#jewelry campaign ideas

[itseghost]

i have been steadily catching up with the mighty nein campaign the past few weeks after i fell off right around travelercon arc a few years ago.... i am ENTRANCED AGAIN and i have been doodling them while i put off thesis film work..

[verysium]

some hcs abt the bllk boys doing modeling shoots as pro-players? (like what they’d model for and the ways they captivate their audiences and stuff)? ty and love ur works btw 💞💞🫡

idk why but this ask made my brain freeze up and refuse to write anything for 3 days, so apologies if this is late anon:

sae would be so done. i mean....he walked out on a literal interview, so what makes you think he won't walk out on a photoshoot? he probably hates the very idea of plastering his face all over billboards and magazines. but his manager said that he was in desperate need of good publicity, especially after that stunt he pulled with the last commercial endorsement. if sae was forced to model though, he'd definitely be as stiff as a board. no facial expressions whatsoever and always sticks to one pose. oftentimes, this involves him facing the wall and only showing half his face. if the photographer wants a full frontal, he's going to have to deal with sae's "i don't want to be here and i'm being held hostage" face. even if sae does try smiling, it looks more like a grimace. the only redeeming quality here is that he is good-looking. if you look at the official art, he doesn't even have to try to get all of you drooling over him. that face card does not decline. like ever. so the shoots usually wrap up pretty quickly because out of the 100 images taken, at least half are going to be usable. he's photogenic from any angle.

kaiser would strike a pose for everything, even his own mugshot. i picture him as that one johnny depp advertisement for dior sauvage. blue lighting. a silk blouse with the top button open to show off a sliver of his sculpted chest. his hair is slicked back with gel, and his knuckles are decorated with silver rings. the tattoo just pulls everything together. if not a perfume commercial, then i think he'd model for adidas or some other german brand (maybe even a beer company if he's old enough). i don't think he has any trouble with the actual modeling part of process. he knows how to flaunt himself. the only issue is that kaiser is a lazy perfectionist. he would show up late to the shoots and then stays even later just looking through the shots and choosing which ones to include. puts a lot of time and effort into things like this. after all, his image and his brand are important to him.

shidou would be sponsored by an energy drink brand. like red bull or monster. if not that, then axe body spray lol. as for modeling, i feel like he wouldn't be able to sit still. probably pulls out crazy poses that piss the photographers off on purpose. it always cracks me up how one of his first appearances in the manga is him being muzzled and restrained in a straitjacket inside blue lock's time-out zone. he's so chaotic. you would have to hold him down and shove the camera into his face to actually get a good shot. i also picture him wearing lots of black leather, maybe even silver jewelry (eg. studs, piercings). and of course, you can't forget the hot pink accents.

isagi would model for family-friendly brands. if not that, then just japanese brands in general. i imagine him doing skincare commercials for shiseido or maybe even participating in a campaign for UNIQLO. as for modeling, he would be awkward at first but then gradually get the hang of it. always thanks the team afterwards and is very mindful of the photographer's suggestions. everyone says he is a pleasure to work with.

rin would model for luxury watch brands like TAG heuer or IWC. maybe when he grows older and further develops his career, he might even become an ambassador for louis vuitton or bulgari. overall, his advertisements are very elegant and professional. only endorses high quality products. never looks at the shots afterwards because he hates looking at his own face. gets somewhat embarrassed when his mama points out his billboards and makes clippings of his magazine covers. he absolutely flipped when a brand suggested that he do a collaboration with his brother. so when this collaboration actually did take place, it was like a repeat of the whole messi-ronaldo photoshoot. they didn't actually meet on set. they were just photoshopped together into the same frame.

barou models for calvin klein. lots of denim and shirtless photos. all of the staff got nosebleeds, and his fanbase went wild when the issue was finally released. there's this one image his fans worship religiously where he's posing in his boxers and there's a clear shot of his abs and happy trail. (he's so hot wtf) there's also another shot that wasn't used cus a million people would've been deceased. he's standing there with his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans and wearing nothing underneath his denim jacket. his hair is also down, and his skin is all sun-kissed and golden.

reo models streetwear, and this is canon because he has the drip. honestly, his duality needs to be studied because he can go from high class gentleman to bad boy who wears chains and knuckle rings. he'd try all different sorts of styles, and he'd look good doing it. out of all the bllk boys, i feel like reo gets the most sponsorship deals because of his versatility. he does the styling, hair, makeup, posing, editing, etc. honestly, they need to hire him as a creative director already. nagi would tag along behind the scenes, but he'd end up scrolling on his phone the entire day.

[anthrofreshtodeath]

Looking forward to this prompt like always.

maybe they get slightly jealous while out, so they grab onto their partner's hand to establish their relationship

here it is! I have no idea what I just wrote but, you know, here we go:

—-

The Childhood Cancer Awareness Gala. If anything in Maura’s life is a black tie affair, it’s this. It comes once a year, in May, just as the spring gives way to summer temperatures, and, unfortunately, when the nascent MLB season really starts to take shape. Which usually means she takes a man, a doctor most times, instead of Jane: the person with whom she much prefers to attend these things. Not only is Jane Maura’s best friend - and thus makes it all genuinely more bearable - Jane has all the social skills Maura wishes she did when it came to fellow donors and hot shots. There are celebrities at this thing, for god’s sake. And that makes Maura nervous, especially since Jane so often has about five to eight games to catch up on by the time late May rolls around and refuses to come. Last time Maura had to bring a surgeon. But this year, by some miracle, the Red Sox have an off day on this Tuesday night, the same that the Gala is on. 

And Maura had known this fact for months. In fact, as soon as the regular season schedule was released. That meant that she started her get-Jane-to-the-Gala campaign while snow still raged outside and the year had barely begun. It culminates in the black, strapless gown she wears now, the one showing off her tanned shoulders and her three hundred dollar haircut complete with layers and highlights and the smell of priceless product. There are heels that highlight her calves and make her ass look fantastic; there is a pendant on her neck that draws attention to her perfectly supported breasts. There’s even a diamond ring on her right ring finger, big and belonging once to her mother, because Jane likes to look at things that remind her of tradition. 

And Maura had promised, not with words per se, but quite forcefully, quite convincingly, that Jane’s attendance would be worthwhile. The promise had consisted of some rather pointed modeling in the guest bedroom while Jane sat in a lounge chair and watched, of even more pointed half-states of undress, including dropping the garment in front of her with her heels still on so that she could bend over in the skimpiest pair of underwear appropriate for a platonic home fashion show that she owned. It also consisted of the subtle increase in hand jewelry, answers to Jane’s questions about it being, “My mother gave it to me. She couldn’t bring herself to wear it anymore; she finds such signs of commitment provincial. I vehemently disagree - especially when the signs are so exquisite. Don’t you think?”

Jane had sniffled. She’d stood, looking stiff and stupid as her mouth gaped at the ring Maura held out, before she finally said, “it’s on the wrong hand.”

Maura had chuckled warmly and replied, “for now.”

The stupidity intensified up until Jane mopped her jaw off the floor and excused herself to return upstairs. Maura then understood that she didn’t even need to invite Jane: she just needed to bring the Gala up. 

That happened about two weeks after the ring incident, which was about two weeks after the dress fitting. Maura stood in front of the vanity in her bedroom’s en suite, rubbing a European moisturizer into the skin just over her cheek bones. “You know, the Childhood Cancer Awareness Gala is on the 28th this year,” she said with the most practiced nonchalance as she frowned to get more of the product into her pores. 

Jane had grunted. She leaned against the threshold to the bathroom and crossed her arms, using tox results for their current case as the excuse to be in Mauara’s inner sanctum. Maura had at least given her the courtesy of relaying those lab results before bringing the fundraiser up. “‘S an off day,” Jane said. 

Maura made a curious sound. “Hmm. Really?”

“Yeah,” Jane confirmed. “Want me to tag along?”

Maura pursed her lips so she didn’t smile. Jane isn’t hers. But she knows a secret: Jane wants to be, and so she admits she played a little dirty to have gotten Jane to accompany her.

Honestly, though, that was the nonverbal content of Maura’s promise: go, and becoming mine is a distinct, dirty possibility for you. “I’d like that,” she told Jane. “Do you need something to wear?”

She knew what Jane would say. Well, she knew the answer. Jane ended up saying, “I”ve seen what you’re wearing; I think I can cobble something together.”

Contrary to what even Jane herself might have believed, Maura hadn’t wanted to go shopping for Jane anyway - she wanted it on the table that Jane would be dressing to compliment her. Because that meant Jane in a suit. And Maura is attracted to the Jane she knows, not the Jane she can conjure by draping her in couture.

And so, Jane is here, at the Childhood Cancer Awareness Gala, in May, instead of in front of a ballgame somewhere. Jane is here in a suit, with a very expensive white silk shirt under the jacket, with a sleeker, more understated boot than the aggressive block heel she often wears to work, her hair wild and beautiful and the perfect compliment to her sharp features.

It is, by all accounts as Maura returns from the restroom, a win. A complete victory on all fronts. Except, that is, Jane stands close to Doctor Melissa Henry - world renowned OBGYN and overall knockout - listening intently enough, leaning in close enough, to hear above the sociable din. 

Jane’s long fingers hold her champagne flute by the rim, the drink Maura had procured for her long before the trip to the restroom, and Jane hasn’t touched it. Hasn’t had a sip. Which, of course not, because Doctor Henry is Puerto Rican and curvaceous and a genius. Why would Jane interrupt her spell to imbibe? 

Doctor Henry leans close and says something into Jane’s ear, Jane who turns into the gesture yet again, and suddenly, they are both chuckling. And by god, it’s Jane’s handsome chuckle - the one that crinkles the corners of her eyes and bestows upon her a crooked little grin.

Normally, Maura respects the hell out of Doctor Henry as a leader in the field of women’s medicine. She’s serious and principled and warm… and that’s the damn problem. Maura did a fucking bend and snap to get Jane here (thank Jane’s modern media bootcamp for that particularly relevant reference); she’s not letting go this easily. 

And again, she intends to fight dirty. 

She marches across the crowded ballroom to where the two women stand, where Doctor Henry places a steadying hand on Jane’s shoulder because her heels are tall and her ankles are crossed. A man bumps into a deadset Maura, by accident, but it only fuels her resolve. She continues, gaze forward, back straight, clutch in front of her hips (the ones that sway as she walks), until she approaches Jane and Doctor Henry. Then she stops.

For all her missing of social mores, Maura can synthesize the details of a situation like no other. So just as she approaches, she comes up to Jane’s left, because Jane’s right is occupied with the champagne. And also, coincidentally, Doctor Henry. All for the better, though, because this means that for her next act, the ring on her hand can do all the heavy lifting, even if it’s a mirror image of where it’s supposed to be. 

Her fingers find the ones at Jane’s side, and they slither between them. Once they’re all but entwined, she drags them up, skin brushing as they curl, just before manicured fingers scratch Jane’s palm one time. Then as she fans them back out, down and united again, she kisses Jane’s covered shoulder. Jane shivers and Maura knows it’s because of the metal rubbing on her ring finger. “My mother’s bete noir is here,” she says into the fabric of Jane’s jacket, relishing the delicate scratch against her gloss-softened lips. “The feud is as alive as ever.”

Boom.

Between the touching and the comment just for her, she’s got Jane. She knows she’s got Jane because instead of a statement about how rude it is not to greet the third party, Jane says in that gravel-rich timbre, “she still telling the story about how her daughter styled… who?”

“The Roman Prince of Cerveteri? At least once a function,” Maura replies quickly, all as she turns her gaze on Doctor Henry. “So sorry, Melissa - family issues. You know how it is.”

Family. Issues.

Jane stiffens further, grows warmer; Maura knows there’s blushing even if she can only see Melissa Henry’s straight-out-of-a-catalog face. 

“That I do,” Doctor Henry says. Gracefully she steps away from Jane. Is that a bit of fear Maura sees, too? “Do uh, do you two need a drink? I think I’m headed to the bar.”

Jane smiles with her lips closed and simply holds up her champagne flute. I’ve got plenty.

“I’ve had enough for the evening, but thank you,” Maura answers with a cordial smile.

When Doctor Henry walks away after a nod and a smirk of her own, Jane snorts. “I don’t think she’s coming back,” she says.

“God, I hope not,” says Maura. When Jane, without letting go of Maura’s hand, downs her entire drink and steps close enough for their fronts to touch, Maura honors the nonverbal request for an embrace by wrapping her free arm around Jane’s shoulders. “When you’re here, when you accompany me to these events, you’re mine,” she asserts with a growl of her own.

“I’m yours all the time,” Jane counters. She rests her head in the crook of Maura’s neck because in heels, Maura is tall enough.

Maura squeezes, and laughs lowly. “I know.”

[casukaga]

an query about cable!!! how did you figure out his outfit!!! what parts of his character shone out first!!! thank u i love him and u

ooo!! well, when i first made cable for class, he looked like this:

i knew i for sure wanted to give him a harness bc i thought that would be real cool (and also to suggest he’s a little,, y’know 🥴)

and then when i decided to play cable for the campaign, i wanted to redesign him to better fit the world. at the time, i had no idea what his backstory would be, and i texted my sibling, “i need to redesign cable for a dnd campaign” and they were like, “please make him slutty” in reference to his outfit. and i was like,, actually, y’know what? YEAH. so i decided to apply that to cable’s character and backstory, hence i made him work at a brothel, and i designed his fit like this LMAO.

so that is where my brain went. leather? chains? belts? alright!! and a collar of course. the horn jewelry was also a given because i looooove tiefling horn jewelry, and making it gold goes with him being red. i also wanted to give them makeup and heels. i love someone who just exudes confidence in what they wear, and i needed cable to have an “i know i’m pretty and i wear what i want, fuck you” attitude aUGSHSJ

i also knew i wanted to give them tats, but didn’t decide how heavily tatted he’d be until i saw someone on twitter with a bunch of tats, and i was like— yes i need cable like this immediately.

these were early dnd cable scribbles from may last year!!

over time i started taking out some unnecessary elements and refined his design, so now they just look like this.

i’ve decided that, with cable’s overall fashion, he just likes wearing anything that shows off his body—like slim fitting outfits, or fits where he gets to show a lot of skin. black and gold are his favorite colors, so they especially like wearing anything black / gold. he’s also not immune to glitter or sparkles.

so yeah, that’s my guy :3

[least-carpet]

Jin Ling and Hensheng: Weapons and Power in MDZS

Alright, I saw a post float by about Jin Ling inheriting and using Hensheng, and I have thoughts about it. Not to be a hater—like if you love this thought, get down with your bad self and have fun, I wish you every enjoyment—but I disagree strongly that Jin Ling would ever use Hensheng, or even that Jin Guangyao would want him to.

Thoughts about Hensheng's name

All of the weapons in MDZS have highly symbolic names and Hensheng is no different. "Hensheng" apparently means "hatred or resentment for life" which seems like kind of a wild name to give your sword, although, what do I know, it's not like I'm a sword-naming expert. In all other aspects, Hensheng is unusual, since it's a soft sword which is meant to be worn concealed. It's a perfect tool for Jin Guangyao's time undercover, and he uses it to assassinate Wen Ruohan and end the Sunshot Campaign. However, I assume it's a dishonourable sword to carry, since it's not worn openly, although I have to admit that I don't know much about this genre or its conventions. As evidence, I want to point out that we don't see any other characters carry this type of sword. It simultaneously makes him a hero, beginning his ascent in the Jin Sect, and marks him as an outsider.

Jin Ling, on the other hand, is associated with father's (legitimate) power both through his weapons and his martial skills, i.e. his inherited sword and his archery. I think this is the ONLY instance we see of a named sword being inherited so this association is unusual and very important. (The sword also has a Big Symbolic Name, Suihua, "the passage of time." Why do you need subtlety when you can have BADASS SWORDS instead.)

While Jin Ling is in a delicate political position at the end of MDZS, I still don't think he would take up Hensheng, and to explain why, I think we should look at his refusal to take up Zidian in the second siege of the Burial Mounds.

Zidian as a symbol

The Watsonian explanation for this refusal is that he associates Zidian's transfer with the owner's death and he absolutely refuses to consider the idea that Jiang Cheng might die. But from a Doylist perspective, Zidian is a symbol of power under duress or constraint, in a similar way that Hensheng is a symbol of socially unacceptable power.

Zidian is associated with Madame Yu (constrained by gender and social position, access to power based on skill and a reputation for ferocity) and later Jiang Cheng (constrained by the decimation of his sect and his age, access to power based on skill and a reputation for ferocity). It's also associated with trauma linked to both the duress and the power—trauma associated with "what must be done to survive." Like it's legendary for sure, but at what cost, you know? Not even getting into it taking the form of a whip.

Jin Ling looks at it under immediate threat to life and limb and goes, No, thanks! I will do brave things without it! (And gives Jiang Cheng, like, five simultaneous heart attacks.) Even under duress, Jin Ling is still in a better position than Jiang Cheng was when he inherited Zidian, because he still has his uncle's support and knows it. He is secure enough in Jiang Cheng's love and protection that he doesn't need to take Zidian from him.

Jin Ling and his many inheritances

With that in mind, I can't see Jin Ling taking up Hensheng either. I also see it as thematically incoherent for him to use a weapon called "hatred for life," when his arc is about struggling with past events to work towards forgiveness.

He's not in the same situation as Jin Guangyao. He grew up in peacetime, as the heir to a wealthy sect, and his guardians loved him and supported him and were able to protect him. He just doesn't need to be as well-armed—emotionally or literally—as Jin Guangyao or Jiang Cheng.

(It also occurs to me that both Zidian and Hensheng are barriers to physical closeness. Hensheng is worn concealed in the wearer's clothes and Zidian is worn as jewelry—trauma functions as a barrier to closeness and intimacy. You can ALWAYS zap or stab a motherfucker if they get too close to you, which is good in unsafe situations and bad, emotionally, if you live like that forever. It's important that Jin Ling doesn't have to do that!)

Anyway this is why I hate this concept for thematic reasons, especially when Jin Guangyao did explicitly arm and protect Jin Ling—with Fairy, who is capable of discernment, who is a source of love and support, and not with a "hatred for life."

Although Jin Guangyao and Jiang Cheng's combined parental efforts were, uh, a little idiosyncratic, it seems like they were both trying to be mindful of what they passed on to their shared nephew. Jin Ling is a spoiled brat but also a very good and forgiving and brave little guy! He is so much more secure than either of them were basically ever in their lives! He doesn't need to resort to resentment or to Hensheng. (Thematically. For practical, in-text purposes, he doesn't need them because Jiang Cheng is still around and will kill anyone who touches a hair on his head. I'm sure Wei Wuxian would also be happy to help.)

TL;DR it is really important thematically that Jin Guangyao did not transfer his hatred for life to Jin Ling, who, along with Lan Sizhui, is part of the novel's hope for the future. Jin Guangyao looked at his nephew and he gave him a puppy (who can protect him AND love him) instead.

[herssian]

do people who play ttrpgs often, especially if you dm, find you need ideas for little objects and trinkets? i was considering adding objects to the monthly patreon pack, jewelry or smaller weapons or fantasy-adjacent items, but i'm not sure how useful they could be in practice. character designs are one thing; using my design of a magical vial that can grow infinite warm bread loafs in your very serious dnd campaign is something entirely different

[krindor]

Jewish Life Pre-Diaspora: Women's Hair

back in april @mylight-png made a post expressing a desire to learn about small details of "ancient Judean" life such as clothes, jewelry, hair, etc. and I've found the idea of addressing what I, as a Jewish archaeologist, could in that post intriguing. these types of questions are some of the most interesting, but also the most challenging, for archaeology.

Defining "ancient Judeans"

In this, I'm looking for ancient Judeans as defined by Light's quote "I wish to know what traditional, pre-occupation, pre-exile Jewish life was like." which I'm taking as before the babylonian diaspora in 586 BCE, because anything after that date is post-diaspora, and while there were occupations before 586 BCE, I want to be able to give some answers.

Women's Hair

The only definitive visual depiction of Judean women I could find came from the Lachish Relief, a wall decoration in Sennacherib's Southwest Palace in Nineveh, which is in modern-day Iraq. It depicts the outcome of the siege of Lachish in 701 BCE, where the Assyrians sacked the Judean city as a part of Sennacherib's campaigns into Israel and Judah (the same campaign that led to the diaspora of the 'ten lost tribes')

In the relief, women are displayed as wearing long headscarves (below) so unfortunately this tells us little about their hair (in the relief, children are shown as miniaturized adults, so we also learn nothing about girls hair from the relief).

(Image credit: Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)

Hope for learning anything about women's hair isn't lost though, thanks to a type of artifact called a Judean Pillar Figurine (or JPF's for short). These figurines are split into two groups: those using well detailed molds, and handmade, more abstract pieces.

(Deutsch, 2022)

Hundreds of JPF's have been found, with over 50% of them coming from the Jerusalem area and all dating to the 9th-6th centuries BCE, which is the time period we're looking for. The primary issue is that we don't know what exactly they were used for, or who they represent. They could be depictions of Judean women, but it's also likely that they are depictions of Ashera, a local fertility deity that was worshiped alongside El/Hashem in domestic settings (religion in pre-diaspora Israel and Judah is messy, I should probably do one of these about it), and it's even been theorized that they are children's toys. The two types may even be used differently, we just don't know. So while I'm going to show the JPF hairstyles, keep in mind that these may not be the actual hairstyles Judean women wore.

The mold-made faces consistently have "voluminous cheek- or chin-length hair framing a face with full cheeks, a mouth that may smile slightly, a chin, nose, and almond-shaped eyes." (Ben-Shlomo and McCormick 2021, 27, image below from the same, 29).

This hairstyle is seen in the area as early as the 12th century BCE, on an ivory flask "bottle figure" from Lachish, which is pre-Israelite, so this hairstyle has been in the region for a while. (Niditch 2008, 44), and may resemble an Egyptian wig in its form, owing to Egypt's cultural influence over Canaanite and early Israelite culture (Deutsch 2022).

This consistency and longevity in the features is also used as an argument that they represent a single individual (again, Ashera), rather than this hairstyle being ubiquitous among Judean women.

Among the handmade, pinched face JPF's, there is naturally more variety, and a possible hairstyle can be seen in them from Tell en-Nasbeh. Some of these handmade JPF's have a headband that has two side locks coming from underneath it (below), and while none displayed side locks without a headband, the reverse isn't true, though exceptionally rare (2 of the 37 JPF's found had a headband without hair).

(Ben-Shlomo and McCormick 2021, 29)

Conclusion

Due to the undetermined nature of the JPFs, and the lack of other evidence at the moment, it's impossible to definitively say "this is how ancient Judean women styled their hair." That being said, I hope I've presented some current ideas from my field that are interesting, and shed a little light on such an ephemeral topic.

TLDR: I couldn't find much, but there is ongoing research into this topic in archaeology.

[r-anela]

A ring for happiness and eternity E.M×Female!Reader

Summary: this Easter is very special for you and Eddie, he has a big surprise for you ❤️

Warnings: none, this is pure fluff!

Thank you to @sleepy-wyvern for proofreading!💚

Eddie planned it for months, he wanted to do it on a special day, but not on New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day because that is totally predictable and a cliché.

He finally decided on Easter because it was close to your anniversary and he didn't want to do it then either because that's also stereotypical. This way he could already be calling you his fiancée on your 5th anniversary and Easter is the feast of the resurrection, so basically the celebration of a zombie. You can't get more metal than that!

Actually, you two never wanted to marry. You had agreed that it is much more metal and against society if you live together without getting married. But when he heard how the old neighbor always called you Mrs. Munson and you always blushed slightly, he knew for himself that he really wanted to make you Mrs. Munson.

His idea was to make a kind of scavenger hunt at Easter instead of the usual egg hunt. And since it should not be obvious that you would have a special search, he had thought that there would be three different treasure hunts. One for you, because you were his girlfriend. Then one for the Hellfire guys to find out about the new campaign, and finally one for Steve, Robin, Jonathan, Nancy, Max and Eleven, because they didn't know much about D&D, they would get a classic scavenger hunt.

As a starting point he had chosen Steve's garden, there would be the first clue for each group, hidden under normal Easter eggs and sweets. After that each group would do a little tour through Hawkins, with the goal to arrive at the end together at Lovers Lake where an Easter fire was planned and you would find your last Easter egg with the clue.

The others knew about it and had also taken on a role or two in the whole affair. Jonathan would take pictures of you after and before you found your last clue, Steve had the ring stored at his house and would slip it to Eddie in the morning. Nancy, Max and Eleven had been given the task of making you look extra pretty and the Hellfire boys were to distract you as their paths would cross yours often to take your mind off the situation.

While everyone was searching he would set up the Easter fire and anything else.

Once it hit 8:00 in the morning your alarm clock rang. You had been awake for half an hour and had gotten dressed, put on makeup and done your hair. Because today was the big Easter scavenger hunt from Eddie and he had specially noted that all who participated should dress nicely, for whatever reason was not clear to you, but it was Eddie, his game, his rules. Whether in D&D or elsewhere, if he was planning then everyone would have to follow his rules.

Robin, of course, was only semi-enthusiastic about the idea of making herself pretty, but Eddie had encouraged her that she could wear what she wanted, he and she being different in their own way and style technically in the minority. Robin had gone shopping with you, El and Max, but Nancy had no time that day, and promised to take you to the hairdresser and nail salon a few days later.

At the mall there was a beautiful dark green dress you picked out. And for Robin, a new blazer, while El and Max both picked up a new pair of shoes and some jewelry.

At the hairdresser you had your hair cut a little and at the nail salon you had your fingernails painted to match the new dress.

Looking at these dark green lacquered fingers, you now tightened the bow of your boots. Eddie had recommended comfortable shoes, you would have to walk a lot today.

A look at the alarm clock told you that you still had 40 min of time before you had to go, enough for breakfast.

Well fed and excited you arrived at Steve's, Robin and he were visibly discussing something you couldn't understand what they were talking about. Only that they were very much at odds about whatever it was about.

Less than ten minutes later you were all standing in Steve's backyard and Eddie was explaining in his Dungeon Master Narrator voice the rules and how it would all go down.".... Each group has been assigned a specific color, if one group encounters clues from another they are required to ignore the clue or help the other group find it. No direct transfer of clues is allowed. Also, an update is to be given via the walkie-talkie every half hour to hour regarding which clue you are on. So that no one gets lost on me here!"

"At the end of the search, everyone should meet again at the same point, this is where we will have an Easter fire and let the evening wrap up. If someone has difficulties, the walkie-talkie may also be used in an emergency. The first clues for each group are hidden here somewhere in the garden, after that you will go different paths, see you later! And with this, let the games begin!" a smile flitted across his face which immediately made you blush and spread warmth throughout your body.

He gave you a heartfelt kiss and a tight hug, after which he spoke in a lowered voice just to you, most of the others were already wandering across Steve's garden in search of the first egg. "Since I'm about to leave you alone, I've arranged your search so that you'll go to the same places as the others now and then. I just hope they do not act totally stupid and you really meet in between" at his last statement you had to laugh for a second. "Eds I'm an adult too, we're all not children anymore" and with that you gave him one last kiss on the cheek and walked briskly out into the garden.

Your plastic eggs were none other than green, of course. There were also yellow and red. All the other colors from the mix bag Eddie had hidden around the garden as well, but these would contain candy or snacks, you knew. You had actually helped him two days ago to fill the various colored eggs.

So far no one had found their clue, but they already had some other eggs. You had a suspicion where your clue might be. Whenever you are in Steve's backyard, you sit on the same chairs by the pool. Lo and behold, there was a green egg taped under the first chair.

Clue after clue led you through Hawkins, to all the different places Eddie connected you to. But you didn't know about that, because all those places were like a second home to all of you; Benny's Burgers, Family Video, a park bench by the library, and even at Hopper's. So far, you had met the others five times and should have only a few more clues ahead of you because in an hour the Easter Fire was supposed to start.

You found your last egg in your parents' front yard, you had moved out a few years ago, but you and Eddie came over regularly for dinner. Inside the egg was a small rock you had given Eddie two years ago when you were at Lovers Lake, it was shaped like a heart. Attached to it was a little note that said "Your last journey will take you to the place where you found me". So you knew right away where to go. After giving Eddie the update, you set off.

When you arrived at Lovers Lake you saw the Easter fire already set up and Eddie waiting for you and the others. Now that you had arrived at your destination, you expected no more than to just sit around the campfire and have a picnic.

Since the Hellfire boys were still missing, you helped Eddie light the campfire and told him how great you found his ideas and the whole scavenger hunt.

When the Hellfire Guys arrived, Eddie rounded up everyone and announced that there was one last egg for each group to find on the beach. What you couldn't guess was that Eddie had actually told the others that there was only one egg left for you to find and where it was hidden. But they should act as if they would search and then go to their designated places.

After what felt like 10 minutes of searching you finally discovered the egg, it was stuck in a tree stump. If you remember correctly, it was the tree stump you had been sitting on when Eddie asked you to be his girlfriend.

You held up the egg triumphantly and *click* Jonathan took your picture. Which was not unusual, he often took pictures of all of you. Today, too, he had taken photos of all of you at one time or another throughout the day.

When you opened the egg, there was a small box inside and in that box was a note. The note had read "a ring to promise you eternity, a ring to promise you happiness, in the dark as well as in the light and also in the land of Mordor, where the shadows threaten"...

And when you wanted to put the note aside with tears in your eyes, Eddie knelt in front of you, a ring in his hand and asked, "Would you be willing to marry me?

Tag list: @tiannamortis @tiannasfanfic @kokoshka67

Comments, Likes and rebloggs are highly appreciated 💚

[ratgrinders]

Headcannon time!

First, and most importantly, Lucy has asthma, it's real and canon actually (lying)

Ivy has a ton of jewelry. She wears sooo many bracelets and necklaces. She also has the best relationship with her parents (parents, not family) out of TRG. Because she's so angry at like the entire population of people, she's able to keep the rage star from affecting her too much at home. She's still an angry teenager though and beefs with her parents. Also, they have a ton of dogs, some they brought with them from Sylvaire.

Asthmatic Lucy nation rise!!! Wait we're talking about headcanons here not something that's been confirmed canon what are you talking about (JOKE).

YESSSSSS I think she and Ostentatia could be friends and bond over jewelry, maybe. (And also maybe the common ground of having to work to maintain a specific image of yourself). Or have beef at first sight, it's up in the air.

And I really like that detail about Ivy with her parents! I think I've talked about it before in this post that I like the idea of Ivy actually having a Pretty Great relationship with her parents as a deliberate contrast to Fabian. (Related, both of them contending with how to live up to their parents' legacy. Fabian with his father's past as a great pirate, Ivy following in her parents' footsteps as rangers/protectors of Sylvaire).

My first (and dearest <3) DnD character was actually a wood elf ranger so I have a bit of a soft spot for Ivy, and you mentioning the pack of dogs just unlocked a core memory of all the dogs my ranger kept taming throughout the campaign. I like to think Ivy keeps giving them all deliberately cutesy and goofy names, with the oldest one being one she's had since she was a kid named Princess.

[slavonicrhapsody]

PLEASE elaborate on the interior design philosophy

THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME so I think that it’s significant that Volcano Manor is on paper an extremely grim place — Rykard was the head of a brutal inquisition and oversaw mass imprisonment and torture at the Manor — and yet the main halls are lavishly decorated, with every comfort a noble could want. We’re told that at the Manor, nobles were tortured “behind the curtain” (Inquisitor’s Girandole), so we can interpret the lavish design as a noble facade masking the true horror that goes on behind the Manor’s closed doors. Rykard doesn’t want to be seen as a monster, he wants to be seen as a noble and reasonable person who is pushed to do unsavory things because of the circumstances, a sentiment which carried over from his time as praetor to his treasonous campaign. His soldiers always stressed the nobility of his ambitions, though blasphemous, and Rykard himself insisted his brutality was only a reflection of the gods’ own brutality; thus, it was justified. However, when he fed himself to the serpent, he gave himself to gluttony and lust for power and became a monstrous parody of himself��� and now, Tanith uses the Manor’s noble facade to hide the true horror of Rykard’s actions, except he himself has become the monster that he always insisted he wasn’t, but maybe always was. 

Rykard is really preoccupied with presentation, which also carries over to the art he displays in the Manor. He’s got two portraits of himself decked out in fine robes and jewelry with a “stern likeness,” and he’s got portraits of his brother and his wife… he’s presenting a tangible image of his character and of the people he cares about. He also has a painting of the Erdtree in flames, a goal he was working towards. Essentially, the ideas that Rykard wants to communicate about his character and his goals are visualized in paintings lining the walls of his Manor. 

I also think Rykard probably enjoys interior design just for the sake of it, but its most important purpose for him is to portray himself and his cause in a noble and legitimate light. 

[wanderingnork]

Hi! Loved the lore dump yesterday and it got me really curious:

Githyanki worship Vlaakith, right? But do the githzerai have any religion (I'm not entirely sure how faith features into the monk class in D&D)? And do you know anything more about that long-dead goddess whom they used to worship?

What did the illithids use the githyanki for exactly? Just food? Manual labor? As soldiers?

Also, the Penumbran's "alien sheep" made me wonder what kind of livestock (if any) the gith keep nowadays and if you know whether they might also keep pets?

Which THEN got me wondering whether the gith are into music, performative arts, and poetry aside from the art you've described in that lovely one shot with the artist and the solider on AO3? /very long ask over And thank you so much for sharing all this lore with the rest of us! I'm really enjoying learning from your blog.

ALL RIGHT LET'S GO I HAVE SOURCES >:3

Starting off with worship: Back in the 2nd Edition D&D Monstrous Manual, Zerthimon is portrayed as a prophet-like figure, who died fighting Gith but will eventually return to lead the githzerai into a paradise. In Dragon magazine #390, which is a 4th edition publication, there's a sect of githzerai who carved their residence out of the petrified body of a dead god and live by its religious tenets. But the closest the githzerai have to an active deity in 5th Edition sources is their king, Zaerith Menyar-Ag Gith. Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes depicts him as a transcendent monk with incredible psionic powers, who looks like he's dead and just exists in a coffin projecting his thoughts.

What did the illithids use the githyanki for? All of the above. In the Mind Flayer Trilogy, we see them used as gardeners, food, manual labor, and eventually psionic supersoldiers (the illithids' final downfall). In all accounts, Gith was a bodyguard and soldier. According to the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon from Planescape: Torment, he worked in fields where bodies of gith used for food were turned to fertilizer for illithid crops.

Livestock and pets: The githyanki have an entire caste devoted to farming, the g'lathk (which has two apostrophes in earlier editions). The most detailed description of the g'lathk I've found is the web supplement for Dungeon #100 (Lich-Queen's Beloved), which goes in-depth on Tu'narath's farming district. To quote the article: "everything from rothé to chained humanoid captives (goblins, kobolds, gnomes, dwarves, halflings, elves, humans, bariaurs, and other “cattle”)." More recent editions have seriously downplayed or eliminated the idea of the githyanki keeping slaves this way (4th Edition's "Secrets of the Astral Sea" goes as far as saying that githyanki abhor slavery as hypocrisy when they themselves were slaves), but yeah. That's the livestock situation.

AS FOR PETS, that's MUCH more fun. Githyanki are frequently accompanied by spectral hounds, or ride interesting mounts like nightmares or the hybrids of dinosaurs and red dragons. However, in Dragon magazine #117, there's the wonderful article "Hounds of Space and Darkness." Here we learn about the dogs specially bred by the githyanki and githzerai. The githyanki breed guard dogs called kaoulgrim which are essentially super aggressive Russian bear-hunting dogs, huge and fluffy. The githzerai breed the szarkel, which are Extremely Extremely Cursed borzoi that have some limited shapechanging ability.

Finally, art: The githyanki have always been portrayed as a highly artistic group. In their earliest AD&D incarnations, they wear a great deal of jewelry and beautiful armor. By 2nd Edition, especially in the Planescape books, we see the craftsmen (mlar or m'lar) popping up. Planescape's Faction War supplement discusses beautiful and magical jewelry being sold in the city of Sigil. A Guide to the Astral Plane (also 2E) presents glorious artwork by Tony diTerlizzi of githyanki arms and armor and clothes. The Black Spine adventure for the 2nd Edition Dark Sun campaign setting offers the chance to visit a githyanki palace and includes a palace with whole wings devoted to music and art. In the 3rd Edition Tome of Battle, we get the entire story of a famous githyanki smith who made a legendary and (from the accompanying art) beautiful sword. The same Dungeon web supplement above details the mlar district of Tu'narath, where artists live in studios to create spectacular and often magical works of art.

In 5th Edition, going back to Mordenkainen, this takes a sour turn. That book portrays the githyanki as a society of bored, semi-immortal dilettantes, who get halfway through works of art or other creative projects before abandoning them for something new. I don't particularly like that, considering just how much has gone before about the githyanki being an artistic society.

I suspect that Larian agrees with me. In a banter between Gale and Lae'zel, she informs him that the githyanki paint frescoes, write symphonies, and make wine. Given how much Larian has already diverged from mainline D&D githyanki lore in their game, I think that it's a safe bet that the githyanki of Baldur's Gate 3 are more in line with the previous editions of D&D in terms of art.

[lurafita]

DnD meet-cute

Know that thing when you have an idea, but you struggle with phrasing it so it doesn't sound super weird? 😅 Okay, so like, surprise Dungeons and Dragons meet cute? Yeah, that sounds weird, right? I was thinking, mundane au. Magnus ducks into the first shop he sees in order to avoid someone (ex lover, fans, reporter? depends on what kind of job he has?), and it just so happens to be a comic book shop. One that gives its customers the opportunity to play d&d campaings. (like you can schedule a table and maybe even livestream your session if you want or something?) And Alec's group did just that, because they play regularly here and they are just about to start a new campaign. But one of the group just then quit on them, and now they are a player short. And then Alec sees Magnus and yeah, it's kinda weird to approach a stranger (a fucking beautiful one to boot!) in a comic shop to ask them if they want to play d&d with him and his friends… But come on! That guy is basically dressed like some kind of fantasy creature, with the jewelry and the make up and those clothes. He would make a great warlock!

[munsster]

Hiii I just found your page and I love it!! Could you maybe do headcanons for Eddie dating a reader with a wealthy family? Tysm 😁

eddie with a wealthy s/o

A/N: oh and reader SPOILS him and he’s like a confused puppy about it

Warnings: fluff, wealthy!reader, kissing, gift-giving, tipsy driving (DONT DO IT 🤬), PDA, bribing dustin, pet names (bug, baby)

he had no idea ur family was THAT upper class

not that you’re avoiding the topic, but whenever you’re deciding who’s place to hang at, he always beats you to the punch

plus his bed is rlly comfy soooo

how could you refuse??

anyway…

sure you dress nice & wear fancy jewelry most days

come to think of it, he supposes you are sorta preppy

and you drive a brand new car

you also pay for most of the meals, tipping upwards of 40%—unless of course the waiter was an asshole, then they get around 20%

what really shocked him is when you paid for everyone’s meal that one time they all went out to a diner after an especially grueling campaign

maybe he just didn’t consider your finances a huge factor in… anything really

he still doesn’t

but you invited him to a gala and it all became a little clearer

btw the gala was hosted at a mf country club and on the way there eddie kept asking you over and over if he looked nice enough (he did)

he was WORRIED

he put his hair up and even wore a pretty baby blue dress shirt and tie

you kept chuckling a little at his nerves because he’d be like “hmmshsmshjs is this okay???? should i take off my watch??? please, bug, you gotta help me out”

you’d think you were dying with how hurried and panicked he was speaking

but you just reached over and held his hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek, whispering sweetly

“they’re gonna love you” + “you look beautiful” + “nothin’ to worry about” + “you should put your hair up more. suits you” + “you’re cute when you blush”

and he’s simply melting into the praise

the whole night, the two of you are attached at the hip

he’s so nervous with his ringed fingers gently cradling the flute of bubbly you snuck him

you were right; everybody loves eddie

you’re just smiling next to him, holding his hand while he chats up the golf dads and housewives dressed to the nines

he collects a couple business cards and is flushed pink after his third glass

he definitely gets roped into a golf game with one of the neighborhood dads after he talked himself up a bit too much (with no help from you)

“he’s an excellent shot!!!” you chirp, knowing full well eddie has never golfed in his life—then promptly whisper an “i’ll teach you” against his ear

you get so excited when the orchestra—yes, orchestra—starts to play

and eddie HAS to drag you onto the dancefloor

how can he not??? you look beautiful

and the ladies on the sidelines hoot and holler when eddie lays a big ol’ kiss on you

oh to be young and in love *sigh*

aNYWAYS

you take him to your house afterwards and he is in awe at the steadily increasing size of the houses as his lil old van trundles through your gated community

hello???? is that a mansion?????

“technically, it’s a McMansion, eddie baby”

“technically” he huffs out turning on to your twinkly street lined with about a dozen american flags

“talk about old money”

and you just smile at him and drag him up the —long ass—driveway with a grin

“isn’t it gorgeous?” “oh, bug, you know nothin’s more gorgeous than—holy shit is that a crystal chandelier????” “wait till you see the pool”

and there’s a marble floor and a winding staircase and a shit ton of angel statues

and the upstairs is even crazier with like white carpet—shoes are left downstairs—and a fuckin’ intercom system

“EDDIE EDDIE—wait okay, stay here and i’ll be right back” and he’s just standing in your room twiddling his thumbs when he hears

“ksh-kksh—i feel the need……. the need for speed….. do you copy, eddie???” in your deepest and gravelliest operator voice

coming from a speaker. in the wall.

and then you hop back in the room with this huge smile and he’s flabbergasted

basically, you let him wear some silk pajamas and you share your $300 skincare routine with him

and the whole time he’s sitting pretty and so confused

then he’s just laying on your round bed with a canopy and looking at you like how did i not know you were rich???

tbh he was rlly ignoring the signs for a hot minute

oh my god your bed is insanely comfortable

you scare the shit out of him when you hop out of bed with a gasp

he is SO concerned

but you walk back in the room with a cute little gift bag

he’s already pampered and smelling like vanilla, what else could there be—

the bag is labeled GUCCI?????

goddamn bro what is this day

but you hand him the bag all excited and like what is he supposed to do

so he unwraps the little black box and opens it and inside is this dainty little necklace with a heart charm

awwWWW

but like “c’mon, i can’t accept this….”

“PLEEEEEEASE????”

and you always win him over with that pout

and he’ll always call you a brat for it

so you help him clasp it on and he looks so pretty

“mama called while you were in the bathroom!” “and what did mama say?” “well, she said they’d be at the four seasons tonight” “jesus—” “and that they wanna invite you on our trip to LA—” “—christ” “…...’s that a ‘no’?” “nO!!!”

after that, you do not stop spoiling him

as much as he is reluctant to accept your gifts, he can’t shy away from a good leather jacket

people being so confused when you step out together

and you literally are not paying attention to their looks

awh but eddie is and he holds your waist a little tighter when he gets self-conscious

and you just stop him in the middle of the sidewalk and give him a kiss

him willingly holding all your bags when you go out shopping

“can i carry that for you????” “eddie baby, you already have 6–” “i can do it”

you basically being corroded coffin’s little manager: flirting to land gigs, finding them a good label, buying them new equipment when something breaks (or when they want shiny new amps), sleeping with the front man

eddie’s pretty sure gift giving is your love language because lord knows you don’t need much else, but when he gives you his favorite ring

oh boy, it’s all over

total waterworks, definitely

you always asking him for style advice

and rarely listening

“leopard print or floral” “hmmm…. leopard print” “both it is!!”

taking him and his friends to chicago and basically paying for everything

and they’re like holy shit, you’re made of money

and you do get a little shy at the praise

but his friends love you

and they did before you blew a shit ton of money on them

and it made eddie nervous the whole time

but you always reassure him it’ll be okay

and you’re worried he thinks of you different now that he knows

“you don’t think i’m… i dunno, pretentious?” “not even close, bug. think you’ve got a knack for shopping, though” “oh, stoppppp”

the gang thinks the amount you two display affection (to put it gently) is ‘gross’

you do a lot of sitting in his lap and general cuddling

mostly, you’re all over each other

and one time dustin would not stop ragging on eddie for making out with you at the carnival

and eddie just calls dustin a ‘twerp’ while you hand him a fifty and smile

he never mentioned it again

you definitely drag eddie to many more galas

and art galleries and the opera and horse racing and your beach house????

BUT in return, he takes you to his metal concerts and you join in on his D&D campaigns

don’t get him wrong….

he appreciates the financial security of it all, but obviously it’s a new feeling

sometimes it makes him a little frustrated to see someone with so much disposable income

especially growing up in a trailer park

it’s just different, you know???

so you let him pay for dinner when he asks

and he learns to understand you love spoiling him

and you learn to understand that he doesn’t love it all the time

but he really loves you

even when he has enough shiny things for a lifetime

he’s always considering just one more

and this time, it’ll come in a little velvet box

“love you, eds!” “love you, richie rich” “hey”

masterlist

[blorbologist]

In a modern world what type of engineering do you think Percy would specialize in?

Hi anon!

This is a complicated question that, personally, varies from fic to fic based on what you want to emphasize from Percy’s canon portrayal and what you don’t mind leaving behind (in the name of realism/drama/fluff/etc.).

I’ve broken this down into parts because this is gonna get long, I have thought over this for a few days so bear with me!

First of all, I’m gonna open with the disclaimer that Percy in the Campaign (and Tal’Dorei Reborn too) is… insanely accomplished. He’s a D&D character, so he’s allowed to be. For the sake of giving us a concrete list to work with, here are some of the canon engineering-ish things he’s accomplished):

Inventor of firearms (thus has good knowledge of metallurgy, chemistry and both fine detail work and larger scale forging. Can work with hot metal and explosive materials.). Also makes his own shot.

Bad News (singled out because it has a scope, thus lenses, so he can work glass too, or at least know what he needs to commission it. Though his failure to repair his own glasses suggests the latter lmao.)

Trick arrows for Vex (similar skillsets to the above, except the grappling and tangling arrows have a little more chaos to their construction.)

Diplomacy (it needs to be charged with lightning attacks, however he at least has a primitive understanding of circuitry to get it to conduct that. Originally supposed to have a galvanized battery, but they ended up using a behir lightning gland - so can incorporate biology too. Also counts as a prosthetic in the show’s canon.)

Various other explosives (again derived from the gun skillset.)

Death from Above’s modifications (has a good understanding of comfort - he’d need to know a little wood- or leatherworking for the stocks and grips of his guns too.)

The Umbrasyl trap (large-scale simple mechanisms.)

Vax’s raven skull broach (can adapt his skillset to aesthetic work. Bird skills are very fragile and thin, so difficult to replicate. Has some skills applicable to jewelry making.)

Victor’s prosthetic hand (... *a whole ass prosthetic*)

The Heart of Whitestone (clocktower with complex mechanism, so: horology, lots of gears and such. Implies some architectural skills.)

Whitestone’s streetlamps (powered by the acid pit beneath Whitestone, so pretty much a primitive battery of sorts. Some civil engineering.)

Plans for a warm steam/water heating system to keep Whitestone’s streets clear of snow (again with civil engineering, as well as steam and piping.)

Toy guns for his children (presumably pop or potato guns.)

Sketchbook (I list this here because he clearly has a good eye for proportions and aesthetics, and can depict what he sees and/or imagines with accuracy.)

*Doty 2.0 (I only include him at the end because it’s unclear how much Percy helped with the construct-aspects, vs the gun-arm this Doty has and general help. I doubt it’d be a specialization, but he’d at least have a vague idea of how it works.)

That’s a lot of skills for one person to have, and gives us many avenues to work with! 

I personally change from AU to AU, depending on a number of factors:

Do I prioritize keeping violent invention consistent for Percy, or moreso the impact his legacy has on the world/guilt? 

Is manual tinkering his job or his hobby? 

In a similar vein: is he well-off enough to tinker for fun, or is he in poverty or otherwise disconnected from his family’s wealth and thus needs to pay the bills?

Do I want vengeance/Orthax involved as his muse? If so, how big a role? 

With that in mind, here are my main heavy hitters:

I’m very fond of Percy being involved with computer science and/or software/hardware engineering, because there isn’t really much he can do with weaponry that would revolutionize the world these days*. However, machine learning and such have been tools of great harm the last few decades. Manual tinkering can be left to a hobby, while Orthax and Ripley are somehow involved in him being behind some programming that the police or military organizations can abuse to fill him with Guilt. This is what I go with in Cat’s Cradle: Percy is responsible for a key innovation in facial recognition tech, named 0RTH-X or something, in his fervent desire to identify his family’s killers. And he could develop this completely independently even living off ramen and eggs!

Likewise, robotics is another interesting and topical field - namely drones and police robots. I don’t think he would be too involved in the circuitry of these (it’d be a great way for him to meet Tary, though), but their construction and/or weaponry could be Percy’s creation. The vengeance as a muse angle is a touch more iffy here, but you could pull it off. It’s a lot more hands-on than the above, which is great for tinkering, though his impact on the field is less likely to be as massive as a too-effective bit of programming. There’s also flexibility - he could do this on payroll, or be a random robotics nerd… with the caveat that he’d need significant personal resources, most likely. Put him in a FIRST Robotics competition or on BattleBots lmao.

However, if the obvious boom boom is important, and you want him to revolutionize weaponry… nuclear engineering is right there. By necessity this Percy would need to be heavily involved in the government of whatever nation you set him in, which might remove some of the autonomy behind his decisions and alleviate him of some responsibility. You can also very easily turn it to him trying to make up for his legacy with some nuclear power. It’s difficult to tie this one to his vengeance, unless Percy goes more ‘fuck the whole world and let it burn, and the Briarwoods too’. (Maybe have him be working on nuclear fusion, which we’re just cracking now? Very topical.)

If you want to stick close to canon, firearms engineer is an option! However, it personally stretches belief for me that he'd revolutionize guns in the modern era when... jazzhands at Everything. It's also harder to tie into vengeance, because why make his own fancy gun when he can buy one reasonably easily (in the USA, where I usually see modern AUs set - less so, say, where I am in Canada lmao). But! You could definitely take that angle and just have him produce a new sort of gun. The caveat is that the consequences for this invention getting out are uh... a very sensitive and topical subject with a lot more emotional baggage for a lot of your (again, USA-centric) readers. So for all those reasons this one is not one I favor.

You could lean more into the chemistry/metallurgy angle with a materials engineer Percy. Have him develop a new alloy that has broad applications that ends up finding military/firearm use too. Or some new explosive substance! Boom boom! This could combine the physical tinkering angle along with just how massively revolutionary his canon invention is, and you don’t need to do much research (just bullshit a fancy new metal that does X Y Z lmao). However, this is another that would require a sizeable source of funding for Percy to make this, and with little direct application to fucking up the Briarwoods, and is more chemistry-heavy than many other types of engineering. (Perhaps less so if it's just an explosive material he can make in a garage lab, however the chances of him blowing up his workshop and needing to pay fines/repair it would still exert a decent financial burden.)

Going from the micro to the macro, a civil engineer could work well given his post-canon going-ons. Architect or otherwise, it’s a very… rich-nerd job, and would feed into his posh image, and also have good potential for consequences should he design something that falls to fire/some natural disaster and kills people. There’s absolutely no tie-in to Orthax and creating something for vengeance here, though - which, if you want a Percy who didn’t invent something knowing it’d kill people so long as it killed the Briarwoods too, is great! It’s far less hands-on, though, and likely less into gadgetry than we’re used to - and instead leaning into his artistic side with drawings and schematics, as well as his understanding of physics.

I can tentatively suggest optomechanical engineering, because Bad News does use scope lenses, and he’s confident enough in glassmaking to try to fix his own glasses. However, he also completely fails at this in canon, and could have commissioned those lenses easily enough (vs needing to custom build much of his guns and such himself). So this is moreso if you have an AU where you want Percy involved with lasers, telescopes or photography. (I’m fond of Percy retiring from using guns to instead ‘shoot’ with a camera, for what it’s worth.)

Of course, these are just broad fields of engineering catered to Percy and his skillset: not every Percy needs to be an engineer. Clockmaking, coding and tinkering for fun don’t require a formal education. He can crack it as a mechanic or a gun buff too - you can tie his need to create and tweak and work with his hands (or, alternatively, to get vengeance with a tool of his making) any number of ways. 

I personally have a few limits: I can’t see Percy being a biochemist/bioengineer/etc. (too messy), or anything too theoretical where he doesn’t get to feel directly involved in creation. I also think he’d grumble and huff about making anything out of plastic, but that’s just my take because I think it’s funny that he has Opinions about the materials he uses.

Hope this was of some use anon (and others, I spent a few hours on this so I hope other people enjoy it too kgtrnktnr). Shoutout to @essayofthoughts for helping me with the list of creations and what they imply about his skillset <33

(Not quite relevant, but most modern AU Percys would 100% have a 3D printer and absolutely adore the things. He’d have so much fun, just imagine. But a Percy who works with metal might grumble and huff about working with plastic instead, a la Chetney.)

[pretttydemonboy]

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. FOR. CHARLIE.

🔫🔫🔫

god this took me too long lmao but I DID IT

are they associated with a certain color? what color do they wear the most?

Yellow! Warm yellow like sunshine is the color I associate with Charlie. He sticks with wearing a cooler palette when it comes to clothes though, definitely a lot of green, some blues, but a lot of brown and black.

what sort of music would they like? have you thought about what genres or bands do they lean towards? do they have a favorite song?

Charlie is a sucker for anything that's like, soft and orchestral, some folksy type stuff too. Think Hozier, The Civil Wars, The Amazing Devil, stuff like that.

weapon of choice? any particular reason they chose their weapon?

Well, Charlie's our resident magic boy, but he uses it less as an outright weapon and more of a protection/redirection type deal. His character sheet says he has a ritual knife but the idea of Charlie stabbing anything sounds so impossible.

Rest below the cut!

how crafty/resourceful are they?

I think I can say with confidence that Charlie is able to come up with unconventional solutions for problems, more often than not using magic, but he's not above using more mundane tools as well!

how do they typically dress? does their wardrobe lean more towards practicality or aesthetics?

Think about a history grad assistance in the 90s. Turtlenecks, jackets, cardigans, nice slacks, and he wears round wire framed glasses. He definitely leans towards practicality, but he knows the basics of how to throw an outfit together so that he doesn't look totally goofy.

how do they wear their hair? do they care a lot how their hair looks?

short on the sides and in the back, but he's got a fluff of ginger curls on top. he mostly just makes sure it's not overly tangled, not laying weird.

favorite animal? why?

Owls, he loves owls so much, he finds them fascinating and he loves how soft their feathers are.

do they have a nickname? who gave it to them? if it's not derived from their real name, what's the story behind it?

>:) our boy has so many nicknames. the big ones are related to each other a bit, because when he was little, his Uncle Kenny called him Peanuts (like Charlie Brown) and then Tuck, upon hearing this story, decided on Woodstock, but Tuck will also call him any number of sweet adorable pet names and they always make Charlie just...melt

favorite food? least favorite? are they a picky eater? do they have any dietary restrictions?

Charlie loves fruit and game meat, often together! and Charlie is a halfway decent cook and baker so he'll make a mean blueberry pie and he can do some magical (heheh) things with venison.

if they wear jewelry, what kind? do they prefer silver or gold? do they have a favorite gem?

Charlie always has a kind of unreal number of rings on his fingers, multiple on each finger, but most of them are fairly slender so they don't end up looking that bulky. Silver and iron for protection against various supernatural/fae beings and such.

what do they have in common with you? how are they different? would you get along with them?

uh we're both touch starved gingers with mommy issues? I think we would get along for the most part, but in small doses. I'm too abrasive for Charlie and Charlie's too soft for me.

how long have they been around? do you know their birthday? is their birthday the day you made them or another day? what do they think of celebrating birthdays?

I decided at least that Charlie is a Pisces, I suppose now I'll hammer down a specific date. March 15th! It's not the day I made him, I officially made him uhhhh back in 2021? he was extremely different in his first iteration though, I made him for a play by post motw campaign that fizzled out very quickly, and now he's in another one! as far as celebrating birthdays, they've always been a rather large affair for his family but he personally prefers a quieter celebration, dinner and a movie type stuff

what languages do they speak? how fluently?

English and Gaelic fluently, small amount of Latin for magic reasons

are they any good with numbers?

He's....adequate? He can do basic math but it was never his absolute favorite subject in school. He can calculate tips at restaurants in his head though!

how big or small is their family? who did they live with growing up? do they live with anyone now?

Charlie has a very large family. he's only got three siblings, but he's got a bunch of cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents and second cousins and in laws and the list just goes on, he doesn't even know how far his family reaches.

do they have any pets? what do they call their pets?

Charlie does not have any pets, he worries that he's too busy to properly care for them, but he does have a habit of trying to befriend birds, especially crows and owls

how did they spend their summers/free time as a child?

before his magic really began to manifest, he would spend a lot of time helping his mother bake in the kitchen and help take care of the couple goats and sheep that they had. and of course he'd play with his siblings, usually out in the fields, rolling down hills and playing in the creeks and whatnot. but as he got older he spent a lot more time alone :)

their opinion on lying, stealing, and killing?

Charlie doesn't personally enjoy any of these, but as much as he tries to avoid them, he does understand that there's a time and place for everything. killing less so than the other two, because he really thinks there's always another solution before that.

are they quick to anger? what sets them off?

Charlie doesn't get necessarily angry, but when he gets overstimulated then he can get very frustrated and irritable and snippy.

if applicable, can they drive? if they have their own, what color is their vehicle? is the inside neat and tidy, or a mess?

Charlie can drive, and he does have his own car, a simple dark blue sedan. it is clean, but he often has books scattered across the backseat

their favorite place to be?

Alice's house with everyone there, or Tuck's place, or anywhere with a lot of books

do they sleep well at night?

depends on the day really, but he gets cold so easily so it definitely helps if he either has someone next to him or if he has enough blankets

how would you describe their voice? can they sing?

Charlie has a somewhat higher pitched voice, but it's very melodic in nature, and he can halfway carry a tune, but he tends to hum rather than sing.

do they have any creative hobbies? (art, writing, music, etc)

I'm counting baking in this, otherwise all that boy does is read lol

how good/bad is their hearing? what about their eyesight?

Charlie wears glasses and is pretty farsighted, but his hearing is average for someone of his age

how do they move? are they clumsy? light on their feet? do they use mobility aids?

Despite his excessively long limbs, he's actually somewhat graceful, but it's only because he is hyper aware of his movements to avoid accidental magicks

if applicable, do they have a favorite sport? do they play any sports or prefer to watch?

a stiff breeze would bowl that boy over, he doesn't not play sports and he finds no appeal to them, but he would absolutely go to a friend's game if they asked.

how do they show that they care about someone? how do they express that they don't like someone?

Charlie is a giver, he loves giving gifts. Whether it's a healing balm, a trinket, or baked goods, he puts incredible thought into the things he gives others. If Charlie doesn't like someone...to be honest I think he would just say it in the least confrontational way possible. Like, "I don't think we would be good as friends, or acquaintances, so we should part ways now"

are they associated with any particular element (air, earth, fire, water)?

Hmmm. Gotta be water/air for Charlie. He is the frighteningly still air just before a tornado, the cool breeze of spring, the gentle splashing creek, and the sudden riptide.

do they smell like anything notable?

I think Charlie always has a freshly baked smell about him on account of all the baking. Beneath that, something distinctly other. The current of magic that flows through him, like the smell of fireworks.

do they like receiving gifts? giving gifts? what is their ideal gift?

Despite his love of giving gifts, he always gets so shy when someone tries to give him something. It's easier when it's something that's more sentimental rather than like, material value. Every time Tuck brings him a cool rock or something like that genuinely just makes Charlie's heart sing.

do they have any habits that aren't particularly self-destructive, just maybe odd?

The stimming he does with his rings has the potential to be destructive, both to the self and to others, but it's not inherently dangerous

if applicable, how would your other characters describe them? i mean specifically the people around them.

none of my other characters have met the noodle boy yet!

how would your character describe themselves? it doesn't have to line up with how they really are.

"I, well, I'm a boy? I guess? A man, rather, I am an adult. And I um, I'm a redhead? I'm sorry I'm really not sure what kind of answer you're looking for here, I'm just uh...I'm Charlie?"

do they ever return home?

Charlie goes to visit his blood relatives every few years, but that hasn't been home for a long, long time. Home is weekly dinners at Alice's. Home is in Tuck's arms, Alice's gruff silence, Kenny's terrible jokes, Nessie's singing.

[faeriefrolic]

OC Deep Dive Questionnaire Tag

A set of 20 questions to get to know your OC! ty for the tag @bool-prop !! I'm going to do my babygirl Crystal Leblanc 💛

What uncommon/common fear do they have? Aquaphobia due to a traumatic incident early in her life, as well as aichmophobia

Do they have any pet peeves? When library guests bend the spines of books 😔

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom? A well-used cookbook she's been taking ideas from, her yellow tablet, a daisy in a bee-shaped flowerpot 🌼

What do they notice first in a person? Their smile!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high is their pain tolerance? A 1... she does not handle it well!

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure? Definitely flight, literally sometimes! She doesn't like conflict and would rather diffuse or escape the situation.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person? She has an adoptive mother, Floette, who she cares for very much. She taught Crystal much about magic and life and takes after her. She lives with her mother in the library loft for a long time, until she gets brave enough to share a magic treehouse with roommates

What animal represents them best? A scottish fold dilute calico cat, which is literally her lol

What is a smell that they dislike? Really stinky cheese, burning plastic/rubber and burnt coffee beans... her Mother took her to a speciality cheese shop once and she really didn't like one of the cheeses, it smelled like feet 🧀

Have they broken any bones? She has no bones, since she is a soft doll, but there are many broken bandaged parts of her :( She is covered in colorful band-aids and always keeps them on hand.

How would a stranger likely describe them? An adorable sunshine girl who looks as though she stepped right out of a fairytale storybook ✨

Are they a night owl or a morning bird? Morning bird! She loves to make coffee and enjoy basking in the sunshine, reading the latest chapter of her library book. Though she loves her catnaps...

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love? She's a fae, so she adores sugary treats, anything fruity and sweet. And as an autumn fae she gravitates towards warmer fall flavors. She dislikes sour, bitter things

Do they have any hobbies? She organizes a dnd campaign at the library, and she also loves journaling! Sometimes she will host a little tea party for the bumblebees in her garden. They always gift her with honey 🍯

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises? Well first her kitty cat tail will puff out and she'll float up to the ceiling in shock! Immediately after she'll be overjoyed and excited, flailing her little arms everywhere and wondering how they did all this in secret and then wondering about cake, and what flavor it is, and then get distracted by thinking about how to make the cake 🎂 Oh and she'll most definitely probably cry from her friends doing this for her and feel as though she doesn't deserve the kindness

Do they like to wear jewelry? She can't have any piercings but sometimes she will wear cute bracelets or a ring, her neck is almost always covered by her enchanted healing magic scarf or a ribbon, so rarely any necklaces.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting? It's loopy and has hearts for dots and always in a glittery pink gel pen

What are two emotions they feel the most? Excitement, curiosity

Do they have a favorite fabric? Anything super soft. The softer the better

What kind of accent do they have? She's adopted a slight French accent from Floette I tag: @getboolpropped, @bastardtrait, @papermint-airplane, @kissalopa, and anyone else who wants to gush about their ocs!!!