#one of them actively suicidal??

[akumanoken]

Pax Aeterna;; (FFX Verse)

Ayato is the second son of a wealthy family in Luca. Skilled in the bow, he never quite liked the expectations of his life and what was expected of him. He often retreated to himself, looking for a better purpose in life, so when he met Ann and Sue and heard of their pilgrimage @liroyalty he volunteered to serve as a guardian for them. He is 100% aware of the fate of summoners, and while Ann has determined herself to find a way to avoid it, he does not hold his breath. He may not believe in it, but he does believe in her.

Souji is a wandering swordsman, originally from Djose. As an orphan and ward of the church of Yevon, he had been tested for a summoner but was regarded unfit because of his temperament as a child. It was later shown that his talent was more in the sword, and so he has grown up as a very skilled warrior. Even so, the path of a guardian or summoner had always been on his mind, being able to bring meaning to his life, even if it meant his death. He thinks Ann's attempt to defeat Sin without anyone dying is incredible, and wants to be there to see it happen, or not happen. If it does happen, he will be pleased to be a part of it. If it does not happen and there must be a sacrifice, he is the first to put his hat in the ring.

[mirrorhouse]

"after what you've put me through here i deserve this" armand says about killing the crying, exhausted boy in his arms and it's not about a meal or cleaning up the mess, really, it's about how this boy's been brought to the edge of accepting death; he's right there, longing for it, and armand can give it. and while he gives it, he feels it too. armand has been drowning for centuries, but he keeps himself afloat this way, by tasting death and feeling just the smallest respite, chasing his victims' slowing heartbeats right down into the dark until he backs away at the last moment. "the comfort we all long for." the comfort armand longs for -- the end.

[xadnem]

Hey I don't want to sound like a conspiratorial dickbag but that plan of making the free national weather services cost money would somewhat impede the general public's awareness of climate change.

[dogboner]

personal growth is crazy because it seems like nothing has changed until you're crying because you don't want to die. you learn something about yourself that ten years ago would have actually killed you, and now you're thinking about what you can do to heal and make peace with it. nothing may have changed to you, but to the person you were however long ago, you are the "it gets better"

[yardsards]

living in america is literally just like. yeah i could probably benefit from inpatient mental health services but honestly the resulting medical bills would just make me want to kill myself even more

[milkyspine]

— no matter how hard you try, forgiveness isn't a death and you can't bury this while it's alive

[archduke-enver-gortash]

mmm essay about sally and kid gort in the tags (cw for child abuse, mentions of suicide, animal cruelty and a murder attempt. i always hope i don’t have to say this but just in case: i don’t excuse or condone any of her or gort’s behaviour at all.) this is literally not even touching upon everything i have to say because i hit the fucking tag limit lmao. NOBODY READ IT’S BAD BRAINSTORMING I JUST NEEDED TO GET IT OUT SOMEHOW

[cannibalmutual]

[sidesteppostinghours]

having a normal time this fine morning <- is making up an au for an au

[edandstede]

“stizzy” and “edizzy” this “steddyhands polycule” that i’m being violently sick on my shoes actually

[normalbrothers]

i know this is funny coming from me i but hate my family's lack of boundaries, sometimes one of them touches me and i'm just filled with incandescent rage

[soft-serve-soymilk]

and happy Valentine's day to the qp love of MY life @hungrydolphin91 the eternal angst lover and sweetest soul on the planet!!!!!

[felikatze]

Grima: One Guy In Two Trenchcoats

Let‘s establish: Is Robin possessed or not? Well, I argue…. no.

There‘s a huge difference between one character being controlled by another with no agency in their actions, and someone struggling against their own conflicting nature. Personally, the latter allows for much more depth on Grima‘s part, instead of „ohhh poor Robin :(„

On that question, Robin certainly believes they‘re the same being. Future Past Robin, that is.

Welcome, to Grima apologism hours, in which i do not repent, and overanalyze how my favorite maggot is Complex, actually.

Fire Emblem Awakening‘s Future Past DLC allows a glimpse into an alternate future destroyed by Grima, one extremely similar but ever so slightly different than the one Lucina hails from.

In the „bad end“ of the DLC, achieved if any of the future children (excluding Lucina) die before defeating Grima in Future Past 3, Grima and Lucina hold an extended conversation that gives us a lot of perspective on Grima.

Wherein before Grima shrouded his vessel in shadow, those shadows have lifted and Lucina comes to slowly recognize Robin. She asks if Robin can be saved somehow if Grima is defeated, and very much believes them to be distinct beings. At this moment of Grima‘s weakness, Robin can „shine through“ and speak their own desires without Grima‘s influence, or so it seems.

Robin disagrees.

Lucina: You‘re human, aren‘t you- a person, like us? Grima is using you to-

Grima: ...I am Grima! There is nothing human about me!

Lucina: …..

Grima: ...I have always been the fell dragon… since the day I was born…

There we have it, right from the horse‘s mouth.

Lucina is convinced she is talking to Robin, and I‘d agree. Compared to Grima‘s usual behaviour, Robin is much calmer, and speaks more rationally. In addition, their text is formatted different. Grima‘s speech is peppered with bold and bright red text to highlight his wrath, whereas Robin‘s speech features many ellipses, likely to punctuate their fading strength.

And yet, the speech associated with Robin „taking back control“ has them directly admit to being the fell dragon. Previously in this scene, Robin also blames themself for the harm brought to the world.

Grima: „… I snuffed out the very Voice of the divine dragon… and I just finished killing the friends you sent for the Gemstones…“

[...]

„Don‘t you hate me? I‘m the cause for all of this.“

Robin takes responsibility in the first person. If they were truly possessed in this instance, they‘d shift the blame to Grima, but they do not.

Even Naga acknowledges that it was the fell dragon that teleported Chrom and Robin from the main game to safety, an action we‘d associate with Robin thwarting Grima‘s control to keep their friends safe.

Go King get that Dissonance!

Naga: „Hm? The fell dragon returned you here… Is everything all right?“

What do I mean by „dissonance“? Well, I‘ve said that Robin admits they and Grima are one being. There are many points where Grima doesn‘t, however. And that‘s like, weird, right. I mean, Future Past Grima does this too, when I‘ve been using Future Past Robin as proof.

I think we all remember the famous “the man who owned this body” line.

But let‘s point out when Grima does this. To taunt others. In Future Past, Grima brings up Robin‘s love for Chrom to enrage Lucina, and in the maingame, it precedes the final battle, too, though more indirectly, as Grima asks Robin to “join them.” It solidifies Grima‘s appearance as the big bad who must be killed, all typical FE antagonist trash talk, really. Gets you rearing to kill this guy!

Which might be the point.

It‘s an oddity that Grima wants Robin to be remembered fondly. And it‘s a recurring one. Remember how Grima will differentiate between themself and Robin, but Robin won‘t?

On the final map, Grima offers Robin the chance to give themself up in exchange for the Shepherd‘s lives. No matter what you choose, battle commences regardless.

But….

If Robin refuses Grima:

Robin: Do you think me a fool? You'll kill them anyway!

Grima: ...Well, of COURSE I would. I only thought you might want to leave your comrades with a heroic, selfless image. ...But so be it. Leave them with the final memory that you were their undoing!

And if Robin accepts Grima:

Robin: First, let my friends go... You promised to spare them.

Grima: Oh come now, we both knew that was never going to happen... But I am not altogether cruel... I did spare you the pain of damning them openly.

Robin: You…

Grima: In truth, I simply don't understand why you care so deeply for the creatures... No matter. Your soul is mine now; you cannot escape. Your mind will descend into the shadow of my own!

„I only thought you might want to leave your comrades with a heroic, selfless image.“ Grima is offering for Robin to martyr themself, and for Grima to be the undisputed villain of this story. It‘s the same thing that happened with Morgan. Morgan doesn‘t remember Grima, only the kind and caring Robin.

This leads me to believe that Grima‘s theatrics, the whole „I am the breath of ruin and the wings of despair“-spiel, is a mask.

In Future Past, Grima knows they need to die. Future Past Grima basically admits to being suicidal. Just look at the bad ending!

Grima: ...Don't you hate me? ...I'm the cause of all of this... ...If it weren't for me, you would never have had to take up the sword... ...You and your loved ones would be living in peace... ...I am to blame for everything... ...You must destroy me, Lucina…

And furthermore… in the Future Past 3 good ending, before Lucina strikes the final blow, Grima turns into a green unit.

For just a second. And then they‘re dead.

Grima: ...At last...I can rest... ...No one else...will suffer... ...because of me... ...Thank...you... ...I hope your lives are...filled... ...with...joy... ...... ...... ...Morgan...please forgive me... ...I put you through...so...much... ...... ......

Grima, Robin, desperately wishes they weren‘t Grima. That Robin is all there was. They wish so badly that they could just stay with the Shepherds, with the people they love. And they love so much. They still love Chrom, they still love Morgan, but Grima needs to die for the world to be saved.

But if Grima makes themself into a big bad villain with no redeeming qualities, if Grima taunts and riles up, then maybe everyone will forget that they‘re Robin, too. And everyone can remember Robin fondly. Robin is the human part of Grima, and who they wish to be.

What does it mean for Grima to follow Lucina back in time? It's as Naga said; only Grima's own power can end him for good. If Robin never awakened, Grima's power would remain in the world, sealed inside the Dragon's Table for eternity, or perhaps, until another reincarnation of Grima came along. Instead, Grima takes that power onto himself (so Robin does not, cannot),with just enough left to end it all. Grima knows that he must die.

There are some very notable moments when Grima does call himself and Robin one. However, these moments have something in common; Grima is talking to Robin.

In Invisble Ties, this is most evident. 

???: I told you. I'm Robin. The Robin that murdered you and became the fell dragon, Grima. When this "Marth" of yours decided to come back in time...I came with her.

Grima is Robin, burdened by fate, weighed down by grief and madness and a lifetime of horrible choices.

Robin has become his own murderer. To be dead is better than to be Grima.

[arunneronthird]

"honestly one of the best dceu movies out there" is not the compliment u think it is

[amatres]

top wardens to kill in the ultimate sacrifice:

-Mahariel: they were always meant to die, the story opens with their death sentence. this year they had was just borrowed time. they'll see their fallen friend on the other side

-Surana/Amell: how could a child who grew up in an environment so entrenched in violations of their personal autonomy ever ask someone else sacrifice their own just for survival? there's no place in thedas that will accept a witch anyway

-Aeducan: tarnished honor and a home they can't return to, a family that tore itself apart for a throne not freely given in the end. how could you face the ancestors in any other way but by killing one of their greatest enemies?

[vpyre]

Me when I burn myself out on writing once again after promising another fic 🫠