Bear: *licking Paws* Halsin, You Have Odd Companions. This One Came Over And Wouldn't Stop Talking To

Actually, you know what's disappointing? I was kinda looking forward to the idea of getting to share common interests with the next generation instead of having that gap in understanding with my own parents. It wasn't just about mom thinking I'm getting into Satanic stuff because I liked Pokémon (seriously, cute little critters was Satanic to her?!), it was not having that chance to bond with them on a hobby.

Sad thing is, I think I kinda get it with how prevalent creeps are on the internet, trying to hit on minors and not taking the hint. And you know what, I'm sick to death of seeing those actual assholes harassing teens and sending offensive images.

But that's not the message a lot of us older fans are getting. Instead, it's like dealing with the resurrection of Prudishness all over again, gatekeeping What Is Acceptable for Adults.

It's a shame, because there's a chance for actual understanding and camaraderie there, because the rules for harassment and offensive imagery is something both older and younger fans can agree upon. It doesn't have an age requirement because it's expected of everyone. Someone pestering you for nudes? Give us a heads up and we'll report this ass and call them out. Someone being inappropriate regarding actual minors? Hell, we'll help boot them.

It seems to be when it involves fiction and art work that the alarm bells are going. Thing is, fiction is a different animal, not something you can peg a person by what they create. Sure, there's going to be stuff I never want to see and that's where the filtering is required instead of raising alarms. If it's happening to a fictional character, it's a filter. If it's happening to a real person, then it's a report.

“Ew you’re an adult why are you in fandom” Kid, if being mocked for fandom shit wasn’t enough to stop me when I was an actual 15 year old, hearing it from a 15 year old when I’m 30 is genuinely hilarious

For those wondering what that looks like. It was made by a Syracuse University professor Sam Van Aken, who grafted several stone fruits together to create these trees. It takes approximately 8 years for the tree to grow and produce fruits for those with money to burn and buy one. (Corrections welcomed by anyone who wants to add more).

Me giving the highest compliment I can think of: "You're like the tree of 40 fruits!"

reddit was talking about this, but i feel like tumblr could get a scholarly debate going

Ok, so I've never been able to get out of my head the thought of companions who have to tie Durge up every night as a safety precaution while whoever Durge romanced gives them an affectionate kiss at night on the forehead before saying goodnight.

Because then it means any bandit who is dumb enough to try to attack them will get to see not only the companions armed but one particular tied up person in their camp fish flopping out of their bedroll while shouting, "Let me up! I can help!"

While said companions are saying, "No! You're not allowed to disembowel like last time!"

To add to the rest of the list:

-Gale is surprisingly self aware for the most part on the stereotypes of wizard ambition causing their own ruin. He actively tried to tamp it down by looking for some small, but useful bit of the Weave to restore to Mystra. Sure it didn't go like he had hoped, but he was at least thinking about the impact of his actions and doing it in service of his goddess rather than personal power (at least until Act 3).

-Halsin isn't the slender, distant, spiritual, chaste stereotype of an elf. He's big, he's brawny, hairy and sexual without losing any of the kindness and serious devotion to his personal goals.

-Lae'zel is more academic than she's given credit for and more considerate than people would expect. She's harsh in her words, but her actions repeatedly show a patience and willingness to cooperate that we wouldn't expect from a race that has a reputation for stab first, question the corpse later.

-Minthara loathes Lolth, but doesn't worship Vhaeraun. She's a Paladin, a class that isn't something you hear of in Drow cities and she doesn't hate surface races the way Lolth Sworn Drow are expected to.

I love how Larian decided most of the companions in Baldur's Gate 3 will defy the stereotypes of their class and/or race.

● Shadowheart is a cleric, but not your typical peace, light, and love cleric. She worships the Goddess of Darkness, and is not looking to treat every stranger with kindess.

● Wyll is a Warlock, who are typically manipulative, deceptive and very edgy. Yet, he is the nicest man you will ever meet, helps everyone in need, and will begin to walk the thinnest line between his morals and doing his patron's bidding.

● Astarion, while he certainly does harbor typical rogue traits (stealing and sneaky) and vampire traits (haughty and bloodthirsty), he throws out enough quips, roasts, flirts, and one liners that could put every bard in a 100 mile radius to shame, and with a body count to supercede them. Even if most of it is an act, it's even more bard-like that he puts a performance on.

● Karlach is the big buff tiefling barbarian. She could have been 100% rage and stupidity, but decided to be 50% wholesomeness and love, and possibly the most caring companion on your journey.

And then there's Gale and Lae'zel...We love them for being the most stereotypical wizard and githyanki that ever did <3

Hear me out. Falmer/Dwemer Ghoulcy!

Don't know how many times it's already been covered, but I had been recently listening to Minsc talk about himself and I had realized something that makes me unable to ever laugh or be mean to him (not that I ever was inclined to in the first place).

Minsc wasn't born a himbo. He's brain damaged.

His mention about how he used to be a serious berserker, absorbed in the "gazing of his navel" before he met Boo and having his head split open was the start of when he was able to understand that hamster is heartwarming and all, but maybe it's having witnessed over a decade of my mother struggle with concussions and the headaches, the deafening tinnitus, and the memory issues that came from the injury that makes me feel horror. Minsc has even admitted that the headache was the price of justice not always being gentle.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this. He's clearly happy and has friends and Boo to look out for him, but he always brings up reminders of old neuropsychology case studies I've listened to about people like Phineas Gage who was a railroad worker who was using a tamping rod until the gunpowder punched the tamping rod through his frontal lobe and changed his personality from a quiet, serious, reliable worker to an impulsive one that frequently got into fights.

The upside at least in BG3 is that Minsc doesn't seem to be still suffering headaches and since he seems happy with his lot in life and he's functional enough with Boo, there's not much else to do about it nor do I think Minsc would ever want pity for where he is in life.

Just a bit of fridge logic I hope is just overthinking.

Carbonara preparation under pressure....

I like to headcanon that my Shepard Amara, who's so used to cramped military quarters, was utterly appalled at how much open space in Anderson's apartment was going unused by a single occupant. So she's invited several crewmates to stay with her during shore leave beyond the party and several took her up on the offer like James who laid claim to the bedroom below for the gym equipment and Tali who claimed the one above since Quarians rarely get any private spaces. It's not uncommon for Amara to wake in the morning and walk past someone passed out on her couch or to head downstairs and see another eating breakfast. She's thinking about converting the art gallery and upstairs living room into more bedrooms. It works out for everyone since living space is becoming more and more difficult due to refugees and the apartment is far superior to the standardized accommodations.