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insurrection-if · 1 month ago

Note

Are you okay :(?

(♡ˊ͈ ꒳ ˋ͈) Thank you for being so kind by checking-in with me! In the broadest sense . . . I am fine.

No sphere of life has been ideal, but rarely is it ever so for most anyone. It’s been a rollercoaster, I guess. (ノωヽ)

Admittedly, I am conflicted.

In terms of writing, I wish I had a greater support network than I currently possess. A safe soundboard to confide in without worry over mocking judgement or stern exhaustion. I fear coming to this blog for support due to . . . previous instances of upset regarding my focus and productivity. I am not sure where else to turn.

Disheartening conduct within the IF community has not dispelled my paralyzing fears. I have been immensely fortunate to receive generous wells of kindness and patience from public and anonymous individuals, such as yourself Anon. Nevertheless, I cannot help but cower from the select bad eggs . . . and sympathize with writers who have fallen victim to their harsh treatment recently.

So, I toil fruitlessly in circles and fabricate my own stalemates.

I worry endlessly. The characters and world of Insurrection have been an odd source of comfort and escape since my middle school years. I wish to handle its execution with care and have developed concerns over certain bindings I might come to regret. I sometimes feel bouts of possessiveness, episodes of doubt, surrounding any publication regarding this world. An incomplete mourning over the original premise, though time eases the bruise of that wound.

But please don't be mistaken in my interest regarding the 'modern' version of Insurrection (the version represented by this blog)! I’m dying to share this story, and I suffer each minute it isn’t written out for others to (hopefully) enjoy as well.

My concerns more so revolve around ownership of these characters and this world, balanced with the possible forfeiting of any profitability from this work. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ But that's a far bridge . . . at worst, I'll forcefully accept the uncertain plunge at its end. Any injury I sustain would be soothed by the mere fact of a completed book being possessable to the world. (╯_╰)

Apologies, I hate to sound so grim! I deleted the latest post on this blog from a month or so ago (? work makes time muddled for me) due to the glumness of it all. (ᵕ—ᴗ—) But I had needed to vent, and I hoped to give a sign of life through the post's presence at the time, even if that sign of life was the poor ramblings of resuscitation for Insurrection and another work of mine.

I’ll likely post a couple of things I had (mostly) wrapped up in my inbox | can quickly be answered just as a further sign of life behind this blog. Apologies for the concerning silence thus far!

And now, for a hodgepodge of useless tangents (because I haven't the mind nor coherency to organize my thoughts much further) . . .

Insurrection Snippets - Mockingbird's Father

Image: Descriptive text for Mockingbird's relationship with their father following their first bond status lock-in.

Eons ago, if my memory remains intact, I shared some snippets of the MC’s father engaging with one of Reznik vampires - an NPC who aids in your escape to America | a new home following your mother’s death. Depending on the MC’s region of origin, this role will be filled by a different character with geographical ties to your homeland.

Reznik is a (somewhat contentious) family friend to MCs born in Western, Southern, or Eastern Europe which all have regions within or bordering their familial territory. If MC ever steps foot in these lands again, there’ll lie the possibility of a reunion with them, though a wallflower like Řehoř would dread the convergence of your fates. Below, I’ve decided to share drafted snippets of alternate contacts the MC will meet from their homeland.

Apologies in advance for the poor quality and errors contained in these screenshots. (╥ᆺ╥；) Please don't expect much from them!

Image: Snippet of your father conversing with Osvaldo, then known to you as a troubled eccentric and recluse, as you set to depart from Oceania.

Image: Snippet of your father conversing with Xolisile, a proud daughter of the vampiric Tshabalala bloodline, as you set to depart from Southern Africa.

Image: Snippet of your father conversing with a husband of Tanith, who hoped for an arranged match between Mockingbird and one their children, as you set to depart from Northern Africa.

In terms of life . . .

Funnily enough, I do not believe in horoscopes (and still do not beyond story inspiration and casual fun). Yet, when the Chinese New Year rolled in, I checked up on mine for fun with the family and was foretold a poor financial year. What a laugh I had then . . .

Lo and behold, I have since spent far more than month’s paycheck on recent surgery and medication for one of my dogs, which incited some (overly emotional) anxiousness over their mortality in the following weeks. I’m told the nature of his ACL rupture was notably common for his age, and it’s such a blessing that he loves the daily (lifelong) pill he’s been prescribed. Thankfully, though his recovery is not yet complete, he’s gotten his old spirit back again and has resumed his usual play and routines like before. I try to keep some precautions with his exercise still, but even a worrywart like me has to admit he’s doing rather well in his recovery. ✧(..◜ᴗ◝..)

Other financial aches and troubles are the typical ones, but don’t harm me beyond setbacks for planned major life events that would make activities like writing so much easier. I’ll take the usual stress of insurance and loan payments over the horrible emotional mess that came with negotiating treatment plans with an emergency clinic for the meantime before our scheduled appointment with the vet. I’m incredibly grateful to have the financial support I do to have even made his treatment possible and carried out as quickly as I could make it.

Death marked April once again, alongside other health emergencies in the family, but the Easter season and some troubled truths eased the bitter pill onslaught. My heart has especially been lightened by the selection of Pope Leo XIV, though I’ve been told before that I’ve spoken enough on that matter!

Life marches onwards. (ᵕ ´ ∇ ˋ ˶) There's much good in the world around me regardless of daily tensions or troubles. Graduations, showcases, a Confirmation, and a small pay bump have given reason for pride and celebration throughout these busy months. I'm writing where I can, when I can, as well - despite of my attention being frequently demanded elsewhere.

Pointless Add-Ons

Insurrection has been deeply, undoubtedly been molded by music over the years. I always have the urge to share songs that have inspired a beloved character or story—a selfish whim I recall indulging now and then on this blog—but I understand that a vast majority wouldn’t care for such bombardment. (And, unfortunately, some songs likely wouldn’t make sense without divulging information best reserved in the meantime, as I haven’t a clue how much my rambles have allowed others to deduce in the absence of an outright statement.)

But, whilst I am offering signs of life, here are some songs that’ve preoccupied my days that I hope to share.

My first listening to Canyon by Post Sex Nachos literally stilled my heart and stole my breath, and I truly became a little choked up on emotion by the time it finished. Goodness, it absolutely embodies the dynamic between Mishka and Fyodor. My state of mind ridiculously neared panic as it played out, frantic with disbelief. I felt as though someone had carelessly reached into my chest and gripped my heart, scrapped my thoughts, and forced into song these characters I've held dear for so long.

It's so them. I fear delving too deeply into how them this song is but, in my heart and soul, I feel the love and fear Mishka bears so intensely and disgustedly regretfully for Fyodor. I can hear Mishka's sensitivities, vulnerabilities, and the faint echo of Fyodor mirroring their underlying panic(ked misery) that's so rooted within their attachment.

Seriously, every time I hear . . .

Would you sell all of my lessons / To someone who always listened / Would you think about the way that I / Could’ve been much more patient / Oh no no

. . . I want to vomit, to scream and cry and lose all my insides. It makes a mess of me. (੭ ;´ - `;)੭ ♡ Lyrics like twine that's lassoed my heart and drags it out my throat. The jealousy, the relinquishment, the growth, the possession, the regret, the self-hate, the premature mourning, the acknowledgement of a fault not faced until it’s too late—!

So freakin' symbiotic man. (╥ ω ╥) Ugh, I want to tear it apart with my teeth, it's so beautiful! Even the instrumentals at the beginning and end - goodness, I love it when instruments sing like that, and I hear Fyodor and Mishka in the sounds with their differing natures effortlessly tied in a duet . . . !

My Live Reaction to this song:

With self-restraint, I'll drag myself away from Canyon before I accidentally divulge anything I haven't made painfully obvious in the past.

I Wanna Be Your Mantra by Tino Drima has been long known to me, and it has oftentimes conjured Fyodor to mind. Alas, it was never quite the perfect fit for him when it came to romance. I wrestled with this slight distortion - perhaps it was more fitting for the likes of Uriel (which could be its own ramble from me, haha!) or more obsessive / possessive / unhealthily attached characters in other works of mine (like the stalker from In Blind Reverence or the Cursed Heir from In Faith, Your Beauty).

Recently, however, I stumbled upon the realization that it's a wonderful song to encapsulate the love of both Fyodor and Mishka. It blends the softer, desirous, glorifying nature of Fyodor's love with the more ruinous, gripping, and elusive longing Mishka possesses . . . all with an underlying desperation, anguish, and wishfulness.

Some lyrics are perfectly tailored to Fyodor, others fit so nicely with Mishka, but I can feel an essence of them both pretty steadily throughout. d(´⌄`)

Lights Out by Deep Sea Diver calls the MC's mother to my mind. Aha, words might fail me as I try to convey this thought, but opening to this song alone feels like a distillation of her being to me. Like, the soundscape of her soul and mind. A little ethereal, other-worldly, strange yet familiar and reaching with the echo of a call or cry curious and out of reach — isolating, lonely, steady, reinforced with a firm beat like her drum of war, a strong sound mixed with the undefined; or such is what I get a feel of in that segment.

Again, I fear delving too far into such thoughts that might tip my hand further than it's already swayed. But, lyrically at least, I assume it to be a rather straightforward association.

Resilience in a spirit stubborn and inextinguishable. An eye to the future, harboring a fierce hope and piled pains. A cry for help, support, a plea for compassion (from humanity, from her husband, for the sake of her child, her people, her dreams, etc).

Those first three lines especially seem to embody her. But it's the opening and closing lyrics that really tie her in with this song for me.

Lights out, but my heart is still glowing

In the first rendition, it's a testament to her unrelenting fight for the Gifted in the face of their oppression, their subjugation, their sentence to death or another's control. She carries a torch of hope for her people. Her heart - her life of service to their cause, her love for the Gifted, her undying hope for their future - is a beacon that cannot be erased by the world around her.

In the second rendition . . . Canonically, the MC is often referred to as 'little heart' by their parents. In the aftermath of her death, her child lives on with the memory of her hope and love. The MC persists in defiance of a world that condemns their blood. Whether or not the MC reflects fondly upon the memory of her, their mother would find peace in her death so long as her child still had a chance for health and happiness. You, who became the heart of her cause the moment she first held you, will carry on with the potential to dream. To enact the change she never could.

In other words, it’s the MC’s time to shine with the sense of pride and resilience she wished to instill within them. You are her legacy; and it’s a legacy you’ll never escape so long as your soul cries out as hers did . . . for blood, for change, for something more . . .

¯_(ツ)_/¯ At least, that's my customized vision when applied to her character.

For those who caught glimpse of the deleted post from this blog, you might recall another work of mine under the placeholder title Before the Woven Tale. It's an idea I've predominately fleshed out during bits of down time at the office, starting off as quickly scribbled thoughts on sticky notes to a covert Word Document + Excel Spreadsheet that became the tragic victim of computer problems. (ᵕ ´ ∇ ˋ ˶)

Late (Lioness) by Babe & The Crystals, to me, cries out the emotional heart of this secondary work. On the surface level, it is the literal experience (the anguish, the judgement, the change) of unexpected parenthood at such a young age. The sense of lost potential, the loss of control, a creeping isolation from the world as others move on without the weight of a(n unwanted, unforeseen) child, a helpless innocent now dependent upon you.

The helplessness of parenthood when so young. It carries such an agony, a strength and panic that swells and mourns with so much emotion. A misguided guilt, a wrongful blame, loss in countless forms. It's quite definitive of the early years following the affair that births the ward.

What You’re Missing by Shannon & The Clams, on the other hand, encapsulates the inevitable passage of time and the grief that underlies the conception of the ward - their very life shadowed by the loss of your sister, their birth carried out at a cost others (and perhaps even the MC) would rather have not been paid. But time does not stop for mourners, does not rewind for regrets. Life endures.

The Guardian, the player character, must endure. The world is changing. Progressing, and it will not wait for you. It will discard you if you let it, forgotten and abandoned. It will chew you up, it will swallow you whole, and you shall lie at the mercy of the bards to remember a word of your story if you do not dare to have fate be written by your hand.

Essentially, after facing the loss and vitriol surrounding the birth of the ward, it can be hard to see how life can progress beyond that point. As the heavens fall upon you, as the world turns its eye on you in shock and scorn, it overwhelms any glimpse of tomorrow.

Yet tomorrow will dawn upon you still. Days come, nights go, and the world will open up to you again. Through the ward, because of the ward, despite the ward . . . you define how guardianship over this child will shape you.

Before the Woven Tale will span decades. From episodes of your youth to the final moments upon your deathbed. Beyond your last breath, its epilogue will detail how your (at times, unrecognized) actions and influence shaped the world for centuries to come. If you form connections in the right places, you may even witness the continuation of their legacy firsthand, eternally preserved in the heavens . . . or, perhaps, even elsewhere.

Across these decades, the world will change. The ward will age, as will all mortals alongside them. The Guardian can accumulate new lovers, new spouses, and (additional) children - though the ward will always be a (forced) priority in your life.

Your family will change. Different views, different priorities, different people before your eyes. Marriages and deaths will alter the number and reach of your home.

You cannot fully halt the tides of fate. But you can regain control over your response to it and pave a better path for yourself and those you may come to love.

Of course, I should mention, this work would not be steadfast in a tone dark, mournful, or grim. (ᵕ • ᴗ •) I would hate to leave that misconception!

On a more light-hearted note, STEPMOM by Dacey gives me a laugh whenever it plays since I cannot help associating it with the MC for Before the Woven Tale. This protagonist has the potential to wreck absolute havoc within the core family tree of the pantheon. Goodness, out of all my ideas, this one has the messiest potential in the realm of romance. So, so messy. (๑﹏๑//)

The MC or their sister can have an affair with Aurelius | Aurelia the Sun (Gender Variable*). The ward is born as their son | daughter | nephew | niece.

The MC can eventually have an unadvised dalliance with the betrayed Moon (Gender Variable*), first spouse of the Sun. Dawa is technically a stepmother to the ward, though the very thought wounds their heart.

The MC can romance Vermundo (M), Divine of War and second son to the Sun and Moon. Resigned to be a part of his father’s ever-growing (woefully convoluted) family tree, Vermundo would stubbornly avoid acknowledgement towards the ward’s blood status as a half-sibling.

The MC can romance Valentin (Gender Variable), Divine of Love and spouse of Vermundo. Through their marriage to Vermundo, Valentin is technically a sibling-in-law to the ward.

The MC can romance Jiva (Gender Variable), Divine of Life and first child to the Sun and Earth. Tracing through the family tree, Jiva is strangely bound to the ward as a half-sibling.

The MC can have a covert, partially perilous dalliance with Aguta (Gender Variable), Divine of Death and first child to the Moon and Heavens. Though the bond of marriage between Sun and Moon has proven brittle, it has rendered Aguta a stepsibling to the ward.

The MC can romance Narciso | Narcisa (Gender Selectable*), the secret half-mortal bastard of Jacan, Divine of Misfortune and Mayhem. The Sun, by blood, is their great-grandfather.

Other mortal ROs (main and lesser romances) exist, but any romance | marriage | subsequent children with these options above would complicate an already troubled tree. ¯_ (ᵕ—ᴗ—)_/¯

If romanced, the player can determine if the Sun spends time with them in the form of a man or woman. However, the greater world will largely depict and refer to the Sun as a man (by default, unless context informs them otherwise).

The player can determine if Dawa spends time with them in the form of a man or woman. However, the greater world will largely depict and refer to Dawa as a woman (by default, unless context informs them otherwise).

Narcisa | Narciso Cardoso Allende will largely present and identify as the gender selected by the player but, as a shapeshifter and spy, they will not always strictly align with or be perceived as their preferred gender.

I shared some last time, and please do not be upset if I share some more, but below are screenshots of my notes concerning Before the Woven Tale. Apologies if I accidentally re-share some old ones from that deleted post!

#personal

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insurrection-if · 1 month ago

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Hi, I'm going around doing some check-ins with how various if authors I follow have been doing. Know you don't intend to post till you have a demo you're satisfied with, so considering everything going on in the world, especially specific parts of it, I do hope life is treating you well. And if life is putting you through the wringer, then I do sincerely hope things turn around for you and that it starts treating you well.

-`♡´- Thank you so much for taking such a sweet, thoughtful initiative! I am relatively fine, all matters considered, and that's better than I could be otherwise. ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

I do feel somewhat stuck in various sector of life, a subtle panic beneath the immediate stability I am so fortunate to possess. But such anxiousness is quite common for me. (・–・;)ゞ My main challenge in the realm of writing remains my steadfast exhaustion and limited hours. Especially with recent events, it's difficult to prioritize self-indulgent activities such as writing over other demands in the realm of family and work. (ﾉ´д｀)

Nevertheless, I am trying to push through, even when the path tends to fall out from under my feet. Goodness, the loss of all that work I previously detailed (in a deleted post) . . . ヽ(ﾟ´ ﾛ｀)ﾉ behind-the-scenes, I bordered upon a rather extreme crash out that might have silenced this work for good! Aha, but rest assured, I've processed the worst emotions following that. Cried it out, endured the embarrassment, the shame, the guilt . . . and I'll keep chugging along.

I wished I had someone to talk all this through with, but (perhaps irrationally) I'd sooner die than let the people in my life know I like to write recreationally. ¯_ (ᵕ—ᴗ—)_/¯ It's just too vulnerable a matter for me to share.

Still, after much reflection, I have used the misfortunate events around Insurrection to spur myself into starting a bit of a re-write for Chapter 0. Lots of undone work there that I had clung onto for far too long, and I hope it's all for the better. I think it's a much more digestible introduction for readers compared to before, even if it sacrifices some of the chaotic feel I wished to impart while under the influence of Curadora.

A sample of the re-draft. This isn't the absolute opening (those first two or so choices are largely the same | intact), but close enough to it. Please excuse errors and poor quality:

I've also fiddled around in Canva during a quiet night I had over one weekend and redid some of the old graphics.

Flash Warning Graphical Redesigns

A non-flickering option for graphics will likely be selectable before the book truly begins, or I'll remove the flicker entirely based on feedback. Apologies if these are difficult to view, or hideous in appearance. I am not skilled in the realm of visual art whatsoever, and I am even less skilled when it comes to technology. o(´д｀o)

Before (Old Design)

After (New Design)

I'm not able to upload the GIF version of this cover page it seems, so apologies, above is a low quality video format for a (somewhat silly, messy) cover page design I toyed with in Canva. (´∇｀'') I plan for it to be a placeholder more than anything permanent.

Apologies for getting so off-track. It's little steps at a time for me back here, but steps still move me forward, nonetheless. ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

Thank you once again for your generous endeavor in lifting the spirits of those in the IF community! I hope you're doing well and deeply wish the same for all the authors out there! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡

#personal

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

Text

Those who wish to avoid notification on my personal matters and are solely interested in content / development news, please disregard the post below this one which is preluded by content warnings.

The relevant information from that post which relates to the status of this blog can be read here:

This is not a hiatus. Rather, this blog will be silent until I have an actual demo (‘short’ still in length) that I’m satisfied enough with to share. It’s been stressful balancing the guilt of not responding enough and the guilt of responding too much on this blog. And, with current events, I don’t think I will regain the right headspace to manage this blog and my responses on it anytime soon.

So many of you have been the absolute embodiment of gracious patience and abundant kindness with me and my nonsense here on this blog, and I thank you all deeply for it.

Here’s to hoping I return to this space sooner rather than later with something good, or at least decent, to share.

See you soon.

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

Text

TW / Content Warning: death, loss, euthanasia

Apologies for oversharing after such a long period of silence, but tonight has cemented my thoughts towards this blog and its future status.

My eldest dog, Charlie, has passed away at the near age of thirteen. After his health scare in February, he had seemingly recovered and pepped back up to his usual goofy mama’s boy self. I am so thankful for these last several weeks I was able to enjoy with him, and feel so blessed to have seen him hold the strength that he did up until last night.

His condition plummeted rapidly and suddenly last afternoon. The veterinarians at the emergency clinic suspected a brain tumor yesterday, alongside (a) stroke(s), and confirmed this diagnosis just before he finally passed. We didn’t even have the time or money to undergo further testing to affirm what was then a theorized, tenuous diagnosis before it was clear that his time had come. It is confirmed to us now that cancer, not an infection, has likely been the main instigator of his health scare back in February. It’s a blessing that he didn’t suffer or dampen in his joy these past several weeks, up until yesterday, while afflicted with this illness.

Charlie used to be my great-grandfather’s dog. We took him into our home after my great-grandfather passed and his home was lost to our family. Charlie came to us in such poor health, and amazed us all with his recovery and clumsy energy these past two years. At that time, those most optimistic were projecting he only had a few months or so, and to see him having lived so long a full a life in the time he’s been under our roof (for far longer than anyone had foreseen) has been a wonder beyond comprehension. For the gift of his companionship, I cannot express enough of my gratitude.

I truly believe he’s in a better place. Goodness, I cried and prayed my heart out last night when I just absolutely felt in my soul what was around the corner - even when the clinic had then cleared him to come home and told us he would be fine. And even with all this time to be with him and give my goodbyes, it still doesn’t feel right to not have him walking into my room and insisting he be carried up to the bed all with a little wiggle of excitement in his hips.

These past few years were a good life for him. Even yesterday, when he began to show signs of and fall deep into weakness, confusion, and fatigue he still wagged his tail when I laid my hand on him and tried his best to follow the sound of my voice.

For those of you less interested in my personal matters and more so in just whatever content I can produce, this event has finalized some thoughts I’d been having a week or so before this in regard to this blog.

This is not a hiatus. Rather, this blog will be silent until I have a form of demo (‘short’ still in length) that I’m satisfied enough with to share. It’s been stressful balancing this guilt of not responding enough and the guilt of responding too much on this blog. And, with this great loss in my life, I don’t think I will regain the right headspace to manage this blog and my responses on it anytime soon.

Apologies for the silence and, now, the suddenness of this change in matters.

For all those with pets, whether they be full of health or struggling a little more with their once daily routine, please take the time to really show them all the love and care you hold for them each day. Please cherish your time with them, be kind to them, and form as many close memories as you can with them. It’s so easy to take time we have with them for granted. I’m so glad to have provided the home I did for Charlie, and hope he knows just I much I loved him and will keep loving him even now that he’s gone ahead of me to our next destination.

Again, apologies for becoming too personal with all this. The emotional wound is still so fresh and I simply hoped to vent as I clarified my current stance around this narrative. So many of you have been the absolute embodiment of gracious patience and abundant kindness with me and my nonsense here on this blog, and I thank you all deeply for it.

Here’s to hoping I return sooner rather than later with something good, or at least decent, to share.

See you soon.

#personal #tw: death #tw: loss

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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What are the potential consequences of using someone else's Gift through blood-eating?

As a start, some additional discussion on the nature of Mockingbird’s gift can be found here, here, and here. (　´∀｀)b

There are a number of consequences, but I’ll divvy them up into two camps:

Inherited Risks of Another Gift(ed)

This concerns the short-term* consequences from blood-eating; those that are immediate.

Whenever Mockingbird adopts another’s gift, they’re taking in much more than that power alone.

Mockingbird undertakes aspects of whoever they drink from . . . as long as they are Gifted*. This can range from their emotions, their memories, their senses, and so forth. It’s their psyche. For this narrative, that psyche extends to the heart, mind, and soul; the bits that define (or simply influence) the eternal and shifting nature of oneself. Drinking from those more turbulent in their nature, more scarred or more troubled within (or even battered in the physical sense), can offer a higher risk for harmful or negative experiences.

But beyond that, there are the basic consequences from the adopted gift itself. Mockingbird does not have a natural attunement or mastery over the gifts of others. Each time they drink from someone new, they are starting from square one, and it would require continuous drinking from the same source for them to match the skill of whoever they’ve taken blood from. The potential consequences of being such a novice are open to them.

Most Gifted have years to ‘tame’ their gifts, or to learn how to best manipulate them for the greatest use.

Certain gifts would not pose immediate harm or trouble for Mockingbird (like the gifts of Boar, Bacara, Niccolò’s father, etc.) since they require intentional activation or external triggers.

Other gifts might have the consequence of overwhelming Mockingbird (like those of Imka, Mutya, Uriel, etc.) since they are more autonomously persistent, their vast effects and reach falling upon them all at once.

Some gifts might have an external effect on those or the world around Mockingbird before they even realize its begun to manifest (like those of Bones, Fyodor, Sigmund, etc.).

Others simply require caution upon first use since there lies a threshold before a (phantom) pain of maddening intensity threatens Mockingbird (like those of Kalyna, Elouan, Jae, etc.).

So on and so forth. (´∀｀; ) Gifts aren’t quite uniform in their nature. Some might be rather similar on the surface or in their manifestation (like the ‘vampiric’ aspect of Mockingbird’s gift vs. the true Gifted ‘vampire’ clans across the world) but no two are truly alike. Thus, the potential consequences from each gift (the risks, the limitations, and the harm) are somewhat unique per individual.

For reference, I’ll link this post here since it discusses the consequences Mockingbird’s fellow HAWKS face with their own gifts. There is risk for these downsides to extend towards Mockingbird as well.

Long-Term Dependence

Heavy indulgence with blood-eating has its own set of consequences that are distinct from those described above.

Mockingbird craves the blood of fellow Gifted. It is not a hunger that threatens their actual livelihood, and it often comes in waves. But it ks a hunger nonetheless. Persistent, powerful, and tied to the purpose of their gift.

Blood-eating soothes their cravings. The proximity of new Gifted offers a sensation that is less overwhelming and, simultaneously, sharpened.

Gifts are not fixed in nature. All gifts have the potential to evolve. To expand, alter, and transform. Overindulgence encourages this evolution to unfold.

I won’t list out the specific changes this evolution may cause. The process is gradual and slow in the manner it unfolds. It ranges from the physiological to the supernatural, tailoring Mockingbird more and more to the full potential and call of their blood.

In time, Mockingbird’s gift and self will expand their reach. Their humanity will fade in exchange for something greater, something whole.

Mockingbird may or may not like what overindulgence will eventually lead into. Their desire for blood calls for a reason, seeking completion and fulfillment long denied. It is up to Mockingbird to either satisfy that latent purpose and claim all they were born to inherit or to instead safeguard both their humanity and their sense of self.

For more information on Mockingbird’s gift I might have previously disclosed and forgotten to link within this post, please check out the tags #mc or #gift on this blog! d(･∀･○)

（；^ω^） I hope this response was enough to be satisfactory! Apologies if it wasn’t!

#mc #gift

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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What is the nature of the latest plot by the CARDINALS?

Aha, that’s confidential! (´∀｀) At least, the finer details are not to be shared all that easily. Uriel may be one for monologues, but not the kind where he overshares the exact steps he’ll take next, haha!

The overall nature is to rally the Gifted around a symbol of their potential. This requires some spectacle, some action, and a much louder voice across the world. The Gifted are a scattered people by nature. Pushed down into shadows or kept under some greater power’s thumb, Uriel seeks to draw out his people and their hopes, to alter their perception of themselves and their rights in this world. Well, that’s always been his goal, but now the time has come for a true call to action.

At this time, I’ll just list out the early and known relevant elements that are more of a lead-up to their plans (which have mostly been mentioned before):

1. The CARDINALS have been scavenging the charred remains of Dollmaker’s fallen empire (while evading the grasp of the HAWKS who have a mirrored interest in discovering the full extent of the deceased man’s criminal regime). The Gifted once commanded by Dollmaker have gone missing without a trace. Their absence has stirred some strange reactions among the human populous.

2. Something big went down in Siberia. An event, encounter, or—more specifically—a Gifted has scarred and warped a sect of that vast land. OWLS have been a bit tight lipped over all the details as their investigation continues to unfold.

3. Their plot has been given the name “Project Michael”. The necessity of a name for it implies this scheme is more long-term in its execution and potential fallout compared to their usual tactics.

4. Mockingbird’s first mission with the HAWKS occurs in Moscow. (The first page opens on this mission, so it’s not a real spoiler.) The outcome of their encounter with Retriever is far beyond the norm in a fashion that has raised alarm for the HAWKS and CARDINALS alike, though maybe excitement as well for some of the latter. Few are more shaken up about it than Retriever himself.

5. Fyodor is a new face amongst the Inner Circle, though he has not been declared or paraded as a one of their members yet. Due to his Russian origins, the HAWKS suspect him of potential former ties to Dollmaker. These severed ties could link him to the recent CARDINALS activity around the man’s former dealings.

6. The CARDINALS are becoming more vocal and visible. This newfound boldness could be read as either a sudden desperation or revived confidence; a new wave of zealotry or a stumble into recklessness. Either way, it’s clear something behind the scenes has caused a shift in their behavior.

#mc #factions

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

Note

What is the role of Agent Mockingbird in the HAWKS?

Mockingbird (the player) is a “Specialist” within the HAWKS.

Specialist is the polished term for Gifted agents who, if one were to be blatant with the truth, are conscripted prisoners under the custody WINGS.

These agents are Gifted who have been captured and imprisoned for the proclaimed safety of humanity (and themselves). Once conscripted into the HAWKS, Specialists are considered “soldiers for humanity”.

How exactly does that title manifest into their role within their assigned division? Well . . .

To sum it up to its simplest form, Mockingbird’s role is to heed the orders of their Supervisors. That’s the bare bones of it.

They are whatever WINGS needs them to be: a Swiss army knife to control for the greatest possible utility. Specialists like Mockingbird are, therefore, versatile in what they might be assigned or expected to do.

The most common expectation for them would be to provide manpower to WINGS. Assisting in raids on other Gifted, protecting civilians from supernatural phenomena, or gathering in-the-field intelligence on whatever has been deemed a ‘threat to humanity’s interest’s’ are the general broad strokes a Specialist might expect.

The term Specialist alludes to the rather unique nature every agent of this kind will have: the ‘specialty’ offered by their background or gift. I think I've shared these two specific examples before, but more exaggerated cases of a Specialist having a customized role would be:

Imka’s gift and background are not inherently tailored to combat, so her “role” has defaulted more so to the gathering of intelligence and surveillance from a safe distance through the use of her sight.

Sigmund has a treasure trove of insight into the temperaments, strengths, and weaknesses of the CARDINALS as a former member, yet the HAWKS are not comfortable with putting him in direct proximity to most of his former allies. This has left him delegated to a “role” more focused on advisement from a distance rather than close combat whenever it is certain that specific CARDINALS will be near.

Mockingbird is fresh to the team. Akil has yet to fully evaluate their compatibility with other members, their preferences, their expertise, or their limits in-the-field. As their Commander, it is his responsibility to see Mockingbird reach their full potential in aiding the cause of the HAWKS. It is unclear, at the start, what form that potential might take and how their "role" within the team might best be customized to their strengths and weaknesses.

This means that expectations towards their “role” within the team are more flexible following their induction.

There will be a baseline expectation towards what their responsibilities should be on a mission-by-mission basis. Defend this, attack that, evacuate here, rendezvous there, and so on. It is the unique characteristics of Mockingbird, however, (such as their expertise, their principles, their background, or their relationships with others) that can influence how they might be advised, ordered, or expected to handle different situations.

The HAWKS are strengthened by the diversity of their Specialists. These agents are the defining aspect of their entire sector within WINGS, the ideal realization of their planned future for all the Gifted as (freedomless, choiceless) civil servants for all mankind. Forced heroes to the common people and conscripted soldiers against the dangers humanity cannot face alone.

A cynical summation of their "role" could be: "Become the perfect tool for your superiors. Be versatile, be vigilant, and be ready to serve at a moment's notice without question." Essentially, act like a servile soldier and do as you're told.

A more generous summation might be: "Serve and protect the common people. Fight the battles they cannot in ways only you can. Heed your orders. It is only beneath the command of WINGS that you will realize the purpose of your Gift." Essentially, achieve all that you are ordered to achieve for the betterment of humanity (and, supposedly, yourself).

Mockingbird's development over the narrative can influence what they might be perceived as 'specializing' in; presumed unique responsibilities aside from their basic role as a sort of "everyman" agent. At the start, their role (when given a tailored description to them alone) is to utilize the gifts of their fellow Specialists as a means to best assist with whatever ordered objective they've been given for a particular mission.

The HAWKS are known for their more brute-force tactics in countering rogue, unstable, or dangerous Gifted. That does not mean all of their tactics are so combative or confrontational, and physical / actionable 'manpower' is not all Mockingbird will be reduced to. There is room for them to operate in other ways, by other means. Not every situation they encounter is a nail requiring a hammer.

I hope this answer was satisfactory enough. (；´∀｀) It's hard to give a straightforward description for a non-straightforward role, aha!

#factions #mc

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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What is the mission of the CARDINALS?

Ask the central figures within the CARDINALS that question, and you’ll get some varying answers, haha! （；^ω^）

The most cohesive, unified mission statement of the CARDINALS would be this: “To create a better world for the Gifted.” (　´∀｀)b

Issues begin to arise whenever one starts to dig into how the CARDINALS should achieve this and what constitutes as a “better world” for their people. Also their reasons as to why this is so crucial a mission, if it’s even crucial to them at all, and the lengths they’ll go to see it realized.

From an outside perspective, the CARDINALS are seen by some as an unfocused organization. Their means and actions, and even their messaging to some extent, are too varied for the general public to discern their true end game and motivations.

Still, boil all the actions and words of the CARDINALS down to their purest form, and you’ll find genuine intentions to create change for the betterment of the Gifted and their unfortunate circumstances, even if those intentions are warped by their execution.

So, yes, up to this point, the CARDINALS have largely been focused on creating a “better” world for the Gifted. Their methods for accomplishing that objective have been scattered and varied, which helps in making in harder for others to predict their movements, intentions, and plans.

If you meant to inquire into more specific “missions” (i.e. what it is they do) . . .

Different CARDINALS have different priorities, so some are more effective and compliant with certain mission types than others. Uriel’s leadership extends itself to selecting specific members of the organization for assignments best suited to them. He gives them orders, they execute those orders, and they return to him to be assigned wherever or however they’re needed next.

Well, that’s the framework for their usual ‘routine’. His Inner Circle operates as a partial “round table” that allows for more autonomy and say beyond Uriel’s orders, but his word is upheld as final and ultimate whenever disputes arise over the self-directed conduct of different members.

Some examples of what Uriel might assign his Inner Circle to do include . . .

If an escort mission is required to safely transport and harbor a scouted recruit (and any of their loved ones) to sanctuary, then he’d best send those like Retriever, Kalyna, or Curadora. Altruists and defenders equipped either with combat experience or the means to cover-up messy loose ends for the recruit’s sudden escape into their ranks.

If the organization requires more funds as quickly as possible, in large sums, (utilized to either support the livelihoods of certain recruits who cannot blend in / operate as civilians or to supply their group for other schemes) he’ll be more inclined to send the likes of Bacara, Hopscotch, Scales, or even Boar (if she is accompanied by Lempo) due to their more flexible morals and skills in either stealth, manipulation (of physical barriers or people), or criminal activity.

If violent anti-Gifted groups (ranging from CROWS and RAVENS to local human militias) are plotting or mobilizing against a Gifted known to the CARDINALS, then his options are more varied. Boar, Bones, and Dearil have no qualms with brutal resistance towards these would-be killers of fellow Gifted and veer towards a more lethal solution to the problem (each with their own unique styles and resulting aftermath). Retriever and Kalyna would prioritize a more “rescue and retreat” approach, avoiding as much unnecessary spilled blood as possible.

If Uriel needs intelligence on the movements of the HAWKS (where they’re patrolling, where they might strike, how to best defend his companions or other vulnerable Gifted against their latest recruits) he’d send Curadora, Bacara, Hopscotch, or Scales due to either their more diplomatic tendencies, ability to be unrecognizable / undetected / make a swift exit, or their more relaxed temperaments when so close to the threat of capture and potentially hostile enemies. He might even use them to surveil investigations led by the DOVES so he can best derail or sabotage their efforts in identifying Gifted for capture.

So on and so forth. There are also ‘pet projects’ that are spearheaded or personally tended to by the Inner Circle related to their vision of what it means to aid the Gifted.

Because of the different temperaments, bonds, and ambitions within their group, Uriel values his Inner Circle for their diverse utility in his fight for the agency and power of the Gifted. Some can provide defense against WINGS, or even offensively oppose these hunters of his people. Others can lay the framework for sheltering and providing for Gifted refugees, ensuring their people are not left to squander in shadows out of fear towards detection or capture. Certain individuals can use their goodwill with the public to clean up the image of the Gifted as a dangerous, rogue, and volatile race who are only safe (to themselves and others) when beneath the thumb of WINGS or death. Others can supply the chaos he needs to disrupt the current status quo of the world, to draw eyes onto him and his message until no one can ignore or suppress the presence of his people and their voices any longer.

Uriel is spread thin. He will do anything and everything for the Gifted and their right to live in this world as beings acknowledged, respected, and protected. Perhaps the problem now is the fact that he is trying to do everything for their cause all at once.

For most of their existence, the CARDINALS have been keeping their heads above water. Against their own desires, the resources and perseverance of WINGS has hindered their efforts into being largely evasive, defensive, or reactive. There is a rising desperation for some, a growing frustration in others.

In his eyes, it is time for the CARDINALS to evolve. The core of their mission will remain the same, and he would sooner burn all he has built to the ground than see that change.

Their philosophy, their limits, and their presence on the world stage . . . those are the elements that require a new direction. Fyodor, in his mind, has the potential to jump start this new era of the CARDINALS. An era that’s bolder, brighter, and more zealous than ever before. Only then will their mission gain the momentum it needs to succeed and last for generations to come.

In conclusion, the overall, all-encompassing mission of the CARDINALS is “ to create a better world for the Gifted”. Their next steps and vision for this “better world” are, however, more often than not wrapped up ambiguity when scrutinized by outsiders.

As much as their rhetoric might deny this, the CARDINALS are human (to a notable extent). Imperfect and flawed, but ultimately a threat not to be taken lightly when considering the conviction and strength held by their otherwise small numbers. They may squabble and bicker, feud and disagree over many the finer details of their plots and allegiances, but each is willing to put their life on the line for what’s to come— for that world on the far horizon where their people are free from the criminalization (dehumanization) of their mere existence.

(ᵕ—ᴗ—) Apologies for the disorganized rambling!

#factions

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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when I read lempo I thought it was liempo 😭 liempo is like a pork filo dish so I was like yummy I can eat her up LMSOOOJKKKK

Ahaha, that’s hilarious! ( ´ 艸｀) Lempo is pretty delicious in a literal sense with her ambrosia, so that impression isn’t too far out there, haha!

She’s also more than willing for Mockingbird to taste her (whether it be through her blood, ambrosia, or other means), so your mindset would be greatly welcomed by her, aha!

Also, if it’s easier to use when thinking about or referring to her, Lempo’s real name is Falda Lundquist. (　´∀｀)b

The moniker Lempo is a name she adopted from Finnish mythology. She doesn’t have much interest in historical / religious / cultural studies herself (at least, not in the traditional academic sense), so her discovery and interest in Lempo originated from one of her fathers who introduced her to the historical origins of the name.

Her attachment to the name is largely rooted in the perception towards Lempo rather than Lempo themself. I have seen conflicting information over what Lempo was the god of, and their nature as more of a fiend or creature, but the main point for Falda herself is their association with love (and, as some extend them to, passion).

Love is something often revered or desired in some sense or another (in forms either platonic, familial, or romantic). Our first thoughts towards love might often veer to ideals and satisfactions: love as one’s comfort, home, support, happiness, or pleasure. But Lempo, despite their association with and offering of love, was not so pure or altruistic in their nature, showing themself to be capable of malicious or callous actions. And yet, before the introduction of Christianity, Lempo had also been tied to acts of good or grace which created a much more morally dubious (or, in simply put, grey) light. Imperfect, flawed, yet still rooted in that core aspect of love and its manifestation between others. Lempo was not innocent and pure, but neither were they wholly vile and wicked as they instead roamed somewhere in-between.

After the arrival of Christianity, Lempo was heavily demonized to the point of being compared to the Christian devil: a fallen being defined by his sinfulness, pride, and selfishness. Lempo’s love became synonymous with a love that is erratic and perilous, twisted and corrupted into something maddening and foul.

This all ties into Falda’s own gift, her ambrosia, and how others perceive it . . . as well as her own complicated relationship with it.

Rather than love, Falda’s ‘divine offering’ to the world is (against, simply put) happiness, which is similarly idealized, desired, and revered by most. Her ambrosia has an effect that often eases its recipient, injecting them with a high of pure joy and pleasant physical sensations. Much like love, it can stir intense passion, sentiment, and satisfaction. And like Lempo’s use of their divine nature, Falda did not always offer her ambrosia with intentions pure or benevolent.

Falda has utilized her ambrosia out of kindness and trickery, selfishness and selflessness. She has used it to soothe the ache and despair of those around her as a healer would. She has used it to incapacitate and subdue those who have opposed her, and those who have threatened her. She has used it to lure and entrap others for her own gain, just as she has equally used it to delight and please those accepting of her care. Like Lempo, she is not wholly benevolent or malicious. She, as a person and a Gifted, is imperfect, flawed, and grey in her nature

The ambrosia, like Lempo’s post-Christian depiction of love, became a source of madness in her followers. Its pleasures became addictive for some, desensitizing for others. The end of her cult was a rather dark affair that I won’t fully detail here and now. Following the cult’s end, however, Falda came to be seen as someone who twisted something that could have once been innocent or benevolent (happiness, rather than love) into something crazed, harmful, and lethal. Her image became monstrous to the greater world, and (like Lempo) she became an icon for all that is immoral, dangerous, and deluded about the Gifted.

Falda is somewhat conflicted on where to place the fault of her cult’s demise: on her ambrosia, herself (her nature or her actions), her followers (their humanity as something lesser or frail), or ill-fortune. She has become more contemplative over whether there truly is an innate wickedness in herself or her gift, or if these thoughts are simply the hurtful and projected judgements of others that should be dismissed with careless disregard. These thoughts are little more than a seed at the start of the narrative, but it’s a matter she’ll be mulling over as events develop.

I hope that explanation for her moniker at least makes the smallest amount of sense to someone out there! ദ്ദി(˶‾᷄ᗜ‾᷅˵ ᵕ) It’s a lot easier to understand and unravel when it’s a stream of quickly overlapping thought in my head rather than words typed on a screen.

Apologies if anything I’ve stated about Lempo (from Finnish mythology, not the character) has been horribly incorrect or ignorantly offensive in any way! I’m Catholic, and don’t have any in-person Finnish associates other than a distant cousin’s boyfriend, so my knowledge might be horribly off-base or poorly presented above. I truly hope that isn’t the case, but please let me know if that’s so and I’ll try to make amends!

For my own fun(?), I’ve briefly listed the reasoning for the monikers of the rest of the CARDINALS below. I considered adding this for the codenames of the HAWKS too, but that’s rather easy to sum up since their codenames are just the spirit animals I assigned to them a long time ago. Mockingbird is the sole exception to that trend as their codenames only calls out to their nature as an imitator, though the symbolic association with ‘individuality’ is somewhat relevant to their gift as well.

Anywho, here’s the background for the CARDINALS’s names:

Uriel: Self-named after the archangel Uriel from Christianity (though the recognition of Uriel varies across denominations). He likes the image of one who fights with and guides others to the truth, wielding a fiery conviction and a heart without pity. In childhood, he had been close to a woman devoted to the Anglican Church. He no longer adheres to the faith, but still wishes to transfer the sense of reverence and power the name Uriel once held in his eyes onto himself.

Curadora: She is a ‘curator’ of memories, and that is a far more honorable title than a ‘manipulator’ of them. A curator is one who controls but also maintains, almost like a guardian or caretaker of their collection. It is also similar to the title of a ‘curandera’, a traditional healer, which is a connotation that appeals to her.

Dearil: The name given to him by the leader of the cult he was raised in, one only granted after the manifestation of his gift. Its connotations with death make it somewhat self-explanatory, though ‘call of the dead’ is rather fitting for how his gift has managed to evolve itself (in a way the man who gave him this name did not foresee).

Kalyna: Chosen for sentiment and symbolism, the kalyna is deeply intertwined with her roots. Its connotations with innocence, love, companionship, and freedom from oppression embodies all she wishes to defend. It is also tied to nature much like her own gift.

“Golden” Retriever: His reputation in his days as a hero reflected the associated qualities and personality of the dog breed by the same name. His appearance was also heavily associated with gold.

Lempo: Explained (poorly) above, but to reiterate, an entity associated with love whose aspects and offerings, while widely(?) revered and desired, could spiral into the erratic and dangerous—much like her ambrosia. A being condemned and demonized by the morals and perception of others much like herself as a Gifted and who she is as a person.

Bacara: A demonic creature associated with deals and crossroads. The name was “gifted” to him (in reality, given with the intent to shame and harm) by a loved one. It alludes to his self-interested, (arguably) malicious nature before the CARDINALS when he offered largely material or immoral gains for a cost tailored to tease and scar or simply satisfy his own whims and desires.

Boar: A wild animal associated with ferocity and strength that poses a worthy challenge to whoever dares to hunt it. Boar likens herself to this image as someone wild and untamable, ferocious and strong, who will not die easily or quietly even as all the world hunts her down for no reason other than her born nature.

Bones: A simple title with no flash or flare. Bones are associated with death and decay, enduring remnants of something lost to death long ago (like Elov himself).

Hopscotch: The name of a game that’s considered childish and simple, much like how Hopscotch himself wishes to be perceived. His teleportation is best used across small distances, and these small “hops” from one space to the next resemble those within the game he’s named after. It’s approachable, friendly, and shows he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Scales: As in scales that balance, one tipping down causing the other to rise, much like the equal exchange required for whatever alteration is made by their gift. It’s also reminiscent of the ‘scales of justice’ or the symbol for equality. Justice and equality are what Scales hopes to champion for the Gifted.

#c: lempo

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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Rate how angsty all of the ROS routes from 1-10

( ;´д｀) Oh goodness, I’m not the best at determining numerical values based on subjective criteria. The extremity of angst can be rather subjective, right?

Uh, I’ll give a number (or, rather, a range of numbers) for each route, but take them with a pinch—probably even a handful—of salt!

There’s also a lot that could amplify the elements of angst for different routes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This is a very general scale, one that makes some assumptions to reach an 'average' angst rating.

I’ll also try my best to distinguish general drama (which, honestly, can reach soap opera levels for some of these ROs) from actual angst. And I’ll try to focus on angst that is exclusive(?) / emphasized in a romantic relationship with them vs. a platonic one.

Akil: 7-8? (Earlier Stages), 4-5 (Later Stages)

Starts relatively high, petters out quite a bit after a major plot point (and progressive recovery from his grief). He’s still a little existential about everything (romance-related and otherwise) through to the end, haha!

Kamiko: 5-6

Kamiko’s prejudice, fears, and bad habits are more painful to her (and thus emphasized) in a romance. Her struggle to communicate emotions that might make her seem pitiable, weak, or wrong for how she feels can cause more angst as well.

Sigmund: 6-7?

General angst that all the HAWKS routes have (that being the illicit nature of romances) which he is especially fraught about (in his own way). The man can sometimes seem addicted to some self-imposed angst, haha! Also, ex-fiancée shenanigans.

Imka: 2-4

Relatively low, more so internalized within herself. The angst in her romance is more sad and anxious than dreadful and painful. It sharply spikes whenever her parents are around, especially when her mother involves herself.

Elouan: 6-7?

Elouan has a lot of fears, scars, and doubt when it comes to a heartfelt romance, especially when it involves someone he cares for in a way he hasn’t cared for anyone before. The shadow of his former fiancé looms over him still as well, and any broaching towards that relationship and its impact on him plunges the romance into a dark pit.

Jae: 3-5?

Even when angst has occasion to arise, Jae doesn’t like to confront it directly. She’ll dance around it for as long as she can until it explodes into something much more harmful than it would’ve been or hurts too much to bear any longer. There’s a lot of fear when it comes to commitment and dependence that wrings out some angst when explored.

Niccolò: 2-3 (Earlier Stages), 7-8 (Middle Stages), 2-3 (Later Stages)

Starts low, inches upwards with some existential quandaries. It soars immensely after an event that involves Fyodor, and it will take a long period of time before the angst in the romance will fully settle down after that. Still, Niccolò is Niccolò, so he’ll try to be positive through it all once he has some of his bearings again.

Mutya: 2-4?

Pretty low to standard levels of angst. Mutya likes to be self-sufficient, meaning she’s more in favor of working out things internally or independently, so an angst-prone situation will be less intensified by her desire to internalize the issue or work it through on her own first. Tension is much more likely than angst, but the two can blend together.

Fyodor: 3-5 (Earlier Stages), 7-9 (Later Stages)???

Eh, it’s muddled for me. The romance starts off as ‘conscripted’ enemies, but Fyodor doesn’t consistently treat Mockingbird like the enemy they are when he can avoid it. It’s the later stages where I’d say the angst really kicks in as, by then, Fyodor will be much more truthful and direct about his past and how it has scarred his perception of love. I use truthful in the sense that he will disclose things in a way where he’s no longer reiterating the comforting lies he tells himself about all that occurred before his time in the CARDINALS. He’s been broken down, and he’s desperate to be ‘fixed’. This mentality bleeds into the romance in a way that manifests as angst.

Dearil: 8-10

Dearil does not love anything or anyone in the traditional sense of the word. He is obsessive, dangerous, spiteful, and cruel. He cannot let things go, including the memory of and grief over his first love who he will always and inevitably compare Mockingbird to with or without intention. He considers himself ruined beyond repair and, by extension, sees his love as something that will inevitably ruin all those around him.

Curadora: 8 (Early Stages), 10 (Middle Stages), ??? (Late Stages)

The undisclosed major plot point can be cause for a lot of angst, though that might be dependent on the MC (especially if they have a main romance with someone else). The late stages, I think, can be pretty subjective on angst levels person by person. I’d guess they’d be pretty low at that point, with vibes more melancholic than angsty.

Retriever: 5-7?

It depends on whether Mockingbird expressed a desire for marriage and children in their future (even if not specifically with him, but rather just in general). A more ‘casual’ romance with Retriever (not exactly ‘end-game’ in his head) is far less angst-filled since he’s more invested in a good time with good company. A more ‘serious’ romance with Retriever (again, in his mind) is a lot more conflicted with his hesitation over loyalties, right vs. wrong, and the resurgence of an old flame.

Lempo: 2 (General), sparser bouts of a 6(?)

Lempo desires mutual pleasure and happiness with Mockingbird. Generally angst-prone topics in her romance will likely go in one ear and out the other, dismissed or laughed down as she ignores the reality around her. Much of her angst is likely to be coupled with whoever Mockingbird’s RO might be. And her life plans towards the end of everything, maybe, depending on the MC.

Bones: 10

I am far more comfortable rating Elov’s romance as high up there compared to the others, haha! He is quite literally (painfully) contemplating the possibility of killing Mockingbird one day for the sake of his ideals, and any romance with that sort of confused animosity is doomed to a heavy dose of angst.

Mishka: 8-10

Mishka is only available to Fyodor romancers, so they’re defaulted into a toned-down ‘love triangle’ (?) from the start. Maybe a “love line” might be fitting for those who are purely loyal to Fyodor, making Mishka’s affections unreturned (even if only on the surface) so it’s like Mishka -> MC <—> Fyodor, haha! (Again, it’s optional for Mishka to be attracted to the MC, though it’s a choice only available to those romancing Fyodor.)

They’re also a doomed romance, but that truth might be more brushed under the rug or skirted around when Mishka has a romantic investment in Mockingbird (for reasons both selfish and hopeful).

#ro #minor ro #c: akil #c: kamiko #c: sigmund #c: imka #c: elouan #c: jae #c: niccolo #c: mutya #c: dearil #c: curadora #c: retriever #c: lempo #c: bones #c: mishka

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

Text

(；´∀｀) Please don’t mind the clutter of this post! This is a continuation of the ‘I want a baby’ meme ask, this time for the minor romances, below the cut!

Apologies for having to split this up!

Dearil

Curadora

Retriever

Lempo

Bones

Mishka

#minor ro #c: dearil #c: curadora #c: retriever #c: lempo #c: bones #c: mishka

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

Note

ROs reaction to that "I want a baby" meme?🤭

Oh, I love this meme! (ㅅ´ ˘ `)♡

I wanted to add the minor romances too, but that exceeds the maximum screenshots per post (10). ╮(╯∀╰)╭ For the sake of scrollers, I’ll place the screenshots for the main romances below the cut:

Akil

Kamiko

Sigmund

Imka

Elouan

Jae

Niccolò

Mutya

Fyodor

If you remove the ‘let’s wait’ aspect of the first response, he’s a mixture of these:

Thank you so much for this ask! (　´∀｀)b

#ro #c: akil #c: kamiko #c: sigmund #c: imka #c: elouan #c: jae #c: niccolo #c: mutya #c: fyodor

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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It can be as messy as it wants as long as I get to keep my two hot sexy Russian babes😘/silly

I love the spirit, haha! (๑⃙⃘´༥`๑⃙⃘) Be messy, be happy! Others might not broach Mockingbird’s love life with a 50ft pole, but as long as you’re happy in the eye of the storm, then so be it! ദ്ദി(˶‾᷄ᗜ‾᷅˵ ᵕ)

Mishka, if their minor romance is activated, will love the MC no matter if their affection is returned. The poly, however, allows them to be a lot more actionable and verbal with their affection once they have been given Fyodor’s permission and Mockingbird’s acceptance. So, with or without the official poly, you’ll have them both wrapped around your finger if you romance them simultaneously! The poly just allows for a different flavor of angst between them, slipping at times into a more dysfunctional dynamic than before, and a different lens for the inevitable fate ahead of them.

Honestly, news of this poly might be most terrifying to Gabriel and Fyodor’s mother, ahaha! The latter might just lose consciousness at the thought of Mockingbird dating her son and the thing (as she cannot settle her mind what Mishka might be) possessing him. Gabriel will think Mockingbird has a couple of screws loose, and be unsettled by the whole affair.

Aha, though now I’m just laughing over Mishka being described as “hot” and “sexy”. That’d be a first for them! (´∀｀•)

They’ll tailor themself more to Mockingbird’s tastes once they start to develop some undeniable affection for them, but until then . . . those two adjectives have never quite been the impression they’ve strived to leave, ahaha!

#c: fyodor #c: mishka #ro #minor ro

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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Bones... hey baby girl... this is how I feel about you... *plays Emo Boy by Ayesha Erotica*

Ahaha, that was not at all what I was expecting! ｡：ﾟﾟ(´∀｀)･｡ You’ll give poor Bones enough of a rush to have a heart attack with a song like that! He’s easier to fluster than you might think, even as a sullen and hateful adult! (´∀｀•)

(●´艸｀)ヾ Definitely not the traditional serenade. The way it was presented in the message had me imagining Mockingbird pulling this stunt with that song:

Thank you so much for sharing this, you gave me such a good laugh!! (´∀`)

#c: bones

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insurrection-if · 1 year ago

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"Mockingbird’s lack of a CARDINAL status—and, thus, impossibility of a full romance with the minor ROs"

Right, I'm confused about those HAWKS and CARDINALS things. Isn't Fyodor a CARDINALS and make it work and be a full romance somehow? And doesn't Mockingbird have the choice to against HAWKS/ determine their allegiance to CARDINALS like the description said?

Oh, apologies for the confusion! （ﾉ´д｀）Yes, Fyodor is the exception for reasons that I'll break down below the cut. I'll also clarify the allegiance system as well. Again, I sincerely apologize for the lack of clarity!

Please let me know if more information is needed!

Allegiance

The MC will always, no matter what, become a HAWK. By the end of Chapter 0 they are captured and (forcefully) recruited, though the player can choose to be accepting / willing or resistant / unwilling towards their recruitment.

Allegiance measures ideology, and how that ideology might impact Mockingbird's loyalty. Mockingbird might be a HAWK, but that doesn't mean their heart or mind aligns with their cause. Using some of their fellow HAWKS as an example below . . .

Sigmund despises the HAWKS and CARDINALS equally, which might seem strange for a man who has willing given his services to both organizations. Even though he is a HAWK (and former CARDINAL) his allegiance is low / unfavorable for both groups, meaning he ultimately sides with neither.

Elouan is dispassionate towards the ideals, cause, and methods of both organizations. And yet . . . for reasons of his own, Elouan does hold a strange gratitude towards the HAWKS for stepping into his life when they did. His newfound purpose and modern desires are available to him within their hold, and so he'll do what he can to loyally serve this regime as a means to his own ends. Thus, his allegiance to the CARDINALS is more so neutral whereas it is moderate towards the HAWKS.

A Mockingbird with high CARDINALS allegiance cannot simply defect to their ranks. Much of their identity, weaknesses, and very livelihood have been compromised post-capture, and they would more likely than not be dead weight to the ambitions of the CARDINALS, if not an outright (unintentional) lure for the HAWKS to bait, trap, or track back to the CARDINALS.

Recruitment into the CARDINALS has (historically) been largely invitational. Secrecy is the key to their survival, a safeguard against the threat of spies and those unqualified for the underground “warfare” of their movement. Taking in anyone and anyone would leave them more vulnerable to raids and capture once lose tongues or disloyal hearts betray the location of their safe havens, their families, or their civilian identities. Thus, full-fledged members are often scouted or vouched for before joining. The CARDINALS may still assist or ally with Gifted not fully indoctrinated and assimilated into their rebel group, but an actual membership has been comparatively illusive. (A truth Imka’s father can attest to.)

Mockingbird was bypassed for recruitment due to the meddling of Uncle Fletcher. The man is a disillusioned former revolutionary himself who is determined to act in (what he believes to be) Mockingbird’s best interests. It may be grounds for confrontation once the truth comes to light, but it’s by his doing the CARDINALS did not reach out to Mockingbird for recruitment after their arrival in Los Angeles. Up until the point of the rally, they have been notoriously selective for their ranks. Uncle Fletcher had, until then, ensured that their recruiters would not step anywhere near Mockingbird.

The rally Mockingbird attends (and is captured during) is rather outside the norm for the CARDINALS in terms of (arguably audacious) visibility and publicity. Many will consider it odd, if not outright unbelievable, to see this form of boldness in their tactics. It is a vulnerability they have yet to entirely risk. Uriel is practically demanding the attention of the Gifted world—and, to an extent, the Human world—with a stunt like that. How exactly he plans to capitalize upon the eyes he is drawing towards the CARDINALS is the current concern of the HAWKS.

A Mockingbird with high allegiance to the CARDINALS can assist their cause in other ways. The most traitorous method would be to become their mole. Actions during missions can also be done to assist their objectives (though how frequent these opportunities may be is up in the air).

Otherwise, allegiance is another form of roleplay. A means to track where Mockingbird stands ideologically in opposition or alignment with those around them. Debating politics about the Gifted can be a hot topic for some, and useless dribble for others.

The prime time for Mockingbird to enlist with the CARDINALS would have been shortly after the rally. Depending on their career, Mockingbird would have gained a direct personal introduction to a member of the Inner Circle who might have been (eventually) swayed enough to vouch for their recruitment to the rest. With Uncle Fletcher not there to directly cut off contact / interfere, it would’ve been feasible for them to clear the air and reveal the true depth of their loyalty to the cause. Alas, they are destined to be captured before they can truly grasp at this chance.

The Fyodor Exception

Fyodor is . . . Fyodor. Need I say more? (๑′ᴗ‵๑)

Aha, jokes aside, Fyodor is unique in a lot of ways! Here’s the key points:

Fyodor's gift allows for more flexibility. With his gift, Fyodor can ignore the usual barriers and contrivances of the reality around him and its fixed nature. If he truly wishes to romantically pursue Mockingbird, there is little the rules of the world can do to prevent him from trying. Thus, he's able to manipulate the circumstances around them both to be more favorable towards their reunions, giving the prospective couple more time to establish and deepen a romantic bond beyond the eyes of the CARDINALS and HAWKS.

Unbeknownst to the world beyond their ranks, the CARDINALS are full of politics: fractures and factions with a brewing tension, aiming or hoping to wrest full control of their movement. This leads into the next bullet point that, which is that . . .

Fyodor does not yet fully identify as a CARDINAL. Their first encounter was violent. Frightened, aggressive, and (somewhat literally) explosive. He has not yet bought into their ideology, much less befriended most of their members. (This is best exemplified in his bubbling feud—more so a one-sided rivalry—with Uriel.) How does this set him apart from other minor romances? Well:

Curadora is loyal to her cause above all. As much as she might come to love Mockingbird, the plight of her people will always first dictate her heart. They are, ultimately, a HAWK. Where she must go, they cannot always follow. What she must do . . . cannot always be forgiven.

Bones is a radical amongst radicals, an extremist for the cause. His ideology would sooner see Mockingbird dead than forgiven for their (unwilling or not) service to the HAWKS, much less loved. Even if Mockingbird’s heart is aligned with the CARDINALS, it’s hard for him to look past the reality of who holds their leash. To place his trust within, and to extend what little empathy he has towards, someone beneath the banner of those who brutalized him as a boy and stole every shred of hope he had for this world is something he struggles to bear.

Retriever is fighting for something greater than himself. He might not always agree with the ideals and methods of the CARDINALS, but he has few other places to go when they are the sole organization with the resources and strength to assist with his dream. And even when his belief in the CARDINALS and their cause eventually withers, his loyalty will have found a new home amongst the individuals who serve the rebel group by then. He does not have the heart to abandon these people; to throw aside all their work and aspirations so he can run away with Mockingbird to where no CARDINALS or HAWKS may follow.

Fyodor, on the other hand, is closer to a free agent hoping to find a home and healing amongst the CARDINALS now that his old life has burned to the ground. Neither ideology nor loyalty can distract him from pursuing a full romance.

Fyodor is also a far more prominent and central character compared to other romanceable CARDINALS. He is, simply put, more relevant and (thus) more present for a full romance. Curadora would have been a full romance as well due to her equal relevancy and prominence, but these qualities are compromised by a fixed event in her development. Others such as Retriever, Lempo, Bones, and (earlier game) Dearil are simply not center-stage enough to have sufficient time for a full romance.

Plus, I just though it’s be nice to have at least one full romance with an ‘antagonist’. I initially planned for two (one man and one woman), but (again) I suspected that a plot point for Curadora would have readers upset about the romance.

But Fyodor was still a manageable option with a lot of flexibility for a full romance, so I figured I would keep the option for his romance open and then made the compromise for Curadora to be a “minor romance”. Once I gave her that “sub-route”, I decided to add this mechanic for a select number of CARDINALS as well so readers could have at least some romantic content with them.

This is all on top of the fact that, even in the original (non-interactive) version of Insurrection, Fyodor was a romantic lead allied with the antagonists. So his romance being “across enemy lines” is nothing all that new to development. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

For my own personal fun tidbit to messily tag on here . . . if (in an alternate universe) Mockingbird were to have become a CARDINAL I imagine the full romances would have been:

Uriel

Curadora(?) - More likely as a full romance, though I’d still be iffy on it.

Kalyna

Retriever

Lempo

Bones

Fyodor

Scales and Hopscotch have their own little romance saga in the background of everything. Bones is the "unfortunate" (unwilling) spectator / soundboard for much of it.

Bacara is not emotionally available. Seriously, his love life is messed up enough as it is, haha!

Boar is Boar, and she's not one for much romance in the first place. Maybe something could have sprouted with her if she'd met Mockingbird before Lempo came into her life but, alas, I struggle to imagine her having eyes for anyone other than Lempo.

And Dearil would still be a lesser route. He's just . . . a lot. I think he works far better in small doses, so it'd be hard for me to drag him out more than I would prefer just to force more "romance" content out of him.

#c: fyodor #minor ro

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