#esteriki

[notmoreflippingelves]

@saemi-the-dreamer asked: Esteban: 2, 7, 18, 19 and 21? :D

As I mentioned in my initial reply to the ask, I made a separate post for Esteban, since--as will surprise no one--I really rambled on A LOT about him. And it wasn't fair to shove all my EsteRamblings into the same, much shorter post with Gabe.

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

Honestly, pretty much everything about Esteban's character journey in S3 makes me absolutely INSANE (in the best way). But I think the thing that makes me most feral of all is the moment when he falls into the crystal well. His sparkly new outfit and stupid hairdo. The fact that the narrative has visibly and thematically linked him via this shared experience with Elena for the entire rest of the show. The symbolism of him being given the power to run away (literally and metaphorically) from the problems that he has caused. The fact that the show will ultimately end with him not running away but instead running towards something (Elena, specifically to save her from the problem Esteban himself caused). It's just... they did all this to me, an English major, and expected me to be normal about it. The audacity.

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

I like it when Esteban is *included* in things. While I wouldn't say he gets as much focus as the four amigos or Isabel, he still does get a good bit of art and a reasonable amount of fic. And its honestly nice to have a blorbo who isn't just shamelessly ignored (*cough Jean Innocent *cough) or vilified to the point of OOC-ness (*cough Kristoph Gavin cough*) , or used almost exclusively as a plot device to facilitate the fandom preferred ship of which they are not part of (both of the others).

18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?

"Admire" is a weird way to put it as it makes it sound as though the dynamic is or should be aspirational/healthy. And I'm honestly having trouble coming up with one that fits that particularly description. I guess either Isabel or Francisco would be closest to meeting that description. But I don't really have too much to say about them right now.

So I am just going to go ahead and treat this question as "relationship that I find interesting and enjoy watching." And honestly, there is a LOT of them. Obviously his relationship with Elena is arguably the building block of the entire show and naturally, I love and cherish it with my entire heart. But I already ramble too much about it so I won't do so here.

I also find his history and complicated relationship with Victor fascinating. The two are clear foils of each other and very shippable ones too, and so my little English major brain/rare pair loving self gets a lot of mileage over the little that we see of them together. But we really only get a single episode of the two of them interacting. (Apart from a few moments in "The Magic Within" and Esteban being mentioned a few times in "The Lightning Warrior") so there's really only so much that I can say about them. And a lot of what I love about them is really just head canons/parts of my fic, so it could be totally ooc.)

Similarly, I think his dynamic with Dona Paloma is fun to watch and has a lot of interesting potential, but we really only scratch the surface of it. The narrative lets them be temporary allies or business rivals for the sake of a given episode's plot, but its rarely done in a way that adds something new or interesting to their relationship. (When Esteban + Paloma political shenanigans happen, its rarely used to advance either of their character developments and when it is, it's usually just Paloma's..as Esteban gets most of his development in other episodes).

So, I feel like I have to say that the most-interesting-and engaging Esteban relationship (apart from Elena) has to be Naomi. The two of them have a really interesting dynamic to watch and their relationship specifically (as opposed to just the two of them as individual characters) gets a good amount of direct focus. Whether Esteban is sniping at Naomi from across the Grand Council table, begrudgingly accepting her as a capable colleague by the end of "Finders Leapers," teaching her to waltz (in order to show up Paloma) in "My Fair Naomi" or clinging to her when Valentina's carriage goes out of control, the two of them don't just steal the scene but positively abscond with it in the most delightful way. Plus, I love the parallels of Naomi ending the show in Esteban's former position as Chancellor. (I like to headcanon that she's gonna end up seeking a lot of advice from him for her new role and may even recruit him as her number two. He has 41 years of valuable experience that it would be shame to waste).

19. How about a relationship they have in canon that you don't like?

This is hardly a surprising answer, but...I do not particularly care for his relationship with Luisa. Esteban was orphaned when he was 9 at most, so he barely remembers his mother. The closest thing to a mother that he does remember is the grandmother who raised him. He needed lots of love and validation and attention, and based on what we see in canon, Luisa didn't give him nearly enough. It took years for her to realize they'd left him out of her "favorite" family painting, the flashbacks in "Dias de las Madres" suggest that she was unaware of just how lonely and vulnerable baby!Esteban was even knowing that he had just lost his parents, she gives a pretty clear impression of Elena being her favorite grandchild ( even before Esteban's secret comes out) which I am sure did *wonders* on baby!Esteban's already fragile self-esteem, and in "Coronation Day," even after she knows that Esteban helped save the kingdom (including both her and Elena), she still side-eyes Elena when Elena says that she has forgiven Esteban. tfw you sacrifice your life for your cousin's (who is also your grandma's fave) and risk it again to banish the evil time spirit, but it's still not enough to earn a long-overdue hug from your granny.

21. If you're a fic writer and have written for this character, what's your favorite thing to do when you're writing for this character? What's something you don't like?

Give him very specific and sexual Shuriki-related trauma. I mean to be fair, it's not that I enjoy it so much. It's just there in my head and it happens even when I try to make fluffy and silly little plot bunnies. I would say my favorite thing that I actually enjoy doing and make an effort to do is just aggressively validate him and his feelings since he doesn't really get much of that in canon. I like having characters tell him how much he means to them, and I like for them to genuinely mean it. I like to tell him that he is capable of being loved (romantically and/or platonically ) and has the right to be loved. I like for people to recognize that he has been through so damn much and is still living with the scars that the Dark Times have left on his mind, heart, and soul. I like for other characters to come out and tell him that he's important to them, that he's fundamentally a good and worthy person even if a flawed one who lost his way for awhile, I like having characters tells him that they enjoy his company. And perhaps, most of all, I like having characters (especially Elena. but also Victor, Naomi, and probably anyone else) feel protective of him. To have them promise to take care of him and make sure that he never has to feel alone, forgotten, unloved, or helpless ever again. So basically, my favorite thing to do is aggressively project onto him and give him all the sorts of things I would want for myself as wish-fulfillment.

My least favorite thing that I sometimes see done in fic is when past (or present) Shuriki/Esteban is genuinely romanticized (as opposed to treated as inherently abusive/dubiously consensual). When their feelings are assumed to be mutual, genuine, healthy (if admittedly unconventional/unexpected), and redemptive. Particularly when Esteban tries to "save" Shuriki from Elena and/or "redeem" her from her prison cell, because he loves Shuriki/knows that she isn't really "all bad." Because no, in my view, Shuriki is far beyond any hope of redemption, and no one in Avalor would know that more than Esteban, who was forced to stay by her side and serve her for 41 years.

Now, I do think it's possible that Esteban may have developed a little bit of Stockholm syndrome towards Shuriki, based on the length of time they worked closely together, how utterly dependent on her that he had to be just in order to survive, and how desperate he's always been for just a little bit of attention/affection. But again this wouldn't be real, genuine love. At most, it would be physical attraction, and a conditioned learned dependency on her as a survival mechanism. And given the huge power imbalance between them, there's also this inevitable question of any physical and/or emotional relationship being built on a foundation of dubious consent and sexual harassment (at best).

Given that Shuriki does seem shocked and genuinely hurt when Esteban finally stands up to her in "Secret of Avalor," I think it's also possible that she did grow to care for him as much as she could possibly care for anyone. But I also think that the closest to "love" that it's possible for her to feel is casual affection (similar to what one might feel for a favorite toy) or possessive lust.

And um... so no, I do not think Shuriki is capable of love and even if she was, I don't think it would be possible for her to be rehabilitated by/through love. And even if she was, Esteban is the absolute last person I would want to do said rehabilitation work.

Shuriki personally murdered multiple members of Esteban's family, conquered and terrorized his country, and then made him do all the work of managing Avalor while giving him none of the credit. He was a stupid teenager when they met (and from what we can tell, she seems to have been at least 5-10 years older than him...possibly a lot more if she'd already started magically de-aging herself), . As such, she easily manipulated him by preying on his youth, insecurity, and naivety. (Honestly, they give me BIG "Edmund Pevensie and Jadis the White Witch" energy. Baby!Esteban was a bit older and presumably *a bit* smarter than Edmund, but still very naive and very vulnerable and therefore very susceptible to the corruptive powers of someone significantly older, crueler, and more powerful than he. )

So, it makes me super sad and uncomfy to think about Esteban wanting to be and being responsible for personally saving the life/ soul of the person who has corrupted and controlled every aspect of his life since he was 17-18. He deserves better than that. Even if I still like giving him extra trauma and having him wrestle with it.

[lieutenant-amuel]

Hi, guys! I'm done with my exams and I've got some free time, so as I promised, video requests are open!

General information:

1. I'll be accepting requests for one week (June 15 - June 22)

2. I accept EoA requests only, which means crossover requests (including Sofia the First) don't go.

3. I accept requests through my inbox (anonymous ones as well) only. Not under this post, not in reblogs, not in my other social media platforms. Please, consider it. It's difficult to keep track of requests when they're spread everywhere.

4. All characters, ships, and platonic relationships are accepted. However:

Characters: I won't accept requests, including the vast amount of characters (like jaquins, sirenas, etc videos). Please, choose one character or a specific dynamic between a few ones.

Ships:

Characters who never/barely interacted on screen. With my limited editing skills I just won't be able to make it happen.

Inappropriate ships like incest and pedophilia.

Esteriki as my only NOTP. Sorry about that.

5. Videos you can request:

AMV. A typical video edit, accompanied with a song or an instrumental music. If you have a song you want me to use, feel free to share it with me, and I'll make it happen! However, if you don't, it's not a big deal, as I'll choose an instrumental composition myself (or not, as you can suggest it yourself to make me get the mood of the video you want to see) and try to look it as fancy as possible.

Compilation. Just a collection of video clips united by the same theme (like my last video of Gabe and his parents scenes). It can be everything you want, excluding very vast ideas, like "every time the character X was on screen", especially if it applies to one of the mains. The video will long for hours in that case, and I don't think anyone would watch it.

Bonus!

Multilanguages. Since it's nearly impossible to find EoA songs in different languages (especially from season 3), in that occasion, I'm open for non-EoA requests as well, just keep it Dinsey-related.

6. Not necessarily, but letting me know you saw and liked your video would be highly appreciated :3

And that's it! If you have any questions and want to clarify anything, feel free to ask me! I hope we all will have a fun time together again!

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

After giving a lot of thought today. I'll prop will leave EOA as a whole for a while. I never really felt confortable in the fandom in the first place (not to mention I know I'll be remember for creating that one ship. I own to that and I don't regrets what my idiot teenager self did. I am laughing about it because I did not expect it to get known in the fandom when I made it. I thought it would be just for once but welp )

I just want to distantance myself for a while as maybe I'll make a reflection on my numerous problems wirh the series in a future. No, I actually do agree Shuriki needed to die. I just like exploring Alternative universes and I often yeeted the cannon to learn (I have ideas for a fully reverse universe, but just with a platonic relationship + my actor AU)

I'll still like and reblog my friends stuff, but for now I won't do anything related + afrer taking some Years away, I am a bit disturbed by some aspects of the fandom (which were also reasons why I didn't want to intermingle + I am sure I got blocked by so many people. I no longer care and I can understand. )

So thank you for reading this, and no this is not about Esteriki.

[aurorasilverthorne]

Hi! I’ve seen you around, but don’t know much about your blog besides your love for Shuriki and Esteriki;) Would you mind telling me more about your blog so I can get to know you better?

Well, my blog is mostly dedicated to Esteriki (Esteban x Shuriki). I post fanfics, theories, headcanons, and my general ideas/opinions about EoA. I also take Esteriki fanfic requests. They don't even have to be romantic. I'll write an Esteban & Shuriki story in any genre a requester asks for as long as their request appeals to me. I ship Victor Delgado x Doña Hortensia Paloma, Fiero x Chatana, and Ash Delgado x Duke Cristóbal as well. I will include Princess Isabel and the abuelos in my stories if an opportunity to do so presents itself. I'm on Deviantart, Archives of Our Own, Wattpad, and Fanfiction.net if you're interested in checking out some of my fanfics and EoA OCs.

[zoeology31]

for the ask meme elena of avalor

favorite female character: Elena! She is such a good protagonist

favorite male character: Esteban, because I still think about that finale

worst female character: Shuriki, easy. Ash is at least sympathetic, Shuriki is Colonialism Incarnate

worst male character: Hector lol

otp: hghhh I have. many years of feelings about Elena of Avalor ships, but honestly probably polyamigos now

brotp: Elena and Gabe, Elena and Mateo if I’m not in an Eleteo mood, Elena and Esteban

notp: Esteriki, every once in a while I am reminded of its existence and I hate it

[tenapricots]

24!

Hi anon, I’m assuming EoA for this one, but if you want this for another fandom, people feel free to send another ask!

(Also, before I say this, please note that this is just my opinion and other people can ship what they want. This is not meant as ship bashing.)

24. Biggest NOTP - Esteriki presented in a healthy way. While I can imagine this ship as a dysfunctional/unhealthy one, I just can’t see Esteban and Shuriki in a healthy relationship. She betrayed him and killed his family, and I don’t think they can get over this and be happy together. And just based on their interactions in Elena and the Secret of Avalor and the fact that Esteban left her on the same day Elena returned, I don’t imagine that they had a very good relationship.

[longliveninokuni]

001 | Send me a fandom and I will tell you my: Can you do the Elena of Avalor fandom?

Ah, but of course @princessgina88 . Let’s get started people.

Favorite character: Esteban, no question about it.

Least Favorite character: Shuriki, Victor, Carla, and Cristobal. Seriously, three of them make me want to strangle them.

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon): Uuuh, I can only come up with two. Esteomi, canon time preferred but I don’t mind the AU Young Esteomi, and FranciscoxLuisa.

Character I find most attractive: We all know Esteban is the smexiest man in Avalor, right? Possibly the entire Ever Realm?

Character I would marry: Don’t have one, I’m into Cats who are also Gods of Destruction.

Character I would be best friends with: Esteban and Naomi, those two would bicker while I would try to simmer them down…unless I want to have fun. 

a random thought: If Elena saw the fighting potential in Esteban, he’d be with her and her friends more. Unless he’s purposefully is hiding his skills to avoid going out.

An unpopular opinion: I don’t think I have one.

my canon OTP: FranciscoxLuisa, they are the only ship that is canon so far!

Non-canon OTP: Esteomi, preferably the canonical timeline.

most badass character: I want to say Esteban, but he’s only one in my fanfics. Naomi it is then!

pairing I am not a fan of: Esteriki. GET IT AWAY! IT’S SO TOXIC!!!!!!!!

character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): No one, everyone seemed pretty well written in my opinion, but I’m not one to judge.

favourite friendship: Esteban and Isabel of course, even though they have few moments together. Also Esteban and Naomi, bickering like there is no one else around them.

character I want to adopt or be adopted by: I want to be adopted by Esteban, just to prove that he can be a great father.

[heirs-of-avalor]

An updated version of Shurik an EoA Esteriki child from another AU I'm working on (same AU as Estefania).

Shurik belongs to me (Aurorasilverthorne). If you use him in fanart or fanfiction, please don't forget to give credit to his creator. Thank you.

[notmoreflippingelves]

EoA for ask meme

otp: *coughs* Elena/Esteban. sorry not sorry.Look if they didn't want me to be unhinged about them, they shouldn't have spent an entire season soulmate-coding them and then capping it off with a BATB homage.

favourite canon pairing: ymmv on how canon it is, but considering it was pretty strongly teased in the series finale, Julio/Doña Paloma. I do find Carla/Mateo pretty cute as well.

worst pairing ever: I wouldn't say any of the pairings for the show are bad. It's just a lot of them don't particularly interest me. I could say Elena/Mateo, because personally I find it overrrated and I'm already gonna talk about it later. But I am going to go with Esteban/Doña Paloma.

I did actually kind of ship it the first time I watched the show...right up until the episode where their AU selves got married. And even though the whole point of "to Queen or Not to Queen" is that everything is absurd and everyone is wildly out-of-character (especially the two of them), they just seemed so miserable together and I couldn't unsee it. I also find it kind of annoying that Paloma is treated as sort of the default "acceptable" Esteban shipping option for people who don't want to pair him with OCs. And just...it's fine and I understand why many people would feel uncomfortable shipping him with certain characters (even if I don't)...but like...Victor is also right there. And honestly, I'm able to get a lot of the same vibes that I initially liked about esteoma out of estevictor, esteban/naomi, gaberico, and Julio/ Paloma---plus just I find those dynamics are more interesting in general.

guilty pleasure pairing: It used to be estebalena, but now, I have much less shame over it. It helps that I really only see it happening in S3 or later and that I hc that Elena would be the much more dominant/instigating partner in the relationship. I mean I guess Shuriki/Esteban is the obvious answer. But it is worth noting that I don't like it when it's genuine/mutual/romantic. I only like esteriki in the noncon/dubcon "Shuriki abusing her power" sense. So my guilty pleasure ship is less Shuriki/Esteban and more "Esteban/severe Shuriki-related trauma that leads to extreme woobification." I want him sad and pretty and haunted by the Dark Times™ so that he can have allll the angst, whump and hurt/comfort.

a pairing you want to see more: Literally every ship that isn't just some permutation of the Four Amigos. There are so many great characters in this ship that can be paired in so many interesting ways, but they rarely get acknowledged. I think I am particularly baffled by the lack of m/m in this fandom, since it's like the complete opposite of every other fandom ever. There's a bit of Mateo/Gabe, but honestly, it's positively dwarfed by other pairings for the amigos. (Also I don't care about Mateo, lol). There's also a criminally small bit of Gabe/Rico, but there could be so much more.

But honestly, the ship that I am genuinely baffled isn't more popular and really really want to see more of is Victor/Esteban. Like it just seems like a no-brainer to me. It has so many tropes that people normally go feral over. Childhood friends to lovers? Enemies to Lovers? Foe yay? Mutual redemption arcs? There isn't even an age difference and Victor's marriage is all-but-over. So, what is stopping people? I've seen at most a handful of ambiguously romantic ship art and not a single fic. Where is it? Where is the estevictor? Give me the estevictor!

that pairing everyone likes but you’re like “lol no” : Elena/Mateo. I mean I get why it's so popular given the popularity and attractiveness of both characters. But personally, I just don't find them interesting. I feel they both have better chemistry and interesting potential with other characters than they do with each other. And its popularity within the fandom certainly doesn't help, as my little contrarian hipster brain turns its nose about 90% of fandom juggernaut pairings. Plus, I just don't care enough about Mateo to care about a ship with him. He's casually cute with Carla and I can see him with Gabe as well. But otherwise, nope. Don't like him enough to care who he's shipped with.

favorite non-romantic pair: There are a bunch of dynamics that I do ship sometimes (or more than sometimes) but I also love platonically. (Esteban & Elena, Elena & Naomi, Esteban & Naomi, Naomi & Gabe, Elena & Gabe, Elena & Valentina, Elena & Marisa, Chloe & Maliga, Cacahuate & Bobo, various permutations of "Team Isa"). But in terms of pairings that I only view platonically, either Victor & Carla or Isabel & Elena.

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

Why does Esteriki appeal to you?

Hey, anon! Thanks for asking!

Umm, why does Esteriki appeals to me?

I'll start with the fact that I was always inclined into the villain ships. I love me some good hero x villain ships, and it's mostly a plus if the villain happens to be a woman (As Shuriki's case xd) But, I don't think that's mostly the main reason why I love Esteriki.

I believe the fact that contributes the most is that they lived together for 41 years. My mind often likes to work around stories and the idea that Esteban was able to known Shuriki far better gives a lot to explore their relationship. I just find these two characters so interesting, and I loved to explore relationships that will never happen (It gives more variety and more potential). I'm just really invested in seeing different sides of the coin, and how there is more than meets the eye. (Plus I love the idea of these two annoying the heck off the other)

And also, because I'm into the trashy fire dumpster fire ships xd

I do understand why many find this ship gross and toxic (Can't blame them) Everyone sees things differently, and I'm okay with that. I can see where they are coming from, and that's okay with me.

Thanks for the ask, Anon. I think that's the first time someone asks me about Esteriki. I hope this answer was satisfying to you, and I hope you're having a great day <3

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

I drew some Esteriki basing on this Hamlet and Ophelia from the Movie Hamlet

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

Just draw one of my favorite moments from Equivalent exchange (It's an amazing Esteriki fic) by my friend Aurorasilvertorne.

Please check it out and give it some love if you are interested <3

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

Esteriki cat don't dance WIP

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

EOA Actor AU: Part 1

To realistic acting #1:

“ACTION!”

“I recognized that helpless expression! It’s the same one your parents had before I struck them down.” Shuriki said before her evil laugh. Elena tried to hold her tears.

“CUT! That was really good.”

“Oh my god,” Shuriki said as she gets off from the electric jaquin before embracing Elena.  “Are you okay? You like you are about to cry, I’m really sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Elena chuckled as she cleans her tears before embracing back Shuriki. “You almost fool me.” 

Flying on jaquin bloopers #1:

“Ow.” Elena rushed to help the blond who accidentally fell from the electric jaquin. “I think Skyler was moving way to fast for me.” 

The director turned to Pablo, who controls the jaquin. He covered himself in embarrassment as both actresses laugh in response and reassure him that everything was fine and he just had to be very careful. 

Awkward silences #1:

Manuel gets his trumpet and began to play. Naomi stared silently at him as the others turned to her. She forgot her line and didn’t seem to notice. Everyone silently stares at her as they figure out what to do. 

“You supposed to break the fourth wall, mija,” Luisa said as Naomi facepalms. Luisa gives her a comforting pat.

This is why you don’t run with long dresses and heels:

#1:

Naomi ran as she followed “Rita”. For her dismay, she accidentally stepped on her dress, thankfully she didn’t fall but had an awkward stop. 

“Are you okay?” Carla asked outside the set as Naomi nods. The costuming comes and helps her shortening her dress to avoid other accidents. “That was a close fall.”

“I think I’ll remove my heels for the next shot,” Naomi said glancing at her dress. 

#2:

“VADISIMA”

As the scene supposed to go, Elena and Naomi supposed to run and hide before Shuriki hit them. However, both were caught by their dress resulting in their immediate fall. Shuriki and Victor rushed to help them get up.

“We are okay,” Elena moaned of pain. “Just bad calculating.”

“Let’s take a break,” The director announced.

#3:

It was the scene where Shuriki and her team escaped from Elena. Everything was fine until Shurki’s heel stepped again her dress. She tried to stop her fall but it resulted in a painful fall. 

“My ankle,” She cried as the others helped her. Her husband entered the set and held her and place her on a chair. “I think I twisted my ankle.” Others rushed along with the first aid kit. 

“Can someone please bring some ice,” Esteban said as he massaged his wife's foot. 

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

Just random Esteriki thoughts

I believe this ship is mainly about Esteban knowing the true Shuriki and loving her. She has a horrible past behind her but she trusts and loves Esteban because he is a gentleman with her and stole her heart. And we have our misunderstood Shuriki or reformed Shuriki. 

I don’t know why others might think is manipulation of Esteban.

Srls we want healthy relationships too

Also, those who ship actually love Shuriki, kind of.

We still can’t get over his betrayal and her “death”

There are some other stories where is spiciness or broken hearts

the majority have their romantic side or both flirting in a sassy and dorky way 

I love their angst fics but also their cute secret romance or their married couple stories

[phantom-of-the-ruckus]

Esteriki short stories (3/7)

Esteban rose up hours before the sunrise. He couldn't sleep very well the last few days, his worries had driven him crazy. As his wife, now holding his third child, cuddle more to him he began to worry about his form of parental leading.

His first son Alacazar II Gabriel now was turning 6 and his first daughter Zara Valentina now had  4 years. They were young but they began to develop a quick mind of their own. Even though they still need him, Esteban already knew that soon they would do things on their own.

"Esteban, why are you just looking right to the nothing? It's the 3 of the morning." His thoughts were interrupted by his wife complaining.

"Ay, ay, ay, mi corazón." Esteban softly placed his lips on Shuriki's forehead. "I just woke up and begin to think about the children and our future child." He smiled at her belly.

"They're growing too fast." She sighed before turning to her husband and slowly kiss him. "In just a blink and they are now grown up adults. We must enjoy all we can with them."

"I know." he breathed before cuddling back with Shuriki."Caz keeps cleaning the newborn room and Zarita is making sure everything is comfortable, they are excited."

"Even more when our baby is born." Shuriki yawned before closing her eyes. "G' night, love."

"Good night." he kissed her head before getting back to sleep.