#but i was expecting a lot more from a FE Lord back then

[randomnameless]

Scrolling through some old posts on a whim and found this, in response to an anon pointing out how stupid it was for Claude to not know about poverty in Almyra:

To be fair, that's also something I ranted about in Birthrout when Ryoma went all "i never knew people in Nohr were starving" because there's no way a crown prince and future heir of a nation doesn't know basic things about his immediate neighbours -

While you went on to point out that it's worse in Three Houses' case because it's a prince not knowing about basic details of his own nation instead of a prince not knowing about basic details of his neighbouring nation, i'd like to add that it's even more justified in Fates' case due to one of the biggest and most consistent issues with Hoshido being it's isolationism and lack of care for the issues of other countries, made even worse by the fact that it's general populace despises Nohrians due to the war:

Azura, in her C-Support with Corrin in Revelation: I suppose the carefree attitude of Hoshido might look like indifference to others. It could give people the impression that Hoshidans are very self-centered. So long as there is peace, the people in Hoshido seem uninterested in the world.

Shura, chapter 19 of Birthright: The day Kohga fell to Mokushu, almost all of my people were slaughtered. I was a child... Chased from my homeland and separated from the other survivors. Even as a refugee, I was denied entry to Hoshido. So I wound up in Nohr. I was exiled and alone. My only choice was to steal or die. You can guess what I chose. I've been here ever since, searching for others like me and trying to stay afloat...

Azura, in a line that was removed during localization and changed into her being the only person to suffer suspicion from the general populace, Chapter 9 of Conquest: But ever since the war started, everyone has changed. After you, a Hoshido princess, defected to Nohr… Anyone who had even a little involvement with the enemy could not be trusted, and a movement to eliminate them began. And the brunt of it… Was directed at me, because I was born in Nohr.

With all that in mind, i actually find it pretty reasonable for Ryoma to not know about Nohr's food shortage; he was born and raised in a country that's, at best, willfully ignorant and uncaring of the issues other countries face and, at worst, actively murderous towards anyone with even the slightest involvement with the enemy nation it's at war with. While his own prejudice against Nohr doesn't go quite that far, it's very consistent throughout Conquest that he doesn't think very highly of it either, calling it's ways treacherous, automatically assuming they tricked Corrin just because she chose to go back to Nohr, and assuming that Corrin was lying to him and trying to trick him to win their duel due to what they were taught while in Nohr (using fateswartable's translations here since Treehouse massively exaggerated Ryoma's grudge against Nohr):

Ryoma, Chapter 6 of Conquest: Like hell I’d give up…! I have to make Kamui come to her senses. Anyway it was you, the Nohr royal family, that seduced her, right!?

Xander: Bullshit…We did no such thing. Kamui, of her own free will, chose us.

Ryoma: Damn…! I know your way of doing things. You always use dirty tricks to torment the people of Hoshido! Defeat me fair and square in a fight and then you can speak of victory!

Corrin, boss convo in chapter 25 of CQ while Ryoma still wrongly believes that they killed Hinoka: Ryouma- please stop fighting! I want to speak with you! There’s more to what happened to Hinoka, so please listen, brother!

Ryoma: Hou…Are you trying to catch me off guard? By seeing the face of the sister that killed Hinoka? Nohr’s ways are treacherous…but it’s a shame. No matter what you say, my heart shall remain steadfast. I can no longer think of you as my little sister! Draw your sword!!! Kamui!!!!!!

Given his own initial prejudice against Nohr, coupled with the isolationist culture of Hoshido, i find it reasonable for him to only bother learning about important military strongholds in Nohr and not bother investigating what life's like for the peasants there, especially since he doesn't hold the country in high regard at the start of Birthright and only softens up to it and vows to help it with it's resource problem once he finds out that most of the people there are starving, meaning he wouldn't have bothered spending any more time researching Nohr than was helpful for the war effort.

Hahaha,

I hope my 2014 -5 ramblings weren't completely nonsensical, I haven't revisited them in a while lol

I still think Ryoma, who's not a random but the crown Prince, should at least have known a bit, even if his country is marked by extreme prejudice and isolationism, about Nohr - especially since Nohr is the country who has tried to invade them since Garon (or Gooron?) was king, and they're fighting since, well, forever.

But taking his prejudice into account, and Ryoma's own faults (he's very impulsive, not unlike his own son?), it sort of makes sense, even if I still think that's not an optimal situation for the next heir to only have the "bcs they're evil/norhians it's in their nature" answer to the usual question "why are Nohrians attacking us".

Granted, 2014-2015 was part of my Jugdral period, where both games took care to have their Lord be explained why the frick they are fighting - it's mostly important regarding Leif, who gets told by August that if Thracians are bandits and targeted the Mansterian lands, it's because they are starving and cannot import food from the North bcs Leif's forefathers and the Mansterians nobles don't want to share food.

So Leif's journey from "Thracian Hyenas!" to "Gods why are those people starving why aren't we trading food with them" to being the King of the unified peninsula, aka both Thracians and Mansterians, felt a regular, normal journey.

Ryoma being blocked at the "Nohrian hyenas" step felt a bit underwhelming in comparison, especially since, unlike Leif, he supposedly received all the education befitting a heir and hasn't been on the run for 10 years.

But ultimately everything boils down to "different games, different situations", and more over, different characters. Ryoma is biased, arrogant and impulsive - and there's no FE8!Seth, FE5!August, hell, even FE13!Fredo to tell him to stop and start being a King or acting as the leader of a State.

[doodledstars]

This is ALL my opinions, so views are subjective! Also note there will be mature themes since this IS an adult/yaoi game and I'll be typing a LOT, so please read at your discretion!

Wanted to do something fun before I do work! I received some questions especially for who's my faves for this game, so now that I played the game more, I can actually form my own opinions! Since this is going to be a long LONG text, they'll be under the "keep reading" tab!

Also Topper and Father are at the top tier cuz they're just cute small animals. Can't argue with that. :)

LOVE <3

1.) EDMOND

Not gonna lie, when I first saw him I HATED him. I REALLY don't like tsunderes (looking at you Takumi from FE: Fates) and it didn't help that Eiden immediately fell for at first sight. Like I was internally screaming at Eiden NOT to fall for the tsundere knight. :T

But to my biggest shock, he was WAY more than that. He's respected by all his people (with some stuck-up noble detractors), the knights adore him, and he's always looking out for the best for others. His duty, work, and especially others and Eiden come first before he does. His tsundere personality only comes out when Eiden teases/flirts with him, but otherwise, he's very sweet and cares for others, especially Eiden.

And I absolutely ship him with Eiden the most. Out of all the relationships, they feel the most "mutual" if that makes sense? One reason I'm iffy about adult and especially yaoi games/themes was there was a HUGE power imbalance. In this case tho, Eiden was already head over heels and loves everything Edmond does. Edmond on the other hand, attempts to open up more and Eiden falls in love more and more. They both respect each other and are on equal footing. They're the same, but opposite, and that's something I was not expecting from a BL/Yaoi game. :)

My favorite one is Tranquil Cloud. THAT was incredibly, oversaturating SUPER amazing. It really showed the development Edmond went through and how he wanted to be BETTER not for himself, but for Eiden and others. And when Eiden found that book, oh my lord, he ABSOLUTELY loved him. OH AND THE PRISON RIOT, when Edmond was worried about Eiden being a different person, how they made up when EDMOND was the one who initiated the roleplay LOL. It was SUPER SWEET!!!! ;V;

Overall, Edmond is my #1 spot. Never thought I'd be so obsessed with a tsundere.

2.) KUYA

Wow another tsundere on the top list lol. Same deal with Edmond, I wasn't feeling that great about him. I generally hate the tricky, fox-like characters.

But then I saw some of his coversations and... wow. I actually REALLY like him. What I love is despite him doing tricks and jests on others, he absolutely HATES talking about himself and letting his personal feelings get in the way. It's not even including how he feels about Eiden, but rather how vulnerable he hates being. In a way... he's uncaring but selfless, too. The fourth rooms in Kitsune Dream and Aromatic Exotica Kuya really showed more of his depression and how numb he was to everything.

This is my theory, but I think Kuya WAS abused by Huey considering how long they've been together. Everyone mentioned how Huey wasn't a good person despite his amazing power. And Huey doesn't like Kuya's yokai side, which is why Kuya doesn't think highly of his ears and tail. Even tho Kuya doesn't regard Eiden the same way, he also doesn't miss Huey if that makes sense?? I feel part of his depression was cuz he WASN'T used to being abused by Huey and considering how old he is, it took him such a long time to finally work and accept it.

I absolutely ship him with Quincy tho, mainly because they're also on mutual grounds if that makes sense??? The only thing that's holding me back from him and Eiden being together is how there's a HUGE power imbalance and honestly, he DOES go too far in some cases. Even in some events, he gets away from... a LOT, and that's really difficult considering how powerful he is honestly. But with Quincy, there's a silent respect for each other and they don't dare to mess each other up too far (like SUPER far if that makes sense). That and c'mon, they've HAD had to be together at some point. They're my favorite divorced grandpa ship ahaha.

---

Really Like!

3.) EIDEN

I never thought I would love Eiden honestly. I LOVE how he's not a self-insert character when he got isekai'd to NU: Carnival's world.

I love how he's not just a stupid character, but rather someone who is ACTUALLY mature (when he's not being a dum horny dude of course :b) and looks out for others. He DOES help everyone be better about themselves and wants the best for everyone. He's goofy, but when he's needed, he's needed. :)

I ship him the most with Edmond mainly cuz they're on mutual grounds and they're the same, but opposite. I can see how others are also just as romantic, but to me, I'm entirely an Eiden x Edmond shipper aha.

Eiden DOES take things too far sometimes or even during the worst times. I mainly wanted to play the game for the fluff conversations, but c'mon Eiden... now ain't the time OTL.

4.) QUINCY

Quincy's amazing.

I really REALLY like Quincy. He's just a genuinely nice hermit haha. I haven't seen his conversations with Eiden as much, but I appreciate how he's such a caring dude and their relationship must be super sweet. Also him and Topper are super cute and I love how dry his humor is ahaha.

If you don't include Eiden, Quincy's #3! I personally prefer Edmond and Kuya higher, but if we talk about shipping... Kuya and Quincy WOULD be #2 together hehe. I just REALLY like shipping them together!!

---

Like

5.) BLADE

He's just a silly li'l android! But what I like about him is he's just genuinely curious and silly! One reason he's pretty up there is cuz he has no malicious intent and wants to learn more about being "human." He really cares a lot for everyone and c'mon... his attack mode is REALLY cool. XD

Also I think his Crystal Awakening outfit is the BEST design in the game, no question! Absolutely loved his development and growth in that event.

6.) REI

I wasn't expecting myself to like Rei a lot! He honestly surprised me and I love the type who focuses solely on their research to the point of sacrificing. It leads to a lot of well good writing and character development, and Rei did not disappoint!

Maybe cuz I haven't seen all of his events, but personally he and Eiden gives "friends with benefits" vibes. I THINK he's slowly coming around for the romance with Eiden. But overall, I do like Rei as a character and how he can actually stand up against to Kuya in talking ahaha. Poor Quincy.

7.) OLIVINE

Tbh he's ONLY there just so I can tease a good friend of mine. :b

All jokes aside, I was expecting the depraved priest trope from Olivine, but thankfully it was well done! It really went super deep into his backstory and what he's going for now. The recent event gave me more points for him and Kuya haha. I loved how he even asked Kuya to join him for a prayer session with the kids... AND KUYA ACCEPTED IT HAHA.

...Though if I must be frank, he is kinda freaky in the bed OTL. I do appreciate Eiden's help and encouraging Olivine. I know I'm playing a yaoi game and I SHOULD have an open mind, but yeah wasn't really used to it ahaha. Props to those who enjoy it tho, please do so!!!

8.) ASTER (ONLY if he's in his other form)

If we're solely doing this on appearances, Aster would be much lower due to how young he looks. I'm sorry, but I don't really like having young characters ESPECIALLY in adult games, it doesn't give me a very good vibe. It doesn't help considering Aster's true age yet he still looks like 16-18 (according to official sources). BUT his other form is MUCH better and I HIGHLY prefer that.

Aster is really cool! He's such a greedy vampire ahaha. His story with Morvay was really sad too, he was waiting for such a long time for Huey to come back. You realized despite the good things Huey did, he was a cold person in real life.

---Gap here cuz I'm TRYING to like these characters---

Trying to Like

9.) YAKUMO

I'll blame this on the lack of exposure I have to him, but yeah... I just couldn't vibe with Yakumo. I don't really like crying characters and it didn't really help he felt... obsessive with Eiden if that makes sense?? I guess "worshipping" is the better word.

Honestly, I prefer his interactions with OTHER clan members. I felt the detective event really showed that. It just felt any time he was with Eiden, he just has to talk about him and Eiden isn't AS interested vice versa if that makes sense? But Eiden won't ignore him either, it just felt super one-sided. Hopefully I can change my mind, cuz I really do like his design and I don't outright dislike him.

10.) DANTE

Okay so remember how I mentioned I hated tsunderes lol. Despite putting two of them on the top list... Dante is the embodiment of an ACTUAL tsundere.

The problem I have with Dante is that he's a tsundere to EVERYONE. I can give it a pass if he was acting like that to Eiden only, but he does that to everyone, his own people, the other clan members, etc. And it sucks too cuz I ACTUALLY like his banter and conversations with Eiden, but overall as a character, I wished he would loosen up.

I can understand that he's the ruler of his kingdom, but it also didn't help I was given a negative impression of him. Also on Eiden's side, he was trying to tell him how to rule a kingdom and honestly both sides did NOT give me good vibes. :/

I know he doesn't have a lot of alts, but hopefully he'll get some more screen time to develop and all.

Ehhhhhh

11.) GARU

Garu unfortunately left a bad impression to me, but I'll blame it more on the writers for this. Him looking young and the split personality disorder not taken seriously was doing more harm than good to me sadly.

It's the same deal with Yakumo, I feel it's more one-sided on Garu's end. And man, Karu was actually a tsundere, too. I get they're going for the sweet/spicy side, but it just didn't work out well sadly. I just don't feel that comfy with how he looks honestly and how his disorder wasn't taken seriously.

12.) ASTER (Original form)

I already said why I like Aster, but for his original form, I don't like his appearance sadly. It's the same deal with Garu. I DO like Aster as a character, but just for the appearance, he's ranked down here.

13.) MORVAY

Uh yeah... he just likes balls. ^^;

Couldn't vibe with him honestly, so sorry!!! I do like his sad story tho, but otherwise I can't really get myself to like him sadly.

Thank you for reading this HUGE text. I'm super obsessed with this game and hoping to draw more in my free time! <3

[fireemblems24]

Engage Ch 1 - 5/6 Thoughts

Everything about early Engage stuff under the cut.

Edit: I ended up playing it until 5am 😅 I had NO IDEA it was that late/early.

Mild spoilers up til ch 5.

I'm playing hard/classic, F!Alear this time around.

Very classic Fire Emblem. We've got divine dragons, MC's who lost their memory, corrupted corpses, it's all here folks!

Glad it's a mom and not a dad. It's always a dad. Though we all know mom's not living to the end. Later on, we get a second mom too. I'm so happy about this.

Also love how Alear wanted to run away from the enemies and not fight recklessly. Like that bit of development a lot. Though the poor two kids got to pick up the stupid stick instead.

Love that Marth is the Emblem of Beginnings too. It makes my Fire Emblem loving heart so happy.

All the self-insert worship will also make total since because they're literally a dragon god/goddess.

This storyline is really basic, but it was advertised that way, so I expected it and I'm totally fine with it. I imagine 3H newbies are a bit surprised though.

I also find it funny that Alear and her mom are literally Rhea, an immortal dragon ruling everyone. It'll be funny as hell seeing Edelgard in this world lamo.

I like the evil!Alear look lol. Her hair was all red. It's made me wonder if the blue/red hair isn't a throw-back to the standard FE lord hair colors and more to the traditional "blue = good" and "red=bad" so the "red" is her evil side. Esp since her mom has only blue hair, so like her mom never fell like Alear did once.

I also love Alfred so far. At one point he promises to be your sword and shield. And flower. Which, just got me thinking of a Knight's Tale where they argue if a lance or flower is better. But, like, Alfred's both, bitches.

Mom died a LOT sooner than I expected.

Alfred is precious, and his mom is hot. I love that he comes from the flower and peace kingdom too. Dimitri would thrive there.

I like the little homebase place. It's pretty and fun to run around. I want to collect all the animals too.

The little dog/cat thing is also adorable.

I'm falling hook, line, and sinker for the ring thing. Like, I get soooo excited every time I get a new one because it's another classic FE character. Even if it's one I get no special feelings towards, I still get so hyped because these are the faces of the franchise and main characters of my favorite games, some of which I've poured countless hours into. It's so fun.

Arena works pretty cool in this game. You pick a character and they face another of your units at random. I think they also might lose exp if they lose? Not sure, it was early and I was tired lol. But it'll be interesting to see who thrives in it, because you don't get gold, just exp (and unlock a support if they win), so no "send Seth in, get rich" schemes, lamo. It's also limited to 3 times inbetween battles, which is nice.

[sleprandomizer]

Awoooo

He is a priest but also a wolf. He is a priest who actually a priest not a secretly buffed wyvern lord.

Pandreo a character who I initially dislike because of his annoying howling gimmick but once i used him in my first maddening playthrough he become my favorite character in engage. Yes he beats Ivy, diamant, and kagetsu as my favorite character.

I ever made appreciation post for Pandreo how I like a character that i initialy dislike but once I learn more about them end up loving them. At first his howling just something that I found cringe (although now still tbh). Also not helping with how engage usually present support conversation playing with character gimmick over and over uncreatively at the point I fed up with their support conversation (celine).

Pandreo probably the one that engage succeed how to play around with character's gimmick nicely. They did a good job to give interesting back story for pandreo and his sister. His view about religion and how he wants to run the church present in his support conversation that turn out mostly good. I dare to say pandreo has the best support conversation set list. Also the howling part surpisingly not played as much as i expected. I thought he would howl for every sentence just like how amber talked about alpaca. Pandreo and vander A support probably one of the funniest support I have ever read in the entire FE i played.

Design wise i must say not that special or amazing. He comes with humble priest cloth and that's it. He rocks the weird sage clothes tho (which strange because most characters looks like clown in this outfit). Well as a priest kinda ironic he actually looks better with revealing outfit like sage than his unique outfit.

As unit he is the magic kagetsu. Comes with cracked bases. He has enough magic and speed + build to deal a lot of damage in maddening. He also has same issue like kagetsu, Great unit who comes with the bad class. Martial master in general just bad class due to how art/fist works in this game. He should be reclassed to sage or mage knight or you would waste his cracked bases as MM. I enjoyed him as sage+byleth ring and now in current playthrough mage knight+celica. He can double low-mid tier speed enemies so he has more dps than ivy or citrine without dire thunder. In the late game aside from cheese starts, I think he is more valuable than kagetsu due to how inflated enemies defense starting at chapter 20. Magic is much better than weapon like ridersbane and armor slayer. As sword griffin also quite good since he has staff proficiency therefore he can use warp and rescue staff as griffin.

Character: 9/10

Design: 7.5/10

Unit performance: 9.5/10

[thirteendaysintaunton]

anon back with more FE Percy Au questions just cuz i hope its fun for you to answer. Who is the god parent the expected one, Sitri or the more unexpected one Jeralt? How thirsty are our three lords for this strange stranger? Do they have theories of their own on who Byleths godly parent is? Just who is Byleths godly parent? and of course how much do they try to show off so she becomes their tactician in capture the flag?

ohohoho these are very fun for me to answer, anon! thank you for enabling me! (and sorry for the late response)

how thirsty are out three lords for this stranger?

when i said that the three of them are immediately drawn to byleth, i meant it. as in, the three of them were literally sneaking out of camp that night and they were the ones to find byleth on that hill right as she cut down the final monsters. almost as if something was compelling the three of them to come to the hill...

fate... destiny... a rebellious teenage attitude.

all three are impressed when they see byleth holding her own against a horde of monsters. they're children of the big three, they know what power looks like. once she starts to settle into camp, then their reactions start to vary.

claude refuses to get too close to byleth until he knows for sure who her godly parent is. he'll keep her at an arms length but he's watching her settle into camp from a friendly distance. more allies on his side is always good, especially a new mysterious and powerful demigod

dimitri and edelgard are in varying degrees of crush territory. with dima, it's more along the lines of longing and admiring stares from a distance. one of those early teenage crushes. the aphrodite cabin teases him relentlessly. but he is still the proud and noble son of the lord of the sky. he is very friendly with byleth and they are fast friends.

edelgard is a little more wary but she's fascinated. she's got big plans and byleth could be the key to success or the one to tear down all the progress she's made to finally get her own quest. it's a weird mix and it almost makes the crush more exciting. she'll need to stay by byleth just to keep an eye on her. for strategic purposes of course!

do they have theories of their own on who Byleths godly parent is?

it's a running gag around camp half blood for kids to place bets on the unclaimed. someone in the hermes cabin starts it as a joke and now it's almost a like a tradition.

one that local demigod balthus always loses.

claude is closely following the betting pool for Byleth's name and claimed status. he has his theories but he'll keep his cards close to his chest until he knows for sure what to make of her but that doesn't mean he can't make friends with her. (and also fish for more clues from the girl herself.)

dimitri doesn't concern himself too much with speculating. it's not his business and he doesn't have it in him to pry. he tells byleth a lot that it's okay if she is never claimed, a lot of half bloods never know their godly parent, she'll always have a place at camp, etc. etc.

edelgard isn't concerned with the childish betting pool, she's concerned about the person. she heard a prophecy years ago and has been searching for the one who it might be about ever since. she's the one, it must be byleth, she thinks to herself. it has to be...

how much do they try to show off so she becomes their tactician in capture the flag?

claude is working the friend angle hard. he's trying to build a bond and trust. maybe he makes some waves in the lake too, redirects the river a few times while byleth coincidentally just so happens to be walking by. just to prove he's winning team material. he's also trading favors with the other cabins and swapping chores to ensure byleth is on his team for the next capture the flag.

dimitri really needs an alliance with the hermes cabin, where byleth is. the zeus cabin has been on a losing streak for the past few weeks since the poseidon & hades cabins have been teaming up. he's very nice about it though, suggests it in earnest to her and says she should consider it and bring it up to the hermes cabin counselor.

edelgard asks directly. she marches straight into the hermes cabin and asks for an alliance for the next game. she doesn't have time to waste. her custom axe glints at her back as she walks in carrying a six pack of coke as a peace offering. she already has ideas for team names.

Who is the god parent the expected one, Sitri or the more unexpected one Jeralt?

byleth's olympian genes definitely stem from sitri. of course, that doesn't mean jeralt "the legendary blade breaker" eisner doesn't also have some blessed ties himself ;)

[glowingbadger]

I loved the Claude aphrodisiac you just posted and it made me really want one where Leo has been sex pollened -which is definitely a verb now- so I ask you pretty please Lord give me this one gift. I know he's smart but maybe he finds a tome and is like "what the fuck is this? Oh no now I've been pollened" or maybe he just knocks some shit on his head in an alcehmy room man I don't know. Whatever the circumstance. 🙏🙏

okay folks I went and reviewed some support convos so it's time for my once-every-four-months-or-so Fates post lmao Leo is a good boy so he deserves it

Leo (FE Fates) x GN Reader

You had gone to Leo's study with the intent of persuading him to rest for the night. Instead, you've found yourself caught up in the stacks of books and magical tomes alongside him, passing texts back and forth, noting any particular spells or theories that catch your eyes. His dedication and studious rigor has always been infectious to you. Perhaps you should have expected that you'd only end up engrossed in investigation alongside him. Ah, well- it's not as if your bed is going anywhere. It should be fine to indulge yourselves like this for a bit longer. And, to be completely honest with yourself, you always found him even more strikingly handsome with his serious gaze focused on a page, slender fingers absently fussing with its corners.

"Could you pass me-"

"This one?" You're already handing him an opened tome. You'd noticed how intrigued he'd been by runes on the cover. Instead, his expression becomes grave and he fumbles the book clumsily, stammering,

"No- wait one moment, don't look at the-!"

The moment the book is in his hands and his eyes land on the open page, he utters a groan as though he's been struck by something.

"Leo?!" you approach him, brow furrowed deep. He steps back as you near him. His expression is twisted as he battles whatever has seized him, though strangely, a pink flush tints his face.

"Stay... stay back, Y/N," he groans, "Ugh, how... how utterly foolish- I... should have been more cautious..."

You won't let him keep you away- not when he's clearly in some form of discomfort. You'd sworn long ago you wouldn't let him face things alone anymore.

"Leo, please- let me help. We promised, remember?"

You bring a hand gingerly to his face, and at the contact, something in him fractures. With a groan, he grips your wrist, then spins you back against the wall.

"I... I need..."

You're about to prompt him further- but then, you notice the heat of his body, the way his chest rises and falls heavily, and finally-

"Oh..!"

His body presses firm to yours, urging your legs around his hips. Then, you feel his manhood, so incredibly, desperately hard, and throbbing as it grinds between your thighs.

"I... I'm sorry, Y/N- please-!" his voice is tortured. He's clearly exerting everything he has to keep from taking you that very moment.

Your free hand cups his cheek, then guides him to your lips so you can kiss him deeply. This strange enchantment compels him further, and he returns your kiss with an animalistic hunger you've never felt in Leo before. His hands mindlessly claw at your clothing, pulling and nearly tearing it off of you. Somehow, between bruising kisses and whimpering moans as his bucking hips rut his cock against your lower body, you manage,

"It's- It's okay, Leo," your fingers tangle through blonde hair, "I'll give you... anything you need."

The groan of relief he lets out when he finally forces his cock into you to the base nearly smothers your own pleasured whine. You had meant what you'd said- but feeling him throbbing inside of you now, somehow you think Leo is going to need a lot more from you tonight than you'd initially expected.

[kynimdraws]

I'd say that the deal with Claude is less the fan interpretation and more that his route in 3 Houses was clearly rushed and one of the last as shown by the fact it's a copypaste from Silver Snow (the first route developed). As a result Claude does whatever "plans" Setheth has and thus basically does nothing "scheming" as he was planned. And now that IS/KT had the chance to develop a more original route for him they brought back those elements they wanted to use. True about the turnaround lol.

Yeah that is fair. I still feel like even so, Claude had hints of being not that into the Central Church authority (i.e. getting support points if you pick the Rhea dying option, being angry at Rhea for hiding secrets, etc). The downside of VW as you mentioned was probably the dev cycle crunch and the fact that Byleth was being used as this big problem solving figurehead crutch to every lord they happen to teach during pre-timeskip.

Now that the Jesus-reincarnate cardboard figure win-button is no longer in the picture, the situation is far different. So the story is not so much a "unite everyone for anime peace" like a lot of FE games and more of a "conflict and power struggles are more upfront and the reality of war is extremely cruel" thing. Not to mention some of the more...weird pacing choices in 3Hopes were supposedly done in part to prevent "invalidation" of 3Houses (based on the game release Famitsu interview here).

And the addition of player-pandering otome elements being decidedly removed save for the expedition feature definitely made some fans upset and the turnaround is...sad but kinda expected from this fandom now LOL

[kanohivolitakk]

Since its 3Hs anniversary some really cool things I like about the game that aren’t talked about enough because the fandom is too busy arguing who is right and who is wrong

The worldbuilding just. 3H has honestly one of my favorite fictional settings. Its just both expansive but also genuinely interesting. I have spent HOURS thinking about the world and made so many ocs its not even funny. I love thinking about the setting of the game so much.

I LOVE the puzzle like way the game explains its world and story. Like I know some people don’t like it because it makes the game a bit too convoluted but personally? I LOVE 3Hs way of not telling everything but rather giving hints and clues the player has to piece themselves. It makes the games world feel more interactive and feels so satisfying. Then again I enjoy that kind of approach to worldbuilding

In general I love 3hs fragmented story and the way how the story is placed in many different fragments. It is geniunely rewarding to replay the game from another storypath and notice the foreshadowing Would’ve the story been probably better had it been just one storypath? Honestly yes. But 3h is ambitious and one of the ways it is is with its fragmented story structure.

The structure of White Clouds is criminally underrated honestly and gets way more hate than it deserves. I love how the first few chapters set up the world of Fodlan and show injustices/conflicts of the world with chapters like the chapter where you face off Lonato for instance. Then the next few chapters are spend in deepening the mysteries such as the conspiracy against the church and the mystery regarding TWSITD. Then Jeralt dies and the last few chapters are spent as “beginning of the End” so to speak, as things clears to the intense climax.

On related note I LOVE how the game handles perspective and how the lords are the respective ways we view the story. I know so many people say “WHite Clouds is same on all paths” but I do feel that’s kinda the point. The story is the same but there are differences that come from the way each of the lords is strongly characterized and has different values, worldviews. The subtle changes on what are focused on in each route also foreshadow what will be focused on each route, which I think is super cool.

Even beyond the lords and routes the game does explore the idea of perspective well. I do think 3h has this very “everyone is the hero of their own story” type of approach to perspective and it shows it well. Each character believes they’re in the right and you can get this view that they view themselves as right. Even Agarthans who are the designated villains have this sense they think they’re in right and that the Nabateans were evil.

The way how games routes being divided into having a different focus is very cool. I love how AM is a smaller scale personal tragedy, how CF is a battle of ideals and how VW explores the world and reveals deeper mysteries. I also love how all of these are related to the lords ideals and worldviews: Dimitri is the most conflicted of the lords so he gets the most characterfocused story focused on . Edelgard is the most ideologically driven so her path focuses on her ideals and battle of wills against Rhea. Claude is the one who is the most freespirited and wants to know the truth so his route focuses on revealing the mysteries.

Also the way the houses characters reflect their respective routes storyline and central themes: Black Eagles are nobles that have conflicting relationships with nobility reflecting Edelgards goal, Blue Lions are all united with the trauma of Tragedy of Duscur, and Golden Deer are a house of misfits who give this “ragtag group who will save the universe with POWER OF FRIENDSHIP and this cool gun I found” vibes which fit the route PERFECTLY

I LOVE how the game plays with and subverts a lot of Fire Emblem tropes. While it does play some tropes straight (dad death and evil cult manipulating behind the scenes) it does do a lot to break from series conventions and playing with ideas to make a more ambitious story. The way it either subverts expectations (The evil emperor being female well intended extremist, Rhea being the Gharnef/Medeus instead of the Nyna archetype she’s presented as), twists familiar tropes to their natural extreme (Dimitris arc is basically the natural extreme end of stereotypical FE lord) and other similar things make the game feeling so planned out, like the writers understood FE stories and wanted to make something that challenges FE while still feeling like it.

The way how every major player acts as foil/pararell to another player is so GOOD. Every faction leader can be compared to the other somehow and that just makes the game SOOOO fun to analyze, trying to find all the similarities and differences and pararells is so rewarding.

A more specific example on this is how i love how the game plays with the idea of holy/sacred weapons. While normally these weapons are artifacts from goddess that defeat dragons, here the holy weapons are bones made from dragons and just???? HOW METAL IS THAT????????? It’s just such a neat way to subvert the idea of sacred weapons. Rather than being blessed creations of the goddess, they are weapons of destruction made by the villains.

I ADORE THE GAMES science fiction elements. I know people say they feel out of place but personally, they make the game memorable for me. I still remember the first time I saw that scene with nukes. I especially love the heavy implication that Sothis isn’t a goddess but rather a powerful alien. It makes her character much more interesting

I know a lot of people don’t like Agarthans but can I just say their backstory being “forced to hide after their land got conquered and desiring it back” making them a dark mirror not just 3h lords/Rhea but FE lords as whole is SO FUCKING METAL. This is what I mean with 3H writers knowing their tropes like back of their hand.

I love how in Part 1 sometimes you’d talk to two characters in Monastery at once instead of just one. It’s something I miss in part 2 honestly.

I love the small sidequests such as the fishing tourney and White Heron cup and wish Part 1 had more of them, it would’ve made the school part feel more alive.

I LOVE how some missions (esp paralogues) have subgoals that you can clear to get better rewards. I wish the game had been more clear with them or even made them main goals of maps sometimes.

I LOVE THE WAY Paralogues act as small gaiden stories that show more of the games world and characters. Its a neat way to let the sidecharacters shine and reveal some neat secrets of the games world and story.

The gameplay loop is honetly fun and satisfying. It is rewarding and while it gets tiring towards the end overall its a good gameplay loop.

I ADORE the aesthetic of Shambhala. Its just so sleek and sinister. The cyrillic letters spelling different words is so cool. Shambhala is my favorite map in the game and the aesthetic is a big reason why.

The games soundtrack is so good!!!!!!!!!!  But not only that I LOVE the way its electro elements subtly hint of Agarthans being in control behind the scenes. This is especially cool in Road to Dominion where the electro parts are barely noticeable yet present. but other tracks have subtle electro vibes as well.  The other way the games music tells the story (such as use of leitmotifs or how the monastery music changes once Jeralt dies) is great as well.

I love how 3h can be read as an allegory for reformation era and reneissance. Its such an interesting way to read the games events and compare it to a real historical periods there’s quite a bit of f

In general I ADORE the cultural references of the game. There’s surprisingly lot of way the games world is based on real life and the details are just *chefs kiss*

THE GAME IS DENSE WITH THEMATIC IDEAS. Besides the perspective the game tackles ideas of how trauma can affect a persons psyche and worldview  (as well how a persons trauma affects the way they interact with the world which in turn can affect the world as well), grief, societal values, historical revisiniosm and so much more. The game tackles SO MANY topics in an interesting manner, it is thematically just as dense as it is storywise as well.

I also love how the games thematic parts work in harmony with the story rather than one overshadowing with the other. Its super refreshing honestly where a games themes and story are both rich and I don’t have to pick one over the other.

Lastly I ADORE the games central message (or at least what I see as the central message anyway): The world’s fucked up and most people want to fix it, but what they deem fixing differs and because of that they go into conflict or outright war rather than trying to find a common ground. Everyone wants a better world but no one can agree what a better world truly means  so they fight over it. It was a theme that not only resonates with my personal values but also hit me REALLY hard when I first played it as it’s a theme that I found incredibly relevant and reflective of our own world during the time I played the game for the first time.

So yeah. I made this post since there’s SO MUCH neat things about the game, its gameplay and story that sadly get swept under the rug in favor of either arguing  which lord was right/wrong or complaining how the game is an unfinished, rushed and overambitious mess. Is 3h perfect? Hell no. But it’s a game that I hold near and dear to my heart and does genuinely SO MANY THINGS RIGHT, I’m sad no one talks about the genuine strengths the game has anymore, instead just complaining.

I’m not even joking when I say that 3h should be up there as heralded as one of the best, most ambitious and complex JRPGs alongside Xenogears, the first Xenoblade game, Suikoden and Trails series as whole along other such games. Its a shame the games reputation is less like those games and more like Persona 5s where everyone focuses more on its flaws and the fans being annoying than the fact the game does geniunely A LOT right. It’s just that good, ambitious game I love so much.

[newmusickarl]

Album & EP Recommendations

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey

Halsey’s evolution across her career has been quite something to witness. Having begun her career in pure pop territory, her artistry has developed over time with each new record seeing the American singer-songwriter up the ambition and scope of her music. Now with this her fourth album, Halsey has gone bigger than ever, teaming up with Nine Inch Nails members and Oscar-winning composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for her boldest work to date.

Produced entirely by Reznor and Ross, Halsey describes this new record as “a concept album about the joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth.” Naturally with any concept record there is going to be a cinematic feel, however Halsey has gone one step further and even delivered a full theatrical film to accompany the album, the trailer for which you can watch above. Although I am yet to see the film, there is no doubt that the musical portion is a mightily ambitious and accomplished project, with each song seamlessly segueing into the next despite the array of styles and genres across each track.

It may still be a pop record at the heart, but with the masterful touch of Reznor and Ross, Halsey also brings in some industrial rock elements, as well as a bit of pop punk in places too. However, it is not just sonically that Halsey pushes the boundaries but also thematically as well, using the album’s concept to press the issue of feminism and misogyny within the lyrics. Arguably what’s most striking about this record though is how tightly constructed everything is here – under the watchful eye of Reznor and Ross, the dramatic production is inch-perfect.

Most importantly, the songs here are just fantastic, from the religious imagery and glistening synths that lace the wonderful melody of Bells of Santa Fe, to the raw, grungy guitars of You asked for this. There’s also the atmospheric piano ballad 1121, where Halsey really flexes her impressive vocal cords. Pulsating, stylish electro-pop single I am not a woman, I’m a god is another standout. Once you have been amazed by all of this, the gentle plucking and raindrop like xylophone of stunning closer Ya’aburnee arrives to really blow things away.

In a year packed full of outstanding pop records, Halsey has delivered, for my money, one of the best of the lot. With Reznor and Ross holding the reigns, they help Halsey deliver on her epic vision with both style and control. It’s one thing to attempt a record like this, it’s another thing to pull it off as expertly and vibrantly as this – hats off for this one!

Listen here

Screen Violence by CHVRCHES

Also delivering their fourth album this week was Scottish synth-pop group CHVRCHES who, whilst predominantly maintaining their vintage sound, have lyrically pushed themselves into darker territory on this new record. Probably their finest work since their debut, frontwoman Lauren Mayberry takes no prisoners as she tackles sexism and misogyny, calling upon her own experiences within the industry to really illustrate the issues being put front and centre.  

This is highlighted best on electric single Good Girls, a track Mayberry wrote “after listening to some friends arguing about the present-day implications of loving certain problematic male artists – I was struck by the lengths that people would go to in order to excuse their heroes and how that was so juxtaposed to my own experiences in the world.”

Other highlights include He Said She Said, a glistening synth-driven pop banger that’s contrasted against razor-sharp lyrics with a defiant message at its core – catchy, but also powerful and thought-provoking. There’s also the superb collaboration with The Cure legend Robert Smith, How Not to Drown, which is a moody, atmospheric, and synth-soaked belter of a track. Although it is incredible right the way through, the real spine-tingling moment comes during the song’s outro thanks to the ghostly vocals of Smith being cast over some hauntingly melodic guitars. Outside of the singles, the rawness of heartbreaking closer Better If You Don’t leaves the biggest impression.

All in all, this album ranks amongst their best work and although it may not be quite as dramatic or impressionable as Halsey’s album, there’s still plenty to which you’ll want to digest and ultimately keep returning.

Listen here

How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? By Big Red Machine

The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon have certainly kept themselves busy over lockdown. It seems they weren’t satisfied with just taking Taylor Swift’s music to incredible new heights on 2020’s folklore and evermore, as they have now also released their second album under their Big Red Machine guise. The most noticeable thing about this second record is that the duo have extended their collaboration further this time around, bringing in renowned artists such as Ben Howard, Sharon Van Etten, Lisa Hannigan and Fleet Foxes, as well as two more collaborations with Miss Swift herself.

Given the talent involved, it is no surprise that this makes for a really special and stunning collection of songs. There’s wonderful electro-folk track Mimi, which sees singer-songwriter Ilsey Juber join Justin Vernon on lead vocal duties. Phoenix sees Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes and Anaïs Mitchell join in for a wonderful, horn-backed number. This track in fact isn’t the only time Anaïs Mitchell steals the show, as her beautiful, soothing vocal performances on opener Latter Days and closer New Auburn arguably provide the two best moments of the entire album.

The two tracks with Taylor Swift are also fantastic, with Renegade offering a sweet, pop cut that wouldn’t be out of place on either of Swift’s last two records. The better of the two though is Birch, a piano-driven, string-tinged ballad which sees Swift simply providing back-up vocals to Vernon’s haunting folky croons. It’s stunning and possibly my new favourite collaboration between the three artists.

Ultimately this is just a superb album, with Dessner and Vernon thriving alongside their chosen collaborators for a collection of songs that will frequently both move and astound you.

Listen here

Donda by Kanye West

Easily the most talked about album of the week, after several launch events and many, many delays, Kanye West finally released his long-awaited tenth studio album, Donda. Now anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of excessive, bloated albums, so with Donda clocking in at almost 2 hours long it was always going to struggle to win me over.

As expected, this is another West project that struggles with inconsistency, with moments of brilliance balanced out with plenty of moments that ultimately underwhelm. Although it has more high points than Ye and the production is more polished than Jesus Is King, there is no track as good as Ghost Town and sonically I found it less inspired than Jesus Is King in many ways. I’m not sure just yet if this is indeed the worst West album, but it is certainly down there in the bottom half for me.

That said, there are still some great moments to be found here. Once you get passed the massively irritating Donda Chant opener (honestly, so painful!), the Jay-Z featuring Jail offers an anthemic rock-influenced gem to get the album started properly. From there The Weeknd featuring Hurricane, the Lauryn Hill sampling Believe What I Say, the heavenly melody of Kid Cudi feature Moon and the organ-backed closer No Child Left Behind provide some of the other highlights. However possibly the finest moment comes in the form of Jesus Lord, a 9-minute epic that sees West deliver some of his best bars in years, returning to the social-consciousness that made him a star in the first place.

If you are a fan of West’s recent gospel-influenced work, then this album will reward you for your patience if you stick with it. For me, although there are some moments I enjoyed, the length was just too much, with this album having the same inconsistency problem that The Life of Pablo had but without reaching the same heights as that album did when it was at its best. Disappointing, but still somewhat worthwhile.

Listen here

The Awesome Album by Mouse Rat

And finally on the albums front, if like me you are a big Parks & Recreation fan, you’ll be pleased to hear that Chris Pratt’s fictional band from the show, Mouse Rat, have finally released their debut album this week. Featuring classics such as 5,000 Candle In The Wind and The Pit, this one is a lot of fun for fans of the show.

Listen here

Tracks of the Week

Good Ones by Charli XCX

Coming off the back of the definitive lockdown album How I’m Feeling Now that earned her both a Mercury Prize nomination and a place in my Top 5 albums of 2020, Charli XCX has returned with a new synth-driven banger that packs in an insanely catchy hook and wonderful 80s vibes.

Listen here

Family Ties by Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar

Also making his return this week was King Kendrick who delivered a fantastic new collaboration with his cousin Baby Keem. Over a brilliant horn-driven beat, the two family members go toe-to-toe and bar-to-bar across this concise hip-hop banger.

Listen here

Alone by Rag N Bone Man & Nothing But Thieves

A remix of a track from Rory Graham’s latest album Life By Misadventure, this version sees Conor Mason of Nothing But Thieves join in on vocals, along with some triumphant rock production that replaces the stripped back nature of the album cut.

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Spirit Power & Soul by Johnny Marr

The brilliant first track from his forthcoming new EP, Spirit Power & Soul finds legendary guitarist Johnny Marr in fine form, sonically calling back to his days with Bernard Sumner in Electronic. Built on a masterful central riff, pulsating synths and a big anthemic chorus, it’s a belter!

Listen here

Nothing Else Matters by Chris Stapleton

And finally this week, we’ve had plenty of great, unique covers of Nothing Else Matters by Metallica already this year, with Miley Cyrus and Phoebe Bridgers already offering their own take on the classic song. However, I’ve always got time for another and this 8-minute epic from country singer Chris Stapleton is just as dazzling, thanks to some amazing bluesy guitars and his textured vocal performance.

Listen here

[incorrect-ikevamp-quotes]

What type of kids do you think the ikevamp guys would be if they went to high school?

Oh boy HERE WE GO

(Under a cut bc this post is a Long Boi^TM)

Napoleon. Would prbly be that kid that’s like somehow bafflingly in the top ten of his class but nobody ever sees him??? Like he’s always late to school or napping in the quietest places on campus (they found him in a locker once and the school was laughing about it for WEEKS bc he insisted he was just chillin, and it wasn’t like a bullying incident he just wanted to sleep LMAO). Surprisingly amiable? A lot of people are afraid of him at first but he’s just so casual and direct, he gains quite a few friends (and a good number of girls have a crush on him--he always diverts the attention of skeevy guys). Good friends with Jeanne because they fence together a lot, and people are always baffled at how easily they chat

Mozart. Where do I begin. Number one in his class, perfectionist prick. That one kid that’s a known prodigy and that everyone hates for his impeccable grades and musical talent. Always gets the solos and conducting roles in the school performances. He knows how to play a crowd--will always be sweet and cherubic in front of teachers. But when it’s just the students? All gloves are off. Frigid and incendiary, will not take any shit and will tear you apart with words in milliseconds. Do not cross. He will end your entire life and self-esteem, it’s not worth it. Has a few friends, and they often experience the disdain of jealous students--but they’re all steadfast about defending him. And Mozart will not tolerate it if people are mistreating his friends, he’s an iron wall of defense; to be his friend means to always have someone looking out for you, make no mistake. He and Jeanne often grab food together after practice and ask about each others day, they hella close but never really show it while school’s on--their class schedules are worlds apart bc of their grades, and at lunch they’re usually practicing/doing hw. When they hug it out at graduation and pat each other on the back everyone nearly falls the fuck out of their chair LMFAO

Leonardo. That kid that 100% could probably be in the top fifty of his class but just can’t be bothered to give a damn. Always argues points with his teachers and plays devil’s advocate until they are inches from exploding at him. Always the one to mercifully make class feel shorter with his absolute distraction-heavy shitfuckery (and sometimes you really learn something because of his line of thinking). He's a dumbass but like harmless, essentially. Used to be the perfect student^TM and then decided the system was bullshit and he wanted no part of it, thinks public education can kiss his ass. Nobody knows it since he asks people not to talk about it, but he tutors kids after school for hours--has brought kids from Ds to Bs. He always dodges nosy people, never goes to parties, and finds ways to intervene around kids that are struggling with smth (with ninja stealth of course). Despite how easily he laughs and chats with just about anyone, he’s...actually surprisingly v much a lone wolf. Only ever consistently hangs out with the heartthrob rich kid, but nobody understands why???? And they’re always roasting each other wtf, are they even friends????

Comte. Pretty boy genius, always in the top five of his class though doesn’t seem too worried about it or obsessed with rank as students often are. It’s more that his parents have high expectations for his future as their heir, so he tends to fall in line with it. Born into money but somehow....not an asshole??? He doesn’t really like showing off, tries to be quiet about his accomplishments but his parents won’t really allow it--and he’s the star of the soccer team so it can be hard to hide. Most often the one at a party trying to help people sober up (always designated driver) or hearing his friends out when they have a problem. Has never publicly tried to bust heads, but some of the guys in the school insist he’s got a dark side--probably because he threatened them (passive aggressively) within an inch of their lives for being disgusting to girls. But nobody believes them bc...I mean look at him, does that look like a threat?? He just bought that kid’s lunch for christ’s sake. TONS of girls ask him out and confess their feelings, and he always lets them down as gently as he can--conceivably doesn’t like anyone himself, as far as the student body knows. Like Leonardo he’s v amiable, but also manages to reveal nothing personal while getting close. Leonardo’s the only one that’s managed to scratch the surface, and the kid won’t leave him alone for some godforsaken reason. And yet, he seems to enjoy their minutes of banter more than the hours of time spent with “friends”

Arthur. Oh boy. Good lord. Well. He used to be a sweetheart that would always seek out the mousier students and bring them into discussion/involve them on the playground. But alas, Teenage Jadedness^TM hit him like a train and now he’s an incorrigible flirt and believes no single person can be good deep down (somebody get this bitch some eyeliner). Believes the world will always be a cruel and unfeeling place where victims are never heard, so he just kind of goes full skeptical and bitter (think Sylvain for those of you that are FE fans). Has fun with every girl he sees (usually dating several girls at once) and doesn’t much care for his grades, but somehow has perfect scores in English?? He insists it’s because he needs to keep his seduction game on par with the voices of older legends before him, but some of the girls that see him in the library from time to time--v serious--are struck by how attractive he is in such deep focus, entirely uncharacteristic of his nosy and boisterous behavior in the halls (can often be seen whirling around Isaac like a bird of prey while our little baby robin Isaac stiffly tries to get away from him, and Dazai often joins to make things even more chaotic bc why not? In reality they just love this feisty kid that never gives up on what’s right, even though they’ve both given up trying themselves)

Dazai. He’s one of those kids that like does weed regularly but is also like...alarmingly insightful?? Like those kids I was always told to avoid, but now and again I would have conversations with out of necessity and was just...kinda shook. I mean granted he’s a little weird but he’s fairly harmless?? He’s like a class clown but on a massive scale--there’s nobody in the place that doesn’t know who he is, that haven’t heard tales of his exploits (he always comes in through the windows and gets detention for it a lot, and he even brought a chicken with him to school once????) nobody gets what he’s doing at any moment (don’t even know if he does really, chaotic mofo) and honestly nobody wants to know they just do the side eye meme when he appears or laughs. The teachers lament his untapped potential or just hate him for making their lives an even bigger headache than usual, and his grades are...yeah let’s not look at those. Organized the senior prank with absolute GLEE, and it was talked about for ages after he was gone--an inspiration chaotic bastards everywhere

Theodorus. (I hate.......that I pictured him in those like Vineyard Vine white boy clothes.......for the record its mostly bc his parents force him to wear them). All business. This kid doesn’t have time for your bullshit, will absolutely walk away if you’re boring him or seeking social clout. Popular because he’s hot and has a mean streak a mile wide, all the girls that didn’t like Mozart for being ethereal and effeminate boomeranged to find Theo ready to fulfill their hopes and dreams. They only grow more feral when rumors of him actually being fairly nice one on one--and telling creeps to fuck off of vulnerable girls at parties--start to circulate. (If he isn’t with Vincent, Arthur is probably near. Nobody understands how the two are brothers????) Van Gogh name apparently is just “I can be your angel or i can be your devil” and no one understands how... Grades are average and he’s plenty capable, most of his time is spent working after school because his parents refuse to provide Vincent with any artistic materials (canvas, paints, etc). They ask him to go to parties more, but he only goes to piss his parents off (he’s v lowkey punk and it’s understandably sexy of him). Will literally only listen to Vincent, and got in a looooot of trouble after getting into a fistfight with Shakespeare. Only stopped because his parents blamed Vincent for the incident, and Vincent apologized and went quiet for days ;-;

Vincent. Always been quiet and shy, but he doesn’t dislike ppl--he just has a hard time speaking up now and again. His parents always talk over him and tell him nothing he has to say has any real value, so he tends to struggle with a lot of self-doubt. Not isolated because he’s not likeable, it’s more because people tend to take advantage of his mild and earnest nature--until Theo runs them off. He’s on amiable terms with most people but has no real, true friends and it makes him feel lonely a lot. Mostly copes with the emotional turmoil by painting as much as he can. His grades are average, he does reliably well but can often be found daydreaming or distracted. Theo tends to escort him everywhere because of his propensity to attract danger (namely Shakespeare) or walk into things cuz he’s in his head a lot. A few of the artsier girls and the quiet academic girls have HUGE crushes on him (he’s softspoken, sweet, and calm; come on now), but he’s so distant--and honestly nice to everyone in equal measure--that they don’t have much hope of it coming to fruition. This kid deadass doesn’t think a single girl would ever like him that way so he’s just c:???????? when Theo talks about “those nosy harpies coming after my brother”

Jeanne. EDGY MCEDGE. Isn’t amazing in the academic department, but he’s a killer fencer--the rallying cry of the entire team. He became leader his sophomore year and he’s pretty much the only reason they keep destroying at tournaments throughout the year. Despite the pervasive interest in him he intimidates most people away with his swift intensity and ironclad stoicism. Silent as a grave and very still, people are convinced he’s the Grim Reaper reincarnated (listen he’s juST A DUTIFUL BABIE N O). If he isn’t fencing or practicing, Isaac often offers him help in the library after school hours in one of the study rooms (can’t be seen who’s inside from the outside). The two develop a kind of uncanny bond; they’re both so...bad at human-ing that they find a lot of comfort in the atmosphere they create. There’s none of the bullshit grandstanding or clout obsession, just them genuinely trying to help each other (yes Jeanne absolutely teaches Isaac self-defense moves in order to crush the kids that pick on him, and Jeanne often either glares or outright threatens those students when Isaac isn’t looking). Only ever smiles or feels understood when he’s hanging out with Mozart, so he cherishes the time Mozart offers him to hang (he knows the kid is busy up to his eyeballs and under a ton of pressure by comparison, his parents don’t care much as long as they can brag about his fencing records)

Isaac. Mega nerd that just...does not know how to interact. Only understands math and DESTROYS in competitive math club, but otherwise is always alone at lunch or just in the library. A little bean pole because he doesn’t look after himself very well (neglects to eat a lot) and can sometimes be found asleep on his books. If approached he will be very thorny, doesn’t have any friends to speak of and trusts everyone about as far as he can throw them. Yells at Arthur and Dazai a lot when they flock around him, and has gotten into his fair share of fights. Never starts fights, but will finish them. People are surprised he can hold his own, and he comes away with blood that ain’t his. There are a few girls that are curious about him, but its mostly the ones that have seen his awkward thoughtfulness in club--or the girls that are sick of the assholes and appreciate how stalwart he is. He really just wants to be left in peace (his parents never show up to his meets or when he wins academic awards, and the few teachers that notice are pretty concerned abt his reactivity and complete lack of social savvy...) Leonardo always helps him sneak in at night to look at the stars on the school roof

Shakespeare is p much the like “kid most anticipated to be in jail as soon as they’re out of high school” He just. Has that like...serial killer vibe??? Idk if I’m explaining this well but he was that guy that would always cling to genuinely compassionate girls just trying to be nice like a LEECH, and would never fucking shut up if he did or didn’t get attention. You just can't win with this kid. Probably wanted to kill the kids that made fun of him or at the very least wanted to lash out against the confident/popular/nice kids. Only liked you if he didn’t deem you a threat, or if you didn’t make him insecure, or if you tolerated him (aka Vincent. Vincent PLEASE stop trying to reach out to dangerous ppl....I love you too much to watch this shit...) He admitted as much to Theo and the kid went livid with rage and pummeled him into the ground, though most of the rest of the student body doesn’t know quite what happened. (Theo refuses to explain to anyone, and just walks away if asked). Shakespeare will just change the subject endlessly and make passive aggressive threats until the person leaves if they try to bring it up. The only time the entire class has EVER seen Leonardo mad is when Shakespeare kept tailing this girl that wanted no part of him

Sebastian. Nerdy like Isaac, but is more of the silent observer type. Like Theo, doesn't want any part of the bullshit but won't be as blunt or outspoken about it, he's only open about it if pressed or pissed off. Doesn't have much patience for the clique-driven nature of high school and tends to take an interest in the people who stand out beyond the mind-numbing drama. Also is in the top fifty but studies like a lunatic, and can often be seen asking Comte for tips now and again. Has tried talking to Mozart and admires his talents, but Mozart gives a cold shoulder that would put Antarctica to shame. (Leonardo tries to ninja him into taking breaks but never succeeds). Has a great deal of disdain for the troublemakers (Arthur and Dazai) but doesn't intervene, just watches shit go down and sighs. Probably the most normal(?) one of the bunch, just does his best and keeps his head down

[randomnameless]

Sometimes I wonder how IS actually feels about Fodlan. Their refusal to acknowledge anything past chapter 12 and milking the academy phase in every crossover/promotion, when they don't mind spoiling other games (emblem Sigurd remembers his death??), and the way they marketed Engage (at least in Japan). They made a whole "Your First FE game" introduction video for Engage and they made VERY clear how amazing Dragons are and how every character worships them to some extent. Also, Nopes who?

Imo,

There's a prime marketing reason why they refuse to acknowledge anything after Jerry's death and why the academy phase - but only the uwu parts, we don't talk about Flamey and Emile - but also because it makes them avoid to take one side and mention a specific route even if SS is Billy's route, and Billy is the main Lord of FE16.

Supreme Leader's spiel - as "edited" as it is in Disengage - was always at odds with the rest of the franchise, no matter what certain devoted people argue, but the devs also intended FE16 to be a game where you can uwu the red Emperor and waifu > everything else, so even if Rhea has been yeeted from existence, they won't say she was wrong - but they also say the franchise's message has always been one of acceptance between "humanity" and "other beings who have special features".

As for Nopes...

Part of me is glad we don't have any DLC, because Nopes demolished a lot of things some people loved about Fodlan - if the game was upfront about being "Bad Ending : the game" I'd enjoy it more - even if I've been dissecting 15 lines from a certain paralogue back and forth for the last 3 days - the only Fodlan content I'm expecting (and waiting for) would come from Fe Heroes, but given what Heroes has been giving us as of lately (balloons for everyone?) I gave up lol

[writingfandomfeels]

Santa Fe Part 4

Dreams Turned to Desert Dust

Part 4 of the Santa Fe Series Summary: You move back in with your parents in Santa Fe for support during the remainder of your pregnancy; But unbeknownst to Jack, small town life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Lots and lots of angst.

The sky had began to glow a light orange as the sun slowly made its descent to the horizon. Jack was staring in awe out of the dirty train car window as you grew closer and closer to Santa Fe. Lifting your head off his shoulder, you rubbed your eyes. The rhythmic beat of the train tracks had lulled you to sleep for a good portion of the journey. Luckily you were nearly there, already getting glimpses of the city. Once he realized you were awake, Jack could hardly keep quiet, his excitement pelting you in forms of questions about what it’s like and his expectations based off his dreams. When the train came to a stop he nearly ran out, leaving you behind with the luggage. 

“Jack! A little help?” You called after him and he immediately came running back. 

“Sorry, sorry!” He apologized, grabbing the bags and unable to quit grinning. 

You smiled, shaking your head at the boy. 

Outside the station your parents met you with the family carriage. It wasn’t fancy like the ones you’d seen in the city and it had been in the family for… you weren’t actually sure how long. But it got you from point A to point B and that’s all that mattered. 

Your parents approached the two of you. 

“Mom, Dad, this is my husband and your new son in law, Jack.” You introduced. 

Stiffly, Jack stood with his shoulders back, sticking his hand out to shake your father’s in a manner clearly influenced by his nerves and desire to make a good impression on the man.

“Welcome home son,” your father shook his hand before pulling him into a hug, “welcome home to Santa Fe.” 

Jack could hardly believe it. When he pulled away from the embrace he met the man’s smile with a shaky smile of his own, his emotions unable to keep up. It was just like he’d always dreamed it would be. A family. Sure it may be through marriage, but he had a family. And of course not to dismiss the newsies, they had been family to him too, but these were real live parents. Parents he could have a relationship with and make proud. That is… if he stopped making things weird by emotionally smiling at the man. 

Jack cleared his throat and got himself together. “Uhh, good to meet you sir.” He didn’t know yet what to call the couple so decided a respectful ‘sir’ was probably the safest bet. 

The carriage ride to your parents’ farm was far from quiet. Your mother was busy pestering you with pregnancy related questions and advice while Jack was getting along with your father. He was asking him all kinds of questions about what it’s like to run a farm and your father was happy to answer them.

After dinner, your father had made a fire outside which you and a few of the neighbors all gathered around, roasting marshmallows.

“So Y/N, how far along are you?” One neighbor asked, a wife and mother of a rather large family. They didn’t even need hired farm hands with all of their children.

“Seven months.” You answered. 

“Oh, isn’t that darling. Why I just loved being pregnant with all of my children. It’s the most magical time in a woman’s life you know! Well, aside from childbirth that is.” She continued.

“Yeeuuuhp,” the wife from the farm on the other side of your family’s began to pipe up now, “then once you’ve had em’ and you hear the crying, you’ll wish they’d crawl back up into your womb.” She snickered. 

“Gladys!” The other neighbor scolded as the husbands chuckled. She huffed out her frustration in a quick breath before gaining her composure again. “Nevertheless, the miracle of childbirth that grants us the duties of motherhood is the most sacred blessing our Lord has provided for us women. There is no higher call than to be a mother, and Y/N dear, I am so thrilled you have been gifted that blessing.” She smiled at you while gripping your hand tightly.

You gave her a tight lipped smile in return and slowly slid your hand away. “Umm, thank you…” you shifted uncomfortably in your seat.  The glamorous image of you onstage with your own show as a successful singer slowly burned away in your memory like a photograph thrown in the fire in front of you.

Your mother began telling a story (though you understood it as more of a parenting lesson you had no intention of following) about you as a baby, which Jack was especially interested in. He poked at your arm during the particularly embarrassing parts to tease you but your mind was still elsewhere.

Later that week you were shopping in town for a bit as your mother needed a few more ingredients for dinner. Jack was familiarizing himself with the town and being the outgoing person he is, introducing himself to everyone. And I do mean everyone. The boy was so over the moon he hadn’t noticed for a moment the hushed whispers and gossip behind his back.

You stood outside a store front, picking up different fruits to test their ripeness. Around the corner of the store, out of view, you overheard one of your neighbors. The one with the glorious speech on motherhood.

“Did you see Y/N and her… husband?” The way she said the word was with such disdain you would have thought it meant something entirely different.

“No, not yet. Though I hear he’s been off galivanting through town like some delusional mad man.” Another woman’s voice responded. You couldn’t quite place her voice but odds were you likely knew them from somewhere.

“I’ve already met him.” The neighbor bragged.

“You did?” 

“Mmhm. Oh it’s just so awful. He’s an artist for Pete’s sake! Our clever Y/N with an artist! Can you believe it?” She scoffed. “Oh out of all the girls in town I tell you, she’s the one I had pegged for greatness. I have never been so disappointed in her. Marrying a doctor or a teacher or, heck, even a successful store owner. Anything but an artist!” 

“Is he any good?” The other woman asked.

“Pffft! How would I know? Probably only does lewd drawings. He is from New York you know. Oh and boy does he sound like it. You can just hear the lack of intelligence in his voice.”

“I had a cousin who went up to New York once.” The other woman made a dramatic pause. “Terrible. Said there were bums on every corner and the streets were so filthy you couldn’t wash them with holy water. I hear none of them know a thing of respect either.” 

“I believe that. You think for even a second that Y/N would have married this stranger had she not been knocked up? No, she’d never deprive her family of a beautiful ceremony. A proper ceremony.”

“Well at least the child won’t be a bastard.” 

“Oh sure, thank heavens for that! Let’s not forget the poor thing will still have those horrid genes. You can’t make money from manure that’s for certain.” The neighbor concluded.

“Hey doll, you picking out the fruit for the pie?” Jack said, suddenly coming up from behind and wrapping his arms around you. 

“Uhh, yeah.” You quickly grabbed what you needed and took his hand, pulling him away before he could overhear the women too. Yet another thing you missed about New York, no small town gossip.

***

The two of you continued to settle in to your new lives. Your mother had you knitting baby clothing while your father taught Jack the ways of the farm. Never before had anyone seen a man so eager to learn to plant crops or split rails. But while Jack was living his dream, you felt yourself slipping into a nightmare. 

Waking up one night from the baby kicking, you overheard your parents arguing in the other room.

“She’s back now. Isn’t that all that matters?!” Your father argued.

“I just wanted to see my little girl get married!” You heard your mother sobbing. “She left us! And now I don’t know how to connect with her anymore! She was gone so long and I just, I feel like I missed out on so much of her life already!” 

“I know, I know… I do too. But you’ll learn to connect again. She’s so young. She’s going to need your guidance to be a mother.” He replied with a slightly softer tone now.

A frustrated scoff echoed from your mother. “She shouldn’t have to at this age.”

“What do you want from me, huh?!” Your father returned to yelling. “You want me to drive him out of town?! Force him to abandon Y/N?! Is that what you want?!” 

“Of course not!” She returned to crying again.

“Look, I don’t like the situation any more than you do but try to remember that it’s what brought her back to us. He’s a hard worker and a good man. She could do a lot worse.” He stated in a firm voice.

The house grew quiet, just the faint sounds of your mother still crying, the wind howling against the house, and the creak of the floorboards as your father left the room they’d been arguing in.

You scooted closer in bed to Jack who was completely knocked out and missed every word of the fight. 

***

Jack’s POV

Jack surveyed the wide landscape of fields from atop the horse that was slowly becoming his, based on the amount of time he spent with him. He let out a happy sigh as he took it all in. The farm. The fields. The trees. The adorable little town. His amazing new family. Yeah, this was the life. Everything was going perfect for him now.

Another person on a horse quickly came galloping over to him. Jack soon recognized it as his father in law. He looked distressed. 

“Jack, you’ve got to come quickly! The baby is coming!” He informed. 

“That’s great!” Jack replied, confused by the man’s demeanor.

Hesitant, he wasn’t sure how to continue. “No, Jack… there… there’s something wrong…”

[cheiyunn]

AAside Main Story [2章] Part 2 & 3

[2]

FELIX: Hm, those kids are pretty amazing! I believe their name was Fujin Rizing right, Tomoru?

LIGHT: Yes. Because of the sudden lineup change, I had thought they would be more nervous but, they seemed pretty excited

HARU: It's like youth at full spin, It's pretty good!

ZACK: Ahaha.. We’re not that young after all..

D: We’re all, around 30 after all

LIGHT: H-hey, we’re going next so don’t say something so depressing!

HARU: But its the truth after all, the only ones still technically in their 20s are you and Jun right?

LIGHT: Yes but..

FELIX: Well on the stage, age doesn’t matter. All that does matter is how brilliant your performance is

D: Agreed

ZACK: Felix-san says really nice stuff.. Ah

LIGHT: What’s wrong, Jun?

ZACK: My shoelace just suddenly broke..

HARU: Aren’t you lucky that it was before we started

ZACK: No, Koharu-san.. This must be omen.. It's most likely that the guitar strings will snap or the amp will explode..

ZACK: Or Tomoru gets a sudden call from the company..

LIGHT: S-stop that! Don’t say such ominous stuff like that

D: Well the thing from Tomoru’s company could actually happen… you’ve never told them about the band right?

LIGHT: Not from you as well Daimon-san, please stop! … well it's true that I haven’t told them

FELIX: Everyone, now is the time to forget about your normal jobs. Our live is about to begin after all

FELIX: From here on out, it's Fantome Iris’ stage. A world of vampires

D: ...That's right

ZACK: YAHOO! ALRIGHT LETS GIVE THE AUDIENCE A PIECE OF OUR H*** LIVE! !

HARU: Oh, it seems that Zack’s switch as been flipped

Moderator: Fantome Iris, you’re up!

LIGHT: Well then, shall we start “My lord”

FELIX: Ah, let us go

--

FELIX: Now, my dear subjects! Tonight as well, we shall take you!

FELIX: Under my call, the Silver lilies shall bloom and go beyond this crimson night!

--

Tomoru: Good work everyone! Um, sorry! I have to return back to the company after this..

Koharu: The meeting up later will be done with me and Daimon. Be careful and go!

Daimon: Tomoru, the eyeshadow isn’t fully removed yet

Tomoru: Thank you so much!.. Huh? Where’s Jun?

Koharu: Over there, slouching

Jun: Sorry, Tomoru…

Jun: I fell on the live, the guitar strings snapping, and the overworked Tomoru being called to go to work are all the work of my bad luck… all because my shoelace broke!

Tomoru: Just how strong were those shoelaces! If that's the case, just wear shoes without them!

Felix: That's right Jun, it's nothing to be extremely bothered about. It's just that Tomoru likes to work a lot after all

Tomoru: There was a sudden change in specifics, so it can’t be helped. I can’t just discard work halfway through after all..

Koharu: Really, you’re so damn serious huh, Tomoru..

Daimon: What about the live happening in 2 days? If you can’t, I won’t recommend forcing yourself to go watch

Tomoru: No, I’ll watch! Since we've come to Tokyo after all, I can juggle both the band and work after all!

Tomoru: We’ll win this Fes and prove it!

Felix: Un~, that's a good will. Do your best, Tomoru

Tomoru: Then pardon me, I’ll be going first!

[3]

Rio: How are the net votes so far?

Banri: Fujin Rizing is moving forward. They used to be only popular in their hometown but maybe it's because yesterday’s live left such an impact

Banri: On the other hand, Fantome Iris is a little more sluggish. It seems that some people are more resistant to the world-buildup

Wataru: What about εpsilonΦ? Although they ditched it

Banri: Well here and there I guess? I wonder if stronger fans are pushing them forward

Yuuto: What about us? And Gyroaxia

Banri: Gyro is amazing… maybe because they’re more well known so there’s a lot of posts expecting them to be No.1

Banri: Well for us, we’re kinda at the bottom

Yuuto: At the bottom huh, well that's fine! Lets flip those expectations at today’s live!

Yuuto: Right? Ren

Ren: …

Yuuto: Heyyy Ren?

Banri: Ah.. he’s definitely not listening to this

Wataru: He’s been like this since yesterday huh. He’s been watching the Starting Live video like crazy

Rio: Just like when he’s watching Tokusatsu, isn’t he focusing?

Yuuto: Ren, soon it’ll be time to go to the live venue

Ren: …

Banri: Don’t you want to see Gyro’s stage in person? After all, you said that alot yesterday

Ren: ..!! I’ll go!

Rio: It seems he’s realized

Wataru: Okay, so we’ll also get ready

--

Reiji: Shu, where are you going?

Shu: What? The Starting live

Reiji: I thought you had said that you had no interest in the other bands’ performance

Shu: I could care less about the lives. I just want to see how the toys we’ll soon be playing with, act

Reiji: I see…

--

Wataru: Doesn’t it seem like, there are more audience members compared to yesterday?

Banri: They’re most likely Gyroaxia fans. As I expected, they’re pretty popular in Tokyo as well huh

Yuuto: We can’t lose to them huh..

Ren: Nayuta-kun and the others are really cool…

???: Oh? Aren’t you that onii-san from last time?

Ren: You’re εpsilonΦ’s… Ujigawa Shu-kun…

Shu: Wa, you remembered me, I’m so glad. To the Argonavis onii-sans as well, hello

Banri: Hello there… today you’re doing a solo investigation?

Shu: Well yeah.. But can you not treat me so much like a kid?

Banri: Ah.. sorry sorry!

Shu: But alternatively, to have all the members on an investigation. Gyroaxia must really interest you huh~?

Shu: Then I guess I’ll also have a look as well~

Ren: ...hey Shu-kun. Can I ask you one thing?

Shu: What is it~?

Ren: Yesterday.. Why did you ditch the live?

Shu: hmm~.. Because it was worthless, I guess

Ren: ...eh?

Shu: Stuff like that doesn’t matter~! See, Gyroaxia’s live is about to start~!

[four-loose-screws]

FE8 Novelization Translation - Chapter 9, Section 2

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

FE Game Script Translations - FE Novel Translations - Original FE Support Conversations

If you are interested in donating to support my work, please check out my Ko-fi here. Thank you!

———————————

I call this a “section” because it is not a separate part of the chapter in the book, but divided from the rest of the chapter by a scene break.

———————————

Chapter 9: The Heroes at the Fort (con’t)

After Amelia joined Eirika’s army in Kiris, at first, everyone was wary of her.

Not only was she from Grado, she was also a soldier, even if she didn’t look the part. It went without saying that many had a feeling that she might be a spy. Whenever Amelia herself became aware that people were looking at her like that, she shriveled up on the spot.

The first person to speak kindly to her was Neimi. She’d broken away from the circle one night, and when she passed by Amelia, who was polishing her armor all alone, her eyes stopped.

“Wow, amazing! Your armor is so shiny! It’s really, really pretty!”

“...Huh?” Amelia looked up in surprise.

Neimi smiled. “Archers like me don’t wear fancy armor like this, so I’m a bit jealous… I had to say something. This armor is for fighting on the front line, isn’t it?”

“Uh… Um…” Amelia was in complete shock, but was so happy for her armor to be praised that she blushed. No matter how tired she was, she never skipped out on caring for her armor and lance. “Thank you…”

“You’re name’s Amelia, right? I’m Neimi!”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Neimi!”

 “You can just call me Neimi. In return, I’ll just call you Amelia, okay?”

“...Okay!” Amelia’s face lit up. Though she had accepted that there was nothing she could do about people being suspicious of her, it was very, very lonely for everyone to avoid her.

“Your armor really is super pretty. It’s shiny like michew berries!”

“Oh, I know those… They’re really sweet, don’t you think? A lot of them grow in my village!”

“Really? There’s michew berries in Grado, too?”

“Yeah… There’s a mountain behind the small village of Silva. You can pick fruits of all kinds there!”

“That’s just like my village! I went to pick fruits all the time when I was a child!”

That simple casual conversation made them friends, and from then on, they were always together in both battle and at meals, so much so that it sometimes made Colm jealous.

In time, Amelia regained her smile, and everyone’s wariness of her gradually disappeared as well.

By the time they reached the Teraz Plateau, she was treated like any other member of Eirika's army.

-

“Innes is in that fort, correct?” Eirika, while continuing to walk down the northern mountain road, strained her eyes to look at it. 

She could see a particularly sturdy fort below, as well as a group of soldiers gathering to surround it.

Tana couldn't seem to wait. She gripped Achaeus' reins as they walked and said with a determined look on her face, "I'm going to try flying over there! I want to see my Brother's face already…"

"Tana, I know how you feel, but that's dangerous."

If a pegasus knight neared an enemy unit all on their own, they would become fodder for any archers among them.

"I'll be fine! I'll be careful… Oh please, Eirika! You ignored danger to save Ephraim, didn't you!? Now I want to save my brother!"

She understood how Tana felt. However, she couldn't allow it. 

As Eirika was searching for the words to say, Forde cut into their conversation. 

“Only an idiot would rush into a battle that they have no chance of winning, Lady Tana."

Kyle's eyebrow twitched at the word "idiot," but didn't try to scold his partner. 

Tana tried to argue back, but Ford ignored her and continued speaking. “Just look over there. The enemy army set up a ballista.”

Eirika and Tana both looked at where he was pointing.

Because he had passed through the area of the battlefield with Ephraim before, Forde’s observation was right. It was stationed in a spot one would overlook it if they were careless, but it was indeed there.

Ballistae were terrifying long range weapons that could shoot arrows from unexpected angles. They were difficult to use, and their accuracy wasn’t very good, but there was nothing more dangerous to a pegasus knight. If they neared one, they would become easy prey.

That point made even Tana give up. She became silent in her frustration and stared at the ballista in the distance.

“But hey, there’s no reason to be impatient. With the current number of enemies surrounding the fort, everyone inside is still safe. We made it in time. If we just fight in our standard formation, we should surely be able to defeat them.”

“...I see.” Tana nodded.

The enemies seemed to have realized that Eirika’s army was closing in on them. Their movements became frantic, but they seemed to know what to do.

Eirika’s army had no time to waste, either. 

Eirika swung her rapier into the air and gave the order that she was already very used to giving. “Charge!”

-

The enemy army was a group of mercenaries, so while they were each very skilled individuals at fighting, they had no central leadership. Most of them were impatient to show off their own abilities and swung their weapons without any true strategy, so the battle became one where they could not compare to Eirika’s well-coordinated army.

Seth and those with him routed the enemies before them, opening up the road. Eirika and Tana shielded each other while making their way towards the fort.

When Eirika rounded the corner of the fort and reached its front side, she gasped. There, an unexpected sight unfolded before her eyes.

Innes was fighting. Though she thought he would likely be locked up inside the fort waiting for reinforcements, he was blocking off the top of the stairs, holding his stance and not taking even one step back.

His specialty was in bows, but his was very different from Neimi’s plain weapon. It was huge in size, and its silver color glittered in the light. Of course, it didn’t just look pretty, it was also powerful. He shot swift and accurate arrows straight into the hearts of all enemies before him, and they toppled down the stone stairs one after the other.

It was the first time she had ever seen how he fought, but she already knew much about his skills.

Though he should have been exhausted from defending the castle, he did not show it at all. He looked magnificent every time he drew his bow back, and his graceful movements made her forget for a moment that they were on a battlefield.

“Wow… Not that I would expect anything less from him.” Forde breathed.

Kyle nodded and added, “I’d heard the rumors, but he’s even greater than I imagined.”

“I know it’s rude of me to say this, but I didn’t have a very high opinion of him. I thought he was all bark and no bite.”

“...Watch your mouth! ...However, I can’t say that I don’t know the feeling. If only he would show this side of himself to Lord Ephraim.”

Eirika then noticed the muscular man guarding Innes as he fought.

In direct combat, bows were at a disadvantage. To protect Innes, the man was swinging his large sword at those trying to get close to him.

Eirika didn’t recognize the man. He had a long scar across his face and a terrifying appearance.

Just then, Tana arrived riding Achaeus, and flew extremely low around Eirika’s head.

“Brother! Thank goodness you’re safe!”

The sudden voice startled Innes, and he turned his bow towards the source.

Tana was startled and nearly fell off her mount, but Achaeus was so smart that he quickly regained his balance, and saved his rider.

“...Tana!? What are you doing here!?”

“I came with Eirika’s army! I’m here to protect you!” Tana swung her lance. 

Innes’ face slowly turned pale. “Don’t be foolish! Stand down!”

“No, everyone else is fighting! I want to do what I can!”

“What can you do!? Stand down already!”

“No, I will not!”

The man with the scar on his face took a deep breath and shouted, “Sorry to butt in!”

The enemies who’d been taken aback by Tana’s appearance had once again begun to close in on them.

“But can’t it wait until later? If you’ve got time to chit-chat, you’ve got time to fight!”

"I apologize.” Innes nocked an arrow. 

Every single enemy who stumbled into the range of Innes or any one in Eirika’s army fell, one-by-one.

Before long, they’d defeated all of the enemies currently within the vicinity of the fort.

Innes lowered his bow and turned back towards Eirika. “I am ashamed to have troubled you by making you come here.” He said in an admirable tone that was nothing like him.

“No, you don’t have to be for something like this… Anyway, who is he?” Eirika looked at the man with the scar she’d been curious about since she’d first arrived and noticed him.

Innes fixed his collar, which had become ruffled during the battle, and answered, “His name is Gerik. He is the commander of the mercenary group I hired.”

“Hey, you canceled our contract, remember?” The man laughed. Though he’d looked like a demon in combat, when he laughed, his face softened, and he seemed very kind.

“You… canceled it? But…” Eirika asked, however, Innes ignored her question and didn’t answer, as yet another person showed herself to them.

The person who came out from behind Gerik’s shadow was a beautiful woman wearing revealing clothing.

‘Why is she dressed like that on a battlefield?’ Eirika was in shock.

The woman gathered up the fabric draped around her and bowed deeply.

“This is Tethys, and one of the mercenaries. It is thanks to them that I was able to hold out until now.”

“Oh, my!” Tethys stepped back and turned towards Gerik. “Did you hear him? He said “thanks”! I never thought the prince could speak such modest words! Do you think he hit his head?”

“Hey now, don’t tease him too much!” Gerik frowned.

Perhaps because he was so embarrassed, Innes continued in a tone that was even more haughty than his usual one. “I am well aware of the fact that you two were very helpful during this battle, so I’d like to hire you again, if you’d agree to it. I’ll double your contract fee.”

Tethys clapped her hands together, and Gerik held back a laugh and nodded.

Innes’ expression twisted in all the anger it could muster, then he turned towards Tana once more. “Now, I will ask again. Why are you here, Tana?” He glared down at her.

She looked so miserable that it seemed as if her normal, energetic self was all an act. “I was worried about Eirika… and came with her. Then, while we were traveling to Rausten, your messenger arrived and told us that you’d been betrayed by Carcino as well… So I, um…”

“Does Father know?”

“...I left him a letter, so he’ll be okay…”

“Tana.” His voice was quiet, but cold. 

Not only was Tana there, but everyone else had gathered around them.

“I’m so ashamed of you! Do you have any idea how much Father loves and worries about you!?”

“I do! But…”

“No buts! You better listen to me this time! First of all…”

He seemed to be preparing for a long lecture, but luckily for Tana, Vanessa and her pegasus arrived at the fort at that exact moment. She had been leading a group of soldiers in the battle on the south side of the fort.

“Lady Eirika! We are currently engaged in a difficult battle on the south side, and are requesting reinforcements!”

“Understood. We will leave immediately. Can you describe the enemy forces to me?”

“The unit is primarily made up of axe fighters and archers. While their numbers are not particularly great, there is an exceptionally skilled mercenary among them.”

“And they are?”

“She is a woman, but her swordsmanship is very sharp, and she’s more than willing to gamble her life on risky moves, so she’s too powerful for us to take down. She’s toying with all of us on her own.” 

Eirika suggested to Innes and the mercenaries that they rest inside the fort, but Innes wouldn’t hear it. Gerik and Tethys both expressed their will to keep fighting as well.

When Vanessa quickly flew away, they all followed after her, and headed south.

There, a difficult battle was currently raging. 

Forde put his hand over his forehead to see better and said, “Is that her? The skilled mercenary. She really is that strong… But she’s so beautiful!”

Eirika also watched how she fought.

Her long hair fluttered behind her, and she swung her sword while dashing around from left to right.

Some of the members of Eirika’s army were trying to surround her, but she was too fast, and they couldn’t keep up. Then, while they were confused, she would show them no mercy, taking them out in a single attack.

And Forde was right in calling her beautiful. Even from a distance, anyone could see that she had a pretty face. She showed no emotion, and she did not even twitch, as if her face was stuck. She appeared to derive no pleasure from the battle.

“Wait, Commander! Isn’t that…!?” Tethys said in a panic, and nudged Gerik from behind. 

Gerik folded his arms and shouted, “...Hey, what are you doing!? Why are you with the Carcino Army if you didn’t see us there!?”

“Commander Gerik?” Eirika whirled around in surprise. “Do you know her? That mercenary?”

“Know her!? She’s Marisa! She’s one of us! Jeez… I’ll go talk to her.” Gerik quickly walked over to her.

She also noticed him, and lowered her sword. Her face was still expressionless.

“Hey, is that you, Marisa!?”

“Commander!”

“What are you doing!?”

“Fighting.” She answered simply.

“I can see that… But that’s not what I wanted to ask you. How were you hired by Carcino?”

“The same as always. By the guild.”

Gerik looked up at the sky. “What a mess. Is everyone there half asleep!? ...You see, Marisa, we’re all working as the Frelian prince’s guard right now. They must have messed up your assignment.”

“What should I do?”

“Even if you ask me that, I don’t know… If you quit in the middle of a job, it will damage your reputation. You might have no choice but to see it through. ...But even that is a problem. I don’t want us to have to kill each other.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Well, I mean, I’d like it best if you came with us, but… That’s not really…” 

“I understand.” Marisa turned around and pointed her blade at the Carcino soldiers that had been fighting with her. “Then I will betray them.”

Everyone from both Eirika’s army, and the shocked soldiers who had been guarding her, all took several steps back.

But the most surprised of them all was Gerik. “You’ll betray them…? Marisa, that’s not something you can just say! It’ll ruin your reputation!”

“I’m fine with that.” She truly was a woman without emotion.

-

When the Carcino Army lost the person they’d been relying on most, they fell apart in an instant. Eirika’s army used that momentum to reach their base and chase down the commander. 

He was none other than Pablo of the Carcino elders. He was a coward with no backbone to see the battle through. The moment it finally became clear that his army would likely lose, he used his mercenaries as shields and fled.

Eirika’s army did not chase after him, as something far more important immediately came up.

Pablo had used a small village east of the fort as his base. After he ran off, an old man appeared from one of the houses on the edge of the town.

Though he was haggard, one could see how wise and refined he was in his facial features. The villagers led him out by the hand, then he kneeled before Eirika and Innes.

“You fought splendidly in battle, but what is most important is that you are uninjured.”

Eirika had never seen him before, so she tilted her head to the side.

The old man placed a hand on his chest and introduced himself. “Sorry for not introducing myself right away. I am one of the elders who rules over Carcino. My name is Kilmt.”

“Carcino’s…?”

Eirika and Innes’ faces hardened significantly, so Kilmt took a step back and bowed deeply. “Please wait. I have no intention of making you my enemies. Pablo is after my life as well.”

“...What do you mean?”

“It is a shameful tale.” Kilmt hung his head.

According to him, The Republic of Carcino was currently divided into two factions in an ongoing dispute. Kilmt was the leader of the moderate faction, who valued the republic’s alliance with Frelia, and wanted to keep things as they were. However, Pablo and the others of the second faction argued that it was not in Carcino’s best interest to fight against the powerful Grado Empire, and proposed they betray Frelia and turn over to Grado’s side.

Pablo and the others supporting him tried to bribe the moderate faction, but it did not go well. They were so impatient to reach their desired conclusion that they even resorted to assassinating the members of the moderate faction.  

“...Many of those who share the same opinions as I have been killed. Pablo’s ultimate target is me. I just barely managed to flee the city and was being kept hidden in this village, but ironically, it is the very same village that Pablo and his men were using as their secret base… Until now, I’ve been hiding in the houses of the villagers who support me. If all of you had not shown up, they may have gotten to me too.”

At the end of his story, Eirika breathed a huge sigh of relief.

She now understood that not all of Carcino had betrayed them, rather, it was only the reckless choice of a single group. Though it put them in danger, there were those who supported Kilmt. The group of those who would not give into Grado no matter what was actually quite large.

But that didn’t mean they could feel at ease just yet. This loss had compromised Pablo’s position. He would surely be desperate to try to restore himself to it. If they continued on to Rausten now, there was a high chance that Pablo would violently try to sabotage them.

Kilmt could see how worried Eirika was, and said, “I think it would be best for all of you to return to Frelia for the time being. If you stay here, Pablo will likely hire even more mercenaries, and try to capture you. I intend to go to Frelia as well, and explain the situation to King Hayden.”

They knew that his proposal was a logical one. However, Eirika would not allow her mind to be changed. 

They had no choice but to pass through Carcino to get to Rausten, and then Jehanna.

Even if they returned to Frelia to gather more troops, the main force of Frelia’s Army would still be with Ephraim, and it wouldn’t be possible to divide the troops further and have some come with them, no matter how important it was that they inform Rausten and Jehanna of the dangers threatening them as quickly as possible.

Eirika’s army parted ways with Kilmt, then gathered in the village square for the time being, where some simple benches were placed so the villagers could stop to relax. Everyone sat down, and they decided to discuss what they would do next.

The conversation continued on for a long time. Seth unsurprisingly suggested that they should be careful and return to Frelia. 

However, Innes did not agree. He understood that it was reckless, but wanted to keep moving towards Jehanna.

Eirika did not want to turn back if it was possible. If they weren’t able to warn Rausten and Jehanna as quickly as possible, then it would only be to Grado’s benefit, and put Ephraim in even more danger as he marched further towards Grado territory...

However, they couldn’t seem to come to a conclusion. Once everyone had given their opinion, a heavy silence fell over the group.

Just then, they heard a cheeky boy’s voice say,  “Hey, can I tell you something cool?”

Everyone looked up.

A skinny boy wearing a cape that was far too big for him was standing in front of them. Curiosity overflowed from his big, round eyes.

Was he perhaps one of the children who lived in the village?

“Go away.” Innes ordered him with a wave of his hand, but the boy did not take even one step back.

“You want to get to Jehanna, right? There’s a path through the mountains that leads there!” He seemed to have been listening in on their conversation. He spoke in a whisper, as if he was telling a secret.

“The mountains…? What are you talking about?” Eirika asked, not quite sure if she believed him.

A door to a tavern facing the plaza opened, and Tethys came running out and grabbed the boy by the arm. “Ewan, get back here! Don’t bother them while they’re talking about something so important!”

“I’m not bothering them!” He started flailing in resistance.

Tethys tightened her grip and bowed towards Eirika. “I’m so sorry! He can be so naughty sometimes! ...Now apologize to them!”

“I didn’t do anything to apologize for! I just wanted to tell them something that would help them…”

“That's enough! Now apologize!”

The boy hung his head in defiance.

Eirika noticed the similarities in their facial features, and that they had the same red hair and eyes as well. “Tethys! Is he your…?”

“He’s my little brother. I’m so sorry, I told him to wait quietly at home, but he came along with me…”

“I was worried ‘cause you’re all alone, so I came to see how you were doing!” He seemed to be displeased with being treated like a child, as his face twisted into a pout.

“Don’t be a smart mouth!” she scolded him, then started to drag him away.

However, Eirika stopped her. “Please wait! Is what you said true? That there’s a road through the mountains that leads to Jehanna…?”

“Uh-huh!” The boy puffed up his chest. He looked at Tethys triumphantly, as if to say “How about that?” then continued, “There’s a really tall mountain over there, see? Near the peak is a village called Caer Pelyn.”

He pointed east, where they could see a particularly tall peak among a large mountain range.

He was right about what direction Jehanna was in, but just the sight of the tall mountain made Eirika feel dizzy. “That means we’d really have to climb that mountain…?”

“Yup! All the other routes are no good. They’re sure to be under heavy watch. But that road should be safe! No outsiders ever come near Caer Pelyn.”

“Then that would make it very difficult for us to pass through…”

“You’ll be fine! My teacher lives up that mountain. If we tell him about our situation, he’s sure to show us the way to the village!”

“Your teacher?”

“He’s studying magic.” Tethys explained. “He looks up to mages, so he visited a renowned teacher, and pressured the teacher to accept him as a student. He’s a very strict teacher, so he probably thought he would chase off Ewan pretty quickly, but still agreed to teach Ewan for some reason…”

“It’s because he recognized my talents!”

“Don’t get full of yourself!” Tethys said and lightly hit her brother’s head.

He started rubbing the sore spot and said, “My teacher’s name is Saleh! He’s a famous sage!”

"Saleh…?" Innes muttered. “I’ve heard of him. He’s considered an exceptional spellcaster, and the greatest sage alive today…”

“Yeah, him! My teacher is such an amazing person!” The boy was as happy as if it was he himself who was being praised.

Eirika still had no idea what kind of person this Saleh was, but if Ewan was to be believed, she couldn’t imagine him to be a bad person. She asked Ewan, “Do you think he’ll let us meet him?”

“Of course! He’ll be sure to lend you his power if I ask him to! So, we can leave right away, right!? Follow me, everyone!”

He looked up at his sister and once again puffed out his chest. “See? I helped them, didn’t I?”

Tethys looked like she wanted to say something, but it was true that his suggestion was useful to Eirika and the others. “I suppose so.” She said with a forced smile, then hugged him.

[gascon-en-exil]

I suppose you can call me "villain Dimitri anon" now, but I actively dislike Azure Moon for the narrative perks that you and other fans insist it has, but I can't see. What back and forth does Dimitri have with his retainers that aren't confined to supports? There's just Gilbert, Rodrigue, and Byleth ignoring the one-eyed elephant in the room.(1/2)

What support network does Dimitri have? A bunch of badly abused subjects at the end of their rope who don't have the guts to abandon him or give him a wake up call. Dimitri's redemption in the rain makes zero sense as the scene progresses, and outside of some lip service in a support, he's so cured of any trauma that not even getting the truth about Duscur fazes him. What's worse, this redemption is the main idea of the route. (2/3 now)

The back and forth is in reference to how the army in AM feels directionless and disagrees on whether they should liberate the Kingdom or rescue Rhea first. This gets references both in story cutscenes and in the exploration of dialogue of numerous characters, heavily reinforced by many of these same characters remarking on how off-putting Dimitri’s behavior is. This stands in contrast to CF never questioning Edelgard’s actions even as they’re far more systemically terrible with the work of Hubert and the Agarthans behind the scenes; even VW offers a number of scenes and exploration content of characters questioning and critiquing Claude’s actions. Felix’s mini-arc outside his support line with Dimitri is the clearest example, because he’s the loudest voice of opposition and because if you trigger their supports some of the dialogue changes to reflect that, while Rodrigue plays a predictable but workable role as the doomed mentor figure whose death forces Dimitri to confront how his obsession with revenge is hurting the people he loves.  This is all unfortunately somewhat undermined by Byleth’s presence and the need for self-insert romance, with them supplanting Dimitri’s established support network and worst of all leading to Dedue being killed off by default and then never re-integrated properly into the story lest his intimacy with Dimitri pose an obstacle to the expected lord/Avatar romance (that can’t even be pushed in the same way that Edeleth can in all routes, incidentally, because Dimitri can’t S rank m!Byleth). This is a genuine problem in AM, but curiously it’s one that I see brought up almost exclusively by fans of Dimitri and his route rather than those who hate AM and/or rail against Dimidue as an allegedly racist pairing.

None of the other Blue Lions gets a single meaningful word in in the main story cutscenes. You can get some character development for Ingrid, Sylvain, and Felix in monastery dialogue and DImitri's supports and that's it. Not to mention, gameplay-wise, dealing with Dimitri is just no fun, and there's no choice to get fed up and leave. With all of Crimson Flower's problems, at least you had to actively choose to go on that route. (3/4 now)

I wouldn’t say that’s all that different from how the other routes handle their chorus of minor characters, especially CF which again minimizes any sort of friction the Eagles might have with Edelgard even when she’s outright lying to them. There’s a reason that SS is sometimes cited as a better characterization showcase for the Eagles other than Edelgard and Hubert, particularly for Ferdinand who actually gets to be the contrarian #3 on that route. Gameplay is more subjective, although I’d rank being unable to instruct Dimitri or have him engage in monastery activities for four calendar months is more than offset by CF being exactly that many months shorter than AM or VW. Also, in terms of building characters Gilbert is far, far less of a pain in the ass than Jeritza, and I say that as someone who’s painstakingly gotten every character in the game to all ranks at S+ and all classes mastered over many NG+ runs. Having to pick CF is also an inconvenience that screws with the flow of Chapter 11 since you need to waste a battle weekend going to Edelgard’s coronation lest you miss out on instruction weeks or later weekends doing it at the start of the month. It’s kind of a moot point to argue about this anyway as the Deer have it the best when it comes to unit development, with neither of these restrictions as well as the longest route and no Part 2 exclusive to worry over.

Crimson Flower had a "big picture" war story, Verdant Wind had good character balance and exposed the truth about the player character. Azure Moon was just all DImitri. Not to mention, my own political philosophy and real-world history interests make me biased against Dimiri and his stance. (And no, I'm no fan of dictators, just not of a fan of Fearghus-style feudalism) (4/5)

I do like redemption stories. But I've seen them done better elsewhere. Dimitri's character is interesting, but his route isn't. All routes on Three Houses have problems that I nitpick about, but as thing stand, I can support Claude and Edelgard in achieving their ideals, i cannot in good conscience support Dimitri as king. Nurse him back to sanity, maybe, but put him in charge of other people's lives? No. (end)

Eh, SS is the route you’re looking for if you want the full story of Byleth’s origins and their connection to Rhea; VW’s endgame exposition dump is more about the true origin of Crests and Relics and general worldbuilding which is why I’d call it the big picture route over CF which kicks one of its major antagonists to an offscreen postgame. I also question why you single out the quasi-feudalism of Faerghus when that’s the established standard for all of FE and for most of the fantasy genre overall. Fire Emblem is notoriously reactionary when it comes to its politics, such that Dimitri’s solo ending suggesting the beginning of a participatory government might be the single most concrete move toward democracy of any lord in the series. Even as tiny a step as that is it’s more than can be said for Edelgard not delivering on her rhetoric of abolishing the nobility and...whatever she plans for the church (since she vacillates on whether she’s fine with the Seiros faith but only takes issue with the church or whether she thinks humanity has no need for gods, and the only CF ending that re-establishes the church has it run by the state which is some prime dystopian stuff). Claude similarly suffers in that his plans remain ongoing at the end of VW and lack any concrete shape beyond opening the borders and forcing people of different nations and cultures to interact and get along - a well-intended idea, but not one that will lead to serious change without a lot of work and oversight. 

Dimitri lacks such grandiose ambitions, and once he’s moved beyond his need for revenge his goals center around alleviating the suffering of the Kingdom and of his loved ones, but on a meta level that’s kind of all he needs to do. One of the reasons that AM’s story structure is more coherent and well-paced than that of the other routes is that it’s extremely well-trod ground for IS: “blue lord takes back invaded homeland from red emperor with the Power of Friendship” is the standard FE plot going back all the way to Marth, and Dimitri’s biggest deviation from that model is the somewhat realistic depiction of his struggles with mental illness. That’s probably why many longtime veterans of the series favor AM, because we know it’s the type of narrative IS excels at and we’re not expecting anything more politically revolutionary. Hell, the proto-democratic ending was as unexpected to me as Dimitri’s strong queer notes...which is why I prefer him over the other two incidentally, not because of his politics which are just fantasy boilerplate of a good king being restored to his throne, and there was much rejoicing, etc. There are gender-based readings of AM that I and others have made, not to mention people who enjoy the homoromantic push and pull of Dedue and Felix on Dimitri and how those relationships develop against one another, and I think it’s telling that those unconventional analyses of Three Houses’s most typical lord and most typical route are still more plausible than all the additional motivation and setup you’d have to throw in to make Dimitri a proper villain, or even just an antagonist for the length of more than one chapter.

[antihero-writings]

The Boy with the Unspeakable Name (Ch6)

Fandom: Harry Potter (and the Chamber or Secrets)

Fic Summary: Tom Riddle may have won his battle with Harry in the Chamber of Secrets, but there were a few unforeseen consequences; loss of Tom's memory being the most obnoxious of them. Is it possible to stop Tom's past from becoming his future? Or is the young Tom Riddle doomed to repeat his mistakes?

Chapter Summary: The interrogation scene 

(I'll put the links to chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 in a reblog!! I also have a version of this fic with all the chapters in one place!!)

Notes: My apologies for the delay!! I was working super hard on a couple projects with deadlines, and I didn't really have the chance for a break. I tried to get back to it as fast as I could once those projects were done!! I hope you're still interested in reading, even so <3

In addition to other things occupying my time, this chapter itself wasn't easy; for some reason, for a good while I had no clue what I'd do for the interrogation scene, add to that to the fact that I picked a very difficult perspective to write for here and it wasn't the easiest XD I hope I ultimately did a good job, and that you guys enjoy it!!

Comments are always extremely appreciated!! And do let me know if you'd like me to add you to a tag list for this fic!!

Chapter 6:

Snape didn’t think his day would go like this.

One must keep a sense of preparedness about them, still, he didn’t think it remiss for not expecting a day that started with Neville handing him a bottle of goop that would be poison in a better context, would middle with the message that the Chamber of Secrets had opened and a student would be killed, and end with Potter standing in his office with Veritaserum conducting his tongue, telling him said student was dead, and the Dark Lord was back, but without memory, and in the body of his sixteen-year-old self.

And said day wasn’t even over yet.

They still had an interrogation to enact—(which would be a lot harder with the aformentioned truth-serumed Potter…and a lot easier with a mute Potter)—to make sure the missing-memory-claim was unequivocal fact.

He was about to walk into McGonagall’s office to see a sixteen-year-old Dark Lord. And he was expected and required to act like the boy was an ordinary student—(though the boy himself probably already knew he wasn’t).

The person most feared in the wizarding world, who’d killed so many he lost count.

Not the least of which was—

It wouldn’t be a problem.

There was a spiteful look in Potter’s green eyes as they ventured through the halls.

The silencing charm was proving enjoyable in addition to practical...But the small pleasure he gained from Potter’s plight had a fly’s life span.

As they approached the door to the office, his grip tightened around the truth serum in his hand. From a glance out of the corner of his eye he saw Potter had a similar tenseness about him.

He hated this boy, no question…but he’d be a monster if that story didn’t incite some form of empathy in him.

—(In another time there was another redhead lying dead on the floor Halloween, killed by the same person. Empathy wasn’t a choice.)—

They opened the door, and the sound was like a conversation being snapped in half.

“We’re not interrupting, I presume?” Snape’s voice carried across the room—(sure they very much were)—calm as if Dumbledore really was speaking to an ordinary student.

He let his eyes flick from Dumbledore to the boy in the chair in front of him, who had turned to them.

Annoyance may have flared in Potter’s eyes, but this boy bought his annoyance from an entirely different factory, one where they manufactured all sorts of other, far more gruesome emotions.

The eyes were brown, and human, but they were an echo—(What’s an echo before the real thing sings off the cliff edge?)—of the red ones he’d later possess. Red sitting behind the brown, like adult teeth in the skull behind the baby’s, ready to force the childhood out bloody, for something worthless as a couple coins.

“Thank you for coming, Severus.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he sneered as he stepped to Dumbledore’s side to face the boy once more.

He knew he’d be young, but a hex wasn’t entirely out of the question. Seeing this, this thing that once murdered thousands without blinking, this thing that shrieked the words of death with a high, cold voice over countless muggles and muggle sympathizers, and whose eyes held no form of remorse, or sympathy …sitting before him, young and handsome and perhaps even human—

His left arm itched.

“Well, unless anyone can offer a viable reason to continue dilly dallying, I suggest we begin.” Dumbledore spoke pleasantly.

Snape glided over to the boy—whose voice was level as he asked;

“What are you doing?”

Snape held up the truth serum.

“Do you have any idea what this is?”

The boy’s eyes flicked from the bottle to Snape wordlessly. Odds are it physically pained him to admit he didn’t know something.

A smirk tugged at Snape’s lip.

“Wonderful.

“And I don’t suppose you’ll drink it willingly, if we were to ask you to?”

The boy’s eyes lidded; You must be joking.

“Even better.”

He flicked his wand and ropes bound the boy to the chair.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

“Well if you won’t drink it willingly, then we’ll just have to make sure you do so unwillingly.

“Open wide.” A said like a dentist, that smirk marking his features as he grabbed his chin and forced his mouth open, like offering King Claudius the poison.

“Try not to enjoy this too much, Severus.” Dumbledore cautioned.

The boy started to protest, but the sound was drowned out by the potion pouring into his mouth—which Snape quickly cast a spell to keep him from spitting it out.

When he swallowed Snape cast the counters to each of the curses binding him and glided back around the desk.

The boy wiped his mouth, gaze throwing daggers at him. “Is this how you treat all your guests?”

“Only our favorites.”

“What happened in the Chamber of Secrets?” Dumbledore asked, his voice commanding, but never losing its calm.

“What happened in the where?” Tom demanded, not altogether politely.

“The Chamber that you woke up in earlier.” Dumbledore continued, still pleasant. “Would you mind filling us in the details of what happened there?”

“I don’t have to—” He was probably about to say ‘tell you anything’ but quickly found himself rather inexplicably compelled to do just that.

He detailed his waking up in the Chamber without memory to see Potter crying over the dead Ginny, about how they exchanged words, how they got out…nothing that would betray the idea that he had lost his memory.

“Thank you for telling us that.” Dumbledore replied simply—though something flickered behind his eyes when he spoke of the girl. Potter fidgeted in the back of the room, and likely would have asked why he had to stay if he could. “Are you certain you remember nothing prior to that?”

“I told you I don’t remember anything! What did you do to me?!”

“You mean you don’t usually feel overly compelled to tell the truth?” Snape examined his nails.

“No.” His eyes were lidded.

“Oh? If you don’t remember who you are, how would you know?”

“Does anyone feel overly compelled to tell the truth? Seriously, who are you people?!”

“We already told you,” Dumbledore intonated. “I am the headmaster of this school, a school for witchcraft and wizardry. The oddly silent Harry,”—He gestured to the boy standing mutely at the back of the room—“is a student at this school, and Severus Snape here is a professor.”

“I have a hard time believing teachers would strap a student to a chair and force a truth potion down their throat!”

“We are wizard teachers. That means, at times, our methods can be a little…unorthodox. Tom”—The name made him flinch—“we merely want to discern if you truly are without memory. You may remember more than even you yourself are aware of—and more than simple questioning would illuminate. There are few other ways to discern this efficiently. Personally I would have attempted a bit more explanation and persuasion before resorting to tying you down.”—He shot a glance at Snape—“But…though it may not seem that way, we are trying to help you.”

“I don’t think Severus”—Snape flinched at his name even more visibly than Tom had—“is particularly inclined to help me.”

Snape was seconds from doing something either very stupid, or very smart, but Dumbledore stood, his voice with a bite to it.

“Professor Snape is not particularly fond of you, that’s true.”

"Oh yeah?” He raised an eyebrow at Snape.

“Hmm…I would like to phrase this delicately…” Dumbledore continued. “In your time here, you could be a bit of a…a bully. This is of course why Harry here isn’t particularly fond of you either. He has been subject to your bullying on more occasions than one. Isn’t that right, Harry?”

Potter froze, as if surprised they asked him a question, then nodded.

“So what you really mean is that you are trying to help me, and these two are here to watch me suffer your ‘help’?”

“I did not intend my ‘help’ to cause you suffering. I apologize that it has. And just because you were not a particularly kind individual in the past doesn’t mean others are unwilling or undesirous to help you. That is what it means to be kind.”

Snape’s eyes met Harry’s, and he was particularly glad the boy’s overly truthful lips were sealed shut at that moment.

“Let’s get back to the questions shall we? Do you have any memory at all attached to your own name?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your name. Names are very powerful. You mentioned you did not know it until Harry mentioned it to you. Does hearing it arouse any particular memories or feelings in you?”

“Memories, no. Feelings…”

“Yes?”

“Hatred.” Tom froze, eyes wide, and his hand flew to his mouth—the first real reaction they’d seen from him.

Despite his particular distaste for divulging the truth, he hadn’t said anything too incriminating yet. This was clearly one of those things he thought would grant him power if it stayed inside.

“You feel hatred at the sound of your name? I see. Do you feel this hatred hearing anyone else’s names?”

“Yours.” He said into his hand. “His.” He threw his thumb over his shoulder, gripping his mouth.

“Wonderful.”

His hand came back down into his lap. “Wonderful?”

“Well, not wonderful that you hate the sound of all our names, I don’t imagine that’s very pleasant. But this is helpful information. And this hatred does not come with any concrete memories?”

“No. Why do I hate—?”

“I imagine it’s because you were not overly fond of us either.”

“Why didn’t I like you?”

“Because we were two particularly large roadblocks in your path of bullying.”

He paused. “…Why did I bully you?”

“Troubled home life, perhaps? You may find it difficult to believe, but you did not divulge the contents of your personal life to us. But I imagine you were dealing with quite a bit of internal strife to take it out on your fellow students. I do hope you will choose a different path in this new life you have been given, so to speak.”

The boy tapped his fingers on the armrest. “…What are you going to tell my family?”

“Your family?” His eyebrows raised. “About what?”

“About the fact that I don’t remember them.” He said like Dumbledore was stupid for not knowing.

“Oh, well, in that sense you are both particularly lucky, and particularly unlucky, in that your family is dead.”

“Dead?”

“Dead.”

The boy paused, his gaze falling to the ground as he thought. “So where is my home?"

"Of that I am not aware. I think, perhaps, Hogwarts was more home to you than anywhere else."

"...Where will I go, then?”

“Go?”

“When I’m not at this school. You yourself said you might not let me back. Where else can I go?”

“That’s what we will have to discuss over the next few days.”

A look of surprise crossed Potter’s face, as if he hadn’t realized the sixteen-year-old dark lord would be any sort of permanent fixture.

To tell the truth the thought was rather jarring, but Snape hadn’t ruled out disposing of him just yet.

"What about my friends?" the boy asked.

There was a small indication of surprise in Dumbledore's eyes at the question, but it faded quickly as he answered. "It pains me to inform you that—to my knowledge at least—you did not have any."

His eyebrow raised. "None?"

"None of whom I'm aware."

The boy looked down at his hands in his lap, as if pondering.

"Does that sadden you?" Dumbledore asked softly.

"No." The answer was cold and immediate...but apparently not truthful, as a moment later he barked the word "Yes," followed by an annoyed groan. Another pause. "...I don't know that 'sad' is the right word."

Dumbledore nodded. "Such a potion cannot always help one discern the truth of their emotions, that is, if they do not know them themselves.

“Severus, do you have any more questions?” Dumbledore’s gaze ticked to Snape, a meaningful glint in his eyes. Snape gave a small nod in return.

“You are completely certain you don’t remember anything prior to a few hours ago?”

Imperceptibly, Snape flicked his wand at his side.

“Why do I keep having to repeating myself?! I—”

Scenes flashed before Snape’s eyes. A darkened chamber, a tattered diary, a sword, a phoenix, a boy crying, a dead girl, red hair like flames on the stones—

“What the hell was that?!” Tom demanded immediately, shooting up. “What did you do to me?!”

“To what are you referring?” Dumbledore asked.

“That—That—Those visions! What was that?!” His eyes darted venomously between Dumbledore and Snape. “You’re looking through my memories, aren’t you?!”

“Merely a side effect of the potion.” Dumbledore answered as if they were having a conversation over afternoon tea. “Nothing to worry about. Please, proceed.”

“I said I don’t remember anything!” He spat.

Snape tried again, and again the same scenes that they had already described flashed by.

After exiting the memory, the boy’s eyes were wild and fiery, continually darting between the two of them, and Snape swore he saw something red there.

“Is that all the information you need?! Can I go now?!” He spun to storm out of the room before they gave an answer.

Another flick of Snape’s wrist, and the boy was lifted into the air by his ankle.

“Class has not been dismissed, Tom.”

Emotion rushed across the boy’s face; horror, rage, humiliation, and Snape reveled in it.

“You said yourself;” Snape stepped closer, and his voice softened into a taunting whisper, “where would you go? Would you wander the halls like a lost, little boy without his mommy?”

Tom’s eyes flashed once more, and he squirmed against the spell, and it almost seemed, for a second, like he’d hit Snape.

Another flick, behind his back this time, and this time he concentrated very hard at breaking past the scene only an hour earlier.

It was as if he hit a wall in the boy’s mind. Snape never thought of people’s minds as books to be perused by any passerby, but the harder he tried to break through, the more the boy’s mind looked like the ripped pages of a book too old to hold itself together. Like walking into a dream where the dreamer stopped imagining the world, so reality just…tapered off. The world in his mind, ripped, hazy, rotted and congealed.

“Would you stop that?!”

“That concludes my questions.” Snape pocketed his wand and turned to Dumbledore.

“What about you, Harry?” Dumbledore asked gently. “Anything to ask?”

Potter glanced between the two of them, surprised his opinion was of any worth in this situation—(and, if he was frank, Snape wasn’t altogether sure it was).

“I think you’ll find Potter is disinclined to speak for the next few moments.” He tried not to smirk.

Dumbledore looked over his half-moon spectacles at him.

“Will you Let. Me. Down?!”

Another flick, and the boy fell to the ground on his head and in a mess of limbs.

“You could’ve been gentler!” He sat up, rubbing the back of his neck.

So could you.

Notes Cont.:

As I said, Snape is a rather difficult perspective to write for, and I’m still not entirely sure I did a great job with him... I would have used Tom’s perspective and reveled in his horror, but I felt I should probably use Snape because of the legilimacy thing. I wanted you guys to know what he saw there. It's possible I might try rewriting this chapter from Tom's perspective to check if I missed any reactions or questions he would have/ask too, or even if it's overall better from his perspective...so keep in mind stuff might get edited in the future!! And do let me know if you liked in in Snape's perspective!!

FYI, these should be the three perspectives I use/alternate between (Tom, Harry, Snape). At the moment I don’t intend to add more. Maybe if I really need to for an off chapter down the road I will, but I can't imagine what that would be at the moment.