#lis finn

A year on, my feelings about this game have soured... a lot. When the game was first announced, I was overjoyed that our new protagonists would be two Latino boys. Finally, we would have a culturally meaningful, groundbreaking video game with people of color and their experiences at the forefront! 

Then the game was met with immediate backlash and I utterly exhausted myself defending it for weeks on Reddit and Tumblr. Throughout 2019, as the episodes came out I became increasingly disillusioned, frustrated, and disappointed with where the story was going. I couldn’t figure out why I felt so damn miserable while playing this game.

Then in the summer of 2020, when Tell Me Why began rolling out pre-release material, I noticed that they posted a Q&A about transphobia, gave content warnings, and discussed at length about their collaboration with GLAAD, Checkpoint, and the Huna Heritage Foundation to make the game with sensitivity and proper research. I cannot speak for trans and gender non-conforming people on whether Dontnod succeeded at doing so with Tell Me Why. But Life is Strange 2 did… none of that.

Essentially, I realized that the reason why I was so frustrated with LiS2 is because it focuses way too heavily on a trauma narrative. This comes off as insensitive to players of color without any content warnings or extensive research.

Sean didn’t have to get kidnapped, kicked in the face, and called a racial slur by a gas station owner. Daniel did not need to watch his puppy get mauled by a mountain lion for the sake of a “difficult choice.” Sean didn’t have to lose his eye for the sake of heightened drama. Sean didn’t need to get called a racial slur and humiliated by his native language/beaten in the desert for refusing to sing. Daniel didn’t need to get shot— twice. Hell, all of “Faith” probably could’ve been cut— how is a church cult that brainwashes Daniel and beats Sean half to death relevant at all to the story?

Even if not all of the game’s violence was racially motivated, the consistent trauma that Sean and Daniel endure does not make for positive representation— or even good characterization. There is a difference between sympathetic characters and well-written characters, and trauma does not make Sean and Daniel any more complex or likable-- just more fucking traumatized.

LiS2 is more grounded in reality, but that also makes plot holes that much harder to excuse (Daniel’s powers being spotted, most of the Parting Ways ending, Sean’s prison sentence). But most of all, it grounds all of Sean and Daniel’s pain and trauma in reality. 

There is no magicking away a town-destroying storm with time travel. Sean can’t keep his dad alive by ripping up a Polaroid. After Max unlocked her powers, she was still a Blackwell student, reconnecting with Chloe, taking photos, saving lives, and uncovering a murder mystery. After Daniel unlocked his powers, the Diaz brothers lost everything. 

The game never lets you forget that Sean and Daniel are homeless, wanted, constantly in danger, and that they are never getting their old lives back. It permeates the entire game, and for players of color, just reinforces a sad, miserable, grim reality about living in the United States. It is, as @smitethepatriarchy said, potentially triggering for players of color, and it is certainly not something I needed to be reminded of.

And the representation of POC? It feels shallow and ill-researched. It would only take a Google search to find out that Dia de Muertos (a holiday to honor the dead, no less) was from October 31 to November 2 in 2016, the year the game takes place, but Daniel only talks about Halloween in episode 1. Sean and Daniel never discuss any Mexican customs, foods, or holidays. Sean doesn’t speak Spanish with his immigrant father, only during a scene when he’s traumatized (again!) by two racists, and again when talking to Mexican immigrants— in jail. Daniel doesn’t speak Spanish at all. Most of their allies throughout the game are white, including Finn and Cassidy, who appropriate Black culture with their dreadlocks.

So what’s left? Sean and Daniel’s existence as people of color is, at worst, just a narrative prop to justify everything that happens to them. They are people of color on the surface only. In a meta-sense, the game only considers the color of their skin and their last names as what is narratively important… yikes.

I don’t have anything against people who genuinely loved the game and were moved by its messages and story. But I can’t help but feel bitter that white players have the luxury of only thinking of this game as a work of fiction and not feeling any personal reliability to Sean and Daniel’s racialized trauma.

I don’t regret playing LiS2, but I do regret all the time and energy I spent defending it in the beginning. I understand now that I shouldn’t let people’s opinions get to me, nor should I feel obligated to like or defend a game for its attempts at representation. But now, I think I understand how queer fans must have felt in late 2015 when Polarized released. After following the game for 10 months, to see that Chloe’s ultimate destiny was to die and Pricefield is another ship plagued by the Bury Your Gays trope (in the ending that the devs clearly put more work into) must have been just as disillusioning and infuriating. I understand why some fans were so quick to unfollow LiS or develop mixed feelings about the series, because that’s how I feel too after following LiS2’s development from September 2018 to December 2019.

Before I end, I will admit that Life is Strange 2 arrived at a time when I needed it. I still stand by my belief that DN did a great job characterizing Sean, Daniel, and Chris without toxic masculinity, which is the best thing they could’ve done for a male-focused follow-up to a game about queer women. I love that Sean is still a canonically bisexual man of color in a major video game and that DN didn’t forget their queer audience. I love the world and characters that DN built, but I still prefer AU fanfictions of their normal lives, without all that trauma. 

So, I will continue to treasure Lyla and her 10 minutes of screentime (aka the only shred of Asian American representation I can get from this series). I still reblog LiS2 fanart to support the artists. I still support Dontnod, because as Tell Me Why has shown, they are capable of researching and writing stories with more sensitivity. And let’s be honest-- I’m still gonna be hella excited if Life is Strange 3 is announced.

But so many aspects of Life is Strange 2 were bungled that it came off as a remarkably average and forgettable experience. A year on, I don’t hate Life is Strange 2, but I am writing this to move on from it.

You begin to steadily bob your head up and down his throbbing cock as you suck softly on the flesh penetrating your mouth, Sean continued to slowly thrust himself in and out of you as low groans of your name left his lips. Sean's nails are digging into your hips whilst Finn's fingers massage your scalp, you moaned at the feeling of Sean's cock grazing against your sweet spot before you began to suck hard on Finn's throbbing cock. "Fuck! That's it, honey, you're doing so fuckin' good, baby ...!" Finn moaned out breathlessly as powerful jolts of pleasure rushed through him at the mere feeling of your warm mouth enveloped around his cock. Sean begins to snap his hips at a swift pace for a few moments causing a long moan to part from your lips before taking Finn's cock out of your mouth. You began to wrap your hand around his thick throbbing cock, you began to move your hand up and down his cock at a quick pace causing Finn to groan deeply at the jolts of ecstasy that traveled through his entire body.  "Come on, I wanna feel those lips around my cock again, sweet cheeks." Finn softly pleads before you lick your lips before taking the head of his cock in between your lips, you softly suck on the flesh in between your lips before you begin to suck on the piercing that is hooked into the head of his cock. "Oh, yes sweetie ... you know just where my sweet spots are, don't you? Fuck, I don't want this to end so ... soon ... so please just ..." Finn pleads once more before you grin devilishly at him, before a loud abrupt moan parts from your lips at the feeling of Sean hitting your sweet spot in a way that drove you wild. Sean chuckled at the sounds that came from your lips, biting his lips he continues to move his hips at a swift pace. 

"Ah, it seems that Sean is doing a really good job, isn't he honey? ... You know what let's have like a little competition and let's see who'll cum first and if you cum first then punishment will be in order." Finn chuckles before you manage to get his cock back into your mouth with a soft whimper parting from your lips. You start off strong and you begin to suck harder on his throbbing cock causing him to whine your name carelessly before tangling his fingers in your hair. Sean's hands begin to grope your ass cheeks firmly before he began to move his hips at a swift pace, he already knew that he wasn't going to last too long well not as long as Finn. "Fuck ... you're so tight ... I already know that I'm not gonna last long." Sean whines needily as he snaps his hips coarsely into you, the sound of skin slapping against skin fills your ears as you struggle to keep yourself from orgasming from the strong immense jolts of pleasure traveling through you. You begin to focus on trying to make Finn cum quickly, you wrap your hands around his cock whilst you vigorously suck the head of his thick cock causing Finn to moan at the immense pleasure.

"Fuckin' hell ...! You're really trying to make me cum aren't you, sweetie? ... Ha, I'll probably last longer than you but I'm hoping that Sean wins ... if you win then that'd be a pleasant surprise." Finn chuckles before he begins to move your head up and down on his cock at a slower pace, you struggle to stop yourself from moaning or choking on Finn's thick cock. Sean began to bury himself deeper inside of you before snapping his hips in and out of you at a swift pace causing you to moan loudly against Finn's cock at the intense jolts of pleasure that spread all across your body. "Mmh, shit ... (Y/N) ... fuck, I'm not gonna last ... long ...! Oh, fuck me!" Sean moaned breathlessly as his body was covered in sweat, you hope and pray that Sean comes quickly so that you don't have to get punished cause you know that Finn can get really creative with his punishments. "Sean, you can hold on a little while longer cause you know that I get really creative with my punishments ..." Finn teased with a playful grin before biting his bottom lip, a low curse parts from his lips at the warm feeling of your lips wrapped around him. God, you felt so good.

You begin to suck vigorously on the flesh throbbing erratically in your mouth, Finn throws his head back at the feeling of being engulfed in the warm ecstasy that is your mouth around his cock. "Oh my fuckin' god ...! Fuck that feels so fuckin' good ...! Mmh!" Finn moans erotically as he continues to bob your head up and down on his cock, he let another curse part from his lips before his eyes meet yours. It was like seeing the epitome of lust in your eyes and it was so fucking arousing to see, you gaze intensely into his eyes before taking him as deep as you can down your throat. Sean notices this and chuckles, for a few moments he thinks that you might beat them both. You begin to bob your head slowly up and down just to tease Finn causing his thighs to tremble and his voices of pleasure to become louder. "I thought you might beat us all Finn ...? Ha, they might beat us both." Sean chuckles before pressing kisses all over your back, you could feel him suck softly on your neck causing you to groan. Sean begins to slam his hips as fast as he can and as hard as he can, it feels like pure ecstasy and the sensations seemed so indefinable.

You can feel your stomach coil as you can feel your orgasm only moments away, you begin to bob your head up and down as fast as you can, trying to make Finn come as soon as possible. "Fuck! Oh my fuckin' god! Oh, shit ...!" Finn moans breathlessly before throwing his head back as he can feel his body tremble and vibrate with ecstasy as he comes inside of your mouth abruptly, did God answer your prayers or did he really just come? Sean didn't even notice that Finn had come as he was just moments away from coming too, moments later, he comes with a loud breathless moan of your name, he rests his head against the top of your back. You can feel his heated breaths against your cool skin, you immediately swallow up the semen that remains in your mouth with a proud smile on your lips. You chuckle before slamming yourself onto Sean's cock a few more times before groaning at the feeling of your orgasm coursing through your body. "Goddamnit ...! Shit, you shouldn't have given me those googly eyes but then again I'm surprised that you won, I kind of expected Sean to win but I guess this was a pleasant surprise." Finn chuckles as he takes defeat pretty well, he lets a deep sigh part from his lips before lying back onto the sheet beneath him. Sean lies down as well and eventually, you're in the middle of them both, your finger intertwined with each other's as Finn and Sean both share a blunt over the sweet sounds of the crickets in the twilight.

Alright now, your friends with benefits to a romantic relationship ask.

First of all, you had met Finn about a year before you had met Sean, you and Finn were pretty good friends and had fucked on a few occasions.

When you both met Sean it was almost like something clicked or something because you both found yourself infatuated with him, it wasn't just his appearance, it was everything that drew you both in.

At first, you both decided to have a sexual relationship with Sean about 5 months into your friendship, he at first was a bit shy about the new relationship but he began to really enjoy it.

You all would often do it on the weekends or like once or twice a week if you guys had the time, it always ended with you all getting stoned as hell after having the best orgasms of your damn lives.

Finn was like a mentor during it, teaching you guys how to get better at oral, how to last longer during sex, he was like the best sex-ed teacher ever and he always made sex a lot more interesting.

You often were in the middle of them or you were often pleasing them both but it never ended with anyone being unsatisfied, Finn made sure that everyone enjoyed it and believe me you guys enjoyed yourselves.

You all don't know when you all started seeing each other differently but you all suspected it was after one weekend where you all deeply talked about your lives.

Finn wanted to settle down with the right people, Sean wanted to enjoy life to the fullest and he wanted to just live his life, you had wanted to the same thing that Finn had wanted.

After that night, it was like something clicked between you and Finn and you had both decided to try and pursue a romantic relationship with Sean but it would be all three of you in a romantic relationship.

You both decided to wait until the moment was right, so you both spent around 4 months flirting and teasing him until Sean had brought up the fact that you both were flirting with him as well as each other.

"Well ... I don't know if we should've come out with it just as it was but ... we were hoping to like have a much closer relationship with you, that's if you wanted to be in the relationship." You said awkwardly, you questioned if he was even gonna say yes but you hoped that he would feel the same.

Sean had felt a little confused and didn't know if he wanted to rush right into it, he thought about it for a few moments before saying that he'll think about it for a few days which only made you more anxious.

You spent those few days anxious and a bit on edge about his answer which Finn repeatedly told you not to worry and that even if he said no that he's still a good friend to them both.

Sean spent those few days wondering if he wanted that, it sounded like a good deal but he just didn't want to rush into it and he rested on your offer.

Over those 3 days, he realized that he cared deeply about you both and you all cared a lot about each other, you probably all loved each other and he had met up with you both at your place to tell you his answer.

You were immensely happy that his answer was yes, you both embraced him tightly with wide smiles before Finn offered to buy some booze and some weed. Agreeing to both offers, you and Sean spent time together dancing and kissing each other deeply.

During one of those dances, Sean's hands were wrapped around your waist and his lips were pressed against your neck, you wasted no time in devouring his lips hungrily as your hands explored his body once again.

By the time Finn had come back he had found you both naked on his bed, Sean devouring you with his tongue hungrily exploring all of your sweet spots whilst soft moans flew from yours lips at the pleasure.

"Oh, shit! Ya'll started the party without me? ... I guess we don't need these for the kind of party we're having, ha." Finn says with a chuckle at the sight that is before him, you smile widely and encourage him to get into the bed with you and Sean.

He quickly puts down the booze and weed before quickly taking off his clothes as he made his way onto the side of your face, his hard cock pressed against your face.

"Mmh, I've been waiting for this ..." You moaned before greedily take his throbbing hard cock in between your lips, sucking softly on the flesh in between your lips, Finn can't help but moan softly.

Sean moans at the taste of you causing you to whine against Finn's cock, you can't help but want to feel Sean inside of you, just the mere thought of him inside of you is so fucking arousing.

Eventually, when he does get inside of you, it feels like a piece of heaven has been given to you. You savor every moment and every sensation, some of the best nights of sex are because of them both.

That night you all spent pleasuring each other in whatever way you guys could even if it was just you guys masturbating all together whilst you all were kind of stoned, it just was about making each other happy.

The next morning you had woken up to being cuddled by them both, it was kind of nice being in a polyamorous relationship, you thought to yourself before curling up in their arms.

You guys come up with all sorts of crazy ideas during sex, you all are very experimental and not afraid to try something new. But something that you all love the most is when someone is fucking someone else from behind whilst someone is giving oral to someone else.