#vogue elves
Text
The thing about the Heart Attack segment in Wonderland is that they put so much aromantic subtext in it. They accidentally put SO much aromantic subtext in it, on behalf of multiple characters, and I'm thinking about it constantly. Let me tell you all about it.
Magnus is dropped into a dating game and literally leads with "I cannot stress enough how uninterested I am in this." Now, it's perfectly valid to read this as due to him waiting for Julia, or just him being plain old uncomfortable with having his love life put in the spotlight. However! I cannot stress enough the exchange that happens just a minute or two after that line:
Magnus (describing his ideal date): ... and we don't see each other again, ‘cause I'm really not interested in dating.
Audience: [exaggerated] Oooooh! (cheers)
Griffin: The silhouette is like, fanning itself.
Lydia: Playing hard to get, huh? It seems like our contestant is into that.
And I just have to say: unfortunately, this is one of the most aromantic fucking experiences I've seen represented in fiction in my life. I mean — saying you're not interested in romance, then having those words twisted on you, like they're some secret coded way of saying that you are interested in romance? Not having a single way to express your disinterest that'll actually be believed? That's some aro shit right there. God. Fuck.
As an aside, it's enough to really tell that Heart Attack is not designed to be a reprieve from the pain, even though it's the "good outcome" of Trust or Forsake. It's designed to be uncomfortable. To funnel suffering to Edward and Lydia, just like all the other games do. (More on that later, in fact.) But in summary:
Magnus is a character who can be read as uncomfortable with romance for either aro-spec reasons or unrelated reasons. But in either case, his discomfort attracts reactions that reek of amatonormativity — and therefore, resonate with aromantic experiences. (Psst, I did recently write a gray-aro Magnus fic!)
Two more analyses below the cut (and only one of them is for another Horny Boy):
Obviously the next character I need to talk about is Merle. I've found aroallo readings of his character to be compelling for a long time (having sex with plants so you don't have to worry about romantic commitment, am I right?), but the way he describes his "ideal date" is another factor:
Merle: I volunteer to drive her vehicle, and tell her it's filthy, and so we go through the uh- drive through vehicle wash and she pays for that too. Um, and then I take her to have dinner with my family, and-
Magnus: Wait, like your wife and stuff?
Merle: She meets my ex-wife.
Merle's probably exaggerating as a joke, continuing on about both him and his partner being miserable, but I think the fact that Merle's mind goes here is genuinely drawing from a lot of poor romantic experiences in the past. He didn't get a choice about being on Heart Attack, and his marriage with Hecuba was similarly "arranged".
It's also worth noting that at this point in time, Merle is putting in the work to be part of Mavis and Mookie's lives again, but is not interested in doing the same for Hecuba — he instead just asks Mavis how Hecuba's doing. That said, given that Magnus is the one to put the focus on Merle's ex-wife, I think it's fair to read the "family" comment as Merle actually expressing that he'd rather spend time with his kids than give any special romantic attention to his date. Moving on to the rest of the "joke":
Merle: She's having a miserable time and she's really mad, she can't wait to get outta there. I take her back to her house, and so I lean up against the door jam and say, 'Sure you don't want me to come in for a few minutes?' and she slams the door in my face.
It's possible Merle just has a more roundabout, self-deprecating way of expressing a similar thing to what Magnus did: Merle just isn't interested in dating. To me, the last line implies he might not say no to sex, if offered — but overall, it reads as if Merle is putting minimal effort in because he's looking for an excuse to get out of this relationship anyway.
It's also possible that Merle's "rejection" of a suitor being so disguised as humor could point to him still coming to terms with his disinterest in dating. Particularly, in comparison to Magnus, who is so vocal and unashamed about it, while Merle might still be figuring this all out.
(Honestly, the self-deprecation Merle turns to here is actually kind of sad, when viewed in that light — he already lets himself be the butt of jokes so often, and now he feels like the way romance doesn't click for him has to be a joke, too? Oof. Someone give him a hug and tell him he's not broken this instant!) But regardless:
Merle views dates, and perhaps romance in general, as things that will inevitably turn disastrous for him and any party involved with him, and he would rather spend time with his children than repairing a relationship with an ex, or cultivating a relationship with a new partner. This is not an experience exclusive to the aro-spec umbrella, but you can't say that an aromantic reading of his character doesn't fit him like a gardening glove...
...which he wears while fucking his plants. Because plants don't demand emotional intimacy, nor take too much time away from the platonic relationships that matter more to him. And you know what? He's fucking valid for that! Fly your flag, nasty grandpa!
But moving on: I promised you aromantic analysis of characters outside of our protagonists, and henceforth, that analysis I will provide. And not just because I admittedly see Taako as the token alloromantic (though clearly an aro ally; if he hadn't chosen Forsake we wouldn't have gotten all this incredible characterization!)
I digress. So let's go on to addressing the lich twins in the room: Edward and Lydia.
Remember my argument earlier that Heart Attack serves the purpose of collecting suffering just like the rest of Wonderland does? How it's just a subtler way of making Wonderland's victims fundamentally uncomfortable?
...Using, of all things, romance?
How the vogue twins, for whatever reason, felt inspired to make people uncomfortable with matchmaking and adoration? How, some way or another, they noticed how much potential romance had to induce suffering? Being pressured into a relationship, being told that no matter how firmly you say you're uninterested, you're not really uninterested?
...Relatedly, I have always gotten the sense that Edward and Lydia projected relentlessly onto their victims.
Edward: This resolve, this desire to do whatever it takes no matter the cost to save yourselves — do you know who you three remind me of?
Magnus: No?
Merle: Who?
Edward: Us!
I'm even going to go a step further and say that on top of projection, they want their victims to go through things they went through. Swallowing the guilt of having fucked someone else over to survive, of course — that's basically self-admitted. But possibly also... the feeling of not being able to get back what you lost (Keats). The feeling of being able to heal (Keats).
So, where does that leave Heart Attack?
Lydia: It was the three of us, surviving against all odds. The world against us.
Their family of three was (is) indescribably important to them. I'm not necessarily saying that societal expectations of romance, especially of romance as a priority above that of family, left a bad taste in their mouths — if not downright contributing to their trauma — but, okay, I wrote the rest of this post and now that I'm back, I can no longer deny it. I'm definitely, absolutely saying that.
At the time of the podcast, we know Edward and Lydia's own relationship is heavily strained. Until the end, they are lying to themselves and to each other about the fact that they continue to be emotionally and magically reliant on each other. After all, Lydia wouldn't say "I guess we really needed each other after all" in her dying moments with such surprise otherwise.
This is the second reason that I... well, I wouldn't quite call it a "theory," but I find it most impactful to read Edward and Lydia as characters for whom the concept of Love has baggage. And always has, from their origins as youth in a tough spot in an already amatonormative world.
Maybe the constant societal devaluing of platonic, familial bonds left them with serious emotional scars. Maybe the constant conflation of Love and morality just weighed on them and weighed on them and weighed on them until they decided: well, we don't love the way people expect us to, so we might as well give up on being the good people they expect us to be. We might as well embrace this new fuel of suffering.
...And you know, I hope this gets across what I mean when I always say I headcanon villains as aromantic to make them more sympathetic.
Edward and Lydia, textually, are already tragic villains. As twins and liches, they're also textually foil characters to several of the Seven Birds. But I also like to think that they have a lot in common with Magnus and Merle, and the possibility that tugs at my heartstrings the most is the possibility of them all falling under the aromantic umbrella.
#taz#taz balance#taz balance spoilers#magnus burnsides#merle highchurch#vogue elves#wonderland twins#(i always forget which tag i use for them lol)#aspec taz#taz meta#happy aro week this essay is my gift to myself <2
160 notes
·
View notes
Text
More TAZ, more relic holders ! In the home stretch now 💟
#oh crap art#art#artists on tumblr#fanart#the adventure zone#taz balance#junebug taz#sheriff isaak taz#edward taz#lydia taz#edward and lydia#the vogue elves#I miss the twins already tails
137 notes
·
View notes
Text
BLOOD SISTERS -
[ot7 x reader]
3D?????????
8 participants - 8 online
———————————
hobi: i heard vogue paid jungkook in cheese
namjoon: what?
jk: yes
namjoon: WHAT???
jimin: you did a shoot for vogue and got paid in cheese?????
yoongi: is that legal?
tae: are u a rat?
jin: i know a rat…
tae: YOU SHUT UR MOUTH
jk: i like cheese
y/n: put his vouge money in a savings account don’t worry
jimin: you robbed jungkook???
y/n: can you read??
it’s in a savings account
jimin: ur savings account?
y/n: no
jk: i got cheese
y/n: i gave him the cheese
namjoon: jungkook are you ok with her doing that?
jk: yes
i got cheese
y/n: SEE HES OK WITH IT STOP TRYING TO MAKE THE VILLAN HERE!
hobi: why did you do that tho?
y/n: are we forgetting that jungkook literally spent like 500k on a framed picture of the avengers
tae: that picture was cool asf who was the artist?
jk: google
tae: what?
jk: google
tae: oh
y/n: see
yoongi: yikes
jimin: was the cheese good?
jk: yes
i miss it
wish i could have more
🥺
y/n: i am not giving you more cheese
jin: didn’t he say he was lactose intolerant?
jk: i’m so upset rn
hobi: anyway ur vogue pictures were cool
jk: ok
can i have cheese
y/n: say thank you to hobi
jk: thank u to hobi
yoongi: is he high?
y/n: extremely
tae: WITHOUT ME?????
FAKE LOVE FAKE WORLD
jin: playing with my clit rn
y/n: what the actual fuck
namjoon: what possessed you to say that
jk: YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
JIN A GIRL???????????????
jin: was that not relatable to you y/n?
don’t you feel comfortable?
y/n: no wtf???
i’m extremely uncomfortable rn
jin: ok kill yourself then
read a weverse comment that said you probably feel so uncomfortable and can’t relate to anyone cuz ur surrounded by men all the time
tried to help you
that is the last nice thing i do for you
jimin: wow i never thought about that
let’s all see how far we can squirt guys come on for y/n ❤️
yoongi: can you stop
jk: i’m gonna win
y/n: u all make me want to throw up
tae: no cuz let’s have a period together #bloodsisters
namjoon: that is not how it works
hobi: i’m bleeding real bad rn >.<
jimin: super slay!!!
yoongi: super slay?
tae: slay my pussy ong
y/n: ENOUGH
tae: i love being a woman
jk: i want to seduce the king
jin: you can’t
i’m not into u at all
jk: ur no king of mine
tae: jungkook can you come over please i’m lonely
jimin: is this how you text your hoes?
tae: no only my bros 🫶🏻🥺
jk: i can’t tae :(
tae: why wtf
jk: too much cheese
tae: ?
jk: i can’t move
yoongi: pretty sure that’s the weed
jin: or maybe he’s shitting himself
cheese does that
not speaking from experience btw
jk: no
y/n: so how is everyone today?
jimin: don’t talk to me
tae: i’m still bleeding
jk: sometimes i imagine i’m a tiny little elf that works in the back of a coal mine just mining away but the coal mine is actually yoongi’s head an i’m inside it mining him new knowledge he can learn and after i mine the knowledge i give it to the other elves and they give it to the brain
hobi: are tiny and little not the same thing you did not need to use both those words
jk: soz
yoongi: why me
leave me alone
namjoon: i could be better tbh y/n
jimin: can we talk about how jungkooks new song
jk: do you like it?
namjoon: it’s not out yet
jk: do you like it?
namjoon: it is not out yet jungkook
jk: is it good?
jin: ur a slut
dare i say whore
jk: don’t dare
y/n: double dare
tae: i double dare you to come to my house
jk: :0
jin: like guys do you understand like jungook is a whore
A WHORE
yoongi: ok
jin: I CANT TAKE IT LIKE YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT IN 3D???
WHAT IN MOTION???
UR SICK UR NOT RIGHT AT ALL
STOP IT
STOP IT NOW
y/n: it’s okay
jin: ITS NOT
jk: who is 3d
tae: the jack harlow feature is crazy tho
yoongi: it’s really not
stop putting white men the world doesn’t care about anymore on your songs
hobi: spilled
jk: i’m not white
do people think i’m white
do they not care for me due to my whiteness
am i white?
??????????
oh my god i’m white
namjoon: you are not white
jk: namjoon said i’m not white
tae: namjoon is your white father
jk: OHMYGOD
jimin: what inspired 3d jungkook?
jk: y/n 🥰💜💗💗🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
y/n: ????????????????????
jimin: LMAOAOSOOOOOOOOOOO
hobi: oh wow
yoongi: what
namjoon: okay!
jin: IM GONNA KILL MYSELF UR SICK
tae: wow i didn’t know you got down like that kookie
#respect
yoongi: did you just say #respect
tae: yeah?
u wish you could right a sex song about my amazing beautiful girl like jungkook did
fucking mad loser bitch
hobi: *write
tae: wait
??
something is not right there
🤨
idk what it is
but i know it’s not right
hobi: maybe it’s because you used rigjt instead of write
tae: maybe
namjoon: ur so fucking stupid it hurts
tae: or maybe not
jk: what is going on
jin: THATS WHAT IM SAYING
YOUVE CHANGED JK YOUVE CHANGED AND I FEAR ITS FOR THE WORST
jk: i was talking about the aliens
idk what ur saying to me right now
y/n: WHY IS IT ABOUT ME??
hobi: clearly he kisses and tells
y/n: THERE IS NOTHING TO TELL
yoongi: clearly there is
wrote a whole song about it
jimin: at least you know you got good pussy!!
tae: me 2!
namjoon: can we not
tae: we can
im in my girl era
feminism in my boobs blood in my vagina
hobi: you take things too far..
tae: ok but it’s natural??
fucking men man i can’t do this y/n are you with me baby
y/n: stop talking for 5 minutes omg
tae: okay!
jk: do the aliens have drivers licenses
jimin: when’s the last time you fucked be honest
namjoon: why are you so invested in her sex life it’s real concerning
jimin: cuz it’s interesting????
like live a little joon jeez
y/n: WE HAVENT FUCKED IN LIKE
yoongi: like?
hobi: like
jin: you turned him into a whore i know it was you
jimin: see mr kim namjoon
interesting
namjoon: ur just starting unwanted issues
jimin: IN LIKE???
come on spit it out we don’t have all day
y/n: i don’t have to answer that
yoongi: shocker
y/n: excuse me??
jimin: YIKESSSSSSSSSSSS
hobi: i can’t look
tae: wait she’s fr fucking jungkook no joke this is fr?
thought this was a joke the whole time
are we all on the same page rn???
jk: i think if we think about it we are the aliens to the aliens so if you think about it do we have drivers licenses?
namjoon: it’s like we run in circles every single day
yoongi: nothing
just know why you’ve been ignoring me for the last month now lol
hobi: he added the lol
wow he’s pissed
jimin: INSANE
jin: YOUVE BEEN FUCKING JUNGKOOK THIS WHOLE MONTH UR NASTY LEAVE HIM ALONE LEAVE HIMMM
namjoon: i’m going to shoot you all
y/n: so it’s clearly not “nothing” yoongi
and in the gc are you fr?
yoongi: whatever
y/n: and i haven’t been ignoring you i’m talking you right now aren’t i?
yoongi: this is different
jimin: he’s basically saying you haven’t been fucking with him for a whole month cuz ur too busy with jungkook
hobi: maybe he’s having withdrawals
namjoon: i think she gets it
tae: can i fuck pls
y/n: ur being really childish rn yoongi
yoongi: that’s crazy cuz that’s how you like your men no?
hobi: WOWWWW
jimin: JUNGKOOK SHADE
jk: hiiiiii 🫶🏻🔥
y/n: and not that i need to tell you but i haven’t slept with ANYONE for like 2 months
i’ve been really busy filming and shit
fucking asshole
yoongi: oh
jin: wait no sex for 2 months that’s kinda insane icl 😭
jimin: YOONGI FUCKED UPPP TEAAA
hobi: pussywhipped 💀
tae: CAN I FUCK PLEASE
namjoon: enough sex talk please
before i grab a gun
tae: what type
ak?
glock?
shotgun???
yoongi: y/n
jk: why are we fighting??????
jin: don’t worry son
jk: papa 🥺
jin: no sorry i can’t actually claim you i’m over you being a whore i just remembered how fucking annoying you are yikes
am i the high one??
wow wtf was i stressing over
yoongi: y/n
jimin: me when i fuck up
hobi: yoongi the sad ant with the stick rn
jimin: HELPJSJDJDJXJ YOU RIGHT
“y/n….”
hobi: HEHEHEHEHE
*single tear rolls down cheek*
jimin: *screen fades to black*
hobi: LMAOOOOOO
jimin: STOPWOWOSOSSK
namjoon: guys
y/n: anyways
jimin: no because i stand with you feminist till i die
hobi: i’m such a feminist i enjoy looking at wonho as much as cows eat grass
and that’s like all the time
right?
jimin: right!!!!
jk: where is my papa
jin: ew
he’s so gross guys
y/n: don’t be mean he’s just under the influence!!
jin: of what? meth?
people high off weed are not freaks like him i’m telling you he does that hardcore shit just like joon
jk: papa joon
namjoon: stop
tae: i stabbed myself with a fork
pain is temporary
i needed it ❤️
namjoon: i need it
jin: ???
yoongi: i’m sorry
y/n: k
jimin: wow this is not awkward at all!
jk: i’m throwing up
jin: this is the 4th time this week
jk: papa
namjoon: how is he still alive
hobi: y/n feminist to feminist rn i say fuck yoongi and like come kiss me
yoongi: can you shut the fuck up
jk: i love you yoongi
yoongi: go away
jimin: can you guys not be boyfriends inlaw or something
yoongi: i’m going to punch you
jimin: ok i am going to stop talking now!
—
bonus:
#bts crack#bts fanfic#bts fluff#bts imagines#bts fic#bts text#bts x reader#bts x y/n#bts x you#namjoon x reader#jin x reader#yoongi x reader#hoseok x reader#jimin x reader#taehyung x reader#jungkook x reader#bts texts#rm x reader#suga x reader#v x reader#jhope x reader#hobi x reader#bts fake chats#bts incorrect texts
366 notes
·
View notes
Text
Thinking some more about the gameplay similarities between PbtA and old-school D&D: there are obviously differences in the approach to gameplay and story generation, but the shape of the rules is oddly similar. There are lots of empty spots in the rules written within both mediums. Those are obviously flaws, right? A robust RPG written for modern sensibilities should have at least some resolution mechanic for when the game system itself isn't particularly motivated?
While that is one way to look at it and has been in vogue since at least Rolemaster (it was obviously not the first but one of the first games that supported using any stat for generic maneuvers with skill bonuses as an optional layer on top), there is value in looking at the very first experiments within the medium and thinking about whether a generic resolution system would've been beneficial or meaningful in them. I've often talked about how D&D 5e has the spot in its rules for an Animal Handling system implied by the existence of the Animal Handling skill, when in fact no actual system exists for it. The game gives off the vibes of being opinionated about animal handling, but it actually isn't.
A lot of people do want to add fortune into situations where the game system doesn't actually have a lot to say. Whereas old-school D&D and PbtA both reject that by saying "No, if there aren't specific rules for it, it can be handled through free play." The difference in approach is more that the OSR style of free play assumes an expert referee to adjudicate the situation based on what makes sense, while the PbtA style explicitly hands off a lot of narrative power to players. But both are still a conversation of "My character does this" "this happens" "okay then my character does this."
This also touches on my friend @vixensdungeon's hierarchy of "doing things" and "doing stuff" games. The distinction, as I understand it, is that "doing things" games are more hands-on about driving the action towards a certain type of action: the rules are specifically opinionated about a certain type of action in order to act as a trail of breadcrumbs for players to follow in order to get them to do things. PbtA games are very much in that category. Old-school D&D is more of a "doing stuff" type of game. While the game system is only specifically opinionated about a certain type of action, there still exists a whole fictional world outside of that action where players can, if they wish, to do stuff. That I feel is very congruent when it comes to analyzing the difference between the two styles.
But the similarity is still marked: when it comes to things that lie outside of the purview of the rules both games give out an emphatic "Who cares." Which is in stark contrast to the Rolemaster-pilled WotCel design where every situation, even if it doesn't result in gameplay that the game system models meaningfully, can have fortune inserted into it.
Anyway all of this is to say can we please get back into the dungeon already as much as I like it when hot elves smooch each other we've been doing nothing but rolling meaningless Charisma checks for two hours, the gameplay is there, in the dungeon!!!
63 notes
·
View notes
Text
The most tired elves of Faerun want to commit a robbery, get caught and end up on the cover of Vogue
My Tav white mushroom spores have spread to other members of the camp but Jaheira is the only salad
#bg3#baldur's gate iii#baldur's gate 3#bg3 oc#bg3 tav#baldur's gate oc#halsin#shadowheart#jaheira#astarion#tav#dark urge#karlach
87 notes
·
View notes
Text
if they keep going w the stickers as pre-order bonuses, i am picturing a fun and fresh scene of edward and lydia vogueing under flashing lights on the catwalk for the suffering game... i can see it so clearly...
omg or one where they’re hot elves but then when you move it they are scary skeletons in dark robes......
or one with the audience cheering for the boys and then when you move it they’re all mannequins............... smoke coming out of thb’s mouths............
the possibilities. endless
116 notes
·
View notes
Note
Why did British fairies suddenly became en vogue in fantasy and related things? I didn't really seem them mentioned outside of folklore discussions untill like two years ago and now it seems like they the mainstream fantasy creaturee, maybe even more mainstream than "traditional" elves and dwarves. Did ACOTAR caused this or is it just a consequence?
--
I don't keep up with mainstream publishing. When I read more mainstream fantasy in the past, it was obvious that trends like this came and went. Someone would use a fantasy creature that hadn't been popular, and suddenly, it would be everywhere.
US media discovered Wendigos like 20 years ago, for example. Periodically, someone rediscovers folkloric vampires and everyone complains about the blood-sucking Lord Byron ones for a while.
50 notes
·
View notes
Note
helloooooooo how are you!! dropping some questions because i'm bored 🫡🫡
would you rather go on a picnic and stroll with oropher + wife + baby thranduil for a day or beach day and boat ride with eärendil + elwing + baby elrond and elros?
if you could give thranduil any animal companion aside from an elk, what would it be?
what modern world contraption would you introduce to lotr just for funsies?
what professions do you think some of the elves would have in the modern world?
what do you think trop galadriel and elrond would think if they saw themselves ruling lothlorien and rivendell?
I got out my actual laptop to answer these! Your asks are always so amazing, I don't know how you come up with these <3
Okay so I don't think I want to know baby Thranduil. That would make it weird, so I'm choosing Earendil and Elwing and their babies <3
Let's consider some options:
Thranduil and Dogs: could work, dogs are neat, Thrandui would 100% sneak them some food under the table. He'd either have some big intimidating dog like a great dane, or a chihuahua. Golden Retrievers just don't fit his vibe
Thranduil and Cats: He's a bitch, cats are bitches, cats like climbing, I want to climb him, Thranduil is tall and has a very "I want to play with that" crown, They could nap on his lap while he holds court. Only con: his fancy clothes would be covered in cat hair. But I don't think he'd mind. Middle Earth needs more cats
A modern world contraption I would like to introduce to LOTR: Practically speaking, if I lived in middle earth and could bring one modern amenity with me, it would be plumbing. Normal toilets and SHOWERS. That would be 10/10.
But TELESCOPES. My answer is Telescopes. I want the elves to be able to look at the stars more closely. I want Elrond to be able to see his father again okay. BRB crying
Professions of elves in the modern world:
Elrond: He'd be a university professor, something like literature! Or maybe a doctor
Legolas: I'm imagining to be the age of an average college student. He'd spend his vacations working as a camp counsellor
Thranduil: Either something really "pretentious" like CEO or he'd make his own wine. I imagine Thranduil as the kind of person where you have no idea how they make their money, but they are rich AF
Feanor: Would take over his father's company
Fingolfin: SHOULD take over his father's company but instead founds his own company that takes off and does way better than Feanor's company
Finarfin: Yoga instructor.
Galadriel: Business Girlboss. Idk what she would do, but she'd wear fancy suits. Maybe editor of Vogue. Something girlboss-y
Celeborn: Cook. House husband. I love him
Arwen: She'd 100% be an influencer, but the nice kind <3
TROP Galadriel and Elrond seeing themselves rule
Galadriel would see Celeborn and be happy she has him back. And I think she'd love ruling her own realm
Elrond would PANIC. Why isn't he living with Gil-Galad anymore?
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
Okay so this ended up being really long so I put the actual analysis under a readmore lmao
I love that like,,, okay so like I wish there was more content about Edward and Lydia other than just a few drawings of them vogueing and acting identical to one-another because I think it's so interesting when you can see where they differ in certain aspects!! Like I mean no shit they're going to act similarly they're twins and have had more time together than any other living people in all of that universe (if you take them at their word that they're the oldest un-living beings in that world) so I'm not saying they're complete opposites, obviously, but they do have lots of moments where they demonstrate differing behavior from one another and I think it's really neat to notice when and in what aspects they differ from each other!
Edward seems to respond more to positive attention, while Lydia seems to like negative attention better (ep. 52: Edward gravitates towards Taako after being complimented when they first meet, Lydia flirts with Magnus purposefully after he says he's uncomfortable with it / Live! In New Orleans, Edward replies kindly to Taako's compliments on their new plan)
Lydia finds the idea of turning their duo into a trio worthy of laughter, while Edward is much more open to the idea of having more people on their team (ep. 52, Taako asks if he can put in a job application)
Lydia finds Dwarves very attractive, while Edward seems to prefer Elves (ep. 52, Merle spins Eye / ep. 55, Taako spins Clock)
Lydia doesn't like it when people don't take the games seriously and puts more focus into doing things maturely, while Edward tends to be much more lax and gets easily distracted/bored when he's disinterested or wants to leave (ep. 52, Lydia asks Taako not to interrupt her while she's explaining the rules / ep. 54, Lydia has to ask Taako to wait his turn in Trust or Forsake / ep. 55, Edward gets bored of explaining the rules and Lydia briefly chastises him for not taking things seriously, Edward has to repeat himself because he was drinking coffee when he was supposed to be working, Edward lets Tres Horny Boys run Trust or Forsake themselves when he's sure they know the rules so he doesn't have to explain it again / Live! In New Orleans, Edward repeatedly tries to convince Lydia to back down when he wants to leave the fight but she stands firm in her belief they can win)
Edward also openly shows more emotion overall than Lydia in regular conversation, while Lydia keeps her more composed demeanor until traumatic experiences come up or are experienced (ep. 52., Edward is overenthusiastic when Tres Horny Boys roll a multiplying flying electrified dire bear / ep. 55, Edward is openly creeped out by the enchanted marionette, Edward mopes about both parties picking Trust / ep. 56, the first time Lydia really expresses sadness in front of Tres Horny Boys is when she brings up their younger brother Keats, Edward acts slightly silly in his attempts to convince Taako and Merle that he's actually Magnus / ep. 57, Lydia only starts losing composure after Edward dies / Live! In New Orleans, Edward mocks and gloats over Tres Horny Boys falling for his Hallucinatory Terrain)
Edward in retrospect found Wonderland to have been a bad plan, while Lydia maintains that she found Wonderland to be fun (Live! In New Orleans, Lydia complains about Tres Horny Boys not appreciating all the work she did to run Wonderland, Edward tells Taako that Wonderland "was mean and accomplished very little")
Idk!! It's nothing really major but I just think these canon differences in their attitudes and personalities are far more interesting than the fanon that has them completely identical to one another!
72 notes
·
View notes
Note
Damn, sorry vogue elves :(
But even if my faves aren't winning this one, at least I got to have lots and lots of interesting thoughts about the candidates I was rooting for--so to quote Mike Wozniak, "what you can't take away from me is that I had an absolutely lovely day."
Wait, why do I smell smoke?
.
12 notes
·
View notes
Text
do you ever think about how Wonderland, via the “trust or forsake” game, encourages contestants to make morally questionable and often costly decisions in pursuit of an ultimately hopeless goal? how contestants start off so determined to win a prize they were promised, but never had a chance at receiving — then slowly, become more and more desperate just to survive, and are being prompted to “forsake” others throughout both phases?
now, do you ever think about Edward and Lydia’s backstory? how they joined a necromantic circle, hoping they could save their ill younger brother, but failed, and from there they were led to lichdom? to eternal life, eternal survival, perpetuated each time they forsake any former compassion they may have held for mortals’ lives?
what did the other necromancers promise them when they joined that cult? were they told they’d surely be able to save Keats — that surely, that prize would await them at the end of this dark and dangerous road? what about what they were told when they consigned their souls to lichdom? nothing justifies the horrors Edward and Lydia perpetuated in Wonderland, but they were not sent down this path alone. it’s questionable whether or not they’re reliable narrators of their story, but it’s still very plausible that they didn’t have ill intentions at the start.
in modern times, they're proud of the ruthless path that won them immortality, but... they still compare their resolve in the face of adversity to that of three contestants whom they plan to body-snatch and murder. they see themselves in the heroic quest that they plan to quash! they implicitly acknowledge that no amount of suffering, or determination, or even calculated ruthlessness can save any of them! because in the end, the only things that save THB, the rest of the IPRE, and the multiverse as a whole, are the very things Lydia and Edward turned their backs on? simply trust, and bonds!
#taz#taz balance#taz balance spoilers#vogue elves#taz meta#ik it probably wasn't this deep in griffin's head#but i will make it as deep as i want#they are The tragic villains of all time#i'll literally never stop rotating them in my mind
285 notes
·
View notes
Text
The first part of what we could call our 'festive' gifts, for what can be called better than the gift of knowledge?
Here we have the Dirge of Teldrassil guild, laid out in an easily digestible and understandable format. Dirge has through sheer stubbornness managed to push itself into second place amongst the remaining PCU guilds.
Surprisingly there is very limited alt stuffing going on within Dirge of Teldrassil with Yier having the title of 'Least alt-happy' Guild Leader within the PCU.
Unfortunately (for them, great for everyone else) the guild has largely found itself completely rendered irrelevant in recent months and largely across the entirety of Dragonflight due to how the story direction has moved. The Night Elves are no longer baying for blood and the Worgen will very soon (in January) be reclaiming their own homes back.
We can only hope that they get the hint and quietly retire like The Rotgarde. Ultranationalist bigotry is no longer in vogue, and hasn't for some time now!
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Elven Medicine
SPECIALTIES
Outside of general practice there are those who choose to specialize in specific healthcare fields.
General Physician Specialists
General Physicians: Physicians who practice general medicine, without any specialties. Most of these types of physicians are also public physicians and can be found on the PPL.
Family Physicians (Aka Private Physicians): Physicians who privately care for specific families. These physicians may be general practitioners, or specialized healers.
Maternity Physicians: Physicians who care for pregnant women and newborns.
Pediatric Physicians: Physicians who care for children between the ages of 2-18.
Ancient Physicians: Physicians who specialize in healthcare for ancient elves. (over the age of 4000)
Ability Physicians
Talented Healers: Physicians who work with individuals with abilities. (General)
Elemental Physicians: Physicians who work with individuals who have elemental abilities. (Flashers, Shades, Chargers, Gusters, Frosters, Pyrokinetics, Hydrokinetics, Technopaths, Psionipaths). some will specialize in the subcategories of Elemental abilities, Nimbiferous (Frosters, Chargers, Gusters, Hydrokinetics) and illusionist (Flashers, Shades)
Mind Healers: Physicians who work with individuals who have cognitive abilities (Telepaths, Mesmer, Empaths, Inflictors, Enhancers). Oftentimes these physicians are Telepaths, or Empaths.
Physical Ability Physicians: Physicians who work with individuals who have physical abilities. (Vanishers, Phasers, Conjurers.)
Vocal Healers: Physicians who work with individuals who have vocal abilities. (Vociferators Polyglots, Beguilers)
Combustional Physicians: Physicians who work with fire and/or combustion-based abilities (Chargers, Pyrotechnics, [Occasionally] Flashers). This profession slowly fell out of vogue, especially with the heavy restrictions by the council added after the pyrotechnic ban.
note: Livvy Sodeen is a trained Combustional Physician
Written By: @nyxpixels Combustional Physicians by @drzevia
19 notes
·
View notes
Text
Caden is continuing to make plaintive tired noises but sadly I don't think there's anywhere I could take him to rest even if it was story-appropriate. As it is...
"Hm." Rasaad makes a mildly perplexed noise. "Of all the things I expected to find in a palace, this is not one of them."
The "palace" of the elves in truth merely seems to be another corner of the enormous tree, walled off from the rest of the city into its own peaceful oasis. The central entrance, dominated by the apple tree growing at its heart, opens into a wider courtyard, which is overlooked by two tall, stately waterfalls pouring slowly into a pool nestled amidst a carpet of leaves.
[long pause while I enjoy the ambience of the waterfalls]
OK, seriously, what the hell am I supposed to do here? :P There are no visible doors and examining the waterfalls just keeps giving the same message.
Perhaps this is the end and Caden has reached Elysium.
But probably not, so... [checks Sorcerer's Place yet again]
I dunno how the hell I was supposed to know this, but the answer to this puzzle is (partially) in the Stone Horn that I accidentally picked up while looking for the trinkets previously. There is also a Stone Harp that goes with it elsewhere in the city, and having both of those will apparently allow us to open the way forward.
This feels mean, because the game is giving ZERO indication that we required anything else other than to trek straight on into the palace, so without Google I'm not sure what I would have done here. :P
[pause, sound of frantic typing and clicking]
OK, got the harp, which was (unsurprisingly) in the building labeled "The Harpist's House." It was full of dead people and also had one of the indoor hot tubs that seem to be so in vogue in Suldanessellar.
Back to the palace again!
GOD DAMN IT GAME, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
Ah.
Victory! \o/
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Glamour Elves 😐- I do not approve, except for number 1. I didn't want them to look like they're posing for the cover of Vogue, but this is certainly the bias the AI regularly displays.
#art#ai artwork#ai art#digital art#ai art gallery#aiartwork#aiartgallery#ai portraits#fantasy art#ai photography#pleasure paragon art
1 note
·
View note
Last Seen Blogs
