jerusalemstraycat · 1 year ago
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Re: this post from a month ago, here is a short AU premise - I dub it the "Gee Simon, how come you get TWO crazy ladies obsessed with you?" AU. I'm not planning on making anything else for this, so I am releasing it into the wild for anyone to do as they will with it.
You can tell I kinda gave up on trying to imitate the classic AT style. It's so deceptively simple, but hurts my soul to draw!
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More stuff under the cut
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I feel like this AU should be Betty-centric rather than Simon-centric, because I think it would be more narratively compelling (not to mention funnier) to see Betty grapple with the ramifications of her actions and actually interact with the other characters, while Simon is having A Time in the background.
Other things to consider:
Marceline. Simon's back, but now she has to deal with a different loved one being lost to the Crown, and Betty not exactly living up to Simon's glowing descriptions from back in the war.
Political upheaval due to PB, the leader of one of the most powerful civilizations on the continent, suddenly cursed with insanity. Will she still rule, or be ousted?
The issues with Betty and Simon's relationship brought to light in a much uglier way than in the Fionna and Cake finale. Petrigrof divorce arc? :(
People conflicted about the disappearance of the Ice King. He was a nuisance, sure, but not as bad as he used to be, and was a familiar fixture of Ooo. Simon, on the other hand, is a prime example of how scary a clear-minded and perpetually pissed off ice magic user can be.
Normal Man is probably not happy about this turn of events.
Depending when in the timeline this takes place, there might be confounding factors such as Orgalorg, the King of Ooo, Patience St. Pim, and/or Finn's trip to Founders' Island to deal with.
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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 6 months ago
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Hello~ I don't know if someone has already ask this but I'll just ask anyway. What made you so interested in Jade? I'm not saying it's a bad thing or anything of the sort. I'm just very intrigued.
Also to feed into your J-word brain rot I present to you this, but picture Jade. Lol I saved this photo as hot damn Sebastain.
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Hello, hello!! ^^ I’ve made a post before that explains my interest in Jade, but if I’m being entirely honest 💦 it’s all over the place and difficult to read because of how often I go all caps and keyboard smashing. I’ll try to summarize my thoughts here in a way that’s more digestible and calm.
I love many of the little details about his face: the shape of his eyes, the curve of his mouth, how his brows are arched, etc. I also have a visceral, near animalistic urge to tug on that black bit of hair he has sprouting out...
His manner of dress also resonates with me! Jade is usually well covered and in formal attire, and I think that makes it more exciting on the instances when he dresses down (whether that be going without his gloves or choosing something more casual to wear).
His intelligence. I've always preferred characters who rely on their smarts over their strength to achieve their goals, and Jade fits the bill. One particular example is how his UM is limited in scope and usage, so he has to carefully plan and strategize about how and when he casts it. It's nice that Jade can also loosen up and use his cunning not necessarily for nefarious deeds, but just to tease others.
He plays support and he plays it well. I also have a tendency to like "helper" characters (butlers, bodyguards, knights, etc.), which is another archetype that Jade slots into. He is highly competent as a vice dorm leader, personal assistant, and right-hand man (eel?) to Azul. Plus, Jade knows when and how to play to his strengths (especially when it comes to deception and disarming others) and adapt to any situation he is placed in. Jade has even earned the approval of the notoriously hard to please Vil!
He keeps you guessing, and you'll still never even see it coming. I think it's interesting that he appears more docile than Floyd, yet Azul warns his peers that Jade is the more dangerous twin since Jade won't telegraph his schemes or bad moods (unlike Floyd). I 100% agree with Azul; not knowing what Jade has in store or when it will hit you is much scarier--but also much more thrilling in a way, haha...
Similar to the last point but much more specific; I love Love LOVE those moments when he's smiling while saying the most horrendous things (the infamous "what I'd do to anyone that betrays me" line lives rent free in my head). I also adore it when Jade is lying to your face and overacting (like when he pretends he got dust in his eye in book 4). He's so dramatic while lying his heart out, it makes me giggle.
Jade works with many of the tropes I like to go for when I want comfort. Househusband/domestic life stuff, butler looking after you, etc. I have a habit of overworking and forgetting to take care of my needs, so it's easier for me to remember if I pretend like Jade's the one doing the self-care for me.
I appreciate that he appreciates nature. I don't get to touch much grass (not that I don't go outside, it's that there isn't much grass in the area I live in)... so I get very excited whenever I get to just enjoy nature in its purest form, taking in that fresh air. It makes me feel like we're kindred spirits.
The duality of eel. Overall, I'd say that the reason I like Jade so much is because he can be many things which typically run contradictory to one another. I think that makes for a fun character that keeps me on my toes ^^
NOT YOU USING “J WORD” TOO… 💀 It’s spreading… just like a bunch of spores…
Aaaah, it’s Sebastian!! It’s been years and years since I read Black Butler (I think I stopped around the Blue Cult arc?). He’s still just as effortlessly elegant as I remember him being… I guess that’s par for the course for one hell of a butler, huh?
Here, lemme just… *crudely draws on him* THERE WE GO, THE J WORD SSR FOR AN EVENT WHERE WE VISIT THE LAND OF CRIMSON LONG :>
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Thank you for your question and the rot fuel 🥰
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antianakin · 1 month ago
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Do you happen to have links to all the fic rec posts you've done? I'm really enjoying going through them : )
They should all be under the tag "fic rec," so you can always just search for that tag on my blog and find every post where I've made fic recs or reblogged someone else's fic rec.
For the longer, more organized fic rec lists I've done on my own, you can search for the tag "antianakin fic rec series" on my blog and find the three that currently exist.
Please note that many of these will have overlapping recommendations.
Here's a list of fics for someone who asked for anti-Vader fics with the OT group.
Here is a post where I was complaining about Mandoclones and someone asked me if I had any fic recs for stories without any Mandoclone stuff.
Here is a list of fic recs for someone who asked for pro-Jedi recs dealing specifically with the Deception arc and Wrong Jedi arc from TCW.
Here is a short list for someone who asked for fics that were critical of Ahsoka.
Here is a list of recs for someone who asked for fics where Rex and/or Ahsoka realize Anakin's a bad general.
Here is a short list I did of Double Agent Cody fics.
Here is a review I did of one specific fic I really loved called Out With Lanterns (please note that the review does contain spoilers after the first three paragraphs or so).
Here is a review of sorts I did for a Bobadin fic.
Here is the first and second fic rec lists I made for specifically anti-Anakin fic recs.
Here is the Pro-Jedi Codywan fic rec list I did that started it all.
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thegreatzombieartisan · 2 months ago
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Since the beginning, Amazon has been gaslighting the audience about Galadriel and Sauron. It includes dropping hints that Sauron played Galadriel like a glockenspiel from day one in effort to infiltrate Eregion.
Now Amazon made it clear story incoherence is no obstacle to the story it wishes to tell. But it if they chose this route, it would break considerable believability. It works best that Sauron was still on his repentance shtick when he meets Galadriel.
Any ways, here’s my catastrophizing rant:
If Sauron played Galadriel, it’s kinda meh and predictable
As an Galadriel x Sauron enthusiast, I admit this complaint is largely self-serving. However, even if the pair were inarguably platonic, showing Sauron on the knife’s edge of repentance and darkness makes for a far more interesting character arc, mutual arc, and storyline. It gives us a glimpse of his personality beyond “Muahaha I’m eeevil and oh so cunning!”
If Sauron played Galadriel, why would he think a banished Elf would be his golden ticket?
Would you seek a referral from a friend who got fired at the job you want? Me neither because they lack the necessary social capital.
But that’s essentially what Sauron would be doing if he planned to use Galadriel to infuriate Eregion. After all, she told him that Gil-Galad and bestie Elrond conspired to banish her from ME. Pretty serious stuff.
How would Sauron know Galadriel didn’t burn bridges with Eregion? Is it believable that Celebrimbor, Lord of Eregion, wouldn’t know about her mutiny and banishment? He attended the High-King’s super secret “Elf lords only”-council meeting; and he rules the nearest Elven enclave to the occupied Southlands. It follows that over a millennium of war, Celebrimbor and Galadriel would have collaborated considerably to protect the realm. Her triumphs and follies would be known to him.
He should at least be surprised and skeptical about a banished commander showing up with yet more claims about Sauron. But since Galadriel enters the city without Celebrimbor batting an eye, it can only mean the showrunners didn’t consider the worldbuilding politics.
Therefore, to Amazon, if Sauron played Galadriel all along, she did have the social status for Sauron to exploit and infiltrate Eregion. And I suppose it couldn’t hurt his plans. But still…
If Sauron played Galadriel, wouldn’t it make him less cunning and powerful?
By accessing people’s minds and memory, RoP!Sauron can influence them into doing his bidding. Fair enough. Yet such a capability elicits unresolved questions on usage and potency. Therefore it’s reasonable to ask: if Sauron can mindfuck people, why does he need Galadriel to infiltrate Eregion? Why go on this nearly three month adventure with her, leaving so much left open to chance? Also couldn’t he even just mindfuck Celebrimbor from afar?
In lore, Sauron simply dons his fair Annatar form and rolls up to Eregion like, “Yo, I got gifts” then kikis with Celebrimbro and his crew. Tolkien tells us Sauron possesses great cunning and deceptiveness. By seizing control of Celebrimbor’s guild, even expelling Galadriel and Celeborn, we’re shown just how much.
So if RoP!Sauron needed a disgraced Elf and mind woo-woo to cozy up to Celebrimbor, it diminishes his prowess. And you know, c’mon, man. He’s Sauron.
If Sauron played Galadriel, pray tell— where is his repentance phase?
Tolkien explicitly said post-war Sauron was improving and even performing “fair works”. This is crucial because his second fell into darkness precipitates two other falls: the Elves (second one) and Numenor.
According to Adar, Sauron’s “repentance phase” included cruel experimentation on orcs in Forodwaith. Catholic or not, torturing sentient beings does not qualify as moral improvement. We would need to be shown a true repentance phase sometime before Sauron met Galadriel or it’s dishonest writing.
But since the showrunners don’t recognize the Harefoots as (inadvertently) evil for abandoning people to die over arbitrary reasons like a sprained ankle, it’s wholly possible they also consider Sauron’s torture of the orcs for Very Good Reasons as “fair works.”
But why does Sauron really torture the orcs? For Amazon to invent Adar with a revenge motive against him. But good writing could achieve this AND maintain Sauron’s repentance arc. So if Sauron played Galadriel, then Amazon fumbled over disordered morality or sacrificed a poignant lore arc in service to their own desires.
Hopefully I’m just catastrophizing. We shall see.
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fandom-friday · 9 months ago
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Hello! I just discovered your acc, love the idea and thought maybe I could drop some of my fav Star Wars fics!
These are just a few recs that I like (I hope sending multiple in at once is ok, if not, I may have overlooked that in the rules and I apologize!) :)
1.: "Even though you're gone, you're still all around" by super_heroine_addict on AO3 (1.5k), (https://archiveofourown.org/works/23242651) - Post-Order 66 Blyla oneshot where Bly tries to navigate through his grief and guilt. But sometimes he feels Aayla's presence? What's that about? How is he supposed to keep living now that she's gone? Is super angsty but what I love about it is how the author managed to make it hopeful towards the end!
2.: "Let me do it right" by TrickyTricky on AO3 (8.1k), (https://archiveofourown.org/works/16349063) - Just discovered this fic this week! A fix-it (kinda) of the (in-)famous Umbara arc in which Cody decides to go check out what the 501st under Krell is up to. His gut feeling turns out to be right and seeing our beloved Marshall Commander handle Krell like an absolute badass is fantastic!
3.: "Like Real People Do" by Witless_Clown on AO3 (1.8k), (https://archiveofourown.org/works/39326130) - Deals with the constant fear and abuse the clones have to suffer under the Kaminoans and the threat of decomissioning looming over their heads at all times. [CW! for Ableism (tagged) and I would also say that the Kaminoans' views def go into eugenics (For OP: idk if you allow stuff like this or if it's too triggering, if you don't want to post/share, I 100% understand!)] It does have a happy ending though!
4.: "A Way Out for Two" by kj_feybarn on AO3 (3k), (https://archiveofourown.org/works/46805752) - A Cad Bane/Obi-Wan fanfic [I hope that pairing is ok, I didn't see anything against it directly in the rules but I understand that it's a rarepair and might not be for everyone - again, OP, do what makes you comfortable! :) ] that deals with their allyship during the Hardeen/deception arc (and the romantic/sexual tension between them lmao) before going into Obi-Wan's life post-Order 66 where Cad Bane finds him on Tatooine with a strange offer (No smut, only a few ~implied~ things while flirting!)
Man, this is an ANGSTY list with a little bit of everything on it, and I love it! Blyla, Cody being a badass and then breaking my heart, and then a rare pair that I'd never considered but am also moderately onboard with. These are all gut punches in their own way, but you know, sometimes that's what we all crave. Thanks so much for sending them in!
(Also, if you ever are unsure about a submission, you can always DM me to ask questions!)
Participate in Fandom Friday to show your favorite creators from this week some love! :)
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fantasma-de-la-cueva · 9 months ago
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Guys, I know I had been posting a lot of IE stuff (bc I’m out of noragami stuff and I’m obsesed with magic soccer), but you know what? I’m still going to say this headcanon bc I started to write a fic:
I love to compare Gouenji (specially the Fifth Sector fase) with snakes. Why? Here are some reasons:
1) When he wants to be sneaky and hide or dissapear he just does and is hard to see him unless he wants to be seen (or caught off guard at certain points).
2) Despite what honosuto introducted (no hate, I will always love honosuto fiery boi) he is calm and collected, making me remind that in the chinese zodiac snakes are associated with calm, cold and calculating people. Also, snakes tend to be associated with cunning personalities and Gouenji, specially during the Go 1, had showed this with his hole plan of destroying Fifth from the inside (not only by starting the revolution, but with the ways he used to fuel it more and more, aka: investigating everything he could in the front row while keeping Daigo away from controlling soccer, confirming that Endo was, “indeed”, the person sent by Fifth to be Raimon’s coach, letting Tsurugi to play free soccer after sending him knowing that he would turn at some point, funding educational programs and managing to move a massive amount money behind Daigo’s back, offering stealthy mentorship to Raimon by allowing them to get stronger, putting the team against Teikoku to allow Endo and Kidou reunite and clean Teikoku from Fifth’s influence, therefore allowing the Revolution to have a safe space and all the mental gymnastics, lies, speeches and deceptions he was pulling over everyone inside the organization and Daigo himself to prevent them from investigating what was really happening).
3) Snakes are often represented as malicious in some cultures and stories, in others they are wise creatures that can act as mentors or helpers. Gouenji enters in the “helper” snake category. As a kid he helped the other players to resolve their problems; as adult he pressed on Raimon to make them stronger and resilent, taught Tsurugi the fire tornado and in anime taught Kurosaki the fire storm, raised multiple programs to teach kids to play soccer and prevent the collapse of Japan’s educational system, assisted Raimon during CS and thanks to him Earth could participate in the Grand Celesta Galaxy tournament.
4) Is said that snakes hold the poison and its antidote, that’s why they are related to medicine. Gouenji, during Fifth’s arc hold the poison that was corrupted soccer and had the antidote that was starting the revolution and prevent the collapse of educational system.
5) Snakes are often depicted as symbols of protection, we know how fierce protective Gouenji is, specially when is about people suffering in front of him, the people that matters to him the most and the sport he deeply loves.
6) Snakes are hated by a lot of people and tend to be reducted as nothing but a “dangerous” creatures and sometimes are seen as “evil” in a lot of stories and tales. During Go 1 Gouenji/Ishido is depicted as an intimidating, cruel man that feels pleasure in inflicting pain and terror on everyone and enjoys playing with the victims of his schemes, but the truth is that he is pretty tame compared to his coworkers, subordinates and boss (but we don’t forget how awful it was Tsurugi arrival to Raimon or ordering getting Tenma injuried). He uses the cold and ruthless mask because he has to in order to survive and make his plans work (and is shown that is painful for him to do so), but overall he isn’t as cruel as other characters tend to see him as he doesn’t want to destroy schools that dare to stand against Fifth Sector, he doesn’t like when people gets hurt because of soccer, he doesn’t show any resentment towards the idea of getting dethrowned, he enjoys to watch Raimon struggling in matches because he knows that those moments are what make the team stronge and he made his best to allow his team enjoy real soccer. The thing that makes him look “evil” is that due to his seriousness and determination to save soccer and keep control over Fifth he had resigned to play the bad guy and allowed the organization and its members to commit any crime they could. We know as viewers that is painful for him to be in that position and the characters close to him had shown concern and worriness about his well being because they know and understand his reasons to be like that, but the characters that don’t know are the ones that often trash-talk about how he is evil and doing everything he does for the sake of ambition and talk so much about how they want to make him pay, with very valid reasons. But while for the kids is normal and resonable that they wouldn’t question the adult characters didn’t cared to question or go deeper, thinking that he truly went evil until Endo appeared and investigated why his friend had, aparently, went nuts.
7) Discretion and the way snakes slither to move are often relationated concepts, so, why not?
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decepti-thots · 1 year ago
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☕️ actually been meaning to ask you about this for ages bc you've mentioned before you have thoughts abt it; cdrw having less fic about them then you might expect for a canon couple?
I think there are a few reasons!
One is that the CDRW arc in the comics is not the kind of romantic arc that tends to appeal most to fandom. A lot of ship fic is "getting together" fic, because that's a way to make the ship the built-in plot of the fic. It provides a ready made beginning, middle and end that is near-guaranteed to be satisfying to anyone invested in the ship. But CDRW are introduced as a long-established couple, and their story is tied much more strongly to the overarching plot of the comic than it is to conventional romance beats.
Two is that it's actually kind of hard to find an obvious canon gap to write a story in during the events of the comic. Their arc is really... jam packed? So many of the big emotional moments of it just play out on page, is the thing. By contrast, look at, say, Dratchet. There is so much room to play with there. Even with Cygate, there was a period during the comic being published where you had room to write ahead and pre-empt the actual resolution we got, during the downtime. CDRW doesn't have as many options there to do that, and I feel like it might seem a less obvious choice for someone looking to write A Romance Fic.
Three is something I realised after talking to folks about the ship, which is that anecdotally I have discovered that a lot of people like CDRW but find it harder than expected to get a grip on. Chromedome in particular seems to stump people; I've written a little bit before about how I think the structure of his arc in the comic winds up catching people off guard because of how it doesn't follow the expected emotional trajectory post-Overlord. And I think between that and the fact that he's a character who people sometimes struggle to get a handle on the interior motivations of, he can be hard for some people to really find the voice of apparently. And Rewind, too, is deceptively tricky, because he is actually a very weird character. His motivations are weird, his intensity is weird, I find a lot of people who haven't revisited the source material recently tend to misremember him as a much more straightforwardly tropey character than canon Rewind actually is. A lot of the CDRW stuff out there I have seen tends to do this to both of them actually, slot them into a kind of m/m ship template that they vaguely resemble on the surface but is totally inadequate once you start paying attention. (Cygate also got this.)
When you put all of this together, I think CDRW grabbed people as fic fodder a lot less. And there's the built in sense of "canon gave us everything" that comes from them getting so much focus that I think smooths over that absence so it doesn't really seem obvious in fandom, where they just tend to hang around in fic as a background pairing.
anyway. people. we should write more cdrw fic i think. they are Insane and there are actually a bunch of things the comic brushes over tbh. and the AU potential! oh my god, there are so many opportunities for weird plot divergences!!! i am guilty bc i have a halfwritten longfic that i never managed to wrangle fully in google docs that i am sheepishly avoiding eye contact with (but will one day return to i swear) (look i'm in Big Bang mode right now folks but one day)
Sidenote: I'd love to hear other people's perspective on that third point... do people have opinions on this? I am going off stuff from a while ago and I know there's been a bunch of folks doing rereads lately. How are we feeling about CD and Rewind as characters these days.
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rosalind-hawkins · 9 months ago
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Otogi with 1, 7 and 12?
Thank you for asking! Answers are for this post and I'm still taking asks if anyone else is interested! I've already answered one for Kaiba and would be happy to talk about my other faves. :)
I am going to call him Duke in this post if you don't mind. I'm dub trash and that's his name to me.
1. What Pokemon would you compare this character to? (may be replaced with "what Digimon" or other such monsters / critters if needed)
Ooof, this one was actually really hard! Duke is a pretty complex dude to me, and since there are no dice pokemon, there's no easy answer. The best source of inspiration would be his manga arc to see his core development, where his father was training him up to replace someone else and steal his destiny. As far as symbolism/themes surrounding him, we've got clowns, dice, ninjas, and revenge. I cannot for the life of me think of a single pokemon that really embodies who he is, either in terms of absolute pure canon OR the fleshed-out personality I've interpreted him into.
But what I can do is give you a pokemon team for him that captures some of the story and visual themes surrounding him: Greninja, Porygon, Mime Jr., Gimighoul, Yamask, Pawniard.
Greninja, Gimighoul, and Pawniard are included for the monsters he uses in DM and DDM. Mime Jr because he's literally the son of a clown and embraces a tiny bit of that aesthetic for himself. Porygon because he's a bit dicey-looking and his origins are pretty technical and scientific, something that I associate with Duke based on all the work that went into him creating DDM. Yamask because when he did approach Yugi and the gang at first (they approached him actually, but I digress), it was under false pretenses. Charm and deception are two sides of the same mask and this boy wears them both way too comfortably.
7. What might they appreciate as a gift from someone?
My answer for Kaiba on this one was long, so buckle in! With Kaiba's, I basically went through the different kinds of gifts that would be good for him and who would give them, so I'll do the same here, based off of the different ships/friendships I imagine for him.
Generally though, I think what Duke values in gifts is either the thought and effort that were put in (handmade stuff, or something basic but deeply meaningful) or the kind of gift that is activity-oriented (bro loves hanging out with his friends).
Ryou has a good few options. He's an artist and Duke has always been really supportive of that. He might make Duke some custom resin dice based on his Monster World characters, or custom resin dice earrings based on his Monster World characters. I think the best gift he would give Duke is a piece of art starring all their Monster World characters from the campaigns that Ryou runs, and the whole thing is set up like a fun movie posted. Duke would be so thrilled with it. He'd get that framed and insured and hang it where he'd get to show it off. In the end, it would be some work of art that integrates their shared interests/activities, which makes it especially personal.
Ishizu would, I think, give Duke a modern copy of the Ancient Egyptian game sennet, or maybe a different game that she might have grown up with. He enjoys a challenge and trying new things, and he would also appreciate that it's something personal from her life that she's trying to share with him. Plus, more games are more things to do with friends.
I think all of that could apply to Marik as well. I also think that Marik, as stylish as he is, might have a pretty good grasp on Duke's style and get him some accessories and new nail polish or makeup, stuff like that. (You can't tell me Duke doesn't wear makeup, just look at that eyeliner!)
Kaiba probably fumbles the first time he tries to give Duke a gift. Either it comes across as patronizing or too aggressive, or just somewhat off. Duke decides to take the time to explain that what he wants most from Kaiba is dedicated time with him, so planned vacation it is. Seto says he can take him anywhere in the world, and Duke doesn't care where they go, as long as he is the center of Kaiba's attention.
Hm, time for Joey. Now, here's the thing, I've got a few pretty different Joey's running around in my head, all at different levels of maturity, so bear with me. He might want to take him out to do something special or have dinner at a really nice restaurant—an experience instead of an object, and it's time spent together. When in doubt, or just as a backup, Joey will have some special intimacy planned as well, and that's consistent for whoever Joey is with.
12. What's a moment in canon regarding them that you feel is underappreciated?
Hnnnnnngg I just made a big long post recently with all my Duke Devlin propaganda, because honestly, I think most people do just see him as a pretty face, that guy who flirts with Serenity to piss off Tristan, and the guy who put Joey in a dog suit, and that's it, but he's so much more than that to me. I'll cover some little scenes here that I either think about a lot or that I think are generally forgotten until you go back and rewatch the show.
One moment I think about a lot is that two frames of him making stirfry in Season Four.
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I don't think you'd believe how much of my understanding of Duke derives from that moment? I think about it way too much. He stepped up to cook for his friends, he handles that frying pan with confidence, and from that I think I extrapolated a lot of my more domestic/mundane headcanons for him (like how he always makes sure his partner/s are well-fed and looking after themselves, and that he's generally a pretty responsible guy, keeps his affairs in order, all that jazz).
Another great moment is in the KC Grand Prix Arc when Joey and Tristan step in front of a TV camera and are making fools of themselves and Duke just steps between them and the camera, showing his good side and smirking. I don't think he even says anything, and it's great. It's just a casual "the camera loves me, and you idiots need to stop making yourselves look ridiculous." (Couldn't find a screenshot or gif of this moment, sadly.)
I think the first time we see him in the anime is this scene where he's in an office or apartment above his game store and is just watching Yugi pass by (with unnamed sycophant next to him). It's an almost creepy moment, honestly, and it's the kind of thing that makes me toy with the idea of a full-villain version of Duke.
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As far as the manga goes, I haven't read most of it (I got the first few volumes shortly before my recent move, and they're packed up somewhere still), but I know the gist of his manga arc. Yugioh is full of bad dads, and I think because his dad got cut out of the anime it's easy to forget that Duke's a member of the Domino Bad Dad Support Group as well.
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Anyways, I hope that's a satisfactory answer. I feel like that was pretty long-winded heh. 😅 Thanks again for asking! I do love talking about my boy Duke.
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pinkprimrose05 · 1 year ago
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Can you do the whole favorite thing about them, least favorite thing about them, favorite line, brOTP, OTP, nOTP, etc. for Yuya?
Warning: Long post, contains slight spoilers.
I am so very sorry for long this stayed in the box- but thanks a lot for the ask!
Favorite thing about them: Why must you make me choose. I can't. I can't do that. There's genuinely too many things to choose from.
...fine, I can do honorable mentions. One thing that piqued my interest in the tomato son all those years ago was how layered his persona can be... if you squint. Or if you're like me and relate to him on a spiritual level. You see, at the surface of his character, Yuuya's your average protag boy: fun-loving, good-natured and full of innocent hopes and dreams-
Except, that's not all there is to it. Not even at the very start of the story. We see from the get-go how he struggles with the weight of past events and his own doubts and insecurities -which only gets more and more prominent as the show goes on- all while holding onto his smiles in defiance against adversity, and trying to help others do the same as well. Personally, I still think that this is a deceptively simple yet very powerful message.
Least favorite thing about them: Ah, that's a question I can't quite answer. You see, there isn't anything specific I dislike about him, as much as there's stuff I dislike that happen to him- as in, to his character. Like the last stretch of the Xyz and Fusion arcs. Those parts did irreversible damage Yuuya's portrayal- so much so that even I, known for being more forgiving of the story's flaws than most, was shaking my head in denial through the first, second, and third watch. Lord help me when I reach them in the fourth.
Favorite line: Quoting myself from the Yuugo version of this post: would it be cheating the question if I said there's too many to count? Because it's still true. I know for a fact that I'll mention a line here and then find another one I prefer not a day later- that's how it is with the faves, I suppose. For the sake of not leaving this empty, though, here's one quote that stuck with me longer than most:
"The dueling I've had up until now isn't something I made alone. Because everyone was there, I was able to make it this far!"
brOTP: Yuugo!
...Saw that coming? Yes? No? Look, Yuuya's the protagonist so he naturally has a lot of interesting friendships, some established, some made over the course of the show... and a few entirely hypothetical, like this one. What can I say? I just think they'd go great together. Picture this: two idiots with half a braincell between them, who meet each other proper and instantly click. And get on like a house on fire from there. Seriously, they're so different yet similar in so many ways, and I think that'd lend itself to a great mutual underdtanding between the two- almost as if they have some kind of telepathetic link (hmmm). Putting them in one room for extended periods of time will either result in the most fun sort of chaos or in talks so deep they both end up bawling their eyes out in each other's arms.
They're friends. Besties. Brothers even.
OTP: Look, I'm a bonafide vanilla when it comes to romantic ships. Fruitshipping is my first and main OTP in all media of interest, and the threatre kiddos get a badge of honor for being one of a scant few pairs that got me extremely close to crying on more than 1 occasion. That's more than can be said for... *checks notes* ...99.8% of the characters I know!
nOTP: Hmm... there's none that come to mind, honestly. I don't mind seeing Yuuya paired with anyone, as long as the ship is not inherently inappropriate and/or isn't portrayed in any weird ways.
Random headcanon: Thanks to certain happenings towards the end of the plot, Yuuya ends up developing the unconscious habit of hoarding things precious to him. He'll go to sleep curled up in the middle of a nest of blankets and pillows, surrounded by all his favorite plushies, random trinkets and gifts from friends, and of course, his pendulum and card partners (thank god in-universe cards are stupidly sturdy). The first time Youko chances upon him in this state, deep in the peaceful bliss of slumber, she stealthily snaps a photo and- huh? No, you didn't hear a thing. "Cuteness overload can be heard from over a mile away?" Pfft, nonsense.
Unpopular opinion: No idea how unpopular this may be, but... I don't get the claims that Yuuya's not a good duelist?
Several people point out that he relies on Action cards to stall out a duel until he can turn it around, and conclude that as such, he's less skillful than most of his opponents. That take confuses me more than anything; after all, isn't it in the nature of the Action duel rule that one must make use of the card scattered around them? They're not just there for show, nor are they solely used for their effects. And besides, it's clear that Yuuya's particular brand of entertainment dueling places heavy emphasis on the dynamic aspect, which is why he's always running around the field and trying to make a spectacle out of every move. That doesn't diminish his skill in any way I can see- he's just more inclined to using resources outside those in his deck, thanks in part to needing more combo pieces than survivability cards by virtue of using Pendulums.
Song I associate with them: Assuming any song qualifies, I'd say it's Future Fighter; because it's literally Yuuya's (and Reiji's) very own personal song. It highlights core aspects of their personalities through the lyrics- and what do you know, our boy has a very nice singing voice too! It was one among many highlights from the back half of ARC-V S1 to me.
Favorite picture of them: Look, I just want to see him happy. I think he deserves to display genuine joy more often. And the more sparkles the episode budget allows, the better! So with that in mind, here's a few of my favorite pics of the boyo.
....oh, you thought I could pick only one?
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Bonus:
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thinkin-bout-milgram · 2 years ago
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HELLO MODS OF THINKING ABOUT MILGRAM ... what do you think about the new mv please infodump on me
Saturn's Thoughts - I love milgram so much for all their little details!!! Like at the very beginning we can know that the hand that flipped the hourglass was Mu's victim due to the shirt color?? (Admin Venus might start crying if you mention socks though) Also straight up, I want the worker bee dresses. They're so pretty?? And of course Admin Venus comes out with an immediate banger of a theory, Mercury has the most internet meme ever, and admin Neptune even came out of her hole to offer whatever the heck this is!!! And this shot?? Literally gives me goosebumps.
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(Also congrats on finishing your finals Galacticus!!!)
Venus’ Thoughts - I’m not going to go too far into info dumping because I already did a whole initial takes post (as Saturn so kindly linked), but I will say that I really liked this MV! It’s deceptively complex; even though the fact that Mu was a bully in the past was technically “new information,” they knew that the fanbase would already know/expect that. So, while they tell that story, they bring in the bee/chrysalis/butterfly metaphors, the hourglass flipping back and forth, the lyrics which seem so self-obsessed but still fearful at times, and, of course, the parallels with After Pain. The song itself is a solid banger, too! Plus, even though it feels to me like the verdict should be a super obvious guilty, I’m not sure about doing it. Unlike the first video, where (in my opinion) Mu was the victim but lacked charisma/likability, I think that in this video, she’s clearly the bully, but she’s much more likable/rootable. She has that hint of self doubt; rather than painting herself as a victim who’s done absolutely nothing wrong, she paints herself as the villain who worries that that’s exactly what she is. That’s much more compelling to me, and I’m glad that they took this more aware path forward with her.
Neptune’s Thoughts - It’s bug time! First off Venus idk how you continue to come up with such banger initial thoughts posts considering how few braincells we had last night but pop off. Anyways, I really liked the whole bug/queen bee concept and the continuation of the hourglass metaphor. I was confused about why she ate the green stuff at first but it makes sense for it to be royal jelly. The parts that stood out to me the most were her causally shoving the servant bee to their death and how she quickly transitions from a look of “what did I just do” after stabbing the victim to a maniacal happy look.
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Mercury’s Thoughts! - Hello loves! Mercury here with absolutely no comprehesable thoughts! Right when we were watching it at 2am, my brain first thought “Oh god not the Chimera Ant Arc AGAIN.” And then “lmao Queen Chrysalis looking ass” and finally “man Muu and Chloe Bourgeois are kinda similar lol.” OKOK onto actual thoughts! Muu’s frilly collar is absolutely supposed to look like a flower. TIME FOR MORE FLOWER ANALYSIS WOO!!! The closest one I can find is yellow hibiscus, specifically one that has the red veins like her collar. Like a lot of yellow flowers, yellow hibiscus represent friendship, joy and good luck. LMAO
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Another thing I noticed is after Muu “breaks” most of her servant bees, the three left are notably the ones with bright colored hair. By looking at their hair styles, they’re her friends from the picture in After Pain and the ones she was with on the rooftop in INMF. (kinda off topic, but all of Muu’s servant bees have small wings from the beginning, but Muu has a transformation at the end to get wings. Not exactly sure where I’m going with this tho??)
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Finally, both Muu and Haruka similarly have a shot of their victim flash super quickly at the end. I don’t think that’s coincidental that the two characters that are notably together in Milgram have a similar shot in their MVs.
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olderthannetfic · 2 years ago
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Maybe I missed something super obvious but as far as I’m aware Mardoll isn’t technically an anti? I may be wrong, it’s possible I missed something, I’ll admit to not being an avid follower of the drama or anything, but in the stuff of his I saw, it wasn’t typical anti fare. Most of the stuff I saw circulated of his was talking about tropes in a book that were transphobic/racist/ableist/etc, not like fictional actions that would be harmful in real life but the handling of subject material by the author, which I do think can actually be a problem (I read his extremely long thread on The Men, mostly, which was a book where trans people saw the summary and went this sounds transphobic, the author went noooo it’s not transphobic at all, read it for yourselves, and then Mardoll got an ARC and outlined that it was, indeed, transphobic, as well as a host of other issues. Im all in on separation between fiction and reality and the right to write whatever you want, but I also think it’s fair to point out when something is rooted in genuinely bigoted points of view, especially when it’s being positioned as progressive.) I actually disagree with a lot of shit he’s done and said in terms of stirring up shit and making claims online, but I hesitate to align myself with anyone that talks about a trans person being doxxed by kiwifarms as a positive as long as it’s a trans person we don’t like.
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Who said kiwifarms was good, ffs?
Aside from the name of his employer, the rest of the situation was blatantly obvious just from cultural knowledge. Mardoll talks like every other one of these clout-chasing, youth-clinging puritywankers who invariably turn out to have a lot more privilege than their audiences, and if you're Old, like me, you remember his name from Shakesville. The deceptiveness of his presentation on twitter and his approximate age are obvious just from that. The only reason I didn't say anything about him prior to all the kiwifarms wank is that I hadn't paid attention to him in years and had no reason to, not because I would have assumed anything more positive.
I wouldn't characterize Mardoll as a fandom anti, no. I'd characterize him as what's wrong with book twitter, just like his million clones who also post endless clickbait for clout.
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james-vi-stan-blog · 10 months ago
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Ok my personal response to The King’s Assassin. From the perspective of a layperson who is not in any form a historian, merely a fan of James VI/I. Edit I also fixed the author’s name in my post, I dunno HOW I messed that up, fever scrambled my branes.
I don’t hate the book, and it would be wildly arrogant of me to say “it’s bad! It’s inaccurate!” when I know like 5 things, have read a handful of books and have to scrape my meager knowledge outta JSTOR allowance and what my library has. And overall, I think it actually does a great job of introducing the different factions involved, the shifts in politics as they happen, and presenting loads and LOADS of interesting anecdotes in order of their occurrence. It’s highly readable and takes you on this rollicking adventure through a twisting and turning, but comprehensible narrative.
But… I think that’s its core problem. It’s a narrative. Woolley is telling a story from history, with themes and characters and surprise reveals. Woolley has a particular vision of George Villiers as a villain protagonist with an arc, and writes almost from a third person omniscient perspective. And I think this is to the book’s detriment. The full complexity of human beings, who can’t be boiled down to archetypes and who aren’t on coherent trajectories and don't have arcs, gets flattened.
It’s very, VERY credulous in general. Basically, any rumor that ever existed is included. All accounts are essentially trusted with no interrogation of political slant or provenance. As a James fan, I noticed the unquestioning use of Weldon and Eglisham in particular; since my knowledge is limited I can’t say what other questionable sources were used, but this review calls it out for heavily using an alleged hoax. The epilogue and “““proof””” of the poisoning is especially weird. (Leanda de Lisle's review talks about it. Listen to her, an actual historian who knows actual things, not me)
On the one hand, this maximally inclusive approach brings in all kinds of tales that an unfamiliar reader might not have heard of, giving the most colorful possible account. But I felt that mixing in the extremely dubious sources with the reliable ones, distinguishing them little in the text and using unnumbered endnotes, is really deceptive and misleads the reader about the certainty of the narrative Woolley favors.
As far as what this means for Mary & George… I mean. The book is a titillating account of lurid scandal. And we already knew the series is going to be a titillating account of lurid scandal. Expect the series based on a book that already incorporates fiction and wild speculation to become even more fictionalized and speculative for the sake of drawing in viewers who want to watch and thirst over while also judging bad people who do bad things.
But that’s what all historical dramas are like and have been like forever. Especially the general time period��the Tudors have gotten this treatment forever. Viewership and big bucks don’t come for “documentary with re-enactment”. And in general, people don’t find history worth watching unless there’s butts and boobies.
Sure, I’ll be disappointed if when the drama inserts loads of stuff that definitely never happened for sexXxyness. Yeah, I’ll be bummed out when it conforms to traditional depictions of historical figures that were codified by agenda-laden traditions. But this always happens. And you know, if a bare butt gets someone to watch who would otherwise have never known about the incredible queer drama that played out in the Jacobean court, who probably doesn’t even know Buckingham from the Three Musketeers, I’m happy. Because even though it didn’t happen as M&G is gonna depict it, it did happen in the broad strokes, these people were real, and that’s been largely buried and forgotten.
The world NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT JAMES. And even if the picture someone comes away with is inaccurate, at least they will know he existed and loved men, and just that fact now being in their brain will please me so much.
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emerald9d · 1 year ago
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Okay, I’m gonna be smart and write this in a google doc first, this time. This is probably going to be some incoherent rambling. Also I don't know what the etiquette is on responding to comments in a long form, so I just made a new post entirely.
I find Kris and Susie to be, like, the simplest relationship. Or, maybe, deceptively simple. Like, when you get down to it, they’re just a pair of irreverent chaos goblins, and they gel super well in a way that so obviously works. Short fics that just have them bumming around Hometown and getting up to shenanigans - with maybe a bit of an emotional beat thrown in - tend to be a joy to read. Funny teens go brrr.
But as far as deeper connections go… not to immediately drag Ralsei into this, but I just find it hilariously ironic that Ralsei was practically custom-made to fill in for Asriel, and yet Susie is the one who slid into that position. Muddying this matter is the fact that we don’t really know exactly for certain what Asriel is like, or how Kris feels about him. All commentary from other characters indicates they were thick as thieves, but there’s also a vague air of weirdness around it. (There’s a vague air of weirdness around everything in this game) If Ralsei was intentionally designed or created (in-universe) to fill in for Asriel, I think whoever was responsible may have missed the mark without realizing it.
But I digress. The point is that, for better or worse, Susie seems to have wound up as a suitable replacement for Asriel. Or, more generally, a suitable replacement for the woods-exploring friend group from the good old days. And, y’know, hey, that’s fine. Not necessarily a bad thing.
What’s Kris to Susie, besides just being one of the people she likes? Cuz if the teas are anything to go by, she kinda… likes everybody? A lot? They’re just… y’know, flavored differently.
That said, I feel like Kris is probably the person she can hang out with the most easily. Between their guarded and taciturn nature, and her tendency to crumble or harden at affection or vulnerability, they’re the best at, like, just coasting with each other. I can absolutely imagine that these two would sit at the edge of the lake, staring out over the water, saying nothing for like 20 minutes, and feel that it was meaningful. Because they both know that neither of them are gonna say anything uncomfortable.
And there’s some uncomfortable shit they could say to each other, that’s for sure. Kris seems pretty observant, and I think Susie tends to downplay her own emotional intelligence. If Kris hasn’t spent time having concerned thoughts about Susie’s domestic situation, I will eat my boots. Also, in Kris’ moment of greatest vulnerability we’ve seen thus far, after fighting Spamton, it’s pretty clear they’re looking to get at least a little closer to her.
Speaking of Spamton, that whole side quest, upon further review, really smacks of Kris taking awful and terrifying burdens upon themself and hiding them from others close to them. I’d say it might even hint at the sort of things that may have made Kris so withdrawn to start with. But at any rate, there’s shit they’re just not going to be inclined to say to Susie, probably just because they’re afraid it’ll bother her, or even scare or hurt her.
Susie I think actually bears a lot of similarity to Kris in a lot of ways, with one key difference: while Kris is willing to go in for a hug and stuff, Susie is just outright scared of such displays. But, otherwise, she’s similar, in that she’s also withdrawn in the beginning. Maybe at face value she had to learn to be “less mean” in chapter 1. But, really, that’s just learning to be less afraid, but with more bullshit layered on. Their character arcs were, really, identical. And I’m kinda worried what it’ll look like when something inevitably causes her to backslide, similar to the effect Spamton had on Kris.
As for Susie’s more observant side… she seems perfectly capable of picking up on the feelings of others. I don’t really know how else to explain her doing stuff like asking Kris who they’d take to the fair. Though, picking “You” as your choice makes it seem like she’s specifically blind to any grander affections from Kris. Or, maybe just doesn’t want to acknowledge it. It’s a soap bubble that could pop way too easily. The relationship must remain at a status quo.
As for the Hometown part of the question. I feel like what Kris means to Hometown is pretty self-evident just from how everyone talks about them. Weird, but accepted. Well-liked, even. A lot of the townsfolk talk to them like an old pal. Does Kris like them back? Probably, kinda? I mean, if I’m right about the way they handle the burden of responsibility, then it stands to reason that they give a shit about the well being of others. I’m sure they’re fond of the townsfolk, though I’m not sure how willing they are to admit it all the time.
Though Kris’ status as the weird kid in town I think has the downside of people not noticing their struggles, or not knowing what to do about them even if they do. Like, ffs, when Kris is in the bathroom and Toriel was like “Kris does this sometimes,” it’s like… girl what? This is just a thing? And you know that? And that is your reaction? Like let’s not beat around the bush here, that just feels like a parent hoping their kid’s tendency towards self-harm is just going to go away on its own. Even if that’s not what’s literally happening, it’s absolutely the vibe, and I’m pretty sure it’s intentional.
And, again, if I’m right about Kris, then they probably wouldn’t have it any other way. Ough
Susie is harder to figure out, since we literally don’t know her physical place in town. Her history of alleged bullying is… odd. From MK’s account, she seems more awkward than hostile. Until, that is, Kris was involved. They seem like the only person we know she intentionally did anything bad to, like she had it out for them specifically. Her bringing Toriel up kinda makes it sound like jealousy. Considering how dodgy she was about calling her parents… this town really likes to overlook some shit, doesn’t it? Granted, people outside of school barely even seem to know who Susie is.
Something about her I find interesting, is in the interaction down at the bunker doors at the end of Chapter 2. She might be nicer to Kris now, yeah, but she has no qualms keeping her violent reputation alive. Granted, the other kids were talking shit about Kris, but… I dunno, I kinda worry the “be nicer” lesson she learned might apply more selectively than it should. Between that and whatever other drama she almost certainly has coming down the pipeline, I kinda expect her next bout of emotional drama will take place specifically in Hometown, rather than in the dark world.
Anyway, I can’t wait for the devastatingly emotional hug these two will probably share at some point.
(also, if anyone reading this at any point thought something about "well what about Kris and the player/soul," please check out my previous big writeup)
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silver-wield · 10 months ago
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Rebirth marketing is just reminding me of ff16's deceptive marketing imo. Remember how 16 made a big deal out of the dominants but it turns out half of them are just thinly veiled pokemons (with paperthin character "arcs") for Clive to collect while his real story is with his hideaway buddies? Now 7R marketing is hyperfocusing on Aerith and Zack like nobody's business and posting OOC Cid like what are you trying to hide?
And where does hiding spoilers end and deceptive marketing begin?
Well, XVI made a big deal about Ifrit/dark Ifrit and made that seem like it was the story, but then what we got was aliens, but I get your point. The story they touted wasn't the story we got because they were so desperate to hype one aspect of the game.
Tbf I don't think game companies know how to put together trailers. They don't wanna spoil anything but they think everything is a spoiler because it's a new game with fresh graphics and battle systems so they go to stupid lengths to hide all the good stuff and then cobble together a patchwork with what's left over.
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ultramagicalternate · 1 month ago
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The Xanthous King
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Relevant Posts: Valentin, Milan, M.A.I.G., The ACF, Ertheval
Master Post - Patreon
What is the Xanthous King?
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The Xanthous King is a gestalt entity created by the criminal Valentin “Perkele” Haganno Karppinen. 50 wicked souls were forced together in the hopes of creating an entity strong enough to overthrow the universe... the only issue is that the disparate souls cannot work together to solve a crossword puzzle. Theoretically the King could be as strong as ULTRAMagic Dreadnought (one of the strongest known mages of the ULTRAMagic Guild), but the King is too chaotic to make use of his vast strength.
Out of the 50 souls that make up the King, 15 have persisted, gathering together in groups of 5 that form the 3 archetypes of the King. There is the Brute (the violent and aggressive personality), The Schemer (the cunning and deceptive personality, and The Penitent (the calm and remorseful personality). What we see here is the penitent, favored by the composite consciousness of the King.
What makes the King dangerous is his power when his parts decide to work together and his unpredictability. His archetypes tend to bleed each other a lot. The Anomaly Containment Foundation has deemed this entity a Secret class entity (the highest classification possible) that needs to be contained at all costs. The Magic Anomaly Investigation Group is in agreement, going out of their way to support the ACF in this endeavor.
In regards to his abilities, the King has an aberrant ability that grants him different magic based on his current archetype. He also has another ability called "Xanthous Authority" that makes him immune to most magic, memetic hazards, cognitohazards, hypnosis, and bewitchment. This is another big reason as to why he is so dangerous.
An interesting idea that Milan Proch (archmage of Ertheval) has pointed out is that Valentin unintentionally did everyone a favor by creating the King. While a vile creation, the King has removed the 50 wicked souls from the cycle of reincarnation. They can no longer bother humanity while a part of the King. They will either work together to reach enlightenment or be assimilated by the King and form a new entity. Either way, the King may be able to right the wrongs of his parts.
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Further Reading:
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And I'll cut it there and save the rest for lore entries and future stories. Side note, Milan and Valentin may or may not be appearing in the next arc of UMAE. What is the King's weakness? Diplomacy, believe it or not. He seems to be pretty troubled and likes to talk.
The King has been floating around in my lore notes/story bibles, so I wanted to draw him. I needed a pose and was a bit frustrated earlier, so I went to sketch daily and got a good pose right out the gate. Huzzah! Could have been doing other stuff today, but I felt that I needed to upload something different.
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caseray · 7 months ago
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TMNT: Shadows and Radiance Masterpost
Status: Ongoing
Main Tags: tmnt:sr, sr!(character name), sr!reference, sr!art, sr!writing, sr!info
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My personal TMNT iteration. Focuses on family dynamics with a shit ton of angst.
CONTENT WARNINGS (will be mentioned on relevant posts as well):
Manipulation/Grooming (non-sexual)
Child abuse/neglect
Family/sibling death
Self-harm & Suicide
Blood/Violence
General bad mental health themes
(Will be added to as I remember/change stuff)
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Works:
Arc 1 - Antecedent Saga
Leo Reference
Donnie Reference
Raph Reference
Mikey Reference
Splinter Reference
Barry Reference
April Reference
Casey Reference
Arc 2 - Deception Saga
Arc 3 - TBN
Arc 4 - TBN
Arc 5 - TBN
Arc 6 - TBN
Arc 7 - Future
General/Non-arc-specific content
Initial post/Turtle height chart
Pride month 2024/Yuichi, Ghost, Timothy first appearance
Twins' Birthday 2024
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