#queen of the keys

[thats-h0w-th3-light-g3ts-in]

Sweeeeeeeet, wonderful youuuuu!

You make me happy with the things you do…

Quite literally… enjoy some daily Christine — I‘m on a mission!

[blackbeautyxoxo]

deranged & insane ౨ৎ

[spittyfishy]

Duchess has just such a pretty design, I love her 🦢💜

[fridaypls]

Power, Possession, and Personal Autonomy:

Gif Analyzing Araj and Astarion's First Encounter

Jumping in; she's a bitch? For a Lolth-aligned drow from a matriarchal-and-value-based society, he's a male outsider already, as well as a spawn. Factor in her vampire fetish and nasty BetterThanYou attitude, their interaction was doomed from first glare.

She clocks what he is right away, commenting to Tav, "Please, you think someone in my line of work wouldn't recognize a vampire spawn when they see one?"

A moment for his "what the fuck, bitch?" face before we go on...

Alright back to Araj.

She circles right back around to Astarion as soon as she's finished getting what she wants out of Tav. "Although, perhaps there's one more thing we could discuss... you friend? He's a vampire, no? Or one of their spawn, at least."

Sorry, just a quick cut to Best Boy looking at her with such thinly veiled disgust. The little way he just barely purses his lips irritably at her - just a lovely extra touch on a scene already so well done.

He tolerated her talking about him in front of him once already in silence, letting you handle it; now she's referred to him outright and she clearly wants something from him. And she's referenced what he is twice now - for a man who seems to genuinely believe he's got his entire camp fooled early on, it's likely less than a fun experience to have that particular hidden facet of himself readily identified by a stranger.

He send her a ''I'm right here, you know” message in the form of a whole lotta face and a very polite, "Don't worry, we're all friends under the Absolute. I won't bite." that holds a lot more depth than the fairly calm words indicate in surface level.

Let's get a bit closer - as close as it's safe to get to an angry vampire under these circumstances.

First, the lean. When he wants to make a point, he leans in - he gives her that lean here, paired with some delightfully contemptuous side-eye. Whether that's trying to keep his nose averted or refusing to look at her head on for the disrespect, he's sending a very nice fuck you.

"...all friends under the Absolute..." while actively shaking his head no on the word friends. I love the subtle ways he makes his point.

Pulling straight out of the very polite smile-and-head-shake-no, he throws subtlety to the wind for a moment and gives her a face we know well. Gone is the faux courtesy, replaced with a beautifully angry sneer.

"...I won't bite." His words said one thing, but everything else delivers a beautifully poised threat.

...and she is entirely unfazed, firing back smoothing with "Oh, I'd prefer it if you did," before turning to Tav to ask "I assume he belongs to you?"

He sent a message; she's rejecting it.

"...friends under the Absolute..." vs "I assume he belongs to you?" Up to this point, we've seen a fair amount of deference granted to True Souls by Absolute worshipers. In her eyes, they are not equals under the absolute. He has no autonomy in her eyes, only purpose.

"...I won't bite." vs "I'd prefer if you did." and she immediately looks to Tav to arrange it. Defanging his threat with invitation and, what's more, active solicitation. Treating him like little more than a pet - it almost reminds me of how I saw someone unkind try to treat a barking lapdog once.

Tav: "He's his own person."

Astarion, understandably, is a bit busy reacting with very valid disgust and shock. "I'm sorry... you want to be bitten?"

Closer and slower; just the beautiful progression from surprise to disgust to shocked disdain to what the fuck is wrong with you?? on the "want to be bitten?" with his little head shake of lol bitch no and also ew and what the fuck??

Araj ignores that as well, commenting to Tav instead on how adorable it is that you believe "...he's his own person." It's deliberately degrading and derogatory before she attempts to buy his cooperation. Before we get into the rude-ass way she asks his name, spare a moment for this mean girls glance at someone else in the party??

Seriously, who did she fire that glare at?? Why??

Okay, I'm focused again. Back to rude Araj and her shit-covered olive-branch. First, she attempts to 'make nice' - watch her shift her face after she completes the sentence. Like an afterthought.

"Do you have a name, spawn?" Not 'what is your name' - but do you have a name, spawn?

While she smiles like she's extended an olive branch, it's covered in caca. He is a thing to her; things do not generally have names, but 'you seem to think you're more than a thing, so I'll play along.'

So how does Astarion respond?

He answers, immediately, and then puts up his hands in defense before changing his dominant hand into a wait just a second gesture as he recoils away from her. Without moving his feet, he gets as far away from her as he can get in the space without literally bending over backwards.

Let's watch again, slower. His response to being asked his name is so reflexive. We've seen it elsewhere, the charming smile, the little bow and graceful spread hands with a flourish. Two hundred years of muscle memory taking over for a split second, despite how fucking rude she's been to him.

Because he's used to it.

He is visibly repulsed and yet, she tries to buy his cooperation, sensing that manipulate or orders are not going to play well here.

Whether self-centered narcissism or plot exposition, Araj gives us a very creepy bit of dialogue about what she wants from him and why. In essence, she’s dreamt of being turned into a vampire since she was a little girl; daydreaming aloud of Astarion’s literal waking nightmare. Some more of her dialogue;

"To feel your life’s blood slipping away? To dance on the edge between life and death? Yes, I want it. I’ll even compensate you - a potion of legendary power that forever increases the strength of the one who consumes."

"I'll even compensate you" - read: 'to you, a thing who does not deserve consideration in this matter, I will graciously offer a reward to entice you.'

She offers him a powerful potion that is "...not for sale, but yours if you bite me." The succession of expressions on her face are incredible. The way she tilts her head back and sneers almost meaningfully as she makes the offer. I don't know if she's returning his earlier sneer to sender or simply feels her trap has closed, but I don't like her face.

And we're so proud of our boy, he says no. "I will have to decline." He doesn't apologize, doesn't offer an excuse, he just says no.

Remember this later when you need to say no. Astarion says 'no' is a complete answer.

There will always be pricks like Araj, however, who disagree. "How disappointing." Scorn, distaste. A bit of have it your way, then. The way a mechanic looks at a stubborn bolt they're about to take a torch to because they don't technically need it to cooperate to get the job done.

It's the way one looks at a thing they're about to bend to their will.

Then, she turns to Tav with a demand. "Can't you talk some sense into your obstinate charge?"

Again, the denial of his autonomy, blatantly asking you to override his free will - let's remember, this is something that doesn't benefit her in any way, she's simply going to enjoy it. Because she's fetishized the experience from a young age.

Tav: "I’m surprised, Astarion, I thought you’d jump at a chance like this."

Astarion immediately perceives this as an order, simply a gentle way of phrasing one. He's used to his will being overridden - but he trusts you enough to push back.

"I'm sorry, but could you excuse us for a minute?"

That's a beautiful, "let me put you on hold" in perfect customer service voice. Flawless.

Further, he's not antagonizing her any further in case he's about to be ordered to bite her against his will.

HIS FACE AS HE TURNS. Singularly unimpressed.

Then he confronts you, both pleading and upset; "Are you serious? Are you actually asking me to do this? Trading me for some potion?"

He's been traded for plenty of things in the past and none of them by his own will or for his benefit. But that was Cazador and this is you - and you, he will push back against. It's a good thing.

Then, it shifts to anger that would absolutely be justified if you were actually asking him to do this - instead of Larian baiting you into a crucial character-arc-development misunderstanding with a vague prompt. We love them.

LOOK AT THE PLEADING SHIFT TO ANGER ^

I think it's important, the way he's willing to push back against you for his autonomy. That he knows that this is wrong to ask of him, even if he hasn’t realized Tav doesn’t know exactly what’s happening yet.

Next, Astarion offers us and Tav an insight into the situation. ”Because there’s something wrong with her blood! I can smell it from here and it’s - rank!”

That disgusted look back in her direction as he tells you "It's rank."

Tav: “What do you mean? What’s wrong with her blood?” 

”I can’t say, it just smells wrong. Unnatural. Drinking it wouldn’t kill me, but it would not be pleasant.” please don't make me do this.

“I don’t have all day, True Soul.” Araj has all day, she's being pushy to claw a yes out of you, like a predatory sales person.

Tav: “Don’t do anything you don’t want to do.”

And Astarion's response is... surprised. A little confused. “Alright. Thank you.”

And then he turns back to Araj to deliver his final fuck off for this encounter. “It’s still a no, I’m afraid.”

“How very disappointing.” And Araj finally lets it go... for now. I don't have room in the gif count to show her face here, I'm sorry. But we CAN go back for Astarion's second, much more heartful thank you.

“Thank you… I appreciated that.”

Here it is with a side by side of the first thank you (left) and the second one (right)

The first thank you is surprised and a bit insincere in it's uncertainty, tainted by his surprise at the blase "don't do anything you don't want, bud," support of his autonomy. The second is beautifully genuine.

The whole interaction transcends mere defiance; it's a powerful act of liberation.

For Astarion, this moment is not just about saying no to a demand but about reclaiming his identity and freedom, underscored by Tav's steadfast support. It's a testament to their growing bond and a beacon of hope in a world that often seeks to diminish individual will.

Anyway, thanks for coming to my gif TED talk, this took at least 3 hours and I hope you found something new to enjoy in this scene!

[thundergrace]

[cup1dsdaughter]

sweet angel girl in a mean cruel world

[adriancatrin]

sketches from the cave of two lovers aka the boys are GRUMPY

[17isrighthere]

George will not be King. Parliament would not agree. Your father has risked everything, and he has lost. EDWARD IV & GEORGE PLANTAGENET THE WHITE QUEEN — 1x03: The Storm (2013)

[iambecomeyourvillain]

all for the game is a not a book series it's a mental illness

[demonslayedher]

The joke that started this whole Low-Key Married AU, and the outline of it, though I sure have a whole more tagged in this AU now. It's kind of addictive.

I had a sudden need for more content, but my ability to draw is nowhere to be found. Follow me under the cut for a couple more snippets about married Pillars going to and from work.

SEE, I TOLD YOU MY DRAWING ABILITY IS MISSING

I just....... needed to get the idea out of my head so I could find some peace, and this is what I got.

I'll just write up the last one, because it's been in my head longer and I am certain I cannot draw it: It's the morning (or whatever time they wake up) after one of their rare chances to sleep together. Shinobu has to be on her way first, so she quietly tries to leave the futon without disturbing Giyuu.

He drowsily pulls her back, and she has to push and fight him, insisting she has to go to work, but even in a half-awake state he vastly overpowers her so her poking and shoving isn't doing much to free her from his cuddle. He's impeding her mission, she argues.

That much was supposed to be cute, but then in the next panel, she takes a more serious, kind of angry tone that gets Giyuu's attention. "This is against Corp rules, Tomioka-san."

He silently relents, and she gets out of bed and immediately focused on work as usual.

(Yeah, in this AU, Shinobu still totally has that plan for killing Douma, but Giyuu doesn't know that. Yet. Also, this is totally a throw back to the worst argument they've had to date, with Shinobu finding out about Nezuko and the seen on Mt. Natagumo playing out the same, but with way more betrayal and pain and guilt behind the words.)

(See? That is why I am so stuck on this AU. It is sweet and salty.)

[thats-h0w-th3-light-g3ts-in]

Daily dose of Chris McVie - and being effortlessly cool all the time:

I can‘t handle this woman, she‘s just so effortlessly cool all the time. I don’t even know how to explain it, but cool in the sense of the word where you really just wanna hang out with her because she’s so cool.

If it is rocking her instrument merging into one with the music or if she just sits there blowing the smoke of her cigarette with a cast on her arm.

I dare say she never put that much conscious thought into what clothes she put on, not like Stevie did anyways, but she still managed to look just amazing. The way she sports her ‘Nobody’s Perfekt‘ tee when she was literally born perfect.

If it’s just one hand in the pocket of her leather jacket or carrying around a life sized cardboard cutout of her ex-husband, Christine makes it look cool.

I don’t know if this was ever a conscious decision, if she woke up one morning and thought, from now on I‘m gonna be cool and completely irresistible, but I rather believe that‘s just who she was. Just like that, effortlessly cool.

[virtual-bunny]

boyfriend! tsukki who literally has both of your hands in his grip to stop you from scratching and he’s just looking at you like “stop” but then you get desperate and start getting frustrated so he brings you (with both of your hands still in his grip) ice packs and rubs them around the itchy areas and whispers to you “it’s okay, it’s okay” and try’s to distract you from the itchy mess

[waltricia]

To add to my red post (in which I mostly explain that Colin’s burgeoning love is evidenced by how the color red goes from being in front of him to framing him and increasing in vibrancy), here’s a few more observations.

When Pen enters the ball where she’s wearing the emerald green dress, she’s enveloped by a bright red cloak, but once she has arrived, she casts it off. Perhaps the meaning here is that she has been enshrouding herself in her love for Colin and allowing it to hold her back from pursuing others, but now she is putting that love aside and not allowing it hold her back anymore.

I have to imagine that all of the love storylines will be mirroring each other’s and Polin’s storyline in certain ways, so pay attention to how they are framed by red as well.

Bonus: A note on emeralds. In 2x01, the queen said that emerald is her favorite gem. Penelope is in emerald. Penelope is Lady Whistledown. The Queen is obsessed with Lady Whistledown. I’m sure by the end of season 3, we’ll see the Queen show her admiration for Pen/Whistledown. Personally, I’m hoping the Queen employs Pen somehow. 🤞🤞

[neo--queen--serenity]

I can’t believe I only just now noticed this.

But when Francis is using his ability, which is named after the irl Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, he glows GREEN.

The GREEN LIGHT was a central narrative tool used throughout The Great Gatsby novel. It was a huge deal to Gatsby, and was a consistent metaphor for his love for his romance interest, Daisy.

Fitzgerald, whose character in BSD is meant to directly mimic Gatsby, has a wife and child he would commit atrocities for. He believes what Gatsby believes: that only through money and power can he can live happily with the people he loves.

He embodies the Green Light and everything it stands for when he activates his ability, and that’s so fucking cool to me.

[fawndollita]

[musicrunsthroughmysoul]

Happy birthday, Janis Joplin! 💙 (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970)

Quotes by artists influenced by Janis' legacy below:

"Janis put herself out there completely, and her voice was not only strong and soulful, it was painfully and beautifully real. She sang in the great tradition of the rhythm & blues singers that were her heroes, but she brought her own dangerous, sexy rock & roll edge to every single song. She really gave you a piece of her heart. And that inspired me to find my own voice and my own style." - Stevie Nicks "I think she allowed women to have their pain. Her thing was so borne from her pain. Her amazing talent was because of the pain she had...I think she was so misunderstood, and she was so intelligent, emotionally intelligent, and what came out of her was almost beyond what her physical body could even do as a singer, and what she was putting across." - Nancy Wilson (of Heart) on Janis "That’s really how I learned [to sing], and I was already listening to the greats like Janis Joplin, who I loved to death, and who was one of the greatest rock singers ever..." - Rob Halford (of Judas Priest) "I never knew Janis, I never saw her or heard her voice live, I never witnessed the fireball of fury that she unleashed onstage, but I think I understand. When a soul can look on the world, and see and feel the pain and loneliness, and can reach deep down inside, and find a voice to sing of it, a soul can heal. And hers did." - Melissa Etheridge "I saw Janis Joplin when I was 15. I heard her sing, and I couldn’t believe she was smoking on stage, she was drinking Southern Comfort, and she sang like no other. She could sing a song entitled, 'Take A Little Piece of My Heart' and deliver it so beautifully, amazingly." - Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith) "She was such a huge influence on me. Because she was so different to any other female vocalist of the time. I was used to Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield and those sort of singers, who were great, but Joplin was unique. She was not a pop star, but really belted out those songs. There was so much emotion in something like 'Move Over.'" - Enid Williams (of Girlschool) "You listen to a Janis Joplin record and she just puts — she wears everything on her sleeve, whether she's completely drugged up, it's on her sleeve. If she's totally just passionately screaming at the top of her lungs, it's on her sleeve. You feel like whatever she's talking about and whatever she's singing about, she sang it with no cares, no second thoughts, no looking back. She didn't say, 'You know what, let's take that take again.' She sang it and she sang it with every bone in her body, and that was that." - Alicia Keys