#badasses with swords my beloved

[somnas-writes]

TKC Swap au where Sadie was the host of Horus while Carter was the host of Isis

[dafry-shenanigans]

So after drawing yesterday i kept thinking-

What if he didn't react in time?

[queerlyloud]

Having spicy, unpopular, aggressively pro-Bilbo opinions tonight, but being a good fandom citizen by leaving them in the drafts

[queersnakeenjoyer]

swordb......... this actually looks so cool auhgdj

A double valve rapier, Italy, circa 1620

from Czerny's International Auction House

[sir-buddy]

Drew more of my OC because art block is not fun.

Also w o m a n

[madrone33]

Can I rant for a bit about how cool it is that one of Lief's defining traits is that he's smart? Like, not even necessarily cunning or clever or street smart (though he's totally that too) but just. Book smart. He knows maths and history and english and he uses that knowledge for stuff! And! He's also cunning and clever and street smart and a fighter at the same time!

And I know it's not that big a deal, but normally in adventure stories, especially for a younger audience, the hero's strengths are more in sword fighting or magic casting or being really good at parkour. And here the hero is smart and he's proud of it, and his friends are proud of it, and the world is proud of it! Literally! Deltora Quest as a world and a plot revolves around puzzles and riddles and putting clues together more than it does on physical fights. In almost every battle they get into, the day is won not by being better at fighting than their opponents, but because they realised the loophole or figured out some vital info in the nick of time. (And I say almost every battle, because Jasmine is both willing and able to stab a bitch.)

The Topaz that clears and strengthens the mind is probably the most used Gem in the whole series, because Lief knows its value so well. And even when he can't rely on its strength, when the moon is new or the Belt is covered, he's still using his brains to find his way out of impossible situations! It's just! So cool!

Brain over brawn and all that, except not really, 'cause he's also a badass with the sword! Wtf! Lief why are you so cool??

Deltora is probs my fav series. I am OBSESSED with the characters and worldbuilding, but the codes and riddles and puzzles? That is my jam you guys. I studied those things. Every time a new one came up, I memorised it! I tried recreating it! It was awesome! And the Lief + Jasmine combo of "Basically-A-Nerd Who Is Awesome" and "Badass Fleshed-Out Women My Beloved" who are besties before love-interests was a pinnacle of my childhood.

[deconstructthesoup]

Since I can't draw but people who read Slay the Professor do, I did some Picrew shenanigans and made the designs for the Voices:

Voice of the Researcher---our take-no-shit best girl

Voice of the Curious---sweet, inquisitive, and perpetually confused

Voice of the Restless---the Victorian heroine who needs a break ASAP

Voice of the Doll---don't believe her when she says she's fine, she needs a hug

Voice of the Charming---can't be a tricky and horny witch if you ain't cute

Voice of the Apprentice---she's ready to learn, and she's so excited!

Voice of the Humbled---a professional nihilist who is seriously lacking in self-esteem

Voice of the Warrior---badass sword lady, my beloved

Voice of the Hateful---hospital gown not pictured (she's supposed to be on medical rest)

Voice of the Prepared---local beast girl hates industrialism and wants to live alone in the woods

Aaaaand Voice of the Rebel---hot punk girl says "fuck you" to any and all authority

[rifari2037]

12. What are your steambaby headcanons?

Fire Lord Zuko and First Lady Katara's steambabies :

Princess Kya (14), the leader - a fire bender, an heir of the Fire Nation. She has golden eyes and light brown skin. She is just, brave, determine, and sometimes mischievous.

Headcanons :

Zuko teaches Kya fire bending in every martial-style bending. She isn't surprised her father teaches her water-styles more than other styles.

Zuko teaches Kya how to redirect lightning in honour to her beloved grand-uncle Iroh.

Azula (after her redemption arc) is very close to Kya because her niece has talents and badass like her.

Azula teaches Kya how to direct lightning and she learns it quickly. 'I doubt you're your father's daughter, it took him years to do that," is Azula's way to compliment her.

Just like her father, Kya secretly learns fire bender from the source. One day, Zuko and Katara accidentally sees Kya doing the dragon dance with his dragon, Druk, and amazed by that.

Prince Kazan (12), the protector - a non-bender, the youngest master dual swords. He has golden eyes and light brown skin. He is strong, smart, tactical, and eager to learn any weapons. Kazan (火山) means volcano in Japanese.

Headcanons :

Kazan has very similar face and gesture to young Zuko, except his skin is darker.

Kazan feels insecure when found out that his two sisters are benders and he's not. Katara is the one who notices his anxiety first and asks Zuko to cheer him up.

Zuko encourage him that he doesn't need to be a fire or water bender to be a great leader. Zuko also shows Kazan his dual swords skill, tells him that weapon skills are very useful at any time.

Zuko himself who teaches Kazan dual swords techniques until he mastered it at young age. This is in my head how Zuko teaches Kazan :

After Kazan mastering dual swords, he start learns other weapons, especially water tribe weapons from Hakoda and Sokka. Dual swords still his main weapon and he still practising it.

Kazan often reminds Zuko of his childhood, sometimes it brings back to his past trauma. Zuko feels afraid that he will act like his father to his children, especially his non-bender son. Katara always reminds Zuko that he is not the same as his father at all. He is always a good father to them.

Princess Izumi (8), the healer - a water bender, a young peacemaker. She has ocean eyes and pale skin. She is calm and quiet, has a kind heart and motherly.

Headcanons :

Izumi is very close to her mother, Katara. She's almost always by her side.

Izumi has motherly nature combination of her two grandmothers, Ursa and Kya. She's quiet but wise and very intelligent.

Izumi often being a peacemaker when her sister and brother quarrel, most often because Kya playing prank on Kazan.

Katara teaches Izumi how to fight and heal, but Izumi is more interested in healing. She has excellent talents in healing.

Izumi not only a healer, she also has talent as a herbalist like Ursa. She learn herbalist almost herself. She can make poison, but prefers to use her abilities to make cure.

Years later when she turn 18, she become a good fighter and best at healing. She secretly learn blood-bending and use it to heal (only Kya and Kazan know about it).

Nb :

I thought about swapping Kya and Izumi just like in canon-TLOK, but I stick with my first HC in result, because I always imagined badass firebender Kya and calm intelligent water-bender Izumi.

I only wrote down good things about steambabies, I still haven't thought about their weaknesses.

These are my original headcanons. Every Zutara shipper allowed to use it into fanarts, fanfics, or add another headcanons, but please let me know and credit me ❤️💙

[kindlingkeen]

What are your favorite tropes or plot points in Jason fics and why do you like them???

That’s really hard for me to narrow down. I will read just about anything gen that’s Jason-centric. Usually what makes or breaks a fic for me is the quality of the writing and characterization, rather than specific plot points or tropes. That said, some things do stand out…

Competent Jason, my beloved, how I adore you. He’s makes killer (ba-dum-tss 🥁) plans, he can adapt on the fly, and he’s got the range and depth to go up against anyone.

That’s my boy, any story that celebrates this is golden in my book. (Images from Event Leviathan #3)

I like Bruce and Jason origin stories, or stories that deal with them being father/son and Batman/Robin, because these boys love each other so much and, honestly, I just want them to be happy together.

I like fix-its or what-ifs that center around the Lost Days/UtRH timelines, because Jason’s story is a goddamn tragedy and I like thinking about all the ways it could have gone better/differently.

I like stories that feature late UtRH or Outlaws era Jason where he goes through real growth and development, because dc refuses to give us any meaningful character evolution without ripping it away or undermining it, and I have to feed my soul somehow. Bonus points if Jason gets to be badass with his guns or sword (or both 🤤).

I’m always up for a story that deals with batarang incident, although preferably not Dick-finds-out-and-runs-off-to-yell-at-Bruce, been there read that. Also, time travel or alt universes where Red Hood is there for Jaybin, because of all the lovely angst and hurt/comfort (and when it comes down to it, time and time again, Jason can really only depend on himself—thanks dc 🖕).

Finally, I’m weirdly lowkey obsessed with Selkie!Jason. There’s just something about baby Jay as a baby seal that melts my heart. Plus I think the vulnerability of the Selkie coat mythology is a really good fit for Jason’s character, which is so often held hostage to the narrative or other characters.

I could go on, but that’s probably enough for now. Thanks for the ask, anon! 💙

[noxsangonomiya]

I thing Liu Qinghe should be allowed to have a Damsel In Destress™

I think he should run into a low-level cultivator who isn’t all that great with a sword (maybe a healer? I like that I’m going with that) while out on a mission.

I think he should get to save the Damsel In Destress™ and bring them back to the sect and oversee their healing/physical therapy or whatever, and should get to fall in love w someone who will love him back and who he gets to be Badass Protector™ for.

I just think he’d appreciate that.

And also he needs to move on from Shen Qingqiu.

Give the man his Damsel

Or give him a kid. Like a son or daughter (girl dad liu ginge my beloved), maybe with the previously mentioned healer. (Step dad liu qingge? Yes)

He just needs some good old found family and someone to love and protect who will love and care for him in return 💔

[baddybaddyadardaddy]

I can not possibly put into words how disappointed I am. Because I can simply NOT understand how adar turned from a formidable fearless warrior on ep 7 to this SHIT SHOW in ep 8. The move that glug pulled w the knife was the same w what elrond tried to do last ep. I am just. Speechless and also honestly just a fool w my high ass expectations.

@mirkwood Okay, so here it is: my biggest beef with episode 8 is not that Adar died. It's that he didn't get one last reckoning with Sauron.

I could fix that scene to make it more satisfying with TWO minutes of additional screen time (which we could GLADLY yoink from the scene where Isildur and Estrid suck face, ASK me how much I Do Not Care about that storyline).

Here's the setup:

Galadriel comes upon transformed Adar. He gives her the ring back, tells her to take it and use it in the fight against Sauron. She tells him "I cannot face him alone." (PAYING OFF ON THE LINE GIL-GALAD SAID TO HER EARLIER IN THE SEASON THAT WAS *LITERALLY* INCLDUED IN THE RECAP FOR THIS EPISODE, FFS.)

SAURON shows up.

Adar: "You are not alone".

THEY BOTH DRAW SWORDS. CUE LAST TEMPTATION TRACK.

They both attack Sauron (who brings his own fucking sword to the knife fight, because COME ON, him fighting with Adar's sword is just rude AF.)

Adar fights his ancient foe like the BADASS MOTHERFUCKER THAT HE IS.

And it seems like together, they are actually winning. There is hope.

But then!

What's that coming through the trees? It's a band of uruks. Glug is injured!

This pulls Adar's focus away from the fight, because HIS CHILDREN COME FIRST, ALWAYS, AND HIS BELOVED SON IS HURT.

Galadriel, engaged with Sauron, yells at him to go to them, because she understands him now and has compassion for his children. BEACAUSE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

He runs to them. He gets ides of March-ed.

It's sad AF.

Gal keeps going, alone now. The fight goes downhill, and ends EXACTLY WHERE IT DID with her yeeting herself off a cliff.

Anyway, that's how I woulda done it...

[rocketbirdie]

I am FASCINATED by Kunsel’s Twin Stinger. Can we hear some lore about it? Which materia does he prefer to fill the slots with? Is there a reason behind the (incredibly cool) design of it? Is it custom? The guard looks so fancy. Spare sketches, milord? Pretty please?

Yessss Twin Stinger my beloved!! It's one of Cloud's swords from Remake. Here's its official ultimania artwork and render.

I picked it as Kunsel's weapon for a number of reasons, mainly because of its badass design with the gold accents (I LOVE gold for Kunsel) but also because of its actual in-game attributes. It's a versatile magic focused weapon that encourages a more defensive playstyle, having strong synergy with Steadfast Block materia, and a powerful counterattack ability. It's great for a supportive magic build that doesn't sacrifice too much melee capability.

If Kunsel were playable I'd envision him as a paladin class, using spells like Barrier, Provoke, etc. to reduce incoming damage and create openings for allies. I also like the idea of him having a unique mode in combat (kind of like Cloud's operator/punisher modes) where he can convert HP into MP and vice versa at will, turning him into a cheeky damage sponge when combined with some annoying spells like Slow and Silence. Add Bio for poison pressure, and a whole lot of patience, and you've got yourself an unkillable bastard that can stall out almost any threat given enough time, which I think is quite fitting for Kunsel's character.

I love how Twin Stinger's hilt and pommel resemble a butterfly. It's got a fanciful, delicate design that clashes hard against the Don't Fuck With Me vibe of the dark metal blades. Kind of like how we like to think of Kunsel as the chill friendly tutorial guy, so it's easy to forget that he's still a SOLDIER 2nd Class, and that he could wreck shop if he really wanted to.

[fun-mxtx-polls]

E'ming vs. Xuan Su

E'ming propaganda:

I just had to come here and wax poetically about E-Ming. Not only is he a) a deadly scimitar that can and has defeated gods, b) the legendary weapon of the strongest ghost king, and c) made USING that ghost king’s eye, he’s also the goodest boy to have ever existed.

He’s basically a puppy dog in sword form and he just wants love and pets. He’s so expressive and adorable that Xie Lian completely ignore all warnings to avoid him to instead treat him like the puppy he is.

Plus there’s his creation story! (Spoilers for TGCF). Back when Hua Cheng was still a weak ghost on Mount Tonglu, he chose to pretext a group of lost mortals by ripping out his eye and forging E-Ming as a weapon. It was a dangerous and risky choice that could have forever separated Hua Cheng from Xie Lian, but he still did it simply because he cares more about others than he likes to admit. E-Ming represents Hua Cheng’s weakness and humanity and even though Hua Cheng resents him for that, Xie Lian loves him for it all the same.

Therefore E-Ming is a) a badass sword, b) an adorable puppy who deserves love, and c) a physical representation of who Hua Cheng is and how he and Xie Lian perceive him. E-Ming is precious and deserves all the votes (and pets)!

Also he just looks really, really cool too! (submitted by @alittlelessalone)

e'ming is babie!!!!!

Xuan Su propaganda:

Xuan Su means "Dark and solemn". Yue Qingyuan's sword, vitality important to his backstory. Its so strong that few cultivators can even stand when he pulls it out, even by a sliver. It drain's yqy's lifeforce in exchange for incredible amounts of power! It wasn't even drawn fully during the sealing of Tianlang-jun, and was instrumental to his defeat. Even pidw Bingge couldn't defeat him one-on-one!

i haven't been able to get 'Xuan Su is YQY's erectile dysfunction' out of my head for multiple days and I have one thing to say about it: it's SO funny, please let Xuan Su win so that this extremely powerful, OP, life ending sword can instead be known as YQY's limp dick. (submitted by @valiantbarnes)

Xuan Su is quite possibly the strongest sword on this list. It is so powerful that when Yue Qingyuan first got it, he was forced (via many broken bones) into secluded meditation in a cave for YEARS to prevent a deadly qi deviation, preventing him from saving Shen Jiu, destroying their relationship. And even once YQY grew to be the most powerful cultivator in the world (Bingge couldn't even kill him without an ambush) he still couldn't draw it without it sapping years off of his life every time. YQY had to carry two swords for his entire life because his first sword could and would kill him if given the chance.

Also, in PIDW, after Bingge killed YQY and Xuan Su shattered, Bingge used the shards to taunt Shen Qingqiu and SQQ swallows the shards to kill himself. Imagine swallowing the shards of a sword that belonged to your beloved childhood friend turned kind-of boss who missed you so much even when you were right there and for whom you feel so much bitterness and longing and yet cared for so much that news of his death is the only thing that could have broken you, even after years of horrific torture. The drama of that alone should win it some points, I think. (submitted by @slythavakna)

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Sword gays showdown, round 4 of bracket three

Propaganda:

For Gideon:

she's incredibly good w/ her two hander and less good with her rapier but she's still pretty good!! she is a horny lesbian who's taste in women seems to exclusively be "girls who have tried or are going to try to kill her". she's a redhead. i love her

Gideon’s a HUGE Butch lesbian and literally always wanted to use a broad sword. Specifically a broad sword. She said fuck rapiers. Uhhh literally dies to save the girl she cares for and the sword she uses then becomes like an altar for said girl. Gideon Nav Supremacy <3

oh she is the most badass swordswoman lesbian in media. she’s her gf’s cavalier, defends her in battle, she’s incredibly butch and buff

C'mon shes THE sword lesbian like... canonically 

Loves her broadsword more than anything on her home planet and practices whenever she can. Spoiler it’s possessed by her mom. Gave everything so her best enemy could eat her soul and become the new saint. The character of all time child of two separate threesomes, child of the god emperor, she’s dead, she’s butch, she’s a dork, she’s doomed by the narrative. She’s my favorite.

girlie is literally the swordswoman supreme. she’s the cavalier primary to her necromancer. she has a fuckoff huge longsword. she gets absorbed into another person SPECIFICALLY to swordfight for them. in a gay way too.

While everyone else was developing common sense, she studied the blade. This dyke's main weapon and true love is the long sword, but she's also passable with a rapier. The sword is, in her own estimation, pretty much all she's good for. That and her smoking hot bod and terribly charming sense of humor. 

"While we were developing common sense, she studied the blade." (Direct quote from the book). She's the most useless lesbian to ever exist, and she's obsessed with an absolute wet cat of a woman. Learned longsword mostly on her own and is such a genius with the sword she learned rapier in a few months (by personal experience, it's really really hard)

Most badass broadsword wielding lesbian easily slaying bone monsters and evil space wasps

The cavalier to her necromancer. very gay. in a complicated codependant lovehate relationship with the only other person her age she knew growing up.

For Inej:

She taught herself how to kill people with knives. We stan a queen. 

My beloved knife wife ❤️🗡️

[old-danmei-fan]

BG3 x Svsss crossover thing I thought about after I saw fanart earlier that had a genderbent Luo Binghe as a tiefling and I immediately thought of Karlach. I have been waiting for the day I could combine my BG3 delusions with my Scum Villain delusions.

Astarion/ Shen Jiu

Both abused by sadistic, cruel masters.

Hide their trauma from everyone around them. Both will fight dirty if they have to.

Gale/ Yue Qingyuan

Both give big wet sad puppy dog eyes to their beloved. Gale has an bomb in his chest that will kill him, YQY has a sword that kills him if he draws it. Both would give their life no questions asked to make sure their loved ones are safe.

Karlach/ Luo Binghe

I'm referring more to Bingmei here, but both can be a little goofy or silly occasionally, but they go apeshit when they need to. Neither have a problem letting you/SQQ that they're horny. Both had to go to literal Hell for an extended period of time.

Shadow Heart/ Shen Yuan

shart is probably who Shen Yuan would have picked as his first origin run. Both try so hard to be aloof bitchy badasses but once you spend a little time with them they let their true personalities show and you realise they are having internal meltdowns.

Wyll/ Liu Qingge

Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty. Plus the pinning. And they are known for their swordsmanship

Lae'zel/ Mobei Jun

Neither understand sarcasm or metaphors. Both scary fighters. Plus I think Shang Qinghua would love Lae'zel

Raphael/ Tianlang Jun

Horny old demon men. Nuff said.

Halsin/ Zhuzi Lang

Just want to follow you to the ends of the earth (literally in both cases) to make sure you're safe because you saved them ONE time.

Minthara/ Qi Qingqi

They are each the #1 man hater in their respective verses

Gortash/ Shang Qinghua

Gortash thought the plan up, Shang Qinghua was the author of PIDW. Plus people don't give Qinghua the love he deserves like Gortash

The Absolute/ The System

The actual masterminds of the plot.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

Can i ask you if you ever saw/had some character analysis over Izo? I would like to read it badly since i got interested more in his character after Wano, but i barely see anyone actually talking it out loud, and thus it makes me hard to really get why bro is so popular..

See, what I heard was "Please, drop some fire Izonalasis on me." And that's what we're gonna do. His popularity is actually really easy to understand when you hear it but it is a bit meta. A writing trait baby sister has too but big bro is waaaay better at. Let's call it Economy of Impact. What does that mean? In such a big arc you do a lot with a little. Add that to a character concept that's unique but easy to grok with a killer look to him? Easy to love.

He's there just enough in Marineford most people thought about him showing up in Wano. Never center stage but visibly helps Luffy and gets some cool gunman moments, which have been rare in a pirate manga. Stuff like shooting a dude's sword in half. Come Wano, an astute fan is spending the first leg figuring out how you're gonna slip in. It's right there with Marco at the start. But when he finally folds in? Nice surprise, you're the big brother of this local girl who's been cool and memorable in her own right and that instantly makes both characters a lot more intriguing.

Then his role in the Raid is just plain good. We never really waste time when Izo shows up, he's just always doing something worth your time. Yamato's giving a big dramatic speech? You capture attention with a heartfelt reunion taking one page. Gang is rushing Kaido? Slip in that extra badass moment of disarming King. One exchange that shows us all we need to know about your dynamic with Kiku. Heroic save for Marco. More Heroic rescue your sister & Usopp. Most heroic last stand in the flames...and none of that ever took more than a page or two. Dude is the definition of all killer, no filler. Even his anime filler scenes are just cute sibling stuff most people liked and wanted more of. Which in and of itself, given how long Wano was it's rare to see a thread people were pretty burned about not getting more of.

End of the day though, my take has always been the sibling samurai as a pair represent something a little more mature in the series, something with a little more depth. The tragic undertone to the big, flashy tale of Wano people want to hear. Even if not everyone can step back and think of it like that organically...I think they get it subconsciously. Izo's the half that also gets to be constantly cool and strong and daring and tied to beloved Whitebeard. He's a big deal in his own right, the development in Wano makes him the Commander after Ace we know the most about. And he had a similar fate without that tinge of being dumb about it.

When you're able to pack that all in with almost no fluff it's so easy to be super popular by virtue of everyone at least agreeing you were pretty cool.