#like they are ugly and that’s not my fault

[felassan]

David Gaider on Cassandra (the last of these retrospective character threads), under a cut for length:

"This is the last of the (major) characters I wrote during my time on Dragon Age. I could go into others, and considered moving onto Stray Gods... but I feel like fewer would be interested, and I honestly can't keep up the pace. So let's make this the last, for now. So, yeah. Cassandra. We knew early on that Cassandra would come into DAI as a companion, along with Varric, that this was part of what DA2 set up for the sequel. Now, I'd written Cassandra's short scenes in DA2, yes, but I wasn't her writer for DAI. Initially, she was Jennifer Hepler's character. By mid-project, in fact, Cassandra was more or less fully written. Jennifer did a great job - solid character, solid quest. The sticking point, it turned out, was her romance. Now, to be fair, Jennifer told me straight up when we began that writing romance wasn't her forte, but she'd give it a go. The problem with the romance as she wrote it wasn't in its execution but more a clash between the character as Jennifer envisioned her and the requirements of her being a romance. See, I mentioned previously that a romance arc inherently limits the kinds of stories you can tell with a companion. Many responses I got can be summed up as "lol skill issue", but consider this: a companion romance isn't a fic you can just throw up on AO3. It's an investment of a lot of resources. If a companion has one, most of their resources need to be devoted to it - it's not "now let's ALSO add a romance"."

"That means it needs to take priority in who they are as a character and their arc. What's more, they need to be *appealing* to a big chunk of the player base - or at least someone we can imagine being broadly appealing, anyway. Thankfully, there are still many many stories this can accommodate. 😊 This, however, wasn't one of those. Was Cassandra a fascinating character? Absolutely. Her romance, though... Well, Jennifer DID warn me. She'd written Cassandra as a serious, self-righteous, pious woman who put the Inquisitor on a messianic pedestal. Romancing her meant changing her view of you. You did this by being... pushy. Jennifer didn't mean it to, I'm sure, but sometimes it came off as, at best, negging. At worst, a bit harassy. And Jennifer would have fixed it. This was a 1st draft, and the issues - while serious - were something a skilled writer like her could handle. No problem. Thing is, Jennifer left. You may not remember, but this was around the time a bunch of GamerGate dudes decided Jennifer was somehow responsible for ALL of BioWare's faults. Oh, the power she wielded! She, a writer, could even command the combat Bio made! The result was a LOT of ugly harassment. 😞 Is this why she left? You'd have to ask her, but it undoubtedly didn't help. The important thing is, she left - and there was nobody as senior nor as superhumanly fast as her to take over any unfinished work. This is where Patrick Weekes comes in: a solid, senior writer who could fill her shoes."

"It was great timing - not only did Cassandra need a writer, I'd slowly fallen more and more behind. It was clear by that point that I'd never be able to write Dorian AND Cole AND Solas as planned. They needed to pick up two. And I let them choose the ones who interested them, like all my writers. Patrick taking Solas was no surprise, and while I had Big Plans for Solas in the future I knew at least he'd be in good hands. I was reeeeaaaally hoping Patrick would then pick Cassandra... but they wanted Cole. My baby. Who I created in Asunder. I grumped, but Patrick clearly loved the character. They had ideas for Cole which... yeah yeah, sounded cool. Fiiine. 😅 Now I had to figure out what *I* was going to do with Cassandra. We couldn't move the romance to someone else, all the other female characters were well underway, and I didn't know the character well enough to fix her with tweaks. That meant a re-write. I didn't WANT to erase all that good work, but I needed to start from scratch. Yet how? A pious, self-righteous character was already a risk in terms of romantic appeal. There are only a small number of traits sorta considered universally unappealing but they're on that list. In this instance, Cassandra already being a known character helped. I came across a webcomic (by aimo, I think? AHH I wish I could find it now) that made a joke about Cassandra reading Varric's books. Off-hand, no basis for it, but funny. 😆 And I thought: YES. THAT'S IT. THAT'S WHAT I'M MISSING."

"I sat down and wrote the "fangirl" scene, just to test it out. Everyone loved it, and it served to change my image of who Cassandra was - a view of the inside, at the idealistic and awkward passion she felt, for so many things... AND the Maker. "Yes," I thought. "I could fall in love with this." Who knew Cassandra could be funny? Not anyone, coming out of DA2, yet here we were. It worked so well and her voice came so easily. Miranda Raison was game ofc, and amazing. Though Caroline did gripe that, if we ever met more Nevarrans THAT accent meant we'd have the Tali Problem all over again. 😅 Cassandra's romance is burned into my brain as the time when we THE most awkward conversation with the animators ever. See, that moment during the sex scene on the picnic blanket when she leans back and... there were suddenly these strategically-placed candles, juuuust covering the Sordid Bits. Thing is, they were so obviously placed just to do that. Plus, we'd already decided to do full nudity in DAI, hadn't we? WHY WERE THEY EVEN THERE? Turns out, the nudity thing was still pretty new to the team. They'd forgotten and put the candles there almost as a reflex. So prudish. So Canadian. 😂 I do find it kind of funny that, these days, what I mostly hear about Cassandra is from female fans upset at me because she wasn't a lesbian option. I mean, right? Who wouldn't want that? Technically not my decision, but I guess I WAS behind the companions having set preferences so... fair enough?"

"Some of them do take it to an entitled place, though, like Cassandra *should* have been a lesbian. Why? Because she looks like one, apparently, and that that's a bit of stereotyping which feels... odd? But it's not as if lesbian players are spoiled for choice left and right, so again: fair enough. It did lead to the best end credits VO perhaps ever, and overall I'm pretty happy with how Cassandra panned out. Things never end up like you expect, right? But such is game dev lyfe. 🥸🖖 Did you know Cassandra was THE most-romanced DAI character, by a good margin? Least, by a good margin? Dorian."

[source thread]

User: "Did you have any hand in her writing for Dawn of the Seeker?" David Gaider: "No, none. Nobody at BioWare had any hand in Dawn of the Seeker, outside of maybe Mike approving the script or direction? Only he could say for sure." [source]

User: "Was Miranda a specific casting choice by anyone on the team (similar to your picks for Merrill/Fenris/Solas), or was she simply a lucky find? I loved Miranda on the BBC series "Spooks", so I was very pleasantly surprised to learn she voiced one of my favourite DA characters" David Gaider: "I don’t remember how Miranda was cast. Auditioned, I expect, and she had a good “steely warrior voice” which is surprisingly uncommon among actresses. The accent she made up was all her, as well." [source]

User: "What's the Tali Problem?" David Gaider: "When Tali was the only Quarian, the actress doing a made-up accent was fine. Once there were others… do we get them all to mimic her? That’s a tall order!" [source]

User: "I'd say Solas is the most popular nowaday, but you need to be such a specific race/gender combo + most straight guys wouldn't go for him, i get hes not on top of the list, but I'd have expected Josephine over Cass." David Gaider: "You can’t go by how fans online talk about playing the game. There is almost zero correlation between the playstyles of the vocal hardcore and the masses." [source]

User: "I was a Dorianmancer. The cut content in Trespasser DLC was sad to read, it definitely felt short/abrupt for Dorianmancers. Anyway to share what was cut at all?" David Gaider: "I don’t know what was cut out of the conversation, as I never played it. I just heard about it after the fact." [source]

User: "Those end credits are truly incredible. Do you remember who wrote them? I'm guessing a combination of Mary Kirby & you?" David Gaider: "I wrote them, but I recall the entire team kind of took part in brainstorming the pieces of it." [source]

User: "I’m very curious- Do you know what direction you would have taken Cole and his story if you’d kept him?" David Gaider: "It's hypothetical at this point, but I suspect I would have been less willing to lose the serial killer aspect... or, at least, would have made that transition occur as part of his arc in DAI. Yet that's easy to say from this side of the divide. Who knows, really?" [source]

User: "With Cassandra you created one of the best characters in DA history." David Gaider: "Personally, my favorite response of hers is where she gets mocked for loving romance and she comes back with a retort about how it's a strength - how loving something and striving for the ideal takes courage. To me, that's central to her core." [source]

User: "inquiry: did you not write any of the Awakening characters?" David Gaider: "I wrote Anders, Justice, and Nathaniel in Awakening - but it was such a hurried project, my memories of it are pretty much a blur. "Yes, I worked on that" is almost all I can say about it, I'm afraid." [source]

[dinosbiibii]

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT 💋

Pairing: Mingyu x reader

Genre: fluff, comedy, angst (if you squint!)

💋: As you got ready for your date, your hair didn’t want to cooperate, but luckily for you, your boyfriend is here to help you!

Warnings: swearing, insecurity, pulling hair, impatient reader but Mingyu, being the therapist he is, helps you

Wc: 810

Author’s note: As a curly girly myself, I really felt this, deeply 😞

++ if you want, check my Chan Drabble ^^

Snap shoot!

////

As you complained under your breath:”Fuckin’ stupid!” You recklessly pulled on your hair.

“If you don’t fucking cooperate with me I’m going bald!” You shout to your hair, as if it was a real person.

The first thing Mingyu heard was a loud thud on the ground. And in between seconds he stood by your room, still behind the door.

“My Love..?” Asks hesitantly, knowing how bad your frustrations could end up.

After a moment of silence he heard you sigh.

“Sorry, sweetheart, you can come in,” you say from to other side while you sit up straight, still one hand tangled on the top of your head as you scrunch your coils.

Mingyu slowly opened the door just to see you, half crying as you apply some more product in your hair. He tightened the grip on the door handle before walking up to you.

You just look at him with big teary eyes and a pout. Making him hold in his laugh.

“It’s not funny gyu!” You whine as you aggressively placed your so-called-working definition brush on your makeup table.

“Baby, what’s wrong?“

“Curls are not goddamn curling that’s what.” You meaninglessly laugh, kinda maniacal, ready to pull on your hair once again but Mingyu stops you by placing a hand on your shoulder.

“Love, getting angry has no use..-“ He starts. “And I’d think you’d be more frustrated if you actually pulled your hair out ,Ey?” Mingyu lightheartedly jokes.

“I have every right to be angry!” You groaned. “Because of these stupid curls we’re late for our date, and that’s my fault!”

“Dressing up to feel comfortable doesn’t really sound as a faulty thing to me..-“

“But everytime I try to atleast style them, it becomes frizzy..!!”

“I just— I just want to have straight hair, like everyone else. Everytime I straighten my hair, I felt more beautiful. But when these show up,” you picked a strand of your hair, “I feel so.. Ugly.”

Mingyu shakes his head and caresses your cheek as he kneeled down to face you on eye-level properly.

“Don’t, ever,” Mingyu says sternly, “make me hear those words out of your mouth again.”

“Y/N, you’re fucking beautiful; with both straight and curly hair. I know everyone has already said this to you loads of times, but your hair is unique!— and personally— your curls are the most beautiful thing in the world.” He reassures, with a big grin on his face.

“The way it suits your adorable face,” he starts,”The way it coils up so beautifully yet, so differently everytime. That’s what makes it so gorgeous baby.. that’s what makes you gorgeous by being apart of you.”

“Thank you Mingyu..” You try to bite away a smile, but Mingyu caught you right away.

He leaned closer to you to give you a soft and comforting peck on your lips. You smile into the kiss; His touch always seems to make you feel raw— vulnerable, but in a good way.

As he broke the kiss he stood up.

“Let’s start over hm?”

“But, what about our date?” You follow his actions, looking up surprised.

“So what..? Our plan was to walk through the park and just buy some pastries for later. Very basic if you ask me.”

“But..-“

“No,no!” He tsks you, his pointer finger wiggling side to side, “change of plans, we’re staying home today. When you’re done with your beautiful patterns, we’ll go to the convenience store to buy some ingredients for cookies,” He emphasized the word cookies on purpose while you look at him in awe, sparkling eyes on full display. “And when the baked goods are in the oven..” Mingyu playfully sighed before saying his next sentence, “You can decorate my hair—“

“Oh my god, My baby!!!” You shouted, rising from your seat and practically jumping on your boyfriend. Making him giggle.

With your hands connected to the back of his neck, Mingyu’s hands immediately found your waist, locking you in.

“I’m serious, thank you so much for making me feel comfortable and confident. Every time I feel like throwing tables, you’re always there to console me. What can I do to repay you..” you looked at him, eyes full of sincerity and vulnerability. Nobody has really seen this side of you and you only show it to Mingyu.

“Baby, all I need you is to be yourself, that’s what I’m here for.” Mingyu says, his smile never leaving his lips.

With one last loveable peck on the lips you returned to your seat as Mingyu sits on your bed. Before grabbing your brush, you looked at him one last time and found him putting two thumbs up in the air.

“I’ll be your emotional support.” He teased making you roll your eyes playfully.

“You always were, gyu.”

“I know, now get back to work!”

—- Yeah, he really is your emotional support.

[the-rat-eatery]

Yay! My two favorite things- the grandness of the universe and handholding!!

Background and other things below the cut because I swear I spent half my time on that

[pissfartboy]

from Trials of Fatherhood ch 3 :) ao3 & wattpad by my favorite person Maxfox Jimininii

[caro-rip]

love what they post about franco, they did their research

[potatobugz]

aha. fantasy high doodle dump. can you tell i have a favorite

[blanketorghost]

Ironic how the least high fashion and out of place fit of the lux couture line is the one the fandom likes the most

[meymeyzart]

I already love him...

[sappho-favourite-pupil]

Is it bad that i've just watched "The Good the Bad and the Ugly" for the first time in my life, and basically my only though while i was watching the movie was "let them fuck already"?

[theaccidentfactory]

just found out I am NOT invited to the family thanksgiving or christmas get togethers at my mom's house this year..... the worst part of this is now I have to learn how to cook thanksgiving dinner. what the fuck do you do with a turkey.

[syncast-err0r]

arkin, waking up from a collector related nightmare: the mask stays OFF during sex

[skunkes]

severe and extreme exaggeration but igts so crazy how ive been having the Energy and Drive to do lots of comms lately but when I calculate everything its like. yey i finally have the energy to do 50 comms this month ^_^!! how much will that earn me? and the answer is like. $300

[faggotcitosis]

i watch the umbrella academy very casually with no emotional attachment or reaction but seeing elliot page always irks me bc i am reminded about the fact that when he did that stupid magazine cover shirtless you could see his fake abs in high detail which looked unbelievably ridiculous attached to how skinny the rest of his body was

[possession1981-moving]

just jacob gifs (9/?)

[oxyfem]

Asking ur lesbian friends to look at a picture of your boyfriend and/or asking them for advice about ur heterosexual relationship and then getting upset when they don’t give u the reaction u want should be considered an act of lesphobia

[calciferstims]

tiktokers be like “I am going to create the most beautiful, relaxing, aesthetically pleasing video ever, with gorgeous lighting, and deeply satisfying content”. …….. “and then I’m going to cut the video fifty thousand times in thirty seconds-”