#[ tomoe: information ]

[escaping-thoughts-reviews]

Tomoe introduced Nathalie to Gabriel, and Nathalie helped Gabriel find the miraculous that allowed him and Emilie to have a child, to fulfill their “dream”.

Gabriel endangered Kagami’s existence, so Tomoe threathens Adrien’s.

[atamascolily]

There is a tendency I see in PMMM analyses and discussions to treat the witches simply as monsters that can be overcome with sufficient force regardless of other circumstances--and thus Homura's failure to ever win against Walpurgisnacht on her own terms is something that could be easily fixed with more firepower and different tactics. And while there's nothing wrong with this interpretation, it's not one that particularly interests me, either.

What I like about PMMM and what makes it so engaging for me, is that it can be read on multiple levels--both as a literal journey and as a symbolic one. In-universe, witches are the shadow selves of magical girls; is it really so surprising that they also serve as narrative foils to those who face them, thus making victory or defeat as much of a character issue as a tactical one?

It is not a coincidence that Mami Tomoe, a girl who was forced to grow up too fast and who could have wished to save her dying parents but didn't, meets her end at the hand of a particularly childish and immature witch, a lumpen, misshapen doll that transforms into a clown--a girl who never grew up, who could have wished to save her dying parent but didn't. Mami, an experienced veteran who wiped the floor with the Rose Witch and her familiars earlier, is completely caught off-guard and is eaten alive by a witch who embodies all of the issues she herself struggles with and has yet to overcome within herself.

Yes, Mami was careless and overconfident, which led to her doom--but she had also fulfilled her role of introducing Madoka to the world of magical girls. On a narrative level, her death was necessary--not only to free Madoka from her impulsive promise to become a magical girl too early in the story, before she'd learned all the facts and could make a fully informed decision, but also to teach Madoka one final, horrific lesson about what life as a magical girl is really like.

This is not to say that AUs where Mami survives are wrong or missing the point--I've written them myself and I love them! (It helps that Mami's survival is usually the result of someone else's interference, not something she accomplishes on her own.) Nor do I mean to suggest that Mami's death is a moral failing on her part--merely that I think that Charlotte represents Mami's own particular brand of kryptonite at that particular point in her life, one she might have been able to survive if she had been able to move beyond the psychological issues hobbling her.

Meanwhile, Homura is able to easily defeat Charlotte, because metaphorically she's moved beyond the childish worldview that Mami is still stuck in. From that same symbolic perspective, it's this relative level of maturity, as much as her time stop and pipe bombs, that allows her to win.

Likewise, it is not an accident that the next witch Madoka encounters is one that specializes in extracting the memories of its victims, trapping Madoka in a spinning carousel as she is tormented by her own grief and guilty conscience over Mami's death. She is freed by Sayaka, who has moved beyond such angst by her decision to take on Mami's role as an idealized magical girl protector. Later on, Sayaka's descent into dualistic thinking is symbolized by her fight against a witch whose world is literally black and white--whom Sayaka defeats, but only at the cost of pushing herself dangerously to her limits.

As with Mami, Sayaka's death is directly tied to her own psychological issues--in this case, by her incredibly strict rules about how magical girls should behave and her refusal to cut herself any slack whatsoever. Her metaphorical self-denial results in literal self-denial, and her death as a magical girl and rebirth as a witch.

Then we come to Walpurgisnacht, a witch made of cogs and gears--the one witch Homura cannot beat, no matter what she does. Homura is stuck in her loops, unable to imagine a future beyond them, increasingly isolated from any meaningful connections or relationships--Walpurgisnacht may be the "fool that spins in a circle", but so is Homura. The inside mirrors the outside; when we watch Homura fight against Walpurgisnacht, we are also watching Homura's struggle with herself. Unlike Mami and Sayaka, Homura's magic allows her to fight this battle over and over again--again and again she is forced to retreat and start over, unsatisfied with the results and determined to do better next time. She doesn't die, but she doesn't win, either--instead, she's locked into perpetual stalemate with no end.

Madoka, however, is able to see beyond the vicious cycle represented by Walpurgisnacht and thus easily and repeatedly defeats an enemy that Homura cannot, regardless of her relative power levels in any given timeline. It's probably too simplistic to say that hope triumphs over despair--and yet, that's exactly what happens, every single time. Homura has numbed herself through repeated exposure to where she no longer feels hope or despair, thus existing in perpetual stasis with her purpose the only thing driving her. Paradoxically, the one thing she needs to do to win is the one thing she cannot do--and the thing that Madoka can do all too easily.

(This is not to say that Madoka doesn't have her own issues--she does!--just that her issues are different from Homura's, meaning she's not tripped up by this particular obstacle in the same way that Homura is. And it's not that Homura's struggles were pointless--they were what allowed Madoka to get to point where she had both the power and the knowledge that she could save everyone, including Homura.)

Homura's final battle with Walpurgisnacht shows Homura going to insane lengths, including a wall of C-4 explosives inside a refinery, a flaming oil tanker, and a submarine with Type 88 Surface-to-Ship missiles--none of which has any lasting effect on Walpurgisnacht whatsoever. That episode goes to great lengths to show that Homura's approach to fighting Walpurgisnacht fundamentally isn't working; I don't think adding more nukes would help.

The one time Homura gets the closest to her happy ending is the one timeline where she and Madoka fight and fall together--the one timeline where they are shown as equals, and the one where they debate becoming witches together and destroying the whole world before Madoka thinks better of it. This is also not a coincidence. If there is ever to be a truly happy end to this franchise--or an end at all--Homura and Madoka must be equal and willing partners, not one protecting/sacrificing themself for the other again and again. It is also likely that they will remake the universe in the process, through the combined power of their mutual wish.

[It also wouldn't surprise me if that line foreshadowed future plot elements--after all, Madoka technically became a witch in the final episode of the TV series (she got better, thanks to the nature of her wish), and so did Homura in Rebellion--but we shall see if the series ever follows up on this.]

This is why I'm so excited that Walpurgis no Kaiten seems to be laying the groundwork for Homura creating her own enemies and her greatest enemy being herself--once again, making the metaphorical literal. I'm excited about the prospect of Homura getting a do-over with Walpurgisnacht, which would represent a chance for her to confront her narrative foil one more time, and show us how her character has changed. Though it may play out on a larger stage, the real battle will be inside Homura's mind and heart--and, I would argue, always has been. The only way the outcome will change--the only way we can move beyond what's been and into something new--is if/when she changes.

I want to be clear that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the strictly literal interpretation of witches, and I think people should write what they want to write; if that's the story you want to tell, then go for it! For me, however, I find it far more compelling--not to mention richer and truer--if the actions and words on-screen correspond to the characters' emotional and psychological journeys, and there's no question that this preference how I interpret media in general, and PMMM in particular. And it's not that I think Homura couldn't defeat Walpurgisnacht in an AU scenario--merely that any story where she achieves this victory without changing in any way or addressing her own psychological issues in some fashion removes exactly the elements that drew me to this series in the first place.

[aguantenlaspitusas]

17 días después: we did it joe, we did it

Ayuda me di cuenta que no se planificar

[whispereons]

Oracle!Reader Part 13

Masterlist - Part 1, Part 12, Part 14

Warning! As usual, there are descriptions of violence, gore, and death! Ya know, the usual yandere imposter sagau stuff.

Leaning against a tree, you finished the last volume in 'Hilichurl cultural custom'. It was definitely the most informative with the next being 'Hilichurl Ballad Section'. You didn't plan on studying the Hilichurl language but it could come in handy.

You just didn't bother finishing 'Draft Hilichurl ballads'. Ella Musk's rough translation paper in her commission would be far more helpful than that. The game screen is closed as you think back to what you memorized.

Hilichurls worshipped the elements rather than the Seven, which makes sense due to their Khaenri'ah bloodline. Could you use the elemental power in your possession to distract them? Would they recognize you as they can control elements or would the curse from Celestia interfere?

Twirling your sickle mindlessly you keep watch on the camp as hilichurls continuously walk around. A Mitachurl carrying a rock shield sat in the base as a Geo Samachurl helped construct a tower.

Actually, now that you think about it, isn't it kind of strange how this is your first time encountering a Hilichurl? One of the most common enemies that appears in almost every location, yet it's only when you purposefully search for one that you-

"Mimi ye?"

Jumping away from the tree in shock, a sharp gasp escapes you as you turn around, your sickle held firmly.  You resist the urge to raise it in defense.

A Hilichurl stands now in front of you with a crossbow, tilting its head. It would be cute if you weren't hyper-aware of the weapon in its hands. Relaxing your posture, the sickle in your hand is hanging to avoid making the hilichurl feel threatened.

"Hello, do you want something from me?" Awkwardly smiling at the masked creature, you speak slowly in hopes of not exciting it.

"Celi dada, mimi nunu!" It walks closer to you, making you cringe internally from the smell. It's not just a smell from bad hygiene, it smells like death.

"Are you curious about me? Do you want to see something cool?" You wait for it to react, which it does by strolling a bit closer before presenting your sickle.

It stops at the sight of the weapon and you watch nervously as its grip tightens on the crossbow. Hurriedly you push the Electro to crackle through the weapon but you don't swing it.

Not even as the Hilichurl begins to load an arrow.

"Nini movo muhe yoyo!" You repeat the few phrases that you drilled into your mind. The pronunciation is bad and the accent is horrible but the message is received by the Hilichurl.

The arrow is slowly removed from the crossbow as the Hilichurl points to the Electro and asks, "Eleka mimi-a-Domu?"

Racking your brain to recall what it's trying to ask you, you nod hastily. It wasn't attacking you so whatever it asked hopefully wasn't bad.

The Hilichurl begins to circle you as it gets closer, seemingly inspecting you. "Muhe ye! Mimi tomo!"

'Muhe ye' was something praiseworthy if you remembered correctly. It suddenly begins to push you towards the camp while repeating the same phrase.

Not willing to risk angering it, you let it push you down the hill and cross the small river of water. Your sickle disappears in gold specks before the other Hilichurls and Geo Samachurl spot you.

They all tense up with their weapons ready yet they don't attack until the Hilichurl pushes you in front of them. It begins to speak to the whole group loudly as they all peer at you from behind it.

"Mimi mosi ye mita!" Hilichurlian is spoken quickly as you look at the half-finished tower and the second tower that was completed. Could the towers be part of the worship they hold to Teyvat?

"Ya!?" The rock shield Mitachurl suddenly storms down the stairs from the main camp making you stare up at the Mitachurl in panic.

Shit, shit this was getting out of hand. Looking around the camp for some form of escape or distraction, the Samachurl stomps his staff onto the ground twice.

"Celi upa celi! Ye dada!" The Samachurl yells out, making the rest of the Hilichurls cheer and begin working faster on the second tower. You could hardly focus on that as the Mitachurl stops in front of you with a mean glare.

It towers over you with the rock shield looking almost as heavy as you. A snort of hot, stinky breath is pushed onto your face making your features scrunch up in disgust.

It begins to argue with the Samachurl as you recover from the horrid smell of the group. You weren't being attacked so that was a good sign, but how were you supposed to lead them away?

Multiple hands begin to drag you toward the half-built towers with their overgrown nails tickling your skin. Not wanting to be forced, you keep pace with the group. Looking down to not trip, you notice their feet.

It was kinda strange how they had five fingers but only three toes. The cloth-like fabric of their charcoal skin was also strange along with the horn-like features on their head. Perhaps the curse melted their clothing with them into one being? That would help explain why they wore so little clothing even in harsh climates.

The Hilichurls pushed you into helping with the tower construction, they all seemed enthusiastic to have you on board. Working with them, instead of fighting against them was far more ideal even if you had more work to do when it came to destroying the towers.

Not long after helping finish the tower, the Hilichurls and Samachurl celebrate. The Mitachurl sits on the perch on the base camp as the Samachurl begins to sway his staff.

"Eleka mimi-a-Domu~ Mita domu-a-dada!" As the Samachurl begins to sing, the hilichurls dance around both towers in sync. Sitting down you watch it curiously while keeping an eye on the Mitachurl.

"Mimi mosi ye mita!" From what the books said this song was supposed to be sung during festivals. What could they be celebrating?

A few Hilichurls arrive at the camp holding Geo clubs and shields. They pause at the sight of you until the Samachurl speaks to them, making them calm down.

One of them seems heavily injured and is escorted into the main camp with bleeding wounds. The smell of iron mingles unpleasantly with the sweat and dirt in the air. God, you regret having a working sense of smell.

The rest of the group brought back meat and rotting fruit? The meat was put to cook over the fire and the fruit was handed out. You only took a single fruit to be polite but it didn't smell... right.

It was a wet, overripe Sunsettia looking far more red than a normal orange Sunsettia. It was probably washed in the river but the water only made it muddy. You look around to see a whole basket brought to the Mitachurl who takes it with a huff.

"Ya celi mimi nunu!" The Samachurl exclaims before they all begin to eat. You try to put the dirt-speckled Sunsettia on the ground but the Samachurl stares at you with expectant eyes. It keeps the staring contest as the Mitachurl begins to look at you too.

Damn, you really didn't want to do this.

Smiling, you brush the mud off (that unfortunately smears it more) and try to ignore the gross possibilities of who and what touched the fruit. You chomp a good-sized bite and hold it in your mouth until the Samachurl nods in approval. The Samachurl begins to feast on his own Sunsettias and you try not to gag. You're about to spit out the piece in your mouth until the juice hits your tongue.

It's sweet. The slight bitterness is pleasant, if not familiar. Experimentally, you begin to chew on the fruit and savor the taste trying to recall what it is.

After a few more bites, you notice a weak burning sensation that travels down your throat. It's… alcohol? These Sunsettias are fermented. Not strong enough to get drunk off one, but after a few?

You look back to the Hilichurls and blanch at the empty basket. Now with what seems like the whole camp they resume the dance. The Mitachurl flops into the middle of the camp, dropping his empty basket.

The staff in the Geo Samachurls hands sways drunkenly as it sings loudly and off-key.

"Nini movo muhe yoyo! Nini movo mimi tomo~! Lata movo mosi yoyo, celi movo celi yoyo!"

Cringing, you finally got up and walked past the drunk Hilichurls. You could barely hear yourself think with all the noise, how were you supposed to plan with it?!

The only place within the Hilichurl camp that had a chance of keeping out the singing was the sole building. Casting a parting glance at the partying Hilichurls, you climb up the stairs and enter the hut.

The poor workmanship let drafts in as two lit torches kept it bright. The obnoxious singing gets quieter so you suppose the building served its purpose. A sole beat-up hilichurl lays on a straw make-shift matt, it groans in pain weakly.

You stop in the middle of the building, just a few steps away from the Hilichurl as you watch it. The question lingering in the back of your mind finally comes forth.

Why did you not want to harm the Hilichurls?

You had no problems attacking and even murdering people, yet your heart ached at the thought of hurting the cursed citizens. Was that it? Did you pity them to the point of refusal of harm? Or was it like you originally thought of the Hilichurl camp being too strong for you to face on your own?

Quietly, you take slow steps toward the Hilichurl, the torches cast your shadow to loom far above it as if swallowing it whole. Stretching out your hand your fingers inch closer to the wound winding down its back.

It must be in so much pain. Your fingers graze the cut just barely as you laugh at yourself. Were you always this hypocritical? Just yesterday you let a treasure hoarder bleed to death with his critical state, yet you tenderly touch this Hilichurl hoping that your power could heal it.

Even with your conflicting feelings, you smile as the Hilichurl begins to glow gold. If your touch was enough to heal it then Teyvat must recognize it as an animal rather than a human.

How sad...

The Hilichurl is quick to wake up once the light fades. A mumbled "Dala?" leaves it as it felt its body multiple times as if checking that it really was healed. It finally turns to look at you with a tense silence.

Smiling calmly, you stay standing as it shakily steps closer to you. "Unu, unu!" The Hilichurl falls onto its knees as it shouts loudly making you jump.

Loud thudding could be heard behind you. You looked behind you, a grimace on your face. This wasn't supposed to happen, what did it yell to the others?! You may have been against fighting them if you could avoid it, but between their life and yours, you come first.

Your sickle is summoned into a clenched hand as you move to turn around to face the sole entryway. Coarse hands grab your ankles and something rough lays on your feet. You freeze at the sight of the Hilichurl in a full bowing position at your feet with its cracked mask pressed against your feet.

Did it recognize you? Or is it simply trying to stop you and is still weak from its earlier injuries? Nerves aflame, you lift your sickle prepared to strike it down and start the fight.

The Hilichurls swarm the building making you freeze up. The Samachurl walks in with the Mitachurl trailing behind it. Attacking now would only lead you to being overwhelmed. All you can do is wait for them to make the first move. If only you remembered what unu meant!

The Samachurl speaks to the Hilichurl that is still clinging to your feet, yet the Hilichurl only repeats unu. That must have been the last straw for the Mitachurl as it yells with spittle hitting your shoulder. It grabs the Hilichurl and lifts it up into the air as you rub the spit off with a nauseating feeling.

The sound of the Samachurls staff dropping to the ground is what has you raising your head. Not a second later, all the Hilichurls get on their knees, yelling with enthusiasm.

"Unu! Unu! Yo unu!"

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that unu must mean something like god as lawa meant chief. There wasn't anything else they would bow to that wasn't a god. Even the mighty Mitachurl sets the Geo shield down to bow low enough that you stand taller than it.

If healing a single Hilichurl had this effect, then you never have to worry about Hilichurls again. This was just another thing to add to your growing list of plausible evidence for you being the Creator to use in the worst-case scenario.

Of course, this could be used against you just as easily. The Hilichurls are by technical means 'monsters'. The only people who know that they were once people are far too little. Some would even kill you to hide this fact...

With a heavy heart, you force yourself to remember not to let hilichurls know your identity from this point on. So many good opportunities are missed due to your stupid acolytes. You'll be stuck keeping this Hilichurl situation quiet for both you and the Hilichurl camp's sake.

Glum with disappointment, you resign yourself to finishing the commission and point out the tent. "All of you, follow me." With that, you leave the building as the Hilichurls rush to follow you.

There's no fear in your heart as you continue to speak while using hand signals to order them. Opening the map, you hum as you try to find a good spot to move them to. It would suck if they saw you destroy the towers and rebuild them before you get the reward for the job.

It takes a bit longer than you hoped due to the alcoholic fruit they consumed but soon enough they follow you farther south to the border of Tianqiu Valley. A nice open area is spotted and you stand there while pointing at the ground.

"Here, this will be your new home." The Hilichurls cheer and rush to work. You slide down to rest against a tree trunk. All you had to do was sit and wait until you saw a good chance to slip away.

Except, they just would not stop bugging you. Fruits, meat, flowers, and any relatively presentable objects were given to you constantly. It didn't help that the Mitachurl refused to leave your side after you winced at the sunbeam hitting your eye.

You had accepted all the gifts and mindlessly stuffed it all into your bag. It was a bit embarrassing to admit but the way they cheered and danced at your approval was nearly endearing. Keyword: nearly.

The stream of gifts came to a halt as the squishy sounds of slime padding along the grass came closer. A batch of big and small cryo slimes stared at the Hilichurls before jumping into the air to attack them.

The Mitachurl quickly leaves your side to attack them as the Hilichurls follow it into battle. Not a moment too soon either, the camp is almost done and you aren't sure if they would even let you leave at this rate.

It was a shame you had to miss watching the battle. Seeing the two most common mobs fight each other was a rare sight as they usually work together. With a bit of effort, you successfully escape without alerting the Hilichurls, smiling in anticipation at the sight of the old camp.

Electro is slashed at the tower as your sickle hits it repeatedly. The white winding tower breaks into a pile of rubble before you move on to the second one.

It's a little more difficult due to the wood pole that serves as a foundation but it comes crashing to the ground soon enough. In spite of your hits, the brown pole stays standing despite the marks you gave it.

Winded, you rest your hand against the pole and catch your breath. After a few minutes, you stand back up and raise your sickle to strike but stop at the sight of something interesting.

On the pole were the now translated words 'BELOVED CREATOR' in messy big writing.

That confirms it right? Not only do the people of Khaenri'ah worship you, but they also recognized you earlier. But if they were originally punished for refusing to be under a god then why did they suffer the same fate when they worshipped you?...

------------------------------------

Celestia wasn't intended to be a good or liked character in Genshin. Hoyoverse made it very clear that no one liked Celestia, so Celestia alone attacking the people of Khaenri'ah wasn't surprising, even in this world, but what about the Archons? What reason did they have to attack Khaenri'ah when the Archons worshipped you too?

Your mind spins with possibilities as your feet automatically head back to the newly built Hilichurl camp. After all, you couldn't leave them unsupervised when they knew your secret.

Besides being showered with gifts and what you assume are compliments isn't bad. You didn't have to worry about saying the wrong thing or acting suspicious around them. Their minds and bodies just weren't good enough to revolt against you. Still, it made you happy that you could relax around them with no consequences.

The camp should be made with lighter-colored trees due to the different environments. The stone flooring of the building would cool the temperature slightly along with whatever air slips in. They should be feasting on the food they gathered and celebrate your return. You would enjoy the positive attention that you haven't truly accepted since you arrived here as they sing and dance awfully.

So, why did the sound of weak gasps and clashing weapons fill the air? Why did the well-accustomed smell of blood overwhelm your nose to the point where you could taste it?

Your answer came in the form of a woman with flowing silk hair adorned with red ropes strangling a hilichurl till it went limp. The body hit the ground with a thud as it dissolved into ashes leaving a splatter of blood and a cracked mask.

The spear twirled in her gloved hands as the crane-like cape followed her body as she surveyed the area. Her clothes were dyed in dark red as the ruby liquid shined on the head of her spear. The crane-like beauty of Shenhe is lost on you as your eyes never stray from the bloody cracked masked.

Stumbling without care for whatever sounds you make, the bushes shake as you walk through. Shenhe looks in your direction indifferently as you emerge from the shadowy trees. Weapon at the ready, she speaks harshly like the worst winters.

"This is a dangerous area, go to Liyue and get any wounds treated."

She turns her head prepared to leave when a choked gasp escapes you. Head still angled to the ground, your features are hidden from view as she watches you.

"The Hilichurls, t-they took me. Did you really k-kill them all?" A shiver and soft sob wracks your body as you bend to clutch your knees for support.

"Yes, you can get help at Li-" Her dismissive words are cut off by your coughing fit. Tears spring to your eyes as you lift your head up letting her see your masked face.

She steps through the blood-stained grass as the horns, arrows, and scrolls break beneath her steps. There's a twist of a cap before a flask is pushed roughly into your mouth. The stale water that Shenhe clearly doesn't drink helps the bile in your mouth go down with a bad taste.

She brings it away and closes it as she barely glances at your face. She moves to leave again but your hand wraps around her upper arm tightly. Your voice shakes with emotion as you begin to speak.

"Those Hilichurls-s dragged me with them and thanks to y-you they're dead. They're really dead aren't they?!" Shenhe narrows her eyes in distrust at the way you finish your words.

"Goodbye." Emotionless as always she moves to wretch her arm out of your grasp but ends up gasping in pain instead. Her stomach bleeds into the black bodysuit as your sickle stabs her stomach. The grip you hold onto her is bruising as you stare up at her with indifference.

"They were only working on their home. Is it a crime for them to simply exist? You can't even understand your own existence, let alone empathize with another's. What right do you have to deny them the bare minimum in a world they didn't ask to live in?"

The words come out coldly as your teeth dig into your lips. The spear is stabbed into your right shoulder making you release her with a pained cry. She pushes you away, letting the blood flow out of your wound as you press your free hand onto it.

"You must be possessed by a demon." An ice talisman is summoned between her fingers as Cryo envelopes her weapon. The deep cut you left on her stomach continues to bleed but Shenhe ignores it. Meanwhile, you continue to press against your wound as the blood stains your hand.

Shenhe takes a step in your direction before a loud roar captures both your attention. The Mitachurl rushes in Shenhe's direction holding a brand new Geo shield. She steps back quickly but not fast enough to dodge the shield bash.

The satisfaction you get from watching her nose break and bleed is short-lived as her elemental burst is activated. The Mitachurl is already weak and once she's done with it, she'll be after you. It's that quick realization that has you running away from the area.

Wouldn't it be good to test if the statue of the seven could heal you? You skid to a stop at the old Hilichurl camp as you quickly bring up the game screen. As much as you would like to teleport without it, that requires you to remember what the location looked like, which you definitely can't with how fast your mind is racing.

The map is pulled up and you move to select the waypoint closest to the statue when your instincts scream at you. Something’s coming, something’s coming!

Letting your body lead, you dive to the left and grit your teeth at the pain of new scrapes forming. You watch in a mix of fascination and horror as it's overwhelmed by ice maidens. The near-death experience only leaves your nerves shot as you jump to your feet and continue running.

Shenhe already finished the Mitachurl, she's coming after you. The crackling of ice following and the lowering temperature are signs that only push you to escape faster.

The only exit of the area is a narrow gap between two mountains and you are distracted for a split second. The beautiful tree that rests over the sealed Azdaha overshadows you with every bit of grace you always imagined it would have.

"Transfiguration!" You didn't have Shenhe but it didn't take a genius to know she was going to use her skill. You can't keep running, not with these wounds. Not like you can fight her either no matter what creator buffs you get, it won't help you against the adepti's disciple.

From your right, you can hear the sound of crackling fire and Geo clashing. Swerving to the right, an ice talisman cuts your cheek but it's worth it as you spot Samachurl.

It's a huge hilichurl camp, at least two Mitachurls must be here! Grinning, you don't stop and hop over the shoddily made fence before it's destroyed by the cryo woman.

The camp is quick to begin attacking Shenhe as they must have judged that she was far more threatening. A Mitachurl holding an axe, and a shield bearing Mitachurl rush at the messy woman as you peek behind you.

Her lips are pulled into a snarl but her posture is clean as her spear weaves to hit any weak spots. Yeah, even with the Samachurl and Hilichurls supporting, you didn't have much time to escape.

You sneak into the now-empty Hilichurl hall-like building and pull up the screen. Impatiently you wait for it to load as the fighting continues on. It loads and you select the map quickly and find the waypoint on Qingyun Peak.

The noises abruptly stop before there's loud thudding as the whole area becomes cold. Panicking you press the 'teleport' button multiple times as the steps shake.

Iridescent eyes that hold boundless rage as the red ropes slip off meet your smug eyes as the light engulfs you.

Rubbing your eyelids as the light dies down to show beautiful scenery, you sit on a cold stone blankly. Just how dumb were you? Groaning, you flop backward and stare at the sky tiredly.

What a great idea it was to stab a homicidal overpowered woman with trust issues and only a small sense of morality. That makes it twice now that you were chased by braided-hair women that wield spears, except this time you knew better and could have prevented it completely.

But... you really didn't want to. If she had killed them after you said a proper goodbye then you would be upset but not like this. You wouldn't have been willing to employ that tactic again.

Just mentioning it seemed to direct your thoughts back to that day. Just like today, you had started to fully trust and unknowingly depend before they were taken away without warning.

----------------------------------

A young man stands with shaky hands as he stares at the now-dead body of the homeless man he shot. A panicked chuckle escapes him as his vision blurs and shakes at the sight.

No one would have to know. No one would even know. Nobody cares about the homeless, let alone a stray cat.

You're almost positive of that, that was his thought process before he spots you staring vacantly at your adoptive father and Ashtray. The only family that you had.

Tears burn your vision as you look at the gun in his hands. A weak laugh leaves you making the man stare at you nervously. You weren't even 18, yet you lost your father for the second time. The only difference was that you actually loved and remembered him.

"I really have to thank you, ya'know?" There's a slight voice crack when you speak but you smile at the guy despite it. "I mean, he was just soo annoying."

He smiles at your words, seeming to calm down at the friendliness and accepting nature you showed. "I know right? Constantly trying to convince everyone to 'make the most of your situation' or 'try to enjoy life while we have it' like what a fucking joke!"

His slimy laugh is accompanied by your fake laughter. It didn't feel real, you didn't want it to be real. Your feet carried you closer and your hand rests on his shoulder.

"Tell me about it. At least the old man's dead now! I can finally do the shit I wanna do." Your dad's blood from all the gunshots sticks to the nasty clothes and your filthy skin like paint. He didn't deserve to go like this, he deserved someone that isn't as selfish as you.

"Can you even guess half the stuff he made me do? Man, if I had access to a gun like that, shit he would have died way earlier!" The cockroach in human skin laughs and rests his palm on the alleyway side. A perfect match considering they're both utter shit.

"You're hilarious. How about this? I can introduce you to the guy that got me a hold of this, you can get it real cheap too! Of course, you'll need to pay me back in some way..."

You don't like that look in his eyes, you hate this man with passion you never knew you held until now. He's brought closer to you as you give a slight nod.

"But before that, I just gotta ask. I'm so fucking curious." Smiling with pride he lets you pull him closer.

"Sure, what is it? Just don't ask me for this gun, I paid a shit ton of money for it." Laughter rings out softly as every cell in your body resists the urge to strangle him.

"Don't worry man, I just wanted to ask." Your head tilts to the side closer to his ear as you whisper.

"Just how fucking dumb are you?"

Squelch

Your hand is bruising on his wrist that's holding his gun. Blood seeps out of his mouth as he coughs. The knife you thrusted into his chest where you hoped the heart was pulled out.

He gives his best to struggle the gun into a position he can shoot you but you didn't survive this long to be weak enough for that. The gun clatters loudly as it hits the floor, his mouth opens to scream but your arm gags him.

Bite marks litter your sleeve, hands punch and grab at anything but it's useless as you stab him again. Stabbing him repeatedly your fake grin twitches and twists into something unhinged.

It's useless to resist, your actions scream as you bring his dying body to the ground. A chuckle leaves you as you raise the knife high into the air and watch his eyes go wide with fear. It's cathartic, nearly healing, but you know nothing will heal you after this.

You stab him for what seemed like hours until his body is bloody with torn clothes. Bile and spit drip out of his mouth as his eyes stay open, his mouth frozen in a screaming formation.

Thoughts stab at your consciousness as you stumble over to your father's dead body. You could have just called the police and had him arrested. Maybe get one of the people who liked your dad to avenge him. You didn't have to do that.

But you did and you couldn't regret it. Resting your head on your father's chest as the tears and broken sobs are muffled in his clothes you continue to berate yourself.

------------------------------------------

The blinding pain from your wounds is what drags you out of memory lane. The new wound from Shenhe isn't something you even want to see anymore. The lightheadedness you got from the blood you lost is making you dizzy.

Your medical kit is dug out and you apply the proper care for it. It hurts to even lift it but there's no one to help you so you push past the pain. Slowly, you walk to the edge and look down.

Cursing your bad luck you stare at the statue of the seven on a floating rock piece. Gliding was hard by itself, let alone landing on a small piece with such little experience.

Hissing in pain, you clutch the wound and close your eyes. You didn't have much of a choice, if you wait too long you might get permanent damage. What if the statue couldn't even heal you, you'd be losing time to get to Bubu's Pharmacy.

With a few insults to Shenhe, you deploy the glider and set for the statue. It's not that far and you land fairly easily. Good enough for your first solo glide.

With wary eyes, you inspect your surroundings before touching the statue. The glow it gives off is almost traumatic to your first day after getting thrown into Teyvat. You can only hope that this time you'll be able to handle the Archons better.

The puncture in your shoulder seals up nicely until not even a scar is left. The scrapes, laceration from Mountain Shaper, neck wounds from Cloud Retainer, and even some injuries you failed to notice heal up completely. You note the slight discomfort you feel from the wounds you didn't get to clean. It seems the statue can't deal with healing and preventing infections.

Even still everything you wanted to do is done now, it's best you leave before- "Pardon me."

A smile graces your face with ease as you turn around to face the handsome man. An overwhelming aura that silently demands respect paired with the manners of a humble citizen.

Zhongli's eyes glow with elemental power as he speaks with a voice that lulls you into a sense of security.

"Would you be willing to answer some questions?"

The only question is whether he came here as Zhongli or as the Geo Archon.

This one had a lot of different things going on. From the hilichurl to Shenhe and the long awaited Zhongli! I know there's a lot of components in my story and I hate to confuse you guys so I try to give little explanations when certain things become relevant. I am glad to get part of Y/N's backstory out! This is explaining the single life Y/N 'selfishly' killed before being thrown into Teyvat. I hope you guys enjoyed the gradual shift when it comes to gliding. First Ayato carried, then a team glide with the guys and finally Y/N by themself! Now I really need to start Fontaine before I'm spoiled by social media. I'm too curious for my own good. Yet again, my editor did good on this chapter despite how many times I was berated for normal mistakes. (If your name is italicized that means I couldn't tag you.) Taglist: @vvyeislazzy, @nikqi, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @etherisy, @yourlocalstranger123, @ra404, @iruiji, @goldenglow149, @haru-tofuu, @lsleepysimpl , @bebobeboben, @yuyuzi-ling, @amidst-the-tempest, @resident-cryptid, @mxd1zzy, @mochicurls21, @nervouseaglelover, @thedevioussmirk, @yumuramma, @kwqsla, @undecidingfate, @ehjane, @game-savvy, @akiramirae, @sielt, @fluffy-koalala, @formacoon, @sxftiebee, @khxii-i, @ursinaw, @chuuya-brainrot, @sweetbills, @kazuchaos, @snowfoxnix, @bluebelony, @conspicuous-mayonnaise, @pencil-of-ashes, @ghostlyintervention, @taiformaifoe, @sielt, @goaudduck, @carminerin, @maddysflowers, @zenith-of-all-zenith, @crazydreamcat, @leafanonsforest, @grimreapersscythe, @leylanx , @undecidingfate, @sapphireknown, @help-whatdoimakemyusername, @zhonglisfruityass, @fluffy-koalala, @mer0n37, @victoria1676, @mochinessss, @sinnful-darling, @emilymikado, @pix-stuff, @esthelily, @luxie963, @emmbny, @millienolife, @kbar1013, @xxblackroses623xx, @chxrlxtteee, @aludicpoet

[jajasmiinee]

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

PREGNANCY REVEAL - MATT STURNIOLO

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

warnings : fluff, kissing, cringe, swearing, bad grammar

english is not my first language so i'm terribly sorry if there's any english error

y/n

matt

chris

nick

enjoyyy !

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

today it's the triplets birthday and they're going to film a car video, which they invited you to join. of course you joined. but there's some birthday present for them, especially Matt

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

You and Matt are in the back seat, while Nick's at the driver seat and Chris's of course at the passenger seat.

"So our birthday is tomo- oh! i mean today! happy birthday for us! Woohoo!" Nick says happily after seeing the date, 1st august

"Happy birthday guysss!" You wishes them, giving them a tight hug

"Thanks y/n" Chris pat your head slowly, he's like a brother to you. And that makes you smiles so softly at Chris

"Thanks love" "Of course sweetheart" Matt winks at you, making you giggles

"So thank you guys for wa-" Nick's words were cut off by you "Oh wait wa-" "Bitch why am i getting cut every single time in this video" Nick groans "Well maybe you deserves it" Chris rolls his eyes. "Quit it! Anyways, i have a surprise for you guysss" You smiles happily as you took out 3 medium size boxes

"Oh really?" Matt was quite shocked "Why? You don't want em?" "No no i would love too!" Matt quickly take one of the boxes as he sees your eyes filled with rage when he suddenly say such a thing "Haha! Thank you y/n! This is so sweet of you!" Chris eyes sparkle when he got his box. "Wait can i open it now?" Matt ask "No no wait!"

"okay, 3..2..1 !" You and Matt count down, the triplets were excited to open them "Oohh what is this..?" Chris ask in confusion when he saw a positive pregnancy test in his box. The time froze a little when all of the guys trying to process the information.

"Wait..!" Matt eyes widen, looking dead in your eyes. It seems like Matt's the fastest to absorb the situation. "Hihi!" You chuckles softly as Nick and Chris also looking at you with widen eyes. "Are you fucking pregnant?!" Nick ask, half shouting. "What do you guys think?" You raised an eyebrow playfully

"I'm going to be a father?!" Matt hold your hands with a bright smile on his face "Yes silly!" You laughed "We're going to be a uncle?!" Nick says, looking excitedly at Chris "Holly shit! What in the fucking world?!" Chris laugh with tears in his eyes. "This is not fake right? This is not some sort of pranks right?" Matt still in denial, still so shocked "Noo! I'm officially preg-" your words were cut off when matt pulls you in a passionate kiss, making you giggles between kisses

"Chris! We're going to be some bitches uncle!" Nick shouted at Chris, not in a angry way but excited way. "And Matt's going to be a dad!" Chris replied happily "Hahaha!" You laugh when Matt finally pull the kiss away. "I-i'm going t-to be a dad" Matt cried, covering his face with his hands. "Awwwhh matt! Don't cry!" Nick pat matt back softly.

"This is the best birthday present ever!" Chris shows the camera the pregnancy results, showing the two lines saying that's positive. "Look guys! So cute!!"

"Alright guys! Thanks for watching! We love you and happy Friday!!" All of you wave at the camera and at the very last second of the video, matt suddenly pull you into another soft kiss, hearing some of Nick and Chris groans

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

Comments

"Damn, Matt crying's making my heart melt"

"The way you all so happy about it it just so.. ARRRGGGGHH! 🥹🥹"

"I swear the baby going to have the best mom, dad and uncles ever! 💗💗"

"The baby is so lucky to have you all as a family"

"I just know that the baby's gonna learn to swear by the age of 3 years old because Nick and Chris teaching her 😂"

"Wish you all the best y/n and matt"

"Congratulations for your family ❤️❤️"

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

i know this is short i'm sorry i don't have any motivation to do anything rn

love you all, have a very nice day. remember to always love yourself okay? 💗💗

[ijustliketoreadstuff]

Lets talk about Gabriel's club.

Gabriel being part of a club where all his closest "friends" meet, may not seem odd, even viewers didn't think too much of it at first when some of the members came together for a party at the Agreste mansion back in "Gabriel Agreste". But the more we learn about what this club does behind closed doors, the more it feels like its no ordinary club for members to mingle and party.

The club not only has a great deal of security to keep non-members out, but it is even ensured that the members themselves are unable to release any information over what goes on in any event, regardless of who they are. Their clubs activities are kept under so much security and secrecy that it is even mandatory for the members to provide a fingerprint scan, wear masks and even relinquish their phones, along with their kids phones, before any event begins, and to make sure that no one can listen in, let alone get any glimpse as to what goes on inside, the entire facility is placed on lockdown, doors and windows all boarded up and locked. Any other person who would normally just be catering for an event, would be instructed to have no contact with any other members except Gabriel, all the while an added scrambler is activated to stop any technology from making its way through.

Aside from Tomoe and Gabriel, some of the other members of the club include Bob Roth, Andre, Audrey, Amelie, Prince Ali and his assistant Soraya, all of whom are business people, politicians and even members of royal families. The royal family in London that invited Gabriel and Tomoe to a wedding are likely also members of the club. It's no surprise Gabriel and Tomoe have such strong connections both in Paris and around the world, all of whom hold them in high enough regard to invite them to even the most private of events, like the royal wedding in London ("Backwarder")as well as prince Ali's birthday("Lies"), all very exclusive events.

Now, societal parties like the "Diamonds dance" might have been common enough for even Zoe to have regularly experienced them while living in New York, but knowing that Gabriel and Tomoe are involved in these kinds of parties, raises question if the activities surrounding their club may actually hold some ulterior motive for them and the members. Such a club would not only serve as a good space to interact with high society members who are normally scattered around the world, but it would also serve to invite and interact with any potential new members that have become wealthy over time.

Gabriel alone was not always the world famous fashion designer he is now, he used to be a struggling designer who lived in a studio apartment, before Audrey discovered him and gave him his big break in the fashion industry. Such gatherings for members of a high society would have been a good place for Gabriel to meet someone like Tomoe, who despite having no relation to the fashion industry like he did, would have met him nonetheless at something as simple and inconspicuous as a party. 

Because Gabriel was desperate to save Emelie from the effects of the broken peacock miraculous over the years, long before he committed to a life of villainy as Hawkmoth, involving others who had the potential to help him in his goals was definitely not above considering the more he spiraled into his desperation and position of power in the world. He already had Nathalie, who was an expert at finding relics and was the one who helped the Agreste family find both the peacock and butterfly miraculous, he even recruited someone as young as Lila back in "Oni-chan" to act as his spy into Adrien's life and help separate him from Marinette, all with the promise of being a model. If he recruited them, he might have already attempted to recruit others in the past from all sorts of places, especially societal parties, the more he realized he could not do certain things with his power and influence alone. Tomoe was one such person.

("Passion," "Multiplication", "Oni-chan")

When Gabriel first set out to obtain the ladybug and cat miraculous as Hawkmoth, it was assumed that his plans to use the jewels' wish granting abilities, were entirely his own. However, in "Multiplication", the show revealed that Tomoe was always aware of Gabriel's identity as Hawkmoth and was even involved in his plans from the very beginning. All the advanced technology that Gabriel used, from the weaponized security system in his lair("Robostus"), the power supply in his mansion that could compete with a power station("Party Crasher"), the machine that allowed him to reconfigure the miraculous into rings ("Destruction"), Emelie's pod etc. was not built by him, it all came from Tomoe, but by no means did Tomoe give all this high tech to Gabriel out of the goodness of her heart, she gave it to him because she too had something to gain, a wish from the ladybug and cat miraculous to create a new world.

To have the power that could grant any wish would be too good of an opportunity for anyone to ignore, even Marinette and Adrien considered using the wish their jewels could grant, before learning about the consequences that came with it of course, but it was precisely this kind of power that would have made things easy for Gabriel to convince others to join him in his pursuit for the miraculous, especially Tomoe.

("Robostus", and "Passion")

(In "Intuition", Tomoe reveals her desire to create a new world through the power of the ladybug and cat miraculous wish granting abilities)

Of course, Gabriel couldn't just go around telling people about the existence of the miraculous and the wish without drawing some attention, but the club's parties alone would serve as an excellent cover for Gabriel to recruit people over the years in his desperate endeavors to obtain the miraculous and save Emelie. If Tomoe alone was helping Gabriel from the shadows without anyone ever suspecting her, who's to say there aren't other members within the club who are doing the same thing from the sidelines. We don't know a lot about the other members yet, but judging by the way their children are, the majority of them are no different than Audrey and Chloe, believing they are entitled to many things without consequences, all of whom would definitely choose to ignore the true price that revolves around being granted a wish, a price that could bring devastation onto the world and other innocent people who would suffer the consequences of their choices (cough* it's just like in real life*cough).

The club everyone assumes is just a place where rich people gather, may harbor a secret society comprised of the rich people who aim to further their power and plans, through the use of the miraculous, and right now, Gabriel and Tomoe are at the center of it all. It wouldn't be the first time a large evil party of people gathered to obtain the miraculous, after all, in "Backwarder", it was revealed that even the Nazi's knew about the miraculous and hunted down master Fu to obtain them so as to use their power for their own diabolical plans. But again, let's just wait and see what the show has to say.

[nina245]

Shovel knight: Blade of waves! - ''Liquid Samurai but they have their own campaign''

Finally, this project is done! :D With a trailer, intro and a whole book/bible like Shovel knight's art book! You can check all here

For those new, back in May I started a project of trying to imagine what would be like a campaing of the Liquid Samurais.

List of updates

FIRST IDEA/CONTEXT

UPDATE 1

UPDATE 2

UPDATE 3

UPDATE 4

Now let's start! :D

Intro - Check here

Shovel knight: Blade of waves is a fan campaign of Shovel knight and a sequel to Shovel of hope story. The star of this story is Tomo, a liquid samurai who lost their bond with the Enchantress and is now free. With no apparent direction, their mission will be to stop the Snake and her 5 generals with the help of Shovel Knight and Shield Knight.

Major gameplay differences

At the start of each level with a boss, when Shovel Knight and Shield Knight join you, you can choose to have them help you with the battle or not. The food that Tomo uses to regenerate instead of being eaten, are flasks of liquid and for mana, pink will-o’-the-wisps. Tomo can find blue will-o’-the-wisps throughout the levels, similar to the Music sheets, this item unlocks a special skin. Tomo can unlock and buy relics with a necessary amount of insignia, which are obtained by defeating the former members of the order without quarter. A final boss and ending that continuous to the events of Shovel of hope to work as a sequel.

The story

First Quadrant

Tomo wakes up unconscious in the forest, tired and confused. They go into the plains, defeating all foes in their path. They then found Black Knight, who mistakes them for an enemy and attacks them. After defeating Black Knight, he notices the different way in which Tomo fights. They collapse on the floor and Black Knight brings them closer to a well- known tavern famous for collecting all kinds of people. When Tomo wakes up, Black Knight asks them if they are aware of the events with their lineage. Confused, Tomo asks Black Knight and he puts them in context, that 5 generals similar to them have come out of nowhere, who plan to recover the lands that were taken from the Enchantress. After catching up, Black Knight decides to give the liquid samurai a name, being this ‘’Tomo’’ to refer to them and recommending that they change their clothes so that people do not confuse them with the liquid samurai. Good luck for them, Black Knight points to a seamstress sitting across the tavern. Tomo must approach her to have the seamstress make a change of clothes for them, the first order is free. Tomo gets their current outfit and after talking to several NPCs, they leave the tavern. Tomo heads back into the woods to face the first 2 bosses (The the archer and the seamstress herself). He finds Shovel Knight on the archer level and Shield Knight on the seamstress level, gaining the friendship of both by winning. Upon returning to the tavern, Shovel Knight and Shield Knight will give Tomo more information about the other 3 generals left, along with the Snake.

Second Quadrant

Tomo, after defeating 2 more generals, will unlock a new skill for each general. Back at the tavern, Tomo, Shield Knight, and Shovel Knight talk about the last remaining general and how the rest of the generals, even though they’ve been causing trouble, seem to be frequenting the tavern as well. With no clues as to where the last general might be, Tomo searches for clues by talking to the 3 generals resting in the tavern. The seamstress will tell him that the missing general is the strongest of the 5, The mantis will tell him about the special technique he uses, the guardian will talk about his character, and the the archer will tell him that the last time he saw him was near a cave. Tomo, Shovel Knight, and Shield Knight get on the dragon’s back and it will take them to the cave.

Third Quadrant

Upon reaching the dark cave, Tomo, Shovel Knight and Shield Knight end up separated. Tomo continues straight through the cave until they end up in a very underground area, more underground than Mole Knight’s mines. At the end of the path they will meet another samurai, with the same appearance as them, but with a different palette. The spectre will challenge them to a duel and after defeating them, they will get an amulet that will help them in the future. Tomo will fall to the ground and wake up with Shield Knight moving them. Upon awakening, the 3 of them find themselves in the other part of the cave, to enter the territory of the last general. After defeating him, Tomo will get the last skill. At that moment, a new tower of fate will grow from the mountains.

The New Tower of Fate

Tomo, Shovel Knight and Shield Knigh will head to the new tower of fate that is a labyrinth. At the end of the labyrinth is the snake. The snake will call its generals and a boss rush will begin. After defeating the generals again, Tomo will face the snake and after being defeated, with the power of the crystal she will call her generals again to fuse them creating an aberration. After defeating the aberration, Tomo will use the amulet to separate the 5 generals and save them. The snek will appear and before it can attack, Tomo will launch himself to break the amulet on her head into pieces. Weakening the snake and together with Shovel Knight, Shield Knight and the 5 generals, they run out of the new tower of fate.

Credits sequence

After defeating the snake, everyone will celebrate the victory of the 3 heroes in the tavern. Tomo will earn the respect of many. As for the generals, the seamstress will leave their title of general and will dedicate themselves to fashion, giving Mr. Hat competition in the market. The mantis, along with the guardian, will keep their titles and make friendly spars and fighting competitions. The archer will join Troupple King as their vassal for having a noble heart and as for the last general, he will gather the rest of the remaining samurai to create a small clan where the samurai live peacefully with the rest of the living beings in the kingdom.

Tomo (The player)

Tomo, a liquid samurai who, having lost their bond with their queen, wanders around the kingdom aimlessly. Their name was given by Black Knight and they later teamed up with Shovel Knight and Shield Knight.

For the animations, check them here

The Snake

When everyone thought the enchantress had disappeared, a snake touched the amulet, taking her powers and ambitions back. In the shadows, she formed a new army to take the kingdom back.

For the animation, check here

Shogun

Main leader of the 5 generals of the snake, they are the most loyal of the 5. They have a very authoritarian character and is the one who protects the entrance to the snake's lair.

For the animation, check here

The mantis

The most skilled general of the 5,they hide 2 of their arms in their clothes to surprise their enemy. Although they are loyal to the snake, they show more interest in training with their comrades than attacking the enemy.

For the animation, check here

The guardian

The loneliest of the group, they don’t interact with the rest of their comrades unless they have to. They show great curiosity about the cold biomes and the wolves of Polar Knight

For the animation, check here

The Seamstress

The most mysterious general of the 5, they usually spends a lot of time in the tavern as a seamstress. They are in charge of changing Tomo’s skins

For the animation, check here

The Archer

The most social of the 5, their comrades confuse who of the two really takes control. In their free time they enjoy swimming in the seas.

For the animation, check here

The Spectre

A mysterious specter with the same appearance as Tomo who challenges them to a duel to test their skills. Upon defeat, they will give them an important amulet.

For the animation, check here

The Tavern - Hub

Resting place where Tomo first meets Shield Knight and Shovel Knight. After defeating the 5 generals and the ex-members of the Order of No Quarter, they will appear from time to time and you can talk to them to claim a reward.

The Seamstress: Will unlock the option of skins The Mantis: Will unlock a new skill The Guardian: Will unlock a new skill The Shogun: Will unlock a new skill The Archer: Will unlock a new boss NPC Knight: Will unlock the option to use your relics

And that's all! To check the book to see the whole process, sketches and more info, you can check it here!

Hope everyone likes it!

[kiatheinsomniac]

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇-𝐔𝐏!*˚ .♡⋆ˊˎ -

𓆩♡𓆪 a Valentine's gift for you! Considering the success it had last year, I'm bringing back Valentine's match-ups for 2024 to set you up on a date with one of your favs! 𓆩♡𓆪 (edited rules as I didn't get the same sort of engagement as last year that I had expected)

｡･:*˚:✧｡how does it work?

♡ similar to ships, you send me a description of yourself (sexuality, personality, hobbies, likes/dislikes) and a fandom (or multiple fandoms!) of your choice from the list below. ♡ I'll tell you who would ask you to be their Valentine and why as well as the date they would take you on! ♡ like last year, the event will be run on a "first come, first serve basis" ♡ you can enter by sending your information to my ask box! ♡ please keep in mind that entries are one per person and not one per blog. This is to make it fair.

♡ enter now to receive a Valentine's date!

・❥・꒰ CLOSES 7TH FEB. ꒱ ・❥・꒰ 0 SLOTS LEFT. ꒱

｡･:*˚:✧｡fandom list:

𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍'𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃:

✧ I will write for literally anyone

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋:

✧ Any of the Dimitrescus, Karl Heisenberg, Donna Beneviento, Carlos Oliveira, Jill Valentine

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐖 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘:

✧ Elliott, Sebastian

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓:

✧ Alhaitham, Baizhu, Beidou, Cyno, Dehya, Diluc, Dottore, Kaeya, Kaveh, Kazuha, Lisa, Neuvillette, Ningguang, Pantalone, Raiden Ei, Scaramouche, Thoma, Tighnari, Xiao, Yae Miko, Zhongli (more will be added as I progress in the game ♡)

𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐊𝐈𝐄𝐍:

✧ Any of the ainur/ elves, Aragorn, Faramir, Haleth

𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀:

✧ Alucard, Carmilla, Hector, Striga

𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐋'𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄:

✧ Howl

𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒:

✧ Tomoe

𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐑:

✧ Sebastian, Undertaker, Snake, Ash/Angela, Charles Grey

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐒:

✧ Dominique, Johann, Noé, Olivier, Vanitas

𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐓:

✧ Sherlock Holmes, William James Moriarty

𝐁𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘 𝐃𝐎𝐆𝐒:

✧ Akiko Yosano, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Golgo. Osamu Dazai, Sigma, Yukichi Fukuzawa

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐋:

✧ Loki

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:

✧ Brother Day

𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍:

✧ Aemond Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen

[toomanyideasandfandoms]

Idk if you're still taking requests but imagine one day Kazuha finds Creator's death note diary and finds a bunch of names. Realizing those are the people who killed the Creator before, he went "Ykw, I'm giving Our Holy One some therapy with the help of my friends" and kidnaps grabs Fischl, Mona, Xinyan, and finally you for an adventure-therapy or something something-

*cutely inserts Tomo breakdancing in Celestia*

PFFT that would be obviously hilarious and adorable.

I can definitely see the group having so much fun, probably telling stories of their lives that aren't mentioned in game. Maybe the creator also gaining information on how these specific characters views others. Like Mona's views of Fontaine or something.

Bonus if where they went was towards those summertime event islands.

But if we're considering Death Seeking Creator (I should probably make it known if those who send in asks don't want me to talk about Death Seeking please just tell me cause otherwise I'll just assume and we know what happens when assuming) though I don't think it would be possible considering he also was someone who killed the creator. Now I don't think he did it out of pure religious reasons, he's more level headed than that. He's someone who only kills "imposters" out of mercy, like Kaeya actually.

He makes it as quick and painless as possible, sometimes having done sneak attacks (so in the diary, the entries would only mention what the day as like before they write about them suddenly seeing darkness and then waking up in another nation). Not too mention the creator would use every single opportunity to experience another death.

They definitely would question Kazuha on why he's doing this, maybe even have some small breakthrough of where they're screaming at him and hurling insults that were thrown their way. Just absolutely trying to beat a dead horse essentially of why they have to die and that they don't understand why everyone is suddenly saying the opposite.

Tbh this makes me think of how confusing any therapy would be for Death Seeking Creator, because I can imagine them as this childishly stubborn person who refuses to see it as any other way purely because everything they did, they tried to do to change the outcome, always resulted in death no matter what. Peaceful talks? They couldn't get a word in before being sliced down. Fighting like a wild animal? Like they could defeat a god with their bare hands. Hiding and never greeting another person? They're always found out somehow, it's like the characters are drawn to them. Disguises? Even that doesn't work. Nothing they did work. So it had to be destiny right? They had to have this role of constant death? Why? Who fucking knows? They're not a god, they were never supposed to be a god. Why question the ways of a being they have no comprehension of how they think? It would be better to just play the role given, to be the the target every hunter wants. To be that white rabbit that gets chased by Alice throughout the story. But how they go? Well that'll be up to them, if the gods want some sick entertainment, why not make it more interesting?

[teaquaccey]

Okay… soooo… (Eng ver)

Okay so…

I’ve been thinking of this thing for Sagau Genshin for a while but like…

I’m not sure how to explain it…

So, here’s the idea!

I don’t remember where I heard it but it was about the lore about visions.

Archons don’t give them out like candy, but the gods who give them to the inhabitants of Teyvat as a somewhat “help” to the user to achieve their ambition.

But once their ambition has been fulfilled the vision goes out like Tomo’s or something like that and finally the gods receive something greater than what the user wanted.

But it also serves as an “eye” of sorts like a mini spy camera.

I’m not sure how legitimate this info is but, where im trying to go is…

What if the vision also work as a “shield” and blocks the vision holders ability to identify the reader as the creator and such?

Just imagine…

You wake up in Teyvat and the only people that can identify you as a highly being are the npc’s and not the vision users?

Imagine an imposter au with an imposter that is perceived as the creator by the vision users but that is actually a group of gods manipulating their perception or ability to identify the creator by making one of them play the role of the creator.

The reason behind this is because they want to rebel against the creator or something, i dunno maybe they lost badly against the creator in uno or something like that idk.

And because the vision users don’t have the ability to sense anything strange with you they don’t report it to the rest.

And because of how much energy or attention the gods have to keep on the whole creator play they don’t pay any attention to you for the first months?

You would be free from the vision users…

But the npc’s?

Oh dear…

Imagine the gods and imposter finally notice your presence and send the rest to hunt you down.

Imagine the least likely people teaming up together like…

In Mondstadt it would be like…

-Oh! Amber here for the usual?- Sara asks the outrider.

-An imposter?! No! I haven’t seen anyone looking like their grace…- She answered sounding surprised.

—-

-No information about the so called “Imposter” again Master Diluc- Charles informed the red headed that had visited the Tavern with just that exact purpose.

—-

-An imposter? I’m sorry Acting Grand Master, but I’ve seen no one looking identical to their grace!- Marjorie mentioned looking at the blonde.

-I see…- Jean ponders.

-If any information arises please inform us immediately- She mentioned.

-Of course- Marjorie replied as the blonde left.

Jean left as she went back to headquarters.

Finding the imposter was going to be a bit more challenging than expected.

Lost in her thoughts she barely managed to dodge Blanche and Charles who were carrying boxes with what looked to be food and beverages.

-Oh! My apologies- She mentioned.

-Oh no worries Grand Master Jean- Blanche brushed it off as both her and Charles walked towards Marjorie’s shop

She found it a bit suspicious how the three seemed to be together but soon her concerns went away as she realized how paranoid she was that she was now even doubting about Mondstads citizens.

Jean shook her head in disapproval of her eavesdropping and walked away to see how were the others with the search.

Once the three were in the clear they entered the building where a certain Creator was reading a book.

-Glad to see that you’ve been doing alright, your grace-

In Dragonspine:

-Is something wrong, Albedo?- Timaeus asks.

-You see… there have been rumors of a so called imposter…- Albedo explains

-An imposter?!- Timaeus asks in surprise.

-What do you mean…-

-Mmhh, Timaeus… you have been in the city for longer than I, have you not had any encounter with a person with similar characteristics to their grace?- He asks

-No, I’ve seen no one with their appearance…- Timaeus denies.

-Mmhh I see… by the way, I don’t want to sound invasive but why have you’ve been asking about the price of my paintings? I wasn’t aware that you were interested on the arts- Albedo inquired as poor Timaeus tried to come up with an excuse to not expose that he wanted to get one to give it to the creator because they commented that they liked them.

-Well um… because why not?- He mentioned sheepishly

-Huh…- Albedo pondered.

Suspicious.

In Liyue it might be like…

-Mr. Shitou one of my clients has complained over the lack of quality of the Noctilucous Jade you’ve been selling- Yanfei mentions interrogating Shitou.

-Well, you see business hasn’t been going well lately and…- He tried to excuse himself trying to find an excuse after he has been commissioning different hair pins and accessories to be made with said material to later give them to their Grace.

-Huh… this is the same thing Linglang told me at the antiques shop! Is business really not blooming right now?- Yanfei asked herself.

-Anyways, my client would still want to demand you for the low quality of your products-

-What?!-

-We’ll be paying for the troubles Miss Yanfei-

Before she knew it, Yanfei was now in front of the Northland Bank.

-We are the ones who have been buying all the good quality Noctilucous Jade from Mr. Shitou- Nadia mentioned helping Shitou cover from this.

They didn’t wouldn’t want to see their grace upset because one of their followers business broke because of them…

In Inazuma:

-I commissioned a new kimono for you your grace! Is it to your liking?- Hiiragi Chisato asked as she showed her a beautiful made Kimono she had sent from Fontaine.

-Wow…-

-Ah yes, your grace we have been waiting to give you these for quite some time- Xixi mentioned as she presented a bunch of boxes filled with various gifts.

(I dunno why but I feel like being in Ritou wouldn’t be so bad I mean, here is where most Npc’s are at… just be careful with the boats and every should be fine)

(Everywhere else I think you’d be pretty screwed not gonna lie xd)

In Sumeru…

I’m too tired to keep making stories…

But I think people like Dunyarzard would be so nice! Like she comes from money as far as I can remember so I can imagine her taking us to the Grand Bazaar.

It would still be a bit complicated to go there however since Nilou and Dehya would be there and with the switch that the gods forgot to turn off to recognize you again… yeah it’s gonna be a bit difficult to convince them but we have a sweet, lovely person like Dunyarzard! And the grand bazaar you should be fine… probably…

In Fontaine…

Melusines or Poisson, either place and you should be good at.

But this place is the trickiest however since there seems to be someone with a vision almost everywhere you may go.

Overall…

It would be like a very big game of hide and seek where the seekers(the vision users) are breaking their minds trying to find you while the supposedly spectators that shouldn’t help you are just watching them while helping you, basically cheating in the game.

Just image a war between the two factions like oh my gosh!

There was this Npc’s… I don’t remember her name(also to lazy to search it up xd) that was part of the Aranara quest, like the forest watcher that helped us, you know what I mean? Got into an accident, Aranara help, Aranara quest and finally she went out into adventures with the Aranara that saved her.

Just imagine if we meet her before anything and then she gets her vision like…

She puts it on as an accessory and doesn’t sense the Creator’s aura.

She takes it off and she notices it.

She finds out slowly about what visions really do and with some scholars from the Akademiya they start coming up with a plan or device to take away people visions so that they realize who the actual god is.

The possibilities…

Also dunno where to put the archons here I think they would notice the aura of the creator because they don’t have visions and such so maybe they’re in the rebellion against the gods of celestia and the fake creator.

Neuvillete and Furina would also probably be in the creators side because Furina’s vision is if I don’t remember badly given to her by Neuvillete.

So yeah…

Just something that I’ve been thinking about while I try to sleep.

This is just a very crapy idea but anyways hope someone likes it :,)

Also!

I don’t think my posts are appearing in the etiquettes i’ve been putting them at, because this is a very new blog I made with the only purpose of publishing this.

So if anyone that somehow sees this thread can help me with reblogging it you would be helping me a lot!

I really want to share this Idea with more people!

Once again thank you!

(Also good luck for anyone pulling for Clorinde and Alhaitham!)

(I’m personally pulling for Sethos, fingers crossed that he comes in a ten pull or else I’m gonna be so close to 70 pity and I don’t want neither of the current 5 stars, even though they are cool)

(Anyways good luck and thanks for reading!)

(:D)

[taldigi]

hi!!!! hi I've been loving ur Aus and kickass takes/discussions with each and every character (primarily Morgana and Teddie from what I can scroll down so far)

and I am !!!! absolutely normal about personas being gay or albeit the persona interacting with their little heroes cos like!! finally!!! SOMEONE MENTIONED IT and I can't thank you enough so here's - my take on that specific headcanon if you won't mind -

I actually do highly agree that each personas have a unique signature sound/calling noise if they don't speak verbally! (Jiraiya croaking like a frog,, very true and whistling tuney sound. Izanagi sounding like clashed metal and swishes of swords primarily, reverberated deep echoey hums, yukiko with flowery yet - also sounding like their turning into crisp. Sing-songy like uhhh a flute.)

but I also fuck with the fact they have their own personalities too; Izanagi and Yu having an apprentice/master dynamic... that's just me tho. Yosuke and Jiraiya on the other hand is a fun uncle who takes their kid somewhere fun - a gun range!

mix and match we have a polyamorous situation and I find that very very funny and delightful 😭😭😭 I do wish more fics explore this side of persona! like c'mon I want my other self talk and whisper me secrets -

but that's. all I have to say primarily cos I love your comics, they're funny and equally adorable 🔥

thank!!!!! I love being silly about my favorites and my brain is fulll of comics and ideas.

I've seeen a aloooooot of takes on personas, both in canon and non-canon and I'm def cut between a few different interpretations.

Ultimately, they are weapons, or- extensions of the self-- but p4 and 5 do push a little more into their independence. I like the latter idea, because it lends better to storytelling and situations.

I love personas talking and acting as guides, but only within your "self " (holds up the high priestess tarot card: The persona is your gut intuition, begging you to be true to yourself. holds up the magician tarot: the tools to success are within you and you must manifest them!) Like.. they may know a bit more than their user in terms of their own nature, but they aren't any more or less intelligent than their user. What gives them an edge is that they can express those subconscious desires directly-- stuff that you don't even know about yourself --and use that information to guide their selves. So yeah, the master/apprentice vibe from Yu? Yu's a natural leader, and an empathetic listener- of course Izanagi is going to be that too. And with Yu as drawn in as he is, who else is he going to listen to?

Persona noises? I'm all for it. I think it's a mix of.. what situation the personas are in specifically. They always have a link to their user, and can speak directly.. be it words or emotions. (i am NOT immune to the occasional scathing comment from Jiraiya on Yosuke's stupidity or loud mouth) On the field, however- it's different. Squeaks and clanks and hums and beeps. Others understand your persona based on how well they know you (example would be.. Yukiko understanding Tomoe more intuitively than she would understand Take-Mikazuchi.. "Whats that Tomoe? Teddie's stuck in the well??") plus plus plus PLUS close bonds being comforted by those real world equivalents... Chie loving birdsong... Yu comforted by frog chirps.. grapsy hands....

As tamed shadows: I also like to see them as "a version of you that is not tamed by societal expectations." and that does include shit like.. manners, gender performances, and familial expectations. So yeah, Izanagi likes herds his friends like a shepherd with his sheep, Tomoe craves stimulation, and Konohana Sakuya wants to bite things.

... and indulgently, I feel like that extends to expressing affection and bonds that would normally be like.. frowned at? as well as expressing relationships that pride seems to tamp down. Teddie and Yosuke have a cain instinct/ w/ Yosuke's "boys must be emotionally constipated about other boys or you will be EXILED TO THE FUCKED UP WEIRDO BIN" thing going on, but Jiraiya and Kintoki-Douji are far more openly affectionate b/c they are both naturally affectionate people. Get my vibe?

Also.. just.. personas seeing a loved one and go OH! MY FAVORITE ONE! and being drawn to them by default is.. aaahhh.

ANYWAY YOU GOT ME MONOLOGUING AGAIN YOU SLY DOG I hope this is as fun to read as it was to talk about LOL!

[woodsie]

Shadow Yosuke’s Symbolism

I recently got a friend to play Persona 4 and we were talking about the symbolism of each of the character’s shadow selves, when we came to the realisation that neither of us really knew what Yosuke’s was meant to represent.

Chie’s represented her relationship with Yukiko. Yukiko’s her desire for freedom but lack of action in taking it. Yosuke has… a ninja frog…?

So I’ve done some digging.

Official Statements

The first thing I did was look at the official concept art sheet for shadow Yosuke. This primarily detailed that as the first of the shadows, they wanted it to be very obvious that their shadow’s and persona’s were the same thing.

This is done quite well and tells players subtly that they are the same without being obvious.

Jiraiya does look a lot like shadow Yosuke. The main body’s colour is inverted from black (evil) to white (good), the frogs eyes are added to Jiraiya’s head and the frog’s mouth becomes a chest piece, with the frog’s skin pattern carried over to the cuffs of Jiraiya’s clothes.

Jiraiya is easily the most similar persona to shadow. Important for early game. This idea is also helped by Tomoe looking very similar to shadow Chie, and allows the idea of persona’s and shadow’s being the same to be cemented into the players minds before they meet shadow Yukiko who is visually very different to Konohana-Sakuya.

Jiraiya In Folklore

My next step was to look for any symbolism between Yosuke and the story of Jiraiya himself. Granted, as a white woman™️ my knowledge of Japanese folklore is limited but I will summarise my findings and compare them to Yosuke’s story directly.

[Sorry for the weird formatting, I’m working around the 10 image post limit]

Both stories open with a character from an influential background and moving to a new area.

Jiraiya’s stance as a robber could be in reference to the fact that Junes is taking business away from local businesses and their families.

Saki could be taking the place of the woman in the house. Regardless of if she actually likes him, she is kind to him when others are not. This is something Yosuke admires greatly but it still doesn’t prevent Junes from ruining the Konishi’s business.

His shadow self is then a reference to the old man/magic frog. It recognises him from who he is, and although the shadow is hostile its intention is to teach Yosuke about the parts of himself he is trying to hide so he can reconcile with those feelings. This is what allows him to gain his persona, or in other words “teaching him magic”

Gaining his persona is what helps set Yosuke’s resolve and desire to avenge Saki and the others who have suffered due to the killer. He shows a distinct intelligence and is often the one to piece together vital information. Without him insisting they investigate Saki’s murder, the Investigation Team might not have ever existed. In that sense you could consider him a hero.

A good portion of his social link is devoted to him coming to terms with his situation, both around the murders and his place within Inaba. He frequently talks about feelings of loneliness and a desire to be valued, and he finds comfort in having his persona and being able to do something about what’s going on, it gives him some control over his life which he lost by coming to Inaba in the first place. Overtime though he does come to love Inaba as a whole and recognises that it’s the people around you that really make a place special. He’s not alone anymore and he’s far happier for it.

Other Potential Inspirations

In my attempts at seeing what others online think about potential symbolism for Yosuke’s shadow, I found that most people also did not understand what his shadow was meant to represent. However, I did come across a few older threads of people sharing possible ideas.

One of which was of a Chinese story about a frog in a well. The story related to narrow mindedness and limited perspective as the frog is unaware of life beyond the well and is amazed by it when told what it has to offer. This could be a potential reference to his dismissal of country life and him growing to love the town.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Bro, you forgot that Nathalie is weakened and sick because overused broken miraculous. Her condition is terrible that even make her paralyzed, always cough and become more paler

(Post this is in response to)

Bro, you forgot that Nathalie is really active in season five and perfectly capable of working around her disability until her condition reaches its final phase.

Evolution takes place the same day as Risk and Strikeback, meaning that season five starts with Nathalie well enough to leave the country and order Adrien around. Yes, she coughs a lot and needs a mobility aid at this point, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to be part of the action:

Gabriel: (on-call) Nathalie, Ladybug has finally faulted! Taking risks has paid off! I have nearly all of the Miraculous, including the one of Evolution, granting the power of time travel! Nathalie: (on the train) Gabriel, wait for me. As soon as I'm home, we'll—

And coming up with plots:

Nathalie: There is another way to use the Miraculous of the Rabbit. (Gabriel gasps.) You could go back to a time before Emilie used the damaged Peacock Miraculous. You can save your wife, Gabriel! (presents a flash drive) This holds the information on how to repair the magic jewel so that Emilie never becomes ill using it. You would just need to give the drive to yourself. (hands Gabriel the drive) Make the right choice. It's not too late!

And in Multiplication - which takes place weeks later - she's still well enough to plot with the villains and play door guard:

Scene: Interior, the Agreste mansion, in Gabriel's atelier. Gabriel is discussing something with Tomoe, in presence of Nathalie. While Tomoe is examining an Alliance ring, Adrien enters the room and interrupts them. Adrien: Father. Nathalie: (blocking the door) It’s not the time, Adrien.

And in Passion - which takes place even later- she's well enough to pin Gabriel to the freaking kitchen table:

Nathalie:(grabs Gabriel's hand, twists it behind his back and pushes him onto the table) Don't ever do that again! I came to this house to hunt magical artifacts for you and Emilie. I became your bodyguard, your right hand woman, your friend, and even more. But this is all over. You used to do this out of love for Emilie, but now, you're only doing it out of madness, and the only reason I'm still here is to protect Adrien from you!

She then comes up with a plan to have Gabriel akumatize her so that she can go out and get the miraculous for herself in order to make her own wish because akumas are magical healers that remove disabilities for as long as they're in effect:

Scene 1:

Emilie:(from the video) I'm counting on you, Nathalie. I know he's as stubborn as they come and, it won't be easy to convince him to stop chasing the Miraculous. (coughs) But you have to, for Adrien. He's going to need you both and I know you'll take care of him like a mother. Nathalie: (crying) I'm sorry, I failed you. But I promise you, I will get the Miraculous before he does. I won't let him recreate the world in the image of his madness!

Scene 2:

Gabriel:(sighs) Emilie, I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know how to go on alone. Nathalie: You're not alone. (walks up to him) Gabriel: Nathalie. Nathalie: A long time ago, I promised I'd bring you all the magical items you would need, but I was never able to bring you Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculous. It's time I truly delivered on my promise. Gabriel: No, Nathalie, you've already risked too much! Nathalie: It's time to risk it all. Akumatize me.

And in Revelation - the 20th episode of the season! - she's well enough to go around the Agreste mansion and send pictures to Lila so that our new big bad knows everything while the heroes' stay in the dark. (I don't blame Nathalie for this, btw. Akuma powers and all that. I'm just pointing out that she was still well enough to get into the basement without Gabriel noticing during an akuma fight.)

So what argument are you trying to make here? That Nathalie was too disabled to be a good person, but being evil in spite of her disability was fine? That feels really insulting to the disabled.

Nathalie's condition worsens as the season goes on. Only in the final does she reach a point where she's too weak to do anything and only in the final does she actually try to stop Gabriel, which is why I called her actions pathetic fan service. It's not Nathalie that's pathetic, it's her writing, which waited until she couldn't actually do anything to let her "try" to stop the plot that she's known about and actively supported all season long. Somehow, people actually bought it, too, which blows my mind!

Her going crossbow hunting isn't the culmination of a season where Nathalie desperately tried to stop Gabriel and free Adrien. It's her one good deed after a season spent supporting Gabriel in every meaningful way in spite of her supposed turn to the side of good. Nathalie is smart, powerful, and clever. If she's really turned to the good side, then Gabriel would have been doomed. But she didn't actually turn to the good side, the writers wouldn't let her, which is why I cannot stand her character in season five. They should have just let her stay a villain and removed the senti complication. If they did that, then literally nothing about her writing would need to change. She could still be nice to Adrien while keeping all of Gabriel's secrets. Those are actions that fit a villain way better than whatever Nathalie was supposed to be in season five.

[mamayura]

About the notebook

The thing about the London special that just isnt letting me go is that Marinette only made sure that her name isnt in the new villain's notebook, but all the other information the villain collected she left untouched.

For as questionable as Marinette's web of lies she tells the world are, at least there you can see the attempt of keeping it consistent to prevent as best as possible that her lies are discovered. But all of that goes out of the window by only caring about her name in the notebook and not what else this person now knows. Cause its A LOT.

Marinette lies to the world to make Gabriel out to be a hero, but leaves the new villain with the information that Gabriel was Hawkmoth. Sure, we already knew by the time of Emotion that Cerise knows that Gabriel is Monarque, but Marinette doesnt know this. Marinette didnt even try to cover up Gabriel's secret, so I have a hard time felling bad for Marinette when this will inevitably go wrong. Cause it SHOULD.

Or that Marinette at the press conference lied that she has no idea what Hawkmoth wanted to wish for. This can easily be revealed as a lie through Chrysalis (if that's really Cerise's butterfly name) and have at least part of the public turn against Ladybug for a then... not really invalide reason anymore the more of Ladybug's lies get revealed.

It's almost ironic, Marinette in the London special was so busy making up this convoluted and unnecessary web of lies that'll only harm her in the long run, that she completely ignored that the person she was supposed to deceive by hiding the truth was the new villain. Not the world.

Marinette did it the wrong way around. The people she wasnt supposed to lie to, she lied to. But the person she was supposed to deceive she left to keep all the information to ruin everyone's lives, beside the most obvious one for the current problem.

Marinette even reads out loud from the notebook that the new Butterfly wrote down that it was TOMOE who wanted Kagami and Adrien spared from her and Gabriel's villain plan, no mentioning that Gabriel tried protecting his son which contradicts Marinette's story.

I dont know if Marinette just assumes that this person can reveal the truth however she likes and Marinette as Ladybug will just claim something else everytime because she knows that most people will blindly believe Ladybug, but that's... that is awful. It would mean that Marinette and Cerise are now officially switching roles in their previous dynamic and now CERISE is the one trying to out the liar - just on a global fucking scale and with Ladybug having immense power and influence through her status that warrants seeing her as a threat for doing this.

I hope with all my heart that this is not what's gonna happen, but I do fear it will. Cause no, I will not support Marinette in such harmful hypocrisy. If this is what's gonna happen, then Marinette is the bad guy here and she should be exposed as liar just as she fought to expose Lila for WAY less. You cannot pull that and expect me to be on Marinette's side. No, she wont be the villain, but she wont be the good guy either just because she says so.

[ilikekidsshows]

https://www.tumblr.com/ilikekidsshows/754628040369324032/kind-of-curious-but-whats-your-thoughtstake-on

Don't forget how the majority of the rich antagonists aren't even held accountable for their actions, specifically Gabriel, Andre, Felix, Tomoe, and Audrey.

Also, most of the main characters are either rich or are already famous in some way thanks to having connections with other people, like Marinette (in good graces with four different celebrities), Adrien (son of the biggest fashion designers in the world), Alya (broke the Ladybug story and is the primary source of information on the heroes), Nino (got to DJ at a major fashion show), Kagami (comes from a long line of Olympic fencers), and Luka/Juleka (children of a famous rockstar).

---

Miraculous is a show that loves glamor. That's why all characters are either well off or super rich. That's why a normal girl with a normal life is a master designer who befriends celebrities and goes to school with prodigies and other exceptional youths who’ll probably succeed at whatever they want to do with their lives. Marinette lives a glamorized life, because everything in Miraculous is glamorized, especially the rich.

That's why any attempt at criticism directed at rich people falls flat. Like, everything the writers try seems to fall flat but here it's because of this: they want to have their cake and eat it too. They want to say: “eat the rich” because that's a popular and a progressive enough for most take, but they also want to glamorize the trappings of the ultra wealthy: the houses, the cars, the privileges, the fame. This is how all the rich abuse victims have their abuse hand waved away, in addition to the literal dehumanization, the show tries to tell us their lives are so great that obviously they should just be happy.

This is also why Miraculous has so much drama that doesn't lead to anything. The dramatic moments are all the writers care about. The crew behind the show puts glamorous appearances over meaningful theming, both in how it treats its rich characters and in how it treats any of its plotlines.

[pinkberrypocky]

How Kyoko Did What Mami Couldn’t

A long rambling series of thoughts about how kyoko and mami are more similar than they seem and how kyoko is the one who truly succeeds at it

So normally I think of Sayaka and Kyoko being the duo to think about, but upon this rewatch I noticed some interesting things about Mami. Mami’s role in the anime is essentially to show Madoka and Sayaka the ropes of being a magical girl and help them decide if they want to become magical girls themselves. However, there is a massive gap in this goal of hers/our perception of her role in the show and what she actually does in the anime. Mami tells Madoka and Sayaka that she wants them to know the stakes of becoming a magical girl before they decide if that’s something they are willing to go through in order to have a wish granted. On a surface level, this seems like exactly what she does. She takes them with her while she hunts and kills witches, she talks with them about potential wishes, and she even warns Sayaka about the possible complications of making a wish for someone else’s sake. However, in actuality she only encourages Madoka and Sayaka to become magical girls, all while sheltering them from the true weight of the profession, though this is likely not known even to her as she does so. She takes them into witch fights without ever warning them that this is a life or death scenario and she might not be able to protect them. Instead, she tells them that she’ll protect them and puts up a front that she is an unstoppable and untouchable object. But that obviously crashes down very quickly when she dies in front of them in the third episode. While telling Madoka and Sayaka that she is going to teach them what it is to be a magical girl, she effectively shelters them from the very things they need to be aware of in order to make an informed decision on whether or not to make a contract. 

I want to emphasize that I don’t think this is intentionally selfish, though it definitely is in function. Mami didn’t have a choice when she became a magical girl, it was make a contract and become a magical girl or die. So it makes sense that it’s important to her that Madoka and Sayaka make an informed decision before jumping into magical girlhood. So why doesn’t she? Why does she put active effort into making sure they don’t see the ugliest parts? Why does she put up a front that she isn’t affected by risking her life to fight witches? Because she was trying to give Madoka and Sayaka the protection that is so starkly absent from her own life. Mami has no close relatives, her parents died in the car accident that forced her to become a magical girl years ago. This means she has been on her own for a long time. And remember, all of the characters are middle schoolers. Mami had to grow up far too fast and so she tried to protect Madoka and Sayaka from this by sheltering them from the cold truth about being a magical girl. Not that I’m saying she kept explicit secrets, Mami died never knowing about the truth of the soul gems or the witches, but she kept the psychological effects and risk of serious physical harm from them, even though it was with good intentions. 

What’s wrong with that? I think we can all agree that these girls could all use a more active parental figure to protect them. So was Mami in the right for this? No. The issue with this is that it is starkly incompatible with the goal she expressed to Madoka and Sayaka, to teach them what it’s like to be a magical girl. Unfortunately, Madoka and Sayaka have already been pulled into this world and as such deserve to be informed about what that entails. Mami is incapable of doing this. But if Mami really wanted what was best for Madoka and Sayaka and to be a mentor to them, wouldn’t it make more sense for her to tell them the truth and then help them work through it? Yes, yes it would. But she can’t, because the real obstacle holding Mami Tomoe back from being 100% honest with Madoka and Sayaka is the fact that she is so deeply afraid of being alone. Mami has been alone since becoming a magical girl, both in the way that being a magical girl isolates all of them but also in that her family is dead. Mami has no one. So when Madoka and Sayaka enter the picture with the preassigned, by Kyubey, context that they might want to become magical girls, Mami is set on selling them the job. Because if Madoka and Sayaka become magical girls then she won’t be alone anymore, both in fighting witches and in life. So even though Mami has the surface level goal and knowledge of making sure Madoka and Sayaka know the truth, she has a much stronger goal hidden beneath the surface from even herself: to not have to be alone anymore. So in actuality, she doesn’t want Madoka and Sayaka to realize how horrible the job is, because if they did there’s no way they’d join her and she’d remain alone. Because of this goal that she herself isn’t aware of, she consequently presents a false narrative of what it is to be a magical girl, therefore putting Madoka and Sayaka in immense amounts of danger. 

Mami is a tragic character because what she wants to do is the opposite of what she does, and as soon as she reaches her goal she is killed at the height of her positivity. But that’s not to say that there isn’t a character who doesn’t do the work of explaining the truths of the magical girl world in an accurate and effective way in the series. But that girl isn’t Mami, it’s Kyoko. 

The moment in the show that sparked this whole train of thought for me was in the scene in episode nine right before Madoka and Kyoko confront witch Sayaka. Kyoko asks Madoka if she’s sure about coming with her, reminding her that she can’t say for sure that she can protect her and pointing out that she doesn’t even know if her plan will work. Madoka affirms that she wants to come along, and begins a bit of a monologue about how she’s never been able to help the magical girls since she is too scared to become one herself. Kyoko immediately tells Madoka that she’s one of the lucky ones, that if it’s not a life or death situation she shouldn’t even think about making a contract with Kyubey. Madoka pushes back on this but Kyoko holds firm, insisting that it’s not wrong for Madoka to enjoy her life and that there is no pressure or reason for her to become a magical girl. Whether or not Madoka is able to truly hear and internalize Kyoko’s words is separate, though based on the end of the show I think we all know that conversation did not encode, the fact of the matter is that Kyoko bore all the truths of the situation to Madoka. She didn’t pull any punches, and she didn’t shelter or protect Madoka from things that she thought might be too hard on her. 

This lack of sugar coating is really important to Kyoko’s character as a whole. Throughout the show she always speaks what she believes to be the truth, which is really all you can ask of her considering the earth shattering secrets Kyubey kept from all of them. You can see this a lot with Sayaka, who Kyoko tries time and time again to convince to change her ways to put more emphasis on herself. Kyoko knows that Sayaka is functioning as if the world follows her strictly constructed ideals, and she also knows that the world doesn’t. She used to think like Sayaka, but she was forced to face the truth that sometimes the world is horrible. Sometimes the people you love most hurt you. Sometimes a wish you made out of love only leads to pain. She tries countless times to convey this to Sayaka, which is exemplified most plainly in the scene in Kyoko’s father’s old church. She tosses Sayaka an apple, saying she has a long story to share with her, but Sayaka immediately throws the apple to the floor. The symbolism of apples cannot be ignored in this scene, especially considering the setting of the church and the nature of the story Kyoko shares with Sayaka. Sayaka rejecting the apple, the biblical symbol of knowledge, at the beginning of the scene shows her refusal to face the truth even when it is handed to her.So even while Kyoko failed to be heard, which is very reminiscent of her father and the nature of her wish and I plan to discuss further later on, she did not fail to convey the whole, brutal truth. Kyoko acts truly selflessly when she tries to get Madoka and Sayaka to understand the realities of being a magical girl, which is so interesting considering she is so adamant that she is a selfish person. All the other characters in the series want so badly to be selfless, but end up finding that in the end they are unable to get rid of that selfish part inside them. As I described earlier, Mami does this when she warps her portrayal of magical girl life, but it can also be seen in Sayaka who makes a wish to heal her crush’s incurable injury and ends up feeling cheated and jealous when he doesn’t recognize her. Sayaka sets out to be a magical girl like Mami was, and in this way she completes her goal. She strives endlessly, however hopelessly, to be selfless and eventually dies in the process. Sayaka suffers because no matter how hard she wants to be selfless she isn’t. Which isn’t to say she’s a bad person, very few people are capable of doing things that are 100% selfless, nevermind doing so all the time. But Kyoko, who is always saying how selfish she is, is the one who is able to be truly selfless by giving Madoka, and attempting to give Sayaka, the whole truth without any sugar coating so that they can make their own decisions based on what they want. Kyoko thinks she’s selfish because she doesn’t believe that fighting is something that should be done unless there is no other option, but it is actually this belief that allows her to selflessly present Madoka and Sayaka with the truth.