#AMBI Group

[anonymous-gambito]

Accidentally started referring to most of rgu cast by stupid nicknames and now I gotta start watching myself bc shit would get real confusing to anyone else.

I mean, someone try to guess who any of these characters are

The Weird Freak

Uwu

Boots

Tree Trunk

Frankenstein

Little Guy

Bug

[cityofmeliora]

notes / thoughts on Terzo's characterization (Terzo is so disappointed and depressed and i love him)

a few weeks ago i saw this post from slavghoul which has snippets of TF describing the Papas. it includes this quote:

“He represents this frustrated old guy who hates everyone, especially himself. But despite his wounds and his darkness, he has a sense of humour and is endearing, like most of my heroes. The late actor Christopher Lee was an inspiration to me. In many ways, he is Papa.” (Metallian 7/2015)

i thought this quote was really interesting because i'd never seen anyone talking about that side of Terzo before. Terzo hating "everyone, especially himself" felt at odds with the charming personality he typically displayed. i wanted to know how that developed and where his "wounds and darkness" came from. so i did some digging for quotes on Terzo's history and characterization. here are my notes + thoughts:

something that came up again and again in my research is that he is actually quite antisocial when he's not performing. it seems like he didn't want people to know anything about him past his stage persona.

TOUR MANAGER: No one in the crew really gets to see or speak to Papa, ever. Only Anna and myself have access. He is not in the building and then he'll just be there, just for show time. The only thing you really need to know about Papa is what you see of him on stage. Ghost - The Devil's Hands (Documentary) (2017)

he almost never interacted with any of the nameless ghouls or the tour crew. in fact, he really went out of his way to avoid them. he traveled separately, would appear right before the start of a show, and then he would disappear as soon as it ended. in "The Devil's Hands", it showed they sometimes had trouble locating him when he was needed.

With this new era, can you introduce Papa Emeritus III? NAMELESS GHOUL: I don't know him very well yet. We haven't really done our mileage with him, so I am sure that we will find out. But he seems nice. He seems okay. Obviously, he's very close relatives with Papa number two, who was a little bit of a hmm. I'm sure that he isn't like, completely different, but we'll find out. He's a bit of a recluse, and he sort of travels on his own. And he sort of appears when we're due onstage and then he disappears when we're offstage. So yeah, I guess we have a little bit of a social disconnect there, but I don't see a big problem with that. I mean he seems to be doing well on his own, and I don't know if he has a little harem somewhere that occupies his time offstage, I guess. I'm assuming that. Loud TV (July 2015)

INTERVIEWER: How has it been working with the third Papa? How is he fitting into the group? NAMELESS GHOUL: We like him, actually. He seems to be quite nice. Obviously, we haven't really done our "miles" with him yet, so we don't know him that well. And he doesn't travel with us- he sort of goes separately everywhere, and he appears just before the show and then he just disappears. So we haven't really had the time to sort of fully get to know him. But overall, he seems quite a joyful chap. Metal Injection (September 2015)

predictably, his bandmates did not know him very well. but they always remarked that they liked him and that he seemed like a nice, chill guy. (they also assumed he had a harem that he spent time with when he wasn't performing, which is probably not true, considering how much effort he put into avoiding people whenever possible.)

NAMELESS GHOUL: We don't really socialize with Papa, so… But he seems nice! But he's very occupied in his harem. [...] He's a little bit cooler. He seems to be the nicer of the two brothers --I don't know if there are two-- but he seems to have, I don't know, a kinder mother, probably, or something that makes him slightly.. INTERVIEWER: A little different. NAMELESS GHOUL: Yeah, he's a little bit different. AMBY (October 2015)

i don't think his charming, pleasant demeanor was just an act, though. i think it did come from a genuine part of himself... he wasn't always an antisocial recluse.

before he became Papa, he was a cardinal in Krakow, Poland. Bishop Necropolitus Cracoviensis (the character representing Zbigniew Bielak, the artist who does the album art for Ghost) characterized younger Terzo as having enthusiasm in all his endeavors. he was always a very devoted member of the clergy who had big dreams of progress and modernization for the Ministry and the world. he had a strong interest in Futurist art and philosophy.

Bp. Necropolitus Cracoviensis remembers: "...our relationship goes a long way back to the times before his papacy, that is when he was still a cardinal in my hometown, in Cracovia...(...) Although we had our share of juvenile recklessness - be it indulging his beloved cream pies - allegedly verging on six hundred sixty six portions a year but that must be a rumor I believe, or wild parties at the attic of seminary school (laughs) - even in his formative years, he remained a focused man of vision, looking far into the future, always addressing his people's needs and longings to keep our church together in those turbulent, rapidly changing times (...) there were so many temptations to syndicate among our good people (...) (...) We would sit down to studying exciting Futurist manifestos, sketched the blueprints of utopian metropoles, spiked with shiny skyscrapers stabbing at the heavens belly... Wantonly swollen zeppelins would to carry our gospel of indulgence to the farthest corners of the globe to summon and enslave. (...) Forged in nostalgia of steam and fire, this brave new world of ambition, vice, lust and greed - all so inherent to the enlightened modernity, was always with him through all these years. And it is now - when our church continues to grow stronger and wealthier under wise reign of Papa Emeritus III - that these visions may finally be witnessed and embraced in the preachings of 'Meliora' - his most contemporary and humane Encyclical." (https://www.facebook.com/thebandghost/posts/994031900615606)

those core values of ambition, vice, lust, and greed stayed with him when he became Papa. though he had a revolutionary spirit, he's actually described as "less rebellious" in Metal Myths. Terzo took his job as Papa very seriously, and he cared about being successful and achieving his goals. while he and Secondo certainly had vice, lust, and greed in common, it was Terzo's ambition that truly set him apart.

"It felt like the goal was to take Papa II's sense of modernity and remove the recklessness." Metal Myths: Ghost Pt. 2 (April 2022)

How would you describe the personality of Papa Emeritus III compared to his predecessors? NAMELESS GHOUL: "First of all, Papa Emeritus III is an entertainer! He loves projectors, he loves the public, and he loves success. The first Papa Emeritus was someone very rigid, very strict, and very solemn. A real son of a bitch! (laughs) To be honest, we don’t miss him at all! Papa Emeritus II was a pervert a little bit sadistic, and, in hindsight, I think he wasn’t very at ease on stage. He wasn’t a showman, unlike Papa Emeritus III! Him, he’s the guide we missed to rise up the quality of our shows, to reach the step above and communicate with our fans." (MyRock #44 (2017) translated from French by @ a-wandering-ghoulette)

unfortunately, his ambition eventually led him to become disillusioned and depressed.

Terzo looked forward to becoming Papa. he worked so hard for it his whole life, only to be confronted with the realization that his time as Papa --and therefore his achievements-- would be limited.

he was a nice guy, but he was also was egotistical. he was a showman and an intellectual, and he thought very highly of himself.

NAMELESS GHOUL: He's a little bit more chill. But obviously, all the Papas are definitely pompous assholes. INTERVIEWER: That's part of the job. SPECIAL GHOUL: That's one of the criterias, the prerequisites, that you have to be this sort of flamboyant diva, know-all, show-off. Metal Injection (September 2015)

his self-hatred came from his inability to be the person he wanted to be. it's not that he felt like he couldn't measure up, it's that he felt like he wasn't allowed to express his full potential. Terzo's mindset was "i know i'm good enough. and i could prove it if they would just let me." but he wasn't really in charge, and his vision was at odds with the goals of Sister Imperator.

Terzo felt so stifled, it makes sense that he became a "frustrated old guy who hates everyone, especially himself."

and i think this is the reason for the paradox of him having a kind, charming personality onstage and being unsociable offstage. he still gave it his all. he did the best he could with the time and resources he was allowed. that zealous man of the people was still in there somewhere. but he felt betrayed by the clergy, the organization he dedicated his life to. his career ended up being unfulfilling and he was ultimately really bitter about the way things turned out.

he was good. he never got to be great.

[lavenderfluorite14]

A Taste of Plums | Astarion x Female!Tav

Chapter 4: Confession

Summary: Another companion makes a bid for Tav’s heart. Astarion wrestles with what that means.

Chapter Warnings: Canon compliant fantasy racism. See A03 for Full Tag List.

1. 2. 3.

@ambi-chann

In the end, Lae’Zel wins. Her argument is indisputable. They could ceremorphosize at any moment and every minute they waste traipsing around the forest is another nail in all their coffins. Tav begrudgingly relents, motioning for Astarion to come with them. Lae’Zel drags their group back to the Emerald Grove in tense silence. 

“So, you know a lot about these parasites? Will we survive them?” Astarion asks hopefully, trying to break the tension. 

“Only if my people extract them. The only other cure is the blade,” Lae’Zel replies tersely, offering no further explanations. 

“Wonderful,” Astarion blanches. 

“So how do they extract them?” Tav presses further. 

“They will do so with a zaith’isk. By covenant I can say no more,” Lae’Zel snaps. They descend back into uncomfortable silence. Lae’Zel has such a way with words. 

But there had to be another way. Ceremorphosis should have begun days ago and yet here they are, completely untentacled. There must be something special about their tadpoles, Astarion can feel it. And if they are special, then maybe there is a way to control them and stop the transformation altogether. Asatrion could be free, for good. 

Free for good. He doesn’t care how it happens. He would take any help he could get, even from mindflayers. The proximity of true freedom spurs him fiercely onward, even as a second death looms. 

Lae’Zel hunts Zorru down with meticulous precision. Although, he really wasn’t that difficult to find. Most people eye them with polite curiosity as they pass, but the tiefling called Zorru immediately begins cowering at the sight of Lae’Zel.

“By Mordai’s Eyes, another one? My friend’s blood not enough?” Zorru accuses. “Come to rip me open too?”

Lae’Zel crosses her arms, looking down her stubbed nose at him. “In Crèche K’liir, a formal greeting begins with a bow,” she says. It’s not a suggestion. Astarion feels a thrill of excitement ripple through him. How promising. 

Zorru rounds on Astarion and Tav. “Is this monster with you?” He demands. 

Tav crosses her arms too, moving to stand by Lae’Zel. “Yes. And I suggest you do what she says,” she warns sternly. Well, well, this was certainly another side of Tav. And not an unwelcome one, he thinks. Astarion crosses his arms as well, scornfully staring down Zorru. Zorru balks, waffling lamely. When neither Tav nor Astarion move, he folds at the waist, inclining his head in a bow.

“Lower,” Lae’Zel commands imperiously. Zorru looks to them for help, dark eyes wide and begging. 

“She’s serious. You’d better get on your knees. Fast,” Tav warns again. Zorru hesitates, then sinks to the ground, his face reddening with shame. Astarion thrums with glee. He had suffered similar humiliations at Cazador’s hand for centuries. How fun to be the one commanding and not the one kneeling. Ah, how the other half lived.

Lae’Zel unfortunately concludes her business swiftly and with frustrating efficiency. She shoves their map in Zorru’s face and he marks a point in the west corner where Lae’Zel’s comrade, Kin, had slain his friend. With no more use for him, Lae’Zel orders Zorru to stand, announcing loudly that he may keep his innards. 

“You’re not going to eviscerate him? I was hoping for a show,” Astarion pouts.

“Cool your blood. I’ll indulge you soon enough,” Lae’Zel promises. Astarion grins. He certainly hopes so. He should adventure with Lae’Zel more often. Tav unfolds her arms, exhaling audibly through her nose. 

“Well…..you are quite the interrogator,” Tav finally grimaces. “We may have to use those skills again.” Astarion notes that she doesn’t seem pleased at the idea, which is a shame. Lae’Zel still preens. 

“A shell so thin it was easy to crack it. The teef-ling was clear-“

“Hold on, did you say teef-ling?” Tav smiles, despite herself.

Lae’Zel pauses, confused. Astarion could swear that she was blushing. “I am unfamiliar with the, well I shall not say culture. Custom, perhaps. You shall educate me on matters of this Fay Run,” Lae’Zel orders, confident again. Tav chuckles, sighing. 

“Well then, your lessons begin immediately. It’s Faerûn.” Lae’Zel chks quietly, pushing past them towards the exit. Tav catches Astarion’s eye and they both burst into a fit of quiet laughter. Tav quickly trots back up alongside her, Astarion in tow.  

“So, Lae’Zel. What would you like to know about Faerûn?” She asks. “I’d be happy to-“

“I have a confession,” Lae’Zel interrupts, suddenly halting. She stops at the upper entrance of the grove where the land levels out into pleasant greenery. She turns squarely towards Tav, who freezes on the spot. Astarion slows to a stop a few paces away. He has to hear this. 

“I was too hasty to judge you. I thought you witless, gutless, unimpressively bland,” Lae’Zel begins. Tav frowns, her brows knitting together in confusion, and Astarion quickly presses a hand to his mouth to stifle more giggling. “But now you have earned my respect, and more still.” Lae’Zel takes a step towards Tav, who takes a step backwards. “My yearning,” Lae’Zel confesses. She continues advancing. “You’ve proven your wits.” Lae’Zel takes a step, Tav takes a step. “You are efficient and dominant in and out of battle.” Lae’Zel takes a step, Tav takes a step. “You’ve proven your courage. I swear you would tear the horns off of one dragon for plunging into another.” By now Lae’Zel has backed Tav against the rock face of the grove. “And you are hardly bland. Your scent alone is enough to make my neck sweat and my hairs stand on end.” Lae’Zel murmurs softly, placing an armored hand against the cliff, much too close to Tav’s face. Astarion isn’t laughing anymore. 

“Hold on, are you coming on to me?” Tav asks.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Lae’Zel mocks. “I want to taste you. Perhaps tonight. Perhaps later. But I want it all the same.” Her voice is a warm, sultry rumble as she leans in closely. “Do you?” Lae’Zel’s golden eyes gleam with carefully controlled lust. Tav’s eyes flick over to Astarion, who has schooled his face into careful neutrality.

“I’m deeply flattered, Lae’Zel,” Tav says carefully, “but I’m not sure.” Lae’Zel withdraws. Something like relief fills him. 

“You’re not sure?” Lae’Zel jeers. “Well then. Your loss, I fear,” she says breezily, righting herself. “One day soon you will wonder how my lips might have tasted, how my fingers on your skin might have felt. And you will wish you could return to this lost moment.“ As she turns away, she boldly looks Astarion up and down. She quirks an eyebrow at him, as if in challenge. Astarion quirks an eyebrow back. 

“We must find this crèche. Only there can we be purified. And only then will this be over.” She strides forward purposefully, leaving Astarion and Tav to trail behind her. Astarion curiously watches Tav out of the corner of his eye but she pointedly ignores him, staring ahead as they pass beneath the heavy stone gate of the Emerald Grove.  

~

They swing by camp to grab Gale, then spend the rest of the day fruitlessly scouting. The roads beyond are swamped by knolls and goblins, making peaceful passage impossible. They will have to fight their way through no matter what they choose. Which is good, because Astarion will need to stab something soon. 

He had been so absorbed in his own plan that he had not considered whether any of his companions might also have designs on Tav. Obviously they would, look at her. She was witty and cute, she defended her comrades, she was a fierce fighter. She was bound to be someone’s type. He had the advantage of course, he was the most attractive one in camp. He assumed. And Lae’Zel had still tried to claim Tav as her trophy. 

He hadn’t thought that Lae’Zel of all people would approach Tav. So far she had been utterly single-minded in her pursuit of other Githyanki and deeply disdainful of any unrelated suggestion. It’s not that he didn’t like Lae’Zel, quite the opposite in fact. She was strong, fierce, capable. Ready to kill at a moments notice, no questions asked. He respected her, which was a strange feeling. He was also afraid of her, which probably had a lot to do with it. Astarion should really sleep with both of them. Then, he could have two allies instead of one. 

He imagined Lae’Zel would be as indomitable in bed as she was out of it. She would probably be rough, bruising. That could be fun on the right night. But Astarion suspected that Lae’Zel would abandon their camp and rejoin her people as soon as they found her crèche. He doubted Lae’Zel could or would protect him from the Astral Plane, which defeated the purpose of sleeping with her. 

And what would Tav think? Would this liaison alienate his best and only ally? Would Tav be hurt if he slept with Lae’Zel, or would she just move on to the next warm body, so to speak? Tav obviously wanted him. What he didn’t know was whether or not Tav wanted only him. Who was his competition and how worried should he be?

For a moment Astarion considers whether or not he is out of his depth. This would have never happened at Cazador’s palace. They had never interfered with each other’s hunts, there was no need to. Why compete for one specific prey, who you would never have anyway, when there were ten more around the corner? He eventually dismissed this ridiculous idea. He’d been toying with and breaking hearts for centuries. He knew how to play this game. Just nights ago Tav had been grinding in his lap begging for more. He was the one on the right trajectory. A trajectory he had interrupted, he thought angrily. He had completely forgotten that there were five other people competing for her attention and every moment that he spent twiddling his thumbs was a moment when someone else could swoop in and steal his prize.

He didn’t know what he would do if that happened. He supposed he would suggest a threesome. He could easily enthrall them both with a range of sexual delights. And if that was not enough? Astarion didn’t want to think about it. He would just have to be the most beautiful. The best in bed. Once Tav got a real taste of him she wouldn’t want anything else. 

~

Astarion was growing hungry. He debated leaving camp to hunt down some juicy, woodland thing, but he still held on to the hope that Tav would come to him tonight. He was slowly tasting more and more creatures and while each held their own particular appeal, Tav still remained his favorite. 

He wondered if there was actually something special about her blood or if it was purely sentimental. She was his first. She was willing. Had he known she would be so amenable he would have approached their first time completely differently.

He wanted to scoff at the idea of “their first time.” It made him sound practically virginal, a truly hilarious joke. And yet, it was true. She was the first thinking creature he had ever drunk from. Not a rotting carcass nor an animal he had hunted and killed. A living being who had offered herself to him. Who continued to offer herself to him. It made him feel good, powerful. Warm.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Tav rounded the corner and approached his tent, raising a hand in greeting. Perhaps she really had been summoned by his thoughts. Sometimes his tadpole squirmed in a way that made him curious about all its ignored potential. 

“There you are! I was just thinking about you,” Astarion called lightly. Tav raised a teasing eyebrow.

“Oh? Only good things I hope?”

“Naturally, darling.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “I was just remembering that delicious moment we shared the other night.” Tav snorted.

“The one where you bit me? Which time?” She shot back, not unkindly.

“The first time, actually.” He’s glad she’s here. He’s glad she makes time for him, even though there are five others she could seek out instead. “I’ve had this condition for two centuries but, truth be told-,” he pauses briefly. Telling her felt right. “You were my first,” he confesses softly. 

Tav blinks at him. “You’ve really only ever-“

“In all these years I’ve only fed on beasts. Drinking the blood of thinking creatures is another thing entirely.” He remembers how their minds connected that night. He knows she knows. 

“How different is it?” She asks quietly, her expression softening.

Astarion sighs. “Like night and day. Like nothing I had ever tasted before or since.” He holds her gaze. “You were positively delectable.” A small smile plays upon Tav’s lush lips. He hungers for her even now, the sweet thing. She has created a monster. He’s had a taste of good blood and now he’ll never have enough of it. “And now I can’t help but wonder how the others taste,” he admits. His eyes flick around their camp, watching the others’ unsuspecting movements.   Tav shifts uncomfortably. “I don’t know if they’d be as open to the idea as I was,” she reminds him.

“Oh, I don’t think they’d volunteer, of course. But it doesn’t make me any less curious,” He glances back towards Tav, who has crossed her arms over her chest. Her face creases in a frown. “Take Gale, for example,” he continues, in spite of her. “His blood strikes me as rich, refined, like a well aged brandy.” He can’t help but salivate, just a little. A glass of Gale must be so satisfying after a long day. Tav’s gaze drifts over to Gale, who is reading a book in his tent. She chews her lip. 

“I could see him as a smooth whiskey. Something classy and expensive,” Tav agrees, playing along. 

“But the gith? What in the hells would she taste like?” He says it casually, but he watches her closely for her answer. 

Tav cocks her head, her eyes far away as she imagines it. “Something unique, for sure. Some kind of liqueur that you have to sip,” she suggests. 

“Ooh, that sounds very appealing. Perhaps a cordial of some kind.”

“I could see that,” Tav says, They both angle slightly towards Lae’Zel, watching her as she sharpens her sword. “Definitely something strong, that’s for sure.”

“And what about Shadowheart?” Astarion prompts. They watch silently as Shadowheart meditates peacefully in front of her tent, her eyes closed to the world.

“Something that really packs a punch, but not right away. Something that sneaks up on you.” Tav is silent for a moment. “An absinthe?” She offers. It’s Astarion’s turn to snort.

“There’s nothing subtle about absinthe, darling. But yes, something with an intense flavor.” He points to Karlach. “Do you think dear Karlach is spicy?”

“No, she’s a beer,” Tav says decisively. 

“Ugh, no. Karlach does not taste like foamy piss,” Astarion grimaces. 

“Don’t be gross!” Tav exclaims, elbowing him.

“It’s just the truth, darling. I think she’d have a peppery finish.”

“I disagree, Karlach has a sweetness about her,” Tav continues.

“Well beer is not sweet,” he says haughtily. Tav elbows him again, but there’s no real bite behind the jab. He nudges her back, just a little.

“Wyll is definitely fresh and crisp,” Tav says, completely ignoring his comment. 

“Like a cider. Far too much sugar for me,”

Tav eyes him. “Thought about that one, have you?” She says. 

"I’ve thought about many things,” Astarion counters. “We have a very enticing group on our hands.” He stares at her, eagerly.

“We certainly are an attractive bunch,” she agrees, her tone even. She’s crossed her arms again. Good. Let her wonder what he means by this exchange. He hopes by now the possibilities have made her well and fully jealous.

“So, if you had to take a bite out of one of them, who would it be?” He asks. Tav bites her lip again, scanning the camp. She considers the question for far too long in Astarion’s opinion.

“Honestly, I’d be curious to see what vampiric blood tastes like,” Tav slowly admits. Her eyes meet his, boldly. Astarion can’t help but beam. Got her. 

“Darling, I’m flattered,” he teases. “Who knew you had such taste?”

“Has it gone sour and necrotic? There’s only one way to know,” she parries back. 

“Indeed. Well, all this talk has made me hungry,” he pointedly looks at Tav. “I’d better find something I can actually sink my teeth into,” he prompts.

“Good hunting, then,” she says, almost airily. It’s not the invitation he had wanted.

“And how will you spend your night?” He asks. Only the barest hint of distress graces his words. “Will you take our gith friend up on her delightful offer?”  He tries to wrap the words in velvet, tries to make it seem enticing so Tav will tell him her thoughts plainly now. Instead, she looks away.

“Ah, no. At least, not tonight.” Tav says, embarrassed. “I just need time to myself. To think about everything that’s happened.” She can’t meet his eyes. 

Tav is slipping away from him. He could double down, pursue her desperately. He bristles at the idea, despite the needy flame that has ignited inside him. Never again. He would never beg again. It had always been more effective to get them to chase him anyway. He still had many cards to play. He could wait.

“Well, don’t think too hard, darling. Your second thoughts always spoil the fun,” he says silkily. Tav laughs. 

“Sweet dreams, Astarion.”

“Sweet dreams,” he says smoothly from behind lowered lashes. Tav retreats to her tent and Astarion slips off into the night, needing to kill.

~

Astarion returns in the early hours of the morning, long after anyone reasonable has gone to sleep. Yet there’s someone still awake, warming themselves by the fire with a goblet of wine. When she senses Astarion’s return, Shadowheart turns and approaches his tent. 

“Find anything out there as tasty as our mutual friend?” She asks.

Astarion smiles perfunctorily. “Nothing out here, no.”

“Do you speak Elvish?” She asks.

“Obviously,” he replies, perking up. Centuries of torment had taken many of his early memories, but Astarion would always remember his first language.

“So what really happened this morning?” Shadowheart asks as she settles down before his tent.

“As Tav said, the tiefling gave us the location to the crèche. Whatever else could you mean?” Astarion replies, sitting beside her. 

“Don’t play coy. You, Tav, and Lae’Zel all leave on some Githyanki errand, then when you return not an hour later, Lae’Zel is frowning despite the good news and Tav looks like her heart is going to explode. Then she grabs Gale for a scouting mission and you spend the rest of the day brooding by yourself.” She swirls her wine as she watches him. “So. What really happened?” Astarion swipes her goblet and takes a long sip. Wine still tastes sour, but the buzz is undeniable.

“Lae’Zel made a pass at Tav,” he confesses.

Shadowheart gasps. “Really? What did Tav say?”

“She let her down gently. She said ‘I don’t know,’” Astarion enunciates Tav’s words bitterly.

“Oh, don’t do it, Tav. Can you imagine, with a Githyanki?” Shadowheart groans into her drink.

“I’m sure you’ve never thought about that before,” Astarion quips. Shadowheart shoots him a stunned glare, a beautiful flush rising along her neck.

“Well, that explains your bad mood,” she retorts.

“Excuse me?”

“Please Astarion, you’re about as subtle as a peacock,” she says. “I don’t know what is going on between you and Tav but if you like her you should just say so.”

“That’s rich coming from a Sharran,” Astarion lashes back.

“Look, I’m trying to help you.”

“I don’t need seduction tips from a cloistered nun, my dear.” Astarion’s tone is clipped and biting. 

“You’ve clearly never been to a Sharran cloister, then.” Shadowheart rises. “Fine, your feelings are your own. But don’t string Tav along too far. For some reason she actually cares for you,” Shadowheart lowers her voice unnecessarily. They are the only ones awake who can understand Elvish. “Even if she didn’t invite you to her tent tonight.”

“Goodnight, Shadowheart. A pleasure, as always.” He dismisses her in Common, rising to his feet as well.

“Goodnight, Astarion. Sweet dreams,” she calls as she walks away, a saucy echo of his earlier conversation with Tav. Astarion slinks into his tent, tying the laces of the flap tighter than he strictly needed to.

~

Tell Tav how he feels? What was there to say? “Please help me, I’m so desperate and pathetic, you can have any part of me you want!” Or perhaps, “Despite knowing what I am, you are still so incomprehensibly kind to me that it makes me ache?” Now that was unattractive. This was not some schoolyard crush. Shadowheart would never understand.

Assuming he isn’t banished from the group, he knows he won’t immediately die if Tav chooses someone else over him. If he’s really honest, his plan doesn’t even hinge on being exclusive with her. She just needs to like him enough to keep him around, which he can earn by fulfilling any and every fantasy she has about him. It doesn’t need to be more than that. She could still fall in love with someone else afterwards. Or before. Astarion isn’t picky.

But it would still be a very long adventure if he had to hear her flirting with someone else, see her kissing someone else, know she was fucking someone else. He had experienced many, many tortures throughout the years but that would be a brand new kind of punishment. 

~

Chapter 5: Doubt

[charleecat-bat]

Cream in my SU/Gem AU. Possibly a repost because I can't seem to find any previous post of her... could've sworn I did post her, though. Please Tumblr dont' swallow this post into the void.

Nickname/s: Am, Amby, Lil A, Ams Gem Location: Chest Weapon/s: Shield Rarity and Status: Very Common and Lowest Bottom Class Role on Homeworld: Servant Unique Powers/Abilities: Sap Manipulation, Flight (Through wings made of sap)

History:

Ambers have the unfortunate fate of being the lowest of the gem Homeworlds foodchain, with them being plentiful and easily made but not being very strong or durable. It left them to be seen as nothing more useful than just plentiful servants.

This broke the heart of the gem in charge of their creation, Petrified Wood, but she couldn't change the mind of the Diamonds. Her beloved creations, whom she treated like her children, were seen as barely worth anything to them. It didn't stop her from treating every one of them with utter love and care and wanting to see each and every one take form..., and when one didn't, it saddened her deeply.

It would come to a time when a once bustling planet was barely touched by Gemkind any more centuries later. Which gave the small group of rebelling gems who were exploring planets a nice chance to explore this planet.

While Benitoite and Heliodor went one way, Pyrope and Thulite went another. They looked around at huge deceased trees twisting up into the sky and yet, every so slightly still dripping orange sap. And it got even more plentiful as they went deeper into the caves embedded into the trees.

It was an abandoned kindergarten. Hardened sap was everywhere, and holes were plentiful on all the walls. This place hadn't been touched in so long. Which is why a small voice suddenly saying "Hello!", startled them both.

But their guard went down when they turned to see a very small defective Amber. She was MUCH smaller than regular Ambers... and she didn't seem that old. In fact, she looked brand new. She must've finally formed recently.

And yet, even in the face of strangers. Amber was so sweet. Greeting them, asking them questions, taking them to the small hole she came out of.

For a moment, they tried asking her questions, anything to try and see how much she knew... and she didn't have any. She didn't seem know anything. This wasn't usual for gems, when they'd come out of the ground. They'd know exactly what they were supposed to be... yet this lil Amber didn't.

But even in the short time they knew her... she already charmed them deeply. They couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone again, even for a moment. Thankfully for little Amber, the other two gems would agree.

Amber had quickly found a place within the group, and loves to ask questions regarding anything new to her... which was just about everything.

They all agreed, though, that they're not quite comfortable with her learning about the darkness of homeworld... at least... not now.

[gardenview-center]

DANDY'S WORLD ASKBLOG

This is a roleplay askblog for Dandy's World! Ran by @tinysmileyrose (18, It/They), @average-hyperfixator (It/He/Any), and @donutcat1000000 (She/Her).

As this is a multiperson askblog, characters will not be strictly drawn by one specific person, we all have free range over the askbox!! (feel free to ask for a specific artist though :3)

Ask away to either the Toons or Staff! (no Twisteds, sorry) Toodles is the only child, everyone else is an adult. Pronouns/gender/orientation were chosen by the RPer, ships were a group effort. As there are still staff--this takes place before the 2002 shutdown of Gardenview! The blog itself takes place in the 1999/2000 era.

Character lists under cut, lists are ordered from most preferred to least preferred.

Zero's preferred characters:

M-002, Astro Novalite - They/She/He Agender, Omnirom Asex Ambi U-002B, Dazzle - He/It Male, Birom Bisex Mono U-002A, Razzle - They/She Demigirl, DemiPanrom Asex Ambi M-003, Sprout - He/They Transman, Androrom Androsex Ambi M-004, Shelly Fossilian - She/Her Transwoman, Gynorom Gynosex Mono C, Tisha - She/Her Ciswoman, Gynorom Gynosex Mono Delilah Keen - She/Her Ciswoman, Androrom Androsex Mono Handler 2 (Shelly) - She/Her Ciswoman, Birom Bisex Mono M-001, Pebble - He/Him Male (dog) Handler 5 (Sprout) - They/Them Genderqueer, Panrom Pansex Poly R-005, Goob - He/Him Cisman, Demi Panrom Pansex Ambi C-003, Shrimpo - He/It Cisman, Birom Bisex Ambi C-002, Boxten - He/They Cisman, Gynorom Gynosex Mono Handler 1 (Astro) - He/Him Transman, Androrom Androsex Ambi

Used mediums: FireAlpaca, MS Paint

// our ooc messages look like this // we're fine with any kind of asks! if you specify you want me--feel free to ask WHATEVER :3 my boundaries are fairly lax imo, if you shock me props to you tbh 👏 (this is NOT a challenge)

Jace's preferred characters:

R-002, Glisten - He/It Genderfaun, Androrom Androsex Ambi U-001, Brightney - She/Her Ciswoman, Birom DemiBisex Mono U, Rodger - He/Him Transman, Androrom DemiAndrosex Mono U, Teagan - She/They Genderfae, Gynorom Gynosex Mono C, Cosmo - He/Him Cisman, Androrom Androsex Mono R-004, Scraps - She/Her Demigirl, Birom Asex Mono R, Gigi - She/Her Pangender, Panrom Pansex Poly U, Finn - He/They/Fin Demiboy, Androrom Asex Ambi Arthur Walton - He/Him Cisman, Birom Bisex Mono Handler 3 (Dandy & Pebble) - He/Him Cisman, Gynorom Gynosex Mono Handler 4 (Vee) - She/Her Ciswoman, Gynorom Gynosex Ambi

Used mediums: Procreate

(I write ooc messages like this!) If you wanna ask me questions- go nuts! I’d prefer if things stay sfw. (Jokey suggestive things are fine lmao)

Donut's preferred characters:

M-005, Vee Version 1 - She/It Ciswoman, Gynorom Gynosex Mono U, Toodles - She/Her Female (child) L-001, Dandicus "Dandy" Dancifer - He/They Cisman, Panrom Pansex Mono C-001, Poppy - She/Her Ciswoman, Birom Bisex Ambi R, Flutter - She/They Ciswoman, Birom Bisex Mono

Used mediums: Traditional

{My OOC messages look like this!} Hi, hi, hi!!! Ask me questions and I’ll do my best to respond. My art is mediocre but the lore runs through me!! I’m fine with any and all asks!!

Ships:

Shellevision ~ Vee x Shelly Reflective Detective ~ Glisten x Rodger Midnight Snack ~ Astro x Sprout x Cosmo Light Humor ~ Brightney x Razzle Fancyflyer ~ Teagan x Flutter Onesided Moonflower ~ Dandy x Astro Onesided Fossilcleaning ~ Shelly x Tisha Onesided Midnight Tragedy ~ Astro x Dazzle *note that not all these ships are universal between the three, these are just what we agreed on for the askblog

[charlott2n]

Hi charlotte!! Have you seen Amby crowdsurfing yesterday in an inflatable gator singing Billabong Valley while wearing a cowboy hat?

Literal fanart someone in the fb KGLW shitpost group posted:

OMG i hadnt but that's wonderful. im soo excited to see them in just a couple weeks❗

[chifourmi]

Du coup maintenant que j'ai un peu de temps, c'est parti pour faire un petit récapitulatif de ces 3 dernières semaines!

Il s'est passé énooormément de choses pendant ma semaine au camp pour enfants avec handicap. Je vais faire des chapitres carrément.

1. L'enfant que je suivais

Il a la maladie de Duchenne. En gros des tissus adipeux se mettent autour de ses muscles. Il a du mal à se déplacer, il doit marcher lentement sinon il tombe facilement. Il peut se déplacer en chaise roulante. C'est une maladie chronique. Il a aussi un léger retard mental. Il a 11 ans.

Je me suis trop bien entendue avec lui. J'ai vu la vie complètement autrement parce que j'ai compris ce qu'était un monde pas adapté à toi. Les jeux où on devait courir c'était mort, les jeux de parcours c'était mort, le château gonflable c'était ultra difficile, rien que traverser le terrain c'était une épreuve,... Bon sinon tout le monde disait qu'il était amoureux de moi, trop chou. Il m'appelait tout le temps en criant avec sa voix aiguë. Tout le monde s'y était habitué. C'était un enfant roi, il piquait facilement des crises. Mais j'arrivais à le calmer. Sauf une fois où j'ai perdu patience et j'ai juste laisser les autres m'aider. D'ailleurs les accompagnants s'entraidaient souvent c'était trop chouette. L'année prochaine, il ne reviendra pas. Il passe au camp des plus grands. Ça va faire bizarre d'avoir un autre enfant que lui. J'imagine pas trop l'expérience avec un autre. Ça me fait un pincement au cœur rien que d'y penser.

2. Les accompagnants

Beaucoup venaient pour la première fois donc il n'y avait pas déjà des groupes partout. C'était tellement plus facile de s'intégrer du coup. C'était génial, je me suis trop bien entendue avec tous les gens. Surtout Cam, le feeling est direct passé avec elle. On se racontait tous les ragots, on restait souvent ensemble. Je me suis trop bien entendue avec son pote Pi aussi. Il est trop bonne ambi en soirée. Il est iconique, c'est un peu une chipie mais dans le sens positif. Je sais pas comment expliquer mais J'ADORE. À la fin ils m'ont dit de revenir l'année prochaine pour être le trio de pestes MDR. Puis y a Alby aussi, j'avais du mal avec elle au début parce qu'elle était toute blasée et j'avais envie de la secouer ahah mais après j'ai appris à la connaître et énorme coup de cœur. Elle est du genre à te poser une question philosophique à un moment hyper random. Elle est super spontanée et vraie. Puis un de mes coups de cœur c'était aussi PW. C'est très bizarre pcq à la base c'est le genre de gars qui m'in-su-pporte pcq il fait des blagues beaufs. Mais on est passés de ennemies to friends et au final c'est peut-être lui qui m'a le plus marqué positivement. En fait je crois qu'au début il me voyait juste comme une belle cruche et moi je le voyais juste comme un beau crétin. Au début il me taquinait, faisait des blagues sexistes, etc. Puis quand on a vraiment parlé j'ai capté que c'était juste un gars pas très fort pour montrer ses émotions, un peu maladroit avec les filles. Je lui ai dit que je détestais son côté beauf et après je ne l'ai plus jamais entendu faire de blagues sexistes. Je me suis trop attachée à lui. Nos moments à deux étaient tellement touchants. Mais ce qui m'a fait trop mal au cœur c'est que c'était son tout dernier camp. Il ne reviendra pas les prochaines années. Ça va être tellement différent sans lui.

Sinon y avait ce gars qui ressemblait au Dieu Grec physiquement et qui m'a perturbé. Je ne l'ai pas calculé le premier jour parce que je voulais me tenir loin de lui mais il est venu vers moi de lui-même le deuxième jour. On a parlé petit à petit durant la journée. Et en fait chaque soir, une fois que les enfants dorment, on fait un débrief entre tous les accompagnants puis on fait une soirée. Et on est restés ensemble toute la soirée. Il était tellement intéressant, il voyage en solo depuis qu'il a 14 ans et ça se voit qu'il en a appris des choses. Puis j'adore son caractère. C'est la définition de la force tranquille. Mais après cette soirée, quand on s'est retrouvés à deux, il m'a embrassé sur la joue. Je m'y attendais pas, c'est arrivé d'un coup. Je ne comprends pas comment les mecs peuvent se permettre d'envahir l'espace personnel de quelqu'un comme si c'était rien. Ça m'a énervée et je l'ai stoppé direct en disant que j'étais en train de construire quelque chose avec le musicien et que du coup je n'étais pas intéressée. Il a compris et a réagit normalement. Après ça, on s'est posés au coin du feu et on a continué à parler. Heureusement, y avait pas de gêne. Il m'a dit qu'il serait content qu'on reste amis maiiiis après il m'a quand-même précisé que si jamais je n'avais plus rien avec qui que ce soit, il était là. MDR. Amis mais pas trop? Par contre cette nuit était trop belle, les étoiles se voyaient parfaitement, y avait des étoiles filantes et même des lucioles. Ce que j'aimais trop aussi avec lui c'est qu'en soirée il était toujours partant pour tout, il était trop bonne ambi. C'était un peu mon pote de soirée quoi. Mais je ne l'ai vu que 3 soirs parce qu'il est parti plus tôt que tout le monde. Mais revenons un peu en arrière. Après le soir où il m'a fait un bisou sur la joue, la grosse gaffe que j'ai faite pcq je suis TROP CONNE, c'est qu'avec encore de l'alcool dans le sang j'ai envoyé un message au musicien pour lui dire que y avait ce gars qui ressemblait au Dieu Grec et que ça me perturbait et qu'il m'a embrassé sur la joue et blablabla. Je lui ai tout expliqué de la pire manière possible comme si c'était juste un pote et que ça n'allait pas avoir de conséquences. Le lendemain, le musicien était trop saoulé mais on s'est appelés et on a tout mis au clair et il m'a demandé de ne plus parler à ce gars. Ce que j'ai donc voulu faire. SAUF QU'IL ME COLLAIT TOUT LE TEMPS. Du coup on a quand-même continué à parler et je l'ai dit après au musicien. J'aime trop qu'on puisse tout se dire et qu'on puisse tout résoudre en communiquant calmement. Ça me met tellement en confiance. Je me sens vraiment en sécurité dans notre relation. Je suis trop heureuse de l'avoir rencontré purée.

Bon je vais m'arrêter là pour le récap du camp en tout cas.

(23/07/2024)

[anoramactir]

book recs! tagged by @rosenfey & @jennystahl. blows kisses to both of you <3 i'll tag @a-treides, @katsigian, @dekarios, @shellibisshe, @devilbrakers, and @frankensteined.

last book you read. the salt grows heavy by cassandra khaw.

horror/fantasy, kind of a little mermaid retelling? i had mixed feelings about it. there was definitely an interesting plot in there, but i thought it was bogged down by purple prose. felt more like a challenge to write the prettiest sentences possible - and there were v lovely lines! - than a story at times.

book you recommend. fight club by chuck palahniuk.

hard q, but i went with this one because i feel like the reputation the movie + it's fans have makes people avoid it. i could repeat all the soundbites about it being a brilliant satire & criticque of toxic masculinity (especially if you read the narrator as closeted) but tbh... i'm reccing it because i think it's fun. that's really it.

book you couldn't put down. bunny by mona awad.

disclaimer: i've seen this one hyped as the weirdest shit you'll ever read in your life but i didn't think it was that weird. lower your expectations. i did like it enough to finish in three days, though. idk what to say about it that won't spoil the plot— kinda heathers meets frankenstein? more eerie than scary.

book you've read twice or more. the queen's thief series by megan whalen turner.

society if this was the old school ya fantasy that blew up on booktok instead of shatter me: ☀️🌊🌳 i read this one back in high school and it rewired my brain permanently. attolia irene is the only girlboss that matters. i come back to it every few years (rereading book 4 now) & i think it still holds up.

book on your tbr. last call at the hotel imperial by deborah cohen.

it's a non-fiction about a group of reporters that covered ww2. i picked it up randomly at a bookstore because the cover was pretty, lol.

book you've put down. the priory of the orange tree by samantha shannon.

i know i'd love it if i finished but it's just so long. 😭 i've tried like three times and i always lose steam about halfway through. at this point i'll finish it by 2050.

book on your wishlist. hollow places by christopher hadley.

ambie actually recced this to me ages ago and i've been dying to read it. it sounds so interesting! but it's not available as an ebook or at my library, and i'm banned from buying physical books until i get through my stupidly tall tbr stack. one day.

favorite book from your childhood. howl's moving castle by diana wynne jones.

nobody is surprised. it's probably my favorite book of all time. a+ vibes, characters, romance, everything. i own three copies and refuse to get rid of any. if i could find an autographed version, i'd own four.

book you would give a friend. interview with the vampire by anne rice.

i need you all to become obsessed with lestat & louis and then watch the amc series so it gets renewed for season 3. please & thank you.

book of poetry or lyrics you own. time is a mother by ocean vuong.

haven't read it yet, but i've heard great things!

nonfiction book you own. girl sleuth: nancy drew and the women who created her by melanie rehak.

goes into the creation of nancy drew & how it evolved through the years, especially how it was shaped by the original ghostwriter and the daughter of the creator, and their decades-long beef with each other. i came out of it with a parasocial grudge against a woman who died in 1982.

what you're currently reading. a conspiracy of kings by megan whalen turner.

book 4 of the queen's thief series. crown prince sophos has been kidnapped and sold into slavery and it's all very dramatic.

what you're planning on reading next. moby dick by herman melville.

i've never gotten around to this one and i feel like i have to eventually. there's a 75% chance i'll get sidetracked and pick up something totally different, though.

[imoonblaze]

[CAPTAIN LASERHAWK OC] Ambys

⚡Ambys belong to @imoonblaze (iMoonBlade)

⚡Name: Ambys 💥Age: 19 - 21 years ⚡Sex: Female 💥Species: Hybrid - Spotted salamander ⚡Specialty: Hacker / Explosives Maker

💥Special ability: Expel poison through her skin and launch it as thorn projectiles

⚡Beserker Mode: Her ability is enhanced when she enters this state, the poison secreted from her skin becomes more toxic causing paralyzing and stunning effects because she now expels electricity. Depending on the amount of poison, it could kill a person.

💥HISTORY💥 Ambys is a daring, witty, charismatic, adventurous, agile hybrid capable of solving any problem that comes her way, whether it be hacking or explosives. Ambys had been part of an elite group of covert Salamanders dedicated to hacking and assaulting cybernetic systems, these being those of the Eden system. They did this for the greater good (even stealing information that could be useful to the rebels or knowing what Eden was up to), this did not last forever and they were intercepted, killing everyone. Some time later, Ambys being the only survivor of that group, she would continue with her work while she manages on her own and avoids the Eden police to avoid being caught… but this changes when she meets an amphibious murderer along her way.

[thirst2]

I can't say that I would've always noticed it but there's this shitstain of a mag. called Queer Majority I keep (unfortunately) bumping into that's clearly an attempt to siphon off more moderate Queer people towards more orthodox conservative ideas but covertly with the guise/trappings of Queerness.

It describes itself itself as covering "issues related to the gay community with a classically liberal perspective" and perhaps the editors are sincere in that (though I do think the option of writing for an American audience and opting to use the phrase "classically liberal" is absolutely an attempt to pull one over) and it's not an overt psyop. But it's a lot of introducing "LGB without the T" crap (framed as "just asking questions!" and like, "Gee wiz, I dunno…; those other members are just so, gosh, extreme;" 🙄) and clear appeals to capital sympathy but trying to frame it as a concern actually always present in Queer culture, from the earliest of day. Like, imagine arguing for classical gender roles on the basis that a lot of gay artists throughout history draw "classically" masculine men and it's an indication of the way Christian-influenced gender roles are, actually, beneficial (and natural!) for us, too; that kind of propaganda. In one of the latest issues, the editor-in-chief argues for "the importance of the gay community in having a positive relationship with police".

Just; utter drivel.

And it worries me, with the general dissatisfaction people have been having around the world that's been building to a head over the last decade, and the general isolation a lot of Queer people still have to a sense of stable community.

But that's a very extended conversation and not what I was recently struck by.

It's mentioned that the editor-in-chief is also assistant director at The Bi Foundation and lead organizer of amBi, a bi social group; I was curious and clicked through to both.

And Queer Majority already had this aesthetic but they both also just as…vapid.

Just, like, empty. I mean, The Bi Foundation's website has an advice column which can always be really helpful both for the marginalized writing in and because hearing our real stories and difficulties are the easier ways to humanize us but most of it is retrofitting bi-ness into pop culture media and "famous bis" which often are based on uncertain historical verasity.

Like, maybe that worked 2 decades ago when we needed to ease the rest of the society in but (perhaps in light of the Queer Majority project and its aims) it's like eating junkfood.

There's so much Queer history and activism you could talk about but I think having to veer that clearly outside of blessed normativity would cause a crisis of identity for it.

And it's all so slick and conventional in its site's graphic design; which isn't inherently bad: The Advocate looks like your usual news site/mag. But it actually covers Queer issues and points out when transphobia happens.

And amBI is even more of that: a slick, professional looking website (à la MeetUp) with pop culture references all over the place and not really offerring much more than "Bi people are in this location". Like a book club oriented around everyone having the same tastes in books.

Just…the bar is so low and you, somehow, managed to offer something even less substantial/nourishing.

I get the impression that the creator isn't much interested in his sexuality beyond its label and has only come to terms with it because, well, you can't change your sexuality. So all the other characteristics about himself take so much more importance, for him.

Perhaps that's less charitable than I ought to be for someone I hardly know but he's also trying to astroturf conservatism into my community so color me unconvinced.

[sewers-headmates]

raises hand quickly bc yesyesyesyesyes :3

-Valentina 🫀🔧

I actually have 2 that fit you scream bully with a god complex and an actual god in the form of an ugly plushie. like i feel like they would fit well! also these are two of my favorite characters lol so that’s also why i gave you them

—————————————————————————————————————

Info

—————————————————————————————————————

Name: Maxwell, Max

Last Name: Jägerman

Age: 18

Pronouns: he/him

Height: 5’11

Zodiac: leo

Species: can shift between a human and a ghost

—————————————————————————————————————

Labels

—————————————————————————————————————

Gender: male

Sexual Orientation: closeted bisexual

Romantic Orientation: closeted biromantic

Mono, Ambi, Poly: poly

cisIDs: brown hair, popular, jock, quarterback, football player, blue eyes, bully, god complex, NPD

transIDs: transHarmful, trisBully, transBPD, transFP, transKidnapper, transStalker, trisMurderer, permaSilly, transFangs, transShifter (human form, zombie form)

Paraphiles: autonecrophile, erotophonophilia, sadist, biastophilia, emapihtophilia, haemotophilia, traumaphilia, vigiliaphilia, apagophilia, dacryphilia, autotheophilia, narkobiastophilia

—————————————————————————————————————

System Info

—————————————————————————————————————

Roles: symptom holder, confidence booster, social protector

Source: hatchetfield (Nerdy Prudes Must Die)

Notable Source Memories/Details: feel free to ignore if you want him to act as just a brainmade alter! also massive NPMD spoilers so if you plan on watching it pls skip this part

- grew up in a small town in Michigan called Hatchetfield. growing up in an awful home situation with an abusive father, this resulting in him becoming a bully to his classmates … that and his belief he’s perfect and a god

- in highschool played football and was the quarterback legitimately the only reason their highschool won at football games

- never stopped bullying and honestly was kinda a dick to everyone

- was eventually lured into an old spooky house and got a prank pulled on him by his biggest targets (Pete, Richie, Ruth), his friend (Steph), and a girl he had a crush on (Grace). The prank went well and Max was happy at getting scared but then fell three stories due to the house being old

- he ended up dying and swearing revenge on the group

- he gets resurrected by the magic of the old house and becomes an unstoppable ghost who’s plan is to kill every nerd in the world

Front Triggers: football, highschool, his source

Sign Offs: -🏈🩸

—————————————————————————————————————

Personality

—————————————————————————————————————

Summery: Max doesn’t just think he’s the best he is the best. He has a massive superiority complex and views himself as a god among men. This is made worse by his immortal ghost form. He can get blinded by his rage though when he’s happy and relaxed around people he likes he’s sort of a sweet little dumbass again that is very rare.

Hobbies: sports, bullying…he’s a very simple man

—————————————————————————————————————

Fun Extras

—————————————————————————————————————

Typing Quirk: none

Playlist:

Appearance:

—————————————————————————————————————

Info

—————————————————————————————————————

Full Name: Wiggog Y’Wrath

Nickname: Wiggly

Titles: The King In Black, The Lord In Black, Lord Of Despair, The Wiggly One

Age: ancient, permaKid, transToddler

Pronouns: he/him

Species: lord in black

—————————————————————————————————————

Labels

—————————————————————————————————————

Gender: male

Sexual Orientation: queer

Romantic Orientation: queer

Mono, Ambi, Poly: ambi

cisIDs: lord in black, god, brother, immortal, cult leader, shapeshifter

transIDs: transHarmful, trisCultLeader, transAge, permaKid, transToddler, transPlushie, permaSilly, permaCute, transCuteHarmful

Paraphiles: sadist

—————————————————————————————————————

System Info

—————————————————————————————————————

Roles: gatekeeper, protector

Source: hatchetfield (black friday, the witch in the web, daddy, nerdy prudes must die)

Notable Source Memories/Details: for more details i’ll also link his wiki

- made a cult on black friday and destroyed the world

- honestly in every other timeline just kinda messed around

Front Triggers: stuffies, source, his source siblings

Sign Offs: -💚🧸

—————————————————————————————————————

Personality

—————————————————————————————————————

Summery: Wiggly is a cruel and evil force with a mask of a playful child. He takes the form of a plushie most of the time and has a very goofy and carefree energy to match his silly appearance. His speaking voice also matches this childlike persona he’s made. Wiggly is a strange alter as he’s both a tyrant and a child.

—————————————————————————————————————

Fun Extras

—————————————————————————————————————

Typing Quirk: sometimes texts with a stereotypical childish style

Playlist:

Appearance:

hope you enjoy these two! might be my personal 2 favorites haha! also if you want to ever watch hatchetfield i’m my massive fixation i will gladly send you links to everything

-mod richie

[valveposts]

Mmm Ambulon being so shy when he’s finally got to remove/replace his chest armor. He’s so shy as first air measures him for a refitting because it’s obvious the latter is playing around. He’s pulling the measuring tape too tight for any proper measurements, but it’s also riling Ambulon up.

He’s soon whimpering and whining as he’s praised for doing such a good job of fueling properly (but let’s be real, he’s still binging just in the form of stuffings now). They’re in the middle of the medibay so Ambulon wants to stay calm and quiet but FA is so openly teasing him in front of everyone~

Ambulon is leaned forward a bit, soft belly and tits hung loose as he happily accepts his ‘supplements’. Usually Ratchet does this part, but he’s out for the moment… which means the teasing is a bit rougher. Still, Amby can’t help himself. Praise is praise as First Aid gropes his love handles and hums about how good his progress has been.

“So precious, Ambulon… following doctor’s orders like such a good boy! Ah Ah~ slow down. I know you’re eager to please, but drinking too fast will overload your tanks…”

And just… ugh <3 the group effort of FA and Ratty taking care of Ambulon

no notes i fucking love this anon

[ponchospokerface]

Hihihihihii I first just wanna say, I love ur artstyle it’s actually so pretty, and so adorable, and super super yummy and delicious, and SECOND, I did a tiny bit of snooping on ur blog (just ur recent stuff), and I’m super curious:

1. What IS ur little world building thing that’s going on, I’m a bit confused 😭

And

2. Would u mind giving an introduction of ur main oc fellow? I love the design btw :333

ANYWAY, I hope u have a good day :D

Thank you very much for the kind words and gestures mate💐 (wish most people were interested like you but I have hope someday it will get attention) so to answer your questions I will spill them out in detail

(heads up: the world building is still in works so I don't blame you if you still get confused at the end of reading it but just to clarify it still in the works but his is what I got so far)

//Warning: Lots of reading (So bring a night light out)

For question 1:

In the world building, it contains things you might be curious with, the world building is considered to be fantasy, sci-fi, (horror but only for the important parts so not as much) coming of age, superhero, and yeah (that's all I can think of) Now. The world of mine is considered to contain, Marvel (supers from the mcu), God Of War, and the famous game itself Minecraft

Now originally, this was only all based off Minecraft itself because our original characters were from Minecraft named Renny and Tank (who you may have heard of on this blog) and in all cases, after the smithing templates were added to the game, I actually started watching marvel again and oh my I forgot how much I loved marvel, so a crazy idea of mine popped up and I decided to add Minecraft and mcu idea together to fit my world building, therefore leaving me to make new characters which are these ones you see today, the reason is because Minecraft's lore itself fit so well with the mcu in my opinion cause of how similar their fantasy and sci fi sides fit together, and also because the trims that were added looked cool and I wanted to think they give their host powers once it was added to the armour, so there (I'll explain that next time when you or someone else asks)

Then a few months later which was during the coming of the new years of 2024, I watched god of war, and I never actually liked it at first but then when I did I loved it so much like the mcu (I watch the 2018 and 2022(?) Ones not the 2000s I'm not an og) and so I decided to add all both mcu, Minecraft, and gow to fit together in the world building cause it actually fits because of the characters we have.

In the story these characters you see today are in our year the present day, and because you think they are in the mcu you think they are on the main universe earth-616 but they are actually on a world of my own called earth-937, the reason gow is in here is because the characters that I will mention are gods as well 1 god who is good and 2 others who are bad (basically villains) and so I thought it would be a good combination because I also have a god realm in the story before this so I guess it makes sense, and mcu is part of this cause I think I already just explained if not just remind me and I'll explain it if I didn't

And finally to question 2:

The main character throughout all of this is a character named Francis (last name being Besong) who is the main person you will see a lot (and again main character) he is known to be: funny (and when I mean funny I mean not by jokes but by the way how he acts when he wants to make someone laugh) fun, responsible, respectful, trust worthy, loyal, (dumbass that can't solve math), and all the good guys traits yk, he's an ambi or omni vert. Francis in the group is known to be the main leader cause he was the first one in the group to become a super, only after a good 5 days his friends found out and became supers themselves with him cause for the past 5 days he was bad at doing his super deeds

Francis is also depressed like any other good superhero cause really who hasn't made their characters depressed its character development lol but francis overtime eventually becomes the strongest super in the group (only to find out something deep about him he didn't know himself, if your still curious just ask and I'll explain what it is)

So...those are your answers, again the world building is basically a wip and still being worked on but I don't plan changing it anytime soon, if you want to know the deeper lore of Francis then I can explain more about him and if you want you can ask about the other characters themselves feel free to don't be shy in fact I've been waiting and hoping people ask about my ocs and world building and such more and know more deeper about it. So looking forward to the asks please send some (please I'm begging) and thank you feel free to ask more idc if you ask as the same person again or anonymous because I am pleased and happy to answer them all and get you guys interested in them. Again thank you very much💐💫💫🤗

[d1rlin]

Int if using

⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ✿ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹ (banner)

𝜗𝜚　Information

┈﹒ Name ﹒ Nickname

┈﹒ Age ﹒ Ageless/able to age

┈﹒ Prn ﹒ Prn

┈﹒ Gender ﹒ Gender ﹒ Terms

┈﹒ Sexuality ﹒ Ambi/Mono/poly

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𝜗𝜚　System

┈﹒ Roles ﹒ Role

┈﹒ Source ﹒ ID/Source talk

┈﹒ Group ﹒ Txtx

┈﹒ alter ﹒ reltionship

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𝜗𝜚　Boundaries

┈﹒ Yes ﹒ txt

┈﹒ No ﹒ Txt

┈﹒ Ask ﹒ txt

┈﹒System only ﹒ txt

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—

┈﹒⁺.　prn . prn˓

﹒‿ ﹒e　terms

[vasfasan]

being mostly-ambidextrous-but-not-completely is so fun because I don't fit into any of the three groups, not the righties, nor the lefties, nor the ambi crowd, but I also kinda fit into all three🙄💅👍

[hazzzzzzman]

Are gaming communities becoming a toxic environment for certain people?

Introduction

The promise of fellowship shared passion, and collaboration often coexists with a darker underbelly: toxicity, in the vast digital expanse of gaming communities. While these communities provide opportunities for connection and entertainment, they have also become breeding grounds for toxicity, creating hostile environments for certain groups, particularly women, LGBTQ+ people, and marginalized gamers. Gaming has always been perceived to be played by males. According to Ambi et al (2020), They conduct a survey to collect data by surveying the respondents. The study included 476 respondents aged 18 to 37 years old and discovered that the majority of those who identify as gamers are men, white, and generally younger than those who do not. Except for the fact that they were white, the results were deemed significant. The study thus demonstrates that the general demographic and group of people who identify as gamers are young males, which is critical information for the respondents.

Getting toxic? Let's talk about it

Toxicity manifests itself in various ways within gaming communities, ranging from straightforward harassment to outright discrimination and exclusion. Misogyny, sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination are common experiences for women navigating these spaces. Targeted abuse, derogatory language, and objectification all contribute to an environment in which female gamers feel unwelcome, anxious, and unsafe. This toxic environment discourages many women from freely expressing their love of gaming or participating in discussions, robbing these communities of diverse perspectives and talent.

A survey was conducted on 900 women gamers in the US, Germany, and China on their opinions and perceptions towards their behavior and how females are portrayed in video games. One said "A lot of the time I end up playing as male characters in MMORPGs so people don't realize I'm a girl," one woman explained. "We try to hide what we are so people don't flirt with us, send us stuff, send us messages we really don't want, or pictures." It has been reported that the women surveyed express their satisfaction to developers on how females are depicted but are rather disappointed with how they are treated by other gamers (Sinclair 2021). This implies that female audiences are facing quite a few adversaries to fully immersed in the gaming community due to this circumstance.

Minorities?

Representation matters in this age of moving forward as what society perceives hence why inclusion is very crucial in many aspects of life and gaming is definitely one of them. Despite these drawbacks, the number and variety of players is growing. African Americans, Latinx Americans, and Asian Americans are becoming more active in the gaming community. Similarly, these players of color are more likely to play than their white counterparts (Eng 2020). Representation doesn't mean you have to give up on catering to or shaping your player niche. These still remain and designers need to consider them throughout the process but so is cunning with player accessibility in mind. Representation helps us reach and recognize more and different players in our field. However, this desire did not arise without recognition of the negative aspects previously caused by the lack of expressiveness.

In addition to that, the LGBTQ+ community is not perceived well initially when integrating into the gaming communities. There are many political reasons as well as cultural reasons that this group has not been fully or openly represented. Although there are times when few game companies have been trying to push the representation of these minority groups to gain a wider audience, especially the gamers that are in the LGBTQ+ community

PERSONAL TAKE?

I personally think the minority group that is not feeling too comfortable in life gaming deserves the product that can be marketed towards them. I sense no harm in anyone playing a game as everyone should play the game as intended which is to enjoy and fulfill their time. Gaming should not contain the elements of sexism, racism, and overall hate. Gaming is supposedly available for everyone to enjoy. Thus the example of girl gamers should be a norm and not stir up conflicts as well as political issues.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, the toxicity prevalent in gaming communities, particularly towards women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized gamers, is a multifaceted problem that must be addressed collaboratively. Gaming communities can transform into spaces that celebrate diversity and provide a welcoming and enjoyable experience for all enthusiasts by cultivating a culture of inclusivity, respect, and accountability. Representation is critical in the fight against toxicity. In their creations, game developers should prioritise diverse and authentic representation of women, and other minority groups. Inclusive storytelling that celebrates diversity while avoiding harmful stereotypes not only empowers underrepresented groups but also fosters empathy and understanding among participants.

References

Amby, A., Caluscusan, D., Dublas, J.H., Medina, M. and Tuballa, G., 2020. Analysis of stereotypes: How non-gamers view gamers. Academia. viewed 26 November 2023, <https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/62301617/Analyss-of-Stereotypes-how-non-gamers-view-gamers20200307-128480-ha50k8-libre.pdf?1583646102=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DANALYSIS_OF_STEREOTYPES_HOW_NON_GAMERS_V.pdf&Expires=1701093819&Signature=B9eDz0AlblG9HzTMVzUOzCd9~Hqr~2c8anxPrrTY-s2A4J0kwWr57qBfYF38f~98ySQ49TdDPuLl8KAmey-VLUJw5ShSBwA-~I5xBz76w7yCiljVr2VW9x9UvxHGIQnz3qNJCaEGkiDJH1f3qhNIcTowqbjxawIqDVNjS5seLGSFnR-wrVN9OMEtvQUgmEXnlQM~-PeDbjxFpIQIkJ-W3fixh9b3c6lMQh42J8sdy3EPE-J0qS2pmDZvpZD143UCBnCelYCcoWtwlkAjYTMoLl~mFW4NSCOmpfkVVuYfRM72dUhELxk0N9Z9QJp4uBMsYQCOP3p~N45qShgT9RRp-g__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA>

Eng, D 2020, Representation in games, Medium, viewed 26 November, <https://medium.com/@davengdesign/representation-in-games-eccc9e59e36b>

Sinclair, b 2021, Survey says 59% of women hide gender to avoid harassment while gaming online, GamesIndustryBiz, viewed 26 November 2023, <https://www.gamesindustry.biz/survey-says-59-percent-of-women-hide-gender-to-avoid-harassment-while-gaming-online>