tongue-tied, caught off guard by this form of acknowledgement they greatly desire and, more often than not, must demand to receive.
Every time you write something about the lore it is always so deep and complex and I'm too stupid to comprehend it but I'm just happy to be hereš§š¾āāļø
(Ā“Š`ļ¼) Anon, please do not call yourself stupid!
Iām happy to know that youāre happy to be here! Aha, and all the, uh, lore is likely way less complex than some might assume. I tend to overcomplicate the simplest of things by accident, apologies! My ramblings are far too convoluted.
Please let me know if anything ever requires clarification! I fear I oftentimes jumble what could have been put in simpler terms and donāt wish to sow confusion with my poor conveyance of details, lore, or characters. (ā„įŗā„ļ¼)
But thank you for taking the time to submit this message! It was super sweet to see, and I hope to live up to expectations of depth and complexity in the final product!
How susceptible are the Ro's to Mc making puppy dog eyes?
Aw, how cute! ą«®ā Ā“ ź³ `āį
Akil: 2 (Platonic) 3 (Romantic)
Puppy dog eyes could plant a seed of guilt in his heart, but they wonāt have an ultimate sway over whatever stance heās taken. Plus, after being assailed by this tactic so much throughout childhood, heās built up a rather strong resistance to it, haha! (Though, if memories of those days do surface, I fear puppy eyes might backfire and put him in a dour mood.)
If the matter is small and harmless, it would apply light pressure onto his decision. Keep in mind, however, that Akil is a man who has held the final say for most his life. Heās the Commander for a reason and doesnāt give into indulgences or whims so easily.
Logic would, sadly, be far more likely to win over cuteness in the end. Unless youāve really buttered him up before pulling out the puppy eyes as the final nail in the coffin! You might have a fighting chance then.
Kamiko: 1 (Platonic) 4 (Romantic)
As a friend, Kamiko does not lose sight of the greater good. Puppy eyes cannot change what is right, what is needed, or what must be done. She will not deny you kindness, nor generosity, but games and tricks like this prove to be more amusing than compelling as she makes her final decision.
As a lover, Kamiko struggles to not lose herself to the tempting visage you provide. Discipline calls her to avert her gaze, to feign ignorance to your childish display.
Yet discipline is a weak defense against love.
She wishes for your happiness, to be the one to provide it to you with hesitation or failure. And it frightens her, how easily she crumbles to your pout and whims.
For her dignityās sake, she will resist for as long as she can, but her guard erodes faster than sheās comfortable with. Persistence is key!
Sigmund: 4 (Platonic) 8 (Romantic)
Sigmund can be a bit of a softie when it comes to cuteness, and this softness is especially exploitable vulnerable when it comes to his loved ones. Unfortunately for him, heās also more emotional than heād like to be, so making decisions with his heart rather than his head is a common (self-proclaimed) ābad habitā from him.
As a friend, Sigmund can remain level-headed and keeps in mind whatever is (overall) best for those around him. Honestly, he might laugh at the ridiculousness of your antics if heās in a really good mood (or youāre really close), though heād otherwise be notably unamused / dead faced towards your puppy eyes (on the surface).
As a lover, he crumbles so quick, haha! Sigmund likes to spoil his romantic partners and wishes to serve them the world on a silver platter. He'll still desperately try to safeguard against any requests that are truly detrimental or dangerous, but so long as heās there beside you, heāll protect you against any fallout from indulging your desires (no matter the cost).
Imka: 8 (Platonic) 10 (Romantic)
Imka struggles to take a firm stance against the wishes of others on a normal basis. Mix that in with puppy eyes from someone near and dear to her . . . Sheās helpless!
Itās an irresistible knockout combo of cuteness overload and softness from her loved one. The attempt would tease a laugh from her, perhaps even a slight flush to her cheeks, as she gladly gave into whatever Mockingbird desired.
She has the faintest hope of keeping her will intact as a friend, but once Mockingbird has stolen her heart (alongside her breath) . . . the thought of denying them anything is hard to conjure when all she can fixate upon is the sweet, playful hue of their pleading gaze.
Elouan: 1 (Platonic) 3 (Romantic)
Despite the diplomatic front he likes to convey, Elouan isnāt all too fond of compromise, much less changing his stance for another. If heās not making a decision based on (veiled) self-interest, his decision is likely one tailored to earn as much favor as possible from as many people as possible.
More likely than not, Elouan would not factor in the puppy eyes when he concedes to the MCās desire. It would be a welcome boon, that he cannot deny, but it would not be enough to truly persuade him on its own. If anything, heād be far more motivated by his natural urge to spoil the MC rather than their attempt to coax him with their (presumed) cuteness.
Elouan is quick to see through a ruse. You'll have more sway over him by being upfront and passionate with your wants, ensuring he knows your desire isn't a simple tease or game.
Jae: 7 (Platonic) 8 (Romantic)
Jae is always willing to hear out a quick change to plans, always intrigued by the uncertain thrill offered by the unexplored detour. Give her puppy dog eyes, and she'll happily follow along with whatever desire or scheme you've sweetly offered. It's an easy excuse to throw everything of course and indulge herself.
Though I do think sheād like to feign resistance to push you a little further. To see you whine, perhaps even beg, just for her pleasure.
NiccolĆ²: 2-5 (Platonic) 6-8 (Romantic)
It may surprise some, but NiccolĆ² is not as innately empathetic as he might (at times) appear to be. Empathy, and a change of heart, sometimes require an active effort on his partāa sentiment more often replicated or willfully summoned than naturally felt.
As a friend, NiccolĆ²'s stubbornness isn't so easy to curtail. He may love giving himself up to the flow of the world around him, but your cute act is easily laughed at and dismissed as he continues to do as he pleases. Heād treat it more like a playful joke rather than a genuine attempt to sway him.
In a romantic relationship . . . NiccolĆ² is less swayed by the puppy eyes themself and more so swept up in the thought that Mockingbird was trying to look cute for him. Of course, your efforts should be rewarded, and heāll likely relent to whatever you wished for with exaggerated weakness towards your cuteness.
Mutya: 2 (Platonic) 6 (Romantic)
As much as she tries to be stubborn and firm in her decisions, itās hard to staunchly deny the puppy eyes of a loved one. Not impossible, but challenging nonetheless.
Sheās somewhat experienced with putting her foot down due to years of corralling her siblings. As a friend, sheāll put that experience to use, unrelenting towards your childish antics. Expect a stone-faced reaction, perhaps with the exception of the unimpressed lift of her brow.
As a lover . . . Sheāll curse your cuteness under her breath as she struggles to keep up her stony facade. When If she does relent, sheāll be sure to emphasize some flimsy excuse for giving into your wishes. Really letting you (and any potential witnesses) that is definitely wasnāt your puppy eyes that swayed her. Nope. Not at all!
Fyodor: 5 (Platonic) 10 (Romantic)
For as much as he gives and wishes to please, Fyodorās compliance generosity is not ultimate or universal. Love makes Fyodor more unstable loose with his stances and principles. Without it, or less of it, it becomes somewhat difficult to deter him from whatever path he is on.
For his lover, his presumed life partner, he would be helpless in denying any request that is paired with puppy dog eyes (and even most requests without them). In the direst of cases, he may hesitate and coax them to reconsider, but he would inevitably relent to their adorable command.
(Goodness, I couldnāt help myself and quickly whipped this up.) When it comes to a romanced Fyodor, it boils down to:
Who are the big spoons and who are the little spoons out of the ROs?
Ah, one of my dogs absolutely loves to make himself the little spoon whenever he catches someone around the house laying on their side!
Mm, apologies for such a brief answer for all of them below the cut:
Akil: Big spoon. Considering his height, he thinks itās only rational for him to take this position. He'd be (secretly) amused if you tried to accommodate him as a little spoon though.
Kamiko: Either. Kamiko would be content and (initially) a little overwhelmed with either position.
Sigmund: Big spoon. Sigmund would want to be the one holding his loved one close against him. He has his whole world in his hands in that moment.
Imka: Little spoon. Itās a position that leaves her feeling protected. She wishes you would never let her go.
Elouan: Little spoon? This would likely be his preference deeper in a relationship. Itās the more vulnerable position and, by that point, itās a rather potent (if unspoken) tell towards how safe he feels with someone.
Otherwise, in the earlier stages of a romance (or a platonic relationship), heād prefer to be big spoon. Heād feel more comfortable when he doesnāt have to trust someone behind his back.
Jae: No ārealā preference. She would like feeling pampered as a little spoon, but she would also like having her lover wrapped up in her arms.
NiccolĆ²: No preference. He isnāt all that soft or warm to the touch, so heās simply pleased to be cuddled against someone at all.
Mutya: Mm, she feels like a big spoon to me. She'd probably blush like mad as a little spoon, and squirm around in your arms (flustered and embarrassed by the position).
Fyodor: Big spoon. Itās the easy position for him to fall into, ensuring his partnerās comfort. Plus, with wings that can adopt an enveloping softness, itās only natural to use them for his partnerās comfort.
And since this is all so brief, Iāll add as a bonus . . .
Dearil: None. Dearil despises the touch of others, avoids it whenever he can. (For most, when he allows their touch with neither bark nor bite, itās a sure sign heās up to no good. A false calm to either make them feel special, safe, or endeared before he strikes.)
Heās only truly comfortable when he is the one initiating it . . . and the less of it there is, the better. Deep in his possible obsession infatuation with Mockingbird, heāll come to like the feeling of you against him. The sensation of your skin against his would slowly turn into a novel and overwhelming delight. But spooning would forever be suffocating to him.
Curadora: Little spoon. Respite, illusive as it may be, is best captured in the comfort of your arms.
Retriever: If possible, I think heād love to be a little spoon, but he really doesnāt have a firm preference either way.
Lempo: Little spoon? Lempo loves being catered to and might feel like she has the more leisurely role as the little spoon. It's not a strong preference though.
Bones: I struggled to imagine Bones willingly spooning with anyone as an adult, haha! Heās such a (physically) unaffectionate workaholic within the CARDINALS.
My heart is leaning towards him as a big spoon. I think heād cherish the chance to hold onto Mockingbird, never wishing to let them go. Elov has a lot of issues regardless of his past with you, but as a former friend / crush, your loss would have compounded his fears around attachments.
I think he might combust as a little spoon, humiliation and elation stirring his restlessness in your arms.
Mishka: Uh . . .
Mishka is breaking my brain. Like Dearil, Mishka is not accustomed to touch. Unlike Dearil, Mishka is not inherently repulsed by or averse to it. The senses of the vessel are mutable for Mishka. Consciousness is not constant, and neither are the five senses. Fyodor can sense when Mishka shares or steals overtakes his sight, his smell, his taste, his hearing, or his touch. (It is the emotional ties that elude Fyodorāhe knows not what desires or feelings he accidentally imprints on his eternal companion. Not unless Mishka lets him know.)
Most touch Mishka remembers was received through Fyodor. And as starved for it as Fyodor is, most touch he has received in life has not been kind.
Mishka usually awoke and overrode Fyodorās sensations at its worst. The feel of skin was often followed by the ghost of pain. They are familiar with the danger that lies behind an open hand or possessive grip. Proximity alights their caution.
When Mishka touched others, and felt the strange connection their body against another, it had largely been with the intention of violence. And if not violence, it was deterrence. Defense.
Contact with others, for Mishka, has historically been utilitarian. Humans disgust them. The so-called Giftedāeach more impure than the nextāare strangers masked as their kin.
Now, what was the point of this (admittedly, restrained) ranting? Well, itās to say that the intimate touch of another is rather alien to Mishka. Not novelāfor they have experienced the likes of a warm greetingās kiss or a friendās unrelenting hug through Fyodorābut never has this form of contact been something they desired, but less lingered within.
(Deep in Romance) The sensation is . . . maddening. To be pressed against you but not joined. Not one.
In body, in soul. So, what is the point of this, then? Mishka is not satisfied, no matter the position.
All in all, spooning is a bit silly to them regardless of their position.
As a big spoon, Mishka assumes you must feel safe in their arms. Do you wish for them to mimic the wings of Fyodor? For them to be large, or soft? To reduce all their being and power to a pillowed vessel for your comfort?
As a little spoon, Mishka cannot comprehend what satisfaction you take from this. Fyodor could offer you warmth, at least. True skin and touchātrue body and a truer heart.
Aha, I think I caught Mishka in a brooding mood while writing this out. ĀÆ\_(ć)_/ĀÆ
his CURRENT comfort zone you saidššš?????
(ā āā¢āĻāā¢ā ā) Um . . .
Aha, well, yes. I think I mentioned it elsewhere, but Fyodor is a virgin. A virgin with certain ideas and expectations - and thus certain comforts - towards sex that are from an unexperienced and idealized point of view.
In the content shared, it is specifically the āroughnessā and āfeminizationā (a word I am loaning from the snippetās tags) that would be beyond Fyodorās present comfort zone.
In the earliest stages of a sexual relationship, I donāt think Fyodor would have a wholly positive response to someone being intentionally rough with himā by which I mean, a roughness that is traditionally disciplinary (like, well, spanking). He might go along with it, not wishing to ruin his partner's experience with his discomfort (as he likely would not have the healthiest approach to many things at these earlier stages), but it would leave a vaguely sour aftertaste to the whole affair.
Unintentional roughness from clumsiness or the heat of the moment (like pulling his hair to guide his lips, marking his skin with love bites, pinning him down, etc.) is by all means fine and well, potentially even exciting for him, but roughness with typical connotations of punishment / intentional inflictions of pain are not something he would initially perceive as being appropriate or desirable during sex.
The idea of a roughness like thisāone beyond mere uncoordinated or overzealous passionābeing exciting or desirable for his partner to engage in would be a bit of a shock to him. You would have to really sit him down and talk it out before heād be truly comfortable with the idea. (In contrast to other ROs whoād be much quicker to understand, and perhaps embrace, this sort of sexual preference.)
Time and experience with his partner would build up the required sense of safety he would need to have with themāin and out of the bedroomābefore he would be comfortable with roughness like that. So, yes, it is something that he can learn to adjust to and accept as his current comfort zone expands into more novel, and perhaps experimental, sexual acts with a patient long-term partner.
As for the 'feminization' of himself (again, loaning the term provided by the tags), it likely isn't something Fyodor would be inclined towards or think to apply to himself, especially during the earlier stages of a sexual relationship. Something like that would have to be introduced / initiated by his partner, and though he might be a bit confused by it at first their excitement over this would make it easier for him to go along with it. The more heās lost to the moment, the easier it is to play out this kink his partner might have to āfeminizeā himself. His pleasure from this sort of kink would be entirely rooted in his partner's excitement rather than any personal satisfaction.
All things considered, amongst the ROs, Fyodor is perhaps one of the most traditional in his views towards romance and sex. Yet, at the same time, he's by far the most desperate eager to please . . .
There are so, so many wonderful, beautiful, jaw-dropping, and all-consuming IFs in all kinds of mediums that it's incredibly hard for me choose any favorites! (ļ¼Ā“āļ½)
Mm, but off the top of my head, if I think about the ones I have obsessed over after their release / through their (ongoing) development . . .
Completed and Published IFs
The Golden Rose: Book One by @anathemafiction
The writing is The Golden Rose is of a quality that I truly, genuinely aspire to somehow even come close to! It is such an absolute gift to have this wonderfully written story that excels in every aspect. Every single character is so distinct and memorable, and the world around them feels so dynamic!
Also, uh, every time I re-read The Golden Rose I cannot resist the temptation to become the biggest simp imaginable for Hadrian. Iām also quickly forming an obsession with Raphael and cannot wait to see more of him throughout Book 2. But seriously, all of the characters are just so instantly and deeply captivating, even the most minor ones leave a strong impression on me, haha!
Breach: The Archangel Job by @breachverse
Top-tier excitement and thrill are so expertly delivered in Breach, both the published version and the demo for the sequel. Itās one of the all-time best interactive stories Iāve ever read, and it deserves such immense praise for all the breathtaking ambition and complexity itās displayed so far.
I donāt think any interactive fiction has left me as speechless as I was when I discovered just how distinct the routes are for Book 2. Goodness, the number of times this series has left me breathless in general is record-breaking in itself!
Also, I cannot help but be semi-obsessed with Kaz just 24/7 throughout, haha!
Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven by Jim Dattilo
Jim Dattilo basically stole most of my junior year in high school with this game, haha! I remember rushing to finish my classwork and homework as soon as possible to squeeze in time for this story!
That was such a difficult year for me, academically and emotionally, but Zombie Exodus offered a sort of āsafe havenā (haha) where I could play as someone who would (to the best of their abilities) overcome the odds around them, surviving one day at a time.
Aha, and thereās the fact that Woody is one of my absolute favorite characters in interactive fiction! I love that character to bits and pieces!
Tin Star by Allen Gies
I cannot fathom the number of times I have played Tin Star, pouring hours upon hours into exploring this story again and again! Iāll suddenly remember a random scene or line and then have the irresistible urge to replay the whole story just to experience that little moment yet again! The stats page alone absolutely captivated me on a first playthroughāevery inch of Tin Star just feels like solid gold for me!!
Seriously, itās a strong recommendation for any and all lovers of interactive fiction in my book!
The Wayhaven Chronicles by @seraphinitegames
There is no denying the impact that the Wayhaven Chronicles had on my love for interactive fiction. I cannot count how many times my young and penniless self replayed the free demo to Book One because that alone was such a fun and addictive experience for me, haha! This series is an absolute cornerstone of interactive fiction in my mind!
Rock Robin by Happy Backwards
I usually struggle to form a deep or quick attachment to fixed protagonists in Visuals Novels / Interactive Fiction, but Rock Robin managed to capture my heart (and still refuses to let it go)! It's so wonderfully crafted in each and every little detail!
This game is so amazingly well-written! I developed such a deep attachment and investment in all its characters! Just fantastic designs, environment, depth, drama, and style all around! Seriously, the game shines with both humor and angst whilst still keeping such a grounded realism. (ą¹ā² į“ āµą¹)ā„ Ah, I'm obsessed with all of it! Especially the Dallas route - literally struggled through that angst so bad on my first playthrough, haha!
Oh, and the public opinion message board alone is an absolute marvel to me! Never has a game truly matched the degree of liveliness and believability for me; I was always so excited each time a new thread appeared on that board, and it was so rewarding to gather a familiarity with the recurring personalities throughout the narrative. Especially with standouts like Wizz, haha!
I could rant and rave about my love for this game endlessly. It's a pure nostalgic gem in my mind and I implore everyone to give it a try if they haven't yet!
As a purely nostalgic fun fact regarding Rock Robin . . . this game introduced me to the very existence of 'Indie Pop' (as I'd never heard the term 'indie' as an umbrella genre of music prior to my first playthrough of this game). When selecting a band genre, I remember just hovering over that option over and over because I loved the exemplary sound bite so much! (ć Ā“ Ė `)ā” Now my dominant music genre of preference tends to be Indie (Pop), and everything else largely fluctuates with my rankings (EDM, Garage Rock, Oldies, Folk, Surf Rock, etc.)
And then I'd spend even more time just looking at the daily activity menu just to listen to the jukebox playlist endlessly, haha! Goodness, Cowboys & Crooks by Jackal + Wolf especially was on a near-constant loop for me, I'm so addicted to that song!
Ebon Light by Underbliss
I am feral for every little second and inch of Ebon Light! Just 100% in love with everything about it!! From the gorgeous art to the vast, incredible world and lore and characters, it's all so perfect!
The world-building is so well-done, and I really grew attached to the ensemble cast! I struggled to even close out of the game when the hour grew late since I was so invested! It's one of those games where it genuinely hurts to reach the end because I never want to be done with it!! ļ¼*Ā“ā½ļ½*ļ¼
My Life: Beginnings and Always
I am so lucky to live in a time where I could experience this, haha! The depth given to customization alone is such an impressive feat, and I adore the cast and writing for this game immensely.
Extremely immersive, detailed, and emotionally resonant!
The Blind Griffin by Asphodel Quartet
Ah, though this isn't one of my all-time favorite visual novels, I simply must accredit The Blind Griffen for being another key introduction I had with interactive fiction! It was the very first visual novel I ever played that really left a lasting impression on me. (ć Ā“ Ė `)
I remember being so amazed by the in-game glossary, the characters, and having any interactivity whatsoever with a game of this kind (due to its visual element). In the realm of video games, my experience was largely limited to things like MySims Agents, WiiSports, Lego Games, Barbie / Webkinz / Disney games online, and watching my Dad play like Call of Duty or Uncharted action / exploratory scenes so choice selection seemed incredibly novel to me!
Aha, like, I think I discovered this game before I ever even played / knew about Dragon Age or Mass Effect, so it was like: "Whoa, different routes for different romances in a non-text based interactive medium?! (āøāøą¹ļ¹ą¹āøāø) The future is now!"
I really look back fondly on this game! It still manages to make me smile and laugh whenever I feel compelled to replay it - a good time all around! Plus, I'm super fond of anything based within the Prohibition era and anything related to the fantastical or magical even in the slightest so that's some real icing on top with this game!
IFs in Ongoing Development
Infinite Stars by Wraiith303
Ah, I cannot - literally, cannot - stress just how much I love this game!! Infinite Stars deserves so much praise and support for being so beautifully written, designed, and crafted. It's my absolute favorite visual novel of all time, and Iām a proud (though small) supporter of their Patreon!
The alien species presented are so impressive, and their cultures come across as incredibly well-thought and distinct. I'm usually not all too crazy or attached to Sci-Fi, but this game is so spectacular that I cannot help but love everything it has to offer!
Oh, and the personality customization is literally out of this world! It is definitely the feature I absolutely admire the most due to the sheer range of traits and details the player is permitted to tailor - which is crazy since there's a lot that's so worthy of admiration in this game!
The Abyssal by @theabyssal
I am obsessed with The Abyssal. Mythology from all over the world has captured my heart since elementary school, and The Abyssal is the absolute perfect fantasy of being so deeply and beautifully immersed into a wonderfully constructed mythos and pantheon.
It captures your attention, and your heart, so quickly and effectively! The choices thus far have been so wonderfully composed, and this story forges a fast and strong attachment between the reader and the characters. It's insane how soon I became so attached to Death - the customization allowed is really just breathtaking!
Apartment 502 by @apt502-if
Apartment 502 is, in my opinion, an absolute masterwork in the making! I absolutely adore the cast, the drama, and the writing so far and I am so excited to see how the story further unfolds. The dedicated attention to detail and variance is jaw-dropping!
Iām still trying to decide which main RO to go for but I definitely know that of the minor romances Iām going for bones. The drama/angst is too good to pass up
Oh goodness, Bones is starting to rival Fyodor in popularity when it comes to my inbox, haha!
Itās sweet to think that a good number of people are interested in him.
This calls to mind an extra little variable Iāve added for Mockingbird, and Iāll share it here both for its partial relevancy and potential feedback:
In my (resurrected) note-taking for Insurrection, Iāve added the option to distinguish Mockingbirdās romantic history (as shown above). If you notice at the bottom, players who choose for Elov to have a crush on them in the past can have their character be a little hung up on their lost young love.
Also, if anyone takes issue with these choices, please let me know if the options provided are in any way lacking / insufficient / in need of any revision! (įµ Ā“ ā Ė Ė¶) This text is not the manner in which these options will be presented in-game (if applicable), it's just a blurb to remind me about the distinction between each option (a.k.a. the vibe and implication).
I'll also include this screenshot below since it's partially relevant to this choice-set:
The phrasing is not finalized here either, just another drafted impression for what I aim to track. This variable (the potential dating preferences of the MC) is set up to add a little more flavor text throughout the romances. Certain experiences in a romantic relationship may be novel / unforeseen if Mockingbird strays from their usual preference, be a fulfillment for what they have long sought / couldn't find in others of their desired nature, or simply be special because it's with this particular partner (with no regard for whether that partner is Human or Gifted).
ļ¼Ā“āļ½''ļ¼Aha, I hope that's well enough to explain what I'm getting at with this variable - I hope to not rant as I normally am prone to do.
Oh, and as a double bonus, below is another snippet from my notes. There's a section dedicated to brief overviews on how your Guardians feel about different romance options you might pursue / entertain. This one pertains to how your father looks upon Elov ("Bones"):
His distaste towards Elov (as a potential crush / admirer / partner for the MC) is apparent throughout your childhood, and he's rather steadfast in that stance! In the past, your father would veil his intense dislike for Elov whenever he was face-to-face with the boy, feigning sympathy and politeness whilst strained by discomfort.
In adulthood, once he sees what Elov has made of himself, a lot of that former grace will vanish. (ļ¼Ā“āļ½)
What is the structure of the international agency known as WINGS?
In my mind, a comparable visual for the structure of WINGS would be a giant octopus. One of those classic images where its arms stretch across the world like in this political cartoon:
In other words, WINGS is composed of a central body from which other sectors sprout. The sectors of WINGS are reminiscent of arms that spread the institutionās intelligence, influence, and interference. A number of actions within these sectors can be conducted independently from the approval or command of the central body, but they are still (somewhat) subservient to the ultimate authority held by the institutional core.
Certain sectors are largely sensory: the eyes and ears that explore the world for signs of abnormal phenomenon related to the Gifted, tracking and detailing the possible danger posed to humanity by these rogue beings. In the visual of an octopus, I would imagine them as the sweeping arm which grazes the surface, stretching its reach to a broader domain of controlāits very presence a warning (even a deterrence) towards its prey, sensitive to the smallest disturbance. They hunt, but do not exercise the capture or kill. These sectors are a latent danger to the Gifted, their true threat largely veiled from the naked eye.
Other sectors are far more actionable, proactive in the suppression or capture of detected Gifted. Here, the arm clutches and crushes whatever is caught in its reaching arms. It threatens breakage, bears the promise of death if one struggles too much to tame. It curls around individuals, nations, to coerce cooperation. If questioned by the OWLS or DOVES, one would best cooperate before the HAWKS knock on their door next.
Now, Iāll place a cut here for scrollers. Beware my incoherent, vague rambles beyond this point! For a little more detail (though not really . . .)
The Mind and Heart of WINGS
The central hub of WINGS is known as just that: WINGS. (The general public often extends this name to encompass all sectors.) Though the OWLS are renowned for their vast intelligence, the central headquarters known as WINGS is the true nucleus of the entire organization. Without those who serve within their ranks, the institution would not be the powerhouse it has become.
Being an independent power on the world stage comes with its fair share of challenges and dangers, especially when their operations breach so many national borders. Maintaining the cooperation of numerous nationsāand circumventing the resistance of othersācan sometimes require . . . unorthodox methods of control. Such politicking and appeasement are partially managed by the DOVES on the smaller (local) scale, but it is WINGS that handles the macro-crises concerning foreign entities.
OWLS may safeguard the intelligence of WINGS, but it is the central body which dictates how this intelligence will translate into the actions of the DOVES, HAWKS, RAVENS, or CROWS. Furthermore, it is the central body that sanctions the spoiler(?) that occurs within the OWLS, though records are manipulated to allow them some degree of arguable ignorance / innocence in case of future liabilities.
It is, in fact, WINGS that synthesizes much of the skills and assets other sectors specialize in, streamlining the independent efforts of its branches into focused, united objectives. Their high-ranking members wield much of the final say over the various sectors. Even āmundaneā tasks, such as budgeting and resource management, are dictated by this central body. The true crown jewel of this body, however, would be the Council that resides at the top of its internal hierarchy, headed by one man most in the organization cannot identify or even name.
Much of the public does not know the objective leader of WINGS, or even the fact that there is an executive man in charge. That man prefers their ignorance towards his existence. As an apolitical, nationless institution it is best for the image of WINGS to be one without a face. His right hand could not agree more with the crucially of anonymity, and ensures this veil remains intact.
Intelligence and Investigation
OWLS - Spoiler Affiliation
A real-world parallel to the OWLS would be organizations such as the CIA: an institution founded upon the gathering and analysis of intelligence concerning the Gifted (their presence, their abilities, their weaknesses, etc.) alongside more covert operations of various nature.
There are hidden depths to this sector. Avenues best left unexplored until the time is right. Though Mockingbird will (eventually) be in semi-frequent contact with one of their āFacesā, uncovering the true operations here will be a dangerous and harrowing process. Ignorance can truly be bliss under the right circumstances.
In the meantime, as yet another visual example, I like to compare the OWLS to a āhoneycombā. A sector comprised of different cells whose segregated work amasses into a unified purpose. Knowledge and mobility are restricted even amongst the majority of their Agents. Leaks in this sector could prove lethal to WINGS as a whole.
One operation will be spearheaded by a division specifically tailored for its end goal, Agents who will never come into direct contact with the HAWKS, DOVES, or anyone trulyānot even other OWLS, not even those whose work ties directly into theirsāas such contact poses more risk than reward. Their reach into the other sectors is usually indirect . . . even worse, to most, it is unknown. Imperceivable, untraceable, and all too common.
DOVES - Spoiler Affiliation
Reputed for their diplomatic grace and signature charm, the DOVES are best known for their rigorous investigations into phenomena and abuses concerning the Gifted. The operations within DOVES can be divided into two fronts: External (The Outer World) vs. Internal (Within WINGS).
The Outer World
Youāll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
In a world where a singular Gifted can wreak havoc and death with the flick of their wrist, the DOVES understand the importance of subtlety and a careful hand when rooting out these needles in the haystack. Charge a suspected Gifted with guns blazing, startle the masses into a panic by calling out the human super weapon hiding amongst them, and youāll end up with unfortunate cases like the captures of Jae and Imka. (Cases in which local law enforcement and militias thought themselves more competent than the trained professionals within DOVES.)
On-the-ground, in-the-field sleuthing is not so uncommon for Agents in this sector. Iād say theyāre comparable to the FBI as an institution that often works hand-in-hand with local authorities and civilians to verify and unveil Gifted activity.
Youāll rarely see DOVES handle the actual seizure or arrest of Gifted individuals. Theyāll likely be on-site to coordinate negotiations, surrenders, and captures (as well as the possible public response | fallout thereafter) but the actual seizure of a Gifted is best left in the hands of those with more militaristic might. Espionage in the form of undercover surveillance, or face-to-face assessment, is also a tactic employed by them at time (as certain MCs of a certain profession will discover).
The Internal Machinations
Within WINGS, this sector is a common mediator between the Gifted and humansāor even human-to-human conduct. DOVES proclaims itself to be impartial between those willing and āless-than-willinglyā enlisted within WINGS.
These Agents might vary in their official titles and specialties, ranging from mental health professionals to legal departments ensuring all āofficialā conduct within WINGS is above board. If thereās ever a diplomatic or international probe into WINGS as a whole, youāll likely see a few of high-ranking DOVES from this internal branch.
Militia and Containment
HAWKS - Mockingbirdās Sector
The HAWKS have 10 ranked Divisions spread throughout the continents, usually establishing themselves in areas of highly concentrated Gifted activity. This, more often than not, translates to covert bases located in major urban hubs where the Gifted pose the greatest risk to the greatest number of people.
Division-01 is located in the Eastern United States, settled deep within the concrete jungle of New York City. The city was once the global capital of rogue Gifted activity prior to the establishment of the HAWKS, and the decline of Gifted antics here has been a source of pride and proof towards the effectiveness of WINGS. As Gifted activity remains highly concentratedāor, at least, the most enacted and uncontrolledāin the Americas and Europe, Division-01 has considerable access to these lands to either assist or take the reigns from other, lesser ranked Divisions.
Divisions are typically composed of 10 core agents with a standard model of six Specialists and four Supervisors. Exceptions around this model have been made before and could be given reason to occur again.
There are positions in the HAWKS outside the immediacy of Supervisors and Specialists, though these positions are much less renowned or relevant to Mockingbird. The usual mundane tasks of employment for any sector that requires cleanliness, maintenance, paperwork, medical assistance and so forth are also filled by Agents with far, far less clearance than the Supervisors. Mockingbird will rarely come into contact with such individuals; for the proclaimed safety of these lesser-skilled human Agents, and other factors. You will likely never hear reference of these individuals as titular āHawksā, but a number of them might refer to themself as such out of simple pride / camaraderie as a smaller piece of the whole.
As a Specialist, Mockingbird is notably isolated from as many outsiders to their division as possible. Akil, Kamiko, Nasrin, and Yadon would have far more familiarity with these lesser ranked Agents, and likely wonāt divulge much information about them even if pushed.
Supervisors
Essentially, wardens and evaluators for the Gifted agents within HAWKS. They are the ones who surveil you in each waking moment whether you're out in the field or idling back at the base. They are responsible for keeping you contained, compliant, and civil.
Less overtly, their roles also implore them to observe and (if need be) regulate the mental states of the Gifted in their charge. Taking notes on behaviors, cataloguing any new phenomenon / side effects of one's Gifts, filing data on Specialists as requested by either the OWLS or DOVES . . . lots of paperwork behind-the-scenes for these overworked Agents. Their lives are incredibly intertwined with their divisions, and some Supervising Agents cope with this loss of personal freedom from the job better than others.
Specialists
These Agents are the intended āposter childrenā of the HAWKS; an aspirational symbol for their fellow Gifted, according to WINGS. Specialists are Gifted prisoners under the command of WINGS, handled and led by their Supervisors. Their backgrounds and temperaments are as diverse as their powers. There is no one-size-fits-all image when it comes to Specialists.
If possible, Specialists are assigned to Divisions far from where they were raised or once resided. This lowers the possibility of them being identified by formerly known civilians or having complications from their past interfere with their work in the present.
*Hence, Division-01 (with primary operations in North America) has a good number of international agents. Though, when summoned across the Atlantic, Elouan is largely restricted from field work in France as an extra precaution. Mockingbird, though living in the US for a good portion of their life / being a native US citizen is allowed to remain in Division-01 due to their gift being best utilized amongst the highest performing Specialists. Similar exceptions do occur beyond Mockingbirdās case as well.
Their lives are heavily monitored, contained, yet simple freedoms and privileges may be earned on good behavior (at the discretion of their Supervisors). I have compared the HAWKS somewhat to the Norwegian prison system before in the sense that ānormalityā is permitted (and, at times, encouraged) for Specialists to facilitate a better emplacement of their newly dictated given purpose as civil servants to humanity. This sector wishes to reform their Gifted into a frontline defenders of humanity, universal soldiers, an ideal reminiscent of caped crusaders striving for peace and justice.
Peace and justice as defined by their overlords within WINGS. A heroism leashed.
RAVENS & CROWS - Dearilās Former Affiliation
For a real world comparison, I would equate this sector to death squads: extrajudicial forces tasked with the execution, disappearance or massacre of targeted individuals or populations. The dirty secret of WINGS, less publicized to the masses.
Ocean bases whose locations are undisclosed to even the vast majority of WINGS Agents house these sectors when they are not deployed. The happenings behind their impenetrable walls are brutal, inhumane. Violence, misery, and rage echo throughout the contained nightmare these sectors have proven to be. I cannot delve into the greatest bits of detail here since Mockingbird will become somewhat intimate with these facilities, but quickly put . . .
CROWS
If a Gifted is deemed too erratic, too dangerous, or too irredeemable for the HAWKS this is where theyāll land. Inmates treated as disposable, no better than a rabid dog who cannot be trained.
Yet these Gifted have balanced themselves upon the fine line of damnation and utility. Rather than being executed upon capture, their violence has been given a purpose. Rarely do their missions ever conclude without the shadow of death lying in their wake.
Comparatively, one might think of criminals being recruited from prisons and enmeshed into the greater military, though these Gifted are locked right back up in their cells the moment their mission has been accomplished (waiting for the cycle to repeat - mission, captivity, mission, captivity, etc.). As reward for the blood they give and spill, they are merely given allowance to live a little longer so long as their gift may serve a purpose for WINGS.
Brutal methods are conducted to keep them submissive, contained. It is not strange for their psyches to further deteriorate beneath the conditions forced upon them.
Less and less human they become, for few dared to see them as human when they are first brought to this sector. Deadly, volatile, and desperate.
More likely than not, however, these Inmates entered this sector with blood already staining their hands.
Best to keep your distance from those condemned to endure as a CROW.
Mockingbird will encounter a CROW in childhood. If the MC hails from Northern or Eastern Europe, theyāll know a few extremely vague / unfocused details about that CROW Agent. If theyāre from Northern Europe specifically, thereāll be a bit of an extra emotional layer to this encounter due to their personal connection to Raivo (who is not the CROW in question, but he bears scars of all kinds from them).
RAVENS
Incredibly alike to the CROWS in the sense of their behaviors and responsibilities, yet these Agents possess additional value that their compatriots lack. Something that makes them in-expendable, best preserved in body and mind to fully reap use from their captivity beneath WINGS.
Typically, that value is rooted within their knowledge. Locations, names, systems, and truths invaluable to the conduct of other sectors within WINGS.
Whilst they must still pay their dues in service, in blood, their lives are not so carelessly thrown aside.
Supervisors
Unlike their counterparts in the HAWKS, thereās a far lesser focus on reformation / mental health / cultivation within their duties. Wardens in the truest sense. Interrogators, punishers, with cruelty demanded as a necessity to keep their Gifted in line.
Youāll learn far more about them through a specific character. Iāll hold back on saying much about them at this time since it might muddle that revelation - though Dearil will have much to say about these Supervisors if you get him monologuing ranting.
Sorry, I sort of lost steam throughout this breakdown! Apologies if this wasn't a sufficient overview thus far! (ā„įŗā„ļ¼)
Mockingbird + the Grand Scheme
If youāre inquiring more into, say, title hierarchies and specific offices / departments . . . Their discussion will only arise as necessary within the story. Mockingbird is a small cog in a massive machine. An important, flashy little cogāthat few will denyābut a little one, nonetheless. Such a small piece does not have an awareness towards the greater whole it powers. This awareness is not necessary for its proper function and, thus, is not necessary to offer. That is the mentality of their superiors.
Curious Mockingbirds should expect to be met with tight lips, awkward silences, and noted suspicion if they ask their Supervisors too many questions about the structure of WINGS beyond the HAWKS. Unlike their Supervisors, they are on a need-to-know basis regarding the internal hierarchies and orders of WINGS. Some Specialist Agents have peered a little further beyond the curtain than others. Others have little care, or much obliviousness, towards the machinations around them.
Perhaps, in another visual comparison, Mockingbird is like a horse with blinders. They will be trainedāideallyāonly to see what is necessary before them. To see only their place within the HAWKS, and their delegated objectives and results in this one sector, their one Division. It is dangerous for a prisoner to learn the structure of their prison. The more they know, the more they can learn to circumvent. Knowledge is power, and these tools can carve ruin in the wrong hands.
On a more meta note . . . While I do hope to make the world of Insurrection feel alive around Mockingbird, the narrative is far more focused on the choices of individuals rather than the nitty gritty of institutions. Though Mockingbird will unveil far more than was ever intended for their eyes within WINGS (yes, not just the HAWKS, but WINGS as a whole) they are one person in a far larger scheme.
Also, apologies for tagging this on, but a random little tidbit popped up in my head as I concluded this response and I cannot help adding it on. Regardless of their perception on the surface . . .
WINGS encourages the dehumanization of its agents and promotes a collectivistic mindset. You, the individual, are not important within WINGS. At best, you may find renown as a symbol (as the potential of the Gifted, as a paragon for the HAWKS) but you will never be acknowledged as inherently greater than anyone else. (If an unfamiliar Agentābeyond your Divisionāever implies as such, itās a clear sign their intentions do not lie in your favor, and truth does not guide their words.) You are a tool for the betterment of society. You are a shield, a weaponā whatever you must be for the sake of the world. Disregard your wants, your fears, your selfish ambitions and desires. There is no purpose for you beyond what is needed by the whole of humanity; if you are not a servant to others, you are a danger to them. Even human agents, like Akil and Kamiko, are taught to sacrifice the idea the self for WINGS.
The CARDINALS encourage the deification of its members and embraces the individualism of the Gifted. For all of Urielās emphasis on building a community for the Gifted, his focus of the inherent bonds and purpose they share, his command truly fosters the independence and self-determination of his kin. Uriel sees his people as the equivalent of gods with the right to shepherd and lord themselves above humanity, not one another (their fellow Gifted). Those within his Inner Circle are encouraged to pursue their personal ambitions under the umbrella off the CARDINALS. He does not turn his nose at the blatant self-interest possessed by Bacara and Lempo who laugh at the zealotry of Bones and Kalyna. Curadora is free to preach her mercy and extend her hand in aid to the Gifted just as Dearil is free to espouse his hatred of Humans (and even some ālesserā Gifted), unpunished for the blood he spills in service of Uriel. The CARDINALS invite debate, foster the battle of wills, and affirms the natural superiority of their members.
