#this would happen further into the plot... with a lot of character development
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
"Old habits die hard"
#my art#biting the hand that feeds au#bhtf au#bhtf moondrop#bhtf sundrop#moondrop#fnaf moondrop#fnaf moon#sundrop#fnaf sundrop#fnaf sun#moondrop x reader#urghhh they make me want to scream#this would happen further into the plot... with a lot of character development#I'm gonna explode I can't even yap about it in the tags#i lov them so mumjch....#kinda proud of expressions in this one#shaking them violently
4K notes
·
View notes
Text

2024 reads / storygraph
Lord of the Empty Isles
sci-fi/fantasy
set on a supposedly utopian planet recovering from a climate crisis, where bonds between people are able to be seen and manipulated (by some people)
follows a young man whose brother was cursed and killed by an infamous outlaw 5 years ago, and he’s finally able to curse him back - but it rebounds, as he’s somehow fatebound to the outlaw
to find a cure and save them both they have to team up, and he quickly finds out that the resources the outlaw is stealing go to the thousands of people neglected on prison planets, and he has to go against what he thought was right to help them
no romance, aroace MC, focus on platonic relationships
arc from netgalley, out june 6
#Lord of the Empty Isles#aroaessidhe 2024 reads#I enjoyed this quite a bit! But I think it could have gone a bit further in places.#It has some interesting concepts and a great cast of characters and yay no romance#I do have a lot of thoughts and little critiques...#it's p obvious where the plot is going and what's going to happen#There’s clearly a lot gone into developing this bond system but to be honest I still don’t entirely get it?#It seems to emphasise that the bonds just reflect connections between people rather than predetermine anything; but also the plot kind of#hinges on Remy and Idrian having a predetermined bond? There are a lot of explanations of intricacies but a lot of it didn’t sink in idk#It’s promoted as QP but to me it reads as a general platonic relationship. I generally expect a depiction of a QPR to have like..#some form of acknowledgement/depiction of the form of their relationship being a particular (undefinable?) kind#with some specific level of commitment? I’m being picky maybe they mean queerplatonic themes/vibes rather than saying it’s a qpr#specifically. the centred platonic relationship is good! it doesn't seem like a qpr to me; at most what could one day be that#also things are solved quite quickly and easily in the end - both the curse and the downfall of the bad guy.#I feared it would go down the route of blaming things on the person in charge rather than emphasising systemic issues which it kinda does….#It’s impossible to ignore right now just how deeply people are willing to believe dehumanising propaganda - and how 'telling the truth'#and exposing the person in power as bad doesn’t actually do anything so that happening here made me go…… oh okay. well.#there is room for a sequel that maybe will explore this tho. idk#complaints aside - I do recommend this! It was fun and pretty unique.#aroace books#no romance
24 notes
·
View notes
Text
WHY CHAPTER 431 OF MY HERO ACADEMIA SCREAMS CENSORSHIP
First let's start by the "afterword", the note Horikoshi left after 430 and before the extras, chapter 431.
Original japanese for those who understand.


The best traslation I found and most people are agreeing with.
Key sentences are:
1.The real final chapter is 429, 430 is more like a curtain call.
2. PS: For chapter 431, I turn off the cameras and free the characters from their dramas.
This note being left after 430 and before the extras is so important. . The clarification of "the real final chapter is 429" and 430 is the curtain call is screaming: the show has ended here. This is further stated by "i turn the cameras off" by the man who use to refer himself as the camera man, I leave you with an example.

(They're talking about Vol 37 cover)
And back to point number 2: "and free the characters from their dramas", which could perfectly be understood as "the characters are no longer tied to their previous plots and drama" no longer connected to the main story.
It may seem like a reach until here, we're just trying to convince ourselves that's not canon, right? They´re delusions, right?
The problem is how far away everything about 431 antagonizes the whole story, the characters doesn't feel like themselves, they even regress back all their development, the drawing style looks totally different and there are many irregularities that call for our attention.


Dabi, 431 and by Horikoshi


Toga and Ochaco in 431:


Toga and Ochaco by Horikoshi:


All Might's signature for Katsuki (Horikoshi would never mess this up):




Kirishima with 6 fingers lol, Horikoshi loves drawing hands, he would never.

Katsuki's odd teeth what the fuck. (His hand looks good to me)

Ochaco and Shoto just look, weird. It's clearly not Horikoshi's art style.


And this awful background (center) was the main giveaway.

Horikoshi's backgrounds are so professional:


At this point I'm getting tired since the difference is astounding, don't believe me, just check the manga.
I don't think Horikoshi would've allowed those mistakes had he have a role in the making, maybe he did, there's no saying about that, but clearly if he did his involvement was very low.
Character's development wise now.
Seriously? "Deku"? And Katsuki complaining for picking him up. He cried his eyes out when Izuku lost his quirk and now he's back at season 1?
Izuku would never in a million years turn down that offer. And if he did, it would never be like this, so devoid of emotion and empathy.
430 showed us an Izuku aiming for his dreams again and at 431 this Izuku ¿? It's okay with being a teacher? Ok. And if that's not the problem, why he outright rejects Katsuki out of nowhere? When their rivalry was one of the main points of the plots for 430 chapters and now just um over? Without justification? Ok.

Ok.
Now specifically about that ship canonization and bkdk.
Horikoshi has been doing this for 10 years. The choices he took the whole manga were incredibly intentional, all those romantic tropes given to bkdk, his interviews, all stand in direct opposition to what happened in this last chapter.
I, myself, don't know much about Jump but what I've heard is they end lot of shonens with the same heterosexual formula. I don't think all of this is a coincidence.
Something really important that needs to be adressed to is what happened back in June (I think), when suddenly MHA announced it was ending in 5 chapters could've something to do with this. The manga was suddenly rushed to its ends with unsatisfying resolutions and as if that was not enough, one month later (at most) the same happened to JJK and all of this came accompanied by a switch of one of the heads of Jump.
About 431 again though.
I was just thinking what would I do if I was pressured to write something that ruins the biggest project of my life and goes against everything I was hoping for? Refuse. Tell them to write it themselves. If I can't do anything to stop it and it'll be there, alright, but I WON'T DO IT.
And I think this could be Horikoshi's case.
I've never seen a shonen manga come so close to implying his male protagonist and his male deuteragonist are in love before. Yes, it was not EXPLICIT but it was so fucking clear if you knew how to read, all the way up to 430. All those cliches tropes he gave them, he knew, we know.
I thought I'll die trying to explaineverything that seems wrong with this with nothing to back me up but the fact that he added that note is clear for me. I'm surprised they allowed him to publish it, I thought we wouldn't even have that.
PS:
It's interesting this being posted the same day 431 comes out. Also "heroaca is pretty dark, huh?"

I'll not go into this anyways because it's kind of a reach but the conclusion is: I think it's a "soft" censorship and Horikoshi did his best to relay his message given what he had.
Thanks for reading!
#bnha#deku#izuku midoriya#mha#mha 430#bakudeku#katsudeku#bkdk#mha 431#mha extras#bakugou kastuki#bakugou#kacchan#katsuki#dkbk
866 notes
·
View notes
Text
Thawing Out
collab with @ellecdc
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12 | part 13 | part 14 | part 15 | part 16
cw: modern au, smut mndi, chronic pain mention, I always feel like my confessions are awk so sorry if you think this one is too
note for minors: a lot of this chapter is smut, but you can read up until the red line without worrying about it. There's no summary this time because it really is just smut for smut's sake and all the character development happens before it starts, so you won't need it for the plot. There is one vague mention of boners before the red line (sorry it's just for a laugh), but that's it
poly!wolfstar x fem!reader ♡ 3.2k words
You catch on quickly to what’s happened between Sirius and Remus. What you don’t understand is why they’ve interrupted it to come talk to you. And how you could be wrong twice—do they cancel out if you were truly right the first time?
Clearly, the chemistry you’d felt between Remus and Sirius wasn’t imagined. You’d convinced yourself you must’ve gotten your wires crossed—otherwise why would Remus have kissed you?—but evidently they’ve come to some sort of agreement. Are they here to ask for your permission? Intra-team fornicating: approved.
You’re not sure if you wish they’d waited until they were less hard to pop by.
“Um.” You keep your eyes very intentionally on the boys’ faces. “What’s up?”
Sirius looks almost nervous, skittish even, but Remus’ hand wraps around his to pull him closer to your doorway. Your heart does something funny in your chest.
“Could we talk?” Sirius asks.
“Er…yeah. Of course.” You step aside, letting them into your small room. Remus sits politely on the edge of your bed, giving you deja vu from the night before, while Sirius makes himself comfortable further back. He leans his side into your pillow where it’s propped up on the wall.
“We were talking,” starts Remus, “and I told Sirius about what happened between us.”
Your next breath seems to come slower. Unwillingly, your gaze flits to Sirius, but he looks impassive, only like he might be scrutinizing you in turn. You look back at Remus. “You did?”
“I did,” he says gently. “But it wasn’t—”
“Babe,” Sirius interrupts, “don’t look so freaked. What’s the matter? And why are you still standing there?”
You realize you’re hugging yourself around your middle, standing awkwardly in front of the bed. “I’m not sure it’s meant to hold three people,” you say weakly.
Sirius snorts, whatever nervousness he’d arrived with vanishing. Sirius has always been good this way; he can only ever panic when no one else is, but the second you’re panicking too he’s all ease.
“Don’t be silly.” He pats the space between himself and Remus. It’s as ample as the bed allows, which isn’t saying much. “It’ll be fine. Anyway, it’s your bed.”
You can’t think of a good reason to argue. Something in you calms as you settle in between them, Sirius’ hip touching yours and the warmth of Remus’ body on your other side. It’s familiar, safe.
“Are you upset?” you ask Sirius.
His brows pinch. “Why would I be?”
“Because…” You cringe. “Aren’t you two…?”
“There’s been a lot of confusion, I think,” Remus says kindly. “But when we were talking, we both sort of came to the realization that we fancy each other…and you.”
There’s a dense pause.
“And me?” you echo.
Remus’ lips tilt slightly. “Yes.”
“As in…” You rub your eyes, dumbfounded. “Sorry, I did just wake up.”
Sirius laughs. Remus too, reaching over to rub your knee like he can’t help himself.
“For the record, I didn’t plan any of this,” says Sirius, “but if I had, I’d have done it exactly this way. It’s very gratifying to finally disturb your sleep schedules the way you pricks have been doing to me all these weeks.”
“Oi,” Remus chides teasingly, reaching over you to push at Sirius’ thigh. You marvel at this new easiness between them, now given even newer context. “Anyway, we thought we’d come see if you might be interested.”
“In…you.” You rub your lips together, looking between them and noticing Sirius’ gaze has fallen to your mouth. Unless you’re terribly mistaken and you’ve got it all wrong, this means he fancies you as well. Your partner, your best friend.
The idea isn’t as upsetting as it ought to be.
Do you fancy him too? You’ve never thought about Sirius in that way. You love him, of course, but you’ve never taken the time to parse out if it might be a different sort of love than the kind between friends. And as for the rest—well, who wouldn’t be attracted to Sirius? You’re only human.
“In both of us, yes,” Remus confirms patiently.
“Is that something you’d be into?” Sirius asks.
Your answer leaves you on a breath, thoughtless but true. “Yeah.”
“Yeah?” Sirius grins.
You nod. You’re suddenly fixated by the way his cupid’s bow flattens out when he smiles like that. It’s something you’ve noticed a thousand times before, but now…
“Yeah,” you say again. “Um…what do we do?”
Remus chuckles. “I don’t really know. I’ve not been with two people before.”
“Believe it or not, this is a first for me as well,” Sirius says lightly.
“Right,” you laugh. It breaks up some of the apprehension in your chest.
“If you want to,” Remus’ voice softens, “I suppose you could start by kissing him.”
You look at him, then at Sirius. For the first time, something like insecurity flashes across his face.
“You don’t have to,” he says quietly. No longer the brazen flirt, but the kind, considerate boy you know. “It’s okay.”
“I know,” you reply.
It’s like he’s afraid to touch you until you get to him. You steady yourself with a hand on his jaw, your other pressing into the mattress as you lean towards where he’s reclined against your pillow and bring your lips to his.
You know all the ways that Sirius moves, and even this new, completely uncharted part of him is consistent. Sirius’ kisses start out slow, probing, feeling out what you like and what he can do, but then he gives himself over to it. His hands find first your hips, urging you closer to him before one slides to the small of your back. Greedy fingers curl in the fabric of your pajama top.
You make a small, accidental sound in the back of your throat when his teeth tease your bottom lip, and Sirius pulls away. You’re both breathing hard.
Sirius stares at you for a weighted moment before his eyes drift behind you and he huffs out a laugh. “Enjoyed that, did you?”
You look over your shoulder, and Remus is watching you both with a low flame burning in his gaze. He flushes a tad at the question but his expression doesn’t change. He leans forward, kissing you, tasting Sirius on your lips.
───────────────────────────────────────────
The three of you don’t need to speak much to communicate. Remus pulls you back into him, his length hardening against your ass, and Sirius follows. He kisses Remus over your shoulder with a relieved sort of sigh. All the while, his hands are roving your thighs, pushing up your pajama shorts until they crease and pinch at your crotch.
You exhale and tilt your head to the side when Remus drops his lips to your neck. “We have a competition tomorrow,” you remind them both. “We ought to be resting up.”
You feel Sirius’ grin as he brings his mouth to yours again. “Yup.” He nips your bottom lip. “I’m aware this is a bad idea.”
“I’m afraid I can’t condone it,” Remus agrees, one hand covering your ribs while the other sneaks down to tease the waist of your pajama shorts.Your poor shorts are being attacked from both sides. “How far do you want to go?”
Sirius pulls his lips from yours to watch you think. They still tingle, and you rub them together unconsciously. His eyes darken.
“You drive me mad when you do that,” he says.
“Do what?”
Sirius’ mouth kicks up at the corner. He brings his thumb to your lower lip, pressing down on it gently. His own lips are swollen and gleaming prettily with spit, eyes nearly all pupil. Remus’ hand strokes lazily at your side.
“I want to go as far as you guys want to,” you say without breaking Sirius’ gaze.
His grin widens, and he looks at Remus, shrugging. “We could just go until somebody says stop.”
“Alright,” says Remus. One of his hands leaves you, finger hooking in the waist of Sirius’ trousers. “Can we take these off, then?”
Sirius isn’t shy, but you didn’t think he would be. He sits up on his knees and pulls them down, letting Remus help them over his ankles before they’re discarded in a heap on the floor. Remus gets rid of his too, and then you’re staring at the outlines of both boys through the far thinner material of their underwear.
Remus ghosts a touch over Sirius’ cock, making the other boy’s expression pinch with want, before pulling down the waistband. Lithe, graceful muscles and hip bones curving inwards. Sirius curses as Remus’ long fingers wrap around him.
Remus pumps slowly, his own arousal an insistent heat at your hip. You find your attention torn between the feeling of his body against your backside and the sultry droop of Sirius’ eyelids as he watches Remus work his cock.
“Doesn’t he look pretty?” Remus murmurs.
It takes you a second to realize he’s speaking to you. “Yeah.” Your mouth feels dry. You swallow, and watch as Sirius’ eyes flit up to the motion. “He always does.”
Remus hums in agreement, pressing a light kiss to an exposed bit of skin beside the neckline of your top. “Do you want to try, lovely?”
You turn your head to look at him. Remus’ eyes are glued to Sirius. “What about you?”
A chuckle, and another soft kiss to your shoulder. “I’ll be alright.”
Remus waits until your hand is around Sirius’ shaft, pumping a couple times against his own fist, before letting go. You choose a slightly less languid pace than Remus had. Sirius twitches in your grasp, taking your face in his hands and setting his lips to yours with a muffled groan.
Behind you, Remus moves closer until his length is pressed against your ass. One of his hands steadies you by the hip while the other dips below the waistband of your shorts, palming you through your underwear. You shift, and he hisses when you move against him.
You turn your head on instinct, Sirius’ lips smudging across your cheek. “Sorry.”
“It’s alright.” Remus’ voice is breathy, amused. “You just surprised me.”
“What’d she do?” Sirius is never one to be left out of the loop.
“Just backed into me.”
“Oh. Gorgeous,” he smiles, turning you by the chin to capture your lips again, “who wouldn’t want that?”
Their praise soon has you devolving into a thoughtless, sensory creature. Sirius’ hands caress your face and neck and Remus’ fingers brush your panties aside to toy with your cunt. Every movement of your hips makes him push more insistently against you. Your shirt comes off, Remus dotting your shoulders with sweet kisses. Your grip tightens on Sirius’ cock, and a low, needy sound tears out of him.
“Fuck, that’s it, sweetheart. Just like that.”
Your heart flutters at the endearment, but you don’t let your movements stall. Soon he’s pushing his hips into your hand, kisses turning messy and desperate, your own sounds harder to suppress as Remus bullies your clit with two fingers. You’re glad to know at least Sirius’ room is empty on your other side, because you’re beginning to wonder how thick these walls are. Remus pushes his length into the crease between your asscheeks through your shorts, Sirius’ cock beginning to twitch in your hand, and you press your lips together to contain a sound that promises to be both loud and mortifying—and the bed collapses.
You fall backwards onto Remus as the cardboard on his end gives out, sending all three of you to the floor. Sirius’ teeth knock into yours and Remus catches you around the waist with both hands, keeping you from fully sitting on his hard cock.
“Fuck.” Sirius brings a hand to his mouth. “What the fuck?”
“Oh, shit.” You scramble away from Remus, onto the floor. Both boys look at you in alarm. You’re looking to where Remus’ leg is bent underneath him, not at a terribly cruel angle, but still— “Your hip. Is your hip okay?”
“Oh.” Remus glances down as though he’s forgotten it himself, realization dawning over his features.
“Fuck,” Sirius breaths, remembering as well. His hand moves toward Remus but lingers in the air, afraid of hurting him.
“It’s…yeah, it’s okay,” says Remus. His eyes meet yours. “It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”
Sirius’ brows pinch, but his hand makes it the rest of the way, rubbing tentatively over Remus’ hip joint. “Are you sure?”
Remus shifts slowly, sitting up off his knees to move closer to Sirius. “I’m sure.” A little smile graces his lips. “You worried about me, Pads?”
Sirius’ face splits in the sort of grin you can only ever surprise out of him. “Fuck off,” he laughs, pushing Remus away when he tries to kiss him. Remus catches Sirius’ hands, his own smile unfurling slowly, almost unwillingly. It makes his eyes crinkle at the corners.
“How sweet,” he hums, smug.
You find yourself smiling at them both, your heart a balloon in your chest.
“Okay.” You give the mattress a little tug. “In that case, could you guys get off?”
“What’re you doing?” Remus asks. Both he and Sirius move.
“Having this on a slant doesn’t seem like a good idea, so I’m moving it.”
It should be awkward, this break in the tension, but maybe it’s because you’re so used to working as a team that it isn’t. You all get the mattress situated on the floor, and then you’re dragging Remus’ underwear off, his hands moving kind and doting over the lengths of your arms. He inhales a small breath as Sirius takes his cock into his mouth.
You watch Sirius’ lips move up and down his shaft, his eyes dark and growing shiny as he takes Remus as far as he can. You aren’t quite sure how to contribute, but when you rub the inside of Sirius’ thigh tentatively both boys moan. You take that to mean you’re on the right track.
The muscles in Sirius’ back flex as he raises and lowers his head between Remus’ legs, mouth growing wet with spit and slick, and it’s not long before Remus’ fingers are curling in Sirius’ hair, curses spewing from between his lips in a Welsh accent you’ve not heard before. You can’t help but follow them back to the source, kissing Remus just before he cums down Sirius’ throat. He grips you by the arms with something like desperation. You’re happy to stay as the tension unwinds from his body, until his hands are moving down you, smoothing across the skin just above the waistband of your shorts.
“Are you planning on keeping those on all night?”
It’s Sirius who asks, his gaze sultry as he watches Remus’ finger skim just underneath the fabric covering your ass. He wipes the corner of his mouth with a thumb.
“How’s this?” Remus suggests. He pulls you gently into his lap, situating you between his legs with your back against his chest. Again, you can feel the impression of him pressed against your backside.
Your voice comes out weak. “This is good.”
He chuckles, soothing a hand down your side while Sirius grins. Sirius’ fingers grasp the elastics of both your shorts and your underwear. “Okay?” he asks you.
You nod.
He takes his time working them down your legs and off your ankles, his eyes locking on your exposed cunt and the arousal Remus has coaxed out of you already. Remus, too, is watching over your shoulder. His fingers gravitate back to it, dragging slick up through your folds idly, almost worshipfully. He kisses behind your ear.
“Fuck, you’re lovely,” says Sirius.
Both boys’ gazes stay glued to your cunt as Sirius positions himself over you, pushing into your warmth. You bite down on a small sound. Remus tuts at you, his hand spreading reassuringly over your navel.
“You can do better than that,” he chides. “Don’t think we don’t want to hear you.”
Sirius holds your hips as he sinks into you. His fingers dent your flesh, and you marvel at the fact that you’ve wasted so much time not doing this. That you’ve ever been in a room with either Remus or Sirius and managed not to kiss them dizzy. You’re not sure you’ll be able to manage it again.
Remus draws slow, tight circles around your clit with his finger. You arch your neck back onto his shoulder, and Sirius groans as you tighten on him.
“God—you’re so perfect,” he says hoarsely. “You feel so good.”
Your reply gets lost on a lewd sound as he drags his cock along your walls. Remus kisses you rewardingly in the soft skin underneath your ear. “There you are,” he says. “Good girl.”
Warmth unfurls through your gut.
Sirius grins whatever reaction must show up on your face, his hands migrating to your ass as he thrusts into you. As he gets rougher, so do Remus’ ministrations to your clit, his slow circles turning quick and jagged. You feel yourself tighten on Sirius in little flutters that have him gripping you tight enough to leave fingerprint bruises.
“Fuck, like that, yeah. Just like that, baby.”
Your lips part at the pet name and Sirius’ eyes flick up to yours like he’s surprised too, like he’s let slip something he didn’t mean to. But you say, “come here,” and he goes, leaning over you to let you take his face in your hands and kiss him until you can’t breathe.
Remus feels your high approaching before you do. His free hand smooths over the inside of your twitching thigh.
“Are you close?” he asks you.
Sirius parts his lips from yours, looking down to see the confirmation on your face. You give it.
“Good,” he says, picking up his pace, “good, sweetheart, that’s it. Cum for me, yeah? I’ve got you.”
You nearly bite your lip in half when you do, Remus tsking amusedly and kissing your neck while the tightening of your cunt threatens to send Sirius over the edge as well. He starts to pull out of you, but you grab his hand.
“It’s okay,” you manage. “In me.”
“Really?” he asks in a strangled voice.
“Yeah. Yeah, I wanna feel it.”
That’s all it takes. Sirius’ expression pinches like you’ve said something cruel as he thrusts into you one last time, a shock that reverberates through you as he warms you from the inside out. He’s rigid for a few seconds before tipping forward, his head to your shoulder and to Remus' chest, which you’ve slipped down without noticing. His breath fans softly over your skin.
Remus rubs your thigh comfortingly and with his other hand pets down Sirius’ hair, cupping his flushed cheek. “Alright, love?” he asks.
Sirius’ blush seems to worsen. “Yeah. You?”
“More than.” Remus kisses his head.
It’s only after a few seconds of silence that you realize Remus’ question was posed to the both of you.
“That was…” you shake your head, at a loss “...fantastic.”
“Yeah?” Sirius nudges his nose into your skin. “I thought so.”
Remus’ chuckle rumbles through all three of you. “Cocky,” he says fondly.
“And decent enough with it, by all reports.”
It starts up a round of sweet, half teasing kisses Sirius pretends to want to escape despite making no real efforts to do so. You give and receive plenty of your own, until not just your lips and shoulders but many other parts of you are wet with spit and slick. You fall asleep all three on a twin mattress on the floor, your head on Remus’ chest and Sirius’ arms wound around your middle. It might be the best sleep you’ve ever had.
#poly!wolfstar olympic au#poly!wolfstar#poly!wolfstar x reader#poly!wolfstar x fem!reader#poly!wolfstar x y/n#poly!wolfstar x you#poly!wolfstar x self insert#poly!wolfstar fanfiction#poly!wolfstar fanfic#poly!wolfstar fic#poly!wolfstar series#poly!wolfstar enemies to lovers#poly!wolfstar smut#poly!wolfstar fluff#poly!wolfstar imagine#poly!wolfstar scenario#poly!wolfstar drabble#poly!wolfstar blurb#poly!wolfstar oneshot#poly!wolfstar one shot#remus lupin x sirius black#sirius black x reader#remus lupin x reader#remus lupin x sirius black x reader#wolfstar x reader#sirius black#remus lupin#figure skater!sirius#figure skater!reader#coach!remus
680 notes
·
View notes
Text
A META-HISTORY OF ELYSIUM CORONA MUNDI
Chronicling (almost) everything we know about the development of Robert Kurvitz's quasi-sacral object complex
This post represents an attempt to gather (almost) all the reliable public info we have about the broader worldbuilding of Elysium Corona Mundi (the series to which Disco Elysium and Sacred and Terrible Air belong) and how it developed over time into one place, presented more or less chronologically and in a way accessible to fans unacquainted with the, shall we say, more arcane lore of Elysium. In the original incarnation of this post, basically every sentence was scrupulously referenced; however, referencing is a major pain in the ass on tumblr, so instead I just have a broad list of sources at the bottom and if you want to inquire any further into a specific claim you can just message me.
I'll also warn readers that the sections discussing the Torson & McLaine campaign and the (currently cancelled) sequel to Disco Elysium contain potential (albeit relatively minor) spoilers for the planned plot of that game. The creators still hope to make that game one day, so if you want to go in totally blind, you know what to avoid.
Evermier
The first serious worldbuilding project that Robert Kurvitz embarked on dates back to at least the year 1997. It was developed with his childhood friends in Estonia, including later Elysium worldbuilders Martin Luiga, Argo Tuulik and Kaspar Kalvet, and went by the name Evermier. This was a medieval fantasy setting formed around a tabletop roleplaying system that Robert Kurvitz and Martin Luiga have referred to as “bootleg Finnish Dungeons and Dragons,” but which Argo Tuulik suspects was actually a Powered by the Apocalypse framework. The vast majority of the boys’ time with Evermier was not spent actually playing any campaigns, but rather formulating the setting and mechanics (both Argo and Luiga ended up never participating in a roleplaying session of Evermier). Argo splits the time spent conceiving Evermier into two broad periods – one he dubs “Evermier 1.0,” which stuck close to traditional Dungeons and Dragons – and one dubbed “Evermier 2.0,” where no tabletop campaigns were ever actually played and all the time was spent system-building. Argo estimates this latter period lasted some 2-3 years.
Scope creep quickly hit the project, with character sheets evolving into whole character books. Luiga alleges that that “the wizard book” was supposed to have 350 spells altogether, each with at least a half-page story about the spell, in prose, and that “about a healthy third of the book got done in the end.” Argo gives a different number, stating that early estimates for it had more like 900 spells, but agrees that two-thirds of each page would’ve been reserved for “juicy literary stuff” about the spell in question while the rest of the page was dedicated to stats, and says that Luiga and Kaspar wrote a lot of excellent stuff for these spells.
Argo says there were about twenty different schools of technology (such as “metallurgy” and “optics”), at least twelve classes of mages, and “so many” subclasses of elves. There was also a subclass of dwarf that, instead of being stocky, chubby and bearded like traditional dwarves, were veiny and more like “Russian miners.” When implementing necromancers, Robert “zoned in on this soul aspect,” which later became the basis for Elysium’s pale. Argo describes these necromancers as “hobbits, but with these little lanterns that guide spirits or souls from this massive fog.” Luiga places the invention of this “fog of death with whom some could communicate” as happening late in Evermier’s development and likewise considers it a primitive precursor to what would become the pale.
The worldbuilders spent a lot of time gearing up for an ultimate roleplaying session that never ended up materializing, but their artist friend Jüri Saks drew illustrations in anticipation of it, including character portraits. Luiga’s character was a “sickle-elf” whose class was called “saint.” This saint character was a handsome elf with small pointy ears and a neat little beard, who wielded two “light swords” (possibly katanas), and a crossbow called Crucifix on his back. The character was from a “grim northern land” and was a “religious lunatic type” who believed in a “grim, monotheistic God.” Argo alleges that Luiga related to this character so much that it almost became a part of his persona; he “developed this mode that sometimes when we were drinking he happened to slip in, where he would start judging people. I would like to say that it still remained within the boundaries of normalcy, but uh, unfortunately it didn’t.”
Kaspar Kalvet at some point played an archer character named Minor Mortifer (“Small Death-bringer”), and there was also a dwarf king named Fuirum Thundergate.
According to Luiga, the name “Elysium” was suggested by someone on the dragon.ee forums, but it took half a year for Robert to start seriously considering it. This was back when the setting was still a medieval fantasy world. Luiga and Argo both agree that the historicized Elysium as we know it now was born around the time when Robert decided to get rid of fantasy races, because – as Argo puts it – “they were kind of stupid.” With this decision, Evermier underwent a modernization process of sorts, an attempt to bring the setting closer to real life, where many other fantasy elements were stripped away in favor of more realistic representations of cultures, mostly in the form of nations. Argo says that many of the fantasy races transformed over the course of this process into the nations of Elysium – the dwarves became the nations of Graad, the elves became the great desert isola of Iilmaraa (formerly Armaghast, a nod to Dan Simmons’ Hyperion, still referenced to this day with Iilmaraa’s Erg desert), the night-elves or star-elves eventually became Seol, and the snow-elves became Katla (which apparently has not changed too much since the Evermier days, and whose namesake is the dragon in Astrid Lindgren’s novel The Brothers Lionheart). Among the first innovations of the new modernized setting was the concept of floating magnet trains, later described in Sacred and Terrible Air.
After the Evermier setting had been discarded, many of its ideas ended up being repurposed into historical periods within the new historicized Elysium setting.
The Elysium tabletop campaigns
Between the years 2003 – 2007, three tabletop campaigns were played in the then newly formed Elysium setting. These all took place in Revachol during the Current Century and featured Robert as dungeon master. The first campaign seems to have been called Soul Milton’s World Autumn, the second one Riget and the final one known simply as Torson & McLaine, or alternatively the RCM campaign. The first two were played at Robert’s old apartment in the concrete block project at Mustamäe, while the third one was played in the house of Luiga's dad, which the three later lived together in following his death.
Soul Milton’s World Autumn
Of the three campaigns, Soul Milton’s is arguably the one most shrouded in mystery as it stands. It took place in Revachol and Martin Luiga played the titular character Soul Milton. The character has been described as “one of the cornerstones of the Elysium mythos” and an “aspiring world-historical person.” By the time of the campaign, Milton seems to have become an amnesiac as a result of “suppressing his own mind to protect himself from his enemies,” and in this process apparently also adopted a disguise by “putting another skin on himself” (what precisely that means, we don't know). He was “very rich” and came from a well-off family, had a complicated and possibly romantic relationship with his sister and was a “politician slash businessman” who “wanted to be the innocence of consumerism.” As it turns out, the enemies who were chasing him were the Therriers of Elysium’s final innocence, Ambrosius Saint-Miro (a major figure in both Sacred and Terrible Air and Full-Core State Nihilist, to be discussed later), who Soul Milton met at one point. Saint-Miro apparently told him that “there has never been an innocence who is also not an innocence.” This encounter places the Soul Milton campaign firmly after the events of Disco Elysium, possibly in the late Fifties or Sixties. During this campaign, Argo played Soul Milton’s horse carriage driver, a man by the name of Elroy Quint Duval.
Also associated with Soul Milton are two other characters. Before Sacred and Terrible Air was conceived, Robert had planned to tell the story of Elysium in three books; one starring Soul Milton, another starring a character named Dister, and the third a character named Dallasz.
Dister, or Marius Dijsters, was an extraphysicist and published author hailing from Oranje. He was a son of diplomats, one of them the grand ambassador of Oranje on Iilmaraa. He seems to have been a significant enough figure to have an entire strand of thought – Disterism – named after him (mentioned in the inside covers of Sacred and Terrible Air), and like Soul Milton, he had an antagonistic relationship with Ambrosius (as made apparent by an incident where he was threatened by the innocence’s Therriers at age 25). He is also apparently involved in some way with Theo Van Kok (of Sacred and Terrible Air fame), along with a Paul Messier (presumably the husband of Disco Elysium's Joyce Messier), apparently the beneficiary of such prestigious titles as "Enemy of the Press '67" and "Worst Person of the Year '67."
Information is rather scant on Dallasz, but during the making of Disco Elysium, there were plans to repurpose him into another project, a comic book named Mercurio Dallasz and the Twelve Kojkos which was going to be illustrated by Aleksander Rostov. This project unfortunately fell through, but we know the premise: a band of kojkos under Dallasz’s leadership attempt to assassinate innocence Saint-Miro. This was presumably an Inglourious Basterds type affair.
Riget
“It’s better to die in the Kingdom than live in a shithole.”
This was the tagline of Elysium’s second tabletop campaign, Riget, whose name is Danish for “kingdom” and was taken from Lars von Trier’s mini-series of the same name. Once more, the setting was Revachol, but this time it was limited to a peculiar part of it: Le Royaume (French for, again, “the Kingdom”) a vast network of dungeons and burial chambers two kilometers beneath the city, housing ancient ruins and remnants (quite possibly of the Seraseolitic civilization mentioned in Disco Elysium), along with treasures such as bioluminescent plants which have adapted to living in total darkness. The stars of this campaign were three impoverished children, all between the ages of 10-12 and members of a gang named “Earthworms,” who decided to venture down into the catacombs in search of valuable artifacts to sell. At some point, these kids somehow found themselves unable to get out of Le Royaume, supposedly trapped underground by demons who sought to use the children as vessels to escape back to the surface. When this campaign was being played, demons were still a part of the setting and haunted the halls of the underground network, along with monsters – such as the armakhaan beast, also known as Lelo Lelo, a terrifying blind and flightless hunter killer bird which was a mix between the xenomorph and cassowary. As for whether demons are still part of the setting in any way; both Argo and Luiga's statements are too ambiguous to reach any firm conclusion. Argo does note that the concept of 'demons' connotes something subtly different in Estonian than the scary red guys in popular Western culture, and are more like a primordial evil.
In the campaign, Argo played a boy named Miron, whose nickname was ‘Sneaker’, while Luiga played Joschka, a crippled boy with a bad leg. During the campaign, individual roleplaying sessions with Robert were held where the players’ stories evolved in parallel without them being kept on the same page. Each of them would get info the others were not privy to: Argo’s was that Joschka is unaware of the fact that he’s not considered a true member of the gang; in reality, he’s an outcast generally considered a weird, creepy weakling, and was only brought on for his lockpicking and mechanical skills.
Eventually, the Riget campaign got quite far into “Lord of the Flies territory.” Near the end, Sneaker and the third boy (played by another friend) conspired to kill Joschka deep underground.
Torson & McLaine
The worldbuilders continued to refine the roleplaying mechanics they were working with for the campaigns. By the time of Riget, the basics of the Metric system had been introduced, with the now familiar INT, PSY, FYS, and MOT. But according to Argo it was the RCM campaign, known principally as the Torson and McLaine campaign, which was “the first mature cycle of Elysium storytelling.” It took place, once more, in Revachol – this time in a ghetto called Jamrock, named after a Damian Marley song, and was focused on the goings on in Station 51 (renamed Precinct 41 by the time of Disco Elysium), the RCM’s lone precinct in Jamrock. The campaign took large amounts of inspiration from the TV series The Shield and its depiction of corrupt police officers and the intermingling of gang warfare and state-sanctioned violence. A central concept was: the cops are a gang, and the gangs are cops.
The RCM campaign began on a sort of prologue session, wherein Argo and Luiga played characters named Antwone Novak and Trinidad Tranquile respectively, two junior officers newly recruited into the RCM. Antwone was a “petit bourgeois type,” whereas Trinidad was a young communist who had recently been given time off work due to excessive violence. Luiga describes him:
He worked at a meat shop that belonged to Carson Torsson, Mack Torson’s dad, and had a system of stealing from work in order to ‘adequately compensate for his labour’. He also liked to practice a crude type of critical theory in the vein of ‘this building has been made that large to humiliate me, to show off with a power greater than me, to scare me into submission’. And he had a system of smoking no more than five cigarettes per day to cut down on smoking costs — Kim’s single cigarette habit might be a distant echo of that. He had, I think, a 7 in PSY (at least 5) and 2 in INT and mediocre physical stats, the core system was pretty much set by then.
At the end of this prologue session, Station 51 became the target of a terrorist attack. We don’t know much about the perpetrators beyond them being “Church of Evil type guys” in Luiga’s words, but the dice was rolled badly and Antwone and Trini both ended up dying in a “horsebombing” attack, falling onto the bridge outside the station.
Map of Station 51, located in a repurposed steel mill.
Going forward, Argo and Luiga had to find new characters to play, and they ended up going with ones they had earlier conceptualized, half-jokingly, on one of their many walks around Tallinn from parties and other events, since public transportation was notoriously unreliable. These characters were Chester McLaine, played by Luiga, and Mack “the Torso” Torson, played by Argo. Torson was derived in half from Vic Mackey, the protagonist of the Shield, and half from Argo’s own personality. Argo says that Luiga put his own personality into Chester as well, but isn’t sure where the other half of that character came from.
The main plot of the campaign centered on a revenge operation against those who perpetrated the attack on Station 51. In the second session of the campaign, Torson and McLaine are involved in a church raid; though Argo takes care to mention that he doesn’t think this is the church raid mentioned in Disco Elysium, and that it’s not a Dolorian Church but rather the “Armed Church of Saint-Michelle.” Among the tasks of Torson and McLaine were gathering “guns and drugs” for the “big revenge operation.”
Mack Torson was an idiotic body builder, an admirer of Lieutenant John “the Archetype” McCoy, the Station’s resident mass murderer, and altogether “way too stupid to concentrate on the main plot and politics of the police station,” focusing his attention instead on matters like “how to get it on with the captain’s secretary and tattooing the word ‘Jamrock’ on his body hundreds of times over.” Chester McLaine was a little more perceptive, wondering about things such as “what the hell is going on with the armour maker or Nix Gottlieb,” but was still an all-around uncritical person who put a lot of stock into “loving the captain” and “being a communist memebot.” McLaine was also “a sword guy,” since at this point in the worldbuilding swords were still viable weapons, with guns being slow to reload. Torson and McLaine lived together, along with two other cops, Sundance Fischer and Elfboy Williams. “Elfboy’s thing was being the dexterity bro, in which he continually lost to McLaine, and Sundance’s thing was having a fat ass and cleaning his guns all the time.” Torson had a wife named Tessa Torson, and later in life both Chester and Mack would apparently raise adopted daughters, Tessa and Triss (whether these Tessas are separate characters or represent the same character at different stages of development is unclear; Argo and Luiga seem to contradict each other, unless there's something very weird going on).
Torson and McLaine both regularly abused their powers, as RCM officers in general were prone to do, and in their heads they were justified in doing so. A highlight of the RCM campaign had been sessions dubbed “the Ballad of Chad Tilbrooks and Émile Mollins,” centering on two junior officers who were ritually abused and exploited by the older members of their station, including Torson and McLaine. At one point, Torson and McLaine were also involved in an interrogation of a local religious figurehead which devolved into mutilation torture, which only the “bullet-lobotomized” officer Damien “44” Latrec called out for what it was (enthusiastically). The interrogation ended up being ineffective as the religious leader simply “retreated into a happy place inside his head.”
The Captain of Station 51, Ptolemaios Pryce, was immensely respected and glorified by its officers, whereas the station’s lazareth Nix Gottlieb, while also respected, was generally resented and found hard to tolerate for being “an absolute horrible cunt.” In spite of this, Nix Gottlieb was known to have a curious friendship with Pryce, talking alone with him in the Captain’s office long into the night. This fact regularly perplexed the officers of Station 51.
Eventually, at some point in the campaign, Torson and McLaine would come to the focal point of the story, when they make a shocking discovery: the reason for Pryce and Gottlieb’s strange friendship is that they are both members of the top-secret underground anarchist organization the Ultra, and not only are plans underway for a national liberation movement freeing Revachol from Coalition control, known as THE RETURN, but the two have set their sights on a much larger goal: world revolution.
The novel cycle
No more campaigns were played in the Elysium world after 2007, when the boys stopped playing the RCM campaign (with the story unfinished). Robert Kurvitz instead shifted his attention to writing a book in the Elysium universe. Eventually the plan became for it to be the opening to a cycle of novels, totaling eight altogether. We have the English titles of each book and their epigraphs, along with the order of the series, from a post by Kurvitz on the dragon.ee forums.
They are as follows:
#0 A SACRED AND TERRIBLE AIR My heart will not rest until it rests in you. - St. Augustine
#1 THE COUNTERMEASURES What am I searching for in your dreams? I am not searching. I am merely cleaning up. - Christian Emmerich
#2 NO TRUCE WITH THE FURIES Man-kind, be vigilant! We loved you. - Julius Fučik
#3 MADRUGADA It must be lit as dreams, by lightning flashes only. - Witold Gombrowicz
#4 TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE DAYS REMAINING Evening brings the child back to the arms of the mother. - Sappho
#5 COALITION WARSHIP I don’t want to be in no indie shit. I want to be in the big ones. I want to be in the ones that matter. - Mickey Rourke
#6 WE ARE THE WAITING What remains, is longing for something completely different. - Luis Althusser
#7 INDIFFERENCE A great silence, some low pressure front is forming. - Arvi Siig
Sacred and Terrible Air was eventually released in Estonian back in 2013, and after the success of Disco Elysium plans were made to translate the book into English. Rumor goes that this translation was very far along or even finished, but unfortunately all plans for releasing this translation to the public have been halted with the ongoing legal dispute.
Fortunately, dedicated fans have taken it upon themselves to translate the book into English for those particularly interested. The most successful translation by far is the one by Group Ibex, which still receives updates to this day.
Read it here.
Full-Core State Nihilist
Many don’t know that Sacred and Terrible Air is actually not the only written work predating Disco Elysium. Before even Sacred and Terrible Air was released, Martin Luiga wrote a short story later given the English title Full-Core State Nihilist, which was uploaded to the old ZA/UM blog. While obviously not as meaty a text as Sacred and Terrible Air, it deals with some overlapping themes and gives us our first proper window into the nation of Mesque, so important to the broader narrative of Elysium.
Full-Core State Nihilist was later heavily edited and uploaded to nihilist.fm, another blog site which many of the ZA/UM members were active on.
Finally, in 2022, Martin Luiga translated the Estonian story, basing his English version on the original ZA/UM blog version, and uploaded it to Medium. This translation itself could be seen as a third edit of the story, featuring new references to Disco Elysium.
(As it happens, I have also arrogantly taken it upon myself to create my own translation of this brilliant story, which combines elements from all three versions, and is an attempt to render the prose in slightly less idiosyncratic English, closer to the “house style” of Disco Elysium, while remaining heavily informed by Luiga’s own translation.)
You can find Luiga’s translation here and my version here.
THE RETURN
In 2014, Robert Kurvitz pitched an idea to his friend and associate, novelist and businessman Kaur Kender, to turn the Torson & McLaine roleplaying campaign into a full-fledged video game for PC. The pitch proposed a 3000 EUR investment to produce a vision document, with design and artwork handled by Aleksander Rostov and Juri Saks, detailing the setting, plot, game mechanics and art style. In 2015, this document was finished, and by this time a provisional name for the project seems to have been settled on: THE RETURN.
This vision document reveals that the game was once planned to feature turn-based tactical combat. The plan was also for the player to create their own character from certain “archetypes,” each with different personalities, talents and appearances. Over time it became clear that these plans were too ambitious; by 2016 the archetypes had been narrowed down into a single character – the “disgrace to the uniform” Harry du Bois – and the prologue chapter of his story, set in Martinaise, was split off into its own game. This smaller project received the title that originally was given to the third novel in the planned cycle (which was almost certainly anticipated to center around the story of Precinct 41 in the year ’51) – NO TRUCE WITH THE FURIES.
No Truce became Disco Elysium and the rest, as they say, is history. But unlike many fans who view Disco as a singular statement that needs no further comment, the developers were far from done with the world they had created. The dominant internal view, especially among the original worldbuilders, was that Disco Elysium was merely a minor project to get ZA/UM’s foot through the proverbial gate. Work on the true game – the one they had wanted to create all along – could finally begin now.
As far as we know, the plot of the game would’ve stuck fairly closely to the events of the Torson & McLaine roleplaying campaign. The game was to open with an attack on Precinct 41, and the rest of the game would’ve been a revenge story of sorts. Players would assume control of Harry again, and this time his primary partner would be Jean Vicquemare, although there would be an assortment of other potential party members. The map would be at least four times bigger and set in Jamrock.
Plot points which would be explored in the sequel had already been set up in Disco Elysium – among these are Pryce and Gottlieb’s revolution, Le Royaume, Edgar Claire, and La Puta Madre. Cuno and Cunoesse would’ve featured as returning characters; not much is known about how Cuno and Kim would’ve been integrated into the game given how variable their endings in Disco Elysium are, but Argo says that he would’ve insisted on Cuno returning. X7 – the now-cancelled DLC project which Argo worked on for the remainder of his time at ZA/UM after Robert, Rostov and Helen were ousted from the company, would’ve featured Cuno as the protagonist. Meanwhile, Cunoesse was planned to reappear in THE RETURN as a leader of a gang of kids in Le Royaume, according to Martin Luiga.
Obviously, the characters of Precinct 41 would've featured heavily, and we'd be introduced to many familiar names which we were already given glimpses of in Esprit de Corps checks in Disco Elysium. One of these would be Lt. Berdyayeva, a superior of Harry’s, whose daughter is Jean Vicquemare’s ex. A character we know nearly nothing about except for the fact that he was conceptualized back in the tabletop days as a sort of joke character, but survived all the way into the planning stage for THE RETURN, is “Marivald the Merry Butcher” – what his role might've been, your guess is as good as mine.
Pryce and Gottlieb’s goals in the game might've involved an attempt to unite several diverse groups with a common interest in an independent Revachol; this would’ve included the besmerties, the West Revacholian crime syndicates mentioned in Disco Elysium. Prominent among them would’ve been La Puta Madre, a Mesque gang leader and drug manufacturer, a man of such immense power that he has RCM officers tending his poppy fields in terror (his influence also seems to survive past the events of the game; he gets a mention in Sacred and Terrible Air). The Madre would’ve apparently been an attractive feminine-presenting man, impeccably dressed and wearing beautiful makeup; his gender-nonconformity a way of projecting power over the traditionally macho culture of Villalobos. The rival gang, Ahura Mazda, led by a gangster known as the Mazda, would’ve presumably also featured prominently – Rostov recently released old concept art depicting one of their gang members.
There were more plans for the sequel that only came along after the development of Disco Elysium itself. Robert has talked about wanting to double down on events like the Mercenary Tribunal, handling big action scenes within the more closed literary format of the FELD dialogue system, hopefully allowing for even more variation than was possible in Disco's big confrontation. Another infamous idea was the inclusion of a second protagonist – a pregnant woman, about 5 months along. Kurvitz has mentioned this idea in interviews, saying that it would be "an incredible writing challenge" within Disco Elysium's internalized skill system: "It would be unbelievable to use our skill system to speak about the bodily sensations of having another organism inside of you, while you're in the setting and talking to another person." That said, the addition of an entire new protagonist is very ambitious indeed – it's not clear whether the idea would involve alternating perspectives of some sort, or a choice in the character creator of which one to go with, but Kurvitz made it clear that these would be entirely different characters, unlike many games which offer only a superficial choice between male and female playable characters. Kurvitz expressed some doubt about being able to include this in the game, but at least expected it to be integrated via an expansion post-release if not.
Miscellaneous info
Argo and Robert have both hinted that there is a metatextual element to the overarching Elysium narrative. Whenever presented with readings or theories that contextualize the game as some sort of story-within-a-story, they act coy and refuse to give any clear answers. Argo outright offered an interpretation of the pale which presents it as what happens as the narrative starts “leaking out” of the head of a reader or audience member no longer actively absorbed in the world and said that “Elysium is a fictional world that is aware that it’s fictional.”
Apparently related to this aspect of the narrative, according to Argo, are the three satellites in orbit above the world of Elysium – Iikon, Zenith and Shakermaker – which have been there since “before the 8,000 years of recorded history” and before “the Polycarpeum event.” The satellites have only been mentioned in niche corners of the currently published materials, and the innocence Polycarp has only been mentioned in secondary materials, such as the artbook and the inside covers of Sacred and Terrible Air, leading to speculation about him being involved with the pale and the memory of his reign being wiped from history.
Also related to the metatext, again according to Argo, is a character known as “the Man Behind the Black Sun” – he gets one mention by the Paledriver in Disco Elysium, but curiously she seems to refer to it as the title of a movie that was released in Mesque during the revolutionary era, potentially a boiadeiro picture starring the actor Gabriel Buenguerro.
The magical elements of the pre-Elysium fantasy world morphed over time into what is called “extraphysics” in Elysium. The innocences, the pale, and “plasm” all testify to this supernatural aspect of the setting.
At some point, Ambrosius Saint-Miro apparently constructs nihilist death camps, which Triss and Tessa (the adopted daughters of Torson and McLaine) end up in and eventually escape.
"Magpies" are not a real thing and were never a part of the original plan for the Elysium narrative. The concept artist who made the image from which the term was popularized has gone on record saying that he invented this idea himself and that it was taken from his own worldbuilding ideas. There is nothing to suggest that this was integrated into the game; Argo and Luiga reacted with confusion at the mention of this concept.
Kurvitz had an insanely ambitious list of projects he wanted to make in the Elysium universe before he was ousted from ZA/UM; "The last one I want to make, when I'm 50 or 60, that I want to absolutely go crazy on and throw out all commercial considerations and get this as conceptual as possible, is the tabletop setting. The working title for the tabletop setting is You Are Vapor. It will be a really, really, crazy pen-and-paper game."
List of sources:
All parts of Argo Tuulik's Human Can Opener Podcast episode.
Martin Luiga's Human Can Opener episode.
Martin Luiga's Medium account and other blog posts: Interview, 8 years ago..., Hello Fellow Worldbuilders, Correction, A Policeman In Revachol, Fuirum Thundergate (Substack)
Tweets by Martin Luiga: 1, 2, 3, 4
Tweets by Argo Tuulik: 1
The dragon.ee post about the novel cycle
"Welcome to Revachol" on the devblog
"Outro" by Robert Kurvitz, featured in the official Disco Elysium artbook.
Disco Elysium, Sacred and Terrible Air, and Full-Core State Nihilist. Obviously.
Possibly more that I'm forgetting. Feel free to ask.
345 notes
·
View notes
Text
Everyone knows that Deadpool can break the 4th wall. It's a large part of his charm: being able to directly address the audience and make popculture references that don't exist in the MCU.
It's a common gag in fanfiction for Logan to be slightly weirded out by this but to just let it go.
But can we talk about the implications of knowing about 4th wall? The potential?
Imagine Wade, knowing that he's trapped inside a story that nobody else is aware of. Knowing that his fate is in the hands of the storywriters and that if he doesn't perform well for the audience, his universe could cease to exist. Knowing that he's just a character and being completely alone in that knowledge.
Knowing that he's played by an actor. Knowing that nothing is really in your control. Knowing how your fate rests in the hand of corporations and money. (Knowing nobody is safe as long as they can be used to further your character development.)
He knows that there's a plot and the general rules of it. He knows that The Conflict can't be resolved that easily and when the end of the movie is coming. He knows how to tell narrative death flags.
He partially makes references to keep the audience engaged (to keep his existence renewed) and partially because it's funny to see everyone confused over a joke only he gets.
But every reference is trying to see if anyone else knows, too. He's throwing out the bait. (Trying to see if anyone knows that the world they're living in is fake.)
And everyone sees him as crazy for it. Schizophrenic, manic, insane. (And maybe he is. It's not like he can prove it to anyone.)
Wade assumes things about the world and they're generally correct. He knows the rules of the game, knows the writers, and has a razor-sharp intuition that has his allies questioning him sometimes (he knows popular tropes).
And so, when he realized that he was in a movie with Logan, he made a lot of assumptions. That they would have to work together. That they'd overcome their differences and grow closer.
But most importantly, he assumed the limits. Disney wouldn't make an openly gay character, would they? Deadpool is fine because he's a joke but Wolverine would never be seriously gay, even if he was queer in the comics.
So he sees it as safe to flirt and joke because it wasn't going anywhere. Being gay was funny to the target audience, but that was it. It'd never be taken seriously in a superhero movie. (Especially with characters as popular as Deadpool and Wolverine.)
Wade was either getting Vanessa or nothing. That was how the story was written.
So he never takes Logan's feelings seriously. He cared about him in a very family-friendly bro kind of way and that was it. He doesn't even consider the idea of romance. He jokingly flirts and spews innuendos, but they never went anywhere. Wouldn't go anywhere. Ever.
And Logan is confused because he thought Wade was attracted to him, yet he keeps brushing him off as friendly when he tries to be sincere. He one time legitimately shared a bendy heart straw with him by Wade's request and Wade just played it off as a bit.
And also, Wade keeps making references he doesn't understand. That nobody understands. And he'd chalk it up to saying random shit except Logan starting paying attention and it's all oddly cohesive and creates a singular story. It ties together in ways that complete nonsense doesn't.
And that's leaving out Wade's "intuition." How he makes comments about "tropes" and "cliches" like they're in a movie except that he ends up being right. Almost every time. It's like he can predict the future, but in a vague yet oddly specific way. Like he can see how things are going to go.
And sometimes, when Wade thinks Logan isn't paying attention, he notices how he mutters to himself in dread. And how something bad almost always happens after.
It makes him disturbed and painfully, achingly curious. What was Wade seeing that he wasn't? It could be that Wade was a secret prodigy, but that didn't seem to be the case? Some of this was too specific and far-fetched.
(All while Wade laments over the lack of agency in his own life, subject to the currents of the story while being painfully aware of it. He couldn't live a life of blissful ignorance like everyone else. It's like he saw a tsunami hurdling toward him—even if he ran away at full speed, the plot always caught up to him somehow.
Trust him. He'd tried to outrun it.)
#deadclaws#deadpool 3#deadpool and wolverine#deadpool movie#poolverine#kitkat#logan howlett#wade wilson#wade x logan#wade/logan#i think this would be a really cool fanfic idea eventually#i have a few others ill work on first buttt#it would be so interesting to explore#poolverine angst
503 notes
·
View notes
Note
Hi DD! I'm about mid-way through the most complex writing project I've ever done (several stories with some red thread storylines progressing in the background, so a sort of interwoven structure). I have an outline of the major plot beats, but the problem is, I've gotten about 2/3 of the way through, and this is where I've started to have trouble bringing my many threads together. The further I go, the the harder keeping it all clear and elegant becomes. Any advice for working at this stage?
It may seem counterintuitive, but once I'd found myself in a situation like this, I would immediately start working backwards.
It's difficult to describe what I mean here except semi-graphically—sort of in terms of one of those strings-pinned-to-the-wall diagrams so familiar to a lot of us from the various evidence-wall memes.
If we're imagining your present as-yet-unconnected threads as more or less progressing left to right, I would "stick pins in them" at their current furthest range and then move straight out to the far right side of the diagram.
For each thread I would then get busy establishing a detailed "end state" for the work: meaning a sense of what you want each of those through-line of plot to look like when you're done in terms of characters, situations, etc. I'd make very sure that all the major through-lines were covered, and (in passing) take a long look at how they'll stand in relationship to one another when all the action's finished.
Then I would start working back along each line toward the center of the matrix—looking to see what the next-to-last thing was that needed to happen to produce the final result on a given through-line. And then the third-to-last. ...And so forth.
I would try to work through the whole set of through-lines for each given step or stage before progressing any further backwards—unless, of course, some leap of logic occurs that makes an obvious connection between two different through-lines, or an earlier stage in the same TL that hadn't been obvious before.
(Is this making sense? God, I hope so.)
My experience with this kind of situation in the past is that it doesn't take too long before, on one or two of the lines you're constructing backwards, you'll hit something fairly major that somehow hadn't come up for consideration previously, or had simply slipped or fallen off the structural "radar" because so much other stuff had been going on around it. That event or piece of data, once perceived, will very often either immediately connect itself back to one or more of the "pinned" through-lines, or promote one of the other incomplete ones into growing connections to other adjacent lines of plot material. It's a little like watching neural tissue developing alternate pathways for itself after an injury.
...Anyway, give this approach a shot and see how it works for you. There are times when simply the act of reversing direction on the plot build will shake something loose in the business surrounding the building-it-forward part. It's worth a try to see what happens.
Hope this helps!
291 notes
·
View notes
Text
Some thoughts on the character descriptions & other details from game files. DA:TV spoilers under cut.
[original source link]
Some of the char notes are v neat and interesting. ◕‿◕ (caveat to bear in mind of course: gamefiles info can contradict what is presented in game as plots and ideas naturally & normally can change a lot throughout development. what's in the game and other media is what's canon. that said they're still neat and interesting to think about.)
You can read Ghil talking to some of her "stock" in a/some Trespasser armor codex[es]
Like Dalish lore in modern Thedas has it (the Ascension of Ghilan'nain), Ghil had the distinction of being the only mortal elf uplifted into the Evanuris pantheon
" (in this case, Solas's murder of his friend Felassan by stabbing him in the back)" - "[TME quote] He never heard the blow that killed him." q.q
Spirits of Profit are a thing (note: this kind of thing I just like to take as canon as long as nothing in-game actually contradicts it being a possible thing in the world hh)
Spirits of Need are a thing
Spirits of Passion are a thing
Demons of Obsession are a thing
Spirits of Freedom are possibly a thing
Not just a General, Felassan was the second-in-command
The idea/possibility that the Caretaker is (or at one point during development was thought to be) what remains of a truly ancient dragon, who long ago took on the form of this spirit, then was summoned by ancient elves, slaps
"A spirit of chaos and freedom, unleashed by Solas to break through a labyrinth to his ally Mythal", "A spirit heavily implied to be the Caretaker in another era, speaking with Solas about the attempt to rescue Mythal. Speaking with the spirit, Solas makes it clear that he will sacrifice anything to save Mythal." - I wonder if at one point there was an idea to have a scene which was another relivable Solas Crossroads memory, where this Mythal-rescue scenario would play out? Maybe Rook would have 'played' the Spirit of Chaos in that memory similar to the one where Solas and Felassan call spirits to launch an attack on an Elgar'nan fortress
Inquisitor - "relatable leader and mentor", "confident, knowing" 🥺
Interesting to see that Charter at one point may have appeared in the game and had a role. There are still references to her and her work in some DA:TV codexes
The character descriptions for Varric and Dorian, and the Morrigan speech pattern note, are so fun hhh. some characters simply need no introduction
Two possible appearances, depending on how the player resolves her past: 1. Dark black dyed hair 2. Red hair with streaks of grey CHARACTERDESCRIPTION: Isabela from Dragon Age II
At one point there was possibly an idea to have further choices such as what happened to Isabela in DA2 be in the game.
"Manfred is curious, loyal, innocent, and wants to be helpful." 🥺
I had personally been hcing Lucanis as 36 so that is neat
the ages listed are age ranges meant to help inform the char info, & info players would actually see/hear in the games and other media like books etc would take precedence. I would place Teia and Harding as at least a few years older than what's given for example (Teia was 28 when she became a Talon, and it's now 9:52; and I don't really see Harding as having been as young as 19 in DA:I in 9:42 as a Lead Scout. young definitely, but not that young).
and this is more based on subjective vibes than any canon info, but I read Viago as being older than this, and older than Lucanis, Illario and Teia.
ACCENT: Hint of Italian, but not as strong as Zevran's. (He is from a coastal city in Antiva, which had an influx of Tevinter refugees from Seheron after the Qunari invaded 100 years or so ago. That’s why he looks and sounds different from Zevran and Josephine.) [Caterina] Older Korean-Spanish or Korean-Italian woman (from the same region as Lucanis)
This is neat worldbuilding. a hint at what people from Seheron or people with Seheron heritage may be like.
Lucanis now bears scars both physically and mentally from his time as a brainwashed executioner for an evil mage cult. No longer the pragmatic assassin always in control, he wrestles with becoming what he’s spent his life hunting: a demon-possessed abomination. He longs to return to his former glory, but the monster inside him demands blood and vengeance. With his future hanging in the balance, Lucanis must decide whether to give into the demon or control it.
some other ideas about what Lucanis' storyline may/could have been at a different point in time.
Taash is a Qunari agent with a specialization in infiltration -- a thief, basically. She can scale buildings, pick locks, and take out enemies with quick and brutal efficiency.
some other ideas about what Taash's storyline/character may/could have been at a different point in time. maybe Ben-Hassrath-y? infiltration and stuff reminds me of the 'spies and heists' version of the game that was reported on at one point.
This whole set of descriptions is so good, no notes \( ̄▽ ̄)/
Spite was once a Spirit of Passion drawn to Lucanis's will to live, but years of torture and a desire for revenge has twisted him into a Demon of Obsession.
some other ideas about what Spite's storyline/character may/could have been at a different point in time. in-game we hear Spite referred to as a Spirit of Determination (Isabela, Rowan, Solas), and Mary Kirby has described Spite on social media as having the basic aspect of Defiance.
"The Godmother of the Antivan Crows" hhh\( ̄▽ ̄)/
Interesting backstory information on Rayan Ivenci
Dartonia's farming background and Timetri's military family background tracks with an in-game dialogue line Lucanis has in banter about how Crows often recruit from the army and the trades
Ivenci and Fletcher [Crows Merchant in the Diamond] are both non-binary and use they/them pronouns; they use they/them pronouns also in the game
The Crows are still recruiting and training minors, if a 15 year-old Crow is already well-trained in dual daggers. fledglings Dartonia and Timetri are given as 17.
"Chance is a stylish, dramatic Orlesian who joined the Crows to be their emmisary among the courts of Orlais. (French accent.)" - handy inspo grounds (just one example of many things you could hc) to hc why an Antivan Crow Rook doesn't have an Antivan accent, if you wanted. there is also the example of Heir, who is Orlesian (unless of course you simply hc them as having an Antivan accent :D)
The Treviso Market master's name is Sidestreet Alidare
Anaris had "half-possessed" Cyrian, via the mask as we saw
Anaris, an ancient elven "would-be" god. If you were a power-hungry and/or angry 'mortal' elf back then, it must have been maddening that only Ghil was granted ascension, and to live under Evanuris tyranny
Strife Dragonage is 50
Strife is a keen-eyed hunter who grew up in the elven city slums, but was taken in by the forest-dwelling Dalish elves and taught to be an expert woodsman. He's rugged, tough, adventurous, and doesn't suffer fools. He feels some disconnect between his city-upbringing and his current role as a hunter - somtimes Strife worries he's an imposter, not truly growing up with his people, but he's tried to take their teachings to heart. Strife is loyal to those who earn his friendship, and fiercely protective of his clan.
here I am simply quoting the Strife blurb, as a Strife appreciator. reference to his backstory as a Starkhaven City Elf and joining of Dalish Clan Morlyn, and the toughness he showed in Three Trees to Midnight. nice to see his perspective / thoughts explored a bit here as a City Elf who joined the Dalish and what that means to him and how he relates to the world.
IRELIN A Dalish elf who grew up in the woods, Irelin has learned the ancient and incredibly rare art of shapeshifting. She uses this ability to move secretly in the forest, scouting for her people. Practical and no-nonsense when it comes to defending her clan and her friends, she has a healthy distrust of outsiders, especially the humans who've persecuted and exploited her people for so long. Irelin takes a secret joy in the thrill and power of shapeshifting, however. She loves exploring as the different animals of the forest, and knows some of their paths better than anyone.
I loved seeing this info on/exploration of Irelin too. :)
Protect Evka and Antoine
Rook Thorne snippet: "If Rook is a Grey Warden, Greta [30] has met them before--they both became Wardens around the same time. Greta doesn't know Rook well--it's more like running into an old school mate--but she likes them". maybe this is simply in the game as dialogue ofc, but I haven't played a Thorne yet so I wouldn't know :)
"A cat" hhhhhh :D
Mae's age-range is 50
Dragon King: "Basically, a bad guy doing his evil bad guy best." lmao
Hezenkoss's creation is described as a "bone golem", taking me back to the flesh golems (Harvester etc) in prior DA games
Is "Sealed Spirit" the Formless One? since its description mentions possessing an undead dragon, and its in the Mourn Watch/Necropolis section.
Tarquin x Viper feels aaa
Vorgoth's whole segment (and Vorgoth as a character) is so fascinating. maybe they're a rogue, Thedas-loving member of the same type of entity as whatever the Executors are? some of the description here and their appearance in the game reminds me of the description of the Executor in TN and also the Executors' appearance in the DA:TV secret ending.
THE EXECUTOR APPEARANCE: Human-appearing CHARACTERDESCRIPTION: A masked and hooded figure that speaks like someone unfamiliar with language in general. Stilted, awkward, but with a low menace. SPEECHPATTERN: Stilted. Is trying to form words from thoughts that are far more complex than a regular person's.
also very intriguing, naturally. the way they're described (trying to form words from thoughts, being unfamiliar with language) makes them sound spirit/demon-y or adjacent.. it also reminds me somewhat of the description of the way the Cekorax was rendering speech (iirc) in TN. if the place they come from does indeed have empty settlements made of crystal and obsidian - well, entities unfamiliar with language etc in this kind of way might also be unfamiliar with regular settlements/mortal world settlements, no? at one point in time it may have been the idea that we would meet an Executor in-game as part of the story.
(like I said I know it being in the game files doesn't automatically make something canon, it's just fun to peruse and add to hcs or not etc. this post is just a bunch of personal headcanon/speculation really ^^)
[original source link]
#dragon age: the veilguard#dragon age the veilguard spoilers#dragon age: dreadwolf#dragon age 4#the dread wolf rises#da4#dragon age#bioware#video games#felassan#Best Elf#solas#morrigan#queen of my heart#long post#longpost#dragon age: tevinter nights#alcohol cw#lgbtq+#strife#inquisitor
129 notes
·
View notes
Text
A redraw of one of my favorite scenes from Murder Drones: Intermission
And now it’s mandatory gushing time.
I sincerely adore this piece of fan work so much. Murder Drones is one of my favorite pieces of modern media, but it has one big issue imo: lack of padding. Everything is happening so fast that it feels like some point of character developments get looked over in favor of the plot (bit of a slow burn person, lmao)
Cabin fever is one of my favorite episodes, and I was kinda disappointed we didn’t really get much interaction of Uzi after the camp. I would have loved to see how she reacts to her solver powers manifesting further n all that fun jazz. This fan work helps fill that gap :3
Also I LOVE UZI AND V INTERACTION IT FILLS MY BRAIN WITH HAPPINESS YUHHHHHHHH- anyway
Please, if you have not watched Murder Drones: Intermission, I highly recommend it. A lot of labor and love went into it, and it reflects
Oh and
Scene that I redrew lol

#murder drones#murder drones uzi#uzi doorman#murder drones v#serial designation v#murder drones intermission#vuzi#murder drones vuzi#I’m so sorry I love robot yuri#it has to go into the vuzi tag#violetviolence#GOD I LOVE ANGST WOMEN AND MURDER DRONES
209 notes
·
View notes
Note
You might have answered this or this ask was a long time coming, but what do you think of Bakugo?
He's an author's pet and fandom darling who makes lots and lots of money, so any "development" he gets is entirely Sisyphean. His redemption arc could have been GREAT.
As it is, it stagnated terribly because the author liked Bakugo when he'd get angry and yell at people. Which is precisely what his supposed development should have him NOT doing. Every single lesson he supposedly learns is just a performance for that moment: he doesn't actually learn that lesson because he's just going to backslide after that. The author refuses to commit. Think about how the series ends: the guy still gets mad and yells at the press, and his hero rankings are actively getting worse. The guy claims he wants to be the best. That he wants to be the number 1 hero. But he does absolutely nothing to reach that goal besides train and improve his battle power. The same as usual. He CERTAINLY has the power to do so, given all the boosts the author gave him! Mirio can't do shit to him. In terms of power, Bakugo absolutely should be on top. The entire series hyping this dude to eventually be number 1 and then the ending portraying him as a loser who failed at his one major ambition because his time at UA and all the previous lessons we supposedly saw him learn didn't stick...is baffling. It reeks of the author's fear of fan backlash. He knew a portion of the fanbase didn't like Bakugo, so he has Tin Tin become the number 1 hero instead. Making you honestly question what was the point of all of this? Bakugo is VERY privileged. We've got characters in this series who get basically ZERO character work, have no personality traits or backstory (Sato!) and then here's Bakugo who gets loads of screentime, a whole slew of power ups, gets to come back from the dead and then laugh off his injuries. Mirko lost multiple limbs, Kyoka lost an ear, Endeavor lost an arm and apparently the use of his legs. But the narrative said maybe Bakugo might lose an arm, but he's Bakugo so of course he doesn't. The author loves Bakugo too much, which is why everything is so easy for him: -Everyone loves him despite his anti social and quite frankly utterly unacceptable behavior. His continued bad actions being tolerated looks like blatant favoritism because of his strong quirk.
-He has the easiest lay-up redemption arc ever. NO ONE knows the extent of how horrible he was in the past except for his victim, who has already forgiven him. There was zero push back for him becoming a better person. He doesn't have a "Dabi" or any real opposition. It's entirely about him learning not to self sabotage.
-Even when he got kidnapped by the villains, they treated him with kid gloves. No torture, no beatings, he didn't have his quirk taken from him. He wasn't subjected to any sort of brainwashing. They didn't have to rescue Bakugo as he was in the process of being turned into a Nomu. The villains didn't take his mom and dad hostage to force him to be a villain. The guy is able to attack them the second they set him free, and then the plot bails him out when he's about to get his ass kicked. Let's explore a "What If?" We'll make Bakugo's redemption arc pop more while also giving Shigaraki the last laugh here. Okay, so Kamino happens and Shigaraki is mega pissed. It's revealed that actually, he believes Bakugo would have been a good villain because he had AFO's "friends" go look into his history, and he got ahold of lots of social media and classroom footage of Bakugo's bullying. Bakugo escaped before Shigaraki could show him all this and further make his point about why Bakugo was 100% villain material. So, he puts all of this unedited stuff together in a truth bomb and AFO's contacts, who he has access through via Kurogiri, ensure this gets to every news station in Japan. There's years worth of material of cell phone footage and social media posts, by his classmates, of Bakugo's asshole behavior. People recorded him bullying, yelling, breaking rules, belittling people. Izuku in particular. But the killshot is the stolen classroom security footage where he told Izuku to kill himself. Instantly, Bakugo's life is significantly harder. The new friends he made at UA see him completely differently. The teachers look like clowns for defending this guy on live TV. All Might is dumbstruck that Katsuki was really that bad before and is appalled.
Bakugo then has to fight an uphill battle where it's seriously questioned if he'll get to stay at UA. Having all of his past actions thrown in his face when he thought he was in the clear makes him take a good hard look at how he acted and still acted. He has a very tough discussion with his parents, Aizawa and Nezu where Nezu points out the pattern of behavior he's personally seen from Bakugo during his time at UA. The excessive force used in the battle trials, his behavior during the sports festival, him ignoring orders to go fight at the summer camp instead of using his quirk to fly away to safety, how he failed the provisional license exam for conduct issues, and then his later fight with Midoriya(Deku vs Kacchan 2,) which they now identified is not a "rivals" relationship, but instead a bullying dynamic. Nezu entered into that conversation fully prepared to expel Bakugo and wipe his hands clean of what he saw as a liability to his school. However, Bakugo's genuine remorse for his actions and willingness to do whatever it takes to make this right causes him to change his mind. He's instead put on probation and takes anger management. If he dips a toe out of line from then on, he's done.
Bakugo has to re-earn his friendships, and deal with major negative PR from what he did in the past. Everyone looks at him differently now and he fights an uphill battle to be a hero. He went from the top all the way to the bottom.
We've accomplished multiple things here. -Shigaraki is significantly less impotent than before and he actually inflicted some lasting damage to hero society, and Bakugo in particular. -We organically furthered Bakugo's redemption arc and made him have to confront his dark past just as it seemed like he reached a turning point. -We gave Bakugo an issue to solve that he's forced to either grow from or kiss his hero dreams goodbye. This isn't something that can be defeated with violence. You could even have Midoriya continue to be Green Jesus in this scenario. He forgave Bakugo ages ago. We just have the other characters react to Bakugo not being who they thought he was. Social consequences hurt way worse than physical ones. Bakugo could laugh off a beating, but how's he react when his friends don't want him sitting next to them at lunch anymore? How's he feel when Mineta's the only guy who wants to be seen with him, since his reputation is already in the gutter?
I'll end this by discussing how this series robbed Bakugo of his humanity. Anger is a secondary emotion. When you feel anger, it first begins as something else. Shame, guilt, fear, weakness, helplessness. Anger is just an easy and motivating emotion to feel that can mask what you actually experience inside. So, we get Bakugo's "apology" where he explains how he didn't like Izuku. But why? The series doesn't dig deeper into what he isn't saying. Was it because he saw a kid with no quirk who was heroic and had people who liked him, but Bakugo only felt valued because of his powerful quirk? Did he ask himself, subconsciously, if anyone would care about Katsuki if he didn't have his power, and in his heart, he said no? The guy is unable to truly accept compliments, but he's an egotist who needs attention and to be acknowledged. Why? What's eating him inside that he needs this constant validation, both internally and externally? If the underlying reasons behind why you get angry are addressed, then you stop feeling angry. If it's based on insecurities and those get fixed, you just feel better. You've learned new coping strategies. Even at the end of the series, the anger is still present. He gets mad because people want to talk to their famous hero who killed the quirk devil? Because people give him the praise he's rightfully entitled to for being objectively one of the strongest people on the planet who uses their powers to help people? So he ends the series....not the number 1 hero. He doesn't have much of a relationship with Izuku anymore. And he's dissatisfied. And his anger problem still hasn't been fixed since the issues behind it never got addressed. Well, I guess Shoto is the only real winner among the important hero kids.
54 notes
·
View notes
Text
Carnation Recollection Event and Card Analysis

I'm gonna do some analysis on my favourite Project Sekai events and you can't stop me.
First up is Carnation Recollection. This was the first event I saw when I started playing Project Sekai, and I've always loved Kanadetomosusora, so it already had a soft spot in my heart - but I think it has some interesting meaning behind it too.
Spoiler warning for Carnation Recollection since obviously you can't analyse something without talking about its plot. I'm going to recap the story below as well, so if you haven't read it in a while or don't care about it being spoiled it'll be there for you! I definitely recommend reading or re-reading the event though, my analysis references specific points that would have bloated the recap so you may be missing context if you haven't actually read the event (plus chapters 6 and 8 are amazing and never fail to make me cry).
I wrote a lot so please check it out below.
Story
Recap
Carnation Recollection begins with Kanade trying to make a new song that resonates with Mafuyu. After multiple failed attempts, the newly-created Nightcord Luka suggests that Kanade needs to consider what she's trying to make Mafuyu feel with her music or it will lead her further into darkness. As Kanade struggles to find what her music's intentions are, she visits her comatose father, which only causes her mind's fixation on desperately trying to save Mafuyu to worsen. On her way home, Kanade happens to meet with Mizuki, who impulsively takes her to a few different locations for song inspiration. At these locations, Kanade begins to be reminded of things from her childhood - a music box her father made, carnations her mother loved, and a memory of when they visited a field of carnations as a family. Mizuki sees how much these things mean to Kanade, so they try to help her find the field of carnations she remembers. As they're about to give up hope, the two finally find the carnation field - a small flower patch next to a fountain - and Kanade is able to remember the time she spent with her parents there, the picnic they had together, and the songs her father played to make her mother smile. Once she returns home, Kanade realises that her desire to stop Mafuyu from disappearing only stems from protecting her own mental health, and that what she really wants is for her music to make Mafuyu smile just as her mother did on that day. Finally, Kanade writes a new song considering these feelings, and after sharing it with the rest of the Nightcord group Mafuyu develops a gentle, involuntary smile.
Analysis
Kanade's character is, in essence, all about repression. After her dad went into a coma due to stress, she has become fixated on trying to save him and whoever else she can by making music. Because of the blame she places on herself for her father's situation, as well as the passing of her mother, Kanade has repressed all of her happy childhood memories. Her memories have become painful to think about due to the events that have unfolded since, so she pushes them out of her mind. Instead, she has become obsessed with trying to save people, blocking out any other feelings she has to force herself into desperately creating more and more music. This has led her into an extremely unhealthy mindset where she is unable to think about herself, barely keeping up with meals or sleep, while simultaneously not being able to create music to her best abilities due to her repressed feelings. However, through the course of Carnation Recollection, we see Kanade gradually remember a moment from her childhood, finally expressing the now-painful but pure and joyful memories of her past. As the story progresses, Kanade begins to accept this memory despite the pain it may bring, allowing her to feel a small amount of the relief and happiness she once felt as a child and thus allowing her to create a song that resonates with Mafuyu enough to make her smile.
Cards
Untrained
The 4 untrained cards depict arguably the 4 most important moments of the story - Luka's discussion with Kanade about figuring out her music's purpose; Mizuki's impulsive desire to help Kanade find inspiration; Kanade's rediscovery of a happy childhood memory she had repressed; and finally, Mafuyu's involuntary smile upon hearing Kanade's new song. While there isn't a lot to analyse here since the untrained cards simply depict events as they happened, the specific moments they have chosen to present in this form give some insight into what is most important for this event.
The moment in which Kanade rediscovers the carnation patch is an especially vital instance, triggering her memory of the past and thus giving her a glimpse into her true feelings. Being the main Carnation Recollection graphic, this moment summarises the point of the event - Kanade's rediscovery of a memory from her childhood, and the mixed feelings that come with it.
Trained (and 2-star)
The trained cards, alongside the 2-star card, have very clear motifs relating to Kanade's memories and family. Each card has motifs relating to music boxes, such as the wind-up key on Ena's belt ribbons, music box strip paper underneath Mafuyu and Kanade, and the gears in the backgrounds of all 4 trained cards. On the surface, this represents the music box created by Kanade's father mentioned in the event. However, considering the simplistic, innocent nature of music boxes and their sounds, it can be suggested that this is more representative of Kanade's childhood as a whole. A childhood free of pain and repression, wherein Kanade was happy with simple, joyful, warm melodies because these are what made her and her parents happy.
White carnations are also present within all 5 cards, both as part of the characters' outfits and as petals falling throughout the trained cards. While these represent Kanade's mother and are often symbols of deceased mothers in general, they are also representative of purity, love, and remembrance. These themes are all directly relevant to this event, with Kanade having remembered parts of her past and the purity and love she had felt as a child. White carnations are a greatly important motif to Kanade's character, representing everything she has tried to repress about her past.
Moreover, the trained cards of this event have greatly dynamic and harsh lighting. Luka, for instance, is subdued in darkness, with blindingly bright light peeking through a door behind her. The vocaloids are created out of the main characters' feelings, so while this is a Luka card this bright warm-toned light may instead represent the joy and purity of Kanade's memories, seeping through a wall of repression and slowly filling the cold darkness she has created for herself as she begins to think about her childhood again. This warm light is much more present in Kanade's card, hitting her harshly as she lays on the ground. The harshness in Kanade's card may represent the pain that her memories bring, hurting her to think about due to everything that's happened since - however, her vulnerable sleeping position as well as the subtle smile on her face suggests that she accepts and bears this pain instead of trying to suppress or fight it like she has previously.
Conclusion
All in all, Carnation Recollection is an event about Kanade finally expressing parts of her past again after years of repression. It is about Kanade opening up to her childhood and letting her emotions influence her again after trapping herself in an unhealthy and destructive mindset for so long. Carnation Recollection is the essence of Kanade's character, and the beginning of her journey to healing.
Thanks for reading this giant post, this took ages to write so I hope it was coherent. I don't see many people talk about Kanade as a character outside of her interconnection with Mafuyu, so hopefully this was an interesting perspective to read. Or not. I don't know. But thanks for reading anyway! Feel free to comment/reblog your own thoughts as well
#this is probably really cringe and surface level but I tried my best#pjsk#project sekai#luka#megurine luka#kanade yoisaki#yoisaki kanade#mizuki akiyama#akiyama mizuki#mafuyu asahina#asahina mafuyu#ena shinonome#shinonome ena#nightcord at 25:00#25 ji nightcord de#analysis#character analysis
39 notes
·
View notes
Text
EPISODE TWO.
previous episode | series info | next episode

The time it happened was when Izumi and Koji had been busy with their sports club—and the students who didn’t have anything to attend to stayed behind and finished up work in the classroom. This leaves you, Hinata, and one of the girls in your class who pounces on you the moment you’re alone.
“Hey…” Yuriko starts. She grins slyly, pushing her chair closer to yours until you’re cornered against your desk and the wall. "You and Yukitaka-kun seem pretty close, huh? What’s that all about?”
Warmth builds in your cheeks. “You think so?”
“Don’t act so coy!” Yuriko cackles. “You know everyone in the class thinks so.”
You hide your face with your hands. “It’s embarrassing…!”
As if a dam broke, Yuriko shakes you back and forth by the shoulders like lifelong friends. “Yukitaka is the guy even girls in other classes have a crush on! You’re so lucky!”
You feel pride bloom in your chest. Yeah… Yeah! This is how it goes. Just like the movies, the shows—it’s normal to have rivals. It’s part of the plot, even; for your character development and to further progress your relationship with Izumi. Everyone likes a good jealousy trope.
“So? What are you two?”
You might have bluescreened. “Huh?”
“Are you together?”
You’re not sure what face you’re making by this point, but it must’ve been pretty confusing if Yuriko looks mildly worried. “I— What! No!”
“So you aren’t?”
“So what?”
“Don’t get so upset!” She claps you on the back. Air blows out of your lungs for a good two seconds. Hinata looks over his shoulder, and you flush in embarrassment, realizing that he’s hearing every word of this conversation. “Everyone thinks you’re together except the both of you, apparently. Have you at least confessed to each other?”
“Well… I like him,” you mutter shyly.
“Does he like you back?”
…Does he?
Your eyes widen.
You cannot believe you managed to skip over the most important part—reciprocated feelings! Usually, it’d take a lot longer for that, for the build up of the story. But this is real life! There’s no need for all that nonsense! You have to find out if he does.
“I don’t know yet, but I will soon,” you promise.
Yuriko pales. “That’s pretty threatening. Don’t coerce the guy.”
“I wouldn’t have to. We’re soulmates.”
“...I mean—I guess?”
As fate designed it, you and the three boys grow closer and closer with each Lunch break and free period spent together. It’s all in your plan to make Izumi like you back, but Koji and Shoyo aren’t half-bad, either.
Well, mostly Koji. Shoyo is still a real piece of work. You bicker back and forth endlessly—you with your grudge against his bike, and Shoyo because he’s simply confrontational. But whatever relationship you have with Shoyo doesn’t matter, not when you seem to have progressed with Izumi.
You feel like Izumi feels the same way—he has to be.
“You notice it, too, right, Shoyo?”
“I mean—I dunno…” Hinata trails off awkwardly. He glances around the room nervously. But why would he? It’s just the two of you alone; Yuriko had left. “It’s only been two weeks.”
“But if we’re soulmates, then you don’t worry about stuff like that.” You inch closer to Hinata, nose-to-nose. “Don’t you think so, Shoyo? You think so, too, right?”
Hinata sucks in a sharp breath, turning several shades darker. “I… I—” He shoves your face away, then buries his own in his palms. “I don’t know! Leave me alone!”
You pout. “Aren’t you his best friend? You’re a useless wingman.”
“I didn’t sign up to be one!”
What a real piece of work.
Yuriko wasn’t joking when she said that at least half the class was nudging you in Izumi’s direction. You almost feel bad for Izumi, who looks just as lost as you are when your classmates not-so-subtly push you to each other when the class is forming a crowd. They giggle and smirk, and when Izumi asks you, “What’s going on?”, you have to play dumb. You can’t tell if they’re ruining or accelerating your plan—either way, it’s throwing you just as much as Izumi off.
“I guess they think we make a great pair,” you say. “Or something.”
Izumi mulls it over for a few seconds, before smiling down at you. “Well, they aren’t wrong.”
And because you’re hopeless and harboring a big crush on the guy, you stutter and nearly trip over your own feet. The class explodes and bullies you relentlessly with teasing remarks. Your face is hot, and Izumi doesn’t really get it, but that’s okay. This is peak middle school romance—one of them’s gotta be clueless.
Fortunately, you don’t have to put with any more of that when the teacher walks in and tells everyone off, effectively freeing you from nosy teenagers.
You weren’t prepared for how awkward it would be. If you confess and get rejected, does that mean that the class will know about it as well? What a terrifying pressure to put on your shoulders.
“Are you guys coming over to watch our match?” Izumi asks one day. “We’re going up against some of the top guys. It’ll be fun.”
Hinata emits a wordless sound of excitement. “You can win this, Izumin!”
Izumi giggles. “We don’t have to win—I just want to play.”
Hinata thwacks a hand against Izumi’s back. “Believe in yourself!”
“Okay, okay,” Izumi says placatingly, but he’s still tittering.
“I’ll watch, Izumi,” you say with a beam. You haven’t seen him play before, but you bet that he would look really cool, and you would feel your heart thump-thump the entire time. You’d cheer for him.
Izumi’s smile is less teasing and more genuine and directed at you. “Okay. I’ll see you there.”
Koji gags, shattering the fragile moment that’s carefully bubbled between you two. “Stop it. Gross.”
You fluster, unsure of what to say or if you should even give yourself an excuse. Luckily, Izumi saves you.
“What about you, Shoyo? How’s your volleyball club?”
Hinata pouts. Even his hair and shoulders seem to have deflated. “I’m still the only member. The girls’ club is helping me out, but it’s not the same.”
Koji and Izumi share guilty glances, but it’s not like they can do much for him, either—at least, not in the way Hinata needs.
You wonder, gaze lingering on Hinata.
When Hinata suddenly becomes interested in volleyball, he just has to drag everyone along with him. During lunch, he begs for everyone to steal a ball from the sports club, but you’re all good students, so Hinata ends up asking permission by himself. Serves him right. Izumi is busy enough with basketball, while Koji is too used to using his legs and is not making up for good practice. You just don’t want to play.
“I just want to play,” Hinata whines at you, aiming his puppy eyes that don’t affect you in the slightest.
“Get off me, you midget,” you hiss, knocking him off your shoulders.
He slides away in a pathetic slither. “Break is almost over! Please! Just toss to me!”
“Jeez! Fine!”
Hinata makes a wordless sound of unadulterated glee, classic Hinata.
“But not now. We have a volleyball at home.” You ignore Hinata’s wide smile, feeling rudely affected by it. “Let’s go to the park or something.”
“Really!? You’d do that?”
“Yeah. Sure, I guess.” Hinata keeps smiling wider, and your irritation spikes. “It’s only to get you off my back—I’m not doing you any favors.”
Your annoyed rebuttal is interrupted by Koji’s cough. You and Hinata turn to them with blinking eyes. Izumi and Koji stare at you with something like wonder—like they’re seeing something they missed before.
“Since when did you two get so close?” Koji asks suspiciously.
“Ha?” you and Hinata chorus.
“You call this close?” Then you bury your knuckle on his head, grinning at Hinata’s answering whine. “I hate his guts.”
Izumi laughs. “You two act like you’ve known each other forever.”
You shudder, horrified. “Oh, dear.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Hinata says, tugging on your wrist. You’re a bit miffed that he’s only mildly offended. “Come with me; let’s return this to the gym.”
“What? Why do you need someone to come with you—”
Hinata ignores your attempts at nudging his grip off, marching to the gymnasium like he isn’t holding you hostage.
“Why do you have a volleyball at home? Do you play?” he asks.
You thought Hinata would be uninterested in sports compared to Izumi and Koji. You’re not quite sure where this sudden obsession has come from. He just showed up one day in class and declared that he would be the Little Giant… whatever that means.
“My cousin does.”
“Is your cousin a pro?”
“I just know Tenma plays a lot. I dunno.”
“Oh, cool.” Hinata doesn’t loosen his grip even as you reach the gymnasium. He has a powerful grip for someone who looks short and is built like a twig. How surprising. He directs that dumb fucking grin toward you once again, forcing you to look off to the side.
You want to say something to piss him off and wipe that smile off his face, but Hinata goes incredibly still and silent. You follow his gaze and see Yuriko by the corner, staring at you and Hinata weirdly.
“Hi,” you call out, waving.
“H-Hey,” she says, “um, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” then scurries off.
Weird...
Hinata shoulder-checks your side. “Hey.”
You glance over at him briefly; he’s still looking at the spot Yuriko was. “Hey, you.”
“When are you gonna confess to Izumi?”
You gape, mouth hanging uselessly as Hinata keeps his gaze forward.
“I—I mean… I don’t know, really.” Is he trying to change the subject? You bury your face in your hands, steaming from the ears. “Maybe when we graduate? I’m trying to warm up to him first.”
“Do it soon,” Hinata says as if that isn’t the most cryptic thing ever. You have to.”
“What? Why do I have to?”
Hinata huffs a frustrated breath. “Just—trust me, okay? You wanted me to be your wingman, don’t you?”
“You’re not making any sense, weirdo.”
“S-Shut up. I’m trying to help!”
It’s hard to discern if Izumi likes you back. He treats you the same way he treated you when you first met: sweet and nice and soft-spoken, like the Shoujo male lead should act. But he’s not doing anything.
It all changes when you walk home with him in tow. I’ll walk you there, Izumi insists, even though he goes the other direction. Your silly romantic heart flutters at this gentlemanly act, but the somber air prevents you from kicking your feet over it. It’s a haunting silence—something bad is going to happen. You can almost hear the sad music in the air.
“Um,” you start to interrupt the doomed silence. “I heard that you and Koji temporarily joined Hinata’s volleyball club to help him get into the tournament. That’s really sweet.”
Izumi’s face scrunches up. “Yeah.”
You laugh softly. “Don’t be nervous. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Izumi tuts. “I know Shoyo will be alright. He has a good jump.”
“Really?”
“You’ve never seen it?” Izumi tilts his head. “I thought you invited Shoyo over so you could play?”
You shake your head. “No, we haven’t really had the chance to do that. You and Koji should come over, too, when we play. Maybe when school ends.”
Izumi smiles, but seems to remember something that has him frowning. “Hey. Did I tell you about it?” At your confusion, Izumi clarifies, “That I’m moving out for high school. My mom found a good school for me, but that means…”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“That’s—” Izumi isn’t staying. Is that why Hinata told you to confess soon?
Izumi kicks at the grass. “Where are you going to study for college?”
“Karasuno. It’s where my cousin went.”
Izumi appears dejected, casting his gaze to the ground. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” You won’t be seeing each other a lot anymore, not like this, at least.
“That’s the same high school Shoyo is going to,” Izumi says. “At least you’ll have company.”
“Izumi,” you say, with a surge of determination, just as Izumi mutters your name. “Ah—you go first.”
“Y/N,” Izumi begins, blushing and rubbing at the nape of his neck. He looks charming like this: shy and boyish; you can see why it’s easy for anyone to have a crush on him. “I really like you, you know? I think you feel the same. I mean—at least that’s what I heard, so…”
“O-Oh.” You hide your face behind your hands. You peek in between two fingers just to see what his reaction is. “I have a really big crush on you.”
You don’t know what face you’re making, but Izumi takes a glance at it and blushes in a deep red. “Yeah,” he stutters. “You’re pretty and smart and nice. But—”
“But you’re moving,” you finish for him.
Izumi sighs. “Yeah.”
You breathe in the somber air, wondering if it was always meant to go like this the moment you met Izumi.
[ series taglist: @lynketa @quikhs @dazqa @hajwnidnjf @auranny @sur-i-ki @idontevenknow129 @arael-asuka @romyoia @noble-17 @lottierulez ]
hi to the people in the taglist!! would you mind telling me if the taglist works >__< thank you very much. And thank u for reading!!
#606: BYCGM#haikyuu x reader#haikyuu x you#haikyuu series#hinata shoyo x reader#hinata shoyo x you#hinata shouyou x reader#shoyo hinata x reader
101 notes
·
View notes
Text
Had this thought when I was talking to someone else here but...
There are several instances in Obey Me! where a truth bomb is dropped in order to move the plot forward. You would think everyone else in the scene would have more to say about it, or have a much stronger reaction to what's happening, but then they just...don't react.
For example:
Likewise, in Season 2, Diavolo was explaining to everybody at the House of Lamentation the "MC is a ring" theory, citing how they have angelic heritage, which is part of the ring. Solomon and Simeon are present during this conversation, and none of them react to this statement. It makes sense for neither Solomon or Simeon to react since they were sharing notes with Diavolo on the calamities in hard mode. They likely knew about MC's heritage at that point already. What their thoughts are on MC being part angel and how that impacts Diavolo's exchange program are things that we probably won't ever know.
Shortly before MC was sent on a timeline hunt by Barbatos, Lucifer had confessed to his family about Lilith's true fate and the deal with Diavolo. In response, Beel asks Lucifer to give his other brothers a little more credit and trust them more next time. It was a great scene. Then timeline shenanigans happen, and this important moment seems like it got reset. It's unclear whether this revelation happened or not, and what came of it. I guess they didn't want a rehash of the same exact scene again when all the other revelations were going down, which is such a shame because I felt like that scene was so important to finally call out Lucifer on how horribly he managed the situation.
Regardless, there's somebody else who should have had a more visceral reaction to this revelation, who's reaction we never got to see: Belphegor. The narrative tells us that Belphie lost a lot of respect for Lucifer when he saw how Lucifer had gotten reduced to Diavolo's right-hand man and how he had seemingly forgotten about their sister. Having learnt the true motivation behind Lucifer's actions, what would he have felt? Relief, that Lucifer hadn't turned out to be as big a traitor as he had thought? Or anger, since Lucifer had selfishly withheld the fact that Lilith had lived and would continue living happily; that Lucifer was able to sleep soundly at night with the knowledge he had saved his sister while Belphie and Beel continued feeling guilty and grieving her for centuries? Or what if this anger was directed at Diavolo, as he now knows that Diavolo manipulated Lucifer into eternal servitude? Belphie having ANY thought about this aspect of the truth would have given him a good motivation to continue being salty about Lucifer and Diavolo and a good way to give him any development at all, since it's clear the writers had no clue what to do with him after his vendetta arc was done.
But this then begs the question of how much do the Purgatory Hall gang know? The fall, Lilith's fate, Lucifer's deal with Diavolo, Belphie's plan...do they know it all? And around what point did they find out? From NB Lesson 11, Solomon apparently knows about Lucifer and Diavolo's deal. Is that a case of characters talking to each other off-screen, since this story in particular likes to do that a lot, or the writers goofing up and forgetting that certain characters aren't supposed to be in the KnowTM? I know most of y'all are gonna say the latter, but that's so boring zzz
Speaking of conversations off-screen, let's not forget Luke, who wasn't present at that scene because he was watching over Lucifer. Would he have been told at some point (since it's hard to lie about why Lucifer suddenly had amnesia or why the Celestial Realm is dying)? Hiding this information from Luke would be yet another example of how little the others trust Luke with the truth (from his perspective), which would further bolster his justification for being upset and running away from home when Simeon and Solomon continue lying and hiding the truth later on.
And then there's that part in NB where Satan casually drops Solomon and Barbatos' entire backstory like it was nothing. Why was MC's reaction so cold, when they had expressed interest in wanting to know the reason why Solomon wants to collect all these demons literally the previous day? Considering MC didn't even know Solomon was immortal until the end of S2 (which I find totally ridiculous btw. Does MC live under a rock? Like, not even a suspicion that this guy is probably older than he looks? Really?), I doubt they knew all these other details about him. It was kinda weird Satan only read that paragraph to MC to make it an analogy about himself. What are his thoughts about people being ostracised regardless of their species? Especially with MC in the context of the Devildom.
The fact that he got that information from a book already raises so many questions. What kind of book is it? Did it exist in the MC's time period? If it did, why did nobody make mention of it before? And if it didn't, then what other useful information would be in it that the game refused to reveal? For all we know, the book probably has all the details on Barbatos being Nightbringer given what an important figure he was in this time period and the characters are too passive to find out--nevermind, I shouldn't overthink this.
THE POINT IS, anytime this kind of thing happens it gives me the mental image of everyone else in the scene being 🧍 when somebody is trauma dumping on MC. I don't mean that all 10 characters should show variations of the shocked pikachu face when Diavolo is revealing that MC is destroying the world, that would just artificially bloat the story and feel tiring. But if plot points and conflicts weren't immediately forgotten by the characters, we could have had like idk Luke doing his own thing to get Simeon to trust him (remembering how helpless he was when MC was causing destruction as the ring), or a Belphie regression/villain arc where he gets more people to go against Diavolo, or Solomon using "Belphie's murder attempt and Diavolo covering it up" as leverage against Diavolo and his reign if Diavolo does something to piss him off.
A lot of plot points that have taken place can have a lot of ramifications on characters' motivations, which can then impact the actions they take as a response. This would 1) allow the story to feel more cohesive 2) give the team some room to expand their story instead of pulling some new plot point out of their ass and 3) make the characters feel more dynamic as they are more active, not reactive (ironically), in the story.
Of course, the downside is that this route is much harder to implement. Having to coordinate the actions of 15 different characters and thinking of the ramifications they have on the narrative.....ooooooh boy.
#basically this is a whole lot of nothing#when even your tl;dr is long you know you've lost everybody#but i needed everyone to see me being the corkboard guy meme here#obey me#obey me nightbringer#db rambles#LONG#db vault
41 notes
·
View notes
Text
⚠️ Warning: lots of words and some thoughts about S03E08 ⚠️
Like some other viewers I was extremely upset by Siuan's passing in the season finale. In addition to the brutality of act itself, this event will inevitably affect Moiraine's personality and her further development as a character. From another perspective it even seems paradoxical: why would Siuan start her defensive speech with declaring love towards Moiraine when she could at least try to reason with facts about Dragon Reborn, Forsaken, etc.? One last attempt to sway minds within White Tower's walls — wasn't it her misssion all the time? Certainly undeserved and too "simple" demise for such a powerful character. However, most of all, it undermined some inner expectation of happy ending looming on the horizon for all those who fight on the side of Light. As is often the case, protagonists go through various stages of hardship, suffering and pain in order to find semblance of peace and harmony. And this is what we are all used to and, perhaps, subconsciously expect: the harder the path, the greater the reward.
Moiraine and Siuan were on the top of this list — they sacrificed their personal happiness and dreams day after day for abstract greater good, so it was kinda logical to expect that a quiet life away from Tar Valon would be the climax of their suffering. This is not going to happen now, not at all, since any hints at Siuan's return are likely to be in the form of flashbacks or hypothetical future/past in other turns of the Wheel. Siuan's death is obvious, it cannot be disguised, given the bloody scene after and Moiraine's strong reaction. By the way, something in the shot piqued my interest: threads of One Force hovering around Moiraine when she realized the loss of her beloved — were they a consequence of her vow on Oath Rod disintegration or something more? Was it implied that these two were connected by fate itself, by eternal bonds in each of their lives?
Putting emotions aside, I think I'm particularly disappointed that producers had deliberately placed an important emphasis on relationship between Siuan and Moiraine from the very first season, and now they turn a wonderful feeling into an abyss of despair. After all, there was no obligation to create such tremendous magnitude of feelings that surpassed decades of separation, burden of expectations and even overcoming partner's betrayal. Judging by some tidbits, their relationship is not clearly confirmed in the books and each has another partner (God forbid, to get an imposed love line with Thom Merrilin now, of all things). So, why was it necessary to create something so immense and fundamental, specifically aimed at the broad support from a certain audience, only to annihilate it all at once? I may sound cynical now, but wouldn't it be better (more reasonable) for confrontation and violation of will in Cairhien to end their relationship? Of course, Moiraine would still be in pain but at least she wouldn't lose forever her only love, whom she promised to always wait for, no matter what. Now their reunion in Tel'aran'rhiod seems like a bittersweet pill, as there's nothing more cruel than false hope.
Sooner or later, you have to say goodbye to characters you like, alas, everyone cannot survive simply because a deep and thoughtful plot doesn't exist without a full range of emotions. I have to admit, there have been deaths during three seasons that upset me: Loial, Agelmar and Amalisa Jagad, even Geofram Bornhal and yes, the Hopper. But Siuan's death stands alone even though she couldn't be classified as a major character. However she was an important part of Moiraine's life, concentration of her fragility and humanity, beacon of all personal hopes. And while the latter will certainly be able to survive the loss, I don't think it's a positive message for an audience that wants to see echoes of their own lives in their favorite storylines. And we all partially identify ourselves with fictional characters, set boundaries of the "deserved" and expect a happy ending. Especially for those who suffer a lot, like some kind of compensation and justice that we wish to come true.
#wheel of time#the wheel of time#wot s3#wot season 3#siuan sanche#moiraine damodred#siuanraine#moiraine x siuan#wheel of time spoilers#wot spoilers#wot show spoilers
32 notes
·
View notes
Text


。⋆ʚ♡ like father, like son
›› chapter 2 ›› nsfw 18+ ongoing multi-chapter fic!
previous chapter ♡ next chapter
ʚ ao3 ɞ / ʚ kofi ɞ / ʚ fic masterlist ɞ


›› toji fushiguro x reader ›› megumi fushiguro x reader ›› toji x reader x megumi (mfm) ›› 18+ f!reader ›› started: 12/6/23 : updated: 1/29/24 : status: ongoing
‹𝟹 summary: You and Megumi are best friends. You've known eachother for almost your whole life. His home has become your second home. As time passes and life happens, Megumi slowly develops feelings for you, even though he's unaware of it. To complicate things further, you're now living with him and his father, who has also taken a liking to you.
‹𝟹 fandom: jjk, jujutsu kaisen
‹𝟹 genres / warnings: au - no powers, college au, power imbalance, pseudo-incest (they both want y/n, nothing w/ eachother), dubious consent
‹𝟹 tags: good cop bad cop, fluff, smut, angst, toji has a big dick, dilf toji, toji is his own warning, toji tries to be a good parent, toji is an asshole, toji is trying okay?, daddy dom toji, daddy kink, porn with feelings, porn with plot, friends to lovers, spit / spitting, spit kink, spit as lube, breeding, vaginal sex, vaginal fingering, double vaginal pen, double pen, anal, making out, making love, love triangles, praise kink, degradation, light masochism, light sadism, emotional sex, cuckolding, jealousy, jealousy kink, smoking, smoking kink, emotional manipulation, manipulation, polyamory?, father and son share you, protective megumi fushiguro, megumi needs a hug, megumi has a big dick, aged up characters, dead dove: do not eat, finger sucking, large cock, cum swallowing, blow jobs, first time blow jobs, under desk blow jobs, fingerfucking, face sitting, face riding, 69, mutual masturbation, threesome mfm, lots of smut, loss of virginity
‹𝟹 notes: formatting next chapter for tumblr! there are currently 4 posted on ao3. i have the 5th in the works! it gets spicy!
!! - again, PLEASE READ TAGS BEFORE CONTINUING - !!
! - ALL CHARACTERS ARE 18+ - !
Chapter 2: Intimacy and Exposure
--
By mid afternoon, you and Megumi are both exhausted with your full course load. You both major in biology, no emphasis right now. Megumi loves animals, so he will probably pursue something veterinary later. As for you, you’re undecided. You chose biology because it’s very general and broad, and also so you could be with Megumi more. You would never tell him that, though. You just say “idk maybe some science-y crap” and shrug it off.
You weren’t able to get lunch, so you both decide to visit a coffee shop after your last class of the day. A snack and some caffeine would help get you through for a while until you decide what you want to eat that night.
Megumi orders his usual black cold brew and muffin. The barista asks how to spell his name, and giggles? Is she flirting with him?
“That’s a cute name…” She says as she writes it down on his cup. “And for you…?” She barely glances at you.
You’re not sure how you feel in that moment. Was she flirting with Gumi? Am I jealous? Why is my heart racing?
“Oh I’ll just get an iced black tea and a banana bread please.” You try to not show your emotions while speaking. You’re not sure why you feel this way though.
You hope and pray to whoever is out there, any deity listening, that Megumi would not see you blushing and jealous.
You think you’re in the clear, he didn’t notice. He drives you home and you scroll your phone, acting like everything is normal. In reality, you’re shaking.
--
Sitting around the table, you both have your laptops and books out in front of you. It’s been a couple hours of studying, and you’re ready to take a break.
“Gumi, can we take a break and watch something? If I read the word bacteria one more time I’m going to go insane.” You tell him more than ask, already getting up out of your seat. You’re yawning, walking straight towards your bedroom, not even bothering to wait up for him. You already know he will follow.
Your room is hyperfeminine, plushies everywhere, cute shit everywhere. But you also have a mix of other stuff, like your consoles and gaming setup (that Megumi helped you get), a bass guitar that you’ve barely touched, piles of books you haven’t sorted yet.
You turn the tv on, hopping onto your bed. Megumi follows and lies next to you. You’re already aware of his presence and he isn’t even touching you.
“What do you wanna watch, Gumi?” You ask as you scroll through different apps.
“Whatever you want, you have better taste in movies and shows.” He doesn’t really care, he just savors the opportunity to be close to you. He lies behind you, almost touching but not quite. He’s close enough to feel the tickle of your hair. He feels weird thinking that your hair smells nice.
You choose some random comedy show, not caring to pay any attention. You just wanted a chance to rest and turn your brain off for a while.
Megumi moves a little close, resting his hand on the side of your abdomen. This isn’t the first time you’ve been close to Megumi, you both used to cuddle under the same blanket on cold nights or huddle under one when playing games as kids. But for some reason, now it feels different. Maybe it’s because you’re hyperaware? It has to be that, right?
Your heart beats faster, your skin feeling warm to the touch with every movement he makes. Does he notice? Is he aware of these things too? Am I overthinking things?
An hour passes by, but it feels like an eternity. You’re so hyperaware that every second feels like 20 minutes have passed. He hasn’t done more than gently caress the side of your body. He doesn’t seem to be making any advances. So why is this so painful to endure? Why does a simple touch make your body feel hot, with something pooling in between your legs?
Megumi is aware. You think he isn’t, but he can tell. Your breathing is irregular, your pulse is uneven, your skin is hot. He notices, and it drives him insane. But he’s respectful, he wouldn’t try anything. You are basically siblings with how long you’ve known eachother and lived together.
It’s getting hard to breathe. Even the lightest touch sends jolts through your body. You turn around to meet his gaze, with a look he’s never seen before. Your face is red, you’re struggling to breathe, while looking into his eyes like you know his secret. He’s flushing too, starting to sweat, feeling heat spread through his body. Your eyes are intoxicating to Megumi.
He looks at your eyes, then your panting lips, and back to your eyes again. He’s thinking of everything he wants to do to you, he doesn’t care if it’s wrong.
He touches your cheek, caressing you gently. Your breath hitches as he’s so close to you. He runs his fingers down your neck, before he pushes you to your back. It’s not forceful by any means, but mostly surprising.
He’s on top of you, pinning your arms to your pink bedsheets as he leans down towards you.
“Y/N…” he breathlessly speaks, “tell me if you want me to stop, okay?”
You definitely do not want it to stop. You’re staring up at him with your doe eyes, unable to control your breathing. He leans in closer, his face not even an inch away from yours.
His lips crash into yours. You’re surprised, you didn’t think he would be so intense, and this good at kissing. He’s biting your lip, trying to elicit little yelps and mewls from you. He’s kissing you so roughly, forcing his tongue inside your mouth. Megumi is still on top of you, pressing his body against yours.
You can feel his heartbeat, his hot skin, his bulge against your body. You don’t know why, but you lift your hips and legs up a bit to angle yourself better against his body. Feeling him so close, pressing into you was making you feel almost drunk.
He releases one of his hands from pinning yours so he can caress your cheek a bit more. His hand travels down your neck again, moving towards your chest, before eventually resting at the bottom hem of your shirt.
He’s giving you sloppy kisses, before he momentarily stops to ask you a question. “Y/N, can I?” he asks while gentle tugging on your shirt.
You giggle. He’s too damn cute. You nod your head yes and he releases your other hand.
You pull your shirt above your head, leaving your bralette on.
He looks down at your flushed frame, no longer hidden behind some random band t-shirt. The moment you take your shirt off, he’s harder than ever before. You feel him poking into you a bit.
He kisses you with more passion this time, grinding his bulge into your clothed cunt. He’s grunting and making little moans in between kisses.
He lifts his head a bit to look at you and moves his hand over your bralette. He admires the intricate lace detail, thinking it suits you perfectly. He licks his lips. You know he wants to desperately feel what’s under, but you decide to tease him a bit.
You wrap your legs around his waist, forcing your bodies to be even closer. He grunts a bit, looking at you. You smirk and pull his head back down to make out with you.
You’re grinding against him with fervor, unrelenting and unforgiving. The feeling of him rubbing against you is oh so good, and extremely hot.
He moves his hand towards the waistband of your shorts. “May I, Y/N?” You think it’s sweet that he asked. You decide to reward him a bit.
You roll him over and push him against the mattress. You quickly get up and pull your shorts off, leaving your panties on. You take your bralette off. He’s watching you like a starved dog, savoring every second of this.
You pull his sweatpants off, leaving only his boxers on. He’s looking at you, with wide eyes, excited and surprised.
You straddle his waist, sitting on top of him. You grind against him, eliciting sounds of pleasure from his lips. You lean towards him, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, before leaving a trail down his neck. You suck on his skin, giving him small and faint lovebites. He looks so cute.
You have a suddenly devious idea. “Megumi, can I try something?”
He instantly nods yes; he wants you to do anything and everything with him.
“Lay down then, please. I want to try something I saw online once….” You say as you move towards his head. You’re hovering above him now. He’s directly at eyelevel with your clothed pussy, and he feels his boxers get tighter the closer you get.
“Let me know if you need me to stop, please <3.” You hum as you pull your panties aside and lower yourself onto his face.
He can feel your drenched cunt against his mouth and instinctually starts getting at it. Licking and sucking like it was his last supper. Megumi couldn’t really breathe, but he didn’t care. He could die right now and have no regrets. He would die a happy man.
You moan as he’s sucking and flicking between your folds. The noises you make drive him even more insane, he thinks he could cum right then with how much of a turn on it is.
You lift yourself up, giving him a moment to catch his breath as you look down at him. He’s staring up at you with the eyes of an animal.
You sit back down, and he continues once more. Sucking on your clit, savoring the taste of your essence, and basically fucking the air. He’s straining against his boxers now, desperate for any touch or release.
You have another idea. You lift yourself back up and turn around, your cunt still in front of his face. You lean down towards his straining cock. You push your cunt back down on his face, and like a good boy, he continues again.
“Fuck Megumi…” You whimper out as you push against his tongue. You move your hand over his boxers, palming his cock. You notice he’s quite big and you’re a little scared.
You release his cock from his underwear and it springs up. Megumi grunts under your touch. You stroke his cock a bit, slowly. That’s not your objective however.
You lift up once more as you move to spit on top of his cock. Megumi moans again, feeling the sensation of your spit covering the head of his cock.
You sloppily kiss the tip, earning a moan and a few curses from Megumi. “Fuck… Y/N.”
You move forward to suck the tip, before letting it come out with an audible pop sound. “You have hands too, Megumi…”
Your pussy is still in front of him, and he gently moves his hand to brush over your clit, circling it. You moan as you take him back into your mouth again. You’re desperately hoping this feels good, it’s your first time doing any of it.
Megumi pushes his index finger in, noticing how wet and tight your cunt already is. He’s salivating at the thought of when he can fuck your tight hole, but he’s content with just learning your body for now. Everytime he pumps his finger in and out, he hears your sweet, angelic voice.
The way you respond to his touch is music to your ears. Your mewls and whimpers drive him crazy enough already.
You take his cock back in your mouth, trying to push more in as he fucks you with his finger. He adds another of his slender fingers inside, feeling how he’s stretching you already. You moan around his cock, and this turns Megumi on more.
He moves to push you against the bed again, pushing your body down gently. He never breaks contact with your cunt, as he starts to fingerfuck you even harder. He’s watching you squirm and moan under his touch, and he can’t get enough of it.
“Megumi… Aah!!” His touch is relentless. He wants to hear every sound you can possibly make. He finger fucks you harder, feelings your walls clamp around his fingers. He uses his other hand to rub circles around your clit. You’re nearing your climax, and he’s eager to see all of it.
You’re drunk in the pleasure that is Megumi’s skilled fingers. He brings you to the edge, watching as pleasure washes over your entire body. He pulls his fingers out and licks them clean, wanting to savor your juices all while never breaking eye contact with you.
Your chest is heaving, but you want to make this man feel good too. You roll over and crawl across the bed towards him. He sits atop the bed once more, spreading his legs open and smirking.
The way you’re crawling towards him is incredibly hot. He knows what you’re about to do.
You make your way to his cock, spitting on it once more and stroking it a bit. You know you can’t fit all of this beast, but you want to try your hardest.
You look up at him as you take his cock into your mouth. You make it about halfway before you feel at your limit.
“Y/N, you’re taking me so well. You’re such a good girl,” he praises you as you drool over his cock. He gently grabs your hair, not tugging but mostly just applying pressure.
Your pussy drips again at the praise as you continue to go up and down. You’re finding a rhythm to breathe and still go at a decent pace. Using your hands also helps, and whenever you fondle his balls, Megumi’s eyes roll back into his head a bit.
“Y/N.. I’m close..” He says as he bucks his hips against your mouth. “Please.. don’t stop..”
You suck harder and moan against his cock. You don’t particularly like the idea of cum in your mouth, but for Megumi, you would do it.
He covers the back of your throat with his cum, and groans as you empty his balls like an expert. “Y/N… fuck…”
You pull back up, trying to not show how displeased you are with the taste of cum.
“That was… fuck…” He lets out an exhausted sigh. “Fucking… amazing…”
You’re laying down together again, not even caring to get dressed again. The studying can wait for later, for now you want to relish this moment.
You’re not sure what this means between you two, but you’re still happy that it happened. You yawn as he snuggles around you as the big spoon, surrounding by the same fuzzy blanket and cute plushies.
He thinks it’s so cute how tired you get after that. He lays there as you fall asleep before him, memorizing and tracing every detail of your body.
Toji comes home not long after Megumi finally passes out. He doesn’t see food on the table, and goes to check your room. He sees you and Megumi, asleep under your fuzzy pink comforter.
--
‹𝟹 notes: i will have the next chapter posted here asap :D feedback is always appreciated! ao3 has all the chapters so far!
previous chapter ♡︎ next chapter
‹𝟹 notifs: @vvxxccaa @arylaa @starshipxoxo
ʚ join my notifs ɞ
(・ω・)つ divider creds to @/cafekitsune and @/eloquentreverie
#jjk fanfic#jjk#jujutsu kaisen#jjk megumi#megumi fluff#megumi fushiguro#megumi x reader#megumi x y/n#megumi x you#megumi fushiguro x reader#jjk fic#jjk x reader#megumi smut#fushiguro x reader#ao3 writer#ao3 fanfic#ao3 tags#toji smut#jjk smut
233 notes
·
View notes
Text
actually im making this its own post. the thing about the hunters gonna lay low is that its exactlyyyyyy what i want out of a fantasy romance. i love high stakes and unrealistic drama - life-threatening situations and monsters and magic and all manner of situations that dont happen in real life. and i love this as a setting for romance because it means you can create a lot of conflict that doesnt have to do with the characters feelings for each other - sure, you can still have arguments and complicated feelings, but throwing the characters into these high stakes situations creates a lot of flavour - high intensity emotions and conflict that arent just from within their relationship, yknow?
the problem with most fantasy ive read that also has romance is exactly that - its fantasy, with a side of romance. theres romance, sure, and a lot of times side romances do have these high-intensity moments im looking for, but usually the author is spending more time on worldbuilding or political drama or yknow. the plot. nothing wrong with that - i like an intense action plot without romance. its why i read a lot of fantasy. but i think ive really been hurting for a story that has this kind of high-stakes drama, but makes the relationship a more central part of the story. and ive had no luck with romance with a side of fantasy, either - most romance stories ive encountered are about very typical romance-style relationship drama, even if they take place in a fantasy setting. jealousy and miscommunication and will-they-wont-they. again, nothing wrong with that, its just not really my style.
and this is why all my ships of choice are Like That. its always an action story with a pairing of major characters who have a deep relationship - they have history, they care for each other a lot, they click with each other in a way they dont with anyone else....... the kind of thing where the growth and development of their relationship is a big part of who they both are. and then putting them in high stakes scenarios where they almost die all the time. you get it. the thing is that ive never really encountered one of these where the relationship was canonically romantic - which isnt necessarily a bad thing, but again, romance can add a lot of unique flavour! its why i read a lot of slash fic lol
[the closest ive gotten to this before would be banana fish, and i love banana fish so much i basically dont have anything to say about it. what is there to say? watch banana fish.] [hmm and maybe alien stage? alien stage is just so short though - not a lot of time to get to know the characters before they die yk.] [and notice how these are both tragedies???? i love tragedy but man. i do want a happy ending sometimes...... although i havent actually finished thgll so i guess this one could be a tragedy too 😩😩 pleeeease i just want them to be happy.......]
but here it is!!! the kind of story about a duo whose lives become intertwined through the high stakes fantasy plot, who care very deeply for each other and have history and keep watching each other almost die, and also they kiss!!!! its honestly a little frightening how well it suits my tastes - i can almost see the way the author is using the fantasy setting to deliberately further the relationship between these two, because its the kind of thing i do to whatever blorbos im rotating in my brain like a binary star system this month. but because the characters were actually created with romance in mind its like. cranked up to 11. like what do you mean cha euijae is the only person who can safely touch lee sayoung????? hello????? and the soul contract???? the alternate timeline?????? the BACKSTORY?????? i dont want to spoil too much but like. it really is just so good. its exactly the kind of thing i didnt know i was looking for.
and like. not only is the fantasy setting perfectly implemented for this more relationship-focused story. its also just really interesting in its own right?? like im hooked. im absolutely invested in these two trying to stop the apocalypse, save the world, and maybe avoid dying and leaving the other behind (again) in the process. im having the time of my fucking life right now
[btw i just finished part 1 of the novel, so no spoilers please!!]
#biggie tumbles#not sure if this one will become a permanent fixture in my brain but like. its DEFINITELY one ill be revisiting more than once#the hunter wants to live quietly#the hunter's gonna lay low#thgll
23 notes
·
View notes