#isobel is genuinely the best character

[oathkeeper-of-tarth]

Here's another long-winded post about me combing through BG3 early access files in search of Aylin and Isobel tidbits - rummaging that already resulted in this post right here. Let me just say I'm pleased to have brought Aylin Silverblood some attention because, again, I think it's a dope name.

Now, obviously, Isobel and Aylin are both Act 2 characters, and early access only covered Act 1. So anything related to them is partial stuff that wasn't scrubbed from the game files for whatever reason, and a lot of placeholders (these are usually indicated by |the text being in vertical lines|). This all means that sometimes (usually!) there are no nice voice lines indexed by UUID and parseable dialogue trees, and you have to trawl through a giant localisation XML of every bit of text in the game instead. An additional complication is all these stories were in flux, but older bits of writing from deprecated iterations didn't get immediately removed from the files, so it's sometimes hard to tell what belongs to which version.

The biggest luck I've had with regards to these two is the 24/11/2021 version of the game - EA Patch #6 Hotfix #19, aka game version v. 4.1.1.1356845, aka the source of Aylin Silverblood (my beloved). Here's a handy list of the patch and hotfix history, if you're like me and interested in this stuff. I'm actually wrangling files from 5 versions of the game right now, ranging from March 2021 to July 2022 - it's been a fun time. This old datamining post on reddit really helped narrow down the timeframe for me to look into.

Why am I doing this? I genuinely find it fun and interesting! There's some neat writing to be found! I crave more Isobel at all times! And I'm always into WIP and "how the sausage is made" type stuff. Also, tons of cool inspo for fics and headcanons.

Note, because I know that's a popular EA tidbit: this is all from after the Halsin killing Isobel variant was scrapped. This is, in fact, the version where she gets killed and soul trapped by Balthazar, and Aylin gets framed for it.

I'm going to start this off with my favourite part, and that is snippets of an early version of the Aylin/Isobel reunion from 2021. I've done my best to put them in order, but be aware a lot of this is still me speculating.

|[CINE: Nightsong teleports the party to the plaza in front of Last Light. As she looks around trying to familiarize herself, Isobel notices your arrival from the balcony. Her reaction is pure shock, followed by an immediate rush down the stairs.]|

|[CINE: Isobel dashes out of the front of the inn, wide-eyed and out of breath. Nightsong stares at her, stunned.]|

Aylin: |(distant, shocked) Isobel.|

Isobel: |Aylin...|

|[CINE: Nightsong takes an instinctive step towards her but stumbles, collapsing to her knees, eyes blown with pain and disbelief. Isobel closes the distance between them in hasty steps, trying to help Nightsong up, but Nightsong tightly grips at her arms - as if the contact makes everything real.]|

|[CINE: Isobel's eyes fill with tears as she drops down to the ground, throwing her arms around Nightsong's shoulders in a tight embrace. Shaking, almost fearful, Nightsong returns the embrace - the first kind touch she's had in a hundred years.]|

|[CINE: Nightsong draws back from the hug, looking Isobel in the eyes. Isobel helps Nightsong to her feet. As the two of them stand, they keep their hands linked.]|

Aylin: |A hundred years. Isobel, light of my heart, where were you? (choking up) I found your body, I....|

Isobel: |I was dead, Aylin. For so long. It was Balthazar - he trapped my soul, he-|

Player: |[Doesn'tKnowRelationship] You were lovers? Did Ketheric know?|

Aylin: |(jaw tightens) We were lovers. Her father was against it. He saw nothing but future misery. I'm immortal. I would never age, but she would.|

Isobel: |He didn't understand. It doesn't matter when... (fearful, as if worried Aylin's feelings might have changed) ... I still love you so much.|

Aylin: |(her first genuine smile) And I, you. No trial or pain could ever change that. (relaxes a touch) It is why I couldn't leave your body, even when they came. Balthazar and that Sharran witch told your father that I was to blame.|

|And he believed them over you?|

Aylin: |(frowns) He believed what he wanted to believe. Ketheric saw his daughter dead, and he saw someone he wanted to hurt. Shar took that cruel thread, that moment of mortal pain, and used it to corrupt him to the core.|

Aylin: |I was put on trial, and I had no defence. The moment it was over, I was taken down to the temple and... well, you saw what they had done.|

|Isobel presses against Nightsong's side, face tight with worry, running her fingers in slow strokes up and down Nightsong's arm.|

|[CINE: Nightsong tilts her head back towards the player.]|

Aylin: |These heroes saved me. Without them, I'd still be trapped in Balthazar's soul cage, with Ketheric gripping my heart like a leech.|

|[CINE: Isobel's face falls at the mention of her father's name.]|

Isobel: |A *soul cage*? Gods.|

Isobel: |I didn't know. Gods, he didn't say a word to me. I ran away because it was Balthazar that brought me back. As I ran, I heard my father shouting... but I'd seen enough. There was no saving him.|

Aylin: |You are not your father, Isobel. (sad, wry smile) You were the only thing that kept me alive in the dark. When hope began to fade, I simply thought of you.|

Isobel: |[To player] Thank you. (smiles wide) I... I can't possibly thank you enough, for bringing Aylin back to me.|

|Nightsong smiles too, but she's lost looking at Isobel, completely tuning out everyone else around them. Isobel leans in, resting her brow against Nightsong's and closing her eyes, Nightsong's hand clutched to her chest.|

Then, there is an option to press Isobel for details:

|You said the necromancer trapped your soul. Why?| |Was Balthazar the one who killed you, Isobel?|

Isobel: |(hesitant, visibly guilty) I think Aylin would know better than I do. The last thing I remember is a blade in the dark. Too fast to feel pain. Then silence.|

Asking Isobel to go with you to Moonrise was possible at various points, leading to different responses:

Will you come with me to Moonrise? I could use your help. If we're going to stop Ketheric, you have to come with me.

Until there is a way to keep Last Light safe, I cannot leave. All I can do is pray. |Not if everyone is killed at Last Light in my absence. I'll do everything I can to help you from here, but I won't go with you.| |Not if everyone is killed at Last Light in my absence. If someone else could take my place, I would go with you. I swear it.|

|Nightsong is here, she will protect Last Light - let's go to Moonrise, like you promised.| |I want to spend the night with Aylin. Meet me at Moonrise tomorrow.| |Nightsong will protect the people while together we can stop Ketheric.|

Isobel: I... we need to get close to him, don't we? And Aylin can protect Last Light in my absence. Aylin: Isobel, I have just gotten you back. To put yourself in his hands again-

Looks like we would've had a flip of the current Act 2 boss fight, and Isobel would be the ally for the confrontation with Ketheric, not Aylin. Also, that one line right there that is our first indication of Succor™, gotta love it. Sadly, post-reunion I only have:

|TBD: Post Nightsong Reunion.| |How are you and Aylin doing?|

To borrow release version Isobel's stock line: KEEPING VERY WELL, I HOPE? In any case, I'm putting the rest under a cut, featuring options for calling Isobel out on her parentage, Aylin being from Mt. Celestia, and Balthazar being gross - among many other things.

At one point quite early on, Isobel's protection from the shadow curse wasn't a spell, but an ointment:

|Ointment of Selûne| |Ointment Container PLACEHOLDER| |Isobel filled this with precious doses of her sacred Ointment of Selûne.| |First get the ointment from Isobel.| Have you received Isobel's ointment yet? What protection can her ointment offer, exactly? You should see Isobel. If Marcus does crop up, I'd sooner you had her ointment to protect you. Can use that cleric's ointment to get you on your way. But I have to move out - now. Can I get some of your ointment? No more theories! It's time for action. Our secret weapon needs to travel to Moonrise Towers, which means they'll need your ointment. You have the ointment. You have the Gate Stone. Moonrise Towers awaits. Are you sure the ointment will last long enough?

What is now Isobel's Ominous Cough was a gradual weakening that was remarked upon and seemed to be there to create more of a sense of urgency:

I won't claim to know Isobel's craft, but Selûne's light is bright in her. Isobel's tough - though she was tougher at the start. I've rarely seen a cleric so in tune with her goddess, but the curse is taking its toll. The light used to be stronger, Isobel. How much more of this curse can you take? You look paler than death, Isobel. How much more of this curse can you take?

We have some nice concise infodumps on Ketheric:

After Ketheric turned to darkness, the Enclave joined with the Harpers to unseat him and his Sharran cohorts. We marched together, fought together, bled together... and in the end we prevailed.

Only it wasn't the end. Nothing seemed to kill Ketheric himself, so the Harpers decided to seal him in his own tomb, alive. They thought that would be enough. But they hadn't counted on Ketheric unleashing the shadow curse. We watched it drain all light and life away from this place, saw it twist people into abominations. The Harpers lost hope.

Ketheric wove the curse on this land. The moment he was sealed in that tomb, Shar's poison devoured everything in its path.

Fallen paladin. Champion of Shar. He was building an army bent on unholy conquest, but we stopped him. Killed him. Buried him.

It was not enough. General Thorm lives again. He's built a new army, and this time he marches under the banner of the Absolute.

November 2021 is the earliest mention of Aylin I found, mostly marked as not finalised and placeholder dialogue (and that reunion up there). The Nightsong as present in that patch is still very different from what we ended up getting - nobody was killing her, in fact people were coming to get her "kiss", and there was a whole thing where it seems like Shar would directly take control of her and you could help her overcome the curse, or abandon her to it - or kill her. 

Embrace the Nightsong and be sworn to Eternal Shadow.

Anyway, here are her lines (all of these exist as voice files, which is rare for stuff I put in this post - but they're done by a voice actress who doesn't sound like Helen Keeley, our final Aylin VA, so I don't know what to make of it all tbh):

Shar is the Nightsinger, and I am her Nightsong. I am her instrument, transforming the faithful into shadows. I've been here for centuries. Do you know how many priests of Shar came here, full of faith, seeking my kiss? I've been here for centuries. Thousands of Sharrans came here seeking my kiss. I drink their sorrow, their loss, their grief. Then I vomit it back into the world. All of them are shadows now. That is Shar's only reward. But Ketheric returned for my kiss, over and over. You're the first to survive my kiss intact. You're the only one who can help me. Please, you have to help. No one's ever resisted the kiss before. No one has ever resisted my kiss. But you are not merely *one*, are you? That thing in your head must be incredibly powerful to resist a goddess. Perhaps it's also divine in nature. Because a mind can't survive two masters. It breaks us. Shar's attention must be elsewhere. Speak quickly. She's watching now. She's waiting to steal my voice. But it won't last. Please - listen! I was captured by Ketheric Thorm, Shar's chosen. He turned me into this creature. I'm a slave of Shar. She owns me, just like that thing in your head owns you. I want to sing my own song. Not Shar's. Not *Ketheric's*. Find Ketheric. Kill him so I can be free! Slay Ketheric. His wretched existence binds me to this temple. Oh. That made her angry. The Lady returns! She has me again! *Again!* Stop! You've driven her away!

I am not your *spectacle*. Turn away before I strike you blind. Tell them to come and receive my kiss.

Some possible relevant tags, interactions, and outcomes include:

|The soul cage has greatly weakened Nightsong| |Debug: click to save Nightsong (sets the flag to talk to Isobel)| |We sided with Ketheric and doomed Nightsong.| |Companion comment!||But if his power is linked to this Nightsong, there must be a way to unlink it.| |You have taken control of Ketheric's Soul Cage| |You are bound to Ketheric's soul cage, taking his regenerative powers for yourself| |Bound to Soul Cage| |Soul Cage Key| |Soul Cage Research| |The book details the necromancer's research on the soul cage| |There is a glimpse of Isobel's ghost, as she takes her Father with her to the afterlife.| |There is a glimpse of Isobel's ghost terrified and in agony. Both Isobel and Ketheric will disappear.|

At one point Isobel delivers her own, Ketheric's, and Aylin's backstory as "a story", but sadly I can find very little of it, just disjointed fragments:

You seem to know a lot about Ketheric. He was a devout Selûnite who converted to Shar. They say it was Ketheric's purity that drew an angel down from Celestia. You're Isobel Thorm. The daughter who died in that story.

And there seem to be many options to question Isobel about her hiding the truth about her father:

Why are you lying to me, Isobel? Everyone thinks you're dead, Isobel. Tell me the truth, Isobel. Everything. Still, Isobel might have saved us some time had she been honest from the beginning. |Why didn't you tell me what happened from the start, Isobel?|

Ketheric. Don't you mean your father? Ketheric is your father. I know the truth. Ketheric told me at Moonrise. He wants me to bring you home. I need your father to trust me. He wants you back. You sent me after your father - Ketheric. I think we should discuss Ketheric - your father - first. For all you've said about Ketheric, you left out the part where he's your father.

To which I've found some responses:

And would you have trusted her? Ketheric's daughter? Why didn't I tell you that I was murdered, that my soul was locked away for a hundred years? What would I have told her? That my father murdered her fellow Harpers, but that I can surely be trusted?

[Attempt to read Isobel's thoughts.] *You see Ketheric standing before Isobel, although the memory is hazy. His words are unclear, but his tone is not - he is pleading with her.*

Brought back by the same man that killed me. Balthazar. Standing next to my father with a smile on his face.

But I'm not sure it would have mattered. To stand with that man, my father has surrendered to deepest evil.

I would love to know what the whole pleading thing is about, and what Isobel "didn't know" that she claims didn't matter anyway.

My father. After a century, he somehow brought me back. But I saw the monster he had become. I couldn't bear it... I ran. I ran until I found Last Light. It was like a second home to me, once. I've been studying the curse ever since, searching for answers. Trying to restore the damage my father has wrought upon this land. It's possible I may have to sacrifice myself. But this is my father's crime.

And then, there is this nugget I cannot place but that I like: 

|Your father's due will come.|

There is also an option to tell her Nightsong is Aylin (who was, at this point, a full celestial - no mention of being connected to Selûne, though, and in fact, if she was indeed from Mount Celestia as mentioned in the "story", she would not have been):

Isobel: My father's curse still blackens this earth. Have you found anything? Player: A celestial, chained to Ketheric's soul. Player: They called her Nightsong, but she told me her name was Aylin. Isobel: Aylin. She... she's alive. I knew she had to be, I… Player: Ketheric's necromancer took her to Moonrise. Isobel: His necromancer? Gods, you have to free her. Isobel: You have to go to Moonrise and free Aylin. When Ketheric is weak, this can all be over. Isobel: The truth is that I would give anything to see her again, and anything to stop my father. Free her, and you do both. Isobel: At least, the shell of my father. There's nothing left of the man that championed Selûne. Isobel: Find her. Free her. If Ketheric isn't stopped, all of us are doomed.

Player: |[Doesn'tKnowName] Aylin? Care to explain?| Isobel: The angel in my story about Ketheric. That was Aylin.

Speaking of Balthazar. Some lines from him:

[Introductory note: please imagine everything Balthazar says spoken with a wheezy voice, as if he's permanently out of breath.]

[I need to retrieve the Nightsong, but the temple is haunted and my minions cannot make it past the trial grounds. I cannot go there until the ghosts have been dealt with. Now that you are here on behalf of Ketheric, you will do all this for me.]

I, Fodder, am here on behalf of General Ketheric Thorm. Down in the depths of this temple writhes his desire. I am to bring it to him.

I created the Nightsong for General Ketheric, many moons... HEAR THAT SHAR? Many moons ago.

*As you hold the necromancer's mocking gaze, you can tell how it starts to dawn on him you are not the mere minion he thought you were.*

Along the way I found some more recent Patch 8 (2022-ish) gross Balthazar lines, some bits of which have actually survived to release:

She was a unique specimen even before I began my work. Aasimar. A god's blood united with mortal flesh.

Such fine clay she was. We grew quite close as I… remoulded her. Now she is General Thorm's shield. Her strength is his to drink upon. His pains are hers to bear.

If I never exceed her, I will still die happy. If I ever do something as gauche as truly dying, that is.

Utterly revolting! Makes my skin crawl! Man deserves a yeeting into the Shadowfell a hundred times over! But in order to not end on a gross note, I leave you with:

Ketheric Thorm. Murderer. Oathbreaker.

Aylin Silverblood. My true name. Nightsong was only ever a curse.

[thenightshadowqueen]

What are your top 5 (or top 7) favorite media ever (can be anime/manga, tv series, books, movies, games, etc)? Why love them? Thanks ⭐

Thank you for the ask! I love lists. Also, sorry for the delay in answering; it’s been a week.

(Also I’m going to assume that YouTube videos count for the sake of this list; if they don’t, let me know and I can redo the list.)

5. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (book and movie)

This isn’t one of my four core fandoms, but I genuinely really love it. I think the book was better, but the movie adaptation was really good! It’s definitely one of the better adaptations I’ve seen. I think the main reason I love it is because I genuinely really like the characters (which is rare for me). Alex and Henry both have flaws, which I think is super important, and their dynamic has so much potential and is played out so gorgeously in their story.

4. Vicious by V. E. Schwab (book)

This is my second favourite book, but it lives rent-free in my head in a way that no other characters ever have. I relate so deeply to Victor, and I’m so fundamentally intrigued by Victor and Eli’s dynamic. I’ve made a fair few posts about that, so I think I might leave it here for the sake of not repeating myself, but just… yeah.

3. All of Our Demise by Amanda Foody and C. L. Herman (book)

This is the second book in the duology, and it is my favourite book of all time. I love the first book, but the second one??? Gavin and Alastair are my babies, and I adore them individually and together with all my heart. I remember thinking they had chemistry in the first book, but Alastair was with Isobel, so I didn’t think it would happen… and then I read book two. And I don’t think I’ll ever be over how fucking delighted I was. I think that specific feeling of not being queerbaited is part of why this book has stuck with me, but it’s also just so genuinely fun to read. I love this book so much.

2. BBC Merlin (TV)

This has been my favourite show since I was twelve years old, and I am not changing that now. (Sometimes I wonder if part of the reason I love it so much is because of the person who recommended it to me, but we don’t have time to get into all of that.) Look, I’m not saying that Merlin was the best show ever made, but I genuinely enjoy it so much. (And that’s not just me; everyone I’ve ever introduced it to has loved it.) Honestly, for me, a lot of it comes down to the characters again: Merlin and Arthur, obviously, but also Morgana, and I’m so intrigued by Mordred’s storyline, and the side characters are great, and I could just go on and on. But seriously, it’s my comfort show, and I just enjoy watching it so much.

1. Shoot from the Hip videos (YouTube)

Honestly, I spend so much of my day watching these men that it’s a little concerning. (In my defence, my chronic illness means that I have a whole lot of time.) The thing is, there have, historically, been very few things that genuinely make me laugh. And they manage it every time. I just genuinely really enjoy watching their videos, and I get so invested in their stories, too, because their characters are so well developed (especially considering they’re making it all up on the spot). Also, not to get all serious, but they’ve genuinely been so good for my mental health. I’d been struggling since I got ill (I’m doing somewhat better now), and finding the boys genuinely saved my life, and I’ll leave it there to avoid getting depressing, but… yeah.

Also, I got a second ask more recently that was the same thing, so I’m just going to consider this the answer to both instead of typing this all out twice. I hope that’s all right!

[naughtybg3confessions]

(Not a confession.) I've been working out submissions for the trans day, and there was also an interesting discussion on the topic on r/okbuddybaldur, and I've been wondering - where do you think the line is drawn between 'naughty confessions' and 'fetishization'? I'm trans (transmasc-leaning NB), I have trans hcs, many of them are smutty, I find them hot, trans people ARE hot! We are! But is there a point where it just becomes fetishistic?

Related, what about stereotyping? Tall, buff transfem Karlach, or slender, pretty transmasc Astarion, for instance (which I genuinely do love, especially together). Questionable if you're ONLY going with the more stereotypical view (ie. 'Shadowheart is small and fem and definitely cis, Karlach is tall and butch and definitely trans'), or questionable at any time?

(Relatedly, this comes up in the discussion on Reddit - someone shared their frustration with always seeing Aylin as trans and Isobel as cis, and shared their frankly incredible trans Isobel headcanon.)

Not at all trying to start Disk Horse or anything, just a trans fan writing up submissions and overthinking things. Have an excellent day!

Well let me start by saying that I'm cis, and not exactly an authority on this subject. I have no magical way of knowing where all our confessions are coming from, but I do have some safeguards in place to reduce harm.

First of all, confessions that fetishize real life groups of people are strictly not allowed in our rules. It's up to my own discernment (and that of our followers) what constitutes that, but generally any use of slurs or reinforcing negative stereotypes is a clear tip off. If someone is making trans folk out to be freaks or fetishizing things about them that belittle their gender identity, that's obviously a no go. But so far, no one has said that. There was one confession sexualizing dysphoria that towed the line for me, but my gut told me the submitter was trans themselves and simply had a humiliation kink. Which they later confirmed!

Not speaking for the fandom at large, but on this blog at least it seems like all the characters are "transed" pretty much equally, from Shadowheart to Halsin. With the exception of Gortash, who seems to get the lion's share of those confessions, but that doesn't ring any alarm bells to me.

I certainly wouldn't want to disallow trans hcs for any particular character. After all, it is a fact of life that some cis women are big and tall, and so are some trans women. Should they be excluded from being found attractive just because of a few bad eggs? But I'm always happy to see more variety, thought, and creativity put into confessions overall. Y'all are certainly encouraged to break the mold around here.

I do my best to use my best judgement in moderating confessions so that everyone feels safe and welcome here. But I'm not perfect, so if anything ever slips through the cracks I won't hesitate to listen to our trans followers, remove the confession and learn from the experience. Should that ever happen, I may ask the anon to clarify their intentions as well, as sometimes people just phrase things unintentionally poorly (Hanlon's razor and all that).

Anyways, I hope that answer was satisfactory, it's an interesting and nuanced topic to be sure. And I bid thee an excellent day as well!

[astarions-wife]

BG3 Characters + their favorite Barbie Movie:

Wyll: Princess and the Pauper. Classic love story. He’s obsessed with it. He sighs and he’s like. The King had it figured out 💕 That being said, he’s also a stan for Three Musketeers. They’re basically the Blade of Frontiers in Barbie form.

Astarion: Contrary to popular belief, his favorite is not Princess and the Pauper. He likes that old 2006 movie, The Barbie Diaries. He’s living for the gossip of it all. He gets way too invested.

Gale: Princess Charm School. Let’s be so for real. He’s so invested in the ways of Princess school, he wants to study those classes too. Let Gale be a princess.

Karlach: Princess and the Popstar. She is grooving to those songs. She doesn’t care that it’s a remake of the OG, she’s here for the music and the music alone.

Halsin: He says he would never bother with them, but I think he’s absolutely obsessed with Swan Lake. They all turn into animals and he’s like, omg that’s just like me.

Shadowheart: Magic of Pegasus, not a singular doubt in my mind. She’s far too invested in flying horses, magic, and ice skating. She’s so excited whenever they’re flying, or when Annika wears that purple dress.

Lae’zel: Would never be caught dead watching a Barbie movie. That being said, don’t be surprised if you see her humming the soundtrack to 12 Dancing Princesses, for no reason in particular. She definitely watched it until she memorized the script.

Minthara: Mariposa. She’s like Lae’zel and wouldn’t want to admit it, but the Butterfly Fairies absolutely fascinate her.

Minsc: A Perfect Christmas, or maybe Solstice in the case of Baldur’s Gate holidays. Boo likes it too, so double the reason.

Jaheira: Thumbelina. Not even a question. It’s the perfect Druid film.

Isobel: Rapunzel, she grew up on this classic and I don’t think it ever left her.

Aylin: She… doesn’t have the best knowledge of the Barbie films until Isobel shows her. Because of this, she genuinely thinks Pink Shoes is the best one. Bless her soul.

Orin: Barbie Fairytopia: Mermadia. Next question.

Gortash: You think he watches Barbie movies? You think Gortash watches Barbie movies? You’re correct. A Fashion Fairytale is mandated viewing for the like, five days he’s a Duke.

Kethric: Isobel would watch Rapunzel pretty much nonstop, so by default this is his favorite.

Mizora: Barbie in a Christmas Carol, except she genuinely doesn’t think that Eden did anything wrong at first.

Cazador: He doesn’t even deserve a ranking. This mf probably tried to watch the Mermaid Tale one and got mad bc there weren’t any vampires. He doesn’t know good cinema.

Zevlor: Barbie in the Nutcracker because it’s a classic, and I think he’s definitely go for that sort of film. The tiefling children at the grove probably have that one on a lot.

Rolan: Fairytopia, specifically Magic of the Rainbow. For no other reason except that it had magic in the title, and so he watched it for that reason alone, before becoming obsessed.

Dammon: You cant tell me this man hasn’t seen EVERY single one. They’re everything to him. That being said, I think he has a particular liking for The Island Princess.

[gothic-lottie]

💕Positivity prime time! Share five things you love about yourself, four things you're excited for, OR three people you care deeply about and why. Pass this along to someone else who makes you smile💕

I can't choose just 3 people!

@ladyofsappho has been an absolutely amazing friend since we started talking. You've been the absolute best and my life is genuinely so much better with you in it. You've never been afraid of the hard conversations about all my stressful medical issues and your regular checking in means the absolute world to me. On top of all that, your characters are just so fun to hear about! I could listen to you talk about them for hours.

@rypnami never fails to cheer me up. Every time I get a notification you've posted, it brightens my day and you're such a nice, genuine person too. First moot that ever made me giggle and kick my feet just by liking a post. Also got me into garrinis and maybe a little into prewlow too

@espressoristretto-patronum girl, you are literally the reason I didn't quit posting my fic. I thought no one was reading it but there you are every new chapter! Your fic is also so good and you're just the sweetest! My little cutieccino ☕💜

@catohphm and I have had so much fun talking head cannons about how Danny and Isobel's friendship would be. Your ideas are so fun and I love talking to you.

I have so many more moots that I love but I'm tired so no more typing rn.

[bg3sinbin]

Alright so I told myself I wouldn't post anything about it... but I still can't stop thinking about the A!Astarion kisses, Tav/Durge's face during it, and the stupid blow up around it. So here we go

Warnings: This is long and rambly and contains all kinds of spoilers. I am an A!Astarion lover. I will not be responding to discourse on this post. I do not care if you disagree. Make your own vent post.

OKAY so the brunt of the arguments I keep trying to ignore seeing surrounding this are how the expressions are "immersion breaking" for A!A fans, and everyone else clowning on them (sometimes rightfully so tho, ngl) because "the game gives the player expressions all the time! why are u mad now? do u just want ur Tav/Durge to be a blank slate?? lmao idiot" which ??? okay it feels like ur purposefully missing the point.

Yeah, actually sometimes this game gives my Durge some really ooc reactions. And it does, in fact, bother me. That being said, that is to be expected when u take an oc u had for like ten years and try to stick them in a pre-programmed video game. Things are gonna get ooc sometimes.

It also though, is usually smaller moments. Or things that happen Once and then u move on. Conversations where I go "hmmm. he wouldn't say any of these. oh well." or moments where he reacts negatively to terrible things that this evil bastard would normally laugh at. OH. WELL.

Now here's where my frustration actually come in. This game does a really good job, probably a better job than anything else I've played, at letting u play an interesting evil char. Something more than just "I am Rude, Aggressive, and A Dick To Everyone" and thus being punished for it gameplay wise.

I can play The Dark Urge, literal child of the god of murder, a canon necrophiliac, cannibalistic, gore freak that was going to flatten the entire world. There is a whole ass plot line and ending (multiple achievements included!) surrounding doing just that. There's all kinds of nasty interactions/plot options programmed in.

Yet, to the best of my memory, my Durge doesn't look horrified when we choose to slaughter the grove. He doesn't look horrified when we choose to kill the Dame Aylin, or Isobel. He isn't Obviously Distraught when we choose to help Astarion complete the ritual, or when we kill Shadowheart's parents, or become an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal.

To my knowledge, the player character isn't made to look afraid when kissing Dark Justiciar!Shadowheart, nor when they are literally poisoned by kissing Minthara. Sure, u CAN be offended about it in the convo with her after, but its still ur choice as the player.

I mean shit, they even patched in (in that very same patch) a positive, supportive reaction from ur evil partners at the end when u take over the nether brain! (at least for A!Astarion, and Minthara) so now when u do the evil thing that u and ur evil partner have been talking about all game, they don't suddenly change their opinion the second u actually do it.

And I really appreciate that about bg3. I can make evil choices and get interesting outcomes rather than the game just locking me out of all content actually made for that quest. Like ffs u can only get Minthara's romance scene if u slaughter dozens of innocents.

THIS GAME REWARDS U FOR DOING THE BAD THING. And like the evil options do usually have drawbacks and/or are less fleshed out than the good ones, but there are whole ass plots arcs u will never see if u only play good chars. This game makes playing an evil character interesting.

So why is it that I can do all that, and make/have my Durge react (mostly) accordingly, yet the moment the partner I chose acts controlling, now is when my characters feelings are being decided for me?

I can spend the whole game hearing Astarion talk about how spawn are controlled, how all vampires want is power, and I can say to his face "yes! this character wants that! turn me!" and yet somehow... what? the creators think I didn't know?

It just genuinely doesn't make sense to me. Like I can choose, through dialogue, that my Durge is power hungry, and very into the idea of being Astarion's pretty little lap dog. He knew what he was signing up for! And yet he looks terrified when his vampire bf (who has been feeding on him all game) bites his lip?? really?

Idk I just have some really weird feelings on some of the ways they try to Really Emphasize that u made the wrong choice for Astarion specifically, and this just exemplifies that.

Either do the rest of ur characters this service, make all of them (make every choice in the game) a moral lesson for the player to learn, where u hold their hand and say "u didn't listen to what they actually needed :c u could have done the good thing but u didn't :c"

Or let me play my evil bastard. And let me revel in it.

[rinwellisathing]

I would like to repeat a point I have made that I guess I don't make often enough and I sure as hell don't see others make often enough. Any character that you like in BG3, no matter how innocuous they are or you THINK they are, shut the ever loving fuck up about your judgments on what characters other people like. It's fiction. Astarion is racist as fuck against gnomes and is against you helping slaves. Lae'zel is racist as fuck against non Githyanki and the cult she's indoctrinated into are brutal killers and incredibly xenophobic. Shadowheart is racist as fuck against Githyanki and has tortured people as part of her religion, I'm not even going to get into Minthara because I'm gonna hurt someone...Wyll and Karlach are probably the most innocuous, but even then you can certainly make a case for Karlach potentially knowing more than she let's on about Gortash and willingly working for him until it's her on the chopping block. Orin abuses Minthara and if she gets her hands on him, Zevlor, and is also a serial killer. Ketheric is controlling of Isobel and enslaved Aylin, the less I say about Gortash the better because as much as I'm a Gort simp, he is genuinely a terrible person trauma notwithstanding. Raphael is an actual pedophile, slaver, abuser, and a literal devil, Haarlep's idea of 'consent'is dubious at best, The Emperor is part of The Nights of the Shield and I am begging you Emperor fans to please do a modicum of reading about them I love Emps, but he and Stelmane are...not good people.... The Society of Brilliance has a lot of sketch ideas and execution of ideas so even cute gay dad's Blurg and Omeluum aren't totally squeaky clean, Zevlor may have been brainwashed and he may not have been, but his actions or lack thereof cost lives that were relying on him and also he can be very manipulative (I love him and identify with him, so don't at me about daring to look at him critically), Rolan, whomst I relate to more than any other character in the game apart from maybe Astarion, will help enslave Aylin if his siblings died so their deaths weren't for nothing, Gale is over ambitious, makes a lot of excuses for Mystra, and can be pretty annoyingly smug.

Anyway, what I'm getting at is everybody has flaws. Every last character. That's why they're great. You're not better or worse than anyone else for liking or not liking a certain character. Let people enjoy things and get off your judgy high horses for fuck's sake.

Also plz read about The Knights of the Shield because I will lose my shit if one more person sits there and tells me Stelmane is an innocent victim/good person in everything... unrelated mostly, but come on, y'all. Have a LITTLE better reading comprehension than the Warcraft fandom.plz.

Also, how some of yall look trying to argue that your fave's warcrimes are different, actually:

[grindy-cog]

Do you think Michael remembered anything pre-Earth crash about his childhood? On a subconscious level or whatever? That's how it felt to me.

Dear Anon,

Before I answer your question, I need to clarify something, just in case I’m missing a big chunk of information here. I live in Europe and, unfortunately, I could only watch watch the first two seasons of RNM. The last two, I did my best to ‘watch’ through Tumblr and YouTube and despite of catching on pretty much everything important, I might have still missed some crucial moments, including those regarding your question. So, apologies in advance!

Now, I think it’s safe to say that from canon POV, Isobel is the only one of the Pod Squad, who didn’t remember anything at all, subconsciously or not. At least she, nor we, never realised that it was her remembering something from the pre-crash days. So, I’d say it was Max who remembered something here and there, without even realising it; but the question is, was it really him, or Mr Jones trying some tricks on him? Was it him, or the psychic connection to Isobel that made him remember something regarding Louise or Nora? And if it was Nora, was it Michael who subconsciously remembered something and projected it onto Max?

So many questions, so little answers.

But, back to your question, Anon. I think that out of the three of them, Michael had the best sense of their time before Earth, but he didn’t exactly remember, per se. I do believe that he knew his connection to Max was a bit odd but - understandably - he couldn’t put a finger on it; yet, he subconsciously wanted to equally obey and rebel against him. While a couple of times in s1, when he lost control, Michael lashed out at Max out of fear; generally speaking, he did shy away from him, whenever Max got violent around or towards him. And sure, it could be because of the hell he had been put through in foster care, of course. But, he doesn’t exactly do that with anyone else in canon. No matter how scared he is, he still fights back, unless it’s Max we’re talking about. Hence, in my opinion, while he couldn’t remember either of his parents, he still shied away from Max when he lost control, because some part of Michael, some muscle memory, remembered what Jones was capable of.

So yeah, you could say that Michael subconsciously remembered their time before Earth. But I doubt those feelings brought him much comfort, as however you want to look at it, he wasn’t conceived or born out of love; probably not even genuine desire. His father - canonically - wasn’t capable of any higher emotions; he was as cold, violent and as sociopathic as they come. And Nora… Gosh, I like her character, I wish we’ve seen more of her, but just like Alex said, Michael did put her on a pedestal; he idolised her and everything she did, however little he knew. While I don’t doubt that Nora loved her son and that she tried her best, she was a scientist first - a visionary through and through. An engineer, who wanted to save her planet, and then, whatever was left of her people. And I do believe she did all that with Michael on her mind; with desire to create a better world for them all, her son most of all. And yet, however you want to look at it, there was likely nothing gentle about Michael coming into this world, not with whom and what his father was.

Some part of Guerin knew that, could sense the violent legacy in his blood. That’s part of the reason, in my opinion, why Jones was so disappointed in what Michael turned out to be. Cause honestly, it is a wonder, how he managed to not grow up to be just like his father, or worse. And if you asked me, I don’t think it was just Nora’s love, or Isobel and Max, and much later Alex being in his life; but first and foremost, the lessons he had been no doubt taught and which some part of him remembered, regardless of everything.

Hope this answers your question, Anon :)

[faerunscursed]

🖤 - Isobel / Karlach

send 🖤 and my character will answer about yours.

attractiveness:

repulsive / hideous / ugly / not attractive / unappealing / not unattractive / meh / no preference / ok / mildly attractive / nice looking / cute / adorable / attractive / pleasant on the eyes / good looking / hot / sexy / beautiful / gorgeous / hot damn / would tap that / perfect / godlike / holy fuck there are no words.

personality:

grating / irritating / frustrating / boring / confusing at best / awkward / unreasonable / psychotic / disturbing / interesting / engaging / affectionate / aggressive / ambitious / anxious / artistic / bad tempered / bossy / charismatic / appealing / unappealing / creative / courageous / dependable / unreliable / unpredictable / predictable / devious / dim / extroverted / introverted / egotistical / gregarious / fabulous / impulsive / intelligent / sympathetic / talkative / up beat / peaceful / calming / badass / flexible.

how likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending / fuck no! / never / no way / not likely / not sure / indifferent / I’m asexual / maybe / probably / it depends / fairly likely / likely / yeah sure / yes / would tap that / hell yes / fuck yes! / wishing that could happen right now / as many times as possible / we are already having sex. (Of course all of this is affected by the dynamic we came up with <3)

level of friendship:

never in a million years / worst of enemies / enemies / rivals / indifferent / neutral / acquaintance / friendly toward each other / casual friends / friends / good friends / best friends / fuck buddies / bosom buddies / practically the same person / would die for them / true friends / my only friend.

first impression of them:

i hate them so much / i don’t like them / i don’t trust them / they annoy me / they’re weird / I’m indifferent / meh / they seem alright / they’re growing on me / truce / I think I like them / I like them / I’m not sure if I trust them / I trust them / they’re cool / they’re genuine / I think we’re going to get along / I really like them / I think I’m in love / oh fuck they’re hot / I love them.

current impression of them:

i hate them so much / i don’t like them / i don’t trust them / they annoy me / they’re weird / I’m indifferent / meh / they seem alright / they’re growing on me / truce / I think I like them / I like them / I’m not sure if I trust them / I trust them / they’re cool / they’re genuine / I think we’re going to get along / I really like them / I think I’m in love / oh fuck they’re hot / I love them. ( in their unique way <3)

[immren]

finished act 2 last night [kicks my feet cutely] minthara is genuinely the best companion

also i do think it’s . a little funny that the game kind of treats you as if you’re trying to resist the dark urge bc there’ll be comments directed towards my character like “I know there’s some good in you..” Like he slaughtered the grove for fun, killed isobel, killed the harpers, let shadowheart kill the nightsong , kicked a random squirrel. I don’t think he’s a good person like at all

[thesinglesjukebox]

KACEY MUSGRAVES - "DEEPER WELL"

Kacey's music continues to evolve! Is it deeper? Well...

[5.94]

Hannah Jocelyn: Kacey Musgraves makes the second-best Kacey Musgraves song we're covering today. [5]

Aaron Bergstrom: "Deeper Well" sounds like someone else trying to write a Kacey Musgraves song without fully understanding why that's something people would want. Over the course of Musgraves' first three albums, culminating in the near-perfect Golden Hour, we got to know this incredibly likeable, relatable songwriter. Her little nods to things like cannabis and astrology were fun quirks, but never core to her appeal. Now it seems like she views herself as some kind of novelty act, Spacey Kacey as caricature, and so to get back on track after the relative flop of star-crossed she's maxed out those specific character attributes. As a result we get a flat triangulation of a song with clunky references to gravity bongs and Saturn returns that seem disconnected to the point of being meaningless. [4]

Dave Moore: Lesser Kacey Musgraves even before the gravity bong shows up. The songwriting's gone mushy and circular, which is a shame because minor Musgraves is often charming (my low-key favorite song from her first album is still "I Miss You"). She seems to think that her tell-don't-show version of finding purpose, which somehow has more crackpot woo-woo in it than friggin' Kesha, is going to make up for the fact that, songwise, she's not going anywhere.  [5]

Isabel Cole: Astrology is fake but I too have felt the power of the Saturn return — not an overnight transformation but the dawning sense that perhaps after all I could choose something other than what had felt foreordained by my own gravity, a force that once had seemed to me more immovable than the stars. I love how gently Musgraves bids farewell to the past here: “no regrets, baby, I just think that maybe it’s natural when things lose their shine.” Many things are worth doing for a while; few things are worth doing forever. It’s a perspective on growing up not as an abandonment of the youthful self but simply as a movement into new territory. And the song is so pretty, in an easy way that sounds lovelier to my ears every time I listen — pretty like morning light in summer, unhurried, serene. [7]

Nortey Dowuona: Oh, so this song was co-written by Daniel Tashian, son of the legendary Barry and Holly Tashian, songwriters of "I'll Take My Time Going Home"? You mean this had no other choice than to be good? That's not fair!? I wanted a choice in thinking this was OK! [9]

Taylor Alatorre: "Deeper Well" illustrates its core concept a bit too faithfully for its own good. It revolves around a musical holding pattern which is meant to serve as a sonic rendering of our dangerously seductive habits and circular tendencies, then lingers about too long in this pretty but hidebound pattern of its own making. Good for a master's thesis in music composition, not so much for a lead single teased at the Super Bowl. Its saving grace is how it departs from the divisive sound of star-crossed without reading as a mewling apology for it, instead sounding like the genuine product of a woman who's had her dial turned to Sirius XM's The Bridge for the past six months (been there). [5]

Will Rivitz: In much the same way earth-shattering acid trip revelations translate unremarkably to plain English, "Deeper Well" relays its life lessons in the pedestrian scrawl of a hazy afterglow Notes app attempt. With few descriptive details sans a single reference to a gravity bong, Musgraves' (admittedly correct) insights that "some people are not worth my energy, smoking weed all day can be a waste of time, and it's OK that I grew up in a small town" come across flat. That she's backed by a track as insubstantial as her pen does her no favors. [4]

Leah Isobel: "You got dark energy / Something I can't unsee" is such a terrible line it honestly makes me wonder if Golden Hour was even any good. That twinkling, felt-coated piano at the high end does ease my doubts -- but only a little. [3]

Michael Hong: This is Kacey Musgraves diving into the lifestyle influencer grift (self-help manual to follow), her voice doubled to take on a detached yet authoritative sheen. It lacks nuance, yet you search for it anyway -- for me, it's the way she sings "I found a deeper well," the melody left hanging, the thought left incomplete. Against all reason, I'm sitting here at the bottom of it, waiting and still wondering what comes next. [6]

Katherine St. Asaph: Hot take: "You've got dark energy" is fine (scansion aside). It's "my Saturn has returned" that's the deeper embarrassment, and I'm not sure how one dislikes the first bit of woo while being fine with the other. Anyway, this is basically "Merry Go Round" grown shaggy and unkempt and sprouting little weeds of "The Sound of Silence," plus the me-first self-care message beloved of inspirational pop culture. Think "Yes, And?" with the subtext of cheating swapped out for a subtext of depression. Kacey just seems so unenthused, so resigned; the future she sings about doesn't seem to offer joy, just the lack of sunk costs. The subtext is so unconcealed and consistent that it feels like it must be deliberate -- but it can't be deliberate, because no one ever portrays this kind of mindset as bad. Or maybe it can't be deliberate because, judging by the arrangement, the deeper well she's found might just be reverb. [6]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: The central tension in “Deeper Well” is that the growth and wellness that Kacey is singing about sounds like it came from a deeply unwell place. She says goodbye to relationships that no longer fulfill her, drugs that no longer bring her the highs they used to, and dark energy that can’t be unseen—but through it all, she sounds the most contemplative and at peace she has been in years. Adulthood is about coming to terms with the fact that the choices that you made were the best decisions you had at the time, and about learning to forgive yourself for not having all of the answers—about love, friendship, self-care—magically from the start. How can a process that feels so ego-shattering and devastating ultimately be so good for us—and how can we forgive ourselves for fighting it? As a 27-year-old, I’m not exactly hearing “When I turned 27, everything started to change” objectively, nor do I want to. Sometimes a song arrives at the right moment in your life to hit perfectly.  [10]

Mark Sinker: Not sure if I’ve ever gone on about this here, but a thing I’d love to read or to be directed toward is a deep comparative study of melody within different genres, the shapes and turns and cadences that evoke this milieu, versus the others usual to that one. The key phrase here seems to me highly untypical of the kinds of tuneline you’d expect to find in country, and not just because it’s drenched in big indie echo (plus whispered). What exactly is building up these expectations? I need someone with a YouTube channel and audio examples alongside the staves and dots and sharps and flats – even just an overhead projector and a long pointy stick. They can prove I’m very wrong if they like! (Maybe I am!)  [9]

Ian Mathers: Not really a great sign when the most interest I can muster is in the way the bassline periodically threatens to pivot to full-on "Walk on the Wild Side." The "deeper well" stuff just isn't signifying for me, nor the "dark energy" bit. Sure, it sounds like personal growth, and I bet from the inside it means a lot, but it registers as... kinda nothing? There are a couple of floaty bits that are nice, and certainly nothing dips below "pleasantly competent," but if I could just about squint and see what people were raving about with "High Horse," my vision isn't quite as clear here. [5]

Alfred Soto: Kacey Musgraves makes agreeable music that holds my attention while it's on. "Deeper Well" has the misfortune to sound like middling Taylor Swift -- something from the back half of Speak Now, say. This well is shallow. [4]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: In a few years I will hear this while perusing vegetables at a nice grocery store and hum along pleasantly without being aware of what I'm doing. For now, in my conscious experience, I am utterly unmoved by her studied, philosophical blankness – people didn't like the last album very much, but at least it had hooks! [4]

Joshua Lu: In the over ten years since I first listened to Kacey sing about weed, it's been legalized in my state, I grew old enough to legally purchase it, I reached a point in my life where I wanted to dabble in it (2020 was a time), and I got hooked enough to build up a substantial tolerance. Through all this time, I had her music: rolling joints in "Follow Your Arrow," letting the grass just grow in "High Time," having a "Slow Burn." If she could've snuck in a reference to a bong in her Christmas album, I bet she would've. To hear Kacey sing about dropping weed thus felt more cataclysmic than anything else she could've done. Yes, I was excited by her return to a more standard country sound, even better with that metallic tinge that embellished some of her greatest recent work, but Kacey Musgraves singing about leaving weed behind? Listening to "Deeper Well," though, it can't help but feel natural: it was just a thing that she liked once but would rather leave behind, and some things in life are just like that. There's no judgement or embarrassment, just an acknowledgement of a change in her life, and I appreciate how the song isn't explicitly about getting wiser or more responsible or any of those things that people assume come with aging. It's instead framed as a continued discovery of who she is and what's out there in the world, and the route she took to become the person she is today. Funnily enough, I stopped taking weed this year too. I'm glad I now have a Kacey song for that process as well. [9]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[mashamorevvna]

I wish the Hand of God please!

How would you describe your writing style for this fic, if you can?

Is this one of your personal favorite fics? Why or why not?

What is something you wish more people noticed about this fic?

What is something you didn't expect people to notice or gravitate towards in this fic?

aaaa thank you so much!!!

How would you describe your writing style for this fic, if you can?

ooh difficult question, but i will say that with that fic in particular i really wanted to play around with rhythm by using more fragments and shorter sentences. mostly bc i noticed that in italian, stylistically, the longer the sentence, the better it is; and so here i was trying to test if english needed a different 'beat' (and it does! imo obviously). another thing i really enjoyed was playing around with a mirror structure bc i was fascinated with the way isobel/durge can, depending on character choices, either be mirrors to each other or foils

Is this one of your personal favorite fics? Why or why not?

it is a personal favourite! i think this one and the minthash are my best works so far, i am incredibly fond of both of them. i think its both because i had lots of fun writing them, but also because i genuinely enjo the challenge involved in writing for rare-pairs. i find them so compelling bc there's so much to explore and very rewarding if i can make it work!

What is something you wish more people noticed about this fic?

mmm honestly can't think of anything! the daddy issues were noticed, the sexualised simulacrum of a different daughter for ketheric issues were also noticed, and so im genuinely pretty happy with the way the fic was received!

What is something you didn't expect people to notice or gravitate towards in this fic?

oh i thought the eye-sex was gonna be controversial, even considering that the durge storyline can be very gory. i just didnt expect people to be fine with the eye action, but it actually worked out fine so yayy for me, and genuinely the normal reception to that sort of reassured me that posting appel du vide was gonna be fine as well!

[dr-lizortecho]

#65 for the prompts for the Pod Squad. It sounds like something Isobel would say 😂

Sorry this took so long! But with Crash Con I didn’t get much time to think about how I wanted the conversation to go, which was difficult cause as you said it’s 100% something Izzy would say in like so many situations 😂 (send me a prompt + a character/pairing) <3

Isobel smiles softly at her brothers, watching as they all continue to crowd the kid. Michael is leaned practically into Max’s shoulder as he tickles at her feet, making the baby gurgle.

“Look at that smile,” Dallas practically coos.

Annabelle releases a small laugh, feet kicking in her excitement.

Max’s smile is almost too bright, eyes twinkling as he looks at his daughter. Isobel hadn’t seen him purely content and delighted until his daughter came into their lives.

“You wouldn’t even know she has Max’s genetics,” Michael says smugly.

Max frowns, “hey!”

“Isn’t-“ Dallas laughs “-isn’t he genetically your dad?”

“Hey!” Max and Michael say in unison.

“He’s not wrong,” Isobel says, narrowing her eyes at them. When she blurred her vision the similarities always seemed more obvious. It was genuinely a shock they’d always assumed she was the one related to Max.

Michael frowns at her before straightening up and reaching out for Annabelle. “May I?”

Max nods passing his daughter to Michael. He lifts Annabelle over his head, her laughter bubbling up immediately. “Who’s your favorite uncle?”

Dallas snorts, “I mean, I’m her uncle squared.”

Isobel rolls her eyes, “maybe in front of the baby isn’t the best place to remind everyone who’s bed you warm.”

“Ewww,” Max whines, tossing a throw pillow across the small space.

Isobel catches it, glaring at her brother. If Annabelle wasn’t on the same couch she’d chuck it right back at him.

“It’s definitely me,” Michael says cheekily. “Considering I’m designated baby sitter and bringer of new toys.”

Isobel frowns, “I’m definitely her favorite.”

“Her favorite uncle?” Max asks with a half giggle.

“Exactly,” she says turning up her nose.

Dallas frowns, “I think you spend too much time here. Should probably just get a baby of your own.”

Max’s face lights up, “we could do play dates.”

Michael frowns, face falling.

“What’s that face?” Isobel squints at him.

“Nothin’,” Michael says. Bouncing Annabelle in the air before settling her into the crook of his arm.

“I know a nothing look,” Dallas arches a brow, “and that isn’t one.”

“Spill,” Isobel says, using telekinesis to tug sharply at one of his curls.

Michael frowns, shrugging easily. “It’s just- what if I make a bad parent? I mean, it’s not like I had a stellar example growing up. Like… what if I screw up?” He chuckles darkly, “I mean I fucked up on Alex more times than I can count. And when it comes to kids- you can’t. Not once. I don’t think I’d survive doing that to another person.”

There’s a long beat of silence.

Max reaches over and squeezes his shoulder, “you wouldn’t be alone.”

“There is no way that much stupid can fit inside one person,” Isobel snorts, settling easily back into her seat.

Dallas nods, “yet- somehow he manages.”

Michael glares at her, “I’m just saying it’s a lot.”

“You’re a great uncle,” Isobel says simply. “You’re a great brother. Husband. Friend.”

This makes Michael’s cheeks tinge pink, his eyes darting down to the little girl in his arms.

“You’ve grown and learned so much,” she says with a half sappy smile. “I mean if Max can do it so can you.”

“Hey,” Max frowns, but he squeezes at Michael’s shoulder again. “She’s right, though. You’d make a good father. I mean, you’d be just selfless enough.”

Dallas nods, “and you mentioned growing up. How that shaped you.”

This makes something dark glint in all three of her brothers eyes. A similar haunted look no doubt on her own face, even if she didn’t have the same darkness lying thick over her childhood. Not till she was older of course.

“And that in a way is it’s own gift,” Dallas smiles weakly. “You’ll be more cautious, you know a lot of what not to do-“

“Like that list was hard,” Michael snorts. His humor settling over him like armor, smirk half cocky.

“You know what he means,” Max huffs exasperatedly.

“You’d be a good dad,” Isobel repeats. “Alex too.”

Michael’s armor cracks a little, something soft glinting in his eyes. “He would wouldn’t he?”

Annabelle gurgles, her little hand wrapping around Michael’s finger. As if their little niece wanted to have her opinion weighed into the conversation at hand.

“See?” Max coos, booping her little nose, “little belle agrees.”

Michael groans, “please, dear god, no. Who let this man name and nickname a child?”

Max glares, “what’s wrong with her name?”

[spyridonya]

15 and 28 for soluna and zophus please!

Thank you Romeo! Some of this surprised me!

BG3 Questionnaire

15: What NPC's do they like? Which one's do they dislike?

Soluna

As a bit ditzy and curious as she is, Soluna has a fairly standard take on who she likes and who she doesn't like.

She genuinely likes most of the tieflings, Zelvor, Dammon, Rolan, and Mol standing out despite their various 'alignments' and takes on things. They're genuine people adapting to crisis and they don't always do the best things. She genuinely respects Nettie and her gut. She admires Florrick and despite herself she loves to hate Mizora. She's all but ready to defend the bugbear who wants to come into Baldur's Gate in Act 3, despite everything. She's incredibly fond of Volo and doesn't blame him for the eye incident.

There's really only a small handful she doesn't like.

Beyond the Dead Three's Chosen, Soluna doesn't like Kagha and wasn't a fan of the druids outside of Nettie and Halsin. Z'nell really creeped her out among the cultists. The Emperor at present is someone she doesn't like because of the usage of her father as her dream visitor and how he treated her under that guise. She's also very cranky towards Isobel because hiding her background puts so many at risk and takes her a long time to warm up, despite very much liking Isobel's partner.

Zophus

As a rule, Zophus doesn't really like many people because of how he's been taught to see people rather than just ... seeing them as people. The exception to this is always kids, he's always kind to kids and understands that's what they are. Kids. Able to change, able to become. As such he likes all the kids with the tiefling refugees and adores Yenna. He essentially dislikes all the Druids, despite their actions would likely fall under his facton's tenets. The very concept of the dictations of a god in a place where Gods are killed every other Tuesday and replaced by a human over the needs of others offends him to his core. He's not a fan of the goblins not because of what they are but the actions they're taking - though he's sure to be 'knock out' the Goblin children while saving Halsin. 

He does have a fondness for Gut, despite her attempts to betray them, and might have gotten along with Minthara if she hadn't been brainwashed. Hey, are you a slaver? He's gonna murder you and everyone connected to you, so help him his own damn will. The Emperor? Dislikes, he knows about Illithids, he knows how they act and why they are. Orphus? Wait, another fucking Absolute Monarch dedicating how an Empire is to be run? Fuck no. Valeria? You're a goddamn celestial, you should fucking know better.

Besides all the kids (including Mol), he genuinely likes Zelvor while he tolerates the tieflings (no particular grudge to their ancestors). He finds himself liking the pixie in Act 2 and finds himself very nervous around Aylin who might tip off he's an actual aasimar to her godling. He... understands Ketheric a little too much, if he has to admit. He also wants to adopt every cat he sees and learns to like dogs because of Scratch.

Oh, and he hates Raphael. Why the fuck does he smell so good, though? He doesn't get it. Doesn't like him, and he hates the fact devils are a part of this damn mess. And he hates the fact Raphael knows what he is and where he's from.

28: Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else to be the leader?

Soluna thought Lae'zel was the head of the party until it was clear that Lae'zel didn't know much and had no social skills whatsoever. Lulu became the de facto leader because she didn't have nearly as much emotional baggage as the others with varying levels of self-esteem. She really didn't become the leader in everyone's eyes until how she handled herself in Act 2, notably with the Thorns.

Very light sexism and literal classism probably helped Zophus establish himself as the leader much earlier on. He's the largest member of the party until Halsin joins and the second highest charisma with a soldier's background. He found himself faking it a lot due to not knowing Faerun outside of general advisory warnings about traveling to that particular Prime realm - but the chain of command is something that can be translated anywhere.

[mad-rdr]

All of Us Villians Duology - Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman

★ ★ ★ ★/5 (both)

I've said before and I'll say it again; bring back fantasy duologies!! All of Us Villians and All of Our Demise were such fun reads. For being young adult books, they were well stocked of morally gray characters, violence, and betrayal. I loved this series and each of the characters, with a competition resembling that of the Hunger Games, the addition of magic, and 7 power-hungry families, this was an intriguing set up. Every champion entered this competition with expectations set on their shoulders and every one defied them. There's much to discuss so this is just going to be a ramble of my thoughts. In the first book, I really liked Isobel and Alistair's scenes, how she realizes he isn't the monster everyone thinks he is and then death-curses him anyways. Isobel was such a fascinating character; she's branded as the "pretty girl," but my god is she one of the most vicious. She literally cast a death curse as she was kissing Alistair... enough said. Not to mention in the second book she literally plots out everyone's deaths while they sleep in the rooms next door. I love her. Moving on to Alistair though, homie just needs a hug and someone to care about him. I loved how he tried to act like a monster (though sometimes he really was) but eventually everyone realizes he just traumatized and clumsy (and a loverboy at heart...). He is also one of my favorite characters and I'm glad he gets to leave everything (his grief, trauma, horrible family name and legacy) behind at the end of book 2. Not to mention his relationship with Gavin- genuinely one of the best slow burn, enemies-to-lovers storylines I have ever seen. Their relationship was so cleverly thought out and I'm glad that after they fight through many death experiences to end the tournament, that they can be happy together. Honorable mentions to Finley, Briony, and Reid, whom I didn't love but enjoyed their POVs anyways. I feel like of any of the MCs to die, Briony made the most sense and I wasn't even surprised as I read the chapter. She always wanted to be the hero, so she got the martyr role in the end. I know there's more I'm leaving out, but in the interest of this being relatively short, I'll just say this; you will not regret picking up this series!

[wetcatspellcaster]

I debated reblogging this (mostly bc I hate putting my thoughts out and being perceived) but I have been thinking about it since I saw it yesterday. so tbh wanted to give OP credit where credit was due for being genuinely Thought Provoking, and give their hard work more reach.

I think some equivalences in this table work better than others and there's nuances a graphic by necessity can't capture: many people headcanon Orin as related to Durge vs. Gortash, and gaining Minthara required killing refugees before the patch - I think maybe Larian realised they were doing her character and Emma Gregory's work a disservice, and that's why they patched it out. "Is it ok to commit murder in the name of best feminist praxis? Discuss." (This is a joke, as murder in a videogame is not a moral reflection of the player it just sounded funny in my head.)

... but BG3 does have racism/misogyny problems and it's silly to pretend otherwise - and I think that's why the 'minor' character equivalences work better than others. It also made me think about the number of 'single' male NPCs encountered in the game, versus the number of female NPCs that are then placed in relationships (Aylin, Isobel, Alfira, Lakrissa), not to mention a number of the female NPCs with detailed interactions with Tav (like Arabella and Mol) who are literally, children.

The reason I wanted to reblog however (and I'm not disagreeing with OP, merely externalising some thoughts) is bc I think many of these character focuses are so influenced by Tav and people's choice around the writing of their Tav. all the examples I give above link to that (is the charater related to Tav/Durge, is the character a reflection of the Tav's moral choices, is the NPC free for a Tav/NPC pairing).

BG3 is a very OC and OC/canon character heavy fandom, and I think a lot of those OCs are women rather than men. In other news, water is wet.

OP's work doesn't necessarily have to cover this, but I was thinking about it, and the more I thought about it, the weirder I felt. Bc discussing misogyny in this fandom is hard, when you ignore one of the most major ways that women are written into the game, which is via Tav/Durge. I think a lot of the time, when fic authors write incredibly detailed, interesting female OCs, that work isn't seen as feminist, it's seen as ... self-insert, wish-fulfilment, author avatar, blah blah blah, and rarely, if ever, acknowledged as creating a nuanced and multifaceted female character... which feeds into the misogyny OP is talking about, right? Rather than having written a woman, or even a queer woman in the case of bi/pan female characters, an author is dismissed as 'writing a 2D insert/nameless body to get railed by Halsin/Astarion/Gortash/Raphael' etc... even if that's not the work that's happening? And even if that person has put a lot of thought into that woman, AO3 tagging will not reflect that.

I realise I just sound like I'm covering my own ass, as someone who writes 'female char/Astarion'. Maybe I am. But I've literally done this to myself - I remember receiving an ask saying 'did you write a deliberately feminist fic by giving your Tav agency?' and my reply was 'lol i'm queer, woman stepping on evil man hot'. I dismissed myself??? But the truth is I write OC fanfiction bc my OC is one of my favourite and most interesting parts of the story I am writing. and particularly in BG3 fandom and it's overlap with D&D, where character creation/insertion is an integral part of the experience, I feel like dismissing all female Tavs/Durges as only giving more attention to male characters or not participating in the writing of women is also frustrating... just bc it's another layer of misogyny/comphet wildness, to assume authors of female main characters aren't using that woman as a vehicle for anything other than lust for a pixelated man.

Anyway, that's not what i think OP is doing, and I think their points are totally fair, this is more just a post that provoked a lot of my own thinking that I then wanted to share. TL;DR I think a lot of the attention and nuanced writing female characters get in this fandom is actually centred on Tav/Durge, for a multitude of reasons, and yes that can still be frustrating but it's not actually something that should be dismissed. A lot of people are writing some really interesting women with a multitude of different strengths/flaws, moral compasses, backgrounds, sexual orientations, etc... they just also happen to be a romance with Astarion or Gale, for instance.

And yes, there is still a bias there towards NPCs, and that's not even touching on the racism behind the canon and in-game writing of the companion romances. But reducing this veritable plethora of female main characters down to 'just another annoying Astarion/Gale-mancing Tav' is itself sexist and misogynistic, if that makes sense.

(Again, this is nothing that OP has done or is perpetuating, more just a frustration I have inside my own brain that reading this post helped me to articulate. I'll shut up now lol.)

A common issue in fandom spaces is female characters ignored in favor of their male counterparts, and one of the biggest reasons I see given is that the women just aren't as interesting as the men. They're placed in lesser roles with less story impact, less personality, less character development, so of course the men get more fan interest.

With that in mind, here's 9 sets of characters who DO have comparable characterization, plot relevance/presence, and personal development -- and how many tagged works each character has on Archive of Our Own. Spoilers: it's pretty bad.