Because like even if they could convince both Arcs to exist in the same space together and to stop fighting it would be precarious it's the worlds worst petty sibling bullshit taken to an extreme they reach for the same sweater and everyone else has three seconds to defuse that situation before one of them decides to cause the rapture

and it's that time of year again, my birthday gift for @knight-of-the-thorn! their commander arceidai (they/them), and arc's girlfriend and knight of the thorn, theitia (she/her)

really wanted to play with the character parallels/contrasts here, because arc and tia have a lot of them, and the day/night motif worked really well for that, because knowing these two on first glance you'd assume it should be the other way around, but on deeper reflection there is a lot of truth to this way too, and i find it really interesting where and how those character elements come into play (and cycle wise arc is dusk tia is dawn, so that lent itself nicely to this as well)

this is also the most effort i've ever put into painting plants (dear god kudzu was a Time), but i've actually discovered a hidden love for painting sylvari cultural armor, it's really fun once you get the hang of it, so who needs a career im just gonna go be a hermit who paints tree outfits all day, this is the ideal existence

but in all seriousness it's been a privilege getting to know these two over the years, so much love and care has been put into their creation and development, and i wanted to honour that best i could!

(and also paint just. So many colours)

Some Screencaps of my Sylvari Ranger Ardeidai’s new outfit for playing through Path of Fire :)

Now that we can post our gift, here’s @knight-of-the-thorn‘s theitia! I really like her color and it was a real pleasure to draw this charming girl

Isgarren and Arc's relationship is best described as "Thesis Advisor with tenure and his Grad Student that is trying to push him down a very deep well that they filled with rabid bats". If current Arc met a sapling version of themself and got to explain that they had met a real life actual seer who was there during the dragon rise 10,000 years ago the younger version of them would loose their absolute fucking mind they'd be the most excited they had ever been and that would be immediately followed "yeah he's the fucking worst don't get excited don't boost his ego like that that is the last thing we need."

found some random arc and tia sketches on my computer and I don't remember if I posted them so her have some trees

Tag Aquired

New Pro WvW strat! Cornered by a massive zerg with no hope of survival? Try this one easy trick that all the pro gamers are raving about! Before they can catch you, hit f11- select exit to desktop, enter the windows start menu, select shut down. Now this is important so don't forget this step, unplug your computer. Put it in your car. Drive. Keep driving. Don't stop. Don't stop for anything. Don't stop for anyone. Once you reach an overpass throw your phone out the window without slowing down. Get to the city. Hire a boat. Leave the country. Look at your computer. Do not turn it on. Is this far enough from power? Is this far enough from civilization? Can they still find you? Your friends, your family, you can only hope now that they will be safe. Are there seagulls this far out into open sea? You haven't travelled far enough. Keep driving. But the computer. It beckons. It taunts. You will never be safe yet you cannot bring yourself to do what you know needs to be done. For this stasis, this momentary delay of the slice of fates razor, it can hardly be considered living yet isn't this the smallest bit better than oblivion? We cannot live only to prevent our deaths for that is the life of cowards and fools but isn't it only human to try and fight when we have been cornered? We are only meat and bones. We lack the objectivity, the methodology of metal and wires yet we are in ourselves encoded with our base functions and primal instincts. Who are we to deny our teeth the satisfaction of the fight, the satisfaction of flesh. Who are we to deny God's design. We were built to fight and so we will. Throw the computer overboard. You feel peace. It will not last. The zerg will continue to hunt you, as is their nature, and you will continue to flee, as is yours. Today you are free. You're finally free.

Thank you again to my wonderful guild for all your help finishing this! I couldn't have done it without them!

[Kudzu|Astralaria|Bifrost|Ad Infinitum|Bolt|Prismatic Champions Regalia|Exordium|Aurora]

God the new map is so gorgeous

Coming to the realisation that both of my commanders (Arceidai and Lucius) have loyalty as their fatal flaw and lemme tell you I blame Percy "Pay your fucking child support" Jackson for that one.

have a ★ for casus about cal, if you’d like! (gw1 characters hours :) ) (alternatively if you’d rather, ★ for arc about cyp?) @kerra-and-company

Casus and Cal

I like you // I love you // You’re one of my best friends // You’re like family // You are family // I dislike you // I hate you // I’d kill you if I got the chance // I want you to like me // I’m scared of you // I would adopt you // I’d date you // I’d sleep with you // I’d marry you // I’m worried about you // You confuse me // You’re annoying // I pity you // I respect you // I trust you // I feel protective of you // I’d invite you with me to parties // I’d lend you my money // I’d borrow your money // You’re good-looking // I’m suspicious of you // I’m hiding something from you // You’re fun // You’re boring // I’m upset with you // You’re nice // You’re mean // I’m envious of you // You’re smart // You’re stupid // I look up to you // I think you’re a better person than me // I think I’m a better person than you // I want to apologize to you // I wish I’d never met you // I never want to forget you // I want to get to know you better

Arc and Cyp

I like you // I love you // You’re one of my best friends // You’re like family // You are family // I dislike you // I hate you // I’d kill you if I got the chance // I want you to like me // I’m scared of you // I would adopt you // I’d date you // I’d sleep with you // I’d marry you // I’m worried about you // You confuse me // You’re annoying // I pity you // I respect you // I trust you // I feel protective of you // I’d invite you with me to parties // I’d lend you my money // I’d borrow your money // You’re good-looking // I’m suspicious of you // I’m hiding something from you // You’re fun // You’re boring // I’m upset with you // You’re nice // You’re mean // I’m envious of you // You’re smart // You’re stupid // I look up to you // I think you’re a better person than me // I think I’m a better person than you // I want to apologize to you // I wish I’d never met you // I never want to forget you // I want to get to know you better

Casus would really like Cal. While they may be different as people, they’re similar enough in what they’ve seen and experienced and I think there’d be a sense of comradery you know? I think they have a lot of similar attitudes towards things, and I think where they don’t and they disagree on things, Casus would consider them reasonable enough that he could understand why they are thinking like that. I think Casus would want to be friends.

I bolded envious, but that’s a little strong of a word for it. Casus wanted to fall in love and have a family of his own when everything settled down, but the timing never worked out and it never happened. Casus doesn’t regret any way he spent his life before he got temporally shunted, except perhaps the lead up to getting himself temporally shunted but whatever, I think he’d consider them really lucky they managed to find that in their life, and jealous that they managed to find that 

Arc and Cyp on the other hand we’d have to introduce through a crack in the door like cats. I think Arc would decide Cyp was their friend if they managed to trust him, but I think both of them struggle with that. I think they’d recognise a lot of the similarities they have if not in experience then in demeanor, and how they respond to that I think is highly context dependent. Either these two would get along or they would never trust each other. There are a few ticks both of them have that risk deeply upsetting each other (Arc wants to ask questions constantly and uses knives, Cyp has the ability to project feelings onto other people.), but again, whether that's a problem is context dependent.

★, for arc or tia :)

Arc about Mye

I like you // I love you // You’re one of my best friends // You’re like family // You are family // I dislike you // I hate you // I’d kill you if I got the chance // I want you to like me // I’m scared of you // I would adopt you // I’d date you // I’d sleep with you // I’d marry you // I’m worried about you // You confuse me // You’re annoying // I pity you // I respect you // I trust you // I feel protective of you // I’d invite you with me to parties // I’d lend you my money // I’d borrow your money // You’re good-looking // I’m suspicious of you // I’m hiding something from you // You’re fun // You’re boring // I’m upset with you // You’re nice // You’re mean // I’m envious of you // You’re smart // You’re stupid // I look up to you // I think you’re a better person than me // I think I’m a better person than you // I want to apologize to you // I wish I’d never met you // I never want to forget you // I want to get to know you better

Tia about Mye

I like you // I love you // You’re one of my best friends // You’re like family // You are family // I dislike you // I hate you // I’d kill you if I got the chance // I want you to like me // I’m scared of you // I would adopt you // I’d date you // I’d sleep with you // I’d marry you // I’m worried about you // You confuse me // You’re annoying // I pity you // I respect you // I trust you // I feel protective of you // I’d invite you with me to parties // I’d lend you my money // I’d borrow your money // You’re good-looking // I’m suspicious of you // I’m hiding something from you // You’re fun // You’re boring // I’m upset with you // You’re nice // You’re mean // I’m envious of you // You’re smart // You’re stupid // I look up to you // I think you’re a better person than me // I think I’m a better person than you // I want to apologize to you // I wish I’d never met you // I never want to forget you // I want to get to know you better

I'm sure there's nothing here that you don't already know. Arc decided very early into knowing Mye that she was their little sister whether she wanted to be or not. Mye went through so many of the same things as Arc did, and they care about her and want to help her, even if they haven't known her very long in the grand scheme of things. And besides that they just think she's kind of a cool person! They feel a sense of comradery with her and she is always a welcome presence.

Theitia is convinced that Mye is a problem and there are a number of reasons that she has come to that conclusion, most of which have very little to do with Mye herself because she has met Mye like twice. Theitia is a very paranoid person who doesn't take well to the threat of being made a fool of, or someone she cares about getting hurt. Several angles to it, the mesmer thing is a fucking huge one, the fact that Theitia was already so paranoid at the time when she was first mentioned, a lot of underlying guilt about things she's done getting projected onto Mye. She reminds Theitia of so many bad things, and many of her perceptions of Mye are incredibly contradictory and don't make sense.

Arceidai for blorbo bingo \o/

@mystery-salad

You know they did try to act dignified and respectable. They tried for three whole years. Now they're just kind of feral, and they fuse with an even more feral bird. Yes, they have a genuine care and curiosity for the world that they protect and the people that they love, but also they kinda just want to see what happens when this whole place blows apart and what better seats are there

a prompt for you, should you choose to accept it: “i kept it from you, but this knowledge will get you killed!” -kerra-and-company

A very old one for you today, This has been finished for ages but apparently I was nervous to post it at the time!

I really like Caithe, I think she’s an incredibly interesting and nuanced character, but god did Arceidai had really complicated feelings towards her after Trahearne died.

This short piece takes place during LWS3 Out of Shadows, during the story step “A Shadows Deeds” _____________________________________________________________ Suffice to say, she was the last person Arceidai wanted to see.

They’d been avoiding Caithe since they left the jungle. It hadn’t been hard, she had been making herself scarce, but it had still been quite deliberate on their part. But she was here now, investigating the same thing as them. Whatever the odds of that were, Arceidai hated that it was even in the realm of possibilities.

“Theitia asked after me while I was in the Grove.” And there it was. One of many things they did NOT want to talk about. “The wardens said you two have been exchanging letters for some time now.”

“Mmm hmmm.” They kept their focus on pulling bloodstone shards out of the earth.

“After everything that she’s done, are you sure that’s the best idea?” She sounded tentative.

“I don’t remember the discussion where we decided that my mail was any of your business.” 

“See? That’s exactly what I’m talking about Arceidai! She’s dangerous, you know that better than anyone. I’ve done the exact same thing, and I know how it feels but you need to trust me, you are going to get yourself-”

“Oh, trust you! So I’m supposed to trust you now!” Arceidai stood up abruptly. “That is absolutely rich coming from you of all people.”

Caithe grimaced and sighed. “You’re upset with me. And you have every right to be.”

“Upset with you? I can’t possibly imagine why you’d think that.” They rolled their eyes and shouldered their way past her as the cavern shuddered again. “This should be enough bloodstone. Let’s head back up to the platform.”

“Will you please just let me speak before we go any further?” 

Arceidai kept their back turned to her as she spoke, but they stopped their march. “What else is there to say?”

“I can't take back what happened, but I can tell you I know what I did was wrong and I'm sorry.” She sounded genuinely remorseful. That wasn’t the level of vulnerability they were used to from her. “My Wyld Hunt, Mordremoth's voice...they were tearing at each other and sometimes I didn't know which was which. I was very confused, and I felt like the only person I could trust was me.”

“The only person you could trust.” They echoed, almost laughing as they turned sharply to face her.”You want to know the worst part about all this? I never doubted for a second that the egg was safe with you because I trusted you. But this isn’t just because of the egg. This is because I don’t particularly like being lied to, this is because nothing I knew about myself was ever true, this is because there is no one left that I know I can actually trust, not even the ONE PERSON I thought would always be on the same side as me!” 

“We’re still on the same side-” She tried to interrupt.

“You LEFT ME Caithe.” They hissed, not done with their tyraid. “I thought that we were a team. You and Tr- You were my family. I wanted to be just like you! And no matter what happened, what secrets you kept, what means you justified with ends, I believed that you would never do anything to hurt me and that we were always going to fight together. Maybe that was stupid, I’ll be the first to admit that I was naïve but I still thought that everything we’d been through counted for- for something. But you still lied to me my entire life! You knew we were going to fight Mordremoth, long before you got the egg, long before you got to the jungle, and you didn't think to tell- tell either of us! You didn't think that was pertinent? That we were going to walk right into a slaughter?”

“It was not a decision I made lightly. You have no idea how much I wished that I could have told anyone about this. I kept it from you because that knowledge would've gotten you killed. It would've gotten all of us killed."

"Trahearne is dead anyways." They said flatly.

Caithe looked like she had been slapped. That was a step too far, and Arceidai knew that the second they said it, but they almost found it hard to care. “Is that what you think? That Trahearne’s death is my fault?”

“I think I shouldn’t have had to run my brother through with his own sword. How you choose to interpret that is something I’ll leave to your discretion.”

“That isn’t fair, and you know it. I understand that you are hurting, but you are not the only person who cared about him so don’t try to pretend that you are. I lost my brother, Arceidai. You have every right to be mad, but don’t put that on me.”

She had a point, and it was incredibly frustrating that she did. “I know, I know that! But if I don’t blame you then who am I supposed to blame, Caithe? If it’s not you, and it’s not Endiena, and it’s not me-” 

She held up a hand for them to stop “Hold on! That human we fought Mordremoth with? What does she have to do with this?”

“Who cares!” Arceidai cried “It isn't anyone’s fault and Mordremoth is dead but that doesn’t make me feel better, so who am I supposed to be angry at!”

 "I don’t know. Sometimes there's no one to be angry at. Sometimes we’re just hurt.”

"And what are we supposed to do then?" 

"If I ever find the answer to that, I'll be sure to tell you first." Caithe sighed.

Arceidai looked away from her, surveying the terrain and shifting their hands uncomfortably. “You did what seemed right in an impossible situation. Rationally I know that.” They paused before adding, with extra emphasis “Rationally.”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away. I just want you to think about it.”

“...Okay. Cherry. Let’s just, We have an experiment to complete.I think it best if we focus on that.” Arceidai changed the subject, and raised one of the bloodstone shards to emphasise their point.

Caithe hesitated, then nodded, gesturing to the floating structure. “Right, of course. Lead the way Commander.”

Back on the everything is so goddamn weird for Casus after he gets temporally displaced train. The first person he properly meets is Arc, a member of a species that did not exist when he got stuck in time jail, and he wouldn’t know for like a while that they

-Just got done killing almost all of these unimaginably powerful elder dragons that, from his perspective, he spent just under a year setting up a legacy to help facilitate their defeat, which he was reasonably under the impression that he would never see

-May or may not be a minion of an elder dragon but really unclear to him which one or what that means

-Killed one of his gods while they were at it.

-Died and brought themself back to life, pretty much just because they didn’t feel like staying dead

-Despite all this got sent to deal with him just because they were getting in the way.

-I cannot stress the extent to which the person that sent them is wielding his dead bosses sword

-The worlds most aggressive bird is following them around. He’s afraid to ask.

-He’s afraid to ask about most things about them at this point.

-Nine years old. Everyone is acting normal about that. They assure him that makes them really old. He has his doubts.

Was looking for something completely different and found this. It’s very wild to me how different Arc’s original Nightmare Au design concept was to what they ended up looking like when I made them in game

Like not only did the colour scheme swap from purple to green, they somehow manage to look younger? It also manages to look more like them, as much as you can say that for a light armor outfit, at the same time as it distinguishes their outfit from Ghost Arc’s, who uses those Scarlet skins and those purples. Most of that is probably because it’s a little less feminine and definitely less revealing. That being said I almost regret that they’re less pointy.