update 83.

october 2nd-8th.

catching a cold is so humbling. it's all fun and games until you start sniffling and feeling like the only thing you can do is rot in bed all day. i'm bitter about it, truly, but there's no point in dwelling on that when i got shit to talk about.

so. progress. light at the end of the tunnel and all that. i don't want to jinx it, but i think i can finish chapter ten this week?? if i hadn't caught this cold, i'd be a little more certain. but still, i think i can try. if i'm as productive as i was this week, then i can definitely do it. the final pieces are coming together really well and much more smoothly than the beginning of the chapter, which explains why i suddenly was writing at double my normal speed this week. but yeah. (gosh, i think this cold has gotten to my head; i've repeated the same sentence five times). if things go according to plan, i have a tentative (very tentative) date for the release of this chapter that i'll share next week. i don't want to say it yet because announcing this stuff puts pressure on me to get things out by the deadline (one that i set for myself, ridiculously enough) but very exciting stuff.

i don't know if i can say anything more about this chapter that i haven't already. it's always like this at the end. the updates get shorter and the anticipation of release gets stronger. so i'll tell you this: like chapter nine, chapter ten has a decent amount of plot, but it also has a lot more 'filler' (i'd rather call it character development, but i suppose filler isn't too inaccurate). the opening branches, as you may know, are an opportunity for you to bond with an ro of your choice (platonically or romantically). the second half is where the plot kicks in. it's not a fight scene like with altan, but a conversation that gets, in my opinion, quite insane. i was watching 'batman: the dark knight' last week and honestly, i wouldn't say the behaviour of the joker is far off from some of the things i've written recently. it's just— it's a lot. i had to backspace on a lot of things because i was wondering if it was a little too much, but i'm forcing myself to keep the rest in because, well, it's fun. should be, at least.

i get nervous for all my releases but this is one i'm particularly anxious about, if only to see how that scene is perceived. everyone who found the drug dealer sexy might have their minds changed soon. or maybe not. some of you really do confuse me.

sorry for how boring this update is. i know it's very repetitive (and honestly, i blame my sick-addled brain for half of it); hopefully next week i have something new to talk about. take care of yourselves <3

stats.

466,833 words (+4628)

sneak peek.

"You just interpreted my words the way you wanted."

[A] looks stricken. Just for a second, their expression shuts down.