Hahahahahaa “shivers of wanting”. I want everyone to stop touching my bottom lip w their thumb…I kept thinking “great, now we have crazy blood AND Covid…”
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Given M's conversation with A, it may well have been a dare:
“She’s fine. Or will be, anyway.” He drags his fingers through his hair. “She’s been through way too much shit.”
“Agreed,” Adam states, a frown dragging his brows down. “The worst part is I am unsure that it will get any better for her.” He nods at Mason. “I am relieved to know she has you.”
“She has all of us,” Mason replies.
Adam arches a brow. “Of course. But you know that I did not mean it in the same way.”
“I know.” A small smile catches Mason’s lips. “Let’s just hope she’s as relieved to have me too.”
The team leader rests a warm hand on Mason’s shoulder, but only for a brief moment before pulling it away. “That is something you will have to ask for yourself.”
“It’s a shame I’m too much of a fucking coward to find out then, isn’t it?” He chuckles, but it’s weak and hollow. Fearful, almost.
And the fact that M waited until the MC was watching to do it, makes it seem even more intentional.
And the stuff Tina had at the party was particularly strong–the MC complained and asked if it was window cleaner. If it hurt the MC that much to drink, can you imagine what it did to M?
WTF is a shiver of wanting, anyway? I think this is one reason a lot of scenes fall flat for me–the descriptions of physical responses to everything from a look to accidentally brushing against the ROs are so done to death that they stop having any meaning.
That said, I like the references to magnetism, feeling drawn, that kind of thing, especially if all this is in relation to the soul bond. It works. But the shivering, shuddering, stuttering, breath hitching, sucking in a breath… it doesn’t have to go completely, but it would be nice if my brain wasn’t constantly being battered with those words. Especially when most of my MCs are sneering at it in certain situations.
Can we just use some explosives and blow it out? snickers
Dezh is in desperate need of this from Mason. This book got her addicted, I’m afraid…
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Right? 
I was actually wondering: since the vampires have extraordinary healing abilities, perhaps that prevents them from getting sick/viruses/bacteria. So…how often do they wash their hands? Ever? And if they don’t need to because they aren’t going to get sick…how much disinfecting would the warehouse need in order for the MC to stay there without becoming deathly ill all the time? 
Though, it could be really sweet for the LI to tend to the MC for two weeks while they get over a major cold. 
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I mean… I don’t remember my Detective washing his hands ever, either. 
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But is your detective constantly sticking their fingers all over someone’s face and mouth? I’m not a germophobe by any means, but I just don’t find it sexy I guess. Especially since they all do it. Like they all read the same “Romancing a human for dummies” book or something.
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How could it not be intentional??
“He eyes me for a long moment, glancing down at the shot in his hand.”
“I watch him swig the alcohol…”
Looks at MC < looks at shot < takes shot
MC is the reason for that shot.
Right? My thoughts exactly. Apparently the alcohol was Everclear, or something. For M to take a shot of something like Everclear…well, that means the act of taking the shot is:
- purposeful
- means something important
I have no idea! This?
I
I was wondering about this in stories, how does it work for you when the action is stated but the MC’s physical response to it is left out? Does it let the reader kind of determine what they imagine the MC’s reaction is, or does it make the text feel a little dry?
I’m thinking of something like, if a character walked up behind my MC and whispered into their ear, that would certainly send shivers down their neck, but would this need to be stated? Or can the audience make up this idea in their own heads?
This probably answers my above question! Too much feels tiring and too little feels a little dry.
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True! These people filthy.
Ideally, I prefer to my MC have a response depending what your MC’s current feeling toward the RO. It’s much interesting and catered to the reader’s playstyle. But in reality, it is not 100% feasible unless you don’t want your work not seen the light of day. ^^;
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I don’t see how it can be any other way, but if M is going to shift back to horny moron mode, then it can’t have been intentional. Unless they get a head injury or something. Or something horrible happens to make M question it? Which will make me start snapping furniture like A does…
Exactly. I also like it when a character’s thoughts help build the emotion. It takes more words to do this but, may times, it works better than roiling stomachs or having a seizure every time the LI walks into a room.
In fact, I don’t even think the overuse of the physical reactions would feel as bothersome if the thoughts helped build to it. This lady explains it well by presenting an example.
I agree with this as well. Having a “current attitude” stat would help, really. Like being able to choose when your MC stops being angry about things or feels happy. Feels more open. I get that it would be impossible to do this to cover every reaction to every little thing, but for the bigger moments (like having your LI want to kiss you and immediately dump your ass, or being called a cumbucket, for example), it would help make the emotion deeper and help develop the interactions between characters more.
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I don’t know, that sounds pretty awesome to me. I would read that 
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I wouldn’t blame you. Plot-forced memory loss doesn’t sound like fun, except to explain M’s past.
I think your husband is right, the MC is epileptic.
Wonderful article. And that example…that’s a really powerful example. Need a breather after that one. That was really well done. Just going to slip this into my writer’s toolbox.
Love this idea.
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Actually my first reaction when I read the words “New Zealander accent” was and I quote myself “Oh fuck a Kiwi”, honestly playing an F route all the way through to get a save for Book 3 was the most enjoyable thing, really made me appreciate F as a romantic partner, I think I legit like fell for them in real life lol.
I just find any scene with F to be a lot of fun, like I imagine anything happening, looking at each other and trying so hard not to laugh out loud, but seeing the other trying not to just making it more difficult to not laugh.
Overall I find myself smiling more often than not when going through the F route in all the books, honestly it all just feels like memories you’d talk about fondly about a partner, everything from their jokes, their goofiness, the failed massage they tried to give you, and well teaching them to build paper planes was really cute in its own way.
I feel like where N is going is to show their flaws they don’t like to show, they always have a fairly prim and proper image, but there is without a doubt things they’d rather leave buried in their past I assume mainly around the event which turned them and the aftermath of it.
When can we get our RGB eyes? lol
The idea is so funny.
Quite straight up the same N is just the best friend you could ask for, in all the other routes in my opinion.
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Okay, moments like this remind me why I like Adam so much:
And then he goes and fucks it up. I think Z might want to do something horrible to Verda and Tina now, though. Of course, it’s Z, so about the worst she’d do is frown at them.
Felix, on the other hand, she just might slug at some point if he keeps doing this…
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Anyone know that stat check to pass when you’re trying to buy Rebecca more time during the auction? Also which option is which stat?
I think it’s the aucpretense variable rather than a skill check. The longer you keep the ruse going that the MC wants to join the auctioneer, the better.
Basically, just play along with the ruse. You can up the pretense pretty quickly by striding inside boldly, flirting with the auctioneer, etc. Don’t lose your temper, don’t snark, and don’t look disturbed.
Also, don’t lose it when you see Vieno/Tapeesa. Use the “put on a mask” choice, and you get another rescuesuccess point. I’ll see if I can find anything else.
Okay, after you see whomever is kidnapped, there’s another choice. If you went research and know about the soul bond, you can promise to help him break it and get him as an ally and “convince” him. If you didn’t go with research, then try to convince him to join you (which will work if you have 3 or more points with him).
And, for the distraction…
- Knocking over the glasses: works if combat >= 70
- Asking for more information works if deduction >= 70
- Pull the plug: science >=70
- Try to outbid: people >=70
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A has some great moments in each book…but his frustrating moments unfortunately outnumber the good ones by a LOT. I “bold flirt” everyone in WHC because I self insert and that’s how I roll irl. A is kind of hilarious w a bold MC. There is always at least 1 instance in each book where he either laughs and lets his guard down for a moment, or bold flirts right back and when you hit those moments, it’s really charming and a real treat <3 unfortunately he immediately goes back to his “J/k I CANT LIKE YOU…BYEEEEE” right away after. 
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yeah, but you gotta admit: Bold flirt with A are just fucking Hilarious.
Also, why is everyone in a freaking rush? Its called SLOW Burn. For Pete sake.
Enjoy the ride!
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To be fair, slow burn usually means end of book 1 or 2, not end of book 6…but this is why A isn’t my cannon…I’ve got no patience for that shite. It’s fine w me if others are all over rejection and whatnot. Not trying to yuck anyones yum. <3
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it really not rejection…
At least I don’t see it like that lol I love the hunt more than the catch I guess?
In real life I wouldn’t have the patience either, but its a game and I got nothing better to do than watch Ava run away. Where is mah Lasso! Heey Yaaaaaaaaah! Cow Girl!
come to Mama! 
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