#i also really miss the exu trio | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

septembermonologues · 1 year

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I WANT TO STUDY DORYMS EARLY EXU DYNAMIC LIKE A BUG CAUSE LIKE…..it’s not that they hate each other, the respect for each other is there even in the beginning (ie “our little tactician”), they both seem to take on each other as the only other Responsible™️ member of the group, they have little moments of teasing (honeying the flute), they lean on each other when plan making, they first turn to each other, having dialogues only to themselves.

In a sense, the basis and beginnings of what we see from them in c3 is ALREADY there,,,it’s just,,,,their fundamental beliefs and values are SO DIFFERENT (partly because of how they were raised, partly because of who they are as people) that they can’t help but butt heads sometimes, say and do things they other doesn’t agree with. it doesn’t help that they both take sort of take charge of the group at times in the beginning, their need to help the group do the right or best thing collides because they have such DIFFERENT VIEWS on what is right or the best.

But the thing is,,,,,THE THING IS!!!!!! EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ARE ODDS!!!!! THEY STILL CARE FOR EACH OTHER!!!!!! THEY STILL RESPECT EACH OTHER!!!!!!

even when dorian wants no business with the fire ashari, he agrees to help them out because “if orym wants to help you, I want to help you.” !!!!!! even when dorian does questionable things like wanting to keep the circlet, attempting to give up gilmore, trading poska to lolth they he does it with the intention of keeping his people safe (which by extension, includes orym)!!!!!

even when orym wants no business with the circlet, he doesn’t push when dorian (and the others) insists to keep it!!! even when his intuition tells him not to, he decides to trust dorian!!!!! even when he’s THREATENING dorian, he doesn’t do it out of anger but out of WORRY!!!!!! BECAUSE HE KNOWS HOW GOOD DORIAN IS AT HEART AND DOESN’T WANT HIM GOING DOWN A DARK PATH!!!!!!!!!

IDK JUST,,,,,,the juxtaposition of the good nature of their smaller more innocent moments, to the intensity and hostility of their disagreements, to the meaningful and attentive implications of the things that go unsaid through what they do for each other in early exu JUST FUCKING GETS ME!!!!!!!! I miss them sm WHEN WILL THEY COME HOME :(((((

(Sorry im rambling in ur inbox just ur last post about how long it took for them to warm up to each other in EXU got me thinking so hard)

don't apologize for messaging!! i love shootin' the shit!!

i LOVE relationships that take work. like you said, the respect is a constant and i think that's why they learned to work with each other as well as they have and got to the point of "i give dorian a look a spouse gives a spouse". respect is one thing, but i think for both of them trust is hard-won and their trust in each other was no exception, and to me it shows in how solid their care for each other has grown to be.

this might not really fit into this convo but i also just appreciate how much of EXU liam has held onto because on 4 sided there was a question/comment about the conversation orym had with imogen and liam pointed out that he'd already worried about a friend following a dark path with dorian and i think the trio going through something so serious in their (mini campaign long) game zero set them up to be a grounded set for the chaos that is the bell's hells.

i am partial to the theory that liam and robbie have something planned for the long game even if it didn't start way back at the start of exu, and im excited to see if/how it plays out. liam has made it pretty clear that he/orym is still actively thinking about dorian and where he fits (at oryms side!!!!!!!!!), and it was also made clear even as early as the cast live tweeting the night of episode 14 that they aren't letting robbie go far so i have hope he'll be back at the table eventually. i think robbie works really well with the group, and it's backed up (to me) by him being brought in at the very start of the campaign and wrapped up so tightly with two principal characters/players.

also also we have travis in our corner via chetney and also 1000% himself. between chet asking about dorian and orym's relationship damn near the second he had dorian alone to his "whatever comes next" when he gave his gift to orym and also travis poking robbie about dorian having a romantic interest on 4 sided dive. which, on that front, another reason i'm convinced robbie and liam have something figured out is because of how cagey they've been about it lol. like robbie just not answering and then orym's "its complicated" and stuff.

#i might be talking so much but saying nothing lol i hope some of this makes sense at least #but feel free to send asks/messages im always game to chat!#and you'd better believe i've been side-eyeing robbie's con schedule lately #critical role #exu #bell's hells #dorym #dorian storm #orym of the air ashari

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sparring-spirals · 2 years

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I can't believe I forgot about Fy'ra Rai!!!!! The guest battle royal with her was a week ago!!!! Anyways, would it by any chance be possible to see the in depth analysis you mentioned in the response to my previous ask? As well as the angstier ones? I want to hear everything. I love cr meta, and you're one of better cr meta writers I've found on this wonderful hellsite.

Oh Fy'ra Rai was exquisite in the battle royale. :'D Anjali's delivery with her is top notch.

Oh! Well first of all- thank you, so much, that's really fucking cool to hear!! :'D Fantastic meta was what actually first drew me into the fandom + made me start following more people, and start posting more. So: You're in luck, there are a Ton of fantastic meta writers for CR, and also I'm really, really honored I'm doing the same for others now. hell yeah.

(At some point I might scribble out a recommendation list of some of my faves, but if you traipse through the #character meta tag here you're bound to find a few you'll like, I'm sure. Seriously talented people abound.)

And uh- listen. If you're sure! Sure! :D Fair warning that since its basically three different half finished posts mashed into one:

1- its long.

2- its even less edited than normal, so flowery as hell, long winded, rambly, potentially misspellings here and there.

There are bits that I've pulled out potentially to write a separate meta on (aka dorian feelz), but this is the gist of it. I labelled it to help break it up a bit!

this gem

wait this concept is funny so im moving it to the top: the exu trio dynamic is just two people affectionately looking at the third with a mix of love and concern and then looking at each other like "can u get a load of this". except in all combinations. thats it.

exu vibes, aka party of few braincell many love

I keep thinking about the EXU party, and the way they really, really, just liked each other. Everyone in the party was- lonely, or newly alone, or missing people. No session 0 pairs, just people missing a sister or feeling isolated or grieving, or running, terrified. And they came together and got blackout drunk and like- their intro is a domestic morning and a pissing contest. The EXU party liked each other so much. Right off the bat. They were terrified and panicking and they were also having a fucking blast, with each other. Doing orange-peel slice smiles. Performing for crowds. Sticking hands into ash-holes. And then I think about them split in two, Opal and Dariax somewhere together (if they were going to leave it to one person to keep her company, best to leave it to Dariax, armed with a sense of optimism like a mallet, as stubborn as it is hopeful). And thinking about the EXU trio, losing any more of themselves? A tripod without one of its legs? They like each other so much. They lean so close on each other. Please, dont rip them apart any further :(

exu vibes but angsty

(Even if they all come back together, their worlds have been so different, their experiences. Even if they all make it out. Even if they're all okay. Which is the way of things, sometimes, but Im also thinking about that first meeting, Opal yelling "FOOOOOOD" and everyone failing to interrogate a "gardener". Itll never be exactly the same, I know, so all we can hope for is everyone being okay enough to fondly remnisce on those times as well.)

(and I keep thinking about Dorian, running and running and unfurling from his shell, learning to lean on his friends, learning to express himself, learning, growing, happy. Having to rip that down. For a little while, he was happy. Safe. Overjoyed. Just a little while. Of course he couldn't have it forever, right?)

(Im really sad about dorian actually but that might need to be its own meta)

dorian and orym, tired dads

Dorian and Orym very much had the "tired team dads" vibe during EXU (they were the only ones who seemed to consistently hold the brain cells), which was already delightful. But there was still a formality there, I think, and they didn't fully trust each other, which is how you end up with them nearly getting into a fight over the crown in early EXU days. But fast forward to C3, with Fearne between them gleefully causing mayhem wherever they go, and its just. There's a sort of settled comfort, that wasn't there before. They've already weathered some Shit with each other, they don't know everything about each other but they get each other, they trust each other, they love each other- all still undercut with a sort of shared, tired amusement. For two characters who are (Relatively) reserved, and guarded, sharing a knowing look over the head of Fearne is- its good! :)

fearne is third leg of tripod and also steals tripod

Not to say that Fearne is just an addendum to the two of them, because oh god no. Fearne would never. Fearne is a fae, and Fearne is Fearne, which means she loves Mayhem and Chaos and Problems, but she loves Dorian and Dariax too. She enjoys teasing them, yes, and giving them mild conniptions, but you also see her giving them healing, getting sad at the prospect of being separated. Fearne collects trinkets, and that means them, too. They're hers, and she's theirs (as much as anyone can Have Fearne), and she loves them.

dorian and dariax, liar and a fool

Oh, and Dorian and Dariax. The more we learn about Dorian the more I love their interactions in EXU. Dorian, running from expectations and shackles, meeting Dariax who would never ask for anything more of you than what you are. Dorian, made of 20 lies stitched together and chock full of anxiety, meeting Dariax, whose worldview is so, so, simple, and honest, who thinks Dorian is cool as hell, who likes Dorian for him. And Dariax, who is used to being underestimated and mocked, being treated kindly and sincerely and with respect from this fancy blue boy. The Double D's (YES they coined this themselves) were just. Agh. Fucking pure. Okay. They both called out for each other by instinct at different points in the campaign and like. Goddammit.

fearne you wanted to bring opal to the ocean

also Fearne liked Opal A Lot. Like. Goddamn. Theres something about that, the way Fearne is untouchable until she very suddenly isn't.

pretty pretty rich kids with the world on their shoulders

Dorian and Opal were like. I feel like its well summed up by the two of them banding together early on and doing a "we'RE NEW IN TOWN AND LOOKING FOR DAGGERS" bit sums it up. I think there's a level of- not wealth, per se, but a little bit of Extreme Younger Sibling vibes coming off both of them. Of things to live up to and endless debts and expectations that they never had control over. I kind of wish Opal were here, now. Ready to get excied about a ball with Dorian. Ready to rip off anyones head that makes him uncomfortable. Silent and understanding about going home, with all the ubwanted eyes and expectations you thought you'd outgrown. God, I really do wish Opal was there- I think she'd get it, maybe better than those present can. I really think she would.

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