#Reed (Arknights)

[coolchulainn]

reed

[unit-zero-two]

It’s interesting to me that when Reed’s EN voice was shown off there was annoyance/disappointment from people about her not having an Irish accent. Then we get to the new event and we find out that it’s a plot point. Reed very explicitly sounds like a Victorian, not a Taran. Until she speaks/sings Taran no one knows that she’s a Taran. She’s a minority passing as the majority. She’s assimilated. Even when it’s revealed that she’s Taran, she’s still treated as separate due to the implied class privilege that allows her to speak like she does.

I love how this helps to emphasize the ongoing theme/question of the event, “What makes someone a Taran?” They talk repeatedly about how the Taran language has been widely obliterated. Their stories relegated to folk tales and avant garde art that’s seen as revolutionary. The Victorians have removed all bits of culture that makes a Taran, and spread them from their homeland through Victoria. In this situation, how could they know who else is a Taran? How could they know they’re a Taran? The Tarans have been made into an underclass with the majority of them poor. Their cultural struggle has become a class struggle and it is through this lens that many see themselves as “Taran”. Is the person who runs the factory that grinds up Taran lives for a better profit margin still Taran? What about the nobles who fund Taran art but otherwise speak the Victorian tongue, wear their clothes and otherwise ignore the plight of the Tarans? What makes Reed Taran? And how does this affect whether she’s qualified to lead the Tarans to salvation?

It also handily plays into how no one who doesn’t know to look for it doesn’t recognize her as a Draco. If Reed doesn’t call herself a Draco and own the flames inside of her, then is she still a Draco? What really makes a Draco and a Vouivre different? This event is a struggle for identity, and doesn’t really have answers to these questions. But it still provides a certainty with the path forward for our characters, and maybe that’s more important than answering these questions?

On a side note, I love the point where a character grumbles about the three stupid Vouire standing up for each other, but only one of the characters is actually a Vouivre.

[oltammefru]

I wonder why there are so many lilies in Reed the Flame Shadow's design. I wonder what the lilies could possibly symbolize.

[randmsapphic]

hg really decided that reed is the specialist girl so she deserves both a fun witch skin where she flies on a broom and some of the best visual affects the game has.

[mokadevs]

early catalyst

[ilvgyoza]

hihi

[melfiiis]

weed

[maddiebat]

I went feral over her…….

[ghostofazalea]

mason jar with mountain dew shes in gamer mode

[newerpaper]

[arkiwii]

Oh hey, I did a thing! A friend showed this meme in a server and I thought it would be funny

Sorry Sona I will never know how to draw your hair

(blank template below the cut)

[sephira-illustration]

Chibi Reed Alter design because she deserves to be perceived!

Available as a print and sticker in my shop!

A transparent version without background is also available here!

As always, reblogs are appreciated!

[mochiitamako]

Reed the flame shadow

[chuurylen]

Doctor... I offer you an accord.

[kroosluvr]

the flameshadow

[mokadevs]

reeds that burn away at the touch of fire