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lavender-romancer · 15 days

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Push it Down

Astarion x GN Reader

Everyday it got worse, the longing stares interrupted when La’zel would curiously catch your eyeline always straying to Astarion. Or how you would always inextricably walk next to him regardless of the goal ahead. Shadowheart would often question if Astarion had to open “every lock we find” at your request. But you couldn't help it, being near him, with him was all you would think about

AN: Astarion brainrot is a real condition people. Lots of lovely fluff.

You're a squishy wizard

*°*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°••°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”°*

“Do you have to make your feelings so obvious that it's painful?” Shadowheart asked as you looked through some random boxes you found in what remained of moonhaven.

“Do you have to bring this up again?” You jabbed back with a smile. “I'm not ashamed of it, but I will never outright admit it.”

“Lady of Sorrows guide you, I don't know how you're able to stand with your debilitating lack of a spine.” She raised her eyebrow and you simply rolled your eyes “Here, go give these to your boy-toy.” Handing you a few thieves' tools Shadowheart walked to another side of the room and continued looting.

You scampered outside, only realising when you were in front of Astarion how desperate it must have looked to run up to him like a dog wagging its tail excitedly. He was unlocking a chest that was one in a big group La'zel and Karlach had put together for him to deal with.

“Here,” you held out the tools with a smile that was much too big for such a small token.

“Thank you, darling.” He smiled up at you. “You're looking particularly overjoyed, what's got you so energetic?”

“Uh… looting.” You never were good at lying.

“Thank the Gods you never became a politician because your inability to deceive is one of your greatest qualities.” He opened the chest he had been working on.

“I suppose. But I wish I was better at more things like that, it just makes me so nervous to not be honest.” You fidgeted with your hands.

“Well, for starters you need to be better at improvising, it is adorable to see you try and lie to anyone and fail miserably. I'm convinced you should just be completely honest and people might not believe you.” Standing up he brushed the dust off his trousers and you were now face to face. Given, a few steps apart but it still made you smile and your feet shuffle anxiously.

“The tadpole has definitely made me better at lying, you have to at least admit that.” You were practically beaming, staring at him in awe.

“Still, you carry most of your emotions in your eyes and your inability to stop smiling. You'll get there eventually my friend, probably, I mean probably not but it's very sweet that you continue to try. Anyways, we should head back to camp for the evening I am positively spent.” Astarion walked past you to pick up his backpack and you internally groaned.

It was so deeply embarrassing when you couldn't keep your emotions hidden. A problem you had usually put down to anxiousness, but realistically it was just something you had to learn to live with. You were an open book with almost no air of mystique about you. Maybe that was why Astarion seemed so utterly uninterested in seeking anything but friendship or a quick night of passion.

As you lay in your tent, you conjured a mage hand to throw books at you to try and practice your telekinesis but it was going dreadfully. Whilst your magic was growing back to it's former strength before the tadpole you were still plagued by poor reaction times to basically anything. One quite powerful throw from the conjured hand hit your arm and you yelped, sure that it would leave a bruise.

“What mischief are you up too now?” A voice suddenly asked, distracting you from the task at hand as a book hit you square in the face.

“Fuck!” You exclaimed, dismissing the mage hand and rubbing your nose.

“Are you trying to be agile again? You know how that ended up last time.” Astarion joked as he entered your tent and sat down opposite you.

A funny but painful memory entered your mind when you had tried to climb over a very small wall to surprise some goblins and had instead ended up on your back in front of them. If falling over in front of some goblins wasn't bad enough, you had also slipped in grease that was extremely easy to avoid alerting the whole horde to your party's location. The bollocking you got from La'zel after that encounter made you promise to work on your ability to not be “such a fucking Wizard” whatever that meant.

“No, surprisingly I was failing at something else.” You quipped back at him, “anyways, did you want to feed or-”

“No, well yes but, I wanted to talk to you.” He licked his lips absentmindedly and seeing the slight glint of his fangs off the light of your candle made your eyes grow wider. You never knew you'd have a thing for vampires…

“Oh! Do uhm, talk away.” You cringed at your inability to string a sentence together.

“I- look. I know that I am beautiful and wonderful darling, but have you been looking at me slightly differently lately?” he asked, you could almost sense that he was nervous but you weren't sure why.

“What do you mean?” You responded with your eyes fixated on your bedroll on the floor as the alarm bells rang in your head.

“With more longing behind your eyes?” You hadn't noticed that same longing in his eyes which was often present in your gaze.

“Who- I- why did you get that impression?” You fumbled through your words and began fiddling with your robe.

“Oh, I…” he trailed off and you finally looked up, sensing his dejected tone you cocked your head.

“You sound disappointed.” Your tone was soft in an attempt to stop him from running away from the conversation.

“Disappointed? Darling if I wanted you I could most certainly have you.” Having returned to his snarky sense of security you frowned.

“Is that why you seem so annoyed? Because I rejected you before?” Your mind went back to drinking red wine with him, the sour taste filling your nose all over again. It wasn't that you didn't want him, you just didn't want the first time you could spend the night with him to be clouded with alcohol and regret. Maybe it had bruised his ego but there were so many reasons to try to let your bond grow overtime.

“You think that wounded me? I have laid with thousands and I'll lay with thousands more before I am hurt by that!” He exclaimed but you could see the hurt in his eyes that he struggled to hide.

“I didn't want it to be like that. Something that you might feel like was a mistake, a drunken mishap you'd rather forget. I didn't- I don't want you to think I did it because I did not want it. Under different circumstances things would have been different for me.” Clasping your hands together you tried to reach his gaze but it was so accusatory that it was making your heart pound.

“I- I don't think I've ever been rejected as tactfully as you did.” Astarion almost laughed with a far-away look in his eyes.

“It didn't feel genuine and I couldn't allow myself to be swept up in all of it knowing that we weren't on the same page with our feelings about one another.” Smiling sadly you looked at the book that had previously hit you in the face, pushing it to the side you moved a bit closer to him. “I'm sorry that you felt like you had to do that, that night I mean. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.”

“I'm not sure how you know me so well that it's almost concerning.” His voice sounded strained as he departed from his snarky performative notes.

“You've become my favourite distraction through all of this shit we've dealt with. I really like being around you, it will be a shame when it all comes to an end when we get to Baldurs Gate.” your voice didn't show your true sadness but your eyes certainly did and Astarion could tell.

“I was hidden for so many years within those city walls, imprisoned and kept as a loyal pet before the nautiloid. A grim reality was the only way to escape the even worse life I was living and… I never thought I'd make friends let alone feel connected to someone. But you, you're thoughtful and sweet and respectful and too perceptive for your own good but so silly and honestly so bad as hiding that it's hilarious. Finding someone who understands you is a great gift and I would not like to squander it.” Astarion reached out his hand and it shook slightly as he showed his true vulnerability. You looked from his hand to his face, it was genuine and really from everything you could gather, it seemed like he was being the most honest he'd ever been with you.

“You want to stay together?” Your voice was so hopeful as your head told you that you were an idiot.

“Yes. You fool. Was that not clear. Now hold my hand so we're not both fools.” He rolled his eyes and you hurriedly held his hand. Your clamminess was immediately obvious given his hand was ridiculously cold. “God you mortals are always sweaty aren't you.” He gave you a cheeky smile and you had to laugh or you'd descend into an anxiety ridden madness.

“Do you want to stay here tonight? I would enjoy a cuddle.” You asked.

“Just a cuddle Darling?” He flirted but there was still that look behind his eyes that was there after the tiefling party. The look you had come to understand was the dogma drilled into him to seduce, sleep with and then sacrifice all his conquests. Sex wasn't the same in Astarion's head as it was in yours but you didn't mind, it wasn't important to you.

“Just a cuddle.” You smiled in a way that you hoped was supportive and whilst he looked surprised he didn't seem disappointed. “Come here,” you lay down on the pillows and invited him to chest.

Whilst tentative he rested his head on your chest and slowly placed his hand on your arm. You without warning wrapped your arms around him in a squeeze of a hug that would probably suffocate someone who wasn't already dead. But he seemed to appreciate it as he nuzzled under your chin and his body began to relax. You stayed like that for a while until you began to snore and Astarion peeled himself from your embrace. He sat up and started to read, every so often glancing down at you. How an earth had he allowed himself to fall for a Wizard?

Astarion Taglist:

@anukulee

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the-mic-drop · 2 months

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Zelink gets Isekaied into BG3 Pt5: Let's Split Up, Gang!

Zelda- High Elf Draconic Lineage Sorcerer

Link- Half Wood Elf Champion Fighter

So far: Karlach has joined the party, Zelda has begun her infernal machinery research, and Karlach asks Link about his relationship with Zelda

When Zelda finally says goodbye to Dammon, she finds Link looking uncomfortable with Karlach and Astarion on either side of him. She asks what's wrong and Link takes the opportunity to escape and ask where they're going next.

Zelda is split between continuing to explore across the bridge and looking into Moonhaven more. Lae'zel suggests they split into two teams of four to explore both. Zelink is shaken by the suggestion, but can't deny the idea.

Team Link (Link, Wyll, Shadowheart, and Gale) will investigate Moonhaven.

Team Zelda (Zelda, Karlach, Lae'zel, and Astarion) will explore The Risen Road.

The teams will meet back up at camp (probably outside The Grove) at [time is a nebulous concept.]

As the group finishes distributing resources, Zelda hugs Link. She gives him a meaningful kiss goodbye before Team Zelda warps to their destination, leaving him stunned.

Link is mercifully left with the group least likely to hound him for information, but is still asked a few questions that he responds to with characteristic brevity before Team Link warps back to Moonhaven.

Karlach and Astarion ask Zelda about her and Link in their own ways as they walk and Zelda is much more open to answering than her boyfriend.

She tells them they've been living together since the end of the Calamity and started dating a year or so after that. Astarion asks about marriage and she gets bashful, saying they're waiting for the kingdom to get back on its feet. Lae'zel is watching the environment to try and distract herself from this inane dribble.

Lae'zel notices some movement up the road from where they dealt with the Gnolls. Evidently, there were even more Gnolls. Lae'zel advises Zelda to have herself and Karlach head straight in and let her and Astarion sneak up the small hill and give them support from the high ground. Zelda gives the thumbs up and Team Zelda makes short work of the Gnolls, though the moment is sullied when they find a pair of corpses in the cave. That Iron Flask they find is spooky.

Team Zelda continues and finds Waukeen's Rest on fire. Zelda immediately orders the party to search & rescue or join these nice knightly-looking people to put out the fires. She asks Karlach just how fireproof she is. Karlach enthusiastically says she can take a quick pop into an inferno if need be.

Astarion takes a bucket and heads into the less-enflamed buildings and does some light looting veiled as looking for survivors.

Lae'zel kicks down the front door and lets Karlach take the lead into the building. Zelda follows, hitting every blaze with Ray of Frost as she goes.

They get Florrick out, but Zelda hears someone yelling for help from a closed room. She recognizes that the room will ignite further if they open the door and she has Karlach bust in, find the guy, and get out before she blasts the room with a real big Ray of Frost (Ice Storm)

While Zelda goes around magically putting out fires, the rest of the team talks to Florrick and the Flaming Fist, getting the plot info (Astarion takes the lead.) Duke Ravengard, Moonrise Towers, etc.

During a short rest, the team fills Zelda in on what they've learned.

After their rest, they continue down the road and see the red dragon flying overhead. Lae'zel jogs ahead of the party to meet her fellow Gith.

The encounter begins as normal with Lae'zel taking the lead, but eventually, Voss' dragon takes an interest in Zelda. Zelda can feel that the dragon means her no harm and gently communes with it. This impresses Voss enough to believe Lae'zel's deception (or gives Lae'zel the confidence to convincingly lie) and the encounter ends without conflict.

With the knowledge that the Gith are searching for Shadowheart's artefact, Team Zelda decides to head back to camp for the time being.

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kuwdora · 8 months

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The fraught experience of watching TV in a streaming entertainment economy.

I basically watch new TV with the expectation that current season I’m watching is going to be the last. That includes The Witcher Netflix, btw, but other shows, too. I get the feeling we’ve all sort of…come to this conclusion, right? We’re all so jaded because things get cancelled left and right. Nothing is safe. Nothing. :(

We all have to race to watch The Sandman or Shadow and Bone ASAP instead of enjoying a week-to-week drop. It’s exhausting. I don’t like feeling guilty when I don’t have the brain to watch things. I definitely have just streamed stuff in the background and watched it for real later, too.

Star Trek Prodigy on Paramount? Cancelled and pulled from the platform. People who purchased the rest of the season on Amazon never got the episodes because the rights were pulled. Star Trek is the flagship IP!!! And it STILL GOT CANCELLED. Even though it’s beautiful, and fucking brilliant and incredible television and had new episodes in the pipeline.

The other show I’m currently mourning is Moonhaven. I wrote about that show here. It was renewed for a second season! It’s an fascinating, atypical sci-fi TV premise with great leads and interesting worldbuilding and shooting locations in Ireland. And then AMC decided that they were not going to renew it. It’s similar what happened to Avenue 5 on HBO (Ave 5 was more of a Schroedinger’s Cancellation. It’s cancelled except maybe not? But it really is cancelled.)

A League of Their Own? Cancelled. Willow? Cancelled. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance? Sense8???? The list goes on and on. :(

I think for me it was in 2017 or 2018 that I really started internalizing this idea that none of my favorite, amazing shows were going to last. Santa Clarita Diet was axed by Netflix far too soon. Same with Altered Carbon. Those cancellations changed me, yeah…

I follow a lot of WGA writers on twitter and there’s been a lot of discussion happening about the Suits renaissance. Suits aired on the USA Network for 9 years with 16+ episodes/season. It’s been streaming on NBC’s Peacock platform for awhile and now has 8 seasons on Netflix. It’s currently the most-streamed show in Nielson’s history, something like over 2 billion minutes now. people are discovering it for the first time or coming back to it for a very happy rewatch.

This writer sums up the situation perfectly.

I also can’t track down the tweet where a writer was talking to a development executive at Peacock who admitted that they wouldn’t be able to get Suits made today.

Ugly Betty is another show that’s having a similar bump (thanks in part to Barbie, people catching up to how amazing America Ferrara is. Also watch Superstore!!) because people are looking for these longer shows that have character development and the longevity.

The only streaming platform I currently ‘trust’ with my vested TV interests is AppleTV. And I only trust them because I can see what kind of free reign they’re allowing their creatives to do with their shows. They’re specific and bold premises and commitment to characters and themes. Similar to Netflix in the early years. I doubt this will last much longer.

On Apple TV you’ve got incredible psychological thrillers like Severence and Silo happening. The musical comedy Schmiagdoon! too.

Ted Lasso got to have longer episodes and handed over showrunning duties to the lead actor with some questionable creative choices made in those seasons. It still got to complete the show on its own terms. Amazing.

Apple TV also has Mythic Quest which is a unique comedy in the streaming age.

It’s a workplace comedy about a fictionalized video game development company. Picture Ubisoft who also provides video game assets/interstitials for the show among other things. It’s Community meets Always Sunny in Philadelphia (features writers and actors from both). A comedy that examines toxic masculinity in a workplace, completely roasts the girlbloss tropes and the patriarchy. The main characters are really autistic and ADHD coded. The show is completely self-aware (at times painfully so).

But what sets Mythic Quest apart and what tells me Apple TV is letting creatives do their jobs: This show has Bottle Episodes! And flashback episodes that don’t feature any of the primary actors! But the episodes are still relevant to the the themes and character dynamics the show is exploring.

In a hyper-serialized streaming world where executives and product strategists are measuring engagement by minutes watched and how soon they watch, Apple TV is letting these folks make episodes you can watch out of order or skip. But they’re also episodes with high rewatchability. It’s a show with a ton of heart. Apple TV renews Mythic Quest ahead of a season premiere. It renews it for multiple seasons. I’ve found this commitment to the longevity of the show very heartening.

In the past I’ve fallen in love with shows that were irreverent, campy, self-aware comedies. All of these were ABC shows so I can’t even rail against the streaming model. But like Netflix shows they weren’t given enough time to reach a wider audience even though I think some of these definitely have Cult Acclaim by now. I showed up bright an early for most of these and my god. The cancellations stung so much. That pain just accumulated over the years. A precursor of what was to come. :(

Better Off Ted - 2009 show. Another workplace satire that was just ahead of it’s time in the way it showed us the gallows humor of being a cog in the capitalist system. Addressed sexism, racism and classism. Funny as hell. Portia di Rossi knew the fucking assignment and fucked its brains out with her performance. Maz Jobrani was only in like 5 or 6 episodes and he was SO GOOD. I made sure to see every local comedy show I could to see more of him once I saw him in Better off Ted. - currently streaming on Hulu

Galavant - 2014-2016 - a fantasy musical. Monty Python meets Princess Bride. Featuring creators and lyricists who worked on 90s Disney films. So fucking funny and cheeky and heartwarming and silly. The music is so GREAT. All my Witcher and Our Flag Meets Death friends need to check this one out if they need something new-to-them that is witty and light and heartfelt. - also streaming on Hulu

Don’t Trust the B— in Apt 23 - a 2012 show with Krysten Ritter!! Before she was Jessica Jones! This show has eccentric women characters and James van der Beek playing a fictionalized version of himself. This is a show that had so much potential and they aired everything out of order and and and and and and I loved it so much. - Hulu since this is again an ABC show. Vid Rec: Applause by elipie.

Selfie - JOHN CHO AND KAREN GILLAN! John Cho and Karen Gillan in a ROM COM. The screeching wails from fandom when this got cancelled. It was an amazing set-up, amazing chemistry. Funny, quirky. You could see the growth in both of the characters!! And! We Never! Got enough!! - seriously watch this on hulu if you can. John and Karen are AMAZING.

Every first season of Star Trek has been wobbly or had wobbily episodes that didn't work or actors were still getting to know their characters. Every first season. Including new Trek! The X-Files? Even rebooted again? I don’t think it would work. Heck, even if they made second reboot of Battlestar Galactica I’m not sure it’d last. FARSCAPE! Got cancelled! By SyFy! They (like Sense8 and Firefly and a few others) got to have a movie conclusion. But at what narrative cost?? The Expanse got cancelled and uncancelled. The Orville got cancelled and uncancelled. I can't get my hopes up about anything unless I know it's a "limited series" at the onset.

I'm exhausted and sad by the state of the industry. I hope the writers and actors get everything from the studios and we can see a shift back to the previous working models again. Better working conditions and pay and residuals.

So I'll eventually watch A League of Their Own and 1899 and I know I'm going to fucking love every moment that we got to have. And then mourn. And go dig up all the fanfic and vids and art that I can to get my fix.

I think for now I'm gonna join in the Suits rewatch cause I love the humor and the character growth and relationships are fantastic. I don't think I rewatched Suits or Ugly Betty since they aired.

#sighhhh. to Fox for cancelling Almost Human. Michael Ealy and Karl Urban were AMAZING #fox also cancelling Pitch. Kylie Bunbury was outstanding. special shoutout to Ali Larter's performance here too #whyyyy fox why did you cancel The Exorcist after two seasons. it was so good.#HANNIBALLLLLL I WILL FOREVER MISS YOU #kuwdora watches #old and cancelled shows #and some new ones too #kuwdora recs #mythic quest #better off ted #galavant #don't trust the b in apartment 23 #selfie on abc #streaming bullshit #textpost #blogdora

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spacemonkeysalsa · 12 days

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God of Ambivalence

A tiefling Artificer splits a large stone on a beach to discover a one handed-wizard inside.

Pairing - OC/Gale & Shadowheart/Lae'zel but there will be more as it goes on.

Read Chapter One on Ao3

Read Chapter Two on Ao3

Read Chapter Three on Ao3

Read Chapter Four on Ao3

Read Chapter Five on Ao3

Read Chapter Six on Ao3

Read Chapter Seven on Ao3

Read Chapter Eight on Ao3

or read Chapter Eight, below

The sanctum’s courtyard was where most of the restoration work had been done so far. Perhaps because it was more a matter of gardening than stonework. However, there was some fine stonecraft to show off, now that the walls had all been patched. And the bridge across the ravine was repaired and reinforced. The portcullis had been removed entirely, melted down and used to create a fence for the vegetable garden. This was where Shadowheart’s dire wolf lay fast asleep in the sun, enjoying his protective duties.

The other side of the courtyard was a small makeshift forge that the local blacksmith used sometimes, and a mason’s workshop. The plan was to keep them there until the bulk of the work was done, and then turn it back into the pretty prayer garden intended. Elion spied Master Faydor, not really working, just arranging his tools mindlessly, brow furrowed. The heat from the sun made his bald head sweat and his eyes squint.

Elion didn’t dare take a seat, some part of him sure that Faydor would simply dismiss him on sight again, rather than hear him out. He faced him expectantly, experience telling him that the stonemason was ready to excoriate him again.

“Well. What do you have to say for yourself?” Master Faydor acknowledged him without looking at him. “You haven’t taken your duties seriously. You don’t have a love for the work. Why did you waste my time?”

The hollow disappointment stung. The truth of it stung. “I suppose I was rebelling against my parents?”

“You’re a little old for that.”

“Agreed.”

“I do have an interest,” Elion started to defend himself in earnest, “and talent—you’ve seen what I can do. I can do the work. I think I hoped I’d come to love it. I still hope that.”

“I can’t actually afford to send you away,” Master Faydor admitted. “I can’t rebuild this place on my own. But, I have a feeling it won’t matter much, in the wake of…” He motioned to the sanctum, indicating everything inside of it, Elion thought. “Mark my word, this will take a cleric far away. She’ll be looking to put together a band of adventurers to lead into foolishness. Once she gets her way, she’ll apologize and want to leave with the wizard. Take on the burden of some quest,” He sniffed. “Maybe she’ll come back, maybe she won’t. Not sure how motivated the people will be to carry on with the project, once their special acolyte is gone.”

Elion wasn’t sure he agreed. “They aren’t doing it for her. Moonhaven Anew wants this place in use again.”

“Selune isn’t real to them, the way that she is,” Master Faydor shrugged. “They were happy to leave this place a ruin for decades. Nothing’s changed.”

“You’re here now. That makes a difference.”

“I was here forty years ago—” Master Faydor started to argue, but Elion shut him up by motioning to the shining white, fresh stones of the lookout tower, and then moved his arm to indicate the bridge beyond the gate.

“And you single-handedly rebuilt an impressive portion of the sanctum, all by yourself,” Elion pointed out. “It’s just a bad day for long term projects. Give yourself credit.”

Master Faydor had stopped wallowing, but he’d also stopped talking entirely. He was looking past Elion at the bridge.

Elion followed his gaze and found a stranger approaching them. The stranger was still a ways off, but he stopped as he noticed them, and waved.

Waving back, Elion looked to Master Faydor. It would be another minute or so before he was in earshot. “I understand if I’m simply not the right apprentice to help you rebuild this sanctum, but you’ve already proven a few times over that you’re up to the task. Everyone sees it. They want it. They’ll not abandon you again. You’re a hope spot for them.”

The stranger was human, well-built and tall, he had a kind of lurching walk, like maybe his legs were especially tired from days on the road. His skin was warm in hue, but free of the typical scars and freckles that the sun burned onto outdoorsy human faces. His clothing fit him poorly, stretched and ripped in places. He definitely looked like he’d had a hard road at his back. He had a pack hanging over one shoulder, but no weapon in sight, not even a bow. Long black hair, thick with curl, was pulled back off his face, tied in a way that suggested he didn’t have a mirror. “Well met,” he greeted, clearing his throat. “I was hoping to cover more ground today, but find myself in need of respite. I don’t suppose a temple of Selûne would welcome a traveler, just for a night? I need not enter the temple proper, but I’d set up camp nearby if I’m welcome.”

“Most welcome,” Master Faydor inclined his head in greeting. “We can certainly spare the space—might even have some food for poor lost refugees. Elion, would you check our larder?”

Dismissed again, Elion gave them a curt nod, suspicious that Master Faydor was still trying to put off this conversation. They needed to have it. He didn’t much relish the thought either, for he felt sure it would end with him making arrangements to return to Baldur’s Gate where he’d have to explain—apologize—to his parents and probably take up the same station he’d abandoned six months ago.

It was a dim prospect, but foreseeable. He should have put more into this shift, should have recognized that a life change at this point was something that needed to work, or he’d end off significantly worse than before, and humbled before those who already saw him as lesser.

He didn’t go straight to the kitchens this time, deciding instead that he would check in on the wizard and the monk.

The spot where he and Xan had passed the time together was on the way, so he checked and found that Xan had disappeared, leaving his bedroll and several dozing cats.

He’d set the bath up for Gale in his own room, unsure where else in the sanctum there was decent drainage. It used to be a torture chamber. Shadowheart had told him that once. Somehow, that didn’t surprise him. It was the part of the sanctum still largely decimated by Sharran bombardment, and neglect. There was no longer a doorway of any kind, so he’d fixed a long stretch of burlap cloth as a curtain, and put together a makeshift bedroll and a library that was really just a stack of books he’d found around the temple.

Gale was exactly where Elion had left him; in a wooden tub, behind a paper screen, in no small amount of distress. Elion heard a familiar kind of chime in the air and smelled the acrid dispersion of the weave. Probably dismissed his cantrip; Mage Hand wasn’t quite making up for what he lacked.

“Need some help?” it couldn’t be easy, learning to do everything that had come so naturally for so long, all over again with only one hand to rely on.

“I don’t—it’s fine. I just need a little additional time… compared to my usual routine.”

“It’s alright to need a little help. Especially this early on.”

“A hundred years ago and it’s still early days,” sighed Gale through the screen, the way he released his breath and the splash of water that followed suggested to Elion that he’d leaned back in the tub and sloshed water everywhere. “What have I missed?” he sounded genuinely crushed for a moment, but recovered with a, “I don’t suppose you have a mirror? I could use a mirror.”

“I think the only mirror in the sanctum is a bit on the grand side,” Elion admitted, apologetic. “But, I am at your disposal, if that doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Wash that fine head of hair for you?” Once he said it aloud it sounded a bit bold. But it was too late to take the words back.

Gale laughed shortly. “You’re the only person I’ve spoken to who likes it.”

“You must not socialize much.”

“Not since it’s gotten this long, no…” Gale was quiet a moment, then he cleared his throat. “So intimate a thing,” he sighed, “but I suppose—I do need help,” he finished the thought in a quiet voice, fearful, almost.

Elion waited a moment on one side of the paper screen. He couldn’t hear anything, not even the wizard’s breathing. “Shall I come around?”

“...Please.”

Gale sat hunched in the tub, already moved forward enough that Elion had easy access to his back and his bowed head. He resisted the urge to comment as the first thing he noticed was just how badly his services were needed. The encasing black gunk that had somehow protected him had left a dust, stinky sort of residue all matted through the back of his head and down his spine. Elion used his tail to whip a stool within reach and sat down gathering the water in his hands and pouring it at first. Gale flinched.

“It’s cooling fast,” Elion said apologetically, laying his hands flat a moment against Gale’s shoulders. He wasn’t shivering, but the water couldn’t be comfortable like this.

“Well. You’re quite warm,” Gale cleared his throat, from the sliver of his face that he could see, Elion thought he wasn’t imagining a blush.

“A featured trait of us hellspawn.”

“Oh Gods, that’s not still the rhetoric is it? Tieflings in my day had a rough go of it. A hundred years and we haven’t learned much?”

“The Infernal Wars have gone on for the century you’ve been away. If progress was ever to be made for tiefling acceptance, it was not going to happen during the last hundred years,” Elion tried not to sound too embittered.

“Shame,” Gale seemed to relax a little under his hands, he actually leaned back, just a few inches, as Elion started to work his fingers into his scalp, massaging the water into the roots of his hair. “I’m sorry to hear it. Truly.”

“I suppose there’s some good things to report.” Elion dipped his hands into the water, and watched the black come away in smokey swirls in the water. “We’ve had a few spots of positive press, if nothing else. Where I grew up—Baldur’s Gate, there’s a rather well known tiefling wizard, master of Ramazith Tower. Rolan. He’s been around a long while now though, I don’t suppose—?”

“After my time,” Gale answered the question before Elion could finish it, but then added, “but, that’s promising to hear, actually. I had hoped to consult elder wizards on my… predicament. If this Archduke Raphael is interested in my orb, perhaps a wizard who’s experienced in the weave and the infernal is the right call.”

“That certainly describes Rolan. At least—what I’ve heard of him.” Elion poured a little water into the worst of the clumped hair and used his long nails to break up the locks.

“I think it’s warmer for being in your hands,” Gale said after a moment, Elion thought he’d been holding his breath. “The water, I mean,” he added.

“You’re nearly starting to look presentable, sir.” Elion was surprised by how much it lifted him to hear Gale sounding less hopeless than before.

“That’s all I can ask,” Gale exhaled another captive breath.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 gale #bg3 gale #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #God of Ambivalence

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brainyxbat · 10 months

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Hi it’s me agsin I hope things are oksy. Anyways I just thought let you know I did begsin write different epic fan fictions. I’ve been writing them lot lately. I probably re-edit them and maybe possibly load them on fan fiction. Net and here. If I get around to might try hand at drawing some scenes based on fan docs post on deviant art and here.I just have wait and see.

As on top that I still have to focus on my school and taking care of family. So be when I can anyways. I was wondering I know haven’t in long time if like to continue with epic role play? Or say like start a new one be cool. If not it’s fine I know both lives can be crazy at times.

Anyhow some of epic fan fictions I’m writing I give brief here:

Untitled epic fan fiction 1: Ronin dies of old age and Nod having hard time coping with loosing another person cares about. But thanks to mk his now wife plus thier children help nod get through difficult time.

Untiled epic fan fiction 2: set pre ending of movie but before Nod visits mk ( after mk returns home) as see at end of movie. Ronin tries make reason with Nod his new relationship with mk. About complications of leafman and stomper being in relationship because of being from two different worlds and two different dimension sizes. Of course Nod refuses to listen and chooses to visit mk regularly while thier relationship grows.

Untiled epic fan fiction 3: Mandrake breaks free of his tree prison with new unbeatable strength, now some special dark magic power. He out for revenge for ones took pod from him and trapped him in tree. Mandrake has bogans set up trap. Process of the trap they get Nod. Mandrake uses his new special power to curse nod to follow mandrake every whim against nod will. He uses nod as bait to get to ronin and mk. Among mandrake revenue tries make nod kill ronin and mk but he refuses as saying he ratger die then kill his father figure and love of his life. Therefore mandrske totures nod more, where nod no longer has control over his own body.

Ronin, mk and rest of nod family and friends try find some answers how set nod free and get rid of mandrske once and for all. With help of Nim glu from scrolls there old prophecy tells of the events happening and whst must do. But unfortunately by prophecy only way stop mandrake and break curse nod has. Is to use of special magical sword of great power and has to be driven into both of them. Will Nod survive or will he die?

Untiled epic fan fiction 4: Two years after nod and mk been together, they break up. Due to complications of size differences, from two different worlds and never be able have real relationship like most couple have. Of course at end Nod is devastated by break up and say something’s to mk he regrets tries make up bit too late. Nod never gets see or speak to mk again. Or will he?

Four years later after heartbreaking break up of nod and mk, each has tried move on with thier lives. Mk is in city going to college while nod continues his life as leafman. But somehow over 4 years nod hasn’t been sane after mk,he just wrapped himself in leafman duties, as feeling he had nothing else live for. He lost himself, all gone was his free spirited loving , caring self. Now he became bitter, cold and distant and empty shell of his former self.

One day leafman are called to edge of moonhaven after some disturbance. Nod goes along with them with ronin to investigate. In process of it there surprise attack of bogss which caues leafman be outnumbered. Among that nod gets knocked off his bird and gets captured. Trying plan his escape ftom his captures, he ends getting hurt in process, and blacks out. When wakes up he in edge of forest not far from mk home. Nod now by some mysterious accunce has lost all his memories and not only that but no longer his leafman size, he now stomper!

Dazzled, confused, and scared Nod trying remember all events happened as well figure out he got where he at. Not sure what to do he wonders off forest and see some type home and heads to it. Unknown to him it’s actually mk home. Mk happens be there for time visiting her dad. She gets unexpected visit from nod at her door. Will this change of events help bring nod and mk back together? Will mk be able help nod to solve mystery of his lost memories and whst happened to him? Unknown to both of them a new enemy along with bogsn are threatening forest and moonhaven again. Will ether be able to help?

Well so far this it of stories I’m working on. Of course each will be edited before I send it to those sites.

Ooh, those all sound interesting! 😊

#epic 2013

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tvsotherworlds · 2 years

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darkness-rather-blacker · 2 months

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Introduction: Malag in Baldur’s Gate

The Surface: It may as well have all been one enormous glint of metal in candlelight; sky, sun, cloud, and star. Magnified in one catastrophic concentration that pierced his eyes, burnt his skin. The quality of the air… it made him feel like he’d float away, fall up and never touch earth again.

It must be a magic quality. For he had witnessed the way elements collected into light much like it before, in the hands of mages. But to have it constant, overhead, reaching every corner, trapping the land within it… that took magic only Gods could wield.

He found mercy in the night. He knew, by stories and traveller accounts, that day would eventually relent into darkness up here. Once he might have knelt in praise of Lolth’s black embrace, yet night came still, long after he’d denounced the Spider Queen. It was no blessing of hers. Who then did he have to thank? Eilistraee?

Valen had faith in Eilistraee, a faith which he preached to Malag, earnestly. Malag himself had not and did not know of any saviour. Maybe Valen himself counted, in his way. The secret passage Valen had taken to the surface led up through a well in a village called Moonhaven. Valen and his Eilistraee rebels had made use of it in their endeavour to free slaves and convert Lolth followers to their cause.

It had been months since Malag had watched his lover fall into a portal to the Hells, presumably at the hands of the demon lord that had bestowed Valen the curse of horns in the first place.

As each of his fugitive days on the Surface went on, the more he began to doubt that anything he’d experienced in the last year had been real. Had Malag betrayed his House out of his own private delusion? Had Lolth played a wicked trick? Or maybe it was all Lady Silverhair again.

When he’d found refuge in Baldur’s Gate, after days of tracking himself out of the woods, he’d found the cheapest inn he could find and comforted in the small, black room on the second floor. Lighting no candles, he hung old bioluminescent relics from the ceiling and wrote by their green and orange lights in his journal.

He determined, after some days in the city, that the best course of action would be to either find his way back to the Underdark to face his pursuers and kill the Matron of House Hla’Viir (who also happened to be his mother), or to find someone with access to a portal to the Hells. However, for the latter he would have to first figure out where in the Hells, precisely, Valen had been taken to, and by whom.

Either way, he would surely die doing it alone. He had to mount at least a modest party of support. Though he’d killed the Matron’s guards, she and her three daughters remained, all of whom likely acquired more slaves and guards at their beck in no time. There were plenty of mercenaries around Baldur’s Gate looking for work. Surely he could think of some front for an expedition.

#🗡️ IC

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awomansworld666 · 10 months

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Fiction media

TV shows I enjoyed - potential spoilers ahead

- The expanse

- Sanctuary

- Castlevania

- Arcane (didn't like the character of Jinx though, too manic pixie girl coded for me)

- Xena

- Relic hunter (very male gazey but formed my whole sexuality 😂)

- This is going to hurt ( the character of Shruti Acharya was amazing for me)

- Black sails (the character of Eleanor and losing yourself for status, normality, conformity really speaks to me)

- Gentleman Jack

- Vigil

- killjoys (space opera)

- Moonhaven

- Hypathia (greek mathematician)

- Rings of Power

- Willow

- Stargate and Stargate Atlantis

Films :

- Anhiliation

- I care a lot (a bit male gazey but enjoyed the two protagonists)

- Aniora

- Harriet Tubman (intense)

- Queen sono

Would have liked to enjoy it but not really it for me / Happy to be argued/persuaded

- Yellow jackets (the cannibalism/horror scenario is too real/realistic for me, couldn't watch hannibal for it (just gifsets)

- A league of their own - the cast seems so interesting but I can't get into baseball it seems

- little women

- I'm not an easy man ( too triggering for me)

- Belle (too sweet)

Not feminist per se but not heavily misogynistic (imo)

- German 'Dark' ¥

- Devs ¢

- Charlie's angels (with Kristen Stewart) £

- Atomic Blonde £

- The mummy (originals and remakes with sofia boutella) £$

- German Deadlines tv show (similar to sex in the city but less libfem imo)

- Diablero §$

- My life is murder (with Lucy lawless)

- The haunting of bly manor

- The haunting of hill house

- cloud atlas

- foundation ( skip the 'harem' scenes, the gossamer court, interesting strong female characters)

- The peripheral (casual misogyny and male gaze but well written female characters as leads)

- mutant x

- fringe

- killing eve ( I actually didn't like villanelle at all, but wish there had been more with eve polanstri and Carolyn martens)

- American Gods ( I liked Laura Moon & Sam Black crow)

Guilty enjoyment

- The witcher/ Jennyfer has my heart £

- Mr. Robot (liked Darlene, Dominique Dipierro £)

- Motherland (heart breaking about parenting/motherhood )

- Love sex and anarchy (very soft power plays with older woman/younger man)

- Discovery of witches (classical romance in fantasy settings with an overprotective possessive lead)

- Stoker (toxic gothic coquette romance/abuser victime grooming )

- westworld (could get in previous category, one of my favourite shows, could and would write books on it, casual misogyny but also interesting women's characters)

- altered carbon - quite misogynistic and a lot of torture porn but also interesting women's characters in different archetypes

- hustle

- true blood (gothic romance with comedic aspects)

- blade runner 2049 (wish it was a women's protagonist with male robots)

Anime

Books

- interested in :

- a master of djinn

- Arcane Ascension by Andrew Row (maybe not convinced)

- The ruthless lady's guide to wizardry - Read, sadly not my style, too saccharine

- and I darken

To consume :

- The wire

Notes:

- £ - male gazey/strong nudity/sexiness

- ¢ - gnc / butch or more masculine of center heroes

- ¥ - stereotypical gender rolls

- $ poc cast

- § latin representation

#tv shows

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tvrundownusa · 2 years

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tvrundown USA 2022.07.15

Friday, July 15th:

(exclusive): Days of Our Lives: "Beyond Salem" (Peacock, season 2 finale), Alba (netflix, Spanish traumatic legal drama, all 13 eps), Country Queen (netflix, Nairobi activism drama, all 6 eps), Remarriage & Desires (netflix, Korean mini-series, all 8 eps), "Mom, Don't Do That!" (netflix, Taiwanese romance, all 11 eps), Farzar (netflix, animated sci-fi adult comedy, series premiere, all 10 eps), Comicstaan (amazon, Indian comedy competition, season 3 available, all 8 eps)

(movies): "Don't Make Me Go" (amazon), "ZOMBIES 3" (dsn+, musical sequel), "Love Accidentally" (freevee, rom-com), "Persuasion" (netflix, adaptation of Jane Austen novel), "Love Goals" (netflix, Indian sports dramedy, ~2hrs+45mins)

(streaming weekly): Black Bird (appleTV), For All Mankind (apple+), LOOT (apple+), Physical (apple+), RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (Para+)

(*~Shark month~*): "Dawn Of The Monster Mako" (DSC+), "The Haunting Of Shark Tower" (DSC+), When Sharks Attack (NatGeo, "Twice Bitten"), When Sharks Attack (NatGeo, "Gulf Fear", season 8 finale), Game of Sharks (NatGeo, reair)

(original made-for-TV movies): Keeping Up With the Joneses: "The Wrong Murder" (LMN, 2hrs)

(earlier - hour 0): The Loud House (NICK) / / The Casagrandes (NICK), / Bunk'd (disney)

(hour 1): Star Trek Prodigy (NICK, 60mins), The Villains of Valley View (disney) / / "Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion" (disney)

(hour 2): Raven's Home (disney), The Great American Recipe (PBS)

(hour 3): Moonhaven (AMC, sci-fi series premiere, ~90mins), CMT Campfire Sessions (season 2 opener, new timeslot)

(hour 4 - latenight): The Rehearsal (HBO, Nathan Fielder "experiment" premiere, ~45mins)

[on hiatus, preempted: Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) returns in two weeks; Dynasty (theCW) returns in three weeks ]

#Farzar #Moonhaven #Comicstaan #CampfireSessions #KeepingUpWithTheJoneses #television

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dragonmythfandom · 1 year

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Plants on the Moon are growing!!!!!!!!

https://nerdbot.com/2022/11/23/biotechnological-development-or-how-to-grow-plants-in-space/

Moonhaven is real guys. Amazing!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAH

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elianaofshiverpeaks · 6 years

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Oops can I have the body weight height and skin color and eye color too

Eye colour was in the last post. I know the outline colour being so light makes it a bit harder to see sometimes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#gw2 #guild wars 2 #eliana moonhaven #asks #replies #anon #anonymous #good luck anon!#I legit only logged into gw2 to check this since I'm kinda on a break rn #like an actual real break from the game since I started playing in what year was that? like 2012? holy shit

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lilmissbacon · 3 years

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Adding Characters to the Big Four (RotBTD)

I've already made a post about just "How the Big Four Work so well (discussion)" which talks about their personalities are and what their stories have in common, as well as what criteria they follow.

So if you want to understand exactly what I'm talking about I'd recommend you read this first:

Now I'm gonna go into what characters would fit and why. So if you want to add other movies to this world, I would recommend Moana, Epic, The Croods or maybe even Hotel Transylvania and here's why:

Moana – Begins with narration but ends with a song. Although it's a song that sums up what Moana had learned and what her people have now become. So it is, its own form of narration. She also goes through the journey of finding herself by becoming a wayfinder like her ancestors.

Moana definitely adds to the groups resources with being friends with the ocean, knowing about the realm of monsters and being friends with Maui & Te Fiti. She would definitely get along great with the big four friend dynamic in many ways.

Hiccup: through their ability to lead and quick thinking. They also both understand what it's like to grow up on an island with their fathers being the leader who expects certain things from them.

Rapunzel: because they understand going against a parent's wishes and working to make their dreams/wishes come true. They also have the same type of bubbly personality and would converse well.

Jack: they both understand what if feels like to be chosen for something they feel they're not ready for and what it feels like to be an outsider from the people around them.

Merida: their tough and somewhat playful nature as well as their diplomacy skills match each other so well. They'd definitely be the closest of the group because of their strong personalities.

Out of a friend group consisting of: the girly-girl, a troublemaker a nerd and a tomboy, she fits into the literary dynamic through being the 'athlete.' In battle, consisting of: a leader/strategist, a healer, a sniper(bow and arrow) and a speed fighter, Moana fits in as the 'close combatant' in battle.

The magic also can still follow the guidelines of rotg. They speak about Gods but what if there really aren't any? The only 'God' we see is Te Fiti, who is the bringer of life. Or in other words; Mother Nature. The God that had raised Maui could've actually been the man in the moon and that would be how Maui was given magic and doesn't age. He goes around, calling himself a demigod but in reality, he's a spirit. And of course he's able to be seen since everyone on Motunui believes in the demi/gods.

Seasonally, Moana would most obviously be put in summer. But there are a lot of people who feel that adding more characters to the big four kind of breaks the seasonal aspect and that's fine.

But here me out.

The seasons effect the land on earth but if Moana is a spirit of the ocean, then she's effecting the rest of the earth's surface. The ocean doesn't necessarily have seasons so you don't need to apply one to her in order for her to add to the group. BOOM! Loophole!

I believe she's the BEST additional choice out of them all. Plus she'd definitely be chosen to become a guardian because *cough cough* SHE SAVED THE WORLD FROM DECAY.

Eep – A lot of applications for Moana fit for Eep too. She has narration at the beginning and end of her film. She'd fit in literarily as the 'athlete' and battle-wise as 'close constant/brawler.'

She also kind of has an arc of finding herself by leaving her cave days behind and following the light with her family. And being that she's from the caveman days –a time even before Moana– she could definitely add to the group with her survival skills.

Eep's dynamic with the others would be:

Hiccup: he understands overly strong women and would be able to keep up with her. She also has an innocent side to her and would be enthralled with his inventions. She'd just sit there and watch him work 😆

Rapunzel: being that Eep is getting a new friend in Dawn (who reminds me of Rapunzel) in "The Croods 2," I would imagine Rapunzel would also be intrigued with Eep's scars/adventures and Eep would be more than happy to boast.

Merida: their roughness and competitive nature would make them the best frienemies. They'd be closer than ever but do nothing but wrestle and compete.

Jack: like how Eep would boast with Rapunzel, Jack would boast with Eep. She would be in love with Jack's magic and he'd be more than happy to show off.

There really isn't a magical aspect to compare with rotg so the world can still fit into the dynamic here.

Eep is witty, optimistic, energetic, speaks without thinking and fails to plan ahead a lot. Therefore, as a seasonal spirit, Eep would bring spring.

MK – Begins with narration but doesn't really have any at the end. She can add to the groups resources by knowing about the leafmen and the whole mini society, of course.

The magic also stays in line with rotg and it probably helps that the creator of Epic was also the author of the Guardians of Childhood books that inspired rotg. The moon is what blooms the pod, so it's possibly the man in the moon passing his magic into the pod so it gives the next queen her powers.

In the literary dynamic, MK would be the 'city girl' friend-wise and the 'reanforcement' fight-wise. Getting along with the rest would be:

Hiccup: she would be a sense of familiarity with MK's dad being a scientist and Nod's sarcastic nature. Hiccup would also be very intrigued to learn more about the Moonhaven kingdom.

Merida: their stubbornness and being able to understand having a parent that doesn't listen.

Rapunzel: their (new) love for nature and exploring. As well as being able to understand the pain of losing a loved one.

Jack: understanding the feeling of being invisible to the people around you. MK definitely felt this way after her mom died and when her dad wasn't listening. She mentioned how she felt alone to Ronan when he brought up the "many leaves, one tree," line.

I believe she could've been chosen to become a guardian because she did save an entire society and forest. Seasonally, I believe MK would be made into a fall spirit. There are certain places that relate to or even represent the seasons. When you think of Fall, you think of trees. Spring relates to a field/garden, summer relates to a beach and winter relates to just about everything being in snow, but usually frozen bodies of water. She's also very dependable, willing to work, disagreeable and easily irritated. All traits that relate to Autumn.

Mavis – Probably the least workable candidate. There really isn't any narration in this movie and she also doesn't really "find herself" either so her movie criteria don't really work here.

But her character criteria still does. The magic still fits because we know that spirits are created by the man in the moon. If we go by the GoC books, the mim is alien magic. But who's to say that earth didn't have its own magic in the form of monsters (which can also fit for the realm of monsters from Moana.) So the magical dynamic still works.

She could also add to the group by knowing about monsters as well as being a vampire herself. She could turn into a bat or travel as smoke to sneak around places to find information if need be.

She'd fit in literarily as the 'gothic (not so much as personality but by style)' friend-wise and the 'sneak attacker' fight-wise. Getting along with the rest would be:

Jack: there are many takes on the Jack Frost myth and in a few of those takes, he's a monster. The reason for this could be because Jack has come across Hotel Transylvania and the monsters could see him (not being human and all) and he befriended Mavis, knowing she was lonely. They have the same type of fun personality and are both great with balancing tricks. I can imagine Jack getting Mavis into trouble through pranking the hotel guests.

Rapunzel: they'd both be able to understand being locked up in some way by a parent and wanting to travel the world. They both also have naiveties about the real world and would be learning things for the first time together.

Merida: through their daily activities and love for food. I could imagine them trying each other's scream-cheese and haggis😂 I'd also imagine Merida being the one to help Mavis socially catch up.

Hiccup: much like Eep, she'd be incredibly intrigued by Hiccups inventions. I think she'd even try anything to assist him while he's testing certain things. I can imagine him also being the one to help Mavis socially catch up as well.

She's very curious, friendly, energetic and tender-hearted as well as undecided and talkative. So seasonally, she too, would go to spring. She unfortunately can't go into sunlight but there are plants that actually do better in darkness. That would be where she specializes.

I hope you all like this. I hope you find this whole thing very interesting and informational. If you have any other characters you think could add to the big four, I'd love to hear it.

#the big 4 #the big four #rise of the guardians #rise of the brave tangled dragons #rotbtd #how to train your dragon #httyd #tangled #brave #hotel transylvania #the croods #epic #moana

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