#listen. sometimes you want your villain to be sexy and compelling and like. Fun To Watch

[thewhumperinwhite]

🔨 Are there any whump tropes that you'd love to see your OC's reactions to even though you couldn't or wouldn't put it into your actual story for whatever reason?

✂ Is there a plotline that you'd planned to write but for whatever reason has been abandoned?

🥇 Pick one aspect of your story that you are particularly fond of. Anything at all.

OOH okay good question. Alright. So.

Hammer: I really really love mind control, and for some fucking reason I have written a vampire story where the vampires don't have mind control!!!! a perfect fuckin opportunity and I have wasted it!!! I think I wanted it to be clear that Karim is stuck with Micah because of Good Old Fashioned Emotional Manipulation and not because of magic, and also because i hate myself i guess.

(i do have a... maybe-canon-maybe-not post-story arc for ATTD that heavily features mind control, which i am Obsessed With, but it would be extremely difficult to write it without a Big Big Spoiler for ATTD so once again I have placed myself in a mind-control-less hell of my own making. 😔

Scissors: It's more of a scene than a plotline, but I had a whole scene plotted out for WKW where everybody's at like a grand ball and Morden tells Thorne to dance with Andry, and Thorne goes into Good Boy Mode and picks up on how funny (and maybe hot) Morden and all the rest of the Falconers think it is when he pushes Andry around in public, and he gets carried away and kisses Andry in front of everybody. Thorne is not thinking too hard about Why Morden Might Like That, he was operating 100% on Make Master Happy So Master Wants To Keep Me instincts, and he's confused afterward about why Andry, who has been starting to very cautiously open up, is suddenly cold as ice again. And then Endure happens before they actually Talk About It.

Buuuuut I couldn't find room for it in To Bid You All Welcome, which was already getting untenably long, and it feels weird to have two different Big Fancy Parties within such a short time span, so it never worked out. sigh

Medal: I really really like my villains, lol, and especially how they fulfill their roles in their various stories. in particular I think the contrast between Morden and Micah (the Vampire Daddy from atykm) is really, like. Funny???

Because, like, Morden is competent and sexy and like... a fairy tale villain? Honestly, he's just a few extra sex crimes away from being a disney villain. if you asked him what his alignment was he would say its capital e Evil. And I don't think he's like a cartoon, really, either! He's just a guy who has a lot of power and thinks he's entitled to more social status than he's been granted, and he thinks he Gets To burn the whole world down if he wants to, and he's having fun doing it. So he's always a balance between Genuinely Reprehensible And A Real Threat while also being, like... "likeable" is maybe not the right word but like. Fun To Watch, certainly.

And meanwhile Micah is like... the exact opposite of that. What appeals to me about him is that he is, stripped of all artifice, Deeply Pathetic. He's just a sexual predator with magic powers. The only thing he's good at other than Being A Vampire is sensing other people's vulnerabilities and exploiting them (and he didn't even get that right tbc: he has Deeply Underestimated most of his coven and they're going to fucking Get Him pretty soon). So he's a really fun balance too, because i get to figure out how to make it clear that he is Not A Criminal Mastermind, he's just privileged and confident, without lowering the stakes of the story--he's a pathetic old man, but he also has the power to Literally Ruin Everything.

...this got longer than i meant it to be lmao BUT basically the thing I am proud of is!! the way both of these Evil Men fit into and improve their stories while..... also being exactly What I Want From My Whumpers at different times 😁

[croik]

some rambling about TMA

So the first time I listened to TMA, it was as Season 4 was airing, and I stopped after the season was done. Since the sequel’s been announced, I decided to go back to relisten and finally finish, which I did! And overall, I’m really glad I did, because I enjoyed Season 5 and the finale a lot! There’s still so much to love about TMA as a whole, from the acting to the sound design to the statements etc etc. If anyone wants to chat about it hit me up! But in the meantime I’m gonna do the thing where I rate the seasons and chat about them a little.

For me, the seasons from best to worst are 2, 1, 5, 3, 4

Season 2 is just so good. It’s in that good sweet spot where the over arching plot has showed its head but is still mostly mystery. The statements are starting to include repeat characters and call backs. Jon is completely unhinged. I just love getting to the end of a statement and then hearing the extra click, followed by his very furtive “Supplemental.” Even when he doesn’t have much to add, I always look forward to it. Plus this is when we get to hear Gertrude Robinson, the best character!!! Gosh I love Gertrude so much. What a fascinating and bad ass character. Sorry Johnny but your mom is sexy.

Season 1 is of course the OG. I remember not being entirely sold at first because I’m not huge on anthologies, but they sprinkled just enough of the A plot in through the early eps to be really compelling. The first time Jon’s recording got interrupted (by Elias?) was such a good drop and I really looked forward to those moments in the "real world". The season finale could have benefitted from the better sound work of later in the show, but, yeah, of course, right? The first season statements are still some of the most memorable and set up so many intriguing characters and storylines, even if not all of them paid off perfectly.

Season 5 I’m coming to way after the fact, so I’d heard a few things about it going in. I’ll admit my expectations were low. Happily, I enjoyed it a lot! The acting has only gotten better, same with the sfx, and I was a little surprised by how much I liked listening to Jon and Martin just talk about the world. They have a lot of interesting morality and character debates, and the final reveals around Annabelle, the Eye, etc, were very satisfying. I would rate it higher than season 1 except for the very large issue that I just did not enjoy the statements.

I mean, the show has so many statements over the 200 eps, they of course range from legit chilling to kinda lame, but in earlier seasons, a big part of the horror for me came from the disruption of the subject’s lives. We’d get a little setup, and then some poor shmuck had everything taken from them, and either survived traumatized or just plain didn’t make it. Sometimes you’d get a villain point of view! But in season 5, all the statements just bled together for me. There weren’t characters with lives anymore, just snapshots taken in the middle of a never ending horror, with very little context and no conclusion. But even worse, Jon and Martin talk about and treat the statements like an inconvenience. “What, another one?” Martin groans, and Jon apologizes, and they both sigh and go through the chore of giving us the show’s content. It’s a real bummer for me, and I wish they would have treated the statements with more reverence or importance, if they had to exist at all.

Season 3 is a mixed bag for me. On the one hand I like seeing the lore fleshed out. Jon slowly gaining powers is very fun and he gets to meet some really fun side characters (POOR GERRY!) but also some irritating ones (I’m one of those that really couldn’t stand Nikola’s voice). But season 3 also set up a few things I didn’t care for that got cranked up to 11 in season 4: the “I could tell you, but I won’t” play from the villains, and the complete lack of compassion that Jon receives once he starts gaining his powers.

Yes, there’s plenty of reason for Elias to act like he did. But “I’m going to withhold information for literally no reason at all” is something I really hate, and his explanation for it after the fact doesn’t soothe my annoyance with it during relisten. It is just so frustrating, and not in a way that feels like “yes I like hating this antagonist” but in a “the plot demands he doesn’t share too much” way. Then there’s Jon, which brings me to season 4.

Season 4 is the only one that I have to admit I actively disliked. I wanted to listen again because I didn’t remember much from it, and wanted to come into 5 fresh – only to realize that not much happens in 4? The entire season is either A) someone complaining that they don’t know what to do next, or B) someone complaining that they can’t talk to the other characters. If there’s anything more annoying (IMO) than characters refusing to share info for no reason, it’s for the reason of “I’m keeping you safe.” Then there’s Jon. Not to excuse some of his shittier choices, but there were times it was very frustrating bordering on unfair that he took so much of the angst and blame of the other characters. He spends several entire seasons talking about how hard he’s trying to keep hold of his humanity, while gaining almost no sympathy from anyone – just their suspicion and scorn when he falls short. Even Martin (in season 5 mostly) jabs all the time about how spooky and weird he’s become. And he is spooky and weird, but there are so few points in the show where Jon receives honest, unconditional sympathy, and I feel so bad for him. He’s trying really hard! I just want to give him a blanket and some soup, and tell him he did his best.

The bright spot of season 4 though was Jon and Daisy, for sure. I really enjoyed that unexpected friendship, and I felt for Jon in season 5, and his disappointment when they were reunited.

And that’s it, I guess!? TMA is still one of the best horror podcasts around, and I am looking forward to TMP, even if the prospect of more multiverse has me a little wary. If you read all this I hope to see you around fandom <3

[bladesandstars]

FFXV Favorites Meme

I was tagged by @geekgoddess813. Thank you GG! This was really fun.

Instructions:

To celebrate a year of FFXV and the end of the first year of updates, let’s spread the FFXV love! I haven’t seen a tag meme like this for FFXV yet, so I decided to make one. If you see this and want to, copy/paste this list and share what your favorite things about FFXV are.

Favorite Chocobro:

Ignis. Not gonna lie, I started with Gladio and still have major thirst for him (the car pushing scene? Yes) but Ignis with his sassy intelligence, nuanced body language, and beautiful voice acting stole my heart pretty quickly. (I play with English VAs but have listened to some of his Japanese VA and it's also wonderful).  He is many things I am (nerd, mom friend, quietly passionate about stuff) and am not (sculpted god who can do backflips), and I find that very appealing. Also he reads queer to me and I enjoy that too. (YMMV don't yell at me just my headcanon!) Thirst wise though, it's true, the other two crept into my tent too, sneaky beaky like, and I'm not kicking them out.

Favorite Guest Party Member (including Ravus and Libertus from DLC):

Aranea. She is the badass you wanna be and be with. Also dragoons rule as a general matter.

Favorite Minor Character(s):

Regis (does he count as minor?)  He pulled at my heartstrings so hard and was just the kindest, bravest dad.

Favorite Villain:

I'm a sucker for a sexy voice, so yeah. Ardyn. Also I do have a weakness for smirkers.

Favorite Kingsglaive Character:

Nyx. Crowe would have been a contender but she didn't get enough screen time. That scene where he's playing with fire? swoon. Also I dig his hairdo and backstory.

Favorite Astral/Divine Being:

Gentiana/Shiva. Because I'm superficial (that's probably obvious at this point) and girl is STACKED. I also loved how Gentiana is her the whole time. Also also also, and let me not get on a huge tangent about this, but you really *see* the effect summoning her has on Noct. He's cold, and he looks like it hurts. I thought they could have done better in the game with showing the toll the armiger weapons and summons take. There is an excellent fic I read somewhere that fleshes this out. I will find it and reblog it because it's exactly what I wanted from the story.

Favorite Character Overall:

Iggy. He's just undeniable. Also after the DLC with his hair down? Yes please.

If I HAD to make it someone different- Gladio. He is more nuanced than people realize, I think. When he hollered at Noctis on the train, I remembered all the times I felt like I had failed miserably, couldn't fix it, and so yelled at someone else over something smaller. Yeah, it doesn't make you feel better and probably isn't a good character trait. But I didn't find it unrealistic. *shrug*

Favorite Weapon:

I'm gonna copy GG a *bit* and say Ardyn's armiger. Because watching all those weapons he got stole over the years fan out was pretty majestic, and added to the story. Also his reaper scythe was cooooool.

Favorite Weapon you can actually fight with? Ragnarok or Iggy’s frost daggers.

Favorite Location: 

Zegnautus Keep. I know I'm weird but I love industrial creepy.

Favourite Quest/Questline/Hunt:

I really enjoyed climbing Ravatogh with the boys. Outdoorsing is fun, and the area was neat looking. Also, dragons. (nerd)

Favorite Boss:

Ravus.  His story and conflict are really compelling.  And the whole vampire-era-Tom-Cruise thing he has going on doesn't hurt either.   

Favorite Monster/Monster Family/etc:

Iron and Red Giants. They look super cool at night. Also, once I reached the point in the game where I could swagger around at night without being afeared, it was really fun. (Iggy was like "we can drive at night now" and I'm all DAMN RIGHT WE CAN!) Also, bonus Aranea drop-in opportunity.

Favorite Song:

Can’t choose just one.

Lestallum, because I love Spanish guitar. 

Episode Ignis main theme - violins!

Up to the Challenge (Cleigne Battle Theme)

Veiled in Black

A Retainer’s Resolve from Episode Ignis (this shreds)

There is this really great music that plays sometimes after a dungeon that I haven’t been able to find the title of on any of the OST track lists.  I love it though.

Favorite Boss Theme:

Invidia and Ardyn’s theme

Favorite Non-Episode DLC/Update/Event:

Assassin's Creed Festival. I disproportionately enjoy jumping off high things and do it in almost every game, sometimes to my peril, because I'm a weirdo. So that was super satisfying. Also Prompto's "the prince of garbage," Noct mocking Iggy’s "new recipeh" line, and Iggy's adorable complaints at how revealing the costumes are. LOVE.

Favorite Episode DLC:

Squenix took my favorite character and made him even hotter? Yeah, Episode Ignis pls. Also I love angst. And I am enjoying the gameplay too.

I liked the two other episodes too though. Gladio's story isn't quite as compelling, but it felt good to smash stuff and be a big badass. And Prompto's story made me cry, and also made me feel like maybe I can actually play shooters?

Other Favorites of Note:

Killing the final boss at the end of Episode Prompto. It was pretty awesome to beat something that large from the back of a snowmobile.

Cindy. *sighs dreamily* I also enjoyed the little snippets of backstory and development they gave her (more would have been great too). She's more than just a pretty everything. 

Fave Things to Do:

Chocobo riding. It's just so cute.

Get the boys all grubby and dirty and then take them somewhere nice to sleep

‎olllldddeerr Chocobros. So attractive!

‎link strikes. I love all the little animations.

‎listen to music from some of my other fave FF games in the car

cute car animations (My favorites are Who Farted and Shut Up Prompto) I totally brake check Noctis when he sits his irresponsible ass on the back of the car too. I'll never admit to him that he does look pretty cool up there.

Going to murder that giant snake down in Crestholm Channels. That dungeon was overall fun.

Tag! You’re it! (only if you want!):  @tianasidhe  @chocoboypromptoargentum

@asoeiki @theyearofdiamonddogs