#either scenario works for me!

[guardiandamned]

"As if I'd want to see any of your faces around here."

After a moment, a familiar scowl crosses Ryouga's face as he forces himself to relax, not wanting to show any sign of weakness to his visitor. Out of all the Arclight brothers, Ryouga probably knows V the least... but that frustratingly stoic attitude of his and the calm calculation behind his gaze gives him the creeps, and more importantly, is more than enough to put him on guard.

...Reminds him of Kaito, a bit. Maybe Ryouga should be grateful that IV isn't the one here, but still...

"Cut the shit. You wouldn't be showing me your face if you didn't have some kind of reason." It's difficult to tell how much he knows, but at the very least, it's clear Ryouga is suspicious of V's intentions. That isn't enough for him to hold his tongue, though.

"So what do you want?"

    v isn't quite sure if he was expecting this response, while yes he really shouldn't - he still needs to answer shark. though there was no way to tell if he knew, or the fact if the eldest arclight brother could give into details. as such, he is aware that any of the slightest altercation can change the future in any sort of way.

his hands by his side, blue orbs stare down at him "would you rather i leave?" his tone unamused, almost wanting to fold his arms over his chest; but does not.

his throat clears "or were you perhaps preferring one of my other brothers?" and by that, he probably was referring more to iv. however, he wouldn't let him know what happened with his brothers, v needed to speak carefully without giving anything away.

[canisalbus]

Vachete Suomi AU. Vesuri ja Vaski asuvat suuressa kylässä jossain sisämaassa kaukana suurista kaupungeista kuten Turusta. Kirkonkylän pappi, Vesuri, yrittää parhaansa mukaan vakuuttaa kyläläisiä kasvattamaan perunaa, koska se on satoisa ja ravitseva kasvi mutta kyläläiset eivät tahdo luopua nauriista. Vaski on kartanonvoudin poika ja yrittää pitää suhteita yllä kyläläisiin, että he olisivat suostuvaisia maksamaan veroja kuninkaalle eivätkä hyökkäisi hänen isänsä kimppuun.

Loose translation:

Finnish Vaschete AU.

Vesuri (a type of pruning knife/billhook) and Vaski (brass/copper/bronze) live in a big village somewhere inland, far away from the country's populous cities like Turku (Finland's oldest city and former capital located in the southwestern coast). The village priest, Vesuri, is trying his best to persuade the villagers to start farming potato, a high-yielding and nourishing crop, but people are reluctant to give up their turnips (one of Finland's most important staple foods up until 1800's when potato finally took over). Vaski is the son of a local lord of the manor (or maybe you'd call it bailiff? Or even jarl?) and is doing his best to get along with the villagers so that they would continue paying their taxes to the king and wouldn't turn against his dad.

[sidesteppostinghours]

I stick with real things, usually facts and figures When information's in its place I minimize the guessing game Guess what? (What?) I don't like guessing games or when I feel things Before I know the feelings

im ngl, like 90% of the reason i drew this was so i could make this

[danwhobrowses]

5 Underrated Things or Tactics That May Aid Bell's Hells to Victory

Spoilers up to Campaign 3 Episode 116 below

Well Critters, it all comes down to this.

Vox Machina dismantled the Malleus Keep, killed Ozo (the Bozo) Kruft, and freed the Champion of Ravens which removed the tidal lock on Ruidus, and now the Mighty Nein have disintegrated the Weave Mind, completing essentially a full dismantling of the Kreviris Imperium, all of which quicker than I anticipated. All that's left is the Hallowed Cage, where Ludinus Da'leth and his inner circle are using his harness to try and fully destroy Liliana Temult. Bell's Hells begin a race against time to save her, but also a race to defeat Ludinus before he unleashes his intentions unto Exandria and its Pantheon with Predathos, and then decide for themselves what they do with the God Eater.

Suffice to say, and I dunno about everyone else but, I am terrified. I believe they can win but Ludinus is not to be underestimated, this second harness means he may be stronger - and he was already the strongest wizard alive - and have access to more powers compared to his simulacra, plus Predathos may come during or after this battle, which can put the Hells in a weakened state. Matt has likely prepared his best and worst for this final battle too, but the Hells aren't Lv. 20 combatants like the other groups; there's no 9th level spells, no Divine Intervention, and the group lost their cleric ~20 episodes back, so even though VM and the Nein were ultimately successful within 1-2 episodes having to use both of their auto-succeed Divine Interventions from their two clerics in the process, this is the battle. And with that is a ridiculous amount of tension for Ludinus and for what comes after. For all we know, the cast may've already recorded ahead enough to have finished the final fight, maybe even finished the campaign (though I hope not, partly because I don't want it to end yet but also I feel like the dawn of the new era should be explored regardless of what choice the Hells make, plus some characters could use a bit more resolution after the big fight and the pressure of stakes and time sensitivity have been alleviated) but for us it's a nervous wait, and a wonder of what can be done to win and what choice will be made to determine the future of Exandria, Ruidus, their faith and their people. So, this is my indulging into that first part, 5 lower-key things or tactics that might not have been initially thought of that could make things easier to defeat Ludinus.

Liliana, the Inner Circle, and the Arcane Battery Provided that the Hells make it in time to stop Liliana from being totally destroyed by the harness (which is very possible since Laudna does have that tracking spell on him since Aeor, it's all about speed and not running into enemies) she will still be without her magic to fight. Ludinus' inner circle holding her down is comprised of Reilorans but also other Ruidusborns, and that's something the Hells can expose. Liliana cannot fight, but Ruidusborns can take spell slots from each other, so Liliana and any KO'd Ruidusborns from the inner circle can be used as spell slot fuel for Imogen and Fearne. Ludinus also gave a 9-slot fully-charged Arcane Battery to the Hells in order to trigger Delilah within Laudna for his escape, the battery can help recharge Laudna's slots too which makes this tactic handy for the witches of the group.

Dunamancy One of Ludinus' most important tools for his plan has been Luxon Beacons, a device able to unravel even divine magic, but much like the Harness it can prove his undoing. Dunamancy hasn't been touched upon as much as early C3 hinted it could have, but for lack of a better phrase, the possibilities are still endless. The Hells have multiple Potions of Possibility at their disposal to aid with rolls, but they also were given a Sphere of Dunamantic Restoration by the Kryn, which will trigger the effects of a Short Rest and a health and spell slot recharge - which can be handy in a pinch and to reuse some once per short rest abilities. Ashton is the key factor though, I've mentioned it a few times already but we don't know if these items will behave differently with them, via their own internal dunamancy abilities. Given the unknown factor, that's why it's not deemed as much of a tactic as it is a Hail Mary, but it is one that could lead to Ludinus' own magic unraveling, and maybe even Predathos' too

The Whirling Dervish & Conditional Advantages In Vassalheim, Dorian received his family sword: Gambolcleft, the Vortex Blade. One of its yet to be used abilities involves a once a day repetitive use of striking an enemy, similar to how Ozo killed Vex, provided that they attack with Disadvantage. Dorian is already looking at a high attack roll given Gambolcleft's +3 to attack and hit rolls, and Master's Flourish means he doesn't have to use a Bardic Inspiration to stack a Blade Flourish (Defensive Flourish is probably best, the damage is also doubled by Gambolcleft), the only quibble is the disadvantage. Fortunately, most of the Hells have skills that can force Ludinus into conditions where attacks would do advantage on him: stunning and rendering him prone being most likely, but paralysis is possible if a Hold Person is successful. It would of course require his Legendary Resistances to be used up first, but if Ludinus gets stunned or knocked prone within Dorian's range, Gambolcleft could easily carve its way through him with continual hits, stacked potentially by Bless and Mark of the Messy End, for perpetual damage and make Dorian himself impossible to hit on his next turn. Stunning or Proning Ludinus also leaves Ludinus at the vicious mercy of the martial players, especially for conditions that auto-crit when hit.

The Hole (or the Bag of Holding) Occam's Razor. An old but gold tactic of the Hells could very easily be used against Ludinus too. The portable hole or the bag of holding are devoid of air, left in one long enough with it sealed would mean suffocation as have been the fate of many of the Hells' past opponents that they didn't have time to deal with. The Hole's downside is that a Strength check can lead to a creature forcing their way out, but the Hells do have plenty of skills that can impose disadvantage on Strength rolls and the aforementioned conditions could help that, Ashton's Hammer may also make it more difficult to unfold the Hole if its Immovable Rod is propped atop of it - but that'd be down to Matt's discretion. The Bag of Holding doesn't have the strength save, but it is smaller so it may not be able to fit him in it. I'm not sure if Ludinus can use Gate to escape either, dunno if that leads to the whole extradimensional rip thing that happens if you open one while in the other, but if he does it's a concentration spell so the Hells could just keep knocking him back from the other side, a bigger group of enemies in either also reduces the time needed before they suffocate.

The Harness and the One-Chance Polymorph Right now Ludinus is using a harness to destroy Liliana, comparing it to the one in Moleasmyr it'll potentially take about an hour to finish the process providing that this factor wasn't improved upon. However, removing magic within a being for a whole day only required a minute of contact in the Hells' one and maybe Ludinus', thus his creation and reason for long life and power can also be the key to his downfall. Holding Ludinus down for a minute is of course not as easy as it sounds but that's where Polymorph can come in. Polymorph lasts at most an hour, so as long as Ludinus is changed into a creature that can easily be restrained they can use the harness on it and remove Ludinus of his entire arsenal in order to finish him off without the risk of his high level spells. The tricky part is getting Polymorph to succeed; Wisdom is after all a Wizard's bread and butter, but there is a single gambit that could make it work. It requires all Legendary Resistances to be gone of course, and for Laudna and Braius to be conscious; Braius has a once per long rest ability to change a Wisdom saving throw to a Charisma one, which he used to allow Dorian to succeed in making the Dominox dance in the live show, Laudna's Void Puppet can force disadvantage on saves to those within 5ft of it, which will negate his magical resistance to just a clean roll. Orym can also use Hex to impose a disadvantage, which may be able to stack, but this would also hinge on Ludinus' charisma not being super high and if the Polymorph fails once it will likely not be able to be tried again.

The fight won't be easy, but there are avenues that can make it less dangerous, a strategy is very much required for such a foe. All the while my strategy remains keeping up the prayer circle. Deep breaths everyone.

[wings-of-flying]

i think i've realised a lot of jrwi 'discourse' is one person saying something and about thirty responding. it's either that or 'you're all degenerates and should be jailed like for real' and there's no in between

[someobscurereference]

Insane over the awakening trio again. We fought a war together, saved each other multiple times, and I know for a fact I can trust you with my life. We have never learned to socialize normally so we can't interact in a normal environment for five seconds without dunking on each other. I would follow you through time and space and abandon everything with you. You are the living reminder of every awful thing that have ever happened to me. Our traumas make us hurt each other at every turn. We're the only ones who know what lead to each other becoming Like That. Our jobs are barely in the same area and we don't even hang out that much outside of necessities. You are all I have left. I cannot fucking understand you. I am the only one in this entire world who has the ability to even try to.

x

[neixins]

as funny as i think it would be for hak and su-won to be sitting around the crest, head in hands because none of their ideas are working, only for yona to suddenly pop out with the dragons in tow like “hi guys i fixed everything :)” i do think the interpretation of hak and su-won as the sword and the shield is starting to hold more weight now, especially considering ik-su’s comment in ch 43 about how it’ll take a while for the sword and shield to appear (i.e. reconcile and be able to work together)

[coffeebanana]

omg imagine if in the paris special adrien learns toxinelle's identity

he'd be like "...MARINETTE? Marinette is that crazy ladybug?!?! ... oh. WAIT. COULD SHE BE MY--no. no she can't. i already know that's not possible... at least she was adorale as multimouse 🥰... but...😢... in another world... she could have been... huh... 🫤"

[icewindandboringhorror]

I was just thinking what a cool job this might be.. what if you were just the person who makes little still images of cute animal figurines doing various activities to post on social media...? like.. show up to work and just spend the whole day like "hmm... this table should be placed to the left a little.. let me set this miniature bagel down in this way... this tiny rabbit should be wearing a scarf", setting the backgrounds, the lighting, etc. ... dream job perhaps lol...

[e-adlirez]

Chinese/Lunar New Year

So uh for the past few days I’d been contemplating a Chinese New Year piece for this year in particular because uh it’s the Year of the Dragon and that plus dragon dance so perfect a combination it makes, but uh… admittedly I bit more than I could chew so uh :’D

I wasn’t able to make a full artwork in time, but I do have my cleaned up sketch to show for the holiday, so without further ado, happy Chinese/Lunar New Year Stilton fandom <3

It’s very not complete and the dragon’s details aren’t even drawn in but I hope ya’ll like it anyway

I am planning on finishing this tho so stay tuned for that :3

[kakusu-shipping]

I love Iroh he's a top tier character but every time I've ever committed to making an S/I for him it ends up a bust and I never figured out why, he'd just sit on the backburn with a half baked Self Insert until I'd scrap the whole thing. He's been on and off the F/O list more than any other character.

Was it the dynamic? My plots? Was it not interesting enough, did I feel like a background character? Or was it TOO interesting and take away from Iroh pre-existing narrative? Am I weaved in enough? Are we believable if I was canon? Why isn't this working?

Upon rewatch I once again began my song and dance of find a plot I like and build into it, and I am once again hitting a wall. I decided to really sit down with this one, run through all my plots and drafts, run ever S/I at once and see why none of them are sticking.

That's how I finally I realized, it's Zuko. My wall is Zuko

Iroh loves Zuko more than he would ever love me, that's why none of my plots were working, because at some point it has to be about just Him and Zuko.

It's kinda interesting getting your heart broken by a fictional character...

[sneverussape]

walpurgis

another one that's been in my drafts for a while. it's just a lil ficlet so don't expect much hehe

@greens-your-color prompt # 25: DEATH EATER (scenario 1)

summary: a group is taking over the Wizarding World's news by storm and severus is naturally curious

--

“Lily?”

“Yeah?”

“Have you heard of these? These Knights of Walpurgis?”

Lily turned to look at Severus only to give him a disdainful eyeroll. “What do you want to know about them for?”

“Well, who are they even?” Severus was more than a little curious, but he was also apprehensive.

“Nobody special. They’re just a bunch of people who believe in a load of malarkey.”

Severus frowned. That certainly wasn’t the description he expected. “Malarkey? Like what?”

This time, Lily granted him a heavy sigh from behind the heavy tome she was reading. “Honestly, Severus, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the Prophet. They’re just a group acting grand. Rich tossers who have too much time on their hands.”

“But is it true though, that they have access to hidden magics and things?” Severus felt his fingers itch at the notion. He was already taking advanced lessons in both Potions and Transfiguration, with both Lucius and Andi’s support and none of McGonagall’s and Dumbledore’s knowledge, and he was eager to learn beyond what books held, although he was careful to never share the reason. The few people who mattered would figure it out soon enough, but he avoided voicing it out loud to avoid any pretenses of hope. He was convinced mixing modern medicine and magic was the key to managing or even completely curing his condition altogether. Very few wizards in the past had already done so but they were all at least a century old. He had vowed to himself that he would engage in the same practice to figure out a cure, or at the very least die in the attempt. But he wasn’t going to tell Lily that, of course.

He asked her instead, “Do they know things beyond the books and the stuff they teach us? Like deeper magics? Blood magic?”

“Who told you that?” Lily looked at him this time, a frown twisting her features.

“Lucius,” Severus said before he could even stop himself. When he saw Lily’s expression darken, he caught himself and backtracked. “Not that it means anything, he was just talking shop…keeping me interested throughout lessons. Oh, don't make that face, Lily!”

“You’re fourteen and not living in the Wizarding World, he shouldn’t be telling you that.” Lily had snapped her book shut and was already making her way out of the plush armchair she had settled in. “I’m telling Mum and Dad—”

“No—!” Severus blocked his sister before she could make her way out of their father’s study. This conversation certainly wasn’t going the way he wanted. He had thought it was a simple enough question. “You don’t have to tell them, Lils, c’mon, I was just curious…”

Lily had grown an odd shade of red, as though she was angry. But why? Severus didn’t understand.

“The Knights of Walpurgis,” she spat the name as though it left a bad taste on her tongue, and her voice had dropped down to a hiss, “is a dangerous group, Severus, and you shouldn’t discuss them so casually.”

This time, it was Severus’ turn to frown. He could feel his dreams crumbling to dust before his very eyes. “I thought you said they were just a bunch of tossers. Why are you making it sound like they’re more than that?”

Lily shook her head vehemently. “Forget I said it. Don’t talk about them, Sev. I mean it. Lucius should not be talking about them to you.”

“Why shouldn’t he?” Defiance surged within him; Severus had never really liked being told what to do, especially by his sisters. It just wasn’t in his nature. “He’s my tutor, it’s his job to tell me things.”

“Not about this he isn’t! You wouldn’t understand…”

He caught her insinuation immediately and felt his face grow hot. “Because I’m not at Hogwarts, you mean? Or in the Wizarding World? I’m as much a wizard as any of you lot!”

Lily looked as though she had been struck. Her eyes widened comically wide. “That’s not what I meant!” she said, although her expression said otherwise. Lily had always been a terrible liar.

“That’s what you wanted to say,” Severus said, unable to control the bitterness in his tone. “Out with it then, Lils. You probably don’t even see me as one of you, because I don’t go to school in a magical castle and learn amongst giants and goblins and pixies. I probably don't even hold a wand right in your eyes.”

This time, tears welled in Lily’s eyes, crystal against vibrant green. “That’s not true, stop it, Severus! I have never thought that, and I never will!”

His chest had grown tight and Severus felt like crying himself. He knew Lily wasn’t trying to be mean, but somehow he also couldn’t help but feel the stab of self-pity that came at his own accusation. If his own sister thought he was beneath knowing something that was apparently commonplace news in the Wizarding World, what did the other kids think? Did they think he was some sort of…some sort of second-rate freak? Did Lily?

Severus tilted his chin up as he sniffed. He looked down at Lily with what he hoped was an imperious glare as he said, “Forget I asked. I shan’t bother you about it again.”

He stood and turned to stomp out of the room, tuning out Lily calling out to him. He shouldn’t have asked her. He shouldn’t have asked any of them. He should have just asked Lucius. Lucius would know. Lucius always answered his questions. Lucius wouldn’t think he was a freak.

As he walked away, Severus unconsciously scrubbed at the tears that were gathering at the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

[yakool-foolio]

If Yakou and Yomi were perfect homunculi, they would play a round of Buckshot Roulette for the satisfaction of their competitive spirits and to settle some scores. The room fills with [undisclosed] tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

[goldendoodlerlockerlove]

Roudise Week Day 6: Roommates/Alternate Universe

I think this is my favorite piece I did for this week!! I just had a ton of fun with it, and it was great doing a lineless style again. People have been designing older Louise with braids, and I knew I had to incorporate that somehow!! This was based off the episode What About Job? in the scenario where Louise and Rudy are totally platonic roommates (and that’s also why Rudy’s skin looks like that)!

[secondhandskoot]

How I think the Quody dynamic works

Note: I got an anonymous ask on my blog, secondhandskootur (which Tumblr nuked suddenly and with no explanation why a few days ago), regarding my thoughts on how the dynamic between Quint and Brody would work. I never got the chance to actually post it so I've decided to go ahead and answer it over here, just in case I'm never able get that other blog up and running again. Like many of my longer posts, this is moderately ramble-y.

In the majority of my headcanons and fanon-fueled scenarios, Quint and Brody are just platonic friends who hang out every once in a while, mostly because I actually really like Brody with Ellen, and I've also been liking Brody/Meadows as of late. Additionally, I'm a total Quooper trooper, so that also factors in to why I don't often pair Quint and Brody together romantically. However, I do occasionally enjoy romantic Quody shipping as well so I'll discuss my thoughts on their dynamic in regards to how I usually view it, and also in a romantic/more-than-friends way.

Overall, I'd say the Quody dynamic is somewhat the opposite of Quooper. It's more mature, less chaotic, and generally just a lot calmer. It's arguably more boring, but from an objective, irl stand point, Quody is also probably a healthier relationship than Quooper is. Quint does push Brody's buttons and pick on him, but not nearly as much as he does with Hooper mainly because Brody isn't super reactive to what Quint says. Generally, at most, Quint will just say really dumb shit with a serious tone of voice and get Brody to fall for it.

I'll go into detail about how I typically view Quint and Brody's dynamic first: in a purely platonic, sittin'-side-by-side-crackin'-open-a-beer-and-not-sayin-a-got-damn-thing way.

Usually when Quint and Brody hang out, it isn't just the two of them. I have a whole headcanon that Hendricks and Meadows are Brody's best friends so whenever he has any kind of hang out/event going on, there's a good chance that they'll be there. If Hooper is in town then there's a decent chance he'll come along too, oftentimes being the one to bring Quint with him. Furthermore, Quint and Brody are both introverts so neither of them are typically conversation starters in a group setting. Having all of this in mind, it's much quieter on the occasions when they are alone together. They absolutely do have conversations -- with Moby Dick references/jokes included -- but they tend to be far and few between. And that's pretty much the gist of how their dynamic usually goes in my mind: two introverted guys who hang out and enjoy a nice silence together.

Now, in a romantic/more-than-friends scenario, there's two ways I could see Quint and Brody's dynamic working and it depends on whether or not Ellen is also in the picture -- and yes it does matter and does change the dynamic in my opinion. In both scenarios though, Quint is usually making the first moves and he knows what to say/do to get Brody flustered. He's also just a flirt in general.

In Scenario A -- where Ellen is in the picture -- I think Quint and Brody would most likely be friends with benefits. I prefer to view Brody and Ellen's marriage as an open relationship where both parties are happy and love eachother. Because of that, I think Quint and Brody would have a typical fwb relationship and remain fairly casual. So yeah they smooch, but it isn't romantic here. Quint's also super flirty Quint also hooks up exclusively with Brody because I just can't imagine any timeline where Quint and Ellen are anything more than friends. If you're 18+, see the ao3 fanfic called Ramrod for more on how I view the Scenario A dynamic to work (and also because it's great).

In Scenario B -- where Ellen isn't in the picture (she either divorced Brody or just literally doesn't exist) -- I could see Quint and Brody being moderately domestic. I say moderately because no relationship involving Quint is ever going to be really and truly domestic or conventional. This is the scenario where I could see Quint and Brody actually having a standard romantic relationship and I also have more to say about it than I do Scenario A. Quint would probably move in with Brody, but he'd still keep the shack as a workshop. They'd also both be breadwinners; I can't really see either of them being a trophy/househusband. Brody would have his day job and do his reading & writing as a hobby, while Quint would make his money primarily from boat chartering and/or making alcohol (he quits shark hunting post-jaws incident). I like to imagine that Quint would frequently come up behind Brody and wrap his arms around his waist. He'll also mumble things into Brody's ear, but it's a 50/50 chance that he'll either say something really sweet and heartfelt, or something so utterly stupid and goofy that Brody starts immediately cracking up. It's also not uncommon for Brody to come home first and then get so immersed in a book or his writing that he won't notice Quint coming home until he actually physically comes up behind him and wraps his arms around him. They do occasionally bicker and have arguments, but most of the disagreements/problems they do have get solved fairly quickly.

Anyway, this is the majority of my thoughts on Quody, and to the anon who sent me that ask on my old blog: may this answer find your feed.