An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
the haunting in your house is what’s left of love
Fandom: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Rating: T
Warning: Major Character Death
Note: Based on raised on little light by @/goodlucktai
It started with little things.
Kitchen drawers opened a slit; the wooden spoon somehow ending up on the floor; a coaster or two finding their way under the table. Little things that were normal in a lair of four teenagers and a lazy rat dad, where everything was always misplaced and displaced, and people forgot to close doors and drawers all the time.
That was why Mikey didn’t think much of it at first.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
keep the lights on (until I'm ready to come home)
Fandom: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Rating: T
Warning: None
Note: Based on skinning the children for a war drum by jumpingonmuddypuddles
He did not remember if Leo was this good at performing as a child. He did not remember if Leo ever did. The pieces of his memories were not complete, and would remain that way.
Whatever happened at Hueso’s place and his conversation (and scuffle) with Donnie seemed to have thawed him, but his refusal of dinner—and implicitly, of mingling with them—feels like him pulling away, withdrawing behind the walls of dispassion and lazy grins again. And Raph is afraid they wouldn’t be able to get him out the second time.
I am learning again to live with scars (hoping this time, you'll walk it with me)
Chapter 17
"If Father is a Void being now,” Hallow said, “does that mean he is no longer a higher being?” The thought had been sitting on their mind, apprehensive for a reason they couldn’t put into words.
Dawn seemed to share the sentiment. They were quiet while the two of them ambled down the hallway and up a set of stairs, gaze a thousand miles away.
“I think, in a sense he still is,” they said eventually. “He may be the same as us now, but I… I’d like to believe he retains his powers. At least it seems that way. So probably he is a lesser higher being, if that is something that exists.” A pang of unease went across the connection, echoed between the two of them. “He is definitely under the Lord of Shade in the… hierarchy, though.”
(For some reason, the link wouldn't attach properly O_O I'll revisit this post later and hopefully get if fixed)
Sometimes when I’m hyperfixating on an indie game (like now), I remember again the indie games I knew and/or had played, and am awed again. These are games that were made by small teams, some even made by one person; and they exceed games made by big/popular developers by leaps and bounds. A few of them are even available for FREE (I’m looking at you, with reverence, Ib and Segawa’s games). More than that, they are a labor of love - it is so apparent - and made possible by the support of backers and the developers’ family and friends: strangers and loved ones. I think that, above all, is what makes these games so poignant, at least for me.
Shout-out to my favorite indie games, may more people know about you the more obscure ones:
Ib
OFF
End Roll; Farethere City; Walking on Star Unknown (Segawa’s games)
I am learning again to live with scars (hoping this time, you'll walk it with me)
Chapter 18: Epilogue
My failure is great, greater than any punishment you would give me in this lifetime. And I will live the rest of my life doing everything in my power to atone. But if I– if this one is allowed—”
The words stuttered and were caught in their throat. On reflex, their hands moved to sign, but Hallow balled them into fists and dug one against their knee. They would not run from this.
“If this one is allowed this impertinence, I ask for your forgiveness.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
I am learning again to live with scars (hoping this time, you'll walk it with me)
Chapter 16
The place was a construct of dream, but it looked the same as the real White Palace, down to every small detail. It was hushed, however, too silent—as if the place was dead. Something akin to unease skittered under Hallow’s shell.
Ghost allowed them and Dawn three seconds of staring around before they started walking.
When the world feels too much and the days feel too fast and tiring, cozy games are (one of) the balm for the soul.
I personally love cozy games with medium-long length, and that have an underlying plot going on, even though it's just traveling the world to take photos. Here, I'll share 5 + 1 of such games, which are my favorite as of April 2024:
TOEM
You grew up listening to your Nana tell you about the legendary TOEM. Now, armed with a camera, a backpack, and your beloved old pocket radio, you go out into the world to find TOEM and take a picture of it (as well as snapping as many photos as possible along the way).
Cute, charming, and very, very cozy, I deliberately took my time playing it because I wanted the experience to last. (Also, when I couldn't progress past a certain point, the dev team was very kind to fix the issue – even though they've moved on to making another game.) It has quirky, adorable characters with quirky, adorable problems you got to help solve, and a variety of animals you can pet (my favorite is the monkey).
Night in the Woods
College dropout Mae Borrowski went home to find her dying hometown still as lovely in autumn as it's always been, but with something sinister lurking in the shadow.
Despite how I made it sound, this game is still very cozy. As Mae, you spend your days visiting your old friends, listening in to the townspeople's convo, stargazing with your old teacher, and visiting your mom at church, among a few, with the stunning background of Possum Spring in autumn. And don't forget the soundtrack!
Wytchwood
"Once upon a time, there lived an odd witch in an odd little house, at an odd little swamp."
You woke up, found a goat have munched through your grimoire, and discovered that you've made a deal with the aforementioned goat – a deal that you can't remember. Go out into the world, craft potions and items, and vanquish 12 great evils while being snarky about it.
As you can see in the picture, Wytchwood has amazing visual. The writing is witty and funny, it has an entertaining cast of characters and fun gameplay, and the music just immerses you more in its world.
Walking on A Star Unknown
(Screenshot by vgperson)
A pair of siblings, Fukurou and Eddie, were traveling the galaxy to fulfill their late mother's wish when they crash-landed on a foreign planet. The planet happened to be hosting a cooking festival, and the winner will get one wish granted by the Goddess. So what else is there to be done except participating and aiming for the win? If you happen to make friends and learn the planet's dark history along the way, it can't be helped, can it?
This is an old game but it has such a special place in my heart even after years. It's wholesome, relaxed, has a ton of fun side-quests and lovable npcs, funny writing, and a touch of dark – a perfect mix of my favorite things. Segawa (the creator) never failed to immerse me in their small but charming world. And I'm usually not fond of too much side-quests, but Segawa's is an exception: the side-quests involve the npcs, and I love the npcs.
You can find it here. Vgperson did an amazing job translating it and its pun-ny writing.
Farethere City
(Screenshot by vgperson)
Pigula, a little boy(?) with one eye, has always dreamed to open a general store. So when he moved to Farethere City, the first thing he did was looking for a vacant building to open his shop. And it just happened that there was one, in the downtown, which happened to be on sale at such bargain price! Nothing is suspicious whatsoever!
Again, despite my description, this is a relaxed, low-tension game. Another of Segawa's game, and also one that has a special spot in my heart. The dark tone is more prominent than Star Unknown, and it's arguably more horror than cozy game, but I still find it very comforting. It's wholesome – sometimes bittersweet, it has a cast of lovable characters, and it has enough mystery to hook you and keep you playing.
You can find it here. My enormous gratitude to vgperson for translating these games, and translating it with apparent love.
(+1) Melon Journey
(Screenshot from the game page)
You woke up after a stormy night, and couldn't find your friend. So you embarked on a journey to find him/her.
It's been a while since I played this game, and I haven't replayed it again, but I remember how much fun I had playing it and how I was a little disappointed that it ended so soon. Melon Journey is shorter than the other five, but it's very charming and very deserving of a place in the cozy games list. The visual is pleasant to look at, and I love the characters and their little – sometimes lovingly silly – problems, which we have to solve if we want them to give us info.
You can find the free ver here. There's a longer, paid version in Steam titled Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories :)
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
I am learning again to live with scars (hoping this time, you'll walk it with me)
Chapter 14
If She will perish whether or not you do, Hallow continued, could it still be called as you having a hand in it?
Something in Grimm’s look sharpened. His eyes narrowed, but it seemed not out of anger or offense—not yet. Hallow’s hand did not tremble as they wrote.
The Radiance will perish whether or not you help us. If the outcome will be the same, why not take the chance to gain something from it? Should you help us, you need not go through the pains of finding a Summoner, one who has an affinity with both you and the Grimmchild.
