#but like it feels like Dimitri's flaws are always for a Purpose and not just because he like. has them?

[butwhatifidothis]

🔥 Dimitri

Hmmm... I guess my hottest take for him is that I often wonder what it'd be like if Dimitri had like... an unendearing flaw? Like a consistently Not Perfect aspect about his character that visibly and noticeably makes other characters upset/annoyed with him that aren't a result of a staggering amount of untreated and exacerbated mental trauma.

Don't get me wrong, the arc he goes through makes it to where he doesn't necessarily need a flaw to still make mistakes (since the making of mistakes and the overcoming of them are often what makes a character arc impactful) and he's a fine enough character as is. It's just that, hm... I'll use Claude for an example of what I mean right? Outside of his arc of learning the truth and opening up to others, he's a guy that (using one flaw) tends to cross boundaries with people and has that be a trait of his that crops up in multiple areas. And it's something that does noticeably make others uncomfortable when he does this (Marianne's supports being the best example of this), so it's undeniable that this is meant to be a flaw in his character. It's also not a flaw that is meant to endear you to him the same way, for a classic example, being clumsy would be.

It lets me know that it's not just because Claude has to go through his character arc that he exhibits flaws in his character, which... kiiiinda isn't really the case with Dimitri? He only makes the mistakes he makes because the narrative decided to shit in his cereal - if they didn't have a driving narrative force causing them to go through growth through the making of mistakes (think those boring-ass No Powers Modern Day College AUs), Claude would still be nosy-to-a-fault and would still have to work on that outside of a grander narrative, because he as a character independent from a grander narrative has this flaw.

Dimitri on the other hand is never violent, dismissive of others, withdrawn, etc., until an outside force meant to forward the narrative pushes him to exhibit these flaws - which again! This is by no means a bad thing! Dimitri is still a pretty good character, in large part because of this role in the narrative he has! I just sometimes wonder what it'd look like if a character got annoyed/upset about a flaw of his - or if he otherwise just showed off a flaw of his - in a more... casual setting? Like it didn't have to do about death or vengeance or trauma, but just "Hey man I didn't like that you did that mind knocking it off?"

[hvbris]

For muns with multiple muses, past and present, on any blog.

Rules: Fill out the form according to which muse suits each title best. (The same muse can have multiple titles.) Repost and tag. Feel free to add more!

Favorite Muse: Fish will always have a special place in my heart (I mean she even has her own blog lol)

Most Character Development: Salomé has changed a lot since I added her, she got more vulnerable and deep, with more flaws. But for a recent muse, that would be Cassia. We are given ZERO in canon, so it was really interesting to develop her personality, how she evolves, etc

Trash Muse: .... Fox Mulder...

The Meme-Lord: Eve & Noah, by far. They basically communicate with their dad by sending him memes. Even when he's in prison.

Most Likely to Start a War: I mean, Lord Voldemort is at the top of the list for sure. He actually started like two wars fdjkshjkfds and perhaps Lucretia, since she's an officer of the army lol

Worst Personality: LORD VOLDEMORT OBVIOUSLY, this man is the Absolute Worst ™

Best Singer: Lucy Gray Baird, of course ❤

Most Attractive Muse: hard to pick tbh, but I'll say Fish, Lucretia & Morticia (I LIKE TALL AND STRONG WOMEN OK)

Biggest Heart: Olive and Tigris for sure

Falls in Love Quickest: Ava, probably, but that's because of all the romantic movies she watches all the time

Most Likely to Drop Their Phone in the Toilet: OH DIMITRI FOR SURE, but then again he might just throw it on purpose because he hates technology

Ice Ruler: Lucretia 😎 Snow lands on top, etc etc, and of course Salomé

The Edgelord: Lord Voldemort dshjkdkshjdjkqsdqs and obviously Wednesday

Most Tragic Backstory: Codrin, Lucy Gray, and Eve & Noah. But a lot of my muses have tragic backstories fdksjfdks it's hard to pick

Best Case of Puberty: All of them tbh??? If I have to pick just one, April

Most Awkward: Brook, probably

Busy Bee: Fish, Clarice, and Lucretia are absolute workaholics

Most Clueless: Eleven and Ava, but I mean they grew up in a lab

Most Likely to Forget Their Wallet at Home: Mulder probably

Best Dressed: Tigris obviously!!!! But also Effie and Cassia

Biggest Flirt: Captain Hook is really a terrible flirt, Fish & Deirdre too

Most Dramatic: I have so many drama queens!! It's a tie between Caesar, Hook, and Voldemort

Least Likely to Show Up Late: Lucretia. Tardiness is practically a vice in her eyes

One with Weirdest Habit: Codrin hugs trees :)

Most Likely to Be Caught at the Gym: Fish and Clove work out the most

tagged by @countlessrealities (thank you ❤️) tagging: @ladiesandwitches @lovepurposed @omniishambles @contriite @unfinishedbusincss @thenightmareofyourdrems @versin-surfin @fallsekings and YOU! tag me if you do it :)

[roamanddiscover]

Vampire Academy Book Summary

Vampire Academy Book Summary

The Vampire Academy series is a captivating novel series that explores the life of a teenage girl, Rose Hathaway. Rose is a sixteen-year-old girl who is half human and half vampire. She is training at St. Vladimir's Academy to become a guardian to her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi vampire princess. The novel is set in a world where vampires exist and are divided into two categories, the Moroi and the Strigoi. The Moroi are mortal vampires who have special powers and need to drink human blood occasionally, while the Strigoi are immortal vampires who kill humans to drink their blood. The Moroi and the Strigoi are kept apart, and the guardians are tasked with protecting the Moroi from the Strigoi. The story follows Rose's journey as she trains to become a guardian. Rose is a tough and determined girl who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect Lissa. As she goes through her training, she faces many challenges and battles, but she always manages to come out on top. The Vampire Academy series is a perfect blend of romance, action, and fantasy. It is a story of love, friendship, loyalty, and betrayal. It has a unique and enthralling plot with well-developed characters, and it will leave you craving for more. If you're a fan of young adult fantasy books, then the Vampire Academy series is a must-read. It will take you on a journey full of twists and turns, and you won't be able to put the book down until you've read the very last page.

Character Analysis

Vampire Academy is a novel series that boasts an array of diverse, complex, and engaging characters. First and foremost, there is Rose Hathaway, a half-human and half-vampire girl who is fiercely loyal and protective of her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. Rose is impulsive and hot-headed, but also possesses a sharp mind and an unwavering dedication to her duties as a guardian. Lissa Dragomir, on the other hand, is a Moroi vampire princess who is deeply empathetic and caring. She is also plagued by anxiety and is struggling to assert her power within her royal family. Other noteworthy characters include Dimitri Belikov, Rose's mentor and love interest, who is a skilled and deadly guardian; Christian Ozera, a Moroi vampire who has been ostracized by his own kind due to his family's dark past; and Adrian Ivashkov, a spirit user and Moroi prince who is struggling with alcoholism and heartbreak. Throughout the series, each character has a unique personality, distinct motivations, and complex relationships with one another. The dynamics between the characters drive the plot forward and keep readers engaged. For instance, the relationship between Rose and Lissa is at the heart of the series, with Rose being Lissa's guardian and protector, and Lissa providing Rose with a sense of purpose and a reason to keep fighting. Meanwhile, Rose's complicated feelings for Dimitri and Christian add a layer of romance and drama to the story. The characters in Vampire Academy are not one-dimensional; they are flawed and multifaceted, making them feel more like real people than just fictional characters on a page. - Rose Hathaway - Lissa Dragomir - Dimitri Belikov - Christian Ozera - Adrian Ivashkov

Analysis

The Vampire Academy series is more than just a story of vampires and their guardians - it's also a richly layered narrative that explores themes of love, friendship, identity, and power. The series makes use of a variety of literary devices, including foreshadowing, metaphor, and allusion, to convey its complex themes and ideas. One of the most prominent themes in the Vampire Academy series is the idea of duty and sacrifice. As a guardian, Rose is willing to lay down her life to protect her charge, Lissa. This theme is illustrated through Rose's struggles with her own desires and ambitions, as well as her relationships with other characters who have different priorities. Another major theme in the series is the nature of power and how it is wielded. The vampire society is organized around a system of bloodlines, with some Moroi families holding more power and influence than others. Throughout the series, we see characters struggle with the consequences of that power dynamic, and how it affects both individuals and the larger society. The Vampire Academy series also makes use of rich symbolism, from the use of roses to represent love and protection, to the use of blood as a symbol for power and sacrifice. These symbols help to deepen the series' themes and add an extra layer of complexity to the story. the series makes use of a variety of literary devices, including foreshadowing, metaphor, and allusion, to convey its complex themes and ideas. The use of these devices helps to elevate the series beyond mere genre fiction and make it a truly memorable and thought-provoking read. the analysis of the themes, symbolism, and literary devices in the Vampire Academy series reveals a richly layered narrative that goes far beyond its genre trappings. The series is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ways in which stories can help us explore complex ideas and emotions.

Reviews

If you're wondering about the general consensus on the Vampire Academy series, look no further. In this section, we've collected reviews from both critics and fans to give you a better understanding of how the series is received. Many readers praise the series for its strong characters, particularly Rose Hathaway. They appreciate how she breaks away from typical female protagonist stereotypes and is portrayed as a flawed and dynamic individual. Other characters like Lissa Dragomir and Dimitri Belikov also have their own fan base, with many readers invested in their relationships with Rose. When it comes to the writing, opinions are a bit more split. Some find the writing style to be engaging and enjoy the banter between characters, while others label it as juvenile and cringe-worthy at times. Some critics have even referred to the series as "Twilight with fangs," while others believe it brings something fresh and unique to the vampire genre. As for the plot, readers tend to appreciate the action-packed nature of the series. It has plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged, with many noting that they were constantly surprised by the events that unfolded. However, others criticize the series for relying too heavily on tropes and cliches, particularly in the romance department. Ultimately, whether you'll enjoy the Vampire Academy series or not boils down to personal taste. While it has its flaws, many readers love the characters, the world-building, and the fast-paced plot. It's definitely worth giving a chance if you're a fan of YA paranormal fiction.

Details

The Vampire Academy universe is a rich and complex world filled with different vampire races, each with their own unique abilities and traits. In this section, we will explore the different vampire races and their roles in society. Race Abilities Traits Moroi Control of one of the four elemental powers (earth, air, fire, water) Must drink blood to survive; weakened by sunlight Dhampir Enhanced strength, agility, and senses Half-human, half-vampire; trained to protect the Moroi Strigoi Immortality, enhanced strength, speed, and senses Evil, bloodthirsty vampires who prey on Moroi and humans In the Vampire Academy universe, Moroi are the ruling vampire class, with Dhampirs serving as their guardians. Strigoi are seen as a threat to the entire vampire society and are hunted down and killed by guardians. The Moroi have a complicated social structure, with royal families and noble houses. They are also governed by a set of rules and traditions, such as the law that prohibits Moroi from using magic to harm other Moroi. Moroi are also required to attend school and learn to use their elemental powers. Dhampirs, on the other hand, are seen as inferior to Moroi and are often looked down upon by them. However, they play a vital role in protecting the Moroi from Strigoi attacks. Dhampirs are also trained in combat and self-defense. Strigoi, as mentioned earlier, are the most feared vampire race. They are turned from Moroi or humans by being bitten and drained of blood by another Strigoi. Strigoi are immortal and their powers are much stronger than those of Moroi or Dhampirs. They also have a weakness to silver, which can incapacitate them. the Vampire Academy universe is a fascinating world filled with different vampire races with their own unique abilities and traits. The rules and traditions that govern their society, as well as their complex relationships and power struggles, make for an intriguing read.

News

The Vampire Academy series has been a fan favorite since the first book was published in 2007. Fans have been waiting for updates and news on the series, and there have been a few exciting developments. Firstly, a movie adaptation of the first book was released in 2014, directed by Mark Waters and starring Zoey Deutch as Rose Hathaway. While it didn't receive critical acclaim, fans of the books still enjoyed seeing their favorite characters come to life on screen. More recently, it was announced that a TV series adaptation is in the works, produced by Peacock. The series will be a more faithful adaptation of the books, with author Richelle Mead serving as an executive producer. Aside from adaptations, there have also been rumors of a spin-off series focusing on side characters from Vampire Academy. While nothing has been confirmed, fans are excited at the possibility of delving deeper into the world of the series. In 2020, Richelle Mead announced on her website that she is currently working on a brand new series set in the same universe as Vampire Academy. The series will follow a new cast of characters and take place in a different part of the world, but will still feature familiar elements such as Moroi and Strigoi vampires. it's an exciting time to be a fan of the Vampire Academy series, with plenty of new adaptations and spin-offs in the works, as well as a brand new series from the author herself.

Ratings

If you're curious about how the Vampire Academy series measures up in terms of ratings and rankings, look no further than this section. The series has a dedicated fan base on several platforms, with Goodreads and Amazon being two of the most popular sites for book reviews and ratings. On Goodreads, the Vampire Academy series has an overall rating of 4.22 stars out of 5, based on over 500,000 ratings and more than 23,000 reviews. The highest-rated book in the series is Shadow Kiss, with a rating of 4.40 stars, while the lowest-rated book is Bloodlines, with a rating of 3.98 stars. Amazon also has a large number of reviews for the Vampire Academy series, with the first book alone having over 3,800 customer ratings. The series has an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon, with many reviewers praising the fast-paced plot, strong character development, and witty dialogue. In addition to these two sites, the Vampire Academy series has also been reviewed and rated on other book-related platforms, such as Barnes & Noble and Book Depository. While the ratings and rankings may differ slightly from site to site, it's clear that the series has a loyal following and continues to be popular with readers of all ages.

Book Notes

The Vampire Academy series is comprised of six books, each with a unique plot and character developments. Here is a summary of each book: The first book in the series introduces us to the main characters: Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir. Rose is training to become a guardian while Lissa is a Moroi vampire princess. The book follows Rose as she protects Lissa from the Strigoi, a violent and immortal breed of vampires. Along the way, they navigate their complicated feelings for each other and the dangers of the vampire world. In the second book, Rose and her friends travel to a ski resort for their winter break. However, they soon find themselves in the middle of a Strigoi attack. Along with the danger of the Strigoi, Rose must navigate her feelings for her mentor, Dimitri, and her friend, Adrian. In the third book, Rose continues her training as a guardian and begins to experience strange and eerie dreams. She also discovers a shocking secret about her mentor, Dimitri. Meanwhile, Lissa is dealing with her own struggles as she becomes a powerful member of the vampire court. In the fourth book, Rose sets out on a journey to find and kill Dimitri, who has turned into a Strigoi. Along the way, she is helped by a new friend, Sydney, and reunited with her old friend, Adrian. The book explores themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. The fifth book picks up where the fourth book left off, with Rose and her friends facing new dangers and challenges. She also begins to explore her feelings for Adrian and reconcile her feelings for Dimitri. Meanwhile, Lissa is making bold moves in the vampire court that threaten her safety. The final book in the series ties up all loose ends and brings the story to a satisfying conclusion. Rose is framed for murder and must clear her name, while facing her biggest enemy yet. The book explores the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of love. - Vampire Academy - Frostbite - Shadow Kiss - Blood Promise - Spirit Bound - Last Sacrifice Each book in the Vampire Academy series offers unique themes, plot points, and character developments, making it a fulfilling read for fans of young adult, vampire, and fantasy literature. Read the full article

[agent-cupcake]

Thoughts on three hopes gameplay? I’m not super far into the demo but im not rlly vibing w/ it tbh

I've finished Azure Gleam and am mostly through Golden Wildfire so my opinion is incomplete but I like it so far! It's fairly typical Warriors gameplay as far as I understand, although I've never been invested in any other Warriors games outside of spectating because I am, in fact, a phony. All of my opinions thus far are, of course, subject to change and probably bad. It's just a demo, so everything could immediately change.

As far as pros, the limited number of sword users makes a big difference, and incorporating a functional weapons triangle is fun considering how lackluster that was in Three Houses. I enjoy being able to strategize by directing other units while also getting the satisfaction of dumb, button mashy mass slaughter. I'm not particularly good at combo based combat but playing on normal difficulty hasn't been punishing, although since there's not much variety and the units are all fairly simple that could change because I am, in fact, terrible at video games. If things get too rough for my pathetic skills, there's always easy mode. Dimitri and Felix have been my favorite to play as so far. Dimitri because he's a beast and I love that they used his crit attacks where he's just a hulking kingly meteor and Felix because his edgy dodge/speed ability making him Fast As Fuck Boi is satisfying.

As far as cons, my most immediate complaint is the tutorial. I understand that a lot of the information is important but big text dumps seem like a messy way to communicate things. The horse combat is about as lame, both in gameplay and stat-wise, as I thought it would be based on Three Houses+other Warriors games so I'll probably just run Sylvain with an axe to make him usable. I'm not fond of playing as an archer, but Claude is fun because he's on a wyvern. I think I still like the melee units more. Buuuut, they also require a bit less of the player so that could just be my lackluster skills. This will (probably) change as classes advance, but the lack of unique animations is a bit disappointing. It was the same in Three Houses though, so I guess it could go either way. It's tough to say on a lot of these things though because it's just a demo and my opinion is far from reliable because I don't play games like this.

As for the other section of gameplay, I like the camp. I truly dislike the monastery in Three Houses. Although it's fun at first, going through it at least once a month exposes the flaws, namely how unfinished and pointless it all is. As far as I understand, it was an idea of Insys that they had to bring Koei Tecmo in to finish, so seeing the changes makes me think that maybe they thought it wasn't a stellar idea either? I don't think they got it to function the way it was imagined. BUT that's just conjecture. Either way, I think the fishing is tedious, the gardening is mid, and most of the tasks feel like they would function just as well if you selected them through a menu instead of having to run around this visually uninteresting map of nothing. Although the camp is doing the same thing, I appreciate the more thoughtful training, smaller scale, and design elements. At face value, I find it more visually interesting and it takes far less time to navigate. AND it serves a more grounded purpose. For a game about a military campaign spanning three countries, the fact that your units return to the monastery every month is laughable. It chugs like a mf, but I haven't noticed much of that during the combat gameplay sections so I don't mind that much.

Anyway, yeah, I like the gameplay quite a bit right now. I'm looking forward to getting more interesting combos and maps and seeing what they're going to do with it. I'm sure you're sorry for asking now, but there ya go.

[msbluebell]

I see plenty of posts about Blue Lions eagerly waiting for the Dimileth shoe to drop. But I raise you this: Friendly Neighborhood Shipper Gatekeeper.

That’s right, our friend the Friendly Gatekeeper is the ultimate Dimileth shipper.

Gatekeeper learned early on how to read Byleth’s stoic face, and has been able to tell even the tiniest details in their mood, I’m talking “Oh no! Professor’s eyebrows are .02% lower than before! The Professor must be super upset about something!”

Gatekeeper is a Byleth savant! He speaks Byleth and is the a professional Byleth translator. He got his degree in five minutes because that’s all it took after meeting Byleth for him to decide that they’re obviously #BFFs5Ever

So OF COURSE he’s going to notice if the Professor is slowly catching feelings for anyone. He probably realizes even before Byleth and he doesn’t have even half the context. But, *gasp*, it’s forbidden. A teacher and their student? Oh noooooo, it was never meant to BE! 

Note he probably doesn’t even know WHO Byleth has feelings for because he never leaves that dumb gate. He just knows that his bestest friend is going through FORBIDDEN LOVE! (He refuses to believe they’re in love with someone in faculty because he would have heard rumors by now).

This is cause for drastic action!

Gatekeeper takes a day off.

Yes! A day off from guarding the gate!

This is a matter of life and death! His best friend needs him Goddess damn it all! He needs to do reconnaissance! For the professor! He needs to find the fiend that stole their heart and find a flaw in them so Byleth can move on!

Note that Byleth doesn’t even realize they’re catching feelings yet.

So Gatekeeper spends the whole day spying, looking for the despicable scum that wooed their best friend with their willy willy seductive ways. He’s stalking the professor the whole day and being totally obvious about it. Sorry Gatekeeper, everyone knows you’re hiding behind that bush. Byleth is just a good friend and not letting anyone call you out.

The Blue Lions all think the Gatekeeper is stalking Byleth. Felix offers to duel him. Ingrid just advises that Byleth report him to Seteth. Byleth, knowing that’s their bro, just tells the students it’s no concern and goes to see what the heck is going on. To which Gatekeeper, caught, does the only thing a man in his position can do and bursts out the whole truth through his tears. Bawling about how he knows about this seductive seducer that been trying to claim their heart with their fiendish ways, and how he was worried, and he wanted to make sure nothing happened to the professor because it’s his duty as their BFF to make sure that their heart remains unbroken.

The Blue Lions are...flabbergasted to say the least.

Then it’s full on panic mode because WHAT? What seductive seducer? Who is trying to steal Byleth’s heart?

And Gatekeeper is all like, “That’s what I was trying to find out!”

And now Gatekeeper has a class of baby lions basically spun into a panic thinking that there’s another Sylvain going around trying to seduce Byleth, only they’re a fiend out to purposely break their heart or something.

They’re pretty livid about the idea.

Gatekeeper is escorted out of the class by a mildly confused Byleth who promises to spend the day “mending their broken heart” with the Gatekeeper, leaving behind a very confused class, a Sylvain who wants to snoop because “what the fuck”, and a mildly jealous Dimitri. The incident isn’t forgotten, per se, but it’s brushed off.

Cut to five years later.

By now Gatekeeper is much more protective of their friend, what with them having gone missing for five years. But he’s still able to read them like a book, and it’s only gotten easier with time and their growing emotions. 

So it’s pretty easy to tell they’re head over heels.

He just doesn’t know with who.

But his friend is SAD.

SAD!

Who would dare make them SAD!!!!!!?!?!

It’s sin!

Be can’t take a day off to stop guarding like he used to, but he dang well keeps an eye open! He’s got them peeled, he’s watching everyone, he’s going to catch this fiendish fiend!

But whoever it is never shows up at the front gate with the professor. He just can’t seem to find them in the same room with them any other time either. And the professor is getting sadder and sadder, and even everything going well and having nothing to report is making them happy. 

So Gatekeeper does the only thing he can.

He takes it upon himself to find someone else for the professor!

Now, love doesn’t just go away. It’s going to take some time to mend a broken heart, plant some seeds of romance, but he’s going to do it! In the name of friendship!

So he goes to the one person he thinks is as much Byleth’s friend as he is.

The Prince!

The professor spends a lot of time with him! And they’re always talking about them, and...and...

Oh.

Wow.

Gatekeeper is floored. Now it all makes sense! So much sense! The prince had been grumpy for months before that whole thing where he got better! Professor was always mentioning him! And..and..

Interrogation time!

So Gatekeeper, not a strong or powerful man, but filled with enough determination to fuel a Smash Competition, marches up to the Prince of Faerghus and just stares at him.

Poor Dimitri is so confused. He’s wondering what he did to piss off this guy, and if he accidentally killed his brother or something. He’s already moving to apologize, but Gatekeeper is already on him. Demanding to know his favorite foods, and color, and what does he finds romantic, and how he feels about dogs.

Dimitri is so fucking tired.

He’s so confused, but he just rolls with it because he’s newly on the atonement train and doesn’t wanna be an asshole, and figures this is just someone’s weird way of making sure he wasn’t going to kill everyone in the room and then himself.

Wanting to know his ideal date is strange though.

The convo actually takes a surprisingly heartwarming turn soon after though, when both men end up talking about Byleth and how much they mean to the both of them. Gatekeeper goes on about how Byleth is his best friend, and makes days guarding the gate seem like the most important job in the world, and Dimitri goes on about how without Byleth he’d still be lost. And suddenly they’re bonding over small things too, like chamomile tea, and lances, and fond memories they have of Garreg Mach. And, suddenly, Dimitri and Gatekeeper both have a new friend.

And Gatekeeper, after so long of Byleth friendship, has learned to notice when people are #Feeling and not noticing, and it’s pretty easy by the way Dimitri smiles when he says the professor’s name, and how he looks when he talks about them, and that tiny tiny smile that he’s pretty head over heels himself.

Gatekeeper quickly goes from over protective friend to rabid shipping fangirl watching their OTP on the fast track to becoming canon. He might squeal a bit when he gets back to his bunk that night. Every second of his life the next day is consumed by the mighty need to watch these two get married yesterday please.

His poor shipping heart can’t take it.

His eyes are on them whenever they walk by. He has to physically refrain from dying and mentioning how much they should kiss. He’s dying. Someone help this man.

He cries when they announce their engagement. 

He gets to guard the wedding.

[isuzukuretsuki]

me before playing blue lions: haha I’m not like ~other girls~ I don’t like Dimitri and I think he’s boring and basic.

me after playing blue lions: I will die for Dimitri.

I finally finished Azure Moon!! Can’t believe it took me 4 damn months to finish this route. Just like with Crimson Flower, I decided to do a very long write up of my thoughts of this route after letting my thoughts marinate for a bit. There will be spoilers for both Azure Moon and Crimson Flower. Also disclaimer: these are just my personal opinions.

Tldr: this route was so fucking good!!!! I jumped ship from being team Edie/BE to team Dimitri/BL faster than Sylvain jumps girlfriends because I enjoyed this route more than Crimson Flower in almost every way possible. The Blue Lions are my KIDS and I will die for each and every one of them. Blue Lions may not be my first route/house, but this is where my heart rightfully lies. 

I guess the first thing I should get out of the way are the negatives. While this isn’t really a complaint about AM specifically and more so the narrative over the entire game... the conflict between Edelgard and Dimitri seems really stupid and contrived. In other games, war happens because the villain is evil. In this game, war happens because the villain is fucking stupid. Basically, I still ain’t convinced that Edelgard’s war was ever necessary LMAO. She straight up nuked the church’s authority and relevancy out of orbit the chapter before the time skip, so she technically already accomplished her goal; why she still feels the need to go on a savage conquest alludes me. 

Speaking of nuking the church’s relevancy out of orbit, that’s exactly what happened to Rhea LOL. Despite all the church goons clamoring every .5 seconds about how they gotta save Rhea, we literally never see her again at all after the time skip, even at the end of the game. It makes no sense why Edelgard would keep Rhea imprisoned and not kill her, especially when Rhea seemingly served no greater purpose to Edelgard and became completely irrelevant in the war phase.

Edie says some mumbo jumbo of “I weighed the victims of this war against the victims of the world and I deem that there will be less victims of war” like bitch, how??? How do you tangibly quantify “victims of this world”. If she means “people who had a shitty life because of shitty society”, then those people are always going to exist because every society has its flaws. Even if you change society, you aren’t decreasing that number because you’re only solving problems by creating new ones (Edelgard’s specialty). Also the mental gymnastics you have to do to be tortured by an evil organization only to team up with said evil organization to take down another organization that, unless I missed something, isn’t even directly responsible for the death of all your siblings??? In both CF and AM, Edelgard comes off as incredibly thoughtless and illogical in her actions and I can’t help but feel that if she had been just a little bit more diplomatic, then maybe, just maybe, she could have found a better solution without starting a bloody war.

This brings me to the god forsaken chat between Edelgard and Dimitri. Dimitri demanding to know why Edelgard started the war only for her to go “it was the only way” has about the same narrative weight as “Riku why did you become one with the darkness?!” “Because I’m the worst”. Instead of bitching about whose ~ideals~ are better, how about y’all sit down and actually discuss what each person wants to accomplish and maybe figure out a way to accomplish these goals without murdering each other over it? Not that I think Edelgard would accept anything BUT murder, but jesus, this is why you don’t leave diplomatic matters to actual children.

Speaking of why you don’t leave diplomatic matters to children, god that Gronder battle. I get that it’s supposed to be an epic showdown between the three houses that mirrored the mock battle pre time skip but... the Kingdom had literally NO reason to fight the Alliance!!! The reasons they provided to justify why the Kingdom and Alliance couldn’t team up at Gronder was so fucking dumb, especially when two chapters down the line, Claude is knocking at our door begging for help. I will say tho, I never knew how much I appreciated himbo in distress Claude until now lmao.

Rodrigue's death was also really poorly done imo. As much as I liked having Dimitri’s father figure be the one to snap him out of his insanity, (I love found father/son relationships...) how on earth are you guys so fucking incompetent that you let this tiny little girl kill Rodrigue??? It doesn’t help that the exact same thing happened with Jeralt and Monica. This... just ain’t it, chief. 

I think the biggest bone I have to pick at AM specifically is... so what the fuck is the truth behind the Tragedy of Duscur LMAO??? They literally blue balled me by dropping the bomb of “Dimitri’s step mom may have conspired in it” ONLY TO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT. I assume that the full truth behind the Duscur tragedy will probably be revealed in VW (I hope) because it involves the slithers but it’s highkey ridiculous that the BL goons... never actually find out what really happened, and why. And I get that the story is about them moving on from their trauma and the past, but they should have at least figured out the actual truth behind it so they can get the closure they deserve???

Despite the gripes I have with some of the writing, unless VW or SS is mind blowingly amazing, this route will easily stand as the best route for me, because.... it is kind of is mind blowingly amazing. I wholeheartedly love character driven stories, and this route absolutely delivers in that respect-- the character writing is amazing and is essentially the heart of this story. To think Dimitri and the Blue Lions were the lord/house I was least interested in at first. Even after hearing people talk about what the BL goons and Dimitri’s character arc was roughly about, I was still blown away by just how damn fucking good it was, and this route exceeded my expectations in every way possible. 

When playing CF, I struggled to connect with a lot of the beagles; I didn’t have that problem at all with the BL goons and the route does a phenomenal job at making me actually give a shit about these characters and their problems. Childhood friend squad (+Marianne and Ashe) are easily my favourite characters in this game by a landslide, and the dynamic between not only the childhood friend squad, but all the BL goons, was just so, so amazing. Watching these characters that are seemingly joined by a single tragedy, rise above all their suffering as they grow, heal, and overcome hardship together is just so... MY KIDS... MY HEART..... I really got the sense of not only their shared pain, but also shared intimacy, care, and friendship. Their support conversations with each other had everything; from goofy and fun, to soothing and nurturing, to painful and harrowing. 

The connections that the BL goons have to the pre time skip missions gave part 1 story so much more meaning, and it only gets better after the time skip. I really appreciate that the BL bean boys actually feel relevant to the main story, and that their input and opinions actually mattered. The cast’s struggle to come to a consensus on the best course of action during the war phase made them feel like actual people with opinions, unlike in CF, where everyone was just a mindless passenger to Edie’s not so merry joyride. This also made Dimitri’s arc way more impactful because the narrative actually holds him accountable for the consequences that his behavior/poor decisions had on others. What I also really liked about the war phase is that you could just feel how war torn the kingdom was and how much everything went to shit after the time skip. I felt really strongly to the characters’ sense of hopelessness at fighting a losing battle as they struggled to keep their home land in tact while everything just kept spiraling out of control and deteriorating further. 

So to see the BL goon beans slowly, one battle at a time, turn the tide of the war and push back against the corner they were backed in, was SO fulfilling and rewarding. The battle of Fhirdiad is probably my favourite battle in the entire game because it felt like all the suffering and toiling that the BL goons went through was finally worth it, and just watching the kingdom slowly heal after being liberated was just such a good feeling. This kind of payoff is something I think CF sorely lacked, since tbh, I struggled to celebrate Edie’s victories with her. Though I do appreciate how Edie’s a much more threatening antagonistic force than either Dimitri or Rhea were in CF too bad Edelgard’s boss battle was pathetically easy and Dimitri shredded through her armor like swiss cheese... at least Rhea put up a slightly challenging fight.

I could gush about the characters all day, but Dimitri? He makes this game, 100%. This truly felt like his story and he was the star of this route. On a superficial level, I’m a basic bitch as well as a slut for angsty boys who have trouble talking about their trauma because I want them to rail me. I fucking loved his feral personality it was just so fun to watch and interact with LMAO 10/10 would let him use me until the flesh falls from my bones. His dialogue in this state is just so demeaning, belittling and raw that it somehow comes a full circle and becomes charming I promise I’m not a sick masochist.

I’m also a degenerate and dimileth is my otp. The way the relationship between Dimitri and Byleth develops over the game truly felt like a bond forged over time. The way Dimitri admits that he couldn’t trust Byleth at first because he was put off by the way they could “kill without batting an eye”, to being so elated when he sees them smile for the first time that he’s completely mesmerized when they starts expressing emotion... oof, talk about otp material. I think what really sold me is the way he’s their anchor after Jeralt’s death; their emotional support both in a traditional sense, but also in a darker sense when he declares he will kill anyone so they desire it because their enemies are his enemies. Character A declaring they’d die for character B? Soft shit. Character A declaring they’d kill for character B? A+ romance right there, boys. 

On a non superficial level, Dimitri’s character arc of his fall from grace and subsequent redemption was absolutely phenomenal. Just seeing how far he sinks, how far he goes, only to see how far he climbs his way back up after hitting rock bottom, was such a roller coaster and I loved every minute of it. I also probably like revenge stories more than I care to admit. Dimitri has everything; blood lust, cruelty, obsession, but also empathy and compassion so extreme that it’s his very own innate kindness that drives him into insanity, which is what makes him such a compelling character in my eyes. The extremity of his psychosis was absolutely heart breaking, but despite everything, him making the conscious decision to change for the better and rise up to fulfill his role as king was just astounding to watch. 

I will say though... maybe I have a screwed up moral compass but tbh Dimitri brutally killing imperial soldires didn’t really upset me because... this is war??? That he didn’t even start?? Everyone is killing everyone??? Even if he never went feral, he’d still be killing because his bloody kingdom is being invaded?????? But I digress.

While I think just how damn avoidable everything was kind of detracts from the tragedy of his relationship with Edelgard, I still really loved how steadfast and unconditional his love for her was (after he stops going feral), and you can tell just how much she meant to him every time he spoke of her. I also love how the dagger kind of becomes a symbolic motif throughout the story, and Edie throwing the dagger at him in the final cutscene as a sign of her wholehearted rejection of him was just fucking depressing, but also very fitting of her character. 

I adore the whole overarching narrative and themes surrounding grief and death, befitting of a war game. How, as tempting as it is to constantly keep the memory of the dead alive, there comes a point where you have to move on and not let your life be ruled by those no longer around. The way that the characters react to the death of loved ones and grieve so differently was a huge highlight of the BL squad’s characterizations, which just makes them feel more alive and human. Honestly, no words can really describe just how incredible of an experience Azure Moon was.

Anyway my order from favourite to least favourite BL goon bean boys are: Dimitri > Ashe >/= Sylvain >/= Felix > Ingrid > Mercedes > Annette > Dedue. (I love Ashe/Sylvain/Felix almost equally LOL)

tldr my experience with Azure Moon:

tfw my second best girl is childhood friends with all the best boys in the entIRE GAME and she settles for a guy with a dead wife, daughter, and most likely triple her age :|.

I’ll be finally playing Golden Deer next, which I’m gonna do on NG+ Maddening so.... hope that goes well!!