#playables

[maysmaizemaze]

‘Kids’ Stand Out Among E3 Crowd

Finding the right words to describe “Kids,” the latest multimedia project from Swiss developer Playables, is entirely open to interpretation. To those in-the-know about director Michael Frei’s work…

Glad to see another article by @shortsweather on Variety!

[delicatesoul88]

Cecily Rickards

Nathan’s.....partner? Girlfriend? I don’t know what she is, they live together and have children a child together - is all

[crazygamecommunity]

Time Flies in uscita il 31 Luglio

Il gioco d'avventura disegnato a mano Time Flies sarà lanciato su PS5, Switch e PC (Steam) il 13 Luglio al prezzo di €14,99, con uno sconto di lancio limitato del 10%, hanno annunciato Panic e lo sviluppatore Playables.

[lasororiteinfernale]

The Scholars.

✥

𝕬𝖜𝖞𝖗𝖋𝖆𝖓𝖌

FAIN, {19}

✥

Fain lives and dies by her Clan- the Hywellers. She's not a princess, but she is the niece of Clan-Queen Accora who reigns supreme over all Clans of Awyrfang. And as one of the Clan-Queen's favoured nieces (the only one, actually), Fain was given the title of "Clan-Lady" at the age of fourteen and run of her own group of Wolfen (made-up mostly of her own brothers and cousins around her own age). The decision to leave the Clan for the Academy was the will of her Aunt- otherwise, Fain would not do it. Accora, though she did not support the Lillium project, feels it prudent to be represented at the Academy. In a way, Fain feels some pride to have been chosen by her Aunt to be her eyes and ears- it means she's trusted. In another way, it almost feels like a betrayal- as if she is being sent away from her Clan as punishment for something she's unaware of. Is this term at the Lillium Academy a mission? Or is the beginning of exile?

Looks: Antonia Przedpelski

Status: taken by @vampirkaninchen

FELL, {21}

✥

Fell definitely fits the stereotypical guardian/protector Wolfen. Wolfen are also stereotyped as largely aggressive types- as they are typically Clan soldiers born and bred- with obnoxious (if not crippling) superiority complexes. And Fell is all of those things as well. (Hello, He Can Become A Wolfen Whenever He Wants.) At the Academy, there are restrictions on Wolfen (which Fell views as bullshit but whatever). No four-legged beings in the dining halls or in lectures, but Fell's lived the majority of his life in the skin of a Wolfen and hasn't much experience in his Mortal skin. It will take some getting used to, but he's willing to do it for a new experience- something, anything outside of his Clan. Away from his father.

Looks: Jordan Legessa

Status: Open

LUCAN, {20}

✥

Lucan and her Wolfen father live apart from the traditional Clan due to a falling-out with her father's Clan before Lucan was even born. Her father now operates a tavern on the outskirts of Awyrfang which caters mostly to outsiders travelling through the Realm. Wolfen, in general, don't like outsiders, but it's a hazard of the job for her father. Lucan, on the other hand, finds them fascinating. If she wasn't such a shy creature, she'd likely try to make friends of passers-through, but as it is, she mostly just quietly serves drinks and tidies the upstairs rooms…and eavesdrops. Ear-against-doors and -walls eavesdropping. Which is the only way she was able to learn about the Academy- by listening to a conversation between a soon-to-be professor (named Priscillien) and another tavern patron. Lucan happened to be listening so intently that she fell over the man's lap after tripping herself on the floor boards- luckily, the young Professor had a good sense of humour about the whole thing. They ended up becoming friendly and conversing through the late hours of the night. By the time Priscillien went on his way the following morning, Lucan was sure she had to enroll in the Academy. If for no other reason than to see Priscillien again.

Looks: Sara Esparza

Status: Open

𝕭𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖑𝖇𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖓

CYCLAMEN, {19}

✥

Cyclamen, the middlemost of nine children, already understands what will become of her in the future, and it has made her numb. Her family is nobility, and on good terms with Lord Midden-Hel and Mudling Court. She sees her female relatives tittering quietly to one another whenever she is near- and, yes, she has even finally managed to have her Papa look at her with something like pride instead of just another one of his loud brood. Of all her siblings, Cyclamen is the quietest- the most reserved, but she has a good deal on her mind most of the time which she tries to keep track of in her journal. But her restraint appears to have backfired on her because it is precisely that "demure" reserve that has drawn the eye of the Midden-Hel King. The Bog-Devil King. He wishes to marry Cyclamen. This is something she only discovered through a fair amount of eavesdropping- which she started only once her relatives began acting so strangely around her. No one has said anything certain- nothing yet is set in stone. But this Academy endeavour, Cyclamen imagines, could be some sort of precursor to marriage- possibly even stipulated by the King. She worries that by attending the Academy, she is walking straight into the trap. Then again, Cyclamen has now become practised at shutting down to preserve herself. It could be a useful period of time, she thinks. A time where she might fill her head with other thoughts- or else succumb to her future…and never feel anything ever again.

Looks: Indu or Indira Scott

Status: Open

MOGGEN, {18}

✥

Moggen’s relatives are hoping that, by sending their girl to the Academy, she will catch their Lord-King’s attention. Peace and turtle-doves are all well and good, but unwitting bog-child Mogg’s only true interests are catching bog-frogs for delicious soups and the occasional beauty mud bath. Essentially, she enjoys living in the marshlands unbothered and unfettered, which is why being thrust into “civilised” education by her family is so galling. It’s not beyond her to wear clothes or…interact with other beings- she was raised semi-properly in the house of her father, but she does hate the exertion of “acting polite” like poison. Perhaps Mogg's just unforgivably lasy and messy, but either she shapes up and learns to bear this extraordinary opportunity…or, by her father's word, she will be married off and afar- then she will never see her beloved mire again.

Looks: Claire Kempf or Ansolet Rossouw

Status: Open

TEGEIRIAN, {20}

✥

Tegeirian ["Orchid" in Welsh] was abandoned to the elements of the marshland as a small child. He would have died in quaking bog were it not for the man he would come to call "Grandfather"- Eivor Din-Wel. Eivor pulled Tegeirian from the engulfing peat, took him into his small moss-covered home tucked in the bog of Blackwater-Sin, and raised him as his own. As a foundling, Tegeirian has no memory of his parents or where he came from. He can only assume he was abandoned in the deep bog for dead. Tegeirian spent his teenage years earning small coin as a ferryman on the Blackwater-Sin marsh- and while he was ferrying, he met his fair share of pals and love interests. Ultimately, he fell in with a small gang of Mudlings- orphans like him- and began using his ferrying as a means of stealthily stealing from his passengers. One evening, Teg was caught in the act and when a row broke out, he attempted to hold his target's head underwater until another man dragged him off. Out of control by Eivor's standards and far too much to handle for one elderly man, Eivor put Tegeirian out of his home- and only after pleading with him for hours over his incessant drinking and gang activity. Authorities of Blackwater-Sin rather thought it would benefit the boy to attend The Lillium Academy for some structure and a much-needed lesson in peaceability. At least there, they believe he will be dry and cut-off from his fellow criminals. However, The Lillium Academy is not a detention centre for young offenders- it's certainly not a rehab- and Teg can easily make trouble wherever the hell he is.

Looks: Kiran Farebrother

Status: Open

𝕲𝖑𝖆𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖓𝖊

BONNY, {19}

✥

Bonny has been proposed to a number of times by different people, but despite her grandmother's constant pressure to settle down, she has refused each and every one of them. No, it's much more fun being unmarried and unfettered by babies, Bonny's certain of it. She's far, far more interested in singing and doing little twirly dances in the market for a bit of coin to be used on a pretty shawl or a fine sliver of crystalberry cake. Or else taking off to the thermal pools with friends on a moment's notice. There is no inclination, no hint of wanting to "settle down". But with the establishment of The Lillium Academy, Bonny's grandmother got a bee in her bonnet over sending her only grandchild to recieve higher education- one that "will do this world some good". When Bonny- very unwilling to leave her social life (and scores of admirers) behind for some stodgy school in Rhosymora- refused, her grandmother then threatened her with betrothal to a local boy (not even one of her lovely suitors!) with more teeth than brains in his head if she did not comply. Well, that was all the motivation Bonny needed. At least it's just a few months- by then Bonny will be certain to have a plan of attack.

Looks: Zuzana Kushnirukova or Tess McMillan

Status: Open

DAGGEIRA, {20}

✥

Daggeira is the daughter of an esteemed crystal-bladesmith in Scathain. Her mother's work depends on the existance of the violent aesthete, so it did baffle the woman to learn that her child would be attending some sort of experimental Academy in Rhosynmora where weapons would be absolutely disallowed. Daggeira has a great deal of respect for her mother and her craft. That aside, she truly believes in Diamandis Florimel's anti-war writings. The book inspired her to enroll in The Lillium Academy even as her long-time paramour is going into military training. It's not yet a point of contention between them, though Dag feels the tension whenever they're around one another. He/She won't even read "The Book of Fair Thought" though Daggeira offered it to them numerous times. It's almost agitating. They promised they would keep in touch via letters and doves- that they will see one another soon, so soon it's not even worth saying farewells. But Daggeira already feels the relationship unraveling, the thread between their hearts pulling taut, close to snapping altogether. How could she be happy with a war-monger like him/her anyway? … She knows she's making the right choice for herself, but still…she's heart-broken.

Looks: Shivaruby

Status: Open

GWENOLE, {18}

✥

Gentle Gwenole hails from the area of Glamorgane where the ground glistens like herkimer diamond- the salt flats. While the means of his upbringing were meager, Gwenole has always seen himself as destined for great deeds (due, not in small part, to his mother’s unfailing encouragement). Until recently, a young man of his social standing would only be able to do so in armour, but with the inception of the Lillium Academy, he has every faith that he’ll now be able to make change in Glamorgane in a way that his mother will be proud of- with what the gods have already given him: tact and understanding. Of course, that is the idea, but Gwenole has never been away from home or his mother and latching onto the “wrong” crowd could either strengthen his resolve to be great…or earn him a journey of terrible hardship.

Looks: Mustafa Dawood

Status: Open

TARA, {19}

✥

Tara was one of the maidens rounded up for the previous year's Head-Hunt- but fortunately (perhaps unfortunately), Haim Enellor pulled her from the group of soon-to-be-slaughtered women just before the Hunt was about to begin. Evidently, Tara bears a resemblance to the Wizardess' long-deceased little sister- a girl named Elora. And in a strange turn of events, Tara became the Usurping Queen's pet. With no real family to speak of, she was taken into the palace without contest and was suddenly living the life of a Princess…well, the life of Elora. You see, Haim offered all of the riches and comforts in the world to Tara, but she would have to agree to become (and be called) Elora. Tara complied because, despite the intermittent humiliations she must endure (she is supposed to rest her head against the Queen's knee while she is seated in her throne at Court, for all under the Deity's Eye to see) and the obvious hate she seems to have garnered from the nobility, she likes a warm place to sleep and pretty things to wear. But it is blatantly obvious to Tara that Haim Enellor is not a well woman- and that she is in imminent danger of- not just being deposed by the Royal Council- but murdered, if not publicly executed for crimes against the Kingdom (namely regicide). Haim doesn't seem to know this- or if she does, she doesn't care. She's far more preoccupied with Tara, er, Elora. Which is why the Academy came up. Haim seems to think that Tara has become her heir and successor to the throne despite their being unrelated in any way. But that aside, Haim is of the belief that it will be a nice education for Tara in dealing with the other Kingdoms. Tara will go- though she is worried that she will wake one morning to hear that Haim Enellor is dead. And, worse, that by her association with Haim, the Royal Council will now be coming for her head, too.

Looks: Tin Gao or Duan Mei Yue

Status: Open

𝕽𝖍𝖔𝖘𝖞𝖓𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖆

FLEUREKIN, {18}

✥

Fleurekin is a devotee of the Queen- Diamandis Florimel- and her writing. Ever since she was able to get her hands on the book, it's never left her side. "Peace forever- bloodshed no more." One of Fleurekin's earliest memories is of abandoning the home she was born in to flee Awyrfang Wolfen who were tearing through the bordering countryside of Rhosynmora at the time. It was over a decade ago, but she still relives the awful fear of those days over and over in her sleep. The idea of a world where children may not have to experience that sort of terror ever again appearls greatly to Fleurie- even if her father says it's an impossibility. (Her father still hates Wolfen- wishes them all dead before he sleeps, according to him.) "Mortals- even beasts- like the taste of blood. They like the look of it." Fleurekin, perpetually armed with her Bible of "Fair Thought", chooses to believe otherwise- and it's why she will attend the Queen's new Academy. She believes there is Light in all things. That Peace is not only a possibility but an inevitability. Yet, how will her shiny ideals hold up when she finally comes face-to-face with a Wolfen student?

Looks: Emmah Heidi Holterhoff

Status: Open

GOLD, {19}

✥

Gold is the younger brother of Queen Diamandis, and so there was never really a question of whether or not he would attend his sister's brain-child Academy. Saccharine as he finds his sister's work in ~unity~ and ~peace throughout the land~ to be (he's much more of a realist, he supposes), he hopes for the best with the Lillium Academy- that it's a success for his sister's sake. Gold was previously keen on a soldier's life and was even hair's bredth from joining up when his sister suddenly married the King of Rhosynmora. (Perhaps he wasn't paying enough attention to Diamandis' life, and often he can be a bit thick in the head, but it felt very sudden to him.) Things changed quite a bit then- his opportunities, primarily. He was little more than the son of net-weavers and fishermen- then the King Himself wants to retain him. A strange turn of events. In any case, Gold can more easily see himself as a student rather than floating around the palace halls all day long, performing mundane tasks for the crown. Something in Gold's gut keeps him running from the palace, the nobles, the King. Lately, he's begun, even, to avoid his sister.

Looks: Tamsir Thiam

Status: Open

LOVECHILD, {20}

✥

Lovechild, formerly of the Royal Gaurd and recently hand-picked by the Queen to become one of her scholars, is genuine in his nonsense. From boyhood, his family has tried to regiment him in some useful way, but he's too…himself. Even as a Gaurd, he was too busy making friends with the new Queen, the scullery staff, the boy who replaces the old flowers in the Royal Apartments with fresh flowers, the old women who draw the King's bath to worry overmuch about his duties. But that's his problem- he can't really focus on anything for too long. Standing around, waiting? Not his forte. He was let go from his position after a few weeks- "discharged", but Diamandis made sure that he had somewhere to go and make himself useful. The Academy. While Lovechild wasn't able to focus on "The Book of Fair Thought" for very long, he got the gist and found it to be the antithesis of his father's every endeavour. His father encouraged all of his sons into the military. (The man gave his young sons daggers as birthday gifts, for pity's sake.) Lovechild, a trained Guard- a young man practised in combat from a young age thanks to his soldier father- had never considered the other side of things. A world where soldiers may not be necessary because wars no longer happen. It intrigues Lovechild, at the very least. And since Diamandis went to so much trouble for him, the least he could do is attend her Academy and maybe learn a thing or two. What could it hurt?

Looks: ?

Status: Open

[lasororiteinfernale]

【ＰＡＳＳＥＮＧＥＲ　ＭＡＮＩＦＥＳＴ】

· ◈ ·

"𝚂𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢.𝙳𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎."

𝙼𝙰𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙼𝙾 𝙰𝙶𝙽𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙾

Twenty-two . ◈ . Pierre Ramos

Florens Agnello's only child, accompanied by his (secretly) estranged wife of a few months. Mo figures the only way this will be a holiday for him is if he is heavily medicated the entire time- and maybe not even then. For one thing, his wife (from an arranged marriage) and he will be forced to share a compartment, while, at home, they are free to live separately. Being surrounded by people who know his father, anything amiss would surely reach his ear…which simply won't do. The old man's been begging for grandchildren, after all. To say nothing of the fact that Mo is fairly certain his ability to remain happily married as well as produce a healthy grandson has some significant weight on his inheritance…and he, least of all, would want to jeopardise his endowment… . To complicate matters further, he can't get Caelia out of his head- a horribly knotty ordeal weighing on his heart and mind as she is his father's mistress. He feels he must attempt to avoid her at all costs and play the doting husband on his "honeymoon" (Florens' word, not his own) for his own good. All in all, Massimo expects the worst experience of his young life outside of his surprise wedding day.

𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙴 𝙰𝙶𝙽𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙾

Twenty-one . ◈ . Georgia Palmer

taken by @bebemoon .

Florens Agnello's daughter-in-law, accompanied by her (secretly) estranged husband of a few months. Perronelle is endlessly bored. She drifts about the house she and her husband live in all day long, looking for things to do. She eats alone, she sleeps alone- well, if one doesn't count her Greyhound (a racetrack rescue), and some of the time, she does. Her husband, Massimo Agnello, appears to want nothing to do with her. Theirs was an arranged marriage, and from the word "go", the whole thing has been…terribly awkward and very lonely. The pair hasn't exchanged more than vows and a few pleasant acknowledgements in passing- other than that, nothing. Perronelle, for her part, doesn't know if she wants to make things work (for she feels she could possibly ensnare him if she wanted to) or simply up and vanish in the night to start a new existance elsewhere. This "honeymoon" is merely a formality, and she knows nothing romantic will come of it. The train trip, she's decided, will make up her mind. Either they will come home disgustingly perfect lovebirds, or else Perronelle's as good as gone.

𝙰𝙻𝙰𝙸𝙽𝙰𝙽 𝙲𝙾𝚁𝚂𝙰𝙸𝚁

Twenty . ◈ . Freek Iven

A nephew of Florens Agnello's, accompanied by his fraternal twin brother Dougray. Alainan is quite the accomplished sportsman- he's, at once, engaged in a number of athletic pursuits including, but not limited to, polo, tennis and rowing. Because of this and the wealth (and possibly also the great hair), he's quite popular. Alainan is also somewhat detached from reality. Daria Corsair, Alainan's mother, had been involved in some bizarre occult activity before her untimely death in the nineties. Alainan seems to have taken up his deceased mother's interest- and more than that has certain…grandiose thoughts about himself. For one, when he was a teenager, Alainan attended a boy's school where he amassed a strange little following of fellows who, according to the headmaster of the school, "thoroughly and truly believe Mr. Corsair to be possessed of an 'angel'". Alainan's father took his son's odd ideas to be innocent- his exact words: "school boy drivel". Despite the fact that this "drivel" was the direct cause of another boy's injuries. Alainan was- not strictly "expelled"- but he wasn't to return to the school as he would be admitted to a psychiatric institute by his grandparents, who unlike his father, saw issue with their grandson's peculiar notions. Alainan spent a year in the institute, and upon his return home to his father and brother, seemed a new young man altogether- a happier, healthier-minded jock. (His father's dream son, really.) And the angel-possession was never brought up again… Until recently. You see, back in school, Alainan never claimed to be possessed by an angel- he had only allowed the headmaster and everyone else to believe so to, perhaps, soften the situation. What exactly Alainan told his school-mates was that he was possessed of a "fallen angel" who compelled him evilly. Alainan has never stopped believing himself overcome. He pretends at normalcy well, but in his mind, he is always in conversation with it. And his dreams are wretched. This trip, Alainan knows, will serve as a catalyst for something awful. The dark angel has already told him so.

𝙳𝙾𝚄𝙶𝚁𝙰𝚈 𝙲𝙾𝚁𝚂𝙰𝙸𝚁

Twenty . ◈ . Kit Butler

A nephew of Florens Agnello's, accompanied by his fraternal twin brother Alainan. Three minutes his brother's junior, Alainan calls Dougray "baby brother/bro" more often than anything else (prompting their family to refer to Dougray the same way, even when he's in the room). If Alainan is "night", Dougray is "day". Where Alainan had a troubled childhood (brought on by the death of their mother Daria), Dougray floated through without incident. He graduated top of his boy's school and went straight into a culinary academy (much to his father's dismay), no stops in between. However, he dropped out of culinary school because his Uncle Florens asked him to, instead, come work aboard his pet project- the Grand Behemoth. It was not yet finished when he made the offer- it was still a few months out at the time- but he assured Dougray that it would be a marvel with the finest restaurants in the world aboard. Florens was looking to give his favourite nephew a place among the Behemoth's soon-to-be globally renowned eateries where he could eventually work his way up the ranks by his own merit to chef de cuisine. "Experience over education," Florens always says. Dougray, delighted of course, accepted- but this trip is, more or less, a trial. If he can see himself living aboard the Behemoth long-term, he'll officially take the opportunity given him by his uncle upon his return from holiday. The rub being, Dougray has no idea what is ahead of him- a trial, to be sure. One that will certainly distract him from the task at hand.

𝙽𝚈𝙼𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲𝚄𝚂 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝙽-𝚆𝙴𝙱𝙴𝚁

Twenty-five . ◈ . Leon Dame

One of Florens Agnello's two kept-lovers- the other of whom, Caelia, is now his closest friend and confidante. Nymphicus is also a novelist with a…salacious body of work, but under a nom de plume. These things aside, he's rather a reserved character in demeanor. Stoic and observant and keeping a very small circle of friends. Agnello wants Nymphicus to decompress on this trip. You see, recently, Nym's been sleep-walking and very nearly had a lethal accident while doing so at the Agnello home. Agnello had his doctor see to him a couple weeks earlier and the doctor said the sleep-walking could be due to stress (of which Nymphicus has in spades between demanding publishers, deadlines and the old married man he's taken to when he used to joke about offing him with Caelia). To get Agnello off of his back about his health, he agreed to the "decompression" trip as long as Caelia would come with him and "keep him company around all the yuppies". Nymphicus sort of hopes the travelling will help move his process along- that maybe he'll be able to write a little bit even though the old man specifically asked him not to work (and even threatened to smash his laptop). Then maybe all the sleep-walking will cease.

𝙲𝙰𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙰 𝙳𝙾𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙰

Twenty-six . ◈ . Anya Taylor-Joy

One of Agnello's two kept-lovers- the other of whom (Nymphicus), she has become incredibly close with. Caelia isn't only on the trip because Nymphicus wanted company- Agnello wanted to make sure he would not sleep-walk off of the train in the middle of the night, so she's also there as his body-guard for the time being. During the day, however, Caelia knows she will be anxious to take it all in, a chance like this never coming along again. A lover of the arts (and, in fact, a self-trained sculptrix), she knows she'll be lost to all there is to see and experience within the marvel the old man has managed to construct. The operas, the carefully curated artwork (some pieces specifically chosen, Agnello says, because they remind him of her tastes), the sumptuous food, insane landscapes, and interesting company- all of it, an ideal holiday, in her opinion. However, there's the small matter of Massimo Agnello who will also be present on the Behemoth. Caelia has been…asked…politely to avoid him. "A simple favour, for me," Agnello said. Evidently, the old man has a tiny jealous streak, which- fine. Caelia was up front with him about a brief interlude she and his son shared following a gala last winter. Next thing you know, Massimo is married off. Caelia would just love to avoid any awkward encounters- the old man didn't even have to ask. Still… Would a brief exchange really harm anyone ?

𝙸𝙿𝚈 𝙻𝙰 𝙶𝙾𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙴

Twenty-four . ◈ . Sherouk Farid

Ipy merited a ticket to ride only because she happens to be the favourite dancer of Agnello's two mistresses…but she doesn't need to know that. All Ipy knows is that Florens Agnello is an admirer of her balletic ability- her ability before her terrible leg injuries, that is. Sorely in need of break from her newly bleak existance without performance (as she continues to force herself to the barre in secret and very much against doctors' orders), Miss la Godine jumped at the opportunity to be among the first to travel on the Grand Behemoth. What a spectacular way to spend a summer, among new scenery and new people- people who likely don't know her face and who won't give her that look of pity each time she walks into a room. It's like Ipy can't exist anywhere anymore without bringing a cloud of misery along with her- it's frankly…exhausting. She just needs a break from it all. Unfortunately, this little journey won't be the respite Ipy believes it will be.

𝚂𝚆𝙴𝙴𝚃𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝙺𝙷𝙾𝙽𝙶

taken by @vampirkaninchen .

Twenty-one . ◈ . Sherry Shi

Sweetheart married at eighteen and was a widow by nineteen. Her husband was an "associate" of Agnello's while Agnello was recieving death threats over the construction of his Grand Behemoth. Sweetheart's husband, Emil Avot, was acting as Florens Agnello's body-man, and at times, strong-arm once the old magnate realised Emil was capable of scaring a few of his former partners just by being present in the room with him. Sweetheart was never aware of her young husband's job description, exactly, but it all came out when Emil died just two years ago having, apparently, taken a bullet for Agnello outside of his offices. The culprit has, to date, to be found. Sweetheart has been attempting to heal herself, but it's difficult without answers (even with the tidy sum afforded her by her husband's former employer). Upon the completion of the Behemoth, Sweetheart was among the first to recieve an invitation for its maiden journey. Agnello wanted to express his extreme and continued gratitude and condolences for the young widow the best way he knew how- by allowing her a glimpse of just what her husband died to protect. Sweetheart hates the thought like poison- that the Beast train was worth her Emil's life. She wishes the invite had never come, but now…she might just have to throw herself off of it to teach Florens Agnello a lesson. She could, she imagines- but then her heart and stomach turn against her. For Emil and her own curiosity and anger, Sweetheart will be there. If she will come back, remains to be seen.

𝙻𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙲𝙴 𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙳𝙼𝙾𝙽𝚃

Twenty-two . ◈ . Sofia Steinberg

Lettice is the daughter of an old friend of Agnello's- a renowned film director in Hollywood. She's accompanied by her older sister, Lilac. Lettice is a gossip colomnist for a celebrity magazine- she dishes out judgements and juicy, unconfirmed tidbits about everyone's favourites. She knows well what she is, okay? To date, Lettice's most popular piece was on whether or not then-pregnant film star Alina Bratovich was artificially insemenated by aliens. It was a hilariously well-argued bit of work, in Lettice's own opinon, and to this day, bafflingly, she still recieves death threats from Bratovich's most loyal fans for lying on the actress. But anyone with full functionality of their brain would know that Lettice is simply entertaining the masses with her stupid little colomn. Even the people she concocts tales about know this…most of the time. (She has been swung on by three different actresses and one super model.) In real life, it's much the same story- Lettice makes friends easily with her tantalising, high-profile gossip and is the life of any party she wanders into. And this little Behemoth trip? Well, it's rife with VIPs and gossip potential. Naturally, Lettice has to be there.

𝙻𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙲 𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙳𝙼𝙾𝙽𝚃

Twenty-three . ◈ . Julia Cumming

Lilac is the daughter of an old friend of Agnello's- a famed film director in Hollywood. She's accompanied by her younger sister, Lettice. Lilac calls herself a philanthropist, but there's little evidence to support the use of this title. In reality, she's subsisting off of daddy's money. Inept at real life as they come, yet somehow still the apple of her father's eye (an argument she and her sister have quite often), Lilac's been able to get away with a lot in her life- things that the common person would not be able to pay their way out of. For instance, Lilac was, at one point, involved in a home invasion with her boyfriend. Turned out to be her friend's house, and Lilac just wanted to "get back her Bottega Veneta alligator luggage before Tiara could throw it away" to get back at Lilac for some embarassing social media posts. She also admitted that she wanted to scare Tiara- hence the creepy masks they wore- which she certainly managed to do. Money was exchanged, and no charges were ever brough against Lilac or her boyfriend. There was also a police interview following an "accidental" death at an Indonesian spa Lilac was staying at with friends, but after Lilac's father became involved, it never came back up and Lilac returned home without incident. There have been other incidents of some suspect, but finally, her father is ready to cut her off. If anymore trouble ensues, including this train trip, he will officially sever his monetary ties with Lilac. While he hopes she will do some reflecting on the Behemoth, what may end up instead, is that she finds a little dark inspiration.

𝚆𝚈𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝚆𝙰𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙴

Eighteen . ◈ . Olesya Ivanishcheva

Diana Agnello's (Florens' wife's) niece and current Agnello household guest. Wyndall's parents are currently going through a nasty divorce, and so Diana offered the Agnello estate to the girl as a place of respite from the anxiety-inducing and thoroughyl vitriolic situation. Away from her parents' home, she's finally been able to experience a little peace of mind before heading off to uni in the autumn. Before that, however, there's this train trip to be had- and honestly, Wyn is so excited she can hardly wait to board. She imagines herself indulging on caviar and perhaps having a fling with a tall, dark stranger among the otherwordly ocean vistas. Of course, Wyndall's domesticated mink Falkor (whose semi-aquatic nature requires access to a bathtub) is coming with her, as well as her beloved journals. Wyn is introspective and tries to be careful with her words, but so often they get away from her- especially when she's troubled. It's this whole thing with her parents, she believes. She would like to go on the train and just forget that any of it is happening for a few weeks. If she can do that, she'll consider the holiday a success. What she doesn't realise, unfortunately, is that her Uncle Florens invited her father on the trip as well. And Wyn's father won't be alone, having invited his new girlfriend- a former schoolmate of Wyndall's- along with him. [Note: Her father definitely has no idea his daughter will be there.]

· ◈ ·

[prequelinjection]

Why is "My Mini Mart" on YouTube Playables the most unoptimized game ever made

This shit uses up an entire core and 20% of a 3060

[mxdwn]

YouTube Adds Free Video Games To Their Website Called “Playables”

https://games.mxdwn.com/news/youtube-adds-free-video-games-to-their-website-called-playables/

[dztechs]

YouTube يختبر تضمِّين الألعاب المُصغَّرة (إليك كيفية الاستمتاع بـ Playables)

مع تنامي الوسائط الرقمية عبر الإنترنت بشكل كبير، تبحث كل خدمة عن جذب أكبر عدد من المُشتركين.، يظل موقع YouTube في مُقدمة الابتكارات لتوفير تجارب مُستخدم مميزة. آخر هذه الابتكارات هو اختبار إدراج ألعاب مُصغَّرة مباشرةً داخل منصة المشاهدة. هذه التجربة الجديدة تعكس التزام YouTube بتقديم المزيد من التفاعل والمحتوى الترفيهي لمُستخدميه. طرح موقع YouTube مجموعة من الألعاب المصغرة كميزة تجريبية لمُستخدمين مُحددين، والتي يُطلق عليها اسم Playables. إذا كنت مُهتمًا باللعب، فإليك كيفية تفعيل هذه الميزة والحصول على المرح. تحقق من الوسائط الرقمية عبر الإنترنت Read the full article