#but it is very addictive

[dragonologist-phd]

Piper + TV Tropes

I gave in and made a TV Tropes page for Piper! I maybe had a little too much fun with this, kudos to anyone who actually reads this whole thing!

Awesome But Impractical: Piper’s signature armor makes for a very cool image and is characteristically beautiful…and also should probably not ever be worn into any actual battle. Even Piper admits it’s mostly for show.

Beautiful Singing Voice: As expected of a bard!

Becoming the Mask: At the start of her arc, Piper has stumbled into the Crusades and is treating her new leadership role as an act that she’s faking at. By the end of her arc, she’s fully stepped into the role and is much more comfortable with her position.

Befriending the Enemy: A natural result of Piper’s preference for settling issues through words rather than combat. Whether it comes from an earnest desire to become friends or is simply the more convenient option can be up for debate.

Butterfly of Transformation: Being an Azata, butterflies are one of Piper’s recurring motifs. Their significance in her aesthetic becomes more prominent as she embraces her Azata powers, a process which involves undertaking acts of altruism and courage which she would have originally avoided.

Con Artist: One of the ways in which Piper made her living before the Crusades. She still has shades of this, especially when encouraged by Woljif.

Cowardly Lion: Piper self-describes herself as cowardly and selfish, and she actively avoids confrontations whenever she can. Still, when push comes to shove and she sees people in danger, she does (usually) end up trying to help.

Distracted By Luxury: The gifts and financial security handed out by Eliyen keep Piper from seeing her true colors for longer than she likes to admit.

Dragon Rider: Piper becomes this, once Aivi grows enough.

Everything’s Better With Rainbows: The Azata motto!

Flower Motif: Another trademark of the Azata, with Elysium blooms appearing where Piper uses her powers. Forget-me-nots, lavender, and irises are also significant motifs for Piper.

Friend to All Living Things: Subverted. Piper’s Azata powers cause her to attract adorable woodland critters to her side…much to her dismay, as she’s not any more of an animal person than she was before, and she’d really prefer the rabbits and bluebirds stay outdoors.

Girl Of My Dreams: Arueshalae initially appears to Piper as a voice in her dreams.

Green Thumb: Of the magical variety- one of Piper’s most prominent Azata powers is the ability to bring growth back to places made corrupted and barren by the Worldwound.

Gold Digger: According to Eliyen’s side of the story, all the conflict between her and Piper was due to Piper only caring about her riches.

Guile Hero: Piper’s greatest strength is easily her charisma, as she relies greatly upon persuasion and diplomacy to meet her needs and maneuver solutions to problems that she can’t meet head-on.

Hidden Depths: At first glance, Piper is often dismissed as being shallow and frivolous, and even those who like her tend to see her as very lighthearted and flighty. Once people get to know her, however, she’s shown to be quite thoughtful and deliberate, and far more perceptive than people realize.

Hope Bringer: The reason Piper is given the title of Knight-Commander. Her powers give the Crusades an advantage they haven’t had in ages, and this combined with her ability to heal Worldwound corruption quickly leads people to rally around her. This is emphasized even further by her songs and speeches, which are very often geared toward providing hope and inspiration.

I Have Many Names: “Piper” is really just the latest in a long line of aliases she’s used in different cities throughout Mendev. If she were to list every name she’s ever gone by, we’d be here all day.

I Just Want to Be Loved: Part of the reason Piper enjoys performing so much is due to the rush of admiration she earns from her audience; ultimately, however, she really does long to be sincerely loved by someone who sees her as she really is.

Just Like Robin Hood: Piper had fantasies of being a Robin Hood type once, though it didn’t quite work out and she now claims to view the whole idea as idealistic and naïve.  

Like Mother Like Daughter: Piper and her mother are both performers searching for their audience, hoping to find their fortune; both are somewhat flighty and have complicated relationships with commitment; both leave their family and home behind on impulse. Piper is aware of the similarities, though she doesn’t like to dwell on it.

Like Brother and Sister: With Woljif. They even call each other “Little Brother” and “Little Sister” in a joking callback to thiefling customs.

Magic Flutist: Piper’s specialty, though as a bard she has an array of Magic Music related talents.

Manipulative Bastard: She has shades of this, and in a Companion AU can be pushed further into the role if the Commander is unsupportive of her or encourages her more selfish tendencies.

Meaningful Name: Piper is a talented flutist with a talent for charming people. The meaning behind the name is no accident, seeing as she chose it herself.

Mysterious Past: She has a long and storied past, and if asked about it is just as likely to make up lies as she is to say something truthful.

Mystical White Hair: Self-explanatory, though among tieflings the color is not so uncommon.

Proud Beauty: Piper’s quite aware of how attractive she is to others, and isn’t shy about flaunting it.

Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: The Free Crusaders are a perfect example of this, and Piper is willing to accept any additional misfits who want to join.

Replacement Goldfish: How Piper believes Areelu views her. Whether she’s correct in this assessment is up to interpretation.

Serenade Your Lover: Piper’s go-to move when wooing someone she’s interested in. Arueshalae gets more than a few songs dedicated to her.

Shipper on Deck: Aivu is a very enthusiastic supporter of Arueshalae and Piper. Desna also qualifies as this, though she’s a bit more subtle.

Statuesque Stunner: Piper’s naturally tall, and she has horns, and she likes to wear heels.

Street Smart: Self-explanatory, and goes hand-in-hand with her Con Artist and Guile Hero tendencies.

The Charmer: Piper’s no stranger to winning people over with her charms, and definitely has a reputation as a flirt.

The Circus Runaway: The first time Piper ever left home was to join a traveling carnival with the aim of learning from their resident bard. She’s played many different roles since then, but she still remembers that time fondly.

The Power of Acting: She didn’t get a deception skill that high for nothing!

Tomboy and Girly Girl: Piper and Seelah. One is a dependable, action-oriented warrior who likes to tackle problems directly; the other is a flighty, dress-wearing bard who depends on her wit and her charms. Despite their differences, they become friends almost immediately.

Vitriolic Best Buds: With Daeran. They start off genuinely disliking one another, and though their relationship improves with time they never do stop snipping at each other.

Wandering Minstrel: Piper’s career, for lack of a better word, before joining the Crusades.

Weak But Skilled: Piper has many talents relating to diplomacy and magic, but combat is not one of her strong suits. She does get better after multiclassing as a rogue, but she’s still far from a physical powerhouse.

Will They Won’t They: With Galfrey, for a short while. (They don’t).

[bruciemilf]

So glad you clarified that "Alfred bleeding out at brucie's day party" was step 1 in becoming pennywaynes. I was just about to ask lol

Also thinking that Alfred doesn't say "fuck" because Thomas says it enough for both of them. And how they're both feral in opposite directions (loud and vulgar vs poised and eloquent) makes me wonder what direction Martha is feral in. Exceedingly painfully viciously polite? Barefoot in the dirt, she'd love poison ivy fae-tinged feral? Does this make sense? I'm sick. All I can think about is Thomas and Alfred preparing to carve someone up and you don't even know who you are supposed to be more scared of

I like to imagine Martha as Morticia Addams feral. Regal, majestic, peculiar, and could wipe the floor with your self-esteem in a minute if crossed. Bruce’s mama was a silent badass for sure.

I like to think Damian inherited her affection for animals! Hers pets were just more… Unique, let’s say.

Imagine you’re Alfred. You’ve been working at the Wayne manor for about two weeks now.

Thomas, your husband boss hands you a huge chunk of bloody meat hanging from a butcher hook, while yelling violently at a business partner on the phone.

“Al, go feed Bruce, will ya?”

“?????????????”

Bruce gently grabs Alfred’s hand (Alfred has to tilt down) and he’s taken to the pool area.

There’s a big ass tank.

There’s a big ass, 20 foot long, great white shark in that tank. Bruce hugs the glass. Alfred may or may not pass out. Martha gently takes Bruce in her arms, kindly asks Alfred to clean the floors, and vanishes in the shadows.

She also has an albino ball python that Bruce adores. Occasionally, she wears him as a scarf. Alfred is severely loving and regretting his life choices.

[ttec77]

I love these silly cowboys

[dzknik]

McGucket is increasingly having anxiety problems, as he was before, and these anxiety problems are actually not problems, they are him being right about what they’re doing.

But he so wants to please Ford. I think McGucket sees his own value as “I’m the guy who builds stuff, and you’re the idea guy, and I’m valuable to you when I’m building stuff. And when I have a problem I can build a solution, and any time there’s an emotional issue, you build your way out.”

So the canon became that McGucket proposed such a thing (the memory gun) early on, and then was told “You shouldn’t do that”, and then like an addict, like an alcoholic who has a little sip and notices it takes the edge off, privately, he can’t bear to say it to Ford. He’s keeping a lot from Ford, he’s keeping just how scared he is of what they’re doing, he’s keeping just how concerned he is. McGucket doesn’t really know what’s going on, but he’s internalizing and thinking, “I just need to be a better partner. If I have anxiety, I’m gonna pop anxiety pills, and I’m gonna get through this.”

[therecipelibrary]

So I get an email a few weeks ago from Tillamook, apparently years ago I had asked on their website if they could please considering making a havarti style cheese.

I might love cheese, just a bit.

I've been an avid admirer of them since I was a small thing in Alaska, in a rural town with one grocery store that carried mostly, yes Tillamook. This love followed me down the west coast and to every place I have ever lived, though it is harder to come by here.

Anyway, so I think great, they emailed me to alert me that this product is available so I can go forth and purchase it.

Oh no.

Not only did they keep insanely good records from what must be millions of submissions, they tell me I submitted in 2015, 8 years ago?! And I had forgotten by now. Of course. Not only do they want to tell me this cheese exists, they want to send me some.

I think great. I'm getting a coupon for free cheese and proceed to perform a not so short dance of getting all the cheese.

They ask for my address and tell me it will arrive within ten days, it does not.

I wait for 2 long weeks, checking every letter. It does not come. I give up all hope, assuming perhaps it was a scam or a fever dream.

Until today.

I received a full sized cooler box with not one but four packets of havarti cheese. To say I am in cheese heaven is an understatement.

I love it, what other company would ever? They not only exceeded, but shattered every expectation.

(If you haven't made a trip to their factory near the oregon coast, let me just say it is pure magic.)

And yes it is delicious, and it melts very, very well and I dearly hope I can find more to buy eventually because I am hooked.

Not that I wasn't before, I almost always have some of their cheddar on hand. If you haven't tried their cheese, you should, and if you have an idea for them, well, it might just pan out in copious amounts of free cheese.

[rileylastname]

maybe it’s because it’s “too obvious” but im surprised how few readings I’ve seen of the Substance (2024) that discuss the themes of addiction and substance (ha) use & abuse.

in moderation you can use the substance to become a better, more fun, easier, happier version of yourself. then you realize you no longer want to be who you are when you’re not on the substance. then taking the same dose that used to be enough before isn’t enough anymore, so you want to take more, and just a little bit more couldn’t hurt, right? so you start to take even more. but this is only taking away from sober you, which is painful and difficult and even scarier than what compelled you to take it in the first place, so of course you can’t stop now. now you want to take even more, you NEED to take even more. sober life becomes harder and harder to bear, especially compared to how much easier everything is on the substance. now you’re not only using it to enjoy that feeling anymore, you’re using it to hide from what you’re turning into without it, from what you’ve already turned into.

every minute that you’re sober is spent counting down the days until you can use again, and the ends of being high are spent dreading going back. the sober self is upset and jealous at how irresponsible the high self is. the high self is upset at how much of a buzzkill the sober self is, and wishes they could exist on their own, without requiring their sober tether to existence. but the sober and high selves are the same person, you are one, and you become jealous and angry at yourself for ruining your own life in a vain attempt to become an impossible version of yourself that you most desire to be.

you want so badly to have all—and only all—of the best parts that you milk yourself dry, until you end up with all—and nothing but all—of the bad parts. by the time you truly feel that you have indeed lost everything and know you need to stop, the damage is already done, and there is no going back. you wish you had stopped at the first chance, you wish you had never started to begin with. and even then for many people the only way to deal with this terrifying, painful reality is to use even more, because you have made this terrifying, painful life without your substance feel unliveable, even scarier yet than what had made you use in the first place. there is nothing left to do but to hide from your own life, and the only ways to do this are to stop, to love yourself and take care of the person that you are now… or to keep taking more and more, using until there is truly nothing left, not even yourself.

[stark-lord]

Side A

[trans-zag]

i don't think im going to post this one to my main blog but i don't want it to rot in my folders either. so woe waxwitch be upon ye

[superhell]

house md is wild because house tells wilson that he’ll sacrifice many things but never himself and then he sacrifices himself for wilson. and then he sacrifices himself for wilson. and then he sacrifices himself for wilson. and then he

[shirecorn]

I want to vape water so bad. It looks like fun and I remember sucking the mist from my mom's miniature rock fountain and laughing out clouds of distilled water and a little bit of dirt.

Tiny horses we dipped in and out of the fog, mistepped and broke their tiny legs, left them too close to the little motor which somehow sprouted blisters on their plaster hides.

Spinning sticks in the embers trying to make smoke rings before we get scolded for playing with fire.

Ok I'm an adult now can I play with fire? Can I play with water?

What are they packing into those pens that rots our lungs and blisters and scars and does such fun things we call "popcorn" like it's a snappy bright flavor of addiction?

Can I just play with it?

I don't trust anyone to make toys in an industry whose mission statement is to hurt and harm in 10 colorful new flavors!

Literally it's just clouds. You made clouds into polkadot poison and gave it to kids like bubbles and a wand.

We have to laugh and mock and boo and try to make it uncool to somehow stop the damage but fuck, it IS cool! It's dragon's breath without the biting cold of winter but you went and made it sick.

Man what the hell. Imagine if bubbles could kill you.

Why did they do that?

I'm going outside to find cool sticks. I just wish I could bring the clouds with me.

[aquanutart]

"little miss prairie faerie" is a cute name actually... (but I won't use it if she doesn't like it)

[benevolenterrancy]

what I'm learning is that MXTX series really have ☆*: .｡The Range｡.:*☆ and that my first impressions often don't survive for very long...

MDZS, initial impression: ooh revived necromancer that everyone fears, this is going to be dark and revenge-fuelled

MDZS, subsequent impression: these are Silly Lil Guys off on a romcom murder mystery

SVSSS first impression: nerd who got isekai'd into a shitty novel, crybaby puppy dog imprints on him

SVSSS subsequent impression: how many times now has the love interest tortured the main character? should I start a tally?

(i've only just finished SVSSS bk2, please no spoilers!!)

[spacedlexi]

started a dnd campaign with some friends!! playing a silly little druid wood elf that seeks guidance from the stars because she’ll live longer than anything else

[oh-alicent]

what do you mean ao3 is down and i can't reread my favorite loustat and devil's minion fics for the seventh time this week?

[lazylittledragon]

Please ignore if this is too personal but IIRC you were/are dealing with caffeine addiction? I hope you're doing Ok, as a former addict I know how hard it is so wishing you the best xx

thank you for checking in!!

i'm doing very well!! i haven't cut out coffee completely bc i really don't think i can (it's been one of my daily pleasures for SO long), but right now i only have 1-2 espresso shots and i don't even have it every day anymore

also remembering that i used to have 4-6 shots per drink, sometimes multiple times a day, makes me want to throw up now which is probably a good sign ajkdhdsh