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blossomthepinkbunny · 2 days

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I think a much better structure for Hazbin Hotel would've been to focus solely on hell for the first season. Charlie would advertise the hotel and there would be guests looking to be redeemed. Without having to focus on Charlie convincing heaven of her idea, they could've spent a lot more time to get us to actually care about our main cast as well as introducing the citizens of hell in a more natural way. I know they would still have to work with just 8 episodes but it would've been much more focused if they actually had the hotel be the main source of story for season one. Right now I don't really care for the characters of HH.

Like Valeria was an ex-exorcist? Okay, I don't really know anything about her that would've made me assume she wasn't, except for the fact that she loves Charlie and from how Charlie was portrayed so far I assume she is going to forgive her immediately. Oh, everything is resolved within one episode.

Sir Pentious (presumably) died and everyone is sad? Well they didn't seem to even know him that well and they never gave us the impression that they cared about him. His progression wasn't even shown and we don't know what he did that actually redeemed him. I guess it's still kinda sad that he died. Oh, he is actually alive ... alright moving on.

Charlie doesn't have a good relationship with her dad? Well it's gonna be interesting how they'll make me feel for their relationship when Lucifer basically neglected her and when he's someone allowing the extermination of the people Charlie wants to save to happen. Oh, they resolved it in the same episode he first appeared in by saying he actually just really cares for her and he was just misunderstood and rejected by people. It's good that Lucifer apparently cares for his relationship with Charlie, because I don't.

The only character moment I kinda felt for was Angel standing up to Valentino (which one could argue was also pretty mishandled, but that's for victims of abuse to judge). And making the viewer feel bad about abuse happening is like holding a box of puppies in front of an audience and then patting yourself on the back for making them say "aww".

The main problem is that we never get to spend enough time with any of these people because the show also has to focus on heaven, Adam and Charlie still trying to pitch her idea. In my imagination, the hotel does fine and attracts guests. Not too many but still some sinners who could be used to show the variety of hell and it's citizens. They could also show that there are people down there who aren't literally the worst sinners you could imagine, who wouldn't have gone heaven anyways, even if it wasn't corrupt apparently. Each episode could focus on Charlie trying to redeem someone, with a second plot maybe focused on a member of the hotel staff. And when a character needs more time dedicated to them specifically (like Angel or maybe Sir Pentious), you could have the redeeming either happening in the background as a B-plot or just fully focus on said character. Lucifer could be more present with making his bad relationship with Charlie one of her driving motives to keep the hotel going or with showing him actually supporting the hotel, probably giving it more believability in hell. The Vees would be the main antagonists instead of Adam of season 1 as they are in hell and could be connected to the characters' struggles. Valentinos and Angels storyline would work when he and his team have already been established as well. Vox could be used more in his rivalry with Alastor and maybe Velvette could also have some connection to the main cast (maybe with Valeria or Nifty or just in general with citizens in hell). The Vees could be used to flesh out hell as a place more and also the characters of course. And Adam wouldn't really appear in s1 but could be mentioned here and there, possibly with Lucifer making remarks like: "Adam isn't going to approve of this" or something like that.

The end of season one would maybe feature Charlie and Lucifer finally making up in a way and the end of certain character plots. There could also be a final showdown with the Vees and the character stories they impact could be solved in a way. The real last scenes could be that the hotel has reached a milestone, like maybe Charlie redeemed 10 sinners now and that's reason to celebrate. But as the sinners party happily, finally believing that theres a way they can resolve the issue without needing a war, the scene cuts to heaven and we see Adam looking to the sinners filled with hope and his face just makes it clear that he isn't going to let them get away with this.Adam would then be the main antagonist of season two.

Hazbin Hotel really just has a problem with the plot being really overstuffed. And even my version might seem like a lot to cover with just 8 episodes but it could definitely work if done right. A lot of stuff could be cut, like Carmillas whole arc, Charlie talking to Adam and visiting heaven, Valerias backstory reveal, introducing Sera and Emily, Building the army and the fight at the end (probably other stuff that I don't remember now). Carmilla could be introduced in s2, when heaven and the exterminations are really in focus. Velvette could still bring up the dead exterminator (possibly to show that even after the Vees were technically defeated they still exist and cause troubls, unless they were killed in the s1 finale of course). Mimzy and Rosie could just be cut fully or brought in in other ways. Maybe Charlie wants to redeem a really greedy sinner and so Alastor suggests that she visits Mimzy to really find out what makes someone so greedy or something. Or in season two, after the date of the exterminations gets moved forward, more and more sinners come to the hotel out of fear of dying. Charlie would want to know how to be a more respected and direct leader without coming off as mean and so Alastor introduces her to Rosie. Then they could still have the big cannibal army at the end.

These are just some thoughts on how the show could be structured better and make the story feel less crowded. This would obviously go hand in hand with some character rewriting.

#hazbin hotel critical #hazbin hotel criticism #hazbin hotel critique #hazbin hotel rewrite #vivziepop critical #vivziepop criticism

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siblingskissing · 2 days

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Ronance headcanons?

Ronance Headcanons

I have had the BIGGEST brain rot about these two, you guys don't even know, so please excuse my rambling session in this post. As always- feel free to share your headcanons, opinions, thoughts ideas, just be kind <3

-Robin is the biggest simp to ever exist. Nancy mentions liking a color? Guess who's suddenly adding it all over their wardrobe! A favourite food? She's already learned how to cook it. Allergic to something? Robin will destroy it with her bare hands and make it go extinct to protect her girl.

-Likewise, Nancy would and will kill for Robin (come on Robin tell her to kill for you she wants to)

-Their favourite dates include them sitting in one of their rooms, a movie or music playing as they discuss conspiracy theories or whatever story Nancy is working on

"There's been a ton of missing items from farms in the areas. Animals, tools, bales of hay-"

"could it be aliens?"

"Alie- Robin it's not aliens!"

"What? Interdimensional monsters are real but aliens aren't?"

-Many people assume Nancy would get annoyed by Robins carefree joke centered attitude but actually she calms down whenever Robin tries making jokes.

-She doesn't like when people don't take things seriously, but she knows Robin is taking it serious, but using humour to make sure they don't spiral with the problem

-their relationship definitely started off rocky but with some time, understanding and surprisingly really deep conversations they learn to appreciate the little things about one another.

-Robin loves Nancy's drive and her leadership skills. She makes sure that everyone takes her seriously and if the kids complain about Nancy being a hard ass she brings them back to listen.

"Nancy's not our boss!"

"No, but she's the one keeping you dipshits safe- she knows what she's doing so listen up and quit complaining"

-They kids listen to Robin more and so when she follows Nancy with no complaints, the kids unconsciously follow suit.

-When Nancy gets stressed/aggravated Robin will be there to lend her a shoulder. They're very much leader/Right Hand man coded to me.

-Nancy doesn't know much about queer culture so when she does eventually come out Robin is happy to talk to her about it and share what she knows.

"So we use Blue violets because Sappho used to describe women wearing garlands of them,"

"Sappho?"

"... Do you have a spar 3 hours so I can explain Sappho and Greek poetry to you?"

-They take all kinds of cute little Polaroids that they keep at Robins place

(examples of said Polaroids)

-Robins family is more supportive so often Nancy goes over there to spend the night

-when college comes up in discussions Robin mentions that she enjoyed investigating with Nancy, the research was fun when they didn't have death looming over them.

"Yeah, learning Russian to break the code was awesome- the torture kind of ruined it though-"

"The WHAT?"

-Nancy asks Robin 1000X if Robin is sure she wants to go to the same college/same field and Robin promises her that she isn't only going because of her.

"I'd follow you anywhere, but this is also for me- if I have to do one more customer service job I might kill someone."

-They love movie nights, curled up under a blanket watching whatever film they can find. Robin always finds the oddest ones and sometimes some really deep indie films. Nancy also enjoys the foreign films she can find and let's her choose.

-on nights Nancy chooses- she likes care free fun films. Nothing too heavy because she likes the simplicity

-Theyre a gross matching couple- but in a new fun way.

-Mat hing colors in their respective styles, using each other's clothes and making it go with their personal choices, matching patterns/designs.

-They also shared shoes sometimes

-On the 90s Nancy gets a more "Rachel from friends" style like this

-Robin eats it up like no one is watching and often has to hold back from just kissing her 24/7

(also I badly wanna do a look book of the characters so Please someone ask for that because I love fashion)

I definitely probably have more but here you are!!

#proship #antis dni #proship community #proship please interact #stranger things #ronance #ronance headcanons #robin buckley #nancy wheeler

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bunnydexterloveselvis · 3 months

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WAIT

I FOUND A FIC THAT WAS LIKE

AN ECU CHARACTER (i forgot who) X JESS WADE (another ecu character)

I WASN'T AWARE WE WERE SHIPPING HIS MOVIE CHARACTERS TOGETHER NOW?????????

whatever im gonna go make ship charts and fanart

#elvis presley #elvis #dexter.txt #dexter posts #no i fr wasn't aware of this #and the little drabble was so cute too #oh boy #tbh i've always seen a weird possible combo with vince and clint #idk they are just so baby #i was joking the other day about the elvis fandom almost “onceler-ing it” and shipping the same character together #but even though they are played by the same person i don't think it counts??? they *are* different people who just have the same actor so #they aren't really the same character i guess #oh and i see mooodyblue shipping e and aus together #that is soooo cute #<3 #love em love em love emmmm #love them so much #the babies #ADORBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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arty-cakes · 7 months

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am i just blorbo brainpilled to hell or does zote technically haunt the narrative if you leave him to die because of the glaring 'neglect' achievement you earn and how the pale beings did the same things to ghost and the vessels and therefore ghost can never be the same once it consciously decides to do that

#what the fuck. i guess i cant really see them the same after that since it is framed to be quite callous #what other characters haunt the narrative. pk obviously #in a literal sense since his visage is everywhere and you can't even sit on a bench without paying him geo. he also traumatized ghost #who else..... im trying to see it from a thematic point of view. plot wise almost everyone from the past is haunting the story.#including the citizens #i also cant remember anything about this game my brain only likes the two loser bugs who aren't super plot relevant. post CANCELLED

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sciderman · 3 months

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I would say you’re more of a Mr peanut butter type yeah

doggy doggy what now?

#sci speaks #i love mr peanutbutter.#i think i love especially that eventually people stopped liking him.#cute quirky doggy winds up being a JERK actually just like the rest of us.#i love him and i love that.#really need to rewatch bojack actually because i don't remember it very well but god do i remember Loving it.#i think it's probably the best adult animated series i've ever seen. just. like. i don't know. it's the kind of writing that i really love.#where all the characters are bad actually. and you think they might be outwardly put together but they're not.#bojack is a GREAT SHOW. depressing but great.#i can't even like recommend it to anybody i'm like. yeah. it'll depress you. sorry. but that's why i like it.#i like those kind of ugly sincere emotions that make me feel less alone for being an asshole sometimes.#not in a “haha this character i like is an asshole so i can be an asshole too” kind of a way but in a .#i shouldn't despise myself because this is just part of what it is to be human i guess. you'll mess up and make selfish choices.#we all have that same software and i don't know. makes me feel less alone. i love to see that nobody else has it put together either.#it's not just me floating in the world with no direction.#it do be why i hate people who point at a character and say “BAD ROLEMODEL!! why aren't they PERFECT??”#get out shut up i hate you.#try living LIFE for five days maybe.

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welcometogrouchland · 1 year

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Oh I should do something with that toh/spider-verse art I made a while back

#ramblings of a lunatic #toh #spiderverse #yeah i guess we'll tag for that!#it was in my sketchbook so you guys haven't seen it #i put luz as miles bc while they're characters definitely aren't like. The Same #there are some similarities i see and appreciate #like luz isn't a high expectations kid but she is artistic and has the like. not the same but a similar thread in her arc #of realizing that she is enough on her own despite the ways she fails to conform to what ppl want/try to force her to be #also. afrolatino bisexual swag. obviously #also it's really funny bc I DREW HUNTER AS BEN REILLY #JUST BC I WAS LIKE 'Oh sad blonde clone boys' AND THEN BR WAS PORTRAYED LIKE THAT IN SPIDER-VERSE #HILARIOUS #I LOVE IT #i think somewhere in my notes i said that gwen was amity eda was peter b and caleb was 'perfect Peter'#with gus and willow presumably filling in for the spider b-team that appears in both movies #(penny noir and ham in movie 1 and pavitr and hobie in movie 2)#anyway yeah idk if I'll like. have time tomorrow to that (or. anything else. so scared for Wednesday but also LET ME OUT PLS GOD)#but if i do i will #also gotta download both movies so i can have a movie night w/ the gang where we watch both

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blujayonthewing · 4 months

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on the one hand I think an interesting direction to take melliwyk getting increasingly stressed and overtaxed and frantic would be for her behavior become increasingly careless and reckless, but the problem is that a part of why she's been Like This is that I don't want any of the Important Things she's trying to figure out to spin out of control

#the stakes are high enough that I'M too stressed about fucking things up to play too much into 'she's cracking under pressure' :')#justin got to play out zhartook struggling to process trauma with a really narratively cool PC-and-DM-controlled Loss Of Control #in the form of tying his first circle of the moon elemental wildshape to an uncontrolled emotional response #for melliwyk there isn't anything really Like That? I guess I could work with the DM to script a longer sleep incident but #that's not really the same-- for one thing zhartook becoming an uncontrolled fire elemental was An Encounter; both solvable and over quickly #for another thing melliwyk sometimes not being able to be awakened for longer stretches of time is a known possibility #(the mechanics behind the premise that if I ever couldn't make a session my character could just be asleep the whole time)#it's not CLEARLY tied to stress and it's not really actionable on my part or the party's #in theory-- or in a scripted show or written story-- it would be a chance for the party to pick up for her #after which she realizes she really doesn't have to put so much on just herself without asking for help #in PRACTICE I feel like it would just be really annoying for everyone lol #I dunno! she's definitely pushed herself more and slept less #but again I as a player don't wanna push 'your wizard isn't long resting' too far either :') not really fair to everyone else...#there's a necronomicon that's probably cursed but the benefits of attuning to it anyway aren't extremely clear?#I MEAN it definitely HAS benefits but they're not anything urgently useful right now #alas I continue not to be creative or intelligent enough to roleplay a chaotic wizard gnome #about me #my OCs #melliwyk

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maddy-ferguson · 8 months

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i think about pluto will always be a planet in my room at least once every three months when i rewatch gilmore girls season 7 episode 11 santa's secret stuff and they talk about how pluto isn't a planet anymore

#like ohhh that was kinda crazy it still is.#tome #i think riarkle was my first actual ship they're the first ship i ever read fanfic of before that i'd only read one direction fanfic like #when i was 12 and it was in french and not on ao3 and this fanfic era for me was short lived because the fics i was reading were too sad #like they would make me too upset?/?/))/?#i read this loooong one and all i remember is the self insert character getting cheated on and danielle losing her baby and i was so upset #i cried in my mother's arms which does not sound like me AT ALL and i couldn't even explain why because it was way too silly like oh my #god. so i was like no more fic for you and i really didn't read any until after i started watching gmw seriously in 2016 #i don't read fics for that many ships and when i do i can read fics for the same ship for literal years as long as they don't get together #/aren't together by the end of the show i can literally read it forever idc and so i actually haven't read fic for that many ships #like maybe 6 or 7. which i guess is a lot but like. for one (and i'll never say which one it is (even though it's like. a normal ship and #it's from a show you know i watch/enjoy))#of these i literally read fics like every day for three years. i never get tired of like anything #i read shirbert fanfic same thing every day from summer 2018 to fall 2019 when season 3 aired and i could never read fics of them again #after they got together in the show (even though i knew they would and i had even watched the movies) like once it's done i really can't #make myself care anymore #anywzy. love pluto will always be a planet in my room riarkle you will always be famous!!!!!#and like i say: brf slt #or i guess #gilmore girling

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dangaer · 1 year

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i know a lot of people get mad at it but tbh shin really looks out for the heroine in spade and diamond route.

#❛ 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 ⧽ — ooc.#I SAID. WHAT I SAID.#people absolutely despise him in ikk.i's route which is honestly fair if thats how you feel im never gonna be like HOW DARE YOU #but the reality is is that while shins words are very cruel in certain parts ( cannot deny that and he should apologise for them )#at the same time. ik.ki was currently flirting with other women openly and not just “for work” and then he was also lumped in to having an #extra shift because a girl couldnt come into work as she was rejected by him. i would be mad too ...#but also like. at near the end of the route he makes a point to actively help them out which is his way of showing his support for them #like ... as a friend the way he looks out for the heroine is rlly remarkable.#its the same with diamond world bc for context. shin has done A LOT to help the heroine and her love for toma for this route #shins been papparazi #probs had to go round his face and find out random facts #he's always round toma's it just happens #but like. he actively gets involved when he starts to notice things aren't right and tom.a's getting restrictive #like he actively takes that role to help the heroine out. as a friend thats a really incredible thing to do #and SEE HAPPEN #it gives a good message despite the countless bad ones that surround it.#shin ONLY gets concerned when things dont feel right for him. and he backs off when hes proven wrong. hes genuinely got a soft heart ...#I PROMISE.#anyway. ull never guess whos character page ive done today--- FGSGFDGS i got lost in playthrough vids bc i forgot some of the events in #joker world so may have to revise that part #but we will see #i forgot how difficult bios are im ngl people who do them all in like a week are incredible mine are taking me literally 4+ hours and they #dont even look like 4 hours of work. gonna do my pages a lil diff tomorrow to see if that helps and then go from there somehow #TBD.#im emotional its 2:30am and im emotional about shin again 2022 is coming back to me

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multishipper-baby · 1 year

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Kinda want to write something about time loops because time loop narratives are fucking awesome but I don't what fandom to write it for. I mean I have a few options but nothing concrete yet.

#tales of a very sad shipper #preferably the type of time loop where one of the characters is aware of the loop but the others aren't #so it's one person reliving the same situations over and over again while trying to stop it/reach a specific conclusion #I guess deltarune or undertale could be a good option then? but I don't particularly like writing for those fandoms #I find it weirdly difficult to write the dialogue. and imitating toby fox's mix of humor and drama is difficult #I could just go all drama but even then I can't capture the vibe I want. it just doesn't *feel* like the games #then I thought of danganronpa #it doesn't really have any timeline weirdness in canon but I could always make an au for that #I'm tempted to have chiaki as the protagonist- with her mission being to deal with junko and avoid her own death #it sounds like a cool premise but tbh I'm not sure I could do it justice #and I already have one danganronpa au that's being written so I don't want to write more #I don't like having multiple wips for the same fandom #and outside of that... idk #idk

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diseasedcube · 1 year

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OMG TYE GERMAN DUB CAME OUT

#rave ramblees #just the first episode ofc #i guess it's behind the English dub then #but kahaku sounds good af as expected #there aren't really any new character voices in the first episode to be excited about #...well ig Kahaku narrates #and then Hisame exists for like two episodes #and same for adult Tonari #can't wait to hear German Beholder again my beloved #OH YEAH AND MIDDLE AGED FUSHI OFC #the English dub made him so gruff it's funny

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nexus-nebulae · 2 years

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i find it interesting that most of my most significant writing embodies mostly themes of either pure panic or desperation

#echos #this is /neu #i think about it a lot #how what i usually see as my best writing is always one of those #I've been told I'm really really good at writing panic attacks #like- writing the character's mental spiral as their thoughts consume them #I'm good at writing spirals #.. write what you know i guess?#all the major stories I've written aren't so much of these themes #i mean they include moments but they're not about it #but the short stories i write almost always go this way #loop. the enderman short story i wrote. the one i never finished about minecraft game modes. the one about the library #i also really really really like to overuse repetition #saying the same phrase over and over again to drive in a point #in the library short i wrote it was; at the end of every paragraph; '[and] the book was in its place.'#and then at the very end of the story i had the line 'the book was no longer in its place.' as like the ominous sendoff #i wrote it for a school project #my teacher said i had a very dark style #it's interesting to me though #to see how words can shape emotions #how metaphors can turn those emotions into something more understandable #stuff like that #idk I'm just. thinking about writing #and how i do

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webbelzebub · 3 months

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trying to make a hatchetfield oc and i kind of realized there are no like. late 20s characters. everyones either teen, early 20s or 30s. am i just missing someone or what

#hatchetfield #hatchetfield oc #i have to just be missing someone #there's a few stragglers like the older characters like roman/sherman/whatever his moms name is and younger characters like hannnah #but theyre stragglers and any related characters in the same group arent really relevant at all #i wanted this character to be like. 27 but she wouldnt know fucking anyone shed be like slightly too old to know any of the other early 20s #but still too young to know any of the 30 year olds #so now im like do i bite the bullet and just make her 30 for the emma/ccrp cohort #or make her 23 or something and have her w the lex cohort #or. idk. have her have a late birthday and have been held back in hs i guess #specifically i wanted her to know lex so i mean i guess i can just age LEX up. whatev #shapiros age isnt established so fuck it she can be the one other late 20s character #Jerry and jeri's ages also aren't established but theyre old enough to have a grown adult kid? but it could be magic fuck it idk

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eff-plays · 9 months

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Ok so I watched the interview with Stephen Rooney, Astarion's writer, and here are some highlights. (I'm an aspiring writer and current game design student who wants to write for games so I'm sorry if some of these insights aren't as interesting to you as they are to me <3)

He calls Astarion his "horrible little vampire boy"

He loves seeing the fandom around Astarion<3

He did write other characters in the game, but mostly NPCs surrounding Astarion or his storyline, so it mostly revolved around Astarion

Astarion is not as connected to other companions/Origins as, for example, Lae'zel and Shadowheart, or Wyll and Karlach are to each other, but he is still reactive to their stories, even if it's just to stand off to the side and laugh when something terrible happens

He had a clear sense of where Astarion's story would start and end, but it got "muddy in the middle", but those are also moments where the best ideas come from

They write from the general idea that every character has one "good" and one "evil" ending, in order to give the player choice. RIP Ascendant apologists :(

According to Stephen, two of the most important aspects of Astarion's character (to keep consistent when bringing him to Idle Champions, at least) is that he enjoys violence, but is also fun about it

"He has a certain appreciation for violence, I guess? A bit of a murdery streak. [...] He's a vampire, he's all about blood, and he's all about, kind of, those darker sides of humanity. [..] But at the same time, he is ... He is really fun, he's really fun to write, he's really fun to have in your party, and it's very important for me that that is also represented."

"He's gonna stab you, but will have a smile on his face as he does it? I mean, I dunno. That's kind of him in a nutshell."

Larian would not have allowed for Astarion to be a typical brooding Dracula type, and there were scenes that were shot down for not being original enough

The main thing about Astarion was trying to get a "sense of fun." It would be easy to write a character that was very unlikable, and they absolutely did not want to do that

Rooney says Astarion is consistently terrible throughout the game and awful in a whole lot of ways, but he also needed to be charming enough that you could tolerate his presence and wanted him around

Rooney also had a lot of input on Astarion's stats (meaning the 10 Charisma is probalby 100% intentional)

He also had input on how certain lines should be delivered, even though the writers didn't directly work with voice actors

The way Astarion moves and poses is "all Neil"

Apparently, Neil Newbon worked on the character for years and Rooney did not speak to him once, though his voice work did influence how Astarion's lines were written and it became a "feedback loop" (Possible context for "ONLY SLIGHTLY, NEIL")

There were no points where a line delivery drastically changed Astarion's writing; rather it was a constant, slow evolution

However, there was one very spoilery moment where Neil gave such emotion to some "basic" lines that it fundamentally changed the scene (WHAT IS IT OMG)

It's difficult to balance approval, as you don't want to straight up write a monster. Every character needs to have some humanity in them. So if it comes to leaving the party, it needed to be the result of something central to said character. They wanted to be mindful of situations that would cause actual rifts between characters. (I assume this is why most generic disapprovals/approvals are +/- 1 or 2, while character-related ones give +/-5 or more)

However, as they don't write straight up horrible people/monsters, it doesn't come up as often as one might think.

The interviewer makes a point about how characters like Astarion and Lae'zel are good examples of how to play "evil" characters, as they are maybe not the best people but are still eager and willing to stick around the other party members

They worked to make sure the characters would work as a group, no matter the configuration of the group. The characters needed to be on the same path, even if they don't always agree or walk that path the same way.

Stephen Rooney is very proud of the "climactic" scene of Astarion's story. (AS HE SHOULD BE.) He even had to step away from the computer and have an emotional moment. Me too, man.

He's also "extremely pleased" that there's a point where you can punch Astarion in the face. "Actually, that one might be my favorite part" A MAN OF THE PEOPLE!!

Stephen Rooney's tip on what specific thing you should try out with Astarion: When he's trying to get a "sneaky nibble" at night, you should "probably" let him bite you. Way ahead of you there, sir.

No discussion about Astarion's romance unfortunately, but that's that!

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #astarion #anyway ... after dragon age it feels so mindblowing to have writers who aren't apologists for their characters

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groguspicklejar · 5 months

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You know what I love about ur series and stories in the mafia141, is that the main character is still afraid of them even if they’re kind and loving to her. But it’s so subtle and it gives some realism and emotion to the mc.

AND I MIGHHHTTT BE READING AND THINKING TOO MUCH ABOUT IT but I even saw it in the medieval series so I had to ask about it.

It’s not like they kidnapped her and she quickly accepted her new life immediately like “oh welp gotta live with these men I know nothing about that barged into my house with a gun then killed my husband” it’s like, if one of them even looked at her wrong or spoke to her ina slightly different tone of voice then she’s shivering

cause all the low trauma she received from all the stuff she went through w them comes flooding back her senses.

She could die.

Matter of a fact she was upset and refused to speak to them when they barged into her house and moved her into a new place, completely taking over her life and doing as they pleased and.. can she say no? she knows she’ll suffer the same deal as her ex husband… she’s scared

Yeah she likes it of course and she’s living a semi good life.. but it’s still clicks in her head that “price could kill me if he FELT like it and I should be afraid of that and listen to him to keep my limbs in check.”

Waiting for the day they’ll be bored of her. So she keeps them entertained doing it unconsciously. Survival instincts sorta?.

maybe you’ll write something about that where she finally lets herself be calm and normal with them and not fearful as much but of course it’ll take time action and patience.

She’s prey getting tossed around by the predators

-🧇

you know what's funny? you are absolutely right about all of this (including the part about the medieval au because the element is more prominent than in this au). you've just described the next part of this series perfectly🤭 y'all are gonna hate me for this🙃 warnings: +18 smut, p in v, light choking, angst, hurt/comfort, hurt/no comfort, past trauma (gaslighting, manipulation, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse) coming into play.

you've always known this would be temporary. whatever this arrangement with 141 is, you know it can't last forever. it's a casual thing, that much you're aware of, even if it hadn't been explicitly stated. sooner or later, one by one, all four of them are either going to get bored and/or find partners of their own and live their lives separate from yours.

"you're losing my interest." his voice is calm, lazy even. but there's an edge to it. the icy fire in his veins nipping at the ankle, a predator barely flashing his teeth to remind those watching that he could end them just like that. "and that's very dangerous."

he leans back on the couch on his end, breathing out a slow puff of smoke. the words aren't directed towards you, but they leave a chill in the air all the same. the person sitting across from Price, a short old man with a pot belly and a comb-over, gulps and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his sweaty nose.

to you, Mr Hodge looks like a father of four kids. a local, working man just trying to get by. he looks like he's just trying to gather up enough money for all of his children for college and probably waiting for the eldest to give birth so he can finally be a grandfather. he looks like he could be telling stories to the little ones at Christmas. you'd never guess that he's an advocate for some other devil in another gang territory.

you squirm on Gaz's lap. he comforts you by rubbing your back, quietly telling you that the meeting will be over soon. you hadn't meant to be here. you wanted to leave as soon as the man had arrived, but Price didn't mind you staying.

"please, sir..." the nervous man said, hands fiddling with the glass of bourbon in his hand. "it—it's a fair deal."

"is it really?" Price challenged, raising an eyebrow. "you think any deal with Phillip Graves is a deal worth making?"

Mr Hodge doesn't answer. he remains incredibly still, eyes blinking rapidly at the leader of the group. he looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here and honestly, you don't blame him.

Price leans forward and flicks his cigar over the ashtray with sigh a sigh. the action stretches his dress shirt tightly over his back, the two top buttons already undone.

"i know his lot. he's the kind that doesn't keep his word." he says, eyes lazily shifting to the guest. all amusement fades and his voice darkens. "and the kind that stabs his own in the back."

you don't know who Phillip Graves is. but you know none of the boys don't like him. and you know the boys also don't like treachery.

you've heard things, whispers from your coworkers about people going missing around the city because they pissed off the wrong man (or men) because they said something they shouldn't have to someone else.

you've heard about how Ghost put down the men who betrayed him and left him for dead, how there weren't even bodies left for their families to bury. you've heard that Gaz had swept through an entire room of men who stole from their organisation, per Price's command. and he'd done it happily because he was equally as pissed. you've heard that where there's smoke, there's Soap because he's rumoured to be a bit of a pyromaniac.

hell, the act of treachery itself is what brought you to their doorstep in the first place and got your late husband buried six feet under because he decided to bite the hand that fed him.

"and you want me to go into business with him." Price added, his tone making it clear that he was against the idea.

"think he takes ye for a fool, Captain." Soap scoffed with a light shake of his head.

"oh?" you watched the amusement spark in his eyes again as he glanced at his subordinate. the gaze shifts back to the sitting across from him. "is that true, Mr Hodge?" Price lilts, smirking. "do you take me for a fool?"

"n—no! no, sir. that's n—not true."

poor guy, you thought. he's only a messenger. scared out of his mind as he's surrounded by a pack of wolves. you want to intervene, you do.

but John's words "you're losing my interest. and that's very dangerous" echo sharply in your mind and deter you from speaking up. you don't dare to say a word, fearing that the wolves might turn on you instead.

you bury your face in Kyle's neck and close your eyes, trying to tune out the man's pleas for mercy.

technically, you never had a say in the matter. coming to live with them, that is. you're not ignorant to the fact that they could've either killed you or forced you to live with them, whether you consented to it or not.

the only reason you went along with it is because you wanted to let them believe that you didn't know this tiny fact. to let them believe that you're a pacified lamb, letting them herd you wherever they want you to be. you know it'll hurt far less if you comply because you've seen what happens, or at least heard of what happens, to those who resist their will.

and it's been easy to let them do whatever they wanted. sell your little apartment. move you into another one. take you to their base. sit on their lap. kiss them. have sex with them. let them pump you full of cum whenever they like. it's easier that way because you don't want to have to think about what'll happen if you refuse to do any of it.

but after today, after the last few weeks at least, it's been getting harder and harder to ignore that just because the edge of the knife isn't pressed to your neck right now doesn't mean it won't be in the future.

you're only as good and useful to them as long as you do as they say. that's the policy.

Gaz finds you staring at the sink after you've washed your face in the bathroom. it takes everything in you not to flinch when he touches your shoulder. "you alright, love? do you need anything?"

your eyes catch his in the mirror and you're choked by the influx of words. you want to tell him that you never want to see that again. that you never want to be part of that world.

but you can't say it. any of it. you don't want him to tell you that you're thinking too much of things, that it's just a normal part of their lives. that you'll adjust. that you're overreacting.

suddenly, it's not your own voice that speaks to you. that warns you, heeds you of your actions. but it's someone else. someone long dead and buried.

don't be difficult, Blair hisses at you.

you don't flinch. your expression doesn't shift to reveal his thoughts, his warnings flooding into your mind. coaching you on what to do, on how to survive.

words that were once spoken to suppress you, to put chains around your wrists and build an entire cage that gleamed under the light. words that you now cling to because they make more sense than anything.

don't be difficult. don't raise your voice. don't cry. don't cry. don't cry-

thankfully, you think you've gotten better at lying over the last few weeks. you manage to pull him in for a kiss, murmuring a lie into his mouth, telling him that you're okay before he can discern the legitimacy of it. it distracts him as he immediately melts into your touch and wraps his arms around you, sliding his tongue into your mouth.

when you were sure that he'd been thoroughly derailed from your internal turmoil, you finally pulled away and gave him a sweet smile.

he nudges your nose against his, all concern melting from his eyes as he presses his lips over yours again. his hand gripping your ass and hooks your leg up, lifting you onto the sink. just as he was about to start pulling at your clothes, he hisses sharply when his phone vibrates.

"fuck..." he groans, pulling away and checks his phone. "duty calls, bunny."

you pout while working on fixing his tie. "later?"

"later." he agrees, pecking your lips one last time.

Gaz doesn't show up later as promised. you try not to be disappointed. of course, the work he does is important. dangerously so. instead, Ghost took his place in keeping you company.

you try not to wince at the dark spotting around his eye. he kisses your palm over his mask when you asked him if he's alright. he suggested a movie because he was exhausted. you gladly let him in and get on to making popcorn for the two of you. you found him slumped over on the couch and chuckled at him.

not fifteen minutes into the movie, a historical comedy to help him relax, you're both startled by the sound of his phone vibrating on the coffee table. you think you know what's about to happen. your chest tightens anyway as you watch him reach for the device.

"fuckin' hell." he sighs as he reads the text.

"now?" you ask as he stands up. "really?"

"sorry, luv." he pockets his phone. "duty calls."

you left the tv on to distract you from the overwhelming ache of his absence. it's hard not to take it personally. but it's so fucking reminiscent of those first few months with Blair. always taking calls and texts and leaving right after.

soon, he wasn't just taking off to work. soon, he'd be disappearing off for days without telling you where he went and comes back dishevelled and bright-eyed with lipstick marks on his shirts. soon, he'd be snapping at you for asking too many questions, telling you to be grateful for what he's given you, telling you to shut up.

whatever it is 141 has going on is obviously keeping them busy, you get that. but for the fact that they basically abducted you from your old life and brought you here, you think a little bit of attention should be granted to you, right? they owe you that much at least.

you just don't want to end up in the same destructive cycle with someone even more dangerous than the previous man.

Price has a habit of surprising you when he has you making a mess of his cock. doesn't happen often, but happens enough times for you to anticipate something that will make you tighten around him and make him all smug about it after.

this time, the surprise wasn't so pleasant.

you're startled by the hand on your neck, immediately gripping his wrist and your whole body locks, paralysed. it takes everything in you not to struggle, not to move. all of the heat draining from you and ice filling your veins in the blink of an eye as you look up.

for a moment, it's not Price looming over you, but a dead man. the image flickers away just as quickly as you gasp and blink rapidly to stay focused. and just as quickly he stops rocking his hips and immediately eases up on you, releasing his grasp on your neck with the heavy call of your name.

"i'm sorry. are you alright, love?" he pants, eyes scanning your features, his hand cupping your face. "i didn't hurt you, did i?"

you're whiplashed at how fast his demeanour changes. one minute he was determined to rearrange your guts and the next, he's checking to see if you're okay as if he's looking for wounds.

"no, i—" you breathe deeply as you're sitting up, trying not to let your voice get too squeaky. "i–it's fine. i'm fine."

he doesn't believe you. you try to feign a smile. "give a girl a warning next time."

the momentary lapse in judgement had kicked in an unpleasant rush of adrenaline that left you trembling as you reach for him, trying to pull him in for a kiss.

but he stops you, holding the back of your head to pull you away. "maybe we should stop."

deep down, you agree. you don't think you can get through the night without something breaking in you if you allow this to continue. but you have to let it happen.

don't be difficult. the words flitter to you in the quiet night. your eyes drop to his cock, still hard, still glistening. he's still sweating, flushed and chest heaving in breaths to make up for the steady flow of blood.

"no." your hand touches his shaft, stroking him while you press your lips over his. "keep going."

"darling." he grabs your wrist, careful not to be too forceful as he pushes at your shoulder. "stop."

your gaze shifts away from his, shoulders raising. "sorry."

"don't be." he gently says. "hey..." he cups your cheek, meeting your eyes. "this is on me. i pushed a boundary, i made you uncomfortable. if anyone's sorry, it's me."

"you didn't mean to." you reason, but he shakes his head.

"regardless." he refuted. "i'm sorry, love."

don't cry. don't cry—

tears sting your eyes the more you tell yourself not to let them spill. John brings you into a warm embrace, silencing every voice in your head and fills it with his instead with soft apologies.

"won't happen again, alright?" he murmurs into your hair and you let out a deep sigh of relief, melting into his arms.

it doesn't stop the tiny voice at the back of your head telling you not to get too comfortable.

it doesn't go unnoticed that the rest of the boys refrain from initiating sex. and honestly, that might have been the last straw.

you needed a break from them. one night with your girls. with Eleanor. one night to forget about everything and get drunk out of your mind. but alas, you're denied that too.

"you can't be serious. it was one time!" you say, exasperated. "i can't be cooped up in here all day, every day for the rest of my life."

regardless of your pestering, Soap maintains an apologetic look. Ghost barely acknowledges your raised voice from the couch, opting to read his book instead of listening to you bitch and moan about how you wanted to go out with your girlfriends again. but you know he hears you. you know that the moment you attempt to grab your purse and run, he'll be right there, blocking the door.

"i ken, bonnie." Soap's hands gently grasp your shoulder as he tries to placate you. "ye want some fresh air, but—"

but, your skin prickles uncomfortably at his next few words.

it's not safe.

it's for your own good.

for a split second, you're in your dead husband's mansion. the weight of his gaslighting and years of isolation pressing down on you. suffocating you. dragging you down to the bottom of the dark waters, forcing you to sit in the cold, silent abyss of your loneliness.

Blair didn't love you unless it's easy for him. till you were pliant and easily malleable to his whims. always asking for forgiveness when he hurt you, rather than asking for permission to do things he knew would make you uncomfortable. losing him had been twice as easy, far better than lying to yourself and telling your heart that what he does, he does it to keep you safe.

you silently beg Soap not to say it. that he's just joking. that he'll even go with you. but no.

"we think it's better if ye lay low." he tells you. "just for a little while."

and there it is. always the same damn problem, always the same shtick. same man, different faces. you feel the sting at the corner of your eyes, your heart beating too fast for your lungs to catch up.

"and how long is a little while?" you snap, shrugging his hands off. from behind him, you barely catch the shift of Ghost's head.

"bonnie—"

you shake your head, taking a step back to swirl and go straight back to your room, hiding further inside this prison.

you avoid them for a week. hardly make any conversation with them too, despite them being around you nearly all hours of the day. you quietly eat dinner, not making eye contact with any of the four of them.

"Soap tells me you wanted to go out the other day."

the dinner table goes quiet. your gaze lifts to catch his at the end of the table, twirling his fork. Gaz keeps eating, eyes fixed on his plate. Ghost glances at you only once. his sigh does not go unnoticed by you, almost as if he knows what's coming. Soap's grimace gives him away.

Price's expression is unnervingly stern. you manage to keep a blank stare, despite the blood roaring in your ears. you may have gotten better at lying. to Soap, to Gaz and maybe even Ghost. but not Price. he's always seen right through you and that is not about to change anytime soon.

there's four of them and only one of you. you keep this at the forefront of your mind.

"i did." you nodded.

"and you understand why you can't do that right now." he reasons with a calm tone he often uses on his dogs boys to keep them on a leash, to keep them from lashing out. "you got mugged the other day."

"that was an isolated incident." you state, shaking your head. "it's not going to dictate my life."

and neither will you. you refrain from saying that last bit.

he calls out your name. it's a warning. "we're trying to keep you safe."

"i understand that." you countered. and you want to spit in his face but you shove a carrot in your mouth instead, opting to crush it between your teeth. "but i'm not a pet to be kept on a leash."

his expression turns to stone. something in you tightens uncomfortably. poised to sprint, to run. you're poking the bear, you know it.

the air shifts. tides turning against you. suddenly, you truly understand Mr Hodge, truly understand the phrase 'surrounded by wolves'. slowly, one by one, you take in the subtle shift in each of them. all four gearing up to snap their teeth at you, to keep you pinned down if it comes to it and let the leader of the pack take the first bite.

you understand the gravity of your situation. that you shacked up with four dangerous individuals. men who have no qualms about pulling someone's teeth out of their gums or carving out a tongue. you don't know if ever they'd done that to someone but you don't put anything past them.

and you don't delude yourself into thinking that you'd never be on the receiving end of their wrath.

"i'd rather we not fight about this, love. i know it must be frustrating not to see your friends as much as you like." his placating tone only adds fuel to your fire. "but it's easier to keep you safe where can see you."

where we can see you. alarms ring. you narrow your eyes.

"easier to keep me safe or easier to control me?"

a knife clatters on the porcelin. "bonnie."

Gaz also attempts to place a bruised hand on top of yours, but you pull away. ignoring his silent plight entirely. the cut above his eyebrow pulls as his expression shifts.

"no, no— it's alright, boys." he raises a hand at them, a calm expression settling over his features as he looks at you. "darling, is that why you're upset? because you think we're keeping you caged?"

"i'm only calling out what i'm seeing." you state coldly, leaning back against your chair. "after all, i'm not unfamiliar with the bars of a golden cage."

the silence that follows is deafening. the Sergeants look at you in horror at the implication. Ghost looks like he's ready to throw the dinner plate across the room. Price remains unnervingly still, glowering at you.

"i am not your late husband." it's the coldest he's ever been to you.

and it feels like he's freezing the whole room over. blood roars to your ears faster than you can think and it almost makes you dizzy. the frantic beating of your heart tells you that you're risking too much, flying too high.

"none of us are." Ghost finally speaks up for the first time since he arrived. "we just want to keep you safe. we're not trying to imprison you."

sure doesn't feel like it.

"well," you start, "if i'm not a prisoner, then i guess i'm free to leave—"

"no." it's a sharp cut to your chest. your mouth snaps shut, eyes wide as his chair groans loudly when he suddenly stands. "you. stay. put. is that clear?"

there it is.

above Blair's voice, it's Price. and he's much louder.

you're losing my interest.

he holds your stare. unwaveringly so. unwilling to let you escape it. the cold turns to fractals turns to ice, frosting over your feet, keeping them stuck on the ground.

and that's very dangerous.

and you see it, him, for what he is. don't be difficult. far from the gentleman who opens the door for you and kisses your hand. don't be difficult. far from the bashful man who blushed at your mother's compliments. don't be difficult. far from John, who apologises for being too rough, for putting his hand on your neck, apologising for scaring you.

don't be difficult. don't be—

no. he's someone else. he's the man who stared down a frightened old man, asking if he should kill him for bringing him a shit deal. tell him you that the men who mugged you will get what's coming to them and it won't be pretty.

he's the man who put your husband in the ground. and he won't hesitate to do the same to you. so you lie down and surrender to his will. accepting whatever he says and accepting his demands, if only to live a second longer.

you grit your jaw, smiling through the strain in your teeth.

"crystal." it's sickly sweet, spoken with an edge as you dip your head in mock submission. "Captain."

your fork clutters loudly. Soap flinches at the noise, eyes wide as you catch his with your smile falling, revealing a dark expression as you stand up and walk away from the table.

later, when Price tries to open your door, he's not surprised to find it locked.

y'all really looked at the title and immediately assumed the worst? come on now😂 what do you take me for??🤭 also, can you tell that i'd been listening to Halsey and Sofia Isella while i was writing this?🙃 banners by @cafekitsune mafia!141 masterlist offer a note in the picklejar

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