#if shae and all her stories are really gone for good I’m gonna be full on devastated

[queen-scribbles]

Alliance Ask Game

tagged by @vexa-legacy​​

1) Who’s your Alliance Commander? What class are they? Alignment? Random other facts you wanna share?

I have a few different canons I could talk about, but let’s go with my main one. :D Alliance Commander is Telcontar Airen, mostly light side Trooper. He started as a Vanguard, then got Scoundrel added when 7.0 dropped bc the rest of his family are all smugglers(Well, were in his parents’ case. They retired), so he has that “dirty fighting” background. xD 

Corellian by heritage, even if he never set foot on the planet until that part of the class story. 

He was supposed to just be my “haven’t done the trooper story, let’s see how that goes” :D toon, hence the LotR reference name. /cough Then he wound up my canon Outlander, heh.

2) What’s a reason or two you like that this character is your Commander?

He’s a really good leader and excels at thinking up out of the box solutions when called for(and even sometimes when they’re not)

3) What’s a reason or two you don’t like about them being Commander

He still has something of a reckless streak, even it it’s wayyyyy dialed down from the guy who got himself blown up eight times inside six years, so Lana is constantly chasing after/yelling at him to be more careful

He’s really tired of having to save the galaxy and would love to retire somewhere with Elara and just be Boring(which would last all of two days before he had to find something to do or he’d go crazy, rip)

4) Why did this character of all your OCs become Commander?

WELL. My canon toon for the server was originally his sister Silver(Smuggler), then I went and headcanoned Tel helped her with the SoR stuff, so he was in the know about the whole mess with Vitiate(he wasn’t part of RotE, but she filled him in after the fact). When Marr commed Silver about the Wild Space Expedition, she’d been sleeping, so she made some mumbled snarky comment about her war hero brother being more help with this and gave him Tel’s comm info before rolling over and falling asleep on Corso’s chest. (GUILT GUILT EVERYWHERE)

It worked out better for some Silver/Corso headcanons to NOT have her be the Outlander, and Tel’s a born leader anyway, so I made it canon.

5) Who did they side with? Did they stay loyal or go saboteur? Or maybe you headcanon they defect properly?

Stayed loyal to the Republic. And he’s one that would be allied very closely with them even if there was a way to keep the Alliance properly independent. (I did have him rejoin the Republic at the end of Onslaught and feel like, in retrospect, he would have gone with independence there, but oh well, too late now)

6) Are there any NPC’s from the class stories you’d like to see/HC join the Alliance? Ex: Master Timmns, Ardun Kothe, Watcher One, etc

Oh, so many. Timmns and Kothe for sure. Fuckin’ FUSE. Aleksei(Elara’s brother). Ummmmm Numen Brock. I know there’s a lot more but I’m blanking hard.

7) How’s your OC feeling about the current Malgus situation?

Oh, he’s full-on “I’ve had enough of this dude” meme. Also wants to know how he survived when his base over Ilum EXPLODED IN OUTER SPACE

8) Are any of your other OC’s part of the Alliance? If yes what do they do for the Alliance? Do they get along with your Commander?

Yes. In Tel’s canon there’s Silver, of course, who mostly works with Hylo on the smuggling/supply end of things. Xander(Bounty Hunter) is there mostly as security/bodyguard for ships with Shae’s Mandalorians. I have a bunch of OCs I’m still juggling which canon they’ll wind up in, so there will probably be more eventually. It’s tricky bc I have two Lana-mancers and four Theron-mancers, so I gotta divvy them up right. I think Sha’reii’s (Inquisitor) also gonna wind up in his canon. I THINK.

9) How does your OC feel about Odessen? (Bonus: how do you feel about it)

It’s a planet, it’s pretty, he guesses. Good a place as any to live, makes a good base. He is slightly more wary of... vegetation than a lot of my kids bc he had an assignment to Felucia shortly before the game starts(what got him the spot in Havoc), so he’s had foliage try to eat him before. xD (Felucian plants are one of the only things that scare him, lmao)

10) How does your Commander feel about being the Commander?

While he does wish the galaxy could stay out of peril for FIVE MINUTES so he could have some time with his wife + kids, Tel does enjoy being Commander. He’s a natural leader, both in terms of being good at it and liking it(most of the time), as long as he can still get in on the action. So he’s a very hands-on leader who still engages with his people and wants to go on missions and overall enjoys it.

11) Favorite place in the Alliance base?

Out on that front observation deck where you can see out over the forest for what seems like forever. 

12) Favorite mission in KotFE? Why?

Oh, Disavowed, hands down. I just love Aric Jorgan so much it’s ridiculous, so getting him(back) is always my favorite part of KotFE. But I do love his reunion with the Trooper(romanced or no) extra even beyond that.

13) Favorite mission in KotET? Why?

Crashing Vaylin’s party. It’s just fun. And you can get animal friends if you do that side questy thing to help the sick pit beast, so score. :D

14) Least favorite mission in either? Why?

Least favorite in KotFE is Anarchy in Paradise bc I hate Kaliyo about as much as I love Jorgan and being forced to recruit her when most of my kids in-character would have said HELL NO and not even let her set foot on Odessen is annoying. Least fave in KotET is ch 8 bc that choice between Torian and Vette is stupid and forced and I Don’t Like It. 

15) Is your Commander successful because they’re skilled? Or are they perhaps just really lucky?

Oh, Tel is very skilled. He’s also a lucky bastard, considering that’s he’s survived all the crap he’s been through(he will, without hesitation, credit Elara for the VAST majority of that surviving).

16) From our OC’s point of view, SoR -> KotET wasn’t a fun experience, did they develop any fears as a result?

Nope, nothing new. All his phobias or fears are ones he had before all that started.

17) AU time! If your Commander wasn’t Commander, which of your other OCs would have likely taken their place?

Probably Silver, as was my original intention. 

But I do have other canons for Vica(Consular), Tragen(Warrior), Keme(Trooper), and Endrali(Consular) as well. 

18) Who’s someone your Commander hopes they never have to deal with again?

Malgus, Valkorion, Garza can all stay the hell awayyyyyyyy

19) Does your Commander hold on to/still use any titles they earned before KotET? (Darth Nox/Jedi Battlemaster/Cipher 9/Wrath/etc) Or have they completely replaced them with the Commander title?

Since he officially rejoined the Republic and got reinstated, he will use Colonel sometimes. He fucking earned that promotion several times over, he’s not giving it up.  (yes, he did negotiate for backpay. And recorded it so he could show Elara and Jorgan :3) 

20) Share something, anything at all, you want about your Commander that you’ve not really gotten the chance to share before but really want to!

I have mentioned this before, but it’s been a really long time, and I’ve picked up more SWtOR followers(hello! o/), so I’m gonna share it again, Tel’s mom is a descendant of one Carth Onasi(through Dustil, so it works even with BioWare insisting Revan’s a dude xD). Having a “Republic war hero” ancestor was part of what drew Tel to a career in the military, rather than stick with the family business, and I even gave him Carth’s jacket as part of his off-duty outfit.

#tagged #telcontar airen

[sweetheartyoongi]

ummmmmm does anyone know what happened to bloomsuga? did shae leave for good or just rename her blog because when I search her it says nothing exists and I am full on Panicked™️ 😰

update: thank you to all those who passed along the confirmation that bloomsuga has deactivated. it’s really sad for us as readers, but I think the best way we can thank shae for sharing her stories with us is to respect her decision and hope she continues taking care of herself, while remembering how much joy her works brought us 🧡

#if shae and all her stories are really gone for good I’m gonna be full on devastated #if you have any info pls let me know!!! #hope she’s okay 💜 #bloomsuga #bts imagine #bts sm au #hobiverse

[shimmershae]

My thoughts on Episode 6--On the Inside

Very appropriate title by the way.  Works in a multitude of ways.  

As always, my randomness is going beneath a cut again to spare the eyeballs of those of you that don’t want to see it at all and also?  Help those of you that have somehow stayed spoiler-free in this brand-new age of early release episodes.  It is still so wild to me that I’m a full episode ahead of half the fandom.  I don’t know what I’m going to do when we get to the final episode and they decide to make us all suffer together--because somehow I do feel they will do exactly that after spoiling us for the first 23 episodes.  It is going to be agonizing.  

Anyway.  Without further ado, Shae’s stream of consciousness review (of sorts).  

Not fair, Angela.  Opening the episode with that shot of that big ass spider.  I hate those suckers.  So naturally, they’re an easy sell for setting the horror scene to me, lol.  

Okay.  Who the hell’s chasing Virgil and Connie?  Walker No-See-Ums?

Barely a minute in and the atmosphere for this episode is moody AF.  

What is this?  Tara Jr. The Walking Dead?  LOL.  Where’s the Scarlett for this mini plantation house?  Anyway.  First three minutes of this episode?  Just as attention grabbing as the first five episode openings this season.  I don’t think people out there are giving our writers enough love for that.  Every episode so far has opened like a mini movie.  

With the way the Walking Dead logo keeps crumbling away with each successive episode, somehow it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Carol and Daryl spinoff was eventually titled The Living and had flowers growing out of each letter, lol.  I mean, there would be a certain sort of life-affirming symmetry in a show that’s been promised to be much lighter in tone doing just that.  

More Carol and Aaron?  Yes, please.  I don’t necessarily like Carol staying at home and sitting the sidelines like a figurative happy little homemaker in the B story while the rest of the mains are trying like hell to sell the A story, but if she’s going to be totally prohibited from the main storyline until it’s time to blow shit up?  I’m going to continue enjoy getting to see her do what she should have been doing for seasons--interacting with others in the community, especially Aaron and the ladies.  

Truly.  I really am loving my girl getting some quality Aaron and Rosita time.  It’s so long overdue.  

Bless sweet Kelly.  Riding off to her sister’s rescue.  

Why isn’t Lydia shown as part of these plans?  For someone that could barely read last season, I doubt that big ass map was a piece of cake for her and it’s all just guesswork anyway without her guidance.  I mean, why does it feel like they are cutting some of this stuff that might not seem like much plot-wise but would go a long way toward establishing different character beats?  Personally, I would have loved to see her involved in the search and sharing scenes again with Carol and bonding with Kelly. 

Virgil be having that “I always feel like somebody’s watching me” feeling.  Don’t you hate that, lol?  

“You haven’t slept in days.”  But how many days, Virgil?  I’m going to need a number because I’m confused AF about this timeline at this point.  What we’re seeing and what different pieces of dialogue is telling us is not exactly lining up.  I’m going to find it awful hilarious if it hasn’t even been two weeks since the cave in.  For reasons.  

Connie’s spidey senses are clearly tingling.  

Alrighty, then.  She’s clearly got PTSD.  Understandable.  They’ve all had it.  Some have been treated more sympathetically than others, though.  

I mean, it never seems to cross anybody’s mind how Carol probably sees Henry’s head on that pike, Mika’s pale and bloody body, Lizzie crumpled face down in a bed of yellow flowers, Sophia with a smoking bullet hole through her undead head whenever she closes her eyes but whatever.  

Okay though.  But what if Connie had really shitty, impossible to read handwriting?  AKA doctor’s  handwriting.  What then?  

Leah’s face honestly twists my insides whenever I see it, lol.  It’s quiet a visceral thing.  No, that does not make me a horrible person.  Not everybody wants or has to drink the awesome, great, redeemable villainess Kool-Aid.  IMHO, she’s got a face meant for a Walker.  Perfect makeover idea.  Eh.  Mostly it’s her expression and the deadness of her eyes.  

Anyway.  Why is it always the fingers?  Eff that.  

Listen.  If ya’ll can’t tell Daryl’s conflicted AF with the situation he’s landed in, you don’t know how to read NR’s face and eyes.  He’s not a masterclass like MMB but he’s pretty darn good when he wants to be.  

I honestly feel sorry for Redshirt Frost.  

“You do what you gotta do.”  Frost knows what’s what and he’s willing to walk the walk for Maggie.  Impressive loyalty.  I’m left wondering how the current, colder incarnation of Maggie inspired it because I’m still struggling to see it.  Anywho.  My point is the dude knows the score and just gave Daryl the okay.  

Daryl taking off his angel vest before stepping into the role of torturer/interrogator=him shedding the persona/the man Judith and RJ and Lydia and Carol know him to be.  Pushing away his man of honor status so he can just survive somehow.  

Pope never quits chewing whatever the hell he’s got in his mouth.  It’s kind of distracting.  

Ohhh.  We’re back to the Haunted Mansion.  I mean house.  Where are the Hitchhiking Ghosts?  

All the eyes scratched out of those creepy pictures=spooky.  

The good old fogged up bathroom mirror shot.  Somebody’s been watching and studying their horror movies, lol.  Not gonna lie though.  I’m legit bracing myself for the jump scares I know have to be coming.  

I’m loving the music/score in these scenes.  

Truthfully, I could care less about these Reapers.  But they are hella attractive, lol.  Listen.  Angela knows what she’s doing.  

Kelly’s horse is so pretty.  Prayer chain for that baby.  

More dead horses?  Why?  

Connie’s slingshot?  Sorry.  I maintain, no matter how much I like these two, that they have the lamest weapons ever.  Endless supply of Virginia rocks or not.  

So.  Did Virgil and Connie enjoy a little equine for dinner?  Did they kill it before the Walkers fed?  What monsters!  Yeah, no.  Not if they were starving even if I personally could not have.  The more probable story is they fled the camp in a panic and left the horse behind and then it went down.  Sorry.  I didn’t exactly study the wounds on the poor animal because it is so traumatizing to me to continue to see them meet such dastardly ends on this show.  I don’t know who the hell has such a score to settle with horses but stop it.  

Days.  It’s only been days.  Not weeks.  So many times with all that Daryl and Company have had to contend with since the cave in?  Those do not exist, lol.  They’re just a convenient, appeasing piece of dialogue thrown at a fanbase primed and ready to read everything into not much of anything.  There’s just not been enough time for it to happen unless Daryl has literally been up 24/7 for all of them.  You know, strategizing how to attack the remainders of Alpha’s horde, figuring out how to defend Hilltop before it fell, healing from the wound he sustained at Alpha’s hand, sitting on that log all damn night with Negan waiting on Carol to come home, having a lover’s quarrel with his best damn everything, taking care of the Grimes babies and Lydia, being the reluctant leader.  Kang, why you playing them like that?  Daryl’s a super guy but he’s not a superhuman with clones.  So many times my ass.  

Seriously.  Who been watching Connie and Virgil?  The MIA Oceansiders?  Beta’s Fee Fi Fo Fum Ghost?  

Nice.  A Michonne mention.  Maybe the truth will start to trickle out.  

LMAO at Connie’s “I’m not staying here.”  Me neither, girl.  I would be outta that house so fast.  

They really “Quiet Placing” this episode.  Honestly?  I’m kinda loving it.  

WTF was that?  I know she can’t hear but you telling me all the little hairs on her arms, legs, and neck didn’t stand the fuck up and say fuck this shit, I’m gone?  Pardon my language, lovelies, but that moment had my heart kicking up several beats.  

Okay, okay.  To be fair to Connie, every hair on her body been doing that since the front door closed.  Maybe they’re desensitized.  

Gollum’s chasing Connie!!!  He/She wants their Precious!!!

The knee jerk reactions about this episode sight unseen are OTT, honestly.  And I mean no disrespect by saying that.  I can understand completely where they’re coming from because we’ve been burned so long in this fandom.  But it’s obvious the spoiler source has their particular biases and reads into things in such a way that don’t line up with what’s actually being shown onscreen.  Daryl’s loyalty in this episode and all along quite clearly lies with his family and his community.  He’s been playing Leah since the start and is truly just trying to survive somehow.  

Awful thought.  The Reaper that’s so suspish of Daryl--haven’t quite caught his name or really cared to.  I feel like he might try to get to Daryl somehow.  When he realizes that Daryl cares no more for Leah than any human would care for somebody (they thought) they used to know?  He’s going after Dog.  Or Carol should she finally join this story. 

I refuse to believe Carol isn’t going to be a part of this story.  Because they messing with her mans, lol.  

“You’re ever with us or you’re not.”  Now where have I heard those words before?  I wish I could find that Daryl gif because that had to be one of the funniest things ever, lol.  

Unrealistic suggestion to Daryl, Leah?  Breathing oxygen seems to piss off Carver.  Oh look.  He finally has a name for me, lol.  

I love how all three of the ladies--Carol, Magna, and Rosita--look at Kelly with such indulgent, adoring “little sis, you alright?” eyes.  

They are seriously the most beautiful quartet of characters.  I mean all of them are lovely but Carol and Rosita this season?  Ugh.  The unfairness of the pretty.  

Human bones.  Terminus callback, lovelies.  How it all would have eventually gone down if Gareth and Co. hadn’t met the business end of Rick’s red machete.  

So many horror movie homages in this one.  

Virgil’s like “let’s leave this Texas Chainsaw Massacre behind.”  

Connie and Virgil have obviously bonded, ya’ll.  I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying their scenes together when the character mostly got on my nerves with Michonne.  He’s a good actor and the core of his character is sympathetic, but I’m not going to lie.  I wasn’t super enthused when he was the one that rescued Connie because I didn’t know how their scenes would play out. But there’s a nice synergy there.  

Okay.  Does Carver want Leah for himself?  Because I’m sure Daryl at this point would love to scream “take her, I know where I fucking belong!”  

Daryl’s digging in deep because Carver has shown him Leah’s potential weak spot.  Nuance is truly lost on some people, LMAO.  He cares about Leah as a human being probably.  He’s Daryl, after all.  The sweet one.  But he sees her as his way outta this and he’s going to exploit it.  

It’s nice to have a silent Negan for once, lol.  I can pretend he didn’t take my baby Glenn away from me and enjoy JDM’s pretty.  

So.  These cannibal people were the watchers?  Hmm.  

I’m really digging Virgil 2.0.  Yeah.  Nobody’s surprised more than me.  

Sweet, sweet scene between Virgil and Connie.  His determination to reunite her with her family brings back the sympathy I felt for him when he told Michonne “I promised her flowers.  Every day.”  

Damn.  How many of those creepy crawly cannibals are there?  

How brave of Connie to confront her fears to save someone she’s obviously grown to care about.  

The Kelly/Connie reunion gave me chills and made me cry.  Thank fuck Angela didn’t cheapen that moment by having it focus on literally anybody else.  Kelly is the most important person in the whole world to Connie and vice versa.  Just like Carol is the most important person in the whole world to Daryl and vice versa.  Angela fucking knows.  Everybody does.  Except the people busy building castles out of sand while the waves of Carol’s and Daryl’s converging stories keep crashing closer and closer to shore.  

Such a beautiful moment given to us by Angel Theory and Lauren Ridloff.  So authentic and sweet.  Kelly and Connie are home to each other.  

Poor Frost.  That’s all I gotta say about that.  

WTF, though.  Was Mel just not available or what?  I want to see more of the ASZ characters that I care about, not the Reapers.  Like I’d be fine with the story if all the characters not named Maggie, Negan, or Daryl weren’t surviving on crumbs during it.  Especially the 2nd billed actress on the entire show.  Angela.  Please.  Fix this.  

One last WTF.  Seriously.  WTF has Maggie done to inspire Pope’s obsession?  It better be juicy after all this shit.  

Overall impression of the episode--

One of my favorites of the season so far.  The horror aspects were fantastic, IMHO. I truly didn’t expect to like Connie and Virgil’s scenes as much together so that was a nice surprise.  She got the reunion that felt most true and earned for the character and her story and I thank Angela from the bottom of my heart for that.  

I would have loved more Carol but I always want more Carol.  I’m okay with her taking a backseat because ultimately?  This was Kelly’s moment with her sister.  Carol and Connie will eventually have their time to sit down and talk.  And pick back up their blossoming friendship because I truly do not feel Connie blames Carol at all.  

I do wish Lydia had been included with the girl group.  Last episode felt like it was leading up to that.  

The Reaper storyline continues to be the weakest link because every time we see them the dialogue and interactions feel totally recycled from the time previous.  I feel like it would have totally been helped by a tighter focus and less stretching out because 8 episodes of this is really diluting what I feel like Angela and Co. are going for.  I’m not here for Leah being redeemed or being a bigger focus in any of the episodes because she does nothing of interest for me.  I’m just peeking in on that story for the Daryl of it all.  

Speaking of the Daryl? You lovelies out there gotta stop taking that spoiler source’s recaps at face value because it’s obvious to me at least that there’ some bias at work.  Every action and word coming from Daryl is coming from a place of loyalty to his family and wanting to protect them, no matter how he has to dirty his hands.  Leah is just a means to his ultimate end.  She’s not his future.  She never was.  His future’s already spoken for and 2023 can’t get  here soon enough.  But like Daryl, we have to just survive somehow.  

Oh goodie.  More Maggie and Negan next episode and looks like no real follow up on Connie and the ASZ reunions.  Hopefully, this is yet another instance of the previews being deceiving but I’m not holding my breath.  

Until later, lovelies.  

Hope my word vomit didn’t bore you too much.  

#The Walking Dead #Season 11 #TWD spoilers #things that make me smile and cry #for reasons #ignore all the typos #with something this longwinded? #LOL #there's bound to be plenty

[annes-andromeda]

GOT Virtues AU: Not Enough to Understand

N/: So, I’ve finally written a chapter for Tyrion. I’m mostly gonna go by his arc in ADWD, but take out things like Young Griff and Jon Connington. As much as I believe those characters to be very vital to the books, this AU goes mostly by showverse with hints of the books and my own additions. However, some characters from ASOIAF will be incorporated here, just maybe not the same as the books. Tyrion has never really been my favorite character, but he’s definitely an interesting one. It sucks that the show turned him into a Dany cultist that licked her boots and kissed her ass. So, hopefully I’m writing Tyrion and Varys correctly. Also, please don’t think that I’m trying to villainize Tyrion (even if that may be the route GRRM is taking. But I’m not him sooo...), I’m just trying to show that he’s currently in a dark state of mind.

Somehow for Tyrion, the soils of Essos were more frustrating than the pile of shit that was the Seven Kingdoms. Ever since he strangled his lover with his bare hands and shot his father with a crossbow, somehow he’s never been the same. And yet somehow, the minute his brother opened his mouth and spoke of his first wife, of Tysha... somehow that hurt more than any slurs Tywin Lannister could ever reprise.

I trusted him, Tyrion thought hatefully. My big brother who was my protector, was no more than a liar.

The walls of Pentos where Varys had sneaked him away were beautiful no less. A perfect grave for a drunken lion. To drink himself to death seemed far sweeter than returning to Westeros where Cersei would surely want his head. But the Spider gave him another alternative.

“You have a choice, my friend” Varys had said, “You can stay here at Ilyrio’s palace and drink yourself to death, or you can ride with me to Meereen, meet Daenerys Targaryen, and decide if the world is worth fighting for”

The Dragon Queen. Tyrion had heard stories of her. How she liberated the city of Meereen and its slaves, ending the practice for good. But he had heard other stories as well. How she crucified the masters and burned men alive with her dragons. Common folk told of the Queen Across the Sea, a woman who walked with fire and left nothing but ruin wherever she trailed.

Tyrion didn’t know what to believe. So many tales, so many rumors. The people of Kings Landing spread whatever words they spoke to entertain themselves from the early graves that awaited some of them. Such as naming Tyrion the Demon Monkey. Or Sansa the Traitors Daughter. He hoped she was safe. Wherever his lady wife had gone to escape her fate. And to escape him.

But the one he thought of most was his oldest companion: Cira. His dear lioness that mewled sadly as she was taken away from his cell the day of his trial. She had been left in the Red Keep, wandering alone. Tyrion no longer seemed to care of hope, but he prayed to all the Gods that she was safe. That neither Cersei or anyone else had gotten hold of her. If he were to ever find out of her death or much worse... may the Gods help them.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Once leaving Pentos, Tyrion and Varys began their journey to the so called free city of Meereen. Before doing so, they had to go through the streets of Volantis, as Varys stated that the road to Meereen was in Volantis. Bored of the confinement their carriage brought, Tyrion decided to take a walk. If anyone were to ask his name, he’d be no more than Hugor Hill, a bastard of the Westerlands who wished to see the known world alongside his companion Rugen, a former servant of the Red Keep. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Long Bridge was filled with many people. Builders, merchants, and many, many whores. All were marked by their masters, their cheek defining who they were.

“Strange that the Mother of Dragons hasn’t stepped foot in this city, as many have claimed she is a liberator” Tyrion acknowledged

“Meereen has had its run of slavery since the beginning of its construction” Varys began “If Daenerys were to leave the city as it is, the masters would simply take it back, sending the slaves into their chains once again”

“Hasn’t Astapor already done the same?” The dwarf noted “From what my ears have heard, the city is in ruin while children are sold like cattle and slavery runs rampant. I would’ve been certain the dragon queen would ensure the freedom of the people she liberates. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The Spider simply remained silent, and Tyrion gave a look as if he’d won a great victory. As they walked the pavement, they heard the booming voice of a woman who spoke to the slaves almost as if she had cast a spell upon them. A red priestess of R’hllor, whose cheek was branded with the mark of a former whore, preached her teachings to the lowly slaves of Volantis.

“Lord, cast your light upon us” she spoke in Valyrian, as the crowd followed “For the night is dark and full of terrors”

Tyrion didn’t hear what Varys had said to him, as he’d moved closer to see and hear the Priestess’s words “I was once as you are now” she said “Bought and sold. Scourged and branded” She pointed to the mark on her cheek, the mark of a slave. A former slave now.

“The only red priest we had in King’s Landing was Thoros of Myr. This one’s much better looking...” Tyrion boasted. He had heard that Stannis’s red priestess was beautiful, with blood red hair and eyes that glowed like the ruby around her neck. Granted, he’d seen and heard of many beautiful women in his days: the Mother of Dragons was said to have flowing silver hair and eyes of amethyst, whilst he remembered Shae’s curves and her full lips that kissed him once. But yet, they were not the most beautiful of women. For Tyrion gave that achievement to a maid with sunset in her hair and whose gaze held the waters.

“The Lord of Light hears your voice. He hears the king as he hears the slave; he hears the Stone Men in their misery...” The red priestess continued

Tyrion could only scoff “Stone Men. Good luck stopping this spread of grayscale with prayer. You’d have better luck dancing away the plague” Varys shushed him before he could say anything else.

“He has sent you a savior!” The red priestess proclaimed “From the fire she was reborn to remake the world! The Dragon Queen!”

Tyrion looked over to Varys, putting on a false smile “We’re going to meet the savior! You should have told me. Who doesn’t want to meet the savior?” His voice reeked of sarcasm, and the Spider was not impressed by it. As he spoke, he could feel eyes looking directly at him, shooting daggers from their post. The red priestess had turned to gaze at Tyrion, and the dwarf hid his face from her.

“Let’s go” He warned, as he and Varys left the gathering. The atmosphere had turned casual once again, with only the chatter of the slaves being heard. Tyrion turned to look up at Varys “Tell me, Varys” he began “Do you believe in the prophecy of The Prince That Was Promised?”

Varys cocked an eyebrow at him “It’s a legend derived from the red priests of R’hllor, of how a great hero shall be born of salt and smoke to save the world from a terrible threat. Mere superstition created by fanatics who haven’t a mind of their own”

“And I suppose these ‘fanatics’, as you call them, believe that Daenerys Targaryen is this prophesied savior, yes?” He saw Varys nod his head, but then cock it back once he spoke again “Seems rather curious, does it not? I thought Stannis was this great hero the Lord of Light had gifted upon us. In the words of the priests, I mean”

“If every fanatic claimed that every person in the world were this great prince, then the whole world would be engulfed in flames of proclaimed freedom” Varys stated “Who is to trust the words of druid priests that worship a god who only ever wishes upon the sacrifices of his kin?”

“Apparently the kneelers gladly hold their faith in the hands of merciless gods and these ‘druid priests’” Tyrion insisted, his mind wandering to the different tales that lied across the Narrow Sea “It just seems rather interesting. I myself have read of the legends of Westeros so many times that they’ve grown rather boring and repetitive. Aegon the Conqueror, Bran the Builder, even my own house’s ancestor, Lann the Clever; their stories have be so overheard that even their graves must hear them”

Varys let out a chuckle of mockery and agreement. His own experience with sorcery and religious views have left him skeptical of such practices, along with the hatred of all that used magic. Tyrion wondered if the former Master of Whisperers ever despised the great houses due to their holding of the mysterious Virtues, whose power traced back to even the ages of the Children.

As the two walked through the streets of Volantis, Tyrion’s mind wandered to a brothel where Varys and him could not be noticed by any wandering eyes. But he couldn’t bring himself to say the words. He could only think of his wife. Of Tysha. Somehow, Tyrion’s first thought wasn’t Shae, as she was a true whore compared to his first wife. A brothel wouldn’t ease his pain, no matter how many women he brought upon his bed.

Perhaps a mere book with a glass of wine will calm my suffering, Tyrion thought. Question was, where was he going to find a library in the mists of such a large city? The Temple of the Lord of Light could hold some scrolls for him to read through, but they’d mostly be filled with the teachings of the priests. And as if Varys would ever agree to going to such a place.

“You wouldn’t happen to know if there’s an inn in these parts, would you?” Tyrion asked, looking up to Varys

The man raised his eyebrows “I figured you’d rather be more interested in the confinements of a brothel?”

“No” Tyrion said abruptly “After everything that has happened, I’ve made the conscious decision to stay out of the whore house for a time”

“Well then, we can continue down this trail to a nearby atheneum where we’ll be able to blend in with the small folk”

“Perhaps I can indulge myself in some wine there”

“I thought you said you no longer wanted to take part in fornication. ‘For a time’, as you said”

“I never said I’d give up drinking”

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Once reaching the atheneum Varys had mentioned, Tyrion could hardly believe his eyes. He had heard that the library of the Citadel were home to many knowledge and tales, so he didn’t expect much from the atheneum in Volantis, which only held two stories yet books upon thousands of shelves.

Entering the establishment, Tyrion and Varys took their seats all the way in the back where no one would disturb them. The only people that walked trough there were the workers sorting the books into shelves or customers looking for a more interesting read. Either way, no one would ask them of their reasons to coming into the place, as they did not speak the common tongue.

Tyrion flipped through the pages of a dusty old book that read ‘The Blood Betrayal: Fall of the Great Empire’ in High Valyrian. He didn’t know much of the language, but enough to understand what some of the sentences said.

He turned to Varys, who scoured through the rippling parchments and scrolls that smelled like old leather “It says here that according to the people of Yi Ti, the Blood Emperor slewed his older sister, the Amethyst Empress, and his rule ushered in the Long Night. Apparently he slept with a tiger woman, feasted upon human flesh, and enslaved his people. And I thought the myths of Westeros were too theatrical”

“The YiTish also speak of the Maiden-Made-Of-Light, who turned her back upon the world whilst her husband, the Lion of Night, punished the wickedness of men” Varys added. Tyrion wasn’t really surprised of his response, as the man had grown up in Essos himself “The Essosi paint their gods in the forms of animals and great beasts, as they’ve never seen the deities with their own eyes. Perhaps their gods forms gives them some sort of pride in their religion”

Tyrion simply shrugged, and before he could come up with a witty remark, he noticed a librarian sorting some used books that were left by previous visitors. He raised his hand to get the attention of the man. Thankfully he noticed him or else he’d have to resort to introducing himself In Valyrian, which was not his strong suit.

Getting the attention of Varys so as to translate for him, Tyrion began “Hello” he said, as his companion repeated the greeting in the local tongue “I was wondering, if you could tell me what this creature is?” He pointed down to the page he’d stopped on, which held an illustration of a winged creature. Its wings looked as if they were burning, and it was emerging from a pit of flames.

“I can speak some of common tongue, if you’d wish” the librarian said

Tyrion raised his eyebrows and sighed “Well... that’s a relief. I don’t think my companion here would’ve been able to handle doing all of the work for me” Though he didn’t clearly see it, he could tell that Varys was rolling his eyes and quietly scoffing.

The librarian carefully took the book from Tyrion’s hands, almost as if he grabbed it forcefully, the whole thing would fall apart. He examined the drawing, and his face crinkled “Their presence lost to history, I’m afraid. But people of Essos spoke of them as ‘The Devils Daughters’”

“How come?” Tyrion asked

“Essosi believe that daughters were born in home of evil spirits” The man said, his voice frail and his common language quite broken, but still understandable “They thrived in times of dragons, some even believe that two were foes who battled for fires hearth”

Varys leaned towards Tyrion “Many strayed far from the Fourteen Flames because it is believed that The Devils Daughters made their homes within the pits of the volcanoes. It was also thought that the creatures cursed the pits if their common enemy were to ever return”

As much as Tyrion wished to speak on more vital matters, such as whether this Dragon Queen truly was worth his troubles, he couldn’t help but be intrigued “Where did the daughters come from?” He asked the librarian

The old man sat down and fidgeted in his place to get comfortable “The oldest legend is that seamstress from Yi Ti sewed gold string for Opal Emperor in days of the Great Empire. According to scrolls and writing, the monarch adorned silks with golden string, and payed seamstress for more. So seamstress worked days on needle, so much so that the string shined in sunlight and her talent spoken of across all Yi Ti ”

“Sounds a bit exaggerated” Tyrion muttered to himself

“However, Opal Emperor wanted more than gold. He was so impressed of seamstress’s work that he gave her the challenge of creating embroidery and turning it into jewels”

Varys looked as if he didn’t want to listen to the mans story. Tyrion could only guess that it was either he had heard it a thousand times or of the great distances himself kept from religious practices and fables.

“Now, seamstress argued that what the Emperor proposed was impossible, but Opal Emperor granted her a seat in his court if she were to complete his task. So, she stayed in her shop for days, and the days turned into weeks. Finally, the seamstress stepped into Emperors palace, where she presented embroidery to him and his council. Seamstress had created a bird, whose wings shined with not golden, but silver string and encrusted with what many believed to be sundrops and starlight. The Opal Emperor, impressed he was. Yet, he asked more of seamstress. He ordered her to take embroidery on the fourteenth day of her time within the palace and burn it in a pyre of all the spices her expenses could buy. On the day of burning, seamstress took embroidery upon fire and...”

He paused for a moment, his face showing an expression of wonderment and perhaps, even pure bliss. The old man looked to the ceiling as if he’d been envisioning the story while he spoke.

“And?” Varys cut the silence, stopping Tyrion from shaking the man out of his delusion.

“When the seamstress placed her creation upon pyre, the embroidery burst into flames, leaving nothing but ashes and cinders. But then, without tamper, a great miracle happened. Embroidery of creature, had become real. Embroidery, became Devils Daughter. No larger than her teat, the baby was frail, yet soon would be powerful. Upon third setting of sun and second rising of moon, Daughter had disappeared from seamstress’s shop. Never seen again, until Old Valyria found dragon”

The man got up from his seat, continuing with his previous action of sorting books upon shelves. Varys had little to no reaction, clearly thinking of the fable as nothing more than that.

Tyrion furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding why the man had decided to end the story so abruptly, with hardly any payoff “You wouldn’t happen to know the creatures diets, by any chance?” He joked “Whether they ate, just out of curiosity: lions? Preferably lionesses, on my end”

The image of his sister being devoured by this creature, every inch of her destroyed by its jaws as she joins their father in a place where their every sin haunts them, was something Tyrion gladly wished to see.

“I’m afraid not, good sir” The librarian answered, his voice hinting at slight annoyance. Almost as if he knew what Tyrion was truly asking “Lions we’re not perceived as good by Yi Ti because of Lion of Night. They saw beasts as omens of misfortune, and even death”

“Well” Tyrion exasperated “That’s rather disappointing” His eyed widened in delight when he saw that Varys had called for a serving girl to bring them two glasses along with some red wine. Pouring the drink into his glass, Tyrion took a sip, savoring the rich, sweet taste it produced inside his mouth.

Varys joined him in the pleasurable drink, taking a long sip from his cup “With the Daughters gone, the dragons are the rulers of fire. However, it seems that not even the flames wished to stay in their grasp. The Doom definitely is an example of that”

Tyrion looked at him in somber silence “You truly believe that the Mother of Dragons is the one to bring upon a new age of Westeros?” He asked

“Are the freed slaves not enough proof for you?”

“Neither of us were there when she liberated those cities, so how can you expect me to just join her cause and serve her blindly instead of believing that she chose to break chains for another reason?” Tyrion took another drink of his wine “From what’s been heard about Meereen, she nailed men to wooden posts where they roasted about the heated sun. I distinctly remember someone else doing something similar with the corpses of their enemies. And that someone just happened to be my father. Tell me, does House Reyne not ring any bells to you?”

“All leaders must inspire a level of fear upon their enemies. If not, it’ll make them appear weak. Too much kindness does not bode well in a world as cruel as this one” Varys circled his glass, making his wine move about the cup.

Tyrion raised an eyebrow at him “Come now, my friend, we both know you’re not that naive. What monarch who has inflicted pain to everything they touch has had their following last?”

“Would you rather have stayed in Pentos to drink yourself away?” Varys raised his voice “Would you have liked it if I’d denied your brothers request to set you free?”

“Don’t talk about Jaime” Tyrion sneered, his eyes darkening. Despite his outburst, Varys was not fazed.

“You may not like it, my friend,” Varys began “But the truth is that your brother is the reason you’re still living. Even after he had lied to you, think of why he did it. We both know you cannot truly spite him. Not after everything you’ve been through. And certainly not after all the people who are much more deserving of your hatred”

Tyrion didn’t speak. I want to hate Jaime, he thought. I have to hate him

“What’s the point of love and trust if the people closest to you just end up hurting you?” He got up from his seat to pour more wine, until the cup was filled to the brim “Love is pointless. It’s a disease that spreads more pain that any sword or poison in the known world. And to trust is to be willfully blind to the truth, all while everyone breaks a chunk off of you until your left with only the remaining pieces of your heart. I’ve loved and trusted for too long, and I’ve lost too much of my heart already. I’ll not loose my mind to foolishness such as love nor trust any longer”

Varys could only stare emotionless at him, then averted his gaze to his cup “So what will you do know? Replace love and trust with hate and deceit?”

“I’d settle for knowledge and revenge” Tyrion said simply “After all, it has a better ring to it”

“The Dragon Queen will not accept those who will hatch plots and schemes under her nose” Varys warned “Do you truly think that what you’re doing is wise?”

Tyrion turned to him, his stance wobbly due to the increase of alcohol consumption “Tell me Varys: you said that Daenerys Targaryen has three dragons under her control, yes?”

“Those are what my little birds and I report” His companion replied

“Dragons have scorn for their enemies. Raw and untamed scorn. The largest of them had teeth the size of swords. While a lion may not control the skies, it is the king of all beasts, who commands respect and fear upon its subjects. After all, ‘In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws’. Imagine Cersei’s terror when there comes a dragon and lion knocking at her door”

“Are you implying that your allegiance to the Dragon Queen is purely to spite your sister?” Varys asked

I never meant to imply it, is what Tyrion wished to say, but instead, his mind changed to another response “If that’s what you wish to think, go right ahead”

He put down his wine glass, which nearly tipped over and spilled “Now then” Tyrion began “I believe we should find an inn to stay. All this drinking has left my head reeling and my body tipsy” Varys seemed to want to argue, but he pursed his lips tightly that they seemed to disappear.

He didn’t even speak a word when Tyrion grabbed the book he was reading (among others) and sneak them into his tunic for future use.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

On the road to the inn, Tyrion spoke more about the Devils Daughters, and if they were real, he wondered what horrors he’d inflict on his Cersei and even his father if he were still alive. He could see that Varys was growing mildly concerned, but Tyrion assumed that he had heard worse.

What neither could have predicted, was that the halfman would be stolen away as a gift for the Dragon Queen herself.

#game of thrones #virtues au #my writing #tyrion lannister #varys the spider #anti daenerys #i mean #some might take it that way #but im just pointing out things shes legit done #so really its just criticism...

[eorzeasntm]

ENTM Tumblr Cycle 11

Round 5:  Doors

Hi everyone!  Last week I asked our models to go out and take a scenic shot with a door.  This round proved extremely challenging because it’s, well, a door.  How do you tell a story with just a door as a prop?

Turns out that all of our models found an amazing story to tell, and the judges were sincerely impressed.  But the model who made their door into a true co-star was:

Adam Evershot

Congratulations!  The judges were especially impressed with how you successfully integrated in the door, your extras, and your filters into a single cohesive mini action story.  Just because the shot is “scenic” doesn’t mean it has to be serene!  

For all the models, the critiques from the judges are below the fold.  Our guest judge this week was Elessia of Fat Cat Chronicles, who is also a model competing in Instagram Cycle 2. Thank you Elessia!

For the rest of the ENTM community, please head on over to our Discord channel and submit a Monotone 3 shot for the new website, which is going live on May 1st!  

Judge Elessia

Luma Lee: I love the faded out sepia tones you used in this shot to convey the story. I like how the door is a prop rather than just, well, a door. The movement in the shot gave the female miqote a ghostly feel, like you can’t stop her from moving through the door and disappearing. The blurred effects really work nicely in this shot. I really felt the emotion. No critiques really, except you can’t see your characters face but that works.

Yumo Kazel: The white of your sleeve leads the eye up toward your characters face to the door, which naturally leads your eye up, but the white draws you back down to the real focus, your character. I love the door you chose, it has a lot of detail and you captured it well with the vertical shot. Great composition.  I enjoyed the warm tones in the shot and the lighting. I am not sure what you are trying to convey in the shot but overall nicely done!

Yojimbo Kasai:  Is he waiting around for someone to come do his laundry 😊 I like the pop of color on your character that immediately draws the eye to him. Great glamour! The overall composition is ok but there is no drama, but it does make you wonder what he’s thinking. The lines in the shot do draw you back to him but the door doesn’t seem all that relevant; it’s just a door.

Adam Evershot: Is something going to burst through that red door that is chasing you?! The line effect you added adds to the pace of the characters and the expression on your character’s face conveys the fear. The colors you chose for the glamour of your extras really works, tying the entire scene together. You did an amazing job incorporating the prompt (the door) into your screenshot. And I love the expression on your character’s face.

Haila Wetyios: Without reading the caption, I was struck by the destitute feel of this image, her shoeless feet, her dirty face, her seemingly tattered appearance. It looks like she is texting someone to come help her but getting no response. The door is tightly shut behind her and the scene looks cold and uninviting, with the colors of her glamour. I love that her hair is light, so your eye goes straight to her face and back to her legs and then back up. The lines of the door lead the eye back to her, the true star of the photo. Well done on the composition. I really enjoyed the photo even without the caption about the matches.

Ni’ko Shae:  The fence leads you straight to your character, with his lavender outfit. There is a lot to take in in this photo, but it works as far as composition. It’s technically a very well thought out piece. I love the sky and the lighthouse in the distance with the light shining. He looks to be a traveler passing through and doesn’t truly belong in the setting and the doors are closed to him. He is the star of this tranquil shot. However, because he doesn’t really fit in the shot with the colors of his glamour: I picture a more rustic outfit to really fit into the scene…it looks to be a farmstead, why not make him apart of the setting?

Kota Tumet:  The colors in this shot are lovely. They tie the composition together. The oranges and the purples and reds really pop against the dark sky. My eye is drawn to the staff she holds because of the bright white and then the white of her sleeves leads me to the characters face. I like how the path leads up to the door so your eye naturally wonders up it to the orange door. Very well-done composition. The angel of the staff goes with the gothic church in the background. Nice job.

Peaceful Ursa: I love how you use the door in this shot, knocking. The entryway is well lit and welcoming with the warm light, so I would assume he will be let in. The door is massive which goes well with your character. I like the vertical perspective so you can take in the whole door and the intricate transom above. Very well done. I think you did a nice job with the natural lighting, with just enough light to see your character’s face.

Judge Kusuh

A note to all the models this week: The theme states that you use a door somewhere in the image. I’m going to address in each of my critiques how well I believe you utilized the door, and what its purpose is.

ADAM Your shot instantly fills me with fear-for you! I think this is a great use of motion and speed lines. I also thin the placement of your two companions (or pursuers???) in you picture also is really nice, as it tells the story that they aren’t too happy with you. Let’s look at the theme – you’ve included a door, so I’m going to examine it’s purpose in the shot as a whole. Instantly, it looks like you’re running away from it. If that’s correct, let me toss you a suggestion: get someone to stand near the other side of the door to have it open. Just having an open door will make your run seem so much faster and intense; like you’re running so fast the door hasn’t even had time to close yet! I’m very happy with the improvements you made so far with framing and telling a story, so keep it up!

HAILA The story of the Little Match Girl is one that absolutely CRUSHED me growing up, so your picture instantly evokes a lot of emotion for me right away.  I almost never see that specific makeup used outside of a comedic context, so I’m really happy you used it to enhance your image. Using the tomestone emote was also a good choice, but I’d like to note that the caption provided made the emote make sense; it’d probably read a bit less if it weren’t for the context. Looking at the door- to me, it’s there, but it actually takes away from the harshness of the situation. With no indication that she can’t just go inside into the door behind her….I’m wondering why she isn’t. Maybe if you were sitting up against it or it was farther away in your shot it’d seem less like an easily accessed sanctuary? Once again, I love the emotional impact of your shot, so something like that would make it a knockout!

YOMU Yomu, my favorite part of this has to be your expression and how well you’ve lit it. You look like you’re either guarding something, or have just been woken up for something sinister! The tilt of the camera is something that I think works really well, and having a vertical frame also really crops the image around you, giving us your full attention! In terms of door usage – I think you’ve used it well to create a foreboding feel by having it seem so much larger and looming over you and especially the viewer! That plus the use of red color really unsettle me! Something to think about – the fact that you’re looking at something off screen makes me as the viewer feel slightly left out when I have no context of what you’re looking at. It’s not gonna destroy the image – I really like this one still!- it’s just something to keep in mind with future images, especially when trying to tell a story. Great job!

KOTA Not enough people seem to appreciate the Sanctum at night, and I’m glad you took the opportunity to show us how this area can be wonder at any time of day! For this image, it’s the little details all together that really let me enjoy this image, and that’s good for me because it keeps me looking! The first thing that catches my eye is of course you, but then I follow your eyes to the flowers. From there, I notice the sparkles of the cast, which, following them upward, lead me to the lit-up Sanctum against the night sky. In terms of the door usage, I think you’ve shown a good way to include a door without being super close to or interacting with it. Having you at the bottom of the stairs with the camera looking upwards allows my eyes to follow up to the door, and with your holy appearance, assume that you are a member of the church.  My note for you this week is a fairly simple one: I’d put a little bit more light on you left side (the non weapon hand) to highlight you more against the background. Thank you again for showing us your work!

Judge Terrini

Adam: Looks like you got caught somewhere you don't belong. Maybe you should have gone to the Dutiful Sisters of the Edelweiss for some pointers on sneaking around town? I love the story being betrayed here, but the coloration just seems off because of the imbalance of bright and bold colors from the door, banners and Yellow Jacket, and duller colors from yourself and the Roegadyn. I can understand that you probably wanted the brown for a "camoflage" but it does seem to detract from you as a focal point with the color imbalance. I'd actually recommend a green because it would add to what I see as a Ranger poorly sneaking around a city. Every element of a picture says something about the story being told, but you also have to have an eye on how they all work together.

Haila: What a poor little match girl! I love how you glamor makes you seem all burnt up with a few embers still alive. It's a nice effext in popping from the image and blending in at the same time. The Portrait ratio does have the benefit of capturing all of yourself and the door, but I think a Landscape ratio with a close up of you while off center from the door would have had a greater emotional impact with the story your telling. It would crop the door and would be a risk on a round focusing on them, but I think the emotional effect would get you a better pay off.

Kota: The Sanctum of the Twelve certainly has one epic door! This is a lovely shot, but I feel like the elements don't tie together well and I don't really understand what makes this door and place so special with your glamor choice since the red is more jarring from the setting than tying you into it. An outfit with less red, or one dyed in pink, purple, or even blue would have tied you in with the flowers, and a staff with a nature motif as well, or maybe even just dimming your spotlight just so that the red isn't highlighted so sharply might have softened the effect. Looking to the door with that pose would also have made the door seem more important to the shot, because as it is now, it's just kind of there.

Luma: "No! Please don't go!" You've captured a lovely vignette here and it really grips me! There are so many little details here that unpack to a satisfying story. The dull filter makes it seem like a flashback, regretting whatever happened that made that lady walk out of your life. The back perspective makes it all the more visceral with the motion blur and limb darkening. The only suggestion I have is if you might be able to zoom in just a bit more and cut out that bit of your forearm? It feels a bit off in the composition.

Ni'ko: Another lovely shot from you this week! You have several doors and a lighthouse and with your expression it seems you're apprehensive about making a choice in life. Your usual palette ties in nicely with the cloudy twilight and the filter allows you to not overpower the shot and add to the thoughtfulness here. I'm not sure if you could have managed to capture the sense of internal struggle with a more dynamic pose though. Your back being turned to the doors does lessen their impact on the image though so if you could have managed to either look at the doors, or be turned to the doors and looking back towards the camera, there would have been more connection there.

Peaceful: I actually really like the look you're sporting this week with the red and white in the reddish blush of dawn. Your pose and gaze bring a lot to the picture with a sense of longing, and your expression makes it seem like it's something you're working towards, like "Someday." It's very simple, but it leaves a strong impression. If you had a pet minion it could fill the floor at your feet and bring a bit more lightheartedness here, since your expression is very subtle and before I looked close the image seemed sad, but your expression actual looks happy and full of wonder under close inspection.

Yojimbo: You look quite dashing here and have chosen an outfit that really makes you pop. I am left wondering though, why the door should be important here? You aren't looking at it, and you are dead center. If you were facing towards the door and were on the opposite end of the frame, the door would at least have some interest to the shot, but I still don't understand any significance here, unless you are trying to Tom Sawyer the laundry and skedaddle...?

Yomu: This is a nice shot and it seems you found something you have not quite been able to process yet, considering that stain on the floor in front of you and the blank look on your face. Using a gate like this instead of a normal door is definitely a nice choice, but like some of the other models, I'm not really seeing what makes this door important for this shot. Are you supposed to have just come through it to this surprise in front of you? That would have more effect if the door were open though... If you had shot this on the other side of the stain, looking at the door, it would seem like if you opened it, something sinister would be found inside.

Bria: (late entry) I like that you decided to go with an open door as so many others went with closed ones. It seems like you are a ninja going in to infiltrate Garlean territory, but I am only guessing at that because of your glamor. We need to be shown more in the vein of stealth and infiltration, like crouching or peering around corners - maybe there's Garlean troops you can be spying on around the corner? Conversely, you need to be careful not to lose the "door" in your framing because the downside of an open door is that someone might not be able to tell that it is a door and not just the edge of a wall. The idea here has merit, it just requires some more fine tuning.

Judge Nadede

Haila Wetyios  I appreciate what you are trying to go for here with the story of The Little Match Girl. While you are portraying the main character from the story just fine, I find myself wishing there was a bit more to your image so that you may better portray the story even more. I say that because it did take me a bit to get what you were going for. Trying to think here on what you could have done. Maybe try to get as much of the light onto your face as possible with the colors set so that it appears the light is from a source that contains fire? Maybe having your eyes looking more towards the ground than at the viewer itself? Maybe adding extras to your scene wearing prim and proper clothing walking/standing around you. I also find myself wondering if another filter would have fit more to the story than what you are currently using, like the echo filter. I again, I appreciate what you are trying for, I just find myself wishing for just a bit more to really tell the story, and I know you can do that. I do look forward to seeing what you do come up with for next week.

Ni’ko Shae  For the most part, this is a nice composition from you this week. That said, I do wish you didn’t cut off your feet in the image. Zooming out just a tad bit more would have helped. I do find myself wondering why you are looking at the door towards the lower left of the screen. Did someone going through it catch your attention? Are you anticipating someone to come out through there? I kind of want to find out the story here. I appreciate the lighting that you have going on here, I do wish that there was a smidge of backlighting to help separate you from the background a bit more. You are pretty close to blending in with the purples behind you and the buildings. Overall it is nicely done and looking forward to what you do for next week.

Peaceful Ursa  Your image this week made me chuckle some. Here you are, knocking on the door and you don’t even notice that the entrance is basically blocked off and what might be a “do not enter” sign attached to it. What is exactly behind that door that has you to the point of not paying attention that you can’t get into the room/building that way? The lighting is nice here. I do wish there was a bit more light on your character and maybe a small bit of backlight to bring you out from the background just a bit more. You are another that can easily blend into the background this week. Keep up the improvements and looking to see what you will do next week.

Yojimbo Kasai  Your image this week makes me really wish that there were full length mirrors in the game. If the game did, it would have helped your image be more interesting. Darn you SE lol. I do like the outfit that you have going. I wish that your image wasn’t so centered though. I would suggest to look into the rules of thirds to try to come up with more interesting compositions. Centered images can and have work, but there will need to be other elements in the image to help balance things out. That is another idea to look for too, composition rules. You appear to also be in a personal room or house. I would maybe suggest playing with the estate/room lighting and then lighting within gpose to see if that might help make something interesting. I see the proverbial hamster wheel going and would love to see those thoughts from the past few weeks come together for you to create a really interesting shot. Keep on taking feedback and looking forward to seeing what is done for next week.

Judge Ona

Luma – I am wondering what is going on in your shot, Luma? Are you saying “goodbye” or “don’t go” or something else altogether? Who is this mystery woman?

I wish you would have used a different filter. It feels as though you were trying to force the image to look towards the door, and although effective, it detracts from the overall image in the attempt to do what could have been done with a well-placed secondary light source. Likewise, the Dutch angle used here is a bit much. I also wish I could see more of your face.

What I do like, is your creativity here. You have used a neutral color scheme, which creates a feeling of despair, and I love how your friend is walking towards the door, creating a feeling that for whatever reason she is heading out instead of back in. I also do love that door as well, it’s a beautiful choice.

Try to use more lighting next time, as well as making sure that your co-star doesn’t steal your spotlight!

 Yojimbo – You look like a young man, in his first apartment, unsure of what exactly to do first for a chore. A basket of laundry waiting to be washed, but you’re not worrying about that laundry, and from the outfit of choice, you are headed out. Not staying in.

The lighting is directed at your legs, and this could be something that if directed more towards your face, would make your expression stand out more. I also wish that the depth of focus was a little more utilized, so that the texture on the walls was a little less sharp.

I love the outfit for this image. It stands out, and the red makes you pop. I am confused by the face paint though, it seems out of place. This low angle shows off the whole room well, just be careful of overly pixelized and warping of the textures. I also love your expression here, you have plans, and honestly, I would like to join you!

Play around with focus, as well as accessories in your shots and don’t forget to use lighting to your advantage.

 Adam – What did you do Adam? I thought we talked about this and how you shouldn’t go into town and make enemies?!

I don’t know that the filter works for you in this image. It definitely says “Oh no! Ack! Run!” but it doesn’t do much more than that. I also wish I could see a bit more of the big guy on the left. He tends to blend a little into the background.

I love the action in the shot, everyone is running. I normally don’t love Dutch angles, but this time it works. It plays to the feel that there is some action occurring and a need to feel unsettled. I love your expression too. It definitely tells a clear story! I love the lighting as well. Strong showing the week Adam!

 Kota –  I love this location, and the composure of the shot. I also love how content you appear in the image. I just don’t know that I know what story you’re telling me. What are you selling me?

The spotlight on the staff creates a strong glare which detracts from the image and draws my eyes towards it instead of towards you. I am also not sure what you’re looking at. There is no definite focus to your stare.

I love your outfit, and the overall ambiance to the scene. It’s a beautiful location and gives a peaceful feel. I would have liked to see you looking up instead of down, and change the spotlight direction for the next shot. This is a strong image, and I enjoy the colors as well as your outfit.

I look forward to your shot next week.

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