#and i'm thinking more about gilbert for the first time in a while

[weeb-cheese]

you know maybe it’s a good thing I never finished kaze, because based on what I know about how it ends, my ass would not have been able to handle that when I initially read the manga at 18. I needed several years to learn how to process shit and get to a place where I’m mentally healthy enough to not internalize all that. Anyway, I’m very excited to track the manga back down and finish it now!!

[arschbiene]

I have this old headcanon that Gilbert smells like bread and that's why birds are attracted to him. This gives G.ermania incentive to keep him around because you plop him down and a few minutes later, you got meat....if he cooperates. Sometimes he does. Sometimes he doesn't.

Anyway I want to quickly rattle off some thoughts I have about these two because it's copium for me:

While I draw G.ermania with Gilbert a lot bc of blatant favoritism, I do not think he really lugs him around all the time. I hc that End-Game G.ermania functions as a traveling diplomat visiting his remaining brother/sisters and their replacements (the children) trying to lay the foundation of peace after he has experienced the damage war has wrought, he just wants better for his kids. so he's constantly traveling about trying to ensure he is leaving them behind in a more peaceful/stable time (he is not and dies saddened by it)

He also travels about when he hears his brother/sisters have died in search of children, he digs them up from the ground at the base of ancient trees as he feels them cry out to him (by strong sensory information) and delivers them to their human and ensures none of them are harmed by them. (I think it's a common human thing to be fearful of change and try to snuff out new little nations before they grow strong)

For Gilbert, he was plagued by a terrible tooth ache and dug him out even though he had reservations because he was born early/premature/a weak literal baby.

He tends to keep Gilbert with him a bit more often than he would the other children if only because he finds him charming/cute. But it's a bit of a selfish game of playing house, he uses Gilbert to play at being human/living a normal life but discards him when troubles arise.

I do not think G.ermania is a good father lol He's decent, but he can be really heavy handed and sharp with his children. He is very loving and does what he can but he is also very sick and old and tired when they come around and he is easily overwhelmed. He is very sorry though. He is always sorry.

He also realizes that Gilbert does better health wise when in the company of other children but they don't think much of him, little nations come and go. None of them will take him in under their wing, leaving him at a loss of what to do with him. He senses that the child has a connection to the land but soon realizes that it doesn't exist yet.

I'm iffy on the baltic pr.ussia stuff and kinda think he had a representative that he replaced but we're putting a pin on it for when i have time to decide what I'd like to do, it's kinda a yes and no for me.

He leaves Gilbert in villages that he feels the boy has strong affinity to the people there. Despite his efforts, Gilbert is faced with a lot of hostility/violence and being left behind is extremely distressing/traumatic to him.

At the time of his birth, everyone pretty much knows a new representative child is a bad omen. He seeks solace/safety in early Chr.istian communities that welcome him. He never gets to say goodbye to G.ermania, he knows he's sick and Chr.istianity is destroying him but he's an unreliable often chaotic parent and he's angry at him for always being so quick to leave and slow to return, so he clings to the first people who come to him with promises of strength, glory and nationhood and leaves with them.

[cosmowgyral]

Falling into Sin with the Black Tiger ~ Gilbert's 4th Birthday

▪︎ Chapter 2

This is a fan translation so please don't expect it to be 100% accurate. Creative liberties have been taken. All content belongs to Cybird. Reblogs are appreciated. Hope you enjoy!

Gilbert: Ahaha, I was found right away.

The moment I heard a voice from behind me, I was embraced by a cold body.

When I turned around and looked up, there was not a trace of remorse on Gilbert’s face.

Emma: Is work going well for you?

Gilbert: Today my work is to look after you.

Gilbert: But, taking others’ opinions on account while deciding on a present, that’s not good, little rabbit.

(You’ve been watching me all this time.)

I felt both embarrassed and giddy, and my cheeks relaxed.

Emma: But, I don’t know much about gemstones.

Emma: I want to choose something good as it’s a gift for you, Gil. But I don’t know what is good or bad.

Gilbert: Then I’ll teach you.

Emma: That would take the fun out of it.

Gilbert: That’s not true. Rather, you can now go on a date with me, so it’s more fun, right?

(Surely, that’s a possible way to think about it?)

My face becomes sloppier as Gilbert asks me to “enjoy our date”.

(It might be better to wait and see his reaction while choosing.)

Emma: If that’s the case, may I ask you a favour?

Gilbert: Heehee, with pleasure. I’m glad.

Gilbert: I was worried you might try to rely on someone other than me again.

(He really is a troublesome villain.)

I walk through the town, holding Gilbert’s cold hand tightly.

Emma: Which gemstone is your favourite, Gil?

Gilbert: I’ve never considered it.

Emma: Obsidian or something….

Gilbert: Heehee, isn’t that a bit too simple?

Emma: You always give them to me.

Gilbert: I just want to dye you in my colours. It’s not about likes or dislikes or anything like that.

I showed him one gem after another, closely watching his reaction, but there was no change in his refreshing smile.

Gilbert: Which gemstone is your favourite?

Emma: …..When you ask me that, I don’t know what to say.

Gilbert: Right?

(All gemstones are beautiful and sparkly…but my favourite….)

What caught my eye was a rose-red gemstone with a matching blue stone.

(…Maybe I just like Gilbert rather than the gemstones.)

Gilbert: Hey, aren’t you tired from walking? Let’s take a break.

Emma: Uh…that’s right! Let’s do that.

I was so embarrassed that my voice came out higher than usual.

Gilbert gave out a small snort and went to a nearby food stall.

He ordered food so naturally that it was hard to believe he was part of the royal family. Then he promptly received the dishes.

Gilbert: Here you go.

Emma: Thank you. This is?

Gilbert: Dampfnudel…a kind of steamed bread that sells well this time of the year.

Gilbert: There are a variety of sauces but I ordered two kinds, a sweet one and a weird one.

(This is the first time I'm seeing this. It’s a standard thing in Obsidian.)

We sat down next to each other on a nearby bench and I immediately took a bite of the bread smothered in the sweet sauce.

Emma: Mmmm, it’s fluffy, chewy, and delicious!

Gilbert: What about the weird one?

I opened my mouth obediently to take a bite of the bread offered to me by Gilbert, and the sweet and spicy taste balanced well on my tongue.

Emma: It’s so spicy that it warms up my cold body right away.

Gilbert: Heehee, your thoughts are so cute and honest, aren’t they?

Emma: I’d like to hear your thoughts as well, Gil.

To return the favour, when I bring the steamed bun to Gilbert’s mouth, he bites it off all at once, along with my fingers.

(I..thought I was done for….I don’t feel the cold anymore, it’s actually getting hotter.)

Gilbert: They’re delicious, but….I’ve become tamed by your sweets, you know.

Gilbert: Eating street food makes me miss it.

Emma: That’s an honour.

Gilbert: Will you bake me a cake for my birthday again?

Emma: Of course. Not just cake, but lots of other foods too. Do you have any requests?

Gilbert: You’re always like that.

Emma: For your birthday, I want to pack in as many as your ‘number one’ things as possible.

Gilbert: Hmm…..

Gilbert: I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I really think that right now is the happiest I’ve been in my life.

Gilbert leans in and rests his head on my shoulder.

Gilbert: It’s not that I’m being shy or considerate.

Gilbert: But what you want, you want me to be more selfish than this, right?

Emma: That’s right.

Gilbert: To bother me like this…

Emma: I’m sorry. But I won’t say ‘you don’t have to think about it’.

(Gilbert always thinks about his country and other people, but never about himself.)

(That’s why, when asked ‘what do you want?’, I knew you couldn’t answer.)

(People who don’t know how to live selfishly, are confused, worried, and at a loss for words.)

(I want you to be very selfish.)

Emma: I’ll wait as long as it takes for an answer.

Gilbert: Little rabbit, you have a mean look on your face.

Emma: That’s because I’m the fiancée of a great villain.

Gilbert laughed and quietly closed his eyes.

Spending casual time listening to the peaceful hustle and bustle of the crowd was blissful, and yet I felt a little pain.

*scene shifts to the dining room in the palace*

Emma: Lies….

[Chapter 1] [Masterlist] [Chapter 3]

[otomehoneyybearr]

Ikemen Prince 4th Anniversary Eve

Gilbert & Azel: The Relationship Unbeknownst to Anyone

Somewhere on a certain day—

Gilbert: "---I've always wondered if the conqueror beast and the sacred beast were one in the same."

Gilbert: "Both being evils of the world that control people and manipulate them as they please."

Azel: "I agree with the evil part. You and I would be better off not existing."

Azel: "We are both nuisances to the world, after all."

Gilbert: "Should we die together then?"

Azel: "You mean kill each other."

Gilbert: "That’s right."

Azel: "Disgusting."

Gilbert: "Agreed."

Azel: "So?"

Gilbert: "Hehe, no need to rush. I've went through the trouble of preparing food and drinks, so why not enjoy it first?"

Azel: "I'm having alcohol, while you're having water?"

Gilbert: "Oh, so you noticed."

Azel: "I am a god, after all."

Gilbert: "More like a con-artist, right?"

Azel: "That's another way to put it."

Gilbert: "Haha, you're not denying it."

Azel: "The title isn't that important."

Gilbert: "Really? I thought you’d be particular about it."

Azel: "Not at all. At least with you, being god or con-artist doesn't matter."

Azel: "I'm just a 'nuisance’ in the end, aren't I?"

Gilbert: "So you realized that."

Azel: "Just how many times do you think I've confiscated the weapons you smuggled into my country?"

Azel: "Can't you stop that? It's increasing my overtime and it's annoying."

Gilbert: "It only takes time because you carefully disassemble the firearms and send them back each time."

Gilbert: "Is that your hobby or something?"

Azel: "Do you want to be called a carefree rich boy?"

Gilbert: "Oh, so it was actually a declaration of war."

Azel: "If you understand that much, then don't bother asking. Tanzanite is the land of the gods,”

Azel: "So you should’ve realized by now that your spies and schemes are powerless in my sacred domain."

Gilbert: "Hmm, that's troublesome."

Gilbert: "It seems I miscalculated how difficult 'cleaning up' Tanzanite would be."

Gilbert: "Or perhaps I should say I underestimated you."

Gilbert: "Tanzanite has the lowest return rate for spies among the major countries."

Gilbert: "Currently you’re the only one from your country that's noticed my plans—No, more like, you're the only one at all."

Gilbert: "I thought that I could gather some information from you by sharing a drink, but..."

Gilbert: "You're quite hard to read. Is this what a god is like?"

Azel: "Donations are always welcome."

Gilbert: "Unfortunately for you, I only believe in myself."

Azel: "I figured as much. Spending time on you could be considered a waste."

Azel: "...Though a free meal does have its value."

Gilbert: "Haha, if you get along with me, there might be even better things in store for you."

Azel: "Not happening."

Gilbert: "Oh, that was an immediate answer. Despite us being somewhat similar."

Azel: "That's just slander."

Azel: "I don't distrust human potential as much as you do."

Azel: "Humanity doesn't need gods or beasts."

Gilbert: "...Is that so?"

Azel: "Want to bet?"

Gilbert: "Sure, sounds interesting."

Gilbert: "Your schemes are like mirages, vague and hard to grasp, but..."

Gilbert: "I'll bet on the foolishness of humans."

Azel: "Then I'll bet the opposite."

Azel: "I'll bet on the potential of humans."

Azel: "They have the ability to cleanse themselves. They can recognize and atone for their mistakes."

Azel: "Make sure to prepare your money, Disaster boy."

Gilbert: "You too."

Some little notes I had:

*: There's a possibility of Azel being older than Gilbert, seeing as he would attach things like (ーくん)-kun or (ーちゃん)-chan to the nicknames he gave Gilbert…That or Azel's was just trying to antagonize him.

**: Alternative interpretation of the nickname carefree rich boy could be 'airheaded/thoughtless young master'

***: Alternative interpretation of the nickname (厄災くん or yakusai-kun)Disaster boy could be 'Mr. Calamity'

I wasn't sure which of these interpretations would fit Azel's dialogue more, so I wanted to leave these notes so that everyone can get a general sense of the word/nickname.

Master List

▼・ᴥ・▼

[mashkdemss]

Parallels between Byler and the canon couple from "Anne with an E"

Warning, there are a lot of spoilers here! And I apologize in advance if you find mistakes in the text, I'm still learning English O_o

Hi everyone!! Last month, I watched the series "Anne with an E" for the second time, and during my second viewing I decided to approach the romantic line of the main characters from a different angle. After many analyses of Byler, I learned to analyze relationships in cinema, and this case really surprised me on the good side! Let's talk with you about the parallels between Mike and Will with Ann and Gilbert, which help to make sure that Byler will soon become a canon :)

"Anne with an E" is a Canadian TV series, the first season of which was released in 2017 (8 months before the release of season 2 of Stranger Things). The main role in it was played by actress Amibeth McNulty, who also played the role of Vickie in season 4 of Stranger Things. And this is not the only important connection of this series with ST! At the end of the first season, Hopper was reading a book to Sara in the hospital, and that book was "Anne of Green Gables" (the Netflix series was based on this book)

Then in episode 3 of season 2, he reads the same book for Eleven.

The main romantic line in "Anne ..." develops between Anne and Gilbert over the course of 3 years (13-16) and it is narrated through such tropes as: from friends to lovers, slowburn, a love triangle, and a trope in which both characters think that their feelings for each other are unrequited, although in fact this is not the case. All of these relationship constructions are also applicable in the case of the Byler.

Direct parallels can be drawn between the characters:

Will = Anne

— Creative and sensitive teenagers from medium-income families who were bullied by their peers. They both talk a lot next to people they feel comfortable with, both have a self-built little castle in the forest where they retire during a difficult period and can feel safe without fear that someone will judge them (and later these castles were destroyed at both). There is a scene where Anne runs into her wooden house and cries there, very similar to Will's scene after a fight in the rain.

Ann and Will both told their mothers (in Anne's case, the foster mother) that they are "not going to fall in love" although the line of their romantic attachment to Gilbert and Mike is already developing according to the idea of the plot. Another interesting correspondence between these two characters is that they both helped people dear to them with their romantic relationships, while they themselves did not want it. Anne read the letters that her foster father's old friend had sent him, and without telling him about it, she decided to send her answers on his behalf because she thought they were deeply in love, and her father "just didn't know what to say". As a result, her father found out about it and talked to her about how he hadn't read his friend's letters because he didn't want a relationship with her, he just wasn't in love with her anymore and wasn't ready to change his life. Does it remind you of anything? Will also used Anne's "tactics", revealing his feelings to Mike on behalf of El, only he used a painting and not letters.

And one more take.... Anne's so-called mentor was aunt Josephine. They were in a good relationship and she gave her advice about her life and love. Josephine was also a lesbian. I want to say that this is also a possible parallel, because in the fifth season we are definitely waiting for the interaction of Will and Robin.

Mike = Gilbert

— curly black-haired guy from a more affluent family, who often acts as a leader and has some authority as a smart student. He liked Anne as soon as she joined their school and he tried to win her attention, but Anne knew that her friend liked him, so she carefully avoided Gilbert (although she also liked him). This gives us another coincidence: Anne, like Will, believes that she does not deserve love and avoids her feelings in order for other people to be happy. The main similarity between Mike and Gilbert is that they both stand at the center of a "love triangle."

Due to misunderstandings that have occurred between him and Ann, Gilbert begins to think that his love for her is not mutual and decides to marry Winifred (represents El in our case). Winifred is a girl from a rich family whom he met quite recently, and if Gilbert marries her, then her father will give him the opportunity to study at a prestigious medical college, which he has long dreamed of. Everyone around him approved of the idea of him and Winnie getting married, everyone expected it from Gilbert. Their wedding, unlike a relationship with a village red-haired orphan girl, could have brought him social approval, just as Mike and Eleven's relationship could have brought Mike social approval and entrenched his image of a "normal heterosexual".

But Gilbert doesn't love Winifred the way she loves him. Therefore, shortly before their wedding, he confesses to her that in fact his heart will always belong to Anne and that for this he is ready to give up his dream. And although their breakup was sad for Winnie, Gilbert explained the reasons to her as tactfully as possible, saying that she deserved someone much better than him. All of this also goes well with Willelmike.

To declare his love to Anne again, Gilbert writes her a letter and leaves it in her room while no one is at home. He writes that he and Winnie are not getting married, that he has always loved only Anne, and at the end he signs "Love, Gilbert." LOVE, GILBERT. Where have we heard this before? That's right, Mike's letters... If anything, I absolutely believe in the Lettergate theory, and that's also one of the reasons I'm confident in it.

Then there is confusion, Ann thinks Gilbert is mocking her feelings, and tears up the letter, and Gilbert goes to a less prestigious medical college. Now they are both sure that their feelings are not mutual, and even resigned to their failure, BUT! Anne meets Winnie, who tells her that she and Gilbert broke up and that he confessed his love for Anne to her.

Meanwhile, Gilbert meets Anne's best friend on the train, who loudly told Gilbert everything she thinks about him and "opened his eyes." She also mentions a love letter that Anne left some time ago, in the same way Gilbert left in her room later. Anne's letter was also unread, and the phrase "What letter, Diana, what letter?" appears. Don't you think it's very similar to a possible scene from s5 of ST with "What painting?"

In general, they ended up running to each other and touchingly reunited, after which there was a sensual kiss that the audience had been waiting for for so long. Unfortunately, the series ended there, but according to the canons of the book, they lived happily ever after, married and had many children, as befits such old love stories.

The main plot is not about Anne's love story, but about her growing up, other problems and events in their village (as in the case of Stranger things), so this line between the characters unfolds slowly and throughout the series, and Anne with Gilbert open up about their feelings and kiss only in the last minutes of the last episode.

It seems to me that there are too many coincidences to be coincidences. All of this inevitably leads to Byler endgame, if you look at everything from a cinematic point of view. Absolutely the same techniques were used: framing, phrases, lighting, musical accompaniment. When watching "Anne..." viewers have never denied the fact that there are feelings between Anne and Gilbert, although they were not revealed directly until last season. And all because Anne and Gilbert are a heterosexual couple, and such couples unfortunately turn out to be more pleasant and understandable to the average viewer. But they turned out to be a really good ship, and I'm even glad that the Duffer brothers were inspired by this setting.

So if the Shirbert is canon, then Byler will soon become canon!

[aishangotome]

[Gilbert] Amnesia Event: Only Loving You Premium End

Sweet End

Translated by request :)

♡———♡

Gilbert: Good evening, Little Rabbit. To think you'd come to me this late at night.

As I entered Prince Gilbert's room, a man deeply shrouded in a robe was leaving.

(Did I interrupt something?)

However, Prince Gilbert, seated at his desk, welcomed me with a smile, and he seemed genuine.

Gilbert: A nocturnal visit?

Emma: No, it isn't!

Gilbert: A sleepover?

Emma: Not that either...

Gilbert: Then, you wanted to return home?

Emma: ...No.

Gilbert: Oh? Isn't that it?

Emma: It isn't.

My unexpected answer seemed to surprise him, as his red eyes widened.

Gilbert: ...Then what did you really come here for?

(After thinking and thinking and thinking, I suddenly realized.)

(What I want to know now isn't "me.")

Emma: A surprise interview...

Gilbert: Hm?

Emma: I came here to request an interview with Prince Gilbert.

Gilbert: .........

(I want to know about Prince Gilbert.)

(...To understand the strange feelings swirling within me more than the desire to return home.)

Prince Gilbert froze for a few seconds, as if stunned, then lowered his head.

Gilbert: ...Heh... haha.

Emma: I... I didn't think I said anything that funny...

Gilbert: It's quite funny. Even though you've lost your memory, you still think of others before yourself...?

His tone wasn't accusatory, but rather a gentle, cherishing voice.

(...He's a great villain, but because he has this side, I can't return to the Rose Country, I think.)

Gilbert: Sure, I'll tell you anything you want to know about me.

Emma: Thank you!

Gilbert: Of course, I'll want something in return.

Emma: ..........

Gilbert: Haha, I'm a bad person, I don't provide services out of sheer goodwill.

Emma: What do you want?

Gilbert: Hmm, then...

Prince Gilbert tapped his lips with his finger.

Gilbert: Once per piece of information... how about it?

(...He means in exchange for a kiss?)

Without my memories, even though we're engaged, Prince Gilbert is practically a stranger.

It's only natural to resist kissing a man I don't know well.

(Especially since he's royalty from Obsidian, right? There's more fear than embarrassment.)

(But if I back down here, I won't be able to learn about Prince Gilbert...)

Emma: I understand.

Gilbert: Oh? That was surprisingly quick.

Emma: I can get what I want by enduring a little. There's no need to hesitate... or so I tell myself.

(...Probably.)

Gilbert: "Endure," huh... I see?

Gilbert: Since it seems you can endure it, I'll take payment in advance.

Emma: Eh?

Gilbert: It's okay, I don't lie.

Prince Gilbert stood up, and my vision turned black.

Gilbert: Come on, hurry.

(!......)

*flashback*

Gilbert: Hehe, full of openings.

Emma: You great villain! Scoundrel! This is my first time!

Gilbert: Was it? We did it once before, though...

Emma: That was malice, it doesn't count!

Gilbert: Then you'll count this one?

Emma: N... no, it was an accident.

Gilbert: I see, an accident. Then it's fine.

*flashback over*

(Huh... what was that just now?)

(I've done this before...)

Tap tap... he tapped my lips with his finger again, bringing me back to reality.

(No... first and foremost, I have to overcome this predicament.)

I braced myself and cupped Prince Gilbert's cold cheeks in my hands––

(I've done this before...)

I told myself it would only be for a moment, and quickly kissed him, so quickly that I wasn't even sure if our lips had touched.

Gilbert: ............

Emma: ...I... I did it, okay?

Gilbert: So, you call that a kiss in your book, Little Rabbit. Hmm...?

Gilbert: Isn't this a kiss?

As I tried to play dumb, Prince Gilbert covered my lips with his.

(?!?)

Not just a touch, he nipped at my lower lip, and the sound of my heartbeat accelerated rapidly.

Gilbert: Do it properly next time, okay?

Emma: ...I... understand...

(My face... is hot...)

Gilbert: Now, what's your first question?

While resenting Prince Gilbert, who smiled refreshingly as if nothing had happened, I pulled myself together.

Emma: First... please tell me your favorite and least favorite foods.

Gilbert: I have no least favorite foods. In Obsidian, where there's a chronic food shortage, I can't afford to be picky.

Gilbert: However, my favorite food is––

-

(Wow... so many ingredients!)

The kitchen I was led to was filled with a sweet aroma.

The source seemed to be the oven.

Gilbert: Little Rabbit used to make my favorite things here often.

Emma: Me... is that so?

(This scent is... )

*flashback*

Gilbert: You have some nerve to take back what you offered me.

Emma: ...Will you accept it?

Gilbert: Of course. I just happened to be hungry.

*flashback over*

Emma: ...Cookies?

Gilbert: No, it's not.

(Huh... I was confident...)

Gilbert: It's the "mountain" of cookies Little Rabbit makes when she's exhausted.

Emma: ...........

(...That's right. His stomach is infinitely large...)

(He values quantity over quality, so I can only make simple sweets.)

Gilbert: What's your next question? Oh, but before that...

I braced myself and kissed Prince Gilbert, who knelt before me.

I kissed him more firmly than the first time, and Prince Gilbert seemed satisfied, as he didn't ask for a redo.

Emma: Please tell me your favorite place.

Gilbert: ...Ah, that would be––

(The stars are so beautiful...!)

The spacious, glass-walled room deep within the castle was enveloped by beautiful, gentle stars.

Standing in the center, marked with the Obsidian emblem, I gazed up at the sky.

Emma: This place is fitting.

Gilbert: I didn't pick this place because I like the view, you know?

Emma: You didn't?

Gilbert: No. There's a deeper reason.

Emma: ...Does that reason involve me?

Gilbert: Of course.

(What is it... I feel like something happened here, indeed.)

(...Painful, painful... it was so painful... something like that––)

*flashback*

Gilbert: I'm sure many kind people will appear in your life from now on...

Gilbert: But no cruel man like me, who leaves only pain, will appear.

Gilbert: Hehe... I think you'll never forget me, even if you want to.

Emma: ...Yes, you're right.

Emma: ...That's... unfair...

Gilbert: Because I'm a great villain.

*flashback over*

(..............)

Prince Gilbert hugged me from behind as I stood there.

Gilbert: What's your next question?

I turned around in his cold embrace, stretched up a little, and covered his lips again.

Not just once, but twice, three times––with each kiss, warmth transferred to his lips, and for some reason, my eyes grew hot.

Emma: ...Why do you love me, Prince Gilbert?

When I asked the question I most wanted to know, he nipped at my lip.

The sting of the pain that was etched was strangely endearing.

Gilbert: There's no end to the things I love about you, but I guess the main one is––

Prince Gilbert, who had visited my room, opened the desk drawer without hesitation.

Gilbert: Ah, it was here after all.

Gilbert: I tell you every time to keep it close, but you never do...

The moment I saw "it," my heart froze.

Gilbert: Since you won't, I'll put it on you.

Emma: I... I'm fine!

Gilbert: Don't hold back.

Prince Gilbert grabbed my fleeing form and forced me to sit on the chair.

My skirt was lifted, revealing my bare thigh, where a leather belt was wrapped around it.

(Since I lost my memory, I've been wondering what this is.)

(But somehow, I felt like it was something I had to wear...)

Prince Gilbert, kneeling, inserted the silver lump he was holding into the belt.

The "it," which had delicate rose decorations on the metal part and a bright red rose charm on the handle, was certainly a tool for killing people, called a "gun."

Emma: ...Does this have something to do with why you love me?

Gilbert: Yes. You promised to kill me, you know.

Emma: !.....

Gilbert: I was so happy that you, who can't hurt anyone, would say such a thing...

Even though the words were utterly dangerous, the voice that reached my ears was sweet.

The sound of my heartbeat clung to me, threatening to never leave my mind.

Gilbert: I chose to live because you said you'd take responsibility and kill me.

Emma: ..........

Gilbert: Hehe, you're pale as a ghost.

Emma: ...Of course I am.

Gilbert: You don't want me to die? I thought I was a stranger to you now.

Gilbert: On the contrary, I'm the great villain who shakes the entire continent.

Gilbert: If you kill me, the world might find peace.

Emma: Even so...! You mustn't die... absolutely not.

(It hurts...)

(...It's painful.)

*flashback*

Emma: What... is "love?"

Gilbert: It's simple.

Gilbert: Isn't it wanting someone to live?

*flashback over*

(...I––)

Gilbert: That's the kind of person you are.

Emma: ...Huh?

Prince Gilbert smiled and placed his hand on my cheek.

Gilbert: Your heart is always beautiful.

(Ah...)

(...That's... it...)

Sincere emotions welled up in his red eyes.

He has trampled over countless people and built a black, shining achievement on many corpses. He can't be called a good person, and he has committed too many sins to deserve salvation.

Even loving him is a sin, and I wouldn't be surprised if divine punishment fell on me at any moment.

(Even so, I strongly wished for him to live.)

(My heart has been stained so black that I can't face my hometown.)

(Yet, Prince Gilbert always...)

*flashback*

Gilbert: Even though it's black... you are...

Gilbert: The most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Gilbert: That's why I wanted you.

Gilbert: You, who won't be stained no matter how much you try to dirty yourself.

*flashback over*

(...Ah...)

I learned the emotions that are filled with pain and suffering but can't be discarded for the first time upon meeting Prince Gilbert.

Urged by the feelings that resurfaced in time with my heartbeat, I kissed him again.

When I opened my lips, our tongues intertwined "as always," and heat spread through my body.

(He's a troublesome, bothersome great villain, but I've fallen in love with him.)

(...That's why I'm in Obsidian.)

After a long exchange of kisses, we finally parted, and Prince Gilbert traced his wet lips with his finger.

Gilbert: Do you still have something to ask me?

Emma: ...Yes.

(There's just one last thing I want to ask––)

.

.

.

Epilogue

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[aquagirl1978]

I was wondering what makes chevalier your favourite? ☺️

Oh anon, today is your day, the day that I finally respond to this ask. Yes, I've been putting this off because well, reasons.

Chevalier has been my favorite since Day 1 - even before the game was released in EN, I saw some posts about him and already, he was the one. While his route suffers a bit from being one of the first 3 released, I think his Romantic End more than makes up for it. But it is really in his events where you see this other side of him - the human who found love - that he really shines and a lot of these reasons come from there.

He makes me cry (happy tears). Okay, I know this really isn't a reason. And I know lots of people cry at many of the routes. But I don't. So when I do, it means I really, really, really like a character. And his Romantic End reduced me to tears. His events leave me teary eyed. And even Gilbert's route god damnit made me cry 3 times - all because of Chevalier. God help me when his sequel drops in EN.

He loves you. Like, he really, really, really loves you. I think he might even love you more than you love him. Here is a man who loves you so much, he will do anything for you, like play a silly Valentine's Day game. A holiday he puts zero worth on, but because you do, it has meaning. He quietly eats all the beignets you make - they taste so good because you made them.

He is kind. He doesn't think he is kind - and most would agree with him, but you see his kindness in so many different ways. The way he warned you in his route to be wary of everyone. How he stayed away in his amnesia story when he knew it would hurt you. And there's this one scene in his sequel (Drama End) that is perhaps his ultimate act of kindness.

He is a good man. He might not be the shining ray of sunshine Leon is, and many of Chevalier's actions are, well, a bit rough? Harsh? But he doesn't have an ounce of malice - what he does, he does to protect (country, family, you). Even Leon agreed that Chevalier did the right thing on Bloodstained Roses Day. Chevalier also kills all the assassins in his route to protect his brothers. He allows himself to be the brutal beast so that his favorite brother Clavis can continue to be human.

He is awkward. You are his first for everything - his first love, his first touch, his first hug and kiss and everything else. He's learning, with you as his teacher. It's a slow progression, but worth it to see how his touch changes.

He is playful. Unless you read his events, you won't see this side of him. But he can be teasing when alone with you, sometimes he is so bad he is a bully. He likes to bite and leave marks. If you try to wake up too early, he is liable to drag you back to bed and hold you tightly.

He finds you worthy to stand next to him. To him, you are perfect.

I'm gonna end this right now before this becomes a book too late.

[rjthirsty]

Gilbert Voyeurism

Words: 3k

Tags: College AU, Smut, Kink Negotiation, Clavis/Dahlia (OC), PIV Sex, Male Solo, Ruined Orgasm - sort of, Kinktober2024

Gilbert thought about them constantly - about his neighbor Clavis and the woman he was fucking on a near nightly basis. It was hard not to think about them when they were loud enough to hear even in the earlier days when they were trying to be quiet. Now, though, now they were toying with him, announcing their fucking with a simple knock on their shared wall. First the knock, then she would moan and whimper and call out his name.

They got louder and more frequent when he dared to make it known he knew of their rule breaking. They got louder and more frequent when he answered the knock to let them know he could hear them loud and clear the first time they teased him. And while it was fucking hot to hear her moaning, to hear the noise she made and imagining himself in that position, fucking her stupid and filling her cunt with his cum as he masturbated to his own climax, it still left him aching having to rely on his imagination alone based off the sounds he heard.

If they were already delighting in putting on show after show after show with sound for him, the next reasonable step would be to make it an actual show he could watch. And so, when Clavis went to let his girlfriend in the fire escape like clockwork, Gilbert took it upon himself to invite himself into Clavis’ open, waiting dorm room. He took a seat in the chair at the desk and greeted the lovers with a friendly grin, deeply enjoying their shocked faces when they hurried inside and found him waiting. 

“Uh… Hello?” Dahlia offered a confused smile to go with her confused greeting.

“Evening,” Gilbert happily returned the greeting. “I'm Gilbert. And you are?”

“Dahlia.” She answered.

“What are you doing in here?” Clavis annoyedly asked, moving around in front of Dahlia as if to protect her.

“The door was opened. I thought it was time to make an introduction.” Gil's different colored eyes shifted from Clavis to Dahlia. “You sound as beautiful as you look.”

Understanding flashed in Dahlia's eyes as she figured out who this stranger was. “You're the sketchy neighbor!” She laughed and it was a wonderful sound - not as wonderful as her moans, but lovely in its own right. 

“Yes, and he was just leaving.” Clavis said pointedly, reaching for the handle of his dorm room door.

“Aw, don't be like that. We're friends, aren't we?” Gilbert made no effort to move from his seat. “I'd like to be your friend too, Dahlia.”

“I wouldn't call us that.” Clavis rebuked.

Dahlia wrapped her arms around Clavis’ waist, hugging him from behind as she peered at Gil around Clavis’ arm. “Hmn. Your kind of friendship sounds like it comes at a cost. Were we not paying enough already to keep you happy?”

“You're quick and to the point, I like that.” Gil crossed his legs, folding his hands together and resting them on his knee. “I enjoyed your gifts very much. The payment wasn't necessary, but it intrigued me. Now I’d like a live showing, if you feel so inclined.”

“Absolutely not.” Clavis answered immediately, not giving Dahlia a chance to voice her thoughts.

“Hang on, Clavis, why not?” Dahlia peered up at her boyfriend with genuine curiosity. Gil was starting to realize it must have been her who started the voiced act he had been listening to.

Clavis looked down at her with surprise coloring his features. “You're interested?”

“It's not a question of if I'm interested or not, I want to understand why you're opposed.” Dahlia gently pushed.

It was interesting seeing them so focused on each other. There was honesty in their conversation, and trust in their eyes. This is probably the closest Gil had ever seen to what love should look like. 

Clavis stood silent for a moment, sorting through his thoughts. His golden eyes searched Dahlia's, her soft gaze showing a willingness to accept and listen without judgment. It was one of the reasons he loved her so much. “I thought by refusing you wouldn't have to be put in an uncomfortable position of needing to do so yourself.”

“So you said no on my behalf?” Dahlia clarified.

“When you put it that way, it sounds like my good intentions were ill-conceived.”

“I love that you fret over me and consider my comfort, you know that. But I'm not uncomfortable with this. I find the idea kind of thrilling. Are you uncomfortable?” Dahlia leaned her cheek against Clavis’ shoulder as she continued to look up at him.

Clavis stared at Dahlia, his eyes wavering. He didn’t want to admit that he felt threatened at the thought of someone seeing his lover at her most vulnerable. But why he felt threatened made no sense. It wasn’t jealousy, he simply thought that it was a moment of intimacy that you only shared with those you cared greatly about. And if she didn’t care if someone else saw it, did that mean she cared for them as much as him, or that she cared for him as little as them?

“I'm not uncomfortable.” Gil chimed in.

“Clearly.” Clavis glanced at Gilbert, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

“I'm yours and you're mine, Clavis. I love you, and whether someone else sees that or not doesn't change that you're the only one for me.” Dahlia smiled as she spoke.

Dahlia reminding him that she saw no one else but him helped alleviate his discomfort. Her eyes were filled with only him, and her heart was only for him. Whatever anyone else said or saw, he was always first in her life. Clavis hadn’t realized how powerful and loved she had made him feel, knowing that she wasn’t interested in anyone else. Not once had she glanced at Gilbert the entire time she asked about his thoughts. She was utterly taken by him, and he by her. “I have nothing to worry over.”

“It's settled, then.” Gil concluded, now that everyone had said there were no issues. Things were about to get fun.

“I suppose so,” Dahlia drew out her words, smiling coyly at Clavis.

Gilbert turned the desk chair towards the bed, assuming that’s where the couple would be copulating. A glance towards them showed the two kicking off sneakers and pulling off clothing as they met each others’ mouths again and again. Gil made himself comfortable in his seat, his heterochromatic eyes following the movement of their hands peeling layers off, the subtle steps of their legs as they edged across the room, and of course the way they sucked each other’s faces.

As Dahlia fell onto the mattress, her eyes cut to Gilbert, making sure he was watching them. He was certainly watching them. Gil gave a smile in return, crossing his legs and folding his hands together to sit on his knee. He was serious about having a live show, and didn’t intend to interrupt. All he wanted was to watch. He wanted to burn into his memory the way she looked with every sigh and moan. It was her that he heard, afterall. It was her that he dreamt about.

Gil tilted his head to get a good view of Dahlia’s profile that was quickly being overtaken by Clavis. She was like a centerfold that he couldn’t hold up and examine in his own time and leisure. Clavis was in control of what it was he’d get to experience, and quickly Gil was realizing he didn’t like someone else dictating what he was looking at. But… it was better than the alternative, and who knows, perhaps this could become some sort of weird regular thing from time to time.

Clavis’ hands groped Dahlia, pinching soft curves and kneading into pliable tissue. The couple continued to kiss, filling the room with the noises of lips smacking and small huffs of pleasure. Dahlia had barely started to make noise, though it was early enough that Gil wasn’t surprised she had yet to moan. The way their legs tangled with each other, rubbing and shifting in a writhing mess while their sexes tried to find something to stimulate them seemed almost like a punishment when they could start fucking at any time. Nothing was preventing them from getting right to it. Clavis was stiff and Dahlia appeared to be enjoying herself as well, she would likely be wet already.

Gilbert wondered if the heavy petting was more for Clavis than Dahlia. He seemed to be prolonging entering her. If Gil was in his place, he’d probably enjoy toying with Dahlia’s body as well, pinching nipples and setting his teeth to her skin, but the desire to be inside her would grow too strong for him to really ignore. His cock ached at the thought. He considered how warm her cunt would be. The way she’d squeeze him. Hell, her whole body would likely be warm and inviting, a toasty fire for his constantly cold form to heat itself up with.

Clavis’ hand dragged down Dahlia’s body, and the anticipated moment of him slipping a finger or two inside Dahlia’s pussy finally came. The roll she managed - the way her hips tilted to let him get inside her and then dipped so her back could arch to show her enjoyment - Gilbert was certain a view like that was better seen on this side of things. Clavis would be too close to appreciate the way her form flexed under him.

The quiet moaning began. Gil recognized the way it always started. At first Dahlia still held her voice down, still attempted to choke down her enjoyment. Perhaps she had been shamed for expressing herself so honestly. A previous lover who couldn’t find the beauty in hearing her as they fucked? His loss. She should have never been quieted. Who wouldn’t want to hear your lover’s appreciation come unbidden? To have her sigh every unspoken word in sounds of pleasure that transcended language barriers.

Dahlia spread her legs wider. Clearly they were gearing up for him moving between her thighs. They seemed to have a sequence they went through. It looked so practiced and expected - which didn’t mean that it looked boring - simply that they knew each other and what worked best for the both of them. It was like a dance in sexuality. They made love in the way they touched and performed their movements without needing to change it up; they had practiced many times before, as Gilbert knew. He heard them. So many times.

Dahlia’s fingers were pressed into Clavis’ back, leaving indents where she dug into him, but no welts from nails scratched roughly. Gil would have liked to feel her tear into his skin. The heat that comes from the rush of blood that kisses just below the outer layer… Well, he could keep that to his own fantasies.

Gil’s eyes moved to Dahlia’s face. Her moans had gotten louder, and with it her back began to curl inwardly, lifting her chest as her arousal built up. How sensitive she must be. How easy she must be to bring to climax. What a lucky guy her lovers were to have someone so receptive and free with sex that she could come again and again in one night.

Her breathing came in short gasps. Her moans became high and needy and keening. There was a frantic bit of movement between her legs, and Gil noticed Clavis had pulled out his fingers to shove his cock inside Dahlia. He watched as their pelvises came together, Clavis must have bottomed out, and with one thrust as well. Impressive.

Dahlia hit her peak. Her fingers twisted in the blanket she lay upon. Her chin lifted and her voice took on a huskier tone as she cried out in a series of moans that ebbed and flowed like waves. Her body was taut, flexing and while he couldn’t see between her legs, surely her cunt was clamping down on Clavis. His timing must have been perfect, to bring her to the edge and then make her orgasm as he entered her so he got the full enjoyment of the way she would spasm around his cock.

Clavis slowly rocked, riding her out. His hands held her in place so his thrusts didn’t push her up the mattress. Dahlia clung to the bed as if she were trying to hold her body down, her toes curling, her thighs threatening to clamp together with every clench of her cunt on Clavis’ dick. And then she went limp, gasping for air and trying to ground herself while Clavis continued to fuck her. She wanted to rock with him, she wanted to hump and rub him inside her, but she needed a minute. The problem was that he just felt so good.

Despite her own need for a momentary rest, she found herself rolling her hips in rhythm with him. Clavis kissed her parted lips. He kissed her jaw. He kissed every place his mouth touched, layering affection after affection onto Dahlia.

Gilbert shifted in his seat, opening his pants to free his own cock. He fisted it, stroking himself slowly as he watched Clavis flex and thrust into Dahlia. Pinching his glans lightly when his hand slipped towards the head of his cock, he suddenly wished to have been more prepared by bringing some lube to help feel more like he was sliding inside Dahlia himself. She was moaning the way she did every time he had listened in. Now, however, he could see her face as she made those sexy noises.

A momentary pause in their playing had Clavis winding his arms under Dahlia’s thighs from the inside to grab her hips. Spreading her legs wider, he also sat up and spread his knees to pull Dahlia onto his thighs. Dahlia curled in on herself without complaint, as Clavis held Dahlia half on his lap and half hanging between his legs so he could manage to bury himself as deep in her cunt as possible in this position. Nothing was between them like this. Pelvic bone tapped the fatty padding cushioning pelvic bone, and Clavis started pumping into Dahlia in earnest.

The room was no longer just heavy breathing and kissing and moans and gasps, but the slapping of skin and the wetness of Dahlia’s sex being plunged into. Fuck, it was a lot hotter than Gilbert had thought it would be. He couldn’t hear all these extra little details from his side of the wall. The pressure in his groin was growing more from the sounds of sex than his own pumping of his cock.

Clavis knocked moan after moan out of Dahlia, forcing her breath out every time his cock rammed into her. With his hands securely on her hips, she had no concern about how roughly he pistoned his cock into her cunt, she wouldn’t slip out of their position. The way Dahila’s hips were tilted squeezed Clavis’ cock to another degree, both by her pelvic floor along his frenulum, and the way the head of his dick prodded her inner walls that flexed in protest and pleasure, hitting that sweet spot that made Dahlia’s eyes roll back.

Through half-lidded eyes, Gil continued to watch, mixing reality with fantasy. He had no real feelings towards Dahlia, but at the moment he couldn’t help but imagine he was the one fucking her in Clavis’ place. Her legs wrapped around him, hooked over his arms, held fast in his hands. It would have been even better if he could get a birdseye view of his cock disappearing inside her hole. Burying into her bush and between her labia. It wouldn’t be enough. He’d want to go deeper. He’d want to fuck faster. To pound harder. To have her screaming and not just moaning.

He’d want to feel her between his hands and between his teeth. He’d want to mark her skin and leave himself etched across her body. He wanted to cum inside her and fuck her again, and again. Surely she enjoyed such things, with the way Clavis and her constantly, purposefully requested his attention by knocking on his wall. He had noticed they hadn’t used protection, what a dirty girl she must be. She’s begging to be filled with seed, to have it drench her already soaked pussy.

Clavis slammed into Dahlia, and Dahlia climaxed again. Her voice poured out of her with every breath, there was not a moment she wasn’t making sound. Her body flexed again, beautifully arching as muscles contracted. Her nipples stood stiffly. Clavis slowed down and the sounds of their sexes faded under Dahlia’s moans. Clavis softly joined her, grunting and groaning, and clearly he had reached his own orgasm, coming inside Dahlia as he thrust without pulling the two of them apart.

Dahlia went limp, gasping for air. Her chest heaved and her tits rose and fell with each labored breath. Clavis dropped to his hands, not falling on top of Dahlia, but caging her between his arms on the bed. He huffed and sighed. The two had a sheen on their bodies, a sweat they had worked up with their activities.

Gilbert sighed quietly, finding the conclusion of the show to have come too soon for him to come. Slowly, he felt the pressure subsiding and he knew it would be more work than enjoyment to hold onto his dissipating climax and work it until release. He gave himself a few more slow tugs and tucked his dick away, straightening his pants.

Clavis bent down, lavishing Dahlia with opened mouth kisses. He looked to be coaxing her into another state of arousal. Gilbert raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting to see what would take place now. He promised to just watch, and speaking up in the middle of a performance was rude. He wouldn’t want to interrupt. Maybe he’d get to come after all. 

[dicenete]

Hey, I'm rambling about IkePri again

Okay, I just need to get these thoughts I have about Gilbert von Obsidian out because I enjoy predicting stuff and overthinking design and narrative choices even tho they might not be right. :P But there really isn't that much predicting other than me overthinking about narrative and design choices. This time there will be most likely spoilers of Gilbert's route so far, and route of Clavis and some thoughts I have just gathered while playing the game in general. I try to put these thoughts in cohesive order, but well... I don't know if I can really, because I just need to get these out of my head. These are my thoughts, ramblings and opinions. Feel free to form your own and certainly disagree with me! I apologize about the lack of art in this post. I'm busy with work currently so no fanart for a while. I'm also not native English speaker, so there might be grammatical errors and such. Sorry about that. Everything under the cut.

To start with Ikemen Prince is a romance visual novel first and foremost. That doesn't mean it can't be deep (and it certainly has been deeper than I initially expect, which left me positively surprised). I suppose there is somesort of thematic vibe that there is no prince whose ideals are the main thesis of the game itself. But that also kinda leaves that fact there is no huge catharsis regarding the world and it's state. Everything so far has been left quite open. And the more I have learned about lore of the world, I really feel like anti-monarchist here xd Clavis really sold me the idea for real. Or atleast throw away the absolute monarchy. That's where I think things should go, but that's my own belief. (really, the last king of Rhodolite... He umm... I have some opinions.) Chevalier and Gilbert First things first: I don't hate or dislike Chevalier as a character. There are just some things that give me Deus Ex Machina feels. But I know it is what they are going for with him. This genius that so far ahead of everyone that it is so alien concept to rest of the people. And well that is a very hard concept to pull off without being a genius yourself as a writer. Or that is what I feel like. But what I do love is what the writers are doing with him and Gilbert in thematic sense! (Hence why Chev x Gilbert sounds so juicy to me)

I really took steps to the deep end as I started to think about why I have enjoyed Gilbert's route or was interested in his story to begin with, but have little interest in trying Chev's one. Because they are so similar but they really aren't.

How I would describe it is that where as Clavis is the complementary to Chev, the purple to his yellow, the emotionality vs rationality, the heart vs the brain, Gilbert is more like right brain to Chev's left brain. If it makes sense like that xd Their color schemes are harmonious. Not opposite. Almost like how Nokto and Licht's color schemes are harmonious with each others.

(Nokto (Blue + white + gold) vs Licht (Blue + black + gold)) Not to mention that their names clearly are meant to mean light and dark. (Licht: variant for light, Nokto: comes form latin nox or noctis, meaning night = dark) But that is a rambling for another time.) Both their crests are tigers. White and black tiger. Chev's color scheme is White + gold and black. Whereas Gilbert's is Black + gold and white. But then the overall color that game devs use to signal about the characters baffles me a bit. Gold/Yellow vs Black/dark red. They don't seem to have too much connection or that of which comes to my mind quickly and without digging deeper. (because I believe that if you dig deep enough, you have digged yourself into a trap of overthinking about things. (Justifying things because you want to justify them, which I'm not big fan of. And sometimes things don't need meaning and we have to live with that. As much as it pains my overthinker brain.)) But here is my impressions about Gilbert so far. I'm at the point where MC has left the Clavis's party (I loved it btw). Gilbert really does give me toxic INFJ villain feels, but let's not get too hang up on terms such as that. But he is someone who is driven forth by his own ideals and desire to change the world better. He, like Clavis, seems to cloak himself in this idea that he is the villain and is okay, even happy, to take that role. He is the one who, like Chevalier, has thrown away emotional attachment out of the window (or so they say) unlike Clavis who makes his choices based more on emotion rather than rational thinking. Maybe that's why I like Clavis and Gilbert, they push MC out of their black and white thinking. That things are not so easy peezy as "choose a right king and everyone will be happy". There will always be someone who is mad about it. That's why I really loved the scene with Gilbert with the orphaned kids and the Clavis's party. He seems to enjoy the company of children (who are not morally corrupted or tainted) and he really empathically listens to those who are angry. He believes in the idea that "no one remembers what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel". (A quote with debatable origin, people say that it was coined by Maya Angelou. But I really love this quote, because I think it is the truth.) Gilbert isn't trying to rationalize against someone's choices with pure intellect. He uses empathy to guide him to the most rational outcome in that emotional scope. But he also uses this to manipulate people with fear. He uses fear extensively and he does it actively. Where as I feel like Chev just has that aura about him automatically. Hence my next thought: Action vs Stasis!

Gilbert and Clavis are action oriented. They shake the gameboard, they make the first moves. Gilbert probably more than Clavis. They both want change. Is it change for the better, we will see, I still haven't finished Gilbert's route but he really gives me this "I'm willing to become the greatest threat so that people unite to defeat me." or "I will conquer all so there will no longer be wars.". Chev, on the other hand, symbolizes stasis. His goal is to keep the kingdom of Rhodolite going. That's his duty and he is willing to take it. (even tho we can debate if that is something he really really believes in or even thinks about that much. I feel like it is out of obligation rather than of personal ideal. But alas, I have not played Chev's route yet.) Chev is reactive rather than proactive. He waits for the opponent to make the first move and reacts accordingly. (I'm not saying he is not reactive once game is on. More like "if there was not threat to deal with, he wouldn't create one".)

Chev doesn't care what you think about him. Gilbert does. He might seem like he doesn't but he is really there to prove a point. (I will pick up his dislike for lying later >.>) Chev is not. Chev knows that his way is the right way for him and that is enough for him. Chev also actively makes a "gettaway plan" for himself in Clavis. He knows that Clavis is the final thread that keeps him from going overboard because he understand that he has to be blind for "individual people" aspect to be a good ruler. Gilbert probably understands this about himself too, but he is trying to prove a point. So he needs to go overboard. Because masses of people need absolutes to react to. If it is something banal, it won't do. His evil actions need to shake the very foundation of ideas. The people have to face those things head on and see it for themselves. They cannot be sheltered. Gilbert gives me the vibes that he is willing to sacrifice himself not for the kingdom, but for the betterment of all mankind. He is happy to become the villain #1 if that means that other people will rise and take down the corrupted Obsidian or the corrupted idea. I would say that he is Lawful Good going on about things like Lawful Evil.

Gilbert asking questions means that he wants you to think, he wants to challenge your opinions and how you look at the world. Same as Clavis. They yearn for change. They want to change the world. Where as Chev wants to maintain things as they are. Chev "If it is not broken, we don't need to fix it" Michel. Where as Clavis and Gilbert want to improve the system. They are idealistic. Gilbert and lying

This is something very interesting. At first I thought that he was all "I dislike when people lie to me." but he really is "I dislike lying in all its forms." And he does say that he doesn't lie. And I'm starting to believe that is really the case. All the things he says are true. But because how other people see him, they are suspicious anyway. Like MC is. Like we all probably are when we start the route and think "So what is your trauma, baby girl?" When he is unsure or knows that he shouldn't say the thing he really thinks or that is true, he will deflect or give a very vague response. Which makes me quite happy to replay his route at somepoint with this in mind. In conclusion: Welcome to my TED talk, with no head or tail, just me overthinking about things about a otome gacha game. If you read this far, thank you for your time. Remember, if I ramble about it, it just means that I'm invested. Have a good day~

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.190 New season

Today, I took the family back to Gilbert Gardens to see our house, officially, for the first time. Last night, after Dub went home, I showed Sophia pictures of the inside to confirm with her my choice. As suspected, she agreed wholeheartedly. When we walked in, the familiar scene greeted us with a warm invitation. After scrolling through the pictures over the last few days, being inside was so magical. It felt like home. Sophia was especially taken with all the red accents in the living room. I think it's hilarious how she says she doesn't have a favorite color, but it's so obvious that she does.

We've had many signs that this was to be our home even before we bought it, and the inside confirms it even more. First, with Sophia's favorite color, and now my mother's. The kitchen is green, and throughout my life, it seems like most of our intimate moments happened in kitchens. I'm not a big fan of the color, but it felt like fate.

The eat-in kitchen is such a large room, as I said previously. It's totally gonna end up being the family room. Me and Sophia already hang together while we're cooking anyway, so with the computer and toys for Desi in the mix, I don't see how we'll ever leave this room. Sophia is the only one who watches TV, and she really only does that when she's alone, so I don't see the living room getting much use.

It's interesting how a home's layout makes all the difference. This house is roughly the same size as our current one, but it feels so much more spacious. I especially love having different places to hang out. Upstairs, there's a nice loft-like area that I'm sure Desi and her cousins will take over when they're older. I wish we could have had a spot like that in our current house. Tummy time would have been so much more comfortable than squeezing into a narrow hallway.

All the bedrooms and the hall bath open to this space. Our bedroom is super tiny, so the wardrobe sits just outside the door. It'll be tough to leave behind our large bedroom, but we've lived the tiny room life before and will do it again happily. At least we finally got our own bathroom this time. We might have to change the color scheme, though, because the bedroom is the one place I don't want to be thinking about Mama.

I love Desi's room. It has such a sweet yet calm vibe, just like her. It's a shame she'll probably never sleep in it as is. I hope I can find a similar set in a child size to maintain the vibe.

When the cousins come over, two of them can stay in the spare room, and the other can camp out in the loft with a sleeping bag.

There's a nice size porch, and a fenced in side yard just like we have at our current house. But the pièces de résistance is the backyard. I'm glad to see all the stuff I ordered arrived, but I kicked myself for not thinking it through. I was too excited about giving the kids the best backyard ever and never once considered they're all aging up the day after tomorrow. Hopefully, there's a good return policy because that stuff was not cheap.

Once we finished touring the house and getting a feel for it, my next move was to leave and go back home, naturally. Sophia reminded me that this is our home and we could stay as long as we want unless I had something better to do. I most certainly did not, so we parked upstairs and sat on the floor with Desi.

"Do you like this house, Des?" I ask.

"Yeah!"

"Do you want to live here?"

"I go live in the dollie house!"

I swear we have the most adorable kid on earth. And I will fight anyone who disagrees, heh. Given how she behaved at Dub's rental, I knew I wouldn't have to convince her moving here was a good thing, but I had to be sure she understood this time we were definitely staying.

"We should pack up our photos and stuff tonight and move in tomorrow," Sophia said.

"Why tomorrow?"

"Why not? It's not like we're taking much. Plus, I'd like to be settled before her birthday."

Sometimes, I don't understand my brain. Like, I'll have something in my head to do, but for whatever reason, it doesn't occur to me to do it right away. I honestly can't tell you when I thought we'd move in, but it definitely was not tomorrow. Thank goodness my wife has better foresight than me.

"Are you excited about your birthday, Desi baby?" I ask.

"Birdaaaay!"

She's excited because we're excited, but I don't think she knows what birthdays are all about yet, so I try to explain.

"It's gonna be so fun! All your cousins will be here, and we're gonna eat cake, and then you'll be a BIG girl. Are you excited?"

"I cited!"

"What excites you most about being a big girl?" Sophia asks.

"I cited about TREE HOUSE, an I pway with Koopa an Wosie, an I cited about pway with you, Daddy!"

"Awww, I'm excited about playing with you, too. Are you excited about school?"

"What's school?"

"School is a place where you go every day to learn important stuff and get super smart. There'll be lots of other kids there, and you can make friends. And there's a thing called recess where they let you go outside and run around for a little while. It'll be fun."

I do not doubt that little speech was more for convincing myself because the thought of her being away for that long every day makes me incredibly anxious, and I miss her already. How is my baby girl school-age already?? I should have asked Dub how he dealt with this transition.

"Does that sound like fun, sweet potato?" Sophia asks.

"Yeah! I gon' have THIS MANY fwens!"

"Woooow that's a lot of friends," Sophia said.

I left them talking to go to the bathroom, and then I called Less to give her the plan. When I returned, I found my entire family in the kitchen, looking happy and comfortable, as if we'd been living here the entire time. I sensed that relief—that era of chill I'd been longing for—settling into the foundation of the house. If I would have known all we needed was a change of venue, I would have bought this house long time ago. But everything happens in its time for a reason. Whatever this new season will bring, I'm ready for it.

[lifeofmarvvel]

Some Facts and Headcanons about the Blythe kids' appearances

Including how tall I think they are in relation to each other and who they look the most like

Jem

We know that Jem has Anne's red hair but Gilbert's curls as well as his eye color (hazel). He's said to be tall, have Anne's nose, Gilbert's mouth (and probably smile), and "the only one of the family who had ears nice enough to please Susan" (RV)

Pretty much, he's a good mix of Anne and Gilbert

The AoGG wikia also kinda roasts him by adding "Although not as handsome as his brother, Walter, or his best friend, Jerry, Jem grew up to be a good-looking young man" (rip lol, why'd they go with 2 comparisons on his looks in one sentence)

He's also decently tall, though it doesn't specify any comparisons in how tall. I'd say probably a solid 5'10 or 11.

Walter

He's considered the "handsomest of the Ingleside children" with straight black hair, and dark grey eyes.

Given that Anne also has grey eyes (though more green-gray, iirc), and the fact that he doesn't look like any known relative, I feel like there's a chance he looks like either one of Walter or Bertha's siblings (if they had any at any point) or one of their parents, his great-grandparents

As for height, I feel like he was always close in height to Jem growing up, only an inch or two shorter. They end up being roughly the same height by the time they stop growing

Nan

We find out exactly who Nan looks like in the series! During Anne of Ingleside, we find out she looks just like her Grandma Blythe. Consequently, she looks a lot like Gilbert, too -- the most of the daughters to look like him, in fact

She has straight brown hair and brown eyes. Her hair is considered silky, too. Anne appreciates the fact that at least Nan can wear pink out of her daughters

As for height, she's taller than Rilla, but still pretty short. Like, Rilla is barely shorter than her. It's a tough victory but she's not the shortest so  ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

Di

Anne's mini-me! Di has her red hair and green eyes. Her hair is said to have a "swirl to it" so I'm assuming that means she got Gil's curls as well (or at least some waves).

Since she looks so much like Anne, we can likely assume she's also pretty freckled

I like to think she's the tallest of the daughters. Like 5'8 or so, not too much shorter than Jem. While growing up, she was always taller than Nan but not too much -- Nan just stopped growing first

Shirley

Ah, Susan's "little brown boy" aka brown hair, brown eyes, and a darker skin tone than the Blythe kids who got Anne's Very White skin tone. He looks the most like Nan out of his siblings, and is the son that looks the most like Gilbert (just a slight difference in eye color)

We got nothing on his hair texture but I tend to picture him with curly hair too, probably just because of that "pretty close to Gilbert's mini-me" thing I've concluded

Little siblings have a bad habit of being rude and ending up taller than their older siblings. (I say this as an oldest child who has a younger sister that's a good few inches taller than me.) Because of that, I like to think that Shirley ends up the tallest of the Blythe kids. Idk how much taller than Gilbert that would make him, if at all, but he'd be pretty tall, definitely at least 6'2

Rilla

Rilla is a good mix between Gilbert and Anne, just in a different combo than Jem. She has Gilbert's hazel eyes, Anne's freckles, and "ripely, ruddily brown" which is probably exactly what Anne wanted her hair to be when she was younger. So, pretty much, she started auburn/red-haired and turned more brunette as she got older. The red is probably most visible in the summer sun

There also isn't anything about her hair texture, either. I'd say it's either wavy or the type of straight hair that actually does hold heated curls and hairdos better than others

Rilla is the baby and, unfortunately for her, I picture her as the shortest of the family. She's like an inch shorter than Nan. All growing up she probably said stuff like "I'll be taller than both of you!" to the twins and then. it just never happened. Sorry, girl

Fun Facts (aka all this but reworded exclusively)

Jem is the only son with Anne's hair color; he's the only son with Gilbert's eye color

Walter is the only kid with the grey-side of Anne's eyes. He has the darkest hair in the entire family

Nan is the only daughter with brown eyes

Di is the only one with the green-side of Anne's eyes, making her the one with the lightest eyes

Shirley is the only son with brown eyes

Rilla is the only daughter with Gilbert's eyes

None of the children inherited Walter Shirley's blue eyes (probably since the dark-eyed gene is so strong)

None of the children inherited Bertha's blonde hair

And Grandparent Look-Alikes

Jem and Di, because of their red hair, look most like Walter Shirley out of all of their grandparents. Di probably moreso than Jem

We only know John Blythe has brown hair, so it's also possible Nan looks like Grandma Blythe and Shirley looks like John with Gilbert either looking like John or a mix of his parents

Nan is the only grandkid confirmed to look exactly like a grandparent

Walter is an anomaly so who actually knows lol

--

Anyway, I don't really have a reason for posting this other than, hopefully, as a helpful guide to others and as a way for me to make sure my hcs for their appearances are written out so I don't mix up my thoughts in the future. Feel free to add any hc's you might have involving the Blythe kids and their appearances!

[moldyrainbowbutter]

MAGNUS ARCHIVES SPOILERS FOR EPISODES 1-80 BELOW CUT. (this is gonna be a long one)

I made a conspiracy board.

OKAY so now that we've established that I'm going insane, time for theories. if you know the answers please do not confirm or deny them.

The eldritch entity thingies are each connected to a certain type of emotion. The Eye is feelings of being watched and the Stranger is fear of the unknown

Spiders/Disease/Insects are connected to a different being altogether from the Stranger and the Eye. While they don't actually have that much connection to each other in the real world, the eldritch entities or whatever they are aren't bound by logic. This creature likely revolves around feelings of disgust, in the same way that the Eye revolves around feelings of being watched and the Stranger seems to revolve around fear of the unknown.

Alternatively, spiders could be connected to another different being that revolves around feelings of being trapped. Webs catch things. Kids were "caught" by 105 Hill Top Road

The changeling (that's what I'm calling it) is an avatar of the Stranger. Leitner said Gertrude hid all her tapes about the Stranger in the tunnels, and a lot of the tapes that the police took from the tunnels were about changelings. This would also work because the changeling is a stranger, so to speak, but only one person ever knows.

The person who recognizes that the changeling isn't who they say they are seems to always be someone who already felt a bit uneasy around the replaced person. The one with the bad relationship to her mom; the first time the table shows up the woman who realizes was actively avoiding Graham when he got replaced; in Distant Cousin the guy was worried his cousin thought he was annoying; Melanie said that Jon is the closest she has to a friend at the Archives which means she probably doesn't trust the other people there (including Sasha)

The Eye and the Stranger are enemies because the changeling said its enemy was the Magnus Institute and had many eyes, both of which are traits of the Eye.

Either Robert Smirke or one of his students (George Gilbert Scott and I forget if there were others) will be a character at some point. How this will work given that Smirke was an adult in the 1820s I don't know exactly, but who knows maybe he got absorbed into his buildings like what happened to Harry in MAG 050 - Foundations, but it somehow kept him alive.

The two main things that seem to be connected to shifting buildings are Smirke/his students and Michael. Possibly they are connected but I don't think so for some reason

The thing in the mausoleum from MAG 023 - Schwartzwald is connected to the Eye (the kids would go in and run out when they were "seen")

Whatever drew arrows in the tunnels below the Archive is connected to the Eye. First, because the Eye might not want other entities encroaching on its "territory" (the Institute), and also because it seems to encourage people to try and find things out about supernatural stuff. The arrows were encouraging Jon to go deeper into the tunnels and find out more.

Michael is separate from the disease being, the Stranger, and the Eye. The type of creature that he is seems to revolve around feelings of confusion

There is another being that revolves around vastness, emptiness, and isolation. It is responsible for MAG 057 - Personal Space (the astronaut one); MAG 013 - Alone; and MAG 051 - High Pressure.

[wyvernquill]

Another Dreamling Anastasia AU Snippet

So, this AU somehow gained some new traction over the past few days, and I remembered I still had this in my drafts! It's a direct continuation from the last post - the first time their paths cross, though I think I'll save their actual first conversation (already written!) for the next part. Mostly a lot of background and exposition, but I hope it'll be enjoyable nonetheless! Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm for this AU!!!

(Masterpost here!)

(Tag list, let me know if you want to be added or taken off: @10moonymhrivertam @martybaker @globglobglobglobob @anonymoustitans @sunshines-fabulous-legs @dreamsofapiratelife @malice-royaume @kcsandmanfan @acedragontype @okilokiwithpurpose @tharkuun @silver-dream89 @i-write-stories-not-sins-bitch)

(I don't know why it just won't let me do the proper tag sometimes... I hope the people Tumblr refuses to let me tag will see the post anyway, I'm very sorry...)

---

There is a fight just about to break loose at the White Horse Inn.

It will happen because of a man; a pale, stick-thin skinny thing of a man, barely more than an ashen, grimy face under a mop of coal hair balanced on top of a ragged black coat, loitering close to the fireplace and trying not to be too obvious about soaking up its warmth. At his feet, half hidden beneath the torn hem-line of his coat, there is a bird, some sort of corvid, following the other guests - and their purses in particular - with its beady little eyes.

The bird’s master is watching, too, watching the inn’s staff collect coins and shove them into their pockets, watching the plates and bowls of food being carried about, hungry, starving-

And then he’s noticed watching, a barmaid muttering a word or two to the innkeep over by the beer caskets - and the moment the man’s eyes find the stranger, they narrow.

And in turn, the moment the stranger notices the hostile eyes on him, he seems to brace himself, something feral in the way his lips draw back from his teeth as the innkeep makes a beeline for him through the crowded pub.

Words are exchanged.

Words are exchanged, loudly.

An arm is grabbed - and the bird jumps up with an angry caw, beating its wings at the innkeep’s face, and the scullery boy runs over to help, as does the burliest of the barmaids.

(There’s that fight now.)

The stranger shouts and scratches and twists as he is dragged through the common room, towards the door, growling profanities in a hoarse, dark voice, while his bird squawks, wrapped in the scullery boy’s apron.

It’s a right mess, but perhaps not an unusual one - the White Horse makes quick work of unruly drunkards (and those who are here to pilfer money rather than spend it), and even as some guests are following the fight in fascination and with half a mind to join in just for the pleasure of throwing a punch, most of their clientele barely spares them a look. Soon, the stranger will be cast out into the cold and the night again, far away from the warmth of a fireplace, or the smell of food, or opportunities for thievery. Nothing special. Soon, it will be just a quiet evening, like any other…

If it weren’t for the fact that, over in the far corner, a familiar man, and a familiar something-altogether-else still managing a rather sound impression of one, have been nursing their drinks for a good hour already, trying to drown their failures in ale.

(The humans have robbed Destiny of his powers, torn his realm from him, burned his book - but destiny still shapes the lives of mortals and immortals alike; and it is that power, which makes Robert Gadling look up from the sad remains of his beer, and, for just a fraction of a second, lock eyes with the vagabond currently in the process of being removed from the premises.

That is enough.

With just one look, the wheels of fate are already set in motion, and our story can begin in earnest.)

"Hey, Gil." Hob nudges Gilbert's arm, not taking his eyes off the struggling, furious stranger. "Over there. Look."

"Hm?" Gilbert blinks owlishly, following Hob's nod to the commotion behind him. "Oh, yes, yes. Ghastly, isn't it? Disgraceful, that some hoodlums cannot conduct themselves in public houses with the appropriate decorum - in my days, I tell you, when the Endless were still-"

"No, look!" Hob cuts him off. "The hoodlum. Look at him, really look."

"Hrmmm," Gilbert makes a sound of polite displeasure, and fiddles with his circular little glasses, peering through them and across the room, where the haggard stranger is spitting abuse at the innkeep even as he is in the process of being shoved out of the door.

And then, "oh, good lord!" Gilbert gasps, and drops his glasses.

"You see it too, then?"

"I… yes. Gracious, yes. Like a ghostly apparition." Gilbert gropes for his glasses with one hand, eyes never leaving the stranger. "The physical resemblance - most uncanny. A good deal more malnourished and, ah… rather grimy, it seems… and yet, overall…"

"A dead ringer for Dream of the Endless, isn't he?" Hob finishes, nodding. “Better than any of the men that auditioned for us, certainly.”

“Heaven help,” Gilbert’s voice is weak with emotion, “even knowing it isn’t him, I feel like… ah, Robert, if he were only given a bath, some better garb… it would be as if His Lordship walked again!”

“Would be?” Hob’s grin is bright and hungry, like a hunting dog smelling his prey, as he pushes himself up from his seat. “Will be!”

“-and if I see either you or yer blasted bird thievin’ in here again," the innkeep snarls, tossing first the haggard stranger, and then a squawking bundle of black feathers, out into the snow. “I’m callin’ the coppers! Y’hear?”

The word the stranger spits back, gathering all his limbs and his dark coat around himself as he staggers to his feet and off into the night, is so filthy even Hob would blush upon saying it. A bit rough around the edges, this man, not exactly the model of a fairytale king - but such things can be taught, can’t they. Hob’s seen a production of Shaw’s Pygmalion, years ago, and if Higgins can make a fine lady out of a flower girl, then Hob and Gil can make a Dream Lord out of some vagabond.

“Begging your pardon, good man.” Hob leans against the doorframe, watching the stranger’s dark shape angrily stomp off through the snow, bird hopping along at his side. “Howsabout this, a shilling for anything you can tell me about the man you just tossed out of your establishment.”

“Whot, Murphy!?” The innkeep blinks. 

Holds out his hand.

Hob dutifully deposits one of his last few shillings in it.

“Thank you kindly, sir, much obliged.” A tip of the hat, and the coin disappearing in the innkeep’s pocket. “Murphy’s one of the local beggars. A filthy thief, too, and no mistake. He’s trained that raven of his into it - heard the city even pays him some little pittance to control the birds in the area! They wouldn’t do it if they knew what he was doing with ‘em. I don’t like seein’ him around the Horse, not with the trouble he’s causing. Stealing leftover scraps from tables I can forgive, might even give him a full meal now and then in the name of charity - but if he goes for the pockets of my regulars, the regulars don’t come back, understand? Can’t have that.”

“Course not.” Hob agrees readily. “Bad for business, a pickpocket.”

“Just so, sir. He’s been in the London area for… oh, eight, nine, maybe ten years? Hasn’t got a trade, not very willing to do an honest day’s work in any case, can’t hold down a job for the life of him as a result. Still thinks himself better than the rest o’ us, anyway. I’d leave him alone, if I were you - he’s vicious as all Hell, bit the kitchen boy once and the lad needed to get his arm stitched up afterwards. And that raven - the thing’s a demon, swear to God. A familiar, like witches have. If we were livin’ in a less civilised age, they’d’ve strung old Murphy up for witchcraft and devilry years ago!”

Hob hums thoughtfully. “Do you know if he has fallen in with that crowd? Not idle hearsay, mind, but facts. There’s still some men in London who practise the Old Arts, does he meet with them?”

(Hob has heard that the old Magus of Wych Cross died perhaps a year or two after his greatest accomplishment; for all his powers that tore Endless spectres from their lofty thrones, in the end he couldn’t defend himself against his own son finally snapping, smothering him in his sleep, and running off with the gardener. Good riddance to the old goat, in Hob’s opinion - but he had a good handful of supporters in every major city, and they can’t all have died with him.)

The innkeep takes his time answering, staring out into the softly-falling snow.

“...not that I know of, sir.” He finally says, cautiously. “He doesn’t meet with anyone, really, ‘xcept the birds. Solitary type, is our Murphy, with no family, and no-one to miss him if he freezes himself to death some night. But.”

A pause.

“There’s something wrong about that man, if you ask me. He has a look in his eyes… whatever it is, it’s not natural. Might be magic. Might be madness. I really couldn’t say.”

“I see.” Gears are turning in Hob’s head, puzzle pieces slotting into place, plans unfolding.

A man sleeping rough, with nobody to miss him or know much of him, fierce and angry and constantly on the brink of starvation, looking just like Dream. A diamond in the rough, and quite possibly desperate enough to actually agree to their mad plan just for a few weeks of guaranteed food and a roof over his head.

Dear God. He’s perfect.

“One more question, about Murphy.” Hob beams, half-giddy. “Where do you think I could find him, say… tomorrow?”

The innkeep’s eyebrows rise up into his hair.

“Can’t see why you’d ever want to,” he mutters into his beard. “But very well. On your head be it.”

He names a nearby small park, where Murphy often goes to feed his birds, and is rewarded for it with another tuppence; and then Hob saunters back to his and Gil’s table, already feeling like he can almost taste the promise of eternal life on the tip of his tongue.

(“We cannot know for certain that he will agree, Robert. He sounds like a most prideful young man - he is much like His Lordship in that regard as well, I suppose.”

“Oh, he’ll agree. I’ve been where he is, Gil, and there were times I would’ve sold my own mother to the devil for a warm meal and a bed to sleep in. Not that the devil would’ve taken the old bat even if I’d paid him, of course, but it’s the principle of the thing.”

“That hardly makes it much better. We’d be taking advantage of the poor man’s unfortunate situation!”

“Everyone’s situation is unfortunate these days. And we’d be improving his, on the whole, along with ours.”

“Let it be noted, dear fellow, that I am voicing my ethical and moral quandaries.”

“I really don’t think our plan to scam the Endless is very ethical in the first place, Gil.”

“...now that I cannot possibly argue with.”

“There we are then.”

“However! You will have to be the one to suggest it. I will help you instruct him and present him to the Endless if you do convince him - but for now, I wash my hands of the matter.”

“Fair enough.”)

[mzannthropy]

Anne of the Island Chapter 15

First of all, I'll say that I love the title of this chapter, A Dream Turned Upside Down. Chapter titles in this book could be a topic of their own, IMO.

I like that Anne is looking forward to return to Redmond, what a difference from a year before, when she was afraid she would never make Kingsport her home.

Before I get to the point, what the hell is it with Mrs Hiram Sloane blabbing about the mail? And knowing what Anne's handwriting looks like? Does anyone have any privacy in this place? My least favourite thing about LMM is how she always elevates villages over cities, but then presents a village as a place where everyone knows your personal business.

I never quite knew how to feel about feel about Diana submitting Anne's story to the competition. Now I'm clearer. I understand Anne's feelings; if it was me I would feel that I didn't deserve the prize money, bc someone else inserted something into the story to make it qualify for the competition. However I am not so lofty about a baking powder short story contest. Writing is writing. If an aspiring filmmaker starts out shooting adverts for TV, it's still art, one has to begin somewhere on their way up the Alpine Path, as LMM would put it. Diana is so happy for Anne while poor Anne sits there feeling all humiliated. But you know, they're still best friends, and will remains so, despite their differences. Anne does appreciate Diana's intention, but at the end of the day, Diana is not a creative soul like Anne is.

I made a post about Gilbert in this chapter in 2021 (link though my view now is slightly changed, after taking part in this book club; Mr Harrison gave a reasonable advice). Thank the gods for Gilbert. Common sense, matter of fact, and healthy, I should say.

One would rather write masterpieces of literature no doubt—but meanwhile board and tuition fees have to be paid.

Exactly, thank you, Gilbert. Professor Hamilton needs to chill. Anne is a college student, a poor college student at that. And it's the very first story she tried to have published.

I wondered why Anne didn't try writing during the academic year, bc I thought they had these literary clubs or societies or whatever at Redmond. But I think I know why. She had more time in the summer, on a break from her studies, she only got the idea after the holidays started and she probably thought it would be safer to do it away from college, in case the story ends up being unsuccessful. Hence her fear over being laughed at at Redmond.

“Oh, Gilbert, not you,” implored Anne, in an et-tu Brute tone. “I thought you would understand."

Diana is Anne's best friend, but Anne knows Gilbert gets her on a different level.

[philtstone]

16 (nose kisses), Anne/Gilbert!

The unspoken laws and loyalties of bosom friendship notwithstanding, Anne has been inching nearer and nearer to the edge of her patience with every subsequent Post-Date Diana who enters their humble apartment.

"Oh, Anne," she says the first time, admittedly Diana-ish in the rosy, stalwart flush of her cheeks. "I just had the best time. We got spaghetti, and he held my purse, and I think I laughed all night long."

Fred Wright is nowhere near funny enough for Anne to believe this a sustainable laughter, but Diana is happy, and if one isn't expecting a date to go anywhere -- which Anne is not -- the best outcome of the whole thing would be an enjoyable old time. Anne says, "A grand old success, then," while Diana goes, smiling, to the bathroom to get unready, and that is that.

So Anne thinks, anyhow.

"Anne," says Diana after the second date. "Oh, I keep thinking about him. He's got such nice eyes, and such lovely hair --" (It's so very flat and straight, which Anne has never found alluring, but she holds her tongue) "-- and gosh, Anne, all I could think of was how desperately I wanted to kiss his nose. I felt like a heroine from a romance, Anne, I really did!"

This is less like the Di Anne knows, but she allows that years of being exposed to Anne might have predicted such behaviour -- his nose, really! No one has so alluring a nose that you'd want to kiss it, let alone Fred's flat and snub one -- Diana's is so much more aristocratic -- but Anne manages to smile and nod. She has twelve readings due tomorrow, so she decides -- whilst on a semi-regular video call with recent chum Gil Blythe -- that she'll deal with it later.

"Diana's sensible," Anne tells him, stoutly, while she braids her hair for bed and he squints at his Anatomy 412 flashcards by the sink with a toothbrush in his mouth. "Not like I am, Gil -- she'll grow out of this Fred thing. I mean, she has dreams, for God's sake, and Fred is so -- so -- Fred."

"Fred's a nice enough guy," Gilbert says, muffled around his toothbrush. He spits. "Accounting's got steady income. And, you know, Diana's mom's got to like him -- not like the last few guys."

It's true, of course, that Fred Wright goes to the same Korean Church the Barrys have patronized for years, but Anne sees this as immaterial to Diana's dreams of becoming a self-made creative marketing director in the modern age of womankind.

"We've got exams in a week," Anne says with confidence. "I'm sure she'll be back to herself in no time."

The third date comes and goes, and Diana admits -- after a whole two days of secretive private sighing -- to a make-out session of the most agreeable kind. There was over the clothes action. Anne howls with such violent shock that her prized 2014 MacBook almost flies across the room.

"And it took you two days to tell me?" she shrieks.

Diana is only a very little bit repentant.

Anne becomes convinced. She is losing her closest friend in the world -- to a man.

To Fred Wright. And his perfectly average nose!

Oh, calamity!

"Anne," says Gilbert, for the tenth time, a week after Diana's gone on her fifth date. Well -- they're not really dates anymore. Anne's been informed that her best friend is in a whole relationship with the dreaded Fred. After three days of a stiff upper lip (she had two papers due for women's studies) she has broken down in tears in Gilbert's dorm. Thank God Josie and Moody left an hour ago, because Anne doesn't think she could've borne the humiliation of Losing It in front of them.

Gilbert, somehow, is different.

"Anne," he says once more, gently. She can feel his hands rubbing carefully against her back, and it is helping, really. She hiccups a few times.

"I'm just -- we had these dreams together, Gil. What if she goes off and gets married before me and never becomes duchess of digital marketing, and I'm left alone and friendless and -- and -- alone -- and, oh, I haven't even started my third term paper. Alone!"

At this, Gilbert sighs fully and pulls her into a hug. Anne hiccups weepily for a while longer against his chest, which is surprisingly solid. She supposes she ought to have expected this -- just as she ought to have expected Diana's romantic escapades -- because, as evidenced by the old football jersey he's currently wearing, Gilbert the pre-med student was until very recently something of an athlete. Anne tripped over her own feet the last time she tried running, and so has long since given up the stuff. This noted contrast is suddenly and inconveniently allowing a queer feeling to enter her stomach.

"Anne," Gilbert says a third time, somewhere around the vicinity of her forehead. "You're not alone. You goose. As if Diana would ever forget about you."

"But things might change," Anne says.

It comes out in a far smaller voice than she intends it to. And then, as if inspired, she looks up.

She doesn't mean to, and perhaps she is compelled by some greater force; in that moment, she comes the closest she ever has to Gilbert's own nose. It is far nicer than Fred Wright's, Anne's mind manages to notice. Long and straight and brown, and -- well, there is a freckle or two there, from the sun, but they're much sweeter than Anne's own and something about their proximity is making her stomach flip. His arm is warm against her side.

She could kiss his nose, pops the thought into her head, so very unwanted.

"Not all change is a bad thing, Anne," Gilbert says, his low voice scattering that awful intrusion to the four winds. He is as quiet as she had been, but more steady, somehow. Gilbert is often steady, these days, and steadiness is something Anne has never thought, actively, to crave before, but she has -- well, she has.

Anne takes a deep, querulous breath and pretends her head isn't spinning. Gilbert's expression shifts; she stops staring at his nose. A very small part of her, perceptive in spite of herself, thinks that he is about to take pity on her.

He does.

"C'mon," Gil says, untangling them and helping Anne to her feet with a decidedly chummy arm up. "You've got your paper and I've got this bellringer. I'll put on some tea, we'll focus, and then I can come with you tomorrow to stage a Diana Intervention."

And it won't really be that -- Anne loves Diana too much to want anything but the best and happiest for her -- but she is comforted, all the same.

[scummy-writes]

I'm going to talk about Constance for a minute, and while I could do this on her blog, this was moreso concerning the characters in the universe rather than *just* strictly Constance. I was kinda hoping for opinions that didn't stomp all over the idea but to help make it work instead.

I've debated on her selective mutism for a while, I at least decided to keep it a vague 'difficulties talking' in general for her in the meantime. One of the things holding me back is that one of the ways Gilbert ends up being 'easy' for her to talk to in ways, is because of sign language.

It's. difficult to explain, but some reasons for this would have been 'nobility have more time and resources, they would be able to learn something like sign language.' and that makes a lot of sense to me, right? Because my thought process was along the lines of how those who have to constantly work most of the day to survive, they wouldn't really have the luxary/time for such things unless it strongly impacted their life in a way. Instead they'd make do, with paper and other gestures.

Aside from likely huge historical inaccuracies based off of that, even if that were the case, it still leads issues to who knows it and who wouldn't know it. Because in Constance's story, I have it to where Chev and Gil know it, but someone like Rio, who has been close to her for years, does not...? And that seems odd to me.

(That, and now that I think further on it, I feel like Clavis would know it too.)

My first jump is 'well wouldnt they all know it?" but then I feel like it wouldnt impact Nokto or Jin or some of the others as much as it could impact someone like Clavis or Sariel knowing it? I could even make an excuse as to why Silvio would know it as well.

So then why would Rio, who is following the same level as normal Rio since Constance is mainly an Mc replacement at this point, *not* learn sign language, if he didn't already? He's a good dude who is hopelessly devoted to friends/loved ones- if he thought it would ease some burden for a close friend, why wouldn't he?

Would he listen, if she asked him not to learn it due to her being worried about the difficulty of it? Because Constance likely learned from Akatsuki and possibly thought it was a burden if he struggled with it a bit. Or she learned from someone else in the town, and it was clear there were a lot of struggles with her learning it.

I feel like even if asked, he wouldn't listen, unless it was a harsh argument, but then he'd still learn it in secret? I cannot come up with a good reason of why he wouldn't know it.