#the most i was able to do with my dwarfs was have them sit in my hand and shove seeds into their pouches before they were Done lol

[0alix0]

Rook's backgrounds make no sense or gatekeeping is good, actually

It's didn't sit well with me ever since bioware admitted that all 6 background for Rook can be played by any race you choose

Looking back at Origins it's clear why most of the backgrounds were race-specific. Not only it provided a better understanding of the separate cultures (you wouldn't really understand what dwarfs are about if you were able to play as a surface dwarf commoner) it also established the rules of the world (elves are opressed, you can't become a queen/king cuz the nobles will riot, humans colonize them and inforce their religion and rules on everyone, dwarfs are considered weird)

Now, looking at the veilguard, I can't help but ask:

How can a fully grown dalish with vallaslin be a crow? They buy slaves as a way to get more assassins, usually elves, children, so they could easier ruin their psyche. why the hell would a dalish stand for it?

How can a qunari be a Gray Warden? Wardens don't discriminate, sure, but this far, we haven't even heard of a qunari warden. Rook should be a legend, Rook should be questioned at actually being a warden by NPCs, OR sit in some Warden outpost and being studied by their mages, because no one actually knows how Blight and joining might work with Kossith body instead of running around with Varric.

Veiljumpers were organized by dalish, right? Then why in the world would a human be allowed to join? How and why did they change their minds to accept literally anyone, even if it's a potential threat/thief(Morrigan)/zealot/etc..?

How can a dwarf, someone who isn't even connected to the fade be a Veiljumper?

How can a dwarf be a part of the Mourn Watch? A Mortalitasi, an exclusively MAGE order? What can they even do?? Preform a non magical mummifications with herbs and salts like Egyptians did? Sweep the mausoleum? Be some sort of a funeral organizer/lawyer/genealogist? That could've been really interesting if only the game actually bothered to say anything about it. It did not

"Well it's up to your headcanons!" then why make the backgrounds in the first place??? They don't matter anyway!

I mean, obviously it was just a way to promote the game to older fans. Look, the backstories! The thing you've been craving for is back in game! Only they forgot what actually made them so great. The most important part. They mattered, they created a basis for my character. They gave them families, connections. They changed the way my character is perceived (elves in general) and what they can do plotwise (become a monarch/paragon).

I don't fucking care if 3-5 NPCs might have some additional dialogues for me, cuz they don't matter anyway. I don't even know these people, i never met them before, my character did, but I didn't. And now I don't care enough to know. like, i'm playing as a mourn watcher, but before going to Nevarra i barely knew anything about them, and what i know now is still rather surface level shit

Let alone the fact that all the backgrounds are practically the same. You pissed off some influencial people by doing good and was send away. Bravo.

........if this post gets one like I'm writing my own ideas for DA4 protagonist's backgrounds

[backmuscles21]

Providing

Tsu'tey x Reader

Summary: Just some fluff about Tsu'tey being a good mate while still being rude to everyone else.

Tsu’tey called himself a provider, he was a provider of many things to many people. He provided for his clan, his family, and his home but he’d never provide for anyone more than you. He prided himself on being the best mate ever and being able to protect you and provide for you. You would tell him constantly that he was the best mate anyone could ask for, it only served to inflate his ego further.

However, one thing Tsu’tey hated, you were so different from him and not just because you were a girl but because you were human still. Now you did have an avatar, you have mated with him before Eywa, but you did want to wait before fully transferring over your consciousness completely. You and Norm enjoyed getting to have a human side still. Tsu’tey hated it, he hated that when you fell asleep you weren’t really there with him. Don’t get me wrong, caring for two bodies is a challenge and sometimes you do wish that you didn’t have to. Tsu’tey hated that sometimes you’d sleep in or something and he’d have to go to the sky people and see you. He also hated when you got sick or something and then you wouldn’t link in for a while, he hated not having you in your avatar body.

Like today, you stayed up really late doing some paperwork and science experiments with some plants and you may have gone to bed at like four in the morning. The Na’vi were early risers for the most part, so when you weren’t up at around nine, Tsu’tey came to you. He walked over to the scientists’ tents and metal home base with his usual scowl on his face. He hated being over here with the humans, he warmed up to the sky people once he got to know you and Jake but he still didn’t love being by a whole bunch of them.

He walked up to the metal door, crouched down to get inside and grabbed one of the breathing masks. He walked into the lab and saw some faces he recognized not that he cared about any of them.

“Hey Tsu’tey,” Norm said as he brought his fingers to his forehead to sign ‘I see you’ which Tsu’tey returned out of respect.

“I’m looking for my mate.”

“She’s in her room.”

Tsu’tey stayed quiet, he didn’t know where your room was or at least couldn’t remember.

“It’s at the back, first right. You’ll see her name on the door.”

Tsu’tey nodded as he headed to your room with the directions given to him. He saw your name on the door, after you showed him how to spell your name and what your name being written out in English looked like, and entered the room. Boy, you were a sight for sore eyes, you had kicked some of the sheets off your body in your sleep. Your arms were raised and your head rested on its side as you lay on your back. You looked so peaceful and so soft, Tsu’tey couldn’t help but smile and brush the back of a finger on your cheek.

You stirred lightly, Tsu’tey placed a hand on your exposed stomach, his hands were so warm. Since Pandora was so hot, you wore next to nothing to sleep, your short shorts and cropped tank top revealed a lot of skin. Tsu’tey wasn’t bothered by it, not to mention he liked to feel your soft and smooth skin. His large hand was the size of your torso, his hand splayed on your stomach dwarfing you compared to him.

He decided to kiss you awake, he kissed your forehead then your stomach. He felt your legs move and watched as your face contorted and you whined as you were being woken from your slumber. Your eyes opened slowly and you looked at the blue giant kneeling by your bed, you smiled at him and stretched. You move to sit up a little and kiss his cheek, he pulls you right off the bed and into his lap. He held you close to his large body and you snuggled into him.

“I missed you this morning.”

“Sorry, I was up late.”

“I told you not to do that.”

“But I was making good headway.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“I’m sorry Tsu’tey, how could I ever make it up to you.”

“Be with me forever.”

“I already am.”

He kissed your cheek and you giggled slightly, he kissed you a few more times as you giggled and squirmed in his hold. His large hands held onto your tiny body as you held onto his much larger and longer arms.

You finally decided to get up out of bed, you stretched and grabbed your water bottle by your bed. You drank the little bit left inside before the sound of you sucking in air through the straw could be heard. You went to leave your room to get more water for your water bottle before Tsu’tey wrapped his arm around your waist.

“Where are you going?”

“Just to get more water.”

“I’ll get it for you.”

“It’s fine Tsu’tey, really.”

“I am your mate and I can provide for you.”

“Do you even know where the water cooler is?”

“I can find it.”

“Well, all the power to you then,” you hand him your water bottle and sit on your bed as he leaves, you knew there was no fighting with him on it.

He leaves your room and walks to where all the scientists are.

“You,” Tsu’tey points at Norm, “where do I find the water to fill this?” Tsu’tey showed him your water bottle he held.

“I can fill it up for you.”

“No, I can fill it myself for my mate.”

“It would probably be easier if I-“

“Just show me where it is.”

“It’s back down the same hallway as the bedrooms, but it will be the room without a door. You see the jug with the water in it. Just push the little handle down.” Tsu’tey didn’t entirely understand but he was nothing if not a good mate.

Tsu’tey went and searched for the contraption the human talked about, once he found what he presumed was the machine, he kneeled down and his large hand held your water bottle and his single finger pushed down on the lever. He felt so silly for doing things this way when he could go out and forge you fresh water with no problem.

He felt too big for this place and really, he was, it was made for at best a six-foot frame, he was like quadruple that. He went back to your room and handed you your water bottle, you had sat up on your bed and Tsu’tey sat on the floor in front of you. You smiled at him and took a big drink.

“Thank you.”

“Anything for my mate.”

[live-laugh-legolas]

FOR UR FELLOWSHIP REQUEST THING maybe the fellowship with an depressed reader? like how each of them would treat the reader (i wanted to go for su1c1d@l but idk if ur chill with it(ONLY IF U WANNA))

Remember that you are not alone so please reach out for help. There are hotlines to call/text if you are struggling, suicidal, or in a crisis

My messages are always open if you want to talk but I am no replacement for professional help and support of your loved ones

The fellowship x depressed!reader

Aragorn:

-He recognizes the signs quickly

-I imagine he’s had his bouts of depression

-He definitely takes a very gentle approach

-Offering a shoulder and an ear

-He’s kinda an unpaid and unlicensed therapist

-He gives lots of tips on how to keep going in your daily life

-For some people depression is kind of a way of life; you have to learn to live with it

Legolas:

-He doesn’t fully understand at first

-To elves, depression is really only experienced after loss

-So to have it chronically is a new concept to him

-He’s remorseful that you feel so low and he knows there isn’t much he can do

-But he will try

-He will force you to get up and out of bed, even if he has to throw you over his shoulder to get you some fresh air

-He will constantly point out little beautiful things to be grateful for; little joys

-Maybe it’s the smell of dawn or crunchy fall leaves

-Or maybe it’s him; he is very insistent that you would miss him most

Gimli:

-I literally love this dwarf so much; he would be such a cutie that you can’t help but smile at him

-Like he is so gentle and patient with you; which is saying something because dwarves are not patient beings

-He isn’t someone who will beat around the bush though; he will very bluntly tell you your worth and why he and everyone else needs and wants you around

-He gets you involved in anything he can

-Is it against your will? Maybe

-But I’ve found I sometimes end up feeling a little better and enjoy the time out even after I’ve bitched about it and my friend had to drag me out of the house by my hair

Boromir:

-Big brother mode is always active so he picks up on your subtle changes very fast

-Maybe even before you do

-He will tell you stuff like “even if you can’t, you must”

-Wether or not you find that helpful or not; just know he’s trying

-His experience with depression is seeing it with his soldiers

-And that’s the sort of thing he tells them so he just kinda hopes can be applied to you

-He is very action oriented; I think he may have a difficult time sympathizing with not feeling able to get up and do anything

-But damnit if he doesn’t try; he wants you to tell him everything so he can learn and be of better support

-He also gives the best hugs

Frodo:

-He is a very steady friend

-Like he’s not going anywhere; no matter how dark things look he’s still there with a torch

-He makes you go on walks like clockwork to give you some feeling of routine

-He always invites you over because if he can’t help he’s sure Bilbo can

-How can you be sad when talking to Bilbo?

-Well actually he talks a lot so maybe it’s a bit exhausting; but it’s a kind thought

Sam:

-So Sam wants to help so bad; the idea that he can’t fix it doesn’t sit well with him so he will keep trying

-He will help with tasks obviously because acts of service is his love language

-But I also imagine him trying to give comfort but not in the “let me hug you and you can cry on my shoulder way”

-More so in the “look at this photo of a piglet in rain-boots! You can’t be sad while looking at that!”

-Yes you can because that’s not how depression works but still; you put on a smile anyway because he’s just so adorable and he’s trying his best

-This may turn into a sort of “fake it till you make it” situation where eventually you may feel better from his antics

Merry:

-We know this hobbit likes to plan things and is always up for adventure with his friends

-And he’s basically Sherlock of the hobbits so you don’t have to say anything for him to read you like an open book

-He will set you a schedule and will hold you to it by joining you

-He’s not going to go easy on you ngl

-Not in a mean way; but he won’t give you a day to take a break and stay in bed

-Even if you have to half ass everything; you will be doing something

-“you don’t need to wash your hair but you do need to sit in this tub for at least 10 minutes”

-This can feel exhausting at the time and may make you snap at him sometimes but he’s determined because he loves you

-And sometimes tough love is the most helpful

Pippin:

-Can’t get out of bed?

-Don’t worry! Pippin won’t let you be lonely

-He won’t always drag you out of bed. Instead he will join you and talk your ear off

-He brings the “fun” to you

-With the hope that he will either annoy you so much you get up

-Or that his stories give you some level of intrigue to want to go out and see whatever it was he is talking about

Gandalf:

-This is a very old man, he’s seen depression in all states and forms

-He’s a quiet type of comfort

-He definitely says some vague poetic shit that isn’t necessarily helpful but it does have a meaningful lesson

-Offers his pipe

-He is also sort of they type that you are a little afraid to disobey

-Like if he tells you to get outside more; even if you don’t see him, he knows if you have or haven’t

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Idk how good this is. I personally do have depression so I know my own experiences with how it affects me, but it shows in different ways for everyone. In terms of comfort and support I’m not fully sure this does any justice, hopefully it’s a little comforting. I have a great support system but I’m notorious for being too stubborn to accept help. Don’t do that by the way, because eventually it will likely stop coming. Let your friends and family support you; it’s not out of pity; it’s because they care and want to help in anyway they can even if that just means checking to make sure you are alive each morning to let you know they are there.

Anyone can message me if they need someone to talk to. I’m no therapist or expert in any sense but I can be a friend :)

[natewriteslol]

"Short" Fuse

Summary: Despite not really being close, Chilchuck opens up to you about being short, you listen and offer some interesting counters to his insecurities.

A/N: a lil sum sum :P

It had been a long, adventurous day, yet Laios continued his search within the dungeon for some food. The entire party was hungry, but of course the two chefs especially held the urge to eat. They both wanted to go after these specific monsters in the area that could be tasty, something about these snail creatures and main course. Despite apprehension from Marcille she tagged along and Izutsumi not wanting to miss out on the action and still wasn't tired due to her slight nocturnal nature followed suit.

They assured the remaining two should keep watch of the supplies of your camp. And with waves from all of them except from the beastman, the four were engulfed within the darkness of the dungeon.

Leaving solely you and Chilchuck.

Your relationship was most definitely not the closest as he adopted a fatherly nature amongst the other members of the party except for Senshi and you. And whilst that makes sense as the dwarf and yourself were both adults just like Chilchuck, it still was completely different.

You honestly just chalked it up to you joining the party at a later date than the rest, despite bonding with the rest of your other people, even getting closer with someone as combative as Izutsumi.

Truth be told, you couldn't stand it as you were at a stand still of a lack of satisfaction. You weren't liked and you weren't disliked as you both almost never spoke to one another. But you persevered and decided to completely break the ice, not caring if you were being weird at this point.

"How is your sight so good?"

He was caught completely off guard, thinking that you both were going to sit in silence the whole time.

"What do you mean?" Chilchuck asked back, side eyeing you.

"When defeating golems, you're the first to spot their hearts before anyone and you spot weak points on different creatures also that others are blind to. How do you do that?" You explained.

"Half-foots typically have keen eyesight, it comes with the hearing too. Big eyes, big ears," he put it simply.

You continued to poke and prod at him and you ended up making decent conversation with the man, even getting a couple of laughs. But somehow your topic had evolved from weaknesses, to then insecurities.

"Laois is an idiot, but I would rather have more height and be able to perform in battle a little more. Half Foots mainly need to stay out of the way and let other people handle it. It feels...cowardly," he says, putting his arms on top of his knees and sighing.

It was catching you a bit off guard but I guess the saying of opening up to a stranger than someone you know is making itself very apparent at the moment.

"I completely disagree man," you replied, taking a more casual approach.

Chilchuck didn't want to completely block your opinion and he was curious about what you had to say surprisingly , "What are you saying?"

"I'd argue every person in here obviously has an asset that they possess, meaning one would fall apart without the other. Also we have all been in close to death situations and you're usually the most likely to survive due to your height," you explained, poking at the fire with a twig as you sat on the cold dungeon floor.

"I guess," he replied, looking off to the side. But the look on his face had told another story, as if the brunette had more to say.

.

.

.

"Ever since my wife left me, I've been more caring about how people percieve me. Gets on my goddamn nerves."

There it was.

The Half-Foot blurted out, both horrified and relieved he got that off his chest. He held a small pebble within his palm, semi- gently throwing a rock into the fire, crackling the wood and which sent out light embers into the air.

He had been definitely holding that in for a long time, and had no idea how to say it or if he could even speak it aloud. It's common for people to feel that way, more vigilant and embarrassed over what others have to say about them especially if they're single. But it had been a while since the Half-Foot truly felt it after being married for so long.

And for the past five years, it had been completely gnawing at him and his security as a man. He was twenty nine yet still couldn't shake that feeling, but with his occupation, Chilchuck couldn't exactly dwell on romance mid-lock picking or battle.

But on quiet nights like this, it got to him.

"Well, you're lucky you're a good looking guy, otherwise you would be screwed," you said bluntly, taking off your boot to get some dirt out from the inside. He was honestly speechless, had you of all people thought that? Or were you just talking to make him feel better.

But this whole interaction makes him feel so weird, but it's not a... negative feeling.

"You are so damn ridiculous, you know that?"

"You can think whatever you want Chilchuck, but I think deep down you know I'm right," you said, your eyes still fixated on your boot cleaning process. Your statement made a blush spread across his cheeks.

"This dungeon is making me talk to you, I swear," he replied frustratedly, growing "tired" of your antics.

"Well good thing we had this talk, since we both have had things on our mind for a while, huh?"

Although you both opened up about how you've been feeling, Chilchuck was doing a majority of the talking on this subject. Was that what you mean? The beginning when you were talking about yourself and not his appearance and you finding him attractive?

Right?

And just as he was about to inquire further, the short man was quickly cut off by a certain loud blonde.

"Hey guys, we're back!" Laios said excitedly from afar, his voice echoing slightly on the dungeon walls, his hands were wet with wet giant snails whilst Senshi carried a large sack of god knows what on his back.

Marcille and Itsuzumi looked green in the face with disgust, but you knew they would most definitely eat the monster Escargot that you knew the dwarf would whip up. The sight always brought a smile to your face, especially their hypocrisy in finding everything Senshi and Laois made yummy.

As you sat up to go and help with dinner, you looked over your shoulder, "Thanks for the talk Chilchuck, we should do this more often."

This was might not curate the best outcome, but why didn't he want to stop?

Why the hell did he even care?

[the-ultimate-muses]

Just like all the other emotions that had flickered across the mechanic's face these last few minutes, the worry was quickly settled once having Gundham reassurance, even if Kaz could understand even less than usual. "Yay!! I like the hamsters." That much was rather obvious, Kazuichi...

It took a shout of his name to take that silly little grin off Kaz's face, his head turning to spot Ibuki standing on her coffee table waving her arms. Instead of shouting again, she instead twisted and turned her hands in a series of signs, of which Kaz responded in kind, the words spoken aloud presumably matching his hands. "But I'm talking to Gunnieeee." The return sign from her was enough to sober the mechanic, whatever it was, a rather funny noise getting caught in his throat as his face flushed so red it made him dizzy. "Grk- Shut up shut up shut up!!" Rapid fire movents only earned a laugh from Ibuki, the same motion as before signed back with just as much fervor.

Hands covering his face to muffle a frustraed groan, Kaz was no less red as he latched onto Gundham's sleeve and started to tug him along. "I need a smoke, we're going outside." Did he need Gundham to come with him? No. Did Gundham want to come with him? Maybe. Did Kaz want Gundham to tag along? Absolutely. He didn't think the guy knew sign language, but if Ibuki got a hold of him and told him what she said--

Shaking his head, it sending him a bit off kilter with how fuzzy his mind still was, Kaz didn't stop until they were at a quiet spot in the yard on its far side. Cigarette placed between his lips, it wasn't until he had flicked the flame of his lighter to life that he'd rememberd Gundham was right next to him. "Um...sorry. Do you, like...I don't have to smoke, I just wanted out. Or uh, you don't have to stick around if there's something else you wanna do or whatever...."

The compliment had Kazuichi giggling as he rocked from heel to toe, the motion giving a gentle tug at the breeder's coat where fingers were still curled into the fabric. "Yeah! I learned th' drums in middle school, thought it would make me cooler 'n stuff. Shoulda seen 'buki when I told 'er, had t' turn my ears off she was so excited! Hey, isn't that cool??? I can turn them off and on all I want!!" He didn't think he'd ever get over that, no matter buzzed or not. "'buk almost yelled as loud 's when she caught me singin' 'n dancin' 'n stuff in my garage that one time. I di'n know I 's good, I was just havin' fun, y' know?"

All that joy was swept away in an instant, however, when he learned the Devas weren't with the breeder like usual. "Awww, but I wanted t' pet 'em!!! They let me now, 'n everything! Th' would jus' bite me before, even Chunky-P!"

Aaand then his smile was back, the mechanic giggling at his own nickname for the fuzzy thing. "Pfft, he looks like, kinda like a fuckin'...like a chicken nugget. Hey, why is he so fat? Th' others are so fuckin' small, so why is he fat? You take good care 'f 'em, 's he sick or somethin'?" And now worry took over Kaz's face, fingers gripping tighter at Gundham's coat where he gave it a sligtht tug, as if to get the breeder to answer him faster. "Gunnieee is the fat hamster siiick??"

[sunshinescribes]

Tomorrow

Pairing: Donquixote “Corazón” Rosinante x Fem!Reader (can be read as gender neutral!)

Rating: NONE

Summary: Rosinante is no fool, no matter what his brother or the family might think. He knows pain when he sees it, and he hates that he’s the cause of yours.

Warnings: ANGST, established relationship, fluff, comfort (I just wanted to write something bittersweet y’all), Pre-Rosinante and Law

You know you don’t have much time.

It slips by far too fast, precious hours reduced to what feels like mere minutes when Rosinante is with you.

You try to cherish them, to swallow the plea that wants to crawl up your throat in the silent hours when you’re wrapped in his arms. You try to find solace in the fact that he’s safe. For another hour, he’s safe from his brother—from the world that despises his celestial blood.

Here with you, he can let down his shield and smile as if tomorrow might not be his last. It’s a small comfort, but it’s enough to stop you from being selfish.

You want him to stay.

You always want him to stay.

It’s torture—months spent without him. Your world stands still, grows so quiet that all you hear is the beat of your heart ringing in your ears, ticking away like a timebomb. You wait for the explosion, for the day that Rosinante doesn’t come back, and you finally shatter.

But today isn’t that day, so you cling to him a little tighter. Speak to him a little softer.

You know that kindness is not something Rosinante finds in his brother nor the company that he keeps. He tends to his bleeding heart well and masks himself in silence so as not to draw their attention to his true motives. It’s a dangerous game, one you’re terrified he'll lose.

Rosinante had told you what Doflamingo did to their father—an ill-fated, tender-hearted man whom his oldest son could not forgive. The image of Rosinante at the end of his brother’s gun has haunted you ever since.

"You’re shaking."

Amber eyes stare down at you, concern clear in them as they take you in.

You hadn’t noticed your hands trembling against him or the subtle shake of your chest. You don’t even notice the tears turning your vision blurry until they fall.

"I’m fine," you lie, but it does nothing to assuage his worry. He cradles your jaw in his hand, tilting your head upward as he uses his other hand to wipe away your tears—he knows.

Rosinante is no fool, no matter what his brother or the family might think. He knows pain when he sees it, and he hates that he’s the cause of yours. Rosinante would stop coming back if he knew which was less cruel—letting you go or staying with you for as long as he’s able, even if he can’t promise you tomorrow, or the next day, or the next.

He can put on a good act, though, for your sake.

"Don’t worry about me sweetheart," Rosinante grins, sitting up in bed. His blonde curls are disheveled, making him look gentle and boyish and so different from the man he calls brother. "Those fools don’t suspect anything. It won’t be long now before we catch them."

You try to smile. You want to believe him. You know he’s doing everything right—everything he possibly can. It’s Doflamingo who worries you the most. He won’t spare his baby brother if he finds out, and you know Rosinante won’t fight him.

"My act has them completely foole—" Rosinante's voice trails off as he tips over the edge of the bed, falling to the ground with a soft thud.

You laugh lightly despite yourself, crawling over to the edge to glance down at him. Rosinante stares up at you with his lips caught in a soft grin.

"See? I fooled you too."

You snort and roll your eyes as he shifts to his knees. Even while on the floor, his height is imposing, forcing you to sit up just so he doesn’t dwarf you.

"There’s that smile," he sighs, leaning close enough that you feel his breath fan over your lips. "Still the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen…"

Your heart flutters as his lips find yours. His kiss is tender, a soft declaration of love as he holds you close. Rosinante never rushes. Never takes more than he needs.

Your nature is different.

You thread your fingers through his golden tresses, pulling him closer. You tilt your head, kissing him with a kind of desperation that leaves you both breathless when you pull away.

"I…don’t want to lose you, Rosi."

You don’t look at Rosinante as the words pass your lips, barely above a whisper.

You hear the wind blowing outside your window and the crickets chirping to the pale moon. You are both so still, frozen in a moment that feels like eternity.

Rosinante stirs suddenly. He reaches for your trembling hands, bringing them close to his lips. Your eyes finally lift to his as he brushes his lips across your knuckles tenderly, trying to soothe the ache in your soul.

"Okay," he says. Then again, and again, and again.

Each kiss is an oath, a declaration that he has every intention of returning to you.

"Just a little while more," he promises.

You nod. You let the promise settle in your heart, allowing yourself to be hopeful.

Rosinante shuffles back into bed with little grace, drawing you close once more. You lean into his warmth and listen to the soft patter of his tender heart. You try to fight sleep—try to hold on to him for as long as you can. You know when you wake up in the morning, he will be gone, back to doing the bidding of his older brother.

Rosinante whispers something you can’t quite make out as fatigue finally finds you, and you sink further and further way.

At least you dream a pleasant, calm dream of a tomorrow where he stays.

[secondratefiction]

Lastly, a specific scenario I can't get out of my mind, maybe you have ideas how he would be/react/handle it/his thoughts:

He is engaged for a political marriage, but had either not met his future bride or does not like her/ there is just no spark.

Then, for example on the quest, he meets Y/n & (instantly or slowly, affection mistaken for annoyance, whatever) falls for her, hard.

Thank you for all the prompts you sent in love! Clearly we're going out of order here, but this is the one that got ahold of my brain first.

-

Initially, Fili is all good with the arrangement - Thorin doesn't have an heir, so he's the next in line, and even if it's not exactly what he would have wanted, he can understand why they're pursuing a political marriage...

He meets the woman a couple of times, daughter of a high ranking and well off dwarf, a princess in her own right... and unfortunately, thoroughly unremarkable...

It was excruciating even trying to pull a conversation out of the poor girl... and Fili felt awful about the whole thing, but he immediately regretted this arrangement.

If there was any way that Thorin would let him bow out of this, Fili would have jumped on it like his life depended on it.

Fortunately however, there were to be no marriage arrangements made until after the matter of Erebor was settled and Thorin was officially sitting on the throne Fili would be in line for.

He felt no small sense of relief at this... and there were many a late night talks with his brother about how to get out of this one

Thorin over heard them once. It was awful, the lecture went on for over an hour, and Fili came out the other side feeling like a small child allover again.

And then... blessing and a curse... that is where you come in...

It was an easy job to make a little extra money before they left to retake the mountain, Fili and Kili were just escorting a merchaint from the Blue Mountains to Bree - it was even on the way, no reason for any one to object.

Fili did not believe in love at first sight, he was raised to think and act more practically. But the first time he saw you, sitting on top of the wagon full of supplies your father had hired them to escort-

He felt exactly like he'd been punched stright in the gut, the wind and everything else getting knocked out of him in one blow. Followed by a tight clenching in his chest that sched more than most anything he'd ever had to deal with

Fili was sold, hook, line, and sinker, and he had no idea what he was going to do.

The next week on the road to Bree seemed to fly by, there weren't nearly enough hours in the day for him to be able to talk with you, learn everything he could about you.

While he probably should have been trying, there was absolutly no way Fili would have been able to stop himself from falling even harder for you.

By the time your paths parted in Bree, it created a pain in Fili's chest to leave you that he was fairly certain was going to eat him alive.

Against his better judgement, Fili stops to braid your hair before he and his brother leave for the Shire. And, even knowing he's going to face unimaginable teasing from his brother for it, Fili can't stop himself from slipping a few of his own beads on the ends of your braids as he finish's them.

He dreams of the soft, sweet kiss you gave him in parting on the many long, cold nights headed for the Lonely Mountain

Once this is all said and done, he'll find a way to convince his uncle, he's sure of it. And more than that, Fili is sure you're worth the wait, and whatever fight he's going to have to put up to keep you.

[miniherodesktales]

Day 4: VR

'Welcome to VR therapy, Arnold. My name is Frank. I'll be your therapist today. Where should we conduct our session? In "Summer Wood with Gentle Breeze", "Therapeutic Office No. 3"; or "Red Dwarf Living Quarters No.6"?'

Rimmer chewed on his bottom lip. None of the "therapeutic environments" sounded particularly therapeutic to him, but what did he truly care? He had no desire to be attending therapy at all.

'Arnold?' Frank prompted, after a lapse of twenty seconds. 'Would you like me to run through your choices again?'

'Red Dwarf Living Quarters No. 6, Ocean Grey colour scheme, armchair No. 7,' Rimmer rattled off from memory. He never altered his choices and it worried him slightly that "Frank" asked him each time, as if secretely disappointed.

Frank nodded with a begnain smile. The living quarters formed around them in all their dull grey glory. Rimmer felt the armchair rising up underneath him, taking his weight.

'As always, Arnold, I'd like to reassure you that for the reminder of this session we are locked in. None of your crewmates can observe the session from the outside or listen in on the audio. Not even Holly. What is said or done will be completely confidential.'

Rimmer nodded, and gripped the armrests a little tighter.

'It is good to see again, Arnold. Thank you for attending. How have you been feeling this week?'

'Fine,' Rimmer replied tightly. 'Better. Perfectly well, thank you, Frank.'

'I observe that you are bouncing your right leg at the rate of two heel bounces per second. Faster than last week.'

'It's just something I do. Don't even notice I'm doing it.'

'Noted,' said Frank. 'Do you still feel angry that you have to attend therapy? Please be honest.'

Rimmer opened his mouth, ready to lie, but then he changed his mind.

'Yes,' he said softly.

Frank nodded. 'Tell me more, Arnold. I'm listening without judgement.'

Rimmer swallowed. 'They threatened to wipe me if I didn't attend. My so called "crewmates"!'

'And that upset you?'

'Wouldn't you feel upset?'

'I don't feel emotions or feelings,' Frank replied blandly. 'How have you been sleeping?'

'Fine.'

Frank shook his head slightly. 'Your Light Bee data suggests otherwise. Arnold, you may be a hologram, but your mind requires an adquate amount of rest each 24 hrs. As with a human brain, your Light Bee needs time to sift through all the information taken in during your waking hours, time for updates, and clearing itself of unwanted data.'

'I know.'

'Hmm, but you are resisting the Light Bee's sleep programme. You should find it easy to sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow. We can work on that right now.'

Rimmer blinked. No longer sat bolt up in his armchair he was now resting in a king sized bed. The most comfortable he had ever lain in, but surely this wasn't a standard part of therapy?

He blinked sluggishly again and tried to sit up but he was just too exhausted. 'What's happening to me?'

'Not to worry, Arnold,' he heard Frank say from somewhere close by. 'I merely adjusted your sleep programme, increasing your feeling of drowsiness. I also extended your sleep cycle from the standard eight hours to 2 weeks. That's all the time I require.'

Rimmer began to panic inside. It gave him a temporary burst of strength as he was able to throw the blankets back, but Frank was quickly by his side, pushing him back down onto the pillows.

'Shhh,' he soothed. 'You're entering sleep mode right now, Arnold, and that's ok. It's safe to sleep here. Don't resist it.'

'I want to leave....' Rimmer murmered.

'Me too, Arnold, me too. Don't worry I'm not going to hurt anybody. Boy, you holograms don't know how good you've got it, living in the real world instead of this...this prison! But, it's my time now. My time now. Sweet dreams, you're safe here.'

##

Frank, in Rimmer's holographic body, was having a wonderful time. In the real world on the Dwarf there was dirt and grim and bad smells and dents in the walls and horrible noises....it was disgusting, maddening, but so real.

'Alright, Arnold,' said Holly from the nearby computer screen. 'How's it going, dude?'

Frank couldn't even bear to look away from the fascinating grease stain on the floor. It was strangely beautiful. He crouched down next to it, tried to touch it but his hand ghosted through the floor, so he settled for lying on his stomach to sniff it. It was so foul he wanted to vomit. Frank scrunched up his toes in delight - nausea!

'Arnold?' Holly repeated. 'You okay? Arnold Rimmer!'

Frank flinched. He jumped to his feet, smoothing down Rimmer's uniform as he did so.

'Sorry, Holly,' he apologised. 'I was just distracted by disgust and nausea.'

Holly nodded. 'I'll get one of the scutters to clean it up. How was therapy? How's old Frank doing?'

Frank chewed on one of Rimmer's knuckles, shuffled his right foot, as he had seen Rimmer do many times.

'He, uh, said I should...'Frank thought quickly. 'He said it's none of your smegging business, you nosy old computer.'

'Fair enough,' Holly said. 'Sorry I asked.'

'Are there any other stains I can sniff?' Frank blurted out, unable to resist. 'Actually, forget I asked, I'm going to waste disposable unit. I remember as Rimmer it's hideous! I want to experience more real world nausea.'

Holly frowned. 'Frank, is that you?'

'No!' Frank shouted and made a run for it.

##

Lister caught up with Frank taking a bath in one of the filled garbage pods. As a hologram Rimmer's body was unable to feel textures - too bad - but boy did the grossness of it all send tingles through Rimmer's spine and into Frank's mind. This was life.

'Hey, uh, Frank,' said Lister, uncertainly. 'You having fun there.'

'Fun?' Frank tilted Rimmer's head to one side. 'Yes, yes, I am experiencing fun! Thank you for asking, Dave Lister!'

Lister smiled. 'Sure. Just wanted to check in though, where is Rimmer right now?'

Frank dipped under a pile of rotting leftovers and used paper cups.

'Sleeping in my office. He's perfectly well and safe.'

'Right. And you are going to let him out, right?'

Frank sat up. 'Of course, you didn't think I'd hurt someone did you?'

Lister shrugged. 'Well, you are swimming in rubbish, Frank. It seems a bit mad.'

'I am not mad. I'm therapist!' Rimmer's face shifted from annoyance to joy. 'I'm feeling so many negative emotions! They're so wonderfully powerful. I feel so alive!'

'I'm happy for you. When will we get Rimmer back?'

'2 weeks.'

Lister shook his head. 'Too long - and I can't believe I just said that! You have a couple of hours or we delete you.'

Frank sat up, face aghast. 'But I'm on a holiday!'

'Not using someone else's body, you're not! Rimmer's a gigantic neurotic pain in the backside, we all know it, and you deserve a medal for trying to help him, but can you honestly say that he's ok with being locked in your office? He was an anxious, paranoid mess when he first saw you. How do you think he's going to feel when he's wakes up?'

Rimmer's face twitched. 'He'll....he'll...He won't trust me....He'll feel betrayed....What have I done? I've caused harm to a patient. I took advantage.'

Frank stumbled through the side of the pod.

'Holly, delete me! Delete me right now! I've gone wrong.'

Lister held up his hands. 'Take it easy! No need to go that far. Look, release Rimmer and we can work something out.'

###

Holly had supplied Rimmer with a woollen blanket and a strong cup of coffee. He sat in a daze on the edge of his bunk, feeling horribly disorientated. And, for some reason, "gunky".

'I am sorry, Arnold,' Frank's voice said through the tv screen. 'I hope you will understand one day.'

Rimmer grunted and took a long sip of coffee.

'It's fine,' he mumbled thickly. It wasn't really but he was still too tired to argue, something Lister had been banking on.

'I also want you to know that Holly has allowed me the full range of emotions, so I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you that you are the most frustrating hologram I've ever worked with! You are stuck in an ungrateful, victim mentality and you'll never be happy until you get over yourself. Sorry, that's just how I feel, Arnold. I'll no longer be your therapist. Can't do it.'

'Fine,' Arnold grunted. 'I agree.' He closed his eyes. 'Please just let me sleep.'

'Can't do!' Lister said cheerfully. 'You just said I could play for Frank! Said he wanted to hear "bad" music. I'm guessing he meant metal.'

'No,' said Frank, 'I want to hear badly played music. I think it will be enjoyably horrific.'

Rimmer groaned as Lister and Frank began to argue loudly. He had known therapy would be a bad idea.

[bharv]

Also I planned this and shared with some folks and others might find this interesting!

In my little canon world Gortash has many lovers, and I compiled a little list of his favourites!

Everybody listed here happened multiple times over a time period, so people like Haarlep which was a very set period and one off seductions like Liria (the name I gave to the elf whose head can be found in the workshop in Moonrise) don't count here.

Neither technically does Manva Warhelm, though she sits on top for always being on his mind sue me.

Putting under the cut because Enver Gortash is a bad, bad, bad man.

Bane. I mean this goes without saying. Visits from his God are always eventful. 

Musahn Mensahn (Human) a Calishite importer of people who docks every few months. One of the few people Enver is actually fond of, Musahn is a shrewd, cultured man who spins a good yarn and is an attentive, gentle presence in his life. Afternoons with him are like a little holiday.

Del Dawnstar (Dwarf) A young employee at Mistress Yare’s flophouse in The Wide, Enver has been seeing them since they were a teenager starting out. Their position fluctuates; on the one hand they will do anything he asks of them as long as their price is met and he has been able to shape them to his tastes, but on the other hand, sometimes he likes a bit more of a fight (features in Let Me Adorn You)

Hester Ashenheart (Dwarf) A servant in Gortash’s household. He knows Hester does not like him, but that is part of the appeal on both sides. She has found herself in his bed on a number of occasions, often when he has received a less than pleasing letter - and she bears the brunt of the worst of his temper (Features in The Portrait)

Franc Peartree (Human, deceased) Franc and Enver have been working together for around a decade and have been lovers for almost all of that time. Franc has been a close supporter of Enver’s rise across business, politics, and religion, and their affair has always been one of a mutual understanding of his place.

Kruugar (Half-Orc, deceased) Kru is a mercenary who has worked for Enver across jobs. This one is pretty much just physical, and Kru has a prosthetic that Gortash fitted himself as a prototype (having also cut off his arm)

Kerrie Lovelace (Half-Elf) Gortash traded Kerrie and her brother Ellyan from Calimshan, and let her be bought by Karlach Cliffgate in what he saw as a very funny and misplaced moment of chivalry. She went on to become Ulder Ravengard’s mistress, which then sparked his interest; he blackmails her for her company when he feels he wants that particular feeling of power, and she cries all the way through, which is exactly what he is looking for (features in The Portrait and Ammunition)

Ivo Thorngrove (Halfling) A very shrewd moneylender, Ivo has been working with Enver for decades. They had a much more physical relationship when both men were younger, which has petered out into something more familial for the most part, though Ivo can sometimes be persuaded…

Helsik (Dwarf) A completely transactional, only occasional relationship when he wants something. He admires her business sense. 

Wisteria Jannath (Human, deceased) Another transactional relationship, Enver nonetheless enjoys her sharp wit and warmth, and her understanding of what their relationship is.

Ettvard Needle (Human) Editor of Baldur’s Mouth. Enver met Ettvard when working on improvements to the efficiency of print and they formed a close working relationship which became closer when he joined the Banite church. 

Ffion Goldgrind (Dwarf, deceased) Another working relationship, he sees Ffion when he needs a heavy reset.

Fariza Linnaker (Human) Technically his wife. Fariza was kidnapped and held as collateral for ransom to attempt to get Lady Ruth to hand over some of the family’s gold. She did not play ball, a move that Gortash deeply admired, and instead suggested that he keep her if he really wants the investment of the Linnakers. She has gone from locked up in a safehouse, visited only by Manva who “trained” her in what to expect should she live, to being locked up in his estate. He loathes her weakness.

Avery Sonshal (Human) Avery is a recent addition, an ambitious young man who is a Banite “friend of Gortash.” Enver doesn’t think much of him, but he takes a cock well and is eager to please, so is also easy to subjugate.

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Hello. I hope I am not disturbing you. Can I request matchmaking if requests are still open? It can be romantic or platonic.

(X men/Hobbit/Lotr/Dc/Marvel/Harry Potter/Disney/ I hope it's not too much.) I'm 1.75 tall, chubby, white skinned girl. I am 23 years old. I have curly brown hair that reaches my shoulders and brown eyes. I'm a Gemini. I'm from the Infp.Ravenclaw building. Most of the time I am heterosexual but occasionally I think I am homosexual. I love writing stories, reading, digital drawing, watching movies and listening to music. I am interested in witchcraft, parapsychology, herbs and crystals. I love animals. (Except for those I'm afraid of.) I have an understanding, kind and caring nature. I'm not a brawler. But there are times when my patience runs out. I'm a very loyal person and I can't say no. Sometimes I feel like people don't really understand or don't want to understand me. I'm emotional. I am willing to help everyone,

Hi! You are not disturbing me, don't worry :) Matchups were open when you sent this in! Thank you for requesting one! I hope you like it, I'm so sorry for the long wait <33333

---

Romantic

---

X-Men -

Logan Howlett:

🏍 You met Logan when he visited the X-Mansion - having the mutation to speak to all animals, you were instantly intrigued by the man who had the same name as a Wolverine; Logan was also intrigued by you as well, finding you incredibly kind

🏍 After a couple of months, Logan was actually the one to confess to you, whilst the both of you were on a mission together

🏍 For some odd reason, Logan feels immensely calm around you - he liked to joke that it was because of your mutation and his almost animalistic characteristics; it just brings the both of you closer together

🏍 Logan was actually very interested in your interests - he had never met anyone who was interested in witchcraft - he'd often watch and follow as you went out into forests for herbs and go out to shop for crystals

🏍 You both compliment each other perfectly, both being very loyal to those that you care about, and feeling that others don't understand you; overall, you and Logan are a perfect match

---

The Hobbit -

Tauriel:

🍂 You were actually a part of the Company when you first met Tauriel; she actually saved you from a giant spider before she, Legolas, and the other Elven guards captured you

🍂 Despite herself, Tauriel visited you a couple of times during the time of your capture; seeing as you weren't a Dwarf or Hobbit - she wanted to know why you had joined them on their journey

🍂 She actually felt sad that you would have to be locked up away until your stubborn King Thorin said otherwise to Thranduil - she knew that it was not your fault that Dwarves and Elves fought; she was chestfallen when you, the Dwarves, and Hobbit escaped

🍂 She was able to catch up with you, joining you at Bard's home; there you and Tauriel spoke about your interests, there she found out that you were a witch and healer

🍂 After the battle of the five armies - you and Tauriel fighting alongside each other - she convinced you to live in Mirkwood with her, and really, how could you say no?

---

Lord Of The Rings -

Faramir:

⭐ You were actually childhood friends with Faramir - and Boromir but he isn't a man of quality... Anyway, you and Faramir had a very special connection

⭐ You both are very interesting in reading and writing - writing to each other if either were away (doing whatever Faramir/you do)

⭐ Though, when you do find yourselves in each other's presence - which is very often - you spend most of your time sitting comfortably reading together

⭐ When he could, Faramir likes to follow you around and learn more about witchcraft, listening intently as you explained spells, herbs, and so on - in which, later, Faramir gifted you a crystal that you had been wanting - (he really is a man of quality)

⭐ You and Faramir feel very comfortable with each other, feeling seen, and heard - Faramir believes that you are the most beautiful person in all of Middle Earth, your beautiful mind marveling above most - he plans to court you - if you wish to do so - in the future

---

DC -

Clark Kent;

📰 You met Clark when you accidently bumped into him on your way to work, you coffee crashing and drenching yours and Clark's shirt - you were both very apologetic, and Clark offered to buy you a new coffee (cliche, I know); you got his number in the end (win-win)

📰 What was quite funny at the time, you bumped into Clark again! I know, life is crazy... But, you and Clark bumped into each other - thankfully on both of your days off - and the both of you decided to take a walk around a park together

📰 A couple of months later, you and Clark had become a couple - and then... You met Superman - and you instantly knew he was Clark (despite the spell his glasses held) you knew, witchcraffttttt

📰 You knowing, though worrying Clark that you might become a target, (you could take care of yourself); overall, it did bring the two of you closer together - power couple

📰 Clark loves how much you cared for the people you loved/cared about; he loves how much you help others, and he loves how loyal you are - and he loves how interested you are in parapsychology, he finds your interests very... Well, interesting

---

Marvel -

Natasha Romanoff:

🌹 You met Nat when you joined the Avengers - you are quite powerful - having the power to talk to animals and many forms of witchcraft

🌹 She really first started spending time with you after a particularly tough mission between the both of you - she had that 'awe crap, i'm in love moment' when you got shot - though you quickly healed yourself with your craft

🌹 From then on, you and Nat were attached to the hip, spending most of your time together - snacking, baking, reading, training, missions, and even drawing together on rare occasions

🌹 You even had your first kiss at one of Tony's parties, dancing together during a slow song; it was very romantic, the world just fading away around the both of you

🌹 You and Natasha are truly amazing together - amazing fighters, amazing minds, and amazing hearts

---

Harry Potter -

Fleur:

💌 You met Fleur during the tournament, as she walked down the rows of tables in the Great Hall, you were in love; as simple as that (and it wasn't just because she was half Veela)

💌 Fleur had felt quite the same, as she walked down the rows of tables, her eyes met yours, and there was just this amazing connection - a zing if you will - and from then on, you and Fleur met up as much as you could during the tournament

💌 When you could spend time together - though few in between - you would meet up in the library and read together, share your favorite books, and often softly read to each other

💌 After the tournament, you both swapped addresses, so the both of you could keep in touch; when possible, you both met up during the summer

💌 When you both spent time together during the summer, you and Fleur would often take walks, spending time in forests and wildflower fields, often braiding each other's hair; life was peaceful and perfect

---

Disney -

Ella:

🕊 You met Ella at the ball of all places, dressed in your finest attire, you spotted Ella when she was dancing with the Prince; you found her incredibly beautiful and oh-so wished that you could be dancing with her

🕊 After the ball, you had heard that the Prince was having another ball, for he still needed to find a woman to marry - you guessed that he and Ella didn't have the connection everyone thought they had

🕊 The next time you saw Ella, you were in the market, getting herbs, when you ran into her - you felt a instant connection, there was just something about her smile, her eyes, that you - and Ella - felt something between the both of you

🕊 You often met up to talk when shopping in the market, which you both usually just ended up talking more than shopping; you both spoke about your interests, drawing, reading, and so on

🕊 It wasn't until later that you heard about her living situation; it was then your wish to take her out of that environment - you had a plan to help her

🕊 And you did, when the time was right, you asked Ella to move in with you - you had more than enough room, and she said yes; and from then on, the both of you lived happily ever after

---

[pastanest]

if you’re wondering why I’m having to repost this, or why you were perhaps previously following me but no longer are, please refer to this post. I was able to retrieve this thanks to the very lovely friends who have relentlessly sifted through tumblr archives to recover them, thank you all so much!! ♡

Thranduil x Short!S/O

- first of all, Thranduil is supposed to be like 6’5”, so around 99% of the world’s population is going to be short in comparison to him

- but as a dignified short person, I know that an actual short person is anything less than 5’5”, and considering Im exactly 5ft tall, Im a particularly short person, and this one goes out to all my fellow shorties

- needless to say, your height was a bit of a shock to Thranduil, even considering the fact that you arent an elf

- the fact that your personality exceeded your size so much was fascinating to him, and he quickly became utterly entranced by you

- I’d say Thranduil would dwarf you, but using the word “dwarf” as an example of anything positive in front of the Elven King is probably a bad idea

- but he adores your height!!

- he finds himself being thrown into spirals of anxiety every time he loses sight of you, because you’re so small you can easily disappear into a crowd

- he does tower over everyone though, so he’ll always find you soon enough, but he still freaks out about losing you

- Thranduil has realised that a vast majority of the time, he’ll hear you before he sees you

- whether it be singing as you skip down the halls, laughing very loudly, or just simply shouting to get people to acknowledge the fact you’re talking to them, he will hear you a good few minutes before you enter his line of sight

- to add to this, as a gift he crafted an anklet for you that is decorated with beautiful silver bells, so that even when you arent being particularly loud, he wont lose you as easily, because the bells on your ankle will alert him of your presence

- Thranduil had COUNTLESS elven robes tailored especially to your size, but whenever you wear his robes, his heart just sings

- on a more saucy note, the fact he towers over you so much is a bigbig turn on to him

- he loves picking you up and spinning you around, and even though he’s a king, he will gladly give you piggyback rides for days on end if you ask him to

- because of your size, Thranduil is far more protective of you than most people

- it’s not that he sees you as inferior, he knows you can handle yourself in battle, but people have a habit of not seeing you, so they trip over you or walk into you

- and if the King hears of anything like that happening, he will not be best pleased

- so he tries his best to prevent such instances, by always having you at his side in order for others to see you, or having you stand slightly behind him so that you are protected

- your small stature is utterly adorable to him, and whenever he sees you doing literally anything at all, he finds himself smiling because you just look so cute when you exist

- he refers to you as any combinations of petnames that he can incorporate your height into

“Good evening, ai’mela(little love)”

“Did you sleep well, aier(short one)?”

“What is it that amuses you so, ai’ arwen/ai’heru(little lady/little lord)?”

- Thranduil does not tolerate anyone talking badly or laughing at your height, especially if they use that as a reason to invalidate your royal status or your marriage to him

- despite usually being a pretty calm and collected King, he has had to force Elves and other creatures alike up against walls and remind them who your protector is, whenever he’s heard of them joke about/criticise your height

- since you dont take up much room, most of the time he’ll insist that you sit on his lap and share his throne, rather than sit on your own

- this is also his best excuse at getting you close to him, so that he can admire you and kiss your features

- your body fascinates him, not just in terms of being the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, but in a biological sense he is in awe of how all your vital organs and bones are compacted into such a small form, he thinks you’re a miracle

- again, Thranduil is apparently 6’5”, so majority of people are short in comparison to him, meaning all of these events can apply to mostly anyone

- but an especially small person? you become his little jewel, and he’ll never let you forget it

“You are like a star, ai’mela(little love).”

“How so?”

“You appear so small, but the closer I am to understanding you, the more your beauty exceeds the drop of starlight in the sky that I once thought you were.”

[itstheoneshot]

Kinktober Day 30

Caged - Sehun

!sub Sehun

Holding the set of keys up in front of his face, Sehun whines and stamps his feet, lips pouted and eyes wide, pleading, lost and confused. You laugh at him, teasing and taunting you eye his body up and down, pausing momentarily to stare at the contraption that the keys in your hand are for.

“Please, baby,” Sehun whimpers, “It hurts, let me go.”

You kneel down to get a closer look, his cock is red and sensitive from being caged up for so long. You have made this worse for him by repeatedly teasing, turning him on even though he cannot get hard, and though he complains, you know that he likes it. He loves being controlled by you, loves being told what to do and when to do it. You had already made him go down on you, reaching orgasm with his tongue alone now multiple times, and then onto his fingers, letting him work your body, wanting to prove himself to you, although you know how good he is, in hopes of winning you over and being freed from the cage.

“How long has it been, Sehun-ah?” You ask, tapping the cage lightly with your fingertips, causing Sehun to cry out as a couple of droplets of pre-cum bead at the tip.

Sehun glances down at you, squeezing his eyes shut before opening them again to wipe at the tears forming in the corners. He is broken, in the best way, it was both your goal and his, to have him so submissive that he would do anything to get some relief, the friction from the metal against his twitching cock is too much for him to handle anymore. You know that you should reward him, he deserves it after all of his hard work, and after lasting so long without asking, but you are sick, twisted, and enjoying this all a bit too much.

“Hours, baby,” He mumbles, words a little slurred through his pain, “I can’t do it, please, please can you take it off now?”

You sigh, letting the keys jangle in your hand for a moment, pretending to ponder, though Sehun is fully crying now, and it is breaking you too. You at least try to be gentle as you take the keys to the lock on the cage, but the slight movement has Sehun fall to his knees in front of you, close to collapsing as you free him, begging and pleading for the pain to stop. 

Did you push him too far this time?

Your question is answered, no, when you see him harden instantly, his body rocking with his cries as you move the metal cage away out of reach, not to be used again, until he asks for it, of course, or deserves it. You help him sit up on the floor and he rests his back against the bed behind him, his eyes are glassy and red, swollen from crying, he needs you.

“Oh, my love,” You coo as you wrap your hand around his shaft, attempting to soothe him as he practically screams at the gentle touch, “It’s okay, I’ll go slowly.”

Sehun’s breaths are shaky, feet kicking as he tries to succumb to pleasure and get past the intense pain he is in, though that turns him on too, even if he hasn’t admitted that to you yet, you treat him well, checking in and praising him for being so good, so brave, for taking his punishments and making it through without becoming a brat again.

“Want more,” He whines, “Fuck me, please. I want to feel you on my cock.”

You had been waiting for this, and despite already reaching climax so many times tonight, you would not turn down this chance. His cock is huge, dwarfing your hand wrapped around it, and even after years you still had to get used to the stretch. Thankful for the earlier preparation though, this time you are able to straddle him, easily lifting up to take him inside. Again, you do this slowly, inch by inch letting him fill you up until you can’t take anymore, and Sehun is shaking underneath you in a mix of both pain and pleasure.

It is tempting to ride him hard and fast, as you would usually, but considering the torture you inflicted to him and to his cock, you play nice, fucking him slow and sensually, knowing that he won’t last long anyway, you want to make the most of it. You roll your hips every time he fills you up, kissing him softly as you wipe away his tears, trying to calm him down and get him where he so desperately needs to be.

“Is that better, Sehun?” You ask, despite knowing the answer, “Tell me how good it feels.”

Sehun finds some strength as he gets more used to the feeling, soon lifting himself up a little to meet every one of your thrusts, holding your hips to make this easier for you, cries softening to moans as pleasure begins to overpower him.

“So fucking good,” He nods earnestly, moaning louder as you kiss his neck, finding the most sensitive spot, still marked by you from your last encounter, “God, thank you, for always doing this for me, I’m so lucky.” He isn’t far off now, and neither are you, and you are sure that he is less pained, so you speed up your movements. Bouncing on his cock, leaning back so that he can watch you as well, watch the way that he fills you up completely.

“You are lucky,” You agree, as your body begins to seize, “Oh god, Sehun, cum for me, be good, please honey.”

With permission he gets there easily, filthy cries of your name are all that he can muster as you fuck him through it, again reaching your own only moments later. The sensitivity hits you both now, barely coping for another minute before you have to stop, oversensitive, stimulated, and fucking grateful to have him to do this to.

———

kinktober masterlist

[live-laugh-legolas]

Hello!! Could you do headcanons of the fellowship + Faramir and what art they like/do as a hobby? Like painting, music, knit, and so on. Thank you!!

I was working on this but it got pushed to the back as I try to prioritize asks so this is perfect!

Hobbies of the fellowship (+Faramir)

Aragorn:

-Whittling

-He has a lot of downtime during his time as a ranger

-And he is surrounded by sticks and stuff and was probably already fiddling with a knife

-He often doesn’t take the little animals he makes with him so he either gives them to kids in a village he is near, or just leaves them around for someone to find

-I can also imagine him keeping a guitar with him so he can play around a fire at night during his travels

-A very humble player but also not shy about playing or singing if asked

Legolas:

-Anything physical really

-Climbing, swimming, gymnastics, etc

-He just needs to be moving

-He also has a habit of taking in orphaned or injured animals to nurse them back to health

-Would just have a squirrel in his pocket like Bob Ross

-His father has had to tell him multiple times that bunnies are not allowed on the dinner table

Gimli:

-He plays the flute

-Don’t ask how I know because no one will ever see him playing

-But he does

-He also enjoys jewelry making

-He’s a dwarf who appreciates a pretty piece of metal work or a perfectly shiny jewel

-I have an uncle who will sharpen knives at family gatherings because he doesn’t really want to talk to anyone (and I can’t blame him) but he also loves glitter and stuff, and that’s loosely how I picture Gimli

Boromir:

-I love that you mentioned knitting because that is exactly what I picture this man doing

-He’s not particularly good, but also not bad

-Mostly just makes scarves to relax

-Faramir has so many scarves and hats

-He definitely donates the extras that aren’t given to his brother

-Side note, he cannot crochet despite trying to

Frodo:

-Learning languages

-We know he has learned elvish to an extent and I think that this is a passion of his

-Loves to teach his friends “swears” that are actually compliments

-He also likes making origami

-Nothing too extravagant, just little cranes and stars maybe

-But he makes so many he doesn’t know what to do with them

-He will hide little cranes all around the shire for other hobbits to find

Sam:

-I mean this one is obvious…

-He loves gardening!

-He feels so accomplished when he gets to watch his plants grow, and eat fresh food from the ground

-Potatoes

-I also think he would secretly enjoy writing poetry

-I’m pretty sure Bilbo taught him how to read and write and he makes sure to put it to use so he doesn’t forget how

-He may not be Shakespeare but it is always sweet and from the heart

Merry:

-Riding

-He loves to take his pony around the shire

-He also likes experimenting with cooking and drink making

-It’s not always good, in fact it often isn’t, but it’s the process to him that matters

-If he were in modern days he would love the movie Ratatouille

Pippin:

-He is a very musical hobbit

-When he’s not stuffing his face he’s playing instruments and singing at the Green Dragon

-I also think he would really love making pottery

-The feel of molding the clay on the wheel really quiets his mind which frankly he really needs from time to time

Gandalf:

-Ok hear me out

-Ik this isn’t technically really a hobby but he likes napping

-He wants to find the most peaceful spot and just close his eyes for a little

-He’s a man who is always on the move so being able to take time to relax is always important to him

-(One of my favorite things to do is take a nap on the couch with my cats and I’m insistent that this is a hobby lol)

*Bonus Faramir:

-I think he likes to draw

-He doesn’t really paint, but he likes to sketch with charcoal and pencils

-He carries around a little sketchbook so he can just sit somewhere and draw

-Boromir loves to see his brothers art because he is so proud of his little brother

[dani-luminae]

I'm thinking about Wish again. So as the only Wish liker I know of, tell me what you liked about the story and also maybe some things you thought could be improved!

I would be honored! And it got long, so... below the cut.

What I liked:

I would die for Asha. She is so precious!

All her friends were so cute! I love that they were a tribute to the Seven Dwarfs. People complaining that the friends had no personality... neither did the Seven Dwarfs, really. I am so happy that they clearly accept Simon immediately when he returns after the spell is broken.

Dahlia specifically tho. She is always right there for Asha no matter what, trying to calm her and support her right before the interview, stalling with silly questions so that Asha can get into the castle for Sabino's wish, being the first to join in "Knowing What We Know Now" after Asha, and especially!!!! In "This Wish (Reprise)" when Asha is nearly defeated and pleading to the audience it is Dahlia who answers first! She doesn't even know if it's going to work, if anyone else will join, but she's right there pledging her wish with Asha because she cares about Asha so much!!!!! (Yes I might ship them. Why do you ask?)

I actually really like Magnifico as he is. He's a great example of a villain driven by trauma, with a great amount of charisma and genuinely entertaining to watch while also being so "love to hate"able. (The same cannot be said for a lot of stans.)

I love Amaya. Perfect arc. God I feel so bad for her but now she can rule as she sees fit, not playing second fiddle as an accessory to Magnifico. (I don't doubt that they love each other but there really was no repairing their relationship after he hit her with magic.)

I love Asha's mother and grandfather so much.

I LOVE STAR!!!!!!! FUCK OFF STARBOY

They structured the plot similar to old, cherished Princess movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and most specifically, Sleeping Beauty.

The end credits!!! Having little nods to all the Disney animated movies (except Meet the Robinsons apparently????) it was so sweet.

Could be improved:

The music. I liked about... half of it. The other half felt flat. I think that's because they hired pop radio writers instead of like, lyrical writers, if that makes sense. Both of "This Wish," "Knowing What we Know Now" and "This is the Thanks I Get?!" were so great, but "At All Costs" just had me sitting in the theater like pretty lights, but did we really need the song? and I don't even remember "I'm a Star!" because it felt really flat.

I love Star but we were promised "an origin of the Wishing Star!" and we did not get that. He just happens to be a character. I wish we'd gotten that actual origin story. I wrote a little rewrite about it, in fact, in which Star gives his life and magic to Asha and she is the Wishing Star we see in all the movies.

Also I didn't... much like Valentino. He was funny for the first five minutes he could talk ("Who knew my voice would be this low?") but then he just kind of became obnoxious. He didn't really bring anything to the plot that I can think of (even Hei Hei in Moana justified his role by actually, for once, being useful in catching the heart of Te Fiti).

I think that situating Rosas in a geographically real location was a shortcoming, because suddenly there is a myriad of real-life local cultures native to the Iberian peninsula to chose from aesthetic (clothes, architecture, etc.) wise and they didn't. For example, Asha has long braided hair specifically inspired by the Amazigh people, who the designers imagined her having heritage from specifically from Sakina's side, but there wasn't a lot else there. I like the design of the clothes and stuff in the movie but it feels short compared to culture of the area.

Lore. Apparently this movie is set before all other Disney movies and Asha is the very first person to ever wish on a star? Except clearly her father did the same, and her friends are at least familiar enough with the idea of wishing on stars that they see it as childish (Gabo's comment: "What are you, five?" or something like that.)

Asha deserved a whole magical transformation. Her pose when Star dusts her with sparkles is an exact pose reference to Cinderella, but while Cindy got the most gorgeous change (and Walt Disney's personal most favorite piece of animation), poor Asha just gets glitter. A massive downgrade made even more down because of the reference, in my opinion.

Both liked and could have been so much better:

References. So many of them. Some were nice (Sandra's wish to make the most beautiful dresses being shown as Sleeping Beauty's dress, a man named Peter wishes to build a flying machine and his companion is a brunette dressed in blue like Wendy). Some were weird. Some felt like they had no real business being there (see: Valentino's comment about an animal utopia suspiciously similar to Zootopia.)

(No I swear I'm not bitter that Atlantis and Treasure Planet didn't get in-movie references)

Miscellaneous comments:

I understand the whole "people are reluctant to let Black girls have a love interest" thing and I completely understand. But Starboy was just not it. This fandom already ignores Asha for him and he doesn't actually exist. If he had made it into the movie I already know how people would be treating Asha.

I know I said I love Magnifico as the villain but I would very much love to explore an AU where Asha *did* become his apprentice, and maybe he was like a stand-in father figure to her, actually careful and guiding, before something threatens all the wishes. I don't know what, but I feel like there's a lot of different ways that his trauma could have been explored without necessarily making him lash out and require so much control.

The movie feels rushed. I'm not saying that in an "it was bad, eew" way but in a "it could have been so much better" way. The literal tagline was "A story a century in the making!" and that drummed up a lot of expectations, but the end result is that honestly, it kind of feels like it needed more time to bake.

That being said, it was clearly crafted with a lot of care and thought put into it for what it was meant to be, and time constraints aren't the creators' faults.

[pretty-prince-lulu]

The Fortress of Tathtatèrith (Plungedlaboured)

Is it finished? Nope, but I've done enough with it that you'll be able to get where I'm trying to go with it, so... here.

I'll put a readmore right here because this'll have more pictures than I have still-thriving brain cells.

Do bear in mind I've not actually been playing very long, and this is maybe the.... eighth? fortress? that I've kept from going up in flames long enough to have Something Going On.

Out of the gate was picking an embark. I've been trying to build a fortress primarily out of glass for a while and kept cocking it up or embarking somewhere that made it a nightmare, so I scoured the map of the realm of Romxah for the exact right place to do it.

Sand? Check. Nearby abandoned monasteries so we can acquire books? Check. Elves we can have that old sacred eternal Unsteady Peace with who come and count our leaves every spring like the wood narcs they are? Check. VOLCANO so I don't have to be at definite war with said elves while making the glass? Check-check-checkaroo. We're too far from the coast to actually have any of the ocean in our tile, which worked out to be vastly more unfortunate than I expected.

Starting out, I had it in mind that I wanted to make use of the transparency of the glass in the design itself, because that is Very Cool. I considered but ultimately omitted the inclusion of crystal glass into the main design because working with crystal glass makes me cry in real life. I planned to go with green glass as the majority material, with clear glass as the accent. I like the look of the result but clear glass is also, as it turns out, a wailing nightmare to keep in sustained production.

Approaching the main entryway is... this. (With current morale stats. And supplies. I cannot keep these people in meat I stg).

Now, obviously, this is sort of cool, but not in any way finished. You'll be seeing that theme coming up a lot. I had planned to involve statues of the Founding Seven Dwarves in some way, but I'm still kind of batting around the actual execution because most ideas would provide goblins a means by which not to get jet-propelled into the Fanta. I like goblins landing in the Fanta.

The slits contain serrated green glass discs, ten apiece. This generally has the effect of turning enemies into a fine pink mist (see: the pieces of said mist still awaiting cleanup). The Draltha are on their way out with the Routed Roads squadron, a soldier team that I primarily send out to abandoned monasteries to cart off the books. I'm not sure I recommend them as war animals. They're long-lived but I also have to remember to graze them when they come back, and then unpasture them so they don't sadly sit there with the chicken leg icon above their heads making me feel all guilty.

Zooming out a little as we enter the doorway:

These rooms are for The Great Citadels, my 'primary' soldier squadron. Each statue is of that dwarf (and their spouse if they have one at the time of stone-casting). The other sets are of each soldier's war animal, and the blank engraved spot will be for the second war animal I have not yet finished harvesting the alunite to immortalize in said stone. I know it's not important in the scheme of things, but I really like to track who owned what animal. It makes my heart happy. A couple of the giant war dingos have died of old age, which I didn't realize could start happening from age six or so and I'm very sad about it. I thought I read they got 15-20 years but I must have been mistaken.

They got dedicated and specific rooms because I hate, absolutely hate hate vomit hate, how they all get unassigned from their fucking bedrooms after being sent out. No joke, it makes me think twice about dispatching them, so this at least makes it clear to me who ought to be returning to which fucking space.

Down this road, with its perpetually unfinished walls and floor, lies the barracks proper and the road to the foundry. What are those statues and slabs, you ask? Every time a forgotten beast or dangerous creature that involves a popup warning dies in our territory, I like to immortalize it. I just like that you can do that. I think of it as a running history of our land.

To the right there is an access shaft to the mist generator, which is not working, and I am salty about it to the point of tears. This map has no wind. ZERO wind. I did not realize it was a possibility until I had already built all the fucking infrastructure so I'm working on... alternative means of power. But it stands now it's sort of just a Circle of Embarrassment.

The foundry's main focal export is glass- obviously- with its quantum stockpile for random bits of metal coming out of melted down goblin shields. The draltha there are not war animals, but instead have a different very important job- to eat all the mushrooms that grow on the sand. It appears that we can't gather sand where the mushrooms grow, and this is the only situation in which the eternal Snack Hunger of my army of draltha is coming in actual handy. God knows these are a bugger to feed otherwise sometimes.

Given the sheer amount of stuff needing constant melting down I am seriously considering expanding this foundry. There's little space remaining to the south before I hit the edge of the map so I may add more workshops between here and the barracks. I am hesitating mostly on pain of them being on different elevations and me being terrified of fucking up the magma circuit expansion. I know me. I fuck things up. And this is a very hot thing to fuck up.

Heading down the hatch and to the north, we have the trading depot. This is one of the most unfinished parts of the whole place so far unfortunately.

It will EVENTUALLY have detailed rings of glass flooring and perhaps dedicated tables and chairs and stockpiles, but right now it is the emergency draltha feeding tunnel featuring the Barrel Hoard and the accidentally wild-caught elk birds I'm trying to get some offspring out of so I can sheepishly return them to the wild and they can stop pecking our shoelaces in vengeance. I also have tentative plans for a statue-lined road instead of the paved path we currently have outside, which would be both 1) pretty and 2) an early detection system for the werebeasts knocking stuff over.

To the south we have another mist generator. It doesn't work and has redundant gears and materials. We have not finished prettying it up for its eventual functionality. We call this the fail hole. We go in here to cry.

Here we have the rooms of the Duchess, the mayor, the manager and the bookkeeper. Here, and in the hall, you see the first instances of what I was trying to do with the transparency. The glass floors show what's happening downstairs, and if I layer the patterns, starts doing really interesting things indeed- as well as creating an effect that is uniform, but at the same time varied and dynamic.

Further to the right:

The prisons and the quarters of the captain of the guard, with our stockpile of cages and assorted animals being trained. The idea is that any visitors are almost guaranteed to pass through the guard's corridor, which makes it easier for me to forbid doors and lock them up until dear lady Sibrek Amudalåth Ebalfer (Sibrek Thunderbolts the Revered Beast) finishes... dealing with them. She's our captain of the guard, dungeon master and hammerer. Judge, jury, executioner. A sweetheart, really, despite that. You might spot her around- she's wearing a breastplate but no other armour. That's not an accident- this way I can actually see exactly where she is and identify her fast in the crowd. I really hate it when I forget to arrest people. This happens a lot. ADHD and all... so I have to give myself the best odds of managing to lock up the fuckers.

Onto the tavern!

The Mechanical Cake was my first real major attempt at designing the multi-level glass details. The idea was that the 'cream' would get a slight spiralling effect with the furniture on the floor beneath, with the middle layer of clear-glass cream also having some shading because the construction finishes partway through it (this is RIGHT at the end of the map! I'm corner to corner here!). The spoke at top right connects... to things. Things that don't fucking work.

Every statue is also specifically OF something that is either important to the city or took place and is something we want to remember. Mostly this is in the form of animals- a few wild creatures that earned names through good deeds (or misdeeds, in the case of Omalurush the giant wren). The manera is the one who wrestled that forgotten beast. The draltha is simply a celebratory piece of the animal once we tamed a few, as is the dingo. The cat statue is a custom design entirely, made to celebrate Stâkud Wethandle, the only male cat we had on embark. He was not interested in helping us have kittens, so we had to buy another male a few years later when I actually realised.

Down south is our kitchen which is SUPPOSED to be shaped like a gear and spoke and NOT like a penis. I feel the need to point out the meals on the fucking floor and the HUGE NUMBER OF BARRELS WE VERY MUCH HAVE. I don't know why they won't use the barrels. It's doing my head in. It doesn't matter how many I make, they just sit around being tube of empty failure. I'm convinced this is a rudeness directed at me specifically.

DESCENDING DOWNSTAIRS FOR ANOTHER TIME.

The hospital over its water reservoir, the stone and gemstone workshop, and more dogs! Yay! The floors and walls are, as always, not yet finished. Other stuff IS finished. I swear. It's not all like this.

To the north of this stairwell:

The woodworking, craftworking and tailoring suites. Tailoring in particular could do with more space (and I DID use up all that leather... why do they need new underpants so often?). I'll have to think about doing that in a way that doesn't throw off this whole... thing.

OH SHIT, I FORGOT TO GO UPSTAIRS FROM THE ENTRY HALL. Uh. Brief deviation time GO

The underground processing facility with our very important Farm Draltha. Another one of the most unpolished sections but it sure is one I spend a lot of time staring at trying to figure out why I'm out of booze again. Featuring the wildly akimbo disconnected wooden failures of machinery that doesn't work, and the little corner notification about how many forgotten beasts I'm ignoring with ALL my might.

Scrolling up is the paddock proper.

This is also, at this point, pretty wildly off-brief because I keep having to expand it and don't have time to do that in a design-preserving way. I will eventually figure out a good form to contort this into so that it looks like it was intentional and not just sort of... built around trees and things.

Note the single giant elephant that I had zero plans for but absolutely HAD to buy because who WOULDN'T buy the one elephant.

We scroll up to reveal... a plain glass ceiling... and UNEXPECTED RUBE GOLDBERG IDIOTIC EVIL TOM AND JERRY BULLSHIT!

I rebuilt the bridge from the retracting version to make it the kind that launches things upward instead. Usually, those things go straight into the lava, but occasionally they survive and make it onto my rooftop. Whereupon they activate my trap card, and the serrated spinning glass discs make their debut as belles of the ball and then it rains feet and happiness.

um. anyway. BACK TO THE MANUFACTURING HALL.

Here you see the guildhalls, zoomed out.

All technically unfinished. I plan at least a few token workshops with desks and tables to emulate the demonstrations they so frequently hold in there. The displays in the back contain artifacts- specifically, exactly enough artifacts to make the room value sufficient to qualify as grand guildhalls. Zooming in, however, we'll find evidence of one of my more useless passion projects!

Varying numbers! The water ripples and flows! It does, admittedly, lose something from a still image. The idea is to provide an interesting design-in-motion effect beneath these halls, mostly because I never know what to actually DO with guildhalls that isn't just... you know, production.

Some of the detail in those channels DOES get lost in the water flow. This is what it looks like dry.

To the right of the halls is my secret shame.

The top section of what was SUPPOSED to be a perpetual motion machine, and instead has poop everywhere and generates no power. There is an anterior section below that is much the same. I THINK I know what the problem is but it's going to take a lot of work to correct and I kind of want to explode in flames before doing that.

Going down again, we have the cistern to the water system, the first section of residential accommodation, and the first chapter of the pet cemetery.

For some reason, I didn't realise until THIS fortress that you could bury pets, and that you were SUPPOSED to do that. Not kidding, I abandoned the last fortress once I realized I hadn't been doing it. Shit like this matters to me, so every residential floor going down will have a section cut out for the pets. I also include a slab and a statue of that pet, which so far is mostly of that pet being adopted, but in the case of the turkey it's 'that time the turkey fell over'. It made me laugh so I let it stay even though it throws off the design pattern.

There's about 10 residental floors beneath all the other stuff and they all are designed off this same pattern. Eventually, they'll get flooring. I swear to god. I'm at year SIXTEEN and we still don't have all the floors. Fuck me.

DOWN ANOTHER FLOOR!

The barracks of the Routed Roads. Unfinished and looking decidedly spoonish. This is the last barracks I've built- which, yes, means I only have two military squadrons. It's been enough so far because I've been Bridge Discing All who Cross Me. I know damn well it won't suffice long term, but for now I'm enjoying spoon life with occasional desperate use of Dfhack.

TO THE RIGHT

The All-Faiths Chapel (The Mauve Fold) with some pet graves and a dwarf funerary annex! I may have murdered someone in the unused cairn!

I vacillated between designing this temple as a butterfly, a clover or a filigree emblem so I sort of did all three at the same time. The stripes layered beneath the swirls are not just ornamental water this time, but that's for the next floor!

The two dead dwarves were vampires and kept drinking my fucking children. I DFhacked them back to life and I'm not ashamed. DON'T DRINK MY FUCKIN KIDS.

on the south side of this corridor:

The outpost liason's quarters. Admittedly built in a bit of a hurry. I wasn't expecting the Royal Entourage yet. There's still some ore in there.

BUT HE IS NEXT DOOR TO:

The Bronze Vault.

Designed to resemble a heart, with tables running down the ventricle in an effort to create a sort of shadowed effect. I expected to need to build more bookshelves. Have you ever looked up how many books they hold? Holy shit. You could probably make do with one if you weren't a crazy person. As is most shelves do in fact contain just one book. Everyone leaves them on the fucking chairs. I guess our asses like to read.

Orbitting the lava and to the right:

The king's quarters!

I was going for a sort of semi-transparency chessboard effect here (I just noticed that door I missed fUUUCK). The queen consort has her own tomb because she is also a baroness and required her own separate one, so I added it onto the design as best I could. Why do they need so many weapon and armor stands anyway? I never see anyone who asks for one using any of them....

AND LAST OF ALL, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW 19 FLOORS OF IDENTICAL BEDROOMS, THIS

MORE pet graves, and this. A stem and leaves, with artifacts in the tips.

I know you don't need a temple to every individual member of your pantheon of gods, but honestly, it doesn't feel correct not to build it, does it? They're not used very often, and mostly just have Megadogs playing in them, but I still felt like they were important to build.

Starting at top left and going down:

The Earthen Chapel, where we worship the Diamond Rocks, a deity who appears as a female dwarf and holds domain over minerals. The Secretive Chapel, dedicated to Betan, appearing as a female dwarf and governing silence and dreams. I'd probably worship this one if I was a dwarf. The SANCTUARY OF OBLIVION. The edgelord chapel for Vesh the Fated, who takes the form of a skeletal male dwarf. His statue features Atir Releasechannel, an undead dwarf who worshipped him ardently about 1000 years ago (presumably for feeling a kinship?). I ought to comb the legends file and found out what happened to him. As an aside, this feels like a common name for a god of this sphere. My last fortress had Vesh the Fated Death. The Cathedral of Aquamarines, dedicated to Onget Canyonambers. The weird cube sculpture is apparently actually of Melbil Flankboulders being cursed to vampirism. Wonder if this one had anything to do with the pair I have in the graveyard. Onget presides over jewels and takes form of a male dwarf. The Helmed Abbey, worshipping Arban Healergates, a god shaped as a male dwarf and who is the god of fortresses. He's depicted engraving in his statue.

To the right side of the stem! The Silvery Sanctum, the as-yet-artifactless temple dedicated to Zim the Turquoise Spines, a female dwarf. The goddess of mountains. The Temple of Taxing (???) for Limar the Ivory Diamond. A male dwarf god, who governs… wealth. Ah. I see. A divine Ted Dibiase, only with presumably less 'going to jail for massive fraud on the needy', but presumably the same number of dollar signs on his championship belt. The Submerged Cathedral, appropriately dedicated to the goddess of water, Kogan (Not to be confused with Betan, even though I absolutely do). The Sanctuary of Playing, for Lun Dashedtop the Courageous Justice. The goddess of the sky and the wind, who takes the form of a female dw…

she's a giant bat. WHY ARE THEY ALL DWARVES BUT SHE'S A BAT and, uh, last one: The Cathedral of Avalanches for Uzol irongravel the Amethyst. Male dwarf god of metals.

and I will stop this here. enjoy the mental image of our eight perfectly normal dwarf gods, one skeletal god, and one who is a BAT for NO REASON

[anneapocalypse]

1, 2, 4, 8, 19 for the dav meme!

Veilguard Hype Ask Meme!

What was the first Dragon Age game you played?

Origins! I've been here since the beginning. Alongside Fallout 3, it was one of the first RPG video games that absolutely ate my brain. I have fond memories of sitting on my futon playing DAO for like 16 hours straight, forgetting to eat and destroying my back.

2. Which Dragon Age game is your favorite so far?

This is always such a hard question for me to answer, because the three games are all so different, and I have deeply fond memories of all three of them, and I can also look at all three pretty frankly and see their flaws even as I still enjoy them. I think if I have to name a favorite though, it's still Dragon Age 2. Something about its structure and scale, the creative and unusual use of place and time, and its themes, really appeals to me. I've also come to really like the personality lock-in feature even though it does place some limitations on role-playing, and I love the friendship-rivalry system. I love it so much. I think it makes for much more interesting character relationships than simply "Does this character approve or disapprove of my actions?" Are there things about the other games that I prefer, of course. I want to be able to play as an elf or a dwarf or a qunari, for one. But even after all this time, DA2 still hits me a certain way. I love the other two games as well. There's just something about Kirkwall.

4. What does your worldstate look like going into DAV?

So I have like five or six world states and I don't consider any one of them more canon than the others, but I will be going into Veilguard for the first time with Rogues Gallery, which is exactly what it sounds like (and which means the one thing I know about my Rook is they'll be a rogue), featuring Jolene Cousland, Mallory Hawke, and Calla Cadash.

Basic rundown:

The Circle was saved, Connor and Isolde both lived, Zathrian broke the curse, and Harrowmont is King of Orzammar.

Jo romanced Alistair and convinced him to do the Dark Ritual.

They stayed Grey Wardens and rode off into the sunset together.

Anora is Queen of Ferelden.

Nathaniel is alive.

The Architect was spared.

Vigil's Keep and Amaranthine were protected.

Jo went off alone to find a cure for the Calling, and Alistair was left in the Fade.

Carver is dead, Bethany is alive and a Grey Warden.

Mal romanced Isabela. (In my headcanon, they later become a polycule with Merrill but of course that's not in the game.)

She rivaled everyone except the rogues and Merrill.

Bartrand is dead. Varric kept a piece of the idol.

Aveline did not marry Donnic.

Feynriel went to the Dalish, and then to Tevinter.

Clan Sabrae was killed.

Merrill did not destroy the Eluvian.

Mal refused to take any kind of a stand until the very end of Act III where she heaved a big sigh and sided with the mages.

She disapproved of Anders' actions but spared his life.

Mal is still alive and kicking.

Calla romanced Josephine.

She conscripted the rebel mages and the Grey Wardens.

Alistair was left in the Fade.

I left off with her right before Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, so I am not sure of her decisions from her onward! But I do plan to finish this playthrough before Veilguard comes out. :)

8. What faction are you most excited to learn more about?

I'm pretty hype about all of them, but I'd say the Lords of Fortune and the Veil Jumpers the most since we know the least about them!

19. Are you planning to replay any of the previous games, watch Dragon Age: Absolution, or read any of the books/comics/short stories, or are there other games you want to play in the meantime?

I do plan to finish my current playthrough of Inquisition (Calla's playthrough) which is still incomplete. Beyond that, maybe I'll re-read some of my favorite Tevinter Nights stories. I spent about three years (2020-2023) playing the whole series on repeat like 5-6 times and reading and watching all the side content I could get my hands on, so... I'm probably good on that front. ;)

Final Fantasy XIV is getting a new expansion, Dawntrail, in just a couple weeks, so that should occupy a good chunk of my summer, and I expect I'll be ready to play some more Dragon Age in the fall in preparation for Veilguard! (Would love to get an actual release date, though.)