#scary cook is an archetype

[blood-orange-juice]

5.0 is Certified Enjou Patch and we've been talking with Ray how nice it would be to just hang out with the guy, listen to him ramble and roast marshmallows with fire spells.

And a question arose.

Does the Abyss have good cuisine.

I think it does! They have the best food in Teyvat, all the culinary masterpieces from dead universes. Our sibling is feasting down there.

This, as Ray sagely noted, requires a previously unseen category of lector whose job is just the kitchen. I bet they are the scariest of their kind and the Abyss Princess keeps a couple around as bodyguards.

I want a playable one. :/

[that-ari-blogger]

This Is About Relationships (Hell's Greatest Dad)

I feel like we are seeing more and more stories that draw on horror elements as of recent times, with mixed success.

Critical Role, for example, has put some heavy emphasis on body and cosmic horror in their most recent campaigns, and I think that has worked really well. They are telling a story about feeling powerful in the face of adversity, and so having villains who are either unknowable or far too knowable really works for that idea.

On the other hand, the horror elements of Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness actively took me out of the story, because they didn’t fit with the rest of the franchise at all, and I found that rather jarring.

Then there is Hazbin Hotel, which isn’t scary, but it definitely draws on some of the tools of writing horror. Although it doesn't do that in the way you might expect. Specifically, it uses the character of Lucifer to both embody and subvert the very nature of Gothic horror itself.

Let me explain.

SPOILERS AHEAD: (Hazbin Hotel, Ratatouille, Paradise Lost, Frankenstein)

I have made my stance on genre extremely clear in the past. I think it exists, but I think it is bollocks, and Hazbin Hotel kind of proves my point.

Because, yes, you can boil Horror down into however many constituent parts as you would like in order to organise a bookstore, but however you spin it, Hazbin Hotel fits that, with the exception that it isn’t scary.

Then again, being scary is entirely subjective. For example, I am completely fine with ghosts and ghouls, so the only thing that gets me about games such as Phasmophobia are the jump scares, and Jump Scares aren't horror. By the same score, I am incredibly squeamish, so Hazbin Hotel itself was more difficult for me than a few of my friends.

Which leads me to gothic horror, which has a distinct aesthetic to it that isn’t actually essential at all.

The name actually comes from its aesthetic. Gothic fiction got started in the 1700s when Gothic architecture was popular but gained traction in the early 1800s when authors such as Edgar Alen Poe and Jane Austin got involved. The latter of whom wrote Northanger Abbey in 1818 to parody the overdramatization of the genre in a book that I personally despise.

Austin’s book comes across to me as incredibly insincere. I have an infinite respect for Austin’s work, but there is a deep sense of contempt in Northanger Abbey that drives me up the wall.

I want to be clear here, this is not me saying the book is bad. It is incredibly well written. I just hate it with every fibre of my being.

To me, Northanger Abbey missed the point of the gothic genre. Gothic isn't about the emotion, it's about the humanity. The fallibility, the force of will, the instability and resilience that come and go like the wind.

Gothic horror turns that into fear, specifically the fear of morality. It’s the Ratatouille genre. Any angel can sin, any demon can rise. Or in other words:

“Anyone can cook.”

Gothic horror is the fear of inconsistency. That someone you trust can betray you, or spiral into awful deeds, or that someone you despise might be right. It’s the fear of redemption, and conversely, the terror of good motives leading to bad ends.

Other subsets of horror draw on the fear of the unknown, or of not knowing. Gothic fiction is steeped in the terror of what you know being wrong.

Case and point, Frankenstein is both the archetypal science fiction book, and a phenomenal Gothic story. The terror is derived from the fact that it’s titular character can be so great and yet such an absolute monster, as well as the horror of creating a conscience.

The creature is intelligent, and its intrinsic morality is up for debate the entire time. Frankenstein calls it his "Adam", for Pete's sake. It kills multiple people, but as a reader you are unsettled by how much you agree with its motives.

Gothic horror is the fear of absence. There is no good or evil here, just people.

There’s a reason I brought up Ratatouille. The conflict of the series is derived from Skinner’s visceral fear that someone he despises as much as Linguine can actually be competent, combined with a field rat rising from the gutter to run a restaurant. “Anyone can cook” is a threat in this movie, but it gets better explained by Ego in a way that I really like.

“In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto: ‘Anyone can cook.’ But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.”

According to one of the greatest fanfics ever written, Paradise Lost, Lucifer rebelled against G-d’s vision and fell, which can be taken any number of ways. It’s written so that you sympathise with the main character, who is, may I remind you, the literal devil.

Worth noting, Frankenstein's monster reads Paradise Lost. I wonder if there is any significance to that.

Lucifer from Hazbin Hotel is nominally the same character as his biblical counterpart, except that he is blissfully unaware of any of the themes surrounding him. Kinda.

He has grasped the fact that anyone can fall, but the reverse of that hasn’t quite registered to him yet.

Case and point, he doesn’t understand people at all. He has sought escapism through “stuff”. By which I mean the ducks, but I also mean his song, Hell’s Greatest Dad.

Part of the gothic theming in Hazbin Hotel is that people aren’t static, and that relationships are more important than anything else. Angel Dust and Pentious don’t become better people through trust falls, the find it through love and companionship, both platonic and more than platonic.

To demonstrate this, we contrast Lucifer with Alastor, who once again doesn’t sing his own song but steals it off someone else. Alastor’s relationship with Charlie is so obviously sinister, and that will be better explained two episodes down the line, but at least he has a relationship with her.

The agony of this is that Jeremy Jordan is a phenomenal voice actor, who, along with Lucifer’s stellar writing, endears the character to you from his first scene.

Alastor is a villain; Lucifer is an absent father. Who do you side with here? That’s gothic fiction.

“Sailors fighting in the dance hall, Oh man, look at those cavemen go. It’s the freakiest show. Take a look at the lawman Beating up the wrong guy Oh man, wonder if he’ll ever know He's in the best selling show. Is there life on Mars?”

This is the chorus of a David Bowie song called Life On Mars. It centres around someone seeking escape through television and storytelling. It points out the futility of this, but the fact that it works. It’s a stable dynamic that doesn’t go anywhere.

Remind you of anything?

“Who needs a busboy, now that you've got the chef? Michelin tasting menu, free à la carte I'll rig the game for you because I'm the ref Champagne fountains, caviar mountains, that's just to start!”

Lucifer is offering Charlie anything she could dream of. Any thing. But Charlie doesn’t need an object. She needs a father, and she needs her relationship with Lucifer.

Enter Alastor, who, up to this point, has been generally benevolent to Charlie. He’s basically the embodiment of that old Tumblr textpost that described someone as “chaotic gay. I haven’t done anything evil yet, but my general aesthetic and demeanour tell you that I will, any day now.”

Side note, I know this post exists. I have seen it, I have screenshots of it. But Tumblr’s search function is so legendarily awful that I cannot locate it. Tumblr’s search function has beaten the FBI before, and I don’t have that much patience.

In any case, Alastor offers up his own curriculum vitae in the form of this:

“Who’s been here since day one? Who’s been faithful as a nun? Makes you chuckle with an old-timey pun? Your executive producer.”

He’s pitching himself via his relationship with Charlie. But what I wanted to point out specifically was how the two characters relate to the beat of the song.

This song is inspired by Friend Like Me. I know it's subtle, but I'm onto something, and I can pick out the clues. If you look closely at his moustache in this shot...

Lucifer is clicked to the rhythm, or rather, his backing music is. The band hits ever downbeat as one, looping back to play the same thing every few bars. It is incredibly stable. The one thing that isn’t, is Lucifer.

The man misses every single beat by a fraction of a second. Not much, but when you contrast him with the entirely of the rest of the song, you notice that tiny imperfection, especially when Alastor doesn’t share it.

Alastor starts singing by matching the beat perfectly with his opening sounds, then going free within the restraints. Later, when he co-opts the song, the band begins playing along with him and matching his melody.

The Radio Demon understands people incredibly well, and he works on relationships. As such, his music has a much more symbiotic relationship between each of the parts. Lucifer’s feels like a creation, Alastor’s feels like it was created, if that makes sense. There’s a human element to Alastor’s take on this song.

Which brings me back to the gothic stuff going on here, and the relationship between Lucifer and Alastor. Alastor is, of course, a manipulator. He takes issue with Lucifer because he wants Charlie isolated. But Lucifer has no reason to get upset by Alastor, right?

Alastor shakes up Lucifer’s entire worldview, to the point where I find some of the double dad dynamic between them rather compelling. Most of it.

Alastor is risk incarnate; he stands for the idea that anyone can do anything. A radio presenter can be a cannibal, and have parenting instincts take over with Nifty and at times Charlie. But he is unsafe. Because he is such an unknown, he is untrustworthy. You don’t know where you stand.

Lucifer, meanwhile, is terrified of this fact. He likes the safety of knowing where he stands, he can protect himself there, but he can also protect others. In my eyes, that’s why he was so absent with Charlie. He found something he could understand and kept it because he didn’t want to shake up the rhythm. But that was futile, and he realises this over the course of this episode.

But you might say “wait, Alastor is ace, he can’t be with Lucifer,” and my answer is twofold. First up, I am ace too, that doesn’t prohibit relationships. I’m not even talking about romantic stuff here, Alastor is the poster boy for being aromantic, but more importantly, parenting isn’t just about the other parent.

The two can both be dads, joined by their mutual care for their daughter, rather than affection for each other. I find that compelling. Charlie needs both the security and the sign that everything is possible. She needs someone to lift her up, but she also needs someone to catch her when she falls, and Lucifer and Alastor both play different roles in that dynamic.

Any angel can sin, any demon can rise. Anyone can be a dad, anyone can cook.

Final Thoughts

Jeremy Jordan is a global treasure and even if this series doesn’t stick the landing with its next season (we will see), Lucifer will be amazing.

Do I have a crush on this man? No. No, I do not. Why do you ask?

In all seriousness, I think episode five should have been two episodes. One for this song, and one for the next. Lucifer would join the Hotel’s crew for a few days, befriending Pentious and co., being utterly disrespected by Husk, and being eased into the fact that morality isn’t binary.

I don’t even mean this from just the pacing perspective, I think the series would have so much more thematic weight if it devoted more time to the literal devil learning the thesis of the series and becoming on board with redemption. I think that would be cool.

I'm also just now realising that this is a Gothic Horror musical, so of course Alex Brightman got cast in it.

In any case, next week is More Than Anything, which is yet another case study in why Jeremy Jordan is amazing. Stick around if that interests you.

Previous - Next

[ryoshudoodles]

What's your favorite Ryoshu ID? :>

Oooooh hard to say. Every single Ryoshu is my favourite Ryoshu. Let me make an ID tier list

First. They are all S Tier. But allow me to explain my choices

Starting on Hold hands tier

Seven Ryoshu- She looks lovely, I just can't find a use for her in any of my teams so I haven't gotten as attached to her as I have to other IDs. I still love her tho. She's the coffee shop AU Ryoshu.

Warp Ryoshu- I use Warp shu a LOT. She was one of the first truly good IDs I got and has been carrying me ever since. I just don't find her as conceptually interesting as other IDs. She's simply a version of herself that is constantly free to give into her base instincts and violent tendencies.

I love you tier

Liu Ryoshu- It is no secret that I find Liu Ryoshu extremely sexy. And that is just one of the reasons why I like her. It's fun to imagine what kind of interactions she would have with the Ishmael and Rodya of that mirror world.

Yurodivy Ryoshu- The hottest things a woman can be is: deranged and a communist.

Chef Ryoshu- Chef Ryoshu is a really fun ID. Just like warp, it's an ID where she's even more enabled than base Ryoshu but I find the tone of it immensely comedic simply because of her complete inability to cook. I like to imagine that it takes a dozen tries before one pie eventually comes out right.

Sweet awful princess tier

Base Ryoshu- Base Ryoshu is the Ryoshu that made this all possible. I just adore her to bits in ways I can't explain. She's such a fun twist on the edgelord lonewolf starving artist gone mad archetypes all in one.

LCCB Ryoshu- I wrote a whole fanfic about this one. Naturally, I've grown attached to her to an unnatural degree, even if I don't actually use her that much in game. Besides being straight-up adorable, gun shu is very interesting under a narrative microscope. She's way more calm and obedient, and I think that is caused by her not being as close and personal with her art.

Kurokumo Ryoshu: She's the first Ryoshu ID I ever got. I used her for a long time because I was SO HAPPY that I finally had one ID of her. Again, very violent ID, but there's so much room to imagine what it would be like for the Gang of idiots to interact. Besides, her design is just gorgeous. I want more tattooed IDs for her.

Maid Ryoshu: This ID is really an outlier among all the others. It's Ryoshu's kindest self, but without losing what makes her Ryoshu. She's still scary, violent and strong, but it really shows that even she can be caring. Before TKT it was one of the few things we could point to to demonstrate that she wasn't just a one note character (since not everyone reads the source material). Also I made a really... really silly bet with one of my friends because of her and I don't know what I'm gonna do now.

Thanks for asking :D

[two-sides-halved]

Continued | @erisdiamas

"Yes, Human Steven is the vice principal of Little Homeschool's program. He needs his rest and he needs to eat. I wish he didn't have to put more responsibilities on himself, but this is how he takes a little control of his life, and that's making sure this program runs smoothly." Gem Steven replied, as he cooked, hearing the sizzling calming his soul, as well as the pitter-pattering of feet slowly creeping down the stairs. The soft yawns echoing through the hallway, it made him feel a little better about the conversation. "Sometimes all we need to have in life is a little control... I have my own methods of escapism to give me a little control... I've got my games, and I've got mom's room... to help me go over things so I know that they are in fact my fault or not... because sometimes things bother me a little more than they do everyone else... and I know that's a me thing..."

"The fact that it happened once is already troubling... but maybe, you're right about this, maybe it is a different Lapis... and I'm just overthinking things as I am one to do... but I know for a fact, there is a fine line between lying and choosing not to say anything because they can't or they deem it as unimportant, from experience..." Gem Steven replied, he wanted to reassure her that this was coming from a place of worry and concern for her safety but he feels like constantly reminding her would make her sick of him. The boys finally round the corner.

"AaaaaaaaaHHHHHnnnnmmmm... Good morning Gem." Classic Steven said with a sleepy filled yawn as he slowly headed down the stairs, his eyes waking a little more seeing Eris, and waved back with a sleepy wave and warm smile.

"Good morning... you seemed like things were getting heated earlier in the conversation... you both doing alright?" Human Steven asked, as Gem Steven nodded simply in response lovingly making stuffing for the ravioli that he was making on the floured counter top, before gently putting them into a pot of boiling water.

"Yep, just catching up on Eris' time away from home for the last three days... very eventful... very troubling to her poor older brother." He replied with a playful overdramatic huff, before his mood swung back to being annoyed at the sight of that cursed substance, but said nothing since he didn't need to reprimand his brother right that instant since he say that he took it, and started carrying it over to the rest of his stash. "Thank you, Eris. I appreciate it."

"It wasn't a matter of rather Cherry forgave me... I am grateful you all do... it was just I don't forgive myself as easily...--" He stared at her offended.

"I DO NOT HAVE A LAZULIPHOBIA... I literally said through the entire conversation how I didn't like ONE LAPISS... I will admit that my experience with her isn't the most pleasant... and my brother's know how I can be with new people... so forgive me for being worried that you might have been with the one fucking lapiss that I despise because of how she has treated my family and my friends thus far... but it sounds like you're the one afraid that I'll forbid you from seeing her, like I'm some father from a super relatable sitcom, who's forbidding his one and only daughter out of his family of all boys since his wife is gone... is she dead, did she divorce him and leave him with the kids cause they were cramping her indepentant live style of drinking and partying with strangers because waking up to one man for the rest of her live is too fucking mundane for this bitch of a woman to ever want to have in her life... and he's left to raise two sons and daughter on his lonesome so he's even more worried that his only little girl is going to get hurt in that big scary unforgiving world and it'd be all his fault because he cares too much and ended up pushing her right into the dangerous, oncoming traffic of teenage hormones in the form of a bad boy, leather jacket wearing, dickhead archetype with dyed blond hair and kissable lips, who make you feel so special in the moment but so fucking stupid after it all comes crashing down around you. Who wears all the red flags imaginable on their sleeve to everyone else but to this teenage boy in the whirlwind of emotions and hormones that is puberty, all those red flags... just seem like shiny neat quirks on this cool and chill persona, who's only gonna end up breaking your heart the longer you watch this trainwreck of relationship go on because you know that never had any substance to begin with..." He huffed, his face twisting into a grimace as if he felt that personally. "But still you watch because it's just a show and the little people on tv can't fucking hear you scream he's gonna break your heart for that new more attractive looking toy on the shelf." He brushes his fingers through his hair and takes a breather.

"Like I said before, I don't have trouble trusting you to know what's right from wrong, it's just the company you choose to keep is what I question... same goes for this dork over here." Gem Steven replied as he gestures to Classic Steven. "So if there's this big announcement can it at least wait until after today... I don't think I can handle any big things other than you three and your birthdays... for once I actually want to relax and spend the day, not doing party prep... I know big shocker, Gem Steven wants to have a good time on the day that makes him feel like the worst person on the face of this timeline... but god forbid I have strong feelings, if I could turn them off I would but good god I can't turn them off even if I wanted to... I can pretend nothing bothers me, but you all would know there's something wrong..." He chuckled through his tears, before looking over.

"Why are you all silently staring at me... am I becoming incoherent and corrupting??" Gem Steven asked before Human Steven spoke gently. "No we were all just listening, and I'd like to tell you the pot of water is about to boil over." Gem Steven quickly refocused on his cooking, and whipped up the food in a lovely display of his cooking skills. "Right... right... I'm feeling a lot better now that I am no longer a dam waiting to burst... but seriously... I think we need just like one god damn day where things don't go down the toilet from minute one... please..."

[pillowfriends]

my thoughts on the WoT characters after book 5

before I start posting Lord of Chaos thoughts, I wanted to sum up what I think of the characters after The Fires of Heaven (and New Spring) so I can look back on it later. I’m sure I’m missing some, just listing everyone I have thoughts on.

Alanna: I have my eye on her after those sus forced bonding comments… time will tell but I don’t trust her at all. I like her though, she’s fun.

Asmodean: he was funny as hell, what a pathetic guy, and had objectively the most hilarious death in the series so far.

Aviendha: this is probably the character I have the least complicated feelings about. I just like her. she’s funny, she’s badass, her relationship with Rand is great.

Birgitte: a hot bicon. every word that comes out of her mouth is gold. she’s such a bro.

Egeanin: standout side character to me I love her so much. yes girl unlearn your cultural biases! and be unhinged and horny on main!! she better come back!!

Egwene: girl I want to like you but you're making it so hard 😭 as a character she's great. as a person I'm struggling with her dumbassery and her superiority complex and the way she's treating Nynaeve.

Elaida: she’s cringe and bad at her job but I kind of stan. she’s doing her best and it is absolutely not good enough and she’s being puppeted by the Black Ajah and only succeeded at deposing Siuan because a bunch of teenage boys stabbed people for her. I can’t even be angry at her tbh.

Elayne: book 5 was so great for Elayne. she's maturing a lot and she really shot up the list for me. her interpersonal relationships are so funny and I love how excited she is about making ter'angreal.

Faile: maybe absence makes the heart grow fonder but I miss her and want her back. she was so silly but also loved Perrin so much and I’m such a hopeless romantic that I loved the sappy parts.

Gareth Bryne: this man is a CREEP!! Siuan get AWAY from him! ugh ugh ugh. and I know it’s only going to get worse.

Galad: unfortunately this man is one of my favorite character archetypes. I didn’t vibe with him at first but now I really do.

Gawyn: I want to put him in a paper shredder. I am so angry at this man even after a full book to cool down post-coup. please let me deck him. I do think my feelings will change but right now I’m still angry as shit.

Graendal: problematic queen. do I think RJ will do anything interesting with her, probably not, but am I intrigued, yes.

Lan: THIS MAN BREAKS MY HEART DAILY. ohhhhh my god. not normal about him.

Lanfear: hmmm complicated feelings about book Lanfear. I found her introduction painful and annoying - it’s way too obvious - but she improved and I do love how crazy she is. it didn’t really sink in for me until her conversation with Rand in Tear that she’s delusional and obsessed with LTT to the point of being completely out of touch with reality, and therefore v scary. TLDR I love her now. RIP gone too soon.

Leane: I have no idea what’s cooking with her, I just have to RAFO. I’m either going to think she’s an icon or get angry at RJ for being sexist and I don’t know which.

Liandrin: the balls on this woman are actually insane, trying to Compel Moggy. she’s way too cartoonishly evil to be really interesting though. but she makes so many sexually charged dog references which I love tbh.

Logain: he’s fine I guess. hard to tell where his story is heading and he kind of hasn’t done anything.

Loial: he has never done anything wrong in his entire life, he's perfect and I love him.

Mat: I've come around and I like him now. his memory stuff is really interesting and so is the way he interacts with fate/the Pattern.

Melaine: best Wise One I love her so much.

Min: she’s never clicked with me as a character and I think her motivation is kind of dumb and repetitive. I also really dislike how salty and disrespectful she is towards Siuan but that has to do with my personal issues about the Siuan plotline so I can’t totally blame her for that.

Moghedien: I NEED to put her in a petri dish and poke her with a stick. girl you are not subtle about your petplay kink. somehow she’s scary and pathetic at the same time and I just love her a lot.

Moiraine: I can’t even put it into words. she’s my everything.

Morgase: I feel so fucking bad for her, her POVs were horrific, what a survivor. I'm excited for when she gets a bigger plotline.

Nynaeve: my favorite character who’s on page at present. first of all she has a Forsaken collared. second of all she’s so angry and I love angry women. also she has no self awareness which makes her POVs very amusing, but also sometimes devastating — I love her struggling with fear and her perceived cowardice in TFOH.

Perrin: I constantly forget he exists. not in a bad way but not really in a good way either - he’s just bland to me.

Rand: he is my idiot baby boy. go insane faster please it’s interesting.

Rahvin: good riddance you creepy fuck. not even awful in a compelling way to me, just awful. good as a character, well-written, but AAAA.

Siuan: her arc after being stilled is distressing to me and I don’t like reading it - her loss of power and influence, the way the other Aes Sedai all treat her, the sexual harassment… so I have a hard time separating that out from Siuan herself. I’m… torn. I love some of her scenes and some feel very out of left field. we’ll RAFO again.

Suroth: GIVE ME MORE. her POV was fascinating and she’s so awful.

Thom: against my best wishes, I actually like him now. he’s so dad coded and protective of Nynaeve and Elayne, and a badass, and has a good sense of humor.

Verin: what an icon!! favorite Aes Sedai bar none now that Moiraine is gone.

[inevitably there will be a part 2 when I realize I forgot some really obvious people]

[dateamonster]

hi I know we’ve stopped talking about vampires for a while but may I add that I think the sparkles in twilight are actually pretty cool? You see an undead creature in broad daylight and sun renders them as they truly are, unreal and dead eyed as glass. But they distract you with the. Sparkling

no for sure i agree! i think its like. complicated for me. because i think stephanie meyer kinda kneecapped an otherwise interesting monster concept by trying to cram it into the pre existing framework of the vampire and specifically the seductive vampire love interest archetype when whatever shes cooking here just does not gel with that.

like genuinely i think the idea of a predatory monster with the ability to draw in victims with unnatural beauty, who sticks to the shadows not out of fear of the light but because daylight exposes them as a sparkling lure, an uncanny facsimile of humanity, is really cool. i dont even necessarily mind it as an alternate take on the seductive vampire. but like edward. is not that character. hes this hyper christian teenage fantasy of a guy who is constantly and innately tempted to sin hurt you but fights it because he loves you. and i just dont think you can do That and also do The Most Dangerous Predator at the same time. at least not like effectively without one undermining the other.

and it sucks bc i do think theres an interesting story to be had there but meyer just did not have the guts for it, because it would require her to like acknowledge and engage with edwards actual underlying predatory habits instead of just having him angst about how hes a killer while hes out there feeding from like. deer. so the actual scary stuff like his crazy possessive streak gets painted as normal and romantic while the extremely basic shit paint-by-numbers vampire shit like being able to smell peoples blood gets presented as if its a genuine and dangerous obstacle to their relationship.

tldr stephanie was maybe cooking with the sparkly shit but she forgot to add any seasoning rip

[ithinkabouttzu]

Hi there, may I request an Enhypen matchup? Pardon if my info is lengthy, thank you so much ❣️

𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬/𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗦: Transmasc (AFAB) Genderfluid, Biromantic and Pansexual; He/They

𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 21 years old, 5'1.5", Southeast Asian (Filipino). Chubby with messy shoulder length brunette hair, chocolate brown eyes, and a small beauty mark on my forehead. Feminine Tomboy archetype, Soft Punk/Rock Chick and Rustic fashion style (like Malia Tate) but loves to wear Korean makeup look

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: Libra-Scorpio cusp, Slytherin with patronous spirit of Hummingbird, ENTP-T, my enneagram is 4w5 and Neutral Good. I may have introverted and awkward tendencies and anxious nature also behave as modest, gentle, dainty, and polite, I describe myself as fiery, confident, loud, humorous, and, passionate ambiverted individual who doesn't mind to be vocal about everything and would always stand on what I truly believed claiming to be a realist, plus I swear on a daily basis contrary to my soft features. Though sarcasm and savagery are my main language, I'm religious, super talkative, hyper, giggly, joyful, supportive, intellectual, friendly, sweet, nice, curious, [somehow] optimistic, young-at-heart, clumsy, unfortunate,. and inattentive who gets lost in my fantasies so easily but unashamed to be true to myself and could act as a mediator, a boy scout friend, and baby of the group all in all, additionally I'm spontaneous, procrastinator, lazy, quick-tempered, and a bit frightful. I will act noble and good-natured to someone who deserves respect the most. Gifted in artistic fields (mainly visual arts and singing) and extremely devoted with my ambitions aligned with them---will never stop until I get what I want cause' I know what I'm doing; Might come off as carefree, I can be serious, unruly, and competitive especially in academics though I never show it. The darker side of mine would be feisty and aggressive (due to anger issues) when someone triggered me where I may become cold, intimidating, and scary when enraged, would don't give a f and discreetly shady towards the people that I hate, and will cut off a connection with someone if needed without any hesitation; Sometimes I call someone out in secret when they dare to invalidate my feelings. My deepest side is I'm a soft-hearted overthinker that cry over small things sounding so petty and dramatic, frustrated for being a perfectionist provoking even more due to living up with expectations which stressed me out, and undeniably hopeless romantic recognizes a soft spot for dumb jokes, cheesy pickup lines and prefer people with a good sense of humour who see myself as equal.

𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗦/𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗦: Arts, choir, poetry, karaoke, literature, history, makeup, beauty pageants, eating, random conversations, expanding my knowledge in Christianity, biographies about saints, cute minimalistic stuffs, reading interesting things, talking about social issues, creative writing, memes, cartoons, and chilling both indoors and outdoors

𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗦: Stereotyping, mandatory necessities (without a logical reason), being left out, interruptions, emotional invalidation, judgemental people, no privacy, forcing to do I'm against with, gaslighters, telenovelas, hypocrites, dirty bathrooms, blackout, lightning, firecrackers, toads, snakes, cockroaches, toxic masculinity, misogyny, fake wokes, colonial mentality, and overly girly things

𝗛𝗢𝗕𝗕𝗜𝗘𝗦: Drawing, conceptualizing artworks, writing, singing, dancing when nobody's around (I'm very bad at it), walking like a so-so called model (if I ever feel so confident), sharing nerdy or opinionated thoughts, sleeping, listening to music (2000s, rock, kpop, and EDM), chatting and browsing on social media, watching videos on YouTube, creating clay charms, making terrible jokes or puns, watching cartoons, cooking, reading interesting things, and running an HTML color value code (occasionally). I also used to study Italian language a bit

Hi yes thank you so much for requesting lovely! 💗

I ship you with…

Kim Sunoo!

Song recommendation: Style - Taylor Swift

- Okay I think you guys would be so nice together, like y’all share some of the same interests and I think he would be a nice refreshment to you!

- When he met you, he would find you so cute! I think yalls relationship would form into a friendship at first and then something more romantic slowly on

- You are a strong person sunoo is always supportive of that, and he’s so glad he’s with someone as so special as you. He admires your ambition so much! he’s like that one supportive wife that loves seeing their husband accomplish his goals

- He loves just goofing off with you sometimes and acting like two little kids together ( i just know you guys have the BEST fun 😹)

- You guys can also get down on some karaoke date nights for sure! (he always tells you how good of a singer you are and reminds you that you guys should do a duet together anytime y’all go out for karaoke)

- He will always valid your emotions and feelings! He wants to be a shoulder you can always cry or lean on at anytime.

- He also admires your passion so much! He sees you as his own protector sometimes because he knows you will ALWAYS be there and stick up for him whenever!!

- canon: Okay one time he caught you dancing home alone and he thought it was SO cute, and when you catching him watching you he will just be there with the cutest smile ever clapping his hands

- He LOVES when you cook for him omg 😫 to him food is like a love language and always appreciates it when you cook for him!

- But overall y’all would be the sweetest adorable couple ever 😭 I’m shipping so hard rn LITERALLY

[acciocriativity]

Heya! Call me Aerith, and congratulations for 100 followers! May I request a matchmaking for ATEEZ? Thank you so much ❤️

𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬/𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗦: Transmasc (AFAB) Genderfluid, Biromantic and Pansexual; He/They

𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 21 years old, 5'1.5", Southeast Asian (Filipino). Chubby with messy shoulder length brunette hair, chocolate brown eyes, and a small beauty mark on my forehead. Feminine Tomboy archetype, Soft Punk/Rock Chick and Soft Vintage fashion style (like Malia Tate) but loves to wear Korean makeup style

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: Libra-Scorpio cusp, Slytherin with patronous spirit of Hummingbird, ENTP-T, my enneagram is 4w5 and Neutral Good. I may have introverted and awkward tendencies and anxious nature also behave as modest, gentle, dainty, and polite, I describe myself as fiery, confident, jokester, and, passionate ambiverted individual who doesn't mind to be vocal about everything and would always stand on what I truly believed claiming to be a realist, plus I swear on a daily basis contrary to my soft features. Though sarcasm and savagery are my main language, I'm religious, super talkative, loud, hyper, giggly, joyful, supportive, intellectual, friendly, sweet, nice, curious, [somehow] optimistic, young-at-heart, clumsy, unfortunate,. and inattentive who gets lost in my fantasies so easily but unashamed to be true to myself and could act as a mediator, a boy scout friend (more like the "Doraemon friend"), and baby of the group all in all, additionally I'm spontaneous, procrastinator, lazy, quick-tempered, and a bit frightful. I will act noble and good-natured to someone who deserves respect the most. Gifted in artistic fields (mainly visual arts, singing, and acting) and extremely devoted with my ambitions aligned with them---will never stop until I get what I want cause' I know what I'm doing; Might come off as carefree, I can be serious, headstrong, and competitive especially in academics though I never show it. The darker side of mine would be feisty and aggressive (due to anger issues) when someone triggered me where I may become cold, intimidating, and scary when enraged, would don't give a f towards the people that I hate, and will cut off a connection with someone if needed without any hesitation; Sometimes I call someone out in secret when they dare to invalidate my feelings. My deepest side is I'm a soft-hearted overthinker that cry over small things sounding so petty and dramatic, frustrated for being a perfectionist provoking even more due to living up with expectations which stressed me out, and undeniably hopeless romantic recognizes a soft spot for dumb jokes, cheesy pickup lines and prefer people with a good sense of humour who see myself as equal.

𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗦/𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗦: Arts, choir, poetry, karaoke, literature, history, makeup, beauty pageants, eating, random conversations, expanding my knowledge in Christianity, biographies about saints, cute minimalistic stuffs, reading interesting things, talking about social issues, creative writing, memes, cartoons, and chilling both indoors and outdoors

𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗦: Stereotyping, mandatory necessities (without a logical reason), being left out, interruptions, emotional invalidation, judgemental people, no privacy, forcing to do I'm against with, gaslighters, telenovelas, hypocrites, dirty bathrooms, blackout, lightning, firecrackers, toads, snakes, cockroaches, toxic masculinity, misogyny, fake wokes, colonial mentality, and overly girly things

𝗛𝗢𝗕𝗕𝗜𝗘𝗦: Drawing, writing, singing, dancing when nobody's around (I'm very bad at it), walking like a so-so called model (if I ever feel so confident), sharing nerdy or opinionated thoughts, sleeping, listening to music (2000s, rock, kpop, and EDM), chatting and browsing on social media, watching videos on YouTube, creating clay charms, making terrible jokes or puns, watching cartoons, cooking, reading interesting things, and conceptualizing my artworks. I also used to study Italian language a bit

Hey there Aerith, thank you for your request! I hope you have a great day <3

YOU MATCH WITH... YEOSANG!

As I was reading through your info, he immediately came to mind. I feel like you both are so similar, it won't be a problem to connect at all.

Yeosang has this kind of duality. When you just met him, his shy and also a bit awkward, meeting new people it's not his forte nor it's to demonstrate his feelings or thoughts. So it might be hard to get to know him at first, but time will work its magic and oh my goodness, wasn't it worth it, because when he's comfortable he truly shines. He'll throw the sassyness and the salvageness right back at you, he'll probably agree that banter it's a love language!

But since you're both have this similar personality, I feel like you'd be one of the few people who would understand his personality quite fast, because there's really no one like that in Ateez and he's known to be the random between them.

The frustration due to being a perfectionist and expectations from others hit home for him too, so I feel like you could really have someone that understands that to talk about it.

Your interests? Yep, right there with his too. Also the part of the pick up lines and dumb jokes?? It's so him.

I keep trying to find things to comment on, but everything it's so similar, I'm so sorry lol.

One thing tho, Yeosang is known for hating confrontation, also he's just so collected all the time, even when he's angry. He just bottles everything up and doesn't really say anything to the people that hurted him, he doesn't want to hurt them back. He's that sweet.

So if you ever fight with him, oh no, but I feel you would be more of a Yeosang number #2 protector with your feisty energy (right after Wooyoung being #1), because he does need it sometimes. He's too good for this world, just a child at heart, with an innocent and gold personality.

So that also means he would never trigger you on purpose and would appreciates very much you saying whatever triggers you, so that wouldn't happen on accident too.

I don't usually include appearance or sexuality as I don't think that would affect a genuine relationship of whatever sort with them. But in your case, I want to make sure you know how welcoming he would be.

He'll try to learn as much as he can, so he won't offend you, although he's pretty much ok already as he wouldn't be asking inappropriate questions nor commenting lgbtqiap+fobic things (on purpose of course), but he'll ask questions as long as you're comfortable sharing and he's open to learn and be a better person. He's the curious type and would be genuinely interested to understand your views and life experiences, since that's not a common topic in Korea.

I'm not sure if he's religious or not, but if he's not, he won't have any problems with this conversation topic, again I feel like he'd be interested in hearing others view points.

(This was so freaking long?? You just gave me so much info, I was so shocked with the length haha. Still, thank you so much for participating!)

[hellfireheroes]

‘I think it’s my year Henderson.’

Gif above credit

Short summary:

Eddie Munson is Hawkin’s own King of freaks. Playing for his band Corroded coffin, as a metalhead he is used to the ridicule and hatred from his fellow Hawkin’s community members. He also sells drugs from time to time to help support him and his uncle and spends his time playing DND.

He was a one off character in Stranger things season 4 and Is heavily rumored at the time of writing this to return in season 5.

🎸 Basic information 🎸

Name: Theodore Edward ‘Eddie’ Munson. Previously [Edith Rosemary Munson - Deadname].

Age: 20.

Height: 5’10.

Birthday: November 11th 1966.

Zodiac: Scorpio.

Pronouns: He/him.

Gender: Trans male.

Sexuality: Gay.

Species: Human (in the Kas verse hes a demo-pire (basically a demobat vampire).

Race: White.

Languages: English, Elvish.

Appearance:

Eddie wears a leather jacket under a denim vest that dons Megadeth, Motörhead, and Iron Maiden patches, as well as a patch of the Leviathan Cross. The vest also features W.A.S.P, Accept, Mercyful Fate, and Judas Priest pins, and a large Dio back patch. He also dons his infamous Hellfire Club tee which is handmade.

He also wears ripped black jeans with a chain wallet and a black bandana in his back pocket.

He has long, crazy and fluffy hair which is usually styled as frizzy as possible due to his metalhead roots. Eddie also is seen with many rings on each hand, some of which have been altered with tape to stick on his hands.

Personality:

Alignment: Chaotic neutral, leaning towards good.

Archetypes: The Jester, The Creator, the Rebel.

Type: ESTP, The Entrepreneur.

Even with his big, mean and scary facade he’s known for, Eddie is a huge softie underneath the leather and chains. He plays up a goofy, jester persona for Hawkins to take the hate of but he’s actually rather thoughtful and protective of his sheepies and is willing to take hits and slurs to keep them safe.

He’s rather loud and proud and passionate about what he loves and believes in and is rather louder and brasher at what he believes against. Conformity. He despises being boxed into boxes and will fight tooth and nail out.

He’s also a huge nerd.

Backstory and present:

This section will contain parts of Flight of Icarus, the show and my own backstory for Eddie.

Warning for themes of Extreme child neglect, Child abuse, alcoholism, homophobia, Ridicule and blackmailing of someone who is neurodivergent, gore, violence and more.

Early life

Edith Rosemary Munson was born prematurely on November 11th, 1966, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother, Janice, having been tested and confirmed for traces of Ketamine and Coke was forced to detox and thus, so was Edith.

Edith gained her first sobriety chip before she turned one. But she was alive. Her little heart kept beating.

Janice and Al for the first few years, up to Edith’s fourth birthday cared for her the best they could. That being, Al would go and get himself into trouble with the law and Alice would shoot up on the couch. However, she still played Music records for Edith to be calmed by and when she’d remember, she’d give her a can and a fork of whatever they had in the house to eat.

Rick Springfield, Blues and Bluegrass, country and more filtered into the tot’s ears and music became her lifeboat.

As Edith grew up, she was used to the neglect and thus leaned on her uncle Wayne when he’d visit and bring toys and food. When Wayne wasn’t around, she would read to the best of her abilities the various cook books scattered around the apartment.

Until it happened.

On the road home from Edith’s 7th birthday Hotwire bash, Janice was found dead. A needle in her arm and cold blue lips.

It was hell.

Time passed, Al got worse and Edith held onto music as a way to stay afloat. Rock and roll and country held her together.

Wayne would still come over and help her with her homework and chores but he never stayed. Al hated Wayne.

Until one day, Al got sloppy.

Al Munson was caught trying to break open a car window and was sentenced to 50+ years in jail on charges of Drug possession, attempted car theft, a DUI and more. Edith was located in a messy, horrid apartment and was taken by CPS after Al was arrested.

Wayne Munson got the call at 5 in the morning about his niece being left by herself and with no family left and took the first chance he could to make his way out to Memphis. Once he got there, he was met with his niece. Head full of lice, skinner than a twig and sick as a dog.

He was told he was the only one to take her in lest she become a ward of the state and Wayne agreed in a heartbeat.

Childhood with Wayne

Edith, now Eddie, with only with a small backpack of belongings and a new shiny ID and name he picked out himself was now a resident of Hawkins, Indiana in his uncle’s trailer.

A fresh start. Legally.

Eddie during this time with Wayne found himself. He wasn’t a girl, but a boy. He wanted to be a boy, he WAS, IS, a boy. Wayne didn’t think anything of it, calling his niece his nephew. He loved Eddie whoever Eddie was. (Years later, when Eddie and Wayne shared Eddie’s 18th birthday with a bottle of beer, Wayne shared how he was queer himself and that no matter what, he loved him and would do anything for him. Eddie cried.)

He had to shave his head due to the lice and rats but, he promised he’d regrow it out. Eddie was destroyed for days. He lost another part of his mom that day, but for now, he felt lighter after the locks were shed.

He passed in Hawkins as the new boy in the trailer park when he’s first introduced. He had Wayne, someone who truly loved him and cared for him and things were starting to look up. Wayne gave him his old acoustic guitar and Eddie immediately fell in love. His passion for music reignited with a burning flame.

At the age of 12, he went to the school talent show and played a very… very loud and personal rendition of Rick Springfield’s I’m your Superman. Needless to say, they didn’t appreciate his talents that much.

But he didn’t mind, in fact, it fueled his passion for music more being on that stage, playing his heart out.

As he grew up, he got into more hobbies. Specifically, DND from an older kid he met in the library.

Eddie was HOOKED.

Eddie got lost in his little worlds of dice and dragons and goblins and ghouls. He was amazed and he couldn’t get enough. At the age of 15, 1979, he met a friend when going to the library to check out yet again, his DND book. A black kid, with a short top of hair and a flannel.

His name was Jeff.

Eddie loved Jeff. Invited Jeff to hang out every single day and even got Jeff’s number to hang out and talk.

They bonded quickly over DND and their love of rock and metal music. Together the two formed the metal band, Corroded Coffin and with Jeff on vocals and Eddie on his guitar the two were on their way to making this dream a reality.

Then. It happened.

Eddie was outed as a queer at the age of 16.

Eddie was terrified. He was labeled officially as the outcast of Hawkins and he was labeled ‘The Freak.’ Jeff stuck around even with the truth being outed and helped Eddie through it and the two became family.

Time passed.

The bullying worsened for Eddie but slowly, he molded his armor with the same hate and spit that was thrown his way and wore the pain and hatred with a grin. He used dramatics and flare to deflect even the worst slurs. He became the protector to the freaks and outcasts.

During the years 1980 to 1986, he worked at a mechanics shop as a apprentice. Once he turned 18, he was offered an actual job.

He formed the Hellfire Club in 81 with Jeff. An open invitation to freaks to have a place to breathe.

In 81, he met Gareth. And in 83? Grant.

Corroded Coffin became a fully formed band. Eddie on Guitar and the frontman. Jeff on vocals and guitar. Grant on bass and heavy vocals and Gareth on drums. They play in Gareth’s garage and mainly fuck around and get high, but it’s theirs.

To seal the deal for the band, Jeff gave them each a coffin tattoo on their heels. It hurt like a motherfucker but Eddie loves it. Loves the lopsided coffin.

At the age of 17, he meets reefer Rick.

Rick knows his dad and well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree does it? He quickly becomes a rather impressive drug dealer. Swindling rich kids for cheap pot and watered down K. The actual good stuff he’s got stashed away is hidden behind a password only a trusted few know.

At 18 he gets his Sweetheart. His warlock.

1983

Will Byers goes missing.

Barbra Holland dies.

Benny dies.

He and Wayne spent days helping the search parties try to find Will.

Then he returned, after being buried.

Now, Eddie wasn’t exactly a genius but he knew something wasn’t right with the Byer’s kid. He knew something wasn’t right with Hawkins but, he didn’t have enough evidence to back himself up so, he let it go.

A chemical spill explained some.

He did keep a closer eye on King Steve during this time and on Jonathan Byers once the rumor that he beat the shit out of Steve came out and Steve, did infact look beat.

Strange.

1984

Hargrove moved to town and it’s been a pain in the ass.

His newly crowned royal highness has everyone in Hawkins flocking to his every beck and call and frankly, Eddie doesn’t really give a shit. He’s met Billy a few times formally. The other buying pot and K from him numerous times and of course, not without a bit of bullshitting.

Eddie and Billy stayed in their lanes unless prompted otherwise. The dude looked fucking scary.

It’s also the first year he’s held back.

Higgins made it quite clear what a Munson is good for that day. Nothing. ‘You need to focus more Eddie. You won’t get anywhere if you won’t try.’

‘If only you apply yourself to your work.’

‘You don’t want to end up like your father right? I’m afraid it’s a bit late for that but you can try again next year.’

Eddie doesn’t graduate and he is angry.

1985

He doesn’t question the mallfire.

He doesn’t question Hopper dying or Billy.

He’s held back again.

He meets Max.

1986

It’s his year.

And then Chrissy dies in his trailer and he watched it happen.

And then everything he’s known or suspected that’s been happening in Hawkins is confirmed. This place is haunted, cursed, tainted.

He’s on the run for something he didn’t do. Assumptions are going to kill him. He’s being conformed into a box of murderer, satanist, freak, creep, danger.

He’s scared.

He’s on the run for days, clutching the small Walkie close to his chest as he cries for some semblance of peace. The voices on the other side his only solace.

Then he’s dragged into hell with Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler and Robin Buckley.

And then….

Hell.

He’s torn apart after a stupid, reckless stunt. But Dustin is safe. He’s left to bleed and bleed and choke and oh… god….

It hurts.

He’s dying.

And then he knows nothing. Nothing but the screams of one of his sheepies holding his bleeding and torn body. Fading into nothing.

Post canon

Now here’s where shit gets tricky, as of now we don’t know if Eddie actually survived or if he did die but! I have two ways he survived.

First, Kas:

Eddie wakes up in a hospital bed, his body colder and his head fuzzy but he’s alive. He was in a coma for months. Vecna is still kicking and Max is recovering. Eddie’s name is cleared legally but not socially.

Though, as Eddie is brought home and reunited with his family, things change.

He changes.

He becomes a monster.

Fangs, claws, wings and tails. He looses himself in the hunger and rage that settles in his stomach and longs to return to the world below. He becomes feral. He tears and bites and snarls and runs.

Vecna tries to tame him, to use him and gets his hand bitten in return. Eddie, no, Kas, tears Vecna apart.

Vecna falls and crumbles to ash and Eddie is left picking up the pieces of his crumbling humanity. With the help of the party, he becomes a person again with the responsibility to look after the upside down.

To make sure it never hurts anyone else again.

He and Steve make sure of it.

Together.

And path 2, Human:

Eddie wakes up in the hospital, his body cold and bruised and sore, but alive. He lost most of his muscle mass and even lost his tits so, free top surgery.

He was in a coma for 3 months as he healed.

He’s got other peoples blood in him and staples and more keeping him together.

His name is cleared legally but not socially.

He undergoes severe physical therapy for 4 years to get his muscles back in order and during those 4 years, Vecna is finally defeated. He was on the sidelines when it happened but he helped.

[awkward-teabag]

To expand on this under the cut (possible spoilers)

The sexy vampire who seduces people to get their way is pretty common. So common, in fact, it's an entire genre at this point. Hot, haughty, older guy (because it's almost always a man) who isn't physically imposing and may or may not look his age but will flirt with anyone. Gone are the time when vampires are supposed to be scary, their sexiness (or lack thereof) is a defining trait.

But in BG3, Astarion starts off like this but moves to wanting less because he can have boundaries now. He can go through the motions and has a couple centuries of practice and habits to fall back on but he isn't defined by it. He's also not ashamed of drinking animal blood and while he doesn't need permission to bite people anymore, he still seeks it out. At least for people he's not fighting.

---

The prodigy/chosen one/saviour archetype is painfully common in fantasy stories and not to say Gale doesn't have hubris or ego or talk about it like everything falls on him, but he's also willing to do "menial" things like cook or "unmanly" things like talk about how much he loves his cat. He also listens (if begrudgingly at times) when told it's not all on him or about him so he doesn't have to sacrifice himself just because a god told him to.

---

"Stoic loner" is also quite common and used as a foil for the protagonist and Halsin starts off with those vibes and as a way to move the shadowlands plot forward. Get him into the city and he complains about all the people and how refugees are treated. Get him into Sharess' Caress and he doesn't hesitate to volunteer as a fifth.

He's very respectful, mind you, but suddenly this quiet guy who was focused on solving a longstanding problem is now willing to regale you with what he's into and what he's done. Though he still doesn't like the city.

---

Wyll's that guy whose reputation precedes him and is larger than life, a celebrity if you will, complete with facial scars and a catch phrase. Add in his nobility and it's a recipe for ego and fighting for leadership over the group because he has knowledge and experience on his side on these matters.

But he's surprisingly down to earth and quick to admit when he was wrong, as well as take orders even though he's been used to doing things his own way for so long. Well, mostly his own way—he didn't choose the targets.

---

Jaheira even pokes fun at how she's expected to fulfill the "wizened old mentor" role. She has knowledge and experience, sure, but she doesn't think she knows everything or take a hands off approach because it's not her fight. It is, and she has personal reasons to be involved, but she doesn't butt in demanding to be leader even though she's used to being one.

---

"Boisterous person who loves violence" fits Karlach, to a degree. She knows she can fight and handle a lot, as the infernal engine showed, but there's a childish excitement there mixed with "where in the hells did she learn that" emotional maturity and insight into others. If others open up to her, she doesn't mock them for being weak, she genuinely gets concerned and wants to help them.

That sometimes the help involves knocking heads is a coincidence.

---

The other who comes from a warrior culture comes up a lot, too, and Lae'zel starts that way but quickly starts to adapt to this new world and new people. She doesn't discard everything she knew or was taught and doesn't hate it or begrudge her fellow githyanki for still following it, but she's more than just a sword that first Vlaakith used and then Tav/the group did.

---

"Bubbly cleric" and its counterpart "Goth cleric" have been a common staple in fantasy for ages and, at first, it seems Shadowheart may be the latter. Dresses in black, worships an evil god, gets upset if you try to pry. But then she starts to open up and from the start hints that she wants to be different than what she acts like but, similar to Lae'zel and Astarion, she's not sure what to do at first so falls back on what she was trained to act like.

With time and eventual rejection of Shar, she finally starts learning who she wants to be. She doesn't regret the decades she can't remember and were dedicated to Shar, it's part of her, but she can finally start a new chapter of her life not restricted by others' plans and ideals.

One of the things I love about Baulder's Gate 3 is the companions aren't just archetypes who exist to fill out the roster and be familiar to players so they don't have to think too hard about it, they're actual characters and often have something about them that's opposite of the archetype they're closest to.

Astarion? Sure he's the sexy vampire, but he's also about boundaries and getting permission before biting anyone (minus that first time).

Gale? He's a wizarding prodigy with a massive hubris but is also fine, even eager, to be the camp cook.

Halsin? The quiet dude you meet along the way who is very much into nature and reserved at first, then he relaxes and you learn he's the horniest motherfucker around and down for pretty much anything.

Wyll? He's a living legend in his own time and someone even experienced soldiers are at least wary of, but he doesn't have an ego about it and can separate that from who he is as a person.

Jaheira? She plays up her age and experience and pokes fun at herself and the expectation that she must know more because she's seen and done more than most, but she's content to stepping aside and letting someone else take the lead and doesn't take insult to it.

Karlach? Knows she can take on what the hells throw at her and relishes a good fight, but is the biggest advocate for mental health and to rely on others and/or take a break if needed.

Lae'zel? A born and bred warrior who knows nothing else and doesn't shy away from violence, but her long-suppressed empathy and curiosity starts coming out when she no longer has outside forces dictating who she must be.

Shadowheart? Reverses the "bubbly cleric" trope but instead of sticking to Hot Topic Cleric™, she has to fight the urge to care about and connect with others.

It would have been easy to stick with the first half because those are familiar archetypes and tropes, but it would have rendered them flat as characters. The additions give them depth.

And BG3 is so much better for it.

[fawnnbinary]

listen. Listen. miles. listen. you are Driving me to Madness. i am frothing at the mouth. i am chewing on the walls. the concept of eskel in an apron has consumed me.

i have what you might call a Blorbo Formula (jaskier is my biggest exception tbh). Big Man. muscles. violent/traumatic background, highly developed combat skills. usually (not always) slightly long hair. Big Scary Muscle Fighting Man. but in his heart, he is Soft. he wants to cook food for the ones he loves. he want to nurture them and warm them and tuck them in at night. he wants to keep them safe and fed and loved! the bucky barnes/eliot spencer/dean winchester archetype is what i’m getting at. once upon a time, before i grew up and stopped being a girl and learned what a dogwhistle was, i might have described my Ideal Blorbo as a hufflepuff (fighting type).

eskel in an apron is e v e r y t h i n g to me miles i’m going feral. this ask is not to pressure you into drawing faster, it is just to let you know that whatever eskel-based apron-induced insanity you may or may not be experiencing, i am Right There With You. godspeed.

-eskel anon

he is fucking,,, he is making tea,,,, he is a big scary witcher but his heart is soft and it is kind and he wants to retire to his home in the winters and make tea for his family and sit by the fireplace to talk to them

@proheromidoriyashouto tagging u bc u sent me the apron guy this is your doing ksdjfhksjdgh

[angelic-guest]

age groups for the camp au

dark- 10-12 year olds, he can deal with kids who can handle scary

bing also a 8-9 year olds, that cool camp person, he could give less of a fuck what happens, and is loved by the little kid groups.

Google- camp "leadership" he works to make sure that everyones working and deals with kids and their parents, hes a take no shit leadership person.

dr.iplier- nurse obvs, hes nice!

wilford- little little kids, the like babys! hes chaotic and loud and childish and can keep up with them!

yancy: specialty staff for archery!

(i may include my oc if allowed)

-bee

The actual irony of me talking about how Wilford dresses as a final girl from any 80’s slasher ever and then him being with little kids. It only fits the archetype more! Also feel more than welcome to include ocs and self inserts <3

Random Camp Counselor AU headcanons

In previous years, Google was assigned to do arts n crafts due to the previous owners, however, he hated this and is much more proficient in his leadership position. Not that he would admit how salty he was but he will eagerly talk shit.

This means the position is open and who gets it? Well it changes out but mostly Eric with assistance from Wilford occasionally. He’s not allowed to handle child safe scissors.

Eric wanted to be the ones that lead hike trails since he loves nature and animals but his luck doesn’t bode well so instead he gets arts n crafts.

Dark and Bing are the leaders of their respective age categories. Dark leading is more about the discipline aspect like being on time, manners, etc and he will reward the older ones with some horror. Bing is alllll about being physically active and having fun! Expect swimming, basketball, impromptu hiking (which gets him in trouble a lot).

Illinois is all about exploration, go figure, so he leads hiking and survival guide type things! Lessons to learn from living on the road and being friends with a cryptid type Heehoo. The kids are unsure if all his stories are true but he is more than welcome at campfire story night!

You would think The Author or The Host would be the campfire storytellers but nope, that belongs to the Jims. They called dibs so they report on all the interesting things that float their way. The kids think they talk too fast.

Yancy is also a cook. He can cook. Murdock is also a cook. They both cook while eagerly talking about stuff like it’s a true crime podcast. Yes, I think they’d be good friends.

[parkerpantone]

parker+: volume one

ozzy’s ep

track one: somebody i know i’d miss

it started off pretty innocent i think. two boys who work at a motel and occasionally exchange banter. UNTIL the fateful day they decided to get drunk together after their shifts. a super powerful magical karmic energy passed between the two of them that night. dare i say....a little bit of mutual crushing began! parker doesn’t open up to people too often...but with ozzy it’s really easy and natural. there may be something cooking here...watch this space. 

track two: evil

but plot twist! the boys are from two different sides of the tracks!!! worser still...parker HATES the side of the tracks from which ozzy belongs. good thing he doesn’t know, right? wouldn’t that be scary and heartwrenching??? hahahaha? that’ll never happen though. right? RIGHT??? anyway i think what’s tragically beautiful about parker and ozzy is that...they’re kinda doomed. for a lot of reasons...but especially the whole cherry proper neighborhood watch x lowkey southsider boy thing. there is certainly a consequence to keeping each other around...even if they don’t see it just yet.

track three: smile from u

but let’s forget about all that foo foo lame romeo and juliet stuff! let’s talk about something more important! like the fact that parker has never had a relationship that wasn’t primarily about sex. he doesn’t really...crush. so this thing with ozzy is very new for him. but in a time where many people are villainizing his opinions and efforts to keep cherry safe...it’s nice to have a daily guranteed boost of serotonin from his boy ozzy. 

track four: archetype

"there’s a lot of boys in california...they don’t get along...like you and i.”. send tweet.

this song really somes up the will they won’t they that i (and likely ozzy and parker) feel about this whole situation. it also just sounds very bittersweet haha. because remember...this is a doomed ship. titanic in this bitch. but really i just love parker and ozzy and they are my current obsession so i hope this journey guides you all to be obsessed as well. 

[abybweisse]

Ch172, Let’s look at Lau again, too

⚠️ Very long post!

What is he up to?!

I mean, yeah. He’s the Jester archetype, so I shouldn’t be too surprised, but it’s nerve-wracking, all the same.

His main gimmick is saying deep, dark, knowledgeable things (which are probably not a joke at all)... and then giving a well-timed pause... to then play the fool who knows nothing. I could give so many examples, but if you read the manga, you already know exactly what I’m talking about. He’s pulled that running gag almost half a dozen times by now.

I think he’s drawing from his own private experiences, mostly, it’s just that they fit so well with what’s going on, in that moment, that it’s unnerving to our earl, Sebastian, and anyone else present to hear it. Then it hits hard that he apparently doesn’t know what’s going on in the here and now. But the reader gets the distinct impression that he has had terrible experiences that parallel our earl’s enough and that he might also know way more about what’s going on than he pretends. His words might be entirely about himself, and he might be oblivious to the subject at hand. But I don’t think so. He’s pretty damn observant for someone who keeps his eyes closed most of the time. Plus, he’s an informant.

He couldn’t give our earl warnings about Haku and Owl, if he didn’t pay close attention to current events. And he acts hella-fast on the information he has. Somehow gets word about Haku’s assassination plans and has some knowledge about Owl? Sends a warning (by letter) while en route by ship so fast that it arrives at Phantomhive Manor before he can even make landfall in England. Finds out the truth about Mina and Harold? Sends Ran-Mao after them. Knows the Yard is after our earl and company? Locates them almost immediately and shows up in time to thwart the Yard’s manhunt. If Ran-Mao is his “cat”, then who TF are his “little birdies”? 🤨 Seriously, who are his own informants? Who are his messengers? Who needs Claude when you’ve got Lau in the center of his own web? It will be very interesting to learn (if we ever do) the extent of that network. Is it spies all over the place? Is it a handful of trusted people, like the girls at his opium den? Is it... just Ran-Mao? 🤷🏻‍♀️

But this all just makes him fit the Jester archetype even more, because that character is often burdened with extensive and heavy knowledge, and this behavior is a lighthearted way to portion out that knowledge or serious observations to other characters, as well as to the reader. This role gives them an easier way to break the fourth wall, for example. Though I haven’t noticed any examples of him doing that. This is also the archetype that needs to be entertained, otherwise they will lose interest and get bored. We know Lau has even told our earl how he’s motivated to stick around as long as it’s interesting and entertaining for him.

Similarly, Lau has done some hella scary and intimidating things... and then made light of them. Does it even matter to him whether Sebastian can survive the swords through the wardrobe “trick”? Either he knows Sebastian isn’t human and will be okay... or he doesn’t know and doesn’t particularly care. Are Harold West and Mina actually alive or dead? Acupuncture needles used as weapons and kept in your sleeves... are still weapons. He’s probably never even used them for medical purposes. There is a wild recklessness and ruthlessness about him, and the only times I’ve seen him so much as flinch are: 1. When he goes to Undertaker’s funeral parlor. Because Undertaker is scary even when he’s serving tea and offering biscuits... and 2. When Ada and her staff bust in with hazmat suits and spray Lau and Bard down with sanitizers. And strip them bare. And shave... everything. ✨ This is when you know he’s actually surprised.

I know the post is already long, but now it’s time to talk about what he’s doing in ch172. I’m breaking down every panel I noticed him in.

Why Chang, other than the fact it’s another common Chinese name?

This is a good excuse for when the staff finds his acupuncture needles, since I’m sure he brought them with him. Idk if they will return them to him. Possibly, even though he won’t be assigned to treat “Mr. Burgh”. We will have to see who calls him out on his tattoos and when. Someone might decide it’s best to hold onto his “Chinese medicine” supplies.

Qigong.

He can think on the spot, since they didn’t expect to be separated like this.

Bringing “Mr. Burgh’s” family’s wishes into this is a smart idea.

But then he does THIS. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I cannot imagine Lau saying this without realizing what he’s saying.

And he starts to walk out, instead of backing up his previous excuse that he needs to stay because of his client’s sensitivity and his family’s “strong request”.

Where was he going to go, once he got out the door? Sit in the waiting room... snoop around (good luck!)... leave the facility?

The feathers are a bit campy, but it does emphasize the “softness” of the interaction, even if it’s just an act.

Is it 💯 an act? I mean, it is an act. However, there might be a part of Lau that actually feels sorry for Bard, a part of him that sympathizes and knows what it’s like to survive combat while friends (or family) die. I feel as though Lau has extended such kindness to someone else in the past. Ran-Mao? Someone else? Who knows. At this point, it’s merely a feeling I have, since we know so little about his own hardships. But he had the, of that I’m sure....

As cute as many will surely find this image, this is some tense “we are either golden or about to die any moment” shit, right here.

They cling to each other not just in the hope of making this look real... but also possibly with their legit fear of being called out as frauds.

And they hold this pose until they are certain they have gotten their way. Bard with determination and fear on his face. Lau with a look of caring and concern. If you were to replace Bard with someone personally dear to Lau, this would not look odd at all.

I also want to point out that Lau has his eyes open here. It lends credibility to his seriousness. In a way that the sanatorium staff cannot understand. But we know he’s not to be messed with when his eyes are open. To the staff, it might just denote a level of protectiveness. Maybe even a silent plea.

This might be the first time we have seen Lau speak in Chinese. We’ve seen Ran-Mao do it a few times. Given the circumstances, it’s probably fine. It might even help convey a feeling of genuine gratitude.

Here’s a close-up of their facial expressions when they both simply say “Yes”. Bard is still being quite serious. Lau has completely lost the gravity he was displaying a very brief moment ago.

But then Lau completely drops the doctor persona and talks (with eyes open) about them barely making it through this. There, he’s seriously relieved they passed this test.

Closing his eyes again, Lau openly says “master cook” and “acting”! Says he had no plan on how to come back if he had left the room! If I were Bard, I’d want to punch him, too.

I think Lau is seriously scrutinizing this young nurse, Layla, and coming up with an assessment of her. Then he goes from serious to chipper. Gives a big smile. Says nothing is wrong. What does he really think about her?

The last thing he says to Layla reminds me of what Sebastian said to Arthur about taking care of our earl....

I am reminded of the cover page for ch170, and I still can’t make heads or tails of his ultimate goals. The ones that led him all the way to England, where he expects to use whatever means to reach whatever ends.

And I cannot get it out of my head, what the historical Ronald Knox said about not including a “Chinaman” in your detective fiction. It’s one of his “Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction”. Yana-san already broke all ten, in some way or other.

Will Lau turn out to be a Fu Manchu character? We already know he was ruthless in his rise up the ladder of Qīng Bāng. We just don’t have the details. What’s he willing to do now to achieve his ultimate goals?

😬

[bro-strider-hate-blog]

Misc bro hcs:

Bro is ridic flexible like, contortionist flexible. He COULD probably do all that crazy pretzel shit if he liked but he thinks it makes him look stupid so he doesn't. Guys just blessed with loose joints and a high pain threshold

Smokes weed cause what self respecting rapper doesn't

Cant really cook but his (in)famous packet ramen-soda combo apparently has enough nutrition to sustain a Strider 

He looks solid enough to crack bricks on but if you really fight him he’s flighty and quick, never standing his ground for more than a sec. A veritable nightmare to strife against cause he’ll have you wasting your energy swinging at empty space then charge in for the killing blow when you’re tuckered out

Bro knows a lot of stuff like sewing (basics), mechanic knowhow, programming AIs and programming in general (he has to work hard to fuck up all his websites as much as he can). He also likes DJing and rapping and doing ironic bits with his puppets. This is practically canon info but its great to know he has some hobbies besides knowing every anime and being a piece of shit

Bro’s probably selectively mute, he spent a lot of his kid days sneaking and listening out for shit and being silent as fucking death became a habit. He used to “talk” a lot through Cal but without the protective layer of ventriloquist puppet to talk through he barely says a word, probably knows legit ASL but he made up his own “cooler” set to use with Dave. BSL, bro sign language

He also likes having that strong silent archetype going on for him. Its free intimidation factor

Calsprite’s voice is actually Bro’s voice trying to sound like what he thinks a goofy irritating clown puppet would sound like. He nailed it and it is fucking haunting

Bro doesn't sleep much. Could be a combination of blue light shining into his eyes and turning him evil or just Cal's vibes doing the same. Regardless he likes keeping busy so he’s rarely sleeping in

Cursed with being a light sleeper too so if you even so much as look at him while he’s napping he will snap out of REM sleep. If you try and touch him he will aikido twist the SHIT out of your wrist

Bro got seriously brain damaged by Cal... the short halting sentences. Purposefully curt tone. He tends to take really long to speak and stares at people while he’s deciding what words he wants to use. Sometime it’s not worth the effort so he just stares and then leaves which like LOL rude

He runs on instinct a lot and likes to be alone to just chill out and be alone with Cal. It’s not necessarily the most healthy thing to do considering the damn thing has been compelling him to do a lot of questionable shit since “BIRTH” but its comforting and pretty much his go-to

Bro comes off as very very scary but really most of the time when he’s doing his intimidating stare down its head empty just puppets

[bronanlynch]

bi-ish weekly update

time sure passes huh. meant to do one last week but I wrote like 5000 words on Wednesday instead, and I’m not really sure what happened yesterday but maybe Thursday is my new day for these

listening: two for the price of one this week since I’m excited about both of them. first of all, obviously, is the Sangfielle theme by Jack de Quidt because it’s time for a new season of Friends at the Table. I love their description of this season’s music

the other thing I’ve been listening to is the new album from one of my fave bands, You’re Welcome from A Day to Remember. this is by far not the most musically interesting or complex song on the album but it is about, as far as I can tell, a bad breakup with a vampire and I love it for that just on principle, but also it’s fun! a fun pop punk-esque bop about breaking up with a vampire!

reading: since last time when I talked about many romance novels I was reading, I mostly just read more romance novels because sometimes that is all the brain can handle. shout out to KJ Charles for writing a historical romance with a nonbinary main characters, you really do love to see it. I appreciate that she puts trans characters in her books, and I hope that someday she writes one with a trans man as a main character, because that truly would be a book targeted directly at me.

I’ve also been reading the Kate Kane, Paranormal Investigator series by Alexis Hall (author of Affair of the Mysterious Letter, a weird fantasy queer Sherlock Holmes retelling that absolutely fucking slaps, highly recommend).

this is his author bio from the Kate Kane books, which really just sets the tone and also. what a fucking life goal

anyway. series starts with Iron & Velvet which is currently on sale, which is why I bought it, and it also fucking slaps. I’m like halfway through the last book right now but they have all been good and fun. Kate is like. archetypal disaster p.i. but done in an interesting way (i.e. the narrative actually addresses the depression and the alcoholism in a way that I personally really appreciated), and also pretty much every woman in the ~supernatural community she encounters is an ex or someone she will flirt/hook up with at some point, which is an accurate representation of every irl queer space I’ve ever been part of. she dates a vampire for a while. hot morally questionable vampire lady. the vampire power structure names positions after tarot cards it’s very fun and sexy and tailored specifically toward my interests. also she lives in the same part of London as my ex-girlfriend so it’s. fun to recognize place names and be like. oh I went there on a date once huh

watching: started watching Turn A Gundam because a twitter friend recommended it as being fun and also very different then any other Gundam series and they were right on both counts. the premise of it is ‘what if a bunch of people went to live on the moon and some people stayed on earth, the moon people got real into super advanced technology and the earth people are larping the 19th century, and now the moon people want to come back’ so there’s a fun mix of visual styles. would love to see serious analytical writing on this show by someone more versed in discussing indigeneity/colonialism than me though because there are things that I’m a little bit hmmm at but I don’t know enough to be able to explain why or know if that’s the right response to have

don’t know what’s up with the dude on the left’s sunglasses but my friend has promised me the fashion choices only get weirder

I know about the ‘wow cool robots’ meme but some of the mech designs are very cool and visually distinct both from each other and from the standard blocky humanoid shape that lots of mechs are, so that’s fun to see. and they’re all different sizes too, which for me at least makes it easier to get a sense of the scale of the conflict/threat. when they’re all the same size it’s easy for me to forget they’re like 40 feet tall but when some of them are 40 feet and some of them are like 10 feet it’s a lot easier to be like. oh. oh shit. these are big and destructive and scary as hell

there are mini versions of this big mech that are like. the size of one of its feet

also there’s some fun stuff about how the way society relates to a mech and what a mech is used for can change over time, which is part of what is maybe inspiring me to get back into trying to write games, because between Turn A and the fic I was writing about Integrity Friendsatthetable I was like. hey what if a hack of The Ground Itself by Everest Pipkin, a game about a place changing over time, except instead of a place it’s a mech

playing: finished Knife of Dunwall finally! please clap! I was kinda half-expecting not to keep to low chaos in the last mission because there are so many overseers but I did it! I did do a bunch of accidentally getting into fights, killing a bunch of people, and then reloading an earlier save so I could go back and not kill those people but it’s fine. anyway. fun game, fun level once I got the hang of it, and I do feel like I accomplished something a lil bit difficult so that’s a nice feeling. definitely harder than the main game. also, very sad about Billie and gay for Delilah. she shows up just to threaten you and then disappears again, and I think that’s pretty hot of her. also love the narrative parallels of having the choice to spare Billie and then the game ending with Corvo about to decide whether to spare Daud or not. I just think that’s neat

making: made some Thai green curry last week from this recipe, which was tasty and not too hard to make, but has just enough specialty ingredients to make it a lil bit too expensive to make too often. our grocery store only ever has lemongrass when we’re looking for things that look kinda like lemongrass but aren’t, and didn’t have any when we need it so we just used extra lemongrass paste and lime juice for the lemongrass, and for the kaffir lime leaves, which we were also supposed to substitute with lemongrass but. it’s fine it was still tasty

writing: a lot somehow, although it’s been over two weeks since last time I did one of these so I guess that makes sense. I wrote a couple of things for 15 Days of Friends at the Table, including Broun, Milli, and Thisbe cottagecore roommates, Clem and Gucci bickering/flirting, and an extended dream sequence that makes me very sad about Integrity (I’m very proud of the last one, I know it has a very small target audience because Sokrates/Integrity is very much a rarepair in an already small fandom, there are 6 works in the tag, 4 of them are by me, 2 of them are by the same other person, and one of those is a gift for me so. it’s mostly just me, but I think I wrote something pretty good)

also meant to write more for Persona 5 Girls Week, although so far I’ve only written one thing, a quick fluff fic which for once requires very little knowledge of the source material. meant to write something for today’s prompt but instead I had two job interviews and then cooked dinner for my household so that probably will not happen and I will probably watch more Gundam instead