#character: thancred waters

[whalefelled]

"I have thee to look after me, why shouldst I then worry for myself?" Maybe the sincerity is worrying. || @minarcana + Urianger

Thancred's gaze softens briefly over Urianger... even if there's some annoyance at his words.

The Elezen is sitting in a chair while Thancred dabs blood from his nose a few more times before a hand comes up and cards through Urianger's hair a few times, making sure there's no cuts along his scalp or hairline that need tending to as he imagines infection is not the best way to go out.

"I need you to worry for yourself if I can't be there for you, Urianger." If there were any outside observers to his words it might not sound as if Thancred is scolding the Astrologian, but they have known each other for so long that he knows it should get through to the other slightly. Just like Thancred knows Urianger well enough that he's rested enough now that he should be able to tend to his own wounds, but is letting Thancred pitifully dab at the superficial wounds for himself, and he's thankful for the consideration. It gives Thancred a reason to rest a hand over Urianger's shoulder and neck area, thumb gently set up where he can feel the other man's steady heartbeat with the gorget abandoned on a table somewhere.

The reality was that Thancred threw himself in the face of danger far more often than Urianger got the chance to (and he preferred it that way). "Plus... all these years and I still don't get your tea right." he teased, thumb smoothing over his companion's collarbone twice before pulling his hands away fully now.

"You'll be right as rain this time though, thank the Twelve."

[skeleboy13]

more of these bc i love drawing stupid things

[tekstelart]

Found family

[gobs-stuff]

snacks on the street :)

[fatedroses]

This entire thing kinda spiraled from Zenos and him struggling to remember names, so I decided to give Adventurer!Zenos a section of his journal that basically ends up as his own version of the codex lol

[haunted-xander]

I think one of the (several) reason for why Shadowbringers is so good is because the narrative is more about the individual characters than it is the Greater Conflict.

Like, the Greater Conflict is definitely there, obviously, it's what keeps the story going, but the focus is always on the people, much more so than the other expacs. HW and STB also have some level of character focus ofc, but it's very selective and even then the focus is based on them in the specific context of the current conflict.

But in SHB, the story bends around the characters' narratives, rather than the other way around. The story forms to put them in situations that challenges their flaws and limitations, by forcing them to confront it and actually deal with it. Even just at the very beginning, you see the twins being dealt a terrible hand that very neatly clashes against their faults.

Alisaie is confronted with a situation that she can and could never do anything about. She has no means to help the patients (at the time at least). The only way for her to help them is by eradicating the source of the affliction itself: the Light. But the Light isn't just some Big Bad she can kill and be done with. Even when all the lightwardens are down the Light is still there, it's just more manageable. Alisaie learns to not only see the bigger picture, but to care for it for her own reasons. For all that she has participated in Big Operations, it has always been because that's what others were doing, what others cared for to be done. She feels for the people of Doma and Ala Mhigo, but she didn't set out to liberate their homelands because she has any personal investment in it. But other people do, and she cares about what other people- be they strangers or friends- care about.

Caring about other peoples feelings and opinions isn't a flaw by itself of course, but doing things without any sense of personal purpose, is. This is what SHB helps her fix and confront, because it is personal now, she does it because she cares.

Alphinaud is forced into a situation where diplomacy and negotiations does and would never work. He can't talk himself into Eulemore, and he sure as hell can't convince Vauthry or the free citizens to let go of their life of ignorant luxury. The problem here also isn't as straightforward as a corrupt ruler, because even after Vauthry is revealed for the bastard he is, it takes considerable effort and convincing to get them to get off their asses and get to work. It's one thing to change the minds of people who wanted the same outcome just in a different way (like Ishgard- they rejected unity with the dragons, but they still wanted an end to the war), but it's another thing entirely to convince people that another way of life is even worth it.

And this is what SHB teaches Alphinaud, that words and deeds can achieve much, but that there is much more to diplomacy than appealing to their wants and/or sensibilities to convince them of an alternative outcome. His development may not be as immediately noticable as some of the others (largely bc he had a lot of it already from HW), but it is still very much there.

Urianger's development had already been build up and sort-of started already, but we don't really get to see it until it near explodes in his face after we kill Vauthry. Even after he swore off secrecy, he's forced to confront his morals when the Exarch bids his assistance. Urianger has always been looking at the greater picture, to the point he'd almost lose himself in it if it wasn't for the overwhelming guilt he feels. He works with the Exarch, because he knows he's the only one capable of it, and he hates the very fact that he is. When the climax of the plan is about to be executed, he is pained to the point that even he can't mask it anymore. He has betrayed their trust once more and once more it will result in the death of a friend.

But it doesn't, and that's what's needed for him to confront himself. As terrible and unexpected as the circumstances around it was, it did show him that there are other ways. There is no one way to solve a problem, the first choice doesn't need to be the only one. And he would find those other ones of he had just talked to the others.

The pay-off doesn't quite come until EW, where we see him actively make the choice to go against his first instinct of acquiesing to the Loporrits' plans, and instead chooses to consult us, but that scene wouldn't have made sense or even happened had it not been for his development in SHB.

Now, Y'shtola is a bit of an odd one because while she does get her due focus, she doesn't quite get the same amount of development as the others. Rather, it shows how she thrives when not held back by others interests and (often somewhat needless) bounderies. Her intelligence and charisma have the chance to shine, her independence and confidence now rewarded rather than punished. In ARR, she is constantly annoyed by the Maelstroms way of dealing with things, and how no one bothers to actually listen to her. Her advice and reprimands are almost entirely ignored until the problem blows up in their faces and they have no choice but to concede that she was right.

Being independent and confident aren't flaws by themselves, but her sometimes aggressive approaches to telling others off does her few favors. In SHB, she has the Night's Blessed who actually heed her word and respect her, they listen to her and actually take what she says- be it advise or reprimand- to heart.

She does also, however, have to deal with Thancred who, much like the Maelstrom, ignores her reprimands and doesn't listen to her. The difference here is that her bluntness actually serves a purpose. In ARR, her bluntness lacks tact and meaning, simply a result of frustration. The Maelstrom won't listen to someone who doesn't come up with fleshed-out arguments and solutions, but Y'shtola doesn't bother giving them any until she knows they'll listen. But with Thancred, she does give him the solution. It's just that the solution is him. His words, to be precise, and his acceptance. And he needs to be reminded of that, and she does. It doesn't automatically solve anything, but that's simply how it is with complicated situations like that.

Speaking of Thancred, his narrative is probably the most important of all for SHB. He's always been shown as a capable, but ultimately self-destructive man who genuinely does not know how to deal with himself in a healthy manner. Theoretically speaking he knows, he recognizes that he is self-destructive, but he still has no idea how to actually fix it. It's been shown as early as ARR when it results in him getting possessed, but it's not really made a point of until it almost ruins his relationship with Ryne. Up until now he could just ignore his problems, but with Ryne he can't because now The Problem(s) aren't just his anymore. Anything that would hurt him now would also hurt her, meaning that if he wants to continue doing the one thing he actually cares about (protecting his loved ones) then he needs to get his shit together.

But Thancred doesn't know how to. And for all that his friends try and try to help him, he doesn't know how to. He's paralyzed. Thancred is so deep into his self-destructive habits that it takes the threat of both his and the person(s) he loves the most in the worlds deaths to get him into action. He doesn't know if it's Minfilia or Ryne who will return, and I'm not sure he expected to survive Ran'jit. He only has this chance, and if he wants to die without (as many) regrets he has to do something now.

And he does. He does and what it is he does is tell Ryne that whatever happens, it has to be her own choice. That he will accept any outcome, that he will still care about her no matter what, that as long as she lives or dies as she wants to, that he still loves her. He still loves her. And it works, because that's what he's needed to do all this time, to be able to just tell her that she matters. That he cares.

He tells her to live her own life, and he learns to live his own too.

[wesleysjournal]

More of these guys, kthx

[aretheybisexual]

Are They Bi?

[whalefelled]

Thancred listens, brows cinched in the middle in thought as Urianger explains himself. The words "you deserve the attention paid in that case" settle on his tongue and he swallows around them, having thought he'd certainly tamped down those feelings once they had started their work as Scions.

"Don't shit where you eat" he'd been told as a boy, too young to understand the meaning then, in Limsa by one of the various crew members passing through port.

Urianger's words catch him off guard, and he laughs a little harder than he means too, as if he's trying to cover up those unspoken words as if the other man could've heard them at all. "I suppose I am light on my feet, but I don't enjoy it much, actually." a hum of thought leaves Thancred before another small chuckle "Correction actually" an affectionate sigh overtakes him and Thancred tightens his hold just a little on Urianger, ", dancing with you and Y'shtola is rather relaxing." Thancred admits with a warmth that he hides with a gentle dip of his head to slowly add another step to their dance so Urianger could follow along.

There's a level of tension to Urianger that Thancred can surely note, which also contributes to why Urianger is nervous. Thancred is a graceful individual, who is both practiced and self-assured, and Urianger is... keenly aware of the fact that he's trying his best and a little ungainly when out of his depth.

He watches both of their feet, and only stumbles a bit when pulled into a spin. "Much attention is paid to those who dance at celebrations." Spaces left open for dancing at events invariably has those who are not dancing watching. Thancred is assuredly used by now to Urianger's aversion to direct attention, especially from people outside his circles, even if he has gotten better with it over the years. With something as based in physical ability as dancing is, Urianger has absolutely no hope for himself. It's uncomfortable to picture himself in that role, even.

It's fine with Thancred, though, whenever Urianger doesn't get too distracted with his own head. Moments wherein he isn't thinking about his actions and gets an entire step out with something almost approximating smoothness in the rote box steps. "And I hath never had anyone tell me to dance apart from those occasions. 'Tis a thing better suited to thee, is it not?"

[wildstar25]

The 3rd Sun of the 3rd Umbral Moon - or in other terms, June 3rd - marks the day a very special cat entered the world. Happy Birthday Arsay!

(Opening images in a new tab is recommended for best quality viewing, thank you!)

[feralkwe]

i'm in a mood so have some of the art i've commissioned of kit. don't look at me.

from the top: @raynhoro, @yamisnuffles, @aveny-art, yamisnuffles again x2, @ectojyunk, and @redhead-trickster-art x2.

[whalefelled]

mother fucker who writes his crush's name on a paper surrounded by hearts

[herssian]

therapy? in MY fantasy game?

[lrhythrum]

Culinarian Chaos

[haunted-xander]

The hero's journey is paved with tragedy

[slimyhipster]

how do you know my dad