He’s bewitched me

Astarion

Pic by @alphagravy and my PS edits/enhancements.

This was such a formative movie

This shit was revolutionary for the mid-90s. Among other things it helped me understand that transgender and cross-dressing were completely separate things.

To this day, I am in awe of the fact that Patrick Swayze not only campaigned hard to get the audition, not only auditioned in dress and makeup, but spent most of the day leading up to the audition walking around LA in dress and makeup.

This was a man who could sing, dance, act, ride a horse, fight, and walk in heels, he had nothing to prove to anyone, and he is MISSED.

Okay, I’m not done feeling about this.

If you’re younger, you may not know Patrick Swayze; he was Taken From Us in 2009. But Patrick Swayze was an icon of masculinity. Men were willing to watch romantic movies because Patrick Swayze was in them.

Patrick Swayze was fucking beefcake.

And this man didn’t just agree to do a movie where the only time he’s not actually in drag is the first three minutes, which involve stepping out of the shower, doing make up, and getting Dressed. He has ONE LINE that is delivered in a man’s voice, and it’s not during those three minutes.

And if you watch those three minutes, you see a stark difference between his portrayal of Miss Vida Bohéme and Wesley Snipes as Noxeema Jackson. (I am not criticizing Snipes’ performance. They were different roles.) Noxeema was a comedy character. Chi-Chi was a comedy character. But Miss Vida Bohéme was a dramatic role, played by a dramatic powerhouse.

When Vida sits down in front of the mirror, she sees a man. And she doesn’t like it.

Then she puts her hair up, and her face lights up.

“Ready or not,” she says. “Here comes Mama.”

And while Noxeema is having fun with her transformation (at one point breaking into a giggling fit after putting on pantyhose), Vida is simply taking pleasure in bringing out her true self. And when she’s done, she sees this:

And you can FEEL her pride.

All of this from an actor who, up to this point, walked on to the screen and dripped testosterone.

It matters that this happened in 1995. It wouldn’t fly today, wouldn’t be the right choice, we’ve moved past it, but it mattered and was important that it happened the way it happened then. It’s one of the stepping stones.

I've found out something super funny about Baldur's Gate 3

I got Halsin's romance scene just there, and I have cinematic nudity turned off, because I'm a shy boy. Well I guess Halsin does some full frontal nudity at some point, not that I saw it.

Because instead of changing camera angle Larian stuck a LEAF on Halsin's dick.

I LAUGHED SO FUCKING HARD MY CATS WOKE UP FROM THEIR NAP TO JUDGE ME

For the ladies, they got these weird fleshtone pasties. And all I can think is, why not more leaves?

– "Still Life: Vase with Pink Roses", Painting by "Vincent van Gogh"

trying to de-ab gale and astarion because i refuse to believe they'd actually look like that. Also it just looks better (<- humble opinion). astarion's is a little rougher because i've only edited the normal and not the. whatever the hell the other two are like I've started doing with gale (the way this game handles textures confuses me) But if anyone wants it i probably will upload this as a mod in a little while

I can see Gale without abs given that he likes his drink and reading. But Astarion, it makes sense he has them. Because to get that look in real life bodybuilders actually need to fast/starve and dehydrated before a competition. This thins the skin so the judges and make out the mucles underneath. Sure Astarion is getting far more blood now, but he's still burning the candle at both ends.

can you believe this ^ thing exists

yoooo i didn’t know the bg3 character creator would have a non-binary option and it was genuinely such a pleasant surprise

Baldur's gate III with an old monk but it's a noir movie

He's a human Carlos Castano. No weapon no armor hippie build and behavior, turning potential enemies into allies with the high wisdom stats

Bloody vampire bit this cinnamon roll, fuck off Astarion :(

Dris Mondeixar • Cyn, Prince of Honeybloom • Carnelian Silverstring • Lord Tyranis Highrock

When you have both Lae’zel and Shadowheart in your party

Happy Baldur's Gate 3 Release day!

NOOOO IM CRYING. HALSIN YOUR TIMING IS AWFUL. I'M LAUGHING SO MUCH IT HURTS. I'M A FUCKING CLOWN. THE BEAR THING IS BAD ENOUGH BUT NOW ITS CLOWN BEAR SEX. I AM DYING. HONK HONK BITCH

THIS IS THE FACE OF A FUCKER THAT DID THIS TO ME ON PURPOSE. WHY? WHY did Halsin have to do his romance the ONE night I’m wearing clown paint?

KARLACH THE DEMONSBANE

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saw her and instantly fell in love (to no one's surprise lol). can't wait to make her and my tav kiss in-game come august!

EDIT: HER VA SAW MY POST ON TWITTER AND LIKED IT OMGGG IM ASCENDING TO HEAVEN AS WE SPEAK

So I made a mix tape :p

Just a collection I made while we waited for the full relase.

Neil Newbon: I've been very blessed with Astarion. He's such an incredibly talented and incredibly fun character to play, so he's been a real dream. I would describe him as being very self-focused and playful with morality in that way. I think he's very aware that he's immoral, I don't think he's amoral at all. Super intelligent, can be very manipulative, can also be very moved by people and beauty and new experiences. I think ultimately his driving force really is to be free and everything that that entails.

I think to play a character who has this trauma and comes from the situation essentially of abuse, to then be able to discover their own life, discover their identity, forge new friendships, possibly romance the player, et cetera - it's a very human story and it resonates a lot with people I think - I hope it does, anyway. It certainly does with me, the idea that sometimes life throws you things that force you to deal with very traumatic circumstances sometimes, or if not traumatic, something incredibly challenging and sometimes incredibly worrying situations. But to be able to have a drive to better yourself, to better your life, to be able to open up to people as well - it's really moving, it's really touching. I feel a lot of love for Astarion.