#AND FINALLY SHE APPEARS IN A GAME

[dxonutz]

NOBODY TOUCH ME

[flowering-darkness]

Lorenza: "Had I been at Laxan Loft that fateful day, then perhaps.. You whom the Ascians kept in the shadows might yet have had an ally for that last sacrifice. ..Ah, but who are we two of the void to dwell on a hundred years past?"

(comments/reblogs are appreciated but never required. further context is under the readmore!)

A little idea I had earlier and was successfully able to get a friend to queue into E10 with me to access the location for! This is actually technically my first thing made for my selfship with the Shadowkeeper (or to use her truer name Cylva), so it's perhaps a bit too context-heavy of a piece to start things off with, but.. oh well! I hope that it's still alright/people like it, even without everyone being aware of the full background ;w;

(If you are curious what's actually being depicted here: it's just a hypothetical musing about "if Lorenza had been present at the Battle of Laxan Loft a hundred years ago, where Cylva turned into the Shadowkeeper and forced Ardbert and the Warriors of Light to fight her (but they refused to kill her like she asked), then maybe that whole event could have been a bit less emotionally harrowing for Cylva". There was no way Lorenza could have been there, of course - she didn't even know Cylva at that time, as the two only met at the start of Shadowbringers despite both originating from the Thirteenth - but.. it's still something she idly muses after learning about Cylva's past. For more background context, feel free to have a read of this other post!)

When it came to putting this together, I was limited by what remained of the duty timer (since we had to do the whole boss fight against the Shadowkeeper and then I had to wait for everyone else to leave), as well as my own inexperience with manipulating reshade parameters like colour curves and brightness (so I apologise if this is a bit all-the-same-value - I tried to mess with the background vs. foreground a bit, but that was about all I could muster). To put things into perspective, this is how the arena looked before I went in and started the posing process - so as you can see, a lot of processing needed to be done to get the final vibes!

I'm also still not really adept at posing within FFXIV, which is why Lorenza is incorrectly using her right hand to reach out to Cylva; the day I learn how to flip/invert poses derived from paused animations will be a very advantageous one indeed! There's probably a better workflow than the one I currently use, but.. like when I was first starting out with MMD, it takes a while to get properly familiar with the tools involved and how to do what you're aiming for with them. I'd meant to get some alternate/closeup camera angles, but exited out of /gpose instead after taking the initial one, which meant I lost everything I'd loaded in .w.

In any case, though - I like how the final product turned out (even if the composition is almost identical to my January render..), and I hope that some of my thought process in making it could come through! I did finish making this at one minute to midnight on Valentine's Day, but I'm aware it isn't really a very Valentine's Day selfship thing.. so, I suppose it's more fitting that I wasn't able to get around to posting it until after the date had changed here! =P

Thank you kindly for taking the time to read this! I hope it all makes sense ^-^

[mariocki]

RIP Rachel Herbert (5.1.1935 - 7.3.2025)

"[On speaking a fictional language in The Prisoner:] It gives you - not to have words, which people know the meaning of - it actually gives you an added power because you're putting all your meaning through something which they don't know [...] What they receive is the impetus of what you're doing, so what you're putting over is what you feel, what you mean, it doesn't matter about the word-meaning, that's not there anymore. It's quite fun. In a way."

[stripedchickens]

Its 2am and I just saw a hunter and flapjack edit that made me cry- my heart just hurts for hunter so much as is for all the things belos has put him through. And to think that even after hunter runs away that he still hurts makes me so incredibly upset.

I don’t know why I sympathize with hunter specifically (although i have cried over so many other toh characters) but I just can’t stop thinking about the fact that he’s just a kid. He didn’t deserve any of that and it’s only going to get worse before he gets some peace (because im like halfway through season 2- ik what happens and how the show ends btw)

[foreststarflaime]

uu!Squiddo for character bingo?

SQUIDDOOOO ngl seeing you rb glitchduo stuff has made her grow on me so much…she’s just a little guy and they burned down her castle and for what

[my-current-obsession]

Something I've always been curious about is how people settle on a favorite love interest in the Rune Factory games. I see a lot of general discussions and polls about "who is your favorite" but not "WHY is your favorite", so I thought I'd finally put the question out myself.

For me personally, a lot goes into my overall opinion of each character. My first impression is based heavily on their appearance. You get a rough idea of their personality after only a few conversations. And the longer you play, the more you get to know them - especially as you do their specific events. But do they have a unique relationship with the protagonist, and if so, what makes it stand out? And how does that relationship change once you're actually dating or married?

Is there something about their marriage event (or the wedding itself) and/or newlywed mode that makes it stand out or do you like it just because it's more of the character and relationship you're already attached to? As an example, I think that Kiel's marriage event is honestly fantastic and really elevates him for me... but that one aspect isn't enough to put him above certain other characters.

In the case of RF4, I also think the mechanics play a big role. You can't progress Doug's affection past level 3 until you beat Act 2, which means it's probably a few weeks after that (most likely when you're starting Rune Prana) before you can even DATE him. Meanwhile you could absolutely be MARRIED to almost anyone else by then. Leon has a slight disadvantage by being the last love interest available. Anyone with more than one prerequisite event has a disadvantage, particularly Margaret who needs FOUR RANDOMLY HAPPENING events before you can put a ring on it. On the other hand there is Dolce, who in Special has her one prereq prioritized so you'll always trigger it, making her the easiest person to marry in the game. How much does any of that impact you? I know that as much as I do like Doug and Margaret, I'm hesitant to go for them since I either have to wait for a long time to even have a relationship or risk never being able to marry unless I save scum the town events.

So yeah, in my case I obviously have a combination of all of these things to determine my ultimate favorites. I'd say the first two options is how I had my "early" favorites who I immediately liked, whereas options 4-6 is what settled their final placements in my heart. How about you? Do you take everything into account like I do or does one aspect rule above the rest?

[stardusteyes]

Library of Ruina was so based for making the Wizard of Oz a lady

[uinre]

[titleknown]

You ever think about how weird it is that, to my knowlege, there hasn't really been a major Weird Al video game despite how amazing, say, a Weird Al adventure game in the style of Lucasarts/pre-Walking-Dead-Telltale ones or a Weird Al JRPG would be?

At the very lest, I'm surprised no major JRPG company has bought the rights to put him in their game as a secret superboss, presumably with Dare To Be Stupid or Hardware Store as the BGM, he'd be way better for that sort of cameo than, say, Ariana Grande...

[moreofmonica]

everyone's insights and takes on house of the dragon season 2 finale are intriguing, off-putting, and humorous. there are parts of the finale I did not like and there are scenes I loved. for a majority of the episode though it was in distaste due to the script writing connections back to game of thrones trying to link the prequel to it over and over as well as the whole vision scene and those character's now knowing their fates in the dance. I am a Rhaenyra supporter. even though most of us know her fate, I am hoping she can have time for happiness in the position she is in, no matter how little. this show is still something I'm going to want to watch since I want to know how the writers will portray the rest of the story and the cast does such an amazing job acting as these characters. here's to waiting not too too long to season 3 (⁠｡⁠•́⁠︿⁠•̀⁠｡⁠)

[welcometoteyvat]

nahida dialogues, sethos dialogue, and some optional dialogues (mostly just sethos) from cyno's sq2 for reference (chinese and english transcriptions just for fun)

warning this is long as fuck

after talking to ??? (sethos) at the oasis:

nahida lines:

carefree desert dweller: Huh. those guys are pretty cautious. They just sent one person to try to talk to us. 那些家伙还挺谨慎的吗，只派一个人来跟我们搭话，哈。

irritable desert dweller: These are the guys we’re been waiting for, huh? They ain’t what I expected. 这些就是咱们要等的人？和我想的不一样啊。。。

after meeting sethos and entering the temple of silence

>nahida lines:

Sethos: These guys clearly care a lot about each other. This is a long way for them all to come. 这群人彼此感情还挺深的嘛，难怪都跟来了。

Tighnari: The situation's even more complicated than I expected. I should make sure I know the way out before we go any further. 情况比预想的更复杂。得提前观察一下出去的路线。

Cyno: Professor... 老师。。。

>talk to Sethos, pick 1 of 3 dialogue options:

>You were the one who tricked Urraca, right?

Sethos: Yes, that was me. Although, "tricked" is a stretch. He was asking everyone in the tavern about ways to make some easy money. He insisted that nothing was off the table, even if it broke the law. So I told him that Cyrus had embezzled a large sum of Mora from the desert. 嗯，是我。不过你说得不准确，我没有骗那个学生，是他自己在酒馆里打听有没有来钱快的办法。他还说什么都可以，只要能弄到钱，违法也没关系。于是我告诉他居勒什偷藏了一大笔从沙漠搞来的钱。

Paimon: So you framed Cyrus for a crime that he did not commit! 那不就是栽赃居勒什吗！

Sethos: No no no, that's not entirely true. Let me jog your memory — the letter just said that he had uncovered Cyrus's secret. It didn't say what secret that was. 话不能这么说，回忆一下，他只说自己知道居勒什的秘���，又没有说是什么秘密。

>Did you tell him to use that wording? Sethos: Of course. Urraca was a great accomplice, really. Very cooperative with a little bit of wine in him — did exactly what he was told… And not much of an original thinker though. It doesn't surprise me that he struggles academically. 当然。乌拉卡真是个好帮手，喝醉了很听话，对出主意的人言听计从。。。这么没主见，难怪在教令院混不下去啊。

Paimon: Why did Cyrus leave for the desert as soon as he received the letter? 那为什么居勒什一收到信就连夜离开了？

Sethos: You'll have to ask him that one yourself. Certain things I can't answer for him. I'm neither judging nor defending him. All you need to know is that he recognized our emblem, and it was his own choice to take the bait. 这个嘛，你们自己去问居勒什吧。有些事我不能替他回答，好话坏话都说不得。你只要知道居勒什认识我们的纹章，他是愿者上钩。

>Do you know Cyno?

Sethos: Ahaha, what kind of a question is that? He's the General Mahamatra, everyone in Sumeru knows who he is. 啊哈哈，瞧你问的，须弥谁不认识大风纪官赛诺大人啊。

Paimon: Right, but back at the oasis, you can't have known who he was for sure, or you wouldn't have asked him. So what we're really asking is... Have you never seen him in person before? 可是刚才在绿洲，你还特地问了一句谁是赛诺。。。难道你从来没见过他？

Sethos: I've lived in the desert my whole life. Guess you could say... I've never had the pleasure. 我又不住在雨林，大风纪官哪是想见就能见到的？

Paimon: Ugh... Why does Paimon feel like this guy's not being straight with us... 唔。。。总觉得这家伙瞒着什么没说。。。

Sethos: C'mon, we've only just met. If I give you all the answers up front, you'll have nothing left to look forward to. 我们才见没多久，现在就把答案全都告诉你，以后的日子怎么过啊。

>Have you ever been to the Akademiya?

Sethos: No. Not once. 没进去过。

Paimon: Really?

Sethos: I have no need to go there — not when the taverns are full of the Urracas of this world. Besides, we're well aware of what goes on at that place. 我没必要去教令院啊，乌拉卡这种人酒馆里多的是。再说，教令院的作为我们也不是不清楚。

>Are you saying you have spies inside the city? Sethos: Spies? Heh, it's not as clandestine as that. The city gates are wide open, anyone's free to walk in. You can find out all you need to know just by walking around town and hearing the word on the street. 须弥城就在那里，谁想进就能随便进的嘛。每天那么多人在街上聊天，到处逛逛就知道了。

after bamoun's death

>nahida lines:

Sethos: Did you see, Grandfather? Cyno chose me to succeed you as leader of the Temple of Silence. I will now serve in his stead. It's still early days, and I can't say that I know him that well yet. But after that battle, I now understand why he came here with a whole group of friends. Companionship means to trust and be trusted. Just like Cyno and his friends, we too will fight side by side and support each other in times of trouble. 爷爷，你知道吗？赛诺选择我代替他成为缄默之殿的新任首领了。不能说我多了解他，可经过那一战，我完全明白了为什么赛诺和他的同伴会一起前来。信赖他人，也被人信赖，这才是同伴的意义。并肩作战，互相扶持，呵，这点上，我们和他们没有区别。

Cyrus: All these years, I've felt like I'm still young, I still have lots to look forward to in life. But now… I suddenly feel… I too have grown old, Bamoun, just like you. 这么多年，我经常觉得自己还年轻得很，还有很多事可以做。但现在，居然觉得。。。我和你一样，都还是老了啊，巴穆恩。

>talk to sethos:

Sethos: Grandfather, we did it. We achieved what we set out to do. From this day on, the Temple of Silence has the chance to work with the Akademiya once more. Real change, real opportunities... They are now within our grasp. 爷爷，目标达成了，就像我们期待的那一样。从今天开始，缄默之殿可能再次与教令院合作。改变和机遇，我们都已经得到了。

>talk to cyrus:

Cyrus: … *sigh* The people of the desert are stubborn folk, fiercely loyal to their heritage, even if it means suffering years of hardship and pain. You said this yourself. But why did you feel the need to go this far? You never were the fearsome leader you made yourself out to be, Bamoun. … Being stubborn and unyielding is bound to send you to an early grave. Haha... 。。。唉。沙漠人的固执决定了他们将忠于传承，也决定了他们要承受坎坷。这话是你自己说的。可为什么能执着到这种地步呢。。。你从来都不是可怕的人啊，巴穆恩。顽冥不灵的人，难免死在前头。哈哈。。。

after talking to cyrus as cyno

>nahida lines:

Cyrus: ... I can't treat my students like kids anymore. I have to admit, Cyno has matured far beyond my expectations. From now on, I'll just enjoy life as a retired sage. The future is safe in the hands of the younger generation.

我也不能把学生当小孩子看了。必须承认赛诺已经成长得超乎我想象。以后我啊，当一个退休老贤者就好啦。年轻一辈会负担起未来的。

Cyno: Joke... how do I make this a joke... 在想了，我在想了。。。

didn't transcribe the following conversations: collei and asfand when looking for cyno, zaha hadi dialogue, alhaitham and kaveh at the house of daena, dehya and candace, naphis and cyrus after returning, and the dialogue for cyrus and cyno at the end.

bilibili cn video of most of the missable scenes and nahida thought voicelines (i didn't know collei had one too until this lol). the english dub is all in the genshin wiki

[thoughtpeek]

I'VE FINALLY FINISHED BROTHERSHIP IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!

[tsuzukerukoto]

chat I'm asking this seriously genuinely for realsies what did Junko mean by this

[radrobotz]

anyways pink sally is the best sally design to me i think i just really like the specific pink and blue combo i wish she stayed pink its so cute

[snowstories]

everyone please look at Oracle of Seasons/Ages Zelda

[deus-ex-mona]

anyways listen to c-kun if you haven’t already done so~~~~~