#TALIESIN JAFFE I LOVE YOU

[d3sertdream3r]

I’ve noticed a lot of rancid takes about Taliesin’s characters that are annoying me, so I’m going to rant for a minute. 

Tal has perfected the art of creating paradoxical characters, and I think a lot of people end up getting lost and confused in the layers. This is not a “if you don't get it, you’re dumb” type of thing. It’s just that I wish people would truly ponder his characters and why they’re the way they are because they’re not the stereotypical protagonists that North American entertainment focuses on. They’re not strictly kind and generous, intelligent and charming, or hateful and arrogant. They’re all of the above. 

A lot of western media features characters that are fairly cut and dry and easy to understand. There isn’t a ton of complexity happening, and from what I’ve seen, the majority of the people hating on his characters and role-play style are from areas where they aren't used to Tal’s type of character. They’re not used to characters having multiple characteristics that seem to contradict each other all at once (even though that’s how people are in real life). I’m guessing that’s part of why they don't like them, but who knows. 

Caduceus is the least paradoxical of his characters, which is why I think most people say he’s their favorite of Tal’s characters. He is the personification of a fluffy blanket and a warm hug. What’s not to love?? Percy, Molly/Kingsley, and Ashton on the other hand, are all much rougher around the edges. The point of them is to provide the opposite of comfort for the audience; they're meant to make people a little uncomfortable. They hold up a mirror to the audience and force us to look at the parts of humanity that we try to avoid. Not the pure evil of mankind that Matt’s villains often show, but something even more sad and hard to swallow. 

Audiences tend to like characters that deal with trauma through humor and/or charm. People benefit from these types of characters by laughing at them or lusting over them. There’s nothing wrong with this by any means; that’s all part of the fun of fandom! However, characters that deal with their trauma in ways that are more raw and painful tend to be disliked. 

Percy is filled with constant fear that his past will haunt his future. He is convinced that wherever he goes, the darkness will follow and the pain awaits. He has horrible nightmares and lives with incessant paranoia, yet faces the deadliest monsters, demons, gods, etc with nothing but his wit and a gun. He can't stop inventing, not just to glorify himself but to protect everyone. He’s so many things at once, which is what makes him so real and complex and fascinating. 

Molly/Kingsley’s story is about wondering who you truly are and not meeting expectations of those you care about. Imagine that you’re not the only one comparing yourself to someone else; all your friends are too. You’re trying to figure out what defines you while feeling like everyone you know wants you to be someone else. His story is also filled with questions about nihilism and whether or not anything truly matters, including identity. 

Ashton represents the endless loneliness of abandonment and feeling like no matter what you do, those you love will never care about you as much as you care about them. He pushes people away and acts like he doesn’t have a care in the world while simultaneously doing everything he can to grip onto his friends. He is jealous of Laudna for the way she died because it showed how loved she was, and how sick is that? To be jealous of someone’s death? To try and force someone to admit that they haven’t gotten over their issues because you can’t accept that it’s possible to overcome yours? What's wrong with you? If it’s possible for people to do that, why can't you? What’s wrong with you? Why is it so hard for you when it seems so easy for others? What’s wrong with you? They represent not just the physical, but the emotional chronic pain that most people don’t have to think about every day. 

I have so much more to say about these amazing characters, but that would take an entire novel. They emotionally bleed all over the place. While they can still be lighthearted and humorous at times, they’re often really messy in various ways. But that doesn’t stop them from being so loving and wonderful at the same time! 

TL;DR, Taliesin’s characters are incredible and I’m so grateful that he is willing to play them in such a raw and real way for those of us that aren’t always funny or charming enough about our trauma to make society like us. 

#I had to get this out of my system #It's so long and I cut so much out #TALIESIN JAFFE I LOVE YOU #critical role #percy de rolo #mollymauk tealeaf #kingsley tealeaf #ashton greymoore #look at my lovely little blorbos #taliesin jaffe #his characters are always my favorite

[milquetoad]

the thing that i love about taliesin jaffe is that he commits fucking 100% to his monologues and speeches. he has said some of the stupidest shit in critical role history but that’s just because if there is an opportunity for him to speak he WILL take it and he WILL go into it with nothing but his whole entire heart + his characters feelings in that exact moment. so yes sometimes it’s ‘life needs things to live’ but then the other half of the time he’s just got the most profound, incredible statements and shit that is so, SO perfect for that moment. you can’t even think abt caduceus w/out calling to mind his eloquence and poignancy. all this to say that taliesin jaffe maxed out his wisdom stat irl and uses it to fucking own at dungeons & dragons roleplay

#his little aside w marisha just now. i fucking LOVE you dude #taliesin jaffe #critical role #ashton greymoore #caduceus clay #text

[im-no-jedi]

I know hardly anything about Vox Machina, but this feels like the BIGGEST Vex, Vax, and Percy energy 😂😂😂

#critical role #critrole spoilers #critical role spoilers #laura bailey #liam o'brien #taliesin jaffe #am I wrong tho LOL #someone draw this and I will love you forever #critrolez

[chaosgenasi]

He was threatening me! Thinks I'm Delilah! No, that's how Ashton makes friends. They're very friendly.

#critical role #criticalroleedit #critteredit #critical role spoilers #cr spoilers #ashton greymoore #pate de rolo #taliesin jaffe #basil.gif #cr3 #ashton #bells hells #i LOVE the progression from happy drunk ashton to I Will Murder You :) ashton #shakes laudna and ashton around in my brain. something something what happens if trauma doesn't loosen its grip #almost forgot the timestamp! episode 42: scene starts around 3:22:35

[sorry-i-forgot]

god i adore ashton so much. there's something so heartwrenching and validating to hear them talk about looking for something or someone to blame. to search for purpose and meaning in all the wrong places. to hate yourself so fucking much and yet want to do everything for the people around you. to make every choice with your whole chest even if it's the wrong one. and god the regret when you realize the pattern that's been going on for so LONG. and wonder WHY. why am i realizing this NOW?

#i love you taliesin jaffe #you absolute madman #critical role #bells hells #ashton greymoore #cr ashton #taliesin jaffe #critical role campaign 3 #critical role spoilers #cr spoilers #fcg kept asking if ashton cares #of course he fucking cares #thats why they make stupid decisions #listen to the way they talk about the nobodies #THEY CARE #which is why hes so afraid to LOSE #kal thoughts

[topaz-mutiny]

I think the fans are underestimating how differently people can process things.

I am consistently seeing posts say "Ashton/Tal were repeatedly warned the shard was not for them/will 100% kill them", when this was absolutely not the case, and, more importantly, it is very likely for groups of people to completely misinterpret the warnings. Even if they've known each other and loved each other for a decade.

I certainly thought the warnings were not clear or frequent enough so I was shocked like lightning in the latest episode that they were meant to be absolute death flags.

Please note that I'll mostly refer to the fictional characters, I don't want to bring the people behind the characters too much into this.

First, I would like to point out, the show takes place over weeks and months with plenty of breaks and interruptions. That is plenty of time and opportunity for memories to get faded, muddled, crossed-over with other memories, etc.

The "warnings" happened two weeks to a month ago. And even when they were fresh on the cast's mind, here are the warnings verbatim (bold is my emphasis):

But be warned, holding the strength of the two in one vessel might sunder it. You bear the dormant strength of the empress. Find and bestow the might of the emperor.

- Evontra'vir, episode 74, aired October 5th. The conversations move on to unrelated things with no followup.

Ashton: He also said it might be dangerous for these two shards to intermingle. Or he didn't say dangerous, he said that-- it could destroy me. Orym: --A chance the vessel could break. Laudna: --The vessel <air quotes> could break. Fearne: Wasn't there something if you put them together with the right thing that it'll be okay? Ashton: It might come together and be okay, yeah. -- Dancer: Maybe if it were to meet one of its own ilk, it could awaken. Allura: What you said as a point of warning likely is true. To have both within a singular vessel, it's possible one could survive, but it's also highly possible that it would rend you into a thousand pieces. -- Allura: We're in a strange area of experimentation and unknown knowledge. -- (after finding out Ashton has a fascimile of a Luxon beacon in their brain) FCG: So he's got two things in him or them? Allura: It would seem, which is why I'm a bit--Well, you're either the greatest weapon we could hope for in this time, or will be our end. I couldn't tell you. Orym: Boy, maybe we don't add a third thing. Ashton: I was put together by bits and pieces. This was not an intentional thing and it, I honestly shouldn't have survived it. It was, literally, I was put together with junk. Allura: In an odd way, your fragmented nature might be what keeps all of this in check. ... Perhaps we don't put another powerful entity within your form.

- Various, episode 76, aired October 19th.

To me, these warnings were not clear in the slightest.

To me, these warnings were interspersed with so many words like "possible", "might", and "chance" that I completely misinterpreted the situation as "For Ashton it is dangerous but doable" instead of "The Game Master is telling you Ashton's character sheet will be ripped up."

This is the problem with using in-character voices and using descriptors that imply chance or flexibility. They can drastically weaken the meaning of a phrase such that people like me will mistake it for something else.

Because that's how my brain works. "May", "chance", "perhaps" suggest to me a reasonable set of odds for an action and does not come across as the grave warning a game master would want.

And as a reminder, these muddled warnings were weeks apart and weeks away, which can make remembering the meaning even worse if you've already misinterpreted them. That's why I was 100% on board with Ashton taking the shard. It seemed reasonable but dangerous, so when Matt said "I warned you." in that grave tone and with that grave look I was thrown for a loop. I went "oh no! those were serious warnings!?" and the panic started setting in.

Also a contributing factor was the pressure and lack of communication from Bells Hells.

Fearne did not want the shard, and finally stated that thought aloud to Ashton. For Fearne and Ashton, that meant the only choice left was Ashton, because, for one reason or another, the 5 other people in Bells Hells repeatedly assumed and pushed the shard onto Fearne and wrote themselves out of the equasion. FIVE characters absolved themselves of being active participants. Once the idea of Fearne came to mind and this Emperor Fearne/Empress Ashton/Callowmoore shipping dicotomy, Bells Hells just stopped talking about it and never once considered if any of them should take the shard should Fearne refuse.

So... yeah that's how my brain works.

#critical role #cr spoilers #critical role spoilers #c3e77 #ashton greymoore #fearne calloway #bells hells #evontra'vir #taliesin jaffe #matthew mercer #communication breakdown #tl;dr Bells Hells needs to talk to each other more instead of just assuming how things will be #do you want explosions and dead PCs? that's how you get explosions and dead PCs. #people will think differently and can misinterpret what you say #even this loving group of 8 people can misinterpret each other despite being together for like a decade #tbh I thought the shard going to Orym would've been ideal #I might repost this for the Monday crew idk

[danwhobrowses]

It shouldn't need to be said but I'm seeing a lot of vitriol towards Ashton about their actions and I have to say I don't agree with them.

At the clock tower Fearne brought up the shard, stated that in her opinion Ashton should take the shard because she didn't want it. Ashton decided then as a result they'd take it, but because it was an extreme risk made very aware to them all they knew the other Hells wouldn't allow them to go through with it. Ashton asked Fearne if she was okay with both of them going together alone with the plan, reiterating that they didn't want to put this on Fearne, that if they died Fearne would not be to blame, and that they have no intention of dying, and Fearne said yes.

Fearne having second thoughts at the Ziggurat was just worry, because she cares deeply for Ashton, Ashton kissing her was not manipulation either; it was letting go of fear, having no regret with the person they also care deeply for and taking the risk. And yeah, it was frightening, 10 rounds of perpetual fiery near-death situations and one actual death situation; Laura is fuming, Ashley cannot look, Liam is playing Mad World on loop in his mind, even Matt is completely on edge, but they survived. Accusations that Ashton manipulated Fearne to selfishly take the shard seem to misinterpret the shard saga as well as Fearne and Ashton's characters, they will get a very intense amount of chastising for sure, but it will be out of love, out of the fear that they were going to lose them, not because they thought Ash was manipulative.

#critical role #bells hells #ashton greymoore #taliesin jaffe #fearne calloway #ashley johnson #laura bailey #matt mercer #Ashton literally is comprised of things that shouldn't exist of course they're gonna not heed warnings when Fearne didn't want it #the group are stressed but I don't believe there's heat #if I recall 4sd is aired after an unaired episode so Tal Travis Matt and Ashley were happily vibing from that despite having already played #Tal and Ashley agreed on this gambit they just underestimated how bad it'd go #and I would wager that Tal knew he could lean on the ring to save Ashton at least once #overall no I don't think Ashton intended to manipulate or hurt anyone and in trying to shoulder it alone they were trying to be selfless #but reminder Ashton is 6 charisma they aren't gonna express their intentions too well #the Hells are rightfully so mad for making them worry but in the end they're just gonna be grateful Ashton's alive #also I have to make a point that Fearne said 'I shouldn't have listened to you' not 'I shouldn't have trusted you' there's a big difference #and Tal hasn't tried to wriggle or bargain out of it he's had Ashton accept all frustration because they know it's from a loving place #critical role spoilers #sorry for multiple edits I keep seeing me unconsciously use he/him and I have to fix it plus I have more to say but nobody to say it to

[pocketgalaxies]

laura startling SO hard at tal's raven caw

#'i love that you just flashbanged her with one of those' #1h38m c3e78 #sc #critical role #cr3 #cr lb #cr spoilers #laura bailey #taliesin jaffe #laura & tal

[aq2003]

1x69 // 1x89 or; keyleth and percy and "i need you"

#keyleth #percy de rolo #critical role #vox machina #criticalroleedit #marisha ray #taliesin jaffe #cr #cr1 #my edits #percy and kiki #sorry i have diseases. i put the last 2 gifs next to each other and teared u]p #'i need you. but we're not all going to make it' . god. top 5 things percy has said that make me mentally ill #ALSO. THE FACT THAT CHARISMA IS KEYLETH'S WORST STAT. SHE HAS A +0 TO THAT. AND SHE ROLLED A 19 #these gifs are so crusty i love them so much tho #if you're seeing this on mobile i am sorry the alt tag is covering like half of the percy dialogue text </3 just click on th gifs to see it #rohan don't look #<- this gifset doesnt have overt spoilers but in case ur seeing this. block that tag for the future lol

[ludinusdaleth]

"There are people who need every bit of what they have. And there are people who would be much happier if they had a little less."

FAVORITE CRITICAL ROLE CHARACTER MEME: Mollymauk Tealeaf

#critteredit #criticalroleedit #mollymauk tealeaf #critical role #campaign 2 #mine #taliesin jaffe #this is a hell of a meme project in progress #as i dont plan to do many characters til i know they wont have anymore lines #so.... as you can see molly fits that bill 🙈 #anyway love the tiefling bastard #favorite critical role character meme

[nova-s-pace]

Okay after seeing that event of an episode (seriously so much crazy shit happened) I really hope they talked it out afterwards and made sure everyone was doing okay and also still loved each other, because that was a RIDE

#laura and marisha were PISSED #I really felt Sam and Ashley through the entire thing #DO you love them Taliesin?! #critical role #ashton greymoore #cr spoilers #critical role spoiler #campaign 3 #c3e77 #fearne calloway #taliesin jaffe #ashley johnson #sam riegel #laura bailey #marisha ray #matt mercer #travis willingham #liam o'brien

[sad-torbek-noises]

"He's a slut, your honor." 🥹💖

--me, watching Taliesin talk about the extra bit Leo added in the missive he sent to Edgar

#WOOF WOOF WOOF #I'm down BAD for this beautiful gay man #He's so FRUITY!!!!! #I LOVE HIM #Leo Amicus #THAT'S MY BABY GIRL #IF OLDER CONFIRMED BACHELOR WHY BABY GIRL SHAPED #Edgar Lycoris #Dr. Edgar Lycoris #Please god I hope they're fruity for each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #May the universe bless #Taliesin Jaffe #God he's the best #Have you ever seen a man be so swell? #My suave and sassy disaster bisexual creative

[wlwdisasterr]

everyday I wake up and I think about critical role's halloween costumes of each other

#critical role #laura bailey #marisha ray #sam riegel #travis willingham #liam o'brien #matt mercer #ashley johnson #taliesin jaffe #marisha as taliesin‚ laura as robbie‚ ashley as travis‚‚‚ it's all just *chef's kiss* #so much gender envy‚ so much gay #i love it so much <3 #also can you tell that im a lesbian based on the fact that my three costumes i remember most disctintly are the ladies'

[l-herz]

"everything hurts"

"always?"

"Yeah"

CHRONIC PAIN ASHTON CONFIRMED

#critical role #cr spoilers #ashton greymoore #YESSS CHRONIC PAIN REP #Ive been projecting #Headcanon confirmed #taliesin jaffe #I love you

[amplexadversary]

Ashton Greymoore: “See, this is what happens when you start externalizing every fucking problem that you have. Easy to take a look at.

There’s a bunch of people who are treating other people like, just like they’re fucking nothing, like they’re fucking pawns. It doesn’t matter what the fuck they want - they are doing it wrong, it is not hard to see.

You’re being fucked with. We’re all being fucked with; whatever the fuck they say they’re doing, that’s where I draw the g-, the line. If they had such a great idea of what the world was supposed to be and what that thing was, they could just tell people.

But instead they’re making everybody miserable. They’re killing people.

Fuck that, fuck them, and I am going to be more than happy to drop a fucking ship on them.

I’m so sick of this shit.”

-Critical Role, Campaign 3, Episode 49 1:43:02

#Critical Role #CR3 #CR3-49 #CR Ashton #Ashton my beloved #Taliesin Jaffe brings yet another character I vibe so goddamn hard with #man plays the constantly-curbed-at-the-last-second anger in his character voice so well I love it #and this may be the actor leaking through but Ashton has this reason to them that feels like it's been eaten away at by their emotions #like they've gotten so used to being dismissed they don't try to separate the two and persuade people #who aren't already used to them and their usual speech patterns #because that's not something they've ever really been able to get to work #so you get this character who by his stats and his description is not a talker #but who drops arguments like this that feel emotionally raw but not spur-of-the-moment. #it's occurring to me that Ashton's speech can be described in a way that matches their aesthetic #it's a jagged pointy crystal that would have needed time to build up to the size it is and it has not been polished or cleaned up #like at all #The impression I get is that Ashton thinks about things a lot more than they say them and their speech mirrors their overarching theme #kind of as a result of that #like sure *maybe* that's Taliesin being too erudite but it fits the theme anyway

[iseutz]

Jesus Christ, Taliesin.

#critical role #taliesin jaffe #i love you #but damn