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dormarunt · 2 years

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Tbh about Sergio’s and Martin’s relationship I feel like the show fucked it up a bit. They needed a reason to explain Martin’s absence from the first heist so they had Sergio say all that stuff about how “egoistical” “unstable” “unpredictable” and “obsessed with power” he is, and he may very well be all of that but in the speech Sergio completely disregards all of his ‘redeeming’ (using this word lightly XD) qualities, skills that make him a good thief and a great asset. Also let’s not mention the fact that Andres is exactly same. When you go from that scene alone it does seem pretty clear that Sergio dislikes Martin, that he hardly even respects him frankly. (Side-note personally I hate that scene so much for how they portrayed Sergio as the biggest hypocrite the show has ever seen. ) (Also “no personal relationships” yet he hires two cousins, a father and son and once again forgets that both Andres and Martin have been doing heists together for years, successfully while having “a personal” relationship) And yet I still think they like each other, they definitely respect each other but I would even go as far to say that after Andres’ death they are the closest thing to a family that they’ve both got left. I always like to come back to that one scene, the first Martin scene where Martin comforts Sergio and tells him that it isn’t his fault that Andres died. I don’t think we’d have that scene if they didn’t care about each other. And even if Sergio is a bit reticent in their dynamic I just feel like *that’s* Sergio. That’s just what he’s like.

I also feel like the show is missing some crucial scenes focusing on the Sergio-Martin dynamic. I know lcdp has many main characters that need to get their ‘moment’ but I still think they missed a great opportunity, a scene or two that connects the “Sergio hates Martin” scene and the “They genuinely trust one another”. scenes that comes afterwards. It seems like a great leap to make without any additional scenes.

Also I agree with you that Andres in a weird way is what has been, for lack of better words maintaining that distance between Martin and Sergio. I don’t think Sergio understands their relationship, and quite honestly despite their strong bond I don’t really think that Sergio even understands Andres all that well… I think that for the majority of those ten years it was Martin and Andres with Sergio stopping by here and there but mostly doing his own stuff. With that in mind I’m not surprised Sergio is somewhat naive when it comes to Andres. e.i. Sergio neglecting to see that Andres is just as unpredictable and uncontrollable as Martin. That in the end Andres will be the one to pose as a threat to his plan (Andres ordering Denver to kill a Monica).

Plus how wounded and on the verge of breaking Andres was with the whole dying, leaving Martin and their plan etc. situation. I don’t think Sergio really saw the extent of how broken Andres truly was. And not to blame all of it on Sergio, to me it feels like Andres always put up a front with Sergio, in a way Sergio will always be his hermanito and I think Andres will always have that urge to protect him. Even if it means acting strong when he’s anything but. I imagine he practically raised him.

Back to the Martin and Sergio dynamic though, I feel like they are similar enough to have great deal to talk about. Or to friendly bicker at least. I don’t want to go too far into fanon land but maybe it disarms Sergio to see Andres the way he is with Martin. Maybe he’s different to what he remembers and it’s hard to reconcile with who he is now, it’s much easier to avoid them, deny it all and put it all on Martin. Idk there’s something there and I wish we could have seen what it truly was.

Anon. This was such a delicious message, thank you! <3

> They needed a reason to explain Martin’s absence from the first heist so they had Sergio say all that stuff about how “egoistical” “unstable” “unpredictable” and “obsessed with power” he is, and he may very well be all of that but in the speech Sergio completely disregards all of his ‘redeeming’ (using this word lightly XD) qualities, skills that make him a good thief and a great asset.

You're completely right. I talked about this before, but in a way, I see Martin's character as a sort of a plot device. He only exists because the second plan needs to exist (we basically know nothing about his backstory that's not related to Andres or the plan, like he didn't have a life prior to that or outside it), and his absence from the first heist needed some sort of explanation, and so we have Sergio’s (solely negative) appraisal of him. But I think those scenes also exist to explain Martín’s “going rogue” and freeing Gandia; they were interspersed within those episodes with great care, linking them directly to explain why Martín did it.

> (Also “no personal relationships” yet he hires two cousins, a father and son and once again forgets that both Andres and Martin have been doing heists together for years, successfully while having “a personal” relationship)

Not to mention that Andrés is literally his brother lol. Yeah we’re not talking about how they weren’t brothers when they started to write the show, but c’mon. It’s canon now!

> I always like to come back to that one scene, the first Martin scene where Martin comforts Sergio and tells him that it isn’t his fault that Andres died. I don’t think we’d have that scene if they didn’t care about each other. And even if Sergio is a bit reticent in their dynamic I just feel like *that’s* Sergio. That’s just what he’s like.

Yes! It’s much more in line with the Sergio/Martin dynamic we see in the rest of the show. Although I read a lot of guilt in Sergio's reticence, and maybe some shame in front of Martin too. Actually I wonder; had Andrés not died and instead it was him coming back years later to ask Martín permission to do the second heist - would he have said yes so easily?

> also feel like the show is missing some crucial scenes focusing on the Sergio-Martin dynamic. I know lcdp has many main characters that need to get their ‘moment’ but I still think they missed a great opportunity, a scene or two that connects the “Sergio hates Martin” scene and the “They genuinely trust one another”. scenes that comes afterwards. It seems like a great leap to make without any additional scenes.

Yeah, they glossed over a lot of that, and we just accepted it. But then again, they did the same with Rafael who didn’t want to be anything like his father, and the very next scene we see him in, he allows himself to be roped in the Viking gold heist with zero complaints. I feel like both Rafael and Martín’s characters lost out on not having some of these scenes to pad out the missing pieces.

> I think that for the majority of those ten years it was Martin and Andres with Sergio stopping by here and there but mostly doing his own stuff.

YES! I think so too, based on how emotional their meeting in Italy was and how they had to catch up before Andrés took him to the monastery and told him about Tatiana and the plan. I also got the impression that they didn't see each other often, that Andres actually spent more time with Martin than with his brother - which ties into---

> With that in mind I’m not surprised Sergio is somewhat naive when it comes to Andres. e.i. Sergio neglecting to see that Andres is just as unpredictable and uncontrollable as Martin. That in the end Andres will be the one to pose as a threat to his plan (Andres ordering Denver to kill a Monica).

It would make sense Sergio would have a blind spot about his brother, although tbh I'm surprised that he didn't pick up on the fact that Andres was in the bathroom maiming that guy with the fork (even Martin said he'd be beating the hell out of the guy; he went to a different kind of violence - but even he was still expecting, and tacitly enabling, violence). It is consistent with what you mention, how Andres said fuck the rules the second he set foot in the Mint, ordering to execute a hostage. (which, btw - *why* did he do it? Was it really what he said, to ~establish dominance and sow fear among the hostages? Can’t that be read that in a way he doesn’t respect the plan and, by extension, Sergio? Did he do it to prove to his brother that he is as unpredictable as he insisted he was? Was that self-destruction OR was it just written because the plot needed it, with no attention to the character consistency?)

> And not to blame all of it on Sergio, to me it feels like Andres always put up a front with Sergio, in a way Sergio will always be his hermanito and I think Andres will always have that urge to protect him.

Makes sense; he protected him till the end, arguably sacrificing himself so that his brother would be sure to make it. I think the flashback… of the flashback of when Jesus died showed that Sergio did the same for his brother, shielding him too, in his way. They seem to try and shield each other a lot, which isn’t the way I see Andrés communicating with Martín. Or Sergio and Martín communicating with each other; Martín has no problem telling him that he loves Andrés, something that Andrés downplays - if not downright denies - when confronted with it by his brother. Andrés outright tells his brother that he’s much more volatile than Martín, even going as far as to prove it by forking that guy, yet Sergio still hangs on to the idea of Andrés that he has in his head.

> I don’t want to go too far into fanon land but maybe it disarms Sergio to see Andres the way he is with Martin. Maybe he’s different to what he remembers and it’s hard to reconcile with who he is now, it’s much easier to avoid them, deny it all and put it all on Martin. Idk there’s something there and I wish we could have seen what it truly was.

That makes sense and seems to be the case. He seems blind to the fact that whatever his brother and Martín have is mutual - even just platonically, since he sees them interact. But then again, Sergio seems blind to/lying to himself about a lot of things, not just who his brother and Martin are, but his own rules about "personal relationship" and the feasibility of pulling such heists without bloodshed (all the while arming everyone to the teeth).

#solid motivation #asks #Berlermo #we can look into all of this a lot #and it's hard to realize how much the characters are who they are because humans are prone to cognitive dissonance and unpredictability #and how much of them is who the plot needed them to be #it's surely a mix of the two #like - it still doesn't make sense to me that Martin freed Gandia??#without being sure that La Banda was 100% able to kill him #some sort of genius he was??#i guess that the plot needed him to do that #so they chucked in the scenes in the restaurant with the three of them and called it #not saying Martin is dependable #no #the guy IS chaotic and vengeful and with a short temper #but even cornered as he was #idk man #idk

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beevean · 1 year

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Favourite final stage themes in Castlevania?

Oh ho :D

10) Out of Time (C1): I feel Heart of Fire overshadows this one. I liked it ever since I played the game! It fits the clockwork stage and it also feels appropriate for the final level, it screams "this is the homestretch, give it the best you got!"

9) Pinnacle (DoS): I can't really explain why I like it, but I do. It just sounds appropriately climatic.

8) The Colossus (OoE): strangely upbeat for a final level, especially compared to An Empty Tome and Ebony Wings, but how could I not appreciate that organ and especially those strings? <3

7) Calling from Heaven (CB): from the last "final level" Yamane has composed to the first one lmao. Dat Genesis twang <3 it feels heavy, somehow.

6) Den (RoB): just a banger through and through. Shred that guitar!

5) Demonic Castle (HoD): yeah, you hear it first as the fourth zone of the game, but you also go through the same area before the final boss so there. One of the best pieces in the OST, dissonance on point, quite menacing and confusing.

4) Top Floor (AoS): why is the theme of the hardest area in the game such a danceable bop?

3) Gaze up at The Darkness (PoR): super duper underrated as the theme of the menacing castle keep. This one is straight up intense, with the strings and the driving drums.

2) Dracula’s Castle (CoD): apparently not many people like this one? And good luck finding covers when it shares a name with the far more famous SoTN theme. Personally, I love it. Yes, the harp intro goes on for a little too long (1:20 is more than enough), but after that, the strings and the guitars just feel like anxiety incarnate, this constant buildup that makes you feel like something horrible will happen if you don't hurry up.

1) Leon’s Theme (LoI): one of the absolute best pieces Yamane-san has ever composed. What a genius move to leave Leon's theme for the ending, after he lost everything he held dear! Because the tragedy that he suffered is what shaped him and the Belmont clan as a whole. And this is just a beautiful, raw classical piece that conveys Leon's sorrow and determination to kick Walter's ass in the most elegant way <3

Honorable mention to The Tragic Prince, which is only the "final level" theme of the normal castle and it's an optional area to boot, but how could I miss on this iconic masterpiece with an out of tune guitar that still somehow fits.

#castlevania #castlevania music #castlevania 1 #rondo of blood #symphony of the night #harmony of dissonance #aria of sorrow #lament of innocence #dawn of sorrow #curse of darkness #portrait of ruin #order of ecclesia #yes technically for aos and dos i should have put chaotic realm and the abyss #but i don't like them :V

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nofoodjustwax · 2 years

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John Coltrane & Pharoah Sanders - Live in Seattle

John Coltrane & Pharoah Sanders – Live in Seattle

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yesanartblog · 2 years

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planning on making a big post of my gieeg species interpretation sometime soon

also planning on doodling some mook interpretations

#chaotic chatting #i have a bunch of interpretations in hand i just need to decide on which to choose #earthbound #cognitive dissonance #gieeg #mooks

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summoner94 · 2 years

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Here’s what I had on earlier.

#Veil of Maya #Ion Dissonance #CD #mathcore #metalcore #progressive metalcore #chaotic metalcore #downtuned #deathcore

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v-iv-rusty · 8 months

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I havent even progressed in rw past garbage wastes but man. random gods is one of the most songs ever

#misc.txt #like I don't even have the full context for it but it makes me feel. something #it sounds so powerful and vast but so melancholic too #its overwhelming. not chaotic per se but like something constantly churning #it feels like the rumble of some huge machine beyond full understanding (I'm p sure its thematically tied to the iterators or 5p yes)#and the way it kind of goes dissonant towards the end #similar to how it was in the very beginning but deeper and slower and subtler this time #AND. just the name itself. random gods. I need to finish this fucking game it just gets so frustrating to me ;_;#also I already know a decent amount about 5p but I know once I have the full picture hes going to be embedded in my brain like a tick

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eatmangoesnekkid · 4 months

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When you shift a habit, when you move beyond an old pattern or limiting belief, when you use your knife to make that teary-eyed, difficult, but necessary sacrifice you've been avoiding, when you undergo a chaotic purge, when you finally let go, there is a great death. You are not the same person as before. It’s deeply compassionate and loving to let yourself grieve the old to help soften and release all frozen sadness, anger, resistance, dissonance or confusion from your body. Permission to grieve is often the missed step and lost intimate art. Grieving should also include you moving your body in some way. True grieving is a deeply sensual experience. When dancing with grief, anoint your body with oils like frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh, dragons blood, ylang ylang, or neroli for support. —India Ame‘ye

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songbirdtales · 7 months

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Keepsakes (AstarionxTav)

Author's note:

The more I'm writing the more this is turning into the slowest of burns. IDKY I'm eating up Astarion and Gale rivalry but its fueling me lol. Enjoy!

Tav sat by the fire with a ragged stuffed bear. The tattered toy had tears in several limbs and had been partially decapitated. Tav has some rags and a needle set aside as they examine the damage, mentally calculating their supplies.

“You’ll kill your eyes like that.” Gale stood over their shoulder, his arms crossed behind his back as he surveyed the scene.

“Good thing I’ve darkvision, yeah?” They offered him a fanged smile, the levity of conversation welcomed.

“Still, if you’ve need of, you’re welcome to use my tent. I keep it well lit for late night reading.” He was doing it again, this dance they’d been at the last few days. This dance of over generosity met with deflection when Tav would probe at his intentions. Sure, perhaps it was simply friendly companionship, but the dissonance in his words and actions made Tav feel there was something Gale wasn’t telling them.

“I wouldn’t want to keep you awake, we need you fresh tomorrow.”

Gale held his hands up as if he’d been caught in a crime. “No need to worry, I’ll be sleeping by the fire tonight. It’ll be empty regardless of me.” An arm opened to gesture back towards his tent. “You’re welcome to it as you please.”

And again they went. “Thank you, Gale. I’ll keep it in mind.” He couldn’t say much to that. Tav looked to their rags, then back up to the wizard. “Gale, could you help me with something actually?”

“Of course!” He was so eager. “How can I help?” Tav almost found themself pitying him. He wanted them so bad, and although Tav couldn’t deny there was a physical attraction, they didn’t want him like that, and they respected him too much to play with his heart.

“Do you have any scrap cloth?” Tav held up the moth worn rags, some had holes in the center with very little usable fabric, it made for a rather limited stock.”I’m trying to mend this toy I found in the village we passed through.”

“The goblin infested one? I hadn’t even noticed.” That’s what he was growing to like about Tav. They were thoughtful, even if they weren’t exactly a hero. They were a chaotic neutral soul from everything he’d seen. He didn’t mind that, but he found it unfortunate how they seemed to attract the worst kinds of characters, himself included. “I think I have a few pieces I can spare.” He nodded towards his tent. “I didn’t know you liked dolls.”

“I’m not sure I do, but mending things like this is familiar, and I could use something familiar right now.” Their eyes had turned back to the toy in their hands. They grabbed their supplies and stood, ready to follow him back to his tent, which is exactly what they hadn’t wanted to do. Still, they could keep this from escalating in a direction they didn’t want. Everything was still fine.

“I understand. I’ve been grabbing every book we pass. It’s the most I’ve read in ages. It’s comforting.” Gale said as they walked side by side to his tent. His strides were longer and quicker than Tav’s, Gale actively having to alter his pace and path to keep at their side. His body language betrayed his excitement, and Tav felt nothing at the sight but anxiety. Tav paused beside his sitting cushion as Gale stepped forward, kneeling into the tent and gathering some slashed clothes. “There you are,” Gale beamed as he handed the cloth to Tav.

The cloth was good quality, heavy and strong, but it had been brutally cut up in battle to the point it wasn’t much worth repairing. The blood had been mostly washed out but the reminisce of stains lingered. All in all, there was more than enough good fabric for their bear.

“You really took a beating the other day…” Tav mused as they looked over the torn robe. They’d not really thought much about how brutal the Gnoll on the road had been.

“You should have seen the other guy.” He joked back, laughing a little until he noticed Tav wasn’t laughing back. He quickly tamped the laughter down to awkward silence.

Tav offered Gale a soft smile. “I’m glad you’re ok Gale. You’re a valued part of this party, and I don’t know how we’d fare without you. So, do try to be more careful, yeah?”

“Of course.” He said with a nod, his eyes struggling to keep contact with Tav’s demonic glow. His gaze only turned up when Tav spoke again.

“Well, I better get started if I want to get some sleep tonight.” Tav said as they switched spots with Gale, his body naturally following their movement as if they were both being pushed by opposite currents. Tav got down and crawled in, sitting in the pile of cushions Gale had amassed and formed into a reclined seat. They curled their legs up, propping their supplies on their thighs as they began to tear the gifted cloth into smaller segments.

Gale didn’t leave, sitting down on the cushion outside. He grabbed something nearby to seem as though he had a task himself, but it was truly just an excuse to watch Tav work. Tav didn’t mind, even if they saw his act for what it was. Eventually he actually did become fixated on his task, the two working silently, fueled by the other’s presence. It was peaceful, familiar, like working in a library. Gale had no idea how long they had been at this, but as he pulled himself from his work to speak to Tav, he paused.

Inside the tent Tav was passed out in his pillows. The bear had been noticeably mended in parts, but it was not yet done. Gale got up from his seat and kneeled into the tent. His hand reached for the blanket, pulling it across the tent to gently drape it over Tav. A warm smile bloomed on his lips as he let them sleep. Only then would Gale leave, heading back to the fire.

“There you are,” The annoyance in Astarion’s voice was palpable as he approached Gale at the fire. “Where have you been off to?”

Gale knew the smell of jealousy well, and Astarion was worse than he’d like at hiding it. “Just doing a little late night carving.” Gale reached in his pocket and produced a small wooden figurine. It was crudely carved, but even Astarion had to admit it vaguely resembled a cat in a cat’s most basic shape.

Astarion stared at the deformed wooden cat for a moment before looking up at Gale with the least amusement Gale had ever seen from him. “Do you know where Tav is?”

Gale had to actively resist smiling but the faintest glimmer of a triumphant grin couldn’t help but pull at his lips. He’d cross his arms over his chest. “I do.” He said simply and curt as if he had no intention of elaborating. Anger twitch to Astarion’s face, and just as he was just about to speak, Gale spoke again, cutting him off. “They’re already asleep for the night. Poor thing, utterly exhausted. I’d let them be.”

Astarion’s face had more warmth to it than Gale had ever seen, the heat of his anger barely contained. “I asked you a question. Do not make me repeat myself.” That normally beautiful face was twisted and sharp as Astarion glared daggers into the human wizard.

The grin grew broader across Gales lips at Astarion’s posturing and he’d nod back over his shoulder. “I thought it best to leave them be.” He was so smug about it, as if he’d won some unspoken competition.

Astarion glanced over in the direction Gale had gestured quickly at first before realizing Gale had nodded to his tent. His gaze came back to Gale as a glare. “No need to make things weird, Gale. We’re all adults here.” If his tongue wasn’t so sharp, Gale might have noticed the projection in Astarion’s words, but both men were preoccupied with their egos. The condescension in his voice was cutting, leaving Gale speechless long enough for Astarion to turn sharply away and saunter off.

Gale sighed as the Elf departed, a wave of relief washed over him that his jugular was still intact. “Dramatic.” He finally scoffed.

Astarion was at Gale’s tent in a matter of strides. Still fuming, he knelt beside the opening of the tent and pulled the flap aside with his arm. The sight of Tav, fully clothed, dead asleep, with a partly repaired stuffed toy was not what Astarion had been expecting. Instantly the wind was knocked out of his anger and the fire of it died, leaving Astarion frozen. Any action he’d thought to take was now wildly dramatic if not inappropriate… for a moment he was almost aware of his jealousy, until Tav stirred.

A soft, sleepy sound came from Tav as one eye struggled to pull itself half open. Their arms were just about to start pushing themself up when Astarion reached out a hand. He didn’t touch them, but his hand hovered just overtop their back. They didn’t push up into the hand, they didn’t have the strength. They were exhausted from the near daily feeding.

“Hush, go back to sleep.” He urged in a sweet whisper as his eyes turned about the tent. Gale had this packed with all sorts of magic nonsense, but his eyes fell back to the stuffed bear. He was fascinated instantly, not because of the toy, but because of the magic radiating from it. They had pulled apart Gale’s bloodstained shirt for thread and stitched it in a way he’d seen before from the witches of Baldur's Gate, a way of hiding protections and curses in the stitch and weave of clothing. Though in this instance it was very rudimentary, Astarion couldn’t help but wonder how a tiefling bard knew such magic.

“Are you hungry?” Even half asleep, Tav’s mind was preoccupied with the camp, making sure everyone was safe. He almost admired that about them, if only for the wrong reasons. He was impressed that someone could have the willpower to keep all of this together.

“Not tonight darling.” His hand reached for their hair, gently shifting some loose strands from their face. He’d lean over to their ear and whisper, “Sweet dreams,” as Tav’s eye fell shut once more.

He lingered, hesitating, his eyes shifting back to the bear before deciding it was best to leave what questions it gave him till the morning. Astarion would wait until he’d gotten a few steps from the tent before letting his real thoughts catch up to him. He was hungry, but a boar would have to suffice. It would look bad on him to drink Tav’s blood while they’re passed out in another person’s tent, and he needed to keep appearances up if his very simple plan was to succeed.

The next morning Tav woke up early. Gale had aligned some objects in his tent to take the first light of dawn and amplify it and wake him, Gods did it work, Tav almost wished it hadn’t. They were groggy, vision fading in and out of focus as they crawled out into the sunlight. They sat on their knees and stared at the horizon in silent reverence for a time. Their thoughts swam with everything that had happened leading up to the blighted village; the abandoned temple, the grove. It all came back like recalling a vivid dream, surreal and fragmented, yet so clear.

They let their eyes close as the still cool air washed over them. Tav’s breath fogged in the morning chill as they let out a deep, tired yawn. Their fangs snapped as they closed their mouth and rubbed the sleep from their eyes. As they crawled back in the tent to retrieve their craft, they noticed something shine in the morning light. A single white hair. Tav cocked a brow but gathered it with the rest of the fabric and the bear.

Everyone was still asleep as Tav ted lightly towards and past the fire. Even Astarion was still in his trance from what it seemed so Tav went towards the river. As soon as their back was turned, a sanguine eye popped open. Astarion was silent as he followed Tav towards the water. He watched as Tav washed their hands and face in the running water before settling on a rock and pulling their bear back out.

“Good morning, Darling.” He watched them closely, the breaking of the silence practically made Tav jump but they didn’t hide their work. They’d been threading their needle and paused, tucking the needle into the bear so as to not stab themself with it on accident.

“Good morning,” Tav sighed in relief, a soft smile pulling across their face before their hand twirled in a flourish towards him. “You dropped something in Gale’s tent.” They held out the single silver hair between two fingers, offering it back to him. “You should be more careful with a wizard.”

Astarion scoffed and looked between Tav and the hair. “How do you know that’s mine?” The two stared silently at each other for a long moment, Astarion set in his flimsy denial as Tav’s hair was much longer, much more yellow, and much less curly than the strand in question. He’d groan a little. “Fine, yes, it’s mine.” A hint of irritation simmered in his tone before shifting into that arrogant sarcasm. “I’m surprised you’re giving it back instead of using it in your little curse doll, make me fall in love with you.”

Tav choked on laughter, doubling over as their cheeks puffed before their lips burst open. Their hand clapped over their mouth to muffle the sound so as to not wake the others. “I don’t need magic to steal a heart.”

They turned their hand down, ready to flick the hair away towards him but Astarion reached out to snatch it before they could. He didn’t keep it, brushing it off his hand on his trousers. Tav looked back down to the bear and held it up a little.

“Besides, these are for protection. It’s something my mother taught me to do. When I saw this in the rubble, I thought I might give myself something familiar to do. This one’s for Gale, since it’s got his blood and all on the thread.” Those blue eyes turned up to Astarion curiously. “I can make one for you next time I find a stuffed animal.”

“Don’t expect me to give you my bloody drawers.” Astarion huffed.

“No need for that.” Tav was still chortling as they picked up their needle to resume work. “I'll be honest the blood was dramatic of him, but I’m thinking of making one for everyone. Give my hands something to do while we travel.”

“Really?” His tone shifted as he leaned just a little closer, that perfect, sly smile on his lips. Tav knew a performance when they saw one, and this was well rehearsed. “Nothing else to busy your hands with?”

Tav knew this game, bored flirtation. It was one of their favorites, and considering there was nothing else to do besides fixate on the imminent fear of death, why not play along? Their hair swayed as they tilted their head, strands still caught in their horns and loose down their back. Their hair was long, past their shoulders and with a hint of a wave. “Yet.” They hummed in response, a curious look on their face, studying his reaction.

Astarion recoiling as a very confused “What?” come from him before he’d clear his throat. He wasn’t used to someone flirting back, normally they were too intimidated. “I mean, What about your uh, violin? Or is it a Lute?”

Tav backed off, their smile growing wider at his stumbling words. “I’m fine playing classics by the fire, but I’m a bit reluctant to work on my own stuff around the fire with strangers. Besides, most of them want to sleep as soon as we get back to camp. I'm not gonna keep them up.”

“Oh come now,” He’d put the charm back on, gesturing to the camp. “I’m sure Gale would be thrilled.”

Tav’s face soured, their nose scrunching a little as their lips thinned. “Yeah…” They didn’t seem excited by the idea. “You… never heard me play in Baldur’s Gate, did you?”

Astarion laughed and found himself a seat on a nearby stone. “Darling, I have no idea who you are beyond our time together with the rest of our companions.” Tav squinted as they caught sight of a glimmer of honesty. When he didn’t care about something, he had no filter, and in that they could see just a hint of what hid behind the mask.

An easy smile grew across Tav’s lips. “What kind of music do you think I make?” They asked with pure amusement.

Astarion stared blankly at Tav for a moment, blinking a few times as the gears in his head turned. “What other kind of music do bards make besides adventure ballads?”

Tav instinctively covered their mouth as they laughed again, truly amused by his ignorance. It drew Astarion’s eye instantly. “I mostly sing about grief and death, heartbreak and vengeance. It’s not exactly the mood I want to bring to camp.”

“It can’t be that bad.” He said as he crossed his arms. “Come, let me hear some of this emotional music. It can’t be that much of a downer.”

Tav rose a brow, his challenge wordlessly accepted. They reached into their back for a small book where they worked out their lyrics. “Here’s something I’m still working on.” They cleared their throat and began reading the lines like poetry. It was an eloquent verse, and very clearly described having dreams of murdering their own father.

Astarion was thrown off in a completely new way. The longer they read for, the more his expression contorted as Astarion tried to mask his concern. They only got two lines in before Astarion held one hand out and averted his gaze. “Th-that’s enough. I get it.”

“Yeah,” Tav was holding back laughter. “I don’t need to be playing songs like that at a time like this. I’ll get my musical fix by playing their favorites by the fire, but I figure it’s better to save the heavy stuff.” Their eyes turned to the sky, the sun was just about to peek over the trees, the morning star fading as the sky lost its pastel hues. “Never gets old.” They sighed, as the sun came up and the warmth of its light washed over them both.

Astarion flinched instinctively before letting out a deep sigh of relief. “No, it does not.”

They sat in the silence of the sunrise for a moment before Tav’s voice gently broke it. “I know everythings scary right now, but I truly believe that if we stick together, we can survive this. And if not, at least we’re free, for what it’s worth.”

“I think freedom’s worth everything.” His eyes were fixed on the water, watching the river glisten as it ran. The flashes reflected in his eyes, making them sparkle like rubies.

Tav let themself stare for longer than they should have, taking in the contours of his features, the shapes of his shadows, the lines in his skin. They didn’t care if he caught them, though he seemed too fixated on the water to notice. “So do I.” Tav’s voice melted into the sound of the river, so soft Astarion barely registered they’d said anything at all.

By the time he’d looked back to them, Tav was standing, holding the now fully mended bear in their hands. They tilted their head as they gazed at the bear, checking their work. They bit their lower lip in thought, as if trying to remember a forgotten step. Finally, they went to the river crouched beside the edge. With one finger, Tav reached to wet their nail, holding the drop in the carved point of their nail before bringing it to the forehead of the bear. The toy looked a little cleaner, Astarion could even feel the magic of it was more pure. The protection charm was complete.

“I’ll try to find you a different animal. Maybe a goose?” They said with a joking smile.

Astarion clicked his tongue, squeezing his still folded arms as he pouted. “Take your time.” He had no desire for a hagcraft charm.

Tav shook their head as they left Astarion at the riverbank. The elf glanced back towards the fire to see Tav giving the now well awake Gale the bear. He seemed more fascinated with the magic than the bear itself and began to info dump about thread based magic.

Astarion’s face felt relatively hot as anger gathered in him. He covered his face with a hand as his mind still raced from that one word. He didn’t like this, whatever feeling this was. He didn’t recognize the feeling as it gathered in his core, this twisting in his guts, as if he’d eaten something rotten, yet still starved. Was it really hunger? He’d fed that night and this felt different. He’d already made them his mark, so why was he starting to panic?

It was then that a new thought came to Astarion, what if Tav can see through his game? How well could he really wrap them around his finger if they knew it was fake? And what did that mean for the security of his simple plan?

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zef-zef · 2 years

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Death Grips - Gmail and the Restraining Orders (2019; Third Worlds, 2021)

#2010s #death grips #electronic #experimental #sound collage #noise #glitch #digital hardcore #hip hop #dissonant #chaotic #2019 #w31-2022

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thirdtofifth · 1 year

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Cerebrilith Large fiend (demon), chaotic evil Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Hit Points 149 (13d10 + 78) Speed 30 ft. Str 21, Dex 13, Con 23, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 21 Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +8 Damage Immunities lightning, poison Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks Senses darkvision 60 ft. passive Perception 14 Languages Abyssal, telepathy 120 ft. Challenge 10 (5900 XP) Magic Resistance. The cerebrilith has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Innate Spellcasting. The cerebrilith's spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). The cerebrilith can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: At will: detect thoughts, confusion, dissonant whispers 3/day each: darkness, dominate person, gaseous form

Actions Multiattack. The cerebrilith uses Mind Lash if it is able to. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite, and two with its claws. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6+5) piercing damage. Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) slashing damage. Teleport. The cerebrilith magically teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 120 feet to an unoccupied space it can see. Mind Lash (Recharge 4-6). Up to three creatures the cerebrilith can see that are within 60 feet of it each must succeed on a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or take 17 (5d6) psychic damage. A creature that fails its save by 5 or more is also stunned until the end of its next turn.

Cerebriliths are psionic demons who seek to kill, and then consume the brains of, moral creatures. They also use their powers of mental domination to control communities of mortals to serve them, or simply to manipulate them according to the whims of their Abyssal masters. When not serving other demons, they are found in groups of up to four. They stand around 8 feet tall.

Originally from the Expanded Psionics Handbook

#thirdtofifth CR 10 #thirdtofifth demon #thirdtofifth fiend #d&d 3.5 #dnd 3.5 #dnd #d&d #dnd 5e #d&d 5e #dungeons and dragons #d&d monster #d&d homebrew

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themanwhomadeamonster · 5 months

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The 1999 combat theme and its foreshadowing because the autism got to me and I spent too long trying to figure out this soundtrack

Jumping off from @brokenjardaantech's WITW music analysis post here - go check it out, it's very insightful and lays the foundations for what I'm about to talk about! And thanks to @theterribletenno for the burst of inspiration by giving me a massive oh shit realisation in the most chilling way possible LOL

Spoilers under the read-more; TL;DR at the end :'^D

To preface, the soundtrack is structured in an ABC structure with bridges between A and B, as well as another between B and C that borrows from A. The key starts in Cm, briefly modulating to Gm in section B then back to Cm during the second bridge, and settling on Em for section C. In-game for WITW you most likely will only hear up to the first bridge since the Technocyte fight only goes for around a minute long

Sections A, the bridges and partially C feature genre similarities to grunge rock with fuzzy guitar chugging, whammy bar, and palm muting, while the drums are notably sharp snares (except for the first bridge, which are clean bass kicks that gradually distort transitioning into section B's style). Musically, it sounds like a typical fighting soundtrack meant to hype you up - the melody is confident and likes to push and pull its rhythm. But in section C it notably become emptier in its layering while keeping the distorted drums, placing emphasis on the lyrics (which I'll get to below lol). Heavier syncopation and polyrhythms are also introduced.

Section B however is the main outlier. This section is where it most strongly resembles industrial rock: rhythmic synth layers begin to accompany the melody (a pedal point line that plays every semiquaver/sixteenth note), synth drums replace acoustics and the guitars drop the fuzz that is characteristic of grunge and steadily strum every quaver/eighth note. Compared to the push and pull rhythm of section A, this section is steadier, less chaotic than the other sections, it wants you to focus on this section.

Notably, the lead guitar introduces a familiar leitmotif: This is What You Are (which @brokenjardaantech goes more in depth regarding its use in WITW). Here, though, its second chord becomes flattened (Dm -> D♭m) and introduces a diminished, dissonant sound. To me this was the first hint that the song may actually be about Arthur's downfall. This is What You Are is a musical leitmotif that recurs in moments of vulnerability, especially when someone is at risk of losing their sense of self, their identity and what they are. It plays during The Second Dream when we discover the Operator, during the New War when Eidolon!Lotus just lost herself to Ballas and can't recognise the Tenno, and in WITW during the Vessel "fight" when the Tenno is forced out of their Warframe.

I was prompted to actually dig more into the lyrics because I saw @theterribletenno bring up something really interesting

In this specific song, the leitmotif is diminished, it's corrupted. "Surrender to the corruption" - this is what Arthur is afraid of. I brought up earlier that section B had a genre shift. The contrast of the music is important, it's highlighting something, and together with the musicality of the leitmotif, it's making a sense of urgency and danger. The leitmotif is a warning to Arthur.

Section B sings these lyrics:

Break it, break it, Break it open!

Compared to the desperation in the other lines, these two lines are sung mockingly. The Infested are trying to break Arthur, and are succeeding. Their voice is becoming his. But there are actually two vocal lines in this section - you can also hear muted backing vocals in a much less aggressive and lethargic tone warning that "Disillusion". Arthur is trying so hard to keep his own voice and stay clear-minded but it's being drowned out and he's nearing his breaking point, and Albrecht, based on the Codex Fragments you find, is well aware of this.

In section C, while the layering is less intense it's noticeably more heavily syncopated and polyrhythmic, and introduces new (accompanying) echoing and dissonant synth layers reflecting the confusion and disorientation that Arthur begins to feel (these synth layers are actually introduced in the second bridge, but are more easily heard in section C). Section B and C also keep the synth/distorted drums that section A and both bridges lack (at most it's a reverb in those sections); the industrial sound of the song becoming associated with the increasing influence of the Infested over his humanity.

So I tried deciphering more lyrics for each section; I haven't figured all of it out and most of it could very well be wrong because of how heavily clipped the vocal line intentionally is so I don't want to make anymore assumptions than I need to, but I can understand enough of it to realise that the song is foreshadowing Arthur's corruption to the Infested. In green are the lyrics I'm confident are correct:

Sting it, sting it, sting it! Sting it, sting it, sting it in the flesh!

Bridge:

I don't understand! It brings more disease!

Break it, break it, Break it open! (Disillusion)

Bridge:

Sting it, sting it! Sting it in the flesh!

Who's dreaming? Who's the [???] It's a vision[?]!

TL;DR: the grunge/industrial genre hybrid represents Arthur's humanity/Infested respectively, and the song becomes increasingly industrial as the song progresses, most noticeably through the increasing distortion of the drum sound. Section A sets the stage, section B serves as a warning to Arthur that he's losing his sense of identity as the Infestation drowns out his "voice" while a dissonant version of This is What You Are plays, and section C is him experiencing confusion and disorientation as the Infestation continues to corrupt him.

#i'm assuming the last section might be about the tenno transferring to arthur since the singer brings up dreaming specifically?#please correct me if i misheard any lyrics the auditory processing do be processing badly #wf said we took the themes of grief compassion and identity and are throwing it back at you tenfold #warframe #warframe spoilers #warframe 1999 #wf arthur #audio #music #i haven't done musical analysis in a long time so i've forgotten some terminology especially with audio mixing rip...#but yeah idk i enjoyed this soundtrack it's musically simple compared to wf's other stuff but a lot of thought went into it thematically #i love when music tells a story in itself through its sound rather than lyrics #bc even without the lyrics the intention behind this song's composition is still very clear

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