#also i need more content so i can ship him with my tav

[m-u-n-c-h-y]

I feel like I need to come up with a backstory for Abdirak, cause I need more content of him.

That being said, does anyone else have one they've thought up for him? Genuinely interested to see if anyone came up with one or had ideas.

[fire-emblem-drabbles]

Pairing: Gale x reader (tav)

Prompt: Soulmate AU (sharing pain)

Description: For most of your life, it was normal things; cuts and bruises, sprained ankles and such. Your love must have been some sort of spell caster, from all the magic burns and forces you felt too. But then one day... it hurt so bad. The darkness, the pain, the hunger you felt... At least, it was a burden shared.

Rating: sfw

Content Warning: minor descriptions of pain/wounds, descriptions of Gale's arcane hunger,

Notes: I wanted to write for Gale so so bad but nothing was coming to me. Until I was like "fuck it back to the basics" also these fics are such a good way to use all my screenshots. I have so so many. kinda lowkey don't like this but I've had it sitting in my drafts for so long, and just needed to finish it lol

You had thought the greatest pain you could feel in this life was that which your soulmate bore; a great, arcane hungering force that festered in the chest. Though only they bore it truly, you felt it as if it was your own pain. And you, too, felt that hunger, felt relief when it was sated and knew the pain of going without. Knew what to do when you felt it fester and want only more.

But you didn’t know what to think when you felt a sharp pain in your left eye, felt it crawl and wrench it’s way into your brain. How could you? It was something you had no explanation for (what had your soulmate been up to, then, to feel such a way?) It was only when you were abducted by the nautiloid, faced with a mind flayer and it’s tadpole, that you notice how sickeningly familiar the sensation of a worm, crawling into your left eye to make home for its self in your brain was.

So, imagine then when you met not one, not two, but six other people with tadpoles as well. You couldn’t be sure if any of them were your soulmate… but you also couldn’t rule it out. That, and you kept hearing that even more people were infected than the people you now traveled with. Realistically, finding your soulmate should probably not be at the top of your list when you did have a mind flayers tadpole… but the idea that they could be so close to you did have you excited!

But what if they were part of this strange Absolute cult? What if they had already been turned into a mind flayer (would you feel that? Would they even have a soul for your to connect to at that point?) There was a lot to worry about… Chief among them being that familiar growing hunger within your chest. But having been recently dumped off a ship, you have very little to your name to feed it…

“This locket…” You held it aloft in your fingers, soft light from the torches around your tent catching it. You had gotten it from Arabella’s mother after saving the poor girl from Kahga. You could use it’s magic to feed your soulmate’s hunger… but would the other’s notice it missing? How would you explain it’s been consumed?

“You seem to have a lot of your mind.” Gale’s voice catches you from your thoughts, causing you to snatch the locket and pocket it.

“There’s much to think about.” You hum, looking up at him. “How can I help you tonight, Gale?” You change the subject, smiling at him.

“I’ve just come to remind you to eat dinner.” He holds a bowl of something that smells far too good to be camp provisions, leaning down to hand it to you.

“You made this?” Your eyes widen as you accept the food, stomach growling in anticipation.

“Oh this is nothing,” He waves his hand dismissively. “Were we back in my tower at Waterdeep, I would show you the true extent of my culinary talent.” You take an experimental bite, smiling at the savory taste that welcomes you.

“It’s very tasty! I’m nonetheless impressed you made this with supplies from our camp packs.” You praise him, seeing the smile that lights up his face. You have to admit, it’s rather charming even if he is a little haughty. “Thank you for coming to hand this to me, I may have forgotten otherwise.”

“You’re welcome! We can’t have our leader falling behind.” He smiles, but seems like he wants to say something more before deciding otherwise. “You have a goodnight, _____.” You decide not to question it on it. Though you like to think you’ve grown close to him this past week traveling together, not enough to push boundaries quite yet.

“You too Gale!” You give him a little wave, watching as he goes back to the campfire where he must have cooked dinner. You retreat to your tent, closing off from everyone else at camp. Another, uncomfortable pang of arcane hunger hits you and with a soft groan, you put down the food.

“Fine, fine.” You groan and hold your throbbing head, pulling out the locket with the other. You study it a moment, before closing your eyes and holding it to your chest, willing that great, unknowable force within to feed on the weave it held. When the next terrifying moment it is done, and that deep ancient, hunger is sated once again. You let out your bated breath. At least for now, it is sated…

Across camp, Gale can only take a shuddering gasp as he feel’s the orb within him sated. While this hadn’t been the first time his soulmate had helped him sate the orb, this time it almost seems serendipitous that they should do so when he finds himself with nary a magic artifact (nor a tresseym to go out and hunt for one).

Once, as Mysta’s chosen, Gale had wondered what use a soulmate would do him when he was chosen by a Goddess. To be favored by Mystra, mother of the weave… It was quite an addictive feeling, admittedly. But to fall from that grace, to lose the bulk of his powers and have to face the consequences of the orb within him… only for someone who cares for him to feed that hunger, to save him hurt when they may not even know him… It’s quite bracing, and enough to bring a smile to his face. Someone out there cares, despite the pain he has caused them, and despite, for a time, thinking he could live without them.

Still, it is a burden he would rather like to take care of himself. With that in mind, Gale readies himself to tell you (and the rest of the party, though they haven’t quite earned his trust like you have) about the orb at the earliest convenience. You seemed a little troubled tonight so when the day came, he would find the time.

However, it seemed like you had much planned for the day following. Though he was there to watch you agree to raid the goblin camp, Gale hadn’t expected the strides you would make in that endeavor today alone. Already your small party had cleared out the abandoned village before the camp and now you were checking out the surrounding area.

“Excuse me, _____, if you have a moment.” Gale pops up beside you a moment as you survey the area. “I have something rather important to share, if you can spare the time.”

“You’re among friends Gale, go right ahead.” You smile at him, and notice how his face softens at that.

“Yes well,” He takes a deep breath, eyes never leaving yours. It always caught you off guard, how easy it was for him to capture your gaze. “Ever since you freed me from that stone, I’ve seen you demonstrate remarkable guile and courage.” You watch his hands move up and around, something you’ve noticed he does often when he talks. “When you defused the situation between Aradin and Zevlor, or how you saved that young girl from Kahga…” He shakes his head a little, dark eyes meeting yours once more. “In short, I’ve come to trust you.” He smiles at you, that same boyish smile that you can’t help but smile back at.

“I’m glad you said so, I feel the same way.” You see his smile grow wider a moment, before he continues on.

“The reason I go on to say this is that I’ve grown confident enough to tell you something I haven’t told another living soul. Except for my cat.” He looks troubled for a moment, watching your face for any change of emotion. You try to keep your reaction even, merely raising your eyebrows for him to continue. “...You see, I have this… condition. Very different from the parasite we share, but just as deadly.” You watch his hands move before his chest in an almost frantic motion, before falling swiftly as he looks to you.

“...Okay.” You nod, looking at him carefully. “What… kind of condition?” You half frown, seeing how strange he was being about this. Not that he wasn’t already a little queer, but in this moment Gale seemed so… tense.

“The specifics are… rather personal… but suffice to say it is a malady I’ve learned to live with-- though not without some effort.” He gives a little grimace, but continues, learning in closer to you. “What it comes down to is this; every so often, I need to get my hands on a powerful magical item and absorb the weave within.” Your eyes wide (in what you hope is a normal way) and you nod.

“So this… illness causes you to consume magic.” You repeat plainly, nodding. “While that is strange, I don’t think it will be so hard to accommodate.” You nod at him assuredly.

“You… don’t have any questions?” Gale asked, seemingly dumbfounded.

“Well of course I do. But it seems like you shared as much as you were willing to on the matter already.” You offer him a small smile and watch the relief spread on his features.

“I thank you for your trust in me. It shall not be unfounded.” He looks rather serious for a moment, before continuing. “Thankfully, I am sated for now, but its merely a matter of time before my craving returns. So I turn to you; I need you to help me find magic items to consume. It is vital, dare I say, critical.”

“Of course. I’m happy to help in whatever way I can.” You smile big for him, hoping he can’t hear the pounding of your chest.

“You have my thanks. Again, your trust in me will be rewarded in anyways I have at my disposal. I’m sure we won’t have to look far, Faerun overflows with magic treasure! As do our packs, in fact,” Your breath hitches at that. He was of course, talking about the locket you got from Arabella’s mother… the very one consumed last night by you (and by extension, your soulmate). What if he asked for it now? How could you tell everyone its gone already? But just as you go on to panic over a response, Gale continues.

“But, I know the allure magic artifacts hold, and their power. All this to say, I understand the sacrifice I ask of you. But if I may be so bold, its for a very good cause indeed.” Gale pauses a moment, and makes sure to catch your gaze once again. “I hope I can count on you.” You nod at him, which seems to please him.

With that, you continue on your way, heading further into the mountains to reach the goblin camp. You couldn’t help but be distracted though. How many people in the realm needed to consume magic for a ‘condition’? And… of those people, how many of them have also been infected by a mind flayer tadpole? You couldn’t help but wonder that-- distracting you enough that as you walk out of the destroyed village and over a bridge, you walk right into the next goblin camp.

“Look Klaw, look’s like dinner’s come to go.” The goblin sneers at it looks up at you. Your eyes widen as you take in the goblins. At least three in front of you that you see, some strange pack animal, and surely more in sniper points. You might be able to talk your way out of this…

“Remember, goblins often come in the dozens, not just a few.” Gale warns.

“Why’d you come this way?” The goblin huffs again, looking up at you with disdain. Yes, you could easily talk your way through this. You can feel the tug of a parasite in this one. Authority. But another, desperate part of you wants to see. If you or Gale got hurt in this battle, would you be able to see the wound on the other… Could he really be your soulmate?

You don’t remember quite what you said to anger the goblin so much, before you knew it battle had started. Thankfully, you had Lae’zel with you to enter the front lines and take out those pesky pack animals, while Gale and Astarion provided support from the rear. Though it wasn’t an easy battle by any means, the more goblins dead, the better in your opinion.

You tried to see if you can feel pain in any place you didn’t remember getting hit, but all of you had gotten one or two bad hits. There was even a point you had to help poor Astarion back to his feet after he had taken out the war drum that would call in reinforcements.

“How does everyone feel?” You call out. “I haven’t quite used all my healing spells yet, so if anyone needs a little pick me up…” You look around to your allies. Lae’zel seemed fine, having had a healing potion to take care of her wounds, and Astarion was looking decent after you had cast Lay Hands on him. You turn to Gale, to find him looking rather haggard, despite being relative safety (sans from a few archers, if you recall).

“If you don’t mind.” Gale calls you over, and you happily oblige, moving over to him while readying the spell.

“Where does it hurt?” You ask, raising your two hands as they glow with healing magic.

“Everywhere, really.” Gale laughs softly. “I feel like I got thrown around quite a bit that battle.” He shakes his head. “I’ll need to be more careful…” he shakes his head.

“You did fine, no need to worry.” You assure him, placing your hands just before his chest and letting the magic flow to him. He sighs in relief and smiles at you. “Don’t forget about yourself, though.” He adds.

“Oh I feel fine.” You assure him. A little better than the moments before, even. “I have potions if I really need them. I would rather save my magic for my allies, anyways.” Sure that everyone was feeling well, you continue to the goblin camp proper, trying your best to distract your self from your ever growing thoughts.

~*~

It isn’t many days after that (though its hard to tell, with all the battles, all the information, all the people you’ve met and helped) that you notice a familiar presence within. That aching, consuming hunger. Thankfully, in the days since you’ve gained plenty of magic items, any of which would more than be able to help Gale. Though this time, it had you nervous.

If you gave Gale an item, watched him consume it before your very eyes, and felt the pain melt away like a soft lullaby… what then? If he truly was your soulmate… what would that change between the two of you, if anything? Was Gale even interested in following his fate like that? It was all so worrisome… And, even if he wasn’t… Would you still have that familiar warm feeling in your chest when you caught his gaze?

Soulmate or not, you had… feelings for Gale. Ones that you couldn’t claim for the rest of the party. And despite everything, you still knew so very little about him. It seems as though your thoughts summoned him, as you look up to find Gale coming your way.

“Come to grab a snack?” You tease, seeing him approach you somewhat seriously.

“I…” He seems surprised a moment before recovering. “How could you tell? I thought I had done rather well in hiding my affliction…” He doesn’t seem embarrassed, more so surprised.

“Oh!” You couldn’t very well say it was because you had also begun to feel the ill effects of going too long without consuming magic. “You just seemed… a little strained today is all. Not that it effected you in battle in any way!” You assure him. “Just that it all took a little more out of you than it might usually…” Gale is quiet a moment, studying you. You can’t seem to meet his gaze, too busy studying the dirt between the two of you.

“I hadn’t known you to be so observant,” In the next moment, Gale is smiling softly. “You’ve read me correctly. My condition is… rather hungry, and I find that feeding it sooner rather than later leads to everyone being happier.” You nod at him, shuffling over to your travelers trunk where you seem to keep all the armor and weapons and goodies from your adventurers.

With your back to him, digging in the trunk, you speak. “If you don’t mind me asking… how does it feel?” You were looking for a specific ring you had picked up, one you were certain everyone would have no problem with parting with. “I mean… is it painful?” Fingers finding the cool metal of a ring of Color Spray, you carefully pull it from the trunk, ready to turn back to Gale for his answer.

“It’s…” He pauses a moment, taking time to consider his words carefully. “It starts off as uncomfortable, and if left unattended quickly become painful.” He frowns softly. “Though it has a number of unwelcome side effects, chief among them seem to be nausea, headache, chest pain…” You can’t help but grip your own chest as you felt a pain go through it. Yes, at this point, you were almost certain. There was just one thing left to do to prove that Gale was your soulmate…

“Um, I’m sorry if this is strange… but could I talk to you in private a moment?” You gesture to your tent right next to you and Gale seems surprised.

“Is this about…?” He stops himself as you shake your head no vigorously.

“It’s um… complicated. But fear not, I’m not going to deny you an item.” Gale seems concerned a moment at how you seemed to be uncomfortable but merely shakes his head.

“Very well.” He allows you to open the flap for him, and you follow him inside. It’s not as if he hasn’t seen the inside of your tent-- you often opened the flaps of it to let everyone know you were free to talk or do other things. But it felt much more intimate to be inside it, closed, with you. You seemed so different with your heavy armor and weapons to the side. In your camp clothing, you seemed so much smaller than the courageous paladin that led them all in battle.

And even now, as you looked upon him with rosy cheeks and worry, Gale couldn’t help but admire you. Who would have guess you would be so shy when it came down to it?

“What did you wish to ask me?” Gale chooses to speak first, seeing how you seem to be struggling just a tad with what to say.

“There… is no easy way to say this.” You admit, half frown fitted on your lips as you look to Gale. “If I am wrong this would be… one of, if not the, most embarrassing thing of my life.” You shake your head again, seeing the look Gale gives you. “But… I am almost certain of it, and would appreciate it if you would give me the chance to prove it to you as well.” You look to him with wide, pleading eyes.

“Prove what?” Gale watches you worry the ring in your hand, sees how you can barely meet his gaze and how you can’t seem to stop blushing despite nothing romantic or embarrassing happening between the two of you. “Please, tell me what has you acting so strange.” You heave a sigh, closing your eyes.

“Gale of Waterdeep… I think we’re soulmates.” It feels strange, falling from your tongue. Even stranger to see his reaction (how can stay so composed?) “Before you say anything I… can show you.” Before he can object, you bring the ring of Color Spray to your chest and let the arcane hunger within you (within him), feed. You feel the immediate relief, but not only that-- you see the look of awe on Gale’s face, see the tension leaving him.

“Well… that certainly is proof, isn’t it?” Even Gale is left astounded in the moment, looking at you with eyes anew. “I’ll admit I had my own suspsions… but you certainly took matters into your own hands, didn’t you?” He’s all smiles and familiar confidence, but you can’t find it in you to feel as steady.

“I… suppose so” You fiddle around a bit, finding his answer to be neither positive or negative. “How do you… feel about that…?” You ask softly. You had loved him for years and years, and finding out that Gale was the person you had loved and taken care of for so long made you so happy. But…

“How could I not be happy?” Gale moves a bit closer to you, taking your hand in both of his. “You’ve done so much for me… Now, and even before we met. To find out the person who took such good care of me is someone I’ve come to respect and trust so much… who wouldn’t be pleased?” He squeezes your hand.

“So you’re not… disappointed?” You add, rather quietly. Gale can’t help but soften.

“With you? Never.” He seems to think a moment, hesitating. “Still… to think that’s you’ve suffered though this like I have… it’s nearly unforgivable.” He shakes my head. “That my mistake led to you suffering as well.”

“Don’t say that!” You tug him closer with your hands, your strength giving Gale no choice but to comply. “Even if it hurts… I’m glad to be connected to you in this way. If I didn’t care, would I have supported you all this time?” At that, Gale smiles. “I… know it hasn’t been long since we’ve met. Shorter still since this revelation has come to light… but I do love you, even if you don’t feel the same.” You muster up the courage to admit this. “I’ve loved you for years and years… finding out you were the person I’ve been in love with just seemed to make sense.”

“… You really are more than I deserve.” Gale again squeezes your hand. “I’ll admit I… find myself fond of you as well. I was never one to put much faith into a soul mate…” You can’t help but deflate a little at that. Gale, noticing this, quickly continues. “But that’s changed since I was cursed-- since Mystra cast me out.” You blink at him, and he shakes his head. “Now that I know you feel the orb’s hunger as I do… you deserve to know the truth behind it.”

“Are you certain?” You frown softly as his hand leaves yours, but Gale merely gives you a serious look.

“I’ve cursed you as well as myself. This is something that effects us both.” Gale doesn’t beat around the bush. “It all starts with a king named Karsus…” Gale settles in to tell you of how he came to have the orb in his chest. Of the King, Karsus, who created his own weave in his ambition to rivil Mystra and once destroyed her. How Gale wanted to impress Mystra, and merely sought to return a piece of her weave back unto her-- that piece being the orb that was now inside his chest. Their union should have destroyed him but instead, the orb merely consumed his power. That, and his place at Mystra’s side; the goddess cast him aside for his folly and Gale found himself lost.

“I thought I had nothing left to live for. My powers lost, Mystra cast me aside… I was content to let the orb finish me off but…” He pauses, looking to you after staring off into the corners of your tent.

“...I remember. I had been sick and hurting for so long. I was desperate to get back on my feet, and came across an amulet that was supposed to boost my health. But as soon as I put it around my neck, it was gone. Consumed.” You smile softly at him.

“You gave me that first push forward. Luckily, even as a wizard locked in a tower, I had plenty of magic items to consume as well. But I also had Tara to go out and look for me. And… you.”

“You know, I was actually out to buy more items for you to consume before I got abducted by the nautiloid. I had wondered why you were going without for so long… Funny, to think, it was because you were also on the nautiloid.” You can’t help and smile wide. Gale returns your smile.

“Fate truly wanted us to meet, then.” Boldly, he chooses to cup your cheek before quickly pulling his hand away. You could feel your heartbeat pick up, see the flash of color on his cheeks.

“For better or for worse, we’re in this together Gale.” You instead reach out for him, taking his hands in yours. “I’ve only just found you and I’ve no intention of letting anything happen to us. No orb, no tadpole-- nothing.” You tell him confidently. “Come what may, let me help you.” His eyes widen as he looks at you.

“You truly are something else.” He smiles at you. “Very well then. I’ll accept your help.” You squeeze his hands.

You knew you were getting your hopes up, thinking Gale would admit to loving you just because the two of you were soulmates, because you admitted to loving him. But this… perhaps this was just as good. Knowing that he trusted you. That he had already liked you before knowing the two of you were bound by fate… At least now, by his side, you could keep him safe. It was a burden halved, a burden shared.

[baldurs-writers-3]

Rare Pairs 1: A Baldur's Gate 3 Fanfiction Rec List

This week, we have our first iteration of another recurring theme, Rare Pairs!

Rare Pairs are any romantic ships with less than 1000 fics to their name. This recurring theme is to help highlight ships that are often overlooked or buried beneath more popular ships.

Check under the cut for twelve excellent fics/series highlighting some wonderful yet overlooked ships, as well as a handful of unexpected yet intriguing ones! And as always, comment and kudos if you like them!

The cursed ships of Baldur's Gate by Amarilis_ancunin (100702, Explicit) Content Notes: Each fic has its own warnings, but some common ones include smut, dubious consent, canon-typical violence, and more. Pairings: Various, inclusive of Wulbren Bongle/Cazador Szarr, Barcus Wroot/Kar'niss, Lorroakan/Enver Gortash, Raphael/Vlaakith

This isn't just one fic: it's a whole series of wild, off the wall pairings that do not naturally come to mind but are absolutely delightful when they make it to the page.

Reccer says: Every single one of these pairings can fit the Kombucha Girl meme. At first oh-my-god, and at second look, oh-my-god-maybe? with the added joy of the writing being lovely to read and actual plot behind the smut.

Surround Sound by Irken (68,140 , Mature) Content Notes: hurt/comfort Pairings: The Emperor/Illithid Tav

This is a post-game series of vignettes about Tav learning how to be a proper illithid and the Emperor learning that he doesn't need to be such a guarded, self-sufficient loner. It's fluffy slice-of-life with a loose power-of-friendship-&-love plot about the pair rebuilding the city while helping their companions get their happy endings, too.

Reccer says: I wrote this! :'3 It's my baby. It's largely fluff, and I've been told that it 'brings joy' and 'feels like a warm hug.' So, if you like squids and want something to cheer you up, maybe give it a look~

Eat your eyes, your visions, your goals, your hunger. (Drink your blood, your breadth, your mettle.) by martyrologics (4,651, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: The Absolute/The Dark Urge

Trippy, mindmelding, Absolute/The Dark Urge smut, in like, the best kind of way.

Reccer says: The author's prose is gorgeous--you'll want to eat it. The descriptions of the brain becoming the Absolute becoming the Netherbrain, and its obsession with the Dark Urge are as purple as they come and it is a psychic maelstrom of awesomeness.

Learning to be Free by CobaltCactus (103,256, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Lae'zel/Shadowheart

Lae'zel and Shadowheart have been through HELL together and come out the other side way more than friends. Read along as they come to terms with losing large parts of their self-identities, gaining each other, and their experience in building a healthy relationship. The story also explores the consequences of their adventures together!

Reccer says: I love the balance between the various painful elements of their post game life and the tooth-rotting fluff of them getting to love each other! It's all just very well done!

Where Beauty Moves and Wit Delights by rainbowBarnacle (5776, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion/Karlach

An alternative take on what Karlach and Astarion could have gotten up to at the Tiefling party... who needs to touch to be naughty?

Reccer says: It seems like such an easy solution!! Good Karlach POV too, seeing how she starts wondering about this weird little fancy-vamp.

Before The First Light (Some Bright Morning Comes) by tinybabydeer (11191, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Halsin/Wyll

A nice, slow build exploration of how badly Wyll needs someone like Halsin to help him improve his self worth, even if he didn't expect it

Reccer says: The character voices are spot on and the prose is excellent. I didn't expect to enjoy this ship but this fic 100% changed my mind

On the Properties of Tea and Its Effects Upon Various Beings, Humanoid and Otherwise by Neila_Nuruodo (8619, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: Blurg/Omeluum

Blurg has finally found a place for himself in the world. While a hobgoblin running an apothecary might sound like a mere curiosity, he prides himself on the efficacy of his remedies. When the shop next to his, long vacant, is finally rented, he is naturally curious who might have rented it and what plans they have for the space. He certainly didn't expect it to be an illithid.

Reccer says: Its such a cute and fun little AU. Omeluum opens a tea shop and Blurg operates a shop next door and they get to meet and slowly fall in love and I just love it

Petals of Blood by DarkLordJordan (5855, Teen) Content Notes: Hanahaki Disease, Body Horror, Suicidal Thoughts Pairings: Astarion/Halsin

Astarion falls prey to Hanahaki disease, and obviously refuses to tell anyone, least of all Halsin, about it. But hey, don't worry. He can't suffocate on the flowers anyway so its fine!

Reccer says: Excellent hurt/comfort and a fun exploration of the trope

when flames die by fingonsradharp (5502, Teen) Content Notes: Temporary Character Death Pairings: Karlach/Wyll

Karlach falls in battle, Wyll does not feel very good about that at all, and the party meets Withers

Reccer says: I love the early party characterizations and the drama of everyone trying to fathom Withers as a concept

Pale Elf Needs Food, Badly! by Gally (12,434, Mature) Content Notes: Canon-Typical Violence Pairings: Astarion/Karlach

What if Balthazar could to zap away Astarion’s energy reserves and thus he instantly felt as if he had not eaten for months? What then? How do you quickly feed a vampire who is so ravenous that even the vampire is saying it's not safe to let him bite? Well, Astarion instantly pretty much assumes he's about to be staked as he has to be more trouble than he's worth now, right? Don't worry, Mama K is here! and these other guys too. Time to figure it out!

Reccer says: Love the characterizations and the whump is absolutely delectable

Meeting the parents is stressful, isn't it by SpiffyVaxildan (1740, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: The Dark Urge/Shadowheart

Set about a year after the defeat of the Netherbrain above Baldur's Gate, Hope has been slowly regaining her memories of childhood from before her Bhaal blood took over. She remembers her foster parents and wants to visit their grave. Shadowheart comes along for moral support.

Reccer says: A short and sweet fic set post game. I don't see a lot of durge/shadowheart so this was a treat. The author has a fun writing style and I'm always a sucker for funny love confessions.

Liar's Embrace by MoisopolonOikia (3671, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Florrick/Mizora

In which Lady Mizora goes to visit her favorite counsellor to apologize for the political fuss she may have caused.

Reccer says: A rare pair indeed! Come get your toxic lesbians (affectionate)! This fic was so fun and so well written, the pair I didn't know I needed until I read this.

The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ!

Next week, we’ll be back with a very timely theme, Horror!

[justporo]

A Night of Song and Laughter (Final Part)

Would you look at that - I actually finished faster than I thought I would (certainly not a thing that would be admirable in all contexts, but anyway)

In this final part, Astarion have a nice (and rather) long heart-to-heart by playing a game of question for question - while they are butt naked in their bed. Do with that info what you will.

This part is probably all over the place and very rambly, but I wanted to end with something sweet. So please enjoy and thank you all for staying with me through this story!

Song choice (especially for the very end): T=0 - Tall Ships

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Astarion/Fem!Tav (You)

(Gif from here!)

The sun was well up in the sky by now – so thank the Gods for the thick brocade curtains you had placed on every one of the tall windows.

You were laying on the gigantic bed – butt naked still and all your limbs spread out. Astarion mimicked you next to you although he was missing a few things to match you: the glistening sheen of sweat on his skin for example or the full body flush. Also, he wasn’t breathing as heavily as you were.

“Holy hells”, you whispered silently between deep gasps for air. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to move a single muscle tomorrow. I don’t think I can now.” Astarion chuckled beside you and rolled on his side to watch you struggle. “Love, if you are truly already giving up, we really need to work on your stamina. I was merely starting to enjoy myself”, the elf said while leaning his head on his propped up arm and pursed his lips. You only moved your eyes to give him a look saying “you got to be kidding me” and then a really hearty yawn overcame you. You felt so pleasingly exhausted in a way that could only be caused by a night full of events that had been uncalled for and lots of really deeply satisfying sex.

“Well, then, if another go is out of the question how about we kill the rest of the wine, I might even settle for some talking or cuddling if that’s all you are able to for now.”

You flopped around to get closer to him until you were on your side, mirroring his languid pose. “Both!”, you demanded. So Astarion chuckled wordlessly and pulled you closer until you were laying in his arms. Then he leaned back just a little to allow you to actually snuggle up to his chest which you gratefully did. And then to really lock in the deal you stretched one of your slender legs to swing it over and tangle it with his.

“Gods, look how adorable we are – I might start to retch right on the spot”, Astarion said and made a face as if he were disgusted by what was happening. “You’re enjoying this”, you retorted and grabbed his face to give him a big smooch. He scrunched up his nose afterwards: “Debatable.” But you could hear the grin in his voice.

You laid there for several minutes – not talking, just in comfortable and companionable silence and held each other. You were just resting your eyes when Astarion shifted to grab the goblet of wine from next to the bed and asked: “So, what do you want to talk about, sweetheart?” He took a big swig from the wine and looked down at you askingly. You took the goblet from his hand and drank to gain a few more moments – because frankly, the night had left you empty and your mind was just blank, only filled with content buzzing.

“Talking also out for the night, love? My, my, haven’t I worked you a little too hard, hm?”, Astarion cheerfully chimed and laughed. You wanted to whack him but your hand was just so… tired. “Well then, how about… I ask you, say, five questions and you ask me five in return.” “So like I would cast ‘Speak to the Dead’ on you”, you threw in with a sly grin earning you a truly unamused stare from the vampire. “What?”, you said when he kept throwing you a death glare, finally regaining some of your wits. “I’m dead serious”, you said with another grin. “I hate you.” “No, you don’t.” You stared at each other in silence. “Can’t argue with that impeccable logic, I guess.” More silence. “Alright, like what questions were you thinking?”, you finally said to put Astarion out of his misery.

“I don’t know, could be anything, really. Something you always wanted to know about me, what I think is your most annoying habit or what my favourite colour is or what the meaning of life might be. Although” – and here he took the chalice with wine from your hand which you had forgotten you were still holding – “if you were to ask the last one we’d might need several more bottles of wine, some good few hours and also I might wanted to throw myself down a bridge afterwards.” He laughed with just a tinge of hysteria in it and took another sip of wine as if to demonstrate that he’d need it. “Please, don’t ask me what the meaning of life is”, he pleaded and made you laugh.

“So, what’s your favourite colour?”, you asked. Astarion pursed his lips at you: “That’s your actual first question?” “Yes… although I could probably guess it already.” “Can you now?” “It’s red, isn’t it?” Astarion’s mouth straightened into a line: “You are really spoiling it like this.”

“I’m really exhausted, I’m sorry, love”, you replied and leaned in to kiss him. “Better you go first – answering will be easier I feel like and then I’ll probably can roll better with it. But first -”, you said and lifted your hand to silence the vampire that had already opened his mouth to start asking “is red really your favourite colour? Because I actually need to know now.” Astarion’s face softened: “Yes, it is.” “Bit cliché for a vampire, don’t you think?” “It has always been red, love, even before I became a vampire.” That shut you right up – moments when Astarion offered up details from his life before he was turned were indeed very rare.

“Alright, my turn then!”, Astarion answered playfully and took a swig of the remaining wine than put the goblet down and started to oddly fidget. Was he – nervous?

You sat up a little because you were suddenly convinced that he wouldn’t just ask about your favourite kind of cheese or what the name of your childhood pet was. “I’ve been wondering, for some time now, actually, when – you know – I confessed to you that I had certain feelings towards you… You pretty much immediately – how do I put this – made clear that the feelings were mutual. Soo, naturally I was wondering when it was, that you had the realisation that you were… catching feelings for me?”

The way he had rambled out the question, kept fidgeting his hands and just the sincere and even kind of soft, even though not shy, tone in his voice made your heart immediately melt and evaporate completely. You reached out your hand and cupped his cheek, your thumb softly caressing his face. “So, your question is when I realised I was head over heels and I knew there could never be anybody else?”, you offered warmly and grinned at him openly. That had Astarion regain his usual cockiness. He smirked at you and looked at you through his lashes: “Well, if you want to put it like that…”

You rolled onto your back and started to remember how it had been like. It came quickly and easily – this was an easy question to answer and you were more than happy to enlighten him.

“To be honest – I at least had a huge crush on you from the very beginning – well, almost: the whole threatening me with a knife was not a turn-on.” Astarion made a disappointed ‘aww’ but kept listening. When you threw him a sideways glance you saw that he was hanging on your lips. “You were so charming and honestly the flattery, even though I figured that it must be idle chit-chat… What can I say, it worked on me. Maybe because I was desperate – and scared. Maybe, probably, because I never experienced something like this. I didn’t exactly grow up in circumstances where men – or women for that matter – would come and court me. And I never had someone, like” – you helplessly flailed your hand at Astarion – “you give me more than a simple onceover.” From the corner of your eye you could see how Astarion’s demeanour changed, but now you had to keep talking or you throat might close up.

“But when it really hit me, was after the first night we spent together. Not because of the sex – although that had also been the best I’d ever had up to that point, but because I woke up and saw you standing there, bathing in the sun light. And I saw your scars. And when I asked you about them you opened up the door to let me in, just the tiniest bit. That’s when I realised there was so much more to you then just the armour of sarcasm and flirtatious behaviour and violent urges. And I just wanted to…” – your eyes felt dangerously wet – “I just wanted for you to let me in, so I could get to know you and comfort you and stop what hurt you.”

You took a deep breath in after finishing and realised you had given quite the speech. You looked at Astarion while you felt a single treacherous tear ran over your cheek. He looked at you with a range of emotions swirling in his ruby eyes – love, admiration, even shock. He reached out to softly swipe away the tear from your face.

“I…”, he started but immediately broke off again. He took a few moments, then tried again, while carefully holding your face: “I wanted to say that I don’t know what to say, but that’s not true. Rather that there’s too much to put into words.” His thumb over your cheek, making sure there were no more tears coming.

After a small cough to clear up his throat, Astarion continued: “I’ll settle for this: I love you – deeply – and in a way I never thought I could love anything and I don’t know what I could’ve possibly done to deserve this or you but I hope that I can live up to it some day.”

Never mind his sweet, soft touches, but your tears kept coming, happy tears though. Never would you have hoped that Astarion could come this far in so little time and be so open and sincere with you. But here he was.

You sniffled and started to rub the streams of tears off your face with your hands when Astarion pulled you in and kissed you deeply until you had calmed down again.

“So”, you sniffled again “do you want to ask your other four questions and rip my damn heart out while you’re at it or are we finally done for the night?”

Astarion kept holding you for a moment longer than let go of you to just get enough space between you to be able to look at you better. He reached out again though to softly ruffle your hair. “Actually, it’s your turn, sweetheart, so do your worst, I assume?”, he said a bit hesitantly. “We don’t have to keep going, if you’d rather not.” “No, I want to keep going, but first I think it’s only fair that you tell me as well – since you made me cry and all”, you assured him and give him a small pout.

“You mean, when I first realised that I was falling for you?” You nodded. Astarion smiled at you and turned so he laid on his back, looking at the ceiling while he spoke. Talking about his real genuine feelings was still something that was hard for him – but you appreciated a lot that he tried.

“Do you remember when I came onto you that evening at camp and asked you to come to my bed again?” “Of course, I remember, I tried so desperately to be cool about it.” To that Astarion looked at you and grinned broadly: “Yet you so desperately weren’t.” Damn this man! You sluggishly swung to punch at his smirking face but Astarion easily caught your hand and held on to it, starting to play with and look at your fingers. “I still knew you were full of shit when you threw all your cheesy practiced lines at me.” “Still worked, didn’t it? And I was actually having so much fun with our little back and forth. Up until the end when I said these three little words.”

Astarion kept playing with your fingers but threw you a glance: “Because afterwards I realised that there might’ve been more truth in it than I thought and that I might’ve gotten in it over my head. And that scared me.” You squeezed his hand back reassuringly. And he threw you a loving glance before he grabbed your fingers and bit into them. “Now, your turn, my love”, he said as if nothing had happened while you yelped at him. “Ouw, what the hells was that for?” “Revenge?”, he answered and lifted his hand on which you could still the bitemarks you’d left there, “Assert dominance that I’m the one biting in this relationship?” You looked at him as if he had lost his mind. He shrugged and gave your fingers a kiss, then rolled back on his side to face you. “I’m waiting for a question, love.” “Impulsive much?” “That’s a question you can answer yourself, darling.”

Alright, he wanted a question and there was actually one thing you had wanted to know -  as well – for quite some time. A stupid little thing that had kept nagging you.

“Okay, I also have a thing that I wanted to know for some time. But it’s stupid really – such an unimportant little detail tha…” “Just ask the question, love.”

You took in a deep breath: “Well, I know you love me and I know you must be enjoying what we have, I mean, physically also – at least I’m ninety-five percent sure that you are. But I was asking myself if the first time we slept together… was it bad – for you?” For the last part you couldn’t take to hold his gaze.

Astarion seemed positively outraged. “My heart – first of all, why would you even think that I’m not enjoying myself with you?” “Well, as I said I’m mostly…” “Apparently five percent say you think differently. Why?” His voice was actually angry and as you looked at him his brows were deeply furrowed. You hesitated to answer but finally gave up with a sigh: “It’s just… You have so much more experience and I don’t have that and maybe I was worrying that you might get bored or something… or that it wasn’t enough.” “Excuse me, but did I look bored to you when you completely obliterated me like an hour ago?”

Astarion’s voice was rising while dramatically gesticulating. His genuine rage at you seemingly not believing that he was having as much fun in the sheets with you as the other way around and just the way he made a dramatic scene about it finally brought back your giggles.

“Well, I don’t know you can be a convincing actor?” “Are you accusing me, that I’ve been faking it? Because: how would that even work anatomically for men?”, Astarion almost shouted while his voice jumped up several octaves.

That broke you: you broke down laughing while the vampire kept fuming. „My love, I am positive you would have noticed, had I been faking a climax, hence there would have been… missing evidence, so to speak… Also, what we have is different - I would have told you had it not been enjoyable.“

“No okay, I’m sorry, I was messing with you for the last part”, you blushed and laughed. Astarion was not calmed down though. “I’ll show you right now how much I am enjoying myself with you if that’s what it takes”, he said through gritted teeth. You snuggled up closely against your vampire again: “No, point made, Astarion, I believe you. Now answer my damn question.”

Astarion sighed defeatedly but wrapped his arms around you again. “I also enjoyed the very first night we ever spent together. I might have not noticed it back then but it was different with you from the beginning – despite the shameful ulterior motives I had back then. So, there you go.” You hummed contentedly, then lifted your head a little to look up into his eyes: “Has someone ever faked it being with you?” That had definitely been the wrong thing to say to calm Astarion down. His eyebrow twitched in annoyed manner and he pursed his lips at you. “Not to my knowledge”, he said slowly. You cackled a bit at his wounded ego. But he recovered quickly – after all he had so much of it.

“So can we get past this topic and move on?”, he asked dryly. “So, that’s your second question?”, you replied. “I’m going to throw you of a cliff, you insolent little thing.” “Don’t make promises you can’t keep”, you kept teasing which made Astarion roll away from you and bury his face in his hands. You giggled hysterically until you had calmed down after a few moments.

“Okay, listen, I’m done and I’m sorry – this night was just too long and too much.”

“I know it was”, Astarion replied while lifting his hands off his face while still laying on his back. “So, if I may, I have my second question for you.” He looked at you and went on when you nodded in approval.

“What do you think is the most stupid thing you’ve ever done?” “Hm, not taking in anything that happened in the last months I assume?” Astarion hummed in agreement.

“Well, when I was a kid on the streets I met a group of other homeless children – all boys. And I was desperate to join their group because I really needed some company and some safety, but they wouldn’t let me because I was a girl.” “How cruel”, Astarion commented with a tinge of sadness in his voice. “I told them I would do anything to let me join so they dared me to jump off of on of these very tall towers at the Gray Harbour – and I did.” Thinking of this particular memory filled you with sorrow – so you rolled onto your back also and stared off into the distance. Astarion’s mouth had opened in shock and his eyes had filled with sadness at your confession. “How old were you?”, he asked softly. “Like nine.” „Gods“, he whispered.

But you didn’t want to dwell on hurtful memories. You spent a few moments thinking about your next question and then decided to sit up in the bed to start changing the mood.

“My turn again”, you exclaimed. “Hit me”, Astarion replied. “What’s a useless skill that you have and love?”

At that the vampire’s eyebrows shot up. “So much for a sudden change in mood”, he said but you could see he was grateful  to turn to more light-hearted matters. “Do you have a coin by any chance?” “A coin?”, you repeated in a confused manner.

Astarion was already up and walking over to where he had put his clothes over a chair earlier in the night. “Yes, I thought a demonstration would answer this question far better than just words”, he said while rummaging through his pant pockets.

“Aha”, he exclaimed as he produced a single gold coin and came back over to the bed – not without winking at you playfully. “You’re not going to do a magic trick, are you?” “Please, my name isn’t Gale”, the elf sneered as he sat back down on the bed, on your site now, where you had taken a cross-legged position and were curiously awaiting your partner’s hidden talent.

“Ready?”, Astarion asked with an enticing tone. You nodded and looked intently at him to go ahead. Then the vampire flicked the coin into the air with his thumb – quite high – and let it land perfectly on the back of his hand where he let it wander quickly and smoothly over the knuckles of his fingers. Back and forth and forth and back, then he flicked it up again and caught it between his index and middle finger with a soft “tada”.

You were in awe. “No way, you can do that? That’s so cool! I’ve always wanted to be able to too”, you happily praised him and applauded him. “Then let me show you how it’s done”, Astarion cheerfully offered after a small gracious bow.

You spent quite some time then trying to mirror the vampire’s nonchalant moves while he kept explaining and demonstrating how to do the trick. But it seemed you didn’t have a knack for that particular little skill. “You make it look so easy”, you pouted at him at what must’ve been your hundredth try at letting the coin wander over the back of your hand instead of it simply sliding off. “I had two hundred years to perfect it, love. You’ll get there eventually”, Astarion replied and gave you a quick peck. He was being nice and gracious but somehow you had difficulty imagining that he had been just as bad as you in the beginning.

“Alright, I like this idea, so I got my next question for you. Besides this little feat, what would be a skill you would like to pick up, my love?”, Astarion said and fully climbed on the bed again, placing his back against the headboard and then pulling you onto his lap.

“Oh, that’s easy! I’d really like to play an instrument”, you immediately answered. The elf nodded approvingly at you while he held you: “Do you have a specific one in mind?” “Hmm – I guess the lute although I really can’t picture myself sitting down trying to learn it.” “I think, that would be very endearing actually.” You smiled at him. “Maybe”, he continued and cupped your cheek “if you also took up singing, you could my little nightingale.” That made you chuckle but you simply leaned into his touch and closed your eyes a little.

“You are not dozing off on me, are you?” You jolted upwards again: “No! I’m here and it’s my turn!” You had slouched tremendously and were almost laying down in his arms. You thought for a while.

“Hmm, I have another one but it might be quite the mood change again.” “Just ask, love.”

And so you did: “I know you have openly talked about having women and men before in your bed, but I was asking myself – was that of your own volition or…” You didn’t finish the question but knowing Astarion would catch your meaning nonetheless. “I’ve had men and women, yes, or sometimes people that wouldn’t categorise themselves as either.” He shrugged while you carefully listened. “But that was at least my choice and wasn’t something forced onto me against my nature.” “So – if you don’t care about gender what is it that makes you attracted to people?” Astarion cocked his head and looked at you with these sharp red eyes: “Certain people are just beautiful and enticing to me – because they’re just physically attractive to me, because of how proudly they hold their head, because of how smart and witty they are, because of how caring and kind they are. And yes, before you ask: I am talking about you, my love. Because of that and many more possible things.” You felt yourself blush at his confession and his compliments and also felt gratefulness for how openly he talked about himself.

“Does that… bother you? That I’m… pretty open when it comes to attraction?”, Astarion asked a bit hesitantly, his ruby eyes never leaving yours. You immediately and forcefully shook your head: “No, not at all! I was just curious to know how it is for you.”  You leaned into him more and hugged him tightly. “I love how you are such an open-minded person in general. In fact, it’s one of your most admirable qualities, I’d never want that to change.”

“Thank you”, he whispered in answer to that silently and held on to you in comfortable silence.

“Speaking of which”, he said after several heartbeats “is there something you would actually like to change about me? The obvious thing with the vampirism aside, I mean.”

You kept hugging him while you answered: “Your scars. I’d love to take them off your body. Just make you forget they ever existed.” You softly let your hands wander onto his back, immediately finding the ridges of the atrocity Cazador had forced upon him. Your fingertips wander over them, the thought of the pain it must have caused Astarion, both physically and mentally, almost made you tear up again.

You heard Astarion let out a deep breath while he mirrored your touches and rubbed small circles on your back. “I don’t even know what to say to that really other than: I fear they are just part of me now but at least Cazador’s dead now and I won’t have to fear ending up being a token for a prize exchange anymore.”

You lifted your head up. “So, nothing left to fear anymore, right?”, you said in a half-hearted attempt to not let the mood sink again. But Astarion barked a desperate short laugh at that. “If it only were that easy, darling, but I fear as it stands I have more to fear than before.” You throw him a confused look while his hands kept caressing your back gently.

“Well, now I actually have something to lose”, he said and leaned his forehead to yours. When the meaning settled in your heart dropped but filled with warmth simultaneously. “Somebody could hurt you or take you away from me, you could become sick – or you could simply decide you don’t want to be with me anymore.” Your eyes widened while his glazed over with the last sentence. You moved to cup his face with both hands: “The other stuff maybe – but I’ll always be with you. I’ll always want to be with you! Don’t say shit like that, Astarion. I love you so much, you can’t imagine!” You softly shook his face to get some sense into the man. You started smothering him with kisses while repeating over and over what you had said. And you didn’t stop until the vampire was laughing again and his eyes had filled with warmth.

“Tell me then”, he said while holding your hand that was still cradling his face. “Last question: how much do you love me?”

Your mind started racing trying to find ways to put it into words. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes for a moment to just feel. Feel how your love for Astarion filled you, heart, body and soul, until there was nothing else.

“I love you so much, I would give up everything for you, if only it meant I could still be with you. I would burn this whole world down if it meant, I could keep you safe. I would walk with you to the end of the universe if it was what you needed to be happy. And if I ever where to leave this earthly world behind, I believe my soul would find you again – and again and again – because I’m half and only ever whole with you.”

You stare into his widening red eyes, trying to convey to him if only with a fraction how deeply you feel for him. To show him that he’s at the very core of your own being. And that he is the only truth.

And as Astarion was taking it in, he held you, still not completely understanding – but he had forever then, to figure it out, didn’t he?

And so he kissed you and pulled you close to him as you both softly leaned down onto the sheets. The bed under you feeling threateningly soft. But you kept kissing him and touching him until you finally slid into your dreams – and hoped for another night tomorrow to hopefully do it all over again.

----- The End

Tags: @daedriclys @angelofthorr @starved-kitten

Note: Are you still here? Then let me thank you again for staying with me through this story. I enjoyed writing every moment of it and I loved it even more for all the support and love I got for it - even though I wouldn't have imagined it. This all might sound very dramatic but it's been quite some time since I've last felt truly inspired to create something and that means a lot to me. This is also the longest piece of fiction I've written (to date). But enough rambling, just: thanks!

And I'll hope I'll see you again in another story!

[alteredsilicone]

The Dark Urge : Act I

A long ramble about my Dark Urge playthrough, split up between acts since this game gets meaty.

This is my third playthrough so more or less I knew what I was getting into (had some durge story bits spoiled too).

When I set out to play durge I also wanted to do an "evil" playthrough, so I set some goals: embrace the "big" durge decisions, be evil when possible without going full murder-hobo. Ally with Gortash, dominate the Brain. Make SH a Dark Justiciar, ascend Astarion, romance Minthara, push Gale towards Godhood and help Lae'zel stay loyal to Vlaakith. The results were... varied.

Recruiting Minthara meant the tieflings had to die, so I indulged the durge by watching Arabella die. Surprisingly this way the game guilt trips you less about doing bad things. (The guilt tripping aspect I will bring up at the very end, after my Act III retrospective)

I quickly learned why durge x Astarion is a popular ship - he really jumps on you from the very beginning, a total 180 to how he treats Tav. Anyways, he wasn't my romance goal so I let him be. For a while.

Alfira is one of my favorites, but she had to go. Sorry. I know there is an alternative by making a different NPC appear but I wanted an authentic(tm) durge experience. Besides, Alfira would die in the grove massacre anyways, two birds with one stone and all.

Dream Guardian interlude - I made her look like my first version of Viri, so it's a Viriception.

Since I'm collecting all the "evil" choices, I also decided to indulge the tadpoles. Partly for achievements, partly to see how it works. Truth be told I didn't use the tadpole skills too much, so if I replay durge (I might do for certain different story outcomes), I will ignore the tadpoles altogether.

Sceleritas Fel was an excellent addition, obviously I humored and indulged him since I wanted to be papa's most specialest murderer.

As I was allying with the goblins I explored some stuff I didn't previously - got shackled up by Gut. Escaping her was quite easy, just had to avoid her afterwards. Then I rushed to Minthara.

I love Minthara's character a lot - she stayed in my party throughout the whole game. Needless to say, but I killed Karlach for Wyll (and stupidly didn't get his armor because I forgot to put him in my party, oh well), Wyll left me when I attacked the Grove (I assume he died offscreen or I killed him without noticing) and I never even met Halsin so he also just died offscreen.

I could also rant about the whole "evil playthrough cuts you from 20% of the content" aspect, but that is a tired rant. I don't mind the grove massacre being the price you pay for Minthara joining your party (she IS an evil character, she straight up agrees with all evil actions together with Astarion and is totally on board with dominating the Absolute and becoming rulers yourself), I just wish there was some alternative with playing on the more evil side.

Maybe befriend goblins? More drow? Anything, really? Then again, BG3 is already a massive game... Oh well, you can't have everything.

Anyways, now that I have done the first big quest, I went to the Underdark to try out one specific thing:

What happens if you sacrifice Gale to the fish people before Elminster stabilizes the orb?

He aggros, you kill him and then after two in-game days this happens:

Needless to say, I reloaded a save and just humored the fish people without killing Gale. Besides, for a corruption arc he needs to live. This is also why I only indulged the "big" durge reactions...

My personal philosophy is that being a murder-hobo is a boring way to be evil (death is not the worst thing that can happen y'know), I much rather would corrupt characters.

However, another part of me got curious about one thing: if you bite off Gale's hand when you find him in the portal, can you present it at the murder tribunal in Act 3?

Anyways.

Remember I said Astarion really gets the hots for durge? So, Minthara leaves for Moonrise so she isn't in my party at the moment this happens... durge decided to have some "fun".

This sequence was very corny, but I know it's all part of Astarion's play-pretend so I just let it play out. Spoiler alert - I will friendzone him later (for his own good).

I decided to feed durge the Noblestalk to get some memories/lore. I hoped for more but probably getting everything back in Act I would be anti-climatic, so this was a nice tidbit all the same. Also the environment bugged out, I should be in a dark dank cave, not outside.

Gale also decided he likes me. I promptly friendzoned him. Trust me, Galey, you do not want a romantic adventure with this tiefling (also he is soulbound to Nila, my other Tav, can't have him cheating on his wife...).

Anyways, Gale is a funny case because Larian keeps mucking up his romance flags, I couldn't replay his romance scene with my actual Galemancer Tav, but the romance does trigger later in Act I when you farm some approval (so either in the Underdark or Creche, depending which path you go on). But it also bugs out (I had to long rest twice with my Tav as the first time it triggered tiefling party dialogue before promptly cutting out, probably a bug because it was an old save where the romance SHOULD have triggered during the party).

Anyways, moving on. I am jumping over some zones/quests because nothing particularly interesting happened (I helped the Myconids but I do that always so that's that, though I let Glut die while fighting the Duergar, not on purpose he just got felted, sorry big guy).

Siding with this guy has exactly zero payoff (Act II spoiler - Balthazar turns him into a zombie and that's that), which is another evil run gripe. He is like Minthara where you can convince him to go against the Absolute, but instead it just goes nowhere apparently.

I just sided with him and suffered through killing a bunch of gnomes and Duergar. Well, at least I got some new scenes.

Astarion flirting interlude:

I put this here because the durge evil face is just so funny. These two would make a disaster pair, but, alas, we in this house are women-loving-women.

So, remember me setting out to push Lae'zel towards loyalty to Vlaakith?

I went as far as to stab the Dream Guardian...

Obviously I should have known better, because the Guardian has plot-armor for obvious reasons. This game kinda sorta railroads you to go against Vlaakith/side with the Guardian. Otherwise the game would just end for obvious reasons... So I decided that I might just shelve Lae'zel along the way.

Maybe I should have made some other decisions in later acts (like killing Voss), but I had my companion-squad already with me, so I decided to let it go.

And that concludes a "brief" overview of durge Act I:

[moonchildsaurora]

The social butterfly of a Tech Genius

»»—— Crew Member #6 of Space Pirates ATEEZ ——««

all aboard The Perihelion, welcome to the co-pilot’s log system! here you’ll be able to access the crew’s profiles should you wish to read about their journeys: (no nsfw content)

[CAPTAIN] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

an underestimated intellect with huge love for the cyber world and technology  

you hear him before you see him in a crowd

a Drex’un who was born and lived his life in the technology-thriving city of Vollurn up until he was invited to join Hongjoong and Seonghwa on their journey

[database file: Drex’uns are often described as demon-borne even though not all bloodlines are derived from infernal ancestry. Purely for the fact that prominent horns protude from their heads, a prehensile tail that’s used for grabbing things and will coil around their legs when upset/nervous, sharp canines and eye colours that cover the entire sclera. Depending on bloodline, some Drex’uns have elemental abilities]

Mingi isn’t sure about his bloodline as he never knew his parents, though his intelligence goes far beyond that of an average being’s. Not only does he process knowledge extremely fast, his memory is remarkable; able to recall even the tiniest details and his ability to analyse/break codes allows him to have free reign in the cyber networks

his teal-coloured horns and tail have onyx gradient tips, adorned with a few gold jewellery (his actual ears are also pierced with hoops) to complement his molten gold eyes

making heads turn, be it for his energetic presence or fashionable attire; “just because I grew up on the streets doesn’t mean I have no pride for my looks”

learnt to be resourceful and street-smart at a young age, knows all the short cuts and side alleys of the city like the back of his hand (he’s had a lot of time to wander around). Also found out that he had a knack for by-passing security systems whenever he needed shelter for the night

frequents the ‘Merripalace Arcade’ where it’s both an underground hangout for tech whizzes and the cyber battlegrounds for competitive players. The first visit gave him a taste of a different kind of freedom and an introduction to the world of hacking. It’s probably one of the few places he’s felt a part of a community; no judgement of your species nor your background but rather your digital reputation is more valued and the sort of technological talents you bring to the network

if there’s one thing Mingi is a natural at it’s socialising, he could walk into a club alone and come back out later with a new social circle if he so wishes

“ok who DON’T you know here?”

“just look at that face, how can you say no to him?” – Mingi is walking proof that Drex’uns can pull off the puppy-dog face and get away with it

he was gifted a second-hand mirage drive by Einux, a Nagzoid [database file: a reptilian humanoid being with serpent ancestry so they tend to have more snake-like features] who became a shot-term mentor figure after Mingi unintentionally helped crack a system code for a database Einux was commissioned to work on (because Mingi thought that guy was just really bad at math on first glance)

[database file: a mirage drive is pretty much a miniature tablet with a hologram touch-screen and every tech whizz would protect theirs with their lives; especially when were layers of secret activities and programs stored into it]

“you remembered to wipe clean the data trail and replace the originals with the dud files right?”

“yeah of course...does planting a virus in the system that will cause ‘Time Warp’ to play every time they try to click open a file counts?”

“Mingi, I…….”  

Einux introduced Mingi to his network of contacts and helped set him up with his first commission, safe to say Mingi was at a loss for words when he got his first pay up front (and that was just the deposit)

by the time Yunho had come across Mingi at the Tech Institute, he had been in the cyber scene for 4+ years already and never once had to deal with someone catching him in the act  

Mingi.exe has stopped working

he’s met a couple of Sheirzois before but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t lowkey checking out the blue-haired giant whilst panicking on the inside, he’d argue there’s always time to appreciate beauty

two options popped into his mind then and there; either he bribed his way out (as his mentor taught him) or he attempted to maybe throw some punches and then make a getaway

(expectation) looks like he’s intimidating & can fight vs. (reality) he’d probably cry if he hit someone & is just a soft boy all-round

extra trivia: ironically for an infernal being, Mingi doesn’t deal well with anything supernatural/ghosts-related. Once Woo and Yeosang pranked him, Yunho helped a little but he doesn’t need to know, and convinced him that the basement storage hanger was haunted after totems started appearing in odd places along with ominous noises. Mingi was so ready to abandon ship before Hongjoong did damage control & Jongho promised he’d fight all the ghosts for him 

was already metaphorically weeping at the thought of having to empty his money pouch but turned out that Otis (his multi-coding bot) had somehow manage to win the Sheirzoi over along with an invite to drinks

“I’ve got many questions for you regarding your efficiently adorable bot”

“…and I to you as well, BUT first do you have a name? And secondly have you been to ‘Le Apollon’? Coz if not they make some really mean Northern Drops there!”

Yunho turned out to be one of the most chilled individual Mingi has met and he didn’t mind the other’s enthusiastic discussions about all technological inventions, and was even just as enthusiastic to share with Yunho about his own passion for cyber tech

one too many drinks later Mingi was accidentally spilling secrets he definitely wasn’t meant to and even ended up dancing on the table at some point, all while Yunho hyped his new friend up on the side

was forever grateful that Yunho never ratted him out to the authorities and consider him shook for the 2nd time in that day when he was offered a roof over his head, a more permanent one too

“do you want to be the big spoon, or is it my turn? We can rotate!” 

thus the bromance of all bromances was born

living with Yunho not only meant Mingi would wake up to good vibes, but more than often would wake up to either the screeching of the smoke alarm or “HOLY SMOKES WHERE ARE THE WATER PODS? DID WE RUN OUT OF THEM? AGAIN?!”

putting out accidental fires became second nature to Mingi, initially he’d aggressively fret over Yunho but now he’s come to accept such is the life of a chaotic bright inventor and this is fine

in fact when Hongjoong and Seonghwa came across their humble abode (thanks to Yunho’s cleaning bot) it was an iconic first meeting over smoke. Yunho did most of the talking when Hongjoong pitched his desire to recruit a crew for space voyage, Mingi too busy sitting there staring at the two new-comers with shooting stars in his eyes and hearing about the prospects of an adventure. Within that day the crew had gain 2 more members, because Mingi and Yunho are a combo package deal

“oh has the system be glitching? If you don’t mind, would you like me to have a look at it?”

Hongjoong did a happy dance on the spot knowing that not only did he now have a talented inventor on his ship but also a gifted tech genius, he put Mingi in charge of managing the mainframe systems along with intel collecting this decision that Hongjoong would later semi-regret because (at times) the word “self-control” doesn’t seem to exist in Mingi’s vocab

Seonghwa adopted him and Yunho pretty easily and space mum’s cooking is Mingi’s fave, occasionally using his puppy-dog face he’s perfected over the years to his advantage in gaining extra midnight snacks (being everyone’s baby, no one’s really immune to this)

“Hwa you’re supposed to be the one disciplining the kids!”

Mingi and Yunho were known to be the chaotic fun duo, but with Wooyoung is just chaotic – not to mention he got his Yunhogizer confiscated by Hongjoong for almost a week after, “I thought we were all comparing assets, Wooyoung sent his to the group chat so I figured this was some kind of crew bonding”

also was one half of the reason that the ‘whatever happens at the Tav/clubs, stays at the Tav/clubs’ rule got implemented and one-night sexytimes were banned aboard The Perihelion after Jongho witnessed a random still semi-nude humanoid trying to sneak out of Mingi’s room without being noticed (Hwa went on parent-mode and panicked yell whilst covering Jongho’s eyes)

Jongho avoided Mingi (out of sheer embarrassment) for a few days and that was pretty devastating, considering how close the two became in their friendship that Mingi was one of the very few people in the crew whom Jongho was openly clingy with at times

no one can argue about Mingi’s loyalty to his crew/new family, and under his care-free flamboyant exterior he’s a genuine listener and will not hesitate to offer his shoulder for his family to lean on whenever they need it

recently he’s created new software to enhance Seonghwa’s cybernetic lenses (as a birthday gift) that’d allow him to see clearly miles ahead, in the dark and lock-on tracking function. What Mingi failed to let Hwa know was that he still hasn’t disconnected the sync link to his mirage drive and therefore if, for example, an image was sent through it’d appear in the other user’s field of vision

“wait for it, wait”

“what exactly are we waiting for Mingi? And why are you giggling over a screaming pink…starfish?” (that’s Patrick Star by the way)

seconds later there was a clamouring from the bathroom, the solid sound of someone falling before, “MINGI!”

“that my good lads, is what we were wa-oh whoops gotta go!”  

(moodboard made with love, by @s1ardusk​ ♡)

[bluerosesburnblue]

Hi blue! ❤️ I've been in a lot of discords where alot of the KH fandom confirms their belief in the SRT. I have a pretty decent understanding of lore so far. I got into some nice debates where fans defended the SRT soley off an existence of a different wordline. I'd ask "So if Sora was able to pull all the guardians into a different worldline... Xehanort could've just targeted the princesses of heart - why would he follow them.. if this theory was Canon??" And I'd just watch then hit silence.

To add context to my previous, I don’t understand how Riku being Sora’s light has any reason to even be included in this theory. To me, this theory should’ve had the focal point only on the idea of multiple world-lines, but having looked at all your blogging in that regard, the clear and excessive inconsistencies in their theory shows that the sleeping realm wasn’t the focal point. I follow some of the writers of the theory… And after sharing the doc they only celebrated Riku and nothing else             

Honestly, thank you for your effort in breaking it down. I knew I wasn’t crazy when I thought that something didn’t really seem right with the theory. I watch a lot of KH theory videos on YouTube from small creators with no shipping bias and they’re honestly very creative and genuine with their work. I understand how they feel about their ship, I love Kairi so much and would cry if she got her own game. I just think they should’ve left the Riku thing on its own and kept it away from this theory.             

Hey there! And thank you! I’m gonna talk a lot so to keep this from clogging up everyone’s dashboard, it’s going under the cut

I think I may have touched on it a little bit when I was explaining why even if the writers say this isn’t an “it’s all a dream” theory, I still feel like it has enough similarities to be considered one and… you’re absolutely correct. There is no reason for Xehanort to follow the Guardians into a new worldline. We don’t even know if he’s capable of it. We also don’t know if his planned universal reset just works in the worldline he’s in, or if it would erase all of them. We don’t know anything about worldlines other than that it’s a term Luxu used, like, twice

If Sora and Co. hopped worldlines, Xehanort would just grab the Princesses and win. If Sora and Co. hopped into the Sleeping Worlds… then Xehanort would also just grab the Princesses because the heroes still aren’t around to stop him if they’re in the Sleeping Worlds. It might take a little extra time, especially if we go on their assumption that Kairi is dead since now he’s gotta go find Princess #7 again. Because let’s not forget that this theory also claims that Kairi did not hop worldlines and that the Kairi we see is a Chirithy she’s piloting from the other world. That she died in

(Personally, I think there’s a fundamental misunderstanding of Xehanort’s character throughout the whole theory. He’s not a master planner. If he was, none of his plans would have ever failed, and he makes very clear in DDD that the plan to use TAV was intended to succeed. He is a master opportunist who’s excellent at making sure he has just enough irons in the fire that if one plan fails, another’s already going. The issue is most prevalent in the part of the theory where they try to claim that he planned the paopu scene. And uhh… any part where they make it sound like Xehanort has big plans involving Sora. He doesn’t.

His plan in DDD was opportunistic. He never planned for Sora. Sora was this thorn in his side who was constantly messing up his plans. If you know that no matter what you do this boy is going to mess you up, then how do you remove that threat? Either kill him, which is unlikely as Sora also makes for a decent Light if need be, or bring that power onto your side. He also didn’t like… give YMX time travel powers just to get Sora. That was another opportunistic iron to add to the fire. Like, if I knew that I was going to do something that would give me time travel powers and that I could pass that on to other versions of myself, why the hell wouldn’t I go back to the earliest version of me that could make use of that? That way I have the power… literally from a very young age and continue to have it my entire life. It’s a paradox, sure, but a damn effective one. He would’ve had Ansem go back to give YMX the power regardless. Knowing where Sora was at the time was just a byproduct, and one that he later found a use for

But after the plan to force Sora to join the Darknesses fails… Xehanort doesn’t really have to do anything. He knows that Sora’s a meddler who will fight for the light and is easy to goad into emotional actions. That’s one less Light that you have to worry about getting to the battlefield, because the kid will do it himself. There’s no need to have Kairi involved at all in terms of the paopu fruit thing? There’s no need to plan literally since flinging child Kairi into the abyss out of curiosity for her to make Sora fall in love with her. Like, again... he doesn’t really have a grand plan that he’s been implementing from the start so much as he has several plans that all require roughly the same or similar pieces. Xehanort only makes extra effort for himself if he feels like it could serve multiple purposes. He doesn’t see Sora as worthy, so he’s going to expend the most minimal effort on him. That’s one of the things that I think this theory fails to understand most; Xehanort doesn’t really care about or have grand plans for Sora. So long as the boy fights for one side or another, Xehanort’s already got what he wants

So with Xehanort being such an opportunist with so many contingencies... why would he pass up the chance to do things the easy, if more time-consuming, way by just... staying in the world without the heroes and succeeding with Plan B while knowing that there’s no one around to stop you?)

But, rambling about Xehanort’s characterization aside, you bring up something that I was planning to talk about once I finished going through the theory. My plan at the end was to go over what I felt that it did right or wrong writing-wise. And one of the things it does wrong is that it’s actually several mini-theories very loosely tied together that don’t prove each other

Making a theory about what you think a worldline is is its own thing. Making a theory on KH3′s connection to the Sleeping World lore is its own thing. Making a theory that Riku is really Sora’s light is its own thing. Making a theory that Kairi’s been controlled by Xehanort this whole time is its own thing. None of them correlate

The only reason to include all of them together, and this is going to sound really jaded, is if you intend to trick people into believing that your interpretation of Riku’s and Kairi’s contributions is canon. Because if they’re presented together, then it comes with the implication that if you accept that part of their theory is true (the definition of worldlines, the connection to Sleeping Worlds), then you have to accept that all of it is (Riku is the one whose act of true love saved Sora, Kairi’s contributions were all planned by someone else and therefore less legitimate than Riku’s, etc.).

And I don’t think I’m wrong to read that intent into it. From what I’ve read of the theory so far, they’ve made their shipping bias outright clear (calling the video files soriku_sleuthers as though they’re looking for evidence supporting their ship, spending an entire section on proving that Riku’s “most important person” is Sora and that the feelings are romantic...). Spending about .2 seconds on any of the creators’ Twitter accounts also makes the fact that really all they care about KH-wise is Riku’s part in the SoRiku ship (not even Riku as a character, because they get his character so totally wrong in the theory, but just what Riku contributes to the ship)

I don’t know if it was intentionally done by them or not. It’s possible that the natural ship bias clouded how they interpreted events in the game, too, to the point where they legitimately think that their interpretation is just obviously correct because the content that they interact with most and longest leads to that idea. I’ve already talked about how confirmation bias clouds the entire theory so thickly that they unintentionally discredited everything in it by that alone. But the point remains that the only reason that I can see for having an entire section on how perfect Riku is and how pure his love for Sora is, and another on how Kairi is Xehanort’s pawn trapped in another worldline, is because the easiest way to legitimize those as “canon” is to attach them to something that you think you can prove is canon

Except there’s so many holes, so much misinterpretation, and so much... I almost want to say forged evidence because that’s the only way I can describe what they did to Xigbar’s speech on Olympus, that there’s a mountain of things that can be logically and soundly proved to be incorrect and absolutely no decisive evidence so far proving that any part of what they’re saying is true

I’ll give them some credit, though. The SoRiku stuff doesn’t take up the bulk of the theory and is apparently subtle enough that even quite a few SoRiku shippers don’t think it’s even really a part of the theory. But that ignores the fact that while they have a ton of “evidence” unrelated to the ship, the inciting incident that the whole theory revolves around is the idea that Riku’s act of true love in sacrificing himself to save Sora (attributing Kairi’s sole salvation of Sora to both Riku and all of the other Princesses of Heart) allowed Sora to transfer everyone (except Kairi) over to a new worldline and also the Sleeping Worlds. It may not harp on it, but the theory absolutely pushes SoRiku as the canon ship if you want to believe that the theory is canon because they wrote it so that the events they’re describing cannot happen if it isn’t

It’s why they couldn’t keep the Riku stuff out of this theory even if they wanted to. Even if it would’ve made for a more believable theory. He’s the only part of this damn thing that they really care about

Again, I’m going to go into everything I think this theory does wrong at some point. And I’m sorry that this got so long and ranty! Seeing old followers go in and reblog the debunk stuff right now, which is attracting new followers like you is actually really fun and heartening to watch and I’m so glad that you liked the content enough to tell me! I wish the theory hadn’t become what it is. I wish this debunk wasn’t something that was even necessary. But I am grateful that it’s given me the opportunity to chat with a lot of people, yourself included, about this fandom! Up until I started this project I was relatively unknown in the KH fandom. I really hope that the upcoming debunk stuff meets everyone’s expectations!

[stlplaybox]

Better late than never: my top 10 Transformers of 2017

Yes, yes. I know I’m about 7 months too late but it’s been a tough slog. I was 90% complete in January but have only snailed along since then. I love doing these to really collect my thoughts on a year of collecting but I ended up letting it slip way more than I intended to. Anyway, with that aside out of the way, let’s get cracking.  

Here we are again, that time of the year when everyone reflects on the best of the year that was.Twelve months on and the job of selecting my top 10 figures for 2017 was no less daunting than it was the last time. I found myself drawn to my closing remarks from last year as a starting point. 

“Hasbro and Takara look to be continuing their winning formula with a strong opening salvo in the form of Topspin, Quake and Krok. It’s also a movie year and I’m very curious how they’ll apply this design ethos to the movie line. The Masterpiece line will welcome more Beast Wars figures and will deliver arguably the most important release of the year: the despot we all want, but will it be the one we deserve?

Third party continue their onslaught of amazing product. MMC’s stable is ready to burst with Kultur on the cusp of release and IDW Megatron due later this year. Maketoys have MP Jazz and Targetmasters on the way whilst pushing the aesthetic and action figure boundaries of the franchise with their Cross Dimensions line. Master Made will turn their eye to their next project after they finish Scorponok and Fort Max. SparkToys will deliver the follow up to their War Within Optimus Prime with Megatron and maybe even the King. Having wow’d us with what they can do at Legends scale, Iron Factory will deliver combiners and a six changer.”

As it turned out, all these things happened. And more. The mantra of “there’s never been a better time to be a Transformers collector” has never been more true. It’s with this backdrop that I embark on disambiguating my own ever-changing proclivities.  

Some honourable mentions first because it feels like a transgression of the highest order to not acknowledge at least a slither the other amazing figures that did not make this list. 

First off, dear Iron Factory I love everything you guys do. It’s a travesty that nothing you guys made ended up on my list. But the bite-sized delight that you guys deliver time and time again cannot go unacknowledged. From Ultimate Commander to Sixshot, you guys pack an impossible amount of articulation, fun and detail that should not be possible at such a scale. 

Planet X Mors: Planet X has been a regular occupier in my lists over the years and as amazing as their Trypticon was, there’s nothing more ambitious than dethroning an official version of a toy. They did that with Grimlock and then repeated it with Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. It’s a stunning toy that has not left the coffee table since it’s arrival and it was hard leaving it off this list.

MAS-01 Optimus Prime: I have an Ultimetal Optimus Prime. I should not need this. There’s only so many humungous, non-transforming toys one should have in an era that is delivering knockout citybot after citybot. But I succumbed and gratefully so. Whilst Ultimetal delivers an impeccable amount of diecast, detail and finish, MAS-01 delivers insane poseability that will never be possible in a transforming version of our favourite Autobot commander.

Titan Returns Black Shadow: It’s been awhile since an official leader class figure has been of interest to me. Black Shadow outshone the main course that he was an appetiser to. Beautiful headsculpt, wonderful colours, topped with an incredibly clever and satisfying transformation. 

Titan Returns Gnaw: It’s a rarity that Hasbro could outdo Takara but they did. Fun and so full of character, Gnaw was a wonderful addition to our fandom. You can see it in the amount of fun photos this little fella has graced. I’ve had a Legends figure in my top TFs in the last 3 years and it was really hard to not have one on the list this year.  

TAV-60 Bisk: A fading line that accompanied an uninspiring TV show, TAV managed to deliver some amazing Decepticons with unusual shapes and transformations. Bisk was the epitome of this. A muscle car that turns into a hyper articulated lobster, Bisk was a bundle of joy I found hard to put down for many months in front of the TV or on holiday.  

I’ll have to stop there as I’ll be here all year otherwise. Let’s rollout for the top 10.      

10: Beast Wars Optimal Optimus (Perfect Effect Beast Gorira) 

Never having owned a toy of this quintessential character, I drooled enviously while everyone picked this up at TFNation because it was too large to lug home. The FOMO factor egged me on to buy it on eBay at TFNation in the early hours of the morning. I ship it so it’d be there when I got home. However, upon arriving home after having been away for almost two months I allowed it to gather dust alongside my backlog of unopened toys. It led me to more than once question if I’d just been a sucker for convention hype. 

Finally opening it in December, I discovered the perfection that is Perfect Effect’s Beast Gorira. The sculpt is immaculate but what elevates this is the premium finish. Perfect Effect brought their trademark paint and attention to detail to the table and made this the ultimate representation of Beast Wars Optimal Optimus. As much as I love posing Gorira, what holds him back from climbing higher is the finicky transformation. 

9: Maketoys G1 Pointblank (Maketoys MTRM-06 Contact Shot)

A surefire way to my heart is a futuristic alt mode. The Autobot cars and Decepticon jet Targetmasters have always occupied a mystical spot in my head for that reason. When Maketoys dropped Pointblank, a Masterpiece of a toy I’d only known from the well-read pages of my G1 toy catalogue, I had high expectations. Those expectations were well and truly blown out of the water when I handled it for the first time. The way those legs compress, the way that chest works, the playability and detail of that cockpit, that insane articulation… it’s a stunning feat of engineering. So much so that it made not one but two trips as a holidaybot in 2017. Subjecting a masterpiece toy to the rigours of a holiday is something that makes most collector’s cringe. But it was that good. That’s a hell of an achievement for a Masterpiece toy. 

8. G1 Starscream (MTRM-11 Howling Meteor)

In a heated 3rd party masterpiece scene, if you were going to dislodge an official figure from being the preferred representation of a character, you’d go after the decrepit Seeker mould. But it’s a risk. There was no shortage of collector relief at having finished the Seekers this year so it makes Maketoys ambition all that more audacious. But if anyone was going to pull it off, it was Maketoys. They did. The presence, paint and peerless articulation of everyone’s favourite scheming whiner is a joy to behold, pose, and play. All that stopped it from usurping higher spots on this list was the lack of upwards head articulation and its unphotogenic dark face.

7. MP-32 Optimus Primal

I’ll confess to being one of those “Trukk not Monkey” people once upon a time. But Beast Wars was a show that I grew to love. It lacked the cast of thousands of G1 but it more than made up for that with a story and characterisation that still withstands the test of time. When I liberated this figure from its packaging, the love I felt was instantaneous. The CGI perfect blue, the multiple faces, the loving attention to the sculpt, I was sure I’d have to file for divorce. It went everywhere with me even to the distant fjords of Norway as seen in the picture I’m using here. But there was drama. Gutwrenching heartbreak ensued when I discovered I’d broken it in a fall on a climb in Husedalen. It was an expensive replacement but one I did at TFNation before returning downunder. My personal story with this figure would have catapulted it into the number one spot in any other year but such a time it is to be a collector that this was as high as it could climb.

6. MTMTE Rodimus (SXS R-04 Hot Flame) 

If you know me well, you know the place MTMTE and Lost Light holds in my heart. There was a crack at this by a more accomplished third party company that satisfied most. Not me though. SXS stepped up to the plate to deliver the perfect rendition of the cavalier Co-Captain of the Lost Light. It rendered MMC’s Calidus to a mediocre representation of a Hot Rod / Rodimus. The sci-fi vibe of the rugged alt mode, the perfection of the chest sculpt relative to the shoulders, and the exceptional articulation were exhilarating to experience. It’s a toy that will not leave the coffee table anytime soon.   

5 . War Within Megatron (SparkToys Spartacus)

It was the year of Megatron. Whichever line you look at, there was not just a good one but a great one. That’s why there are three on this list. War Within got me back into buying Transformers. It lit the spark that re-ignited that childhood love that I’d had for Transformers. Last year, SparkToys Optimus Prime almost took the top spot and they were always going to be in contention in 2017 again given how much nostalgia this plays up in me. Collectors talk about paint and finish but this is a whole different level. Not only is the detail of the sculpt exceptional, every nook and cranny of this pre-war despot is coated in loving layers of vibrant paint. Add the commanding presence of a gladiatorial Megatron and a generous armoury, this figure is packed with endless fun as well as beauty.

4. Titan Returns Decepticon Targetmasters: Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, Misfire 

This is a cheat as Triggerhappy had already made my list last year but there was an overwhelming sense of achievement unlocked when I completed this triplet of Targetmasters. All cut from the same cloth but each so uniquely distinct with tonnes of articulation, personality and clever little design decisions, I spent whole evenings playing and photographing these handsome lads. Another important factor was that I acquired all three of these locally and with my boy. As someone who largely imports these days, the fact I could experience the thrill of the hunt again chasing such great figures cemented their place in my memory banks.   

3. Chaos Theory Optimus Prime GT-03 Optimus

I mentioned the importance of James Roberts’ MTMTE to my love of Transformers. It’s fiction that elevates the characters and their journeys to a level that we haven’t experienced before. But before there was MTMTE, there was the two part story Chaos Theory. I remember reading it amid the Costa era of TF comics and knowing straightaway this was special. The gravitas with which it regarded the four million year old war and the relationship between the two diametrically opposed leaders gripped me like nothing else. It was not till much later that I realised it was the start of James Roberts’ meteoric rise in TF fiction.

It was only in October 2017 that I secured all the variant covers of those two issues of Chaos Theory (Transformers #22 and #23) after having stopped buying physical comics for many years. But to then obtain a Masterpiece version of that Optimus? With perfectly stunning articulation, paint and detail? A sculpt that oozes a sense of heroic gravity? That I did not expect.       

2. Chaos Theory Megatron (GT-02 Tyrant)

Chaos Theory was a tale in two parts. The covers represented the two halves of the story: Optimus Prime and Megatron in both their current day and youthful forms. Generations Toys completed the other half of that equation with their wonderful designed Chaos Theory Megatron. With transformation steps that evoke Masterpiece level ingenuity and a transformation that is a pleasure to switch back and forth between, it’s amazing how Generation Toys designed such a Megatron full of fearsome presence yet is also a stealth bomber at the same time.    . 

1. MTMTE Megatron (MMC R-28 Tyrantron)

This was a hard choice. On the one hand, of all the figures on this list, MMC’s MTMTE Megatron has the laziest of transformations on top of being a heavy partsformer. On the other hand, never has a character stepped off a page more than this. This wonderfully epic rendition of the tormented Megatron knocks it out of the park. Not only is the every part of the body sculpted to perfection but the head sculpt captures the grim introspection that dominated the former Decepticon leader’s tenure on the Lost Light. If that wasn’t enough, the figure does double duty and with a few bits of parts forming becomes pre-war Megatron from Chaos Theory. It’s a monumental effort from MMC and allowed me to round out 2017 with the 3 most important representations of Megatron to me.    

So there’s my list for another great year. 2017 was a special year for me. One dominated by the realisation of some of my favourite characters from my favourite Transformers fiction. It’s a reflection of how vibrant the transforming scene is at the moment that it supports not only a heavy masterpiece market but multiple TF canons as well. There’s truly never been a greater time to be a fan.