#make a better path for themself

[avdmai]

the repetition of "my friend, Vaughan" is so weirdly eerie in a setting like the silt verses, it sounds almost like a title, a chant, an invocation, something that gets bound to them and follows them from their friendship with Carpenter to their friendship with Paige––like yeah ok it's just a little phrase, a normal thing to call someone, but Paige and Carpenter say it with exactly the same inflection. In addition to the analysis I've seen around of "everyone Mallory Glass has loved has died", there's an element of being relegated to "friend," having your story serve to drive the stories of others. They leave for the CLS and their absence drives Carpenter to turn towards the Parish. They... leave... the marketing job, which is what drives Paige's loss of "faith" in her corporate life. Doomed by the narrative as fuck

[youreviltwin]

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[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: The Shape of Story

by Christina Wodtke 

Start with Conflicted Characters

The character needs a goal, a motivation and a conflict.

The goal can be alien to your audience,

but the motivation must be shared by them, and

the conflict creates struggles that increase engagement.

Paint a Picture

Details transport you into the story.

The world disappears and you have a story play in your head.

Even though there are no literal pictures.

But be careful—Too many details and the story gets bogged down.

Make the Protagonist Suffer

“Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them - in order that the reader may see what they are made of.” (Kurt Vonnegut, How to Write a Great Story)

And when it can’t get any worse, make it worse before it gets better

The two key moments that create the peak of excitement in a story is the darkness before the dawn, and the dawn. 

The climax is the moment when the protagonist is either rescued or rescues themself.

In older tales, we saw a lot of Deux ex Machina (the hand of god) rescuing the hero. A hero could be rescued by luck, a partner, another hero…but modern audiences strongly prefer stories where the protagonist helps themself.

Resolution is Boring, Keep it Short

Interest grows with every additional conflict, but once the hero figures out the solution, our fascination collapses.

Don’t natter on while the audience’s mind is drifting.

Also Consider:

You need a good inciting incident to move your protagonist to action.

A setting is more than a place, it’s a situation and a moment in time. A vivid place has details.

Modern audiences prefer “return home changed” to “return home the same.”

EXAMPLES: ARCHETYPAL PLOTS ALONG THE ARC

Boy Meets Girl

Internal conflict is always satisfactory (e.g., she believes love interferes with his career, he believes love interferes with his beer.)

The crises usually revolves around betrayal — lying, cheating — and the climax shows it was a misunderstanding or we get atonement.

The struggle is always about them being separated.

The resolution is about binding them more tightly together than ever.

The Quest

You seek things, and find yourself.

Return home changed and don’t pass go.

Common elements include companions, a mentor, great losses and extreme character arcs.

The Underdog

Even though they do not have a shot in hell, the underdog wants something. They want it so bad.

Common elements include an enemy who blocks their path, and a coach who helps them forward.

In this case, they do not return home changed but rather move into a new life that fits their changed self.

Coming of Age

Naive person has the world teaches them a hard lesson, and they become a better person for it.

Struggle revolve around life sucking and then sucking more.

The hero grows and becomes better because of it, and via new understandings becomes competent.

In some tragedies, the world breaks them.

They can return home changed, but more often they move to a new life they have earned.

More Examples. Justice & Pursuit:

Weaving Multiple Plots:

Weaving multiple plots together to make subplots can further increase tension.

Multiple plots woven together makes the whole story not only unique but very compelling.

Writing Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[glitzglamgunpowder-if]

"You were destined for a life better than this. A life free from violence, from bloodshed. But here you are once again, it's like you never left."

YOU were a child destined for greatness, for your name to be written into the pages of history. Whatever happened in your past didn't matter anymore. You were born with raw talent and charisma that couldn't be wasted, that people can only dream of. But your innate gift didn't mean your path would be easy. After the circus shut down, you stumbled through life delivering each performance like it was your last. You thought you've reached your peak, until a mysterious offer suddenly throws you into a life of crime.

Content Warnings [Will Be Updated]: Heavy Extremist Religious Themes, Depictions of Trauma, Poor Mental Health, and Violence/Criminal Activity

Play as a male, female, or nonbinary performer

Customize your MC’s physical appearance, façade personality, and choose a pseudonym for them

Befriend or Romance 4 ROs

Dedicate yourself to honing your natural talent

Choose your end goal and earn the fame you have craved your entire life

How do you want the public to perceive you? To be respected, or to be feared?

Learn more about the secrets of your dark past. Will you learn how the circus fell? How you ended up here of all places?

Will you acquire the fame you deserve, or will you fade into history?

Outline of Stats/Routes!!

Alistair/Alice Delacroix - THE RIVAL

AS you adjust to your new life, you hear rumors about your fated rival. One whose mind was poisoned to despise every fiber of your being. It's no surprise they're known for their ambition, their cunning, their ruthless nature. Their path led them to inevitable darkness, but will yours?

Trope: Forbidden Romance/Enemies to Lovers

Samuel/Samantha "Sam" Kaminski - THE BOSS

YOU are an acquired talent on behalf of the current wealthy owner of the elusive Spotlight Syndicate, one of the most popular bars of its time. They're one of the few people who don't question your mysterious past, who trust you as implicitly as the air they breathe. You know deep down they have a soft spot for you, one of their greatest assets, but they're motives are...difficult to discern. But is there a possibility your relationship could go beyond transactional business?

Trope: Boss x Employee/Age Gap

Hendrik/Helena Rietveld - THE BODYGUARD

YOU don't know much about them, nor do they seem willing to give you any more information than necessary for your safety. But one thing's for sure, they're loyal to the ones they serve. And given your new...circumstances, that may be exactly what you need: someone who would travel from heaven to hell and back if their duty called for it. Will you be the first to crack the unsolvable's code?

Trope: Bodyguard Romance/Potential Grumpy x Sunshine

Jesse Lê - THE FRIEND DETECTIVE

YOU never expected to see them again after...never mind that! They stand before you now, a completely reinvented version of themself. A stranger to everyone they encounter. Will you be able to slip off the carefully curated mask they've built and heal from your past together? Or will that smoking gun be laid to rest once and for all?

Trope: Childhood Friends to Lovers -> Detective x Potential Criminal

Physical Description of the ROs!!

Despite being a frequent IF player, this is my very first time trying to create an IF myself as someone with little coding experience (I'm more of a writer if anything). I'm definitely learning as I go, and I understand this may lead to mistakes or disappointment at times, so I preemptively apologize for them. I tend to become overly ambitious, and I want to make sure I always deliver on the promises I make. I say this because some of you may have ask about certain features being implemented and I will have to say "Sorry, I don't really know how to do that yet, but I'll try and learn how!" Hopefully, this will be a fun learning experience, and you all have a fun time on here! Sincerely, Mira <3

DEMO || BETA TESTER FORM || PLAYLIST || BLUESKY

[briarpatch-kids]

Not to be like, "If I can do it, so can you!!" Inspiration Porn-y Bullshit about my 5k, but like... it would be awesome if you used this as a Sign and started going out and getting a little bit of "safe for you specifically" exercise that makes you feel good and may even help a little with pain. At any rate, the "I had a good workout" pain feels different and better than "I hurt because my disability hurts" pain and its nice sometimes lol.

I started out in a manual wheelchair going around my house once a day, then started going to a walking path and slowly worked my way up to a mile distance, then two, then three. You can race in a wheelchair alongside runners on foot in local races, thats what I do. Think like, "The Great Bumfucksville Peach Run" or whatever. Those kinds of races. Some of them even have a 1 mile run thats way more doable for beginners and people with less stamina.

The important part is that the exercise is safe FOR YOU, and you aren't harming yourself in the long term with it. My doctor recommends for me to go to the point of fatigue but to avoid exhaustion. I take this as stopping when I go "should I do another lap or should I stop here?" instead of going till I can't go any further. It took me like... 6+ months to do my first 5k and about a month to get back into it after a 2 year break, your times may vary depending on condition, fitness, disability, and equipment.

For reference, if this post breaks containment, I have mitochondrial myopathy (think CFS + Muscular Dystrophy) and use a CRT powerchair and face mask ventilator in daily life. I'm in the severe disability category so I'm not just talking out my ass. This was actually very hard for me and I'm proud as hell. 5ks are difficult even for able bodied people.

IMPORTANT EDIT!!!!

Make sure you know what your baseline fatigue feels like and what it feels like when you're about to work yourself into a flare-up!!! That's the only way you can exercise SAFELY with a fatigue heavy disability! Stop BEFORE you reach "flare up" fatigue and dont restart until you reach your baseline again! This is not medical advice, just advice from someone who has worked themself into a flare before doing this.

[peoplesgraves]

Imagine being a Royal who can’t escape obsession

Yandere Knight who’s been trained for the honor of protecting the royals their entire life. Who’s had any semblance of self beaten out of them instead being filled with nothing but reverence for their favorite. At first their obsession is devoid of romance, solely based on their divine duty to protect you. They’re happy just to stay by your side and content with forgoing their own life in favor of yours. That would all change the moment they actually get hurt protecting you. They expect to be broken just like when they were a kid, destroyed and remade stronger, better for you. Instead you are gentle and kind, you help nurse their wounds and their obsession transitions from one of duty to one of love. No longer content to die for you, now they must live for you, their beloved royal. No matter how many people they have to cut down your knight will never forsake their love.

Yandere Advisor a few years older than you but much much younger than your other advisors. They were a prodigy, groomed from a simple stable hand to the person they were today. Their incredible intelligence, tactical mind and people skills make them invaluable to the kingdom but they find themself laying awake night after night. Not worrying for the people but for you instead. They care not for the opinion of other royals or their peers but only of yours. They view everyone as below them, sure their friendly and compassionate on the surface but below the skin lies a bubbling darkness. Every meeting with you that’s interrupted by some silly problem or royal ball they’re forced to miss due to work, they find their facade cracking. They contemplate abandoning the wretched kingdom you loved, whisking you far far away so they can finally have what they love. For now though they’ll wear their cracked mask and guide you as gently as they can, both in your role as a royal and towards your devoted advisor.

Your families resident Yandere Wizard is a strange creature. Equally out of their mind as they are terrifyingly cunning. They slip between the two states so easily that it’s not quite clear which is their true self, maybe they’re both just hiding what truly lurks below their calculating eyes and outrageous outfits. Despite being perfectly capable of turning whatever enemy crossed their path into nothing more than a pile of dust, they prefer to use their magic in more…joyful ways. Turning your dress into whatever color you fancied at the moment or making flowers appears out of thin air whenever you seemed down. Some may call it a waste of their gift but they knew the truth, knew that nothing was a waste if it was done for love. They turn their tower into an inviting place for you and makes sure you know you’re always welcome, that they’ll always have time for their royal. They contemplate keeping you up in their tower forever and using their magic to bring you bliss until the end of days. They would give you whatever you wanted because all they wanted was you.

A Yandere Witch who’d started as a simple forest witch. Content to live in her small cabin among the trees and animals, only ever going into the royal city when they needed supplies or to sell off potions at the marketplace. Sometimes people would come to them for help with their maladies or to try and observe their strange skills for themselves and usually they’d abide before sending them on their way and going back to their solitude. Lately though their solitude wasn’t the great comfort it had once been. Something was missing or rather someone. They found themself going into the royal city more and more, not just flitting in and out of the market place but becoming a frequent fixture. So frequent in fact that under cover of night and a cloak you’d come to seek them, hearing of their skills on one of your visits to greet the subjects. They indulged you, allowing you to watch their work until the sun starts to peak through the horizon and to their joy you keep coming back whenever you can. They becomes so fond of your company that they consider getting rid of that pesky wizard of yours and offering themself for the royal court instead.

A Yandere Maid and your closest confidant, a fact they very much likes to rub in to anyone who will listen. They’d been raised for this since birth, the knight was raised to protect you sure but they were raised to serve. To handle every tedious, boring or undesirable aspect of your life so you’d never be anything less than content. It was a job they took very seriously, keeping detailed lists of what you liked and didn’t like, paying the shadiest people to vet any new people you came into contact with before you ever met them and of course helping in more normal ways too. Because you trust them so implicitly it’s startlingly easy to get rid of any favors of affection from anyone else, after all you didn’t need anyone else. Only they could take care of you the way you needed, it was their purpose, you were their purpose.

The Yandere Jester is perhaps the least assuming of yanderes. Always joking and smiling and laughing and prodding oh so subtly. Telling you stories of when they were sent to the gallows and their escape even fantastical tales of robbed royals, mysterious murders and other various crimes and misfortunes. Ultimately these were assumed to be humorous fibs from a misguided jester but still some nobles would whisper theories while looking at the jester fearfully, saying they were an escaped madman or perhaps a demon in human form. Truthfully no one but you seemed to like them much, always acting as if they were a rabid bloodthirsty beast and they were, to anyone else at least. To you they were a lapdog, hungry only for your laughter and joy. Eventually their stories get to be less about the past and more about the future, talks of how funny it’d be to steal away their beloved and leave all these silly nobles heads spinning. They don’t sound quite as funny telling that one, but still you smile politely and they love you even more for it.

Yandere Suitors sent from other kingdoms, mostly weaker ones seeking to form an alliance but also a few from stronger kingdoms, even empires who simply had a spare and figured it couldn’t hurt or needed agreements on something specific from your kingdom such as a rare resource. Eventually as more and more suitors came and then refused to return home even after rejection, they ended up as more of an unwanted harem situation. Constantly making and breaking alliances with each other to try and gain favor, flitting around the palace ordering servants around to make sure everything perfect all the time for you. Each trying to be seen as the best spouse for you, dreaming of the day you pick them and send the rest home, in pieces if required. Always whispering gossip in your ear, offering to warm your bed or accompany you out of the palace. Theyd do anything to be your favorite, just one step closer.

Throngs of adoring, Yandere Royal Subjects, even people from the far away villages and outer edge territories make their way to the royal city when you make a grand appearance in town. Cheering and waving colorful flags made from scrap, some huddled in groups giving blessings for your safety and health hoping they’d be extra effective with you so close. Parents hold up their kids as high up as they can hoping you’d bless them through the carriage window as they’d seen you do before. People insist on giving gifts and offering, although not to you directly once the royal entourage passes many march to the castles gates and leave them there, in place for your return. While many have negative views on other royals or monarchy in general, none ever seem to extend to you, their beloved royal. Any citizen led attacks or rebellions to the crown always seem to happen when you’re away and never touch your preferred parts of the castle or castle grounds, the very worst that’d ever happened to you was when a small outlier group raided your room and stole a few things. Those same outliers were later found bled out in the middle of town,in the middle of the day, with absolutely no witnesses. Everyone in town knows what happened of course, justice was served.

Yandere Assassin who was the best, never once caught or suspected for the hundred deaths they’d directly caused, so disconnected from themself and from the world that every new identity and culture they found themself ingratiated in felt just as much like home as anywhere else, nothing felt real or right so what did it matter who they were or who they killed. Not until they were assigned to your kingdom, to your family, did they finally start to understand what it meant to be alive and just how precious life was. Years of blood on their hands hadn’t taught them to live but a week with you and their heart was beating for the first time. They mostly watched from the sidelines, acting as just another servant. They watched how the other royals misuse their power to mistreat the people, each other and most egregiously, you. They watch as the others ignore and placate you, watches as they lie and cheat and subjugate the masses and they’re disgusted. It’s amazingly easy to poison their wine, everyone who could possibly be a threat to your ascension. They know you’ll be upset for a while at the loss of your ‘family’ but they promise to be there for you and now that they’ve taken a permanent position in the castle they’ll have all the time in the world to look out for you.

A local Yandere Dragon who kidnaps you every few weeks or so. Of course the first time you’d been terrified, a huge thundering monster snatches you from your visit to the courtyard and just flies off, with you in its talons. Though once back at their surprisingly not horrible cave, you come to understand them a bit. At least more than any other human had ever bothered to. Some knights from your kingdom had stolen from their horde and they wanted whatever it was back, sure being kidnapped wasn’t great but at least they were negotiating instead of just destroying the place in revenge. They are gruff and unpracticed but ultimately harmless to you and after a guarantee of their stolen treasures return you too are returned home. Though every few weeks the dragon seems to have some new grievance that requires the beloved royal as collateral and in that time they grow to be more and more comfortable around you, their little human. Should your kingdom ever wise up to their trick and try to fight against the dragon for you it wouldn’t be pretty. Last time someone stole from their horde they negotiated, that time, they’d burn the kingdom to the ground and take what was theirs, permanently.

[brittle-doughie]

Mine Your Own Business

[Main Story]

You: “How’s it looking over there?”

Sugar Gnome: “Doopty da! We will have a working rail cart system before you know it, your Majesty!”

You: “I’m liking the sound of that! Quarters Team, how’s the buildings turning out?”

Sugar Gnome 2: “Mm-hm! These shelters are coming out extra crunchy! Topped with more layers of syrup to withstand the heat! Though, I am looking a little melty over here…”

You: “Go for it and take a break, I know you guys will get it done.“

As you were walking by inspecting the mine construction, Dumpling Cookie joins alongside you.

Dumpling Cookie: “Everything is going to under way as you planned. We should have the mines fully operational in a few days.”

You: “It was about time I dedicated the effort of trying to restore this place. Especially nowadays with..y’know, my situation.”

Dumpling Cookie goes to hold your hand tightly.

Dumpling Cookie: “Y/N, you don’t need to worry about that right now. As long as you’ve got the incense to keep them away, you’ll be okay…’kay?”

You: “It’s not just that. They told me “the worst has yet to come”.”

Dumpling Cookie: “What could be more worse then what you already have went through?”

You: “I don’t know, but we should be ready for anything. Whether it be another one of the Ancients coming here or even a Beast Cookie themself.”

Dumpling Cookie: “If only a certain Cookie had told us of this a lot sooner….”

You: “Oh come on, when you put like that….”

Dumpling Cookie: “I wouldn’t worry too much. Salsa has been training the troops while I’ve requested Strawberry Crepe to move forward with more Wafflebots.”

You: “If it’s for the sake of the kingdom, I just wish everyone else didn’t have to get stuck in the middle of this if something does happen…”

Dumpling Cookie: “At the very least, we’ll be ready…”

You: “Yeah, you’re right…heh, you always seem to be.”

Dumpling Cookie: “Well, I learned from the best by that same certain Cookie..”

You both share a laugh together, something that hadn’t happened in a while. After that, the two of you just..looked at each other for a moment…

Sugar Gnome 3: “Um, pardon me, your Majesty. We have made a breakthrough with this railway!”

The voice of the Sugar Gnome snapped the two of you out of it, Dumpling clearing her throat as her cheeks darkened with blush.

Dumpling Cookie: “You…look like you’re about to be busy, I’ll just…be over there now.”

You: “Hehe…take care of yourself, Dumpling.”

Dumpling Cookie: “Yeah…you too, Y/N…”

Dumpling Cookie lets go of your hand as she leaves to attend to other areas of the mine in construction.

Sugar Gnome 3: “Dooty da! See? We’ve managed to fix up this mine cart and we thought that you should have the honor of being the first to ride it!”

You: “Are you sure?”

Sugar Gnome 3: “Who better then my Majesty! It would be the greatest honor if you tried something we just fixed up!”

You: “Well…if you’re sure!”

You didn’t want to sound like you were doubting the Sugar Gnomes. Their construction abilities were pretty reliable for how long you’ve known them, even before you decided to rebuild the kingdom…

You hopped into the mine cart and tested the sturdiness by pulling on it.

You: “Yep, pretty firm and well crafted. Good job!”

Sugar Gnome 3: “Now watch this! We’ll have you ride through a planned path that will bring you back in no time! No worries at all, doopty doo!”

You: “Alright, let’s do this.”

The Sugar Gnome pulled on the lever as you started to drive forward into one of the caves.

You traveled quickly through the cave, looking around to see an abundance of crystals and ores, just waiting to be collected.

You: “Woah! With all this, maybe we can use it to enhance the mine or even the kingdom further then we already could! Will it be enough though..? How far does this path go? Shouldn’t it be making a loop around back to the main mining area?”

You kept going further in this one direction, the cave getting less lit as you started to worry. You wondered if you had accidentally missed a turn or something you needed to pay attention or so.

You tried for the break and pulled on it as hard as you could, but it wouldn’t budge!

You: “Uh oh, UH OH! This isn’t good at all!”

You held on tight as the cart descended and increased in speed, unable to see anything.

You: “OH NO! GAH, OLIVE COOKIE WAS RIGHTTTT-“

Your voice becomes distant as you rode into the darkness of the cave….

———————————————————————

Dumpling Cookie: “What’s wrong with him?!”

Sugar Gnome 2: “Come on! Wake up!”

Dumpling Cookie and fellow Sugar Gnomes gathered around their collapsed fellow Gnome.

Sugar Gnome 3: “I…er, what happened?”

Sugar Gnome 1: “You made Y/N Cookie take a ride into an unfinished railway!”

Sugar Gnome 3: “What? N-no! I didn’t mean to! Even if I didn’t do it!”

Dumpling Cookie: “What do you mean “you didn’t do it?””

Sugar Gnome 3: “All I remember was working on the mine cart when I blacked out and now waking up to this! There was a voice, speaking to me…”

Dumpling Cookie: “A voice? Tell me, what does this sound like?”

Sugar Gnome 3: “Dutti-do! It sounded..persuasive and riddled with…darkness!”

Dumpling Cookie: “Darkness? Oh no…we need to report this and gather a search party RIGHT NOW!”

———————————————————————

You groan as you clutched your head, opening your eyes to a brightly lit cavern, lava below your path illuminating the place, your crashed mine cart a little further ahead.

“Sweet yummies…”

“GAH! GET AWAY FROM ME!”

You open your eyes more and slowly get up to see a mole-like Dessertian in mining gear running towards you, this..thing slowly following him…

“Eat…devour…all…”

“HELP! YOU!”

You barely stand up before he quickly ran behind you and hid there as you turn your head to look at him.

“D-DON’T JUST STAND THERE! GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!”

You face forward to this thing in front of you.

“Mmm…?”

“Uh…would you kindly turn around and leave?”

“…..Tasty….”

“Excuse me?”

“Mmm…cute snack….I want…”

You suddenly leaped back when the thing decided to lunge at you.

“HEY! I’m not on the menu!”

“Grr….MINE!”

“SEE?! YOU HAVE TO PROTECT ME!”

You sighed irritably as you reached for your blade, ready to fight.

“Guess talking is out of the question…”

[shorthaltsjester]

obsessed with the fact that bell's hells won that fight explicitly because of their reliance on the gods. imogen and laudna both vocally saying 'thank you matron' at the beginnings of that combat as they use new skills or spells they've refreshed, orym wielding his sword, braius wielding his divine power, the entire party instilled with a hero's feast prepared by a cleric of the wildmother, imogen using power granted by the arch heart to bring down predathos -- an entity that has been described as welcoming her home, offering a womb she has longed to return to, her as its kin -- in imagery evoking the moment where the gods too decided to turn their backs on their home when faced with the monstrosity they were tied to, that they'd help bring about (something something, the arch heart gave mortals magic and imogen gave predathos its vessel). and the fact that bell's hells has slowly grown more reliant on the idea that predathos does not hunger for mortals -- something they in fact scoffed at when it came from liliana and ludinus' mouths -- predathos took several of them in his maw and tried to consume them.

viewing the story as one of a group of people predominantly blinded to the reality of their situations by the fog of their traumatized feelings -- as i've chosen to do for the sake of my sanity listening to them go on and on about gods that never gave them a lick in the same breath that they complain that the gods have too much power -- it is so extremely poetic that orym cut down ludinus with a sword blessed by the wild mother only for bell's hells to retread the path ludinus set up for himself. it is extremely ironic for a group of people who have implicitly raised complaints about the inherent manipulation that comes with the god's existence to come up with a plan that is explicit manipulation, demanding the gods become mortal or die [which to be clear, extremely interesting plan with interesting consequences that would be compelling to see! absolutely dogshit reasoning skills and moral assessment. but it is continually ASTOUNDING to me that a campaign that gets treated by some as the height of critical role's sociopolitical philosophical exploration features so many PCs who struggle (and not in the fruitful, developmental way but in the head-in-hands, can this student talk to the prof during office hours so I don't have to feel the second hand embarrassment of them making it obvious they haven't ever attended a previous lecture or done the class readings way) with ideas found in any first year philosophy course].

and to be clear this is not me devaluing the role of bell's hells in actually fighting the fight -- but all they've done is the same thing the gods were already doing, keeping predathos sealed, except now its in a volatile-at-best mortal who is on borrowed time re: being lost once again to its power. the only suggestion the hells have that this might be a justified and right course of action is the support of two gods -- one who has proven themself to be okay with the idea of death until it actually arrives before and the other one who is the only being on record who actually chose to be a deity -- out of a much larger pantheon, and their personal inclinations to agree with the ideology of a man who they have claimed to ardently disagree with but it turns out that was just because of his methods, I guess. scattershotting catalysts for change and hoping that change results in a Better World just. on its own (almost like. idk. fate) that you haven't even suggested practical (I'd even take theoretical ones atp) methods to achieve beyond Get Rid of a bunch of beings who are involved in actually extreme amounts of metaphysical and magical infrastructure isn't actually a course of action, its a course of chaos, and that is in fact worse than things staying the way they are if 'the way things are' that you keep referring to has only been shown to, currently, be that you and your friends feel sad and a little miffed that the gods you haven't offered anything to are only willing to do things for you when you serve them. unlike you, a group notorious for the way you do things for people you don't know without asking anything in return (this is sarcasm, if that wasn't clear).

anyway, I will continue to be frustrated by the lack of grounding for either (a) bell's hells having actually incisive and contextualized criticisms of the gods (either their own or from the actual mouths of the 'little guys' they are allegedly fighting for) or (b) more engagement with the fact that bell's hells as a party are not interested in making the morally right choice, they are at Best looking for a morally neutral choice. that said, if I ignore the actual story c3 has portrayed, the last few episodes have been a great wrap-up to a story about how singleminded trauma can make you and how that can lead you to place where there's no longer any Good choices to make, only potentially satisfying ones, where the question of who to satisfy takes the reigns over what is best.

[kitkat-the-muffin]

Idk if I can properly put into words why I love cocoapowder so much but I’ll try

It’s really all about Chara’s arc in Undertale Red & Yellow and how by being forced to walk around and interact with Frisk and Clover, they slowly develop a friendship with the two by simply just talking and being themself

Chara did not have a very high opinion of themself, and Chara also isn’t really a fan of stopping to smell the roses. They get upset if Frisk walks off the normal path, and they bring themself down whenever they have the chance to. They feel guilty about what they did to Asriel, and completely unempathetic in the geno run

After failing to free monster kind, Chara is submissive to the whims of Frisk’s decisions and simply just encourages progression no matter the route being taken, because they don’t believe they have the right to agency anymore (until the end of the geno run)

And then you add Clover to the mix. Clover who’s experienced a lot of hurt in their past and chooses to spread love and kindness and affection instead. Clover’s sense of justice comes from meeting aggression with friendship and trying to turn people around to reveal the best sides of themselves. Clover does this with Chara, and they don’t initially get along very well. They’re stuck with each other, however, and they bond a little over having shared experiences in the Underground and comparing them to Frisk’s journey

It’s through the True Pacifist route that Chara realizes something: Clover is better than them. They both sacrificed their souls to free all monsters, but one of them actually proved “useful.” Clover believes in a righteous sense of justice that insists on redemption rather than karma, and Clover is willing to give Frisk another chance even after multiple geno runs. Clover also isn’t afraid to snap back against a bad decision, which is why they stop you at the end of every geno

Clover is insufferably different from Chara, and yet over the course of Frisk’s journey they become friends. Not only that, but Clover feels free to openly flirt with Chara and they don’t bat an eye

And Chara starts to believe it when Clover says they deserve to love themself, and that they deserve to forgive themself, and that no matter what mistakes they’ve made in the past, they’re a good person

I have no doubt in my mind that at the end of the True Pacifist route, Clover wishes Chara could come back too, because they definitely believe Chara deserves to live. It’s so interesting to place Clover and Asriel across from each other at the flower bed. They both knew Chara, one in life and one in death, and yet they both knew two different Charas

Asriel talks about how Chara wasn’t the best person and that he idolized them growing up, but he outright expresses that Chara was a bad friend and that Frisk is their perfect counterpart. Clover refutes this and says that Chara is good, and has always had good intentions. Clover never idolized Chara but saw them for who they were, flaws and all, and admired them anyway

Chara and Clover have deep conversations that Chara never could have with Asriel, because Asriel was just a silly kid who didn’t understand the gravity of their plan. Chara hates themself for that plan, because they realized they shouldn’t have put that burden on a child. What Chara doesn’t realize is they were a child too, one with a foolish dream of saving the world through a noble and just sacrifice

And they see Clover, who did the same thing. A child who sacrificed their existence for a greater cause. Clover didn’t deserve that. But Chara respects their decision. Chara is happy when they come back at the end, and their smile speaks volumes

There’s this deeper connection between Chara and Clover that just makes them perfect for each other. Their opposites-attract dynamic met with their shared experiences, admiration for each other, and witty banter they share throughout. I love Cocoapowder 💕

[signanothername]

Under any circumstances, would murder time trio get along to geniually be friends, or does it stay situational?

It always stays situational

You’re taking about three mentally and physically abused, tired and depressed individuals, who are fighting to survive under a boss who feeds on their misery like it’s a Tuesday night, and who, specifically puts them in an environment that they can’t truly flourish under unless he specifically wishes it so, cause while Killer has his own special conditioning of his own, Murder and Horror go through conditioning too in the form of rewards and punishment system

So you can easily imagine how Nightmare can turn them against each other under him, which Nightmare actually in reality does, he makes sure they can never truly form a meaningful connection with each other, because if they did, they can easily start plotting their escape plans together or to betray him, in unity there’s strength, and Nightmare, despite his power, knows better than to let them find strength, find a stable relationship, or a stable bond they can use to find hope under him

So they can never really form a genuine friendship even if they truly wanted to, it just wouldn’t work out, Killer to put it bluntly, wouldn’t even care to form a genuine connection, he’s constantly dissociating from everything and everyone around him, he’s apathetic on stage 2, a stage, that Nightmare keeps him in constantly, and even if he was at stage 1, Killer still wouldn’t care about the two guys who can easily stab him in the back for their own gain, and this is the same thought process Murder and Horror have, they simply aren’t convinced to rely upon people who can easily screw them over, Horror has a brother to keep safe, and Murder has an AU to get back to

I’d say Horror and Murder have a bit of a friendship going on, but it’s less genuine friendship and more “let’s look out for each other’s back while in this hell”, and even with that in the mix, Murder can and will stab Horror in the back if it benefited him and the vice versa is also true

Even if they all got freed from Nightmare, they still wouldn’t form a genuine friendship, cause each of them would look at the other as a painful reminder of their abuse than another individual like themself that they can form a connection with, they would simply rather to go their separate ways and never talk about what they went through under the same roof

Do I believe MTT would feel a bit of fucked up nostalgia when it comes to each other had they gotten freedom? Yes absolutely

Do I believe that if they somehow crossed paths again after said freedom, that they might talk to each other, even if briefly? Yes

But that would be the end of it, there won’t be anything deeper than that

[minty-drop]

Hello can you do Yandere Funtime Freddy x Male hand puppet child reader like Funtime Freddy ends up losing bon bon and Freddy turns male child reader into bon bon plz. If you can’t do it then can you do Yandere Jurassic park x raptor reader or Yandere Godzilla x kaiju reader

Yandere Godzilla x reader

Reader is gn, and using they/them pronouns so all readers can enjoy. This will be platonic due to the fact that Godzilla is an animal as I do not support zoophilia. This is write as if Godzilla and y/n already are friends

Type: headcanons

Warnings ⚠️: possessive nature, slight jealousy

- 🌊 goji never cared for humans, and never did. They are pests, annoying and violent. Humans have always been a pain to him for as long as they had walked the earth, claiming they were superior. What foolish creatures. To think as if they were the Center of the earths core, like they were the supply of life to each and everyone of the living and non living. They destroyed themselfs, and dragged everything else with them because of their own selfishness and greed for power they will never hold.

- 🌊 it disgusts him, the burning hatred never ceased. only growing with each and every new day waking up to the bunch of humans latching onto each other for their own needs. The mistakes turning into poison, the fear turning into war. And the obsession with power, becoming so great, it destroyed everything in its path to only end in more death. Within victory is truly a disguise of destruction for gains that do not exist. Humans bound them self to their doom, fates sealed to their graves as they wail why. Why do they deserve this. It sickened him to see such plain narcissism.

- 🌊 but when you had came out of no where, seemingly out of thin air only to show him kindness and tenderness without wanting or searching for anything in return. Lacking hidden motive or greed for power. It was new, different from the harsh intentions of the many, many other humans he has encountered during his times surfacing. Different from the intentions he’s seen.

- 🌊 no matter what he did, no matter how many times he huffed and puffed, grunting at you to leave him be. You never did. It confused him. For as long as he could remember, man had been curious, nosey little creatures of destructions. And curious you were.

- 🌊 the soft tips of your fingers fluttered on his scales, barley noticeable to the touch as they gently caressed the thick dark scales that encased his snout. It was nice. The small, warm pads of your hands petting him ohh so gently, it cradled him, soothed him like a lullaby. He subconsciously bugged his enough into your hands, the hot steam from breathing was wet, making your hair stick to your face but the smile never left. Your coworkers stood far from the titan the claimed to be a beast. Who was, in fact enjoying the touch of your hands gliding over the scales.

- 🌊 Godzilla who began to anticipate for your return each time you left to end your work shifts. Which were gentle sessions of affection through Pets as you swabbed his scales to study to scales. It intrigued you how thick the scales had become, though it was obvious that it was for durability when coming in contact with talons, teeth and claws, the biology of them was wanted, for so it was your job to study them. Using tools to your advantage.

- 🌊 he didn’t mind though. As long as it was you. He didn’t care

- 🌊 he seethed each time you were interrupted by the loud blaring of sirens, the weird noises and hand gestures your co worker made to you or the occasional conversation between you and a scientist, all taking you away from him. He didn’t want you to leave. Was he becoming selfish for your time?

- 🌊 you don’t have to worry anymore. Not when he has scooped you up in his claws to wisks you away to somewhere better.

Do not claim or copy my work

[snakebites-and-ink]

Hí hí!!! I have a request :3

A villain Whumpee whom was a big big issue for the heroes, until the heroes managed to capture them and torture them in the name of "justice" before becoming their Caretaker once they believe the villain's been thoroughly "redeemed", the villain having become a mass of coping mechanisms and survival strategies due to the trauma and reduced to an overly-fawning constantly-afraid mess despite previously being super cocky and arrogant :3 (bonus if the villain's winged!!!!!)

Thanks for the request! I had fun with it :)

CW: Imprisonment, corrupt "heroes", stress position, implied other tortures, conditioning, messed up view of redemption

Villain was marched into the superheroes’ headquarter by a triumphant hero. Villain was kept bound in power-dampening cuffs, and surrounded by heroes ready to overpower any attempt at escape. They tried to break free, of course, they had to at least try, but they were quickly snagged and towed back to the center of their escort.

As they were taken through the building, Villain was met with taunts and disdain, while the hero who’d caught them was greeted with cheers and congratulations. Villain tried to lash out but was manhandled back into position.

“Thank goodness. You’ve been a thorn in our side for far too long,” one of the heroes said to Villain as they neared the procession.

“All the things you’ve destroyed, the people you’ve hurt…You’re a demon. You even look like one.” The hero reached out to touch the edge of their wing, and Villain jerked it away with a dark glare.

“Now, now,” Superhero interjected, “We don’t judge people based on what they look like, we judge what they’ve done. But I’m afraid Villain has done some rather horrible things.” The regret in their tone sounded more mocking than genuine. Then they spoke to Villain directly: “But don’t worry. We’ll give you a chance to make up for it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Villain snarled.

“Nasty temper, too,” Superhero tsked. “But no matter. The point is, everyone deserves a chance at redemption. And we’re going to help you with that. You pay for your crimes, and you might get a chance at something better. That’ll all depend on you.”

“I don’t need your redemption.”

“Of course you do, villain.”

Superhero barked some orders, and Villain was dragged to a cell. They struggled once more, but couldn’t get free, not surrounded by superheroes and with their powers dampened. They were thrown in, to wait for their ‘redemption’ to start, whatever that would mean.

* * *

Villain shook with strain as they were held in a stress position, the latest in a string of torments. They’d tried, more as an automatic response than anything, to hide behind their wings from Hero, who hadn’t taken kindly to it. This wasn’t about redemption, this was about the heroes’ preferences. Of course, they still construed it as some form of redemption or betterment. Something about not trying to conceal themself or escape justice.

Some of the heroes had rigged up a system designed to keep them in place, and stab into them if they moved too far out of position.

A bead of blood trickled down the skin of their wing. Villain corrected the position to stop the sharpness from biting into them.

Their own treacherous thoughts murmured to them that they wouldn’t be in this position—both literally and figuratively—if they’d only done what the heroes wanted.

They glared towards nothing in particular. The expression was undermined with a pained grimace. It was one thing after another in this so-called path to redemption. The heroes seemed convinced that the only way for Villain to make up for their past villainy was through suffering. Suffering of every kind. And more suffering.

This was just one of the many ways they were hurt. If it wasn’t a stress position enforced by biting sharpness, it would be something else. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier to bear.

* * *

Walking more or less freely among the heroes, Villain felt like they were walking on eggshells.

They’d been redeemed. The heroes had assured them. They’d reached that invisible threshold only the heroes seemed to be able to discern, that inscrutable point at which they’d suffered enough to pay for their evils.

All the pain and suffering they’d struggled through….It was worth it, right? Right. They were finally redeemed.

But they were still nervous. Even as they told themself it was done, a part of them waited for the other shoe to drop, for the heroes to be upset by something, for Villain to be hurt again.

Villain trembled slightly, doing their best to hide it. They knew the heroes wouldn’t be happy to see them still afraid now that they’d been redeemed. Their disapproval was gentle (now), but it still scared Villain.

They kept their wings politely folded behind them, not trying to duck beneath them no matter how Villain wanted to hide from the world and the people who’d hurt them.

A hand rested on them, and Villain stiffened—not quite flinching, never flinching away from what was right and just.

The hero noticed. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Villain smiled, polite and agreeable hoping it was enough to cover the hint of panic in their eyes.

“Good. Well, we’re having a game night and we’d like you to join us. Help you reintegrate.” The hero smiled back, and Villain nodded. “Come on.” The hero took Villain by the arm—gently, they were always gentle now that Villain had been redeemed—and led them through the headquarters.

On the way, they passed the holding wing, full of cells and torture chambers anything else the heroes needed to keep villains in check. Villain couldn’t help but step back when they saw a door they’d come to associate with torment, pulling out of the hero’s gentle grip.

“Please, I—” They bit their tongue, halting the protests.

Their hero escort looked at them with patience and pity (and was that a hint of amusement?). “You’ve paid your dues. You don’t need to be afraid of that anymore—unless you return to your evil ways.”

Villain shook their head frantically. They wouldn’t! They knew better. They were better, now, they had to keep reminding themself of that.

(They didn’t feel better.)

“Okay, let’s just move on past here,” The hero said, a touch of sympathy imbuing their voice. They gently pushed Villain through the hall. Villain’s racing heart started to calm when the area was out of sight.

“Better?” the hero asked. Villain hesitated, then nodded. It was okay. They were better now. Their redemption was done. They weren’t supposed to be afraid anymore. “Great. Let’s go play some games.”

[gem-de-lune]

Vibe Check 12/12

Teenie Read: Sungchan

6 of Swords + 4 of Swords + Temperance [The Stars]

This is the combination of 3 questions. Firstly in regards to Sungchan's current state- he is generally well. He seems to be in a resting period of transition. He is calm though- very collected. Very put together. In comparison to the previous read for him he seems a lot more active in that he was actively seeking something or to solve something with others. But in this case, it's like that has already wrapped up, and things are in the process of moving without him having to really do much else. It's active in the sense of finding the path out of the storm and confidently making his way there.

With the 4 of Swords and Temperance these are supportive with the question of if there are any recent developments. It basically just reiterated the 6 of Swords but offered more perspective. As stated, he is not AS active because there is not much else to do other than follow the path and wait. Little by little something is brewing, so he is currently resting and preparing. There's a lot of "knowing" energy here. He is kinda secretive this time- or vague. But the general consensus is that there is something in place it is just going to be better to step away from negativity and chaos to let it play out.

This was confirmed for me with the Stars card which I asked in regards to having anything more he wanted to share in particular. The words "wait a bit, have some faith" popped out when reading this all together. Everything will balance out eventually- I think he is aware of this.

SM Current Energy regarding the situation

6 of Pentacles + 9 of Pentacles

I am feeling as though there has been a majority shift in a very specific way- pentacles...meaning money. They are looking at things for the long term as always. They are beginning to look at what is more profitable for the long term and realistically the growth they would like to accomplish. This has a lot to do with their saturn return in the 9th house i feel- and I am thinking they are seeing Seunghan has a moneymaker this way or a way to achieve this stability bc Riize is currently not stable. Specifically, I think they may believe the long-term benefits of his addition MAY contribute to a better outlook down the road. But it is just a sentiment, not a firm decision. Moreover- this sentiment seems to be very egotistical- in that as stated before- someone has convinced someone else who was against Seunghan's return- that this was their original thought. Oop.

What is the current plan to bring Seunghan back (from the people on his side at SM)

10 of Pentacles + 6 of Wands + King of Swords

Money money money and winning. This is a smart individual ensuring that long term monetary goals are met and that someone feels some kind of acclaim. Very similar to what I mentioned above and in other readings. Stability and the feeling of triumph- with a lower emphasis on how the acrual effected individuals feel on a personal level is what will lead to success in Seunghan's return. The emotions of others hold no value to the King unless it is going to bring the Pentacles or victory (6 of wands). He is also egotistical. Right now it's about guiding someone like a puppet by using their desires like a dangling carrot. Showing the results they want to see and letting them speak for themself. They probably have data analysts making presentations on pros and cons.

Is there anything we can do to convince SM to bring him back atp?

2 of Swords + 3 of Pentacles

Since this is a Yes/No question- the answer is Maybe. Right now, rather than focusing on convincing SM- it seems it is more important to create a more united front in the form of creative display or presentation of protest. Even if we try to convince SM- it seems that they have heard and seen all they need to see and hear. Right now we just need to back up the data and not mess up the statistics.

Oracle

Sun + Taurus

Never much to add on with this oracle specifically bc it speaks for itself- but i would emphasize that riling up the conservative bull is what is needed to see results quickly- and that we need not be negative. Like Sungchan- he is sitting in positivity and manifesting his outcome after putting in the work. We should be doing the same and then some.

Bottom of the Deck

King of Chalices + The Chariot

Sometimes I will flip another card on the bottom if it means something more, and yup, yup. I'm telling you rn....it is never a coincidence when cards like the Chariot continue to pop up over and over during readings for a specific topic. There is an emphasis on creativity and activity here. I read this in the last reading as well, but a creative project depicting all 7 members would be very impactful, is what I think.

Final Notes:

Sungchan is a Virgo and since I know Virgos verrrrrrrrry well (my bestie), if he is saying anything, he is saying to look at him and do as he does. Bc as a Virgo, he thinks yall can be dumb sometimes even if he finds it cute. Relax, wash your hands, clean your room. Don't be gross. Take a shot (if ur of age- chill) and chill out. This is a period in which resting is okay as long as we do not lose our passion. Take a break. Come back. Don't forget why we are doing this. Don't forget why we were so upset- because it was never about simply only wanting Seunghan back- it is about what having him back represented and still would represent: his innocence, changing of times, the legal accountability fans need to have on their foul actions, and the accountability the company needs to take for their idiotic choices. Don't forget, but don't be negative. Use positive rhetoric to show those things WILL happen- or rather, have already* happened.

[yolo-frollo]

I’m gonna get blocked for this by people I’m sure but

I love Mouthwashing and a lot of the community is peak. But at the same time, the treatment of Anya online is proving time and time again that online purity culture stigmatizes women, especially survivors (as a survivor), much more than it helps them.

A lot of the most vocal voices cannot be normal about the pregnancy arc. I think it’s fine to think about whether or not she would have chosen to keep the baby. One of the main points of the game is that the environment in which she lived and the oppression she was under entirely took that choice away from her.

Survivors are allowed to choose to keep pregnancies that result from assault. Survivors are allowed to terminate (in an ideal world where abortion is seen as regular healthcare instead of being stigmatized). Survivors are allowed to carry to term and give a child up for adoption. Survivors are allowed to opt for closed or open adoptions. I don’t think anyone is wrong for any exploration of any of these topics, because they’re probably validating to different survivors for different reasons. Anya would have been valid in *any* of these choices.

You have *no* clue whether or not an artist you told to off themself for making art of Anya choosing a certain path is a survivor themself, let alone one who may have had to make that choice. You have no clue if a survivor is viewing that work and seeing that something they found to be validating is generating comments telling op to kill themself. I thought we were so much better than this by now.

Some people are out here saying that they’re pro-choice but not actually being pro-choice. People are out here indirectly saying that some survivors are invalid because of what they choose. You’re telling people that there are wrong ways to survive sexual assault and abuse.

TL; DR: Women literally just can’t fucking exist and I’m so fucking tired of it.

[yanderecookierunkingdom]

HIII ITS ME AGAIN, i’ve got another idea for you, that you make a little drabble about.

so the time line is like before the yan!beasts got corrupted, or like post-corruption or something, reader is a very overpowered cookie but timid and shy in a way, including considerate and kind, they wants to help people they genuinely loves and cares about (including the beasts), therefore this also makes them a people pleaser/push over, so they keep theyre power secretive

after a while, reader started to see a shift in theyre personality and how they started to resent cookies that didn’t have the same power as themselves, and how they are being kinda possessive/obsessive towards reader, and more really unhealthy behaviors, but of course, like the fool they are, reader decided to ignore those red flags, cause it’s better then having literal no one (said by reader)

anyways when days pass, more things start to change, they start becoming more malicious towards other common cookies, how they cause more chaos and other stuff, of course reader is a bit too delusional to care… till the witches/creators came, saying they need to trap them for good, of course you retaliated (verbally), saying how you care for them and other stuff, and you won’t go through with this, and they tell reader something that will really open theyre eyes to the world, pointing out the actions the beasts do and how shitty and bad they are (including some things they say, how they treat reader etc) how bad their intentions truly are, after this reader was really upset about them, they might be delusional but not THAT delusional, so i think you can vison what happened next now, they advise a plan to get them in a place where the witches can trap them, using reader as a bait, then once it’s done, reader left, no matter how many pleads or yells the beasts through at them, reader didn’t turn back, not even to glance at the prison that they brought themselves upon, as reader walked off, they made a vow to themself, a promise to never be fooled and manipulated like that again, to never pretend to be something they aren’t, after that, they became a whole entire different cookie (woahhh character development, anyway imagine them having a more bayonetta like personality/mindset and strength and speed?) maybe a little crossing of paths once the beasts get out of prison

(also i recently just learnt I HAVE MY OWN TAG? idk why it just made me feel special)

You have?? Such?? Good ideas?? Never stop sending in requests, I love all the ideas you always come up with!!

You were a cold Cookie, with no one really knowing why. You hardly trusted and tended to be very suspicious of Cookies of power. To say it took you ages to even think of trusting the Ancients wa an understatement.

You were heavily against the idea of going to Beast-Yeast, yet you eventually relented. Not for yourself, but to make sure that none of them got manipulated like you did.

You were completely ready to throw hands when the Beasts showed up. To stay you were pissed was an understatement. Somehow, they were convinced they were the victims! Because their fun was cut short!

Shadow Milk Cookie is the biggest instigator. He still thinks you're a pushover and portrays you as such, only to be completely confused when he sees you decimate that animatronic. That was.. a change in the script he didn't expect.

Burning Spice Cookie and Silent Salt Cookie are both taken aback by how ready you were to fight them. Guess that shy part of you was gone!

Eternal Sugar Cookie used to lovebomb you a lot whenever you were still shy. She's surprised to see it no longer works, but doesn't mean she still won't try!

Mystic Flour Cookie is the only one who realizes that you're no longer the same pushover. However, it doesn't mean she won't try and use you for her own benefit again.

[simpforsolas]

thoughts on how veilguard could've improved rook's and solas's character arcs

So I've been thinking about Veilguard nonstop since I finished it last night. I want to preface this with the fact that I liked many things about it a lot. While I do have my criticisms, it was probably the most fun I had actually playing a Dragon Age game. They made a lot of improvements in a lot of ways. But while I enjoyed (for the most part) what was there in the game, the entire time I just had the feeling that it was missing something (or maybe more accurately, a lot of things). This post won't go into all of those things, but I want to really delve into the biggest missed opportunity in the game: Rook's character arc and how it could have impacted Solas.

I found that Rook’s character arc was somewhat overtaken by the companions. But there was great potential for a phenomenal arc for them: what kind of hero will you be? From the beginning, Rook was set up to be a mirror to Solas. They remind Solas of who he was when he first started his rebellion: passionate, idealistic, wanting to make the world a better place. Basically, the quintessential hero. But Solas didn't stay that way. In pursuit of his noble goals, he made so many sacrifices and caused so much destruction that he accidentally became the villain. So if Rook is Solas's mirror, the logical conclusion is that Rook should've had the opportunity to reflect BOTH sides of Solas with two different paths: the "pure" hero path, or the "dark" villain path. Allowing two different paths for a protagonist in a game like this is tough, so I understand why it doesn't usually happen, but in this case, I think it would work because "pure" or "dark" path, Rook's ultimate goal would remain the same: stop the gods. The only thing that would change would be the way they go about pursuing that goal.

How would this work in practice?

For the pure path, Rook would err on the side of protecting people. Examples of this could include: giving characters like the mayor and Illario a second chance instead of killing them, making the choice in an either/or scenario to save lives instead of going after the gods, refusing to make deals with demons for more power to help them in their fight. Pure Rook is basically what we got in the game so I don't need to go further on this, but Solas watching a pure Rook would be moved by what he sees. In Rook, he would see a reflection of what he could've been if he hadn't been corrupted and trapped by his own overwhelming guilt.

For the dark path, Rook would be willing to get their hands dirty and make questionable choices if it helped their ultimate cause of defeating the gods. Examples of this could include the opposite of above: killing Illario and the mayor, choosing to sacrifice people (such as the Dalish hostages) in order to not lose an opportunity to go after the gods, and making deals with the demons in Hossberg in exchange for power to help the fight. The motivation behind each of these decisions wouldn't be selfishness, it would be pragmatism. Making the choice that would give us the best chance against the gods, no matter the cost. Solas watching this Rook would feel validated in the choices he made. Rook reflects Solas's own downward spiral of a journey, in seeing yourself become the villain as you try to be the hero. He would see that when tasked with the near impossible task of stopping tyranny, Rook was willing to get their hands dirty, just like he was.

Giving Rook the agency to choose what kind of hero they want to be would tie in with themes the game already started, but didn't exactly deliver on. Solas asks the question "what will they call you, when this over?" and by the end of the game it's like, "well they'll probably call me that one nice dude who saved the world through friendship." But if they had the chance to become sort of Dread Wolfy themself, then that line would carry a lot more weight.

Now that we've established what a two-path Rook could've looked like, I want to explore a little more how that could've impacted Solas. I, personally, wasn't the biggest fan of Solas changing his mind only being made possible by Mythal releasing him from her service. For a few reasons, but what I'm going to focus on here is that it made his redemption into this one-event thing, instead of an overarching journey that could've taken place over the course of the game. What I think should've happened is that depending on Rook's path, Solas is either a) shown a new path that he could've taken or b) validated in the path that he took. Additionally, through conversations with Solas, you could challenge his worldview, or you could reinforce it. If you did a pure path Rook, Solas would basically be prepped to ultimately be receptive to the inquisitor/Mythal's attempts to appeal to him and get him to change his mind, while dark path Rook would reinforce Solas’s worldview so strongly that no one would be able to get through to him, and his mind couldn’t be changed. This way, his outcome would feel more like a culmination of choices instead of a one moment thing, you'd have more of a chance to see the gradual shift of his attitude, and Rook would have a more interesting character arc.