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“This is where all the cruising happened.”
Jonathan Bailey and I are standing in Pershing Square on a bright, blustery spring afternoon, nearing the end of a homemade queer history tour of downtown L.A.: One Magazine, Cooper Do-Nuts/Nancy Valverde Square, the Dover bathhouse, the Biltmore Hotel and this, the city’s former Central Park, a haven, since before World War I, for “fairies” and “sissy boys,” servicemen on leave and beatniks on the road.
“Is it still happening now?” he asks.
“Probably not as much,” I venture.
“Well, you let me know if it’s happening,” he teases, a mischievous smile lighting up his face.
Bailey understands the uses of the charm offensive. As Sam, the handsome Lothario of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s delightful pre-”Fleabag” curio, “Crashing”; Anthony, the romantic hero of “Bridgerton’s” second season; and John, the jerk of a protagonist in Mike Bartlett’s love triangle play “Cock,” the English actor, 36, has swaggered up to the precipice of superstardom. With roles in such studio tentpoles as “Wicked” and “Jurassic World” on the horizon, he may just break through. Yet he delivers career-best work in Showtime’s queer melodrama “Fellow Travelers,” as anti-Communist crusader-turned-gay rights activist Tim Laughlin, by leaving behind the self-assured rakes and tapping a new wellspring: soft power.
Tim may be, as Bailey puts it, “an open nerve,” but as it turns out, the devout Catholic and political naïf — who falls for suave State Department operative Hawkins “Hawk” Fuller (Matt Bomer) just as Sen. Joseph McCarthy tries to purge the federal government of LGBTQ people — is formidable indeed.
Stretching from the Lavender Scare to the depths of the AIDS crisis, in scenes of tenderness, cruelty and toe-curling sex, Bailey’s performance communicates that little-spoken truth of relationships: It takes more strength to submit than it does to control. The former demands discipline, courage, trust; the latter requires only force.
“In ‘Bridgerton,’ [Bailey] is like a Hawkins Fuller character — he is very sexy and has lots of power, has that kind of confident charisma that absolutely is not Tim at all,” says “Fellow Travelers” creator Ron Nyswaner.
But any doubt about Bailey’s ability to mesh with Bomer, who boarded the project early in development, was put to bed with the actors’ virtual rehearsal of a meeting on a park bench in the pilot. “‘Well, that’s a first,’” Nyswaner recalls an executive texting him. “I cried in a chemistry read.”
‘Am I inviting people in?’
Bailey grew up in a musical family in the Oxfordshire countryside outside London, and this, coupled with an appreciation for the morning prayers, choir practice and Mass he attended as a scholarship student at the local Catholic school, fed his precocious talents. (“I loved the performance of it,” he laughs. “Not to diminish the celebration of religious process, but I did love the idea of wearing a gown.”) By age 10, he’d appeared in the West End, playing Gavroche in a production of “Les Misérables,” an experience he now recognizes as an encounter with a queer found family — albeit one shadowed by the toll of the AIDS crisis, which peaked in the U.K. in the mid-1990s.
“When I’m asked about my childhood, there’s so much I don’t remember, and I think that’s true of anyone who’s been in fight or flight for 20 years,” he says. “I would have been in a cast of people whose friends would have died in the last seven years. I think of where I was seven years ago. I had all my gay friends then. It’s only retrospectively that I can retrofit a real gay community around me [in the theater], that I just wasn’t aware of [then].”
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, American and British culture presented queer adolescents with a bewildering array of mixed signals. As beloved celebrities came out in growing numbers, and the battle for marriage equality became a central locus of LGBTQ political organizing, the media continued to propagate harmful stereotypes of gay men as miserable, lonely, perverted or worse — and, Bailey remembers, callously turned George Michael, arrested on suspicion of cruising in a Beverly Hills restroom in 1998, and Irish pop star Stephen Gately, who revealed his sexuality in 1999, fearful he was about to be outed, into tabloid spectacles.
No wonder Bailey, like many LGBTQ people of his generation, should feel the “chemical” thrill of “validation and acceptance” during London Pride at age 18, then embark on a two-year relationship with a woman in his 20s.
“Dangerously, if you’re not exposed to people who can show you other examples of happiness, you think that’s the easiest way to live,” Bailey says. “It’s funny. You look back and you can tell the story in one way, which is that I always knew who I was and my sexuality and my identity within that. But obviously at times, it was really tough. I compromised my own happiness, for sure. And compromised other people’s happiness.”
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Disclosures about his personal life have become particularly thorny for the actor since the premiere of “Bridgerton,” the blockbuster bodice-ripper from executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
“The Netflix effect does knock you off center completely,” he says, recalling the experience of finding a paparazzo waiting outside his new flat before he’d even moved in. “Suddenly, you do start having nightmares about people climbing in your windows... Even now, talking about it makes me feel like, ‘Am I inviting people in?’”
He is also critical of the media for churning out headlines about the smallest details of celebrities’ private lives, often detached from their original context. In an interview with the London Evening Standard published in December, Bailey described a harrowing encounter in a Washington, D.C., coffee shop in which a man threatened his life for being queer — and, in recounting the experience, offhandedly mentioned the “lovely man” he’d called, shaken, after it happened. Although Bailey acknowledges that the original story handled the subject with aplomb, he felt dismayed that more attention wasn’t paid to the intended warning about rising anti-LGBTQ sentiment: “The only thing that got syndicated from that story was that I had a boyfriend, and it wasn’t true,” he sighs. “It was kind of depressing, if I’m honest.”
Still, Bailey, who once turned down a role in a queer-themed TV series because it would have required him to speed along revelations about his personal life he wasn’t ready to make, is prepared to embrace the power of vulnerability when it feeds the work. Although a member of his inner circle expressed doubts about “Fellow Travelers’” steamy sex scenes, for instance, the actor intuited that they were what made the project worth doing: “I was like, ‘I’m telling you, they are the reason why this is going to be brilliant.’”
‘He’s changed my trajectory in my own life’
To those who would complain about the state of sex in film and TV, “Fellow Travelers” is the perfect riposte. All of it matters, from Tim’s first flirtation with Hawk to the finale’s closing minutes, because the series, at its core, is about the importance of soft power: the strength required to bend, but not break; to adapt, but not abandon oneself; to survive without shrinking to nothing in the process. And depicting that through sex, specifically gay sex, makes “Fellow Travelers” radical indeed.
Bailey understands that baring so much comes with certain risks. When I tell him that research for the story has filled my algorithmic “For You” feed on X (formerly Twitter) with speculation that his onscreen relationship with Bomer has a real-life element, he notes that “shipping” fictional couples and costars alike has long been part of Hollywood fantasy. But he bristles at the implication that he and Bomer are anything but skilled actors at work.
“I would love for people to know that the success of our chemistry isn’t based on us f—. It’s actually about us leaning into the craft,” he says. “It’s a vulnerable situation to be in, talking about it on record. I don’t want to rob people of their thoughts. But I do have a set of values, and as an artist, you don’t need to be f— to tell that love story.”
Underlying that craft, Bailey adds, is the confidence to speak up, as with one scene in “Fellow Travelers” that was adjusted because he said, “I don’t want to be naked today.” He learned to use his voice the hard way: In his early 20s, he recalls, he was once “bullied” on set when “someone was threatened” by him and vowed to himself, “I’m never going to do that to someone. I’m never going to allow that to happen."
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This impulse to direct his influence in support of others has blossomed further with “Fellow Travelers.” On the day of our interview, Bailey enthuses about an upcoming meeting with legendary gay rights activist Cleve Jones and shares his idea for a docuseries recording the stories of elders in the LGBTQ+ community while they are still here to tell them. He describes lying in a hospital bed on set on World AIDS Day, in character as Tim, surrounded by gay men who had lost friends and lovers during the crisis, and finding himself thinking, “What do I want to leave behind?”
“I think he’s changed my trajectory in my own life,” Bailey says.
This is, perhaps, the most common reaction I know to diving deep into queer history — the understanding that we, like our forerunners, are responsible for shaping the queer future, whether in politics, society or art. No one is going to do it on our behalf.
As we stand on the nondescript corner now named for her, I relate the story of the late queer activist Nancy Valverde, who was arrested repeatedly while a barber school student in the 1950s on suspicion of “masquerading” because of her preference for short hair and men’s clothing, and later successfully challenged her harassment by the police in court.
“What a hero!” Bailey exclaims, wondering at Valverde’s bravery. “The thing that’s so interesting with power battles is, ultimately, identity is the thing that gives you the most strength and power in your life, isn’t it?
“Because that’s one thing people can’t take away from you: who you are and how you express yourself."

has anybody got this? restarting the app didn't work
idk even what for flair so I hope discussion is okay

has anybody got this? restarting the app didn't work

[If there's anything wrong with this post in terms of the self-promo aspect, I'm sorry. It's my first time posting something like this, so I might have overseen a rule. Pls tell me if you notice any mistakes.]
Hai!
I'm a new writer hoping to get some advice! Any advice, really xD I'll show you the first chapter of my novel, of course everything of this is WIP
Title: Yadis: Union
Synopsis: Dragons are eating the world Surviving on floating islands, humanity can only watch as the world crumbles before them, like a ticking time bomb counting toward their end. The only way out is to set sail and conquer the sky, to become a so-called 'Windrider.' Whether it's to find a new home, to kill dragons, or simply to feel the wind blowing into your face, everyone has their dreams. And Felix's dream is to bring peace, not just to humanity, but to everyone.
Tags: Progression Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Mystery, Cyberpunk, Break the MC
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Cover by: StrikeYoko (She's usually not doing covers, but did this one for free for me <3)
[Warning: Contains graphic violence]
Chapter 1: Is this Justice?
"Did you find something already?!" Felix asked as he ran after Fable.
It was hard catching up with the creature, but its haste was only understandable. Fable hadn't eaten anything substantial for days—just a few berries and plants—nothing worth the magical creature that he was.
But their streak of bad luck would end today, at least that's what they had hoped.
"So?!" Felix asked as he came to an abrupt halt. Puzzled, he looked down where Fable begun sniffing excitedly. Scrunching up his own nose as well. A musty yet slightly sweet scent hung in the air, typical of the turqoise colored Yadis crystals.
For a long time, they had been searching for a very rare type of Yadis, one that had killed many, while making others rich. And hopefully, it would also be able to fill their bellies now.
Suddenly, Fable sprang up and squeaked; a clear sign that he caught a trail. Additionally, his stomach rumbled loudly, which would only quicken the search process.
But alongside Felix's visible joy, a certain envy crept onto his features. "How do you always find it so quickly? You could at least give me a few tips!"
Fable looked at him, tilting his head. Giving him tips? How?! He was just fox after all; albeit not a normal one, he still couldn't speak.
Ignoring Felix's plea, Fable ran on, for they had no time to lose. Once someone realized there were intruders in the mine, they would be in trouble.
"Oh man, that's a huge catch!" Felix marveled as Fable had lead him into a colorful, crystal-laden mine shaft. Felix's gaze swept the area, looking out for the most valuable treasures this place had to offer.
The first thing that caught his eye were the dazzlingly bright yellow crystals. The light that they emitted pulsed in small intervals as if it were a steady heart beat, bathing the dark passage in radiance every now and then.
In stark contrast stood the deep blue crystals, seeming to almost swallow the shadows around them. They hid in the furthest corners, where the light struggled to reach. And also Felix, with his small stature, would have trouble reaching them, but that wouldn't matter.
For Skyshimmer, as he once heard someone call this blue stone, wasn't suitable for eating anyway, due to its hardening effects. Fable, in fact, always got constipated from it which was quite a joy to watch.
The thought made Felix chuckle, but he quickly fell silent as Fable shot him a disapproving look. Proudly, the fox turned up his nose and let out a huff.
Felix crouched down and ruffled Fable's fur, as one would do with a dog. "You did a great job! What a good boy…"
Hestitaing for a moment, wether or not he should forgive him so easily, Fable snuggled into his hand, purring contentedly. Apparently, he wasn't one to hold grudges, not if it meant foregoing further petting sessions. But soon Fable noticed that something was off. He looked up, only to be met with a broad grin spreading across Felix's face, making Fable raise a questioning eyebrow.
"Your nose may be better than mine, but you won't ever beat my eyes," Felix laughed, sticking out his tongue. Fable began squeaking at him furiously, however, it sounded rather cute than anything. Yet, Felix raised his hands in a placating gesture.
"It was just a joke, I'm sorry! Please don't bite!" But Fable continued to eye him, his expression remaining serious.
"Look up," said Felix, pointing the the ceiling.
Reluctantly, Fable's eyes followed his finger, and what he saw there, made his jaw drop. On the ceiling was even more Yadis, but neither turqoise nor any of the other colors they had seen before. These crystals were special; looking cold and deep red.
Fable flinched in shock as he realized what that meant. The next moment, he was completely beside himself, bouncing up and down excitedly.
"I told you we shouldn't give up!" Felix cheered.
The two whirled around in a joyful dance, laughing amusedly, but their euphoria didn't last long. Felix suddenly faltered, while Fable continued to celebrate for a moment longer before noticing and letting out a questioning squeak.
"Say..." Felix scratched his cheek sheepishly, not wanting to be the party pooper. "How are we supposed to actually reach it though?"
To demonstrate the problem, Felix got on his tiptoes and stretched his arms up high. The distance from the tips of his fingers to the crystals was well over a meter. Watching the act, Fable's eyes began twitching. Frowning, the fox looked at Felix and let out a wail that sounded like a screaming child.
Felix's eyes widened. Alarmed, he jumped up and clamped his hand over Fable's mouth. "Shhh!"
Fable's voice cut off as he stared at Felix.
"You're gonna kill us!" He hissed. "Nobody should know we're here, remember?!"
Slowly, Fable nodded, and Felix removed his finger. Then he smiled. "We'll figure it out. Where there's a will, there's a way!"
Fable nodded, his agreement more out of faith in Felix than actual belief that they could do it. The boy seemed to have a plan, though. Eagerly, he began rummaging in his backpack and pulled out a long, turquoise staff. Only when he had fully extracted the object did it become clear what it was: a pickaxe.
"I swiped it while one of the guards was out cold!" he boasted.
But it wasn't your run-of-the-mill pickaxe. Apart from the handle crafted from turquoise Yadis, the tip gleamed pitch black. If one wanted to mine red Yadis, this was the only tool that would allow them to survive the endeavor.
"Now we just need to figure out how to get up there…"
Felix pondered, his gaze drifting across the passage. Fable's tail wagged in anticipation as he followed his gaze. They could have just settled for any of the less valuable minerals, but Felix had his sights set on the grand prize, and Fable admired that.
Felix's eyes kept darting around, looking for a solution, as he recognized how sharp shadows formed on the floor, cast by the flickering light of the yellow Yadis. With each pulse of light, the shadows grew larger and larger until they collapsed back into blackness again. It had a certain breathing rhythm to it that calmed him down.
Fable didn't dare interrupt his master's thought process, but he couldn't hold back a yawn. He was sure Felix would find a way—he always did. Well, at least as long as it didn't involve anything that required... education.
Fable flinched as Felix finally emerged from his trance, a grin spreading across his face. That was a good sign (most of the times).
Curiously, Fable watched as Felix sprinted down the passage, looking as if he were preparing to gear up—well, probably because that's exactly what he was doing. With a good running start, he ran across the shaft all the way back towards Fable and leapt into the air, stretching out his hands until they finally grabbed onto something.
He pulled himself up as far as he could on the stalactite, now at eye level with the red Yadis. Fable stood up on his hind legs, clapping excitedly as his master had done it yet again. High up on the mine ceiling, Felix swung back and forth like a monkey on a branch.
"Okay, Fable, you have to be careful now!"
As if preparing for battle, Fable perked up his ears and tensed the crystal-tipped spines decorating his back.
"On three, I'll strike, and you catch everything that falls down, got it?"
Fable squeaked in agreement, readying for the hunt.
"But it can't touch the ground under any circumstances! Understood?"
Outside the mine, an orange-red hue reflected of the turquoise ground and settled on the faces of the people. With a burning sensation, it spurred them to work. While not being the most pleasant motivation, the heat served its purpose; it was a preview of what awaited those who were of no use to the strong.
Sun-bronzed men with straw hats and old, ragged pieces of fabric which they called "clothes" toiled in the fields. Alongside them, smaller figures also pitched in, perhaps some old people and children.
On the sidelines stood a sturdy man in his fourties, merely observing the others working. Pressing a bottle to his lips, he made sure, as he claimed, that everything was in order.
"Herbert!" An older man greeted him, his face drenched in sweat, his wrinkles resembling water dams.
Herbert only turned around after a short wait, raising a hand halfheartedly. "Siegfried," he said, more as an acknowledgment than anything. He critically scrutinized him from head to toe. "You look miserable."
"Yeah..." Siegfried laughed hesitatnly. "The work is... tough."
"Mhm."
Siegfried cleared his throat. "Um... how... uh, how is Koshy doing?"
Herbert took another swig from the bottle and gave him a piercing look. He couldn't stand it when other people tried to ingratiate themselves. Whether the older man was actually trying to do that right now, he didn't know, but he had to assume so. Why else would anyone strike up a conversation with him?
"Don't you have other things to do?" Herbert asked.
Siegfried nodded in agreement and lowered his head; he definitely didn't want any trouble. "Y-yes, of course."
Just as Herbert was about to sit down, and take a break from all this standing around, a loud bang echoed through the air, causing everyone to freeze. In the next moment, peoples' gazes shot up to the sky, their faces turning pale as they seemed to be looking for something.
Desperate voices arose.
"Are they attacking again?!"
"Isn't she supposed to protect us?!"
Crouching on the ground, Siegfried huddled. The old man had experienced this all too often. When would it finally stop? When would peace finally come?
Herbert, on the other hand, stood upright and searched for the source of the noise. His eyes widened as he saw dark clouds of smoke rising from the center of the island. But quickly, his brows furrowed, forming beams that threatened to collapse under the weight of his anger.
Pointing with an outstretched finger, he yelled, "It's those damned bastards again!" "This time, I'll get them."
As the dust settled, only a pile of rocks and splintered wood remained of the once pristine mine shaft. Fable emerged first from the debris, shaking off the dust from his fur.
Frantically, he began digging, squeaking in distress as he tried to uncover Felix amidst the mess. And there he was, or rather, parts of his spiky, brown hair peeking out between all sorts of Yadis.
Suddenly, Fable's ears perked up at the approaching voices.
"They must be here somewhere!!"
Redoubling his efforts, he managed to pull Felix free, and started liking over his face. Felix groaned, clutching his head as he regained his senses.
The memories only came back slowly, but eventually it became clear what had happened. "Didn't I tell you to catch everything?!"
Fable only responded with a jumble of noises as he knew there wasn't much time for discussion now.
"Man... what they say about red Yadis do be true though..." he sighed. "It was only a splinter that touched the ground. If you didn't warn me, then I'd be nothing but mush now—"
Felix paused as Fable began tugging on his clothes.
"Hey! I know you're hungry but it's the only clothes I got—"
"There they are!! Get them!!" screamed the voices again, making Felix realize what the explosion meant for them.
"W-we need get away, fast!" He gasped and broke into a sprint followed by Fable.
Making their way straight into the vast greenery of the island, Felix glanced backward and saw that ten, no, at least twenty people were chasing after them in the distance.
"Oh shit!!" he exclaimed, Fable echoing his panic with a squeak of agreement.
Felix gulped down water from his bottle. "That was a good run," he panted, leaning back against a wall. His chuckling was more of groaning, "We’re lucky those sissies don’t dare to venture this far into the forest."
Though, Fable wasn't as relaxed about it and collapsed a few meters away, exhausted from the ordeal.
"Whoa, you better be careful!" Felix said, pointing at a massive chasm in the ground. Fable jumped up with a creek, almost falling into the whole.
"Man, don't scare me like that..." He sighed as Fable took a few meters of safety distance. Felix kept staring at the whole which was just one of many around this place. "Maybe that's why they don't want to go here…?"
Down there, they would find nothing. Nothing but an endless abyss and the magical core; which all islands are said to revolve around.
Fable caught Felix's attention with a worried growl.
The boy smiled. "Oh, it's nothing."
But Fable didn't buy it, emitting another, more urgent growl.
Rolling his eyes, Felix tried not to look at his friend. "It's just… are we going to be trapped on this island forever? Stealing food and mining all day? At some point the dragons will break through the border and then we'll all die..."
Fable opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, only to realize he couldn't speak. Sadly, a growl could only convey so much. But Fable wouldn't give up. He pointed his nose into the sky, letting out a super victorious howl.
Felix chuckled, "Are you a wolf now or what?" only to be met with Fable's scowl.
Surrendering to his friend's unbreakable will, Felix followed Fable's eyes into the sky...
The sky, so close and yet so far. And feeling even further away was an island floating on the horizon; the ever-glowing city of mages: "Magicae". Like a star from another world, it glittered in the distance.
"Are you saying we'll go to Magicae someday?" Felix asked excitedly.
Fabled turned to him, blinking several times before nodding his head heavily.
"There must be loads of Yadis there... and their mages are the strongest in the world," Felix marveled, before his tone saddened. "So strong, they could even kill dragons…"
As if sensing his unease, Fable whimpered worriedly.
"Oh well, until we get there, we'll have to make do with what we have, right?" Felix grinned and reached into his backpack, taking out a small red object.
Fable's eyes widened in bewilderment. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. But it really was just that. A chunk of red Yadis presented to him by Felix's hand.
In unbridled joy, the fox leaped around wildly, making crazy noises.
Felix smiled at the sight. Fable's happy demeanor was one of the few things that had kept him going ever since he landed to this island. "You know me, I'd never let us return home empty-handed!"
With crunchy noises, the magical fox devoured the crystal as if he had been starving for months. Suddenly, Fable's fur shimmered brilliantly as the energy coursed through his body up into the tips of his crystalline spikes. He nuzzled against Felix, purring contentedly.
As the boy stroked Fable, his fur softening whenever he touched it, Felix's brows furrowed momentarily, studying the creature's form.
"Huh... that's weird. Could it be that you—?"
Fable let out a questioning squeak as if feeling offended by that.
Felix smirked. "I think someone's putting on a little weight there," he chuckled, giving Fable's belly a playful poke.
Fable, however, wasn't up to such rude jokes and huffed indignantly before pouncing at him, the two rolling around in a mock tussle. As they wrestled, their laughter filled the air until a panicked screech broke the idyll.
He could only watch as something lifted Fable up into the air. Felix shot up from the ground, only now seeing that many of their previous pursuers had surrounded them.
"Now we got you, filthy thiefes!" said the one who grabbed Fable by the tail.
"L-let him go!" Felix yelled, "You're hurting him!"
Fable screamed, writhing in the grip of his tormentor, his spines digging into the man's hand as he dropped the creature. A piercing scream of agony escaped the man followed by a void settling into his voice, akin to the bloody hole carved into his hand.
"Shit! Kill that damn thing!!" One after another, they reached out for the animal, trying to bring it down. Felix watched as Fable fought for survival, recoiling and facing death while hissing at the group of men.
They tried everything to kill Fable, kicking at him, throwing stones, and wielding picks or hammers. But the fox was swift and resilient, stronger than Felix had ever seen him before.
Soon, many of the men lay huddled on the ground, blood seeping from their tattered rags. They were so fixated on bringing down Fable that they had completely forgotten about Felix. Should he flee? Was that what Fable wanted? Fable certainly didn't run away when he could have easily done so.
"Fable, stop!" Felix yelled, and the creature turned to face him. "Run away! I'll be fine!"
But before Fable could even react, a blade hissed through the air, slicing green liquid from his body. A pained screech echoed through the area as Fable slowed down, a deep wound gashing his side.
Felix stared at him as Fable collapsed. But the creature crawled along the ground, trying to escape his assailant.
"Well done, Siegfried!" exclaimed a man, full of excitement.
But Siegfried didn't react. He simply continued walking, his farmer's scythe dragging along the ground, its blue blade hardening and sharpening with each friction against the ground.
Panic-stricken, Felix heard Fable howling in agony. Blood kept gushing from his side like a waterfall; if the wound wasn't stitched up soon, he would die. Felix was certain of that. And while all this happened, he stood idly by, leaving his friend to fate.
Siegfried now stood in front of the animal, like a butcher ready to execute his target. He looked down at Fable, motionless. The animal's body was twitching as Fable's eyes darted over to Felix. But the boy looked away, closed his eyes.
The only thing he heard the man talking, murmuring, "The strong kill the weak... and I am just as weak as you. Say, will you forgive me...? Will I burn in hell?"
When Felix opened his eyes, he couldn't believe what he saw. He simply couldn't comprehend it at the time.
That man, who was about to kill his friend, he was crying.
But he would soon stop.
Numerous crystals on Fable's back began glowing brightly before shooting through the air like arrows, piercing the man and eradicating the life from his face, causing him to slump lifelessly to the ground.
Fable rose to his feet, the wound seemingly healing itself, enveloped in a magical glow that sealed it shut. Like a crystalline rainbow, all the different colors of Yadis on his back began glowing again before firing another salvo—much wider, much deadlier than the first one, tearing through the men's clothing, puncturing their limbs and organs.
"Get ranged weapons, goddamn it!" shouted a man, just as he was about to duck, but his head was already pierced by a yellow-glowing shard.
"Fable..." Felix whispered, no, it was more of a whimper, "Please stop..."
He couldn't bear to watch death raging before his eyes, to see Fable, his best friend, turning into a killer. And yet he knew why he fought so bitterly. It certainly wasn't for himself, and it wasn't solely for Felix. But then, why wouldn't he run? Why wouldn't he save his...
However, all this ended with a dull thud as the black end of a pickaxe struck Fable's head and flung him to the ground. Green fluid spread around, staining the men's clothes, the Yadis all around, and Felix's face.
Herbert's dead smirk only fueled Felix's despair as he licked the liquid around his mouth with his tongue, revealing his rotten teeth, partially replaced with blue and green pieces of Yadis.
Suddenly, it was all quiet. All, except for Felix's eyes. They darted wildly, unbelieving of what they saw. But he couldn't look away. It would be just as wrong as what he had done to protect his friend: nothing.
"Finally I got you..." Herbert said before grinning.
He raised his arm and again, there was a relentless pounding to Fable's head, again, the blood splattered around, fogging Felix's vision with green, sticky dropplets. The cursing of the men and Fable's agonizing cries, they still echoed in his mind, forming a mantra of despair that would always haunt him.
As they were sure the thing was truly dead, Herbert grabbed its body by the tail. "About time we offer another soul to the magic core, don't you think?" He said as he dragged Fable across the ground, leaving behind a trail of blood that blended into the similarly green ground.
Although it was clear what would follow next, for Felix, there was no room for such thoughts. He wouldn't allow them to kill Fable. Not now, not here, and certainly not like this.
On trembling legs he got up, stumbling after Herbert, reaching out his hand after Fable. "No! Leave him alone!" He screamed, his voice cracking from the remorse he felt. Remorse for only now standing up for his friend, now, that he was almost dead.
Herbert's fist punched Felix's face, sending him to the ground. Then, he regarded the animal as he held it above the abyss. "At least for one thing these damn vermines are good; they make great sacrifices."
With these words, he let go of Fable, threw him away like a piece of trash.
Eyes widening, Felix hunched over the edge, watching the small body falling down, steadily approaching the pulsating magic core. Soon, Fable was no more than a tiny dot, growing smaller and smaller with each second before disappearing into nothingness.
He had simply thrown him down.
He had simply killed his friend.
Fable was dead.
And now Felix was alone again. Alone in a world full of hatred…
Violence…
Chaos.
A world where the strong ruled the weak.
Was this justice?
Herbert spat on the ground, groaning in disgust. "Maybe we should send you after him?" He took a step toward Felix. "You're just a parasite anyway."
The other men watched from uncertain to tense faces. When Herbert looked around the group, expecting approval, most turned away, realizing this was going too far. That boy was just a child after all. But in Herbert's eyes, yellow and cold, such useless moralities had died long ago.
"You bastard..."
Herbert grimaced, looking at Felix. "Huh? What did you say?!" He grabbed Felix, pulling him by closer by the collar.
His putrid breath, an acidic mixture of alcohol, decayed teeth, and charred Yadis, assaulted Felix's nose, bringing tears to his eyes.
"What do you all think?!" Herbert demanded, making Felix flinch. "Isn't it time we get rid of the trash that's leeching off our hard work?"
Felix's throat tightened even further as he heard many men roaring their approval, like a chorus of chaos overtaking their once good souls.
Herbert's expression shifted to a grimace. "If I were your father, I'd be ashamed. Filthy scum—" He paused abruptly. The multitude of wrinkles that obscured his forehead seemed shaken by a certain premonition. A feeling of helplessness washed over him, followed by anger.
The boy that he had just threatened to kill, to throw down the cliff—his eyes were just empty. No fear, no guilt, no begging for mercy.
"She was pregnant," Felix murmured.
"What?"
"She needed the food for her babies."
The man looked amusedly around the group and laughed. "Oh, at least he has a good heart, guys! Let's see how he'll pay us back with that!"
The other men's hesitant laughter lasted for only a short moment, as they hadn't missed what Herbert had sensed before.
Something wasn't right here.
The hierarchy in which they lived—grew up in—it had taught them what kind of punishment awaited the ones who dared to defy the strong. And thus, they would never dare even thinking about that.
But all this would crumble if the will of the weak couldn't be broken—if they didn't care anymore. In this case, society and its order would fall apart, ending in true chaos.
Suddenly, each of the men flinched.
With a screeching roar, burning in Felix's throat and in the mens' ears, he leaped at Herbert. Surprised by the attack, he staggered backward, feeling his feet lose their grip. He reached for Felix, trying to find support in what he had just threatened to destroy, but there was one thing he hadn't accounted for.
Felix wasn't trying to simply push him down, he was pulling Herbert down with himself.
Now, Is this justice...?
___ If you made it this far, thanks for reading :3 I'd really appreciate any kind of feedback <3
Author: K.T. Ambertrix (me xD) Cover art by StrikeYoko

Hi!! I'm Sissy and I'm an admin over at Klonoa Mega Chat, the discord linked to this sub reddit. Every year, we host Summer Santa!(and Secret Santa during the holiday months)
If you don't know what SummeSecret Santa is: This event is an art exchange, where you offer an original art piece for someone, and someone else does the same for you! You are welcome to join regardless of what you may feel your art skill may be. In other words, beginners and masters are welcome!
Full Details are located in the pinned message in the Secret Santa channel
Sign Ups are open now until May 15 11:59 PM EST

Sissy Wildflower season 🍃🪴🩸 Can't wait to see my queen Sissy will got her new outfit tomorrow 🥹🪴

Weiss Schnee has been called many things—prissy, arrogant, freak. But vigilante? She couldn't quite get her head around that one. After her already unusual semblance develops a new ability, she stumbles onto a dangerous conspiracy and gains an unlikely friend. Together, they might just be able to save their city from the criminals who'd see it conquered.

Insomnia is a story set in a modern, alternate world where semblances still exist, though only a rare percentage of the population have them. It's primarily a mystery but with minor elements of vigilantism/superheros sprinkled in. I put a lot of focus into developing the characters and their relationships to give the story a more grounded, realistic feel. This is a story about normal people in a modern setting slowly rising up to be able to face the challenges stacked against them.
Whiterose is a slowburning element of the story, but note that it is not the primary focus and does not overpower the rest of the story in any way. If you're not a fan of that ship or just romance in general, you can easily look past it and continue reading for everything else.
For those just now discovering the story, here is Volume 1, Chapter 1: FF.net - Ao3
The latest chapter is Volume 3, Chapter 1 and is up now: FF.net - [Ao3](https://archiveofourown.org/works/25558819/chapters/140027077
Cover art by @mmcmystery on Twitter.

This is just hideous I saw art from someone's post where they fixed it and the devs should use it! Bree 'O Malley is amazing! They should make her a character too! All I'm saying is please, use our fanmade concept art.

I really like Sissy and I'm glad she's getting another cosmetic, but this one isn't it imo. I made a quick edit using her concept art as inspiration to give it just a bit more flavor; added dirty socks, ripped tights, a new braided hairstyle, dirty hands, and a wilted Indian blanket flower in her hair. If I had more time I'd probably change more things but I think even this is a little better

I really like Sissy and I’m glad she’s getting another cosmetic, but this one isn’t it imo. I made a quick edit using her concept art as inspiration to give it just a bit more flavor; added dirty socks, ripped tights, a new braided hairstyle, dirty hands, and a wilted Indian blanket flower in her hair. If I had more time I’d probably change more things but I think even this is a little better

Different hairstyle, accessories some kind of shoes her concept art was perfect Sissy’s default outfit is the only one I really like she doesn’t give me low effort vibes from her default

INTRO

So out of boredom I decided to refine my previous post and also add in a bit more changes with Virginia being out for a while.
I've thought a bit more about some changes to some of Virginia's perks as well as a bit of Danny's, but this post is to just spark discussion and feedback. What things do you like/dislike? Am i a toxic family main or a toxic victim main? Let's discuss.

LOBBY CHANGES

(1) Maps and player level will no longer be visible to either side.
(((((((((((not nancy's house)))))))))))

• Map voting is not the way to go, it will cause way more harm than good and in an asymmetrical game like this you need that bit of randomization to keep things fresh. I see no reason to keep the map visible as it only encourages people to just leave and queue up again to get another map.

(2) You can see whatever Level 3 Ability perk your team has.

LEADERBOARD CHANGES

(1) Victims and family cannot see eachother's score until the game is over (they will still be able to see their own team's score)
(2) Victims and Family will be able to see eachother's builds and attributes in the endgame screen.
(3) Victims can see the health of every victim, what items they have on hand, perks and what exit they have gone through (if any)
(4) Family can see each family member's blood vial, amount of traps/padlocks on hand and perks everyone has.

FAMILY MEMBER CHANGES

(1) Family members that can crouch will not say any voicelines
(2) Family members can drop from ladders like victims OR make it so victims can't drop down ladders

• It isn't really fair that family members get to watch a 10 second cutscene of them going down a ladder while victims can just hop off whenever they'd like, it should be the same for both family and victim.

(3) Remove 10 second stun immunity and instead add 5 second grappling immunity.

• 10 second stun immunity was a step in the right direction but it has been over-tuned for so long and it is really only beneficial to Hitchhiker as every other family member is too slow, so on top of this mechanic not even doing what it's meant to do it creates this annoying scenario where Hitchhiker can shrug off your stun, catch up and continue to hit you while you can do nothing. With the changes to grappling i have below this is a necessity, 10 seconds is INCREDIBLY long. 5 seconds of just not being able to be grappled is good enough and you'll have to actually think instead of mindlessly walking forward towards victims.

(4) Family focus will show all objectives, traps, padlocks and blood buckets.
(5) Closed crawl spaces are destroyed by Bubba twice as fast.

• It is DETRIMENTAL to have closed crawl spaces in some scenarios as you can't destroy them for whatever reason. If a fatty like Johnny kicks a crawl space in, it should be EASIER to destroy them lol.

BUBBA
(1) Bubba's stun duration for ALL stuns (Leland barge, door slams, backstabs, etc) will be cut in half.

• I know as of posting this Bubba has his current door stun, he'd keep that.

(2) Bubba no longer will overheat if he revs his chainsaw. Now you need to rev the chainsaw FULLY in order to begin the chainsaw sprint where you can just hold the button down.

• Because this would technically mean he has a longer charge time, the amount of time it takes for the red bar to go all the way would be reduced so it's still the same amount of charge time as it is now, just visually different.

(3) OVERHEAT/SPRINTING
Bubba will stop a chainsaw sprint if his endurance reaches 0.
Overheat will build when Bubba attacks or while chainsaw sprinting. Overheat can be determined by the newly added white bar that will begin to overlap the red bar. Having the white bar reach its maximum will cause Bubba to overheat and thus stun him.

• Red bar = Charge time to begin a chainsaw sprint
• White bar overlaying the red bar = Overheat amount

white bar will gradually begin to overlay, signifying the amount of heat generated.

• Bubba should not be able to endlessly run from one side to another. This creates boring stalemates and mindless, non-committal gameplay. It's also frustrating as Bubba because you get arthritis trying to chainsaw sprint.

(4) Bubba's chainsaw sprint will now automatically hit any victim he touches without him having to press the attack button

• This would be a bit hard to get used to but Bubba can glide against victims and it looks really dumb lol.

(5) Bubba can activate his chainsaw while walking. Like in the Nicotero trailer.
(6) Bubba's Overheat Duration is now 10 seconds.
(7) The chainsaw can be used 20% more before stalling.
(8) Victims can "stab" Bubba from the front, but it won't stun him at all.

• Bubba is a bit of a punching bag when in close quarters, he can get bullied so hard because when he attacks he stands still. Ironically not being able to be close encountered makes him more susceptible to being stabbed.

Maim Ability Tree Changes
Level 3
Faster Sprint Speed: Chainsaw sprint movement speed is increased by 15%
Instant Activation
Executioner: Chainsaw Overhead Damage is increased by 15%
Level 2
Decrease Chainsaw Charge Time LVL 2: The chainsaw charge time is reduced by 25%
Destruction LVL 2 Destroying Objects is 30% faster
Reduce Chainsaw Overheat LVL 2: The chainsaw overheat depletes 30% faster.
Level 1
Reduce Chainsaw Overheat LVL 1: The chainsaw overheat depletes 20% faster.
Destruction LVL 1: Destroy barricades, doors and crawl spaces 15% faster
Decrease Chainsaw Charge Time LVL 1: The chainsaw charge time is reduced by 15%
HITCHHIKER
The best character in the game. He has too much going for him.
(1) Have Tenderizer be replaced with Scout on his Skill Tree
https://preview.redd.it/eqnyqord3zvc1.png?width=338&format=png&auto=webp&s=6e90229501b0ed4f0641591692f544057a5de0ef

• Scout being a guaranteed perk on Hitchhiker will make the right side of his Skill Tree more focused on Chase. And while i did change Scout he still won't be able to have Scout and stack his damage perks like big swings and serrated anymore.

(2) Victims can now disarm a bone trap without a bonescrap, this will take 10 seconds and when it is disarmed, will create a loud VFX notifcation at the bone trap.

• Using a bonescrap will half the amount of time it takes to disarm a bone trap and will not create a loud noise VFX.

(3) When a victim steps in a trap they are initially highlighted to all family members.

• Only when they are trapped.

(4) Resetting disarmed bone traps will now take the same amount of time it takes to set one up.
Trap Ability Tree Changes
Level 3
Family See Noise LVL 3 Disarmed Trap Noise: Victims that disarm your traps are highlighted to the family for 10 seconds.
Bloody Traps: If a Victim is caught in a trap, you'll receive blood after resetting or collecting the trap.

• The amount of blood will be 60

Bleed Damage
JOHNNY
Current Johnny is insane with his lunge and it's a bit sad because this character had some actual utility other than just being pure power.
(1) Johnny will no longer maintain his running speed while attacking.
(2) Increase Johnny's movement speed so that he is as fast as Hitchhiker (or faster)

• To make up for the fact Johnny won't be able to swing wildly he should be the same speed as Hitchhiker.

(3) Johnny has a 20% increase in grappling effectiveness.
(4) Johnny will close crawl spaces faster.
(5) Victims can no longer hide from Johnny, making his ability actually worth something.

• The Hunt nerf is still unnecessary. Nancy is in the game and can find hidden victims without even needing to analyze anything.

NANCY
Nancy is by far the worst character in this game, she's slow and takes too long to setup.
(1) When spying on a Victim the Victim is not notified they have been sensed by Nancy until AFTER the fact.
(2) Nancy's Traps will no longer be disabled by other family members
(3) Barbed Victims will be highlighted for as long as they have the Barb on them.
(4) When a Victim is running they will not be able to take the barbed wire off

• This is just a quality of life for Victims as i'm sure if you played against Nancy and have gotten trapped you would know if you hit E while running for whatever reason you stop dead in your tracks. This is annoying. So to prevent this from happening Victims have to stand still for the action to occur.

(5) Reduce Nancy's trap setting duration by 2-3 seconds
(6) Nancy's trap reset is now the same as her setting time.
SISSY
(1) Increase Sissy's movement speed so that she is like 5% faster than Nancy. She should be in the middle of Nancy and Hitchhiker.
(2) Sissy's Toxic Cloud is now basekit.
(3) Sissy's 3 powders will be changed to a bar like Virginia's

• Sissy can move while placing her cloud, like Virginia. Clouds will cost 30% bar, be the same duration and the same width as they currently are.

(4) Tables will now always spawn with 3 Powders.
(5) When a Victim is poisoned they are highlighted to all Family Members in red for the duration of their poison.
(6) Sissy can now only poison health bottles. (No electronics)

• Poisoned Health bottles are considered traps and will no longer have any indication that they are poisoned.
• Poisoned Health bottles will only apply the poison to the victim if they consume it. So picking it up won't give it away.
• Poisoning Health bottles will consume 20% of the bar.

1. Increase Sissy's movement speed so that she is like 5% faster than Nancy. She should be in the middle of Nancy and Hitchhiker.
2. Sissy's Toxic Cloud is now basekit.
3. Sissy's 3 powders will be changed to a bar like Virginia's

• Sissy can move while placing her cloud, like Virginia. Clouds will cost 30% bar, be the same duration and the same width as they currently are.

(7) Poisoned Victims will receive 15% more damage for as long as they are poisoned.
(8) While poisoned a Victim's proficiency is reduced by half for the poison duration (they are literally drunk how can they do any action)
Bane Ability Tree Changes
Level 3
Poison Pickup Locations Increase Cloud Duration LVL 3: Increases poison cloud duration to 60 seconds.
Toxic Cloud Withering Cloud: Poisoned Victims will receive an additional 10% damage vulnerability increase.

• They'll receive 25% more damage while poisoned, ouch.

Poison Generators Reduced Poison Cost: Poisoning Health Bottles now costs 15%.
Create Poison Faster will be changed to Reduced Poison Cooldown LVL 1 and LVL 2 and will allow Sissy to quickly put down her Poison, similar to Virginia's ability tree.
COOK
(1) Cook's movement speed will be increased a slight bit so he isn't a complete snail. (maybe like 3% slower than Nancy)
(2) Cook can padlock any door

• Odd that on Slaughterhouse you can padlock the blue sliding doors but other sliding doors can't be??? To make it consistent Cook can put a padlock on any door he wishes.

(3) Padlocked doors are no longer destructible.

• To prevent a Bubba from epic trolling you.

(4) Family See Noise will be basekit and any Victim revealed by Cook is highlighted for all family members by default.

• This is the only ability perk on his ability tree that is worth running so it will be added to his base to make way for more interesting ability perks.

(5) Victims that kick generators, disarm bone traps without a bonescrap, or perform ANY loud action that does not involve movement will be considered "loud" and Cook will be able to mark them.

• You know when you play Cook and you clearly see Victims being loud but for some reason you can't mark them? That is his whole ability and you for some reason can't mark Victims performing loud actions.

Seek Ability Tree Changes
Level 3
Increase Focus Speed
Increase Highlight Duration
All Family See Noise Increased Detection Range LVL 3: Victim detection range increased by 30%

VICTIM CHANGES

(1) Attributes will be handled like how it is for Family members, Leland's toughness being at 50 won't be as much health as Ana's toughness being at 50. It'd probably be like 20-30 health less.

• When you can mitigate a victim's weak traits by just using attribute points it gets rid of the personality from the character and it just blurs each of the victim's strengths/weaknesses. This change just means a Leland can't lockpick as fast as a Connie by being 50 proficiency, he will do it fast sure, but not as fast as a Connie with 50 proficiency.

(2) Victims start the match with their respective ability cooldown or 0 charges in Sonny's case

• Example: Connie's ability cooldown is the longest out of everyone's so she wouldn't get her ability till later in the game.

(3) Traversals now have a rushed variant, like the car traversal. Performing the rush variant will consume stamina as if you performed a sprint burst (25%) and will create a loud noise VFX at the traversal.
Family Members that copy Victim movement will consume the same amount of stamina performing these as well.

• The slower variant will make victims susceptible to being grabbed like when you grab a Victim from entering a hiding spot.
  
  • The chase in this game feels good when you're just sprint bursting but when it comes to traversals such as barricades and crawl spaces it feels very sluggish. Funnily enough cars already have this mechanic, minus the stamina consumption.

(4) Being the last Victims alive will NOT buff your stamina
(5) When a victim is pulled out of a hiding spot have them lose ALL stamina

• Getting caught out of a hiding spot should be more punishing and allow the family to attack you.

(6) Noise will no longer follow Victims

• Before this was changed you could use noise as a distraction. Like using the chickens at the window of the family house to make the family THINK you are going to jump out the window and then stab them while they open the door. It's just such a one-sided change that really made the game less enjoyable.

(7) Loud noise detection increased by a significant amount to where you can see Victims being loud from family house to the shed.
(8) Victims can no longer sabotage a lamp. This will be a Danny-only ability.
(9) Removal of I-frames and changing them to act like stuns.

• When a victim is getting up from a stun (such as a door slam or hiding spot) or well drop it will act as a barbed wire/Hitchhiker trap stun meaning you can strike the victim immediately to break them out of the stun.

(10) When crouched Victims will not say any voice lines and when you begin to crouch any voiceline that was playing will be immediately stopped.
ANA
(1) Ana will no longer have access to Grappler. Choose Fight will replace Grappler on her skill tree.
Ability Tree Changes
Stamina On Hit will be removed and replaced with Reduce Damage LVL 2

• This just makes it Julie's ability but better lol.

VAGINA
(1) Being blind will no longer stop a Leatherface from revving/sprinting.
(2) Poisoned blood buckets stay poisoned until collected, when collected the family member's vial will be poisoned without them knowing and IF they feed the blood to Grandpa he will lose all of his levels and become incapacitated.

• Poisoning blood buckets to stun just 1 family member only for them to take it anyway is so pointless lol. This would give the other half of Virginia's ability some scare factor for the family other than just blinding.
• Replace the Boon Ability Tree perks that affect the duration of poisoned blood buckets to incapacitates grandpa for X longer.

JULIE
Stats

• Reduce her Stealth by 10 and give those points to Endurance.

(1) Choose Flight would become unique to her.
(2) Julie loses Bomb Squad and gains Jump Start.
SONNY
Stats

• Reduce his Strength by 15 and give those 20 points to his Stealth.
• Reduce his Endurance by 10 and give them to his Proficiency.
  • There are better posts that handle attribute reworks and the best ones have Sonny's aggressive attributes be toned down while he gains more in Stealth and Proficiency.

(1) Sonny loses access to Choose Flight but gains Bomb Squad and Saboteur.
(2) Sonny can use his ability while lockpicking and doing other objectives that make the camera locked.

• If you didn't know you can use Sonny's ability to move your camera around while interacting with the car battery or fusebox, this should be implemented so that he can stay aware while doing objectives.

Heightened Senses Ability Tree
Level 3
Increased Range LVL 3
All Knowing
Quicker Recharge Rate LVL 3 Objective Tracker: Heightened Senses can now detect objectives such as fuse, generator and car battery.
LELAND
Stats

• Reduce his Proficiency to 15 and give those 10 points to his Endurance

(1) Leland would lose access to Bomb Squad and Light On Your Feet and gain access to Jump Start.
Barge ability

• Revert the cooldown nerf and make his Barge cooldown 126 seconds at LVL 3 Quicker Recharge
• Increase the base stun duration to 6 seconds (Bubba would only be stunned for 3 seconds)
• Stunning a family member depletes their stamina as if they got backstabbed or close encounter stunned

Barge Ability Tree
Level 3
Recharge Time LVL 3
Concussive Hit: Barged family members gain a 20% damage reduction for 30 seconds.
Stun Duration Increase Restore Health: Restore 60 health when barging a family member
Level 2
Recharge Time LVL 2
Highlight Barged Family Member: Barged family members are highlighted for 10 seconds.
Stun Duration Increase LVL 2 Reduce Family Blood Vial: Barged Family members will lose 50% of their blood vial.
Level 1
Restore Stamina LVL 1
Recharge Time LVL 1
Stun Duration Increase LVL 1 Restore Health: After barging a Family member, 20 health is restored.
CONNIE
(1) Connie would lose access to Choose Flight BUT gain access to Fuse Lights

• Connie's endurance does not make me think that she should have access to these mobility perks, if Connie is an objective based character she should lack chase perks to balance it out.

(2) Connie's Focus will just be as simple as increasing her proficiency by a %, allowing her to perform different proficiency requiring tasks faster, but not instantly. Think of her doing a car battery in like half the time if she isn't stopped.
Focus: When Activated your proficiency is increased by 100%.

• Cooldown: 240 seconds.
• Requires at least 50 stamina to activate.
• On activation Connie would consume stamina (50 stamina) and while active Connie cannot sense the family proximity and will not regenerate stamina. This debuff would last as long as it takes for Connie to finish whatever task she is doing (lockpicking, car battery, fuse alignment)
  • IF Connie is interrupted during ANY of these actions whether she gets hit or she just exits out of the action she is performing, her stamina will begin to regenerate and she will regain the ability to sense the family proximity as her ability goes into cooldown.

notes: So instead of Connie solely using her ability for doors she can use it on the car battery or fuse alignment. Connie will need to think more before deciding on whether or not to use her ability as she will be punished if she is caught out. To make up for her not instantly opening doors her stamina will regenerate if it is cancelled.
Focus Ability Tree
Level 3
Quicker Recharge Rate LVL 3
No Stamina Cost Increased Proficiency Buff LVL 3: Proficiency buff is increased by 50%.
Shorter Debuff Duration Restore Health and Stamina LVL 3: Replenish health and stamina when completing an objective while Focused.
Level 2
Quicker Recharge Rate LVL 2
Shorter Debuff Duration Restore Health and Stamina LVL 2: Replenish health and stamina when completing an objective while Focused.
Reduced Stamina Cost Increased Proficiency Buff LVL 2: Proficiency buff is increased by 25%.
DANNY
With the Tampered Objectives being changed to act more like upgrades Danny only needs a few adjustments.
(1) Performing the tamper minigame will play the mechanical part sound for everyone to hear.
(2) Danny would lose access to Choose Flight for the same reason Connie loses it.
Ability Tree Changes
Level 3
Instant Study Silent Tamper: The tamper minigame does not make noise.
Object Highlight
You're the Focus: Tampered Objectives are highlighted for all victims.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Either of these suggestions can work:
(1) Revert Close Encounters so getting hit will instantly kill Victims.
OR
While in a Close Encounter a Victim will receive 30% more damage and if they are hit, will lose ALL their stamina and both parties are given control of their character.
notes: Close encounters didn't need to be changed into pinata hitting. There was a clear risk and reward with the ONLY issue being that the instant kill frames lasted too long. With either of these suggestions the kill frames should end IMMEDIATELY when you get the win prompt.
(2) When both a victim and family member are grappling, have each of their stamina refill normally. HOWEVER when a victim wins the Close Encounter fully deplete the family member's stamina.

• It seems weird to me that you can be stunned from a Close Encounter and have more stamina than the victim that just knocked you in your face.

(3) Family members should get stunned from LONGEST stun duration to SHORTEST stun duration in this order:
Hitchhiker, Sissy ➡️ Cook, Nancy ➡️ Johnny

• I'd imagine at most the close encounter stun is 5 seconds and at least it's like 3.5 seconds. Of course all of this would depend on the strength stat of the victim

notes: The lighter characters trade their power for mobility and in this case power would be how long they are stunned for during a close encounter. And Hitchhiker’s Close Encounter stun basically not there as you can stun a Hitchhiker and he will be right back on your ass before you've even got the chance to walk more than 4m.

DOORS & SLAMS REWORK

(1) Reduce the duration of door slams a bit (have them be like 4 seconds depending on what family member you are)
(2) The only way to get a door slam would be if the door is CLOSED and you run into it.

• No more stunning eachother while the door is open.

https://preview.redd.it/vmsvz2w0vyvc1.png?width=736&format=png&auto=webp&s=ae8ef4952f8960da49ac21dd1527dfdc75c2f947
(3) When either a family member or victim performs a door slam have them slow down like Bubba does.
(4) Door slam stun duration is now affected by the strength stat.

• For family members it would use their hidden strength stat and would damage victims.
• Door damage could be a base of 10 and it can scale depending on what the hidden strength stat each family member is.

GRANDPA AND BLOOD BUCKETS

(1) Have blood buckets start the match empty
(2) Have Bubba’s blood vial be full at the start of the match

• Bubba always kills someone at the start of the match so it doesn't make sense as to why he starts with 0 blood. With barricades in this game the devs clearly designed family teams to have a Bubba and while you aren't FORCED to run Bubba every game this would really incentivize more people to play Bubba as they will always have a free level to feed Grandpa when he wakes up.
• Victims would be less likely to make noise during the beginning as if they do Bubba can just go and feed grandpa a level

(3) When Grandpa first wakes up and its by a victim being too loud, the noisy victim will be highlighted to all for 5 seconds

• Punish waking up Grandpa by not only allowing a Bubba to immediately go up and give Grandpa 1 level, but reveal their location to the family.

(4) The stabbing cooldown for grandpa is 5 seconds.

• Grandpa camping at level 5 can be annoying as if you stab grandpa the family can just have a level on hand and just feed him again as he wakes up. The cooldown between stabbing grandpa should be seperate from the incapacitation duration to make the act of camping grandpa less effective.

(5) When Grandpa screams victims that are performing ANY actions such as lockpicking, item gathering, crouching/uncrouching, ANYTHING that is movement, will be highlighted.
(6) Now when Grandpa screams victims have to actually stop unlocking doors, healing, etc otherwise they get revealed.

• Now this would ONLY apply if you are actively lockpicking, if you are in the animation of lockpicking but do not interact with the minigame you are safe.

(7) Being revealed by grandpa during a scream will have the highlight linger for 1-4 seconds depending on how high your stealth stat is.

• If your stealth stat is low and you happen to just barely move or do an action the linger of the highlight on you will be a lot longer, like 6 seconds of linger if you happen to not stand completely still.

(8) The strength stat will add some extra level depletion upon stabbing grandpa, like Virginia's Back for Blood perk

• I'd imagine if Leland were to stab you while you were sleeping it would hurt a lot more than if Connie did. The extra level depletion could be 50% more if at max strength.

(9) The Grandpa incapacitation will stay the same

OBJECTIVES

CHICKENS
(1) When a victim is loud near chickens they are highlighted to EVERYONE for as long as they are within range of the chickens.
(2) Chickens would be at most key doors, and at EVERY final gate.

• If Victims don't kill the chickens they run the risk of revealing themselves for the family to see. They have to take them out or play stealthy.

(3) Chickens would have a 1 second delay before being alerted.
GENERATOR
(1) Kicking the generator will be considered a loud action and create a loud noise VFX.
CAR BATTERY
Unchanged.
FUSEBOX
(1) Opening the Fusebox will take longer and have a silent meter attached to it.
(2) Fuse alignment will be affected by proficiency. It would be a base of like 12 for each amp.

• Having low proficiency doesn't mean anything when you do fuse, where you can do the objective as fast as someone with high proficiency. Also it would slow down fuse being completed in like 3 seconds.

Very well made concept art.
VALVE
(1) No longer has a mapwide notification that the valve handle has been inserted. However inserting the valve handle will take significantly longer and will be a hold action. (6-7 seconds)
(2) Valve turning is now a regular hold prompt and has no noise meter associated with it. How fast you turn the valve will be determined by the Strength stat, not proficiency.
Victims seeing the hold prompt.
(3) If the valve has gone off and the pressure gates are open, a family member will have to go and turn the valve off for it to begin depressurizing. Not turning the valve off after it has been opened will keep it open.
(4) When depressurizing after being opened, both victims and family will not be able to interact with it. (Like it is now)

TAMPERED OBJECTIVES

Tampering is changed to act more like an upgrade to completing your objective.
Danny being a sort of endgame character would want to try and tamper as much objectives as he can so that he can help his friends escape.
Danny would first have to tamper an objective and then complete the objective, tampering an objective will not complete it so you still have to turn car battery off or turn the valve.
TAMPERED VALVE
(1) When the valve is tampered it will pressurize 3 times as fast and depressurize 3 times slower.

• Valve will complete faster and regress slower basically.
• Family can turn off a tampered valve, but they have to suffer the consequences of it regressing 3 times as slow.
• When opened the valve will depressurize 3 times as slower (basically staying open the same amount of time it does now.

TAMPERED GENERATOR
(1) When the generator is tampered it will take less kicks to shut off, will be on cooldown for 3 times as long, and the Generator will require more pulls to turn on.
TAMPERED CAR BATTERY
(1) When the car battery is tampered it will take half as long to shut off, will be on cooldown for 3 times as long and will take 3 times as long to turn on.
TAMPERED FUSEBOX
(1) When the fusebox is tampered the fuse alignment will take significantly less time and the exit will be open for 3 times as long.

VICTIM PERK CHANGES

EFFICIENT GRAPPLER / EFFICIENT BACKSTABBER / EFFICIENT LOCKSMITH
These 3 perks will have 1/2/3 charges.
notes: These perks can be very situational and have no effect the entire game or be borderline overpowered, at least for Efficient Locksmith's case. So instead of RNG being the decider of whether or not you'll keep that bone scrap or lockpick they will now all use charges.
EXTRA DRIP
After using a health item, you will continue to receive 1/2/3 HP for 15 seconds (from 2/4/6 HP for 8/10/12 seconds)
notes: While this perk isn't overpowered by any means it does make Bounce Back Better, the perk that literally increases the amount of health you get from health bottles, pretty irrelevant. A simple solution is to have this heal a bit less over a slightly longer period of time.
AGITATOR
Incapacitating Grandpa has a greater negative affect on the Family. Family bond is reduced by (1.25/1.5/2) levels. (from 1.5/2/2.5)
OR
Incapacitating Grandpa has a greater negative affect on the Family. Grandpa is disabled for 9/12/15 additional seconds.
notes: This perk deletes feeding blood to grandpa for very little effort on the victim's part. Reducing the levels or making it affect the incapacitation of grandpa longer would be a less frustrating alternative.
JUMP START
When sprinting at full stamina your initial sprint speed is increased by 5%/10%/15%.
notes: This perk basically gives you double the amount of sprint bursts. So the change is that while you are at full stamina, your initial sprint burst is faster, meaning you can make a quick maneuver when at full stamina.
FAST HANDS
If a Family member is within 6 meters you turn the Car Battery off 10%/15%/20% faster.
notes: As of writing this the change has not come out yet, but this perk should not just be Connie's ability in a perk.
SAFETY IN NUMBERS
Receive a 10% bonus to your max health and stamina for every 1/2/3 Victims that are alive and have not escaped.

• So a 10% bonus for each victim alive would be 30% increase of health and stamina

notes: A perk that is so close to being good but is worthless when 1 victim just so happens to die.
BAR ROOM HERO
Now reduces the stun time of Leatherface's chainsaw overhead and Nancy's traps (if it didn't already i don't know)
SLIPPERY
After using a crawl space or gap you move 5%/10%/15% faster for 5 seconds. The Cooldown is 40 seconds.
notes: Added a cooldown to prevent abuse.
TAE KWAN DOOR
Slamming doors on Family members will decrease their stamina regeneration by a magnitude of 20%/30%/40% for 15 seconds.
notes: Building on the door slam reworks this perk should do something a little less annoying.
S.O.S (AM I BLEEDING?)
When a victim's health is below 20%/25%/40% they become highlighted to you as you become highlighted to them.

• Is removed when the condition no longer applies.
• Can be applied to multiple victims meaning if everyone were to be low they would see you.

notes: This perk can allow for a bodyguard type of playstyle and can give you information to keep your team alive. While you can view the health of each victim on the leaderboard (changes below) you still can't see their exact location.
BAD BLOOD
When another victim dies you gain 10 points toward Strength and Toughness. The killer is highlighted to you for 100/110/120 seconds.

• Stacks

notes: To keep the "after death" theme this perk is going for i flipped it so that if you have this perk equipped you gain the buff when someone else dies.
FULL HEARTS
All healing items within 15m/20m/25m are highlighted.
notes: Having it be active at all times will at least make it good for some healing builds.
WELL TRAINED
All bone scrap and unlock tools within 15/20m/25m are highlighted.
notes: This perk will allow for you to grab the funny bone stabbers.
DEAD WEIGHT
When you are the last Victim alive, Family members within 5m/6m/7m from you are highlighted and your stamina regeneration rate is increased by 20%.
notes: In a 1v3 you will NEVER win against the family and with the removal of the last victim standing buff it might as well be moved into this perk.
JUMP SCARE
Triggering bone charms and chickens replenishes 20/30/40 stamina. Cooldown is 20 seconds.
notes: Running faster is usually a good thing but in practice replenishing stamina is better while in a chase. It has a cooldown to prevent abuse.
STUNT DOUBLE
Receive less damage when jumping out of windows or climbing down wells, and get back on your feet faster after doing so. Damage received is 25%/30%/40% less.
notes: This perk is a bit too good at tanking damage and it also steps on Ana's ability more than it should. A simple reduction of the damage decrease will keep it in check.
CHOOSE FIGHT
Fight or flight? Choose Fight. Sneak Attacks and Close Encounters gives the Family member a damage reduction of 10%/12%/15% for 20 seconds.
ARTFUL DODGER
Crawl spaces are highlighted within 10m/15m/20m around you.
notes: Why did they just copy and paste Danny's perks to Vagina???????
HANDS OFF
Delete this perk
CHOOSE FLIGHT
This is a Julie exclusive perk, any instance of this being on another victim's tree will be replaced with jump start or some other perk.
GRAPPLER
Leland exclusive perk. Doesn't make sense why Ana has it.

FAMILY PERK CHANGES

BLOODLUST
Leatherface gains a 10%/12%/15% damage increase after executing a victim.

• Stacks

notes: You shouldn't die to Bubba or you will screw your team over if they happen to be running this perk. Now people will really want to hide from him.
ROUGHCUT
Now stacks and applies on overhead attacks.
BRINGING HOME THE BACON
Leatherface gains 25%/30%/35% increase to his maximum blood capacity when executing a Victim at the gallows. Carrying a Victim highlights Leatherface to all Family members.

• Can stack

notes: Combining the old version of Bloodlust and giving Bubba a (pretty negligible) buff when he does take time out of his match to execute a victim at gallows can make for a pretty stupid and memey perk that really wouldn't have any practical use, but is just in the game because why not.
YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!
If Grandpa is incapacitated, your damage dealt to Victims is increased by (15%/20%/25%) for 40 seconds.
notes: Grandpa is incapacitated for too short of a duration for this to have any effect. It will now be a flat 40 seconds, like Activated.
WIRE FRAME
Consume 15%/20%/25% less Stamina when rush traversing
notes: Building onto the rushed wall gap/crawl space traversal mechanics, Hitchhiker's Wire Frame will be changed to allow him to keep up the chase and not consume too much stamina doing so, in a way that isn't obnoxious.
SCOUT
Your movement speed is increased by 5%, but melee damage is reduced by 25%/20%/15%.
OR
Your movement speed is increased by 5%, but stamina usage is increased by 70%/65%/60%.
notes: When Choose Flight was nerfed this perk should have followed directly behind it. Mobility perks should have actual risk and reward to them and not just be a free 15% movement speed buff. With the many changes to each family member this perk can be heavily toned down.
DINNER BELL
When a Victim is caught in a trap you instantly regain 30%/40%/50% of your stamina and your movement speed is increased by 10% for 15 seconds.
notes: Since highlighting of victims is now somewhat basekit for the trapping family members this perk will be more focused on the reward of getting a victim to step into your traps by replenishing your stamina and giving you increased mobility to go and punish them.
SECURITY PINS
When a Victim breaks a Padlock they are highlighted for every family member to see for 5/7/9 seconds.

• Highlights similar to Tracker Tagged

notes: This perk's slowdown is somehow more than a grandpa perk, that should never be the case when you actually have to work for your grandpa perks by feeding.
POISON CLAWS
When you hit a Victim for 3 consecutive hits apply a slight poison effect for 2/4/6 seconds.
notes: With the changes to Nancy this perk can be toned down more, it is just a better Special Blend for no real downside other than you're playing Nancy.
PREY DRIVE
Spotting a Victim decreases stamina consumption by (20%/30%/40%) for (5/10/15) seconds.
notes: Stamina regeneration is not as good as reducing stamina consumption.
DRACULA
Winning a Close Encounter increases your maximum blood capacity by 15%/20%/25%. while losing a Close Encounter gives you 40 blood.

• Can stack, blood Johnny meta.

I SMELL BLOOD
Highlights Victim blood trails within 5m/6m/8m

• Blood is highlighted in neon red similar to Johnny's Footprints.

notes: Since there isn't a perk that affects blood trails i figured it can work as a sort of information-budget Johnny trail perk.
CHICKEN WHISPERER
You will not disturb chickens. When chickens are disturbed by a Victim instantly refill 50/60/70% stamina and increases your movement speed by 10% for 15 seconds
notes: With chickens being a more integral part of each round this perk can see some use as a "oh shit they're going to escape" kinda perk and can allow for a Cook to show his true speed.
PACK ANIMAL
After being hit with a sneak attack, slammed with a door or Close Encounter the attacking Victim is highlighted for 3/6/9 seconds.

• Adds close encounters and door slams to the perk.

notes: This is a nice beginner perk that can see some use for more chase oriented builds.
PATIENCE
Standing still reduces your Family proximity warning range to 0 for 5/6/7 seconds.
OR
When following a footprint trail your stamina consumption is reduced by 10%/15%/20%.
notes: Johnny's only unique perk leaves no impact on gameplay whatsoever. Either one of these changes can open up a different playstyle for your average hedge clipper Johnny player.

GRANDPA PERKS

EXTERIOR ALARMS
This perk now only highlights the doors before an exit area (such as the back porch gate on Family House or the Slaugherhouse Parking lot doors)
NOBODY ESCAPES HELL
The minigame for locked doors is 50% more difficult for all Victims.
comments: With Security Pins being toned down this perk can be bumped up a bit. (+10%)
WINDOOM/WELL WELL WELL
Victims take 70% more damage when jumping out of windows or falling down a well.
notes: Combining the 2 makes for a pretty good grandpa perk.
BARGE TO THE POINT
Door slam damage is tripled.
notes: There are 3 perks in the game that affect barging doors, 1 of them being a grandpa perk.. So to get rid of the filler this grandpa perk builds on the door slam rework and opens a different style of gameplay for the family members.

(continuation in the comments below)

edited 4/22/2024: corrected some inconsistencies and formatting errors.