#companions or foes… does it really matter…

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

My dear lgbt+ kids, 

I have always admired people who have their one thing. People who care deeply about one highly specific cause, people who have deep knowledge about their one niche interest, people who are really into one particular movie… 

I just think it’s neat! It’s really interesting to hear people talk about their one thing. There’s also so much comfort in the fact that people can find so much happiness and meaning and purpose in something seemingly random! 

Last but not least, it’s also often the people with their one thing who (pardon my language) get shit done. Someone who puts their whole heart into doing their one small thing passionately likely does much more good for the world than someone who tries to constantly give their attention to every single problem everywhere all the time simultaneously. The first one can keep their energy and love for the cause high, the latter probably just ends up burning themselves out. 

… and yet, with all this genuine admiration for people like that: I often judge myself for being a person like that. 

If you wonder what my one thing is, well, you’re looking at it! It’s writing about mental health and wellbeing in the lgbt+ community. I write this blog. I write books with main characters who are lgbt+ and mentally ill or neurodivergent. I do a lot of research on that topic to base my writing on ,and also just for fun. Even with the music or movies or books I enjoy, I seek out that topic or at least I’ll analyze it with that lens… So, according to my very own thoughts I stated above, I should feel like the coolest guy ever! 

But I don’t. I feel embarrassed when people ask about my interests or hobbies. I feel guilty for it not being something you can „turn into a career“. I feel like I’m boring for writing 3 books about the same topic. I feel like I’m stupid for not having multiple passions. I feel like I need to prove my masculinity by having more „male interests“... long story short, I’m being a big old bully to myself about it. 

You may be a „my one thing“ person as well or maybe you’re someone with many different interests, or maybe you are someone who has one thing but the thing changes every few weeks. No matter where you stand, we probably have this in common: we can be really mean towards ourselves over things we wouldn’t judge others for. This may be so common because it’s pretty easy to have a distorted perception of ourselves (after all, we notice every single little thing we think or do or say, while in others we see the bigger picture) or because so many grow up internalizing negative messages about ourselves(but not about others). 

We set impossibly high standards for ourselves that we would never impose on our loved ones - but we should also be our own loved one. After all, you’ll be the person you spend the most time with during your life. Much better for your closest companion to be a friend than a foe. 

So, in this spirit, I’ll try to lead by example: I have my one thing, and that’s super cool of me!! What’s cool about you? 

With all my love, 

Your Tumblr Dad 

[minthara]

i extracted files and searched for Minthara's name, some snippets (I sadly cant see who says them AND its really hard to tell one line from another) and it shows the romance is either bugged or they cut it out of the game

its all jumbled up, so theres 100 % more i cant find, but it doesnt mention her name. i did not add lines i personally encountered in game

SPOILERS

pregnancy

So, Minthara has one in the proverbial oven?

I hope we're not finished with our current labours before Minthara drops her egg. War is the perfect nursery for a child.

Minthara with child… Somehow I can't picture her sitting around the campfire, knitting baby booties…

Minthara's pregnant. A new life, a little one, sprung from all this fuckin' chaos.

companions about/to minthara (GUESSED BY ME!! IT DOESNT SAY WHO!!)

It's funny seeing you so smitten, Minthara. Didn't think you were able.

How curious - I've only ever known Minthara to moan with pleasure when somebody's losing a limb.

So, you and Minthara, is it? I suppose that little spark we shared has been snuffed out then. I don't blame you though - she is a… compelling prospect.

And you're carousing with Minthara.

Not interested in Minthara's leftovers, I'm afraid.

Any doubts about falling for a foe, Minthara? Or does that just add spice to things?

Minthara's something of a closed book, but I suspect a heart of gold lurks beneath that stern countenance.

So. You and Minthara. Wow. Impressive.

I bet Minthara is fun.

To choose Minthara over, well, anyone… It's certainly a brave decision. One might hazard to say reckless. Stupid. Fatal…

I hope you and Minthara are very happy together. Or miserable. Whatever she prefers.

Right. Well, far be it for me to stand in the way of true love. Or anything else Minthara wants, for that matter.

What about Minthara? Weren't you guys in some kind of horrific power play masquerading as romance?

Hey, so, what's romance like in the Underdark, Minthara?

And you favour Minthara, no less. I thought you valued yourself. Minthara certainly doesn't.

pc to/about minthara (GUESSED BY ME!! IT DOESNT SAY WHO!!)

Amorous passions usually make people more considerate, Minthara. Kinder. Sympathetic. Better at cooperating.

Even my people know the value of a carefully crafted coalition, Minthara. Is our own alliance not a case in point?

Who do you love, Minthara?

I'm yours, Minthara.

I've decided to pursue a relationship with Minthara. I thought you should know.

You've judged my affections wrongly - I am much closer to Minthara!

It was only sex, Minthara. Do you have to be so dramatic?

I'll do it. Just please - don't hurt Minthara.

Yes. I'm yours, Minthara.

She comes in here, into our camp, and lays hands on my Minthara?!

We'll find your family, Minthara. And slaughter them. Would you enjoy that?

You think I'm beautiful? Oh, Minthara.

narrator (GUESSED BY ME!! IT DOESNT SAY WHO!!)

You slept with the drow Minthara. You pleased her.

The guard is happy to let you pass - Minthara is rather less happy about your choice of words.

You slip into Minthara's mind while all her attention is focused on saving her own skin. You can feel her guilt everywhere, writhing and churning. All it takes is one little push…

idk

Who knows how long the real Minthara has been strapped to Orin's altar? We owe it to her to bring her back safely. She would do no less for you or I.

You're that True Soul that's been chumming around with Minthara, aren't you?

Care to share any of Minthara's weaknesses? Or would it take too long to go through them all?

And Minthara is - eh. A friend of yours, I am sure.

Distract her with thoughts of your night with Minthara.

Orin, masquerading as Minthara… That certainly explains her vociferous antipathy towards me.

And what more beautiful terror can there be than that wrought by Minthara and her love?

Why so surprised? Minthara murdered her way out of the womb.

I'm glad to know you have a softer side, Minthara. I was beginning to think you rather heartless.

Minthara Baenre. It is fair to say her intimacy is not easily won. Nevertheless, I did. Tried. (ORIN??)

My good friend Minthara is the funniest person I know.

Orin thinks Minthara's abduction is an ultimatum to kill Gortash.

status

Partnered with Minthara

Orin abducted Minthara. She told us that she'll release her if we kill Gortash.

Minthara is in Orin's clutches.

searching for "baenre"

It is true. Surface food lacks flavour. House Baenre banquets were legendary.

[slusheeduck]

Casual Banter Masterpost

aka my Fictober 2023 drabbles! I figure I might as well get them all in one place on Tumblr, since I have them in one AO3 fic. Using the titles and descriptions from AO3.

Featuring my named Tav (Falerin), Tav/Astarion, a lot of Gale, and most importantly INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE COMPANIONS.

Day 1: Smart - Astarion asks for a magic lesson. Day 2: Prize - Karlach wins a prize at the circus. Day 3: Fireside - One last campfire chat before the Shadowlands. Day 4: Cooking Lesson - Lae'zel learns to cook. Day 5: Mask - Astarion tries on a mask for funsies. It goes badly. Day 6: Sick - Gale and Falerin chat about friendship and illnesses Day 7: Anchor - Astarion regrettably holds Halsin's hand. Day 8: Good Taste - Gale shares a treat, and a good time is had by all. Day 9: A Talk - Just a little chat, in regards to some campsite romance. Day 10: Drizzt Do'Urden - Wyll, Karlach, and Astarion find some common ground. Day 11: Temporary - The campsite romance hits a snag. Day 12: Mirror - Gale makes good on teaching Astarion magic. Day 13: Lost Wizard: If Found, Contact Tara - Tara despairs over the state of her runaway pet wizard. Day 14: Clowning Around - Falerin uses a disguise kit. Astarion wants a divorce. Day 15: Proper Horn Care - There's no possible way to write this summary without it looking horny. Day 16: A Token - Halsin carves a little gift for Astarion. Day 17: One Nice Thing - Karlach shows Shadowheart something nice, when she really needs it. Day 18: 90% Evil - Why WOULDN'T the rogue be the one to talk to the death cultist? Day 19: Seamstress - No one in camp but Astarion would have survived Home Ec. Day 20: The Selfless Choice - Or, How To Be A Confidant To Both Halves Of A Couple In The Face Of World-Ending Catastrophe, By Gale Dekarios Day 21: Taste Test - Falerin is...kind of a fucking weirdo. This is Gale's burden to bear. Day 22: Curl-based Despair - Astarion experiences #curlygirlproblems. Falerin helps. Day 23: Hunger - Someone gets a little hangry. Day 24: Pact, Pt. 1 - Astarion finds out about Fal's illness. Day 25: Pact, Pt. 2 - Astarion finds out about Fal's illness. Day 26: The Cuddliest Foe - Lae'zel does some research. Clive assists. Day 27: Homecoming - Two resident Baldurians discuss coming home. Day 28: Date - Astarion gets some new clothes. Day 29: A Healthy Dose of Theatrics - Are you really best friends if you've never been tempted to throttle each other? Day 30: Starfall -The newly formed party takes a moment to enjoy a magical sight. Day 31: Epilogue - A quiet moment after saving the world. Post-Fictober Drabbles:

Stars in His Eyes - Fal learns about naming ceremonies--and why Astarion has the name he does.

Slumber Party - Astarion and Gale have a fun night of kicking their feet, giggling, and discussing the all-consuming power they both intend on taking for themselves. Kidnapped - Astarion's siblings succeed in getting him back to the manor - but he's stronger now. Plus he has a very, very pissed-off partner. Rewriting The Story - After defeating Cazador and a tryst in the graveyard, it's time for some relationship reflection. Happy - Surely being the lover of an ascended vampire is the happiest ending one could hope for. (Ascended Astarion AU)

Wild Heart - A brief moment, the morning after the almost ascension, where two early risers have a chat.

Matters of Balance - Withers performs a resurrection. Breathe Deep, and Move - You can never really go home.

Side-Tracked - As they're embroiled in a murder mystery, Fal decides to take Astarion out for some enrichment.

Late Night Thoughts - Astarion has some thoughts on Falerin's lie from earlier in the day. (Bonus chapter for Side-Tracked)

In The Weeds - Astarion decides to take in the sights of Baldur's Gate during the day, and has a nice conversation with a local.

New Tricks - Astarion discovers a new trick while trying to herd a cat.

Party Favors - The ultra-self-indulgent take on the ever popular tiefling party.

[jolenes-doppelganger]

Reflected Through the Looking Glass (Part Three)

Lucifer Morningstar (The Sandman) x Fem! Reader

Summary: As your relationship with Lucifer continues to confuse itself in the matters of Earth, a new higher power is introduced, and with that Lucifer begins to lose their composure.

Warnings: None

A/N: I am trying so hard to fall in love with this series again, but it is very, very hard not to skip straight to my asks and fire away with the other requests and series I have on my to-do list. I am praying that my haste to finish up this series does not lessen the quality of it, especially considering part two of this series was definitely not my finest work. Regardless, please enjoy!

Word Count: 1.9k

Lucifer didn't know what to do with their angel anymore. This creature, this soft under bellied thing of beauty, of perfection, of naivety was not meant for such coarse hands as theirs. Touching them had been a mistake, a mistake that made them feel guilty, a mistake that kept them awake as you slumbered in their bed.

"Little angel." Lucifer whispered, gently shaking you awake.

Sleepy, confused eyes looked back up at the fallen deity.

"I will be busy all day today. Amuse yourself with anything in my chambers." Lucifer spoke.

Then they left the still half-asleep angel to themselves. It was imperative that Lucifer dealt with this next issue without the possible disturbance of their little angel, their little companion. Dressed in dark red robes, it was clear to all that passed the ruler that they were expecting company; important company.

"Mazikeen, how long have they been waiting?" Lucifer asked their former companion.

"Not long, your majesty." the demon answered.

Stepping into the large hall, Lucifer was met with the unmistakable stench of the Almighty's chosen.

"Lucifer Morningstar, you've made it." Michael murmured.

"Michael, the Archangel." Lucifer sneered. "My old foe come to disturb my affairs once more.

The angelic figure remained unamused, preoccupied by more pressing matters than Lucifer's jabs, it seemed.

"The mortal world has descended into a state of decay. Every living tree, plant and animal withers as Mother Earth searches in vain for Kore."

Lucifer hummed nonchalantly, unconcerned with the fate of the mortal world.

"Well I do hope she finds her little daughter sooner than later." Lucifer shrugged. "Until then, hell has it's own matters to attend to. The state of decay will only increase the intake of the damned."

Michael's face twitched in a mix of anger and annoyance.

"You may be the Prince of Lies, but you cannot deceive me, foul one." Michael declared. "Release Kore back to her Mother."

"I can do no such thing, she's already mine, you see. In flesh and in spirit."

Lucifer examined their nails, unconcerned with the matters of the world above them. If Earth was decaying, it was of no consequence to them and their domain.

"You should know that there is moss sprouting on your walls."

Lucifer paused, and then laughed heartily.

"Nothing grows here Michael, surely you know that!"

Michael pointed, and in the dim light, large patches of dark green moss swarmed the stone wall, delicate daisies sprouting up in between the crevices of the growth.

"Release Kore, before she changes hell, before she changes you."

Lucifer stared at the growth on the wall, the corner of their lip twitching up into a slow snarl. With a flick of their wrist, a large patch of eternal flame descended upon the green, burning it away, destroying the reminder that their (Reader) was not really theirs.

"Get out!" Lucifer howled, descending upon the angel in a blaze of violence and aggression.

The archangel had already made their escape, however. The only thing that remained was the glowing, porcelain stone. A permanent remainder of the Almighty. Grabbing the stone wall to steady themselves, Lucifer repressed the urge to burn the entire patch of stone black, rather they spread their large bat wings, descending on the ninth circle of hell. The damned would be especially despairing, today it seemed.

<------------->

Waking up from the dream of Earth felt like being dropped into a tub of ice cold water. Instead of fresh, clean air, the smell of charred flesh and sulfur burned your nose. Green, vibrant fields of trees, bird song and life complete was replaced with visions of darkness, of flames blue and red, contraptions of metal and stone meant to torture, to harm, to eternally torment. And the arms of Mother, sturdy and humming with life were replaced with the too soft mattress, blankets tinged with only your warmth.

Getting up, you felt an unfamiliar weight on you. Wiggling out, you were met with the sight of moss covering every possible surface of Lucifer's chambers. A large conifer tree had begun to sprout diagonally from the wall, and vines hung from the ceiling. It was all a gross imitation of Mother's most beautiful creations, but it was similar to hers in ways that made you wonder. Surely all of this had not come from you while in your sleep?

Beneath a large patch of moss came the miserable squeals of something caught and trapped. Walking closer, you were careful to pry the moss off of the squirming bundle beneath the heavy growth. It was the imp from yesterday, covered in head to toe in delicate yellow flowers.

"No! You mustn't sees us!" it screamed. "Master will hurts us!"

You laughed in shock, looking at the long eared thing in a mix of amusement and delight.

"Shh, shh, be quiet!" you told the imp, gently brushing off the little flowers that clung to it's pudgy body.

The short imp stared up at you in curiosity, button nose sniffing in curiosity. It reminded you of a bunny, or perhaps a squirrel that had been given too much food and lost its fur.

"Are you alright?" you asked, holding out your hands in delicate accomodation.

The imp nodded.

"We's named Bunt." the imp said. "We's not supposed to talk to yous, Master said you for them only, but we's think that's mean. You's the best thing here, we wants to see you too." Bunt said, dragging it's toe along the stone ground shyly.

You giggled at the adorable speech pattern of the creature, brushing off the last few flowers that stubbornly stuck to the imp.

"Well then we just won't tell Lucifer, will we?"

The imp nodded.

"Yes, we lies."

You frowned, thinking for a moment. Lying was something you'd been taught to refrain from doing when with Mother, but perhaps it was different with Lucifer.

"Or you just don't say anything otherwise."

The imp nodded, looking about the green covered room in a mix of curiosity and delight.

"Can we eats it?" Bunt held up a flower.

You shrugged, then nodded 'yes'. The imp put it in it's mouth, chewing slowly. A big smile grew over it's features, and it went about the room, eating as many flowers as it could find. Then came the vines. The imp chewed on them with delight. You suspected that this was for the better, Lucifer was the opposite of life, you suspected that the growth would anger them.

"Bunt, could you do me a favor?" you asked.

"Whats?"

"Can you bring some friends in and eat everything green and alive in the room, please?"

Bunt growled, not happy with having to share their newest treats. But they begrudgingly nodded. With a shrill call, more imps appeared, and the eating commenced. You watched in awe as they ingested the moss with relish, even going so far as to eat the trees that had sprouted up. It took but a half hour for the legion of small creatures to clean the room of the foliage, and by the time they were done, you were left with a large pile of fattened imps laying about the room at random intervals.

You delighted in how silly they looked, and how much healthier they appeared. Green, sallow skin turned a brighter shade of yellow, pustules disappearing and replaced with what appeared to be patches of hair. The more they slept, the more they changed. Naked tails turned full and fluffy, and their claws grew darker and firmer.

"What have you done?" a voice hissed.

You turned on your heel, meeting the worried and disfigured face of a demon.

"There was foliage everywhere, and the imps were hungry... It just seemed like a good idea."

The demon sighed in a mixture of concern and disbelief.

"There are no good ideas in Hell. Never, ever have another good idea. They look like... Bunnies!"

You nodded, gently picking up your favored Bunt. They curled into your arms, tail twitching in their sleep.

"They're cute! And now they won't be cold down here." you shrugged.

"Put down the imp!"

"Why should I?" you countered.

The demon let out a sigh of anger.

"Because I am Mazikeen, Lucifer's righthand, and I promise you if they see the imps fat, furry and happy, they will burst a blood vessel."

You frowned, sitting down with the imps. A few of them awoke, crawling into your vacant lap. Soon all of the imps lounged somewhere on or next to you. The group of small squirrel-people yawned and let out small whistles and chirps in their sleep.

"I like them. They're nice."

"Exactly! Imps aren't supposed to be nice!" Mazikeen groaned.

"WE'S HAPPY!!!" Bunt shouted, curling deeper into your arms.

Mazikeen bit their knuckle, obviously repressing a large emotion of some kind. Watching the imps roll around like little animals and letting out little coos garbled in with their strange speech was adorable. They sucked on their furry hands, yawning and twitching. It was too much for the demon to bear, and they finally broke into a fit of laughter. They appeared both shocked and amazed as the laughter continued.

"They're so... Stupid looking!" Mazikeen gasped, continuing to laugh. "They suck on their tails!"

You giggled along with Mazikeen, nodding. Mazikeen sighed, smiling softly.

"Just... Leave them with me." Mazikeen murmured.

The pile of imps eventually deteriorated, a long line of furry things bouncing along behind Mazikeen, howling and singing out songs as they dispersed. Mazikeen came back some time later, bringing with them a plate of food. They were somber once more, and something was on their mind.

"The imps... I haven't heard them sing in so long." they murmured. "Do you mind if I eat with you?"

You shook your head, no. Mazikeen remained, and the two of you ate alongside each other in silence. You wondered if it was something on their mind that bade them stay, but you realized that it was your presence. The imps grew fatter, happier and healthier under your care. Mazikeen brightened some, their hands steadied, they relaxed. The world of hell was dark, and disturbed, full of false comforts. But you brought real comfort, life and joy back into the joyless domain.

"That will be all." Mazikeen murmured, slipping out of Lucifer's chambers.

<------------->

"I've made a mistake." Lucifer murmured, shutting the door behind them as they entered their chambers. "With you."

Looking up from the drawing pad you were amusing yourself with, you rose to greet Lucifer. Their red robes were singed, and reeked of a kind of soulless death that could not be named.

"A mistake?" you asked.

Lucifer nodded, stepping behind a privacy screen, returning in a black robe.

"You are too central, I realize." Lucifer sighed, reaching to gently cup your face. "You draw too much attention, too much disturbance. It is not your fault, but it is a problem."

They leaned in, gently wrapping their arms around you, their wings around you as well.

"I want to give you a new place to live." Lucifer whispered.

"I like it here!" you protested.

"Hush. You will have no outside disturbances. No imps, no demons prying, no sounds to disturb you, just me, just my presence."

You opened your mouth to protest, but their lips met yours instead, kissing you tenderly.

"It won't be bad, dear. Just eat these seeds."

Twelve pomegranate seeds, all ruby red and filled with juice you knew would be bitter. You took them in your hand, placing them into your mouth, chewing them slowly. The juice slide down your throat, and as Lucifer turned their back to leave once more, you spit the twelve seeds into your hand, hiding them beneath the bed.

"I changed my mind, dear. Persephone suits you better." Lucifer drawled.

<------------->

Tags: @vii-v @s-c-rambledegggs @lakita-fisher @kermidd5 @popularpop

[cetra]

[Image ID: A screenshot of Lae'zel from Baldur's Gate 3. She can be seen in the Astral Plane, looking at something unseen in the distance with an uncertain expression on her face. /End ID.]

Okay this is probably stupid and pointless but WHATEVER i'm embaracing the cringe. This is a rant about Lae'zel's evil qualities BECAUSE SHE'S MY WIFE AND IM STARTING TO GET ANNOYED at people either ignoring that side of her or hating her because of it!! I'm shoving it all under a cut because it ended up getting WAY LONGER than i expect it to be 🧡

I've seen some people make the claim that folks only think Lae'zel is cruel and selfish because they never bothered to keep her in their party for long enough to see the variety of facets of her character, and i'm just gonna say this: Lae'zel hasn't left my party i think even once since she joined, and I can confirm that she definitely is cruel and selfish. You have to remember that Lae'zel has essentially spent her whole life drilling "kindness is weakness, violence is of virtue, intimidation is your weapon, your only purpose is to Ascend no matter how bloody a path you must carve along the way" into her head bc that's the only way she knows how to survive

And this is entirely reflected in her actions, how she treats the player and the other companions, and what she approves/disapproves of— especially in the early hours of the game before she's had much room to develop at all. She likes when the player is violent for the sake of furthering themselves, and sometimes even when it's just for fun (i.e. torturing Liam for no reason other than entertaining some goblins). she likes when the player is intimidating to the point of comical. She likes when the player treats the people around them like scum that are beneath them. She likes when the player puts their own needs before others. I know this because i'm playing a character that is typically aligned with this kind of behavior, and Lae'zel absolutely loves it to the point of admiration and obsession (her words). from my understanding it's pretty easy to foster a neutral to positive relationship with Lae'zel even on a good aligned character because that's the way the game works. It's actually REALLY hard to get your character on a companion's bad side. But getting Lae'zel to admire you is going to be hard too if you aren't willing to be at least a little wicked and cruel, forsaking compassion from time to time!!!!!

and I dont know..... i guess when I see posts where people try to convince us that she cares from the start and she isn't ALL THAT BAD in the beginning I feel like does a lot of disservice to her character and JUST how much she grows over the course of the game. Like no, she doesnt actually care about the players and the companions at the very beginning, because not only are they strangers that she's known for a couple days after spending a lifetime of associating caring with frailty, but also because she has no actual reason to. Lae'zel is lawful and logical, and to care for somebody at this point in her story is illogical. the only reason why she should want the player and companions alive is A) because of their knowledge of Faerun and B) so she has as much manpower as possible to cut down her foes quickly, minimizing the chance of ceremorphosis creeping up on them. They are her only chance at being able to actually navigate this world completely foreign to her without losing her mind and to get to the Creche so she can continue seeking her true purpose: ASCENSION. and once they get to the Creche she gets MAD if the player tries to cure themselves before her. She threatens to leave. she definitely is THAT BAD and it RULES SORRY!!

it isn't until much later in the story that she is able to show even a glimmer of empathy towards the struggles of the companions i.e. Gale and Shadowheart. That in my opinion, although also depending on the player's actions, is the entire purpose of her arc having MAJOR developments a bit earlier than most of the companions— so that she can start to challenge herself and her own faith much earlier and subconsciously in the process understand some of the other companions crises of faith too

Like. man. i just don't understand why some people are so unwilling to admit to themselves that Lae'zel is not a good person, at least definitely not at the start of the game. i guess it's because they view that as a bad thing? but to me personally it's what makes her SO INTERESTING and why I immediately latched onto her. Lae'zel easily has the most ties to the main narrative out of all the characters in the game, she's arguably the most important companion in the game, and she's pretty consistently been a centerpiece in Larian's marketing for it. but she essentially has NONE of the makings of a traditional hero in a personality and moral sense. She's nasty, she's brutal, she's sadistic, she's ignorant, she's full of herself, she's brash. I love that side of her so much and i love that subversion of what we would typically expect from a character who's constantly at the forefront of an adventure story like BG3's. just completely a product of her own environment, and justifiably so, when you realize the historical agony of her people and the horrors they had to overcome

I've torn flesh from monsters and men. I've laughed as they suffered.

Once you really start to understand these fundamental parts of her character and like. ACTUALLY ACCEPT THEM as a core part of her identity..... you really start to see that she's also brave, and clever, and intelligent, and has an intense love for her people and culture, and is actually HILARIOUS (both intentionally and unintentionally). When she really lets the player in too, specifically in her romance, and you get the privilege of watching her let her guard down, it feels like something you're not meant to see and like you're infringing on a private moment. because she's genuinely so sweet and warm in these moments and she's only really let the player character access that part of her because she trusts them, not YOU. And to Lae'zel, this is probably the first time in her life she's ever trusted someone..... and she's probably damning herself for it. Trying to blame it on an obsessive and carnal lust with no real emotions or love involved. Because she's not a good person, and she's not a person who trusts and loves. and it's so good and relatable and well-written it makes me want to SCREAM 😭😭

But you... I don't want to hurt you. I want to protect you.

Just. I DONT KNOW. IM RAMBLING AT THIS POINT BUT....... LAE'ZEL MY LOVE!!!!!! I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!! and i hope there are other people who love her at every point in her story not just for who she ends up becoming. Every part of this character means so much to me and i'm gonna think of her forever.....

and I'm not even finished with the game

[hardlystrictlystarwars]

Always Hiding Pt. 2(Din Djarin x F!Reader)

Masterlist || Tag list || Requests/Prompt sheet || Requests

Din Djarin x Former Padawan!F! Reader

PART 1

A/N: Well... It's almost June and I'm posting my first fic of the year. I'm not gonna lie this fic is really dense and relies a lot more on dialogue. But I really love the interaction and tried to stay true to all the characters. Anyways, I hope you really enjoy it. I'm just glad to be back and posting stuff that's mine.

Warnings: Mentions of violence, angst and Order 66

GIF is not mine, credit goes to the original creator

Reblogs, comments, and likes are always appreciated!

You stared at the little one across from you, sucking on the fabric of his robe like an infant. 

He seemed so small, so green, so defenseless. Yet, you remembered one of your masters who was small, green, seemingly helpless. It turned out he was all but helpless when he took down the biggest foes in the galaxy single-handedly. 

“You came back,” You greeted them again after previously dismissing them. You had promised to hear the Mandalorian out, but not at the expense of your students’ education. And true to his word that he would be back, a few moments after the final of the straggles of your class had gone home for the day, he was at your classroom doorstep.

“I want to know more about the jedi, about your kind” He said, standing again in your doorway, “To help my foundling”

“I never said I was a jedi,” You replied sitting down at your desk. 

“You didn’t have to, I could see it on your face,” His hemet tilted down in the direction of his little companion, snuggled into a little sack, sitting right at his hip, “Ahsoka Tano felt it too when she first met him. She told me you would sense it too,”

You felt a tightness in your chest as you sat down in your chair, hearing that name for a second time today. If Ahsoka told him how to find you. 

You pulled out a stool for the Mandalorian, gesturing for him to sit down, “When the Empire came to power they didn’t just kill the jedi you know,” You told him, “You know, they also killed mandalorians too?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I can tell that you have shared a table with them,” You sneered, “No man wears that much beskar without getting his hands dirty with the wrong crowd,”

“Never said my hands were clean,” He confessed.

“Neither are mine, but I did not become a sister for the empire,” You chuckled but there was no heart to your voice. 

“A sister?”

“An inquisitor,” You stated, “Force wielders who recruited or killed other force wielders for the empire” You paused, trying to get a reaction from Mando but he speak, “I’m guessing you haven’t met any yet then,”

He nodded.

 “I wouldn’t recommend it  for your little one,” You glanced down at the sleeping bundle who was softly snoring, “It’s rumored they the opt for the latter option now to keep off the Republic’s radar,”

“That’s why I need you,” His hands rested on his knees, “He’s fallen into the Empire’s hands before and I won’t allow that to happen again,”

“And why should I trust you?” You asked. You had every reason in history to not.

He let out a signing grunt before digging through his sack. Moving his companion around before finally grabbing and laying a little package on the table. His hands slowly unwrapping the cloth that covered it. As soon as it was fully unwrapped you recognized what his answer was.

“Jetii kyramud,” You murmured under your breath looking at it.

“I haven’t heard that name for it before,”

“Do you know what this is?” You hissed at him, pushing it away from you.

His hemet nodded. 

“Why would you bring such a thing here?” Knowing the history behind the hilt, it was only a matter of time before more mandalorians, or worse, the Empire came knocking at your door for it. You had done a good job at staying hidden all these years just for some stranger to come and mess your life up. 

“I intend to do well by my foundling and his kind, even if my ancestors have not” He answered, “But I need someone to train him. The blade is nothing but an offer of peace,”

“I didn’t know peace was a word a Mandalorian knew,” You smirked. 

“It is if you can help me,” He replied.

“And what if I can’t train him? Or if he’s not as strong as you think?” You had seen those with the strongest ties to the force fall. Those seemingly invincible killed by their own sword. Those with the best hearts die at the hands of those they trusted. You had seen it in your master, the last look on her face as she accepted her fate. 

“He’s strong, he was strong enough to survive the Empire,” 

You looked down at the sleeping child and felt your stomach churn. It was in your DNA to help, to protect. That’s why even after the Empire took over, you looked for a school, somewhere where you could help others. You couldn’t continue to help and hide anymore, your fate being at a crossroads. 

“Tomorrow, after school. We’ll see what this little one can do,” You said, “No guarantees,”

Tags: @yodasbitch @alsheyra @rintheemolion

[csphire]

Cleric Astarion?

Yes, I can hear him barking out that bitter laughter of his too at the very idea. But hear me out, he's on a new path in life so... maybe a deity gives him a chance after being silent for so long.

It would be only just a few levels and more if you like it. He's got a decent wisdom stat for it too. Second best right behind Shadowheart out of all of the companions. With a feat, one can bump up his wisdom and dexterity a little higher as well.

As for gods Ilmater, Corellon Larethian, or Lathander would be excellent fits he might gain favor from if you want to really overthink it. But the god might not even matter, at least at lower levers as far as I can tell.

Here are also a list of items I've given him to use to be a bit of a tank and healer too:

Circlet of Hunting - You'll need to use it on enemies with a hunter's mark, true strike, faerie fire, and guiding bolt to gain a +1d4 bonus to Attack Rolls.

Hunting Shortbow - This will give you a hunter's mark ability but someone else can always mark the enemies with what's needed instead if you want to give him a better bow or crossbow. Holy Lance Helm - An alternative to the Circlet of Hunting. Creatures who miss their attack rolls against the wearer can take on possible radiant damage. Putting this on a high dex companion is a win because it ups the chances it will activate. The + 1 in Con saving throws for Astarion is nice too. Derivation Cloak - Works to help heal him when poisoning a foe. Broodmother's Revenge - To help activate the healing of the cloak. Gloves of Archery - An additional +2 in raged weapon attacks and proficiency on long as well as short bows.

Boots of Aid and Comfort - When he heals someone it gives him +3 in temporary hit points. The Whispering Promise - When healing he get's a +1d4 to attack rolls and saving throws for two turns. Just try to remember to cast say, healing word or mass healing word first to take full advantage of both turns. Sword of Life Stealing - On crit hit +10 Necro Damage on anything except a construct or undead. He also gains 10 temporary hit points. Who else crits the most?

Knife of the Undermountain King - Alternative weapon for constructs, undead or in general. If he rolls a 2 or less he can reroll the dice and take the highest result. If he rolls a 19 it's an automatic crit hit. Also, there is advantage on attack rolls on lightly or heavily obscured targets. You know, like in a crypt. I actually might have him use this from now on and give the life-stealing sword to someone else. Lastly, True Love's Caress - Gentle Warding Bond Activated and True Love's Embrace I put on my Tav who has the blessing of Loviatar. Once activated he's got resistance buffs on everything and with his high dex sta most blows won't land. (That and derpy romantic me like to think they're kinda like wedding or at least promise rings :p)

Adamtine Sale Mail and Shield - Because if the bond is activated if he takes damage so does the wearer of the other ring. There is a price to pay for all of those wonderful buffs. So whoever has the True Love's Embrace ring on needs to keep their distance in combat with ranged attacks and would benefit from a little extra damage. Again, like someone basking in Loviatar's Love. To save some typing here's a screenshot of the cleric spells I went with him.

As for a god, I personally went with Lathander, given I always have him pick up the "giggle" pendant. I like to think out of anyone he could use some cheer and he does well with the wisdom saving throws to counteract the effects.

Later on, we stole Lathander's Mace and I'm really looking forward to using it to beat Cazador into a bloody pulp. So it just feels right to offer a little bit of thanks and service to Lathander after all this.

If you made it this far, thank you. Hope this was a helpful build guide and you give it a try sometime! ^_^

[cedar08]

The Pigeon, Friend of The Foe

The pigeon,

trapped by this man

who doesn't really want it.

You are a messenger,

dear pigeon

you are not a companion.

you can find your way back,

no matter how much

he makes you work.

Aren't you proud?

Friend of the Foe,

you exhaust your energy

so that he will keep using you.

You are exhausted

by the way he does not care.

But you serve him anyway,

because at least, then, he might stay.

[tashilover]

LU Psychic AU

Since I know I wont have the time/drive to write such a fic, here's my little thoughts on what psychic powers our boys would have in this here AU. 

 Time: Foresight. When he was younger, he was thought he was exceptionally good at reading opponent's moves, able to predict what they would do next. But as the years passed, Time would notice he would also dodge incoming projectiles coming from behind him, be it an arrow or a snowball. His ability makes him a monster on the battlefield, baffling his enemies since nobody can catch him off guard. It also makes him damn near impossible to prank much to the irritation of his younger counterparts. 

 Hyrule: Can talk to ghosts. An exceptionally useful ability as majority of ghosts are friendly and willing to offer information. It is woefully one-sided, leaving Hyrule to interpret the ghost's meaning (or MISinterpret) and leaving his companions to stand there, twiddling their thumbs, waiting for him to finish his conversation. It is also a very dangerous power as those who've died violent deaths will not hesitate showing their anger towards him. 

 Sky: Prophetic dreams. He doesnt really consider his powers useful since he can only get them when he sleeps, it doesnt happen every time he sleeps, and most of his prophecies are of things that will happen hundreds, if not thousands, of years from now. As a result, Sky has dreamt of his counterpart’s adventures and was wonderfully delighted to meet them finally. He’s currently struggling to talk to Wild because all of Sky’s recent dreams involve Wild losing his arm...

Warriors: Reanimation of corpses, the counterpart of Hyrule’s powers. Warriors can give life temporarily to corpses/bones, giving the deceased a chance to tell their own side of the story. He doesnt do it often as the others find the act disturbing. Majority of corpses know they’re dead and are delighted to finally to have a voice again, even for a short time. The beauty of the power is the body doesnt need a tongue or skin or even brains to speak. As long as Warriors has a piece of them, they have a voice.

Wind: Wind communication. His ability is not unique only him as nearly everyone on Outset island can speak through the wind. Some mornings the group will wake up and find their young Sailor standing on top of a hillside, his hands cupping around his ears as he listens. Sometimes he speaks back, allowing the wind to carry his voice away. It does not matter where/when the Sailor is, the wind will carry on his message until someone is ready to receive it.

Twilight: Animal speech. Twilight has a hard time describing his ability as animals do no speak/comprehend the same way as humans do. He can understand animals on their most basic of levels: if they’re hungry, if they’re cold, if they’re scared, etc. If tries to as a more complicated question like, “Which way is the town?” all he would get back is a blank stare. Only animals who have spent their lives surrounded by humans, like Epona, can hold conversations.

Wild: Empath. He can always tell who is friend or foe, who is Yiga or stranger, who is lying or telling the truth. He can sense when someone’s blood sugar is low which is why he will offer a sandwich at random times. Unfortunately if he comes across a battleground/graveyard or any place where violence has occurred, the negative emotions will overwhelm him, making him an easy target for possession. It is only thanks to his talismans, the Sheikah Slate and amber earrings, that can dull his senses enough to help him function.

Legend: Fortune telling. The man knows every style of fortune telling there is; tea reading, bone reading, palm reading, smoke reading, etc. This unfortunately makes him paranoid as something innocuous as a cat blinking twice can be interpreted as a negative sign. He carries many fortune reading tools on him, though his favorite is his well-loved tarot deck which he uses every night before bed. 

Four: Psychometric. Four can touch an object and “read” that object’s past. It is one of the reasons why he is a phenomenal blacksmith. By touching a weapon, not only can he see exactly how the object was first formed and maintained through the years, if the weapon was formerly wielded by a master fighter, Four too can use those abilities. He has yet to touch the Master Sword, too afraid the long history and godly abilities could drive him mad.

[amielxxxangel]

Ghost boys + finney + Gwen in a fantasy AU (random hcs and probably some shipping🤭)

So I’m using DND and rpg classes for this fantasy AU (but mainly rpg cuz I play that more and I don’t know much about dnd and when I mean ships I mainly mean finbin but it could also be a poly scenario minus Gwen😙)

Finn would be a mage especially if it’s an astral one which his moves would be more astrology based, his character would wear a robe filled with stars and constellations. He would be using a staff rather than wands because he feels more powerful with it. He’s also the main cleric of the group using magic to heal the others (aka robin and vance)

Robin would be a brawler having iron gauntlets on his arms and legs and still have his bandana around his head. He would also have a open vest to not restrict his movement which flusters finney while bruce and vance take it as a challenge on who’s the most fit

Vance without a question would be a berserk just running into enemies with a huge axe slashing through them with ease. He would be wearing just leather straps what connect to spiky shoulder pads and black leather pants with muddy boots over it.

Bruce would be a warrior/paladin. He’d be the protector of the group (and probably the most armored one). He would be wearing a white tunic with metal chest plate and metal bracelets on his arms he would be wearing grey trousers with metal boots (he would also have normal ones because he considers the metal ones bothersome.

Billy would be a bard and have his golden as his companion, he’d be the most aware in the news and goons on in their realm because of him being approachable. He would be wearing a red tunic with blue embroidery ,white pants and brown shoes.

Griffin would be a rouge being the most quite and smallest all of them it’s really easy for him sneak up on his enemies, he’s also good at archery with both skills combined he’s usually able to sneak past enemies and attack from behind. He would be wearing a dark grey hooded coat with a white tunic underneath and black pants and shoes perfect for being stealthy.

Gwen would also be a wizard but unlike finney who uses his magic to temporarily knock his opponent out she uses her magic to completely decimate them. Big or small it does not matter to her she will blow her enemies up. She would also be wearing a robe but it has more random pattern vibrant colors. She would also use a staff but unlike finney she would physically use her staff to beat her enemies up.

Now that’s done onto actual head cannons

Being the only girl in the group it a pain for her especially having to see her brother be all lovey dovey with 6 other boys, especially robin.

Even though finney and gwen are equally strong Gwen uses more “practical” ways of her magic like using her surroundings and casting elements to her foes, finney uses his to summon creatures and LITERALLY CREATE HUGE STARS AND SLAM THEM AT THE ENEMY to temporarily knock them out.

Finney and Gwen have a drastic difference with how they use their staffs to use their magic. Gwen uses her stall more like a blunt object slamming it to the ground to bring rocks up and swinging it like a bat bruce taught her that. While finney uses his staff like baton twirling it to summon a swarm of wasps, or twirling around his magic circle to creat a volley or shooting stars.

And every time finney does a summon or just does the things he does with his magic it always leaves the boys mesmerized and just end up staring at his beautiful he looks.

Gwen and finney have their own magic circles. It changes depending on what element Gwen is using while finney’s only changes when he’s summoning.

Finney does master a new magic circle when he finally becomes the “healer” of the group and uses his magic to treat the others.

Even though robin is the second smallest he is probably the most physically strongest .He can literally pull a tree out it’s roots and throw that thing like it’s nothing

Every time robin does it the the other guys are both amazed and intimidated and weirdly attracted to it

Robins also really fast probably the second fastest to griffin

Vance just goes into enemy fights head on, which usually end up with most of the actual threats dead

Vance would be very injured tho and immediately go to finney to get taken care of.

Vance would be able to creat quakes in the ground, just one smash of his ace and the next thing you know a earthquake erupts in their area

Bruce would act all stoic and chivalrous because he’s a knight and the rest would just bully him on it

He teaches Gwen how to fight that’s why Gwen uses her staff like it’s meant for actual combat

Finney summons a horse for Bruce even if he’s against it. Finney finds it fitting for “the knight to have his steed”.

Bruce is able to conjure up large gusts of wind with his sword. One good swing and you’ll be dealing with a tornado

Even if Billy’s a bard he can fight (even if it meant damaging his lute)

He’s the most approachable thats why he gets the most info when their in towns

His lute has the ability to make its music affect his enemies emotion making them feel overwhelming sadness or doubt or making the others feel a rush of Adrenaline

Griffin, being the most quiet always ends up scaring the others by accident. He’d be right beside them and nobody would notice until he’d say something sometimes startling the rest

It’s easy for him to become invisible making it easy for him to get behind enemies or gather information in places the rest can’t go in

I’m gonna say this one isn’t the best I’ll definitely make a part 2

[waywardstation]

"Why not?" the exclamation, childish and petulant, bursts out of Akari before she can stop herself. "Dialga said they'd do it, and we wouldn't even be leaving forever! You could go home."

For a long moment, Ingo doesn't answer, and she swallows back her frustration grudgingly. Ingo would explain himself. Ingo always explained himself when he could, no matter how taciturn his ever-present frown made him seem. Akari liked that about him-- everyone else hurried her along and left important details out.

"Would I be home?" he finally says, matter-of-factly. It's almost quietly spoken for him. "Ever after all this time, I cannot recall much of anything of the man, even though I know I have forgotten him despite his importance. If I did go back, and we found him, who is to say I would remember him then? Perhaps I would only find myself looking at a stranger."

Ingo paused again. Akari furrows her brow.

Even more quietly, he says, "I do not wish to experience that. Nor to inflict it upon the man. Perhaps it would be better to stay in the home of my present, rather than of my past and future."

But this isn't your home, she wants to say. Because it isn't, not really. The Pearl Clan, as generous and kind as they've been, do not know what to do with a man like Ingo, and he struggles to live the life of proper Pearl. They don't clash, per se, so much as they chafe, rubbing each other wrong even as Ingo tries to walk in lockstep with them.

That'd be hypocritical. Akari doesn't fit in Jubilife, and she never will. It's still her home, though, because of certain people within it, and despite all the rest. The thing is-- it's not her only home, and it never will be. Her memory is holey and straggling, but she has more than Ingo. They both have enough to know a life and love beyond what their villages can offer them.

Part of the issue is: Akari is a coward. She remembers beyond what Ingo does, knowledge of the world she once walked free to come and go. Memories of the towering buildings, the bustling machinery, the modern way of life; they come to her if she asks. She remembers the shadows of friends, rivals, family, flat and vague. They echo into the past, into her current present, and in the faces of old strangers she finds familiar features. The familiarity lies half the time, making friends of foes and foes of friends, but she clings all the same.

Memories of her old companions are like a lost tooth, or a hole in a wall. She can tell exactly where the lost segment once was, can smooth over the edges with her fingers and recall, vaguely, what once was from what yet remains. If she were a little more daring, a little less afraid of pain, she knows she could find the missing piece and slot it neatly back into place like Ingo can't.

Sometimes she reaches and almost takes back the memories.

Every time, she flinches.

Because it hurts. It hurts to think of an echo and know it's gone, that she can't have those people by her in this very moment, that it may be a long time before she's done and finished and can just go home. Akari knows, with a cold certainty, that having memories enough to know exactly who she's missing would hurt so much worse.

How much more awful would it be, to be home, to look family dead in the eye and reach and reach and reach for all the memory you know the ragged edges of, and for your hands to come up empty and grasping every time?

It would be excruciating in its own dulled, echoing way.

Akari reaches out her hand. Ingo holds out his own, letting her clasp onto his and squeeze. It helps. She takes a shuddering breath.

"Are you sure?" she asks. She'll likely keep asking until there's no doubt. There's time for it.

Ingo looks her in the eye. "I am."

"Okay."

She lets their hands fall apart.

-----------

Kept thinking of Ingo's refusal. Have this! I made myself very sad with it.

--cw

Rings dinner bell EVERYONE DINNER’S READY CW is feeding us again!!!

CW this is SUCH GOOD WRITING you have no idea how excited I got seeing this in my inbox!!!

This is so sad but so good, it perfectly expresses how hard this really would be to go through with. You got the emotions down so well I feel them right with Akari as she feels empathy.

Well you just made my day ;v; thank you for sending this in CW!!

[valorxdrive]

An Endless Sky.

A Boundless Sea.

How many times have he found himself upon this very surface now once the dreams take place. No longer does it intend to press him into the depths, to keep him in a grasp of wayward security as his power is forged anew. The bare weight of this reality finds itself keeping their growls at bay, from reflecting their fangs, the hunger of a primordial force that eagerly vies to pull him down under.

Oblivion awaits as an option for the forbidden path he treads. Truthfully speaking? Sora finds himself absolutely fine with that, simply knowing that there's risk, that it was a comfortable reminder that some particular rules still apply.

Whether this realm of The Final World was a facsimile or the genuine article, it matters so little in the grand scale to him now, as the inherent understanding that he's traveling through Heart rings the loudest of all. The newly stirred force that slept for what feels like eons told him as much, no longer giving him faint clues through the certainty of self-belief. Answers only await those who dare brave the chaos to fashion them personally.

Was this dream really even a dream anymore?

Or did the measure of sleep allowed him a gateway to let his newly stirred Heart to stretch it's wings? To swim betwixt Mind and Matter while his consciousness could comfortably brush along the unconscious element? Sora didn't find any importance in trying to quantify those aspects with answers made by word, no, the answer was felt just as it always was. Maybe it was no small coincidence that 'Follow your Heart' being a genuine article of advice was always given to him.. as if his beloved companions didn't fully understand what that meant to him.

Finding his Heart traveling an unknown realm while never truly being alone, a warm, certain strength flocks fresh vigor and might through his veins. It breathes new potential within his soul and that very energy is what allowed them to appear, attracted with that obsessive hunger that could only find rest the only way it knew how. As translucent, hulking arms begin to tear from primordial waters below, the same went for the soulless shadows that carelessly allowed their forms to settle in that same way.

They could be met with a familiar smile, just as the Great Darkness always was, regardless of the form it takes. As Sora slowly rolls his head one way to another, his fingers arch in selective call, allowing for the shining prominence of a special weapon to be woven into existence once again, forged from the depths of potential it sleeps within.

Keyblade.

Keyblade.

Measured calmness, determination unbridled, boundless joy, all of these precious emotions burns with welcomed brightness, enticing destruction incarnate to send it's legions to charge towards him, to made the skies above darken with the chaos of storm clouds, thunderously complimented by sounds aligned with the darkest days. They always thrive on what could spark fear and uncertainty within the Heart.

In many ways, it's exactly where Sora belongs, the starseeker that tears the promised tomorrow out of what looks to be impossible, to invoke strength and courage for countless others to do the same.

Allowing the belief of flight to tear off the chains of gravity, the Oathkeeper finds itself vibrantly beating with strength, stirring up iridescence alongside those angelic feathers. Only then would he make his charge in a billowing plumage of light, wholly prepared to meet these foes on a collision course.

The root of this pain would be discovered yet!

Kingdom Hearts being the greatest witness.

[thealmightyemprex]

Doctor Who Month :Evil of the Daleks

For the 8th review of Doctor Who month we shall look at a Second Doctor story and a Dalek story to boot

So the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Jaimie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines ) are brought to Victorian England after the TARDIS is stolen ,and forced to help the Doctors most dreaded foes the Daleks in an experiment to fins "The human factor "

Also this is a lost story but in 2021 we got an animated recreation of it with the original audio .It was animated in both black and white and color ,but the color version was the one on Vudu ,which is where I watched this

So this story is damn good ,like this is one of the best Dalek stories cause it really is about the Doctor trying to show how the nobler sides of mankind are better then the Daleks blind obedience and hatred .The result s of the experiment are also great as we get these child like inquisitive Daleks who are kind of adorable ,that leads to the Doctor leading a Dalek rebellion against the Dalek emperor .Props to the Daleks voice actors Roy Skelton and Peter Hawkins who are especially good as both the sinister bully Daleks and the sweet somewhat silly Daleks the Doctor makes . Also the Dalek Emperor is a friggin awesome bad guy

I like that the story switches its style and setting around.Its starts off in the 60's with kind of an intrigue and mystery vibe ,before we get to the Victorion mansion and he was a bit of an old dark house story with a creepy feel ,and then end on an epic battle between the Daleks on Skaro

This is a great episode for Jaimie,really showing why he is one of my favorite companions ,getting to befriend a strong mute guy named Kemel (Another one of those guest characters I kind of wish became a companion,because I loved his relationship with Jaimie and he was so badass .Better companion then Victoria ) and gets to swordfight one of the bad guys .The Doctor is also really great here ,as you really arent sure if you can trust him here ...Also him playing with the childlike Daleks is adorable

Theres so many fun guest characters in this one but the standouts are the two victorian gentlemen who accidently made contact with the Daleks .John Bailey does a wonderful job as Edward Waterfield,father of Victoria(Who becomes a companion at the end of the story ) ,in that you think he is a villain but he is the most tragic character in the tale .The best part is our human antagonist Theodore Maxtible played by a pretty big name,Marius Goring (Best known for A Matter of Life And Death and the Red Shoes ) ,and I like that while he does have moments of mania ,Goring doesnt chew scenery much ,and in fact while by Gorings casting I guessed he might be a bad guy I wasnt entirely sure how ad he would be,and at firs he seems somewhat reasonable ,but by the end we see he is a monster especially when you find out his whole motive .One of my favorite one off villains in Doctor Who

In terms of animation ,I think this is one of the best reconstructions ,there are some clunky moments ,but I was really impressed with the character animation and the final showdown near the end

If I have a complaint,one is I think Kemel and Maxtibles fates are underwhelming and the other is a general I dont like Victoria as a companion

Overall....This is a great watch ,highly recoomended ,its tied with The Aztecs as my favorite of the month

@the-blue-fairie @themousefromfantasyland @amalthea9 @angelixgutz @filmcityworld1 @ariel-seagull-wings @goodanswerfoxmonster

[abyssin]

"tell me ... why are you really here, anyway ... ?"

"for a moment of peace." his head remains propped up by his arm, eyes trained to the glass of wine he swirls with each gradual turn of a wrist. it isn't uncommon to recognize a fatui member, much less the 11th harbinger who makes little effort to conceal his identity to any who cross him. what matters more is how the knight—with his sheathed sword, one childe will obviously notice—will respond to his presence. childe does not back down from a chat... or a fight.

he remains on his seat, more interested in his drink than his new companion. as a sign of respect more than anything, his eyes dart to the stranger. will you be a friend? or a foe? " will you join me? the bar festivities are terribly uninteresting today. "

[leos-regression-cove]

Nothing In The Parenting Books Prepared Me For This

Chapter 59. Monster Trucks

Synopsis: When Thor finds a flyer for a Monster Truck show coming up in their area, the littles and Mobius can't help but get in on the excitement.

Word count: 3,851

Stand Alone?: Although no previous knowledge of this fic is required, there will be a follow-up chapter, as this is the first half of a two-parter.

Warnings: Diapers; mild mention of violence;

Notes: I feel like I should add an extra warning for general silliness. It's a ridiculous chapter and just kind of setup for what's to come.

Read On AO3!

“Look! Look! Everyone, look at this!” 

Thor nearly ran into the cafeteria where Loki, Sylvie, and Mobius were sipping on their caffeinated beverages of choice, and slammed down a flyer onto the table, nearly knocking it over. 

“What’s this?” Loki asked, picking it up to examine it, while Sylvie inspected it over his shoulder. 

“A monster fight!” Thor enthusiastically interjected.

Mobius took the paper out of Loki’s hands to also get a look. “Monster trucks,” he corrected, looking up at Thor. 

“Yes, exactly! Monsters! It’ll be just like the arena battles Loki and I used to go to, right brother?” 

Loki couldn’t help but smile thinking of those fond memories. Sure, the violence wasn’t his personal favorite thing in the world, but those fights did have some fantastic, unique fare he could never find within the palace walls. 

Mobius studied the flyer further; the tickets were not the cheapest, but with Thor’s notoriety, Loki’s charm, and Sylvie’s hypnosis abilities, he knew 40$ per person wasn’t actually going to be what they paid. “Well,” he conceded, “guess we should mark our calendars then, huh?”

That Sunday morning, Sylvie just could not wait. When she had first heard about the idea she wasn’t sure. Honestly, she had been rather indifferent about the whole idea, but now that she was little, well, things were different. Like usual, she was the first one up in the home. 

As quietly as she could, she got up, careful not to disturb her sleeping companions, and ran to go see Thor, clicking open the door of her cabin home and cautiously looking out into the woods, inspecting the sun-tipped trees for forest friends and foes before sneaking down the patio steps and onto the dirt ground. 

She rapt on the door of Thor’s yurt. 

He casually opened it for her as he continued washing his dishes. 

Her big, oversized, t-shirt gave her little-ness away when paired with the giddy-excited expression on her face, and he couldn’t help but smile at it. 

“What’s got you coming to see me so early? Shouldn’t Mobius be taking care of you?” Thor asked. He didn’t mean to sound like he didn’t want to be taking care of her, but usually there was something wrong if someone else wasn’t there looking after her, or Loki for that matter. 

“Nope! He’s asleep.” She ignored the first question as she sat down on his stuffed-animal-covered bed, ignoring the nearby couch. 

“Is he?” Thor pretended to sound like that was something he really cared about, but he was still hung up on why she had come to see him instead of just going for a walk or lounging about in bed or playing with her toys in the nursery. “So what did you come see me for?” 

“I wanna hear about the monsters! Grr!” she held up a snake plushie to show him. 

Thor turned off the sink and took the snake out of her hand. “First of all, snakes aren’t monsters. They’re very sweet… most of the time.” 

There was no ‘second of all’. As soon as he had said that, he moved the little girl into his lap and encouraged her to look at his ax on the wall with big doe eyes as he told her all about it, the adventures he had gone on, and the many creatures he had slain, sometimes acting them out with his stuffed animals, hands, or even Sylvie for that matter. 

She grinned and giggled the whole time and exaggerated nervous gasps whenever her big brother seemed to be in grave peril.

 There were eventually a couple knocks at the door, and after Thor finished describing one of his favorite battles in very loud, dramatic, fashion for Sylvie’s entertainment, he opened it. 

Mobius stood outside, carrying Loki in his arms.

“You have Sylvie, right?” Mobius asked, while bouncing the toddler while also slightly ignoring her. 

He looked past both Thor and Loki to make eye-contact with the older little. 

Sylvie waved back at him with a smile and seemed to understand that she was wanted and needed to come back with them. 

“Sorry to take her away, but I wanna make sure somebody gets breakfast and her teeth brushed.”

Sylvie grinned, knowing she was the “somebody” in question and ran up to her daddy and Loki, bumping Thor out of the way, but turning to wave back to him before she was led back to the house. 

Loki’s form did not change with her gender today. The only thing that demonstrated her feminine leanings was a bow in her hair and her own insistence that she’d be using different pronouns for the day. 

Mobius set her into her highchair and let Sylvie sit in her own big-girl chair while he prepared something to eat; a sippy cup of juice for the toddler, a plastic cup of juice for the big-kid, and an egg with toast for each of them. 

The two girls were immensely excited for the day, with Sylvie sitting on her knees on her chair, and Loki, playing with her food more than she ate, once again. And after breakfast, not much changed as Mobius bathed them and got them dressed. Well, Sylvie did it all herself, but she made sure to talk to Mobius and Loki through the bathroom door as if they were listening and chatted further while getting dressed and distracting Loki during her diaper changes, to which the younger little responded with her own input. 

The littles were almost bouncing off the walls with excitement as Mobius packed up some things he thought they’d need and set their toddler backpacks on their backs, clicking both girls’ harnesses into place and putting leashes in her backpack, just so he could make sure neither of them could run away too far from Thor and so Loki would think twice about teleporting. 

When Thor entered the home, both of the tots ran up to him, hopping up and down and excitedly flapping their arms and clapping about the big trucks and fair food. 

Thor picked up both of his little sisters, and slung Loki over his shoulder while holding Sylvie under his arm by the midsection in a way he used to hold Loki before the little god’s growth spurt roughly eight hundred years ago. 

The girls kept giggling and excitedly squirming as Mobius and Thor loaded them into their car seats. 

“You ladies ready for a big adventure today?” Mobius asked them as he turned around to back out the car. 

“Yeah!” Sylvie immediately answered with a huge, Thor-like grin. 

Loki agreed and kicked Mobius’ seat just a little bit while playing with the top layers of her tutu skirt. 

“Thor said there’s gonna be fire and blood and guts,” the preschool aged one elaborated. 

Mobius frowned and looked back at the girls in their car seats. He thought about telling Sylvie it was supposed to be a family show and that violence probably wasn’t going to happen, but decided not to ruin her fun. 

During the long car ride, Thor decided to entertain the littles with a game. He reached back and gave Sylvie a small punch in the arm. “Punchbuggy blue,” he said as a blue Volkswagen Beetle rolled past. 

“Punchbuggy green!” Sylvie exclaimed, leaning forward to get him back. 

“No, that’s not how this works, you punch someone when you see a buggy car and you call out the color,” Thor calmly explained. 

Loki reached forward and lightly fist-bumped his arm. 

“Mobius tell them they’re not playing the game properly!” 

“Girls, you have to see the car first.” 

Loki conjured a shaky illusion of a car in the opposite lane and then punched Thor for it. “Punchbug geen!” she laughed. 

“You two are no fun to play with. Little cheats,” he mumbled, crossing his arms. 

“I’ll play,” Mobius said. “I always remember calling it ‘slugbug’ though.” 

“‘Slugbug’?” 

“Yeah. I dunno. Must be a regional thing I guess.” 

“Weird.” 

There weren’t many on the drive there, but Mobius got in a few punches, which made Thor cross his arms and insist he actually didn’t want to play. 

Upon getting out of the car, Mobius checked the time, and, realizing they had about twenty minutes, took some time to move car seats so he could change Loki in the back seat while Sylvie tried her best to get them all to go into the large fairgrounds so she could go see the big trucks. 

Thor hugged her, resting his chin on top of her head, leaning down to wrap his arms around her neck and shoulders, and moving her gently from side to side, as she complained about missing things and impatiently requested they go soon. 

“Just a second, Loki’s just... Not making this easy for me,” Mobius told her. 

Loki wasn’t upset or especially poorly behaved, but changing a little in the backseat of a tiny compact commuter car like this was not an easy task on its own, even if she was still a wiggly and babbly little tot, who couldn’t help but coo at Mobius and chew on her teethers as he changed her and took on the daunting task of trying to keep her legs still. 

“Alright, there we go, all done,” he said, putting the dirty nappy into a plastic ziploc bag to toss out later, and coating his hands in sanitizer before he picked Loki up, and later handed her off to Thor, to which she responded to by pulling on her big brother’s beard and hair before sticking her hand in her mouth and getting distracted by the loud noises and crowds as they got to the entrance. 

“That’s a lotta people…” Sylvie commented. 

“I know it is, that’s why I’ve got this, so I can keep track of you girls,” Mobius said, showing her the yellow leash attached to her back. “That way you can’t get lost.” 

Sylvie nodded understandingly as she took Thor’s free hand as well as Mobius’, standing in between them so neither of them would have the chance to get lost. 

It wasn’t that there were a lot of people per-say, but the crowd was being filed into a relatively small area, which made the whole thing feel rather claustrophobic. 

As they waited to get through the gates of the local fairgrounds-- the ticket check and subsequent security-- Sylvie boredly tried to swing in between her caregivers. After a few regular swings, Thor lifted his arm all the way up, holding her a few inches off the ground with Mobius’ help, making her scream and laugh. 

The stadium was loud, and very crowded. It felt like every voice echoed, so Mobius made sure to put headphones on the excitable Loki who hopped down from her brother’s arms when they were done waiting in line, only to yank on her leash and quickly become disheartened as she realized she wouldn’t be wandering off on her own. She toddled awkwardly in front of her family, chewing anxiously on her pacifier, and looking at all the bright lights and people and doing her best to not feel overstimulated by all the smells of intriguing foods. 

“Tor! Treats!” she screamed, pulling her older brother towards one of the food stands.

“Indoor voices!” Mobius called out in an equally loud manner. 

“Daddy, if Loki’s getting a treat I should get one cuz’ I’ve been so much better behaved than her.” 

Mobius looked down at Sylvie. “You should be. She’s a baby and you’re a big girl, but neither of you are getting treats until we all agree on something, okay?”

“Mobius! Sylvie! Look what Loki and I found!” Thor yelled back at them, waving some paper wrappers in the air over the crowd. 

Sylvie ran up to them, pulling Mobius behind her and barely missing tripping up a few passersby. “Whatcha got? What is it? Do I get one?”

“Of course I got you one! It’s a churro. It’s a pastry with sugar on the outside and some filling.” 

“I’ve had these before!” she grinned, feeling incredibly worldly and smart for recognizing the snack. 

“I think this is Loki’s first experience with them, though,” Mobius said with fascination, as he watched the little girl gnaw on the dessert. “Whaddya think? Do you like it?”

The toddler nodded vigorously as she stuffed more in her mouth. 

“You girls need anything else before we go find our seats?”

“I wanna soda!” Sylvie said with a sugary grin. 

“And anyone need to use the bathroom?” 

A little more shyly, she nodded. 

“What kind of soda?” Thor asked her. “Loki and I can get it while you go potty.” 

“The blue kind ,” she answered before Mobius took her into the crowd. 

Thor looked at his baby sister who was sucking on her fingers to get all the sugar off before lifting her up. 

“I’m still hungry, aren’t you?” he asked. 

She agreed as she sat in his arms. 

“What should we snack on…? Do you see anything good?” 

Loki kept her fingers in her mouth and she surveyed the area from above the crowd. “Um…” She pointed randomly at one stall. 

Thor read her the menu when they got closer. “...Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, garlic fries, nachos… would you like any of that?” 

Loki took her fingers out of her mouth and pointed at a picture. 

“You want some garlic fries? Not the normal ones?” 

The little nodded. 

“Should we put something in your sippy cup, too? Maybe lemonade?” 

“Yeah!” she agreed, flapping her arms a little bit. 

“Did your daddy want anything?” 

“Um… apple.” 

“Apple?” Thor laughed. “Do you think he’d settle for a cheeseburger, instead?”

Loki shook her head but with a big, ridiculous grin showing through. 

“Silly girl,” Thor chuckled as he pulled her down for a kiss on the collarbone. “I thought you were the story goddess now, but here you keep playing tricks. Next thing you’ll tell me you’re potty trained.” 

Upon receiving the food, Thor ended up setting Loki down and wrapping her backpack leash around his wrist as he tried to balance everything in his arms, while she carried her own sippy cup in a proud, waddling march a few feet in front of him. 

Sylvie and Mobius were outside the bathrooms where Thor and Loki had left them, which gave them a little time to regroup and for Thor to distribute food. 

“We didn’t know what you wanted so we got you burgers…” Thor told Sylvie and Mobius. “But I did remember your soda,” he smiled, handing her a rather large cup. 

She looked down at it and cautiously removed the plastic lid to make sure it was the blue kind and not purple or brown or gods forbid orange. 

“There’s nothing down there!” Sylvie complained after finding her seats with everyone else. 

“We are a little early, but that’s good. We’re just gonna be patient and eat our food until the show starts, okay?” Mobius asked her before changing gears to talk to the other little. “Whaddya get Loki?” he questioned as he took a bite from his own burger. 

Loki was sitting in her brother’s lap and Thor was holding the box of garlic fries stable for her as she slowly, one by one, fed herself while curiously inspecting the rest of the small stadium. She looked over at Mobius only after Thor used his free hand to move a cup-like ear protector off one of her ears. 

“Loki, whaddya get?” he asked her again, now that he had her attention.

The little ate the fry in her hand and made a knowing smile before picking up another, and very carefully, leaned closer to him and, with her awkward, babyish motor skills, smushed it into his mustache, only getting a little bit of the fry into his mouth, and successfully making her daddy, older brother, and big sister laugh. 

She sucked in her bottom lip as she went right back to feeding herself, actually rather cleanly, with the exception of continuously trying to wipe her greasy hands on her skirt or her brother’s jeans. 

Mobius eventually just had to grab her wrists and wipe her hands on a proper napkin, much to her displeasure. 

When the show did start, Loki and Sylvie had their ears nicely protected and, luckily, their food was eaten-- except for a couple drinks including the one in Loki’s sippy cup, which she sucked on as the first truck was introduced, intently and quietly watching. 

“Look at him go, Loki! Are you seeing that?!” Thor asked with a big, giddy, smile, bouncing her on his knee. 

She silently nodded. 

Sylvie, on the other hand, was bouncing up and down, on the verge of springing up out of her seat as she cheered with the rest of the crowd. 

After one particularly large truck smashed some smaller, older, cars Thor did shoot up out of his seat, carrying Loki with him as he cheered. 

The little girl was, understandably, rather shocked by her sudden change in positioning.

“Do you want me to take her?” Mobius asked when he sat back down. 

Thor looked almost confused. 

“I’ll take her, if you want…” 

Loki furrowed her eyebrows at him as Thor handed her over. 

However, to her surprise, Mobius was just as enjoyable of a companion during an event like this, hugging Loki close to him and also trying to make the event interesting to her, even though it was obvious that, to her, the show was not living up to the same standard of excitement that the other arena shows she had seen had set. 

Noting her lack of enthusiasm, Sylvie took off her backpack and opened it up, only to hand Loki a miniature Hot Wheels version of one of the trucks. 

The smaller little took it, taking her thumb out of her mouth and replacing it with a pocket-dimension pacifier as she ran the car along her daddy’s arms and her big siblings’ legs. 

“Woah!” Sylvie suddenly yelled, shaking Loki’s shoulder and pointing at the pit of dirt beneath them. 

The younger little looked down to find that a wheel had come off one of the trucks and it had flipped over, turtling on its back. 

Loki grinned and clapped with the toy truck still in her hand, making a cooing noise, and, even though she couldn’t hear it, making Mobius chuckle. 

Now that her attention was definitely on the trucks, things only got more interesting for Loki.

One car that was introduced, made Loki and Sylvie both pull on their caregivers and ask if they could get closer. 

Mobius motioned that he was going to stay where he was and watch the seats, but the littles and their big brother were welcome to get a closer look, granted they had their backpacks on. 

The truck itself was, to Loki’s absolute delight, and Thor and Sylvie’s amusement, a garbage truck-- or at least, it was meant to look like one. 

Loki squeaked and tapped her feet, before nearly pulling Thor and Sylvie down the stairs of the aisle so she could get as close as possible to the machine, and eventually hopping against the plastic fronted guard rails. 

Thor ended up picking her up and setting her on his shoulders to watch as she babbled and clapped at every jump or turn the car made and bounced up and down, much to the distress of Thor’s neck, every time it crushed something. 

Someone tapped on Thor’s shoulder from behind-- someone who wasn’t Loki or Sylvie-- causing the big god to turn around and make the toddler fuss a little bit.

“Are you Thor!?” a young man asked.

Thor nodded while the little on his shoulders fussed and tried to turn him back around, pulling his hair like Remy the rat, so he set her down and let Sylvie watch over her for a couple of seconds, holding firmly onto the leashes. 

He took the commonly asked for selfies with his fan and tried to chat over all the loud commotion, barely able to make out the words they were saying. With that being said, he made do and was able to pick up that the man had ties with a lot of the drivers and that Thor was invited to come backstage any time, either now or after the show-- with his guests, of course. 

Thor looked back to ask his sisters what they’d like to do now that the garbage truck had been returned to the sidelines and was no longer performing, only to find that Sylvie had jumped up and was climbing on the vinyl barriers, and trying her best to get Loki to join her. However, it seemed that despite her height, Loki was having some trouble largely due to her bulky diaper and fluffy skirt which made her movements awkward and unagile. 

Without hesitation, Thor put Loki back on his back before trying to grab Sylvie, until he noticed Mobius up, out of his seat, and coming towards them, slightly out of breath from obviously trying to run. 

The older little smiled and seemed to be under the impression Thor was playing a game with her as she pulled away, against the leash. But of course it did no good and she was eventually dragged back into an acceptable area where Thor was able to pick her up, before Mobius could take by the wrist and trudge away with her, to a slightly quieter spot inside the walled part of the arena-- by the food stalls and bathrooms. 

“What was that?! What were you thinking?” he asked, trying to seem as calm and rational as possible as Thor and Loki joined them. 

Sylvie crossed her arms and looked away.

“Loki, do you know what you were doing?” he asked, turning to the little on Thor’s back.

Loki kept her thumb in her mouth and didn’t respond. Not in a guilty manner, but in a seemingly clueless one. 

“It’s just… kind of boring…” Sylvie eventually admitted.

Thor, for a brief minute, considered agreeing with her, but felt he should probably keep his mouth shut. 

 Mobius softened a little bit. “I'm sorry, but I just can't let you run amok round here. You gotta go back to the seats, okay?” 

“No!” Sylvie whined. 

“Look, I’m going to get little bug here a diaper change and a refill sippy cup,” he said, taking Loki off her brother’s back. “Is the show really worse than sitting in the bathroom? You can always play with your Hot Wheels! I’m sure Thor would be happy to play with you,” he added. 

 “Can we go see that thing the guy was talking about?” she tried. 

“What guy?”

“A fan was talking to me and invited us backstage,” Thor boasted, just slightly.  

“Okay, fine, Yes, but let's do it after the show so we can see the trucks, too.” 

The older girl huffed, and then stayed quiet for a brief moment in thought. “I’ll go with Thor.” 

“Thank you,” Mobius told her, almost sincerely, before he carried little Loki off. 

[poweroverflowing]

Brave Blood Braver Heart

Literature aficionados might recognize the title Memory of the Hills, and they might know that it sold terribly in the brief time that it was stocked in bookstores due to its stagnant plot whose setting never goes beyond the walls of the “the village.” If they managed to even read the book, then they know that the first few pages open to the description of a nameless yet dutiful Knight who stands guard at the front gates day in and day out. Although dressed head to toe in armor, a cloud-shaped birth mark stains her left cheek. She’s the one who greets you with no little amount of surprise, but invites you to spar to test your mettle. [Grants Lance +1]

“Hark! An invitation to a fated duel?” To even less surprise, Owain rises to the challenge. He and Alfonse had been brought together by another reset of the book world, and though they’d only known each other a short while, Owain wastes not a moment dragging his newfound companion into his antics. He laughs, “HA HA!” at the woman’s dialogue, tilting his chin and closing his eyes to show superiority, “Though your request to combat is an honorable one, dear vanguard, it will prove to be foolish. For you have made the mistake of challenging a pair of legendary warriors!

(Not sure if you’re actually the stuff of legends, buddy, but try to follow the script.)”

To make his point, Owain turns his back to Alfonse and strikes a pose. His arms fold over his chest, before one suddenly juts out to point at their adversary. He seems to be expecting Alfonse to do the same. Whether the prince actually does or not (or decides to follow in any of this roleplaying, for that matter) is entirely up to him. 

There’s very little he can do to stop the Ylissean once he gets fired up, though. Owain has seen countless resets of this world, and though each brought something different to the table, he is starting to get bored. For a moment he mulls over the possibility that, maybe, he’ll be trapped in here until he dies. It’s a horrifying thought, but one he decides to face it later. He prefers to live inside a fantasy where everything is okay, and destiny waits for no one, after all. 

A smirk then pulls at his lips. The Knight gives no reaction to all his flashy proclamations, but he just keeps it going, “Surely you’d think it best to summon a trusted ally? Engaging just one of us is a brave feat, but two at a time shall spell thine doom!” Though he may have a point--that fighting two-on-one seems hardly fair--there’s something about the Knight’s demeanor that says she knows what she’s doing. Could that cloud-shaped mark have to do with anything? This will be Owain’s first time in all his many adventures that he’s made combat with her (surprising, I know), so he’ll only be able to wait and see.

“But enough prattle! My sword hand hungers for for blood!” A simple iron blade is then removed from his hilt. It doesn’t seem notably powerful or even really sharp. In fact, if Alfonse looks closely, he might mistake it for a blunted baton. It probably can’t even do any real damage to this Knight’s armor. “Missiletainn, come unto me!” With yet another over-the-top pose, the brand replaces Owain’s finger in pointing at his foe.

“With this apocalyptic weapon at my side, you stand not a chance, fiend! I shall allow you the first strike, after a few words from... Er, my comrade. Whose name I most definitely know as it has been prophesized to me...”

He obviously does not know.

@alfvangr