#Verdant becomes Golden in Nopes

[randomnameless]

Re : about Claude,

I wanted to double check his Cyril B support, since it’s apparently the one where he grows but I found something odd :

Don't know... With your status, you could smack me to the ground and walk right over me.

Cyril thinks Claude could use his privilege card and roll over poor Cyril (which is kind of not helped by Claude saying in their last convo “So cold! Think about who you're talking to” when Cyril told him to fig off)

I...guess? But I wouldn't. We're friends.

Claude doesn’t refute Cyril’s assumption, but says he wouldn’t roll over him since they are friends.

I thought you were the kind of guy who'd smack down just about anybody if you needed to.

Cyril spoils Randolph’s fate in Nopes, saying Claude is the kind of person who would roll over anyone if he “needs to”, friend, ally or not.

You really are a stubborn one. All right, then. I'll tell you.

Interesting to note Claude has his sad portrait, but again, doesn’t refute Cyril’s assesment...

With this exchange (coupled with the last line i linked to), Claude doesn’t deny that with his status, he could or would roll over randoms if “needed”.

But then, Claude drops his bomb :

I swore I'd change this world so that those without status are no longer oppressed.

Which is at odds with his previous behaviour, are we supposed to think he wouldn’t mind using his status to roll over randoms, but he wants to make a world where said randoms are “no longer oppressed” (by people who have a status, like him)?

Maybe I’m parasited with Nopes, but with this supports Claude more or less confesses he would use whatever means needed to reach his goals, even if those means are contrary to said goal (like a certain someone) -

And yet, despite his non-admissions, Claude doesn’t body Cyril out of the way to sneak in the Holy Tomb. For whatever reason (is it because Cyril is Almyran, or because he is a member of his army, or a genuine “friend”?) Claude reveals part of his dream, learns a bit more about Rhea and leaves.

(or maybe he does later! jk, given his surprise when Rhea infodumps, we know he didn’t sneak in the holy tomb)

I still find this support very telling about his relationship with Cyril (which only ends at B!) despite what some people think, those two are not very close.

[i-write-boop-spoops]

A (not so) quiet day in the countryside - Leon x reader

A requested one-shot where Leon decides to bug the reader with, well, a bug. Chaos ensues.

Enjoy!

It’s very rare that Leon returns to Postwick.

So you’re unbelievably flattered that he invited you to come along.

It marks an important milestone in your relationship, meeting the rest of his family beyond Hop, visiting the town he grew up in, staying in his childhood home. It makes you feel like you’re more than just someone he’s dating, like you’re an important, irreplaceable part of his life.

Your trip is nearly over, just a few days left before you return to Wyndon. You both intend to spend the most of it relishing in the quaint, quiet countryside, far away from all that hustle and bustle you’re so familiar with.

Postwick is so different from the city, it’s so peaceful, so calm, it moves at a dawdling pace, like a merry but lazy stream. Some would argue it’s boring, but you wholeheartedly disagree. You have space to breathe here, to relax, and every inhale is full of effervescence and life that the urban streets just can’t offer.

It gives you a glimpse into a more substantial life, it would be the perfect place to raise a family with him.

The warm sunlight dances upon your eyelids as you rest on the lush, verdant grass, its blades tickle the exposed areas of skin that your t-shirt and shorts don’t cover. The taste of sour-sweet lemonade sticks to your lips, the breeze is cooling and bright as it strolls through the air. Wooloo bleat cheerfully in the distance, you can hear some local children giggling as they play a few fields over. It’s mid-afternoon, not long after lunch, you spent the morning helping out in the garden, and now you’re content to loaf there with him until dinnertime.

 “Love,” you hear him say, you crack one eye open and languidly glance at him. His smile is inviting and full of his boyish charm, but there’s mischief in those gorgeous golden eyes. His hands are held in such a way that implies he has something hidden between them, you wonder if t’s a flower or stone. “I have something to show you”

You nod and hum a “Yeah?” as you bring yourself to sit up, torso twisting towards him. He comes to kneel beside you, and he gently opens his hands as if he were opening a ring box. A small ball of shuddering yellow fluff is revealed to you, you lean closer to examine it further.

Four cerulean blue eyes look at you inquisitively.

That’s two too many eyes.

“Lee!” You shriek, your body jerking away from him. “You know I hate bug types!”

 He laughs and shakes his head, leaning in closer with the little Joltik, his finger tenderly stroking its back. “How can you hate this little chap? He’s so adorable!”

“Nope, nope, nope” you repeat as you squirm and shimmy away. He comes nearer, the pokemon still presented to you, an impish grin spread across his face.

“Ah, c’mon love,” he teases with a chuckle. “Don’t you wanna pet his fuzzy little head?”

He shoves the bug into your face, you make brief eye contact with it before shrieking like a Misdreavus. You spring to your feet so fast it feels like you were struck by lightning. He’s laughing madly as he lunges at you, you break into a sprint, shooting across the garden. He begins to chase you, Joltik held securely in one hand, while the other is reached out to grab at you.

His fingers brush against your t-shirt hem, you leap away and spin to run in another direction, he narrowly misses you.  Your footsteps press shapes into the grass as you skip across it, your heart is racing, your skin lacquered in sweat.

“C’mere you minx!” he yells, pouncing at you again, you hop back, and find yourself caged between him, the house, and a fence. Your chest rises and falls rapidly and you close your eyes, ready to accept your fate.

“Leon!!!” His mum calls from the kitchen window. “Play nice!”

Leon pauses and turns to her, huffing like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Mum!” he exclaims, almost like a whine, slightly flustered by the scolding.

“Seriously? Haven’t you grown out of showing bugs to people you fancy?! You’ve been doing that since you were six!”

Now that he’s distracted, your eyes dart around looking for an escape. You probably can’t slip past him, he is far too quick for that. You curse under your breath, wondering if he’ll still make you touch that horrifying bug once he’s done talking with his mum.

Something bright purple catches your gaze, a rubber hose coiled up on the ground like a sleeping ekans. You used it earlier to water some of the plants. A brilliant idea comes to mind, you glance at Leon, who is still grumbling at his mother. It’s actually kind of adorable, witnessing the unbeatable champion taken down a peg by the only person who can, his mum.

You slowly, silently sink into a crouch, praying to Arceus you wouldn’t draw his attention. You take hold of the hose’s nozzle and stand back up. Leon finally notices that you’re doing something as he turns to face you.

“Stay back! I’m armed!” you exclaim amidst heavy breaths, brandishing the hose’s nozzle like a pistol, pointing right at his chest, with your other hand primed to turn the tap on. “Ah, love, there’s no need for that…” he says softly as he steps forward, Joltik still in hand. You’re unsure whether to trust him, he still might try spook you again. “I’m serious!” you insist frantically, aim a little shaky.

“Okay, okay. I’ll put him down” he concedes, somewhat gently, slinking down to one knee. He opens his palm and the yellow fluff-ball jumps from his hands. The little thing scuttles away through the grass and leaps over the fence into the neighbouring wheat field.

Leon looks at you with a charming smile as he gets up, perhaps hoping to use your love for him to his advantage.

You deny him that, he deserves no mercy for the hell he put you through.

With a quick twist, you turn the tap, the hose starts to pulse as it fills with water. He recognizes what you’re up to but it’s too late. He raises his hands to protest, a futile action, he soon comes to realise.

Now it’s your turn to laugh like maniac.

His arms flail as they try shield his face from the high-pressure spray, his red shirt darkens in shade as it is soaked. He yelps from the cold, the volume of his hair lessening under the onslaught of water. A rainbow shimmers in the droplets as they rain down on him, you continue even after he’s drenched.

It appears you were too bold with your strategy, he seems to have become accustomed to the spray. He moves, swifter than you can account for, and snatches the nozzle from your grasp with his superior strength. You instinctively close your eyes and cover your face, bracing yourself for the rush of ice-cold water.

The tap squeaks as it is turned off, the hose falls unceremoniously to the ground. You open your eyes, befuddled, and lower your guard. You meet his giddy golden gaze, and he starts to splutter with laughter.

“Well that went a bit overboard” he says with a chuckle, bringing you close to him. He’s so warm, despite being absolutely soaked, your arms wrap around his waist as he embraces you. You giggle and agree, smiling up at him as your hand gingerly brushes some of the hair away from his face. He kisses you sweetly, it’s in your second nature to reciprocate.

As you pull away, he smiles and laughs. “I guess I deserved that for being such a rascal”

“That you do” you muse, pecking his lips. He kisses your forehead, you subsequently lay your head against his chest as you hug. You’re both quiet for a bit, it is only when you part from his hold that he opens his mouth to speak.

“Hey, it’s that Joltik again!”

You shriek and jump into his arms, he catches you easily as you cling to his neck. You can hear a laugh rumble in his chest, you look back and find nothing even resembling the small yellow thing. “Gotcha!” he exclaims proudly with a grin.

“Lee!” you squeal as you scold him, bumping your fist against his left pectoral. “That’s not funny!”

“Ah, sorry love, your reactions are just so cute. I couldn’t help myself”

Your heart abruptly melts, how can you be mad at him when he’s so sweet and genuine?

“Oh come here you son of a bitch!” you say as you lean in to kiss him. He grins at you, his lips feel so soft as they meet yours.

You’re immediately interrupted by his mum as she pops her head out the kitchen window, her face etched in a scowl.

“Did you just call me a bitch?!”

[cv-nobody-and-associates]

Nobody Wants to Know

Part III – Veldra

“It’s been some time, hasn’t it?” Nobody approached the cloaked figure of a ghostly humanoid that resided in an empty white void. It was once a grand world, full of magic and technology and dedicated souls that helped to make the most of those forces. But alas, it’s time had long since passed. The world had been ravaged by endless war long before Nobody had arrived.

And then she was told to end it. To end the entire world.

At the time, Nobody didn’t hesitate. She didn’t think about it, chose not to perceive its people as living, feeling individuals. She only saw targets, only saw their deaths as statistics that added towards a completed job. The woman she was meeting now was the first time that her attitude changed, resulting in her showing mercy.

“You’ve grown.” The voice of Oira spoke within Nobody’s mind, the two now being capable of more open communication. “I’m telling you; you can be a good person. That’s still how I see you, even after all you’ve done.”

Nobody didn’t respond. The humanoid turned to face her, revealing the once beautiful face of a woman, now adorned with red burn scars across her face. She had short black hair in bangs and golden eyes that glared at Nobody harshly.

“You…” She hissed. Nobody didn’t flinch. She understood the woman’s anger. “Is it not enough that you leave me in this empty hell, with nothing but my demons for company? You must come to taunt me as well?” Nobody sighed.

“That’s not why I’m here, Lorekeeper.” She admitted. “Honestly, I just want to talk.” Lorekeeper laughed, a shrill sound that permeated the area.

“What makes you think I would entertain your dialogue?”

“Do you have anything else to do in here?” Nobody joked, perhaps a bit harshly. “I can always come back another time if you’re busy.” There was a pause, and Nobody was almost certain that combat would break out, but eventually Lorekeeper sighed.

“Sit then, Nobody the first.” She gestured for her to sit, and Nobody dutifully did so. She considered patting the ground and inviting her host to sit down as well, but the fact that said host was a ghost with no legs quickly made her reconsider.

“I come to you in search of advice.” Nobody began. Lorekeeper raised an eyebrow. “And perhaps some assistance, if you happen to be agreeable. Your expertise with demons and soul magic would be most helpful.”

Lorekeeper drifted closer to Nobody, circling her carefully. “There are others.” She said, and Nobody nodded in response.

“I’m told there are two of them in here.” Nobody said, tapping her head with her fist a few times. She wasn’t sure if her inner companions resided in any specific area of her being, so this was more for effect than anything else. “I’ve met one, and apparently I should be expecting the other soon.”

“Very soon.” Lorekeeper confirmed. “I would estimate you have mere hours, perhaps less, before they become active.” She narrowed her eyes. “This is why you chose to come here, is it not? Your desire to converse is merely a cover.”

Nobody shrugged in response. “Only partially. I do seek to talk, but I also knew that this place had nothing to be damaged.” She explained. Lorekeeper crossed her arms, to which Nobody sighed. “I know, I know, but you’re more than capable of holding your own if things turn sour.”

“And you think that makes it acceptable to bring unwanted dangers to my home?”

“I thought you’d enjoy the chance to attack me.” Nobody said light-heartedly. “Well, not me technically, but the same body. Would revenge against me not satisfy you?”

“Tempting, but unlike you, I take little pleasure from violence.” Lorekeeper said, shaking her head in an annoyed fashion.

“I don’t recall ever claiming to take joy in what happened here.” Nobody protested. Lorekeeper laughed, an unpleasant and high-pitched sound like that which would shatter a glass.

“Do not take me for a fool, Nobody the first.” She glared. “You fight because it brings you joy first, and because you have to second. I saw as you tore through this world, as you destroyed cities. You took my children’s lives with a smile.” She hissed bitterly.

Nobody couldn’t recall much of that time. Had she really smiled because it brought her joy to kill and destroy?

“That’s a lie!” Oira protested from within Nobody. “That lady has no idea what she-” Lorekeeper cut her off.

“DO NOT QUESTION MY MEMORY, CHANGELING.” She yelled. “YOU DID NOT SEE THE BODIES OF YOUR CHILDREN BURNT AND BLEEDING ON THE STREETS.”

“You can hear her?”

“Of course I can, Nobody the first.” She waved her hand dismissively. “My understanding of souls is greater than even your Void associates. I know of gods and monsters that elude even your ever wandering eye. Is this not why you kept me alive?” She raised an eyebrow, as though expecting Nobody to agree.

“Nope.”

“Nope?” Lorekeeper repeated, seeming surprised. “What do you mean? If not for my uses, what compelled you to spare me in the first place?”

“You overestimate my memory, Nobody the second.” Nobody shook her head casually. Lorekeeper seemed to tense, annoyed by the title she had been addressed as. “This is part of why I came in search of your advice.”

“Then cease your trivial chatter and get to the point.” Lorekeeper said. “I am losing my patience, as is the other within you.”

“She’s right.” Oira added. “V’s getting up. It’s…a little unsettling.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” Nobody responded mentally before returning her attention to Lorekeeper.

“These other souls within my form are a part of me.” Nobody began explaining. “I have reason to believe I was formed from their combination, in fact. Oira seems to see me as good, something she herself seems to embody. With this in mind, I believe that the second will be a more negative sort. Perhaps evil, or perhaps simply not good.” Her body tensed.

It seemed it was time.

“Finish your statement quickly.” Lorekeeper ordered. Whether or not she was concerned for Nobody or herself was unclear, but she was clearly distressed. “We do not have much time.”

“If one is good…” Nobody managed, being forced to her knees by a powerful force within her body. Her mind felt like it was being torn away, forcefully being overtaken by another. It felt strong.

And angry.

“And the other is evil…” She forced out. Her body shifted, with long runic lines forming across its usually featureless form. Her question mark face was flickering, and with it her limited vision was being consumed by darkness.

“Then what the hell am I on my own?!”

Nobody’s vision vanished, and she lost control.

Lorekeeper was flung back by a sharp burst of energy exploding outward from the body that was once Nobody. Her eyes were forced shut as she tried to maintain some sense of balance. However, when her eyes opened her surroundings were quite different.

Gone was the empty white landscape, and in its place was a verdant forest with tall and thick trees sitting upon a ground of stone and moss. The skies above were blood red with clouds of ash black all illuminated by a pale-yellow moon.

“This…isn’t right.” Lorekeeper said in awe. “This world hasn’t been restored, but you have brought life to it. Some kind of energy burst from your transformation?” Lorekeeper was left with little time to speculate as a clawed hand leapt out at her face, nearly adding to her collection of scars. She dodged swiftly, floating around the attack.

The attacker possessed clawed hands and feet, and a black body with intricate white lines all across in patterns like a circuit. Upon its head was a rhombus shape and a metallic helmet, with four points at all sides to create a star-like image.

“So,” She spoke whilst dodging several more slashes and strikes, each one wilder and fiercer than the last. “You must be the evil one. Do you have a name?” The attacker managed to land a hit, and Lorekeeper was left gasping at the force that managed to launch her through the trees.

“Veldra.” It growled. “Name was Veldra. I survive!” It called out, charging forward again. Lorekeeper acted quickly, forcing out a mystical barrier spell. A golden transparent wall appeared in front of her. It was one of her specialty spells. She recalled how it had almost stopped Nobody the first time the two fought. She had only grown stronger with her spells since then, so she had little doubt she would at least have time to charge a proper attack.

She was wrong.

Veldra tore through the barrier like it was nothing, grabbing onto Lorekeeper’s face. Its hand burnt the flesh around her already scarred face, but not enough for more scars to form. Certainly enough to make her scream though.

It rammed her through a tree before planning her head firmly in the ground. Lorekeeper felt the had heat up even more and realised it was charging a blast, so in retaliation she forced it off her face before flying upwards into the treeline.

“You are strong, I admit.” She took a few breaths as she spoke, making a few hand gestures in preparation for a powerful spell. “But you cannot defeat me!” She cried, launching a pulsing green beam down at Veldra.

Veldra raised their hand, and it shifted from a clawed hand to a shield. They were clearly forced back by the blast, but not nearly as much as Lorekeeper had hoped. The shield inverted, seeming to absorb most of the blast. When the beam was done, Veldra had a ghastly green glow.

It leapt up into the sky, but this time Lorekeeper was ready. She flung her arms out and fired off a series of purple strings that lashed at the attacker. They cut its flesh, forcing out a black liquid that fell to the ground before burning the surface beneath it. Still, Veldra wasn’t slowing down.

In moments it was above Lorekeeper’s head. She barely had time to look up before she was forcefully kicked back down to the ground, a crater forming at the point of impact. As Veldra fell back to the ground it launched a series of green bolts of energy down at Lorekeeper, forcing her to dance between the trees for cover.

Veldra impacted the ground with a sharp thud. It stood and looked around for a moment. Lorekeeper positioned herself behind a tree to hide and collect herself.

“Called me evil.” Veldra spoke in a rough and coarse voice. “I am no evil. I survive. I kill only to survive. You are threat.”

“If you only act in self-defence, we need not fight one another.” Lorekeeper used a simple illusion to make her voice echo across the forest, confusing Veldra. “But I suspect that’s not all. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Veldra snarled in response.

“I survive.” Veldra said. “In battle, I prove I survive. Others don’t. They are weak. Must be. I escape because of strength. I enjoy being strong. I enjoy proving others weak.” A beam of white energy burst forth from Veldra’s head, and it tore through much of the forest, burning the trees away to stumps.

“How cruel.” Lorekeeper rose into the air once more. Veldra gazed up, but did not attack. “You justify cruelty with self-preservation, even against those who aren’t a threat.”

“WE HAVE NO CHOICE!” Veldra cried out. It sounded almost sad, a bitter tone leaking into its words. “Freedom is beyond all of us! We kill, or we die. We are erased. I cannot choose. I only attack. I hope for the strong. I find only the weak. She cannot choose either.” It was referring to Nobody, Lorekeeper realised.

“She tries. She is punished. We suffer. Pain of world is nothing compared to him.” Veldra seethed. Its body was shaking. “She is forced. Forced to kill, taught to enjoy. I go along, because I understand. I know what awaits.”

“I am evil,” Veldra said. “I cannot survive otherwise. I am cruel. No other way. Tried before. Failed before.” It jumped up, finally readying its claws for another attack.

“If evil helps survival, I embrace it!” It roared. Fortunately, its speech had given Lorekeeper a chance to finish the preparations for a very advanced spell.

“NOW!” She called out, and a golden net appeared around Veldra, before forming a solid cube of energy like a cage. Veldra hit the bars roughly and cried out in pain.

“What…” Veldra’s form began to change, its face flickering and the lines across its body fading. “is…this…?” It collapsed, barely able to stay conscious.

“Soul Siphon spell.” She explained, not that Veldra was in any state to listen. “It shall weaken your soul, forcing it back. Nobody was much easier to deal with.”

It was several hours before Nobody awoke. The cage had dissipated, and she clutched head carefully as she stood. Her cane slipped cleanly out of her arm, and she used it to steady herself.

“You were definitely on the right track.”

Nobody turned to see Lorekeeper seemingly leaning on a tree. She tilted her head in confusion, and Lorekeeper sighed.

“The two within you. Oira and Veldra. Each one informs aspects of you.” She explained. “Veldra is… evil might not be the right word, but certainly not good. You two seem to share some similar views. A willingness to do anything to survive.”

“Well, at least I know it won’t be a danger to me.” Nobody nodded. “But is it the source of that drive to live? Is Oira? What part of me is truly myself, and what is simply them bleeding over into me?” Lorekeeper sighed again, though in more of a sad tone than an annoyed one.

“Those are questions I cannot answer. You would have to find someone who understands more what it is to be yourself. Perhaps the next stop on your journey?” Lorekeeper suggested. Nobody thought for a moment.

“I’m not sure if Vessel is quite ready for something like this, but she is the final Nobody I know of.” She said. “I shall go to her once I have recovered.”

“You shall leave now.” Lorekeeper declared. She summoned a portal beneath Nobody, who clung to the ground in order to avoid completely falling through. “I am sorry, but I wish to be alone. I cannot stop you from returning another time.”

“Before I go…” Nobody struggled to speak, but some things simply had to be said before she left.

“Sorry.”

And with that, she vanished into the portal. Lorekeeper wore the smallest of smiles.

“I suppose for closure, that will have to suffice.”

--- END ---

AN: Finally, the other piece of Nobody revealed! Veldra is a Void Demon that narrowly escaped a fate worse than death, known as erasure. It was damaged, but managed to bond itself to Oira’s soul, which created Nobody. Veldra uses both it/its and they/them pronouns. You may have noticed how they talk a little oddly, sticking to short sentences. This is both because Veldra is a damaged soul and because it speaks a different first language than most of the other characters. Most everyone else speaks a language that I’ll call Common for now. Most multiversal beings speak it as a second language, some as a first.

I hope you enjoy this! I really wanted to get this done before the next CV event, and I think I just about managed. Nobody’s still got a few things to do before heading back though.

Oh, and if anyone is curious, Nobody the Lorekeeper is an old character of mine from a story called The War of the Travelling Sun, or TWOTTS for short. A bunch of other people were also involved, but I stuck to using exclusively the parts I was responsible for, making it so this version of the world was destroyed to reflect how I deleted the old Tumblr blog for the story. I didn’t want to use anything more than what I had made.

That’s all for now! Hope to see you all next time, as we reach the conclusion of this little trilogy and move on to the future!

[thedivergingpaths]

The Diverging Paths: What Could Have Been

So in light of a post I reblogged recently (and also just other discussions elsewhere) I’ve decided to tackle my ideas and opinions about how Three Houses could have done a more solid job at diverging paths (hehe because of my blog name).

These opinions are both my own and my own as developed by reading stuff, some of which I have reblogged here and some of which I just read. Just a sort of disclaimer and FYI.

So here we go!

White Clouds

I think the differences should have been more prominent, not just in the occasional cut scenes, with changes in lord dialogue and group dynamics. Important, especially for the shared beats of the game, but each route should have had distinct beats and not just shuffled up dialogue for the same beats.

To clarify, what I mean by beats is story beats - i.e. like scenes and the content that goes with it.

I do think White Clouds should still have similar missions and objectives across all routes, because I think it would help demonstrate how divided Fódlan became following the war and five years during Byleth’s absence.

So there should have been more distinct missions, or even if they were the same, maybe shuffle what exactly happens. Like while leading the Black Eagles, maybe instead of confronting the church invades in the tomb, they are confronted elsewhere because of a failed diversion by Edelgard and Hubert.

And some of the missions that really should be Faerghus missions - Miklan and Lonato - should be Blue Lions exclusive. There are other rumblings going on in the grand politics of the three nations, as seen in paralogues. Maybe instead of Hilda’s being the main one to discuss the conflict with Almyra pre-timeskip, maybe there’s a mission because of civilians at the border during a skirmish and the Golden Deer are sent to deal with it. It would be a good way to plant the seeds of Claude’s dream of open borders by actually, you know, exposing us to the wider world and having to make opinions based on people and not boogey-men. For the Black Eagles, we could actually do things in the Empire and meet the main players there rather than them just being mentioned or randomly appearing once the war begins.

Certain things I feel would need to happen to keep the main plot of the Empire vs Everyone Else going, such as Flayn’s rescue, Monica’s reveal as Kronya, the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, etc., etc.

Verdant Wind

Verdant Wind should have been grander in what it achieved. Claude wants to open up the borders of the world and foster understanding, and while some of the insulation and the whole war isn’t really something he can control, the world should have felt bigger in the Golden Deer route.

The Almyrans become allies and Claude is their Prince Khalid and yet we get very little of them and only one Almyran character appears in the second half of the route. I think it would have been interesting, and fun, to have had a few diplomatic-ish (tho because it’s fire emblem, inevitably having some sort of battle) missions with other nations, like Almyra, but maybe even Dagda and Sreng and a few other close nations that we even no less about, like Albinea.

For the Fódlan war, I think that the confrontation with Edelgard should be a little different. The cutscene doesn’t really fit, so maybe a different one where Claude and Byleth get ready for the final death match, but then Byleth holds Claude back as Dedue appears to avenge Dimitri and Duscur, even though Edelgard didn’t cause the Tragedy of Duscur, Dedue doesn’t know that and she’s also working with those who caused it so. I just think that it’d be good closure for Dedue before he leaves to mourn. Also ~collaboration~ in toppling the war.

And so, after the war in the immediate fall-out, I think the confrontation with the Agarthans/Those Who Slither in the Dark should still happen, but not culminate in Nemesis’ resurrection. As great as that cutscene is, I think having more efforts to try and reconcile with the Agarthans would be more interesting. Let there be non-homicidal Agarthans who just want to live in their caves with the shiny tech in peace.

Azure Moon

I feel like the route should have started more in Faerghus. Part of that country was annexed to the Empire during the five years of Byleth’s absence, so I don’t think it’s unreasonable for Edelgard to make appearances there.

And in some ways, that would be more heartbreaking because Dimitri is in his kingdom, and his friends and followers are trying to get him to save their nation, but all he sees is Edelgard. It would be more of a blow to what choice he makes. He’s choosing vengeance over salvation. Until, of course, he begins to recover and really looks at what has become of Faerghus and figure out what he must do to end the suffering.

Also Dedue should be more involved once he returns because not only is he Dimitri’s retainer, their bond is a lot deeper than Dimitri and Byleth’s so Dedue should have had a stronger hand in Dimitri’s recovery arc.

Crimson Flower

It would be interesting if the route split wasn’t decided whether to betray the Church or turn on the Empire, but how to handle the war once Byleth returns from their five-year absence.

Like, let us either embrace the villain route - and potentially show how our allies who have a very different sense of morals start cracking under the banner of the empire - or let us challenge Edelgard’s motives and morals and goals.

I’m pretty sure that a lot of Edelgard’s anti-church and crest stance is really just nonsense fed to her by the Agarthans - particularly Thales - so that she could set Fódlan on fire for them. There were possibly similar lies told to Nemesis, honestly. And I think that should affect the trajectory of the game.

Embracing the villain route entrenches the Agarthans deeper into Fódlan politics, even though Hubert and Edelgard says it leaves a bad taste in their mouth, but both groups are taking advantage of each other. And obviously this would culminate in the battle with Rhea and her death. Basically, keep the route more or less intact but really drive home that this maybe isn’t the good and moral choice.

On the flip side, a Byleth who challenges but still cares for Edelgard might succeed in Edelgard at least considering she’s on the wrong path. And here I think the main foes should be the Agarthans. Essentially, abandon the war for a more internal one. I feel that the Kingdom and the Church would still be thorns in the Black Eagles’ side - because they’ve been at war for five years and Rhea is very angry at Edelgard and Byleth’s actions - but they’re not the focus. I think this route would be interesting to find out more of the depth of the Agarthans’ manipulations throughout history, their experiments, and maybe have a moral crisis when Edelgard realizes she’s just been an attack dog all this time.

Silver Snow

Really two big things:

1) I think the catalyst should be for this route is a Byleth who would not choose a house back in the pre-timeskip era. They end up a sparring master (replacing Jeritza once he leaves, but is like, a supporting teacher with him prior to that) and so we can forms bonds across all of the houses.

yes, this is to make it more painful when the war happens and all those kids you knew are grown up and killing each other

2) Byleth’s background should also be revealed in this route, and the history of the Nabateans as a whole. There’d be something poetic about returning to Zanado and having at least some of the battles, if not the climatic one, there. A sort of closure.

I’m not sure whether Rhea’s dragonic feralness should still happen or not, depends on how things go with the whole “well, time to talk about genocide and a dead society” goes I guess.

A Final Thought

I  think it would be appropriate if Byleth, the avatar character, could decide whether they became the supreme ruler of Fódlan/the archbishop (since it varies what they are by route) because while I get why the characters would hoist this onto Byleth, it seems to be more following “remember the past games where people were fulfilling their divine destiny as king, guess we’ll keep going with that!!! :)”

I just think it’d be neat to go “nope” and be able to nope off into the woods or something haha.

And it wouldn’t change anything but the ending slides, so it would really just be an Aesthetic choice, but it could give even more variety to the ending slides since most are basically the same, just some phrases swapped out depending on the route and pairing. Some are outright different which is cool, but most aren’t.

[elaiah-starsinger]

A gentle breeze nestled itself in the golden and red woods of Eversong. A small tanned boy, clearly under ten, with soft brown hair pulled into a short foxtail tugged at an older woman’s hand. His bangs hung heavy into his fading green eyes, changing rapidly to meet the Sunwell’s magic. “Come on, Án’laaaa, we’re gonna be late!”

She gave him a gentle smile, her hair an ashen white and pulled into a low ponytail over her shoulder. She was by no means young anymore, even if the outside races couldn’t easily tell. Her face was becoming weathered, her pace slowing as the days went by. “We won’t be late, Amimi. Án’da is always early.”

The insistent tugging didn’t relent, in fact it increased, as the little boy kept trying to urge his grandmother along. The river that separated Eversong from the slowly returning life of the Ghostlands was in view. “Án’la, we’re right theeeere,” he dragged out, but the woman could only chuckle.

As the pair went towards the Ghostlands, on the other side of the river there was a small cave near one of the short waterfalls. There was already a small fire going within it, the pit having been set up for quite some time from its usual visitor. A few sitting pillows surrounded it, the box they came from off in a corner opened. A large pack sat against the wall, looking deflated as some of the contents were emptied around the floor. A small gift laid next to it, wrapped carefully with a small bow. Still warming above the fire is one batch of tea, the scent of cinnamon and chai filling the cave. Another batch, much larger than the one brewing, was tightly closed, a few medicinal leaves still swirling in the liquid.

On one of the pillows, watching the brew, sat Eranuren - or rather Ren, as he preferred to be called - adjusting the last bit of his braid to further hide the long appendage that was now normal attached to his head. Luckily the strange glow it gave off blended nicely with the verdant strands that seemed to grow increasingly iridescent at the ends. Loose strands framed his face, his once tanned skin now dark purple strangely complimenting the coloration.

As satisfied with the braid as he could get without a mirror, he grabbed the cup next to him, nearly empty, and finished it. It was his own drink, something to calm his nerves that always stretched thin when he made these visits. There was a lingering doubt beforehand. Perhaps this would be the time that his son, Aminoreth, would change his mind, would suddenly want nothing to do with his void-riddled father, and would cry to his grandmother to take him back. Maybe his mother, the kind woman that took him in when he had been abandoned as a child, would suddenly be so reviled by his decisions that she would keep his son from him. He looked into the empty cup. Maybe he should’ve made more.

He set the cup next to the two others, getting up as he realized he forgot maybe the most important thing for a hot tea. Dark grey boots carried him to his pack. Shifting through the remaining contents, he forgot how much of his clothing lost color since he himself changed. Most of it had been exchanged for darker greys and blues. He felt a few shirt-wrapped containers, shaking several near his ears to hear the contents. Hearing a promising sound of granulated substance, he unwrapped the jar from its soft shield. How could he forget the set out the leysugar?

Before Ren could turn around, a gleeful cry and small footsteps rang out behind him. “ Án’da!”

Small arms tightly wrapped themselves around his waist, a face being buried into his lower back. Just like that, as he heard his son, relief washed over him as the worries quickly subsided. With a laugh, he stood up, Aminoreth still clinging on with his feet dangling. He didn’t need to see if his mother was there, she never let him go far without her here.

He jokingly called out to his mother. “Mín’da, d’you see something on my back? I thought I just felt something there!”

The little boy giggled, his feet kicking lightly. “It’s me! It’s meee, Amimi!”

“Well, I can’t give you a real hello if you’re being a monkey! C’mere!” Aminoreth let go, allowing Ren to turn and scoop the child into the air for, what he considered, a better embrace. The boy let out another squeal at the airlift, his arms now around his father’s neck. Ren adjusted so that he could continue holding him in his arms, a large smile on his face as he kissed the boy’s head. 

“Look at you, you getting to be so big! Before I know it, you gonna be as big as me, kiddo.” He was overjoyed, but a lump still always formed in his throat. There was never enough time in these snapshots of time he had with him.

With child in tow, he turned properly to see his mother. “Mín’da, how you doing? Sit, you gotta be tired.” She gives him a warm smile, stepping over to first give her void-tinted son a hug of her own.

“Never mind that, I’m doing quite fine, Ren. Just happy to see you, and so is Amimi.”

“Still, Mín’da, sit,” he says, using his free arm to return the embrace before letting go. He returns to where he put the sugar, grabbing the jar and bringing it closer to the fire. “I’ll getcha some tea. You want some chai, or I can getcha a cup of the other batch if you ain’t had one today.”

She lingers still, eyeing the child that’s now glued to him. “Really, Ren, I can get it myself —“

“Nope, sit, I don’t need two hands.”

“Yeah, Án’la, sit. You were super sloooow before!”

There’s a sigh of resignation as she takes a seat on one of the pillows near the fire now it’s two against one. “I guess you two win. Chai will do, please.”