An alternate take on a certain mindflayer for very end spoiler reasons under the cut! Kinda... a whole AU novel under the cut here.
So I'm playing a coop game as Astarion origin and made his Guardian look like my solo tav, Aldiirn, because why not? But then when we got to the first couple of dreams I had really unexpected feels about it all
Like urhrgrhrh all the Guardian's talk of being there to protect Astarion, saving him, feels just like Aldiirn's choice to become partial illithid to protect him, his freedom, his happiness.
The way it talks about having gone through this before, and the fact that the Astral Plane is timey-wimey got me wondering like... what if this is some time loop. What if Aldiirn had a bad ending and came back to guide the party and fix what went wrong? What if it's all some fucked up Madoka Magica timeloop where in each iteration, he becomes more and more comfortable with luring his friends towards what he swore to protect them from?
Say the original party had no guardian, they just got freaking lucky with being in proximity to the Astral Prism, gaining a passive immunity to the voice of the Absolute, and miraculously surviving the nautiloid crash. They all journey together, fight alongside each other, fall in love, and then the fateful day comes and they fail. All become transformed and in thrall to the netherbrain, except Aldiirn who had the prism on his person.
Aldiirn escapes into the prism, discovers that because time is different on the Astral Plane, he can effectively time travel to the past. He remains confined to the prism but he can reach out to his old friends, guide them, help them where they all stumbled before, see his love alive and happy again... and fail again.
Aldiirn promised they would never have to become mindflayers. But each attempt at this doomed journey wears at him. Maybe he was more open at first, even sharing memories of the first adventure, gaining genuine trust. But then he withdraws. Appears as a stranger, but guardian still. It aches to see Astarion fall in love with another, but for him to be happy is what matters most.
Then it becomes easier to convince everyone that they must evolve. Use the tadpole. Aldiirn's been perfecting its mindflayer abilities all this time, embracing it even. If its friends had even a fraction of this power, they could defeat the netherbrain. It only needed to convince them to embrace their potential. It's for the sake of their survival. It will be their choice, and it will be the right choice.
The current journey goes on, Aldiirn succeeds in convincing Astarion to give up some of his bodily autonomy to become a partial mindflayer. It stings, it's a violation of its old vow, but it must be done. Survival comes before happiness now. The party is more ready than ever to defeat the netherbrain, with old and new allies and a whole array of powerful abilities at their hands. Maybe Astarion would even join Aldiirn as a full mindflayer, despite his romance with Lae'zel. If he can be convinced, become comfortable with it, recognise all there is to gain, he could still be happy.
And all this while the real answer sits in front of Aldiirn: Orpheus, the sleeping prince who ensures its and its friends' autonomy of mind. They've caught onto the prince a few times, but always kept him chained. They must. Losing the prince would mean losing the ability to go back and try again. An intolerable risk.
I don't know how our coop run is going to go because I want to leave the decision to my friend, but if we choose to free Orpheus, Emperor!Aldiirn's abrupt turncoat would just be from those feelings of ultimate rejection. Giving up everything and going through this hellish loop over and over for the sake of its love and friends only for them to defy it.
I will 100% tho have Astarion fuck the Emperor in this coop run.
and a view of what's under the tentacles! I wanted to mash up Emperor's look while following the shapes and flow of Aldiirn's equipment such as the Potent Robes and Woe. The back crest/collar thing could use work but my thought was mimicking his hairstyle. Also I just, wanted a mindflayer form that looked GOOD instead of that oogly little one you can turn into. Give me the full tentacles, c'mon.
Also going to have to come up with a bard-version title in place of Emperor. Conductor or Maestro, maybe?
One thing that throws me off a bit about Aldiirn as Guardian tho is how much deeper the voice is. I'm pretty sure I gave him the lightest masc voice as a tav haha. But man seeing him move and speak more instead of being a silent muppet is like aaaaa my boy growed up. even if he turned maybe evil.
Side note, I had this idea before knowing Orpheus's brains would have to be eaten so uh. SHRUG.
OMG that's so true
I guess "excellent sense of smell" you can consider as John being an observer
(A/N) This is actually my first time ever writing a fan fiction, it’s quite rushed and I’m more experienced in writing essays than actual stories so im sorry if it’s bad
(Takes place post vigilante route, might continue..? Idk)
“Visitor for John Doe”
John lifted his head after hearing the announcement, apparently someone thought he was actually worth being visited. It had been several days (or perhaps weeks? Hard to keep count) since the incidents and, quite frankly, he wasn’t holding up well at Arkham.
He peaked through his cell door to find none other than Bruce, he was actually there, intending to see him.
“Bruce!”
The cell door was open and Bruce made his way in to greet his friend. He wasn’t quite sure of what he would do once he reunited with John, but he couldn’t rid of all the guilt that had been building up inside him since their last meeting. Bruce accepted one thing for certain, his feelings for John Doe were real and his need to protect him has and will continue to remain.
“I’m so glad you could visit me here Bruce! I’ve been wanting to see you again ever since I got here, and here you are! Wanting to come visit me all by yourself!..Or is it someone else that I should be concerned of?”
John’s tone from being somewhat optimistic to critical made Bruce feel more on edge than he already was. He was prepared to take any sort of beating from John if it meant atoning for all the ways he wronged him, yet frankly John’s words hurt in more ways than any physical fight could.
“No one’s pulling any strings now John, I came here to visit you because I wanted to, because I care. I don’t plan on leaving your side any time soon, especially when your in this position.”
John was clearly taken back by Bruce’s sudden statement, and Bruce himself knew what he just said had sounded almost nothing like him. Having Alfred’s constant hospitable nature seemed to inspire Bruce to try the same method of comforting on John, who always needed constant reassurance. Seeing John’s heartfelt smile afterwards made Bruce feel sorts of fuzziness inside, confident that he just may be the one to bring back John Doe, the only man who could bring a smile to his face even under hardship.
“Well now that you’re here, what is it you’ve been wanting to know?”
“How have you been holding up?”
Bruce knew it was risky asking anything related to past events, he wasn’t sure whether it would tick off something in John ,but he needed to grasp John’s current state of mind in order to understand how it is he’ll deal with mending to their friendship.
“Honestly Bruce, it’s been feeling a lot less like returning home and more like a prison. I know I said I missed Arkham at times but that changed when I came back, I miss being outside, full of freedoms and opportunity, Bruce and John taking the world by storm!” John giggled at the thought.“..Returning here has given me too much time thinking alone, Bruce. I’ve been so busy reading other people that I forgot to read myself. I had time to reflect, and now I see that I’ll have to come to terms with that…Arkham is truly where I belong.”
Bruce got up and suddenly grabbed hold of John, looking straight into green eyes that were once so full of light suddenly seeming to fade.
“Don’t you ever think that about yourself, John. You’re not a criminal who belongs in some padded cell, you’re special and have become the most significant person I’ve ever met,and you’ve changed my life in so many ways I’ve become unsure of which direction im heading if you weren’t beside me.”
Bruce held John’s hand between his own and gave it a slight squeeze
“I’m going to be with you every step of the way John, I won’t ever leave your side. Not now, not ever. I need your strength to get through this. Promise me that, John. Promise me you we’ll make it out together.”
John jolted up had tears streaming down his face as he hugged Bruce tightly, holding on to him for dear life. Bruce could feel just how many emotions he must be going through and hugged back, just as eager to feel John’s embrace.
“I promise you Bruce, when I said I wouldn’t let you down, I still stand by that.. Oh gosh, I’m so sorry for everything Bruce, the fact that you’re actually here and still by my side.”
John took a moment to breathe and gather his thoughts
“Promise me, Bruce, promise you’ll visit me everyday, and never leave my side.”
“I promise, John. No matter what happens, I’ve got your back.”
Knowing they had each other was all they needed. And they were content with that.
Me after playing 4 episodes so far
they make my heart go wooOOSH 💞
Drawing hair is my passion 💫 PATREON
back to exterminating raiders
can I just say. coffee theory is stupid and completely cheapens the choice Aziraphale makes.
Aziraphale continues to say no to Metatron's offer until Metatron uses the real bait: if you take over Heaven, you can reinstate Crowley to his Angelic status. And that is what gets Zira to say yes hook line and sinker — he can take Crowley with him so Crowey doesn't have to be afraid of Hell and Aziraphale can run things Do It Right as the Head of Heaven and no one would say anything to Crowley ever again if Aziraphale was on his side. Zira doesn't know about the trial and the fact that Gabriel was fired for disagreeing w Heaven on the Second Armageddon front. He just thinks Gabriel was fired bc he fell in love w a demon (and Zira's in love w a demon). Zira strongly believes that if he can reinstate Crowley as an angel again then there would be no such objections from Heaven at all, because they would both be on the same side and they can be together and if anything ever goes wrong, both Crowley and he would be protected under Aziraphale's position as the new boss of Heaven. Plus, the way he remembers it, Crowley enjoyed making things creating things and still likes to do good deeds which he gets in trouble for if Hell finds out, but he won't if he's an angel, in Aziraphale's eyes then Crowley would be free to do all the good he liked. And because Aziraphale would be the boss, Crowley would be able to ask questions and work with him and make things better w his inquisitive perspective, something Crowley always wanted to do and Aziraphale wants to give him that also.
He doesn't know the full depth of things that Crowley knows, which is why when Crowley hears Zira's offer, all he hears is that Zira is choosing Heaven, after everything they have done to him, Zira is leaving Crowley FOR Heaven. The way he sees it, Zira wants him to change and be Heaven's definition of "Good" so they can both be in Heaven, conforming to a life Crowley left behind long ago, a life he knows Zira wouldn't be happy in either. Which is the killing blow to Crowley's heart bc Zira would choose THAT instead of coming away with Crowley? Devastating. But he doesn't know that Metatron's offer WAS Crowley's Angelification and hence forth security that got Zira to say yes. Crowley hasn't communicated a lot to Zira but Zira also hasn't communicated a lot to him either and they're both on very different pages w the information they've got and what they feel they need to do to be together and be safe and happy.
Does Zira make the naive choice? Yes. Does he make so in full control of his mind and senses? Also yes. Having his coffee poisoned is an incredibly cheap tactic because as a writer it's a cop out. It robs Aziraphale of not only his agency but also the reasonings behind his choice. It absolves him from the struggles and consequences of his actions and robs him of the growth and realization and epiphany he will have in the third act. It cheapens their inevitable reconciliation.
Metatron didn't hand him the coffee to poison him. He handed it to him so he can use the manipulative familiarity of "oh look i brought ur coffee order, isn't it cool how I know your coffee order isn't it nice how we are close like that?" that was the tactic. to get him to listen. Not some elaborate coffee poison.
When Connor chooses to let the Tracis go, this brings about new emotions. Of course, in the beginning, he doesn’t know how to properly recognize them. This leads to strange behaviors of visiting Hank more often and willingly tending the house, bringing dog treats for Sumo, refilling the fridge with healthy foods, constantly asking if Hank is alright, an intrusion of private space, etc. Hank, in Hank fashion, grows annoyed at the babying pretty quickly, which leads to a private discussion in the kitchen. Possibly more.
“You trying to give me a heart attack from going through all my shit?”
“I’m certain the burgers will beat me to it, Lieutenant.”
Hank is the one who confesses– well, as much as he can without coming off too forward. Connor is at the point where he’s capable of understanding the bond between them, though romance happened to be on an entirely different plane. Hank decides to take Connor on a date after each day of work, taking him to parks and bars. It’s nothing different from hanging out. Connor entertains the idea for a while, but it’s becoming to the point where he doesn’t want it to stop.
“Yeah yeah, I think I’m falling for you. Not sure if this is exactly normal. Not even sure if you have a heart.”
“Something that resembles one, yes. I am willing to give this a try if that makes you happy.”
“You’re supposed to give it a try because you want to, Connor. That’s the problem here.”
:)
I've been drawing about the Guard Alastor AU a lot lately, here are a few drawings about it (containing exactly 1 comic ahaaa) There will be more. I'm a little obsessed with it
+ This silly bonus of Vox making random theories about Al and Luci