#and thus nothing of value was ever learned...

[askoverkill]

transcript below:

(As the Director distracts themselves with the voices, you figure now is a good time to leave.)

(Just as you had previously, you run aimlessly through the darkness.) (In the distance, you can hear your party from afar.)

(Once you arrive, the same concerns are given.) (Time truly is repeating itself as it should. Good.)

What matters is everyone’s okay.

But it's not okay, we're out of ammo for the KAG! It won't work without any!

AH! The lights are back?!

Housemaiden, (SKIP ICON) fear not! I play my games fairly.

(Okay. Don't step on the glowing tile like an idiot this time.) (...Shame you forgot to ask what the solution back when your party knew it.)

SIFFRENT!

I guess they were feeling pretty DOWN!

Wait, hold on-

[arkaniist]

not to be overly dramatic about this and please forgive the forthcoming yap but i have to talk about this panel + a slightly weird trend i've seen in the fandom for a long time (but especially after the last chapter with a possible mention of sebastian's past).

it has long, long been established that sebstian did not exist before ciel summoned him. i am not saying this in a vague 'because love changed him' kind of way (even tho it did also do that but more on that later). i mean literally. ontologically. the being we know as sebastian, the protagonist of kuroshitsuji, came into existence near the beginning of the series of events being related to us by the manga, for and because of ciel, and everything - everything - we know about him since the moment of his manifestation in the human world has been a created facade for ciel's sole benefit.

i don't just mean the obvious things like his name or his job or his gender. i'm also talking about the way he looks, the way he talks, how he dresses, how he acts, how he treats people, the way he kills and what methods he uses, his 'aesthetic' and how he chooses to maintain it, his wants and goals, his tastes, his whole personality; all of it is completely unique to the character we are reading about now. he created all of it in a single moment and we watched.

sometimes i get the impression that people think of sebastian as always having existed, hanging out sebastian-ly in the dark ether, talking like he currently does, acting like he currently does, sometimes even looking like he currently does, caring about all the same things he currently cares about, with all the little personality quirks we like perfectly intact, just waiting to pop up in the human world like a jack-in-the-box.

that was not the case.

whatever it truly was - how it acted and spoke and what it desired and what it looked like and so on - are so far removed from our sebastian as to be unrecognizable as the same character. that former character stopped existing before we readers ever even so much as laid eyes on it - from the moment he manifested in front of ciel he had already completely changed his entire existence to suit what ciel perceived as a demon. he was quite literally born that day: fully formed, the galatea to ciel's pygmalion.

(now who's a cradle robber?)

sometimes sebastian talks about his former existence in such a way that tricks the reader into believing there had been true continuity - we know he has always liked cats! we know he has worked with witches before! he's been to schönbrunn palace and learned to waltz! but those miniscule details actually reveal nothing about the nature of the creature to which sebastian assigns those prior experiences - we can't help but retroactively apply an image of our sebastian in those situations even though we know, logically, that the being who did those things has passed on at least some of its memories* to its current incarnation, and nothing else.

(* this also requires the reader to take a demon at face value and believe his word when he says things like that. did he really live in the hapsburg court, or did he come into existence with the experience of a person who had lived in the hapsburg court because that suits his current aesthetic, or did he become that person the moment it was necessary for ciel? did he ever really work with witches (did witches even really exist?), or does ciel assume that demons must have worked with witches and thus sebastian certainly must confirm - of course i have. let me tell you all about this extremely stereotypical depiction that does not in any way challenge your view or expectations of me or other people that summon demons. anyways. my point is that he could be lying about literally everything he says about himself and we would not be able to tell because we don't really know him and there's no way to corroborate his anecdotes because he is the potentially unreliable narrator of his own story.)

what we do know for a fact is that sebastian's cinematic record starts from the moment he was born just like everyone else's - and for our sebastian, that was the moment our ciel first laid eyes on him, giving him form and function.

doesn't it just... drive you insane? it makes me dizzy. sebastian didn't just randomly choose ciel, or pick a master based on some pre-existing list of desires and show up, take-what-you-get. it was never a coincidence that they well suit each other, work perfectly together, understand each other like no other could. the brief period of time where sebastian had to learn to temper his strength and abilities was not a mistake or a remnant of his former self, it was his afterbirth. it was an extension of his coming into being, perfecting what raw materials ciel had created him from.

sebastian only exists at all because ciel wanted him to - exactly the way he is. every perfect strand of hair, every sweetly curled vowel, every whim and action we have ever seen has existed only for ciel. he was literally made for him in every sense of the word. he was born into the world wholy, entirely desired, down to the last eyelash and snarky joke.

and when ciel is gone, however it happens, there will be no reason for sebastian to keep existing. they exit the story together.

[ven0moir]

Duffers REALLY have me over here making mental gymnastics bc idk wtf this dude's level of awareness is considering that he is TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE when it comes to El and Will like ...

We have this dude.

El's Boyfriend.

Let's be so for real. He has no idea what the heck he's doing because he just genuinely cannot be himself in his attempt to fulfill the role of the dutiful boyfriend, and thus his heart isn't in it.

And instead of encouraging her/reminding her of who she is and that she's valued for it, and reconnecting again, like he very obviously intended, he ends up dehumanizing her.

Like Henry once did.

"You are better than they are. Superior."

"You're the most incredible person in the world. You can't let these mouthbreathers ruin you. Ruin us."

El doesn't want to be superior. El doesn't want to be on a pedestal and isolated from the rest of the world. She wants to feel human, be loved and to belong. Be part of the team. She feels like she's nothing without her superpowers at this point in her arc, and Mike is reinforcing this idea because he just doesn't get it.

This is the consequence of the two of them spending time only making out and not talking in S3 and genuinely getting to know each other.

And I honestly LOVE how the Duffers wrote them in S4 because of that. It feels LOGICAL that a relationship between these two kids was doomed from the start.

And then on the other hand we have ...

The Real Mike.

When he's able to be himself, he's self-aware, he apologizes for being mean, and reconnects with his friend by making him feel appreciated. Irreplaceable.

THIS IS WHAT ELEVEN WANTED/NEEDED FROM HIM. But he wasn't able to give this level of authenticity to her because he isn't naturally inclined to or aligned with her enough to put it into words like this.

His heart is here.

If home is where the heart is, and his home wasn't the same without Will, and without heart we all fall apart... You get where I'm going with this.

He doesn't feel like he can be himself with her the way he feels that he can be himself with Will, whom he knows since they were in kindergarten and have had many fond memories with.

"It was the best thing I've ever done."

I just get such a rush of utter joy thinking about what Mike's reaction is going to be when he learns, without a shadow of a doubt, that Will has romantic feelings for him.

[lightningant]

I am 100% team Tomarry and don't really like Tomione, but if somehow Harry is not in the picture and you have to ship Tom with a Golden Trio member, it's gotta be the brightest witch of her age.

Harry's got the narrative mirror, Parseltongue, magic power and of course his cute look going for him when it comes to Tom.

Hermione cleans up rather well (why do you think jock extraordinaire Victor Krum wanted to date her) and is very intelligent and has 10 OWLs

Ron is very unremarkable. He is a an every man. Nothing special to look at, not very bright, no great power. Just a good guy.

A guy we see at pubs complaining about his bitchy boss, receding hair lines, problems with the missus.

Hard to imagine a guy like that with a very powerful, very pretty homme fatale like Tom.

Who are you people. Have you not ever been in a relationship

Hermione isn't "smart" - she has an absolutely prodigious memory. "Brightest witch of her age" means this is a precocious skill. This also has absolutely nothing to do with Tom's values. Tom is a creative maelstrom; pretty much all we hear about Voldemort magic-wise is how he keeps inventing crazy spells. The person who's closest to him, Snape, shares this trait (hence my fervent belief they had some doomed daddy issues mentorship situation). What do we know about Hermione? That she HAAAAATES magical creativity. That she's terrible at applying her knowledge - the evil coin she made is an expression of an advance in her understanding of the subject (she's learning and evolving!), but also a straightforward use. She brings her school textbooks with her to self-soothe.

Personality-wise, you could not find a worse pair. Hermione has a strong justice drive (not moral fibre, I mean that insane substrate of stubbornness where you embody a holy war on your beliefs even if you're objectively and obviously wrong) and detests creativity, so Tom's villainy is irrelevant; she's going to be annoyed and horrified by his genius and have strong opinions on it. She is going to complain constantly. She is going to backseat drive his innovations.

Do you think Tom would enjoy a posh muggleborn who obviously comes from money going "UM, ACTUALLY" over his shoulder? Do you think he will enjoy her starting squabbles to vent her own frustrations? Do you think he would appreciate her aimless moral crisis of "oh, look at how everyone treats that elf - shouldn't we do something?" Where she doesn't even bother to listen to the elves on their abuse. If she heard about Tom's background, she is likely to find him pitiful! Do you think he'd appreciate a little rich girl who goes home to her muggles expressing simpering pity? Who buys into his self-mythology and thus believes his mask? Who has to personally bear the burden of him accruing social capital by expressing his desire to hatecrime her. Who's true feelings would probably be to cut her off from her muggle family entirely.

Why do people date to you? To stand next to each other attractively? This isn't even a dangerous toxic couple because Hermione's only power in this relationship is being a nag. I want to attend a women's march just thinking about it.

I would say "go Snamione like a normal person at least their incompatibility is grounds for an opposites attract relationship" but you people think he is ugly and try to squeeze thrill like blood from a rock with teacher/student regardless, which makes them less compelling and again puts Hermione in a position of a demeaned and devalued woman...what must be done to save this woman?

Speaking of opposites attract, is it not obvious a homme fatale like Tom might worry at normality like a loose tooth?

First, Ron's not a balding pubcrawler. He is a househusband. His primarily occupation at all times is being somebody's favourite. He spent so long with Lavender despite being in love with Hermione for a reason. He gets mad at Harry for "putting his name in the Goblet" because this is a conspiracy he could have roped Ron in on, and to not rope him in on it implies he is devalued in comparison to fame and popularity, which separated him from his brothers.

Speaking of brothers, Ron has spent his entire life with the brightest wizards of not just their age but their era; the only wizards we hear as prodigious as Bill, successful as Charlie, as academic as Percy, or as creative as Fred&George are famous, James & Sirius, or Tom Riddle. Tom's genius and good looks are very familiar territory to Ron, and this time he's not even a competitor for his mum's love. Being an accomplished homme fatale is going to hit different on someone like Ron, who is only impressed by quidditch. (This is why Ronarry is real btw)

And as a couple: Ron is also a big picture thinker and strategist. One of his unusual skills is in wizard chess, but he applies that way of thinking to relationships. He's the Heart. Ron tends to scale down the obsessive tendencies of both Harry and Hermione, and even acts as a pillow for Hermione to punch with her petty complaints as it helps her decompress her obsessive focus - Harry finds Hermione exhausting without Ron there.

What would Tom see in a man who doesn't see his godhood as natural yet intuitively understands how impressive he is? Who knows what it means to budget and go without? Who has a big family which, in an AU circumstance, could absorb Tom, appreciate him, find him like-minded? (The screaming row when Tom first starts stealing his whole family would be legendary. Regardless.) Who could pull Tom away from his tendency to obsess over things, who could look at Tom's narrow-minded plotting with a broader viewpoint, and most importantly, who could see every layer of who he truly is and find it worthwhile - something Tom spent his entire lifetime chasing - and ask only that Tom treasured him above all else? Who is simple, loyal, and easily pleased enough that he is someone who can be trusted, accommodated, and included on misadventures without any friction whatsoever? Who gives him a little kissy after a bad day and gets mad and doubles down when questioned on his values?

He has seen his heart and it is his! And honestly? Likewise with Ron!

Tom's next ship down from Harry is Bella and the next ship sideways is Ron and you can show me all the dark academia Pinterest boards you want, you are never going to convince me otherwise.

[neerons]

Some of Chevalier Michel’s best quotes

“You have plenty of time. Therefore, it’s not necessary to overload yourself to the point of harming your health just for the sake of learning. I’m not in a hurry. I’ll wait patiently for you to reach your full potential.”

“I don’t mind making you my woman.”

“If you value your life, trust no one.”

“Allowing their deaths to be in vain would be an affront to those who utterly devoted themselves to the kingdom.” (—Chevalier talking about the dead soldiers to Emma)

“That’s how values work. Just because two ways of thinking are incompatible doesn’t mean one is right and the other is wrong.”

“If you ever feel like crying, tell me. I’ll torment you so thoroughly that you’ll forget how to cry.”

“Until I’d met her, I’d never have considered letting another person touch me.” (—Chevalier’s thoughts about Emma)

“Can a man read in peace without you staring at his face?”

“Don't... say another man's name... so much. It grates on my ears.”

“You're quite graceless, you know? Your legs seem to be shaking.”

“You are my queen. It does not matter how many years go by, I have no intention of loving any other woman.”

“If the rabbit has time to spend with you, she'll spend it with me instead.” (—Chevalier talking about Emma to Clavis)

“I had no intention of letting anyone complain about a commoner being in a relationship with royalty, and it didn't bother me, either.” (—Chevalier's thoughts)

“What might your hand be doing in your pocket? I dare you to throw one of those concoctions of yours at me. Just know I will kick you into the next century.” (—Chevalier to Clavis)

“Maids are servants. They follow their master or mistress' orders, thus creating a clear discrepancy in power. But I do not wish you to be below me. What I desire is for us to be equals, serving each other in a cooperative and mutual manner.”

"...Now that I think about it, I was rather fond of you from the very beginning. (...) To begin with... is there any man who would barge into the room of a woman he doesn't like? The palace is huge. There are many places... where I could go to spend leisure time, instead of expressly going to your room."

"You look terrible. (...) There's no need to feel ashamed. Not everything that has value is beautiful."

"You're the one at fault for leaving the covenant YOU created so open to interpretation. A shame." (—Chevalier to Sariel)

"Currently, a servant manages the palace library, but he's no expert, so his work is sloppy. I've been dissatisfied with it for a while now, but... you're proficient at handling books, yes?"

"It's not that you 'can' stay by my side, it's that you 'will' stay by my side."

"(...) Do you think I would allow you to die so easily after you laid a hand on my lover? (...) I've said as much before, but dying is not what you should be doing. What you should be doing is returning home to your loved ones, no matter how shameful you look." (—Chevalier to Flandre)

"Ever since I was a child, love had been the one thing I was most indifferent to. (...) My one and only reason is that I wanted to know what love was. Ridiculous, I know."

"I'm not so famished that I'd eat something I don't need. ...I want you so much that I could just eat you all up right now."

"(...) Any guest of Emma's is a guest of mine as well." (—Chevalier talking about an enemy to Clavis)

"...If you stay with me, many things will be taken away from you, and you'll be limited in what you can do. Sometimes, you'll have to bear the heavy responsibility of royalty, and occasionally your life may be threatened. You'll be the target of scheming. Other people will look upon you either favorably or unfavorably—nothing in between. No picturesque world like those found in your romance books exists in a real palace. You'll see it for yourself. Despite all that, do you still stand by the nonsense you spoke of earlier?"

"When every man in the kingdom knows you're mine—they'll stay away from you, lest they incur the wrath of the Bloody Tiger."

"It wasn't in an official capacity. It was personal time. I simply wanted to have you with me as always. You should be grateful. You don't have much time left at the palace, and I'm going out of my way to spend time with you."

"Hurry up and prove the value of love, simpleton. While we're still able to be together like this."

"It doesn't matter to me what happens to them... But it matters to someone else." (—Chevalier talking about Luke, Rio and Emma to Clavis)

"On the battlefield, you belong to the second prince. Remember, dying would be foolish, and even getting hurt would be a transgression."

"I came to save you. ...Did you think that's what I would say, simpleton?"

"I'm not so idiotic that I'd let low-lives like those do me in. I'll cut down every last person who rises up against me."

"I never had any intention of letting an enemy nation have you."

"You faced the Brutal Beast... so that you could fulfill your duty as Belle. We couldn't understand each other because our values were polar opposites... yet you tried to meet halfway. You believed that the beast was a person and tried to discern his true nature. It was the first time I'd ever met... a woman with such strange tastes. Actually... even if I searched the entire kingdom, I wouldn't find anyone as eccentric as you. 'I want the person I love to live, no matter the cost to me. I want to be by his side... I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen. (...) I feel the same way. You call this emotion... 'love', correct?"

"The king's lover will most likely face many difficulties, but unfortunately, I have no desire to bestow my favor on anyone but you."

"Emma, look at me. (...) You're no longer Belle, right? (...) Is that the first time I used it? It's not that big of a deal, is it?" (—Chevalier saying Emma's name for the first time)

"I don't want to be disturbed during mealtimes. I've decided to lock the door whenever you're here."

"Currently, only one woman is close to the king. There seem to be many fools who believe they can crush the leading candidate for queen and have their own daughter marry me instead." (—Chevalier talking about Emma to Clavis)

"Do I look like I care? And do you really think I'm going to do something as stupid as losing such a valuable pawn?" (—Chevalier talking about Emma, in Gilbert's route)

"Until now, the Obsidian royal family have had nothing but war on their minds, but through this we can rebuild our friendship. This is a sizable accomplishment. This accomplishment was achieved by just one woman... and we most certainly cannot disrespect what it means." (—Chevalier to Emma, in Gilbert's route)

"The only occasion I have spent time with another person and found worth in it... was with you." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

"She's eager to hear whether I like the fragrance or not. But it is her own scent. There is no way I could dislike it." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

"I don't need you to tell me my fool brother's worth. I knew it from the start." (—Chevalier talking about Clavis to Emma)

"As long as you were convinced you couldn't win, there was no way for you to unlock your full potential. That's why you never stopped failing. You were never going to win unless you believed in yourself." (—Chevalier to Clavis)

"People are fools. Everyone is contradictory in some way, because they're not perfect, and they can't be. But you and my fool brother are both fine that way. (...) Someone who is free of contradictions, who always chooses the right path... cannot really be called human. They're nothing more than a beast." (—Chevalier talking about Emma, Clavis and himself, to Emma)

"I learned how from watching you do it countless times." (—Chevalier talking about doing Emma's hair)

"They have the kind of decoration my fool of a brother would like." (—Chevalier talking about cookies with colorful and festive icing that Clavis would enjoy)

"...You're the only one. The only woman who would take pleasure in being at my side."

"Sometimes, you have quite violent coughing fits. I have a fool brother who gets ill a lot. The physician gives him this tea regularly, so I swiped some." (—Young Chevalier giving rose tea to his 'childhood friend')

"(...) keep cajoling him. You can shape the menace that he is." (—Chevalier talking about Gilbert to Emma)

"...I knew I made the right choice when I chose you as my pawn." (—Smiling Chevalier praising Emma, in Gilbert's route)

"An auction master working in collaboration with the Obsidianites had an official document from the king of Benitoite. That's quite a big catch, simpleton." (—Chevalier praising Emma's discovery, in Silvio's route)

"...I want you so much that I could just eat you all up right now."

"My clothes will be gone soon enough. After all, I have only one reason for locking a woman in a room like this. (...) Love me, Emma. This is an order from the king, and it's absolute."

"I recall you writing that you love hearing my voice. If that is what you want, you may hear it as much as you like."

"Hundreds of medical books, both domestic and foreign, are stored in my head."

"To have nerve enough to approach me... She's quite the woman." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

"That gaze of hers struck me as straight as an arrow, and unneeded emotions began to well up within me." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

"Don't be ridiculous. She would never be interested in the likes of you fools." (—Angry Chevalier talking about Emma and his brothers to Leon)

"I would far prefer to have you to myself than let that man have you." (—Chevalier talking about Gilbert)

"Indeed. I'm so vexed, I could throttle someone to death." (—Chevalier teasing Emma)

"You are our Belle. You spend your time determining our worth. Use some of those skills for yourself too." (—Chevalier telling Emma to care about herself more)

"I am not asking for a 'good' drawing. I am asking for your drawing."

"This is a Rhodolitian handshake. The more it hurts, the stronger your display of friendship." (—Chevalier to Gilbert)

"I don't believe I have ever seen Emma read it before. Perhaps I will recommend it to her. She cannot stay in the dark about it forever." (—Chevalier's thoughts while he's picking a romance book for Emma to read)

"If 'lovable' could be defined by any person, it would be her." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

"I had often read about this urge to dote, but I had not understood it until meeting her." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

"Theoretically, I have no use for romance novels now that I have Emma. However, thanks to her, I have learned how to enjoy them with no other motive." (—Chevalier's thoughts)

"I've become fond of seeing the variety of emotions on your face as you go through a book."

"Hm? Ah. Don't worry about the blood. I was just 'playing' with my brother who's made it his hobby to tease you." (—Chevalier's lobby dialogue)

"This absurdly lovely woman has my dearest affections." (—Chevalier translating his words of love from another language to Emma)

"The reason I still function so well despite having discarded my humanity is because I have my fool brother. And conversely, the reason my fool brother can do as he pleases is because he knows I'll always be there at the final moment." (—Chevalier talking about Clavis to Emma)

"Severing your Achilles tendon shall do the trick." (—Chevalier threatening Licht)

"I never had much chemistry with the twins. (...) They were just noisy children who cried if I so much as looked at them. However, one day, they stopped crying. No... If I think about it, there was a clear turning point." (—Chevalier's thoughts)

"It is true that you are useless right now, Licht, but you do not have to be that way forever. (—Chevalier's thoughts)

"Even with the first aid I have given you, it would be in your best interest to put on a convincing act for your twin if you do not wish to shock him." (—Chevalier to Licht)

"Oh? That was a much more thorough analysis than I would have expected from someone so heavily wounded. With some training, he could become an excellent commander." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Licht)

"Textbooks can be helpful, but not in the way that it obscures her lovely face." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

"I was never much one for drawing, but once during our childhood, Clavis pestered me to sketch something. Back then, I knew he suspected me to be a terrible artist, and asked me to do so in order to expose me. The resulting tantrum when his expectations were reversed was certainly memorable." (—Chevalier's thoughts)

"I would value this far beyond what any professional artist could draw. There is, however, something missing. (...) I must prepare a frame for this at once." (—Chevalier adding a little bunny on Emma's drawing of him as a tiger)

"I have never, ever laughed as much as I have with her. No wonder she is the one making my facial muscles exercise so much." (—Chevalier's thoughts)

"I want to do whatever it takes to see her entire spectrum of emotions." (—Chevalier's thoughts)

"Every second that ticked by was becoming another moment for me to cherish. I suddenly became overwhelmed by gratitude for being born the person I was. It won't be long before the entire collection of my memories is overtaken by you. And it will be just the way I like it." (—Chevalier's thoughts about Emma)

[innerfare]

Angsty Ace Headcanons 

Summary: A collection of angsty Ace headcanons

Genre: Angst

CW: None // SFW

———

Ace never knew what his mother looked like, never even saw a photograph of her. 

At a certain point, Ace wanted nothing more than to become the marine Garp wanted him to be. He wanted desperately to please his grandfather, a man who could have turned him over to the World Government in exchange for a nice reward and even promotion but chose instead to harbor him. And when Ace learned the truth about his biological father, when Ace realized the World Government would never accept him as one of their own no matter what Garp said, he went to the seashore and cried, forced to accept he would only ever draw the ire of the one man he wanted to please.  

Ace always felt like a monster for beating Luffy. He had a very valid thought process: I have to make him stronger. But he still felt like he was doing something horribly wrong. The guilt stuck with him as he grew older, consuming him when he recalled the times he treated Luffy more like a brother than a son (parentification can be a bitch). 

Ace only began valuing his life after Sabo died. He only did it because he thought he had to for Luffy’s sake. Without Luffy, he would have lost the will to live entirely, and on some level, he did lose the will to live when he met the Straw Hats and realized Luffy was taken care of without him. Rather than feeling peace at having fulfilled the promise he’d made to a deceased Sabo to care for their little brother, he felt a sense of failure because he wasn’t needed. 

Ace once came across one of his father’s old wanted posters and, to his horror, recognized himself. Thus, he avoids his reflection at all costs. He’s been called attractive, but he doesn’t understand why because all he sees when he looks in the mirror is a monster. Burns his own wanted posters when he encounters them because he can’t stand the sight of himself. 

Ace always shrugged it off, but deep down, he felt horribly guilty for sleeping on the floor at Dadan’s place. Bringing food to her doorstep was his way of earning his keep, even as a small child, but the need to pay her back for sheltering a little monster like him didn’t go away when he set sail. He began sending money back to her every month in hopes it would ease the burden he had undoubtedly put on her by existing. 

When Whitebeard tried adopting him, he didn’t resort to violence because he was still trying to take down an Emperor. He did so because he was triggered by Whitebeard’s compassion. It was such a foreign feeling to him he could only think to attack, scared of what that compassion stirred in him. 

Ace was petrified of sex, even when taking every precaution. He was terrified of getting a girl pregnant and bringing a child into the world that hated him before he was ever born and would surely hate his child for all the same reasons, would perhaps even hate that child more because they would be blamed for his crimes in addition to his father’s. He had vivid nightmares about becoming a father, and then felt guilty for having those nightmares about it because he felt like he was inflicting psychological wounds on his nonexistent unborn child by not wanting them. 

Ace died thinking Sabo would be waiting for him on the other side. 

———

Hope you enjoyed it! If you want more, you can check out my masterlist here!

[shirefantasies]

How Many Kids Do They Want? LoTR Edition

This is just a headcanon set I like to think about because I love little ones & think all of the characters would make great parents in their own way 🥰 I definitely am going to expand on this in the future but for now enjoy!

Aragorn

He wants to bring a life into the world, but only under good circumstances. When the time comes, he favors a small family he can focus on- one child is enough for him. As much attention as he can possibly give goes to his little one that way, no resentment, no competition, all of the time in Aragorn’s world to spend with those dearest. Despite the pressure to have a son, he is happy to have either a son or a daughter as long as they are happy and healthy and provided for. Aragorn’s child will grow up with an amazing guide to do what is right and care for their friends and family, not to mention learning Elvish and many skills to survive outdoors if need ever arises.

Legolas

Open-minded for sure, but I think he actually leans toward a larger family. No extreme amount, but four or five sounds good to him! Legolas is very caring, patient, and even has a playful side that all lend well to spending time with wee ones. No strong preference on sons or daughters, Legolas cares more for smiling faces and fair hearts. He pretends to be competitive with his children to motivate them, but always caves and lets them win in the end! They’ll all become amazing archers if he has anything to say about it.

Boromir

Having a big family warms Boromir's heart. He wants to be different from his father, carve out space for each and every child individually. Having a big family shows in his mind how much he loves his spouse and can provide for everyone, too. Boromir is definitely the type of dad whose children just come barreling toward the door upon his return home, rocketing into his arms as he manages to catch them all! If you ask him, Boromir's ideal family size would be four or five children. He loves the idea of having a son or sons to train up, but really doesn't want to miss out on having beautiful daughters too, so his hope is for a mix of both. Constantly encouraging his sons and praising every achievement at their passions. The girls are ladies of Gondor and nothing shall take that from them, least of all their father, who is always joining their tea parties and letting them take turns as queens knighting him and each other.

Gimli

Dwarves tend to have smaller families, whether that is by choice or happenstance. Gimli enjoys the idea of having three children, a moderate amount, and of course he really would love a son. He wants a mini-me as they say, a small reflection of himself to share all his favorite things with and teach to defend all that is important to him. Daughters are less common among his people, thus of course they are of great value and would be a blessing were he to have any as well. Gimli would constantly be hyping them up and reminding them that they are worth so much, any man in their life had better treat them so or else!

Frodo

If he were to have children, Frodo favors a smaller family. Growing up, it was just him and his uncle for as long as he remembered, and he likes the idea of being able to focus more on his child. Thus, his perfect family size if you ask is simply one or two children. In his mind there’s something about having a son, perhaps a mirror to his own youth or someone to impart his lessons into in the sense that feels most traditional to his family dynamic, but the idea of having one of each makes him so happy- Frodo’s little girl would have him wrapped around her finger!

Sam

I know I said at one point Sam only wants like three but that’s because I didn’t realize he canonically has so many forgive me. We all know Sam loves the idea of having a big family! Canonically he’s even down to have thirteen children, but of course he is fine with a smaller number too. Just definitely more than one, at least three or four. Sam has so much love to give and he adores bringing life into the world and nurturing it more than anything. Every little one is their own unique person he loves to foster and dote on. He wants some of each of course, but just loves the idea of having little girls especially!

Merry

Really wants one of each. His family will feel like a full package that way and he wants every type of experience he can have, walking a daughter down to her wedding and letting her dress him up and playing games with his son. Teaching both of them how to stand up and fight for themselves, of course! Merry is so the type who wants a mini version of both him and his spouse if he can have it. Would make so many jokes about the little clones and just melt for the child who looks like his partner. Regardless of who she looks like, his little girl has his exact smile and you'll always catch them making it at each other before the next moment of teasing and mischief!

Pippin

Wants so many kids. Five to ten, no problem. Numbers aren’t his concern so long as he can be involved with each and every one of them. Just the type who wants his family to be a small army! Definitely wants to experience having sons and daughters, but statistically he’s going to anyway at his rate! So good at getting down to their level and having the greatest time with them, but also showering them with love and calming words and learning their needs by actually listening. Just Pippin and his little army of fellow neurodivergent sweethearts all with different passions and gifts and special interests.

Faramir

Willing to concede to his partner especially if that’s who actually bears the children. Faramir adores the idea of having a family, of doing everything differently than he experienced, of pouring true love and respect into a little soul doing their best, and that is where his happiness truly lies. A part of him likes the idea of having two sons as full atonement for his and Boromir’s difficult childhood, but even one would make him happy. He is so patient at explaining things to a young mind and his optimism comes out all the more when spending time with a little one- all the world’s beauty is that much brighter!

Eomer

Big family! More than a number he dreams of a boisterous, active home where no one is ever lonely. A warm hearth and the voices of children nearly ever-present. His heart swells as he imagines having one in each hand and plenty more all around him. Eomer, for whatever reason, has the number six in his head. Of course he wants sons, sons to train as fine riders and fighters, but his sister has proved to him that that future is not lost on Rohan’s maid either. He would be so much softer, gentler with his daughter(s), still showing her things like how to shoot an arrow or how he sharpens his blades but with greater care. Gathering everyone for story time is one of Eomer’s greatest delights.

Haldir

For much of his life, Haldir did not think about children, was uncertain that was a future he would even attain. Thus, as the time approaches for consideration he realizes he simply feels blessed by the prospect and is very willing to listen to his partner about their wishes. Granted, he does not wish to live beyond his means or in a way that he could not provide for all he needs to, but in general he is open. The beauty of Lothlórien grows with every new addition, every fair member of elfkind so he is happy with boy(s) or girl(s). He would teach his daughter(s) to walk with grace and uphold their ancient strength and remind his son(s) that honor and respect must center all their actions.

Eowyn

Traditional housewife ‘duties’ were never her desire. Thus, she does not want a large family, though the idea of raising a little life with her partner makes her happy. She only wants one child, maybe two so they can play together, and her family will feel complete. Any child(ren) of hers will surely be active, so she and her spouse will have their hands full with whoever! Strength is a matter of the heart, and Eowyn will raise a strong family no matter if they are male or female. She loves the idea of having a daughter or daughters to share her stories and triumphs with, though- future Shieldmaidens of Rohan!

Arwen

She wants to be able to focus on her family, so ideally not a huge one. Carrying on her legacy and having someone to care for with her partner, a living breathing proof of their love and commitment, is the most important part. She has never been too particular about if the child is a boy or a girl, just that she wants to be there for them and a calming, loving presence in their life as much as possible. So good at holding and reassuring them it’s like magic.

Elrond

Elrond is patient, steady, and he likes to take his time both with his children and between having them. He is happy with a smaller or average-sized family, two or three children. That way he can spend his time, care, wisdom, on them all and lavish Rivendell’s resources on them in different ways. Perhaps they are interested in the rich history, the weapons of old, the art, textiles, the sheer natural beauty of the location. Whatever it may be, he will offer it to them so long as they use it well and with respect. It appeals to him to have one of each, but we all know he would have a soft spot for his daughter!

Lindir

All I can picture is twin dad Lindir. Don’t ask me why, all I know is this man elf has his hands full with a baby on each side. Exasperated but lovingly shaking his head as the two identical little elves/half-elves try to convince him they are their sibling again! Or even having one of each on one fell swoop, teaching them both their favored instrument and singing with them! Lindir doesn't mind so much whether he is to have sons, daughters, each, so long as his children have the finest things in life and know that he shall always give them what he can.

Taglist: @kilibaggins @lokilover476 @fuckyoumakeart | Reply/Message/Ask to join!

[reason-with-the-underdog]

alhaitham & kaveh, if they never met before

i sometimes think about AUs where kaveh & alhaitham meet as adults, having never crossed paths in the akademiya, and thus never having their shared thesis & fallout...

i think kaveh would be similar to pre-PoP kaveh, but alhaitham would be very different. alhaitham in canon seems to have thought about the fight & made his peace with their divide, and he's grown as a result.

after all, back in school, they were both 2 equally stubborn geniuses arguing about wisdom/community but were ultimately talking about self-worth in the end

but no one can give someone their own self-worth (such is what it is) and so they had to part ways.

meanwhile kaveh threw himself into finishing his studies, got overworked at his first job, opened his own studio, then countless projects, culminating in the palace. by canon time, he's still wary of the fight & what it means for his & alhaitham's ability to get along nowadays

his sketchbook entries questioning alhaitham's motives for helping suggest that kaveh still sees alhaitham as he was in the akademiya, and his concerns imply alhaitham in the past was even more self-concerned & isolated...

we know that's not true of alhaitham nowadays, however. alhaitham is perfectly capable of making his own connections & also using cognitive empathy to notice people's feelings (as shown in the AQ), but usually he doesn't find it necessary to do so

alhaitham doesn't mind if he doesn't fit in (unlike kaveh) & finds value in solitude

its not unreasonable to assume some of his social skills come from his akademiya friendship w kaveh &from kaveh's encouragement to engage with others (even if at the time he wasn't appreciative)

alhaitham's conclusion about their fight is basically "Sometimes being correct means nothing at all"

he knows he was right in his insightful/inciteful analysis of kaveh's guilt/motivations. but his delivery was totally wrong, and kaveh's open friendship was lost to him for years after that

(yes they continued to interact after their fallout, but it seems like alhaitham initiated that contact & we know they kept it purely over journal articles/message boards, never in person. not quite the same as what they once had)

would he have learned this lesson (that not every truth has to be ruthlessly exposed without regard for the other's capacity to hear) if not for their fallout argument? would it have sunk in as deeply without the loss of a truly great companionship as the painful consequence?

alhaitham doesnt dwell on what other struggles and adversities he's faced in life. there's def a story behind how he became grand scribe, a respectable (even if not famous at first) position in the mahamata

i suspect most of that hinged upon his academic/intellectual capabilities tbh tho, which were never really in doubt. he didn't need the fallout fight in order to have a successful but low-profile career or to have a satisfyingly peaceful life or to build up his book collection. without the fallout fight, he may have all the same circumstances as canon alhaitham

but an adult alhaitham who had never met kaveh before & thus never had to dwell upon correct answers that do more harm than good-- well

that sounds like a man who hasn't really had cause to be humbled yet. or ever needed to have reconsidered his principles more deeply

in all honesty canon alhaitham would probably find this version of himself to have a much weaker understanding of his own philosophy. maybe even find him pitiable-- after all, he had never sharpened his ideas against a kindred soul whose ideals run entirely counter to his own

"sometimes being correct means nothing at all" ...similarly, akademiya era alhaitham would not recognise his future self at all!(top tier trope in fics is when alhaitham runs into his younger self and discovers to his amusement/annoyance that he was indeed a bit of a self-assured prat as a child)

but back to my original point:

alhaitham & kaveh meeting for the first time as adults, already-graduated, already-established-in-their-careers... what kind of sparks would fly in that first debate?

without kaveh's pity causing him to seek out the lonely looking kid in the library, how invested would he be in getting to know alhaitham?

kaveh's sketchbook entries show he first thought their philosophies were in agreement, before updating to 'we disagree but thats even better!"

in this AU though, would they both walk away from their first conversation thinking that the other was completely misguided? (would they both find themselves somehow not able to stop thinking about the other's words regardless... even if entirely wrong)

[slowd1ving]

✦ I. PRINCE OF ARROGANCE, PRIDE HAS A HEAVY PRICE

"His fate was sealed the moment he could taste choleric resentment on his tongue, followed shortly by spite: for spite is the desire to thwart. The path he instinctually set out on—to seek knowledge about the abuses of wisdom in the palace—was one that would only end in despair. " • . * cursed prince ratio + alchemist m reader rough design for minoan fashion ratio here warnings: video game violence, death? kind of? tyranny (are we surprised), male-coded reader (or at least the in-game avatar is) wc: 1.5k

LAMENT OF OUROBOROS MASTERLIST

HONKAI STAR RAIL MASTERLIST

MASTERLIST ・゜・NAVIGATION

Eight words rang clear on the Day of Silence against the backdrop of a fruitful year. Amidst the din of the crotalum, woven through the hordes of mute crowds, thus did the honourable Sophos Nous proclaim to His Highness: 

For all knowledge one must pay equal price. 

This was the first and last lesson Sophos Nous ever imparted unto the seventh prince of Metis before THEY left: as quietly as the noiseless festival-goers. Perhaps it would be the only lesson ever recorded to grace the Kingdom of Metis from the Sophos: a feeble mark to acknowledge the extraordinary scholar the seventh prince was. Though, the arrogant youth knew this was anything but; such an obvious deduction was no morsel of wisdom, but a reproachable grain of sophistry that any fool could have mimed. Mimed, because the Day’s hallowed silence had been broken for the first time since its inception, and perhaps that was the biggest insult of them all. 

In his wrought tower, the youngest prince of Elation’s lineage seethed. For the weeks following that sacreligious day, he barely ate, barely breathed: barely lived. From the moment of his birth to this summer, his efforts to earn the venerable Sophos’ acknowledgement had not borne fruit—and now, they probably never would. 

His damson locks tangled in his fingers as he pored over those eight words. They ripped, twisting and breaking and splitting in his desperate grasp. Those records were all he had left of the learnéd being: a measly report detailing the teacher’s crime, summarised in a single paragraph in the battered codex that was unceremoniously dumped on his desk at his request.

If he knew anything about his Sophos, it was that nothing could ever be taken at face value with THEM. Twined in all the manuscripts THEY had written—which Veritas Ratio Metis had reverently studied, every single one—were the buds of dialetheism and bivalence, threading and looping against each other like two snakes on a caduceus. 

Had he missed something?

Deconstructing the sentence literally, the price of knowledge was time and dedication. Nothing came from nothing; obviously knowledge was gained only through cogitation and learning. In less abstract terms, the hippocampus was a finite space and minute neuron connections were lost with each new wisdom gained. Though, such an axiomatic method of interpretation was sure to be fallible. 

Thus, his deft fingers wasted no time in penning a new heading: warning. Presumably, Nous wouldn’t be so kind as to bestow a lesson on the youth: not even out of pity for the erudite young mind who followed THEM around just for a glimpse into THEIR insights. No, Nous wouldn’t have spared him a glance. Therefore, it was not a teaching at all, but rather a last, merciful warning. 

Knowledge was burden. He knew this, Nous knew this—any respectable scholar in Metis knew that ignorance was more oft than not bliss, especially when it came to divinity and existentialism. This much, too, was a salient interpretation of these words. Don’t study things you aren’t ready for. The prince scoffed. A waddling baby knew as much—taking first steps primarily, before learning to run. 

Unless… Upon examining the wording, there was a critical sign in its structure. Four words on one side, four on the other—equilibrium. Life on one side, and certain death on the other. His breathing came in neurotic waves as his pen struggled to keep up with his intuition. It may have been foolish to follow his gut, but there was just something about how the lexicon flowed that dried his mouth and made his tongue leaden with foreboding. 

What is it? 

Seraphic beams of light cast their dappled rays on the gleaming equipment: bronze astrological instruments, beakers and shining ocular lenses; stacks upon stacks of manuscripts and codices, on everything from law to philosophy to anatomy; and the precariously balanced alembic and crucible in the corner, concealed by a large sheet for supposedly warding off dust. 

The gaze of cerise lingered briefly on the alchemical tools. 

Equivalent exchange. 

With a sigh so heavy it brought his youthful appearance into question, he buried his aggravated face in his trembling hands. Neither blessing or lesson was shrouded by the phrase; rather, Nous had lent him an equivocation as a final misrespect. One hint of information, and the other a warning. 

Translated, he gleaned that the Sophos referred to the rumours surrounding Aha and THEIR progeny. Archon basileus—the foolish sovereign and ever-so-foolish descendants. Though the capricious Aha had outlawed the ages-old practice of alchemy and other similar disciplines decades ago, there was hearsay in the stone-paved streets that the imperial family dabbled in activities now heretical to keep control over the populace. Whether it be through transmuting the dissidents to lustrous gold sculptures, or turning insurgents to mindless jesters through drugs and other disciplines, it was clear that Aha held keen interest in monopolising knowledge and ruling with an iron fist. 

Or, at least, that’s what Veritas heard through the reticent walls of his tower. There was no viable method of testing the theory: not when the seventh prince held minimal sway over politics in the gilt palace. 

This was the bitter fruit Nous had broken the sacred silence for. 

You are no match for your family, THEIR eye seemed to lament. 

This knowledge is far too heavy for you, boy, THEIR mouth appeared to rebuke. 

All these years, and you have still not broken from the alabaster coating of a fool, THEIR departure concluded. 

The prince had long surpassed the rest of his peers in mind and body alike, yet with this realisation he was a mere child once more: just another bastard of the lineage. Not to be taken seriously. 

His fate was sealed the moment he could taste choleric resentment on his tongue, followed shortly by spite: for spite is the desire to thwart. The path he instinctually set out on—to seek knowledge about the abuses of wisdom in the palace—was one that would only end in despair. 

But the blame could not solely be attributed to him—for despite his prideful erudition, he was no prophet. A clever mind like his had not yet tasted scholastic defeat yet, begetting carelessness. And to provoke an arrogant, clever, careless youth with no real world experience—yes, provoke, for that is what the esteemed Sophos did—was sure to birth a calamity. 

Indeed, the hubris of the seventh prince led to tragedy borne of his own making; yet, the fault also rested with another. 

This was the ‘price’. 

Two people, bound in impossible balance. 

Eight words, foretelling only disaster. 

This was ‘equivalent exchange’. 

One clever prince, seeking a knowledge far too cataclysmic to bear. 

This was the heresy known as ‘alchemy’. 

On that Day of Silence, the Moirai assigned a fate threaded bloody: all for the modest cost of one lonely prince’s grief. 

. 　⁺ ✦ 

“Oh dear,” the maiden crooned. “It looks like he’s made up his mind.”

The distaff held in HER graceful palms perpetually dripped crimson, though not a single drop bled into the spindle as SHE wove fate: pain, ecstasy, hopelessness, delight. 

“Just like the rest of them,” the matron uttered. “He is a fool.”

Unceasingly, HER rod measured out the new life-threads. SHE impersonally gazed at every strand—quantifying and fairly allotting time. Time, the most precious commodity of anything and anyone. 

The hag remained silent, for HER glinting scissors expressed HER thoughts. Snip. A thread was cut. Snip. A life was lost. Snip. Yet another soul crossed in the afterworld. 

But there was one sanguine allotment of fate that wouldn’t be cut with HER shears. Many a mortal wished for such a boon: bartering with the divine for an extension of their pathetic lives. That was a paradox SHE witnessed time and time again: humans wishing to prolong their misery through staying awake in the raging current of the universe. Death was the true alleviation of suffering—this was the one mercy SHE could afford man and their kind. 

Living and the futile struggle was all humanity had known; SHE understood, in HER omnipotent way, how this stagnancy was a comfort for the lost souls. 

Though, SHE mused, staying alive would not do this particular prince any good. For what gift is evading death, when one cannot truly live?

“It would have been better for him to live under the yoke of his family and die as all mortals should.” The crone’s withered voice was dry from disuse. Under HER shroud, neither the mother nor the youth could see the aged path of tears that meandered down HER wrinkled face—for with age came sentiments, and the Moirai were the oldest of all in the cradle of the universe. 

“Atropos.” It was the maiden who finally replied. “Do you feel sorry for the boy?”

Snip. Another marked fate concluded—though not abruptly, for it had been ordained since the moment of their birth. 

“No,” the beldame answered. “The little prince was warned by a being far wiser than he, taking it only as affront.”

For the first time in centuries, HER shears ceased their steady rhythm. 

“Should I feel sorry for the hart that approaches the arrow out of its own volition?”

. 　⁺ ✦ 

[bimboficationblues]

You've admitted to being a former anarchist: would you mind elaborating on why you left anarchism? I wanted to know because I enjoy your critiques, I feel like I learn more from them.

for me, communism implies the pursuit of anarchism, ergo… So I think I was only an anarchist in a qualified way, you can find on this blog refs to being an “anarcho-Marxist” along with other seemingly contradictory terms I made up to amuse myself. (In some ways I’ve changed very little.) From 2018 onward I kinda had my foot out the door, and I was never super taken with anarchist political literature overall because of its more frequently polemical and moral bent (nothing wrong with polemics but I think it implies a certain level of argumentative incaution; and ethical values are good but they are also open for contest so I think caution is good). But to be honest I disidentified as an anarchist for the same reason I’ve disidentified as a Marxist, which is that the label doesn’t do anything for me and in some ways acts as a creative blinder.

I don’t have a robust critique of anarchism (nor do I really want one, I’m not sure such a thing is achievable). simply put I don’t really think anarchists have been able to crack the problem of implementing revolutionary political goals without seizing state power. perhaps that reflects a certain Jacobinish tendency in me. however their critiques of the state, that it has its own logic and function and incentive set which is coextensive but nonidentical with that of capital - and thus trying to wield it for socialist ends is to presume that it’s a neutral instrument and hamstring your socialism from the jump - are basically entirely correct. our temporarily embarrassed Red Guards are coping when they talk of class character. it’s a conundrum, but I feel that admitting it’s a conundrum will provoke more useful and creative thought and practice than retreating into dead letters.

I found writers like Deleuze, Foucault, Nietzsche, Spinoza, Stirner, and Perlman (ie “individualist” thinkers) more engaging than the more “social” anarchist writers, so it’s probably not surprising that I think the most consistent anarchist position manifests as a kind of political nihilism or anti-politics, ie the abandonment of social transformation and the contests of domination that make it up (see also anti-civ anarchism, which I think is non-identical to Zerzanesque primitivism despite how many people talk about it). I am sympathetic to this in various ways, but ultimately reject it for a variety of reasons. the biggest among those is that (somewhat ironically) I think it is basically cope with powerlessness - often assuming what it wants to prove, too often lapsing back into the humanisms/moralisms/etc that they want to reject - and my general goal is to resist the ever-present siren song of cope.

by contrast, and at the risk of being unfair - and I really want to give a new fair shake when I’m able - the more “social anarchist” wing just felt like Marxism without teeth (or in some cases a very crabby liberalism). but also a lot of that “classical anarchist” tradition didn’t really stick with me in the same way as other stuff, and it’s probable that my milieu of communizers made my skepticism higher than I wish it had been, I think it would be interesting to revisit.

[literallys-illiteracy]

A pedant's overview of the new Limbus Trailer

Ok so We're going over the new guy first, and then the new event EGO and IDs.

Hohenheim:

SO before who he's actually based on, insert a joke here about FMA or something (I haven't watched it idk)

So Hohenheim is most likely based on Paracelsus, or Theophrastus von Hohenheim, a renaissance philosopher, physician, and alchemist, known for his contributions to toxicology, being credited for the phrase "The dose makes the poison" (with his original phrase being "All things are poison, and nothing is without poison")

The fact that he is a researcher is what leads me to thinking this, alongside the toxicology potentially relating to the mushroom shapes on his coat in the trailer; There is also the relation to Lobotomy Corp in Paracelsus' relation to esotericism, notably alchemy, due to the relation that he takes to EGO and abnormalities, and therefore to Carl Jung's writings, which often relate alchemy to individuation.

This is also in all likelyhood the reason that he is in charge of comparing our sinners pre and post employment states, as this game, and the others PM has made before it, all relate to psychological growth and individuation (Read Faust post by @juyendraws for more information)

To explain how alchemy relates to Individuation, I get to explain some things relating to the alchemy I learned a long time ago for Noita-related reasons:

The most important stage is of course the first, as until something is begun it cannot continue, the first stage of the philosophers stone, and of individuation, being Nigredo.

Nigredo (Blackening):

Carl Jung compared this to the point at which one becomes increasingly aware of their shadow (characteristics), their wider self, and their persona.

....I am coming to a realisation while writing this... The colour black so closely linked to one's persona...

After one becomes aware of their persona, and thus more aware of their repressed self and shadow; In the darkest time, when "there seems no way forward" is the Nigredo, setting the stage for development into the latter stages of development.

In essence this is the same structure that Project Moon uses for EGO manifestation and distortion. I don't wish to bore too much regarding psychology, so I'll leave it at stating that the identification of the persona and integration of the shadow both act as important moments in the EGO and distortion phenomenon; "EGO is to the persona as Distortion is to the shadow" - Juyen

The latter stages matter somewhat less, Albedo (whitening) relates most prominently to the Anima/Animus (which also holds strong relation to the distortion phenomenon see here for some elaboration); Citrinas (yellowness) is the prominence of the "Elder" archetype in ones maturity (also known as: The Wise old man/woman; The Hermit; The wizard; or The senex (Latin for "Old man)); and finally Rubedo (red), signaling the complete and whole self.

The four stages are most commonly understood in relation to death/despair/melancholy (Nigredo); Purification and refinement, whiteness, and the light (Albedo); Sunlight, awakening (Citrinas); and blood, completion (Rubedo).

I learned so fucking much alchemy like 3-4 years ago, and this is the first time that i've ever been able to put it to any actual use...

Anyhows.

This ID is probably rupture, almost certainly healing, all that stuff.

The most interesting thing to this ID to me is this counter skill (seen right before the screenshot); evidently the counter will grant some form of aggro, seen on the border, potentially forcing an enemy to target him similar to how Faelantern's "Charm" works? (Could also potentially fix his or the enemies speed to 1, maybe that's why the speed values are blurred?)

Notably, he seems to have some sort of self destruct. Perhaps he dies upon being hit with this charm which cancels the pending attacks?

Also (I might just be going insane) But im 90% sure that those are all sin affinity icons, so potentially he will provide a decent few resources on death.

Anyways looks something like 1: 2 coins blunt. 2: 1 Coin pierce. 3: 3 Coins blunt. Counter(?): 1 Coin Blunt

Faust:

ARDOR BLOSSOM MOTH MY BELOVED RETURNS!

Ok so Faust

Burn is obvious, wrath affinity resonance is likely due to the nature of its EGO gift and Boss Fight; Potentially may have a mechanic similar to the "embers" "shimmering embers" and "Spark" effects that the boss fight possesses. Considering that she seems to have an alternate skill 1 and a skill 4 she may use ember as a sort of "pseudo-charge". I personally hope (as someone who has ran burn since season 1 (grand total of 4 burn ID)) that she has something somewhat similar to Black Flame

Anyways: S1: 2 Coins (all of the skills look somewhere between slash and blunt, I dearly hope that we get more slash but eh) s1 (alt): 3 Coins slash. s2: 3 coins slash s3/4: 3 Coins Blunt.

also she seems to explode in skill 4 so that's now a fourth way for an ID to kill itself. (Devyat Ids, Shi Heathcliff, Magic Bullet Outis EGO, Flossom Faust).

Thoracalgia Ryoshu:

behold, a slash EGO.

So I have MANY things to note about this EGO.

the first, Thoracalgia is the fancy way of saying chest pain basically. This alongside the fact that we see the skull in the trailer means that it's basically confirmed that this EGO belongs to "Sleeping bag of olden days" (Seen below)

Which is the Abnormality that gives the nebuliser EGO gift, which tracks considering the fact that it has chest pain. (A nebuliser is another name for an Inhaler)

it makes sense for Ryoshu to get this EGO, she was actually one of the two that I predicted would get this, however I only got that guess half right as Gregor did not get one. The abnormality is about chronic suffering and extended/endless pains (Ryoshu being the grief side of the metaphor while Gregor being the chronic Illness side).

Another interesting note, the background that we see in the EGO skill animation... It's a hospital.

This is interesting to note because there are three abnormalities closely tied to the hospital, "Nymph" "Centaur" and "Hydra", all based on creatures from Greek mythology, the first two of which were featured in The Odyssey and (alongside the cyclops) are assumed to be the Battle Pass EGO for Outis' canto. This is an interesting note because I can't think of any mythological creature that this could be related to?

[bonne-chanson]

a/n: surprise surprise !! this wasn’t on the list nor was it requested, i just rlly need to get this off my chest. ik i said i won’t do anything so personally vulnerable on here (and that i don’t want any of that either in my inbox) but i just need to let this out in the safest possible way i can and know how to. this is really more on the reader than it is on nikolai

the lark ascending

✑ character/s: nikolai gogol x reader

✑ short desc: there’s something so inherently cruel about regularly clipping a bird’s wings for the sole purpose of keeping them close to the ground (based on vaughn williams’ composition of the same name).

✑ content includes: one shot ; angst ; comfort fic ; established relationship ; a lot of self-projection, no beta, this was all written in one go ; may be ooc nikolai ; heavy trigger warning for descriptions of depression, maladaptive daydreaming, self-harm, and strained familial bonds

✑ word count: 2.3k words

By nature, it is in every bird’s birthright to fly — to feel the wind beneath their wings, to cut through currents in the air, and to feel nothing grounding their feet.

And as is with every bird meant for the sky, you were also born with the birthright to live as you pleased.

From the very moment you had opened your eyes to the rest of the world as an infant, the rest of your future had already been decided for you. It was only right that your parents would give you a certain set of rules and values to abide by — they were your guiding lights in life, after all (or so they told you). Where would their beloved child be if not for their directions? They were the ones responsible for giving you life (not that you ever asked for it in the first place), for showering you with the kind of privileges that others could only dream of (you were never able to fit in because everything just had to be tailored to you), and for providing you with the kind of safety net so many people your age would go to hell and back for (yet the net binds your limbs in the process, never letting you go).

That feeling of guilt and the burden of a heavy debt towards them never left you, and for life, it would stay. They were only being protective, after all — they just love you so much, the thought of seeing you break at any point in your life would hurt them tenfold, they said. Of course, the price they had to pay to keep you in your most pristine condition (rather, the price you were groomed to pay) was your loyalty.

(The refusal to acknowledge the behaviors of your own mother and father toward you will always be there. Family is still family, as they say.)

Your wings were clipped as early as possible so that you would have never known what the cool breeze against your face would feel like, and thus, you would never learn to crave it.

By nature, it is in every bird’s birthright to fly, but that birthright was taken away from you the moment you were born.

You were meant to stay in a cage forever, or at the very least, fly low enough for your feet to keep touching the ground.

Most days, you’d stay cooped up in the comfort of your own room (your birdcage), and the routine was always the same — wake up, eat breakfast, do your work and whatever needs to be done for the morning and afternoon, take a bath, entertain yourself for a bit with whatever you have laying around, but you would almost always never come out of the confines of the four walls you had grown accustomed to. Your childhood bedroom slowly began to close in on you over time, but no matter how many times you’d plead to your parents to let you go, the request would always be shut down by a heated argument ending with the same phrase again and again:

“What do you know about the rest of the world?”

And you would retreat back into the nest of a bed you’d made for yourself because they were right and there was no other place for you outside of the one built specifically to keep you in, safe and sound. What would a caged animal, domesticated to bury its own instincts, know about what the world is like outside the enclosure it had grown up in? Every attempt spent trying to do things by yourself was either criticized heavily to the point where it became something you never tried again or they were condemned so terribly that someone else would have to take over entirely for you.

You would never learn, not because you never had the capability to, but because no one ever let you.

On most days, you would spend your time daydreaming. You would daydream so much that any lines between memories and whatever little imaginations you could come up with in your head would blur so terribly that reality was something you eventually became afraid of. You didn't know when it happened, and perhaps it was just the gradual familiarity of it all that you grew accustomed to, but at some point, you began to prefer whatever scenes and characters you could conjure up in your head over the mundanity of whatever you could touch.

Music was one way for you to keep your head busy and pass the time, whiling the hours away without much thought to productivity or responsibility while the all the different colorful sounds gave life to all the scenarios and characters you had in your head because goodness, the comfort of imagining all sorts of things you knew you'd never be able to do in your lifetime with all the restrictions you were imposed with became a drug to you.

Before you knew it, you had caged yourself in your own head in an attempt to find an escape from the actual cage you were in.

Your delusions were just so warm and inviting and freeing, allowing you to breathe without the kind of heaviness that you would often find yourself asphyxiating by.

Yet every now and then, the comfort of your own head wouldn't be enough to satisfy the desperate need to escape — the one that would always claw at the depths of your chest, almost as if trying to rip apart your flesh from your insides just to give itself some room to settle (you never gave it permission to, whether it was because your parents had planted their words so deeply into the crevices of your brain or because you didn't have the energy to give it the room it so desires, and that's exactly why it always hurts).

"It's almost sunrise now, you know," a familiar voice behind you speaks so softly, trying to blend his voice in with the gentle rustling of the leaves and the grass.

You turn to face none other than Nikolai, a friend you'd made out of nowhere one day when trying to ground yourself in your own body again after a numbing argument with your parents. Between daydreams and the idle passing of time, you'd long forgotten what your first meeting was like with one another or even how you came to meet, but his presence became a constant in your life, and it was the one piece of reality you'd be willing to get out of your own head for.

And before you knew it, over time, he had managed to worm his way into your calloused heart.

He takes a seat beside you as you lay still on the rooftop of your house — a secret meeting place you'd both silently agreed to hang around in every other night from the late hours of the evening to the early colors of dawn.

You shrug in response, not having much else to say, and the two of you share in a comfortable silence before he speaks up again. Normally, he'd be all jokes and jests, telling you stories about his "friends" (Fyodor and Sigma, as you remember, although by the way he describes them and their personalities, they didn't really seem too fond of Nikolai's rather extroverted personality), but he wasn't as stupid as he made himself out to be for fun a lot of the time and it was exactly why he could keep up with Fyodor when the situation called for it — right now, he knew that you needed company more than you did a silly jab.

"...Kolya," you call, the slow rays of the sun brushing over the horizon before you with gentle shades of purples and oranges, "what's it like to not be tied down to anything?"

He's quiet for a good moment, staring down at you while your gaze followed the movements of the colors that danced along the sky.

And then he answers as honestly as he can, "...Disorienting. Freeing, but you don't really know where to go."

"Is it scary?"

"...Sometimes."

Again, the silence visits the both of you. Neither you nor Nikolai make the effort to force any sentences into the ongoing conversation. Now was not the time for that.

So, only when you are ready do you decide to talk again.

"...It feels like... like I've grown so used to being trapped in here that I don't really mind it as much anymore." A shaky breath leaves your lips as you continue. "I want to get out of... whatever this is, I really do. This cycle feels so numbingly overwhelming. But I can't do anything by myself, I've grown too scared of not the possibility of not having anything to come back to or just freeing myself while having no direction whatsoever, I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing— I had ambitions I wanted to chase after, but the constant fight for it that my hellish reality requires from me has become so tiring over time that I think I'm slowly giving up and, well... my head just feels like the safest escape I can have for myself now."

An empty shell of a person you became, because no one ever allowed you the freedom to grow into the human being you deserved to be.

He purses his lip and scoots closer to you as you sit up to pull your knees to your chest and rest your head in your arms. "But that head of yours is still as terrible of a cage as it is the one you grew up with."

You can't bring yourself to admit that he's right, because then that would mean that nothing in your life had ever gone right, including your grown habit of finding comfort in your busy thoughts and daydreams. And he knows that, so he doesn't push.

Instead, he wraps his cape around you both. It's a sweet gesture, and compared to the deluding imaginations you drug yourself with most of the time and your childhood bedroom-turned-prison, him enclosing you in the warmth of his cape doesn't feel constricting at all. The feeling of having another human being sit with you when it's as though you've been desensitized to everything else around you is grounding — the numbness is still there, but that numbness cuts itself in half when shared with him, much the same way your little moments of joy (very few and far between nowadays) are doubled when he walks through them with you.

"You're not like me," he tells you, his voice simmering down into something of a soft murmur as you lay your head on his shoulder. "In time, when you decide to brave yourself enough to get out of your own head, I'm sure the world will treat you kinder than it did to I."

He pauses for a good moment, taking a good look at your face while the light begins to illuminate each contour, all the way from your eyelids to the apples of your cheeks and the curve of your chin, and even the self-inflicted scars littered all over your arms from all the days where you felt your only escape would be death.

Nikolai considered himself a free being (well, almost), undeterred by the restraints of both the internal and the external, but he'd long since accepted the fact that you made it difficult for him to choose between his own hedonistic tendencies versus you.

(You don't know it yet, but someday, he'll decide that he finds more of that light-hearted feeling in the freedom of choosing to be with you instead of the freedom of choosing to detach himself completely from every worldly thing he can think of.)

The two of you stay as you are, watching the sun rise and a lone lark in the middle of the stretched fields begin to take flight. Its wings flutter about for a good moment before it begins to flap with the intent of gathering some of the passing winds to support itself, every now and then stuttering in its captivating glide while it slowly but surely lifts itself into the air.

When its ascent is complete and it remains in the sky with its wings freely spread out, floating aimlessly as it relishes in the early morning light of the warm sun, you find yourself in awe, but you can't help the tears that wet your lashes and roll down your cheeks from the burning envy you feel.

It's pathetic, being jealous of something so small and so innocent, but to see a bird bask itself in something that was taken from you so early on in life makes your heart ache with the kind of pain that no amount of healing could ever fully take away — you're sure of it.

"I want that for myself, too." Your voice comes out as something so broken that he pulls you in closer to kiss your temple, letting it linger for a bit before pulling away to nuzzle his nose into your hair.

"I know." And you know he knows because it's something he's also wanted for the longest time, now no longer just for himself, but for you as well. "I know... Me, too..."

By nature, it is in every bird’s birthright to fly — to feel the wind beneath their wings, to cut through currents in the air, and to feel nothing grounding their feet. And although you were robbed of that birthright from a very early age, wings clipped with the purpose of training you to never crave for the kind of flight every other bird was so blessed to experience, the hope of regrowing the feathers you've never seen in full never left you.

Instinct and nature triumph over forced domestication, after all.

Maybe one day, you'll find yourself quick enough to flap your wings before anyone else can trim them again.

a/n: where i'm from, we have a term in our language for an internal debt of sorts, usually out of gratitude, but that debt makes it so that every relationship you have is contractual, and it's what makes it difficult for us to detach ourselves from even the most draining relationships with others — including family. nikolai actually isn’t in my list of favorites but he is def someone i would want to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with. i think there’d be at least some semblance of mutual understanding between us even if it does end in bloodshed (not his blood tho) lmao

the lark ascending is a piece for the solo violin accompanied by an orchestra composed by ralph vaughn williams. i used to listen to it a lot when i was in my early teens (maybe around 12 or 13?) and it’s become a staple in my repertoire ever since (i’ve yet to actually get around to studying it). back then, i’ve always thought of it as something so meditative and soothing, but now i can only associate it with a hollow kind of sorrow that i can’t exactly put into words. someday, i’d very much like to experience being that lark that vaughn williams wrote an entire piece about.

a/n: man sometimes i wish certain characters were real. i have a pet bird — she is a very sweet parrot. i sometimes wonder if she thinks about the same things i do

[on1occasionfork]

2024 fic roundup

Thanks for the tag, @brenna, and for making this, @cheeseplants

What fandoms do you write in?

Good Omens these days

How many words have you published in 2024?

153,615!

What is your greatest achievement this year?

Writing-wise, it's gotta be But, soft! It's the longest thing I've ever written. You know what sticks with me though? A lovely friend told me she saved chapters to read on days she had to have medical treatment or needed cheering up. I can't imagine a higher bit of praise for my silly fluffy cat story. On days that I get discouraged, that's what I remember.

I also bit the bullet after many years and got a tattoo, designed by fellow Goblin Catartkd. It might not seem directly fic-related, but Good Omens fic and the fandom have reenergized my creativity, and every time I see it, it's a reminder of the joy to be found in those things.

What are your favourite top three fics you wrote this year?

But, soft!

Thus Saith the Lord

Gen Az

What was your biggest pit of despair moment?

No huge pit of despair, but quite a few moments of panic when I was posting faster than I was writing! If there was any despair, it was around getting stuck on the first thing I started writing for Good Omens.

What have you learned?

More than anything else I've learned how incredibly kind, smart, and wonderful this fandom is. I've had nothing but lovely interactions with folks, and I'm always impressed that no matter how obscure a reference is...someone's going to get it.

Quite a bit about hyphenating compound adjectives

A LOT about US geography

What fic did you want to do but never made it off the ground?

Hey @dbacklot99 -- here's where we talk about Abide. This story is nine chapters in, unposted, and I got a) stuck with the plot and b) distracted by Nursing Home AU, cats, and many other things. BUT. There is suddenly light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to @spectrallydistracted, and it's gonna be one of my 2025 projects.

Did you beta any fics? Any favs you want to shout out?

Shake Like Hell and Spell Success, Experiential Learning, and Yield by @kneelbeforeyourdogbabylon

Currently betaing Good Works by @majnoonathelibrarian

Midnight Ride by @brenna

And several other fantastic stories, some of which have been posted and some of which are still WIPs and about which I am super excited.

What three fics have you read this year that you love?

Oh come on. Three? Ridiculous. Gonna pick a few that were only published this year and which I have already read at least twice.

Eerie Was the Way by @kneelbeforeyourdogbabylon

That Certain Night by @adverbian

Consenting Cycle Repairmen by @groovynightstrawberry

Honey, There Is No Right Way by @voluptatiscausa

Stuck on You by @zin-lynn-c

Terminus by @emotional-support-demon-crowley

The Best Part by @happynachohologram

tidal disruption (I love the world because I love you) by @chlorine-and-daisies

@firstvisittoearth's Poetry Collection

What ideas are percolating for next year?

Abide — a post s2 "All of us against all of them" story

More you can't take the stars from me — I haven't had much time, but I'm excited to combine two stories that I deeply love, and I've been so happy about all the Browncoats it brought to my attention!

In Plain Sight — a riff on Witness.

Who do you want to thank?

@nosferatini and the @goodomensafterdark mod crew, both here and on Reddit. Nos, I'm so glad you pulled me in. Mods, you have created a space that is so welcoming, so supportive, and I cannot tell you how much I value it.

Everybody who has read, commented on, or recced any of my stuff, but especially my first published GO work, Our homeward steps were just as light. Plus @nosferatini again who turned it into an incredible podfic and @daneecastle who created beautiful art.

All the people who have given me ideas of food, destinations, etc. for Thus Saith the Lord, but especially @moderndayklutz. All those above who have either betaed for me or let me beta for them. @isiaiowin for rekindling my love of poetry.

And most of all, to my @sexy-sheep, love of my life who, when I hesitantly said that I had started writing GO fic, said, “I wondered how long it would take,” and immediately gave me the idea for But, soft! — you are the best of wives and best of women, the best brainstorming partner I could ever want, and the person I’m glad I fall asleep (or stay awake and read until 3am) next to every night.

Anyone in my tags feel free to join in or in fact anyone at all.

[keeperofthecrystals]

Promised a Bio!

Delphizuhri the Wandering Oracle.

**Palemecia, Kingdom of Splendor, and Demons.**

In the past shrouded in both glory and despair, the world teetered on the precipice of annihilation, a precarious balance tipped by the malevolent ambitions of a mad Emperor. He had summoned forth nightmarish beings from the fiery depths of Hell, and they wreaked havoc upon the land, leaving ruin in their wake. It was only through the extraordinary courage and power of four brave youths, born from the ashes of their obliterated homes, that the tide was turned and the Emperor's tyranny was finally vanquished.

In the aftermath, Palamecia lay in smoldering ruins, its once-majestic landscapes reduced to desolation. The scant survivors, resilient yet bereft, gathered their meager possessions and ventured forth, forging a new life in a distant land far removed from the remains of their former kingdom.

Delphizuhri, alongside the youthful members of her tribe—roaming nomads without a permanent home—had been schooled in the tragic history of their people. They embodied the legacy of a lineage that, due to the folly of its ancestors, had unwittingly opened the gates to otherworldly horrors. The elders would impart a solemn truth: “We have no king nor kingdom because our forebears summoned unnatural forces into our realm. Thus, we pledge to live, taking only what is necessary. For what value is there in gaining the world if one loses their very soul in the process?”

Contrary to this grim history, the tribe thrived against the odds, their survival skills becoming legendary among the arid dunes. They could find hidden paths, secret oases, and the elusive sources of sustenance that seemed to escape outsiders. Those who found themselves weary and lost in the unforgiving desert could always seek out their guidance. Yet such knowledge came at a cost—nothing was rendered without due payment.

As Delphizuhri approached adolescence, she discovered her own abilities to contribute both to the tribe and to her personal pursuits of comfort, amassing the small fortunes of Gil. Ever since she had learned to speak, her uncanny knack for recounting historic events—whether they were centuries past or prophetic visions of the future—left others in awe and bewilderment.

So vivid were her narrations that they were often accompanied by a precise alignment of the sun and moon; each detail was brought to life like vibrant brushstrokes on a canvas.

Her reputation blossomed as a gifted fortune teller, drawing a faithful following in both the quaint oasis town of Kaipo and the more bustling desert capital of Damycyan. However, as she matured into her 20s, Delphizuhri began to experience foreboding visions of enigmatic figures descending from the moon, heralding a cataclysmic fate linked to an ominous entity known only as “The Giant.”

One fateful day, a chilling vision broke through the veil of her dreams—the Giant, colossal and menacing, towered above the Kingdom of Baron, surrounded by a haunting field of white roses that began to bloom with the crimson stain of human blood.

Unable to shake the gravity of this foretelling, and heed the words of warning from her grandmother, Delphizuhri penned a note to explain her hasty departure. Determined, she set off towards Mysidia, her heart set on warning them of the Kingdom of Baron, the first target of the impending threat.

[edelfie]

#𝓣𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘! bumpin’ that?

as an aspiring a-list celebrity, it’s important for (y/n) to have a strong inner circle. not just for her work, but also for her own sanity. she was grateful when she met yachi and asahi, who were both kind enough to remain her friend after their work together ended. in terushima’s case, it was less of a choice for him to stay so much as he glued himself to her side from day one. fukunaga was similar, but most won’t believe it from his introverted personality. above all, tendou has been by (y/n)’s side since day one. even when he’s continents away, he is still her closest confident.

or, our main character and her crew! how exciting

BLIND ITEMS! —

## many small work-hands in the music industry only have positive things to say about this rising pop star. allegedly, she only conducts business with other up-and-comings and forms lifelong bonds with them. she appears to be the best of friends with her hairstylist, stylist, and creative designer. [revealed: Y/N L/N, terushima yuuji, azumane asahi, yachi hitoka]

## this z-list pop singer insisted on allowing her close-friend and amateur comedian open at all her shows for her freshman and sophomore albums, despite it not being good for her business. luckily for both, the crowds loved it, and the two still seem to be good friends. [revealed: Y/N L/N, fukunaga shouhei]

## according to an old school acquaintance, this renowned paris-based pastry chef is childhood friends and penpals with a music-industry nobody. the chef used to have a crush on the nobody, but the nobody turned them down in favor of becoming a groupie and eventually dating the A-list lead singer for 5 years. [revealed: tendou satori, Y/N L/N, unknown]

## the two-time flop artist has more exes than she knows what to do with it seems. now that she’s been dumped again, it’s only a matter of time before she writes a trash album about him too. [revealed: Y/N L/N]

hat3r. are we even surprised by any of these?? this isn’t even real tea or news. it’s getting stale — ynisjesus. you don’t ever have a single nice thing to say do you ???

runaruna. i want to know who she dated for 5 years, he’s gotta be like a totally industry bombshell if he’s an A-lister right? — sera_pent. EXACTLY like why is nobody talking about this! — junebuggg. it’s gotta be the guy from undead right? — harobio. no i think its mr “has-it-all” from SIR7 — sapphics4yn. why is everyone thinking it’s a guy ?? DID WE LEARN NOTHING FROM ALISAGATE??

gunslinger67. stream VNGELS by MISC9 !!!

read more…

NOTE! —

Today's fundraiser is "A Father's Plea: Help Save my Family" by Youssef Helles. In 2019, Youssef left Gaza for Belgium to find a better life for his family. However, five years later, the conditions in Gaza have worsened significantly. Now he's fundraising to bring his family to be in Belgium with him. Of the 23,000 goal, about 15,000 has been raised thus far. Every bit counts, so donate to Youssef's cause here or copy and share the link to spread the cause!

And a friendly reminder to register to vote! Please vote in the presidential race, but especially please please please vote in your regional and district elections! Remember to vote based on policy and meaningful change, not just color or party lines, and vote with your values and your important issues in mind. I know as I get older, my priorities have shifted, and as a college student loan forgiveness has become one of my must-addresses, so please! Go out and vote!

In "non-world-altering" news, I had my birthday recently! It wasn't that recent honestly since it was on the 15th, but I still thought it was worth mentioning. I also started college that week, which was fun! Due to the nature of my major, there aren't any stressful classes my first semester—mainly public speaking and fundamentals. I'm sure I'll bite my tongue on that soon though, especially since I have something due tonight *skull emoji*

MASTERLIST + SEVEN EVIL EXES

© all rights reserved—edelfie (2024) // do not plagiarize, modify, copy, use, translate, or repost my work on other sites without permission

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Sorry if you answered this before but do you plan on watching S6 of Miraculous ?

I'm not sure. I'm certainly not planning to watch it as it comes out, but I may watch it once it's streaming. While I'm clearly quite critical of canon, I did genuinely enjoy a lot of things prior to season five. Little moments and character interactions that made it worth watching the individual episodes even though the overall plot kinda sucked. It was a good blend of entertaining in the micro and bad in the macro, making it something enjoyable for my partner and I to watch and then talk about.

Season five wasn't like that. There are a mere handful of good moments and most episodes gave me nothing of value, so I'm very hesitant to give canon more of my time. This is extra true because season five ended the show's first big arc, making it a really good off point as I'll fully admit that seeing Gabriel's ultimate fate was a draw for me. Now? There's really nothing left to look forward to. I no longer care about the canon square, Lila is one of the most obnoxious villains ever written, and both of our "leads" have been character assassinated into characters I don't really want to watch, mostly because they're not allowed to learn and grow, but they have the kind of character flaws that desperately need them to learn and grow for their characters to stay engaging.

Marinette's issues are pretty obvious, but Adrien was done equally dirty, just in the exact opposite way. It's really hard to get excited about for a male lead who isn't strong enough to make it to the final fight after five seasons of promising that it was "us against the world." Especially when every other character was able to overcome the nightmare dust! At least Marinette is doing things and talking to people even if those people aren't necessarily the people she should talk to and her actions aren't the ones she should be taking. Adrien just keeps sitting stuff out and doing nothing to change his situation because one of his big flaws is his passivity and it's aggravating! He's supposed to be an action hero!

And before anyone rants at me about victim blaming, please remember that this is a story and Adrien is a fictional character who - as best I can tell - isn't even intentionally written as a victim. While he is one in terms of what actually happened, the story does not seem to view him as one so I don't think his writing is some active choice to rep victims and, even if it was, I'd still have issues with their choices.

Either way, Miraculous is not the type of show that is here to give us deep character analysis. It's a rom-com superhero show for kids and that is the type of content I tuned in to watch. I was here for Ladybug-the-smart-badass and her faithful, flirty hero partner, but the show is giving me nothing on either front. Ladynoir was barely a thing in season five and I don't think we got a single Ladrien moment. Those relationship dynamics were my two biggest draws. My third tier dynamic was Adrienette and even that failed me because they didn't even give us Marinette growing up enough to be the one to ask Adrien out because, as stated above, the characters are not allowed to grow because that would mean that the episodes have to be watched in a specific order and it leads to terrible writing choices.

I've honestly given the show way more time than I ever planned while running this blog! I didn't expect it to get popular enough where I'd go away for a week and come back to over a dozen asks! I just wanted to vent about season five for a bit because the writing was just so incredibly bad that I needed an outlet to stop stewing over it. I've found that writing a thing down and throwing it into the ether is a great way to get my brain to move on and stop thinking about it, thus the blog.