#victoria/kana

[dibble-dumblr]

pt 3 AND the final part! this one also has minor SDR backstory spoilers, plus one CoS spoiler, so prompts + spoilers under the cut!!

Day 21: Younger selves (first spoiler) Day 22: Older Selves Day 23: Biggest supporter Day 24: Dancing (I did two lmao) Day 25: Barbie and Ken Day 26: In-Laws (older prompt that I accidentally did, which is the second spoiler) / Being Silly Day 27: Marriage Day 28: Drag Queens Day 29: AU of your choice (I did human au :) ) Day 30: At their best/worst (third spoiler) Day 31!!!: Halloween!!!!

. spoiler spacing

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

[sliqtril]

the lgbt expedition

[n0anix]

average Azran expedition experience

[itsguysnightitsironic]

Cutting deep, finger and all

[KANA]: I will stand between her and you even if it means her blade will drill through me first. [VICTORIA]: I'll pray harder for you

We love wlw solidarity, but THE BLOODY HANDS???

You're so cursed babygirl it's impressive at this point.

[gorebek]

Im very early into CoS but i wanted to try drawing them

[treehollowowl]

curse of strahdoodles!!

[fusabl-pab]

So. Another round of doodles I did.

Uh. Topless doodles. I don't know if I need to put the sexual content thing on, but I will. After all, there are female nipples there.

[grimms-gone]

Omg I haven’t posted in a while but finales happened and I need to do that first so I’m back with more Cos!! I swear I’ll draw more Ouaw soon I swear

[loa-bracket-battle]

Idea for poll: best throuple? (Like Briggsy/Yorgrim/William, Rett/Pyke/Rexx, Kana/Victoria/Strahdanya, etc)

oh amazing idea

[wordy-little-witch]

CoS Incorrect Quotes hours the brain rot is rotting the brain lmaoooooooo

P.S. While spoilers are limited, I also Refuse The Ending and so 95% of stuff is in my own little made up parallel reality bc ShepNax Sparks Joy

Kana: What's the most illegal thing you can do with one gold?

Shepherd, running on VERY little sleep: Exchange it for a hundred coppers, put them all in a sock, and then beat someone to death with it.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Professor Clayton: Your smug self-assuredness is revolting.

Sarnax: I think we need to validate self confidence more, lest you end up angry at others for having even a sliver of it. I have done nothing wrong and I have a heart of gold.

Victoria: I think this message is extremely valid, but also Sarnax has implied wanting to set off the Yellowstone supervolcano, so what's the truth?

Sarnax: I want to set it off.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Victoria: Let’s not Professor this into a worse situation than it already is.

Clayton: Did you just use my name as a verb?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd, completely deadpan: Well, needless to say. Uh-oh Spaghetti-os.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Professor: A mosquito tried to bite me and I slapped it and killed it.

Professor: And I started thinking.

Professor: Like, it was just trying to get food.

Professor: What if I went to the fridge and it just slammed the door shut and snapped my neck?

Victoria: Are you ok?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Victoria: We need a way to lure in Vistani assistance

Kana: Perhaps we could arrange an entertainment event.

Sarnax: We could give them Shepherd's bath water.

Shepherd: ABSOLUTELY NOT!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Kana, to Shepherd: You drink too much, swear too much, and your morals are highly questionable.

Shepherd: …

Kana: You are everything I’ve ever wanted in a best friend.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: I like to think of myself as a semi responsible adult here.

Kana: Sarnax is 70% of your impulse control and you know this Shepherd.

Sarnax: I feel like Shepherd is the more responsible one of us two though.

Shepherd: We are both 70% of each others' impulse control.

Sarnax: that is a fair assessment

Shepherd: Just two bastards in pinwheel hats spinning on the merry-go-round at dangerous velocities, holding each other’s hands so the other doesn’t fall off.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Professor: I refuse to apologize for being weird or off-putting. That’s actually your problem. I’m having a fantastic time!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sarnax, to Victoria: you are harboring a deep wickedness....

Shepherd: whooooa, buddy, I didn't expect this from you!

Kana: yes, Sarnax, I had not expected you to be homophobic.

Sarnax: wh- no? I am not homophobic!

Professor: sounds like something a homophobe would say - especially after such a blatant call on her rights to love who she wishes!

Sarnax: ...... I do not care if you enjoy kissing women, love is love, but I draw the line at Strandanya

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Victoria: In my defense, I was left unsupervised.

Kana: Wasn’t the Professor with you?

Professor: In my defense, I was also left unsupervised.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: I like to play this game called nap roulette. I take a nap and don’t set an alarm. Will it be 20 min or 4 hours? Nobody knows. It’s risky and I like it. There might be dragons.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: If I say yes am I joining a cult?

Sarnax: From a certain point of view.

Shepherd: I’m in.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Victoria: Hey, aren’t you Professor Clayton?

Professor: You a cop?

Victoria: No.

Professor: Then yes, I am.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sarnax: Honestly, I am so ominous and off-putting. So full of dark, cultish knowledge. I feed on the souls of the enemies I strike fear into -

Kana: You cuddle with a lantern nightlight to sleep.

Sarnax: Gherix is a protective and warm God, you're just jealous.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: Life keeps fucking me and I can't remember the safeword.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Victoria: You don't need my blessing to go kiss Sarnax. In fact, I was pretty sure you were already kissing Sarnax!

Shepherd: Nope.

Victoria: In that case, as the archbishop of Shepherd's fully awakened gaydom, I give you my blessing to immediately leave and rectify that as soon as possible! Go now, my child, and kiss Sarnax right on the scaley lips!!!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Victoria: Do you have any skeletons in your closet?

Professor: Literally or figuratively?

Victoria: I have to specify?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: alright, anything you'd like to add, Sarnax?

Sarnax: there are several things I would like to add-

Shepherd: -anything not involving Gherix?

Sarnax: in that case, no.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: *banging a pen on the table out of frustration*

Sarnax: Do not do that, Shepherd. How would you feel if I banged you on the table?

Shepherd: I—

Shepherd: I don’t know the correct answer to that question.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Professor: Respect my trans homies or I’m gonna identify as a fucking problem.

Shepherd+Victoria: :)

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Professor: Who hurt you?

Shepherd: *snorting* What, do you want a list?

Professor: ...Yes, actually.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Professor: HYDRATE OR DIE-DRATE!

Professor: *aggressively throws water bottles*

Sarnax: Uh... what is the professor doing?

Kana: He us attempting to yell mental health and wellbeing into us.

Professor: I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU!

Victoria, crying: It's working.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Kana: It's pretty cold outside.. wanna hold hands? We should stay close.

Victoria, blushing: Okay.

Professor: It's fucking summer.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd, trying to comfort Victoria: What's the problem? Anxiety? Low self-esteem? Obsessive thoughts of random arson? I've been there.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Victoria: Well, if you're not at least a little bit gay for your friends, then what kind of friend are you?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: Do you support gay rights?

Victoria: I’m literally gay.

Kana: She's avoiding the question!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: To be honest, I'm kinda pissed that I'm not asleep in bed next to the love of my life in a cottage with no obligations other than waterin' my vegetable garden and tendin' the herds.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Arabelle: so I saw a bunch of older kids running around and being weird, will I be like that when I get bigger? Is that what puberty is?? Puberty is weird if that's what it's like.

Shepherd: puberty is really weird, kid, take it from me - i did that shit twice.

Clayton, choking on his tea: OHMYGOD-

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Tommy, upon learning his dad Shepherd is trans: oh. Can I ask a question?

Shep: yeah buddy, what is it?

Tommy: so if you're a man but had to make yourself comfy like this, then can I get horns like you? The same way?

Shep, mildly emotional: ah, not quite like that. But we can certainly make you a headband, bud.

Tommy: YAY

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

BONUS

The Doc: I've only had Silas for a day and a half but if any of you fuckers come for him, I'll burn this whole gods damned continent to the ground.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: *trying to buy a Father's Day card*

Shepherd: Excuse me, do you have any that just say "You are my dad"

Associate: Well, I-

Shepherd: How about "You're stuck with me"

Associate: No...

Shepherd: You know what, I'll just get a blank one.

Shepherd: *writes* You are a father. This is a day. Here is a card. XOXO no refunds...

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Doc: Yes, I'm adopting Shepherd and you cowards can't tell me no!

The townsfolk: Doc, you can't-

Doc: WATCH ME

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Shepherd: whatever doesn't kill me vetterstart running, because now I'm fuckin' pissed

Doc, who taught him everything he knows: THAT'S MY BOY

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Baby Shep: I made this friendship bracelet for you.

Doc: You know, I’m not really a jewelry person.

Baby Shep: You don’t have to wear-

Doc: No, I’m gonna wear it forever. Back off.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

[eldritchenochian]

I know you write, but do you have any LoA fic recs? especially for Stardust, Edge of Midnight, or Curse of Strahd?

you bet your ass I do!! I've included what each fic is rated/featured romantic pairings for convenience, but as always, go over the tags yourself and see if it's the right fic for you! (also note that not all of these are currently finished)

Edge of Midnight

Marius and his Big, Stupid, Very Obvious Crush by JellyHappening - Marius/Lethica, teen rating

Ivory and Amethyst, Night and Day by elizabethwoofwoof - Marius/Lethica, explicit rating

just something i can turn to, somebody i can kiss (oh, i want something just like this) by captainshiloh831 - Marius/Lethica, general audiences rating

Bloodletting by Multifandom_damnation - no romantic pairing, teen rating

Mr. Jerry by GhostSeeker - Marius/Lethica/Jericho, not rated

Friends Close, You Closer by Peachzoid - Yorgrim/William Van Brunt, mature rating

Stardust

Days of Thunder by Cthulhus_Stepmom - no romantic pairing, teen rating

Smoke Screen by dibble_dabbles_drabbles - Pyke/Rett, teen rating

Mechanic's Sonata by dibble_dabbles_drabbles - Pyke/Rett, general audiences rating

Secretly? by dibble_dabbles_drabbles - Pyke/Rett, teen rating

Is It Casual, Now? by dibble_dabbles_drabbles - Pyke/Rett, mature rating

(dibble you are carrying the Pyke/Rett fans on your back and I salute you)

Kept Promises by Anonymous - Pyke/Rett, explicit rating

You and I drink the poison from the same vine by Multifandom_damnation - no romantic pairing, teen rating

Consequences of being a player by ME!! - Rex Maxim/Original Male Character, teen rating

Curse of Strahd

Ain't the praying type by Leafy_Elfy - Shepherd/Sarnax, Victoria/Kana, not rated

(slow) burn by Peachzoid - Shepherd/Sarnax, teen rating

Lights will Guide you Home by Flamingbluepanda - Shepherd/Sarnax, general audiences rating

Take Me to Your Best Friend's House by HGTV_Rerun - Shepherd/Sarnax, teen rating

Forgive, for I'm a selfish man, and my god adores you by Anonymous - Shepherd/Sarnax, explicit rating

Bonus Crossover

Cowboy Hat Etiquette (series) by miseria81 - Clayton/Shepherd, Clayton/Rex Maxim, explicit rating (note: locked fics, only visible to registered users)

[acidic-eye]

Ok I’m like 40 mins into ep 1 of Curse of Strahdanya thoughts on each character (bc ofc I need to start another even tho I haven’t finished OUAW or Icebound):

Victoria: I think she’s really pretty. Like her character is one that I’ve always been so interested to know about because of the tiktoks and such I’ve seen on her. She seems very nice and I’m very curious about her whole half elf thing she has going on.

Clayton: he’s so silly omg- with the gold and shit just not realizing that he’s just showing off all his wealth?? Like he obviously is smart but that man does not get social situations or like smth.

Sarnax: I genuinely thought he was just this cute little lizard guy from the art I’ve seen of him but wtf is his backstory- he’s like- terrifying. I thought he was just gonna be like: I light the way for my god! And he’s aparently wanting to murder these owls.

Shepard: he’s the reason I’m watching this ngl. I absolutely adore him and it was so cool to see how he’s just like: ya I’m not here for the money but for protecting you. I wanna protect you. Genuinely wasn’t expecting it, I thought he was gonna be more about the money but ig not lol. I literally adore him so much- and I’m so excited to see him and Sarnax’s relationship since the whole burning and stuff.

Kana: haven’t met but she seems really cool from what I’ve seen! I like her design :D

[jadecantcreate]

curse of strahdanya has officially taken over my brain! alongside arcane…season two is SO GOOD SO FARR please go watch it if you haven’t. holy shit yall it does not disappoint

spoilers for up to and the entirety of episode 7 of cos — ill mainly be talking about character dynamics (mostly shepnax) but major events and plot developments will be explicitly discussed as well, so, if you’re not there yet, please don’t keep reading (getting spoilered for this stuff is not worth it i promise)

im sorry in advance. im not even done writing everything yet and its already very long

the way i see it, episode 7 is a major turning point for not only the whole story but inter-party relationships as well. i’ll be organizing this a little bit so it’s less text-wall-y (hopefully)

shepherd

there’s the raven mother they find nailed to the wall — the culprit being strahdanya. this definitely fueled the hate that all of the party had for her, but especially shepherd. he literally screams out in anguish and, later, calls strahdanya a coward and bitch — something we’ve never seen shepherd do before.* i think the events in the beginning of ep 7 is what really cemented his and the party’s objective: destroy strahdanya. before, i sensed some kind of ‘wiggle room’: the party would be willing to work with her a bit, though only for a very short amount of time and would probably backstab her. but after witnessing all that? strahdanya is irredeemably evil, not worthy of consideration / sympathy / courtesy, and i think it finally fully dawned on them all

*i also love how much raw emotion shepherd expresses throughout the campaign. the rest of the party has their moments too (i can immediately think of kana and victoria, but im not remembering any significant ones for clayton or sarnax though i know they exist), but shepherd consistently reacts to the hellhole that is barovia in such a genuine way that it grounds the whole narrative and, to me, makes barovia that much more horrifying. in other stories or discussions of stories ive seen like this (and even in the cos party itself), the characters are largely untouched by the horrors that occur in such a setting. which, fit the characters/purpose as it might, distances the audience at least a tiny bit from the happenings of the narrative. but when you have an otherwise grounded, calm, capable individual like shepherd crack? that’s when it really hits you i think. like, the whole thing with sarnax reviving the mother? shepherd being so relieved and overcome with a multitude of feelings that his voice cracks as he holds back tears, begging the mother to rest and not do any work? it made me feel the same way, and it really drove home how wonderful this act is and how dire their situation is. shepherd (and andy by extension!) have drawn the most emotion out of me in my watch, and its possibly the main reason i enjoy his character so much

him being seemingly chosen by the silver dragon (which, again, another turning point) is very compelling in a narrative sense too because shepherd doesnt want power, he doesn’t seem to even like the idea of leading (or at least being pushed into a position of leadership). i’ll touch on it later in the shepherd and sarnax segment (if i dont forget lol, my mind is running wild while i write this)

victoria

i think strahd’s infatuation with her and the physical effects it has (kana’s cleansing ritual failing because the water becomes blood as it touches victoria) is so interesting, especially her inner conflict with her heritage and wickedness (and the distrust it sows between her and the party, at least initially)

i really enjoyed how victoria was vulnerable with kana, and how kana handled it with such care and compassion. this is also a turning point, i think, when it comes their relationship: kana promises to protect victoria, and victoria promises to fight the darkness within her; they definitely got closer after that, and their bond was deepened. i dont imagine strahd would be very happy about victoria not being enamored by her and being helped by her party, though it’s very possible that she enjoys ‘the chase’ (for the lack of a better term)

when they came across the dusk elf in the order of the silver dragon estate-thing, it’s a pretty clear parallel to victoria given her appearance, heritage, and reason for being in barovia. i could be very very wrong about this but its heavily implied victoria’s elf half is a dusk elf, which makes sense considering, again, that she’s in barovia to learn about her lineage and that dusk elves are the only elves mentioned so far. i think this is the first time she’s genuinely made progress in her goal

sarnax

sarnax’s identity revolves around gherix: his whole life is devoted to the fire lord; he’s used to communing with and praying to his god. it’s likely what kept him going in such a terrible place with such terrible odds of survival, let alone returning (which he’s convinced he will not). so when strahdanya intercepted the augury spell he was so clearly shaken. it was one of the few moments, if not the only one, where sarnax was in genuine, utter panic — the whole time shepherd repeatedly asked him if he was alright and he didn’t seem to hear those words at all. suddenly he learned that strahdanya could damage or possibly sever his connection to his god, the being his life is centered around. (kana’s comment certainly didn’t help)

but what happens after — the augury spell reading ‘weal’ and sarnax being able to revive the mother — strengthens his faith. it was tested, but he prevailed. i think he was also filled with a newfound sense of purpose, knowing that, no matter what strahd does, his god considers him worthy enough

about him and kana: episode 7 is the culmination of their slow development towards not only tolerating each other’s beliefs but to understand and embrace them, specifically with kana saying that she trusts in sarnax and his god

sarnax and shepherd

the conversation between them was my favorite moment in this episode by far. there are so many layers,

shepherd so clearly doesnt want to embody his namesake and be a leader, but the silver dragon and someone he trusts so much — sarnax — and fate itself push him in that direction, so he just does. shepherd says:

“sarnax don’t”

“no why would you-“

“why- why- why would you put this on me, why?”

“how can you say that?”

“this was just a job. i mean this was just to make sure we all got here and back safely…how did this happen?”

then, later…

“alright, alright i…okay. i…dont know what to say”

“alright…alright…okay, understood”

“sure, sure. lead the way” and, after sarnax says “no, shepherd. you lead the way, i will light the path,” “…fine.”

essentially, he sucks it up. and that’s interesting to me since shepherd shows so much emotion, so it’s clearly not a ‘men dont cry’-type ideology thing. i think it’s probably related to his desire to do good, and as well as the good doc. after all, the doc gave him his virtue name: shepherd. it only makes sense that he would be written by fate as one: a person who guides the lost through the darkness. so that’s my guess as to why he so readily accepts this burden

i think sarnax being the one to say this also played a role in it^. shepherd witnessed firsthand the power of gherix and sarnax’s wisdom, so much so that he prayed to gherix. shepherd, who was originally averse to anything religious, prayed. and i also think sarnax is shepherd’s only true friend in the party. his relationship with clayton, victoria, and kana feels like professional acquaintances — they’re comfortable with each other and certainly growing closer, but he seeks out sarnax (and sarnax does too) and both have called the other a friend or good friend, on more than one occasion for shepherd and at least one for sarnax. it’s obvious that shepherd values what sarnax has to say and cares for him.

because of that, sarnax saying that he will die in barovia (specifically that he doesn’t “believe [he has] a place back in avantris” and that “whatever it is that [they] achieve here will be [his] end” because he has “seen it in the flames”) and shepherd’s reaction hits even harder for me.

shepherd says “i’m not gonna leave you. i’m not gonna leave anyone.”

and sarnax replies “then it will be i that leaves you.”

it’s the shortest exchange, but it holds so much weight. sarnax has accepted his fate, possibly long before this. but when before sarnax took charge and led the group, shining his light, he steps back, realizing shepherd is the one who (he thinks) fits that role. he still guides, but he doesn’t lead, and he believes shepherd should. but shepherd doesn’t. shepherd’s used to following orders, as we see so many times with him and clayton (but also him and sarnax), and struggles to make decisions for the group — when they ask him where they should go, shepherd seemingly blanks and he just picks whatever as fast as he can (to get the pressure off him, i assume). and despite this, shepherd’s line reinforces what sarnax thinks: a good shepherd doesn’t leave his sheep behind, he goes after and, well, shepherds them.

and honestly the whole relationship between shepherd and sarnax. them being regarded as monsters by others, being dehumanized by, for example, vascha [?] thinking shepherd is a devil and esmeralda calling sarnax shepherd’s pet ->

shepherd answers, understably upset, “he’s not my pet, he’s a person!” i figured sarnax felt the same way, but when he was praying to gherix, he referred to shepherd as “a vessel for [gherix’s] wrath.” so that raised a question to me: does sarnax truly care for shepherd (in the way shepherd does), or does he view him as a tool? it’s interesting to think about. it could be him truly caring about shepherd and seeing him as a capable person who will have a great role in his god’s plans which, i imagine, is among the highest of honors — the first possibility in the question, but filtered through the lens of sarnax’s religious perspective (which i think is the most likely and most compelling)

and there’s the parallel with them being connected to gold and silver dragons: different, but the same. (unrelated tangent but there’s also a very interesting parallel between shepherd being chosen by the silver dragon [‘good’] and victoria being chosen by strahdanya [‘bad’])

sarnax saying “silver will unite with gold” is, on the surface, about the two dragon-gods involved in the story. but i think, on a deeper and probably unintended level, it also applies to shepherd and sarnax growing closer (as they have been since the prologue, following in the footsteps of their respective dragons, and shepherd connecting the two dragons by his faith in gherix and affinity to the silver dragon.

i think that’s everything! hopefully i wont post this and immediately remember something i didn’t mention

thank you for reading all of this <33

[vicekings]

Fanart for Curse of Strahdanya from Legends of Avantris! Please listen to this podcast/dnd game, it slaps so fucking hard!

[itsguysnightitsironic]

(CW LOUD ): Ah yes, the unknown warrior who appeared out of nowhere with a sword at hand is friend-shaped

There's no risk perception inside those two

I love my unpaid interns who are only here for their own problems, KANA SOYOKAZE IF YOU DON'T SURVIVE-

Audio from Bratz

[fadeaway-comic]

*points at Kana* GIRL LIKER

I would now add Noriel too into the characters I relate to the most!

Just one more special QnA left after this one! then the comic shall continue

If you havent read Fade Away yet, I recommend doin so on comicfury: LINK