#(why do they have to have so many ship names)

[utilitycaster]

I’ve never actually watched a campaign of critical role live, like I first heard of it at the start of c3, didn’t finish campaigns 1 and 2 until episode like 80, and decided to just let c3 finish airing so I could binge. You’ve been in fandom since c2, and I wanted to ask two questions. How does criticism of c3 differ from c2, or even c1? Also, since the fandom has grown and the cast is now much more removed from the fans, do you think if they ever do another long form campaign they’ll try and address some complaints people have had about c3? Or will they just continue to do their own thing? It just feels (to me with no point of comparison) that a lot of people have a lot of valid complaints about c3 and I can’t imagine they’d just ignore all of it, but I could just be naive

Let me answer the ending question first, which is that I do not know how much the cast sees and honestly I wouldn't even blame them for ignoring most commentary during the campaign because I think it's hard to actually run a campaign constantly trying to make the fandom happy. I also have some guesses that the cast has their own doubts that are perhaps less harsh than what many of us have been saying, but are present. Like I can't imagine they missed how rushed the emotional beats of this campaign felt, and how bad this party is at making decisions that feel earned and interesting and don't take them 3 hours, even if they might keep that private. I think the flaws of this campaign are also a bit of a perfect storm, namely, Matt had a very specific plot in mind but ran this campaign with too open a hand, and the cast of characters they played could have used a bit more balance. I mean, I'll admit to being unimpressed by a few of Bells Hells' initial premises compared to other parties, but most actually could have become great if they were in a more character-tailored campaign like the previous two. I think without this goal of creating a big culmination in a hypothetical future campaign, this problem of having ill-suited characters for that type of plot and then pushing development aside in the service of that culmination becomes a nonissue.

Now, fan criticism. This gets tricky, because a lot of criticism, to be blunt, sounds similar on the surface no matter how valid it is. For example, "this ship lacks chemistry and development" is basically a criticism people throw at any ship they dislike. Chemistry is ultimately subjective, or at least impossible to measure in a meaningful way (this is why the But Number Go Up crowd hates when it gets brought up, like, doesn't matter how many fics your ship has if I think the characters are cold fish with each other; I'll never like it) and development is not but requires strong meta to back it up and it's hard to prove a negative.

Shipping aside, though: I think the clincher for me is that people who ended up disliking Campaign 2 any time between the ending of the hiatus or after the finale, were as a rule invested in one very specific outcome: either they quit because their ship didn't happen (including the many, many people who thought Fjord and Jester or Beau and Yasha would break up in the finale, apropos of nothing); in the case of Shadowgast that the ship didn't happen in the way they expected; or they quit because Molly was not resurrected. There was certainly a lot of trepidation going into the finale that not all stories would have a satisfying conclusion (notably Caleb, Yasha, and Fjord, all of whom did get meaningful resolution in the finale) but, at least in my circles, no one was arguing that the Nein as a whole felt robbed and that the campaign did them dirty. You had the weirdass Caduceus stans who failed to understand that his story was precisely what he wanted, or the Caleb Should Have Killed Everyone In The Assembly people, but honestly at least in my recollections a lot of those were secondary to various shipping/Molly complaints and grew out of there as a means to bash the campaign for additional reasons, rather than as a root cause for dissatisfaction themselves. Here, we have people who are ostensibly thrilled with the shipping outcome and the endstate with the gods becoming mortal and who were crowing about that up until the finale announcement at which point they, in their own words, crashed out and suddenly began agreeing with everything this campaign's detractors had said re: lack of character-focused arcs and rushed pacing, and I think that's notable.

I don't feel qualified really to speak about Campaign 1 because I wasn't there, but I think in addition to the violent misogynistic hate which Critical Role obviously did not nor should have listened to and taken as guidance, there was the usual "MY SHIP DIDN'T HAPPEN SO THIS CAMPAIGN IS BAD AND PROBLEMATIC" complaints we saw with Campaign 2.

I guess my point is, getting back to that first paragraph about shipping, you can't go off of the phrasing of criticism; you really do need to take it in context.

[quibbs126]

Maybe I’m just being lazy but screw it, I don’t have much else to add to this page, or that I will add, so page now

As stated prior, this AU now has the name of Transformers X, and this page is pretty much just me trying to make various designs for characters

I say try because while I got Jazz and a design for Bumblebee, I kind of gave up by the Starscream design, or I just didn’t know how to finish it

I guess let’s just go through what’s here

So first we have Bumblebee. I gave him a visor, but I don’t know if I want to keep it, because honestly I’m giving too many characters visors at this rate

I do like how round he is though, and I like his horns

I also decided I need to give characters other gem shapes, which I did here with Bee. I gave him the two on his chest to mimic headlights, and one on his head because why not

I have no clue what his role in the AU is. I know he’s an Autobot, and he probably has some connection with Optimus, but I don’t know what specifically he does? Originally I was planning on him being Optimus’ support bot, but I ended up finding Jazz a better pick, so I don’t know what to do with him now

Speaking of which, on to Jazz. I already explained stuff about him prior, how he’s semi based on his TFA design. The red circle gem is supposed to be where his Autobot symbol is, but honestly I might change the shape. I don’t know how much I like the circle on him. The circle shoulders can stay though

By Jazz I realized I should probably be more elaborate with the arms, but I still need more time to figure out how specifically to go about that

And as for his role, as stated he is Optimus and usually Megatron’s support bot. By which I mean, guy in the HQ that’s giving the bot out field and opponent data, as well as helping with strategies

I said he has a casual thing going with both Optimus and Megatron, but honestly, I might take it out. I thought it was funny, but I’m not sure how much I like it genuinely. Not that I don’t think the ship could work, it’s just that maybe I’ll shelve it here. I do kind of like it though still, at least on Optimus’ end. The polyamory’s so there’s no cheating, because I’ve decided megop is official here

And then we get to the unfinished designs

So with Starscream, I didn’t really know how to translate his helmet design into Mega Man-esque format. So I went looking for characters to maybe get some pointers on how to do so, and I ended up finding Gate, who basically became my main inspiration for this Starscream

I just thought the helm design really fit Starscream, and I mean I can use the flashback Gate for scientist Starscream too

But then during my sketching I was like “does that really look like Starscream?” Like he looks like a Mega Man character, but to me I’m not sure he’s recognizable as Starscream

I also didn’t know what to do for his body, since the gem was supposed to be in place of his cockpit, nor was I sure on his arms or how his wings work

So I decided he’s to be shelved for now, maybe I can make a better design later

Then I decided to do a small head design for Skyfire. As is he isn’t really going to be in the AU, since he’s currently in stasis, but might as well

He’s fine, I just have to figure out his body

Then we have a semi-sketch of Soundwave, who’s mainly based on Vile because I feel like the shapes work for him

I was trying to add something to his head to make him look more Soundwave, but they didn’t turn out right. Maybe my issue here is leaning too much into the Vile helm style

All I know is he is very square

And I think that’s mainly it on this round of AU stuff. It really isn’t that much, I’ll be honest, but this is from like, the past few days where I’ve been doing a lot of work, and I haven’t had much creative juice. Hopefully by Thursday or Friday I have more substance

Honestly I just want to keep drawing Megatron and Optimus, but I know I should expand the cast. But maybe I should just do what I want instead, since all of this is self indulgent anyways. I do need to modify Megs’ design now since I’ve decided he has circle shoulders now

[fandomsandflyingstingrays]

The dialogue for this came to me out of nowhere while I was trying to fall asleep last night and I knew I had to write it, so here's my take on Circe meeting Penelope

“Spit it out, Hermes.”

A chuckle from the treetops was the only indication Circe got that the god had heard her. “Tired of my company already?”

“Always.”

“Hmm. No accounting for taste.” Hermes deigned to descend from the treetops at last, his winged sandals bringing him to hover just above the ground. “But since you insist, I came to give you a warning.”

Circe stiffened.

“A ship will be arriving shortly.”

She stood, dropping her basket of herbs.

“It’s friendly.”

She blew out an exasperated breath, even as her muscles relaxed. “Your definition of a warning could use some work. If they’re not a threat to me, why did you come all this way?”

“For their sake more than yours, darling. I have a vested interest in making sure you don’t add this particular crew to your pigsty.”

Circe rolled her eyes. “I haven’t turned anyone into a pig in eight years.”

“She’ll be glad to hear it.”

“She?”

Hermes disappeared before the question had fully left Circe’s lips. She rolled her eyes again, so hard that it sent a spike of pain through her skull, but she had to admit that he’d piqued her interest. The nymphs of Aeaea had come from many different walks of life, bearing many different tales, but none had ever arrived by boat. Whatever woman approached now would be different than any Circe had met before. It would only be fair to greet her in person.

Arrival at the shoreline only deepened Circe’s confusion. The boat docked at the beach was just like all the others that had arrived on Aeaea in recent years: same wood, same design, same pattern of men moving about. The lone, black-haired woman standing at the ramp truly was the only strange thing about it.

The man beside her caught sight of Circe and began waving frantically with both arms— more out of excitement than fear, she thought. Perhaps the woman wasn’t the only strange thing after all.

Circe waved back, albeit with a single hand and much more dignity, and approached the ship— only to stop in her tracks as her breath caught.

The man lowering his arms was clean-shaven and youthful and tall, but otherwise, he was a dead ringer for— 

“Odysseus?”

The man bowed. “No, Lady Circe. My name is Telemachus. Although I’m told my father and I look a lot alike.”

So this was the boy Odysseus had spoken of with such affection. “It’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, prince of Ithaca.” Turning to the woman at his side, Circe added, “I suppose that must make you Queen Penelope.”

“That’s right.”

“Has the king come with you?”

“I’m afraid not. Our seas have never been calmer, but he still says he’s had his fill of sailing.”

So he had made it home, in the end. Warm relief trickled down Circe’s spine, but it chilled at Penelope’s next words. 

“May I disembark so that we can speak more easily?”

Circe didn’t think the only kind man to set foot on Aeaea in centuries would have sent his wife and son after her for revenge, but it wasn’t out of the question that they had come on their own. She’d grown accustomed to her empty sty, and she wasn’t eager to fill it again. Best to find an excuse to send them on their way. 

But still, Circe was curious— curious about what had become of Odysseus, curious about what his wife was doing on her shores. An entire crew might pose a threat to her nymphs, but one mortal woman she could overpower if need be.

“I’m not in the practice of allowing men into my palace these days, but you may disembark alone, if you wish.”

Penelope hesitated, and Telemachus squeezed her shoulder. “Go ahead, Mom. I’ll keep an eye on the crew.”

Penelope kissed her son on the head and swept down the ramp, clasping Circe’s hand once they reached the bottom. She let Circe set the pace as they set off for the palace, seeming content to walk in silence.

Circe made it all of five minutes before she could no longer tolerate it. “For what it’s worth, I apologize for attempting to seduce your husband.”

Penelope actually laughed. “Well, it’s not as though you knew he was married. From what Odysseus has told me, his loyalty to me was what inspired you to help him in the first place. And besides, having seduced him myself, I understand the urge.”

“Perhaps. But I doubt you were trying to get him to let his guard down so that you could kill him more easily.”

Penelope stopped, and Circe tensed. But when she turned, it wasn't anger on her face. It was sorrow. Almost pity, but not as grating. It was empathy.

“From the moment my cousin returned from the war with no news of my husband, men from across the island came to my palace to vie for his crown. I held them off for years, used every trick I could think of, while they eat my food and stole my possessions and tormented my child. Every single night, I barricaded my door and fought tooth and nail to sleep through my terror.” Penelope’s eyes hardened, holding Circe’s gaze. “Again, Lady Circe. I understand.”

In all her millennia, Circe had never felt so seen. It was a deeply uncomfortable experience— but liberating, in its own way. There was no shame in seeing herself in a mortal when she had been cast away by the gods. Circe had spent her years trapped, using all her cunning to keep her daughters safe. Just as Penelope had waited in her own prison, her wits the only thing keeping her and her son from ruination.

“Divine blood runs through your veins. I can sense it.”

If Penelope was confused by the abrupt change of subject, she didn’t show it. “Yes. My mother is the Naiad Periboea.”

It wouldn’t give her the same strength as one descended from a god, but Circe had taught many a Naiad before. She could make it work.

“With your husband’s return, I would imagine your suitors no longer plague you. But I’d happy to teach you how to turn such men into pigs, if you wish. There’s never any harm in being prepared.”

For the first time, the queen of Ithaca smiled. “Lady Circe, why do you think I'm here?”

[intothehandsoffate]

listen to me. Listen. I believe so much in fiddauthor shacking up in the mansion. E Stan.

[saragrosie]

As promised, incredibly stupid s4-5 drawings

[pacificwaternymph]

I love Arcane because on the one hand you have this bitter, angry young woman who was kidnapped and illegally detained in a federal prison for pretty much the entirety of her teen years, and when she's finally set free she finds that nothing is as she remembers it, all the people she once knew are either gone or irreversibly changed, and she doesn't know where her place in the world is anymore.

And then on the other hand you have this rich girl nepo baby rookie cop taking two steps outside her own neighborhood and being hit with the realization that her government REALLY FUCKING SUCKS.

And they're gay.

[goreroll]

Mabel x Pacifica 💝

———

this bro came earlier than he should have loll

[praiseofhighmorals]

I don’t think ratio and aventurine ever actually date. I think they have like the most insane 5 year long psychosexual situationship and then the moment they realize they genuinely both care about each other they just get married.

[sofairyy]

old nuziv doodles I forgot to post

[jingledbells]

been falling behind a bit sorry(rehearsals are so long now :’]) but here’s fiddtober day 5 and 6 combined (backupsmore and cozy)

[sysig]

can i ask for larry and kabu.... is it allowed......... if not i can ask for something else lol

Day 2 - Warm feelings

[hypertechnica]

just the 3 of us

[anonymouscheeses]

Hi! I know you might not watch/draw The Rise of Red, but I was wondering if you could do some more Charminghearts? Have a good day!

~Charmingheart’s middle child

Day 3 of drawing and rating your favorite ships!

This one is a big 9/10! I fixated on it a big amount when the movie came out. But now im obsessed with the actors lmao. -1 point cuz the friendship was a tiny bit rushed, and also i know it will never become canon cuz well.. disney. And also i still have no idea how to draw them so yeah.

Still love this ship tho and all yalls beautiful art!

[nightly-nightcat]

day 68 - the cryptid and the anomaly (do not separate)

[nadiajustbe]

I think the most beautiful thing about writing of Howl and Sophie's pair is that they are written as people before being written as a pair. Let me explain this very quick.

The thing about book Sophie and Howl is that they are not really fully fitting into any "classic" romantic trope. They are not exactly enemies to lovers, as their angry chats are definitely cannot be considered a life or death battle, they are not rivals to lovers because the only aspect of rivalry between them is the cleaningness of Howl's room. They are not friends to lovers, as their relationship just doesn't fit into "friendship" structure at the very start, nor they are roomates (yes, they live in the same house but that's not the core aspect of their relationships). Of course, you can go on and fit the name of the trope you found specifically for them, but that's the thing.

They simply cannot be processed through a pairings lenses only, in order to understand how they act in relationship you need to analyse them separately, as a characters first of all. Cause that's what the book itself does!

Sure, it doesn't have a whole lot of romance instead, but it gives us time to learn and observe the life of incredibly written, alive characters, understand them as personalities first of all, while slowly immersing the dynamic between two characters (in this case, Howl and Sophie) into work. They are written as personalities, both being fully separated and interviewing, changing eachother's point of view.

It's difficult to find a trope for them. They're are not a trope. They are Howl and Sophie, and that's probably the only way their dynamic can be properly described. Just as real people, they are not really fitting into the boxes of linial character progression, but go way deeper into being complex, filled with little differences and moments only people with their personality can have in romantic (or any different) kind of interaction. They're imperfect, and silly, and multidimensional and the reader knows them well enough to imagine them interacting way beyond of what the book says to them.

They are being people before being a ship, a pair of a trope — and that's why they work so perfectly charming in the end.

Howl and Sophie are unique in being themselves.

[matsaysyes]

I have massive brain rot for them right now and it won’t go away. They have single-handedly chucked me back into the Pokemon fandom and I’m not as mad about it as I thought would be.