#I just love the story telling potential bi Dragon would give us because like. Yeah if they're straight then the relationship is joever
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moongothic Ā· 9 months ago
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On the train of your last ask, what are your thoughts on dragons sexuality?
Personally I think heā€™s Demi something (more attracted to personality than looks or gender)
Honestly because we don't know that much about the guy it's kind of hard for me to form an opinion, and if Crocodad Real then we're going to find out his orientation eventually (since we gotta find out if that was a contributing factor to the Dragodile Divorce (assuming they're divorced)) so I'm kind of okay with not forming any headcanons, since the headcanon could get thrown out the window
If anything, what interests me is how Dragon's orientation could impact the story-- like when I've discussed the Dragodile Divorce I have mainly focused on speculating how Crocodile would've felt about it, but how Dragon felt about that is interesting too
Because if he's straight then yeah that probably contributed to The Divorce, but how did Dragon feel about it? Learning that the love of his life is now happier than ever before after transitioning and being happy for him, while also losing the version of Crocodile that he fallen in love to begin with? No longer feeling thet draw to him because of the thing that has brought him so much joy and comfort? Knowing that even if they did take down the WG the family Dragon had hoped to have would never come to be, because their relationship would now end? And that it would be on some level his fault, because he's not attracted to Crocodile anymore?
Like even if Dragon took things well and the divorce happened "on good terms", it would've been sad for Dragon too.
But then there's a slightly juicier option, because what if Dragon was bi, but the Divorce happened under unpleasant circumstances (be it Dragon lashing out or things getting violent because he couldn't recognize Crocodile) and he didn't figure it out until it was too late?
Because you'd still have Dragon going through some if not all of those previously mentioned feelings, of having to come to terms with the version of his significant other whom he had fallen in love with no longer existed, the family had pictured in his mind would never become a thing, that those things were be kind of his fault and that he had hurt Crocodile deeply in the process. But then he'd be looking at some news article of Crocodile's most recent heroic stunt, seeing his handsome face with that usual, unbothered expression, and realizing he still loved him? That he still wanted to be with him, wished they were together, even now that Crocodile was a far more handsome man than he was? And then the realization that he's bi hitting him like a fucking truck But it's too late. The divorce already happened. He already hurt Crocodile too deeply. Knowing Croc, he had probably already moved on. There was no fixing it, the relationship was over. At least for now, trying to go see Croc could be dangerous due to the WG and not wanting to risk the WG finding out about them and The Kid and Croc would probably be furious if Dragon even risked that at this point, after what he had done. Oh, and then Crocodile killed thousands of innocent people attempting to usurp a country by manufacturing a civil war. Something Dragon can't forgive. (Not to mention, hearing he had been taken down by their own son... Oof)
But what if despite all that, and not knowing the full circumstances behind what had happened (like the fact that Crocodile didn't know who the hell Luffy was), Dragon still loved Crocodile? What then?
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#Moon posting#Asks#Dragodile#OP Meta#Answering an unusual amount of asks today because 1) Compensating for being AFK for a while and#2) The Tumblr News are deeply fucking upsetting and I need something to lighten my mood desperately ngl#So clearing my ask box it is wheeeee#Sorry this is a little incoherent lmao#Something about Dragon looking at Crocodile and being like ''why the fuck are you more handsome than me'' cracks me up okay#When your transgender husband gives you gender envy#I just love the story telling potential bi Dragon would give us because like. Yeah if they're straight then the relationship is joever#But if he was bi then there's that theoretical possibility they could maybe reconcile and get back together#And the fucking drama? The possibilities? I'm so here for that man give it to me#Luffy and/or Ivankov telling Dragon to get over himself and admit that he still loves Crocodile and wants to be with him? Gimme#Dragon taking a deadly blow to protect Crocodile because he doesn't want to lose him again? It's a trope for a reason#OR Dragon craddling a dying Crocodile begging him not to die because he still loves him? Oh yes#Crocodile trying to sneak away while everyone celebrates the destruction of the World Government#And Dragon showing up like ''I don't wanna lose you again pls don't go ;_;''#And Croc telling him to either piss off OR to hurry up and get on the ship so they can leave before Luffy finds out#I am. Obsessed. Dragodile Retirement Romance let's fucking go#THE POSSIBILITIES MAN. Like I don't wanna get my hopes up because I doubt we'll get Canon Gay Dragodile BUT IT COULD BE SO GOOD
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palimpsessed Ā· 5 years ago
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The Welsh Red Dragon, Kurt Vonnegut, and Social Activism
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The inspiration behind Shepardā€™s pins
(original post with full artwork here.)
So, I spent A LOT of time thinking about the kind of pins our good friend Shepard (from Omaha, NE) would have on his denim jacket. Like a lot. Like an obsessive amount of time. I made a list, which seemed appropriate for this fandom. And because Iā€™m a nerd and this sort of thing really interests me, and Iā€™m proud of what I came up with, and because I think some of these items open up the possibility for some good, good literary analysis, I decided to make a whole post dedicated to Shepardā€™s pins. Youā€™re welcome.
First, a little bit about my thought process. How did I decide what kind of pins to give Shepard? Well, heā€™s a guy full of stories. Stories that he canā€™t wait to tell anyone and everyone. And stories that others (mostly Maybes) have told him, once heā€™s earned their confidence. So, I wanted his pins to tell a story, his story in particular. What is the story that Shepard wants to tell about himself? More precisely, what is the story he wants to tell his new magickal friends on a disastrous summer holiday? The story is that of his own magickal credibility. His journey to magic (his come to Crowley moment, perhaps?) (Iā€™d apologize, but Iā€™m not sorryā€¦) and his trustworthiness as evidenced by all of the Maybes heā€™s met along the way. Heā€™s gotten drunk off dandelion wine with a creek dryad, given a toothbrush to a Sasquatch. spilled the tea with a jackalope, midwifed a centaur foal. Shepā€™s journey is just as impressive as Simonā€™s, and while Simon has been collecting notches on his dead dark creature bedpost (thatā€™s a weird fucking metaphorā€¦) (and now Iā€™m thinking about dark creatures and Simonā€™s bedpostsā€¦so, youā€™re welcome, Basilton), Shepā€™s been collecting notches of the friendly variety. (Shoutout to @adamarks who did some super lovely analysis on Simon and Shep as mirrors here: https://adamarks.tumblr.com/post/188046272067/ok-so-when-shepard-said-he-was-cursed-the-first). So, I decided that I wanted to use Shepā€™s pins as a way to show the notches on his bedpost, so to speak. (Okay, Iā€™m really losing this metaphor, but I think youā€™re still with me.)
Letā€™s dive in!
(Iā€™m working my way down one side of his jacket at a time, for those following along at home.)
RIGHT SIDE
Welsh Dragon: I made this one very large, and easy to spot on his right shoulder. Of all of his accoutrements, this one felt like the most important. Mainly, because of Simon. Simon is, after all, half-Welsh. (The Mage, may he rest in pain, came to Watford from Wales.) And, of course, Simon, just like the Welsh Dragon, is a red dragon. (Or in the process of becoming one? Or a half-dragon? Or a dragon kitten?ā€¦) And the dragon that Simon and Baz fought on the Watford lawn, when they first worked together, and first shared magic, was a red dragon. Of course, the actual dragon in question here is Margaret. Shepard would absolutely have a pin to commemorate his friendship with her. And since I was going to give him a pin with a dragon, I knew I was going to have to use the Welsh Dragon because it would perfectly capture his burgeoning friendship with Simon, as well. Now, I want to go on a slight detour here (this blog post will be its own Odyssey) and talk more about the Welsh Red Dragon. I took the design for the pin from the Welsh flag, which is the thing that first made me think more about Simonā€™s Welsh connection. Iā€™m not really making a point here, I just think itā€™s fascinating! Thereā€™s a lot of Welsh lore about the Red Dragon (and Margaret herself calls Simon ā€œGreat Redā€ - that ā€˜Rā€™ is capitalized, by the way, so this seems to be a proper name for the kind of dragon that she thinks Simon is). Full disclosure, I am not Welsh and I am not a scholar on any of this by any means. That being said, a cursory, and super academic, perusal of the Wikipedia article on the Welsh Dragon led me to a few different history websites that linked the symbol of the red dragon with Merlin and King Arthur (son of Uther Pendragon, literally dragon head). Merlin, one of the most well-known magical figures and Arthur, one of the most well-known Chosen One figures in literary tradition. I know very little about Arthurian legend, and Welsh history, and dragon lore, though, so Iā€™m going to just say, do a little research on your own when youā€™re bored and feeling nerdy!
Resist!: Shep is a young black man (and reasonable human being) living in the U.S. during the [redacted] Administration. I should hope this one is self-explanatory.
Hoover Dam: At some point in his visits to see Blue, Iā€™m sure Shepard stopped off at the gift shop and bought himself a souvenir pin to mark the incredible experience he had making friends with an actual river. (This pin design is based on an actual souvenir pin of the Hoover Dam I found on Google Imagesā€”along with most of the other pin designs. I think itā€™s vintage, which just felt even more like Shepard to me, because heā€™s the kind of guy who would appreciate stuff thatā€™s got a past.)
Deathly Hallows: I mean, IF the Harry Potter books/movies exist in the Simon Snow universe (which hasnā€™t been confirmed, as far as I know, by our Queen) Iā€™m sure Shepard would have been totally into it as a kid, and probably would have found greater significance in its magical lore once he discovered that ACTUAL MAGIC EXISTS! So, he would have a pin to show his belief in the magickal world, and maybe also as a nostalgic reminder of when magic was still just something fictional he could turn to for escapism (and not something that would result in being cursed by a demonā€¦).
The Truth is Out There: So, I know virtually nothing about The X-Files (my sister was obsessed with it to the point that she wanted to become a FBI agent for a few years, but I never watched it), but Iā€™m sure Shepard is a fan. If nothing else, the sentiment is awfully apropos.
So It Goes: This one is very hard to see. It sort of looks like a black teardrop with a bar on top of it (itā€™s supposed to look like a bomb). The pin I based this off of reads ā€œSo It Goesā€, which from my very superficial research, is a line repeated in Vonnegutā€™s anti-war novel Slaughterhouse-Five every time someone dies. I donā€™t know anything more about it, other than that it is a Kurt Vonnegut-inspired pin available for purchase on Etsy, and Shep mentions that he wanted to get a Vonnegut quote tattoo, even though ā€œeverybody has those.ā€
Green Alien Head: You will never be able to convince me that Shepard does not 10,000% believe in the existence of aliens. If he were still in the U.S. during the Area 51 Raid, Iā€™m sure he would have stopped by, just, you know, for scienceā€¦(Iā€™m thinking he was probably still in the UK, but I guess weā€™ll see in AWTWB.)
Centaur: This one is also hard to see, but I took the design from a pin I found of one of the centaurs (the blue-haired, blue-bodied one, if that rings a bell for you) from Disneyā€™s Fantasia. (Fun fact: I was super into Fantasia as a littlun, and I attribute my lifelong love for classical music in large part to the centaur sequence and my latent lesbianismā€”I mean, it was ludicrously erotic. Watch it sometime and tell me it would not make an impression on a sapphic three-year-old.) Midwifing a centaur foal was probably a very emotional and formative experience for Shepard. Buying this pin would be his way of remembering that experience, and the excitement and gratitude he likely felt to have been entrusted with that kind of acceptance from the centaur(s).
Jackalope: It doesnā€™t help that this pin is almost the same color as Shepardā€™s jacket, but itā€™s based off a design of a jackalopeā€™s head that, again, I found on Google Image search (honestly, I donā€™t know how I ever made art without it). We know that Shepard once got some gossip from a jackalope, who vented to him about magicians calling ā€œthemselves ā€˜magiciansā€™ā€, like ā€œtheyā€™re the only ones with magicā€. (This is totally irrelevant, but I always think of Americans when I read this. I am an American, by the way. America is a continent, but those of us living in the U.S. calls ourselves Americans, like everyone else living in America doesnā€™t matter.) Anyway, the jackalope offered Shepard some valuable insight into the political workings of the magickal world, so it gets its own pin.
LEFT SIDE
Pansexual Pride Flag Pin: I mean, technically, canonically, we donā€™t know what Shepardā€™s sexuality (or asexuality) is, but I just get some vibes from him. Plus, if we take him as a mirror for Simon (who is somewhere on the bi-plus spectrum), itā€™s not a far cry to imagine he also identifies somewhere on that spectrum.
Pentagram: This is another symbol that I chose based on my interpretation of Shepardā€™s character, and not so much on a Maybe or a story that he mentioned. The pentagram, or pentacle, is typically associated with the occult and witchcraft, which is something that could potentially also be said of Shep.
Sasquatch: You donā€™t go backpackingā€”or not backpackingā€”and introduce a Sasquatch to the benefits of dental hygiene without getting yourself a souvenir of the hike.
I [heart] Mystery Spot: The Mystery Spot is a weird sort of phenomenon in California (my home state). Itā€™s a place outside the beach town of Santa Cruz that boasts of a ā€œgravitational anomalyā€ on its website. I went once, years ago, and while youā€™re there, it can feel pretty convincing. (Also, I was probably like 10, soā€¦) People outside of California will likely never have heard of this place, but driving around here (at least in the Bay Area, where I am, which isnā€™t that far from Santa Cruz) youā€™ll see yellow Mystery Spot bumper stickers on cars everywhere. Iā€™m not really sure what the thing is with the bumper stickers. Like, Iā€™m sure not that many people actually think itā€™s legit, and maybe itā€™s like one of those things that Californians just do (like freak out and forget how to drive when we feel water falling from the sky). But yeah, these bumper stickers are everywhere. Anyway, Shepard drives around a lot. He knows about the Vampires of Las Vegas (how is that not an indie rock band?) and the Katherine Hotel, and the Next Blood. So, heā€™s probably made it past Nevada and into California before. And while he was there, itā€™s not a great stretch of the imagination that someone who chases after magic wouldnā€™t wind up at a place called the Mystery Spot and get himself a pin while he was there. (And maybe even a bumper sticker.)
Black Power Fist: Unfortunately, this one is also hard to see, because the fist is black and I didnā€™t have anything to go over the outlines of the fingers with, which I sort of didnā€™t think about when I colored it. This one also feels self-explanatory. Shepard is black. Blackness has long been treated in itself as a crime by non-black members of law enforcement, and just the general racist population of the U.S. Young black men are especially vulnerable to racially motivated violence. Iā€™m sure Shep, who drives all over the country by himself and gets into high speed chases at night in the middle of nowhere Nebraska while hunting super shifty rando Maybes has had a run-in or two. Stay safe, Shep!
Every Pronoun Belongs Here [Trans Pride Flag background]: Also, super hard to see because the letters are too small to read. I found this exact pin in a basket by the register at my local bookshop. (Support local bookshops, people!) They were being sold as a fundraiser for a LGBTQ club at one of the high schools, and I loved the idea that I could help them raise money and add this pin to my own growing collection to show off my support for trans rights. (Support trans rights and trans people, people!) I decided to give Shepard this same pin, because I could imagine him having an almost identical book buying experience in a dozen other towns that heā€™s probably visited. And I love the simplicity of the message, because itā€™s one of belonging, which EVERYONE is desperately seeking, no matter who they are or how they identify, and Shepard, and every character in this picture, is no exception. (Plus, it seemed like a cool way to connect my pin collection with Shepā€™s. Maybe I should have mentioned the fact that Iā€™m also a pin person at the beginning? I walk to work and on my lunch breaks, so I carry all of my stuff in a backpack. And I proudly display my random pin collection on my backpack. Including several Simon Snow-related pins.)
Donā€™t Panic: This was based off a Hitchhikerā€™s Guide to the Galaxy pin. I donā€™t really know anything about the Hitchhikerā€™s Guide to the Galaxy (including if itā€™s okay to abbreviate it as HGG? THGTTG? whatever), even though I did watch the movie years back when it was on TV and I still lived with my parents who had a TV. But the sentiment felt appropriate, and Shepard is a sort of magickal hitchhiker. Apart from managing to hold down a job at Dick Blick, he appears to lead a somewhat nomadic lifestyle. He tells Penny, ā€œthe road is my teacherā€, and if thatā€™s not a hitchhiker slogan, I donā€™t know what is. (Ass, gas, or grass?)
Black Lives Matter: They do. Just sayinā€™.
Magic Troll Doll: When I was growing up, the Troll doll was all the (nightmare-inducing) rage. Trolls are one of those magickal creatures that are continually mentioned in the series. Shepard talks about lonely trolls under bridges. Simon talks about killing trolls. Agatha would rather kiss a troll. And Baz was kidnapped by numpties, who are sort of like trolls. I couldnā€™t not include a troll. And the Troll doll specifically felt perfect, because the full name was Magic Troll Doll. You can bet if Shepard had to pick a troll-related pin, it would be a magic(k)al one.
[Asshole]: This is another Kurt Vonnegut pin. It looks like a messily drawn asterisk (*), but itā€™s actually meant to be an asshole (taken from the preface of Vonnegutā€™s novel Breakfast of Champions, and drawn by Vonnegut himself). I just thought, why the fuck not? So, here. Have an asshole pin. (I should have put it on a buttonholeā€¦)
HONOURABLE MENTION
Shepardā€™s Phone Case: Remember that line I quoted earlier, about Shep wanting to get a Vonnegut quote tattoo? Well, when I was trying to figure out what to put on his phone case, I thought that seemed like a reasonable place to start. So, I googled Vonnegut quotes, to see if I could find one that I thought Shepard would like. Hereā€™s the quote: ā€œa purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.ā€ I just loved that for Shepard.
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not-iscariot Ā· 4 years ago
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This was really hard but if youā€™re interested in my reasoning then scroll below...
Favorite game of all time: Dragon Age Inquisition
For a lot of the answers I wanted to give Big Brain Answers, but thinking through all the games Iā€™ve ever played... I donā€™t have the hours on any other game like I do this one. I have my own issues with the franchise and some of the decisions that get made but hot damn does a good RPG Fantasy series do it for me. Iā€™ve never played another game that genuinely feels different and unique every playthrough, the world is so big and the ability to feel like a bunch of different versions of the Inquisitor are some of the reasons I find the game so fun to replay. Iā€™ve played 3 games through to completion, 2 with the Trespasser DLC, and 1 where I played every DLC available. Iā€™m currently on another playthrough right now... so based on my attachment and hour log I would say this is my favorite game of all time.
Best Story: Mass Effect 3
This was also really hard because there are a lot of games where I loved the story. I think itā€™s really hard to end a series and I honestly liked the ending of Mass Effect although not everyone is a fan. The choice-consequence ramifications in this game are pretty brutal and itā€™s rewarding to see the conclusion of so many of the companionsā€™ arcs. The first time I finished this game I was sobbingĀ which showed how much investment I had in the story and the characters, especially Shepard. I think there are a lot of interesting larger ideas explored in the series like collective consciousness through the Geth as well as the tension between synthetic and organic, which I found myself thinking about a lot when reading Emergent Strategy.Ā 
Favorite Art Style: The Wolf Among Us
RIP Telltale. I liked a lot of their games, but WAU is where I feel the style really hit itā€™s stride. It worked super well with the fantasy/detective story. Iā€™m sad they never got to finish the game.Ā 
ā€œIā€™ll finish it some dayā€: Zelda: Breath of the Wild
BotW is a really amazing game but I have never in my life finished a Zelda game. I want to finish it bad but I sucked literal ass at the boss fights. I also struggle hard with games that have huge open worlds when there isnā€™t a story really driving me through objectives and missions. Some people love the freedom, I tend to get bored quickly. I dropped the game because I didnā€™t have time to play it so when I feel up to it again Iā€™m starting from the beginning.
Big Personal Impact: Dragon Age 2
This game made me realize I was bi and helped me come out. Thatā€™s pretty much all there is to it. By far my favorite companion set, I hope for future games they take more cross impact between companion characters because that was seriously lacking in Inquisition.
Best Combat: Spider-manĀ 
Super fun combat that you personalize to your fighting style. When I was hitting my best in terms of combos it felt super cool. Just a really strong game gameplay-wise.Ā 
You like, but everyone else hates: Beyond: Two Souls
I donā€™t know if everyoneĀ hates it but when I talk about it I hear a lot of groans... this is definitely one of my favorite games to play with someone else and I think itā€™s super engaging to play with people who arenā€™t really into video games. Itā€™s easy enough for them to get into with a decent story and decent twist reveals.Ā 
You hate, but everyone likes: Fallout Franchise
Iā€™ve tried so hard to get into these games. I own most of them but I have never been able to finish one. Fallout 4 was super buggy and I couldnā€™t get through some of the critical fights. I wanted to be into it but it just didnā€™t do it for me.
Underrated: Jedi Fallen Order
I donā€™t think itā€™s thatĀ underrated but I had a friend tell me it wasĀ ā€œjust Dark Souls with lightsabersā€ and I thought that was an unfair assessment. The Jedi gameplay is really fun and the boss fights are hard but so worth it to keep trying until you get through them. Also, as a Star Wars nerd, I liked this offshoot exploration of the Jedi.Ā 
Overrated: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
OK I bought this game having never played a Witcher game or engaged with really anyĀ Witcher content and I thought, based off the amazing reviews, that wouldnā€™t be a problem but I could not get through it. I just didnā€™t understand what the heck was going on or get attached to any of the characters. I went back and bought the first two games on sale, although the first is so frustrating because you have to obsessively save so that you donā€™t lose progress. Iā€™m open to changing my mind down the road but I just didnā€™t get into it.
ā€œWhy do I like this?ā€: Grand Theft Auto V
I bought this at the beginning of quarantine last year as a long game to have that would take me ages to complete so I wouldnā€™t lose my mind. Itā€™s the only GTA game Iā€™ve ever played and I got super into it even though itā€™s like... GTA. Truly just THAT video game stereotype, you know?
Game you always go back to: Borderlands 2
Iā€™ve played the other Borderlands games but this is definitely my favorite. Just a decent game to playthrough either on your own or with other people. I like the drop-in, drop-out story play through you can do with people.
That atmosphere...: Stardew Valley
Pretty self-explanatory. I wish I lived there. I want what they have...
Bad Day Cure: The Uncharted Franchise
Decent story and story arcs. Good gameplay to zone out to. I like the characters. This was the first set of games I played on my PS4 and it was during a blizzard. Super replayable.
Favorite Protagonist: Hades (Zagreus)
I almost said Dragon Age 2 for Hawke but because Hawkeā€™s personality really depends on the player (I exclusively do humorous) I didnā€™t feel that counted for strong protag writing. Zagreus rocks. Bi king. Heā€™s sensitive and caring and tough and funny. His arc is so wholesome... my childhood trauma definitely projected heavy onto this game.
After Work Game: Left 4 Dead 2
This was the first game I ever bought on Steam back in 2012 to play with my online friends from deviantArt... thatā€™s how old this game is for me. Iā€™ve clocked almost 400 hours and itā€™s definitely my go-to comfort/tune out game. I literally play this game to self soothe when I have anxiety... Iā€™m so used to it and familiar with the gameplay that it doesnā€™t stress me out at all.Ā 
Biggest Letdown: Mass Effect Andromeda
After ME series I was honestly fine where Shepardā€™s story ended and I was down for another protag and offshoot story but... the game sucked. The combat was fun and it wasnā€™t unplayableĀ but ME was so good that this game just didnā€™t live up to the standard. The companions are just not as interesting or engaging, it was buggy and animated weird as hell, and I couldnā€™t give a fuck about Ryder honestly...
ā€œBack in the dayā€ game: PokĆ©mon Ruby/Sapphire
Curling up on the couch or in my room on my Gameboy Advanced SP in red collecting pokĆ©mon... these were the DAYS.Ā 
ā€œNot the best but having funā€: Fire Emblem Franchise
Three Houses is definitely my favorite and the only other that I liked out of the few Iā€™ve played was Awakening. I think the games are decent and fun, Three Houses was definitely the strongest in terms of side characters and story, but there are still issues like... how romancing works. Claude is so bisexual itā€™s actually alarming...Ā 
Criminally Overlooked: Mirrorā€™s Edge
This series had potential to become such a cool franchise but it stopped after Catalyst. I was so invested in the world they created and it was just very... whatever Watchdogs was trying to do but I didnā€™t like as much. Some really awesome gameplay, just a lot of parkour and running.
Depressing Game: The Walking DeadĀ 
This game and the subsequent ones I just feel so bad for Clementine, this poor girl cannot win. I never finished the last season because I lost track of what Telltale ended up doing, but now I know they finished it so I gotta get back in there. Yeah I cried at the end of this first game.
Favorite ACTIVE Franchise: Dragon Age
So many issues with the series but... itā€™s likely if theyā€™ve announced a new one Iā€™ve already pre-ordered. Iā€™m very invested and hope Dragon Age 4 is as good if not better than Inquisition...
Not usually my thing but...: Red Dead Redemption 2
Not at all a game I would usually get based of how it was advertised and explained to me as well as the usual crowd whoā€™s into it but... I really loved it. I said this before that Iā€™m not great with super large maps and free reign but RDR2 is one of the few exceptions. I would spend hours just running around and hunting. I started playing it in quarantine and lord... it was so nice to just roam around this huge, beautiful map and feel like I was hanging out outdoors. It also made it shitty to be stuck outdoors because all I wanted to do after I finished was go on a cross-country road trip. Still very much a like... manly man game. But I donā€™t mind that.
Anyways thatā€™s my two cents. Hereā€™s the blank:
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luthienliveblogslately-blog Ā· 6 years ago
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Milestone write-up!
Since the story seems to be closing one story-arc and moving on to another, I feel this is a good place to take stock, summarize what we know and make some more or less educated guesses at what might happen in future. It got a bit away from me (ā€a bitā€ lol), so hereā€™s a read more for your convenience.Ā 
Players on the board
Last we left off, shit had decidedly hit the fan. We got painful confirmation that the elves successfully assassinated King Harrow, but they in turn had a painful price to pay. From what we can tell, Runaan is the only survivor, and he has been captured by Soren and Claudia. Claudia thinks he might come inĀ ā€œusefulā€, whatever that may mean. Might be theyā€™ll interrogate him for information about Xadia, might be that Claudia has some more nefarious, magical things planned. She might ask him about Rayla and the egg, but itā€™s not like he can tell her anything that she doesnā€™t already know, aka Rayla and the boys have the egg and they plan to return it and use it to restore peace. Maybe, if they keep talking for long enough, he might actually get her to see that the egg really is just a yet to hatch baby dragon and therefore a sentient being in need of protection, and not just a powerful magical weapon to be used by whoever sees fit. If Runaan manages to escape or communicate with other elves, our heroes will have some real problems. He clearly sees Rayla as a traitor and seeks to punish her for the perceived crimes she committed, and thereā€™s still that pesky magical bounty on Ezransā€™s headā€¦Ā 
Itā€™s hard to say what Claudia and Soren will do next. I think it depends very much on if Viren is sticking around the castle or not, and what his plans are. As to what his plans might beā€¦ god knows. Just how much does he want the egg back? Is he willing to go after it himself, or will he maybe send Soren? How much does Soren know about all this anyway? Five bucks says he had no idea about anything tbh. You know what still hasnā€™t been opened yet btw? The fucking letter. Itā€™s still in Virenā€™s study. If it really has a contingency plan likeĀ ā€œCallum becomes prince regent until Ezran is old enough to ruleā€ I get the feeling Viren might pull some GoT-style shenanigans and try to put himself on the throne. At this point there isnā€™t really anything I wouldnā€™t put past him. In any case though the kingdom might be thrown into serious chaos for a while. After all: the King is Dead, long live theā€¦. wait, who now? The crown prince is missing? The step-prince is missing, too? Well, guess itā€™s time for some good old-fashioned power grabbing!Ā 
And then thereā€™s our three four protagonists. We donā€™t know where the kingdom of Katolis is exactly, but in any case they have a long journey ahead. They will have to stick to the woods for most of it and avoid towns I think. Rayla canā€™t be seen by humans, the egg canā€™t be seen either, and Viren might try and put a bounty on all of them anyway, so the boys might not be save either. I trust Rayla will be able to get the foods from the woods though, so that should be alright. And then eventually theyā€™ll reach the Breach and have to make their away across it and around however many standing armies manning the border from both sides. Yikes. Though we have no idea how far theyā€™ll go in three remaining episodes. There are after all at least 5 more potential seasons in store for us, so thereā€™s a good chance they wonā€™t even remotely come close to the Breach in this one.Ā  What Iā€™m really worried about is Rayla keeping the truth about Harrow from the boys.Ā  While it breaks my heart just thinking about them having to mourn their dad, Iā€™m worried about Callum lashing out at Rayla in his grief. We already had a scene when he found out about the assassination plot and subsequently flipped out at Ez out of fear, and Ez hadnā€™t even really done anything. How much worse will that reaction be if sheā€™s been lying to them for several days, even if it was just to spare them the pain? It might damage his trust in her, Callum might even try and make them split up and continue without her. Sounds like a really bad idea, but people do stupid things when theyā€™re angry and sad.Ā 
Other unresolved plot points
WHAT DOES THE FUCKING LETTER SAY
Whatā€™s up with the Mirror? For that matter, why is the mirror fishy enough to be covered up but not fishy enough to be hidden in the Lair of Dead Things?Ā 
Whatā€™s with the picture Harrow looked at last time we saw him alive? Itā€™s gotta be something, right? Why would they make the camera zoom in on it lying face down on the bed otherwise? Just have Harrow put it away and then forget it exists, donā€™t give it an extra shot!
Pip! Is he still alive? D:Ā 
Callum still has the Storm Stone, but he might have to get his hands on a book or find himself a teacher to learn some new spells probably?Ā 
WHAT DO THE BLACK EYES DO? DO THEY EVEN DO ANYTHING OR ARE THEY JUST FOR CREEPY EFFECT?Ā 
Virenā€™s staff! Just cool historical artifact or actually relevant to the plot?Ā 
Shameless Tin-hattingĀ aka Foreshadowing Fucking Everywhere aka MiscellaneousĀ Shit I Noticed While re-watching ep 1-3
Callumā€™s drawing of a Dragon roasting a Marshmallow Monster -> this showā€™s version of the Cookie Cat jingle? Possibly depicting Virenā€™s inevitable demise?Ā 
Not foreshadowing, but I realized when the Narrator saysĀ ā€œon the eve of last Winterā€™s Turnā€ in the opening what is meant withĀ ā€œlastā€ is just most recent, as inĀ ā€œlast monthā€ or ā€œlast Christmasā€. So it probably was some solstice type date after all. Makes sense with it now being spring.Ā 
People keep pointing out how shit Bait is at hiding. Iā€™m afraid at some point theyā€™ll have to hide from something REALLY BAD and Bait will get them found. :/ Really, Bait being called Bait just seems super unfortunate in general.Ā 
You know how Rayla saysĀ ā€œMy Heart for Xadiaā€ during the ritual? Yeah, Iā€™m getting the feeling Rayla will be instrumental in getting Ezran out of the magical contract, possibly in a super heroic way by just doing what her heart tells her to and saving the day, or possibly justā€¦ by dying in his stead. Oh god I feel like I jinxed her. :(Ā 
You know how Callum was likeĀ ā€œYouā€™re so lucky, you get to learn magic!ā€ and Claudia was likeĀ ā€œYou get to learn sword fighting!ā€ and then Callum was likeĀ ā€œIā€™d switch places in a second!ā€? Well, heā€™s doing magic now, soā€¦. the little disaster bi that is myself is praying for Claudia in armor with a big-ass sword being a BAMF. Ā“
Anybody else who really wants to know what is under that OTHER, BIGGER tarp in the Lair of Dead Things? Because I really wanna know. I bet Ezran knows already.Ā 
Harrow said about the letter thatĀ ā€œ[Callum will] understand in time.ā€ What makes me think thereā€™s more in there than just his last will, possibly itā€™s also his last confession. What terrible shit has he done over the years of his reign, how much of it did Viren have his fingers in and how much of it can Viren use against him post-mortem? And how will the boys react when they get confronted with their dadā€™s uglier side, possibly via what the elves or even some direct victims have to say about him?Ā 
Iā€™d really like to have a look at that book Callum is carrying everywhere. I figure itā€™s his sketch book and not relevant to anything, but it might still be fun to get to see some pages anyway.Ā 
Stuff that I got spoilered on because thereā€™s too many tags to block :(Ā 
I saw some pics of the Dragon Prince after hatching! D: Iā€™m sorry, it feels like I robbed myself of an awesome surprise and you of a genuine reaction. :( I didnā€™t look very closely, I just saw that he was adorable and had roughly the same color scheme as his dad. Which leads me to some more tin hatting: What with Thunder being called that and also breathing lightning, Iā€™d like to propose that the Storm Stone still has a big role to play after all, other than just providing Callum with a magical source he can carry around.Ā 
I saw General Amaya of the Standing Battalion being name dropped in a text post. I scrolled too fast to see any context, but considering who she is I guess weā€™ll get her as an upcoming character in some capacity.
I know that the elf making the MAGIC TREES amulets gets another ending slide at some point, and that people are theorizing he and Runaan are a Thing.Ā  Iā€™m not a super big fan of Runaan at this moment in time so I couldnā€™t give less of a shit about his love life tbh, and as much as I like to ship things I usually need a bit more than literally two pictures to get me going, so. I dunno, donā€™t expect much from me on that front until more material comes out in later seasons I guess. Likeā€¦ if there isnā€™t enough for people to make emotional gif sets out of, can you even really call it a ship?
Netflix tried to push Chapter 4 on me when I went to re-watch the others. I got it shut down quickly enough, but I still saw the title. I think it wasā€¦ Bloodthirsty? Bloodlust? Either way I think either Runaan is gonna have a REALLY bad time very soonish or our protagonists will have to run REALLY fast from people trying to catch them.Ā  Maybe both.Ā 
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stcrmscngs Ā· 4 years ago
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@praesidiiā€‹ā€‹ said:Ā  nero, gieve, and jaskier!
send me a character and iā€™ll tell youĀ (soft headcanons) // accepting!
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what they smell like: Coffee. intenselyĀ of coffee. Mostly coffee, actually. Beneath that, though, there are sharp, cold notes of metallic scents, as well as hints of ozone-- like the smell of an aether storm.
what their favorite smells in the world are: He likes the smell of coffee, particularly early in the morning, but actually he likes the smell of Chamomile even more overall, even though he doesnā€™t tend to drink the tea steeped from it. His favorite scents, above either of those, are tied to the ironworks.
what pajamas they wear/what they wear to sleep in: pajama pants and a tank top usually, both washed so many times that theyā€™re very soft. When dragged out of bed and not fully dressed yet, heā€™ll throw on a pair of slippers and a red silk robe because he is, in fact, That Bitch.
my favorite ship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them: I mean. Obligatory CidNero shriek here. And for a cute hc....hmmm..... Nero is the little spoon. No, I donā€™t take constructive criticism.
my favorite friendship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them: Okay so Iā€™m about to jump into Crystal Tower Era Nero and cry about how attached he got to Doga and Unei in such a short amount of time, going so far that he legit almost fucking crystalized and diedĀ in the process of protecting them?? AND THEN HAD THE ABSOLUTE AUDACITY to lie to everyoneā€™s FACES and claim it wasnā€™t done out of kindness or care but the explanation he triesĀ to give for it doesnā€™t make any goddamn sense. So basically my hc here is that he cares them.
a song that reminds me of them: Nobody - Besomorph. NOBODY - BESOMORPH. NOBODY - BESOMORPH!!!!!!!!!!!Ā  I'm doing what I can to keep what's left of my mind But I'm reading into everything like truth is there between the lines Mind is screaming Lungs aren't breathing, waiting for success to free me Always was, always will be I'll put this out and tear it down when no one listens I'll smile and destroy it like we meant nothing I'll repeat till I turn hollow, no one cares hard pill to swallow I fell short too many times It's living there (living there) In the back of my mind (back of my mind) Always was and I always will be Nobody, nobody Always was and I always will be Nobody, nobody It's stealing the air like it needs oxygen Drinking my youth like it lives off its blood Always was and I always will be Nobody, nobody
what animal i think they would be if they were an animal: I think! I mean I know dragons donā€™t count as animals but the man made his helmet look like a dragon so the imagery is just stuck with me.
what position they sleep in: Nero is a side-sleeper, legs stretched all the way out and sprawled wherever they please.
their favorite drink: Coffee. He LIVES on it. He is only alive by the grace of coffee.
a gift i would give them if i could: A funky lil puzzle box! Metal, probably, with a bunch of little clicky mechanisms so my boy can stim (Because IMAGINE NERO BEING NEUROTYPICAL THATS HILARIOUS)
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what they smell like: Gieve smells faintly of the sea, under a layer of gorgeous perfume-- saffron, red musk, and spices with hints of patchouli, lilies, and osmanthus. There are also notes of leather, sword oil, and the polish he uses for his oud.
what their favorite smells in the world are: Gieve loves the smell of clear fresh air, most scented incense, sweet fresh fruit....or a nice-smelling, attractive person to snuggle up to.
what pajamas they wear/what they wear to sleep in: Gieve sleeps in his smalls and a comfy shirt that is several sizes too big for him (bought with the express purpose of comfy sleeping), unless itā€™s summer, or in other circumstances that may call for less clothing.
my favorite ship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them: Iā€™m like. Ridiculously fond of all of my Gieve ships which is probably only because I have like one and a half that I actually get to write?? and I want More. But I suppose Iā€™d have to label my favorite as Hermes and Gieve because Iā€™m a weak man and enemies to lovers has so much spicy potential when done right.Ā 
my favorite friendship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them: FARANGIS AND GIEVE ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PLATONICALLY because I live for the lesbian-bi solidarity and the banter and their mutual poking fun, theyā€™re just amazingly good.
a song that reminds me of them:Ā Dancer and The Moon - Blackmoreā€™s Night Follow me closely Arms wrapped around me Life is a sweet, sweet wine Glittering gold as Stories unfold those Secrets are lost in time To the heartbeat of the night Hey, hey, hey, till the break of day La lala lalalala lala lala lala Hey, hey, hey, dance the whole night through Nothing gets between The dancer and the moon
what animal i think they would be if they were an animal: A fox!
what position they sleep in: Depends on whether or not heā€™s alone. Alone, he sleeps on his stomach stretched out every way he possibly can. If heā€™s with a partner, heā€™ll tangle his legs with theirs and curl up close to them.
their favorite drink: Spiced wine
a gift i would give them if i could: so many pairs of cute earrings
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what they smell like: Fancy bath salts, cologne-- probably lots of lavender and bergamot, with hints of white musk and clove
what their favorite smells in the world are: Most flowers-- particularly poppies--, fresh-baked bread, petrichor
what pajamas they wear/what they wear to sleep in: if in a bed, usually shirtless in some comfortable pants. If on the road, he sleeps in generally whatever he was wearing that day.
my favorite ship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them: Hi I love geralt and jaskier in any form they take so. yeah. thereā€™s that. Regardless of whether itā€™s requited or not, Jaskier always has feelings for and is attracted to Geralt but will keep that to himself if there is no mutual interest because he just likes being around Geralt and platonic interaction is just as good. Heā€™s just hopelessly pan and thatā€™s my headcanon for today.
my favorite friendship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them: Again, geralt and jaskier win this category. I could honestly go either way with them and love them the same amount.
a song that reminds me of them: The obvious choice here would be the one he literally sings but yā€™know, Soldier, Poet, King - The Oh Hellos has a fun Jaskier vibe. Not necessarily lyrics-wise but just the overall vibe!
what animal i think they would be if they were an animal: probably a bird of some kind? I need something Agent-Of-Chaos enough for him.
what position they sleep in: Curled up on his side, cuddling whatever is closest to him
their favorite drink: Wine! Good, preferably, but itā€™s not a requirement.
a gift i would give them if i could: A pat on the head and the death of one of his various enemies? So that he can have fewer feral bastard hours??
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