#PLEASE anet something other than that

[legendary-alliance-stance]

something i really hope we see in the future, either in SotO or afterwards

is at least one canon m/m pairing that isn’t background NPCs, especially if it’s an existing male character that we already know

(and please no more “this creepy villain is implied to be bisexual because Oooo Look He’s Also Into Men!! Haha funny joke!!” ;; im begging you anet, no more of this caudecus and joko shit)

[koko-online]

On GW2's narratives

I maintain that the reason GW2's stories always fall flat (though some more than others cough SotO cough) is that we have almost no villains.

What parts of the story do people remember most fondly? LW1, PoF, and LW4 almost universally. Y'know, the parts that came to life because of Scarlet Briar, Balthazar, and Palawa Joko. I´d also add the tearjerker at the end of EoD and saying goodbye to Aurene, but that's not relevant to the point I'm going to make.

Remember in like 8th grade English class, when your teacher talked about conflicts in storytelling? It was probably something like this.

GW2 has opted almost universally for the bottom-right quadrant : Person vs. Nature. There's nothing wrong with that type of conflict. The dragons are a force of nature more than independent living things, and the Kryptis and Titans are about the same after all was said and done with them.

But those kinds of stories are almost antithetical to the power fantasy that most MMORPGs, including GW2, rely on. The only time in the history of this game where anything felt actively hostile was in HoT's open world. So we're just left there reacting to a quasi-mindless threat with no motivations, goals, or real personality, who we know for sure we're going to defeat because it's a video game designed to be beaten with minimal effort. If we wanted to call the antagonistic forces a "natural disaster", they would be the equivalent of a pretty mild rainshower. Not exactly a compelling story.

Before I move into villains, I want to address why Society and Self would also make uninteresting conflicts in this case. In both cases, it requires ANET to define our character's personality, goals, and convictions more than they already have. This leaves players feeling disconnected from any sort of potential narrative roleplay. Additionally, in the former's case, it would require ANET to make a profound political message, which I don´t think they are capable of.

That leaves us with Person vs. Person. Here's where villains come in.

Villain-centric stories are almost a cheat code for MMORPGs. Look at Lilith from FFXI, Shiro Tagachi and Khilbron from GW1, the Lich King from WoW, Emet Selch (everyone's favourite sexy grampa) and Zenos from FFXIV.

They allow you to tell a full and complete character-driven story without writing our characters for us or having to write them as cartoons so that they stand out (literally every one of our main party members in GW2). You're forced to define your character in comparison or contrast to the villain's aims, means, and/or convictions.

We found out later that Scarlet Briar was an agent of Modremoth, but at the time, we thought she was some batshit genius! We saw and reacted to the shit she was doing through the lens of trying to understand her. It made the world feel big and fragile and mysterious.

We met Balthazar as he deceived us, and we had to reckon with a god's view of life vs. our own.

Palawa Joko, I mean, nuff said, he's the best character writing we've ever had in this game and he was taken out of GW1. And he was played half for laughs!

When we don´t have strong antagonist writing, we're left with just a beige sea of allies who have no real philosophical underpinnings. Of course they're against the threat, it's killing them, what else? I don´t even know any of the SotO characters names because I can´t care about them. They're faceless randoms who simply act as agents of Isgarren. Okay. Who cares?

I am 1000000% certain that the writing team at ANET follows my inane tumblr blog closely, so please, take my advice and give us a mirror.

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

Could you do “does he make you feel as good as I do” with Will!? I’m so sorry...I’m on one today! 🌺

Pairing: Young! William Ironhead Miller x F! Reader

Warnings: 18 + only for language, yearning, fingering, and a surprisingly soft ending.

Captain Miller

You sat in the dark, seedy bar and listened to your friends complain about their lives. Children, husbands, sex; anything and everything you sat and just listened. "He didn't even make me cum," Marcie groans, taking her fourth shot of tequila.

"Damn, no man knows how to properly fuck a woman anymore," Julia sympathies, "it's like they can't even find a damn clitoris."

"He could," you whisper, and all three turn to stare at you.

"Who?" Charlie asks quietly.

You clear your throat and take another sip of your beer, "no one, forget I said anything."

"No," Marcie sits up, "tell us, who are you talking about?"

You open your mouth to speak, but the words die on your tongue, your throat goes dry. Unspeakable energy hums from the direction of the door, and you turn slowly behind you, the heat of his gaze already on you. "Him," you whisper, broken.

He looks damn good, even more delicious than the last time, and he smiles in your direction with a wink. One of the guys he's with claps him on the shoulder, and they meander over to the bar. "Who's that?" Charlie asks, all their eyes watching him.

"Captain William Ironhead Miller."

"Ironhead?"

"He’s in Delta Force; it’s his call sign." You stay silent, and you can't drag your eyes away from him. The way his shirt clings to his muscles, his arms threatening to break away from the fabric, trying to contain them. Those muscular legs that carried you wrapped like a monkey around his waist. You shiver, and almost like he can hear your thoughts, he turns.

Your eyes meet the blue of the sea, and you drown in the depth of his eyes. He whispers something to his friend, who nods before coming to walk over to your table. Your positive he can hear your heart beating loudly in your chest, and his smile widens when the others watch him with wide eyes.

"Hi, honey," he grins, putting one hand on the table and the other on the back of your chair. You can smell the cedarwood of his cologne, and he leans forward, putting his lips to your ear. "I missed you." You close your eyes and inhale a deep breath; you could get drunk on the raw masculine energy he exudes.

"Will," you should be embarrassed at the whimper of his name on your lips, but you don't even care. "Fuck, I missed you too." You feel him press a kiss to your cheek and pull away, grinning when you chase him with your lips.

"Is there somewhere we can talk alone? I don't want to get interrupted like last time." You frown, remembering the last time he blew into town while you were with another guy. Will had seduced you then, too, reducing you to nothing but a whore starved for his cock in the bathroom of another seedy bar.

"I'm here with my friends," you take a breath to clear your head, gesturing to the three women who have their eyes fixed on the two of you. "I can't just leave them."

"Go," Charlie urges, "We got the drinks this time."

"Yes, go," Julia smirks with a wink, "just call us later to make sure you got home okay." Fucking traitors.

He smirks and reaches for your hand, the spider has you in his trap now, and you're powerless to resist him. You stand and follow him out into the cool night air, "where are we going?" you ask quietly, and he remains silent.

When you reach his truck, he turns you, so your back is against the door before he leans down and captures your lips in a searing kiss. You melt against him, and his hands wrap around your waist to prevent you from puddling on the floor. You wrap your arms around his neck and deepen the kiss, moaning softly when you feel his tongue swipe over your bottom lip.

He takes your lip between his teeth and drags it out before releasing it with a pop. Your pupils are dilated, and you're sure you looked as wrecked as you feel, and he's barely touched you. He removes one hand, and you hear the click of the truck unlocking, "get in." He opens the door to the backseat of the cab, and you tremble, feeling him follow close.

He wastes no time pulling you across his lap and pressing you down, so you feel how much he wants you. The seam of his jeans bursting against your soaked panties. He takes your sundress and bunches it at your waist, dipping his fingers down the front of the elastic. "Fuck, honey," he groans, feeling how wet you are for him, "Is this all for me?"

You nod, the ability to form words long gone, as he strokes the fire between your thighs. All you can manage is a weak whimper of his name. He removes his hand, and you whine before the sound of your panties ripping breaks the silence. He bunches the fabric in his fist and brings it up to his nose, taking a whiff. "I didn't get to taste you last time, honey. Can I tonight?"

You nod, mouth-watering as you watch him tuck your panties in his pocket like a prize. "I'm gonna take you home tonight honey, no one is going to interrupt us this time. Tonight, you are mine." He lets his hands drift, and he dips two of his thick fingers inside you; you clench around him and drop your head back as he holds them still inside you, his thumb beginning to draw small circles on your clit.

"I want to take my time with you tonight," he begins to pull his fingers in and out of you slowly while his tongue licks the salty skin at your neck. "I'm going to make you cum so many times before I even give you my cock," you rock against his fingers, praying for more of his touch. He smiles against your neck and bites down hard enough to leave a mark, like a lion marking his territory. "That's it, ride my fingers," he praises as you move your hips a little faster.

His fingers are frozen, making you work for it. He pulls down the front of your dress with his other hand and lavishes your breasts with his tongue and teeth, leaving a trail all over your chest of his bites and bruises. "Will," you moan, his mouth latched onto your breast, "I need more, please."

He doesn't say a word, doesn't even acknowledge he hears you but suddenly curves his fingers, pressing right against your g-spot. "Oh fuck," you shatter, trembling so hard you may have blacked out for a minute. He drags your neck back and swallows your screams as he takes over, pumping his fingers into you, again and again, drawing out your orgasm.

When you come back down from the stratosphere, you smile softly at the smug look on his face. "Feel good, honey? Does he make you feel as good as I do?" He withdraws his fingers, and you watch as he sucks them clean, never taking his eyes off yours. "Mhmm," he groans, "you taste so fucking good, honey."

You swallow, finding the courage to speak, "I broke up with him that night. There hasn't been anyone else. Only you."

He's silent, watching you, always observing. He licks his lips before he speaks, only the slightest twinge of vulnerability in his tone, "no one else? That was almost six months ago."

"They weren't you," you whisper, and his eyes go soft for just a moment before they slip into that careful mask of the soldier.

"I'm getting deployed again," your heart sinks, "I may not come back." You understand what he's saying, that this may be all he can give you. America is his mistress, and she's the one he's going to fight in a war for. "But if I do," you feel the hope bloom in your chest, "then I want you. All of you, for as long as you'll want me."

"Then take me home Captain Miller. I'm already yours."

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[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

Thoughts on EoD, Pt 1: Unnamed

I mentioned a while back that I might make a series of posts about my thoughts on EoD as I played through it, which, surprisingly enough, is now!

I started by the Scrying Pool and Aurene in the Eye of the North, and immediately had a cutscene, which was odd... not sure that's happened before. Anyway!

First thoughts as Taimi shifts uncomfortably in her chair: please be alright please be alright please be alright and then it shifted into a summary of the whole game! REALLY well done.

Anet really seems to be getting into their 'getting new players into the game' thing. AND guess what THEY MENTIONED TRAHEARNE! Not in words, but one of the cinematics around the part where they were talking about losing people/people dying was him!

Anyway, then, I standing in the Eye of the North heard Aurene's voice... but she wasn't talking/speech bubble/or anything like that, and then I realized she was summoning me. To the Eye of the North. Anet should really include a warning that says "don't be in the Eye of the North for this" for... any release, actually. And any location the Commander shouldn't be.

But anyway! I got to thinking how young Aurene is still. How much she doesn't know. I've never had that maternal-parent feeling with Aurene... I never really Got the whole raising-a-dragon thing. Aurene couldn't talk before the end of S4 and so it was difficult to get to know her, and so she was never like... a super favorite character for me. I mostly saw her as a way to get at Kralkatorrik, which is horrible, yes I know, but that's how I felt. (I mean, she was kinda cool, but I was still focused in a mad-driven rage at killing the Elder Dragons, all, every last one, and not just the men, but the women and children too... you get the idea.) I got to really appreciating her in IBS, though... y'know, after she saved my life... (ahem I'll just ignore The Crystal Dragon where she died protecting me? and my dumb Commander self just thought oof well ouch I guess we can't kill Kralk then :/ like an unfeeling villain.)

ANYWAY. So then I went to talk to Taimi and Caithe. And apparently Gorrik was gone. There were other players standing around and I was SLIGHTLY irritated by the charr tail that kept swishing through my chest. And the charr it belonged to standing squarely in front of Taimi taking up all the space. I made do.

Apparently Gorrik was gone? And Taimi was irritated about THAT... I saw signs of a huge crush. I was looking for it but sh.. what REALLY got me is that she has no idea what she's feeling or why and... a;lkdjfa;lkdjf she's still a child. Still my baby. And Caithe! I foresee Caithe being a wise mentor to Taimi in relationship matters and eeeee. I like where this all is going already. (And her chair swivels. XD.)

And when my baby Taimi asks me something I will NEVER not do it. Especially when it's so clearly important to her. I'll do anything to keep Taimi happy. Anything. I would kill for Taimi.

So I hop along to Lornar's Pass to say hi to Gorrik. Taimi is REALLY antsy about Ankka and not just because she's suspicious of Ankka. Taimi has a severe case of jealousy, haha.

So we're walking along, talking, and suddenly Ankka laughs and says she lied about the data. I instantly switched from walking to running (which... they did as well) and chased her up the slope to... someplace entirely random. Sus? Yeah...

And then Aetherblades showed up! I drew mew weapon and faced Ankka, sure she'd turn into a villain on the spot, but she didn't.

She said 'bye Commander' and vanished - so clearly she'll be a villain for later.

AND THEN I REALIZED SHE TOOK GORRIK. And I panicked. Immediately. Full-on panic reaction. Clearly my friends getting captured is still a trigger for my HoT trauma.

I shrieked Gorrik's name and pounded the Aetherblades with everything I had and demanding they die already. In the time it took me to kill them (frustratingly, longer than I expected) Aurene showed up, and I guessed she was going to carry me, but she and the Commander spent a good thirty seconds TALKING? About Aurene's hesitation to act, no less?? ACT ALREADY, BOTH OF YOU.

Screen fades! Not how I expected that to go... and then I dropped onto an airship. And went back to pummeling Aetherblades shouting for Gorrik.

Now that special-action leap skill was pretty cool, and by the second ship I was settling in to bashing as many Aetherblade skulls as I could find. And mildly smug about the way they started asking how is she doing that.

Finally I found Gorrik! And while I was bashing the Aetherblades on deck, he was pleading they not hurt him and he'd tell them anything. They BETTER not hurt Gorrik. I don't care what he tells them, not like we have a lot to hide at this stage, but don't hurt him.

I get down there and he says they tortured him! And I'm MAD AS ANYTHING over that and I break him free while Aurene distracts that super-mega-laser-cannon-thing.

And then we CRAASH.

AGAIN. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE AIRSHIPS IN GW2. This is a meme by this point. The airships always crash. Always. There's airship wreckage on almost EVERY major Elder Dragon battle site. I mean! There was even airship wreckage in PS against Zhaitan that we repaired and took to the sky in! (That was not as cool in-game as it could have been, but that was PS.)

While at the loading screen, I realized Gorrik had said "don't hurt me, I'll tell you anything" and ALSO "they tortured me but I didn't break." It felt like an inconsistency for a moment but I decided he was just... being brave or something. Those aren't the right words. But he goes on to have a ferocious streak, so. Yeah.

Anyway, we loaded in and the airship was sinking into the water. I wondered if Gorrik could swim?? The screen went black for an extended period of time and I started wondering if I could swim??? But of course I can. We've had underwater missions before. And we hit the water pretty lightly I think.

But hey! Suspension of disbelief. I washed up on the beach, pretty drowned-like, and then this guy walks in. My first thought is: she/her, they/them, cool hat because that's a meme I have seen with him in it already.

And of course there is cool hat action and I can't help but wonder why. I am unconscious.

Anyway I suppose I was taken... somewhere?? The fade-in and fade-out semi-consciousness was REALLY well done. So far EVERYTHING's been well done. Good job Anet.

Anyway then Gorrik spends a solid minute pacing and muttering frantically to himself, and me like a good player sits and listens because I can't listen to more than one thing at once, but he keeps going on about it and I'm itching to investigate that journal (and the bench? Also looks investigatable?) but it takes me a while to realize I AM supposed to multitask and Gorrik's ramblings aren't supposed to mean anything. Nice touch, but... yeah no it doesn't work like that.

I finally opened the journal and got half a sentence in before we were called out of the cell. I obediently put the thing down and walked out! I shall have to replay the mission to read it. Or check the wiki. Sigh.

Anyway... then... I mean Gorrik was being utterly amusing the whole time. Trying to tell this Detective Rama guy about his charge of bioterrorism. You're a sweet little guy, Gorrik, but you can't read a room to save your life... actually that's because he's autistic. There should've been more options to calm him down and assure him I have everything under control. Oh well.

I get my clothing back! It's a good thing I picture her sylvari-like outfit to be an outfit and not actually grown on her, because otherwise that would've been slightly disorienting. As I observe later, I still have my glider with me, and of course all my other odds-and-ends. My stuff.

Anyway then we - OH WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT.

We're supposed to sign a thing and Gorrik, the adorable little soul, performs this ELABORATE JUMP MANEUVER onto the desk, signs, and JUMPS DOWN AGAIN. It was hilarious.

Then we went to talk to Kas and Jory and Caithe, so that was cool, uh.

Oh! I get to talk about my Commander's first experience with a raptor taxi! Detective Rama told her to get to the training grounds, so she picked up a raptor taxi to get there. And went ZOOMING ALL OVER THE PLACE. I checked my options: go fast, faster, and ZOOM. And also to take control but I didn't know WHERE I was headed. So I as the Commander just clung on tight and terrified as if I'd never been on a raptor before (I like to be IN CONTROL OF THEM, thanks, and maybe just perhaps KNOW WHERE I'M GOING?) and at the very end went leaping past Detective Rama clinging on for dear life. I was unceremoniously dismounted but I walked back to Rama perfectly self-composed, thank you very much.

After that conversation I looked around and decided Anet was serious about this new player experience and making sure we're completely equipped for this GW2 business. I aced it, and I aced the jade mech fight after, and then I had to get back to where I started.

Well, Commander, no raptor taxi here and you have no idea where you went or which way you came or ANYTHING, so let's walk around and find out.

Commander had an INTERESTING conversation with a woman on the road who basically was in charge of city planning regulations and whatnot. I left her determined to take a trip to Central Tyria as if that could be done in a few days' time, like lady, Central Tyria is bigger than you think. Also if you don't go through the Mists I'm guessing it takes ages to even GET there.

Anyway! Headed into Shing Jea, wandered around there for a bit, encountered a STRANGE thing called a jade waypoint and I'm not even sure if I can USE those without a jade bot. Everything else made of jade needs a jade bot, it's like basic passkey around here. I'm starting to feel like I need one of those. What's up.

I... ran into Snargle Goldclaw. Just randomly. Apparently he's having arguments with his editor. But I was very glad to see my Commander shares my view on his "...romance...novels?" (which is what her tone sounded like. Other VAs may have done differently.) Halfway through this whole interaction I just casually said aloud "I hate you" especially when his publisher RECOGNIZED ME from the book Goldclaw had written. Like excuse me do I not get a say in if you write about me. Apparently not.

I was tickled by the publisher's description of Canthan tech and "move-ies" and "interactive stories", to which I nodded enthusiastically while gesturing at my screen and GW2 itself. He then proceeded to say that nobody would be reading books, which I take personal offense at. Oh well.

Goldclaw proceeded to act entirely in love with me in a restrained sort of way, promising to do whatever I require of him. Like. I didn't even do your stupid book collection. Lit-ter-ah-TURE, good sir? No. I respect good literature. I will highly regard an author. I - and the Commander - would be utterly flattered if someone wrote a book about me.

But not when it's Snargle Goldclaw. Not when it's romance novels. Not Goldclaw's "smut." For all his insistence on the idea that it's literature I just can't. He seems to have no respect for the actual relations between characters... I don't even know what the Kralkatorrid Affair even is. What's the pairing. Kralk and somebody... please do NOT tell me who. I'd probably get nightmares.

The only thing good about him is his AMUSING hatred of publishers and editors and anyone who even seeks to critique his art-form of literature. That in itself tells me he may not be all he's cracked up to be. Yes, I am very happy Bonnie Kunderah is surpassing him. SHE sounded cool. And also writes romance. But she's on Goldclaw's level and a perfect rival for him.

Anyway. That's enough about Snargle Goldclaw.

Although I'll admit to being mildly irritated about something else entirely: the adult language. It started on the Aetherblade ship, which was... okay I suppose, 'cause they're pirates, but still. This publisher guy seems... well, I get the vibe I don't like him even though he seems to enjoy getting on Goldclaw's nerves.

But... now that the language is apparent and casual, I miss when it wasn't. When the game was perfectly aimed at young teenagers and had so little adult language it was almost unnoticable! When it was reserved for REALLY serious things, like Taimi getting captured by Joko. It got worse in IBS but not SUPER noticeably. This, however... sigh. Sadly the in-game profanity filter doesn't work on NPCs. LOL.

Anyway! I eventually found my way to the dock so I could take a ship out to Aurene. Actually I found a jade tech zipline (that I couldn't use) and glided instead.

Introduction to Skiffs. Hi. I found it REALLY interesting that, just as Marjory has Canthan recipes from her grandmother, this Canthan guy had Krytan recipes from his father. Why is it recipes. But the point is that the getting-stuck-on-one-continent-for-ages affected both sides. I never expected to find Krytan heritage in Cantha, though I suppose there's no reason why not if there's Canthan heritage in Kryta.

Although they do keep talking about Kryta and never mentioning Elona, or Ascalon for that matter...

Anyway, we get to the cave, we go in, and AWW AURENE... I go up and stand by her head so she can see me, but then Marjory calls me over and tells me she's... had her magic sucked out??!?!?!?!?

Is that even POSSIBLE?! Can she do her proper Elder Dragony balance things without her magic??

Then we have the bringing-fish-to-Aurene sequence, which was ADORABLE. I remember carrying a bit of fish-on-a-stick around in my inventory.

Favorite quote of the day: "even if you were ancient, Aurene, I'd still bring you fish." YES!! GIVE THE COMMANDER SOME PERSONALITY!! I know I was just talking about how little I really care about Aurene earlier, but I WANT to care for her and be her parent. I just haven't quite got there emotionally yet BUT THIS IS GETTING ME CLOSER. THIS IS ADORABLE. THIS IS AMAZING.

Anyway then I went around to the other side of her head because that felt more... comfortable and intimate, I suppose. There should be a /pet emote specifically for Aurene. I want to pet her comfortingly. I want to lean up against her scales and just... sleep like that. It would be comforting to us both. I'll head back to the cave and have a screenshot session.

Anyway, then the 'check up on Aurene' part told me to go back around and approach her from the outside again, so. Sigh. Grouch. Alright.

Caithe is being overprotective of Aurene... but that's understandable. I'll head out and fight on, be Aurene's force for good in Cantha... her champion... :))

Anyway then I got to meet the Empress! She seemed incredibly intimidating and I think she was using the royal We. Which Queen Jennah has never done, but Jennah sort of has this thing going about being available and personal. I sort of fumbled all over myself trying to bow and kneel in the right places alongside Kasmeer, but that was mostly timing and I think my Commander is better at it than I am.

Empress Ihn asked what I was Commander of! And I said 'nothing'! And this feels like it's going somewhere but... not really?? When are we going to start going predominantly by "Champion" because I've been thinking for a while we will at some point. If it's even possible to get more well-known as Champion of an Elder Dragon than as slayer of dragons. But it could be a tool: if someone calls us Commander, that means either they're more familiar with our Pact exploits or else they're behind the times, or something. It could be fun.

Anyway, after that convo, we went in to where Joon and the Minister of Security were talking, and Kasmeer had a GREAT cutscene. Good for Kasmeer. I'm really hoping we get more Kasmeer content. I was sort of out of it through PoF and Kasmeer is the member of DW I'm least familiar with. Jory too, to an extent.

Anyway, the Minister of Security seems rather grouchy and Joon seems rather nice. She also seems like a champion of unity, so that's good. She's definitely a "good guy."

She also hit it off with Taimi, and if you make Taimi happy you're good in my book.

And that's about where I logged off, so, let's see how this goes!

[commander-coppercogg]

So under a cut because spoilers for the new End of Dragons stuff but the boyfriend and I did some wiki diving last night and found some stuff out:

So I originally thought this was gonna be the commander stand in for Cantha and I even saw some people speculate that this might be Zojja coming back into the story. But turns out this character was discussed during a guild chat episode and already had a wiki page!

I’m so interested to meet her and learn about her and her earrings and her eyes and her design are super super cool and holy shit Gorrick used to work at Thaumanova???? Has this been mentioned before??? Maybe it has something to do with how Blish lost his body???

So I went and read the transcript for the podcast episode (cause listening to podcasts is very difficult for me). The transcript seems to be auto generated so there’s a lot of spelling mistakes but here’s the relevant bit:

Fans of Gorrick are in for a treat!!!! I wonder if she has ties to Inquest at all. Cause the Aetherblades and the Inquest had an alliance in Living World Season 1 right? Maybe we’ll get to find out how and why Gorrick and Lish joined the Inquest cause I’ve always wondered about that. I’m really really hoping for good asura content please anet all of the other races have had their moment in the spot light please.

This gets a bit more personal so uh yeah:

I will say my other immediate gut reaction is “oh god I hope they don’t try and cram a bad romance plot line in there.” Cause like on the one hand I’d love to see an autistic character get an in-depth romance story cause a lot of times autistic people (such as myself) are infantalized to the point where we are denied adult romantic and sexual relationships. But on the other hand I feel like it could really easily fall into some really bad tropes. ESPECIALLY if, god forbid, they try and make it a love triangle with Taimi. I remember Taimi saying something at the end of Icebrood Saga (I don’t have screen caps sorry) that made me go “are…are they trying to…no. No way.” And like nothing came of it so maybe I read it wrong. And Anet has always done an incredible job with Gorrick and his character. And I think that’s the reason I feel immediately so defensive and so nervous. Cause I don’t want it to be bad! I learned I was autistic while playing this game and Gorrick is honestly one of the only autistic character I’ve ever encountered and he really means a lot to me. And I can recognize that a lot of my gut reaction is personal projection and nervousness and I’m still really really excited to meet Ankka and got to Cantha. This turned out a lot more personal and depressing than I meant it to, I just wanted to ramble some feeling out.

[dumb-dumb-mander]

Okay okay, a while back, while showing the abandoned puzzle jump to a friend, I started to ramble about ideas "how to make Trahearne come back/stay" and said I would do a post about it

I never did

Until now !

Be aware that those ideas are made by a dude who has a bad memory and plays GW2 for not even 2 years, so bears with me !

Have fun with those absolutely disorganized ideas lovelies

⚠ Spoilers about everything

• I would start with an idea that popped in my mind because of the WIP of Mother-Alba (check the finished version here, because they deserve praise)

Okay so, Trahearne, kept captive by Mordremoth who implanted a seed in his deteriorated (/half transformed?) body

I really love the idea of Trahearne surviving with scars and not fully safe and sound for... reasons (another story for another time)

But what if, because of the seed and the Commander weakening Mordremoth by the inside, Trahearne could use the powers of Mordry and create himself a new body to "escape"

Imagine, the Commander "coming back" and see the last breath of life leaving Trahearne's body, Mordremoth dead without any seed to come back

To then found/be found by an unknown sylvari (mordrem maybe even? Mordrem looking?) later calling for them with a so well know voice

• Next idea, inspired by all the known and unknown powers of Aurene + what we know and saw of the Mist

Okay this one is really a long stretch and messy but─

Where we are now, Aurene should be overpowerful (as much as the Commander because Champion)

However, to my taste, this isn't really shown (one of the reasons be that if Aurene/Commander is/are too powerful, there wouldn't be any challenge anymore, I'm aware, even if I also HC Aurene to be scared of her own power and turn mad like all the others Elder Dragons before her)

We still do know that she is at Eye of the North while being in the Mist (and other places/everywhere I think?) and that she is, for what I understood, able to use the others' Elder Dragon powers

Which mean...

She can go in the Mist

She could create new Sylvari (Mordremoth)

She also could play with death (Zaithan)

Long stretch, but she could create a new body for Trahearne, go search for his spirit/soul in the Mist (because you won't make me believe he isn't there somewhere), maybe even a journey for the Commander heh, and yeet him in this new body

• I saw someone a while back saying that Trahearne was a powerful and smart Necromancer and he could have a plan for this type of situation...

Less interesting, but they could do... "A Rytlock"

And just make him come back "sorry, took a jig when I should've taken a jag, what did I miss ?"

Especially that there will be Necromancer pew pew now, so he could be an avatar for that new stuff

It's not as big as having a whole new class but still

Anet probably saw by now that many people miss Trahearne and we saw them bending to please sooo.... a coming back is clearly possible for me

• This one I'm kinda cheating because this isn't a real come back... but what about apparitions

Hear me out

I said before that I felt that Aurene/Commander wasn't/weren't showing enough their full powers potential

I'm also a huge fervent fan of that HC of the Commander absorbing magic by all the magic exploding on their face

So let's imagine the Commander be able to see or summon Trahearne from the Mist (without being exclusive to Revenant)

I could imagine the Commander at some point thinking about all the people they lost, maybe seeking reassurance, comfort and/or guidance

Trahearne would appear, time from time in the story to support the Commander

Those are the ideas I remember having said to my friend, maybe I will remember others later I dunno lfnzl

But I'm stupidly feeling in my bones Trahearne coming back in one way or another by something else than his favorite poesy or hallucinations (next to Farren with a stupid hat *screech*)

I can't explain it

I know it's stupid after so many years, you can laugh, I just... Feel it

There are too many people on Tumblr craving for Trahearne, Anet know that

[oldlionsarch]

Same curious anon here, I was wondering what your thoughts were on Cantha’s whole… Omni-Asia thing? Like, the mixture of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cultures? I know it was the main criticism of Cantha back in the Factions days, and I was curious if EoD made things any better despite not doing away with that?

personally i am not super bothered by it, for a couple of reasons.

first, while the pan-culture thing can def be done in very fetishizing, offensive ways that focus only on a mishmash of whatever aesthetics look cool without paying any attention to people, worldviews, religion, cultural practices, and such, i dont think pan-cultures in fantasy are inherently racist. racism is about a structural oppression and disenfranchisement of a minority culture, so reducing ppl to an aesthetic would definitely be racist, but for a story that covers an entire world and every continent and race and diaspora, i personally think it would be just absolutely unrealistic to expect every single individual country to be represented on its own. there are simply so many unique and important cultures and subcultures even within individual countries! if someone even tried, what would inevitably end up happening would be either so massive an undertaking it would never be done, or smaller less visible groups would be left by the wayside and their absence would be highlighted by the specificity of those represented.

either of those outcomes seems worse to me. i would rather imperfect depictions exist than none at all, as my url indicates i have been begging and waiting for this xpac for a long, long time. i knew it wouldn't be perfect and i (mostly) made my peace with that. asian people are underrepresented and struggle with invisibility and erasure enough as it is. as for the other outcome, since korea is very much in the spotlight right now bc of kpop, we would receive a lot of attention and care along with probably japan and china, while others might not, and that thought saddens me as well.

second, like. cantha isnt Literally Asia, its a fantasy world. in a vacuum where racism didnt exist in the real world and media representation didnt play such a major role in shaping ppls understanding of others in the absence of getting to know us personally, to be completely honest, i wouldnt care as much. it is what it is, so i do care, but i still do keep in mind that at no point does anet claim that they are Accurately Representing Asia. they draw inspiration from us, and as long as they are respectful of us as people and not just an aesthetic, i am happy to be represented.

the kirin situation upsets me because its an example of something specific being taken from our culture and then misrepresented. they cant include everything, they might/could have just not included kirin at all and while i would have thought "ah well, it would have been cool to have kirin but there is so much other stuff here," the specific decision to include kirin and then misrepresent them (even with gw1 lore saying why they are being misrepresented, i see you people and i have already addressed it twice), that is specifically fetishization, cherry-picking something that isnt theirs without taking the time to respect the people it belongs to, and especially profiting off doing so. does that make sense? feel free to ask further questions if you need to, i dont mind good faith questions <3

do keep in mind, though, that i am one korean person living in the diaspora, i do not and cannot speak for all of asia. these are my opinions based on my understanding of how racism materially affects us and of course colored by my own personal feelings. there are definitely some asian people who are not okay with pan-asia depictions and some who dont mind how kirin were handled, and i have my reasons for disagreeing with them as laid out here and in my other posts, but in my opinion, please err on the side of examining how we are represented and never becoming complacent and thinking racism is defeated, because regardless of the specific details, we still have a ways to go.

this got long, thank you so much if you read all this and thanks for your questions! 💗

[scythe-of-house-aurkus]

Actual thoughts on the Icebrood finale below the cut, proceed at your own caution.

I don't really have any issues with what happened in the finale, and the whole instance was incredibly cinematic. The short but rad kaiju fight? Ryland's death and Rytlock's + Crecia's grief? Braham being distinctly not dead? :chef kiss: And considering the nature of Champions as filler content, we got about what I expected.

That said, the whole damn thing was just too fast and suffered from devs being forced to cram in this story with limited resources + time. I like the idea of elder dragons being pulled to leylines, Aurene getting to be a prism, etc, however I feel like these are major story beats that should've been slipped in earlier in Champions.

Have Taimi or Gorrik drop some lines through the earlier DRMs about the possibility, make a bigger and earlier deal about having to manipulate Jormag into a fight, etc. so the finale doesn't have to bear quite so much. If Jormag's the dragon of Persuasion, we should have our work cut out for us to get them where we want them. (And please, please have the gameplay reflect the gravity of the finale a little better. It doesn't have to be that super mechanically challenging, but we should be doing something more than pressing our special action key. That's a little hyperbolic, but I'm just thinking about this in comparison to the Mordremoth + Kralkatorrik fights).

Related, I feel bad for asura players and dwarf enthusiasts about the lack of general involvement Primordus had when all's said and done. Not that a dragon whose defining character is 'mindless rage' needs to have more personality, but I feel like the defense-event style DRMs weren't quite enough for us to appreciate his impact. (On that same note, I wish Jormag had more to say in the final instance.)

With the big rocky boy gone, the chances of getting to see the Depths, updates on Asura society, etc. slip further and further away. The same can be said for all the charr and norn development that got dangled at the beginning of IBS, but at least they got a couple of full episodes dedicated to them (well, moreso charr than norn. Sorry norn mains).

Speaking of which...I'm 100% biased because I mostly play charr, but I was so excited for all the core Tyrian story threads that now might never see full closure. Will there be follow up on the whole Khan-Ur situation? Is the Foefire there for good? And what of the minor story beats introduced in IBS? What about that likely Inquest agent in Grothmar interested in Aurene? The lasting impact to norn society of what actually went down with Asgeir and the fang?

Regarding the whole 'killing more elder dragons with little consequence' thing, that'll be probably be a separate post. I feel like a lot of the commenters I'm seeing on reddit and wherever may've not seen the dialogue from Aurene mentioning that most of the magic didn't get absorbed. Maybe she really is capable of containing it, but I don't think we're skipping over that disruption to the All.

I've also hardly talked about character stuff here, but I'm curious what/if any character development Braham will have now that his major arc is complete. Will he get to tag along with us in EoD? (On the other hand, I feel like Rytlock's going to be sidelined a bit after this. He's got a lot to work through).

Also I know I joked about Bangar being a puddle earlier, but it'll be interesting to keep him around. Not that I'm expecting/hoping for a redemption arc, but like with Braham, I wonder what Anet has planned for the character. Plus it's Graham McTavish, come on.

Lots of negativity, but I think it's mostly because I'm saddened about the potential IBS had that got squandered. I feel even worse though for the devs who had to cut their plans short. That said, I'm not any less excited for what's coming ahead (hellloooo armory and more legendaries), and I still appreciate all the parts of IBS I initially enjoyed! Grothmar to this day is still one of my favorite maps and story steps.

I'm getting the impression a lot of people, players and devs alike, are ready to move on. I'll be curious to see how people feel about it a few months from now and further on down the road.

One last note, I'm replaying through all of IBS from the start rn, and I want to see how all of Champions feels as the one big episode that it is. Will probably have more input then!

[eggsordium]

because i want to, and because it intrigues me, i’m gonna go through all of these images and guess wildly at what i think they’re gonna be/what they represent LMFAO

minus the virtuoso, of course, because we already know about that one, and the necro, because @sepiidae​ already said it here

i know i just made a Whole Post about an idea for guardian elite spec, but i think this is the one for guardian, y’all. and if not guardian, then maybe revenant???? and the only reason i’m saying this is because the shape of this icon kinda reminds me of samurai helmets??

i think it’s because of the two spikes on top of the head, and the approximate “helmet” shape of it. now, i’m not japanese, nor am i particularly well-versed in samurai or that long era of japanese history, so i could 100% be wrong. but considering that cantha is the “east asian inspired setting” mmo classic (which in itself is a WHOLE separate post that i might make, being east asian myself), it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if anet tried to get something samurai-themed into the game, especially via something like an elite spec.

and for that reason, obviously, guardian is sort of a natural fit for something like a “samurai” theme. to my limited understanding, real-life samurai have a sort of... moral code they have to hold to? from wikipedia, “Bushidō (武士道, "the way of the warrior") is a moral code concerning samurai attitudes, behavior and lifestyle. It is loosely analogous to the European concept of chivalry.” which definitely fits up guardian’s thematic alley. but, again, please don’t take me at face value for this without doing your own research into samurai, because i know it’s a heck of a lot more complex and detailed than what i’ve got here!

on the other hand, revenant could be an interesting one here, since, being cantha, there could be a whole host of historical canthan “samurai” (i’m putting this in quotations because 1) i don’t know if they’ll rename it and 2) it’s definitely a vast oversimplification) that could be super cool to channel!!

okay, so, has anyone watched avatar: the last airbender? then you’ll probably know where i’m going with this. it’s obviously a bit of a stretch to identify a specific type of sword from a stylized icon, but the curve of these swords reminds me a little of the chinese dao

which, yes, is the type of sword that zuko used—in fact, he used two! dual dao, dual-wielding.

my current guess for this icon is for the thief. thief currently has access to main-hand sword, but not off-hand—which is also why i disqualified warrior, because it DOES have access to main-hand and off-hand sword. dual-wielding thief????? perhaps ninja-themed, as is often a classic????

i’ve got nothin for this one, you guys. it just looks like a little guy with REALLLLY buff arms and HUUUUGE pauldrons. siege warrior to accompany the siege turtle????? i hope so. himbo rights!!!

my guess is that this will be for the ele!! yes the fire gave it away. the diamond at the center does give me some pause however. we know that cantha’s been using a material called “dragonjade” in innovation and etc. after the whole kerfuffle with the jade wind. it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to guess that maybe that’s what the diamond in this icon is referring to?? but you would think that we’d get a dragonjade-engi class instead, but i have my reasons to hold the engi back because...

THIS. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE NEW ENGI YOU GUYS. IT LOOKS LIKE A ROCKET, AND UNLIKE JEFF BEZOS OUR ENGIS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESIGN AND CREATION OF ROCKETS.

it looks like a rocket, but i’d wager my entire life that this is a fireworks-themed class. cantha!! fireworks!!! engineer!!!!! fireworks were originally invented in china, after all!

and quite frankly, if anet doesn’t do a fireworks-themed engi elite spec, i’ll eat their headquarters. it’s just such a perfect combo!!!!

personally, i think this is for the ranger, because it kinda looks like a bear. or maybe a lion? tiger? and it kinda looks like a shield, i guess? rangers don’t have access to shields yet, so that could be cool!!!

now, i have no clue what class this is mean to be. or, should i say... noh clue. :3c

again, same disclaimer as the above about samurai, which is that i’m not particularly familiar with the specifics of japanese theatre and history. however, i have a vague approximate knowledge of some things, and what this icon reminds me of is noh theatre masks—specifically (after a quick google) the hannya type

i really don’t know which class this would go with, but my guess is possibly the revenant????? or maybe the thief? what we know of stereotypical ninja today possibly stems from theater performers—specifically, black-clad background theater helpers who were meant to be ignored while props were moved around and stuff, so i could see this icon being for whatever thief elite spec too!

this got SUPER long and SUPER away from me but hopefully people enjoy!!!

[lottieiswriting]

WTW EVENT DAY TWO | VENUS, RELATIONSHIPS

Warning: This work contains a trigger warning for death / near death. Proceed with caution! If there are any other triggers that you’ve noticed that you want me to add, please don’t hesitate to tell me and I’ll add them, no matter what they are.

A hundred years ago there lived a woman too clever for her own good. This in itself is not unusual; history is littered with women too clever for their own good, and with them men who are too ambitious and cruel for everybody else’s good.

What was unusual was that the woman was not a woman at all, but a goddess. Her name was Orsa, and she was the goddess of bargains and secrets and the wind. She was one of four elemental gods and, as is the way with immortals, she had grown tired of all but one of them over the centuries of their existence.

Of the four elemental gods, there were two natural pairs. Anete, goddess of water, preferred the company of Kos, god of earth. Orsa liked (as much as she liked anybody) the god of fire, Cassio. Orsa was flighty and emotional, liked destruction, and was cruel often enough for it to matter. Cassio was reckless and ambitious, liked destruction, and was angry often enough for it to matter.

It was the sort of relationship that was only ever fun when you were in it, or if you were watching from a safe distance of a few thousand miles away. Even then, sometimes you could feel the echoes under your feet of something the pair had done. Press your ear to the ground when the verberations came and you could even hear the muted screams.

But eventually, like all things, it began to rupture. Cassio began to hunger for more. More and more and more. Nothing was ever enough. Why should he stop at being the god of fire? Was fire enough? It was so easily destroyed. In a locked box with no oxygen, it would be extinguished with nothing to show for it. Throw enough water over it and there would only be small tendrils of smoke left. Was being the god of war enough? There wasn’t enough conflict in the world for somebody as angry as he was.

The thing about being cruel with somebody is that you begin to forget that you’re cruel at all. Orsa and Cassio were mirrors of one another. If you look in the mirror and you love the person in it, forgetting their many flaws and casual awfulness, how can you recognise that same awfulness in yourself?

More importantly, if you were to look in the mirror and that mirror is more powerful than you, how can you stand to live with it?

The thing about being cruel with somebody is that you believe they will forgive you anything. They have forgiven you so many awful things so many times before, after all.

So, one night, when the goddess of bargains and secrets and the wind was sleeping, Cassio crept up behind her, his breath slowly moving her hair on her pillow. He stared down at her face, his mirror, and felt only the smallest twinge of regret as he raised the knife above her.

Goddesses cannot die, but they can get close. For seventeen days and seventeen nights the goddess lived on the verge of death and life. Help me, she pleaded to her mirror. The god of fire said he would find her attacker and dispense justice. I promise, he said.

You should not make a promise to the goddess of bargains if you cannot deliver. You should not forget that the goddess of secrets is also the goddess of lies and will be able to smell one on you.

The goddess’s rage floated above the two, a tangible thing. “Betrayer,” she said softly.

The thing about being cruel with somebody is that you start to forget that they are capable of anything.

The ensuing fight split the four elemental gods into two factions. Cassio persuaded Anete, goddess of water, time, and justice, that they could all come to a peaceful agreement if she would just side with him. Kos, god of earth, life, and family believed that Orsa had been wronged. He alone saw how close the goddess had been to death. Even somebody as powerful as she was was nearly ruined by something like that; of course, that was the intention.

In the end, the two mirrors had to face one another again. The goddess of bargains and the god of war stood opposite one another in a cavern only just large enough to fit all their anger and hate and misery.

“You tried to ruin me,” the goddess said. “Fortunately, I am not easily ruined.”

“No,” the god said. “I see that now.” He smiled in a way that said he was not sorry. The goddess smiled back in a way that said she was not sorry either – not for what she had done (although she wasn’t sorry for that too) but for what she was about to do.

The thing about being cruel with somebody is that it forges a bond that is already half broken. It doesn’t take much to break it completely.

When the goddess raised a knife over her old friend’s heart, she had no regrets.

In the time that Anete, goddess of water, had fought in a war against her fellow gods, she had learned a lot. She had carefully weaselled the whole story (or his side of the story, at least) from Cassio and believed that what she had been told was the truth. When you are not the goddess of lies and the person you love is filled with hate and ambition, they will say anything if they think you will believe it. And when you do, well, when you do…

Of course, gods are not easily killed. But when Orsa’s knife pierced Anete’s heart, she came very very close. Closer, maybe, than even Orsa had, although it was not a competition.

A truce was agreed. The two would hate each other for eternity, each believing that the other had wronged them. Over time, history would alter itself. After all, when you are the goddess of lies, who can trust a word you say?

They forget that the goddess of lies is also the goddess of truth. They forget that Orsa lay dying for seventeen days and seventeen nights, just as Anete did.

They forget an awful lot of things, and yet history changes itself to fit with the partially forgotten version just the same.

If you’ve read this far– thank you! If you any feedback or comments at all, please don’t hesitate to let me know, I would love to hear any of your thoughts! Also, for those wondering, no, I am not able to write a myth or fairytale with a happy ending. Sorry.

[redwoodrroad]

after i finished Jormag Rising, i uh wrote up something i immediately imagined--just like a wrap-up conversation between Rytlock and my commander. im really proud of it, but i don’t think it fits for ao3 where i would normally post fic, so im putting it here! if you’d like to give it a read, let me know what you think!

im also realizing it’s. a little similar in setting to the Rytlock’s short story segment that anet put out after season 4 episode 5, but who doesnt love a good talk by a fire--it’s low stakes, like having an emotional talk in the car because it eliminates the awkward feelings people have to face when they’re forced to look each other in the eye while talking about serious topics

anyway please enjoy <3 it’s no work of art, but i had such an influx of sudden inspiration that i really wanted to write it out, so let me know what you think if you’re interested in reading my take on how Rytlock feels about Ryland, the current situation, how fatherhood has affected him in this one instance, etc

Rytlock sat at the fire, hunched slightly and unmoving. Having been concerned for him throughout this Jormag-related escapade, Eridunis approached and sank down carefully beside him. They didn’t speak for a moment, but soon Eridunis looked to Rytlock and started,

“... Are you doing okay?”

Firelight flickered across Rytlock’s face, reflecting in his eyes.

“No. I’ll be honest, Commander: I’m not.”

“I’m... here if you want to talk,” Eridunis offered, sliding back a little to give Rytlock more room.

Rytlock shook his head. “I just can’t believe it... I can’t believe... the arc I witnessed—First Ryland was just getting too damn cozy with an Imperator; then he was joining that Imperator on some... some fascist brigade... Then I thought—Well, he must have been brainwashed so well by Bangar that he could be convinced to willingly awaken an Elder Dragon to—to serve Bangar... And then this. How the hell did it come to this...”

Eridunis paused for a long time. After thinking carefully, he replied, “I think... This was probably Ryland’s plan for a while now... Maybe not the whole time, but—Let’s be honest here, Bangar was never gonna be Jormag’s Champion—“ Rytlock nodded with raised eyebrows, unsurprised by the observation. “—I mean I definitely didn’t think for a moment that would end up being Ryland, but... He’s smart. He... knew what he was going to do when he entered that ruin. This was all... leading up to it.”

Rytlock went still again, still staring at the fire. He flashed back to fighting Bangar, beside Ryland for the first time, only to watch him step forward and accept the horrific mark of Jormag.

Sighing, Rytlock blinked and leaned back, out of his head finally. “Do you know why I—“ He started slowly but cut himself off to restart: “Did I... Did I ever tell you why I never... brought him up... with you or with anyone?”

Eridunis blinked too and thought about it, scoring his mind for an answer. He soon shook his head. “No.”

Rytlock looked past the fire. He paused but soon began to explain, gesturing, “You know it’s... not really in Charr... culture or whatever... to be all family and kid-raising and all that... You know, you got your Sire and you got the Dam, and when she has the kid, it... goes away, right? Gets raised to... join a warband and not get all caught up by family shit. That’s the way it should be.” Eridunis squirmed, not agreeing—but Humans were different. His life was different. “But when Cre had Ryland,” Rytlock continued, shaking his head slowly, “I... I couldn’t stay away. I just felt this... this tug... towards him and towards him and towards this... this idea of being in his life.” He looked to Eridunis, seemingly a little uncertain suddenly. “Do you know what I mean?”

Eridunis nodded. “Yeah. I get that.”

Rytlock nodded back and looked away, pausing before he continued, “Something was different though. Now when... when I was a cub like that... I was... the smallest, weakest little runt in the group—no one liked me—couldn’t do anything right... Not to get all pity party on you...”

“Don’t worry about it,” Eridunis cut in with a small smile.

“But Ryland... He was liked enough... He got on just fine—got along with people too... He didn’t need any help.”

Eridunis frowned, suddenly thinking of something. “I was... under the impression that you didn’t see him,” he started quizzically, “Which was why Bangar was able to swoop in and... you know, get close to him in the first place.”

Rytlock scoffed. “Remember all those times Logan came to visit Divinity’s Reach to see you and his brother?”

Eridunis instantly thought of all the times Logan came to visit throughout his childhood—he had so many stories for him... He always looked forward to his visits. Smiling a little awkwardly, Eridunis nodded. “I guess you weren’t just twiddling your thumbs, huh?”

Rytlock let out a huffy laugh. “Yeah, exactly. I went to check on Ryland and... well, Ryland is my oldest, so... I guess my big head put a priority on him for some reason...” He trailed off, but after a long pause he continued again, “I kept... thinking he would need help... You know, what I would have done to have my Sire see me get pushed around—but I’m not—I’m not jealous—“ He began snarling with his self-defense, “I’m not—not rubbing my paws together like some sort of angry jackass—“

“No, no, no—“

“—waiting for him to fall over so I can sigh in relief over not being the weakest Charr in my bloodline—“

“Rytlock, I would have never thought that!” Eridunis cut in finally as Rytlock waved his hand in sharp dismissal. Eridunis turned to him fully and put his hand on Rytlock’s arm. “Rytlock, seriously—I get it. You weren’t jealous, you just—you wanted to be a father.” Rytlock stared at the ground as Eridunis continued, “You... lived this life of fear and frustration—no one understood you. I get that—I lived that! You thought... that if Ryland would be anything like you—his Sire—that he would struggle through his experience in the fahrar. You expected he would struggle in the same ways you did—and when he didn’t... you didn’t know what to do. You weren’t jealous that he was doing better than you at that age, you... you felt helpless.” Rytlock flicked his eyes up towards the fire again, looking drained by the actualization. “He... He didn’t need help. You kept... imagining what it would be like to be a father in this culture that doesn’t have fathers, but when your own son acted in ways you didn’t expect and didn’t look up to you, you pulled back even more and got distant, and you’ll never know if you could have had a better life if only you’d been honest with yourself and with him when it mattered most—and oh gods, I’m talking about me and Logan.”

Rytlock looked to Eridunis with wide eyes. Eridunis froze, looking down while he processed what he had said. He soon looked up to Rytlock again, and Rytlock raised his eyebrows before he asked, “You uh... got a lot still going on with that, huh?”

Eridunis paused but nodded as he let his head fall a little. He then shook and started again: “Anyway—What I really want to say is... You don’t need Ryland to look up to you.” Rytlock deflated and shook his head. “Really—I know it’s not all about that, but... It’s not your fault that this happened. It’s not... by some failure on you as his Sire that Ryland has chosen this path. Whether he chose it all himself or fell into it through bad influence, it’s not your fault.”

Rytlock looked gravely sullen. “... I won’t be able to kill him, Eridunis,” he said lowly, shaking his head as he stared at the fire again. Eridunis was struck not only by the use of his name, from someone who has primarily used his title for the past few years, but by the stark realism of the statement. Rytlock shook his head again. “No matter what he looks like. He could be... undead... Risen—Branded... and I would still know it’s him.” Rytlock’s eyes grew wetter. “I’d still see my son and think there must be a way to save him.”

Eridunis hesitated but gripped Rytlock’s arm again as he replied, “Don’t think about it—that’s not... on the table... not... now. Just—focus on where we are right now.” Rytlock closed his eyes and nodded, scowling at nothing when he opened them again. “Listen,” Eridunis continued, “Ryland’s... current situation aside... This is not your fault. You didn’t orchestrate this, Bangar did—“

Rytlock nodded with another scoff. “Yeah, him I’m okay with killing,” he bites.

Eridunis let out a dry laugh. “—Yeah, really—But look: You did not do this to him. You didn’t... screw him up, Rytlock...”

Rytlock didn’t seem completely convinced, but he looked to Eridunis and gave his best impression of a smile. “I get it. I know you’re trying to help, and... I appreciate it. I appreciate you being here.”

Eridunis nodded with his own smile. He sat back again and felt the urge to continue: “I know nothing can replace him in your heart...” Rytlock stifled the urge to gag. “... But if it helps... I’ve always looked up to you.”

Rytlock swung his gaze to Eridunis in absolute shock. “... Real shit?”

Eridunis cracked a bigger smile. “Yeah. I mean, when Logan first took me to meet Destiny’s Edge in old Lion’s Arch, I definitely walked away from that calling you an asshole under my breath to Logan—“

“Wow, thanks,” Rytlock grunted playfully.

Chuckling, Eridunis raised a hand, and he soon continued, “But—after I saw you save his life when we went up against the Flame Legion, this man who... had always been in my life and who I don’t know what I would do without his influence... When you saved his life, I immediately started to see you as someone I wanted to be.” Rytlock’s expression softened beyond what Eridunis thought could have been possible. Eridunis finished, “If you need to feel like you’ve made a good impact on someone in your life... let it be me. Let it be—Rox and Braham and Taimi and even Kas and Jory—Arkus, even. Let it be Logan, Rytlock.”

“Even Canach?” Rytlock cut in jokingly.

Eridunis snickered. “Yes—despite the fact that Canach would rather jump off a ravine than admit that he has feelings, I’m sure he appreciates the friendship you have.”

Rytlock let out a laugh and looked away again. He leaned back, propping his hands on the grass. “... Thanks.”

Eridunis paused, hoping he’d finally said the right thing for Rytlock to heal from this. “... You’re welcome, Rytlock.”

Eridunis soon leaned back and mirrored Rytlock’s position, and they both stared at the fire for a long while.

... Soon, though, Eridunis started again: “If you keep stressing out like this, you’re gonna grow more grey fur.”

“Say that again, and I’ll gut you right here.”

“I’m just saying; you’re gonna look like a snow leopard by the time we’re done with all this.”

“I’m pulling out Sohothin right now—“

“Don’t pull a hip while you’re at it.”

“—throw your body in the lake so when you come back to life again, you’ll be frozen solid anyway—“

Eridunis laughed, leaning his head back, and Rytlock couldn’t help but laugh with him, both of them finally relaxing after a long and terrible night.

[procession-of-blades]

For those still seeking the books, my dear friend @trahearnes-roommate​ pointed this one out to me, which, naturally, was my most-desired find to begin with!

personal feels under the cut

I’m not completely sure how I feel about the repercussions of this revelation. On the one hand, I’m exceedingly glad that Laranthir is safe n healthy, taking a much-needed rest at home. On the other hand, this absolutely REEKS of ‘aw crap aw crap they remembered it’s supposed to be Larry who takes over, but we want/need it to be Jhavi for narrative reasons. Uhhh PUT A LETTER IN, HE’S ON LOA!’ Which like. That’s okay. That’s better than killing him to give Jhavi his spot. Like SIGNIFICANTLY better and I was terrified they’d do that. Anet just has a history of shoving New Friends into the picture without...like particularly easing them in. LW2 says hi. I would realllly like them to replicate the success they had with Gorrik and Blish. That actually came off really natural and I feel like they...tried to do that again? But her conflicts with Braham don’t work the same way Taimi knowing the brothers did. 

All that said: hey @guildwars2 can you tell the devs to pretty please actually put my boy Laranthir in the Grove somewhere after getting that achievement or something? Lemme go hug my boy! If he’s on LOA lemme go see! It would do WONDERS for letting the world really feel alive, and that’s the point of the Living World, right? If he’s just in Vigil Keep forever talking about how he’s Almorra’s second-in-command it makes me even more :/ about Jhavi taking over haha

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

If your still taking requests for smut prompts, 107 with Benny Miller, I'm a slut for smut with feelings with this man :)

Prompt 107: “I’m not jealous! it’s just…you’re mine!”

Pairing: Benny Miller x F! Reader

Warnings: 18 + for language, fighting (MMA), p in v sex, jealous Benny, Oral F! Receiving, spanking.

A Misunderstanding

Fish sits down beside you, handing you a beer topped off with foam. You put it to your mouth and took a sip, giggling when the foam coats your upper lip, "hey look, I look like you," you pat his shoulder and he bursts out laughing.

"God, you are perfect for him," he laughs.

You smile and turn back to the stage, seeing the announcer getting ready for the main event. You listen as he announces the two fighters and cheer loudly when Benny makes his way out of the smoke and shadow boxes the whole way to the cage. Will follows behind in his black sweatshirt, clapping and talking, keeping Ben focused.

"You think he goes home and has a sore throat from all this yelling?" you ask Fish over the announcer and he just chuckles. Fish was your best friend at these fights, keeping each other entertained with beer, snacks, and awful jokes.

Benny enters the cage, and his eyes find yours, and he winks. You put down your beer and jump out of your seat, cheering like an idiot; he just smiles, loving how much you support him. "That's my man!" you shout, and Fish just snorts into his beer before pulling you back down.

You press your shoulder against Fish, "I got a good feeling about this one," you mumble and watch the fighters hit gloves.

"You say that about every fight," he snarks back, and you grin.

"And when have I been wrong?" you put your head on his shoulder and turn back to the fight and notice the slightly distracted look on Benny's face before he shakes his head. Frankie sits closer to the edge of his seat and presses an affectionate kiss to the top of your head.

"Yeah, yeah, just watch the fight." He turns to smile at you, and you give him a hug before sitting up to enjoy watching Ben. Neither of you noticed him watching you the entire time.

The fight does not go the way you had planned; Benny won, but it was brutal, his opponent had to be taken out on a stretcher, and when you smile at him, he ignores you stalking toward the locker room. "What the hell was that about?" you ask Fish, who shrugs, looking equally confused.

"Come on, let's go see him," he takes your hand and leads you through the massive amount of people, trying to leave out the opposite direction. You flash your badges at the guards and enter the long hallway that leads to the locker room. Benny and Will are arguing in front of his changing room, and you catch the tail end of the conversation.

"-that's my fucking girl," Benny growls before they both turn, noticing you and Fish standing there. Benny takes a menacing step forward, "take your fucking hands off her."

Fish instantly drops your hand and raises both of his, "whoa, calm down, brother." Will puts his hand on Benny's chest, and you raise a brow looking between the three of them.

"Are you fucking serious?" you ask exasperated, "you-you think that Fish and I? Did you knock your head?!" Benny turns his eyes to you and pushes Will's handoff. "Are you jealous?"

His eyes widen when you put your hands on your hips and glare him down. He stutters, "I-I'm not jealous! It's just..."

"What?! What is it then?"

"YOU'RE MINE!" You open and close your mouth in shock, Fish and Will looking at him with wide eyes. He takes a step toward you, but you hold up your hand; he freezes in his track.

"Then take me," you whisper. You feel all their eyes on you, and Fish and Will have the good sense to leave, the two of you alone in the hallway.

"What?" Benny asks quietly, his hands fidgeting at his side; you can tell he wants to reach for you. "What did you say?"

"You heard me," you speak a little louder, "I'm yours, then take me, Ben." He closes the distance, and you yelp when he tosses you over his shoulder and steps into his locker room, closing the door behind him. He puts you down, and before you can say a word, he has you stripped naked and standing between his spread legs.

His hands come out, and he slaps your ass; the sting burns, and you groan, "say it again."

"I'm yours," you growl back, and he smiles.

"Face the wall," you turn at his command, and it only takes a second before his warm, rough hands glide over the skin of your ass, spreading you. "So fucking pretty." He pushes your back down further, and you bite your tongue to stop the scream as his tongue dives between your folds.

He laps his tongue back and forth, tasting you before spearing his tongue and dipping it into your drenched core. You always got turned on watching him fight, and there is something about him being jealous that has you soaked. "Mine," he growls, biting your ass and returning to your pussy, "touch yourself," he orders. You dip your fingers against your clit and rub as his tongue brings you to the edge, but before you cum he sits back, "stop."

Your foreheaded presses to the locker, and your right hand is dripping in your arousal. He pulls you back, and you bend at the waist; your head snaps up when you feel his cock drag through your folds before he starts to pull you down, impaling you. "Benny," you groan, putting your head on his shoulder; he drags your hand across your chest and sucks your arousal off your fingers before cupping both your breasts and bouncing you up and down.

At this angle, you can feel every delicious inch of him inside you. While Benny wasn't as thick, he was fucking long, and you swore you could feel him poking at your belly with how deep inside you he is. He plants his feet on the ground and fucks up into you, his balls slapping against your ass with each powerful thrust.

His back is sweaty from the fight, and it's like a slip and slide as you are raised and lowered on his cock. "Benny, Benny, please," you whimper, not even sure what you're begging for anymore. But Benny knows; he always knows. He brings one hand down to play with your clit while his other keeps a firm hand on your breasts, twisting the nipple between his rough fingertips.

"That's it, baby, soak my cock," he mumbles against your shoulder before he bites down hard. You clench around his cock like a vice at the combination of pleasure and pain. "Fuck, you're so tight," he slurs, his thrusts continuing to pound into your helpless pussy.

You've lost the ability to speak, reduced to nothing but a salivating doll for him to fuck. "I'm close," he moans against your cheek, turning your head and fusing his mouth with yours. His kiss swallows your screams as you cum, flooding his cock; at the same time, he fills you full of his cum. His tongue tangles with yours as you both ride out your highs, rolling your hips, hanging onto the last tendrils of pleasure.

He struggles to catch his breath as he pulls back and presses his forehead to your shoulder, his lips kissing gently over his mark. "Are-are you okay?" he pants out, and you nod, leaning back against his chest.

"I'm more than okay," you huff out a laugh, "did that clear everything up for you?"

"What?" he asks, pushing you to stand and turning you to face him; he brushes his hand against your cheek, "what do you mean?"

"I mean," you brush the hair off his forehead, "there is no one else on this earth I love as much as you, and you are a fool if you think anything different. There will never be anyone else but you; I'm yours, Benjamin Miller, forever."

You wipe the tears that stream down his cheek, and he presses his head against your chest and places a gentle kiss. "So I say again, does that clear everything up for you?"

He raises his head with a watery smile, "Yeah, baby, I understand, and I love you too. I'll never doubt you again."

@lunarthoughts @jedi-mando @idreamofboobear @aerolanya @rebelliouscat @darklingveracruz @marvelprincess1994 @thirstworldproblemss @spacelatinoss @martellthemandalor @kesskirata @waatermelon-sugaar @jitterbugs927 @helga1031 @greeneyedblondie44 @mamacitapascal @oldstuffnewstuff @Yespolkadotkitty @heythere-mel @justanotherblonde23 @artsymaddie @anet @aellynera @lucifer- @houseofthirst @phoenixhalliwell @chicken-ona-stick @agirllovespancakes @ghostwiththemostbitch @the-purity-pen @paintballkid711 @wasicskogirl @fantasticcopeaglepasta @sarahjkl82-blog @boxdyeblonde @rosiefridayrogersunday @yeah-seems-legit @mimimi-stuff @ladyblogger-margie @memyselfandellasworld @peterhollandkait @itspdameronthings @emmy626 @luv-nd-serenity @randomness501 @littlebopper96 @alexmarie29 @hell-is-my-second-home666 @thisshipwillsail316 @madslorian @no-droids-on-sunday @glixxr @sfr99 @pedro-pastel @we-can-be-himbos @sleep-tight1 @sarhabee @its--fandom--darling @im-an-adult-ish @princess76179 @demoncrypt1066 @the-dendrophile-bookworm @Amneris21 @deliciouslydisturbed365 @princessxkenobi @Kirstg42 @ew-erin @maievdenoir @withakindheartx

@gunslinger2000 @omlwhatamidoinghere @linkpk88 @tlcwrites @lv7867 @mudhorn-djarin19 @mssbridgerton @elisabethbathgate @pascal-rascal424 @midnightzonzz @massivetfsimp @mandorush @marvelousmermaid

@daffodin @xjustmenobodyelse @blufanfictionthings @nicotinebirds @dreamer-101 @queenbbarnes @rayslittlekitten

[magisterlys]

Fading

Written Cross the Stars: Chapter 7

The commander battles for her life after Bangar’s attack.

Notes: This one is tramatic, and dramatic, but I hope it’s enjoyable? It gave me several fits to write and I’m unsure how it will be recieved but the potential that ANet gave with the ending of Shadow in the Ice deserved more than a simple fade to black, I thought. 

I’ve seen some posts bemoaning the lack of TRAMATIC COMMANDER so uh ... here you go. 

It hurt more this time. Dying. 

Maybe it was the shock of it. Maybe it was what bow fired the arrow now piercing her ribs, the irony of which wasn’t lost on her even as the searing heat overwhelmed her senses. The fire blossomed from the center of her chest, scorched it’s way up her throat. Every nerve was screaming in anguish as her flesh charred, as blood spilled from the ragged wound, colored the ice beneath her.  It hurt more this time. 

She didn’t even have a chance to cry out as she began to fall, her mind struggling to grapple with what just happened. She heard Crecia and Rytlock yell, but they sounded miles away. All she could see was Braham, the look of anguish and shock twisting his face. She tried to reach out to him, tried to speak but her body refused. She tasted ash and blood and it hurt. It hurt so much. She clawed desperately at the shadows beginning to cloud her sight. She wanted to cry, to scream, to beg. She couldn’t die. She refused. She didn’t want to die. Not yet … 

The last thing she heard before darkness finally took her was the furious, guttural snarl of a wolf.

That thing about how your life flashes before your eyes when you die? Lys could confirm that didn’t happen. Mostly it was just shock and pain and then it’s over. So she fully expected to find herself back in the Domain of the Lost when she opened her eyes, or rather, to lose herself there again. Why then, was she suddenly standing on the deck of Sayida’s airship? She remembered this day, this single perfect day where no one precious had died. When Kralkatorik had fallen. Where her family all stood together and allowed a moment of peace, followed Aurene’s light into the sunset. She could stay here. Stay in this moment with Braham standing beside her, with Taimi and Gorrik excitedly chattering about dragon physiology, Rytlock and Logan trading affectionate jabs on the other side of the deck. With the battle won. She could stay here, that would be okay. 

“Stay with me, Commander.” The pain returned with a vengeance. Sharp and hot, all-consuming. She couldn’t see but she felt a frantic hand, slick with something, clutch at the back of her neck, hold her head away from the ground as she spasmed. “Please, please don’t go.” All at once the pain lessened, washed away by the familiar ebb of Braham’s magics and she felt something warm and wet on her cheek. “Don’t leave me… don’t you dare leave me, Lys.” Braham? He was crying. Why was he crying? She tried to reach for him, to speak but the pain surged back, twisted her words into a gargle as she tried, and failed, to take a breath. 

“No! No no no. Wolf, you can't have her!” 

She always ended up back here, didn’t she? Just a little girl staring up at the Hawkgates, unable to understand that the remains lying on the ground, torn unrecognizable by charr claws, were her family. Her father wasn’t walking back through those gates, her mother would never be standing in their shadow, telling her stories again. This was the day her path was set. She could save the whole world a dozen times over but it didn’t matter. She was always back here and she was always alone, at the end of things. The walls of the Stronghold had never fallen.  

She felt light, as if she were floating. Her pain-fractured mind pieced together that she was being carried, and somehow she knew that it was Braham. She tried to open her eyes, to see him, but when she did a searing sharp pain overwhelmed her.

“Hey, hey … I’ve got you. You’re alright.” Braham spoke softly, shifted to hold her more securely as she struggled. “You’re going to be alright.” 

The way his voice shook betrayed him. Liar. She wanted to tell him so but her throat refused, sent another crushing wave of pain as she tried. She managed only a ragged squeak. 

“Don’t try to talk.” His voice broke as he spoke, “Aurene will … you’ll be okay. Just stay with me, you hear me?” She felt the ghost of his lips on the top of her head and she tried, she tried so hard to stay. She wanted to stay. 

It was dark. The single circle of light radiating around her feet served only to reveal the depths of the inky blackness that surrounded her. Where was she? Was she anywhere, anymore? There was a sound in the distance, a faint rhythmic tapping somewhere behind her. It was when she tried to turn toward the sound that she realized she couldn’t move. Every muscle was frozen, she could only breathe and blink and listen as she realized with a cold horror that the tapping was footsteps, and they were drawing nearer. She tried again to look over her shoulder, a panic rising in her throat, but her body wouldn’t listen. The footsteps halted directly behind her, the only sound now her own heart pounding in her ears. Something touched her hair ... then she felt a hot breath on her neck. Smelled rot and sand. 

“My dearest Commander, it’s really been far too long …” A skeletal hand traced along her opposite cheek. Long, decrepit fingers wrapped around her throat, turned her head against her will to look into the leering, eager face of Palawa Joko. “We’re alone. Finally. No messy fighting, no bothersome interruptions. Just you and me and eternity.”

Joko drew nearer to the commander, his grip on her neck tightening as his visage twisted into a pleasant grin, “Where should we start?” 

All at once, he was gone. Everything was gone. 

The first time Lys saw the All, all those years ago in Omadd’s Machine, she’d been floating through it; her point of view separate, as if looking down upon a great, shifting machine. Each time she’d seen it since, and she had seen it hundreds of times since the bloodstone, there was less and less of her and more of Everything. All. 

This time was different. There was not less of her, or more of All … there was no division between the two. She was the shifting flows of magic, the celestial river. The dragons, and the stars rising and falling; the circles within circles, branching to circles. And they were familiar. She knew this pattern and her mind, fractured and expanded, tried to make sense of them like a child struggling with their letters. She knew, but she did not understand. 

Antikythera. 

Then a familiar tone sounded, a single crystalline chime. It resonated among the circles, gathered her scattered pieces. Coalesced, called her back. Wherever she was, it was safe and there was no more pain. She felt arms around her, lowering her down to someplace warm like sunlight. The absence of that embrace was poignant and she reached out, searching for it.  A hand enveloped hers, clutching tightly and she clung to it as the warmth and the song willed her to rest.

[caim-the-godstomper]

So, War Eternal, uh?

We got a very short trailer of the new episode so imma over analyse the shit.

   First we got what looks like Kralkatorrik, flying through colorful mist. We know Kralka fled to the Mists and the next shot show that purple dragon is bleeding from an eye and I remember beating that eye bloody so alright. Kralkatorrik is fleeing through the mist. It’s all purply so he probably is in Stigmatempest mode or something

   The next shot, we can see its head and the bleeding eyes I was talking about. Interesting thing: the Mists color are now green. A bit weird considering the overtone of the Mists seem to be much more blue if oneself consider the previous tour in the Mists we did. Why the change f color? NO IDEA. Just thought I’d point it out. Like the purple seem logical around Kralka, the green, less so

   Then we got clear blue sky, two dragon-shaped UFO and a bit of tree. The tree look kinda like a pine tree? Oh and there’s flying rocks. I’d say one more point for “we’re still in the Mists” but there’s flying rocks all over Central Tyria.

   The wing of the closest DSUFO appear somewhat golden but that might be due to the reflection of the sun. The background DSUFO seem close to a tempest SO ID SAY THIS ONE’S KRALKA. I also argue it’s the case due to the fact that the two DSUFO seem to be relatively the same size despite an obvious distance. I don’t know you but I don’t want to think about a flying Dragon bigger than Kralka. As for the closest one? If the wings are anything to go by in that trailer? Imma say it’s Vlast. He’s the only Dragon we saw whose wings could look like that. Glint was clear colored, Aurene was very blue. I DON’T WANT IT TO BE VLAST, MARK MY WORDS. The boy suffered enough in his lifetime. But if we are indeed in the Mists, then he’s an option.

   So Yeah I did two paragraphs of analysing the TWO SECONDS OF FOOTAGE THAT ARE NOT KRALKA FLYING IN THE MISTS. YES I COUNTED

   The two last seconds give us the confirmation that this is, indeed for the episode 6, that it’s coming soon (I won’t be emotionaly ready for another month Anet, please). and a name.

   War Eternal.

   Boy do I not like it one bit. Everyone knows people die in wars. But hey, WORDS ARE A THING YOU CAN ANALYZE TOO

   War is straightforward. That implies armies, we heard of plenty. NOW THE ETERNAL THAT’S AN OTHER STORY. 

   Eternal: 1- lasting or existing forever, without end

   Currently the only things that would entierely fit that description, that always existed are the Mists. Now we know Kralkatorrik fled there and we also know that Glint and a number of ghost are fighting on that front and…

AND I DON’T KNOW ALRIGHT?! WE GOT FOUR SECONDS OF NEW INFORMATION THAT’S SUCH AN ASS MOVE AND AS YOU CAN SEE IM DYING!!!

Commander out

[sophiech161-blog]

BREAKFAST

  I am interested in exploring breakfast as a potential theme for my Final Major Project. I think that as a subject matter, there is a lot to explore within it.  It is something that is universally eaten and the mundane nature of it makes me want to found a more interesting perspective. The food of breakfast is something I could potential investigate but I am more interested in the behaviors and rituals around breakfast. For example many people, including me and most of my family have the same breakfast everyday. This kinda of ritual and obsessive routine is particular interesting as you don’t see it in other meals throughout the day. Having the same Lunch or dinner every day would be seen as very boring, so how came this boredom doesn’t apply to breakfast. What makes us reluctant to change our breakfast, is it something about the time of day perhaps? The food is not the only part that is a constant, I think the way me and my family behave and act at breakfast is the same each day, such as what we say and the order of what we do to prepare our food. I want to know if this is as similar each day as I think and if this strict morning routine is the same for other people. Other area of interest is the different types of food, different countries eat, some very savory and some very sweet. I think a good test could be to get people to try different countries breakfast and see how they feel.I think it is funny how what we are allowed to eat for breakfast is so strict and restricted compared to other meals. I am also keen to look at the history of the English breakfast as well as other types of breakfast and what people think should be in it to be considered a ‘full English breakfast’ Beans?, black pudding,? hash brown? The hotel buffet is unlike the everyday morning, somewhere many people branch out of there normal routine and it is a very interesting environment to explore. For example, how much is it acceptable to take on one plate? What should be included in a buffet to be perfect? I also want to look at how breakfast foods has and is advertised. I think the scientific debate around breakfast being the most important meal day vs something that can be missed without any health effects is interesting and reflects the wider contradicating diet advice given to the public. I was influenced to chose the subject matter of breakfast because I explored it a bit in my fine art rotation earlier in the year. I specifically looked at my Dad’s breakfast and his complete obsession with cornflakes. He has eaten them for over 30 years. I made a film with him talking about cornflakes over the top of visuals of him eating them. I was pleased with the simplicity but effectiveness of the outcome to capture something so mundane in a peculiar and funny light. I think I could investigate further into my Dad’s breakfast and his love of Kellogg cornflakes, something he has given me as well. I could perhaps test out how many packs of cornflakes he has eaten in his life, the drama when the cornflakes run out and the obsessive of his breakfast.  Similarly like my Dad my Grandad has eaten the same porridge for most of his life, now 92 that is a long time! And as I child I remember being taught specific instructions and techniques of how he makes it and eats it. For example he pours a cup of cold milk to dip his spoonfuls of porridge into. Another idea I had was given the universal nature of breakfast, the famous scenairoes and historic events where breakfast was eaten.

 To gain insight into the topic of breakfast, I will look at historical references as well as artists and designers who look at related topics.  I could look at the history of breakfast. On a food website Mashed there is an article: ‘ the secret history of breakfast’. It explains that in the medieval times breakfast was not eaten and it was seen as a sin to eat before morning mass. It says that once people started to be employed rather than work on their own land, eating breakfast before work became more common to fuel then through the long hours. An interesting fact it mentions is that breakfast cereals, such as granola and cornflakes were invented as it puritans thought plain food would suppress sexual desires. John Harvey Kellogg, the inventor of cornflakes is a very iconic charter being an American doctor  and someone I could look into further. Another reference I could explore is the changing packaging and branding of cornflakes and other breakfast products. Some art references that I could look at to gain insight is artists wider exploration of food and meals. For example a film that explores a panic attack at a self service check by  is interesting in the way it takes very mundane food objects and they are able to convey such intense emotions. I would also want to look at the artist Michaela Mihalyiov’s who explores rituals around mealtimes. She created an animation “Food’ which used food to explore more complex human connections, and feelings. I like the graphic bold style she uses and the playful humour she achieves. The photographer’s Olivier Degorce and Martin Parr are fascinating in the way they portray things in a truthful and honest way. Olivier Degorce explores the contents of stranger’s fridges while Martin Parr’s series ‘Real Food’ showcases what’s exactly on the world’s plates. I also like some of his other work that captures British culture and behaviours, something that could help me with my approach to looking at the full english breakfast. Another I could look at is Brian Finke, his series looks at the awdarkness of office lunches. Although not focused on breakfast he has captured the animalistic nature that eating is. The designer Carolien Niebling doesn’t specifically look at breakfast but explores the consumption of meat and her publication “the sausage further’, explores in detail the making and types of sausage. I think this detail investigation into a food many eat but have no idea how it is made is try of breakfast foods such as cereal.  The animator Anete Melece is someone who I could look due to her exploration of daily routine particualry her trailer for ‘Analysis Paralysis’, where the character has a turmoil over what to cook at the supermarket.  I could also look at old advertisement for breakfast foods, many which I can access on youtube such as an old sugarpuffs advert, where the boy turns into the sugar monster. The animator Ching Yang explores the mundane nature and routines of everyday life and uses audio in a very effective way. Further to that I could look at both old and new ideas of breakfast, by getting old recipe books, maybe from my grandparents. Then comparing these to more modern, contempary recipe books  and breakfast recipes I have. For example avocado on toast is a very modern concept and has only gained popularity in the last five years.  

 This subject matter relates to my wider practice as I have already explored a similar concept. Earlier on in the year I created a film that explored the obsession my dad has about Kelloggs cornflakes using visuals and audio. I was very happy with the outcome and felt I could push the concept a lot further, looking more at the ritual and routine of breakfast overall. I would like to use aninmation in this project, and use it in a playful and lighthearted way, something I have experimentation previously with for my typography project, where I use simple line drawings and colored card in a bold style. Moreover whilst doing my Fun to Imagine brief, I looked at the behavior of people, something that will be crucial in this project. Another medium I could use within this project is film making something I have learnt more about in the puppet project as well as my fine art rotation.