#companion interview meme

[apostaterevolutionary]

Okay can I be a bitter Anders fan for like. Just 2 minutes here lmao

Cause bioware released some game stats for veilguard and apparently 72% of players redeemed Solas which is like. Okay yeah the game kinda pushes you towards that. But when I think of all the shit I used to have to put up with just for enjoying Anders like at all and…

(This is not me being anti-Solas, I do not care if you love or hate him, but I am gonna say what he’s done is like. Objectively worse than literally every other companion so lmao. And that’s fine! You can still enjoy him! I’m not saying you can’t and it’s important to me that people understand that! I’m just saying he did in fact do objectively morally worse things in game than Anders did and I don’t think that’s really debatable. And I can’t really make my point here without saying that but I do want to make it clear this is not some moral condemnation of Solas enjoyers cause it’s not)

Getting anon hate on the regular, being told “oh you’re allowed to like Anders as long as you regularly talk about how much he sucks”, people gleefully describing how much fun they have killing him ON your posts about the fact that you like him, the devs making jokes about shitty fates for him when fans asked innocent questions about him, the absolute audacity of his writer to say half the shit she did in interviews (about bisexuality and mental illness, most critically), and then being beaten over the head again in inquisition about how Anders is the worst character to ever exist and there’s no redemption for terrorists who lie to you one time in the entire game and he deserves death or worse and that’s it

And now… 72% of people are down to redeem the guy who lies to you for 2 games straight and who did a lot of questionable things that includes creating the fucking blight and. Like. I guess I’m glad that Solas fans can live in a world where they aren’t constantly harassed and can give their ship like. A pretty damn good ending all things considered. And that the devs love Solas and actually give the option for that happy ending and have characters go to bat for Solas throughout the game and the most annoying thing they have to see are people making scrambled egg memes. I would not wish anyone to have to deal with the shit Anders fans had to put up with back then cause it sucked. It really sucked. And I’m glad it’s not being repeated with a different character, if nothing else

But like. Man there really is a difference when the writers actually like the character who does the thing, huh

[lurochar]

A Snow Day in Hell

Heeey, anyone else remember that ‘special feeling’ meme from years ago? No? Me either

–----------------------------------------------

Hell had frozen over.

Literally.

It was an extraordinarily and incredibly rare occurrence, according to Charlie, who, a literal native demon born of Hell, had only seen it snow once before in her lifetime.

It generally occurred once every few hundred years, perhaps add or minus a century here or there, Lucifer could not be bothered to keep track when Charlie had asked him how often it actually happened since the snow only stuck around for a day at the very most and was just a minor inconvenience.

You were honestly excited to witness such a unique experience and were dismayed to find that Alastor could care less about such a thing.

And so, you had to pester him and even promised him a favour (his proceeding and chilling smile sent immediate shivers down your spine) just to take a stroll with you around town (and would probably regret when he came to collect that favour).

“Of course, Darling! I have no important tasks to complete today. Why, I would be ever so honoured to escort you to town on such a… lovely day.”

You gave Alastor a skeptical look when he glanced outside with an expression that screamed the opposite of what he was saying.

He clearly hated snow.

“But, seeing my partner beg me in such a pitiful manner – well, how can I possibly say no to that?”

Maybe you should have just asked Charlie? She seemed just as excited as you to see the snowfall.

It took quite a bit of self control for Alastor to not let out a dark chuckle at your varying expressions. You may be his companion, but he was still a sadist through and through. 

Maybe it was a bit soft when it came to you though. Just a little bit.

Besides, as irritating and cold as it was, a little snow, that would literally only last for a day, would never hurt anyone, right?

~00~

“It’ll be on any minute now!”

You covered your face with a pillow in pure embarrassment, unable to look at the screen of the TV as Charlie bounced in excitement. 

How did she find out? 

Ah damn, she already gathered the others to watch.

“W-why are you here?” You barely lifted your face enough to eye Alastor, seeing him sitting smugly in his usual chair. “It was you, wasn’t it?! You told Charlie, didn’t you!?”

“Well, of course I did!” Alastor’s grin was utterly demonic and he was obviously taking pleasure in your mortification. “Normally, I am completely against these awful picture box shows and was utterly baffled when you agreed to a… television interview, Darling, with me when you are completely aware of my distaste.”

“Uh, wait,” Angel Dust raised his arm, “you’re on TV, Smiles? How did they capture you on camera? How’d you not, ya know, blow up the whole network with that whole staticky thing you do? Why is Vox even letting this air?”

Everyone glanced over to Alastor, but he answered nothing.

You had no idea either.

“Oh, it’s on!” Charlie pointed with a wide grin and you slumped over, ready to just pack your bags and leave to save yourself the embarrassment.

On the TV, the scene was that of you and a tall figure that was distorted, blurry, and pixelated, yet was clearly Alastor from shape and colour alone. Honestly, you were surprised he was showing up even this much and not blowing out the camera like Angel Dust had pointed out.

It was a simple question, you were only stopped by the news reporter to ask what you thought of the unprecedented snowfall.

You had just been caught up in the moment, the idea of experiencing the whole once-in-a-lifetime thing with your partner.

So you had replied with something straight out of a Christmas romcom movie or something equally as cheesy. You really had no idea where it came from. Maybe the fact that Alastor had summoned an umbrella and was holding it over both of your heads?

It was mainly so he wouldn’t get snow in his ears, you would find out later.

“Isn’t this just amazing? Snow that falls only every few hundred years? It’s stunning, isn’t it?” Your face was beginning to turn red as you continued on without waiting for another question from the reporter. “Being in the snow with my lover like this immerses me in a special feeling. I love it.”

Oh fuck.

How the fuck could you say that with a straight face!?

It was clear that Alastor felt the shame for you, even through his blurry distorted figure, you could see his ears flatten against his head and his head completely turn away from the reporter like he wasn’t there to hear your cringey words.

“Oh my Satan, are you fucking serious?” The news reporter sneered at you. “I just asked you about some fucking frozen water. Not your version of a romantic date you’ll have in your shitty wet dreams.”

You blinked and the distorted Alastor slowly turned his head back towards the reporter.

“This is fucking Hell, not some Barbieland bulls–”

You couldn’t help it and a few of your more demonic features were showing before you could stop them and you grabbed the umbrella Alastor was still holding. “You asked me a question about snow and I answered and then you make fun of me for that!? So what if I want a romantic outing with my lover!?” You shoved the umbrella’s pole into the gut of the reporter and growl into the camera, hearing the cameraman cry out before it cuts out and the interview is over.

.

.

.

There was complete silence.

“W-well, maybe it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.” You scratch your cheek, “J-just forget what I sa–”

“Oh, that was so romantic!” Charlie’s eyes were wide and sparkly, “I never knew snow could make you feel that way.” She gasped loudly, looking at Vaggie. “There’s still time! Come on, Vaggie! We need to go out in the snow to ‘immerse ourselves’ in that special feeling!”

Vaggie just throws you a grumpy look before sighing and following after Charlie.

Angel Dust is laughing his ass off, “Special feeling? Seriously, Dollface? Did that cold freeze your brain cells or somethin’? Well, at least ya showed that dick reporter who’s boss. Smiles, over there, did nothin’.”

“I don’t need him to do everything for me.” You muttered, glancing over at Husk and, for once, glad to see he’s too drunk to care and Niffty had lost interest as soon as she saw a cockroach. 

You looked over to Alastor.

“Are you satisfied?” You asked with a sigh, “Watching me embarrass myself and then lose control on the news that’s aired all around Hell?”

Alastor’s grin widened. “Very much so, Darling. Not only have you provided me with great entertainment, but now you have also given me an excuse to go after the one who aired your follies. I do believe I should give my ‘old pal’ a visit quite soon.”

Yeah.

You really should have just asked Charlie earlier.

[messiahzzz]

the IGN article has already been addressed by several users, but imo the points of critique raised by others were still often misinterpreted, or ignored entirely.

— so i’d like to talk about it.

beforehand, it is important to mention that it remains everyone’s respective responsibility to curate their own online experience. you shouldn’t purposefully expose yourself to topics that cause you distress or trigger you. however, general discussion should always be valid and welcomed. you have every right to voice your opinion on the matter and to be upset about this. please don’t feel guilty about venting and expressing your emotional response.

we also need to differentiate this specific interview from the fandom’s overall treatment and interpretation of gale. several of the posts i’ve seen on the subject tend to derail into the latter, without addressing the valid points many have raised or glossing over them entirely. this isn’t about the usual “haha gale eats shoes” joke or whatever new meme fandom comes up with. this is solely about the developer’s treatment of gale, the character, and about a specific, internal bias that has been prevalent throughout the entirety of the game, as well as their social media. this particular interview merely adding to the amalgamation of points mentioned.

yes, it is certainly unrealistic to expect larian to address every single companion in detail and to touch on every nuance possible, in an interview that broadly focuses on the game’s narrative and gameplay. there are, however, specific character sections. each companion received a headline that was reflective of their overall character archetype or provided quick insight into their development.

Karlach: 'The Labrador of the Party'

Lae'zel: 'She's So Young'

Halsin: 'A Creative Risk'

Shadowheart: 'The Jason Bourne'

Wyll: 'We Lost a Little Bit of Narrative Room'

Astarion: 'Much of What He Does Is Out of Fear'

Minthara: 'It's Not a Redemption Arc...But She's Got a Lot of Love'

and last but not least:

Gale: 'The Guy Who Starts Off Annoying Everyone'

what followed was a brief discussion about their respective storylines, each being addressed with a certain level of respect, empathy, and consideration. except for gale. all that was mentioned in regard to his character was the narrative impact of gale’s suicide. talking about the overall logistics of this ending, the visuals of the cutscene, and how, to them, his sacrifice felt like the right ending and how in many ways, it is.

Chrystal Ding, Lead Writer: On a very human level, you have the guy who starts off annoying everyone, he's constantly asking you to give him your most treasured possessions to eat, otherwise he's in trouble, and at the end, he gives himself for the world. Sven Vincke, Founder: And he had the choice already once before where he wasn't ready for it. So it's a very powerful ending, and it comes in different permutations.

gale is the character who is initially annoying companions and players alike. he is verbose, enthusiastic and has a tendency to break out in long-winded rants. he repeatedly asks for your assistance, to help him manage his condition. to spare himself and his surroundings from an untimely, explosive death, he must consume items that you’ve carefully collected. gale is, essentially, a liability. a ticking time bomb. he already had the option to have his life be a meaningful sacrifice, but he wasn’t ready to die yet. now, that the party has reached the end, he has another chance to give himself up for the world.

short after, gale’s section of the interview quickly diverts into a more general discussion about the difficulties of playing as a wizard and other classes.

larian claiming that there is a universal “right ending” in a game with many branching paths and choices very much contradicts the definition of a role-playing game. where it is solely in the player’s hands to decide what direction to take and what outcome they deem to be the right one. moreover, it is important to remember that the interviewees weren’t just any developers, but consisted of two lead writers and larian’s founder himself. some of them industry veterans who are, to an extent, pr-trained. we all know that fandom often sees statements from developers synonymous with word of god. as such, the implications and impact are truly unfortunate.

if larian was referring the SA survivor and stated that “the right ending” for him was to return him to enslavement or to hand him over to the gur. that for all the death and misery he (involuntarily) assisted, his sacrifice would at least grand them a slither of justice.

astarion caused death, perpetuated racism, and now that you have handed him over to the gur hunter, he is offered a chance to give himself back to the world.

it is then deemed the right choice for him because it is the most narratively satisfying/impactful/powerful outcome in the context of the overall story. the majority of us would agree that such would be a rather tactless statement, no? not specifically for mentioning it in relation to astarion as a character or his influence on the narrative — he is fictional, after all, but because of the real-life implications and the very real stigma the affected face. we can't deny that it would be hurtful to irl victims. maybe we would even fault the writing altogether for such biases. after all, why should astarion be the only character whose redemption and healing are considered to be significantly less important in the grand scheme of things?

fiction functions as an abstraction and simulation of our social experience. we are supposed to get invested, to explore the meaning, examine the parallels, or maybe just to enjoy stories for the sole purpose of indulging in the occasional escapism. perhaps a way to temporarily forget about one’s limitations and the prejudices we face. in many ways, chronic pain/impairment, suicidal ideation, and autistic traits appear to be disorders & symptoms that are perhaps less relatable to some, and that they are maybe not as sympathetic to.

it truly would’ve been nice to see larian approach this interview with more professionalism. opting for a simple, diplomatic “actually, there is no right ending. the sheer variation in choices makes such a distinction impossible” would’ve more than sufficed.

this isn’t asking for larian to touch on every nuance possible, in an interview that largely resembled the flow of a regular conversation. it’s about asking for the same level of consideration and care that was granted to the rest of the companions. it’s about addressing gale’s particular brand of trauma with the same level of basic human decency. maybe we even could’ve received some new bits and pieces of insight on gale’s development, rather than the regurgitation of every shallow reddit/tiktok take we’ve seen up to this point. alas..

[indelicateink]

CELEBRATING the Interview with the Vampire kink meme!

there's been a smoking hot loustat fill today: The Interview

a bouquet of thanks to @vampire-dove for maintaining this anon kink meme for us.

i'm going to share some of the prompts going on over there. please go add more. please fill prompts. please go wreck these vampires.

(AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST DEAD DOVE REQUEST!! we're cooking with gas now)

Prompts [4/?]:

Armand/Daniel Molloy/Louis de Pointe du Lac

"Present day/Dubai era setting: I'd love to see these idiots do a role play of their first meeting in the bar but this time things go differently ;) "

--

Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac, Lestat de Lioncourt/Magnus Cuckolding, Secret Relationship, Harems, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con

"Knight Louis wishes King Magnus’s concubine Lestat would stop flirting with him. It’s very awkward. "Out of all the lookalikes, it sucks to be the favorite; Lestat fantasizes about consensual sex and would love to fuck this beautiful guy who’s actually his age."

--

Armand/Daniel Grief/Mourning, Blood and Injury, Dubious Consent, Master/Pet, Blood Drinking, Armand Being Armand

"Armand doesn't get to Louis in time to stop the sun from killing his companion. Now doubly angry and becoming slightly unhinged over losing Louis AND Louis's mess with Daniel, Armand decides to torture Louis's fascinating boy before killing him, only- the killing part never happens.

"Somewhere along the way Armand gets attached to Daniel, and decides that since his late lover had also grown attached to the boy in such a short amount of time, decides to keep him alive and as Armand's housepet. "(Go wild with unhinged Armand)"

--

Armand/Louis de Pointe du Lac Storytelling, Aural Kink, Mutual Masturbation, Sexual Fantasy

"(sometime 1950s-2010s) Louis and Armand have an occasional ritual. In bed Armand spins an obviously fake memory about Armand having sex with Lestat. Undiscussed, Louis and Armand beat off from opposite sides of the bed as Armand narrates his fantasy. (Sometimes Louis prompts narrative changes to the ‘memory.’)"

--

Armand/Santiago Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Humiliation, Dubious Consent

"Armand was offered a choice, and there's a reason he doesn't elaborate on the specifics of that. Why the rat box seems like such an easy punishment in comparison to what he doesn't offer up. "Armand has a skill. Santiago wants power and control, of course, but also to humiliate Armand. His can be in-house rather than on trial and made public; what better way to cement his status as new coven maître than to force the submission of the previous? "Optional exhibitionism depending on if the rest of the coven is invited to watch/comment."

--

Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac, Armand/Daniel Molloy, Armand/Lestat de Lioncourt Deception, Bets & Wagers, Teacher-Student Relationship, Cheating, Secret Relationship

"College au with friendly on-again-off-again Louis and Armand. They decide to spice up their sex life by seducing jock Lestat, who has never explored sex with guys, and making him think he’s cheating on each of them with each other. Louis didn’t expect to catch feelings. Armand didn’t anticipate getting jealous about Professor Molloy getting hit on by Lestat during his sexual awakening."

[galedekarios]

People twisting themselves into pretzels to cement that Gale sacrificing himself is 'right' 🙃

It's a lot of things but it's not right. DEPENDING on how you play it may be right for your character but it isn't right for Gale.

Idk why we should consider what Gale would be without a Tav or even an origin pc character when it's impossible to engage with the videogame's story without one. It's a videogame! It's meant to be played.

I totally understand if you ignore this ask btw and are done with the discussion of this.

as i said before: feel free to vent in my inbox any time about this tbh. i still have a few messages to answer. it's an atrocious interview and it remains absolutely atrocious still.

i am honestly not sure what any of these points even have to do with the main criticism that a lot of people have voiced other than obfuscating the heart of the matter:

this part of the interview sends a negative message to those who identify with the struggles gale faces, which two lead writers and the founder of the companiony reinforced, whether that is intentionally or unintentionally

saying that your rpg with so many permutations - that they very much pride themselves with too in the very same interview - has a "right" ending is a choice

they should be aware of the underlying themes of their own creations - and they have shown they largely are when speaking about the other characters in the same interview - and that very real people do identify with all of this, which their writing is crafted to do, instead of parroting meme speak on reddit, twitter & co. for whatever reason

the devs agreeing and saying that there is a "right" ending "in many ways" for one of your main companions, and framing that same companion, who struggles after isolating himself, struggling with depression, suicidal ideation, a chronic impairment and a number of other things that people do relate to, as "the guy who starts off annoying everyone", "eating your most priced possessions" or "he's in trouble", and "at the end, he gives himself for the world", that "he had the choice already once before where he wasn’t ready for it" is a valid criticism for people to have, whether or not some wish to accept that or not.

i have said it before and i'll say it again, but it would have cost them zero ( 0 ) cents to say something along the lines of "we dont really consider our game to have right endings because we have so many variations depending on what you play." and leave that line of conversation there.

[hobermallowed]

for the interview meme 🚫🤝⚰️

🚫 Which character would you NEVER allow near your neck?

Santiago. I would throw myself into a fire before I let that mf have the privilege of tasting my blood.

🤝 If you were turned into a vampire, would you turn anyone you know to be your companion?

Yes!! My best friend Kaycee! we've discussed it many times before and I have her permission to turn her should it happen to me and vice versa lmao

she's my other half so I'm confident we could withstand eternity together.

⚰️ How would you feel about having to sleep in a coffin?

I could never tbh. I'm claustrophobic and I would have a heart attack in minutes.

[someshakespearequote]

(Reposting and deleting original because Tumblr hated my tags somehow?)

So let’s talk about Trick Weekes and Taash’s pronouns.

@felassan asks Trick Weekes:

Hi Trick, the trailer looks amazing, I'm so excited!! May I ask please, does Taash happen to be they/them? I (they/them) would be so thrilled if one of the companions in this game was too.. 💜🥺 (source)

Weekes replies: 

Hey! I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Varric is saying "somebody with fire in THEIR veins" rather than "...in HER veins," because he doesn't know Taash and is using the general "they".

But I am very proud of the diversity we have in the game, and I hope you enjoy Taash's arc nevertheless. (source)

Look at what Trick Weekes says here. They make it clear that Varric is saying “fire in their veins” not because Taash is a they/them, but because Varric doesn’t know Taash yet. Fair! But at no point does Weekes outright say, “No, she uses she/her. Taash does not use they/them.” They use a lot of words that suggest that, but if the game ships and Taash turns out to be non-binary, Weekes can point to their posts like an Aes Sedai in the Wheel of Time and say, “Show me exactly where I said that Taash uses she/her.” It’s the Solas Lie, where you’re deceiving without actually directly lying. (Which is fair, coming from the writer for Solas.)

In fact, Trick has been scrupulous about never using pronouns for Taash. The closest they’ve come is posting a screencap of the “do it for her” meme with pics of Taash, but they made it clear that this was fan art and not theirs.

Now what’s interesting is that other devs HAVE used “she/her” for Taash (on the rare occasions they talk about Taash at all). It’s just Trick who has done a careful job of not using Taash’s pronouns.

What does this mean?

I absolutely believe that Taash being non-binary could be a lightning rod for the worst people in the world to come be shitty, and BioWare wouldn’t want the public story around Veilguard to be a bunch of ranting assholes screaming about Woke. So I can totally see them hiding it! But I find it harder to believe that a game director who is a trans woman would be cool with misgendering Taash for any reason. So it seems pretty clear that we are going to hear “she” for Taash in the game. 

But there’s still the question of Trick Weekes avoiding the pronouns.

Maybe Taash is just a cis woman who uses she, and Weekes wanted to use they/them but got overruled, and this is Weekes’s little bit of resistance. Maybe Taash is non-binary but still uses she/her (which is totally valid)! Maybe Taash uses both She and They interchangeably (gender-fluid follower?!?!?!?!), and Weekes thinks of Taash as They more but has to stay quiet. Maybe, and this is the longest of long shots, Taash’s arc starts with Taash using She and then changes to Taash using They. Bioware has been progressive in a lot of ways. Are they going to give a follower in a AAA game a coming out story? (Putting on my clown makeup for that one.)

Whatever it is, Trick Weekes isn’t saying. They aren’t a big part of the interviews. They aren’t going to conventions. We’ve seen that some of the junior devs who shared stuff early on talked about being told to stop sharing so much, so I’m guessing that Trick Weekes can’t share. So hopefully people don’t keep pressing them to share stuff when they don’t have the authority to do so.

Honestly, I really hope we see more than Taash’s pronouns. She is/They are a dragon hunter! Let me see her/them fighting a dragon! 

I guess we’ll see. (Hopefully during follower week!)

[queenoftheimps]

Sorry to be a huge pain in the ass (if these asks are irritating please just ignore, sorry) but

If Daniel is going to be interviewing Lestat while he's on a concert tour, and Armand is possibly stalking his new fledgling from afar -- something tells me that having Daniel wandering around multiple loud, messy, unsecured locations full of people is going to drive Mr. "Did Daniel Talk to Anyone Unapproved At Lunch" absolutely batshit

From book osmosis I understand that when vampires bite people they…extra-read their minds? (UNCLEAR) anyways if this is true (probably not) I have to assume part of the Stalking is: biting people Daniel talked to to figure out What Was Said? This is probably wildly Not How It Works but I like to imagine they’re just biting the same people and leaving each other mean messages like a very weird and insane telegram system/game in other people’s minds, like.

(Louis: I drank madeleine’s blood and I saw Claudia in the afternoon sunlight like an *angel* and I knew she was my daughter’s companion 🥰😊🥰

Armand: I killed a roadie and saw Daniel yelling “and then he disappeared like a FUCKING COWARD” 🥺)

These asks are not irritating at all! I looooove having the chance to chat over my specific hyperfixations (especially since we're now about to have a hiatus before Season 3)!

I think you are right about the mind-reading! I think in the second episode of the first season, Louis talks about draining the Italian tenor and seeing his whole life play out in front of him as he does.

Which means that leaving behind people to transmit messages would be a HILARIOUS way to get back at each other. I don't know if they'll go that route, but if nothing else, it could be a fantastic fanfiction/meme setup.

(Also, was chatting with a friend who said something like "What're the chances Armand eats that Atlanta TV host for being a shit to Daniel?" which I would find hilarious)

[echoes-lighthouse]

2 and 4 for your chaos iwtv polycule ask game please!! I'm so excited to hear all the lore 👀👀

*happy wiggles* thank you baby I love you so much and thank you for hearing my rough draft at 2am before I made the original post lmao

2- do you and your f/o share any hobbies? what are they? do you see one another as rivals, collaborators, something else? 4- where are your favorite places to go with your f/o? what's your favorite part of that place, or the time you spend together there?

I feel like my answers to most of these are intertwined, so I'm going to answer them both for each character!

Gabrielle: We share everything! She hasn't really kept up on literature for about fifty years, but she scooped me out of an English Degree with a focus on Modern/World War Literature, so we get to catch up on all of that. She likes to explore: her favourite places are high up and quiet and away from humans. When I was still human, he would sometimes carry me to those places in her arms or on her back, but now we can run there together! Those are my favourite : sometimes he wants me to read to him, and sometimes he wants to explore in silence. Sometimes I come with him and sometimes I sit under a tree and read alone, and wait for him to come back to me... so far, he always does.

Lestat: Whereas I usually spend time away from humans with Gabrielle, I spend time with them when I'm with Lestat: bars and concerts and theatre performances. We're not the best theatre companions, since we often don't overlap in our enjoyment, but we go together anyways, and argue afterwards. Which neither of us enjoys. We should really stop going out together. It's better when we stay in and he plays something for me himself, then we both have fun. We also have a lot of fun hunting together, we have compatible styles there.

Louis: Ugh. Not really. I don't like how he treats art as an investment, instead of an end in itself. Often our tastes overlap, but I'm too busy being mad about the way he assesses value to appreciate the fact that he has aesthetic opinions as well. At least we enjoy a lot of the same movies, and we're the two who get into a three-hour discussion after the movie about the Themes (tm). We don't go out together, we're a homebody kind of duo.

Armand: Now, this is someone I can have a good time with at an art gallery. Both of us connect to art on a more emotional level, and I like to go with him and chat about the different eras and mythology. It's not the best thing for him emotionally, but I'm having a great time, so I don't really care. I like Armand less when he's stable, anyways. He's easier to needle when he's a little between the past and present.

Daniel: We eventually figure out that both of us like to bother the others and see what we get out of it, so we start teaming up occasionally. I read a couple of his books and ask him a bunch of questions about his experiences: it's a bit refreshing for him to not have someone digging straight into the worst parts of his life, so we end up having good chats about both of our lives. I text him memes from the other room while he's trying to focus on the interview with the other two.

[butchladymaria]

hello tumblr user Percyverance, since you asked me about the lore of Laika thrower of rocks, this peaked my curiosity about your hunter Oswin and i was wondering if you have anything else about their lore or just any other cool facts about them? 👀👀

greetings tumblr user skleech!!!! thank you for opening pandora’s box of autism 😌

oswin is loosely based off of the lone survivor background. i always loved the idea that it was an allusion to the fishing hamlet :)

they’re partially amphibious! they were only a few years old when their home was attacked, so the impact of fishy weirdness was fairly limited — but not zero. oswin still counts as kin.

obviously, this causes a lot of health problems: oswin assumes it’s a mix of asthma, amnesia, allergies, and a weird skin condition, but no doctor has been able to identify it.

when oswin first arrived in the dream, hunting was not even a possibility in their mind. they simply pretend they do not see it. eventually, though, they realized that in order to complete their research they would need to be able to defend themself.

ossy uses a cane — it helps them with balance and endurance. when they wound up in the dream, oswin used some of the workshop tools to better suit it to the hunt.

upon first talking to miss doll, oswin didn’t realize that they were actually a doll. it took an embarrassingly long time for that to dawn on them. they assumed she called herself ‘adol’ as if it were her name. (not their fault, oswin didn’t get dialogue captions lol)

oswin arrived in the dream already bearing insight thanks to their upbringing — meaning miss doll was their first interviewee. they quickly become very fond of their dreaming companion! maybe it’s their shared connection to eldritch tomfoolery. who knows!

[spiderman meme of miss doll and ossy pointing at each other] autism to autism communication

probably has read every book in the workshop library in hopes of finding further sources for their thesis. unfortunately, no one in yharnam has been enthusiastic to participate in their ethnographic research

so you can imagine that the few friendly civilians they come across are thoroughly interviewed! some are more willing than others.

the amygdala are decidedly less so, but oswin hopes they can be persuaded :)

while they can more-or-less instinctively understand the words of the great ones thanks to their kinhood, they don’t exactly have the facilities to talk back. this makes two-way communication challenging, but not impossible!

laika could throw rocks at them and i would support her in this endeavor. they're a little pathetic and it wouldn't even be hard :)

[castrationanxietyy]

Bathroom at El Cid, Bar Italia 6/19/23

I got the call that a ticket was free an hour and a half before the band was set to play.

Bar Italia's first LA show seemed fit for a Monday, and everyone inside was dressed far to appropriately for the setting. What may have lacked in originality from the crowd made up in the main event, a performance everyone will brag about for years to come.

Bar Italia had been the best kept secret of the noisy British post-punk scene debuting their first album Quarrel in 2020. Mystery and irony are at the forefront of their aesthetic, seemingly not taking their music as intentionally serious. The debut was short and sweet, not sticking to one specific genre yet not earning an experimental title. Their first recorded album becomes more muffled as each track proceeds, as if you are falling into a dreamlike state while listening. With this said, it was a blessing to hear their sound wide awake.

The band spoke not one word while performing. However, I do not think this was due to a lack of chemistry. The three heads of the band, Nina Cristante, Sam Fenton, and Jezmi Tarik Fehmi worked harmoniously whilst not batting a single eye towards each other.  I had told my friends that Nina’s demeanor reminded me of Hope Sandoval, in which one laughed and went, 

“No”. 

They did not bid the crowd farewell and simply took off their instruments and walked off stage. Untrained listeners assumed an encore, but luckily my friends and I linked arms and caught them as they were walking off stage into the corridor. They are truly stunning people; genetics had blessed them well. 

Although I tread lightly when describing a band through their online presence alone, I’m not sure how serious they could be when their album covers consist of memes that are popular during the time. I too felt like a crying stick figure once the set ended. 

The band themself are wonderful people, not yet touched by arrogance from their success. My lovely friend went to speak to them after the show and was gifted a small strip of paper that had their setlist. While speaking to them he claimed that their image isn’t cultivated, they just come across as the niche they wish to present. This doesn’t discredit their humor or general attractiveness, they are just kind people. 

Speaking of the crowd is not anywhere near as interesting as the band itself, but it does speak to the character of Bar Itaila's fanbase. It very well could have been the annoying LA charm everyone possessed, but it gave an aura of pretentiousness. As we danced and sang along, many in the crowd turned heads and told my companion to “be aware” to which I had turned and replied, “must be your first time”. It occurred a couple times throughout the night, but I don’t think our behavior was anywhere near inappropriate. You’re there to dance and sing and enjoy the music; why bother standing stone cold to seem otherworldly to a crowd who will probably laugh at you anyways. Might as well have some fun. 

I also must mention that the opening band 2070 was phenomenal. I had a chance to interview the leading members which will come out soon. 

Unlike other artists, or perhaps it was due to the size of the venue, they seemed real. I fear the band may be stuck in reddit purgatory for a while until their eventual burnout from popularity. Regardless, the band deserves success. They may be Matador’s unknown goldenchild for the time being, and I hope they continue with this status. 

It is easy to throw around terms such as “genuine” or “authentic”, especially when they are at the popularity level they currently hold, but for myself, they have earned the title. 

[heckofabecca]

Fic Author Interview (meme)

I was tagged by the wonderful @anghraine, whom I adore. Thank you so much!

For the purposes of this interview, I will be including my MCU stuff.

1- How many works do you have on AO3?

53 total, but at least one of those is a collection of ficlets that should really be a collection rather than a single fic.

2- What's your total AO3 word count?

A respectable 343,495.

3- What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

All of these are (unsurprisingly) Bucky Barnes/f!Reader, which you can find via my sideblog @beckzorz as well as on AO3.

Dressed To Kill (18+ nsfw): the first part of a porn-with-plot assassin!reader series, which involves a lot of banter and a LOT of sex.

Old Habits (18+ nsfw): Angsty; set after a mission with civilian casualties.

Patched Up (18+ nsfw): Porn without plot.

Sugarplum (cute): Based on a prompt re: leaving little gifts for your crush.

PREMONITIONS, or, Adventures Adjacent to a Six-Year-Old Seer (adorable): On Halloween, your clairvoyant niece leads you straight into Bucky Barnes. It could not have gone worse.

4- Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do! I love comments! It's really wonderful to know my work is engaging enough to prompt someone to leave their thoughts, and I want to honor that by being excited back at them!

5- What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

There's one ficlet where the POV character just had their chest exploded and is bleeding out, but I can't find it T.T

6- What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

I like my stories that end with the happy couple! So... a lot haha! But let's share a few beyond Marvel:

Second Time Lucky: When Lothíriel makes a hasty promise to a lady in distress, she must use all her wits to keep her footing. But there's more than one type of falling...

Mistrust: Stuck under her uncle Denethor's care in Minas Tirith two years before the Enemy's final defeat, Lothíriel of Dol Amroth spies on a marshal from Rohan on her father's behalf. But nothing ever goes quite according to plan when you're eighteen and foolhardy.

7- Do you write crossovers?

I have not! I have seen some I thoroughly enjoy, even if just the idea of them delights me. There's been a bunch of Danny Phantom x Batman across my dash lately that brings me joy (though I don't know either canon very well).

8- Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Not that I can recall!

9- Do you write smut?

Yes, I've written quite a bit.

10- Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yes, someone was going through a bunch of Bucky x Reader stuff and posting them on one of those story sites... It was a number of years ago, so I forget the details.

11- Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I know of!

12- Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Sort of—a friend wrote a part of my series Across The Fords, about a Dunlending who visits Rohan.

13- What's your all-time favorite ship?

I do not have a favorite ship! I think some relationships are really wonderful but I don't have a favorite-favorite. If I had to pick, I'd pick Elizabeth/Darcy, to honor my friend Elizabeth :P

14- What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

Far From The Swan-road* (which I lovingly refer to as my longfic) is complete on its own, I have future parts planned out that I doubt will ever fully see the light of day. It makes me sad, because I'm inordinately fond of it.

* Lothíriel wants her funeral to as grand as her father's will be. Is that so much to ask? A story about female ambition, companionate love, and the difficulty of knitting a world back together.

15- What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue, smut, imagery.

16- What are your writing weaknesses?

Actually getting it done.

17- What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

In small amounts, sure. In large amounts, no.

18- What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter.

19- What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

The Silmarillion... But not the Fëanoreans lol

20- What's your favorite fic you've written?

There are two tied in my heart:

Far From The Swan-road, Lothíriel-focused

Out of Nowhere, Bucky Barnes x OFC

These both feel so SO tailored to my interests that I truly love rereading them��and then wanting to write future installments, which never goes quite how I'd like them to. Alas, but yay for having what I do.

Tagging: @jobean12-blog @kareenvorbarra @alliluyevas @marvelgirl7 @theemightypen @themoonlily

[indelicateink]

the Interview with the Vampire kink meme continues to be everything

there's been a scorching HOT loustat fill today: The Interview

a bouquet of thanks to @vampire-dove for maintaining this anon kink meme for us.

i'm going to share some of the prompts going on over there. please go add more. please fill prompts. these vampires cry out to be put in Situations.

Prompts [5/?]:

Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac Seduction, Vampire Turning, Drunk Sex, Marriage Proposal

"Parallel universe.

"In 1905, Parisian brothel owner Lestat de Lioncourt keeps his ungrateful brothers and father, and his frail mother, in comfort despite hating his life. When his new acquaintance, wealthy American Louis de Pointe du Lac, comes on so strong, he starts to think life could be different. There is an air of the preternatural about him, but Americans are probably just like that?

"Vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac searches for a new life in the old world and finds a handsome man with a most agreeable disposition who he wants to convince to become his companion. Life certainly wouldn't be boring."

--

Armand/Daniel Molloy

"Minimal or no Devil’s Minion before 2022. Armand turns Daniel out of spite, but Daniel takes to vampirism immediately and revels in his newfound strength and immense power. And Daniel is so psyched about this new un-life that he kisses Armand, who kisses him back passionately. He then fucks Armand all around the penthouse and gives him the best dick he’s had in centuries. Armand is terribly confused by this intense, feverish passion between them, over thinks it, and flees out of self-preservation. and naturally Daniel gives chase!"

--

Claudia/Madeleine, Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac Alternate Universe - Royalty, Weddings, Competition

"Royal wedding au. Now that she's in her thirties, Claudia's parents are putting their foot down: as their only child, she will be inheriting the throne, and she's going to need a partner as strong as she is. They've lined up candidates. It's tradition.

"Claudia has never forgiven Lestat for not using his magic to bring back her first love, Charlie, years ago, but he hopes he can make amends by introducing her to a beloved fellow countrywoman from his homeland who was…exiled…for being…a traitor?? Louis wants to know what the fuck is wrong with Lestat's head."

--

Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac Extremely Dubious Consent, Hallucinations, Episode: s02e01 What Can The Damned Really Say To The Damned? (Interview with the Vampire TV 2022)

"While traveling Europe with Claudia, Louis hallucinates(/fantasizes about?) Lestat forcing himself on him.

"Can be violent or just disturbing, can be physical assault (I know the hallucinations don't work like that but we can suspend our disbelief) or not include touching at all. Up to you how aware Louis is that the hallucination is his own mind torturing him. The important part is that Louis is really messed up and can only get off while also punishing himself. Bonus points for Lestat being in his bloody post-Mardi Gras outfit, throat slit and bleeding and all."

--

Armand/Lestat de Lioncourt Accidental Marriage, Accidental Bonding, Dubious Consent

"1795 AU. The Great Laws this, The Great Laws that. Magnus never told Lestat that when another vampire overpowers you with a bite soon after your turning, your body imprints on them and you become vampire-married.

"After Armand attacks Lestat at the party, Lestat finds himself craving sex with Armand against his will. He is determined to be strong! Gabrielle rolls her eyes a lot."

--

Louis de Pointe du Lac/ Oiginal Male Characters, Armand/Original Male Characters Serial Killers, Recreational Drug Use, Creampie, Felching, Rape/Non-con Elements, Service Submission, Under-negotiated Kink, Humiliation, Drugged Sex

"Louis gets lost in the high and never cleans up/finishes draining his hookups to kill them. Louis isn’t going to fuck him when he’s like this, but Armand dutifully cleans up Louis’s sloppy seconds to feel closer to his maitre.

"additional tags: unnegotiated bdsm, nonconsensual drugged sex (armand/louis’s half-dead hookups), nonconsensual blood drinking (armand/louis’s half-dead hookups)"

--

Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac Pregnancy Kink, Crack Treated Seriously

"fantasy m/m non-omegaverse vampire au in which ppl of any sex can get pregnant if they're fertile and are someone who has a uterus because reasons!

"lestat can bear children. louis desperately wants kids. lestat and louis knew when they got married they were not on the same page: children were a hard no for lestat. not having them was a dealbreaker for louis. they really should've sorted that out before they eloped.

"years later louis has one foot out the door when lestat bitterly caves, to louis's single-minded delight. gabrielle and armand are quietly appalled.

"five times louis got his husband pregnant and one time lestat volunteered the idea.

"(i am begging you on my knees for this fic please and thank you)"

[avinashtiwary]

Bollywood Star Avinash Tiwary Decodes Gen Z Lingo! Exclusive Interview Moments Revealed!

Avinash Tiwary, renowned for his portrayal of 'Majnu' in 'Laila Majnu' and his notable roles in 'Bulbbul,' 'Khakee,' 'Kaala,' and 'Bambai Meri Jaan,' shares his insights on the vibrant Gen Z language in an exclusive iDiva interview. Adding flair to our well-loved 'Pinky Promise' and 'Meme Check' segments, Avinash showcases his unmatched wit.

Wrapping up the episode with our signature Rapid Fire round, Avinash leaves us entertained with a series of delightful and humorous remarks.

Join us for a deep dive into Avinash Tiwary's journey, his experiences in the entertainment realm, and his closest companions.

Stay tuned for more engaging videos and candid conversations with your favorite celebrities. Don't miss out on this enjoyable interaction with Avinash Tiwary!

Follow Avinash Tiwary on his social media handles:

https://www.facebook.com/Avinashtiwary1985/ 

https://www.instagram.com/avinashtiwary15/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@avitiw 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avinash_Tiwary 

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm2453803

https://twitter.com/avinashtiw85

Follow : https://www.youtube.com/@iDIVAOfficial for more entertaning videos.

[quirkythequill]

Krampus's Instagram Icon from last year

Krampus: The Misunderstood Child Wrangler or Festive Folklore Fiasco? Unveiling the Truth Behind the Horned Holiday Figure

In the shadow of Santa's sleigh and twinkling lights, a festive controversy is stirring as Krampus, the infamous horned companion of holiday lore, finds himself at the center of an exposé. Is Krampus truly a misunderstood child thief, or has this festive figure been unfairly maligned?

Krampus: A Naughty Reputation?

For centuries, Krampus has been portrayed as the sinister sidekick to Santa Claus, a creature who punishes naughty children by snatching them away in his sack. However, recent investigations reveal that Krampus might be the victim of festive character assassination.

Experts argue that Krampus has been unfairly cast as the villain in holiday tales. "Krampus is simply misunderstood. He's just trying to teach a lesson about the consequences of misbehaving during the holiday season," suggests Dr. Carol Cheerful, a Festive Folklore Historian.

Krampus Speaks Out:

In an exclusive interview with Krampus, he vehemently denied the child-thieving accusations. "Honestly, I'm just here to remind kids to be on their best behavior. The sack thing is more of a metaphorical scare tactic, you know? It's all in good holiday spirit," explained Krampus, adjusting his horned headgear.

Krampus went on to express frustration at being excluded from festive celebrations. "Everyone loves Santa, but no one appreciates the guy who's trying to keep the North Pole in check. It's a tough gig!"

Krampus Supporters Rally:

Supporters of Krampus have launched a #HornsForHolidays campaign, arguing that the horned figure adds an edgy excitement to holiday festivities. They suggest that Krampus should be celebrated as a symbol of holiday discipline rather than vilified.

As the debate over Krampus's true intentions unfolds, social media is filled with memes featuring Krampus offering holiday advice and hashtags like #KrampusKindness and #NaughtyOrNiceDebate trending worldwide.

---

About the Author:

Santa's Helper

Santa's Helper, a Ph.D. holder in Jolly Journalism, has been spreading festive cheer through the power of satire since the days when tinsel was considered cutting-edge decoration. Known for turning holiday tales into laugh-inducing narratives, Santa's Helper possesses a knack for making even the naughtiest stories sparkle with laughter. When not chronicling festive frolics, Santa's Helper can be found grounding mischievous elves or holding Secret Snowflake Therapy grumpy snowmen. They believe presents are the real magic of the season.

[vrankup]

10 Types of Content Marketing You Should Know About

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Podcasts with Personality: Tune into your audience's busy lives with podcasts. They're perfect companions for commutes, workouts, and chores. Share industry insights, interviews, or simply entertain while subtly showcasing your expertise.

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Educate: Dive deep into a specific topic and provide a comprehensive guide in the form of an ebook. This not only showcases your expertise but also acts as a lead magnet to gather potential customers' information.

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