#mephistopheles and faust playing chess

[foxssie]

Heisenberg and Jesse playing chess november 2023 an appropriation of 19th century German school painting Mephistopheles and Faust playing chess

[goldenteaset]

Trigun 1998 Appreciation Week # 1: "The Little Philosopher"

I could be obvious and ramble more about Legato, but today I’d like you all to meet my awful little man. :D

…Even looking at this gif brings it all back. *Ahem*, anyway.

I’ve mentioned before that my original experience with Trigun was very weird (found out via a defunct retrospective) and extremely out of order--as in I saw episode 17 after Legato's intro and then everything else. Regardless of the order though, I’ve probably rewatched this flashback episode the most for kid Knives.

Loving Legato was a slow burn that took many years to fully catch fire, but my reaction to kid Knives was a much more straightforward affair. Maybe it was the elfin looks, maybe it was the familiar voice actor (Joshua Seth) getting to stretch his acting muscles beyond my childhood memories of Digimon. As soon as he stubbornly assured Vash about “making the smallest sacrifice we can”, my heart ached for him.

And see, the best thing about that “smallest sacrifice” line? Is that Knives still falls back on it again and again and again. Not telling Rem about his fears/Steve beating him so as not to worry her? The smallest sacrifice. Cutting his hair himself so that Vash can receive Rem’s attention, regardless of what Knives wants? The smallest sacrifice. Steve? The smallest—you get the idea.

The animators really got to flex with him, too, when it came to scene composition and character animation. Episode 17 isn't just a 2001: A Space Odyssey Homage, it's also unveiling a different, extra-cerebral side to Trigun's story. We see that most with how Knives is presented: he's Eve, he's HAL in a boy's skin, he's a little philosopher, he's a child reaching for concepts beyond his ken, he's Faust and Mephistopheles in one, he's a butterfly fighting against the pin prepared for him, he's mankind's self-created predator.

And by rights I should just end things here, but can I talk about how much I love his brief stint as the Devil on Joey's shoulder? The lighting, the minimal music, the "You did the right thing~" and his slow approach to the Captain's chair are just perfect. My one complaint about him and his adult self is that he doesn't get to embody that role again.

...But that aside, 10/10 would play chess with him and lose admirably

[thebl00dmaster]

Limbus Tamers

The limbus brainrot is terminal and digimon has been worming its way back so why not combine the two together. I’m not the biggest Digimon nerd (mainly watched some Adventure, 02 and Tamers and played Digimon world 3 and Cybersleuth) so I’ve been using Wikimon to help with the evolution lines, while  yes I could just mix and max anything I tried to use Digimon that actually evolve into one another.

I may do another one with Dante, Charon and Vergilius plus any Sinner I want revisit. So onward to my dubious picks!

For Yi Sang I chose this line mostly for his desire to have wings and his association with crows. Plus Yatagaramon is cool.

For Faust I focused on her witch imagery, what with her base E.G.O. giving her a broom and her codename being Walpurgisnacht, and her vast knowledge with Impmon being a stand in for Mephistopheles (I know Mephismon exist I already had settled on witchmon and needed a rookie). AncientWisemon could have gone to Yi Sang since he invented the mirror we use to pull the gacha but it still have that sorcerer vibe.

For La Creatura I settled for the Guilmon line mostly because Gallantmon/Dukemon, being a Royal Knight, fitted with her knightly delusions and also because I remember Guilmon going feral at some points in Tamers. Plus if we go for Dark Digivolutions,when Don completely snaps she could go down the Megidramon (or even ChaosDukemon) route similarly to Takato.

I hesitated a bit with Ryoshu so I ended doing both ideas: I kinda cobbled this one together trying to concile her ties to fire (her E.G.O inflict burn,the “cooking” of the Kebab and that one picture of her burning everything using as her steed) and art with Etemon being a singer and Piedmon being a clown (and circus artist in general).  Plus the Dark Master have throwing knives/swords. 

This one was more was more based on her swordplay and the fact she’s ... ok maybe not “honourable” but she’d rather not do it the “coward’s way”, she straight up refused to disguise herself during the casino heist and wanted to face the Shi assassin head on in Canto IV. So Musyamon popped into my mind and then went up the evo line to try and keep the samurai/ronin theme and Kunemon is here because I couldn’t use Kotemon as it doesn’t digivolve into Musyamon. 

Mr Salt got the Andromon line because he’s very robotic at times, a cog in the machine if you will, plus he is a tank of a man so Guardromon fits well. Also I thought it would be funny if somehow the machine Digimon ended up being more prone to make judgements than its human partner. 

I didn’t know where to go with Hong Lu, I tried with the Devas and little more with Lopmon’s line then I saw QueenChessmon and went “Chess is pastime for hoity-toity rich folk and Hong Lu is a rich boy” and went from there. Not really satisfied but it just clicked in the moment. ... If Hong Lu is playing some 5d chess with us I SWEAR TO -

Another double feature with the other sinner with double seats privilege ... this was completely incidental. This one is based on the brutish side of Heathcliff though Ogremon can be cunning as can our angry british. Titamon is also connected to revenge (specifically against the Olympos XII) so it fits as well. I know Rebellimon doesn’t digivolve to Titamon but fuck it ! I didn’t want Digitamamon on here and that’s the only exception I made, I just wanted to keep mean green demon all the way.

This one came frame from a flash about Telepole Heathcliff and since He’s a bastard I couldn’t him give a regular Gabumon.

I just had to give Fishmael a Whamon because of Moby Dick. As for the rest: I picked Gomamon because I thought it’d be funny to have a laid back partner with how rigid she can be; Dolphmon to transition between Gomamon and Whamon and Plesiomon because it’s a traditional Mega for Gomamon alongside Vikemon.

I must admit being stumped and just going “Waifumon go !”. Might revisit her with a more fitting line sometime.

For Sinclair at first I wanted to give him an avian line then stumbled upon Tsukaimon digivolving into Pidmon and went “time to go the angel route” as a spin on Patamon. Outside of MagnaAngemon (and Angewomon for that matter) I tried not to use Adventure/02 digimon. I picked Dominimon but hesitated between it, ClavisAngemon and SlashAngemon.

For Outism I first wanted to have an Olympos XII member then wondered whether or not there was a trojan horse digimon, Lo and behold there was ! As for the rest I worked my way down : Cherrymon being a duplicitous tree (he tried to manipulate Yamato during the Dark Master arc) fit Outis being suspicious, kiwimon is kind of a filler pick and Alraumon is a fake Palmon. 

Finally for Gregor I picked the Wormmon line though with some changes. I chose Snimon instead of Stingmon to harken to G Corp Gregor and while there’s a roachmon I felt it was too on the nose. As for Bloomlordmon I hesitated with going with GranKuwagamon or HeraclesKabuterimon but leaned more on this one mainly to distance a bit from bugs since Gregor has two plant based E.G.O.

That should be it for now.

[didanawisgi]

“It is believed that this painting is of a man that has lost a game of chess to the devil…

But did he?

Painting is of Faust And Mephistopheles playing Chess for the man’s soul. It is titled “Checkmate” or “The Chess Players” a direct translation from its German name Die Schachspieler.

Hint: The man still has yet another move…” - Oscar Arguello

[eemoo1o-animoo]

Claudebastian/Seblaude Headcanons

Sebastian x Claude is my favourite, if you haven’t already guessed.

Notes: Me trying a new aestethic for the post.

After Claude’s death, Sebastian spends/will spend as long as it takes to get him back, whatever the cost.

Claude’s first words back would obviously be a witty remark.

Claude plays several string instruments. He and Sebastian play piano-string duets together (e.g. x), but most of the time will attempt to one-up one another, only to end up in a tie.

While Claude doesn’t necessarily play the piano (whether he just doesn’t like to or outright can’t), he likes the church organ. Sebastian teases him sometimes for being all ‘holy’.

Will from time to time serenade the other with their instruments of choice. Sebastian is usually the one to do this, but Claude will have his moments.

Claude typically leads in ballroom dancing. Sebastian usually leads after some convincing, although deep down Claude doesn’t truly mind (Sebastian, on some level, does, but ultimately it’s the time spent that matters to the both of them).

As demons, they have no need or desire to ingest human food/beverages, but if they must, Sebastian prefers tea (with milk) and Claude prefers coffee (usually without milk).

They sometimes try one another’s preferred beverage as to keep the other ‘happy’, even though—in both situations—they really don’t have to, as they see through the other’s lie with amusement.

They sometimes debate over why the other’s preferred drink is, often using fancily worded insults/innuendos, only to come to a draw, despite usually thinking that they themselves are the winner.

On that note, they also compliment one another with poetically-worded sentence structure, as Sebastian has shown a tendency to do in canon. Most of the time, it is Sebastian who does so, but Claude will join in when he wants to, although not as verbally ardent as his other half.

While ‘Claude Faustus’ and ‘Sebastian Michaelis’ aren’t their real names, “Claude” still sometimes affectionately refers to “Sebastian” as ‘Michaelis’.

Their real names would be Stolas (Sebastian, after the goetian owl demon Stolas) and Arachneus (Claude, after the Greek spider goddess Arachne). Claude’s could also be Mephistopheles instead (after the German demon Mephistopheles, often depicted in the Faust legend).

They don’t celebrate Christmas unless they’re contracted with a human. When they’re not, it doesn’t cross their mind, unless it suddenly does one year, and then their/his immediate thought is to get the other something to show their/his appreciation of them/him.

On the off-chance that they decide to be contracted and/or go to the human world, they’ll sometimes (most of the time) use one another’s old surnames in an affectionate, teasing, marital manner (e.g., Sebastian Faustus or Claude Michaelis).

Claude, as we know, crochets. While it’s typically due to his desire to weave webs during his time in a human form, and thus he keeps to web-like patterns, he sometimes makes things like animals or other entities that cross his mind. The most frequently made (and later gifted to the muse) is some variant of this.

All of these gifts are either framed, or cased, depending on its dimensions.

Sebastian sometimes watches Claude (from behind) crochet as a form of expressing admiration.

Claude also does this when Sebastian is playing piano.

Like the stereotypical old married couple that sit out on their deck as the sun sets, either barely talking but basking in one another’s presence as one (Claude) crochets in their rocking chair, and the other (Sebastian) across from them sewing or knitting, or even reading, or playing a board game with one another.

That board game would probably either be chess or Scrabble. (It depends what mood they’re in, really, but while they’d like to think it’s usually chess, it is probably usually Scrabble*).

*Sebastian has definitely pulled words like ‘syzygy’ out of his sleeve/ass, much to Claude’s annoyance.

The two don’t really touch (as in, touch-touch, in an affectionate manner) unless it’s on special occasions. They usually prefer silent, emotional affection—sometimes off-handed complimentary comments—and closeness.

Claude sometimes teases Sebastian about being a little bit taller than him.

Sebastian uses his wings (or arms, usually wings, depending on the form taken) to envelope Claude, post-coitus.

Oh, yeah—big spoon Sebastian.

(Suggestive) Birds, no matter the sex, have cloaca. Thus, outside of his human form(s) (only accessible when inside of a contract), Sebastian doesn’t have the certain ‘appendage’ he’d might like at a certain time. Claude, on the other hand, being a spider and all, does.

If one of them (typically Sebastian) was contracted to someone who wanted the other (Claude) dead or injured, he’d use strategic blows as not to completely injure him.

Whereas, if it were the other way around, Claude wouldn’t come up with a plan, as he’s more soul-driven than emotional (as hard as it may be to believe, due to their similarities, Sebastian is the opposite*).

For the order of murder/death, both of them will attempt to find any loophole they can in the order (as we see in canon with Claude).

If one of them is ordered to kill the other by their master/mistress, this will most likely be the only ever instance where they experience (a great deal of) emotional turmoil. (Risk breaking a contract and thus losing a soul—the greatest sin to a demon, thoroughly imprinted into their very being—or risk losing their mate?)

*Sebastian can and will sort of ‘shut off’ or just outright suppress these instincts, though, if need be.

They don’t really argue. Like, at all.

But, I suppose, seeing as they’re so similar and demons who are naturally perfect at everything, they sometimes have low-key, friendly competitions.

Claude wonders why Sebastian doesn’t home bird symbolism in his work, as he does with his spider-motifs.

Seeing as Claude, as a jorogūmo, and has no definitive sex (as a demonic entity), possesses a highly lethal venom (to both mortals and immortals, though unalike, as immortals such as demons get horribly ill and close to death, but most of the time never reaching the finale stage) in his bites. Sebastian has been subjected to almost quite frequent* doses of it.

*It is also worth noting that Claude does not possess an anti-venom, although injecting venom is almost completely willingly, unless subconsciously threatened or excited (cough, aroused, cough).

Claude, like the ‘black widow’ that he is, will typically bite Sebastian after a moment of particular intimacy.

Sebastian will sometimes nip or ‘peck’ out of affection. Typically on the head or face.

Claude despises doing dirty work and getting himself dirty (and only does so if there’s no other way around it). Sebastian can handle such things far better.

Sebastian will be the one to do the dishes during contracts. Claude will “help” by just coming up behind him, arms under his, and then just guiding the plate to the side once he knows Sebastian has dried it.

Sebastian will sometimes give out playful, almost witty remarks like, “I am your knight, after all.” Take that how you will.

Claude deals with hunger the worst.

Mutual, suppressed separation anxiety. Sebastian demonstrates it with passive aggression, and clenching fists (or whatever his form at the time has). Claude becomes cold and numb, but in the sickly-chested sense, as if there’s this thundering cloud of dread over his head and in his throat.

Sebastian does up Claude’s bow ties as an expression of care. Claude let’s him as an expression of gratitude and respect. And, of course, love.

On the subject of bow ties, Sebastian often attempts to get Claude to wear a red bow tie with an otherwise black suit, as a means to mimic the marking on the abdomen of a black widow as a means to tease and to “make his eyes pop”. Also because Sebastian likes the colour red (in small doses), as he finds the colour (on Claude) to be quite sensual, and otherwise ‘fetching’.

Sebastian wearing glasses both enamours and pisses Claude off so. Sebastian also has a minor oral fixation with glasses, and when he doesn’t have his own (display) ones to chew on one of the arms, he’ll use Claude’s. Claude will put up an act of irritation, but they both know that he secretly likes it.

Sebastian usually carries a spare pair of glasses for Claude.

There’s some clear signs of difference between them, though. As I’ve said prior, Sebastian—in contrast to his beloved—is more ‘emotional’ (in contrast to humans, though, not so much).

Again, with the similarity aspect, they’re so good with putting up acts when need be that they’re so bad at convincing the other. Thus, it becomes a running inside-joke/play/display of taunting affection between them.

Sebastian loves the performing arts, both musical and theatrical, and often expresses his knowledge and fondness for them when alone. Claude does not, in fact like them (particularly theatre). He will, however, appreciate some form of (classical) music from time to time, albeit rarely and tolerantly.

Claude detests cats. He’s grown, or just learnt, to simply tolerate them because of Sebastian��s obscene amount of love* for them. His reasons for this is because he’s seen many cats destroy spider webs and ‘ruthlessly’ hunt spiders that happen to scurry by to then mutilate.

*He also wonders why Sebastian can hold them in such high regards, given the species’ track record with birds.

If there is a butterfly that happens to land in one of their hands, Sebastian will take the time to admire it (albeit it could be out of a passive pity), but Claude will most likely squish it immediately without a second thought.

In the terms of contracts, Sebastian is ultimately better with kids than Claude. He also holds more tolerance to them when in the presence of one (or more, but usually just one), whereas Claude—naturally colder and stand-offish—just glares down at them until they leave out of nervousness or fear, and in the terms of contracts he is discomforted and far more stoic than what he would be with an older contractor (as we see with Alois).

The reason why Claude continues to allow himself to make contracts with children is not only because it is typically unheard of and thus uncouth for a demon who puts themself ‘up for hire’ to reject a proposal (and Claude strives for self image, more-so than Sebastian) but also because Claude has a sweet tooth, and the souls of the young are typically regarded as sweeter, for the innocence.